"Our Wayne" Is Better Than Yours.

  I am still haunted by Wayne Rooney. Even now, sitting in my exile in the rust-belt of the Midwest, his short Everton career boomerangs back into my mind again and again. I was there in the Park End the day Wayne scored that goal. Sat there, in what - looking back - felt like a Royal box seat for Rooney's coming-of-age - I wasn't sure exactly what I was witnessing. Was Wayne going to be another false dawn like Danny Cadamarteri, the dreadlocked 17-year-old who came into the world of football feet first and hit the ground running, like a precocious young chess champ seemingly intent on playing a pickup game of speed chess with the Grand Masters.   

  We all remember what happened the day Rooney came on against a bulletproof Arsenal side. Little snapshots flicker back into my memory. Wayne's goal; looping over Seaman like a vandal's brick, a Krakatoan eruption at Goodison, my dad letting off a minute long ecstatic scream at the final whistle, and listening to the feverish hoarse voices at the train station talking about "our Wayne". The rest of this fairy-tale remains unwritten; Wayne didn't go on to drag us into a golden age, instead he left for Old Trafford. But as long as I live in the U.S. - 3,300 miles away and sheltered from his successes with Man Utd - Wayne will occupy a  strange limbo in my  heart. Everton were of course compensated with millions of pounds for letting him leave, but the Wayne I knew, the bullish mercurial street-fighter, I wouldn't swap him for a wilderness of millions.

  No matter how much dirt emerges about Wayne Rooney, no matter how much the Scouse genius runs roughshod over his "Once a Blue, always a Blue" oath of fealty with obnoxious and hypocritical badge kissing, I will always regard him as a footballing God.

  To get over Rooney's departure to Old Trafford, I treated the new version of him as a different player - and it wasn't to hard to do. Sir Alex Ferguson has straitjacketed some of his wilder tendencies, turning his feral flair and atavistic aggression into the more controlled player he wanted him to be. Whilst at Goodison, Rooney notched up 15 goals in 67 appearances, a record that - on the face of it - is inferior to his goalscoring rate at United, where he has scored 52 goals in 124 league appearances, but that isn't taking into account Moyes' softly softly approach. Of those 67 games for Everton, 27 of them were as a substitute, and the Everton side of that time doesn't hold a torch to the current United squad.

  When watching Wayne now you see an awe-inspiring and excellent player; but I think that he could have become even better. The early Rooney - bursting past defenders, ruthlessly direct and blinkered, known to taunt defenders by putting his hands on his hips in mock boredom, who like a belligerent matchmaker, never ceased to revel in introducing the ball to the back of the net - won't be seen at Old Trafford.

  Say what you want about your Wayne, but OUR Wayne had it all and in many ways was uncoachable. The glorious trajectory predicted by many for Rooney hasn't quite panned out and although he is the jewel in England's crown, he is overshadowed by others such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kaka, players who should have been his peers in the high altitude world of top class football.

  Even Wayne's performances for England have suffered since he moved to Manchester. As an Everton player, Rooney scored nine goals in 17 games for England - but now he is playing under Sir Alex, his tally for England is a far more modest five goals in 25 games. Reading through the match reports during his time with Everton, you are struck by the fact that he was lauded by the press for his finishing and "killer instinct" - two things that have been removed in the lobotomised talents of the United version of Rooney.

  Sir Alex Ferguson got it very right when trying to coach out Cristiano Ronaldo's showboating flair, but he got it wrong with Wayne, as the young Scouser's direct early self was more akin to the Brazilian Ronaldo at Barcelona - a footballing egomaniac, and a lighting rod for every attack - attributes that no longer are present in Rooney.

  Manchester United's millions bought a star, but by separating Rooney from his boyhood club, they never got the legend.

Ed Bottomley

Comments

[SIM]

ROO is worht every pennyof the £30 mill, without him we struggle, he is better than he was at neverton how could he not be better at the worlds graetest club with the worlds greatest players around him.

[jim]

rooney's an improved player. but there's far less buzz when he has the ball. hence, "our wayne is better". isn't excitement united's creed?

hey, it's a positive story of iconhood. what's with the manu people here (who's obviously in the ungracious minority)? go ahead n disagree with a point of view. but don't assume the writer's bitter when he's not.

[johnny f tamaela]

what make Rooney the best player ? Is he a top goalscorer at MU now ? Is he the European top player now ? Is he the captain of England now ? Is his record with the ref as good as many people think how genius he is ? how about his blistering words to the ref each time we watch him on TV ? Has he ever scored a crucial goal in the final of a world cup or european cup (EURO) ?

How come suddenly people said Rooney is better than Ronaldo ? Are you dreaming ?

[Richard]

I really like Rooney.
Very hard worker never gives up.
Please do not compare him to the awesome Ronaldo of Brasil.
That guy won a couple world cups and was like the MVP.
My only problem with Rooney is his temper and trying to kill the other players going up for the headers.
Just because you are shorter and will not get the headers does not give you the right to hurt the guy.

[Dan]

Rooney has lost the killer ability to score centre forwards goals at will, but he is still class.

He is a lot bigger than he used to be, lost pace and does not score as much as his peers or enemies but i would still have in him in my team. Play him through the middle, keep him fit and let him get annoyed and aggressive, thats how it was when he was amazing.

[ManchesterBen]

Rooney was absolutely immense in his first season at United - without his goals and generally inspiring play, United would have finished much lower down the table. Who could forget his debut hat-trick vs Fenerbahce, or his brace of beautiful goals against Boro in the Cup - not to mention 'that strike' against Newcastle!
Since then, I will admit that his influnce has waned somewhat (no pun intended), but he remains a fantastic player and a constant threat. Perhaps he hasn't been the stand out player in this Premiership season but that could be due to the general standard of the players around him has vastly improved.
Same goes for Everton, though he stood out as world-class amongst the good but not great of Everton - now he plays with the best in the world it is inevitable he won't steal the plaudits everytime.

[Duncan Knox]

Rooney is up there with Messi, Ronaldo and Kaka, I'm no Man U fan, nor do I like England but just watch his overall game play. He is the primary striker for the best team in the world, he has a massive impact on games, helps in defence, links well with Tevez, is the catalyst for most of Man U's counter attacks.

Your'e just bitter he left.

[George]

Guys, feel free to read the bloke's article. He says that Rooney should be AKIN to the brazillian Ronaldo, circa mid-nineties, not BETTER. FFS He's just saying that that style is what Rooney should be trying to emulate, and progressing towards.

[Patrick]

Rooney better than Brazilian Ronaldo ??? What have you people been smoking ??? Just look at the records !!! Have you people actually watched Ronaldo in his prime ??? Ronaldo was one of the most lethal strikers in Brazilian football ever. At his best Ronaldo was better than both Rooney or Christian Ronaldo will ever be. Ronaldo had deceptive pace and absolutely lethal finishing. At his best I don't remember any defence stopping him. Does anyone remember his hat-trick for Real against Manu, and that was when he was past his prime!!!

[Pearl]

I admire the patriotic feelings a lot of the posters here exhibit. As a ManU fan, I am happy Rooney is in our team, his work rate is phenomenal. But I would like to submit these points:

1. Ronaldo is ManU's best player at the moment, even if you guys blinded by patriotism and conveniently ignore the fact that he's broken George Best's record this season. Ask Rooney himself, he acknowledged that fact.

2. While Rooney may be a very talented footballer, he's nowhere near Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo at present.

3. Rooney's goal scoring record judging by the numbers of chances he squanderers is awful for a striker. Drogba and Torres are clearly better.

4. Don't even compare Rooney's and Brazillian Ronaldo as strikers except if you English fans watch a different football from the rest of the footballing world. Ronaldo was the deadliest 9 that ever wore the shirt.

5. Look at the premier league goal scorers chart, and regulate fantasy with statistics. He's never been the highest goal scorer even in England.

[Julian U]

Rooney is clearly over rated. It is interesting to see that Fabregas has overtaken him quite significantly. The fact that he is English obviously has a massive bearing on this, it is just a shame that he peaked at 20-21 years of age. I predict that Walcott will also be ahead of him next season as well. One thing I will say in his defence however, is that he clearly hates the fake Ronaldo...but then who doesn't!

[Micky]

I agree with much of what has been said in the article. He was raw when he was at Everton, good to watch, but since he has come to United he has become a diamond. He has spent a lot of seasons interupted by Injury but trying to compare him to Ronaldo (Brazil) at this stage of his career isn't valid. Its like comparing Cristiano Ronaldo to George Best.

I don't like to compare players. Its really only valid between current players in the same age bracket. Like C.Ronaldo to Kaka and maybe Ronaldinho. You can't completely compare Giggs ala 1995 to Giggs ala 2008.

It should be comparing Rooney at Everton to Rooney at United. But some people got lost in that. Everton would probably be a better team with him there, but Moyes doesn't have that management style that can get the most out of Rooney like Ferguson has. Rooney was always going to be a better player anyway, I am just glad he is at United.

[Craig]

rooneys past few seasons have been somewhat fragmented through injury,do people not realise that ferguson is jus nurturing him, pretty much in the same way wenger did with henry, and is now doing with walcott. In taking this approach it will allow rooney to become a much more complete player, rather than the raw talent he was at everton.In relation to his goal record , half the time he ends up playing as a winger as part of a five man midfield, and with the system that utd do usually end up employing the front3-5 dont really hav specific positions. Thererfore i dont believe you can categorise him as a striker until he plays continuosly through the middle, whioch no doubt he eventually will, when ferguson no longer thinks parts of his game need development!

[mathan theva]

Jim are you seriously trying to say that rooney is better than ronaldo (brazilian). At his best, Ronaldo is better than any other striker on the planet....pace, power, skll and a devestating goalscorer. Rooney will never be a 20-a-season scorer in the premiership,a nd to be honest, i think man u need an out and out stiker cos rooney is not that man. imagine if they had torres, who is much better than rooney!

[Jim]

@ mike | April 15, 2008 at 12:13 PM

Nah, I have to admit that the Chelsea Joe Cole is much better that West Ham's younger Version - hardly surprising when he had Harry coaching him with gems like, 'Go out and play like Zola'... apparently...

[Robert Adams]

At 63 all passion seemed to have left me until I saw Wayne on a football pitch I now watch every game waiting for the genius he possesses and terrified that he will get hurt or carded . I hope he enjoys his life and money . Long live Wayne .

[Jim]

Does the author actually watch any football? Rooney is a superior footballer to Ronaldo, not just in his vision on the pitch, but also his work ethic and temperament.

[Don Stuarte]

People who dont recognise what Rooney does for United know nothing about football.

Rooney it ten times the player he was at Everton. Defenders would have sussed him out by now.

nft

[RedNS]

couple of points:
1) He's a great player. but I do agree with the original article. He has improved in many ways since coming to OT and yet just isn't the exciting talent he was 4-5 years ago. I wouldn't be without him though.
2) Can we stop the '£30m' nonsense yet? We didn't pay anywhere near that amount.

[Speedy]

Yes, Rooney is definitely not the world beater that everybody thought who would be .... yet. Remember he is younger than Ronaldo and his development has been disrupted substantially ever since he stormed the world stage 4 years ago.

Even then, the top teams have more trouble dealing with Rooney than Ronaldo. Take AC Milan last year and this year, there defenders admitted that Rooney posed a much greater threat and problem to them -Ronaldo did score a great header this time however rest of the time he was just as shackled and anonymous as last years' nonappearance.
Against Liverpool and Chelsea, two teams that are very good defensively, Rooney is always more prominent than Ronaldo.

Perhaps Rooney needs a couple of years of interrupted football (which Ronaldo has had) before we can judge him whether he has fulfilled that early potential.

[milt]

Some of the comments on here are astonishing. I don't see any bitterness in the article, just a simple assessment. Dismiss the chap's views for being wrong by all means, but bitter? Hardly. There are more than a few snidey digs at Everton, though.

Rooney was a far more exciting player at Everton. Whether or not he was better is a different issue, but he was talked about non-stop during his brief time at Everton. Any Everton news was simply Wayne Rooney.

I'm sure part of that was because of the way he burst onto the scene, and I'm sure part of it is because he now plays in a squad of excellent players who are news grabbers themselves, but taking a step back, he was headline news everywhere he went with Everton. Whereas he's become something of a footnote in the United story. That's not bitter, it's just a straightforward observation.

[Tim K]

Why so many Manchester United fans on here sniping at Everton? Did you not read the article?
The author is quite correct in that Rooney is a different player now. It obviously suits the way United play for him to be less exhuberant and more predictable in the way he plays but that doesn't mean as an individual that he is anywhere near as exciting a player to watch as he was.
And obviously he scores more goals for United, being fed by Tevez, Ronaldo and Scholes rather than Carsley, Kilbane and Pembridge makes a difference.
I had the pleasure of seeing Rooney play agaisnt Bolton in a 0-0 draw at Goodison and it remains the best I have ever seen him play. Go on Youtube and search for Rooney Everton to see clips of the game and tell me he is still as thrilling a player to watch now.

[Stephen]

I was in the Gwladys St end that day against Arsenal and the memory of grown men chanting the name of a 16 year old of the stadium will stick with me forever. Even then I think the enormity of what had been witnessed was with everyone.

Yes, Rooney is a different player to the one he was at Everton but only because the calibre of player he is playing with and the system at Utd does not require as much magic. (although a Rooney in a fully fit Everton team at the moment is a mouth-watering thought) However, given the circumstances, I think it is just fair to say thanks for memories and move on.

Must admit it is an interesting debate considering the usual one centre's on what the likes of Matt LeTissier would have achieved had they been at a bigger club.

[Clive]

what a load of tosh.

you are clearly just bitter.

rooney is 10 times the player he was at everton

[stuart]

mike, do you really think paul gascoigne would be where he is now if he'd gone to united. you poor deluded a.b.u.

[Tom]

52 goals in 124 games, is that all, Torres has nearly half that in one season. The fact is Rooney scored a few brilliant goals as a youngster, and because he is english he has been over rated ever since. I still remember one english commentator describing him as the next Pele before that last world cup..

and to the fool who replied with "Steven Gerrard, a player who possesses a fraction of Rooney's skill, verve, and natural footballing intelligence,"
Get a grip,
Rooney has a total of 17 goals this season, Gerrard has 22, and he's not even a striker.
Rooney is a great player, but he's still not fit to lace Gerrards boots.

[Dee]

Fergie did the same thing to Alan Smith. He destroyed Alan Smith's striker instinct.

[william barlow]

I remember your Wayne and he was wonderful. The description I recall most fondly was following one of his earliest ten minute debuts against New Castle I think, someone on the team spoke about the defenders on their return to the locker room just looking at each other and laughing.

They were relieved that they weren't scored on and the nervous laughter was understood between them as if to say; 'What the hell was that? DID ANYONE GET THE NUMBER OF THAT BUS THAT RAN OVER US'

I think back to England's meek bow out against 10 man Brazil and Sven facing his first criticism, something about not having a plan B. It's too bad he didn't yet have a plan R.

Can you imagine what Wayne might have done in the last 20 minutes of that game.

He was like a Tasmanian Devil. I always thought that Moyes' careful deployment of Rooney was tailor made to maximize his impact.

How calculating it was leaving him on the bench for 80 minutes [presumably tethered in something titanium strength] As the minutes ticked by and his impatience and blood pressure swelled, waiting, waiting until finally opening the gate to... in the words of 'The Gladiator's Russell Crowe; UNLEASH HELL!

Of course he is too valuable to merely play in the closing minutes and a full game kind of preempts Tasmanian Wayne. But don't tell him because he tries anyway.

The over riding coaching failure at both club and international level remains curtailing Rooney's integrity.

People talk about energetic mid fielders who go from box to box as tireless warriors.

Wayne runs the whole game from touchline to touchline. He understands where the help is required and gives no thought to the possibility that this extra work might be sapping his strength for his primary duties.

That's because it hasn't occurred to him that he will fail.

In a game that requires supreme confidence and routinely displays how fleeting, and easily eroded this confidence, even among the games elite, can falter, it must be damn near impossible for a coach to try to temper this anomaly whose self belief never wavers.

Yes Wayne has been wasteful in front of the target. What has highlighted this shortcoming and is rarely mentioned, is the ridiculous regularity of goal bound chances he creates.

My only wish is that he would fall out of love with the pretty goals and vow never to attempt to lob a keeper again. Wayne look at me. Are you here, because I need you here. Screw the fancy crap, you have thunder in both feet!

So sir, be proud and cherish your Wayne, with the blue shirt, but you can still be proud of our Wayne.

Perhaps there will be a Euro Cup or World Cup in his future that an uninjured Wayne Rooney will return him to the long delayed, deserved, place on the world stage, as an unyielding unique talent without peer.

[David]

No such thing.
Rooney has by far and away the best footballing brain at United.
He is a joy to watch and is morphing into more of a hole player than an out and out forward. The flamboyant Ronaldo is grabbing all the headlines yes,just like Beckham did.
The likes of Rooney neither needs nor craves adulation.
He just wants to play football.
He's a better player for it.

[Graham Ess.]

Totally agree. The 2004 european championships showcased what Rooney might have been. A devastatingly freocious player bursting with pace, anger, drive and hunger for the ball at his feet. Watch videos of him in his early days and he looks nothing like the player that turns out for United at present. Still a fantastic talent, undoubtedly. But be it injuries, United or the almighty dollar, Rooney not the player he might have been. He's been tamed.

[James Mac]

Wayne is now 222/23 and not the 17 year old he was at Everton so its not surprising that overall he is a better player now. However, what is clear is that Everton he had this raw ability to beat players and excite, whereas at United he is just an excellent team player. I remember reading Alex Ferguson say that he had regrets about turning Giggs into such a good team player and possibly not letting the 17 year old prodigy fulfill his full individual potential. I am sure we are seeing the same with Rooney -sacrificied for the greater good of Man Utd. Also incidentally, why is Ferguson so interested in Berbatov? Surely if he came to Utd, Rooney´s place would be under threat.

[matthew]

Rooney seems to have a weight on his shoulders in terms of his finishing and his 'wonder strikes'. That all started after the world cup when Ronaldo started stealing the lime light from him at man utd-ever since then his finishing is pretty bad for some of his ability with the amount of one-on-one he has with keepers.He still works damn hard but he hasn't really seemed the same player since the world cup. He has had 2 unsettling injurys in the past 2 seasons. Im sure he will get customed again and hopefully bring his old finishing and wonder strikes back.He just needs to forget about ronaldo and think of himself.

[J M]

I think what Rooney may need is a veteran and very experienced striker by his side especially during training ... If he is keen on developing a killer instinct in front of goal man utd have to help him by signing a scoring-machine or by taking a look at their coaching staff (OLE is able to do it).

[gery fallon]

sorry forgot the match when rooney was asking the ref about something when he stoped and smashed the ball into the roof of the net not wearing blue that day or since

[joe]

The Looney who got sent off against Portugal reminded me of Beckham in 1998 or Keane throughout his loutish career – and Cristiano Ronaldo was no better, merely sneakier. Ill-disciplined cheats and ref-baiters. Do we want our kids looking up to Old Trafford’s finest as role models?

[King Kong]

The reason Rooney isn't as good as you thought he would be is because of Christiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo grabs all the headlines, the goals and the credit. Rooney thinks he's been playing in the shadows of Ronaldo. Rooney is a young player who needs credits when due. While all seems to go to Ronaldo now, Rooney will always be a shadow of his own talents.

[chris]

Err, consider the following:
The present season Mr Rooney has become a lot less petulant than he was, much less berating of officials, less gung-ho tackles and no red cards.
The man was a prodigy, granted, but he has also broken his foot twice. no doubt that will have hampered his progress, don't ya think? Ronaldo has yet to have a serious injury in his career, and pray to God neither of them have another, for they are both joyous to watch. But my point is that Ronaldo has had time to develop unstifled by injury where Rooney has not.
You cannot say he would have been a better player at Everton. Ferguson has forgotten more about football than you and I will ever know. Granted he is not yet the complete article but who is at 22/23?
Give him time and he will be as perfect as our Gary!

[Ben]

The author has clearly made his judgements from afar based on recent games and snippets he has picked up on in the media about Waynes recent goal scoring form. i have seen every game this season for united and there is a noticeable difference when Wayne is absent. Ronaldo may have the flair and arrogance that grabs the headlines but Rooney is the heart of Old Trafford. If it came down to losing one of them i would keep Wayne a thousand times over. ask any true united fan and they will tell you the same as Wayne encompasses everything that manchester united are. his style is such that even out of form he plays a crucial role because of his work ethic and leadership qualities. such things that could not be accrued to the likes of Kaka, Messi or Ronaldo. look at stars of their like before them such as Ronaldinho, the great striker Ronaldo who is spoken of in some comments as being the player Wayne has apparently never become. Watch this space next season as you will see the effect on the premiership title that a Wayne Rooney with the benefit of his first pre season rest and free of injury in three years. there will be plenty of stellar performances!

[Steve]

Going back to Euro 2004, I remember how everyone marveled about Rooneys brilliance, and wondered if there was enough money on the planet to buy him! He seemed at that time to be able to score goals at will, and opposing defenders were terrified of him. There seemed no doubt England would be Euro2004 champions back then because of him. Well a broken foot got in the way, and Rooney became not even the best player on his team let alone on the planet!! Furthermore seeing him sent off in a key world cup game a couple of years ago is about the only thing I can say has been predictable about Rooney. Still, a very good player though

[Mike]

This has got to be a wind up surely?
Rooney is a far better player now, he is often overshadowed by Ronaldo, but bearing in mind that United have not lost this season with Rooney in the team shows the effect he has on the team. His goals for England have dropped, but that is to be expected bearing in mind the recent performances of the team and playing Rooney out of position.

[Alfred E. Neuman]

I have recently been considering this same question myself. When Rooney first appeared he also reminded me of the Brazilian Ronaldo, even better perhaps, with greater tenacity and killer instict. A scally, street- football genius no less.

After his mind blowing assault on the World Cup it was inevitable that he would leave Everton. When he joined Man Utd I was really disappointed but conceded the sense it made for him, as it would allow him to stay close to his family whilst enjoying the superior facilities (and money) at Old Trafford.

He has moved forward as a player. The management at Man Utd could probably produce a wide list of stats that would prove this but....I can see the authors argument . Rooney seems a shackled version of the spirited player he once was, although this may have happened at any of the top clubs he could have chosen to join. He is still excellent but not quite as inspirational. I think his true inspiration came in wearing an Everton shirt.

There does seem to be something dim and witless about the players personalities at Man Utd. Their teams always seem full of nerdy types such as Neville, Giggs and Ferdinand. Some great players granted but hardly inspiring and nowhere near the kind of menace, verve and sheer football wit once displayed by the very Scouse Rooney.

I'll also happily admit that I still feel pleased to this day that some of my favourite players of the past (Gascoigne, Pearce, Shearer) did not join the money machine at Old Trafford.

[Dan Xuereb]

Rooney in the hands of Wenger? He'd be the same player he is now - only dirtier, more willing to dive, and with no bottle whatsoever.

Fortunately for Wayne and everyone else who loves to watch him play, Alex Ferguson has moulded him into the perfect second striker. Able to shoot from distance and work intricate passing movements, always giving 100% and never giving a game up as lost.

Trouble is that's not good enough for Ing-er-lund because they don't have good enough players to incorporate Rooney into their system. Boo-hoo I say. He's ours, he suits our team perfectly and he's happy to be here.

As for the author, who'd have thought it - a bitter Toffee..

[EFC]

whats rooney all about one minuet he is showing a top under his everton top saying 'once a blue always a blue' then he is kissing the united badge at goodison. Also Rooney was the reason that england done so well at the Euro 2004 tournament and if he wasn't injured and being played up front himself he could have single handedly won england the world cup.

[oumo]

I wish he was in the hands of the football professor Arsene Wenger , the world would have seen a genius , profilic ,aggressive and above all the most talented finisher of his generation.

[Adrian R]

i think you'll find utd have lost games with wayne rooney playing this season. he is a better player now, but i think for both manu and england he has been told to play clamer and more mature. i wish managers would say to him, when you get the chance go for it - but that can be a risky tactic. specially if playing as a lone striker (for england) he needs to hold the ball to allow support to arrive. if ronaldo isn't as profilic next season, it will be interesting to see if rooney's goal tally picks up...

[njau gatoho]

he was simply a gazza in the making, in all aspects of the man

[alex c]

I totally agree with this. I think anyone who claims that Rooney is better now than they thought he would be five years ago is lying. He is a great player, unquestionably the most naturally gifted English footballer of his generation, and yet somehow he has not turned into one of the greatest players in the world, as I and many others were sure he would back in the Everton days. As the author says, he is not up there with Ronaldo, Messi and Kaka - he simply isn't in their class, and in fact, based on the past few seasons, there are a good few other players I'd rather have in my team as well - Drogba (though not this season's version) and Torres are two of them. There is no way he would get into a world XI, and yet five years ago I was quite sure he was the best young British footballer to appear in my lifetime, and that he would go on to be one of the world's best players. The fact is he is not an out and out goalscorer, but neither is he brilliant enough, a la Kaka, to play the traditional 'fantasy' role of the no.10 player, at least not in a way comparable to the greats of the game. Steven Gerrard, a player who possesses a fraction of Rooney's skill, verve, and natural footballing intelligence, would probably be closer to making it into a 'world XI' in most peoples minds, and who on earth could have foreseen that?

[Howard Lamb]

Sour grapes or insightful truth? As a 'football' supporter I can sympathise with the author. Would we get our kids adopted by richer foster parents. They might get more 'toys' and a smarter home - but we tend not to go down that route. I'm afraid that's the commercial reality of the Premier League. Look at the insensitive Chelsea Car Boot Sale about to take place. Yet we probably do have the best league in the world. So who's right?

[David S]

Did you not watch and listen to Rooney on MoTD a week or so ago?

His contentment at how things are going at Manchester United were summed up by saying "We play like Brazil of old and I love it".

Also such a talented player deserves to be surrounded by other talented players in the quest for silverware glory. He is after all now a Premiership Champion.

[RP]

Precosicousness doesn't last....sooner or later a player gets found out and needs to develop other aspects of his game which will see him prosper beyond the teenage years. Rooney has come on leaps and bounds since his everton days, of that there is no question. Looking from the outside in Ronaldo's glittering form of the last two seasons has maybe overshadowed rooneys contribution. But I can assure you, the heart and sole of the team is wayne rooney and will remain so long after the ronaldo's of this world move on to more exotic climes. I think any united fan worth his/her salt will testify to this.

[Redzuan]

If he had kept up his old game, I bet he wouldn't last to twenty five. The Phenomenon Ronaldo of Brazil did just that and has spent as much time on the bench as on the field.

[paul]

I totally agree, Rooney was better in 2004. In his first season at Everton Rooney looked like he was going to be a true phenomenon, like Gascoigne and then some. I remember his goal against Arsenal at Highbury and a one against Leeds, he looked unstoppable.
Maybe the element of surprise has gone because he is not unstoppable now, despite of course being a England's best player.

[Toffee Dan]

I think you will find the author wasn't trying to be bitter in his analysis. Rooney has progressed but in different ways - I also believe that if the progress had been exponential we would be talking about a truly stellar player. The progress he made (and the impact) has not been matched by the same level of performance, which, whilst often very good, has been checkered in some way - either by the outstanding performances of Ronaldo or by failing in his own part to make the next leap from excellent young player to exceptional.

[Gary]

Rooney had his passport confiscated a long time ago, who cares.

[phil]

Sorry mate - your US exile has denied you the pleasure of watching Rooney revel at the creative centre of arguably the best side in Europe. I am a season ticket holder at OT and I can tell you Rooney enjoys his football like a kid in the park, his work rate off the ball, his team play and his overall contribution to the team in whatever role his is asked to play is exemplary and far more impressive then Ronaldo, the supposed star of the show. Get over yourself or come home..

[santino]

Rooney is good but ronaldo has stolen the highlight so therefore, ronaldo is the man!!!

[Little Boy Blue]

Could have been a God but chose to be a Devil. May he find redemption in Moscow.

[Giordano Bennetti]

As a United fan, I get what the author feels. Rooney IS a better player now; but he's not so unpredictable and exciting as he was when he first hit the stage.

I think the aspect of his game that has not progressed as expected is his finishing. He scored so many in Euro 2004 and then got a hat-trick on his United debut, and I expected him to continue scoring at a very high rate. Instead, although his general play and attitude are outstanding, he misses dozens of chances. If he could add that bit of composure to his game, he would be everything that the Everton fans hoped for - aside from the colour of his shirt.

[Damian]

Doug....are you serious?

[Mark Hughes]

IS THIS MAN ON DRUGS IF NOT PLEASE GO TO DOCTOR....from a jealous Scotsman who would have him in the team when he was at Everton but would prefer the player that is playing for Man U, he is just so much more aware of things around him and lost his nasty streak !!!

[steve]

anyone who believes OUR wayne was a better player at Everton than now needs a reality check as a match going red since 1982 i can honestly say he is one of the best players to grace the famous red shirt

[Andy]

Hell hath no bitterness like an Everton fan scorned!!!! Lol. United have seen a fair number of precious tallents come through the ranks. Whiteside and Giggs are two obvious examples. When they hit that early twenties period, they have lost their element of surprise, lost their wild teenage fearlessness and have to start to mature. Its not coached into them, its mature or fail. Even George Best matured but you won't read about that because everyone looks back with nostalgia clouding the reality.

Watch Rooney's back heeled pass to Tevez this season. You can watch it twenty times and its impossible to see where he see's that pass.

After each match there is one United shirt that is almost always claimed by an opposing player. Sunday against Arsenal was a typical example. Ronaldo walked off wearing his shirt, Cesc Fabregas walked of carrying Rooney's. I wonder why?

[Tom K]

Rooney is a lot more exiting than the sparodic teenage firework he was at Everton. Any Utd fan will tell you he is a wonderful performer week in week out. Even in the shadow of Ronaldos shocking last 18 months, Rooney is the one who makes it a great pleasure to be a United fan at the moment.

[Interested Watcher]

Unfortunately the facts get in the way of this fantasy.

Waynes Rooney's goals per game stat is consistantly higher than it ever was before.

12 PL goals in 22 PL starts.

......and Ferguson has helped make him a much better all-round footballer & team player.

[Richard Johnston]

Wayne has developed into so much more than the boy he used to be at Everton. Ferguson has moulded him into a prolific team player, and he now performs as a quartet with Ronaldo, Tevez and Anderson. Ferguson doesn't require a solo goal scoring machine, but rather a goal scoring team, that Rooney now plays an important role in.

[Joe]

You can say what you like about Everton Wayne vs. United Wayne, bottom line is that he has grown up a bit and has matured as a player and probably as a person. I think he learned a valuable lesson in WC '06 when he got sent off and cost England the match. Even if he was still at Everton (highly unlikely) Moyes would have pulled him aside and tell him to simmer down because he is a leader and needed on the pitch, not in the locker room.
The two things I admire most about Rooney: 1. His heart. The boy never stops playing, always wants to play and is in Fergie's ear about playing until SAF has migraines hearing about it! 2. I have never heard him complain once about Ronaldo scoring more than him, about serving balls to Tevez, Sick-ha, Ronnie, or anyone else. I have always heard him say that what matters most is that the club wins. I can see that he is sincere about those feelings, not just from his words, but from his play.
You can keep your memories of Everton Wayne. I'll take our United Wayne any day of the week and twice on Sundays. Especailly Sundays where we beat Arsenal.

[Peter]

Oh my god!! What twaddle!!! The Rooster is cleary a better player now than he was at Everton. Take off the Blue (or England White) tinited glasses and take a look at the player he is now. Opinions are always valid but usually fact speak louder. The facts being that for Man Utd this season they have won nearly every game in which Wayne has played. And lost or drawn most of the games in which he has not played. But carry on thinking he is not the player he should have become!?!?!? Utter utter nonsense.
Keep playing the way you do Wayne and I will toast you on European and Domestic success this season. Fear not the myopia of the jealous.

[Nick]

This article is spot on, fergie took the "wild" side out of Rooney that made everyone sit on the edge of their seats, no one seems to remember that the best thing about watching Rooney was his powerful runs at defences which scared the hell out of them. Look at Euro 2004 and how good he was then, he was world class then because defences wet themselves whenever he got the ball, hes less of a threat nowadays

[mike]

you can say what you like about you'r wayne but at the end of the day he's our wayne now

[Aditya]

Eh... hard to refute an article that's based almost entirely on opinion, nostalgia, and perhaps even artificial memory. I'm sure some West Ham fans may feel the same way about "their" Joe Cole. From the sound of it, the author longs for the rough cut diamond that Alex Ferguson has smoothed out. As the examples of Giggs and Ronaldo prove, Fergie knows how to develop young talent, and I'm sure playing against the likes of Maldini and Totti has made Rooney a far better player than he ever would have been under David Moyes.

[ari]

england is a good barometer; while he was still at everton, rooney was brilliant for england. not so since he moved to man utd

[glyn rees]

the answer lies in the statistics. Since moving to OT Wayne has doubled his scoring rate. Everton cant hold a candle to ManU because Wayne is now the playmaker for Tevez, Saha( when he isn't sick)Nani and takes the heat off Ronaldo. Isn't it strange that United have lost when Rooney isn't playing. Isn't it strange that Everton have won nothing at all without him.

[Richard]

Nice post, would also say it is a fair assesament. Rooney has had to sacrifice his natural insticts and become more of a team player, and while admirable, it is not what we paid £30m for. In a game recently Rooney burst past 2 defenders on the left and teased and dribbled by them, very remeniscent of the way he did against France at Euro 2004 and I thought "yea, there is the Euro 2004 Rooney we all loved and admired!" Shame he seems to be shackled and those moments are few and far between as he is constantly made to do the dirty work up front to allow others to shine.....

[ph]

I don't think that's entirely fair, sure his tenacious side and aggression have been toned down in order to increase his culpability on the pitch but who could argue that his temperament wasn't going to get him into trouble, trouble that would not benefit himself, his club, or his country.

You also have to consider his run of injuries, a broken metatarsal every year for the past three or something like that, it's no wonder his international scoring and performances are going to drop if his is played when unfit or, injured. In 4 years i don't think i've seen him have a season uninterrupted by injury but with a break this summer hopefully he can make the kind of breakthrough that Ronaldo has made the last two years, also taking into account Wayne is a year younger.

He has still scored important goals, AC Milan, Roma in the Champions League not to mention the numerous times he turns up for big games in the Premiership. It is all part of his football education.

[paul]

Rooney is a more COMPLETE player at UTD then he would have ever become at everton.. he is also surrounded by more class so he isnt the only person the team counts on for goals.. also to become a legend u need to win trophies something he would have neevr done with everton ..

[pack rat]

Ah yes. Ours always is better than yours isn't it. If the stats show otherwise we can fall back onto things like purity, style, or legend status. But the allegation that Rooney's badge-kissing is hypocrisy turns this disappointed moan into something nastier. Perhaps Rooney genuinely loves the colleagues, the set-up, and the developmental work that has been put into him at OT. Or perhaps he has matured above and away from simplistic and blinkered hatred of an ex-rival. That sounds like something your Wayne could never have done.

[Oliver Price]

so, so, so true- Rooney at Everton was like a centre forward version of Messi. scaring the living daylights out of defences everywhere. Now he's more like a less technical Bergkamp- certainly nothing to sniff at, but when was the last time he ran at someone? i watch the Mancs most weeks and just feel sad at how good he could have been compared to what he now is

[Marc Melander]

Excellent article - Rooney is a shadow of the player he was at Everton, albeit a 2 stone heavier shadow.

He has also developed a remarkable ability to shoot straight at the 'keeper when one on one when a Greavesesque pass into the net is called for.

[Paul G]

Totally agree.

An excellent assessment but what would have happened if he stayed and became the "big man" at Everton.
Would there be parallels with Gascoigne?

We will never know.

[James Hunt]

I got goosepimples remembering that goal against arsenal...i still have the video clip on my desktop!

[James]

I think he was just as good for Man Utd in his first two seasons- he's just never quite been the same since that injury before the world cup.
He has had a lot of injuries though- I think if he has a full year without being out he'll get back to his very best again.
Ronaldo gradually reached his current level and he hasn't had any serious injuries to hamper his progress- I think that's important.