Jun 18
The Wayne Rooney Debate
In an attempt to move on from the Ronaldo saga, I want to go back to the topic that was getting most “blog inches” (if that’s a phrase) before we descended into the current quagmire. What’s the deal with Wayne Rooney?
I’ve tried to phrase that as openly as possible, because the spectrum of opinion is broad. To some, Rooney is a maestro who had a bad season. To others, he’s a good player who hasn’t quite lived up to his billing or his potential. I know that after a sub-par performance in the CL final, most of you were leaning towards the latter — decent player, great to have him in the side, but not as stand-out amazing as we had hoped. I disagree, and here’s my take on things.
The ultimate team player
Rooney, to me, is team spirit embodied. There are two things that make him enjoy his football — playing in the team, and the team winning. Contrast to Ronaldo, who (whatever he said in post-match interviews) is all about his own performance first, and the team second. He will play wherever he is asked to, for as long as he is asked to, without sulking or whining. The only time you’ll find him sulking is if he is substituted when he still feels he has something to offer the team.
This stat doesn’t show up in any tables. It’s not quantifiable in assists, tackles, metres run, shots on target, or any other stat. It just is — he is prepared to subjugate his own desires and achievements for the good of the team, and has done so from the moment he walked in the door.
That’s why he’ll be at United for life, driving the team forward long after any of our continental imports have moved on. And if you don’t appreciate him for that, especially after the hullaballoo of the last few weeks, then you should damn well start.
Out of position
This is a subset of the above, but the most important one. Let there be no doubt, Rooney’s best position is just off the front man, with a roaming brief. He should be allowed to drop off into midfield to pick up the ball, or move out onto either wing when he sees space, or to push past the front man when he sees an opportunity. Teams should (Fabio Capello take note) be built around him.
But at Old Trafford, for one reason and another, they haven’t been. Last season’s team was as close as I’ve ever seen Fergie go to building the team around a single player — admittedly it was around one of the best players we’ve ever seen playing at the peak of his powers — but it usually doesn’t work like that. Prior to that, Ruud was the key man, and Rooney had to play second fiddle.
Set against that, look at where Rooney played last season:
1. up top, as a lone striker — he’s not tall enough for that role, and does his best work facing goal. Still, he worked hard and made life as tough a possible for defences, in turn creating spaces and gaps for a certain other player.
2. on the left — often he and Tevez alternated, but it was clear that they should be where Ronaldo was not, thereby stretching defences as much as possible.
3. as a wing back — remember the first Barcelona game? I don’t know of many other players of Rooney’s status and talent who would not only accept that role but really take to it.
There was only a short period where he played as part of a traditional front two, and if you buy a season review DVD (which I am currently glorying in) you will remember some of the sublime interplay between Rooney and Tevez through the centre.
Finishing
Another criticism levelled against Rooney is that he doesn’t score enough goals. Well, I agree that his finishing isn’t as lethal as it could be — certainly not good enough to be our main striker. But then who said he was our main striker? He certainly hasn’t been very often yet. Nor does he loiter around the six yard box for tap ins, and he isn’t even in the area for corners.
Rooney should be compared, in the grand scheme of things, to the likes of Cantona and Sheringham. That’s the sort of player he is. Le God never banged in 40 goals in a season, but he scored crucial goals in crucial games, went on hot streaks, and had that aura which generally improved the performance of everyone around him. Sheringham was the ultimate dictator-from-deep, gaining a yard with his brain rather than his pace, and chipping in with occasional but important goals. There are even shades of the strength and combative nature of Mark Hughes, with the same ability to score stunning goals from distance.
I am honestly not exaggerating when I say that Rooney has the best bits of all these legends rolled into one, and so to judge him on the number of goals he has scored alone is laughable. How dare anyone condense the contribution of one of our best team players into an analysis of the most crude stat? Most people here know more about football than that, and should know better.
Loyalty
I’ll keep this short, because I’ve covered it in a previous article. Rooney is even more valuable to us because he will be with us for the rest of his career, unless we choose to sell him. There’s a good reason why British players come at a premium (Carrick for £18m, Rooney for £25m, Rio for £30m) — that’s because if you’re United, you’re buying that guy with a view to keeping him until he retires. I was variously called narrow-minded and a racist back then, but I reckon a few more people see my point now.
Nowhere in the various Ronaldo threads have I seen the comment “don’t worry, we have Rooney”. Well, I’m making it now. Build a team around Rooney, and we won’t regret it.
Related items from Red Rants:
- United sign new Rooney…
- Do United Need Another Left Back?
- Tottenham 1-1 Man Utd: Tevez Rescues Point
- Familiar guff from Messi, and a word on England fans/Rooney
- Wayne Rooney Interviews Capello
Tags: Manchester United News
Craig Mc (195)
RedDevilEddy (170)
Opti (135)
Moscow is my heaven (96)
Ian (95)
I was just kidding… don’t get carried away…
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To be honest I don’t much care for the new kit. My feeling has always been that United are referred to as the RED DEVILS. Our predominant color should be red. What is about the game of footy that allows away kits to have no resemblance or color coordination with home kits or a team’s traditional color code? This is my North American bias speaking so please indulge me on this. Over here a team wears their team colors for both away and home games. If we wear a red jersey and white shorts at home, usually the away kit would be the reverse, white jersey and red shorts. What the heck does blue shorts have to do with United? And every bloody year it changes. From yellow to all white to black to all blue etc etc. It’s a real joke. It’s just a cheap marketing ploy and it’s just tacky. United’s away kit should be white jersey, red shorts and black or white socks. Stay consistent with the team’s traditions and home colors.
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AndyCR7; I wasn’t getting carried away. I was just asking a question. Truthfully, Ronaldo saying anything of value these days would be miraculous.
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Grognard, I live in North America too, and I agree with your away kit sentiments. It’s irksome how clubs can never keep an away or 3rd kit the same for more than a year or two. The reason must be that the kits for competing teams have to be more visibly distinct both for the players and the tele cameras. Also, if they can only change the home kit every two seasons, then they try to make more money by having new away or third kits out every summer. For the life of me though, I would never buy an away kit if I only could afford one kit every season or five. Why would one want to wear white or blue or black or anything else if they could wear red, red and more red.
Turkey’s colors are red and white (because of the flag). Over our history, Turkey has always had two kits: one red, one white. So, usually both kits have red and white, but in different proportions. If you have seen the new away kit for Turkey, it doesn’t really fit the description I just gave, because it is white and aqua/turquoise. The Turkish press really hated Nike for it at the beginning, and I still can’t get used to it.
Actually, I just thought of something. Why does the crest of Manchester United that we all love have yellow in it, as well as the famous red? If we were to derive the kit colors just based on the crest, then wouldn’t we see some combination of red and yellow ala the big three in Istanbul (which all have 2 colors in their crests that are always therefore home and away or striped-Fenerbahce is yellow and blue, Besiktas is black and white, Galatasaray is red and yellow).
Anyway, the white, blue and red away jerseys are tacky. Are they just trying to appeal to the USA? I think it’s just Nike showing off their design concepts every year all around the globe to compete with Adidas/Reebok, Puma, Umbro, Airness, Jako, Diadora, le coq sportif, Errea and others.
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I like the new away kit! It looks great. Hopefully it will help us win against Liverpool, Villa, Boro and West Ham. Against Stoke, Arsenal and Sunderland we will use another kit that isnt white. At least I think so… Thats what we did in 2002/03 and 2006/07.
Uniteds away kits since 1999:
1999/00: All blue
2000/01: All white
2001/02: White shirt and socks, black/dark blue shorts. All gold third kit.
2002/03: All blue.
2003/04: White and black.
2004/05: All black.
2005/06: Blue and red. My personal favorite.
2006/07: White shirt, black shorts and socks.
2007/08: All black.
2008/09: White shirt and socks, blue shorts.
So you see, United have never used a white and red away shirt. I like that idea, but I dont think it will happen. Usually the list goes like this: White, black, white, blue, white, black… so on.
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TurkishRed; What’s even more annoying is seeing the same them happen now with national team away kits. Those kits for the most part remained the same with small variations over the years. I always liked the German away kit with the green jersey and white shorts but now they wear a red jersey with white shorts. The DFB official colors are green, black and white. What does red have to do with all that?
I also hate the trend of late with teams abandoning the proper color of their shorts and making them the same color as the jersey. Italy in all blue just looks wrong. The Azzuri always looked cool with their blue jersey, white shorts and blue socks. Scotland, France and many others have done the same. I just don’t like it. I am a believer in two colors and the shorts never matching the jersey. It’s OK for club teams like Liverpool because that has been their kit for decades but to mess with a national kit is just blasphemy.
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Will anyone buy the new away kit? I already have the red home kit, but it has Ronaldo 7 on the back. I dont want a kit with his name anymore. I canot forgive him for what he has done. To wear his kit will only make me feel bad. I will either buy the home kit with Anderson on the back or the white one with Andy. Which one do you think I should buy?
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In other transfer news, Alexandr Hleb of Arsenal is negotiating with Barca. Looks like they will lose another important player. And wouldnt this be sweet? Hleb and Adebayor to Barca, Etoo to Manchester United.
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[RedDevil]
I think you should buy Huntelaar
(i wish i could say that rather)
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To get back to topic
Rooney is a fantastic footballer, and among their praise for his heart and work ethic, people tend to forget how skillful he is. His first touch is among the best in the PL, and his passing and vision are superb as well. And he’s only 22.
I don’t have time to write down all my praise for him, but I would like to say that I believe, we win almost every game with him on the pitch. He drives his teammates to glory because of his attitude.
Rooney, I love you mate.
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The deal with Wayne Rooney is his finishing is poor. One he sorts that out this pre-season debates about him and where he plays will die the natural death they deserve
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I Agree,with this There’s a good reason why British players come at a premium (Carrick for £18m, Rooney for £25m, Rio for £30m) — that’s because if you’re United, you’re buying that guy with a view to keeping him until he retires.Look at Beckham….If the Shoes NEVER fly to his eyebrown…he will stay with us until he DIE…..But what can we say….this if the life that we must continue…when Ronaldo in age 17 years old,l think hw will royal to United,mmmmm sudennly his Mom Say..Something About Rob Madrid…..The Saga Begin……My Suggest …Sell Ronaldo to Mdrid with Min price $100m + extra player prefer schneider & Ramos….forget him…United is United even Withot the traitor……
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