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:
- Do United Need Another Left Back?
- United sign new Rooney…
- Will United deliver decisive blow in derby epic?
- Familiar guff from Messi, and a word on England fans/Rooney
- Tottenham 1-1 Man Utd: Tevez Rescues Point
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (485)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (346)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
Grognard, well support our team in our own way. I admit that I write more negative stuff about rooney than positive. But this is only because everyone waxes poetic about rooney, and frankly it gets a little boring with out a difference of opinion. I dont have to defend fanhood because from where I am standing it appears you and me have drastic views of what the really means. My only problems with your viewpoint is that their is no room for an opposing view. if anyone disagrees with you, they get flamed.
RR, this was a great post. we are all sick to death of ronaldo. We all no nothing, yet we argue in circles day after day. It is refreshing to talk about players who we all know is gonna be there next year.
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Jos, reading your last post I think you are missing something!. Not all players change their allegiances so fast these days as you put it. There are still those who fall so in love with the whole magic of a place like Old Trafford, Real dastardly Madrid, and other teams. It is the whole mystery and history, and culture of a particular club that holds players in its grip, and makes loyalists out of them. They cannot see themselves playing anywhere else. So the cause of their allegiance to a team and its cause, and its place of situation matter more to the player, than the area perhaps he grew up in. Mancunians cannot understand why any player would want to leave our club, and very few do want to leave once they have experienced the magic of it all. Does that make us unreasonable, and biased, course it feckin does. To many United fans, our club is more than a club, it’s a religion, you will no doubt have seen the banners testifying to the truth of that statement. So perhaps Roon is and always will be a scouser at heart, but will he ever leave the club that he openly declares now to be ‘the best team in the world in his mind’ – maybe, but I don’t think so. The truth is, Roon was loved by Evertonians, but not appreciated and loved and used by management as he should have been. At United he is loved and used as he wanted to be by Fergie and the fans.
RR – I see where you are coming from now, fair do’s then!.
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Throughout the whole Ronaldo saga I’ve been telling anyone who cares to listen, “let Ronaldo go, Rooney’s a better player anyway.”
It say’s everything you need to know that Rooney would play in goal if that was where SAF put him! :@D
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RR, I have been thinking thru your post on Territorial bias lol. I think bias towards a particular team can fall into several catagories. There is local idiom. Where kids are breastfed on a particular team by fanatical parents. My experience and a lot of my friends were such. So parental influence is major factor in who we may support. Supporters of this kind, are I agree with you, the most faithful to their local club. Such supporters will support a team that their parents support and have influenced them to support too. Because Dads mainly take their kids to support their chosen club from a young age. This will be the case whether the parents live in the locality of the club, or far away. Then there are those who thru peer pressure will opt for teams that are winning things. They have a winning mentality bias, and will attach themselves to winners, no matter which teams are winning at the time. They may or may not stay when that team cease to be winners. Mostly they will move on to other winning teams though. Then you have those people who like a particular player, and will support that club specifically because they love to watch and support that player. Other fans come to their persuasion because they just enjoy good football, fast, furious, entertaining, edge of your seat stuff, and will follow those teams that hypnotise them. Are they hangers on?. I don’t really think so. Football as an entertainment, is like a good concert, people go for the pure enjoyment of it all. Lastly, there are those from all other nations, who will support teams that their fellow nationals are involved with for as long as they are with that team. So it is such an admixture congregation of fans. Yet to locals, the true fans are those who grew up with their team, territorial choice and bigotry as you mentioned RR. Is it fair for Mancs to think we are the true born and bred supporters, I don’t think it is really anymore, because football is so global, that there are those like Grog and others who are as fanatical in their support as we locals.
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[johnsom33]
That said, I see what you mean. But I think the only other player in United who would draw a fair bit of debate apart from Ronaldo would have been Rooney anyway.
It wasn’t me, it was Penguin who wrote it. So thank him.
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want to see rooney at his best last season, dig up a tape of him destroying arsenal in the fa cup 4th round, absolutely magical and in my opinion what led to the demise of arsenal, after the 4-0 drubbing, then came eduardo and the rest is history,
that game made me believe rooney still has a lot to offer, but has not had the chance or was misused, just let fergie find the perfect partner, ol’ wazza will be tearing it up again
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jos; I never said Rooney was a boyhood United fan. I just said that he is one now. Who cares if he is an Everton fan. It’s not kept him from scoring against them and he certainly isn’t a David Moyes fan.
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johnsom33. I think both you and RR are overreacting to my comments. I wasn’t “FLAMING you” at all. I was disagreeing with you and arguing my pointof view. I thought that was what this site was all about. Did I call you names or insult you personally. I din’t know that disagreeing with you was flammable or wrong? Any time I have ever overreacted about people being rude towards me it was because they would throw personal insults like stupid, idiot, loser etc. I never called you any names but I take great issue with your comments on Rooney. Simply put I disagree with you and i was able to defend my position. But somehow in defending my position you and RR became all PC on me and I am not quite sure what it was that said that’s so wrong? By questioning your love for Rooney I was stating my opinion from where i stand based on what you wrote. If that was wrong of me then I am man enough to apologize to you. However, on everything else I said I stand firm by it and I believe it to be the case. That’s what disagreeing is all about. And I did show you respect by saying that your views are fine because voicing them is your prerogative. My comments were not intended to be rude, it’s just meant to show strong disagreement.
RR; Sometimes the messenger needs to be shot. But I think I was using a water pistol here.
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whiteY; Honestly neither Arteta nor Cahill do anything for me and I don’t think they are United class. I want world class players, not international class.
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Craig; Well said mate. I totally agree with you. I would add that people’s allegiance to local teams has also changed by the farther widening aspects of today’s television coverage and of course the internet. Truthfully, I find fans who are hopeless homers a little pathetic. Certainly not if they are United fans because in that case they are lucky to be following the best team in the world. But fans who loyally waste their time following shite like Millwall, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday etc are just glutton’s for punishment. They remind me of the baggage boy at the local supermarket who keeps doing the same job into his 50′s. Lack of imagination, ambition and good taste seem to be epidemic amongst sports fans in general. I have always picked my teams by one factor and one factor only. Did the team and it’s players capture my fancy and imagination? If they did, I become a fan and when I become a fan I become very loyal. But I am also honest enough to say that I might not stick with that team if it goes from riches to rags and doesn’t recover within an acceptable time frame. I personally do not see the point in supporting a loser and I don’t care if their home turf is my back yard. I am into sports for the entertainment value and watching Reading or Derby bore me to death with their lack of skill and long ball tactics does not make me feel a love for them or the game they play. People’s love for the underdog is just such bollocks. Everybody was so enthused by Barnsley’s FA Cup run and were happy to see a team like Cardiff make it to the final but then when it came time to hype the final, nobody but the locals from the two teams gave a damn about the game. Why? Because people want to watch a showcase with true talent and sides that stimulate the imagination. Why settle for scum when you can have cream?
Supporting losers or underachievers is a personal thing but I for one will never ever understand that mentality. The team’s people support tells me a lot of their personal ambitions and self esteem or lack of. Supporting the neighborhood pub team is one thing but in today’s global and technical society, staying within your neighborhood is really being a one dimensional and very close minded person. Unless of course you have a team like Man Utd, Real Madrid, Barca, Juve or Milan playing in your municipality. We all have a guilty pleasure when it comes to cheering for another club that just doesn’t add up to much. For me it has always been Spurs. Why? Because in 1980-81 I saw enough games with Glenn Hoddle, Ozzie Ardiles and Ricky Villa to say that despite United, I like these guys. At least they were capable of winning the FA Cup a few times to give me some pleasure but for the most part they never were much more than middle of the table underachievers. To this day I still sort of like Spurs except when the play United. I cannot imagine what it must take to live in a city like Liverpool, Manchester or London and support Everton, Man City and West Ham? Like I said stubborn, close minded people imprisoned by their neighborhood ties like a bunch of sheep. I thank the good lord he gave me a mind and freedom to make my own choices and not follow the whims of family, friends or what the neighbors like. That freedom has made my love of sports a true treat and a satisfying pastime. I have had great fun watching Germany, Bayern Munich, Manchester united, The New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins win many many championships and always be top contenders for the most part. I never at first selected these teams because of their success. I selected them because of the way they played their respective games as well, I like players who played for these teams. And what a treat this freedom to choose has given me over the years. Now ask yourself, what can a poor pathetic sod who supports Millwall expect?
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FERGIE! Sign Arshavin now….PLEASE! Beautiful goal. I’m also a big fan of their left back Zhirkov. He’s a bit older but he is a very skilled player and passer. He is also a LMF fro CSK Moscow even though Hiddink chooses to use him as a LWB. Versatility and class. That’s what we need. Russia are taking it to the Swedes.
NIKOS; How about Greece leading against Spain? Hope they win for pride and respect. Spain is so overrated. They lack that extra grit and graft that is needed to win it all I think. So now that I said that they will go on and win the whole thing.
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Grognard: I don’t intend to start a war ith you on it but the casual dismissal of the choice people to support their local team over seeking glory is extemely unfair. You talk of close mindedness, well I think you could do with looking closer to home before applying your sweepng generalisations to hundreds of thousands of English football supporters.
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[JB]
I addressed that to him through email. In future if you have a problem write to me, I will convey anything to him. As you said, you don’t want a war and I don’t want one too — so let’s refrain from bringing up statements that will start a war.
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[Grognard]
Granted he’s a good player but to what use? He will add to the plethora of second strikers we already have at the club.
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Grog – hahaha, think about it, every dog has it’s day!. The fans of the David’s of football thoroughly enjoy their warfare against the Goliath’s. They enjoy it more so when they defeat Goliath too, it is something that stays with them for years, happy remembrances. We wouldn’t have leagues at all would we, if we didn’t have the David’s and their fans. Some people bless the days of the little people!. Wouldn’t do if we all only supported the winners. I mean some of the clubs you mentioned, the Reading’s etc haven’t done too bad in competitions against our own Man Utd. I love to see the ‘Little People’ get a bit of glory against the giants of football. I celebrated like you wouldn’t believe Grog when Barnsley beat the Blues of the Chelsea Kremlin, and the Reds LiverFools!. Some people just love their local team, and the area they grew up in, like RR said. These local clubs that are so called ‘small fry’, foster a kind of family atmosphere, and people get to know each other, and enjoy the comraderie. I can appreciate that. Bit like you said about supporting the lads from your local pub. Wouldn’t do for us all to be the same. Variety, the spice of life. My family supported Man Utd when they dropped into a lower league, and saw them come up again the following season. Great drama Grog, my Dad wouldn’t have missed the opportunity for the world. Though he wouldn’t like it repeated LOL. So I respect the fans of small clubs, because they wait a long time for their day of glory, but enjoy being part of their local town football family. You know what I mean Grog.
I agree with you about Arshavin. Also Gus Hiddink plays our kind of football. Fast, good quick passing ability, much attacking philosophy, and shots on goal. Very exciting to watch. I will be routing for Holland in the next round though, that goes without saying.
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RR: My apologies it’s just the policy isn’t very clear here. I thought the emails to yourself were for personal attacks and the like and not general disagreements with comments.
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JB, excuse my ignorance mate, but do you happen to know if the Man Utd dvd ‘End of Season Review’, is the same as the ‘How we won the PL’ shown on MUTV?.
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Brilliant article, Rooney is a class player for United, great that you made that point.
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[JB]
Yes, there is a fine line here. But I suppose you knew (and I know too) what comments will ensue in a war. So if you think making a certain comment will set off a war, you would be better served if you convey your sentiments off the comment section? I’d rather act as a bridge between your comments with each other via email rather than have it here. That’s all I am saying.
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Perhaps I am over reacting. But considering the million wars that have gone on this site over the past year, I have felt the need to be pro-active. It’s tough on me, but I need to do something to ensure clean debate. It’s certainly not foolproof, but it’s an attempt.
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JB; I see what you are saying but sorry, I’ll express my views as I see them and I really am not looking for anyone’s approval. I was being honest with my feelings and how I see things. I never said my viewpoint was the law or the way other’s should feel, nor do I believe that what my views are necessarily correct. But kindly allow myself to express my feelings without your moral judgment. I take no offense to what you say I just think that you should allow me to state my views from MY perspective. Of course others will have different ways of looking at things and I respect that. And in return am I not allowed to think my own thoughts as well? I call it as I see it right or wrong. At least I take the time to offer my honest opinion of things.
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Nasri “Agrees contract with Arsenal” — according to the BBC
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Craig: Sorry I don’t have a definite answer. I have had a look around and apparently there is BBC commentary used on the DVD so my guess is that it isn’t MUTV’s work. Also the DVD seems to cover the full campaign, whereas by the title I would assume the MUTV program is PL only.
RR: That is why I was being very conscious of what I said. To be frank it can be hard determine where the line is as I’ve made, what I regarded as innocuous, comments in the past that have generate a shit storm. The only saving grace was that the comments were made in the relative safety of a United blog. God knows what reaction they would have drawn elsewhere.
Gognard: This isn’t my corner to argue as I don’t support any of the clubs that were mentioned in your comment. However is it really fair for you to call supporters close minded sheep simply because you don’t share their mentaity?
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JB; Yes it is because it’s my general opinion. Right or wrong JB, that’s how I feel. Should I suppress my natural feelings and what my mind is telling me just because some people may disagree with me. I disagreed with Johnsom33′s opinion of Rooney but I respect his right to voice his opinion. I disagreed with him as you are disagreeing with me. I respect your right to do that but please allow me to speak my mind also regardless of whether what I have to say is popular. I really don’t know how much more clearer I can be on the subject.
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Yet another player being signed during the EUROS and nothing from Man Utd. Instead Fergie is wasting his time doing commercials with a bunch of useless youth as a public service thing or whatever. It’s time for United to get bloody well aggressive and start making things happen.
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Disgree, fine, everybody has their own opinion. But what is the requirement for the derision of other supporters for their choices? That doesn’t seem respectful of their opinion on why they support less sucessful clubs.
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Craig; Nice reply. I see where you are coming from but my mind just can’t wrap itself around cheering such underdogs. At the end of the day life has too much to offer for me to live and breath for just my sports teams (although I’d say I am a bit of hypocrite over the past 6 months sitting at home awaiting a back operation). Life is to short for me to wait a lifetime for one glimmering moment in Barnsley’s history or for that matter the Vancouver Canucks hockey team. 40 years in the league and they haven’t won a thing. And thousands in and around Vancouver live and breath Canucks. Gluttons for punishment is what I say. Like I said, life is too short mate. But then again, whatever floats one’s boat. Just forgive me for not getting it. I do see what you mean though
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[Grognard]
Then here’s a question for you. So if United, by some quirk of fate, were to go under or get relegated (heaven forbid) would you jump ship?
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JB; When you make a wide generalization, it is hardly disrespectful. It’s just an opinion. If we call Liverpool fans Scouser scum, are we not doing the same? I’m sure their are Liverpool fans that are fine law abiding people with decent taste. HANG ON! Strike that last comment. What the Hell am I saying?
Let me try again. I personally think the worst television show in North America is American Idol. I think it’s brain dead entertainment catering to the lowest common denominator. And you know what, many people with an IQ agree with me. But that generalization isn’t any less disrespectful. It’s just a fact as I see it. We can’t all have popular thoughts.
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Red Ranter; Arshavin has many uses. He is being used as a striker for Russia but his real role is with Zenit where he plays the attacking midfield role or the LMF/LW role. Now do you see why I like him so much?
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Grog: Agree with you on Arshavin, fantastic footballer who plays our system perfectly. Fergie wanted an experienced player to take over Giggs experience at that end of the pitch and think he fits the bill perfectly. Imagine a front 3 of Arshavin Rooney Ronaldo! They would destroy teams……
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[Grognard]
No I still don’t see his use, given we have people like Nani there already and Rooney should play the attacking/support striker role. We have higher priority positions to fill like a target man and a full back for cover.
My point is, is he as high priority as say someone like Huntelaar. I think not. He’ll be a luxury at best. Unless we plan to replace Ronaldo.
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JB, thanks a lot. I guess it is not the same then as the MUTV PL one. I will have to get it then, because it sounds good from the comments of bloggers.
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Red Ranter: Fair enough a striker and and full back as cover are the main priorities but why cant we sign him aswell? 3 players coming in sounds about right, keeps the squad on its toes. We have a very very tough season ahead of us so we need a big squad more than ever and Giggs will play lees this year and who knows whether Park injury is gonna become a problem. He will be a great signing and ready to be thrown straight in and has great experience in europe. But knowing us we will let Chelsea or Liverpool sign him.
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RR; I see Arshavin as an ideal replacement for Scholes. He’s cut out of the same mold but with more pace. He doesn’t have to be a threat to Nani but if Ronaldo left, He can also play RMF/RW too. His versatility and ability to excel at every position he is placed makes him highly valuable. But if you can’t see that that’s OK too. And he’s very high priority if we lose CR7.
To answer your other question. I already did in post #60 I wrote; “But I am also honest enough to say that I might not stick with that team if it goes from riches to rags and doesn’t recover within an acceptable time frame. Is that not an answer that is clear? I love United but I refuse to be tortured by United. My tolerance for things only goes so far. A sports team is not my family or dear relatives or friends that I would stick with through thick and thin. It’s a form entertainment. If that entertainments fails to entertain me and does so over a long period of time, I might very well look elsewhere. If that’s disloyal in your eyes I don’t really care nor do I feel offended if you feel that way. Like I said earlier, life is too damn short to be caught up in silly sentiment an loyalty when it’s bringing you nothing but grief. Hell, people divorce and kill each other all the time and I’m going to lose sleep because I changed my team allegiance? I don’t think so. With that said, I am a United fan for a reason. A long and very successful tradition of winning and competing at the highest level. I don’t see that changing drastically over the rest of my lifetime but you never know. If they were to get relegated, I’d still support them for a time as long as they fought hard to get promoted again. With their tradition, money and power, I cannot see that happening. But nothing is written in stone now is it. I’m as hard core a United supporter as anyone who was born three blocks from OT. I just don’t believe in going down with the ship when it sinks. I don’t need the pain in my life. If that makes me a fair weather fan, so be it. At least the weather at OT has been pretty damned clear and warm for over 50 years, so I’m not expecting a sudden ice age.
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grognard; fair enough. I do agree with you about Arshavin. He is pure quality just ask Ranger fans. How much has his value risen this season from the uefa cup run to now he has been amazing.
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RR – you’ve got the United end of season review dvd haven’t you???. Is it worth buying?.
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We dont really need to replace ronaldo if he leaves. Fergie will shift the focus of the team like he always does, and Nani will fit in seamlessly on the wing. Watch Nani rise and rise as soon as knows fergie has faith in him. Im not saying he will ever get to Ronaldo’s level, but he will become a world class winger.
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[craig]
Nope. I am ordering it, but I don’t think we should be asking if it’s worth buying. This is our best season since ’99. So it has to be one for keeps.
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Yeah I know RR, but from past experience there can be quite a few different dvds etc of the past season, and I just want to get the best there is that’s all. Some dvd’s are miles better and more worth having than others, so that’s why I am asking.
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Grognard
(sorry to everyone else for the following unrelated comment)
Just wanted to ask you how u can support the BRUINS of all teams..
U said ur from edmonton – the oilers have been and still are much more entertaining than boston.. BUT both have nothing on my hometown Montreal Canadiens.. lol… now there;s a team with a rich history and winning mentality!!! The only downside is that our owner (Gillette)got involved with Liverfool.. END of unrelated topic..
Now, back to United business.. great article Penguin, I always said that Rooney was the ENGLISH ZIDANE… his vision of the play is just that great, but he needs to work on his first touches and finishing..
Im looking forward to seeing him improve alot next year…
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Also I forgot to mention that I now live in Tel Aviv, and you’ll
never guess who I saw last night.. none other than our future captian
RIO FERDINAND!!! he was in a nightclub i was at, tried to take a
picture with my phone but it was all black since there want any
flash… he got arrested (seriously) cause he a member of his
entourage hit a photographer the night before!! but it was all good
he said, and enjoying his vaca and meeting up with his agent
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next season away kit is unveils.there is a video also.it look nice.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1309481.ece
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Anderson just went down against argentina. Hope its not serious. He looked solid up to that point.
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whoever didnt watch that Brazil-Argentina match should thank god right now. It was complete and utter dross. The one thing I took away from the game is that once Anderson went off injured Argentina took over midfield and subsequently the game. I was trying to decide if I was making an honest observation or was just watching the game with my Red tinted glasses. I think Dunga was thinking the same thing I was when he subbed out Diego(anderson’s injury replacement) for daniel alves. but again thank your lucky stars if you missed the game.
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I have raised this issue in a previous post as well.
we bought him b/c …
1. ability to score goals from outside the danger area (to complement van Nistel-Roy)
2. ability to go past defenders which is absolutely must for a second-striker role
3. ability to shoot/pass from both feet which again is essential for second-striker role
4. and finally to a lesser extent … ability to score wonderful goals … which builds the aura thingy
A few questions:
1. when was the last time rooney scored from say 20 yards out??
2. when was the last time rooney rampaged past 2-3 defenders to score/assist
3. when was the last time he scored with his left foot …. minus tap-ins
4. when was the last time he scored a wonderful goal … something say …. henry used to do week in and week out
i agree with the team spirit and hard work thing …. but so does Ivica Olic for Croatia!!! … why dont we get him for 1.5 odd mils and 50K salary???? … you dont pay 28 mils and 100K salary to a guy who works hard etc. … as far as loyalty goes … the thing is that no one is really after rooney ala Real Madrid … offering him double the salary and image rights etc. … so why are we head ovr heels about something that has not been tested???????
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Hey Grog (Post #85)…
Your lines are very much similar to Ronaldo’s lines…
You never know n all…
Just imagine Ronaldo saying the same thing as you…
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very valid thoughts alixedi
the most plausible reason why nobody is after rooney is because he is not going to improve the big teams (and I’d assume only the so called biggies shud be interested, the smaller ones cant even contemplate having players like him) in the same way somebody like Kaka or Ronaldo can!
There are plentiful of players like Rooney in the world (for example even Ashravin qualifies in the same class). There are simply none (or if any then very very few) in Ronaldo or Messi class.
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B; Yes I’m from Edmonton but I was into hockey before the Oilers even came to existence. I grew up idolizing Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito from those great bruin teams of the late 60′s and early 70′s. To this day Orr is my hero and I have had the pleasure of meeting both my childhood heroes and having long conversations with them. When the Oilers came on the scene I was happy for Edmonton and for the fact I could see NHL games live in my home town but it took me a few years to warm up to them and to Wayne Gretzky. You see Gretzky was the new king on th block and he was breaking many of the sacred records that were set by my two heroes Orr and Espo. This was a tough pill for me to swallow but over the years I learned to forgive him and actually became a very hard core Oilers fan, except for the two years when they met the Bruins in the finals. That was tough. Still, I like the Oilers a lot but my loyalty was to Boston. You can’t replace those memories of early childhood watching Bobby Orr do his thing. He was the Franz Beckenbauer of hockey and he revolutionized the game.
And I’m sorry if I can’t share your love for Montreal. You see, if you grow up a Boston Bruins fan you have a built in animosity for their fiercest rival Montreal. I absolutely hated and still hate the Montreal Canadiens. They just make me sick. Sorry about that but for me Montreal is the Liverpool of hockey. Total scum.
But seriously, they have obviously been the greatest franchise in hockey history and for that they get my respect, but don’t expect me to like them. God, the thought nauseates me. Don Cherry would be proud of me. I think it’s fitting that Montreal’s owner is half owner of Liverpool. 
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AndyCR7; Ask yourself one thing. What kind of grief has United brought Ronaldo?
alixedi; Why don’t you ask us when the last time was that Rooney actually played the position of second striker? Unfair to demand something from a player who has been used so terribly over the past two years. While alongside RVN I could answer all your questions five times over. That’s when he was last used appropriately. Lets be fair to the lad.
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