Wayne Rooney: 5 years on

[GrandOldTeam]

Since moving from Everton, how much do you think Rooney has improved?

Has he reached the standard you thought he would?

I honestly dont think he has. Theres no doubting that the lad is quality, but I would question whether individual ability wise, he has improved. While at Everton and given his performances in Euro 2004, I would have thought he would be world class and one of the worlds best by the age of 23. Is he? If you was asked to give a list of the top 5 or top 10 worlds best players, would he feature?

 

[teppic]

wayne rooney is a s****horpe and i don't watch him anymore...

but imagine he was coming through now. 5 years too old mr rooney.

he wont be half the player he was at everton by the time he is 28. he's got the 'norman whitesides'... peaked 10 years too soon finished before 30.

 

[teppic]

actually, on the other side of the coin, look at us 5 years after rooney. if all our star players we not injured or suspended we would be a scary team.

 

[zero]

I think ability wise he has actually got worse, I have never seen him better that goal against Arsenal whilst he has been playing for United.

He's a much better team player but he is not as direct as he was when he played for us. Also, he seems to have lost the ability to win a match single handedly. I can't remember the last time the pundits were creaming themselves over Rooney, it seems like it's only ever Ronaldo that gets the match winner tag anymore. When he played for us he was the player we looked too for inspiration and a bit of magic even though he was a kid at the time he delivered most of the time he was called upon. I can't remember the last piece of Rooney magic for United or England to be honest... and that's not my blinkers talking I do genuinely believe he's got worse.

And I think Teppic is right when he said he peaked too early everyone was expecting Maradonna but what we actually got was Paul Gascoigne mark II.

 

[GrandOldTeam]

Spot on Zero, he was constantly referred to as a potential match winner while at us, for both us and England.

Pundits would constantly use expressions such as "When Rooney gets the ball, fans are on the edge of their seat...."

He just doesn't seem to have that directness/inspiration/desire he used to have, he has replaced that by becoming more of a team player.

 

[daza_1973]

Hes done well I suppose, but when he left I feared he would become a man u version of Ian rush and ruin my life for the next umpteen years....this he hasn't.

Although I probably tempting fate and we'll get united in the semis/final and he bag a hatrick

 

[jacobite]

too much too soon. i think thats why you get young players not giving a **** about anybody or anything, Rooneys last worry is ``oohh will we get to Moscow`. although he has undoubted talent he still had/has a lot too learn.
playing wise i dont believe he has improved no

 

[Goat]

As the song says "Hes just a fat little nobhead". He hasnt become as good as i thought he would, now hes just a whining little thug. I honestly think he would have grown better at Everton, but the money we got was very welcome. Hes not worth £30m put it that way.

He has moments of brilliance, but they are few and far between, now a days its a case of which player he will argue with for 90minutes. Im glad hes not an Everton player anymore, horrible little tit in my eyes.

 

[davek]

As zero says above, Rooney is now more of a team player than he was with us. It is a team game afterall and Ferguson uses him as he sees fit and allows Ronaldo any license to roam.

Rooney is Stoichkov class - same blend of power, pace and great finishing. He was never going to be Maradona MKII. Stoichkov class is good though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

He was more Roy of the Rovers with us and his performances for England whilst with us were world class. Since then I don't think he's done so well at all. He was arguably the player of the tournament at Euro 2004 and remember he scored a hat-trick on his United debut in the Champions League. I can't remember too many performances like that since then.

 

[bluebloodinmyveins]

I dont think he has gotten any better or worse. I think he's pretty much the same player he was. I thought he would improve to be one of the best in the world, but he hasnt moved into that class at all.
He has developed this attitude problem since he went there, it's like nobody is allowed to touch him or tell him off, yet he can do what he likes. His attitude towards referees should see him sent off a lot more than he has been.

 

[WoollyBack]

I think ability wise he has actually got worse, I have never seen him better that goal against Arsenal whilst he has been playing for United[/

B]Think he scored a volley against Newcastle United which is always shown on Motd. That was probably better.

The thing is i don't blame him for leaving us, maybe it was a few years early. At Manchester United he has won absolutely everything, whereas if he had stopped with us he would still be looking for his first trophy!

 

[Rook]

At Everton the attack ran through him and he had more of an opportunity to make a difference. On United the attack runs through Ronaldo and his job is more of a goal poacher now (something that he's good but not great at). He'd be a better more rounded player if he still played for us but I'm not sure we'd be a better team. I think we are better off with the attack running through Arteta than him.

 

[ToffeeArab]

Individually i think he has become less of a player. Just isnt direct anymore.

As a team player he is pretty good and opens up lots of space for manure's midfield to run into.

But arent strikers meant to score?

If he was foreign its guranteed he would not still be at old trafford imo.

Also, he appears to have gotten far uglier...which is kinda a shock considering mosta the spots are now gone

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

wayne rooney is a s****horpe and i don't watch him anymore...

but imagine he was coming through now. 5 years too old mr rooney.

he wont be half the player he was at everton by the time he is 28. he's got the 'norman whitesides'... peaked 10 years too soon finished before 30.

i thought twice about saying he's become the new him, as i dont want him to become him at wembley in an fa cup final.
i think hes had his ability stifled by u****eds play, becoming more part of a team as opposed to an individual who was given license to do whatever he was capable of, he still shows the flashes of brilliance that show it's still there but in answer to the original question then i'd say no, he hasnt lived up to what we all thought, although he does have a haul of medals from his efforts, so he must be doing something right.