Wayne Rooney

[Kinky Gerbil]

Seems a bit harsh you are having a go at Rooney for not being world class but we don't have any wc players!

 

[gordonchas]

28 goals in 47 WC Qualifying, Europen Qualifying and European Finals. That says it all for me.

Unfortunately, it doesn't say enough. Those goals break down like this:

1 Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine
2 Belarus, Bulgaria, Andorra, Poland, Montenegro
3 Switzerland, Kazakhstan, San Marino
4 Croatia

Apart from being the scourge of the Croats, that list reads like a list of competitors in the semi final of the Eurovision song contest. International greats, they are not.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Seems a bit harsh you are having a go at Rooney for not being world class but we don't have any wc players!

Maybe the harshness is a reaction to the constant hype by the press and himself?

 

[The Wizard]

Seems a bit harsh you are having a go at Rooney for not being world class but we don't have any wc players!

Having a go? I'm not? If anything I think it's unduly harsh on him that people expect so much but then I can see why because he's over-hyped so much.

Unfortunately, it doesn't say enough. Those goals break down like this:

1 Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine
2 Belarus, Bulgaria, Andorra, Poland, Montenegro
3 Switzerland, Kazakhstan, San Marino
4 Croatia

Apart from being the scourge of the Croats, that list reads like a list of competitors in the semi final of the Eurovision song contest. International greats, they are not.

This as well, it's the same as people that say about Peter Crouch's goal scoring record, forgetting how many goals were against poor sides, when was the last time he played well against a top side?

 

[Marshy]

Unfortunately, it doesn't say enough. Those goals break down like this:

1 Macedonia, Liechtenstein, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine
2 Belarus, Bulgaria, Andorra, Poland, Montenegro
3 Switzerland, Kazakhstan, San Marino
4 Croatia

Apart from being the scourge of the Croats, that list reads like a list of competitors in the semi final of the Eurovision song contest. International greats, they are not.

have you seen the opposition of the likes of Brazil. Argentina etc in there qualifying.... it so much easier than European football.

The Europen Championships is a much better competition in terms of quality than the World Cup and Rooney's goal record in that is outstanding.]#
From memory has he not recently scored in both games against Brazil and Argentina when we played them ?

 

[Soulman]

His goal record speaks for him though. While he may not be THE best player in the world he does much more than score goals. He only needs 2 goals to catch Owen and if he scores 3 becomes Englands's 4th highest scorer behind Charlton, Lineker and Greaves. Not bad for a fat useless bald slow * insert your own insult now.
Thing is with Rooney he could be the best player in an England shirt and a lot of fans would still say he is past his best, not world class, waste of space ect. You have to have a lots of Balls not to start Rooney with the knowledge he will always give his all, likely to score and is very often one of our best players even when not on form.

Owen scored against the top countries like France, Argentina, Brazil, Germany etc. He is the only player to have scored in four major tournaments for England.

 

[Paris]

The term 'world class' seems to be banded about far too easily. Zidane, Pele, Ronaldo, Cruyff, Eusebio, Beckenbauer, Zoff, Storer....

I guess it's all a matter of opinion.

 

[Rogero]

Rooney is past his peak and on his way down.It has happened since his £300,000 a week contract was signed.

 

[Rogero]

Over-rated, good player but not a world class player anymore IMO.

Spot on.

 

[albion534]

This will be Rooneys year, mark my words

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

It's madness to drop arguably our most dangerous player, if he doesn't perform against Italy fair enough drop him. But his replacements won't do better.

Sturridge is Defoe esq and will always put personal glory ahead of team

 

[Marshy]

It's madness to drop arguably our most dangerous player, if he doesn't perform against Italy fair enough drop him. But his replacements won't do better.

Sturridge is Defoe esq and will always put personal glory ahead of team

He is single minded yes, but a much better player than defoe was

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

He is single minded yes, but a much better player than defoe was

Yes he is, but the same traits that ruined Defoe from being a top player will sturridge

 

[gordonchas]

have you seen the opposition of the likes of Brazil. Argentina etc in there qualifying.... it so much easier than European football.

The Europen Championships is a much better competition in terms of quality than the World Cup and Rooney's goal record in that is outstanding.]#
From memory has he not recently scored in both games against Brazil and Argentina when we played them ?

The hallmark of a truly great goalscorer is his ability to get goals in the most important and biggest matches. With the best will in the world, European qualifying groups offer little challenge as to describe most of the nations England play against as mediocre would be to praise them too highly. Look again at the nations he's scored against in competition: 10 Eastern European nations plus Switzerland and the ultra-minnows of Andorra, San Marino and Liechtenstein.

Up until the 1990s Russia, Ukraine, Estonia and Belarus was one nation - a much stronger one. As was Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro.

When he's been needed to pull out a big performance against Portugal, France, Germany and Italy he hasn't delivered and that's cost him, and England by extension, the chance to play against the other giants of world football in the later stages.

Now, you can't lay all the blame at his door, and it's unfair to, but if he had been a truly world-class player he would have pulled England through. It looked like he could become such a player in 2004 but even though he's had a successful career his potential has never been fulfilled.

 

[yxee]

Hasn't scored in his last 8 world cup appearances.

 

[Goring Gull]

Having a go? I'm not? If anything I think it's unduly harsh on him that people expect so much but then I can see why because he's over-hyped so much.



This as well, it's the same as people that say about Peter Crouch's goal scoring record, forgetting how many goals were against poor sides, when was the last time he played well against a top side?

When was the last time England as a team played well against a top side?

 

[NorthStandSteward]

This as well, it's the same as people that say about Peter Crouch's goal scoring record, forgetting how many goals were against poor sides, when was the last time he played well against a top side?

Feel obliged to counter the Crouch myth:



http://www.ongoalsscored.com/2011/08/07/the-peter-crouch-myth/

 

[Tiptop24]

This is the tournament for Barkley. Like WC98 and Owen. Like Euro2004 and Rooney. Ross will start on the bench and shine. The baton will be passed from Rooney to another player for us to complain about.

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Rooney has scored 39 goals for England, so is ten behind Geoff Hurst on 49 (?) Another couple of qualifying tournaments and he might match/go past that mark and into lore as our most successful striker. Then the pub discussions will get interesting regarding comparisons between the two, and Lineker on 48 as well

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The fact his status is being debated is all you really need to know. And after 15 minutes of the forthcoming Italy game, when he is a pink heaving sweaty blowing mess will resolve this discussion for good.