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Honestly not trying to WUM here btw and it's posted on the Arsenal and United board to get mixed opinions from both sides of the supporter line.
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Anyway, he's certainly a good player and I wouldn't question his place in the England side or anything like that! However having watched him in action for United and England I'd say on average he has between 10-15 good games a season.
He still chips in with a decent amount of goals over a season but they usually come in bursts and for long periods he goes completely off the boil. He very rarely beats a man any more and if anything has gone backwards as an all round footballer.
He's often spoken of as "world class" or "one of the worlds top strikers". Is he as good as the worlds top strikers, is he as good as these strikers; Messi, Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain, Villa, Aguero, Van Persie and Eto'o for instance? IMO no.
What do you think of Rooney, up there with the best or just a decent international but not that special?
Wayne Rooney
posted on 5/12/11
Spot on Oscar-Gold
posted on 5/12/11
I would have it
Messi
Ronaldo
Iniesta
Xavi
Rooney
" not international standard in comparison to the great like Messi, Ronaldo "
WUM?
posted on 5/12/11
No its my honest opinion Alex. I believe Rooney is not international level.
posted on 5/12/11
Dont think Ronaldo or Messi have done well at int
posted on 5/12/11
I believe Rooney is not international level.
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What is "international level".... even Heskey has 80 odd international caps and when he shoots, it goes out for a throw in.
Rooney is certainly up there in the top ten forwards... in my view... if you can, without bias, name 10 better, be my guest.
posted on 5/12/11
People are often fooled by Rooney's lack of goals, when really his game is about so much more. The Messi/Ronaldo comparisons began in the season he scored 34 goals, when really in terms of overall play that was honestly the worst version of Rooney i've seen. He became a "fox in the box" striker, but seemed to lose that ability that once made him such a great playmaker, i.e the ability to beat a man, pick a pass, or even a control the ball properly, and we saw the effects of that in the world cup when he was asked to play in the No.10 role behind Heskey/Defoe.
He may not be scoring as much these days, but every attack still goes through him. Rooney in 2011 is honestly the best i've ever seen him. Out of that list, the only players i'd take ahead of him are Messi and Ronaldo.
posted on 5/12/11
I agree his ability to beat a man just isn't there any more. I think he realises this too which is why he tends to pass back or wide, or if under pressure take an ambitious chip.
Even though I've said it myself before that he's England's best player and we should take him to the Euro's, the acclaim he gets is over the top. I'm starting to come round to the idea that his importance to the team isn't quite as clear cut as has been made out to be. We beat Spain and Sweden in his absence after all.
posted on 6/12/11
I don't think Rooney is a striker in the same way V. Persie and Higuain are. I don't think he's played in that position since 09/10.
Nowadays he's more of an Ozil, Kaka, Sneijder, Kroos or Gotze type player.
It still makes me laugh when United fans say they would not swap Rooney for Ronaldo because Rooney does more for the team. Come on people!
posted on 6/12/11
Agree the article to an extent.
One criticism that can definitely be leveled at him is his consistency. Almost every season he seems to hit a patch of about 10-12 games where he really struggles for form.
From a more tactical perspective, I think one of his biggest problems stems from his greatest asset. He is a great 'all-round footballer' however the problem with this is that he does not always play a disciplined role in the team.
In other words, he sometimes ends up doing work that he shouldn't be doing and whilst that is the beauty of Wayne Rooney it can also be a hindrance IMO.
The fact is, as a striker he is not as effective as Aguero or RVP and playing in the hole, he is not as good as Silva or Oezil.
Overall it is undeniable that he is a great footballer but for me he is simply not up there with the best, for a number of reasons.
I've not even touched on his mental. E.G. After his red card for England, I took him straight out of my fantasy football team because I know how much these things effect him and look what happened.....
Another thing I would add that may annoy Utd fans is that he would be suited to playing for a team that played better football. .
posted on 6/12/11
That seems pretty spot on Stuart