I don't see any way that he couldn't be considered a great if your scenario occurs.

But for me it will always be tainted by the two times he wanted to leave. The likes of Charlton, Robson, Scholes, etc never had times like that, even Ronaldo left to join his dream club whereas Rooney just seems to want to leave to anyone who can afford him.

True, but if he were to stay, say another 3-5 seasons, consistently scoring, and winning trophies with us, then surely 15 or so years of service with us would make him worthy of being a legend in his own right?

Didn't Beckham do whatever he could to go to Real? He's considered a legend.

Not for me, I will respect his achievements at the club, but great? No fecking way

For me, if he knuckles down and plays like we all know he can, I would forgive and maybe forget.

We need to keep our best players and he is one of them! albeit he did have a bad season... The thought of him spearheading that Chelsea midfield is frightening though...

OH look we put up with George Best,... i mean, our grand pappys put up with Bestie's attitude swings, and look there's a Statue...
If we happen to win another C.L or 2 with him... then its nailed on as a legend of UTD, however tainted, it will be glossed over.

Other than RVP, Rafael (maybe Rio), De Gea and Carrick, how many of our players could say "I had a good season"?

it will be glossed over

---

This. When he comes to retire, or perhaps a decade later, he will be remembered for things like his goals against Newcastle & City, rather than his petulance.

Rooney isn't slated because he had a bad season. He's slated because he had a bad season and then asked to leave rather than fight harder to be the main man again.

He is a great already in my opinion.

between 2007-2009 I enjoyed, probably, my best time as a supporter.

And Wayne Rooney was a MASSIVE part of that.

So thanks for the memories, Wayne the Great, whether you stay or go.

then there is the issue that he is a Scouser..

whether right or wrong, some see it as an issue.
i don't. He came to us, and has served us well.

I could never see Rooney up alongside the likes of cantona, scholes, giggs, Robson, keane, Ronaldo, rio, Neville. They are legends and I think better players in their respective positions

comment by Lesthered (U17527)
posted 1 minute ago
I could never see Rooney up alongside the likes of cantona, scholes, giggs, Robson, keane, Ronaldo, rio, Neville. They are legends and I think better players in their respective positions
========
Agreed

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

He is a ponce. Ever since he stopped being the player we hoped for largely due to his laziness, I cannot respect him. Oshea, nicky butt get more of my repect than him. At least we saw them do their best and respected the club. That's not much to ask from a player.

How can a player we have basically pampered make a ruckus everytime he should be having contract negtotiations be seen as a legend? The hype was and is the problem. He believed it too much.

And yet, if he stays, he is on course to be our top ever goalscorer, with a career spanning 15 or so years with us. There are very few players who can make claims even close to that.

I followed the guy since he was a kid and, I don't care what anyone says, or for any reason, the man is something special and should be remembered as so!
Prima donna maybe, but that's what comes with talent sometimes. Personalities should not be used out of context to bash the players talent. And think about it...if Rooney had a bad year, how many players would loved to have a years results as good as Waynes bad one.!!!!

Didn't Gerrard try and engineer a move a couple of times? People soon forget, once the goals fly in.

To be honest, i have more respect for Rooney having a couple of tantrums than Roy Keane, who purposefully broke another player's leg.

The likes of Scholes and Giggs will always be on a way higher pedestal though.

The likes of Scholes and Giggs will always be on a way higher pedestal though.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Agreed!

If he stays, breaks the goal scoring record and wins more big trophies then of course he'll be considered a legend.

He has always played his heart out for United and has been one of the main heartbeats of the team since he joined. He's not someone who grew up a United fan like Beckham, Giggs, Neville etc everyone knows his heart is and always will be at Everton but he has on the whole produced for United a lot more than not. He's always been a winner and played that way for United.

There's no point comparing him to the likes of Charlton etc as it's a completely different era nowadays where players move far more frequently. If he was to stay say twelve years plus and contribute to United winning more big trophies (especially another CL) then he is a nailed on legend. Some may not like his attitude at times but that's the modern day footballer. Even some of United's biggest legends have played for the likes of Man City. When Roy Keane was in his pomp he was forever talking about wanting to play for Celtic one day. Schmeichel left United because he said the demands of the English game were too great then a short time later ends up at City.

Players (even those considered legends) are rarely perfect. Rooney certainly isn't. But he's still a legend of the club and if he stays will become an even bigger legend.

Well said Mr Z.

if Rooney stays will he be world class again?