That debut all these years ago and he had made us wait, ankle injury delaying the opportunity to see the teenager bought for a record breaking fee. Then bang first Champions League appearance and a hatrick to boot. What an announcement that was. He has never been a favourite player but I always thought, well. with him we always know what we’re getting and he was always all for the team and I appreciated that. He can be dirty and his off the field behaviour has been in the papers since he was just seventeen- he aint a saint! That night he scored the hatrick it was just incredible and you knew great things would come from him. They did but has he really fulfilled all the expectations that fans had of him?
He had an excellent first season outshining Ronaldo. Scored some memorable goals and was capped player of the season. Who could forget that volley he scored against Newcastle, it was really something special. But it was his industry and style that were most outstanding. He had made himself an essential part of the United team. He was often streaky in front of goal and would be criticised for not scoring enough. Ronaldo spun off into a different galaxy and the team was built around him, Ronaldo really did just take off like a rocket. Not forgetting the incredible defence of course but Rooney was the teams second most influential player for the most part. He was the one that often pulled the strings. He sacrificed his own strengths and preferences for the good of the team, often playing out wide on the left. He and Ronaldo shared a good understanding, echoed very much in him being directly involved (via assist) in more than half of Ronaldo’s 42 goals. Personally for Rooney that season was a very successful one winning the double but as far as his playing goes it certainly wasn’t his best. In the 08/09 seasons United won the league and got to the final of the Champions league. It was a pretty good season for Rooney who needed to do more, Ronaldo was in his last season of the club and there were a number of games that he didn’t pull his weight.
The season after losing Ronaldo and less so Tevez, it looked a big challenge and someone needed to step up to fill the void. After a slow start to the 09/10 season Rooney revelled in a new role, he was the focal point of the attack and his finishing netted him a very impressive tally. He was playing in his favoured position and the team was pretty much built around him. Excellent service from the wings, seen Rooney have his best season in a United shirt. It softened the blow of losing Ronaldo and the team was very close to winning the league and did well in the Champions League and picked up The League Cup in an exciting tournament with City in the semi‘s. United had done better than anyone expected but the season quickly unravelled when Rooney picked up an injury. He had been relied on too heavily. He has yet to recover his top, top form and that was in April- it has almost been a year. A-lot happened in that time, in many fans eyes he went from a god to nothing after all his contract negotiations, letting the club down in so many ways and off the field stuff, not to forget his no show at the World Cup. Change in attitude towards him though not at all surprising was definitely extreme, he pretty much went from hero to zero overnight. He was a fans favourite always had been, loved for his attitude, selflessness and love of the game and United. He was a team player and highly valued, he’d be United for life- wouldn’t he? Captain one day some thought and a certified legend. Many comfortable in the knowledge that he’d play a crucial role when key men retired and the biggest of all Sir Alex Ferguson.
His all round game is impressive, he has great vision and is good on the ball. He was very successful 09/10, a goal machine. His movement and finishing were top drawer and he shut up those critics who said he didn‘t score enough. But as a player he isn’t any longer the one that came to United and we seen in his early years at the club. Sure, he has had to improve and develop his game but it’s been at the detriment of his style he doesn’t play as he used to and that is missed. He has become lazy in certain games and operates too much from deep. What happened to that player who used to run at defenders, drive the team forwards? You never see him turn a defender anymore or even try to beat them at pace. Defenders used to be afraid of him. Strong and angry frequently looking unplayable if he was in the mood. Maybe I am a bit harsh on his contribution this season, for me it isn’t even close to being good enough. Applaud his assists and he has had a number of games where he has played well and his touch, passing etc have been excellent. It hasn’t happened often enough and he is capable of a-lot more. Being the highest paid player there is a need I feel that he should be justifying just that. Of the top levelplayers out there, Rooney has a very low bottom level. It is a bit of a consistency issue. If he is off his game, he can look very bad with the fundatmentals such as his touch and passing being array and noticeably weaker.
I am sure there is more to follow in the Rooney story. But for me there’s this cloud hanging over, what he did- I just can’t forget. Sure it is petty and probably over the top but I just hate the way he treated the club and his behaviour on the pitch at times. Don’t expect players to be angels but it doesn’t take much to be respectable. As long as he is a United player though I’ll support him but only if he is doing enough and that just hasn’t been happening. The Club always comes first anyway, as for the players, they come and go. But he needs to be doing a-lot more and it annoys me how much he is favoured for selection, plenty of times he should be getting splinters in his arse on the bench. The club and Ferguson have bent over backwards to accommodate him, from breaks, rehabilitation and even making up phantom injuries. Special treatment that he just didn’t deserve. Problems were all of his own making and the club has done nothing but support him. Of course it is nothing new for Fergie to give more lee-way with certain cases and be stricter with others.
I had thought that Wayne Rooney was pretty irreplaceable and the heartbeat of the team and was afraid of United losing him. But after this season, he can be replaced as any other player can. He is still a very good player and I am sure he would be missed for his footballing ability. He has all the tools to be a properly great player but think his lack of professionalism will hold him back. For all the criticism he draws Cristiano Ronaldo is an excellent professional in the way he looks after himself, Rooney just doesn’t have that side to him. Smoking, drinking, bad diet who knows how much he does those things but it’ll catch up one day- he regularly starts a season slowly and that is in part to coming back after summer break as a bit of a fatty! There is that nagging sense too that he’ll peak too young and hasn’t got the body type or focus to prolong his career. Would United be better to cash in now, while he is still worth something? But with the side as it is and no concrete sign of investment in the team you can’t fully justify a need to sell Rooney when you factor in his age and that he is one of the clubs better players. I amn’t advocating that he be sold just looking at possibilities. As far as players go they really just don’t make them like they used to. But that is the luxury of being a United follower that you have actually been able to see teams full of players that just love the club they play for.
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