Wayne Rooney is a Manchester United great - so why is he not more loved?

Essentially because he's become our Gerrard. We have to consistently keep playing him given the name on the back of his shirt, even though his performances no longer merit that privilege. A lot of great United players had the awareness to hang up their boots when they saw the writing on the wall. Scholes did it twice in the space of about 2 seasons, Neville did it once he realized his body couldn't keep up, Cantona pulled a Cantona instead of becoming a mediocre afterthought. Now, Rooney doesn't need to retire, but maybe he can take his talents to South Beach for Becks, or something.

Either that or they were sent packing by Fergie anyway, and in the interest of fairness, we all know Wayne wouldn't be here if Fergie was still in charge. Rooney has reached a stage where he's just going through the motions, his body can't always keep up, and just like Stephen, he has become an actual, real-time liability for the progression of the team. Wouldn't matter if he was a bit part player. But when he's the first name on the team-sheet, it's worrying indeed. Van Gaal has to shoulder some blame too, but this is a very complex issue, and I'd be surprised if there weren't any external factors keeping Rooney in the starting XI.

Walters_19_MuFc said:
Feck the people who dont like hin. Fact is, he's a legend, whether they like it or not.
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Walters_19_MuFc said:
Really couldnt care less.

Hes a legend. End of!
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Oh lawd...
 
I think it's simply because we know too much about him. If he'd played in the 80s we'd basically only know him from his actions on the field. In the modern era our opinion of him is informed by the simple fact that a google search will reveal all the sordid details of his private life, and of his disagreements with Fergie.
 
He'll be a stats legend when he retires, but I don't think he'll be remembered as a legend in peoples hearts. Definitely not the player I'll be telling stories to my son about.

MyOnlySolskjaer said:
Preferred Rooney to Ronaldo in 2006, felt he was very underrated and unselfish at the time.
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My sentiment exactly. I thought he was more talented too. I hate to admit I was wrong, but I was, and Ronaldo's ambition and work ethic have taken his game to a whole new level. But no problem, Rooney ''knows his quality'' as he likes to remind us after every game where his form is questioned. I don't mind a player driving a hard bargain with his club, but the way he went about it was disgraceful. And his performances after it are just adding insult to injury.

Walters_19_MuFc said:
Feck the people who dont like hin. Fact is, he's a legend, whether they like it or not.
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He is to be honest. Still don't like him. I'll remember him as the kid who never realized his potential, the biggest mistake Moyes made (by not selling him), the captain that got shoved down our throats every week and the obstacle our team has to play around. I find it hard to like a player like that, and I don't know what goes through the mind of those who do.
 
In a nutshell, because modern football is more of a soap opera than a sport.
 
Simple. Either you retire a hero or you stay long enough to see yourself become the villain. (Especially if Rooney keeps playing the shit he has been for the last 6-8 months).
 
He has a £300k a week contract until I think 2018 so like it or not the likelihood is that he will remain a United player for at least the next few seasons as lets be realistic its hard to envisage anybody offering him better wages and giving us a chunk of money on top so there really wont be options for him to move on.

He has struggled this season - I dont think he has been as bad as some make out in some games this year but undoubtedly he is not playing well and his game does not seem that well suited to the players around him at the moment.

I don't doubt that over the next could of seasons we will see him break the scoring records and it would be remiss of people to dispute his presence amongst the clubs legends, however, he is a forward who has only ever scored 20+ league goals twice in his career and as he is about to turn 30 its going to take quite a rare and dramatic late career turn around for him to become the centre forward we need when we have one striker operating centrally as that player needs to be scoring or at least creating a lot of goals.

I believe he will operate more in midfield over the next couple of years and we may even see him have a ryan giggs-esque indian summer operating there - I certainly hope so!
 
I think he's current form which has not been good enough for over 12 months is doing more damage to his reputation than the two transfer sagas put together. No one would give a shit if he's playing well. Look at Dave, no one is talking about how he was within a minute of playing for Madrid. And that happened two months ago.
 
I love Rooney, I always did and always will, but in 2015 he has been very poor, I don't like what he brings to the team( when he brings something), I think that he is holding us back(in 2015) and I'm becoming tired of seeing him take more deserving players places. Pereira, Memphis, Wilson and Lingard should be given the chance to share his spot, we are rebuilding a team and we should do it fully, a non performing veteran is an hindrance.
 
People have short-term memories, that's why. It's a what have you done for me lately mentality and lately Rooney hasn't done so much although at times, his performances are under appreciated.

In the Moyes season, I remember him as one of the few players to actually work his ass off all season long. Can't say that for many others in one of the darkest hours in our club history.
 
He was loved, but people are turning off him because he is being played in the team even though he is producing very little, and is in such poor form.
 
Because he's not playing well? He's a football player, his only function is to play well and if he's not then he's useless. He didn't have to be just another football player to United fans but his contract ordeals have taken away any affection for him beyond playing well. And he's a scouser.
 
JPRouve said:
I love Rooney, I always did and always will, but in 2015 he has been very poor, I don't like what he brings to the team( when he brings something), I think that he is holding us back(in 2015) and I'm becoming tired of seeing him take more deserving players places. Pereira, Memphis, Wilson and Lingard should be given the chance to share his spot, we are rebuilding a team and we should do it fully, a non performing veteran is an hindrance.
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Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at. He's been a hugely important player in the longest spell of sustained success I've known as a United fan. He's scored some sensational goals, generally runs himself into the ground for the team and has a good chance being our all-time highest scorer. I just find it bizarre that so many United fans can somehow ignore all of this because they're butt-heart about him playing hard-ball over a new contract, yet still sing the name of a player who fecked off for a bigger contract at another club before even hit his prime as a footballer.

But yeah, he's been more crap than good for quite a long time now and needs some time out of the team. I still hope he can get back to something like his best again but I'm less hopeful than I was before the season started.
 
I like Rooney, I think a lot of the treatment he gets is incredibly unfair and, when he's out of form, completely OTT.

All that said, I think we are definitely seeing the end of him as a top level player. I just don't think he has the genes to maintain as a top level athlete into his 30's.

I have a sneaking suspicion he is going to end up back at Everton in the near(ish) future. Playing in Fergusons testimonial (and being generally well received), not celebrating his goal against them, waxing lyrical post match about the fans at Goodison, the BBC doc - it all seems to be part of a bridge building exercise to me.

I'll probably be laughed at because of his contract negotiations at Utd (which I don't have any sort of problem with really ) but I also don't think he will be the sort to be overly motivated by money in the latter stages of his career, particularly if he has the option to play for Everton again. Regardless of their treatment of him over the years, I think he'd get a heros welcome if he went back to Everton.
 
Wade3 said:
People have short-term memories, that's why. It's a what have you done for me lately mentality and lately Rooney hasn't done so much although at times, his performances are under appreciated.

In the Moyes season, I remember him as one of the few players to actually work his ass off all season long. Can't say that for many others in one of the darkest hours in our club history.
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That's a slippery slope there. The seasons Rooney did well the team didn't do so great, and vice-versa.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at. He's been a hugely important player in the longest spell of sustained success I've known as a United fan. He's scored some sensational goals, generally runs himself into the ground for the team and has a good chance being our all-time highest scorer. I just find it bizarre that so many United fans can somehow ignore all of this because they're butt-heart about him playing hard-ball over a new contract, yet still sing the name of a player who fecked off for a bigger contract at another club before even hit his prime as a footballer.

But yeah, he's been more crap than good for quite a long time now and needs some time out of the team. I still hope he can get back to something like his best again but I'm less hopeful than I was before the season started.
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The difference is. Rooney did the unthinkable of threatening to go to City. He broke all of our hearts. We all thought he was united through and through. As the article says, he's just all this time thought of us as his employer. Never taken in what it means to be a United player.

Also he's taken us for mugs. He didn't choose us because he loved us. He stayed because we gave him the best offer. Well Rooney. Now is the time you aren't even worth a quarter of that wage. I'd rather have Adabayeur in the reserves on £100k a week than waste £300k on this guy who steals a place in the team.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
He only has himself to blame for staying at United. Had Ronaldo stayed, no doubt he'd have been involved in a lot of unseemly squabbling about contracts too. Just like he has been at Real Madrid. Because he fecked off as soon as the big money came calling, United fans are able to only remember an idealised version of him.

The way so many fans view him and Rooney so differently reminds me of the way people put their first love on a pedestal, while constantly belittling the wife who has stuck with them through thick and thin.

EDIT: Obviously Ronaldo is a much better player, which would have smoothed over a lot of the issues but it seems churlish to hate on Rooney primarily for not being as good a player as we hoped he'd be, despite the fact he'll likely end up our highest goal-scorer ever.
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Ronaldo wasn't Utd fans first love though. Rooney was always more popular amongst the support until he acted the dick. I can only talk about how I formed my opinion but there's a big difference between Rooney and Ronaldo. Ronaldo never said he wanted to finish his career at United. He never kissed our badge etc. He's also from a different culture and wanted to live where he'd be closer to family. All understandable to me and why I've never had ill feeling toward him. We couldn't provide all the things that he wanted. Rooney is a different matter and he questioned our clubs ambition at a time when we were defending champions and managed by a man known for continuing success. Ronaldo could've made just as much money at United so it had nothing to do with the big money offer.
 
Rooney made the mistake of acting like a player instead of acting like a "fan" aka the brilliant PR players like Herrera and Mata.

The majority of players don't care about their team or fans and Rooney made the mistake of showing it rather than saying some stupid "only God knows. I love Manchester united I love the fans" before fecking off.
 
He loves Everton more than United, send him to Toffies and bid for Scholes whie we're at it..

Jesus this guy turns 30 and plays like 50 years old. I swear I remember how fecking amazing and exciting player he was in his early 20s..

I also think he should retire as I don¨t wnt him to remember as one of the most frustrating players in my history of supporting United. The Everton transfer was joke, he'd barely got into starting 11 over Lukaku/Naismith/Kone, another option is going to India/Australiaúml for a pay day
 
acnumber9 said:
Ronaldo wasn't Utd fans first love though. Rooney was always more popular amongst the support until he acted the dick. I can only talk about how I formed my opinion but there's a big difference between Rooney and Ronaldo. Ronaldo never said he wanted to finish his career at United. He never kissed our badge etc. He's also from a different culture and wanted to live where he'd be closer to family. All understandable to me and why I've never had ill feeling toward him. We couldn't provide all the things that he wanted. Rooney is a different matter and he questioned our clubs ambition at a time when we were defending champions and managed by a man known for continuing success. Ronaldo could've made just as much money at United so it had nothing to do with the big money offer.
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As I said, the main reason for that difference was Ronaldo not sticking round long enough to "act the dick". He's ruffled plenty of feathers at Madrid with his posturing each time his contract was renewed, that's for sure.
 
I think a big issue for him is the misconception that he wanted to go to City in 2010. I don't recollect him or his agent during that time coming out and saying he wanted to play for City. After he signed, he did an interview with Paddy Crerand on Mutv and he was asked about this and he responded with "it was only going to be for Real Madrid or Barcelona". I believe him. Might explain why he didn't in fact leave, because maybe they weren't interested or didn't offer the money we did and Coleen's sister was still sick and maybe Coleen didn't want to move to Spain and leave her behind.

His form doesn't help matters either. No matter what you did in the past, a section of our fan base will turn on you. A good example is Giggs. In his last few years, he certainly wasn't one of our worst players and on occasions would be one of our better players. Yet the odd game where he and Carrick were over run in midfield by a midfield 3, people would be screaming for his head and blaming him for not retiring because it somehow stopped us from signing Modric, Kroos, Vidal, Fabregas or whomever.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
As I said, the main reason for that difference was Ronaldo not sticking round long enough to "act the dick". He's ruffled plenty of feathers at Madrid with his posturing each time his contract was renewed, that's for sure.
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true... and if rooney was scoring at a goal a game ratio we would brush it off just like the real fans do
 
sun_tzu said:
true... and if rooney was scoring at a goal a game ratio we would brush it off just like the real fans do
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Exactly. There's no coincidence that the dislike for Rooney on redcafe has increased massively since his levels of performance have started to drop. We're even seeing a lot of comments that he's personally responsible for these standards dropping because he's somehow stopped trying. Much easier to loathe an under-performing player if you can convince yourself he's playing badly deliberately, right?

If it really does turn out he's finished as a United quality striker before he turns 30 that's a huge disappointment for all United fans and - no doubt - Rooney himself. Just seems weird to me that this seems to be also causing so many people to cast aspersions on his United career as a whole and/or dislike him more as a person. It seems weird but it's definitely happening.
 
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Eyepopper said:
I like Rooney, I think a lot of the treatment he gets is incredibly unfair and, when he's out of form, completely OTT.
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Do you think it's perhaps that he has the greatest spectrum ability-wise of any player I know when he's in form and out of form? We're talking Jekyll and Hyde here.

In the past he's been world-class, if not damn close. Everybody loves that Rooney. Because we know what he's capable of, and the level he should be performing at, I don't think it's unfair to get a lot of stick when he shows the touch and form of a lower league player. After all, for how long can you be regarded on your past merits before questions need to be asked. No, I don't think that's over the top.
 
Nickosaur said:
Do you think it's perhaps that he has the greatest spectrum ability-wise of any player I know when he's in form and out of form? We're talking Jekyll and Hyde here.

In the past he's been world-class, if not damn close. Everybody loves that Rooney. Because we know what he's capable of, and the level he should be performing at, I don't think it's unfair to get a lot of stick when he shows the touch and form of a lower league player. After all, for how long can you be regarded on your past merits before questions need to be asked. No, I don't think that's over the top.
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Yeah I'd agree with all of this, but in Rooneys case I think the contract negotiations cloud peoples judgement, probably more in the past really - his form now is definitely worthy of scrutiny. But going back to the contract thing - ultimately the club decided to pay him the money he wanted, and if it was on offer elsewhere, I don't begrudge him it at all.

The captaincy I have no problem with either because being club captain is about a lot more than your form on the field. Neville for example remained club captain even though he was missing through injury for a large spell of the time he was captain.
 
Its a shame Rooneys legacy will be tainted once he retires because of his poor form towards the end of his career, but its the sad truth. i would love nothing more then for him to become a lampard type player and score from midfield, or lead the line again but it just looks like he can't do it. The Rooney who first came here scoring long range bullets and showing extraordinary strength and power bursting through defences unleashing incredible strikes is long gone. He doesn't even try them anymore.
 
To be honest I was never the biggest Rooney fan, he was a massive talent when he was young and of course a great player at his best. But for me especially in the last few seasons (not only this one) he was just never that good. Even when he was on form, it was usually a run for some weeks and then he was insconsistent, frustrating and had fitness issues. Performance-wise it was always difficult for me to call him a legend, but in the end he played so long for us that he will end up as our top scorer, still it feels like someone like van Nistelrooy or other top strikers could broke that easily with as many years in a United shirt. He still was one of us for me, much more than Ronaldo will ever be, till his dick move some years ago. He acted twice like shit and especially with his form on decline at this time I was just fine with Fergie getting rid of him and then he retired and Moyes gave him Messi/Ronaldo-like wages. That affected my view too and the current situation, where he is still not in his 30s but looks like he is done, doesn't help either, because he could be a problem for us if we continue with him for 1,2 more seasons.
In the end I wouldn't put him on the same level where I would put players like Giggs or Scholes, but in comparison to Ronaldo, he is at least a player where I think about Manchester United and not about another club, which will put him just behind those mentioned players.
 
iammemphis said:
Its a shame Rooneys legacy will be tainted once he retires because of his poor form towards the end of his career, but its the sad truth. i would love nothing more then for him to become a lampard type player and score from midfield, or lead the line again but it just looks like he can't do it. The Rooney who first came here scoring long range bullets and showing extraordinary strength and power bursting through defences unleashing incredible strikes is long gone. He doesn't even try them anymore.
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I can't even remember the last time he tried one of his token chips from outside the box :(
 
matherto said:
Didn't go on to be the player we wanted him to be, then got ideas above his station, held the club to ransom after fecking about and then did the same again, now he's one of the highest paid players in the world playing at pub league standard yet is undroppable

And he's a scouse bastard.
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To the point.
 
JPRouve said:
I love Rooney, I always did and always will, but in 2015 he has been very poor, I don't like what he brings to the team( when he brings something), I think that he is holding us back(in 2015) and I'm becoming tired of seeing him take more deserving players places. Pereira, Memphis, Wilson and Lingard should be given the chance to share his spot, we are rebuilding a team and we should do it fully, a non performing veteran is an hindrance.
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Jackpot
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Exactly. There's no coincidence that the dislike for Rooney on redcafe has increased massively since his levels of performance have started to drop. We're even seeing a lot of comments that he's personally responsible for these standards dropping because he's somehow stopped trying. Much easier to loathe an under-performing player if you can convince yourself he's playing badly deliberately, right?

If it really does turn out he's finished as a United quality striker before he turns 30 that's a huge disappointment for all United fans and - no doubt - Rooney himself. Just seems weird to me that this seems to be also causing so many people to cast aspersions on his United career as a whole and/or dislike him more as a person. It seems weird but it's definitely happening.
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It is and I wish it would stop. It cheapens my before it was cool pre contract dispute dislike for him. Damn johnny come latelys
 
Pogue Mahone said:
As I said, the main reason for that difference was Ronaldo not sticking round long enough to "act the dick". He's ruffled plenty of feathers at Madrid with his posturing each time his contract was renewed, that's for sure.
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Possibly. You've ignored the legitimate reasons why Rooney isn't liked though. You can't really defend them without saying 'but Ronaldo'.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
Exactly. There's no coincidence that the dislike for Rooney on redcafe has increased massively since his levels of performance have started to drop. We're even seeing a lot of comments that he's personally responsible for these standards dropping because he's somehow stopped trying. Much easier to loathe an under-performing player if you can convince yourself he's playing badly deliberately, right?

If it really does turn out he's finished as a United quality striker before he turns 30 that's a huge disappointment for all United fans and - no doubt - Rooney himself. Just seems weird to me that this seems to be also causing so many people to cast aspersions on his United career as a whole and/or dislike him more as a person. It seems weird but it's definitely happening.
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Who's actually said he's playing badly deliberately? I've seen plenty say he's incapable of playing as well as he use to but not that. His famed effort is somewhat lacking though. And has been increasingly the case for years now.
 
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