I think he's trying but his touch and just about every other ability needed to be a good forward have eluded him. It's odd. Perhaps he's physically a bloke in his late 30s.
Wayne Rooney is a Manchester United great - so why is he not more loved?
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
I think he's trying but his touch and just about every other ability needed to be a good forward have eluded him. It's odd. Perhaps he's physically a bloke in his late 30s.
Too many fags. Honestly if you're not disciplined when you play sports at the highest level, then you're bound to suffer physically. Always catches up with you.
He would have to be incredibly thick not to realise it (which to be fair, I wouldn't put it past him). But don't forget he made a bold claim to LVG that he would provide goals this season. And when you carry the reputation Rooney carries plus being captain at the club, it becomes very difficult to simply put your hand up and say it's just beyond you. I think he's hanging on to wild hopes that he could turn it around as long as he keeps playing. We're barely halfway into the season so LVG can still risk it. If we're 2pts off the top going into march and still carrying Rooney, then I can't imagine LVG standing by him for the final stretch.
He's done a Torres and Falcao.
Fair enough, but even though it's early in the season, we can still find our selves tumbling down the table if we're not careful. We don't really have the confidence to be carrying someone hoping they might find form. My big worry is by the time someone wakes up at the club and decide to drop him, we'll be too far away points wise to achieve what we want - and that includes top 4. I'm no doom monger but I'm genuinely afraid this might happen to us. Rooney's desire to win with us is no longer 100%, so I can imagine it won't hurt him as much as it will the rest of our team and us the fans. Honestly we just can't carry on like this or I can see it turning out real bad - not for Rooney - but for the rest of team and us.
And yet we won't drop or sub him
All we can do is hope that the rest of the team stay healthy and get very lucky with results, so we stay competitive irrespective of Rooney's situation. Tough ask to play with 10 men all the time but what else is there to do?
He's played almost as many games as the average player would by their late 30s and the fact that he's always faced issues with his weight when he's not playing plays a part.
Thinking about it, and I don't wish to stimulate any vile invective, is there a single case of a Liverpudlian being loved in Manchester?
"The cold reality FOR ME..."
I'm entitled to my opinion & my opinion is that no matter how much of a legend the history books will portray Rooney as, he will never be a legend in my eyes.
Nail(s). On. Head(s).
Rooney fell out with SAF and Rooney won! He is the only player who won against SAF!
That's probably the main reason that some "forum fans" do not like him.
In real life, Rooney is immensely popular, one of the most popular footballers of all time. Ad firms do not give money to non-popular people, so the number of shirts he is selling shows that he is a top-10 footballer in the world today in terms of popularity! We can say whatever we want in a forum, but in real life money talks.
Rooney is very successful, very popular, very rich, a record-holder and a legend. Not yesterday. Today! If this upsets some people... too bad.
And he will definitely remain a Premiership and Man Utd legend for decades to come. It will be very difficult for anyone to surpass his records.
Jesus...you sound like you're trying to sell us Wayne Rooney action figures.
Good pitch, but I'm not buying.
I am not selling anything. But out there, in real life, people are buying plenty! Perhaps not you, but really ... who cares about a small minority?
The vast majority of fans LOVE Rooney and vote for him with their money! I have no idea where some guys in this thread get the impression that "Rooney is not more loved"! If so, then... who is buying all those shirts?
http://www.sportsdirect.com/News/entryid/7107/Player-Shirt-Sales-2014-15-Whos-Your-Favourite
It's the part about Rooney rescuing you from a burning building and you being disappointed. No need for hyperbole to fit in here, this isn't RAWK.
And my point was that Rooney and Ronaldo are both the same. Mercenaries who are great players for the club but who are in my books, not legends for the club like Giggs and co was.
Can you name a single player in PL *today* who isn't a mercenary, in your opinion?
For example, if Real offered 300K per week, who wouldn't want to move there?
Ditto.
I will love him as a legend when he hangs up his boots, not while he is getting picked every game to make our attack look shite.
Not gonna argue if he is a legend or not cause in my eyes he is but when we talk about his current form being a reason he isnt liked. While i do agree, LVG has to sit him for a few games. Light a fire under him (hopefully) to me he doesn't deserve to be remembered for this run of form.
He's scouse.
He's threatened to leave.
Not only threatened to leave but accused SAF of a lack of ambition, said players where not up to it and wanted to join City.
He's never dragged us to glory on his own like other true club greats like Best, Charlton, Keane, Cantona, Ronaldo etc
He's never produced a moment of genius to win an important game......like the ones above.
On average, over his 12 years with the club, I would say he has (let us down is maybe a bit harsh but) more poor games than he has great games.
He's threatened to leave.
Not only threatened to leave but accused SAF of a lack of ambition, said players where not up to it and wanted to join City.
He's never dragged us to glory on his own like other true club greats like Best, Charlton, Keane, Cantona, Ronaldo etc
He's never produced a moment of genius to win an important game......like the ones above.
On average, over his 12 years with the club, I would say he has (let us down is maybe a bit harsh but) more poor games than he has great games.
His poor form and continued selection is chipping away at his legend status. Another facet of the obscene amount of money he's payed, it's stopping his better judgement, which should be to step down before he becomes resented.
I've been very critical of Rooney, mainly because too many journos and fans are so much up his arse that they are blind about his weaknesses and decline, but let's not pretend that the goal vs City in 2011 wasn't a moment of genius.
I've no problem with Rooney. People can say what they like but we went a long time without buying a midfielder. We're playing catch up because we let teams have the market for ourselves. Chelsea got Essien because we didn't compete for him. Hazard? We wouldn't pay the money. Robben? Penny Pinching by Kenyon. Rolandinho? Took too long to do a deal. We've since corrected that, but you should strengthen when you are on top.
People were disappointed in Rooney at times and they say he don't care? He could have run his contract out and moved to Everton if he wanted. He's had injuries and he's calmed down on the pitch. Is he the perfect professional? No, but he's been a very good player for the club and I think much of it is bullshit to be frank. Rooney threatening to leave is the media having fun. Kind of like Rio meeting with Chelsea management....
He's played 12 years for a club he don't care for. I hope he finds his form soon.
People were disappointed in Rooney at times and they say he don't care? He could have run his contract out and moved to Everton if he wanted. He's had injuries and he's calmed down on the pitch. Is he the perfect professional? No, but he's been a very good player for the club and I think much of it is bullshit to be frank. Rooney threatening to leave is the media having fun. Kind of like Rio meeting with Chelsea management....
He's played 12 years for a club he don't care for. I hope he finds his form soon.
All time appearances:
Rooney 493
Keane 480
Best 470
Robson 461
Pallister 437
http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Legends.aspx?sortOrder=appearances
Rooney 493
Keane 480
Best 470
Robson 461
Pallister 437
http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Legends.aspx?sortOrder=appearances
I think it's too easy to pile on the negatives on a player when they are playing badly when the need for him to be playing well is so vital at the moment. The problem with Rooney, and I'm a big supporter of his, always have been, is that he is not a likeable personality. There is nothing to hang on to in terms of a part of his personality to like. To my mind, this means that every negative thing he has done is accentuated and makes it easier to dislike him as a person even more!
The shiner???
Yeah that was a screamer but it wasn't a season definer, last minute winner, cup final decider etc.
I am thinking Ole's goal against Bayern or Liverpool in the cup the same year, keano's performance in turin, scholesy goal against barca, Ronaldo's goal against Fulham away, cantona's winner at Wembley in the cup final against Liverpool.
Rooney has scored some class goals, volley at Newcastle, Overhead kick against city, halfway line at west ham. But in the grand scheme of things none of them really mattered. They weren't decisive goals that made a huge difference.
I would but him in the bracket below all the true United legends.
I'm his biggest hater but Rooney is unlucky. He scored a late winner vs Milan in 2007. Unfortunately we lost the second leg! He also scored a sublime equaliser vs Barcelona in the final of 2009. Again we ended up losing. Both those goals could have been talked up for years if the results differed.
I was just about to post this. He has produced moments of magic in his career. This is not a stick to beat him with.
I wasn't aware of any strict literary guidelines set out in the caf t&c's! Picking that out of my post as a point of order has nothing to do with Rooney being/not being a legend.
As I read it, we both agree that Rooney isn't a legend other than by his stats. I hold Ronaldo in higher regard than you, but that's OK... that's your opinion, same as I'm entitled to mine!
If its the hyperbole that's offensive or response-provoking, then I'm done with this discussion. I would much rather debate Utd issues than which forums you think my posts are best suited for.
I agree to some degree.
However, all the greats aren't unlucky. Its no coincidence that true greats make a difference over and over again making the difference and producing game / season changing moments and cup final winners. Its no coincidence throughout history of the game its the same players producing in the big moments at the highest level. For club and country Rooney hasn't.
At United I would consider him in the Andy Cole, Dwight York, RNV....bracket of greats.
Certainly not the Best, Charlton, Cantona, Keane, Ronaldo bracket of greats.
Also......sublime is pushing it when describing the equiliser at Wembley. But as I said in my original post.....even if it was sublime......it didn't really matter did it in that it wasn't defining.
Put it this way........if I was picking an all time great 11. Rooney wouldn't make it. He wouldn't even make the B team. It's debatable if he's make the C team if I am honest
I like Rooney. I think he's basically a nice guy, with an average, or maybe just below average, IQ.
My only problem with him is not his lack of form, but his lack of effort. Do they sell rose-tinted specs at OT now? Must get some. I can't believe it when I hear people defending him by saying he's trying. Well I can agree with that, but not in the context they mean it.
Maybe he's so concerned about his own form, he's become scared to do anything other than hover around midfield cross or back passing, or sending a pass to someone in the stands.
For whatever reason, he's not making the required effort - as a main striker he needs to be in striking distance. I don't expect him to be Gary Lineker and spend the whole game in the penalty box - though that would be preferable to the opposite.
The moment I saw him on Sunday, in midfield, making no effort to get forward and involved in an attack, was when I gave up on him.
I hope he plays against Boro tonight, because it wouldn't be the time to drop him - if he can boost himself with a game against lower opposition, then maybe he'll get some momentum.
My only problem with him is not his lack of form, but his lack of effort. Do they sell rose-tinted specs at OT now? Must get some. I can't believe it when I hear people defending him by saying he's trying. Well I can agree with that, but not in the context they mean it.
Maybe he's so concerned about his own form, he's become scared to do anything other than hover around midfield cross or back passing, or sending a pass to someone in the stands.
For whatever reason, he's not making the required effort - as a main striker he needs to be in striking distance. I don't expect him to be Gary Lineker and spend the whole game in the penalty box - though that would be preferable to the opposite.
The moment I saw him on Sunday, in midfield, making no effort to get forward and involved in an attack, was when I gave up on him.
I hope he plays against Boro tonight, because it wouldn't be the time to drop him - if he can boost himself with a game against lower opposition, then maybe he'll get some momentum.
Some of the comments on here about Rooney never producing etc are ridiculous. I think the fact he's not getting dropped is where it stems from. Giggs went pretty average at a similar age and got dropped for a period and then kicked on again. Was the same stage when he was changing his game from running at players to almost playing as a no10 at times, I was often pleased when he was benched during this period as we had other players who could do better. Difference is that Fergie made those calls and picked right moments, LVG is trying to play him and he did RVP through the bad form. Even Scholes had a few times where he was put on the bench to re-find form. Rooney could do with this now. The fact people on here see that LVG thinks he is indispensable isnt helping him, well not helping the view from fans on him. The longer that lasts with him not scoring the worse it'll get and the longer it'll take for the fans to think he can do it.
I dont like for this current run of form to affect my view on him, but I will compare it when I look back as I do when Giggs lost form, or Keane, Neville etc but when Rooney broke through and first came and played properly as a number 10 he changed the game and changed our game. He was ridiculously good anyone that forgets that or didnt see that then their loss. I think this was his best period by some distance, even over the yrs he played as a 9 and scored goals or unselfishly played wide to allow Ronaldo to dominate and work as a 3 with Tevez, for the team. But for me those early years were the best we've seen from him in terms of performances on the pitch.
Rooney just needs to be dropped fans will respond positively to that and to him when he comes back scoring (if he does)...players do reach an end I dont think Rooney's is yet I just think he needs to be shown that he isnt undroppable we have players at the club potentially better and if he doesnt react then he'll stay on the bench like any other player fighting for their place. LVG is close to doing this too, Im sure of it. But 1/4 of the way into the season maybe he's giving him a bit of time like RVP got.
I dont like for this current run of form to affect my view on him, but I will compare it when I look back as I do when Giggs lost form, or Keane, Neville etc but when Rooney broke through and first came and played properly as a number 10 he changed the game and changed our game. He was ridiculously good anyone that forgets that or didnt see that then their loss. I think this was his best period by some distance, even over the yrs he played as a 9 and scored goals or unselfishly played wide to allow Ronaldo to dominate and work as a 3 with Tevez, for the team. But for me those early years were the best we've seen from him in terms of performances on the pitch.
Rooney just needs to be dropped fans will respond positively to that and to him when he comes back scoring (if he does)...players do reach an end I dont think Rooney's is yet I just think he needs to be shown that he isnt undroppable we have players at the club potentially better and if he doesnt react then he'll stay on the bench like any other player fighting for their place. LVG is close to doing this too, Im sure of it. But 1/4 of the way into the season maybe he's giving him a bit of time like RVP got.
Are you working with the Man Utd marketing department?
Whatever anyone thinks about Wayne personally, the fact is with him, we ain't winning nothing. That's the issue here. The fact he gets all these privileges is not helping him in the fan 'affection' department.
Are you working with the Man Utd marketing department?
Whatever anyone thinks about Wayne personally, the fact is with him, we ain't winning nothing. That's the issue here. The fact he gets all these privileges is not helping him in the fan 'affection' department.
It is just a small vocal minority who don't like Rooney.
The VAST majority of fans LOVE Rooney... and that's why they buy his shirts. The proof is in the numbers.
But I know that whiners will keep whining. It is their right after all... free speech! :-)
Have you ever considered they buy his shirts because they are pre-printed in greater quantities than anyone else's? If the United megastore began next season with more pre-printed Martial shirts than anyone else do you not think they'd outsell anyone else's?
There is a thin line between love and hate, Rooney doesn't get the same love he used to because of the depth with which he was loved.
Rooney's marketing people did a job on United fans. Until 2010 most United fans would have had you believe Rooney would die for Man Utd. Forget the revisionism now, to a man, most United fans believed the marketing guff about Rooney being willing to play for nothing, happy to go down the park for a kick about just to play.
That is why Rooney's transfer sagas have been received so differently to Ronaldo's. A lot of United fans loved Ronaldo, he was an arrogant sow, and we like a player with a bit of cockiness and presence. Still, we always suspected he would leave for sunny climes. Every summer, even the summer after we won the European Cup in the 50th anniversary year of the Munich tragedy, Ronaldo to Madrid rumours would surface. We all knew Ronaldo would go there eventually, he called himself a slave for having to play for us! With Rooney though, there was never that worry. We genuinely believed that Rooney was ours and would be happy playing for us until he retired.
When Sir Alex confirmed Rooney wanted to leave in 2010 the scales fell from our eyes. The way Sir Alex expressed his shock and dismay at Rooney's willingness to leave reflected the feelings of a lot of fans. Seeing Sir Alex look so exhausted by the saga was enough to anger most reds. Yet, it was also the case that what Sir Alex said struck a chord. Rooney'd been given the platform, been given everything he wanted, won trophy after trophy, and now he was saying the club couldn't match his ambition. Worse, he was saying he wanted to go to City! At that moment love, for a lot of people, turned to hatred. Having swallowed the PR about Rooney being a 'street footballer' who would play for anyone, just for the pleasure of kicking a ball, the whole thing was a bitter wake up call for many reds. At that moment a lot of our fans realised that, not only was Rooney not one of us, he'd gladly go to City or anyone for money.
Ever since then I think most reds have kept Rooney at arms length. When he plays well he gets support, when he doesn't play well he gets treated like anyone else. He sees United in a business like manner and we see him the same way.
Good grief, he didn't 'win' against SAF.
Yea, this gets banded about a lot and I never quite understood it. It's seems to only apply to Rooney and elevates his status as someone who loves the game more or shows more passion or...well, I dunno what.
Isn't every footballer a 'street' footballer than loves to play? (Yes, apart from Victor Valdes, but even once upon a time he would have been a street footballer that loves to play).
Well, Rooney is still in the team, he is the captain, he is on 300K/week salary, he is the record holder for the national team and soon for Man Utd, and the people love him and buy his shirts in record numbers.
I wouldn't say that 'he lost' to SAF!...
This 'VAST' majority of fans who LOVE him is complete dribble. Absolute dross.
He's a complete bag of poo who has been robbing us for the last 2 years, being played in the present based on his performances way way way in the past. SAF called it. He's poop, end of.
Come at me.
He's a complete bag of poo who has been robbing us for the last 2 years, being played in the present based on his performances way way way in the past. SAF called it. He's poop, end of.
Come at me.