Did we get too excited over Rooney?

On the 19th of October 2002 Rooney burst onto the scene. When he came on against Arsenal he was only 16 years old, he not only came on as a substitute but was able to score against the then-champions. Since that moment we all knew he was something special.

It has been six years since that amazing goal, what are your views on him now?

He is a good player ues but i do think people rate him much too highly. Over recent years he has been an automatic choice in the England squad even when he wasnt playing well so for his sake i hope Capello will drop him when he isnt peforming as well as other so he will realise he has still much to improve on.

I think its quite obvious to say that he hasnt developed as well as everyone was hoping. He struggles to get into most games and despite working really hard, doesnt have much of an impact on a lot of United's games.

In saying that, hes still a top quality player. Hes got great natural ability but his position is the problem. Where do you put him on the pitch? Behind the front man is probably his best position but the problem with United is that they dont play an out and out striker so he can never play to his full potential. Fergie is to blame for a lot of it, he takes advantage of Rooney's enthusiasm and plays him on the left where he has no effect other than his hard work and tracking back.

I dont doubt his ability, we've seen plenty of examples of the quality he has. He just doesnt seem to fit naturally into United's team so doesnt fulfil his potential

I think we all agree he hasn't lived up to his potential.

As of right now he cannot finish and he cannot pass.

He is criminally wasteful in possession and while he makes a few good touches or runs he just isn't the player we hoped he'd be at all. Arguably he's actually got worse as a player than he was at the last world cup. One thing I've really noticed is that he doesn't run at players anymore which is a shame because he was great at that when he was younger. I also think his off field stupidity shows up in his game, while he's a naturally gifted player he is not an intelligent player at all.

However, he is constantly played out of position and perhaps if Man Utd sign a proper striker this summer and player Rooney in his real position then we will see the best of him.

I remember when there was much debate over whether Ronaldo or Rooney was the better player, that comparison is laughable now, it's a shame Ronaldo became one of the worlds best and Rooney didn't move on from 4 years ago.

As mentioned above, Rooney hasn't lived up this potential at all. I'm not sure how you consider him a top quality player when he barely scores 15 goals a season (usually less).

EPL goal scoring ratio

07/08: 12 goals
06/07: 14 goals
05/06: 16 goals
04/05: 11 goals
03/04: 9 goals
02/03: 6 goals

Goal ratio in total for 6 seasons: 11 goals per season

As you noticed the amount of goals have dropped significantly since the 05/06 while it's supposed to go the other way.

I wonder if we would be having a discussion today between who the star player is, Rooney or Ronaldo, had Rooney been coached under Wenger.

Fergusen has brought through a lot of great players, including Ronaldo.

Both came to Utd at a similar stage in their development and one developed into the worlds best player. I'm not sure you can criticise his training. Perhaps he just isn't as talented as we thought.

I don't know about that because I see a lot of potential in Rooney that's not being used under Ferguson. You feel he's ready to explode anytime to become world class, but he's being held back some way.

Look at Henry when he played for Juventus and suddenly with Arsenal he began banging the goals in.

I think that assuming we sign a real forward, next year is his chance.

I think your looking at the wrong set of statistics. Rooney isn't an out and out goal scorer, and does much more for the team than score goals.

There is absolutely nothing to suggest that Wenger could help Rooney improve his game anymore than Sir Alex. Fergie brought through David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs - all of which flourished under his guidence and leadership.

When Ronaldo joined United, he was a rough diamond - however has had the best season of his career. Do you really think Ronaldo could perform better under Wenger than what he has this season at United?

Rooney is progressing fine, and is a great player. He is still young and will continue to improve.

it is almost impossible to say whether players would do better in another team . When Alan Shearer declined Man Utd to join Newcastle some thought was he mad ...he did go on to become the Premier League all time top scorer .....a record unlikely to be broken anytime soon .

Can you imagine if he had joined Man Utd .....would the goal tally be 50% higher ....we just cannot tell . Rooney has been outshone by Ronaldo this season ...all the attentions has been on the Portugese wizard so Rooney has been somewhat forgotten ....despite his lack of goals , he has still had a great season and is an important player for Man Utd and England ...

Not sure he would do any better at Arsenal ...he would probably thump a team mates before too long ...

Rooney does more than score goals he is a fantastic team player, maybe he hasn't reached his scoring potential but he is an important part of the team

One of the most overrated players i have ever seen play.....although there is no doubting Rooney is a good team player and on random occasions a great individual the major problem was the media who hyped him up to the point that he started to believe them....

I agree that ferguson plays him in the wrong position but i feel even in his preferred position he would still lack impact and goals on a concistent basis.....

When Rooney emerged he was thrown into the same category as players of van basten and papin's ability but quite frankly at both international and domestic level he has been fair to good therefore not being worthy of being mentioned alongside such great players.

His record for england is average and i honestly cant remeber him playing brillant since the crotia game at the last world cup , i know michael owen and peter crouch get ridiculed at times but both have been better at international level..... as for his record at Manchester United as an individual its okay although he needs to be more ruthless....


Overall a good player who has been overhyped to the point of embarssement (john motsons orgasms evertime Rooney touches the ball).....

Strikers are there to score goals, I agree theres types of strikers who will score less than others but you can still justifiably judge them on how many theyve scored. And Rooney doesnt measire up.

Robbie Keane is a similar striker to Rooney, drops deep, harries and makes play for his partner or midfielders coming forward but he also scores plenty of goals. Im just guessing but id say hes outscored Rooney in the league every season hes been in it.

agree with that 100% jono do people believe Rooney is a better player than robbie keane because of all the hype that he is surronded with and given by his peers.....

It would be interesting to see who has scored the more goal's and what there comparisons are in the assist department as well....to be honest id put my house on keane besting Rooney in nearly every season they have played in.......

Ronaldo's job isn't to score, yet he scored 40+ goals this season and Rooney who's job is to score, got a few goals only.

Without scoring goals as a striker I don't see why you are good, Rooney is an average player and this right here proves it:

Season--Goals--Goals/game--Assists--Assists/game--Shots--Shots/game
07/08-----12-----0.49------------10-------0.41------------48-----1.98
06/07-----14-----0.44------------11-------0.35------------45-----1.43

This great forward called Rooney shoots an average of 2 shots a game and out of 48 shots he scored 12 goals this season.

He assists about once every third game so in conclusion: he's useless...

Rooney is a very easy person to manipulate. he often gets wound up and makes rash decisions both on and off the field. but they aren't of his own making. remember in the world cup when that portuhese fellow was trying to drag him down, he had to do something. Torres has more talent and doesn't get manipulated because torres has a cool head and a brain.

Cant pass? Thats probally the best thing about him is his passing. That amazing 70 yard pass he made to Ronaldo in the CL final for example.

His best postion is certainly a central one. I think he'd be alot more useful playing of 2 center forwards.

I don't really see Rooney as a Striker.

The only reason, i think he is even managed to accomplish favourable success. Is because Rooney has been giving far to many opportunities to play consistently. He is picked for Man United & England even when his form is considerly low. Though in the the future he may have an incrediable season. Then everybody will prasie him. Forgetting it took 7 years to relaise his potencial.

Well Capello is asking him to be more greedy and less of a team player so hopefully for England he will play well and realise his potential. And for the rest of us we hope he carries on playing poor but still gets picked.

No he can't pass. He loses the ball all the time. Like many players he does the occasional wonder pass but one great pass every two or three games doesn't make up for the endless number of ocassions where he gives the ball away and tries the ambitious when a simple pass is better.

A good passer is not someone who occasionally pulls off a great pass it's someone like Scholes, Deco, Fabregas who time and again make incisive passes and do not give up the ball easilly if ever.

Cant pass? Thats probally the best thing about him is his passing. That amazing 70 yard pass he made to Ronaldo in the CL final for example.

His best postion is certainly a central one. I think he'd be alot more useful playing of 2 center forwards.

I don't really see Rooney as a Striker.