Ronaldo is/was has always been better. Rooney was more mature....never as talented and overall absolutely miles behind Ronaldo who is legitimately one of the greatest players of all time. Rooney is not.
Did Rooney fulfill his potential?
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Ronaldo is/was has always been better. Rooney was more mature....never as talented and overall absolutely miles behind Ronaldo who is legitimately one of the greatest players of all time. Rooney is not.
This time never existed....Rooney was a great player. Their were many more who didn’t play for United and England who were equally as good and more than 1-2 who were better. Scholes was better for a start.
Yes. I still think he's the most talented English player of the last generation.
He could play anywhere to a high standard. Ask him to lead the line? No problem. Ask him to support others? No problem. Ask him to dictate the tempo? No problem.
Good set piece taker too.
He could play anywhere to a high standard. Ask him to lead the line? No problem. Ask him to support others? No problem. Ask him to dictate the tempo? No problem.
Good set piece taker too.
I said in his age group. And from 2003-2006 he was the best player in the world in his age group as Messi didn’t come along until 2006/07
He can defend very well too. According to SAF he can play in goal to a decent level too.
Yes. Top scorer for United and England. Won everything there is to win. Hard to say that’s not potential fulfilled. Expectations of wonder boys are (very) often beyond realism if Rooney can do that and people can say that’s not fulfilled potential.
Probably not, no. He had the potential to be an all time football great, and I would say he’s probably just an English football great. He also didn’t have a long peak, he was pretty much finished at the top level by 28, Fergie spotted this & would have sold him had he not retired. Considering he & Ronaldo were constantly compared for a time when they were breaking through, it’s kinda crazy when you consider Rooney has been finished for the better part of a decade & Ronaldo is still doing it at an elite level despite being the older of the two. I guess it goes to show just how important a clean diet & keeping your fitness in check is. For me Rooney was comfortably the better natural talent, yet Ronaldo is the all time great & Rooney isn’t.
Still had a cracking career mind. His time was 2006-2012. His overall game had faded a bit on 11-12 & he just turned into an absolute goal machine.
Still had a cracking career mind. His time was 2006-2012. His overall game had faded a bit on 11-12 & he just turned into an absolute goal machine.
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I’m afraid he did not come close to the player he could have been. His conditioning was not very good for significant parts of his career. He also had the metatarsal injury. Too much off the field shite as well. His attitude hindered his positional discipline. For raw talent he was hard to beat.
This is the most accurate answer I think.
Yeah, good post.
In addition to shortcomings which may have been within his power to correct, he did have some bad luck with injuries and red cards as well.
No.
He had all the talent in the world but didn’t have the dedication to take him to the next level.
If Ferguson hadnt retired hed of moved him on the summer he retired.
He was a unbelievable player, but he never hit the heights of even the likes of Suarez. Rooney had the ability to be the best of his generation.
He had all the talent in the world but didn’t have the dedication to take him to the next level.
If Ferguson hadnt retired hed of moved him on the summer he retired.
He was a unbelievable player, but he never hit the heights of even the likes of Suarez. Rooney had the ability to be the best of his generation.
The Rooney 2009-10 version of Rooney was just immense. I mean he suddenly just added headed goals to his game like it was nothing at all. I feel he was never quite the same after that injury in the Bayern game and the disaster of a World Cup (although he certainly had his moments in the following season, especially in the title run-in.) What I would do to have a prime Wayne Rooney in this team...
I think he hit the heights of Suarez, but he didn't sustain it.
Rooney was nowhere near as naturally talented. Ronaldo’s touch, technique and weight of pass....never mind skill were on another level. Rooney was more mature as a teen. That’s where comparisons end. Rooney was a great player. Ronaldo was always a generational talent. One of the greatest who ever lived.
He was never the best player in the world. However you want to paint it.
Isn't it weird how Rooney is lamented for his conditioning whereas R9 is heralded as one of the best ever despite having a shorter peak and achieving less (maybe) in his career.
For me, he 100% fulfilled his potential.
For me, he 100% fulfilled his potential.
Define potential...
You're comparing an imagined idea versus reality.
The reality is he played for the biggest club in the world, won everything he could with them, established himself as a legend, and left as their top ever goal scorer.
He also finished as top ever goal scorer for his country.
He was an absolutely fabulous player, on just about every level.
Now, as to whether he fulfilled his 'potential', we have to go back to what your imagined version of him fulfilling his potential is.
You're comparing an imagined idea versus reality.
The reality is he played for the biggest club in the world, won everything he could with them, established himself as a legend, and left as their top ever goal scorer.
He also finished as top ever goal scorer for his country.
He was an absolutely fabulous player, on just about every level.
Now, as to whether he fulfilled his 'potential', we have to go back to what your imagined version of him fulfilling his potential is.
Not for me and that is only because I expected that he would become one of all-time great strikers/forwards in the game (top 10 company).
That is how ridiculously good he looked at the start of his career. Would bet my house (well fathers one if am more precise) at the time that we are seeing future multiple Ballon d'Or winner.
Despite all that, still one hell of a career when all is said and done.
That is how ridiculously good he looked at the start of his career. Would bet my house (well fathers one if am more precise) at the time that we are seeing future multiple Ballon d'Or winner.
Despite all that, still one hell of a career when all is said and done.
Did Rooney fulfill his potential or your expectations?
For a player who got a lot of his raw talent from playing with his mates and was physically mature beyond his years, I think he did fulfill his potential and then some. He was never this cultured footballer from a prestigious academy who danced around players, etc.
It wasn't graceful or immensely 'smooth' or at ridiculously high technical ability, but he was brutally effective and was a top player. Never really confined to a position either as he was a CAM/SS/CF/forward. Wasn't the most technically skilled player, which didn't allow him to play as a traditional CM a la Giggs or Scholes when they went central for a little bit.
For a player who got a lot of his raw talent from playing with his mates and was physically mature beyond his years, I think he did fulfill his potential and then some. He was never this cultured footballer from a prestigious academy who danced around players, etc.
It wasn't graceful or immensely 'smooth' or at ridiculously high technical ability, but he was brutally effective and was a top player. Never really confined to a position either as he was a CAM/SS/CF/forward. Wasn't the most technically skilled player, which didn't allow him to play as a traditional CM a la Giggs or Scholes when they went central for a little bit.
Not sure of your comprehension level. I never said he was the best player in the world. I said between 2003 to 2005/6 he was the best player in the world in his age group, big difference.
If you can remember a 18-21 year old who was performing better at that time then please name and I’m open to reassessing.
In 2006 Ronaldo stepped up, and the younger Messi became a regular in the Barca team.
One thing to consider is how much it would have impacted United if he didn't join us after Everton. What if he went to Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea? While he never became a perennial balon d'or finalist here, he lead the charge to many trophies. Had he joined someone else, I don't think we win anywhere near as many Premier League titles or tournaments.
So as a player, he may not have reached his peak potential for as long as would have been expected. But as a United purchase, I think he surpassed expectations/potential.
So as a player, he may not have reached his peak potential for as long as would have been expected. But as a United purchase, I think he surpassed expectations/potential.
He sacrificed also for the team. If Ronaldo was not at United Rooney at his peak would have been the main man. We tend to remember his last years where his decline has already started. Without him we would not have the FA Cup under LVG.
At international level, his performances on the biggest stage (the World Cup), where he scored just one goal in 11 matches, suggests that he didn't fulfil his potential at the highest level of his profession.
The counter argument to that is that he lit up a Euro's at 18 years of age, and he also went on to become England's highest ever goalscorer, beating the previous record held by the great Bobby Charlton.
At club level, he unquestionably fulfilled his potential. His work rate was phenomenal and so were a lot of his goals. He also went on to become Utd's highest ever goalscorer - again beating the previous record held by the great Bobby Charlton.
You have to remember the silverware he won as well...
How many players can say they have won:
- The Premier League
- The Champions League
- The FA Cup
- The League Cup
- The Europa League
- The Club World Cup
Not even John Terry can claim to have won all of those trophies
The counter argument to that is that he lit up a Euro's at 18 years of age, and he also went on to become England's highest ever goalscorer, beating the previous record held by the great Bobby Charlton.
At club level, he unquestionably fulfilled his potential. His work rate was phenomenal and so were a lot of his goals. He also went on to become Utd's highest ever goalscorer - again beating the previous record held by the great Bobby Charlton.
You have to remember the silverware he won as well...
How many players can say they have won:
- The Premier League
- The Champions League
- The FA Cup
- The League Cup
- The Europa League
- The Club World Cup
Not even John Terry can claim to have won all of those trophies
For those that missed out on watching Keane and Cantona. Rooney is the closest in terms of drive to win. Record goalscorer for club and country. Great teammate and scorer of great goals. Trophies galore. Just look at the highlight for one of his MLS games where he tracks back to stop n open goal then puts ina peach of a cross for the last minute winner. Not a single player in our current squad would/could do something like that. Absolute legend who fulfilled his potential.
At his prime, Rooney is an absolute force of nature. He is better than Suarez, Costa and Aguero. His prime didn't last that long, though.
He said at that age. As is in his age group, not in the world.
R9 topped everyone at his peak. Maybe that helps? Won World Cup being top scorer, only a goal shy to Klose who took over due to longevity, while Rooney outside of his first Euro was pretty meh for a player of such profile.
For someone who went down hill fast despite not sustaining career ending injuries, it only makes Rooney look bad if you like to go that route.
Prime Suarez was at least as good as, if not better than, Rooney.
I think it's clear, or rather kinda unclear - the answer is both yes and no. No in that his ceiling was possibly even higher, or at least his peak could've been longer, and certainly without the sharp cliff. Yes in that he was brilliant for us for a long time, and truly great for a part of that. Either way, I'm certainly not disapointed with what he gave us.
prime suarez would edge it in terms of dribbling and one on one finishing. Rooney would beat suarez in workrate, defending, adaptability, power. I'd take prime rooney personally.
Yes, he most certantly did. Rooney in his prime.. holy hell what a baller. Beast that absolutely fulfilled his potential. God, i miss that man.
Now, if he could have upheld his prime longer? Probably, but keep in mind that Rooney was destroying world class football teams at age 17.
Now, if he could have upheld his prime longer? Probably, but keep in mind that Rooney was destroying world class football teams at age 17.
I say this a lot but it's unfortunate that his peak came inbetween Ronaldo and Tevez leaving and van Persie joining. Especially in Robin's case. If Rooney had just maintained his form and physique from only just the previous season; that could've been something special.
that point isn't invalid but isn't it worth seeing what fergie said in his autobiography? i feel rooney had an upper limit as far as hit fitness went and being a prodigy at 16 meant by the time he was 30 he already had many more miles on the clock than most players that age would have. expecting a giggs-like career wouldn't have been all that realistic. i feel it is a testament to fergie that Rooney did not end up like Gascoigne which was one of his regrets. by the time he ended his career he wasn't even the hothead he was in his teens.
Won most of the major trophies, gave his best years to this club, sacrificed all over the pitch for us. His club and country top scorer. How is this even a discussion people?
He was an unreliable goalscorer yes, but to be fair he played second fiddle to Ronaldo for at least a couple of years. The season he hit good numbers was the season after Ronaldo left.
I think the fact he achieved what he achieved despite his lifestyle is a testament to his talent and natural abilities. I wonder what numbers he'd be putting up if he was like Ronaldo in terms of off the field lifestyle.
Should've left when Fergie retired. The drop in quality from him due to him not being coached by Ferguson was staggering. Once he lost his fire, someone to push him, or got too comfortable being pandered to as the main man, he lost his edge.
This. Ronaldo was the main man. Perhaps Rooney was happy playing secobd fiddle because it took a lot of pressure off him? If he had the ego and drive of CR, then definitely he would have gone all out in competing with him for goals and records.
All said and done, the match against Fener was the best debut game I have seen in my life. "I am over the moon, we've got the Roon!"
Rooney at 18 was wildly inconsistent. Greenwood has been far more consistent than him.
Rooney was a wrecking ball though, capable of demolishing opposition through a combination of raw skill and raw power like few we have ever witnessed.