Europe was well behind North America in this regard I think. This was common place for athletes in the 90's in NA. No smoking, little if any drinking, and only to celebrate big occasions. Meanwhile in Europe, elite players are seen walking around with cigarettes dangling out of their mouth with what to me is shocking frequency, STILL.
How would you feel if Rooney smashed it at Everton?
- Thread starter RedTillI'mDead
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Europe was well behind North America in this regard I think. This was common place for athletes in the 90's in NA. No smoking, little if any drinking, and only to celebrate big occasions. Meanwhile in Europe, elite players are seen walking around with cigarettes dangling out of their mouth with what to me is shocking frequency, STILL.
To be fair, it's kind of hard saying no to £150,000 a week just for the sake of pride. I'd leave that sort of criticism for the managers who insist on playing him instead.
yes, Bayern away. hobbling about the pitch and wouldn't take him off
Even without the money I don't see anything intrinsically wrong with a player carrying on at whatever level that may be if they still enjoy playing. Lower PL teams, lower divisions, even non-league/semi-pro football. Some decide they've had enough when they start getting older, slower and more tired. Injuries obviously take their toll too. Some might get frustrated that they can no longer cut it and decide to bow out because of that. Then there's the rare breed that might just want to carry on because they love to compete even if they're not playing at the top level anymore.
I knew Lee Trundle made a bit of a comeback in recent years. Just looked him up and he's still going at Llanelli Town at the age of 41 and about to be promoted to the Welsh Premier League. Fair fecks to him and if Rooney ends up at a similar level in the future then same to him if that's what he wants to do.
The notion that someone has to call it quits as soon as they drop off can be a bit of a selfish one from fans at times, not wanting to see a former high level player failing to recreate what they once could. If the player himself is happy to carry on then he doesn't owe it to anyone to retire.
Its like the Everton forum is quoting our posts here from 3/4 years ago even down to the excuses people make for him.
Besides scoring at City has he done anything else of note this season?
Attempt to drink drive a minger back to her house? Because he’s a nice guy and wanted to get her home safely and couldn’t afford an Uber so thought it safest if he drive her home 3 times over the limit.
Other than that, nothing.
And Torres. And loads of others.
So he was shit in 2011-12 when he scored 35 goals?
Actually you said at least 7 years so he was shit before that as well in 2009-10 and 2010-11?
I said just before that I can't remember when he was good. It's been so long
Moved to Everton and scored a hatrick with his 3rd being from his own half. United haven’t had a hatrick in about 5 years.
2010.
Well 7 years is obviously bullshit mate. No need to exaggerate how long his decline has been.
He was good between 2012-14, between 2004-2012 he ranged from very good to world class. So not that long ago.
So he wasn't good in 10/11 or 11/12 then?
"First post in the Rooney tread and I have too say, we've had the value.
The lad just doesn't seem bothered"
I posted this = 17/04/13
Five years ago... I wonder if he was just hungover...
The lad just doesn't seem bothered"
I posted this = 17/04/13
Five years ago... I wonder if he was just hungover...
Actually youre wrong, late 2012 is when he started being shit and i started to realize he was past it. 16 goals for a player earning that much is a disgrace. Hes already got 10 for Everton with 6 games to go, he just needs two hattricks to eclipse his best season since 2011-12
16, 19, 14, 15, 8. Those are his goals total for each progressing season since 11-12. All seasons he played pretty much over 37 games. Are those good numbers? Sure they're decent. But are they worth what we paid him? No. Those are the sort of numbers you expect a secondary striker who fills in for the main star. Not the captain of the team whos on extravagant wages, demands respect from the manager and threw a fit every time he wasnt rewarded with a newer fresher contract
My mind is still fresh and i remember a lot of his performances that absolutely pissed me off from 12, he has been shit since then (when you compare it to his 07-11 years) It wasnt even a steady decline, he just turned to shit for some reason
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People have some weird opinions about Rooney.
Scored 27 league goals, but apparently was really shite.
Nah i'll stick by my opinion mate, good to see you found the reply button also
Up until the end of 2011-12 he was still a top player in 12-13 and 13-14 he was still good. 15-20 goals and around 15 assists in both seasons is pretty good for a player who isn't an out and out striker. Not great or amazing but good.
His wages are not really a factor when judging how good he was mate. Was he worth the wages we were paying him for his last few seasons here no but you can't say he was worse than he actually was just because he was earning a lot.
From 2014 until now he's ranged from decent-meh-awful, he's obviously shot physically which was a big part of his game. As to why he had such a sharp decline there's lots of theories, like playing lots of high level games from the age of 16, a few bad injuries plus rushing back from them and probably not being a model professional. A combination of those factors will not result in a player having a high level of performance in their 30's.
Yeah it's odd alright.
I've just read a Times article with some stats:
Touched the ball 29 times v Liverpool.
Won 29% of his duels.
Made one interception.
Made 17 passes with a completion rate of 71%.
Hasn't scored since a penalty v Swansea on 18th December.
Has completed 90 minutes three times in 14 starts under Big Sam.
Touched the ball 29 times v Liverpool.
Won 29% of his duels.
Made one interception.
Made 17 passes with a completion rate of 71%.
Hasn't scored since a penalty v Swansea on 18th December.
Has completed 90 minutes three times in 14 starts under Big Sam.
He should fake an injury and slowly fade away before retiring at the end of the season. His pride made him continue even though he surely knows he's finished at this level, and a long time ago too. I have seen a few Everton-games earlier in the season and it was painful to see him messing up on the pitch. Countless misplaced passes and bad decisions, being worked off the ball easily in every game, create turnovers for the other team and dangerous chances as a consequence. Rooney will always smash one in the top corner or do a Hollywood-pass every once in a while, but even a pub player could in theory do that if he plays all the time. What matters is the overall contribution and it's safe to say he is one of the worst attacking players in the league on current form.
Everton have far bigger problems than Rooney.
Talk about physically shot players, Ashley Williams plays for them for Christ sake
He can still make a useful contribution for them next season before hanging up the boots
Talk about physically shot players, Ashley Williams plays for them for Christ sake
He can still make a useful contribution for them next season before hanging up the boots
Isn't he Evertons top goal scorer?
Sams using him in midfield mostly which is just wrong. He did OK for them up top this season, better than the other options anyway
Surprisingly yes.
They're not genetic freaks of nature, they are (were) just infinitely more dedicated and focused on their physical fitness. Giggs was suffering with muscle injuries and so did something about it and took up Yoga. He also influenced Rio to do the same.
Rooney has always been more likely to be found with a pint and a cigarette than doing yoga. It's no great shock that he's physically fecked at 32.
I was glad to see him leave and wanted him gone for years, it's a little sad how the end of his career is panning out, it genuinely is. People can make comparisons to other athletes or make excuses, bottom line is he hasn't took care of himself for years. I remember when he got injured years ago, it took him additional games to look near the player he was when coming back. United were trying to get him off the cigarettes years ago, even heard it was up to a pack a day at one stage. Getting knocked out in his kitchen days before big games. Turning up pissed to training, drinking pints of Stella before a derby and being on the bench. Drink driving while trying to cheat on his wife. This is what has been reported, I imagine there is way more we don't know.
Bottom line is Rooney had raw talent and such a gift, devastating in the early days but never looked after himself like the real top players. He reminds me of footballers from the early 90's who retired in there early 30's. Boozing at the weekend and not eating and recuperating properly. Instead relying on natural ability/instinct and drive to see them through. Rooney was a class player but in my opinion never excelled to that best in the world stage after 2008. You see how Ronaldo turned into the best and Rooney gradually decline, not a fast decline but a gradual one. Loved watching him play in the early days, like a angered animal ready to explode on the opposition.
Bottom line is Rooney had raw talent and such a gift, devastating in the early days but never looked after himself like the real top players. He reminds me of footballers from the early 90's who retired in there early 30's. Boozing at the weekend and not eating and recuperating properly. Instead relying on natural ability/instinct and drive to see them through. Rooney was a class player but in my opinion never excelled to that best in the world stage after 2008. You see how Ronaldo turned into the best and Rooney gradually decline, not a fast decline but a gradual one. Loved watching him play in the early days, like a angered animal ready to explode on the opposition.
It’s his dedication that has cost him rather than how many games he has played. Ronaldo has more than 900 career games under his belt and started out just as young as Rooney did but is still as good as ever (and he’s 8 months older too).
Says more about them than him really.
I would argue he's really only a Prem starter as part of a front 2 or as a 10 with wingers who can create chances and a mobile striker. His finishing is now definitely his best attribute and he's bad at leading the line. Basically like Robbie Keane when he first started in the MLS (and was best player in the league back then) or Defoe right now at Bournemouth. For instance, he'd probably be doing okay in Ayoze Perez's role at Newcastle in a diametrically opposite way, scoring 5-10 more goals a year but doing much work at linking play and defensively.
He should probably go to a club that can afford to play 2 up top because they dominate their league and need reliable goalscoring, like a top Turkish or Dutch side.
Oh yeah I remember the halfway line goal now.
Was a good effort, but people are right about him being physically shot. A legend and one of the best PL players ever, which makes it quite sad and a shame to see his ability nosedive so fast.
I think its because he stuck around much longer than common sense would dictate that its all the more obvious. (Not entirely his fault LvG has a good deal of blame to shoulder for this one).
If he had left England to go somewhere else then the decline wouldnt be as painfully obvious to watch as we wouldnt be watching him week in week out.
Im sure Ashley Cole isnt half the player he was in his prime but no one really notices because he is in MLS.
If Mourinho is sacked, I hope the next one brings Rooney back. Honestly it can't make us worse... it just can't. I can't see how Sanchez is a better player at the moment.
I know the loss was hard today but come on....
The feck?
Were you weaned on whiskey?