Yes over and above what he won with Ronaldo. You speak as if 6 titles is a small thing. He also became our record goal scorer and was better in his teen years. So basically better for Manchester United.
Times: Wayne Rooney - Man Utd lack character, heart and emotion
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Rashford never had football smarts, or any composure or decision making skills. Yet he can always do impressive things. Perhaps he was unlucky in not finding the right mentor: he is the eternally promising local lad. He seems to crave approval, and this - plus his genuine decency - led him into social activism etc.
He is - at present - zero addition to the team; can’t press, can’t pass, can’t follow instructions. Like Rashford, McT could never be accused of lacking heart. He puts in a full shift; would give everything for the team. He may yet be a good backup in a balanced team. He could learn. McT has far less natural talent than Rashford, but his ball retention is a major issue.
So I don’t know if I agree with Wayne (or Keano) about lacking heart. It’s jelling as a team, to me; it’s unity, it’s single-minded determination. That culture has been absent from the dressing room for years. It seems alien to them. They look like a 1990’s team time-located into 2022. (But without the team coherence Rooney and Keane take for granted). Rashford seems distracted. McTominay seems dislocated. Maybe that’s why these players appear to lack energy and heart.
Clue's in the first line of the post you quoted
Timing might not be the best but he's spot on.
Can accept this from Wayne. He had character to spare.
You can blame Moyes for that. Fergie was preparing to move him on according to reports at the time but Moyes came in and decided to keep him.
He's a bit brighter than I gave him credit for, I would've pegged him as one of the guys to latch on to lazy narratives. Casually bracketing himself as a manager like ten Hag is a bit funny though 
In Utd terms Rooney >>>> Ronaldo
He won 6 with Ronaldo ? Including 1 more league title and the CL. He never reached the heights Ronaldo did and United never got back to those heights once Ronaldo left.
Yes and he was also a huge factor in those 6. Clearly better for Manchester United and a true legend.
I love R7 as much as the next guy, but this is an inane view.
I must say I always loved Rooney in a United shirt. Did my heart good. He’s entitled to his opinion.
Uplifting one shouldn’t come at the expense of degrading another.
That aside, one went to Madrid whilst the other played at the Glazers United, put it this way - Ronaldo signed alongside Kaka & went on to play with Ozil, Benzema, Bale & the likes whilst Uniteds number 7 was a geriatric Michael Owen & Antonio Valencia who literally asked out of the number then converted to a right back.
Their continued successes/lack there of have as much to do with their clubs ambitions.
1. We still won trophies
2. He was unfit because he didn't live like a pro, which is what LVG tried to change by giving him the captaincy. He always gave his all on the pitch.
Near sure Rooney and Ronaldo are mates.
Not sure why you getting on like a fanboi when he 100% correct.
The chemistry went to the way side since Ronaldo came on. Not all on him, but I wouldn't start him either
Anyone got the full article?
Fairly reflective article, and he's right that neither of them should be playing. However, having framed this in terms of style as well as mentality he still defends McTominay on the grounds of 'balls' or putting a shift in.
It's interesting to compare with the article coincidentally opposite by Northcroft (about the Glazers themselves compared with FSG) - one of the things that comes out again is how Glazers provide the appearance, through their spending, of being custodians, but are hiding (a) their bad executive judgment (upon where to act, micromanaging) and (b) their cowardice/greed ( to confront how their already extractive business model is being made worse in practice by decisions) by spending as well as employing people that won't challenge either their Ego and their power. Hence why you have this utter neglect in some areas like the stadium which make no sense if they're looking to hold onto the asset for the longer-term, and then bizarre capricious interference in footballing decisions according to their whims ( Martial's non-sale) or a myopic short-term sense of marketing strategy over the cost to the team's success and, yes, the 'long-term brand'. That is, along with the related inability to just hire an outside football director with experience in maximizing 'bang for buck' along the Red Bull model, out of a) fear at handing over power to a partial unknown, b) the Dunning–Kruger effect from being a bunch of Succession style failsons which genuinely leads them to think retaining discretionary control over the footballing side of things, or at least having people subordinate to their judgment rather than managing it fully for their corporate interest, is more effective. Honestly, they would do better just to treat the whole thing as near-silent investors by hiring a DOF with contacts, a youth record and looking to step up to superclub, agreeing a budget in line with existing structured payment flows, demanding we stay within a pay-cap and allowing the footballing side of things to access that money freely so long as by the end of the window everything is within budget. But they're too myopic.
In turn there's a parallel with some of the mediocrities we have in the side, where there's a lot of performative showiness, 'pashun' which hides an underlying lack of skill compared to their CL-aspiring club peers/footballing judgment which they're too proud to work on in part because of their egos, plus a hiding (from receiving the ball ) that ultimately costs the team and brings more acrimony.
McTom can't suddenly develop the 'footballing iq' of a world-class holding midfielder - or even a second-level, top premier league level like Fletcher at his peak, which is where any comparisons made fall down - but he can train himself to better recognize situational patterns, how to react to scenarios better, or he can source that knowledge. Or he could find a club more suited to his level and save himself the fan discontent as well as having to repress any buried sense of inadequacy. Likewise the Glazers are still going to be somewhat parasitic, but if they engaged in some kind of active self-reflection and calculated the probability of the club doing better with their divesting power things would work better. Both the likes of McTom and the likes of the Glazers have their innate and self-inflicted faults covered over by different kinds of apologists, although the latter are obviously 100x 'worse'...
It's interesting to compare with the article coincidentally opposite by Northcroft (about the Glazers themselves compared with FSG) - one of the things that comes out again is how Glazers provide the appearance, through their spending, of being custodians, but are hiding (a) their bad executive judgment (upon where to act, micromanaging) and (b) their cowardice/greed ( to confront how their already extractive business model is being made worse in practice by decisions) by spending as well as employing people that won't challenge either their Ego and their power. Hence why you have this utter neglect in some areas like the stadium which make no sense if they're looking to hold onto the asset for the longer-term, and then bizarre capricious interference in footballing decisions according to their whims ( Martial's non-sale) or a myopic short-term sense of marketing strategy over the cost to the team's success and, yes, the 'long-term brand'. That is, along with the related inability to just hire an outside football director with experience in maximizing 'bang for buck' along the Red Bull model, out of a) fear at handing over power to a partial unknown, b) the Dunning–Kruger effect from being a bunch of Succession style failsons which genuinely leads them to think retaining discretionary control over the footballing side of things, or at least having people subordinate to their judgment rather than managing it fully for their corporate interest, is more effective. Honestly, they would do better just to treat the whole thing as near-silent investors by hiring a DOF with contacts, a youth record and looking to step up to superclub, agreeing a budget in line with existing structured payment flows, demanding we stay within a pay-cap and allowing the footballing side of things to access that money freely so long as by the end of the window everything is within budget. But they're too myopic.
In turn there's a parallel with some of the mediocrities we have in the side, where there's a lot of performative showiness, 'pashun' which hides an underlying lack of skill compared to their CL-aspiring club peers/footballing judgment which they're too proud to work on in part because of their egos, plus a hiding (from receiving the ball ) that ultimately costs the team and brings more acrimony.
McTom can't suddenly develop the 'footballing iq' of a world-class holding midfielder - or even a second-level, top premier league level like Fletcher at his peak, which is where any comparisons made fall down - but he can train himself to better recognize situational patterns, how to react to scenarios better, or he can source that knowledge. Or he could find a club more suited to his level and save himself the fan discontent as well as having to repress any buried sense of inadequacy. Likewise the Glazers are still going to be somewhat parasitic, but if they engaged in some kind of active self-reflection and calculated the probability of the club doing better with their divesting power things would work better. Both the likes of McTom and the likes of the Glazers have their innate and self-inflicted faults covered over by different kinds of apologists, although the latter are obviously 100x 'worse'...
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When I compare us to Arsenal I don’t really see a lack of heart - just that we don’t have that much good young players whilst they do.
He’s the clubs record goalscorer and since he left we’ve won nothing.
He’s entitled to speak and will always be welcomed back to Old Trafford. Legend.
He’s entitled to speak and will always be welcomed back to Old Trafford. Legend.
The fact that is Piers Morgan means Rooney is right
Please people , resist quoting Piers Morgan, you’re just feeding the trolling gobsh*te. My eyes hurt when I have to read the nonsense tweets he pukes out.
But Arsenal have a coherent football structure and a manager with a clear philosophy that the club is willign to back. He cleared out many of the overpaid and underperforming stars and is playing young players and good signings. Why dont Utd have good enough young players? All goes back to the owners who dont give a sh*t.
I kind of disagree.
We are all now just talking about this ‘philosophy’ because they have looked more successful than they did last season.
No one cares about his philosophy last season. All that has changed is a bunch of better quality players in my opinion.
So you dont think Arsenal have an identity and style of play? They are well drilled and organised, have you actually wathced them? Compare to the shambles at OT? Plus a pholosophy across the club means you produce young players that fit in more easily to the first team
People using Ronaldo's twilight years against him will never not be funny. Ronaldo didn't "need" Rooney, Benzema or anyone else in his prime years. That's like saying Messi needed Xavi and Iniesta. They both displayed football that will never be seen again. They both would've made it in any top team.
Really good post. Great read and well put. If I was a mod or scout, you’d be getting a like for this.
i’m going to again disagree with you. Is what he said wrong?
If they had heart they wouldn't have bottled top 4 last season. It was in their hands.
They have the easiest start to the season so far, lets see what happens come October.
the troll does have a point here. Maybe not the best time to be making assessments about other clubs, regardless of whether they're accurate or not8 million of followers
Leave Ronaldo and Rashford out who does that actually leave to start then?
That well known hard worker Martial who may be injured anyway, Elanga? Pack 5 centre mids in?
That well known hard worker Martial who may be injured anyway, Elanga? Pack 5 centre mids in?
He's a bit brighter than I gave him credit for, I would've pegged him as one of the guys to latch on to lazy narratives. Casually bracketing himself as a manager like ten Hag is a bit funny though
But will he ever be United manager?
Players can have all the heart in the world, if they’re not good enough then it won’t get them over the line.
I’ve got all the heart in the world to be the world 100m champion. Doesn’t mean I can do it.
I’ve got all the heart in the world to be the world 100m champion. Doesn’t mean I can do it.
I happen to be in a coffee shop, and they had a copy of the The Sunday Times sport supplement. Read the article, he had a good point about rashford. Does rashford even want to play football anymore? Whens the last time we saw a happy rashford on the pitch? Maybe he really does need a change of scenery.
To be honest, the article about the glazer ownership and comparing it to FSG (liverpool) was a more interesting read.
To be honest, the article about the glazer ownership and comparing it to FSG (liverpool) was a more interesting read.
He's putting himself and Ten Hag in one sentence. "Managers like myself and Ten Hag".
Cute.Anyway, there's nothing we don't know already from any of these things he's saying so I'm not sure what's the point of this. If you're putting on an interview, at least say something new, not just rehashing the same known shit.
Liked him as a player but fingers crossed he stays away from the club as much as possible.
I didn't expect Rooney to write football articles back when he played for us. He's making good points, with fair criticism and not afraid of naming people. Difficult to disagree with anything there.
I will have to read the article but the quotes makes it looks like he is targetting everyone.
He is not wrong though.
He is not wrong though.
He is not wrong. Neither is he original in "noticing" this. But here's the other side - who says this also matters.
With all due respect, Roonie shouldn't be the one talking about character. He was one of our most talented players that accomplished a lot in relatively short period that he was a top player, but I wouldn't say exemplary character was his strong side. If he wasn't surrounded by SAF and very strong leaders in other players, he would be worse than Bruno. And he kinda was terrible when SAF left.
Just saying
With all due respect, Roonie shouldn't be the one talking about character. He was one of our most talented players that accomplished a lot in relatively short period that he was a top player, but I wouldn't say exemplary character was his strong side. If he wasn't surrounded by SAF and very strong leaders in other players, he would be worse than Bruno. And he kinda was terrible when SAF left.
Just saying
Tells you all about how successful the recruitment has been when we are hoping for Martial to come back to provide some energy and work up front. The notoriously static Martial.