datura
Full Member
He's not a world class gymnast though..Piss poor technique don't you think Scholesy? Could he improve though over time or is that as good as it will get?
This thread wouldn't have been bumped if it wasn't for Nani and Giggs. Two amazing crosses.
This thread wouldn't have been bumped if it wasn't for Nani and Giggs. Two amazing crosses.
You could have bumped this thread for the cross field ball alone which set forth the first goal.
You could have bumped this thread for the cross field ball alone which set forth the first goal.
My stream died for that goal. How much of a sex pass was it?
What about THAT BALL to Giggs for the first?!!
Sorry, is this thread about whether Wayne Rooney is world class?
Unless by 'World Class' you mean 'as good as Maradona' or summat, the answer was yes seven years ago.
But he's lost his magic, apparently.
This thread wouldn't have been bumped if it wasn't for Nani and Giggs. Two amazing crosses.
He's a world class player, but not a world class striker?
Ignoring the main part that confuses me, in that it doesn't really make any sense seeing as he plays as a striker...but what does he have to do to be called a world class striker?
He's scored 21 times in 26 games!
He's a world class player, but not a world class striker?
Ignoring the main part that confuses me, in that it doesn't really make any sense seeing as he plays as a striker...but what does he have to do to be called a world class striker?
He's scored 21 times in 26 games!
Oh! That's intelligent!
Sighs Brwned, this is getting old mate.
He's coming into it, a World Class Striker, yes, he's not been a great striker since he's joined us, you can cough up goal statistics from all his seasons with us and they don't cry "World Class" which is why this debate even exists.
The comparison I commonly make is Torres...
- Torres is a world class striker because he has world class attributes in his position.
- Rooney is a world class PLAYER because he excels with his overall game.
Good now or should I go on?
I don't understand what he needs to do that he hasn't been doing this season to be called a world class striker?
Close out the season on this form and lift a few trophies, this is his first great season in terms of his goal output (So far), so I can't say he'd walk into a world XI yet.)
For the common perception, especially in the media, He's got it all set up for him... Leading United to something this season, on top of England glory, and he'll be world class to everyone and their grandmother.
Is Wayne Rooney world class? Top ex-pros give their views on Manchester United's man of the moment...
DAVID GINOLA, 2018 World Cup bid ambassador and former Tottenham and Newcastle winger
'Rooney is the archetypal modern attacker. He is more than a striker, so he should not be compared with ‘strikers’.
'He marks his generation. He’s very polyvalent and a fantastic team player - a dream for any coach.
'He scores goals and is a real finisher. He has fantastic vision, too.
'I like the fact that he is capable of recovering the ball, too. If you observe his gestures during a game it makes you think that as well as being a striker he could easily be a defender. He ranks amongst the best strikers of today’s generation, alongside Ibrahimovic, Messi, Drogba, Ronaldinho,Pato, Kaka and Ronaldo.'
IAN RUSH, Liverpool’s all-time record goalscorer, 346 in 660 appearances in all competitions.
'I’d always looked at his overall play and regarded him as an all-rounder rather than a striker. His game’s never just been based on the goals he gets. I still think that even though he’s become more of a striker since Ronaldo left. He’s getting much more into the box now and that’s why he’s got so many goals this season.
'But it’s interesting that when he plays for England he’s looked on as the second striker usually playing off someone.
'He’s got just about everything. He’s powerful, he can head the ball, he can pass the ball, he can win the ball - and, of course, he can score goals. Also, importantly, he’s a winner.
'I agree with Sir Alex. Certainly, the form he’s in at the moment he’s world class. He’d be a massive loss to United if he wasn’t in the team.’
Ian Rush
LES FERDINAND, former Newcastle, QPR, West Ham, Tottenham and England striker.
'I said a few years ago that Wayne Rooney would be a scorer of great goals but not a great goal scorer. I now have to change my opinion on that! He is certainly in my top five. On current form I would put him top after coming to the fore as a centre forward since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure – who makes my list because he is much more than just a winger.
'Playing as the main centre forward, the focal point, has not always been Rooney’s game. In the past we have though of him as the player in behind who drops deep. But in the last year Rooney has blossomed as an out and out centre forward. The only reason why I have put Drogba and Torres ahead of him is perhaps they score more goals with their head.
'But Rooney is bringing that into his game as well now. If I was speaking to any kid that was aspiring to be a centre forward I would tell them just to watch Rooney. You know what you are going to get form him week in week out. Win, lose or draw you know them level of performance you are going to get from him.
'He is certainly world class. It the consistent level of performance that he gives you that puts him up there along with his ability. He is not just a goal scorer having in the past been more of a provider. Now he is the main goal scorer who provides goals for other people as well.'
Les Ferdinand
TONY COTTEE, ex-West Ham, Everton and Leicester striker.
'When of the biggest problems for Wayne has been where to play him in the team. He is such a wonderful footballer and when you have got such a talent you have to find the right position for them. Wayne has played on the left, behind the striker and up front on his own.
'He is pretty much like Roy of the Rovers, he has played everywhere. I didn’t think playing much further up the pitch would suit him. When he played there for England in the World Cup four years ago we all felt he couldn’t do it up there on his own. But he has proved people wrong by so wonderfully well in that role for United.
'We have seen him score the special ones from outside the area but that shows he can get the bread and butter ones as well. Perhaps, in a funny way, Ronaldo leaving the club has helped Wayne. Ronaldo is a world class player but quite often it was the Cristiano show. Perhaps Wayne though he had to up his game to compensate and he has done it fantastically well. His goal against City was a goal scorer’s header. He was in the right place to head form six-yards out and it is great to see him get those sorts of goals. When you see him do that it means he is more than capable of leading the line for England in the World Cup.'
'Wayne is certainly a world class striker but the definition of a world class player is one who has got the overall game, players like Pele, Cruyff and Maradona.
'If Wayne can put in the sort of performances that we all hope he is going to in the World Cup I think we will be talking about him not just as a world class striker but also as a world class player that can be rightly talked about in the same breath as the greats. Wayne has got so much more to his game than goal scoring, he has got the whole package and I just hope he shows it for England in the summer.'
'Rooney is the archetypal modern attacker. He is more than a striker, so he should not be compared with ‘strikers’.
'I’d always looked at his overall play and regarded him as an all-rounder rather than a striker. His game’s never just been based on the goals he gets. I still think that even though he’s become more of a striker since Ronaldo left. He’s getting much more into the box now and that’s why he’s got so many goals this season.
'Wayne is certainly a world class striker but the definition of a world class player is one who has got the overall game, players like Pele, Cruyff and Maradona.
'If Wayne can put in the sort of performances that we all hope he is going to in the World Cup I think we will be talking about him not just as a world class striker but also as a world class player that can be rightly talked about in the same breath as the greats. Wayne has got so much more to his game than goal scoring, he has got the whole package and I just hope he shows it for England in the summer.'
So some people agree with me...
Thank you.
In my opinion, in regards to the topic, he's a world class player, but not a world class striker... This is his time, we're chasing a league title, we've got a tough draw for the CL, he's got a chance to put himself on that pinnacle of footballer.
And in time for some random football tournament in South Africa this summer.
Le Sigh,
You'd swear i'm rating the lad lowly... He's coming to his own, turning INTO a WORLD CLASS STRIKER... Instead of tearing apart the comments I make, figure out what I mean... The threat of stating an opinion on this place is sometimes embarassing.
Genola says what I said to a tee, he's a world class forward, a complete player, half the players he lists there don't even play striker, so if you will, degrade his comment, not mine.
What Rush said is exactly what i've been saying... "...Certainly, the form he’s in at the moment he’s world class." ... So how is he not saying anything that i've said any different? If anything, he proposes my opinion and puts it into the right words, sorry if i'm not a linguist to your ever so high stature.
Since when does one World-Class season merit you the title WORLD CLASS?... If that was the case, then christ almighty John O'Shea is a World Class Right-Back.
Just a few weeks ago Rooney was going through a big slump... And NOW all of a sudden it's "Defend Rooney, anyone who says a lick of anything that doesn't rate him world-class must be castrated"
feck me for having an opinion, I stick by it and I have merited why:
Rooney is a world class footballer
Rooney is not YET a world class striker
If he does this until May and in the summer and next season, then yes, the boy has reached the promise land... But until then it's alot of pre-mature press.
I'll be over here if you'd like to continue