Surprising that his finishing has been poor. He's very clinical for United.
10
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
- 37
- Goals
- 14
- Assists
- 6
- Yellow cards
- 4
- Red cards
- 1
- Status
Wasn't as bad as some are making out (although I guess I would say that).
Only really missed one good chance, and that was the 1v1 at the end. The others were by no means easy. And it was no coincidence that chances were falling to Rooney, because he was getting in behind Estonia by making good, intelligent runs - a facet of his game often ignored.
Then he scores the winner (as he so often does for England) with a well taken free kick.
Will still get absolute pelters though, because he's Wayne Rooney, and for some people it's *never* good enough.
Only really missed one good chance, and that was the 1v1 at the end. The others were by no means easy. And it was no coincidence that chances were falling to Rooney, because he was getting in behind Estonia by making good, intelligent runs - a facet of his game often ignored.
Then he scores the winner (as he so often does for England) with a well taken free kick.
Will still get absolute pelters though, because he's Wayne Rooney, and for some people it's *never* good enough.
You would expect a player of his standing, to at least make the keeper work in one of those chances.
The 'keeper saved the 1vs1.
By no means saying it was one of his better nights, but the criticism will be vastly disproportionate compared to the level of the display - again bearing in mind that he *did* score the winner.
Not Lallana, or Sterling, or Welbz, or Wilshere, or Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Rooney.
I wasn't referring to that one which you had acknowledged but the other two. For a player of Rooney's ability they were disappointing finishes. The reason Rooney draws so much criticism is because he is generally acknowledged as England's best player therefore there are greater expectations laid on him. None of those other players you mentioned have been regarded as world class unlike Rooney, who for years, has been billed as one of the best players in the world. Whether that's fair, I'm not sure, but it is only natural for people to look at their captain and 'talisman' for inspiration.
And tonight he scored the winning goal with a great free kick.
Only 12 of Rooney's goals have come in friendlies as compared to 32 for Sir Bobby. That's an amazing stat!
Seconded. Admittedly his finishing was poor today, but in terms of all round game was far better than other players in an England shirt. Least he looked bothered and hungry, even though the goals never came. Got the winner, which is the best thing to come out of the game. If that first half volley that narrowly went over the bar had hit the back of the net I doubt Wazza would be getting called so poor. Laughable hearing some say he was the worst player for England.
And missed three other decent chances...
1 on 1 is the weakest part of Rooney's finishing. He hasn't had many 1 on 1s for a long time compared to other strikers. The last two games have reminded me of his 07-08 finishing when through on goal and he overthinks.
Every other part of finishing he's very reliable like the goals he's scored this season.
Every other part of finishing he's very reliable like the goals he's scored this season.
Rooney's in the unenviable position of being 'acknowledged' as England's best player (and one of United's best players) - and expected to deliver accordingly, while also being seen, by many, as overrated and not that good.
And it's often the same people, using either viewpoint whenever it suits them.
Anyone would think Rooney created his own hype, held a gun to the chief executive's head, and bigged himself up in interviews before each game.
And it's often the same people, using either viewpoint whenever it suits them.
Anyone would think Rooney created his own hype, held a gun to the chief executive's head, and bigged himself up in interviews before each game.
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Rooney's finishing has always been better when he hasn't had to think about it to much, and just acted on instinct. When he has loads of time he tends to overdo it and make it far more complicated then it needs to be.
To be fair, he's hardly helped himself in that regard with his previous threats to leave.
Am I imagining it, or did Rooney go through a phase where he regularly attempted chips, even though a simple shot and finish would've made more sense? I'm not sure if I'm remembering correctly, but it'd apply to your point if I am.
It is, but then when games against absolute chimps like San Marino count as competitive games it's a tricky comparison to make!
How did he not score that 90th min chance. Farks sake, he could have easily gone past Greaves with the 2 games chances, and been within touching distance of Lineker and Charlton!
26 off matching Shilton!
Although it looked like Owen would definitely become all time top scorer when he hit goal 40 at 28 (I think), appearances are a different story.
Just needs to stay fit for a couple of seasons, and he's super close.
I can't wait until he's gone from this club and retired from the England team, so we can finally move on from him and this overdue 'Rooney issue' can finally be over..
Hopefully he will break his precious records by the time Euro 2016 is over, so we can can go in to the next World Cup campaign without this strangle hold he's had on the national team for the last decade.
With a bit of luck, he'll also break the United goal record within the same time, so he can then also leave United for a 'new challenge' and we can free ourselves too..fingers crossed!
Hopefully he will break his precious records by the time Euro 2016 is over, so we can can go in to the next World Cup campaign without this strangle hold he's had on the national team for the last decade.
With a bit of luck, he'll also break the United goal record within the same time, so he can then also leave United for a 'new challenge' and we can free ourselves too..fingers crossed!
Wow. If that's not sarcastic 
I meant every word of it.
San Marino weren't around in them days.
With the chances Rooney had against both, San Marino and Estonia, he should already be England's all time top goalscorer, but I have full confidence he will eventually overtake Sir Bobby Charlton.
I might be one of the few that thinks the England team would look a lot more cohesive without Rooney.
Still it does take a little edge off those who like to quickly point out players like Rooney only have the goals he does because of friendlies and easy games, they seem to forget it wasn't all that different in Bobs time.
Surely if a player is the top scorer for one of the most successful sides in England and a relatively big national team, he's not the sort of player who you'd automatically want out of your team? I do think some of his stats flatter him a little bit, but he's not just held in high esteem by club and country for no reason whatsoever, no matter how frustrating he can sometimes be.
Anyone who does that is being a bit silly. There were more goals scored in those days too. Still, one was a midfielder and one wasn't so comparing the two isn't comparing like for like anyway even if you ignore the different eras. Owen would be a fairer comparison.
True, just proves that comparing different eras is almost an impossibility.
Don't think that's right...
Bobby Charlton
- 22 goals in friendlies (2 v Sweden, 3 v Portugal, 3 v Switzerland, 3 v Mexico, 4 v USA, 1 v Italy, Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, East-Germany, Yugoslavia, Austria and Colombia)
- 16 goals in the British Home Championship (5 v Scotland, 6 v N.Ireland, 5 v Wales)
- 5 in WC qualifiers (all 5 v Luxembourg)
- 1 in EC qualifiers (v Spain)
- 1 in the EC (v Soviet Union)
- 4 in the WC (2 v Portugal, 1 v Mexico, 1 v Argentina)
I admit that what I wrote in my above post was a massive rant, but this hold that Rooney has over the game in this country is something that's been playing on my mind for quite a while now.
It's actually seriously getting on my tits, how everyone in the press is talking about how special it is, that he's getting closer to breaking the international goal record.
Like it actually feckin matters! It still wont change the fact that he's been rubbish at every single tournament since Euro 2004.
And now that he's been made Captain makes my piss boil even more, because it now means he's become pretty much undroppable for at least the next few years.
Cheers Woy!
Well the entire team has been rubbish in these tournaments and well Rooney did go into two of those tournaments still recovering from major injury.
No, you are right he is the black sheep in this England team, without him Hodgson will be able to create an all-average team.
Those players didn't have a hold on the English game the way that Rooney has. Not even Lampard and Gerrard received the amount of favouritism that he has over the years.
And in response to how you made the excuse that he was injured; then why did they keep picking him? Why is he the only player who has become virtually undroppable even when he's playing shit?
The only tournament that he went in to with a major injury was World Cup 2006 (metatarsal). And we all know what happened; he got himself sent off in the Quarter Finals for stamping on Carvalho and effectively lost us the game.
Then in our last qualifier before Euro 2012, he again kicked another player against Montenegro, got himself sent off and was suspended for the first two games of the tournament.
Like I said, NO PLAYER has been given the amount of leeway that Rooney has. And it's not as if we would of done any worse without him. He's flattered to deceive at every tournament since Euro 2004.
Write a letter to both Roy and Van Gaal and share your opinion with them, perhaps they will finally see Rooney for what he is, but it won't happen without your help so hurry!
Not that I gave a feck about England..Rooney won the game for them tonight, what on earth are you ranting on about?
I'm ranting on about the fact how Rooney has become undroppable for both club and country.
Rooney was absolutely woeful again tonight - not only did he miss loads of piss easy chances, but his overall play was his usual lethargic and sloppy; he must have lost possession more than any other player, combined with his predictable first-touch of a rapist.
But as usual, he scores from a free-kick of which the goalkeeper should of saved, and so any criticism towards him now becomes void..
Still won the game!
Yeah, against Estonia..
...so drop all the other players too or just Rooney?
I don't really care if England keeps Rooney as their main man, they will not win anything either way.
My concern is his role in Utd and that has been more or less settled by LVG. Rooney may be the captain for the time being but for sure he is no longer our main man. He is not even our main striker. So even though I share most of your views, at least when it comes to Utd I don't think you have to worry too much.
Why do England fans bash their players all the time? Rooney is probably one of the few genuine quality players they have but they're so caught up in talking shite about him.
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