[Ole90+3]

Was just speaking to a work colleague about the best player performances I've seen in person and Kaka 06/07 3-2 came to mind immediately as one of the best. Watching the highlights of the game and Kaka isn't the only player who stands out as world class. That last minute winner from Rooney was special. I still remember having goosebumps the next morning.

He really was a cracking player once upon a time. Certainly up there with the best strikers of all time.

 

[Stacks]

Was just speaking to a work colleague about the best player performances I've seen in person and Kaka 06/07 3-2 came to mind immediately as one of the best. Watching the highlights of the game and Kaka isn't the only player who stands out as world class. That last minute winner from Rooney was special. I still remember having goosebumps the next morning.

He really was a cracking player once upon a time. Certainly up there with the best strikers of all time.

I had to watch a youttube vid to remember that he was actually good. And he was class in a scruffy but confident kinda way. Also the dude who did the flick for goal 2 must've been Scholes. genius

 

[Treble]

He really was a cracking player once upon a time. Certainly up there with the best strikers of all time.

Certainly not.

He was among the top 5 or top 10 strikers/forwards of his generation but not even remotely close to the top 25 of all time. Suarez is much better than Rooney and even he doesn't feature in the discussion of the best forwards ever.

 

[Ole90+3]

Certainly not.

He was among the top 5 or top 10 strikers/forwards of his generation but not even remotely close to the top 25 of all time. Suarez is much better than Rooney and even he doesn't feature in the discussion of the best forwards ever.

He's joint 20th top goalscorer of all time in the European Cup. The longevity of his career puts him amongst the greats in my opinion. I'd be genuinely interested to see 25 strikers that he's 'not even close to'.

 

[Zen]

How about names that are below on the CL scorers list who I'm sure many will put him well below - Shearer, Villas, Aguero, RVP, Ronaldo, Romario, Neymar, Suarez, Torres, Totti

Hmm....still not sure I'd throw him in with strikers either way, Tottis the likely only fair comparison, maybe Aguero as he did his fair share deeper for a while.

 

[Santoryo]

Was just speaking to a work colleague about the best player performances I've seen in person and Kaka 06/07 3-2 came to mind immediately as one of the best. Watching the highlights of the game and Kaka isn't the only player who stands out as world class. That last minute winner from Rooney was special. I still remember having goosebumps the next morning.

He really was a cracking player once upon a time. Certainly up there with the best strikers of all time.

All time? Absolutely not.

Rooney was a top striker in his days but no way is he among the best of all times.

 

[Treble]

He's joint 20th top goalscorer of all time in the European Cup. The longevity of his career puts him amongst the greats in my opinion. I'd be genuinely interested to see 25 strikers that he's 'not even close to'.

If you think that's a good reason to regard Rooney as one of the best of all time, then you are wrong. Luis Ronaldo doesn't make the top 20 goalscorers in the European Cup. Does this make him a lesser forward than Rooney? Many top South American forwards didn't play in Europe or didn't play many games in the European Cup. For instance, Pele. Nowadays the top footballers play much more European games than in the past. The best Brazilian forwards of all time do not make the top 20. It's a bad argument. Even Morientes is in the top 20. Surely, he isn't that great, is he?

 

[Cheesy]

He's joint 20th top goalscorer of all time in the European Cup. The longevity of his career puts him amongst the greats in my opinion. I'd be genuinely interested to see 25 strikers that he's 'not even close to'.

That is slightly distorted though in that it favours more modern players at top clubs, both due to the number of games played and the fact that it's easier to get into the competition. In the old European Cup format you often had to win your league just to get into it, meaning you could get top players for top clubs that didn't get to compete in it for a number of years.

Rooney, for example, has scored 30 goals in 85 games. Gerd Muller has 35 in 35. Di Stefano has 49 in 58. Eusebio has 46 in 65. Romario has 20 in 32. Puskas has 36 in 41. All of those players have comfortably better goalscoring ratios than Rooney does in the competition yet a number of them are either close to, or below, Rooney in the goalscoring tallies. Then, if you're going to go further back and really know your footballing history, there are plenty of greats who never got the chance to compete in European competition.

 

[Sky1981]

Rooney outscores maradona. Rooney better than maradona?

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Rooney outscores maradona. Rooney better than maradona?

As somebody said it is easy to get a high number of goals in the CL now compared to old time players, as more teams, so more likely to be competing in it in the first place. Then more and more games. Also the standard of some teams makes it easier to score bucketloads and pad your stats. He deserves credit for the amount of goals he has scored, of course he does, but to say he is better than some of the greatest players ever because they were not able to play in the CL because their teams did not qualify or were not competing for European teams as long is silly.

 

[Sky1981]

As somebody said it is easy to get a high number of goals in the CL now compared to old time players, as more teams, so more likely to be competing in it in the first place. Then more and more games. Also the standard of some teams makes it easier to score bucketloads and pad your stats. He deserves credit for the amount of goals he has scored, of course he does, but to say he is better than some of the greatest players ever because they were not able to play in the CL because their teams did not qualify or were not competing for European teams as long is silly.

Rooney is finished. The sooner people accept it the faster we can move on from this saga.

There's no point showing clips of what he can do 5 years ago (back then kaka was still top 3 in the world). It's what he offers now that matters. There are people who thinks it's only a rough patch and he'll somehow defy the law of nature and transform back to 5 years ago

 

[dichinero]

He really was a cracking player once upon a time. Certainly up there with the best strikers of all time.

Not in this universe!

 

[psychdelicblues]

Pele, Eusebio, Gerd Muller, Puskas, Ronaldo(Brazil), Di Stefano, Romario, Van Baston, Wayne Rooney. Trips off the tongue.....

 

[Mockney]

It may annoy people now*, but he'll be remembered very well by posterity...Especially in this country.

He's basically Gazza, if he lived long enough to become the villain.

* but they'll get over it. And probably join in.

 

[The United]

Looking at that video above, that team though well with vida and rio in it. Work rate, talent. Match winners.

I never thought we would not see another united team even close to that team for another decade.

Talking about taking for granted back in the days.

 

[Sparky10Legend]

Rooney up there with the best strikers of all time? Oh my. Not even close.

 

[Jaybomb]

Rooney, one of the best players of all time? Never in a million years.

The reason he has so many goals for us is because of longevity and favourtism/sentamentality. Van Nistelrooy and Chicharito would have smashed the goal scoring record if they played as long as Rooney has for us.

At one point, he was the best striker in England. That was long ago.

 

[Pexbo]

It may annoy people now*, but he'll be remembered very well by posterity...Especially in this country.

He's basically Gazza, if he lived long enough to become the villain.

* but they'll get over it. And probably join in.

But instead of being a loveable Geordie rogue he's a scouse scally with the personality of a loaf of warburtons whole meal.

 

[Minimalist]

Rooney, one of the best players of all time? Never in a million years.

The reason he has so many goals for us is because of longevity and favourtism/sentamentality. Van Nistelrooy and Chicharito would have smashed the goal scoring record if they played as long as Rooney has for us.

At one point, he was the best striker in England. That was long ago.

Not sure about Hernandez but Ruud? Assuming he avoided any major injuries etc. 100% agree. Would have done it three years back.

It's incredible how far up the list he is considering he was only here for a relatively short period and one season he was injured alot and scored very little.

 

[Devil may care]

It may annoy people now*, but he'll be remembered very well by posterity...Especially in this country.

He's basically Gazza, if he lived long enough to become the villain.

* but they'll get over it. And probably join in.

Bruce Wayne........Rooney.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

But instead of being a loveable Geordie rogue he's a scouse scally with the personality of a loaf of warburtons whole meal.

On the plus side, Rooney hasn't beaten the living shit out of his missus yet. So there is that, I suppose....

 

[Pexbo]

On the plus side, Rooney hasn't beaten the living shit out of his missus yet. So there is that, I suppose....

Forgot about that, the little scamp!

 

[jojose]

He's joint 20th top goalscorer of all time in the European Cup. The longevity of his career puts him amongst the greats in my opinion. I'd be genuinely interested to see 25 strikers that he's 'not even close to'.

These players from the modern day Champions League / Premier League era are better than Rooney:-

Eric Cantona
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Alan Shearer
Didier Drogba
Thierry Henry
Romario
Fat Ronaldo
Boksic
Del Piero
Raul
Sergio Aguerro
Samual Et’to
Andriy Shevchenko
Hernan Crespo
Dennis Bergkamp
Zlatan Ibrahimivic
Luis Saurez
Neymar Junior
Gabriel Batistuta
Robert Lewandowski
Roberto Baggio

Then you had the likes of:-

Michael Owen
Fernando Torres
Robbie Fowler
Ronaldhinho
Radamel Falcao
Robin Van Persie
Marcelo Salas
Hristo Stoitckov
Jean Pierre Papin
Henrik Larsson
Gianfranco Zola
Karim Benzema
George Weah
Flippo Inzaghi
Kaka
David Trezequet
Ravanelli
Viaili

Who all performed at higher levels or who had more ability than Rooney but didn’t perhaps do it long enough or where at Champions League clubs.

Of course, I haven’t even mentioned Ronaldo and Messi. Nor Pele, Maradona, Best, Law, Di Stafano, Muller, Lineker

So I would agree…..Wayne Rooney, despite the career, medals, records and contracts he’s had, is some way off a great for me.

I can think of potentially a few more but left them out sake of the debate.

 

[hirotan69er]

Wow. Hates on this thread...no this entire website is just unreal.

 

[Oga on top.]

Southgate has just confirmed Rooney will be starting and captaining the side against Malta ffs. What does it fecking take to drop this useless sack of potatoes? Ridiculous.

 

[Stringer]

Southgate has just confirmed Rooney will be starting and captaining the side against Malta ffs. What does it fecking take to drop this useless sack of potatoes? Ridiculous.

Southgate is only the caretaker manager so he's never going to drop Rooney as the media would slaughter him.

 

[AndyJ1985]

Let's face it, unless England hire a foreign coach there's no way Rooney is getting dropped. English managers have no balls and it's an old boys club anyway. They all tongue each others arse. England will be shit with or without Rooney so I don't really care about that. I care more about United, because we are far better without him.

 

[Pexbo]

Southgate is only the caretaker manager so he's never going to drop Rooney as the media would slaughter him.

I'm not convinced they would to be honest. He'd struggle for power in the changing room though.

 

[Oga on top.]

Southgate is only the caretaker manager so he's never going to drop Rooney as the media would slaughter him.

Well the tide is starting to turn, I think Southgate would have gained quite a lot of respect if he did drop him but he hasn't got the balls either. It's one of the few reasons United should be glad to have Mourinho because he doesn't give a solitary shit about the English media.

 

[shamans]

These players from the modern day Champions League / Premier League era are better than Rooney:-

Eric Cantona
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
Alan Shearer
Didier Drogba
Thierry Henry
Romario
Fat Ronaldo
Boksic
Del Piero
Raul
Sergio Aguerro
Samual Et’to
Andriy Shevchenko
Hernan Crespo
Dennis Bergkamp
Zlatan Ibrahimivic
Luis Saurez
Neymar Junior
Gabriel Batistuta
Robert Lewandowski
Roberto Baggio

Then you had the likes of:-

Michael Owen
Fernando Torres
Robbie Fowler
Ronaldhinho
Radamel Falcao
Robin Van Persie
Marcelo Salas
Hristo Stoitckov
Jean Pierre Papin
Henrik Larsson
Gianfranco Zola
Karim Benzema
George Weah
Flippo Inzaghi
Kaka
David Trezequet
Ravanelli
Viaili

Who all performed at higher levels or who had more ability than Rooney but didn’t perhaps do it long enough or where at Champions League clubs.

Of course, I haven’t even mentioned Ronaldo and Messi. Nor Pele, Maradona, Best, Law, Di Stafano, Muller, Lineker

So I would agree…..Wayne Rooney, despite the career, medals, records and contracts he’s had, is some way off a great for me.

I can think of potentially a few more but left them out sake of the debate.

If you think the ones in bold were better than Rooney at his peak then you are just another joker on this site that has developed unreasonable dislike towards him.

 

[Speak]

Is this now just a megathread about anything Rooney-related, or is it actually about his performances this season (as it's supposed to be)?

 

[Minimalist]

If you think the ones in bold were better than Rooney at his peak then you are just another joker on this site that has developed unreasonable dislike towards him.

...did you make a mistake highlighting players?

Are you seriously suggesting there isn't at least argument for a peak Lewandowski being better than peak Wayne Rooney?
Shevchenko? Shearer? Ronaldhinho?!!! Van Persie? Kaka (2006-08)?

And you have the cheek to call him a joker!

 

[shamans]

...did you make a mistake highlighting players?

Are you seriously suggesting there isn't at least argument for a peak Lewandowski being better than peak Wayne Rooney?
Shevchenko? Shearer? Ronaldhinho?!!! Van Persie? Kaka (2006-08)?

And you have the cheek to call him a joker!

Calm down. He quoted them as STRIKERS. Ronaldinho and Kaka were never strikers He added them to fluff up his list and so was calling him out on that.

Yeah Rooney is and will be remembered as the better forward of Lewandowski, Schevchenko, Shearer and certainly Van Persie. But of course, this thread will keep rewriting history and he was just an overrated emile heskey wasn't he.

 

[Minimalist]

Calm down. He quoted them as STRIKERS. Ronaldinho and Kaka were never strikers He added them to fluff up his list and so was calling him out on that.

Yeah Rooney is and will be remembered as the better forward of Lewandowski, Schevchenko, Shearer and certainly Van Persie. But of course, this thread will keep rewriting history and he was just an overrated emile heskey wasn't he.

That is just ridiculous. For christ sake Shevchenko in particular is a Balon D'Or winner and was one of the most feared strikers in Europe for a good 4-5 seasons!

I'm not even saying Rooney isn't in the argument but more taking issue with your absurd idea that he's well beyond all of them.

 

[shamans]

That is just ridiculous. For christ sake Shevchenko in particular is a Balon D'Or winner and was one of the most feared strikers in Europe for a good 4-5 seasons!

I'm not even saying Rooney isn't in the argument but more taking issue with your absurd idea that he's well beyond all of them.

Yes I think Rooney was better but never said "well beyond". If anything that was the original poster of that link. Also vague statements like "Rooney was one of the most feared strikers in the world for a good decade" doesn't do much help does it.

At the time Chelsea bought Schevchenko, if they could get Rooney instead there is no doubt who they would have chosen. But yes, your green smileys give a good counter argument

 

[Minimalist]

Yes I think Rooney was better but never said "well beyond". If anything that was the original poster of that link. Also vague statements like "Rooney was one of the most feared strikers in the world for a good decade" doesn't do much help does it.

At the time Chelsea bought Schevchenko, if they could get Rooney instead there is no doubt who they would have chosen. But yes, your green smileys give a good counter argument

Because that would be a lie?

Your Sheva point is weird too. They bought him when he was still massively hyped and his fall off was spectacular when he went to Chelsea. Rooney in 2006 was fine but hardly world class.

 

[shamans]

Because that would be a lie?

Your Sheva point is weird too. They bought him when he was still massively hyped and his fall off was spectacular when he went to Chelsea. Rooney in 2006 was fine but hardly world class.

If you think that's a lie then there's no point arguing.

 

[Minimalist]

If you think that's a lie then there's no point arguing.

He hasn't been rated (as a top striker) highly across Europe since 2012 and that's being pretty kind as myself and plenty others think his decline started somewhat sooner. Even still, give him 2012 and then subtract ten years. Do the math Einstein.

 

[ivaldo]

Wow. Hates on this thread...no this entire website is just unreal.

Love those glasses btw, rose is your colour.

 

[Champagne Football]

Rooney will play against Malta as Southgate will want to save one or two players for the much harder game away to Slovenia a few days later