Wayne Rooney

van Persie is widely considered to be a world class striker (especially on his current form).

Rooney has been at Man Ushited since 2004. van Persie came to the league in 2004.

Since then, Rooney has scored over 150 league goals.

van Persie has scored 115.


van Persie is two years older than Rooney.

 

Van persie has had 2 very good seasons, this one and last, apart from that 2 he hasn't been world class, imo

 

Interesting point Paddy. But as Cammy said he's only been world class for two seasons, not sure if that such see him as being a world class player or not.

 

He has a one in two record for Man United and that's only a reasonably consistent?

 

van Persie has had some very unlucky times with injury - but he is most certainly a player that can turn a game on it's head.

Rooney is not as "flash" as a van Persie, Messi etc - but is not doubt an incredible asset to have in your team - I'd say he is a world class player, but not to the same levels as he is made out to be.

 

So, in effect you would agree with me?

Personally I think the debate as to whether he is or isn't world class is pretty pedantic. He sits at the top of the 'very very good' bracket or at the bottom of the 'world-class' bracket. It all amounts to pretty much the same thing.

I would say that he is pretty inconsistent in that for every game that he scores in/plays well in, there's another that his touch completely abandons him in. He's definitely suffered as a result of his own versatility, and I'm sure Ferguson would admit privately that he hasn't turned out to be quite the player he had hoped he would be when he was signed at 17/18, when he was touted as a future all time great player.

 

Aye, pretty much spot on. I think basically my definition of world class is slightly different to devlins, in that I consider significantly less players in the "world class bracket" than he seemingly does. But that doesn't really matter and it was a pointless debate if both our definitions are different.

But my original point was actually about the fact that he has not fully fulfilled his amazing potential. Back when he was 17/18 most people thought he'd be up there winning or challenging for world player of the year awards along with players like Ronaldo, Iniesta and Xavi.... maybe not Messi, but no one could have predicted him coming along, because he's on another planet to world class.

Although Rooney has turned out to be in my view a top top quality players and in other peoples view at the bottom of the world class bracket (like you've said), he was expected to be slightly higher than that.

 

Id agree that he probably lacks big performances often enough, like how many times recently can you remember him having a great game, last one I remember was that one someone said where he came on as a sub and scored a hat-trick think it was last season. He doesnt have many spells of very good form or Gareth Bale like occasional great performances. Hes just consistantly good rather than ever having big match winning performances or going on runs where he scored 10 in 5 games or stuff like that.

I wonder what foreign people think of him too, most of us are from UK and Ireland where we hear about him every week off Sky etc

I wonder what German, French, Italian or Spanish and them think since I presume they will see and hear about him a lot less. Wonder how they compare him to the other top forwards.

 

Set up 3 for Kagawa and scored last weekend. Manchester Derby where he scored 2 earlier on this season...


Real Madrid - assist
Southampton - 2 goals - won 3 points for his team
West Ham - Provided the assist to win 1-0
Reading - 2 goals 1 assist in a 4-3 win
Arsenal - Provided the assist to win 2-1
Stoke - 2 goals 1 assist to win 4-2
England vs Poland - Scored to draw 1 each
Cluj - 2 assists for a 2-1 win
England vs Ukraine - Scored to win 1-0


That's just his winning goals. That is a massive contribution to United's title challenge and Englands qualifying hopes.

 

Funny * in this thread

 

I would take him think he would do well here

 

He looks an even bigger * than usual with that headband on.

 

:smiley-laughing002:

 

Played well tonight

 

The baldy * had a great game....

 

Has Van Percy not had quite a lot if injury problems?

Rooney was class last night.

 

One of my favourite players to watch when hes on top of his game. One of the best techniques in world football. They way he pings his passes is a joy to watch aswell. He's probably the best all round striker outside Ronaldo and Messi for me.