http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26867861 I disagree, He is world-class, the only world-class player England have got as this moment in time, you ask any player or manager, they will say Rooney is world-class, Barton is an average footballer who's not fit to lace Rooney's boot.
Enlighten me, in a typical sized world squad where at best you would have six attackers, who does he get in ahead of? Ibrahimovic? Messi? Ronaldo? Cavani? Aguero? Suarez? Benzema? Falcoa? Etc, etc...
He actually said he thinks Rooney has more talent that Ronaldo but Rooney doesn't have the discipline or mental strength. tbf I've seen Rooney do that street ball stuff and he's something else, not sure why he never brought that skill to his professional game, he has the talent so one can only think that it must be his own doing that he's never been regarded the best in the world at any stage of his career, Ronaldo is now top dog with Messi having by his standards a dip.
Irrespective of whether he is or he isn't, what makes that dragged up **** stain think he's got the right to pontificate on it, as a fellow pro? He's nothing more than a gob on a stick. I'd love to drop him.
Barton's an Evertonian, probably still angry that Rooney kissed the Utd badge after scoring at Goodison.
I wouldn't go as far as to say Rooney isn't world class, but I do agree with Barton that Rooney could have been a Ballon Do'r winner had he had the professionalism of Ronaldo. Ronaldo looks after his body all year round, where as Rooney has been seen smoking ***s, and looks about a stone he heavier after a few weeks off. If you recall back to when they were both teenagers, although both incredibly talented, Rooney always looked a better player than Ronaldo, but Ronaldo has kept on improving because of his professionalism and dedication to improve where as Rooney has pretty much stayed the same. I don't think Rooney will be a player who can play on well into his 30s, that's why I wasn't all for his new long term contract, as I can see him really struggling for fitness in a few years. Look at Ricky Hatton the boxer, he never looked after his body between fights, and despite having great natural talent, his body couldn't cope once he hit 30. I can see Rooney going the same way I'm afraid
Not sure if I agree. Under Moyes, Rooney has seemed in much better shape than he did in the past few years under Ferguson. I also don't agree with Barton on pretty much anything he said. Ronaldo is much more talented than Rooney, and has the insane work ethic to boot. I also think Rooney is world class and the reason he'll never win the Ballon D'or can be summed up in three words: Messi and Ronaldo. They'll split Ballon D'or's until they both hang up their boots regardless of what anyone else does, with the exception of a possible player from the team that wins the World Cup. Landon Donavon anyone?!?
Hatton admitted to being a coke head so you can't draw comparisons there, some people are naturally heavily set and Rooney is one of them, I don't like the feller due to his etc/mufc connections but tbf to him he's played in defence, midfield and up front this season for Utd due to other players not being arsed, yephe got a massive pay rise but based on Nani and Cleverley wrongly getting long extensions to their existing contracts its money well spent for Utd.
How many top nominations for the D'Or did Rooney get over the years, as in make the cut for the final selection? If he's world class he's made the cut 5 or 6 times surely?
So you would put Rooney eighth on that list then (probably others I've missed out but lets ignore that) yet you call him world class?
Well, he could have been... ...had he been good enough to play for England regularly and been mentally stable!
TBF, Giggs looked that same around 28/29 before revamping his game. Hatton never looked after his self inbetween fights. Rooney does look after his self (mainly because he has to)
It depends how you wanna define world class. If you only refer to a player as world class, when they would be in a world 11. Then there isn't a player in the PL that you could consider world class
Barton's nothing more than an attention whore mate. Now he's 're-invented himself' as some sort of Huyton philosopher, he feels the need to impart his 'wisdom' on the masses every now and then. He's a massive twat.
By that logic you couldn't make a 'World Class' side you doughnut. It's subjective bollocks anyway, as even Messi has done **** all on the World stage i.e. at the WC. Merely by having the facile debate you're giving that arse wipe Barton's comments the oxygen that they don't deserve.