It'd be interesting to hear the views of supporters of foreign clubs because I find it strange how we're so eager to rave over young English talent but when they hit their peak we shoot them down. Rooney is the answer to the "If you could sign anyone from the PL" question for me. As a Liverpool fan, I suppose you think Suarez is?
Rooney couldn't lace ronaldo's boots either. He isn't world class. You're talking about the top 10 forwards or so when you say world class. I'd put him just outside of that area. He easily could have been, but money suffocated his drive. He made it, in his eyes. Ronaldo hasn't made it in his eyes until he's undoubtedly the best player. That's the difference.
This season, I don't think there is much debate about Suarez. However, I'll ignore all Liverpool players to avoid biasedness and say Hazard is clearly the "best of the rest" so to speak. I like Rooney as a player but I think his biggest fault is his ability to fit into modern systems. He's not disciplined enough front lone front man, not creative enough for a number ten and he doesn't like playing from wide. He would be perfect in the old 442 systems alongside a striker IMO.
This is SO true. The modern day number 10 is an Attacking Midfielder. Whereas Rooney is considered the old school second striker. So what's the difference? The starting position! Think of Gerrard or Scholes in their pomp, they start as midfielders on the pitch and drive forward. Rooney exists in the hole just in front of the back line. He's not a midfielder in any sense. He gets in to positions to pull at defences to set up Centre Forwards to score goals, or as the less prolific goalscorer himself. Rooney is not an attacking midfielder.... but Mata is. Mata drives at defences from midfield and knows how to bring others into play like an AM should, and THAT is why Mata will always be the better player in that role than Rooney. That's not a criticism of Rooney, it's just not something you expect from the role of a second striker. That's why Silva is different to Negredo for example.
I would like to see us experiment the rest of the season with an attacking 4 of Rooney, Mata, Kagawa, and Welbeck. Rooney as the CF, Mata and Kagawa splitting the 10 role and one out wide with Welbeck on the opposite side. That would allow all of the players to rotate positions without really suffering on the pitch. If Rooney wants to drop back and pick up the ball, Welbeck could slide up as the CF, with Mata and Kagawa pushing out wide. Don't have much left to lose this season, and I think traditional wide players are now a thing of the past. We need to adapt to the modern game, or we'll see ourselves continue to struggle. Question is Moyes willing to take the risk and setup from the start to attack?
Suarez is not in the top 10 world class players. He is a cheat and a diver who always tries to con the referee at every opportunity. Until he stops doing that he will never be world class.
Rooney would walk into any club in the premier league ahead of every other player. Not just because hes a brilliant footballer and the heart of the team but also because he is Wayne Rooney. Whether you think hes world class or not his peers think he is and consider him in the very top bracket. The only pro's who dont are nobodies like Barton who is more than likely jealous.
Nominated in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012 8th in 2004 Unranked top 50 in 2005 and 2006 26th in 2007 13th in 2008 8th in 2009 5th in 2011 15th in 2012 Not many other players can claim to be consistently recognised as being in the top 50 in the world throughout their entire career, and precious few can claim three top ten nominations. Pretty sure Beckham, Gerrard and possibly Owen are the only other English players to have made that grade. Still all depends on how you define 'world class' of course. Top ten in the world? Top two? etc. He can't compare to Ronaldo, Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, but comparing him to most other players in his position would probably come down to who was on form rather than being an absolute choice.
If Wayne Rooney was called Waynero Roonario he would have won a WPOTY in his career. UEFA and FIFA are xenophobic to the english.
If Luis Suarez was called Luis Suarez he's be the leagues top scorer after giving everyone else a head start Oh wait....
