....Whose playing careers just fizzled out. I'm sure there's a few and no disrespect to any clubs that may get mentioned. But for me it's Wayne Rooney. Burst onto the scene at 16. Signs for Man U, raw, played at Euros and World cups.Nearly 400 games for Man United,England all time goal scorer. Absolute Goal machine. Then asked to play out of position for club and country when he was still a threat infront of goal.(out on the left).Then seemed to quietly sign for Everton with next to no fanfare from United. Off to D.C United then back in the championship with Derby. Now Derby stand in manager. Playing career finished with a meh. He has made a fantastic living from the game. I'm sure you get my point. Don't know if any of you agree? There are others. Over to you.
Bold statement that mate, Rooney was fantastic for Man Utd, like many top players he fizzled out in his 30s, still had 15 years at the very top though.
Absolutely quality footballer that scored for club and country,mate. What I'm getting at is that when he left Man U there wasn't a deserved fuss. Like Giggs, Terry etc.
I always thought Wayne Rooney changed his game a lot when he went to Man Utd. The Rooney at Everton was more exciting to watch and would have created more individual brilliant moment but his way at Man Utd would have lead to more success in his career. Might be England top goalscorer but did **** all in the finals. I know he achieved it and broke the record but he never performed in the finals, minus the 17 year old at the Euros that was unplayable.
Rooney angled for a move away a few times over the years I think, maybe something to do with it. Giggs spent his entire career there winning titles & trophies galore.
I remember Ronaldinho being rightly hailed as the best player in the world and he was never the same after that, dunno if he wasn't comfortable with all the attention or went off the rails in his private life. Similar thing happened with Kaka, amazing player for many years, labelled best in the world and went rapidly downhill.
'our very own' rodwell, if ever a young player was constantly 'bigged up' by the pundits then basically died a death it is this lad. many times the pundits told us we were looking at a future england captain who would lead the team for many years, personally, i always wondered what the fuss was about...he struck me as your standard midfielder and never a game changer...then he gets his big money move and finds out even if injured they have to pay him. since then he has consistently found new ways of avoiding having to do any work while getting well rewarded, the art of hiding in plain sight when actually picked is a very rare one indeed, perhaps only bettered by our (again) very own invisible man from a good few years ago who made such an impact his name escapes me at this moment (someone will refresh my memory here but 'miller' is the only name in my head atm). i think rooney had a good career playing wise but had 'lost a lot' before he left man utd and was no longer the media darling, hence his 'quiet' move, he was just not seen as interesting to the public by then. then you get those who were just damn unlucky such as marco's brother who was meant to be way better than marco, we signed him and he had a bad injury or (iirc) billy hughes brother who had the same fate...or am i making those up in my head...the memory is dire these days on many things.
I don't think any listed so far, except Rodwell, deserve to be on here. I'd say Theo Walcott, looked a potential replacement for Henry but never progressed. Won a few things at arsenal but never as the main man. Did nowt at Everton, I think? And now back home in Southampton.
IIRC John Hughes was injured in the first half, knee I think, but played on until half time but that was it, I vaguely remember the game but little else really, think I was sat in the main stand roker wing with my dad. Doesn't time fly As to Ricardo, I agree with you that he was supposed to be a better footballer than Marco. even Marco agreed but it just didn't happen for him. Like all thing things in life you can have all the talent but sometimes you need a little bit of luck
I just want to be clear about Rooney, if my post is read again I said he was a top top class player that was an absolute goal machine. pretty much won everything that there was to win at Man United and broke records for England. The point I was trying to make is that when he left Man U there wasn't a fanfare the like Gerrard, Lampard etc got. And I don't mean by fans of respective clubs. I'm mean from media etc. He signed for Everton then slipped off to the MLS. John Terry was carried off the pitch. That's what I'm getting at. There will be National Ronaldo day in Portugal when he retires when he's 64. Same for Messi in Argentina. I get that Rooneys official retirement will probably coincide if he gets the Derby job permanently.
Kaka I would agree with. Drifted through latter part of career. I think a few have come to the prem for the money and have faded. Robinho being an example. Think of all the centre forwards who have had a holiday at Chelsea in the last years. Different subject but Zidanne went out on an incredible low. Never fizzled out but what a final memory to have of one of the all time greats.
