Its a difficult one. It depends how you define World Class. He plays for his country so surely he is? Whether he's one of the best in the world is more debatable.
Rooneys always been fat and overrated. Yes he scores a few worldies here and there but what is he actually special at? He's not a class finisher (better than when he was younger), he doesn't hit 20 goals regularly without penalties, he's not got the best vision and he's not the fastest. Yes he can play a good pass every now and again and he works hard every now and again but whenever i've seen him play (of recent years) theres never been that wow factor unlike his younger days where i'm expecting anything to happen. He's a good all rounder, Englands best product but he's never been up there in the world. He only gets that award cause he's English
Maybe Tobes. maybe, but the difference could be that Barton is "once a blue always a blue" and Rooney ain't.
Rooneys a driving force for one of tge worlds biggest clubs. Hes not only successful but was instrumental in the success achieved. Barton says hes not but most top players regard rooney as world class.
Doubt it, Ramos constantly gets in world 11s and he's **** and just a thug, same for Alves, Pique and Pepe who are always regulars, World 11's and UEFA 11's are always biased to spain and la liga and just pointless even looking at
I'd take the following above Rooney to play up front: Ibra Suarez Costa RVP Cavani Falcao Lewandowski Neymar Ronaldo Messi So close to top 10 in the world
I wasn't referring to the actual team of the year, as I agree with you that is never a fair reflection, as it's incredibly biased to La Liga players. Everyone has there own views on who the best 11 in the world are though
Playing for your country doesn't make you world class, what about the guys that play for Gilbrator, Luxembourg, Malta, etc who have a job too, hardly top players are they?
Rooney was a natural talent. He was at his best when he actually knew LESS about the game. As people said, he played like he was in the park, and didn't think too much. Just played without inhibition. The irony is the minute he started thinking and second guessing his game he began to stunt his development (inhibition and self doubt set in imo) When Rooney and Ronaldo were at United in those first couple of seasons I expected Rooney to progress further in terms of technical ability and personal success/rating. By 2007/2008 it was becoming evident who was the one making a real mark. I remember in Ronaldo's final season, United fans saying "once Ronaldo leaves, Rooney can finally be the main player, playing in his preferred position, having a team built around him." Everyone who said that, was talking of him in that number 10 role. And yet ironically, his best season since, was playing as the CF. Although I still think his best position, the one his raw talent is designed for, is that number 10. Someone mentioned he doesn't have vision but I totally disagree. He IS an intelligent footballer and has consistently been the fulcrum of all our best attacking play. However, he is not world class I'm afraid. He's not lived up to expectations. Remember the kid of 2003-2007? The one who could take on players and beat them? When was the last time he ran at a defence or beat a man???? I seriously doubt I'd even have him in my all-time United 11.
I agree totally Treble, he promised so much more than he has delivered with us. He is still a quality player, but he really looked something super special when he was a teenager. A better teenager than Ronaldo IMO, but he never quite kicked on to be the world superstar I expected
Yeh he's still a quality player, and we are a better side with him in it. You also have to give him credit for always doing the donkey work Fergie (and now Moyes) ask of him. But that's not really the attributes or future we were expecting to credit him for, nigh on 10 years ago. I remember thinking about 7+ years ago, this guy is going to become captain and a legend, and end his career at United. Ironically, he'll probably go on to do all those things, but not in the manner I imagined. But I don't agree with those who want him out or blame him for our woes. He is suffering from the weaknesses in our squad as much as the team right now.
Great post that. I think you can responsibility to the list too. When he burst onto the scene, people had little or few expectations of him but that quickly changed. He was also a young kid so watched his mouth a bit more and respected his older professionals, I don't think he gives a **** who he is alongside now. I can understand Man Utd fans loving him. He is a very good player that gives his all in every game so why wouldn't you? However, I do agree he isn't world class (I was saying similar for Suarez until this season) and I don't think he is worth the wages he now gets. You could pay the wages of two equally quality players with that money IMO
He's not world class - for me he's in that 2nd tier along with players like Silva, Hazard, RVP, Negrado etc. In my opinion the PL currently has 2 world class players, Suarez and Yaya Toure. The reason I pick these two is I believe they would strengthen any first 11 in the world. Whereas the 2nd tier players I picked wouldn't.
Wayne Rooney could play in the bigger Champions League games in any position from on the shoulder of the last defender to the Makalele role. He's as world class as they come and in my opinion he's the best footballer (might not be in the best form) in the Premiership with Yaya Toure a close second.
Although I sort of agree with what you're saying, I'd have Hazard, Silva or Negredo before considering Toure
Problem is you're not comparing Rooney to people who play the same position he does, which also becomes an issue. He's a number 10, but not in the modern sense. Now a number 10 is an attacking, creative midfielder more inclined to assist a goal than score one himself. Rooney is an old fashioned number 10, a striker that players in the space between the oppositions defense and midfield. He can do the midfield work of the modern number 10, but the spaces he often takes up are those of a striker. So do you compare him to a number 9 like Falcao, Cavani, RVP, or to a creative midfielder that often either plays as a number 10 or takes up a similar role but out wide a la hazard, Silva, Ozil, mata? Or do you lump them all into one category of attacking players that would include the likes of Ronaldo, Bale, Messi, Neymar, and Suarez. For the record I'd take Rooney over Cavani, RVP, Costa, Lewandowski, and possibly Ibra and Neymar. Ibra is too inconsistent, absolutely brilliant player but he's a bit of a nutjob. As for Neymar, too soon to say in my opinion.
