When Wayne Rooney first burst onto the scene as a fresh faced youngster with that all-mighty strike against Arsenal in 2002, Premier League fans throughout the land pretty much took note in unison – for a new hero of English football had seemingly been born.
And this time around, it wasn’t all born out of pure hype and speculation as is normally the case with young emerging English talents. The 16-year-old Wayne Rooney really was the real deal. He had just as much potential as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been subject to in their younger days, and if it wasn’t for a few frustratingly timed injuries, the powerful striker really could have done the business in the Three Lions shirt as well.
Who knows how far England could have gone in Euro 2004 if Rooney wasn’t forcibly replaced by Darius Vassell in that all important quarter-final with Portugal…
Since making that faithful move to Old Trafford many moons ago though, just how well has the now 29-year-old’s career ultimately played out? Has the promising talent fulfilled the lofty expectations that were initially set upon his head as a teenager, or has Wayne Rooney in-fact greatly underachieved as a Manchester United player in the long run?
The answer – whilst certainly arriving as a somewhat cloudy one – seemingly disappoints in that all too familiar English way. Today Wayne Rooney is sadly a shadow of his former self. He may have gone on to achieve a great deal in the game, English football may indeed be left better off thanks to the striker’s contribution – but ultimately – the player himself simply could have been so much more if circumstances would have allowed.
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Within the ever testing realms of top-flight English football, Rooney’s initially incredible start at Old Trafford has only since deteriorated in recent years. The former Everton fan favourite used to be unpredictable – he was once so powerful in front of goal with his bustling approach that even the league’s very best defenders would inevitably have to move out of his way when things were going well for the striker. The impressionable young man wasn’t scared of any opportunity. He would take on shots from all over the pitch – and nine times out of ten - the results would be more than successful for his team.
Today though, Wayne Rooney is utilised by Louis van Gaal as if he has never played as an out-in-out striker before. Yes he is Manchester United’s current top goal-scorer which is a testament to the player himself - but when you consider that QPR’s Charlie Austin has proved more efficient in front of goal whilst playing for a relegation fearing side in 2014/15 – such an achievement is hardly as impressive as it sounds.
The Wazza of the modern era is seemingly played all over the pitch for reasons unbeknownst to most of the footballing community. Rooney just isn’t naturally a deeper-lying midfielder, he doesn’t operate nearly as well on the flanks either, so unless he is given his proper responsibility as a real attacking striker, the player is pretty much wasted on most occasions.
Perhaps, however, Van Gaal is just the latest in a long line of managers to fall victim to this particular trap – with such a turnaround in events originating from Sir Alex Ferguson himself. For all his perceived know-how in the Premier League era, the Scotsman may have just been the real source behind Wayne Rooney’s downfall.
During the Ferguson era at Old Trafford, the England striker was over-worked and over-run all because several of Manchester United’s other star talents, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, were sensationally sold off without being properly replaced. Wayne Rooney therefore had to make up for their loss all over the park – which has subsequently meant that his most natural position and original pace and power have simply dwindled at Manchester United as his career has played out.
It must be remembered of course that Wayne Rooney still remains a good player however, but today it just wouldn’t be right to call him a world class star any more.
Defences simply don’t fear him in the way they previously did, too many games pass the striker by without offering a great deal for his team – and as for his later performances in an England shirt and solitary World Cup goal – Wayne Rooney just hasn’t turned out to be the player everyone was hoping he would be when he first broke onto the scene as that fresh faced 16-year-old.
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