Has Wayne Rooney lived up to his potential?

2002 was a different time in football. A player could take his shirt off for a celebration without receiving a yellow card. Des Lynam still graced TV screens as the host of ‘The Premiership’ on ITV. When a young footballer burst onto the scene it was a genuine shock due to lack of social media coverage. What Wayne Rooney did to the scene in the early noughties far exceeds a burst. He took the scene round the back alley and had his way with it. After THAT goal against Arsenal in 2002, the commentator proclaimed that we should remember the name Wayne Rooney – we certainly did. After his Euro 2004 performance, Rooney announced himself to the world whilst leaving English football fans purring. Men wanted to be him, women wanted to be with….well his money. The world was truly at his feet. 13 years on from that goal against Arsenal at Goodison Park, has Wayne Rooney become as good a footballer as everybody thought he would be?

Due to the fact that he’s been around for what seems like forever, it’s easy to forget that Rooney isn’t even 30 yet. He boasts a CV that even Big Claude from The Apprentice would struggle to tear apart. 5 time Premier League winner (the sobs of Steven Gerrard can be heard in the distance), Champions League, Club World Cup, 2 League Cups. Add to that being England and Manchester United captain, and if he doesn’t end up as top scorer for both club and country then something will have gone horribly wrong. Rooney has been consistently good throughout his career. The problem is he should have been great.

Any excuse to put this in

One thing that frustrates me about Rooney’s career is that people have bought into the myth that his best position is a number 10. Lies. Wayne Rooney has been, is now, and will be until his legs go, an out and out striker. A number 9. As a United fan I can count 3 times where Rooney has been unplayable: the season before his inexplicably awful 2010 World Cup, the season before RVP signed for United, and the year after Ronaldo’s wink at euro 2006. On two of those occasions he recorded his best goals tally for a season (34). Those seasons all have one common denominator – Rooney played as the main striker. He wasn’t playing on the left to accommodate Ronaldo and Tevez, he wasn’t playing behind RVP, and he wasn’t playing in central midfield. He was the goal scorer. The main man. He was dat guy (a phrase I used to use to describe somebody I once loved). Just because he can hit the odd 60 yard pass without trying, or run past players, doesn’t mean that his best position lies deeper. It just makes him a more complete striker. Ferguson, Moyes and Van Gaal have all toyed with the idea of playing Rooney in midfield, and it will happen when his legs go. However his legs are very much with him still so why waste him in midfield? Managers were still trying to find his best position when he was in his mid-twenties, and as Van Gaal has shown this season, some are still uncertain. If Rooney had played in his best position throughout his whole career then who knows what he could have done?

Rooney’s attitude has proved to be a problem in his career – especially towards his fitness. Rio Ferdinand once stated in a Daily Mail interview that Rooney was a better player than Ronaldo when he first joined United. Rio saw them day in and day out at training so he’s in a great position to judge. Let that sink in. Rooney was a better player than Ronaldo at a point. Looking at them now, Ronaldo is so far ahead of Rooney that the scouser is merely a dot in Ronaldo’s rear view mirror. If it was because Ronaldo had more ability then that would be one thing, but according to Ferdinand that wasn’t the case. Instead, according to ex United fitness coach Mick Clegg, Rooney couldn’t be arsed to put in the effort in the gym.

 'Wayne didn’t see the importance of the gym really. He’d say, "I’m here to play football".’

'That’s what set Cristiano Ronaldo apart. He would do whatever training I prescribed and more.’

How depressing

When you see what Ronaldo has become, it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth thinking that Rooney could have been somewhere close to that if only he lifted a few weights now and then. Instead, every pre-season there’s a 50% chance Rooney will return to club football out of shape and overweight. How many times have you seen Rooney pictured smoking? The man is somehow getting paid 300k a week and most of the time can’t be arsed to stay in shape. How did it not click that the physical side of the game is just as important? England could have potentially had its own Ronaldo, but Rooney was apparently too lazy.

Off the pitch, there have been many distractions throughout Rooney’s career. Grannies (allegedly). Prostitutes (allegedly). Granny prostitutes (allegedly but come on Wayne you’re rich for the love of God). Transfer request number one. Transfer request number 2 (allegedly). Lawsuit with David Moyes. It’s quite a list. It’s a lot to deal with for any man growing up, let alone somebody who had worldwide fame thrust upon him while in Year 11. Could this be a reason why Rooney never hit the heights expected of him?

Whatever happens, Rooney will most likely be considered a legend in English football. His average performances are still better than most player’s good ones. I still feel that we haven’t truly seen the best Wayne Rooney we possibly could have done. The impact he made as a teenager promised a herculean amount. Being almost 30, you wouldn’t think there’s much time for Rooney to improve. He should be at his peak. Wayne Rooney has been very good, but as I said before, he could have been great. He could have been the best.