WAYNE ROONEY MUST DELIVER
This has to be the season that star makes his mark
GOALDEN BLUNDER IS A GOLDEN WONDER
At least Fabio Capello understands the true value of Emile Heskey
THERE is a mindset in football where players or clubs revel in proving "the critics" wrong.
Sometimes the siege mentality turns into a positive force inspiring an individual or team to turn it on as in Euro '96 with Gazza and England.
But the angst can just as easily turn into paranoia and have a negative effect. Take Michael Owen and Newcastle last season.
It would seem better if the attitude was turned on its head and pundits were proved right. Let's hope so in the case of Wayne Rooney.
Not long after bursting on to the international scene at 17, Rooney was hailed as England's Pele.
Since then he has been put in the same bracket as Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane and Diego Maradona if not always in style but in terms of impact on games.
Even Fabio Capello suggested Rooney can become one of the greats and compared him to Real Madrid and Spain legend Raul.
For club and country this MUST be the season for Rooney to vindicate such high praise with the biggest stage awaiting at the World Cup finals next summer.
It would be good to see Capello offer Rooney the chance to play where most of the greats have operated, in a free role behind two front men even if Frank Lampard or Steven Gerrard have to make way.
He would have the perfect platform to pull the strings and prove he really can become a world beater.
He has the chance to put Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the shade and have good reason to be crowned World Player of the Year.
Yes, this is the season for Rooney to prove people right. England expects.
Now buy the News Of The World for more from Rob Shepherd
This article has 5 comments
Rooney does deliver every week for United and he is clearly the best player in an England shirt. Gerard needs to deliver just one adverage performance for England as does lampard.
By Carl warmington. Posted September 6 2009 at 10:01 AM.
I think that he has the ability to dive us to trophies, but he needs to link better with the England players. Between Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Beckham, we have the best passers of 50 yards plus. Problem is no one seems able to pass it 5 yards in tight spaces!!!
And thats right, i meant dive, not drive.
By cheese. Posted August 30 2009 at 12:59 PM.
If he can stop diving, he will be a world beater
By Steve Nash. Posted August 30 2009 at 7:27 AM.
Has Tony from Kent ever heard of punctuation?
By Rocky, Sydney. Posted August 30 2009 at 2:17 AM.
i fully agree shep i think rooney would be ideal for us in the midfield as he is not a striker and never will be he could easily play the gazza role admittedly he is not as gifted as gazza the genius but he would give us so much creativity which we lack watching fat frank lampard in midfield depresses me big time he is without doubt the most-overated player in europe no imagination or guile all he does is play the percentage game thats why he goes missing in a england shirt at chelsea he has mikel and essien doing his dirty work the quicker we get rid of lampard the better
By tony,kent. Posted August 30 2009 at 1:32 AM.