Rooney - The White Pele, but is he truly World Class?

Prior to the match Vs Benfica, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jorge Jesus rang Wayne Rooney's praises, hailing him as the best British player, and as England's answer to Pele. United fans have of course been singing it for years as Rooney continues to close in on Sir Bobby Charlton's all time goalscoring record season upon season.

"Rooney is the best British player but doesn't seem like a British player. He's like an Argentinian or Brazilian. He can decide the match in the final third and so we have to pay special attention to him." Jorge Jesus

"I think he's a typical British player. There have been British players over the last few years, maybe for the last decades, who have similar great qualities that make them great players, whether it's a [Paul] Gascoigne, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law. The similarities are that the boy has great courage, wants to play all the time and has incredible stamina. These are added extras to the talent he has. In terms of a Brazilian, you'd say Pelé. He was a very aggressive attacker also who could look after himself, so can Rooney. They have similarities that way: strength, speed, determination, but he's white, completely white." Sir Alex Ferguson

The United hitman is certainly a wonderful talent but some remain divided on where he stands compared to other great players around Europe at this moment in time. Certainly there are times when his consistency is questionable, but this season, buoyed by his new patch of hair, he looks to have finally joined all his qualities together to morph into a playmaker and goalscorer, in the mould of a Francesco Totti. Rooney's influence and ability to win a match are beginning to remind me of Roma's favourite son even if the Italian is perhaps not quite as much of a bulldozer or aggressive in nature (spitting and a few other incidents aside). But is the Liverpudlian truly a worldclass player?

Lets hear your thoughts in this thread on our forum.

http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191949

Bolton vs Manchester United - Match Report

Nani, Anderson and Hernandez celebrate with Rooney

Bolton 0-5 Man Utd
Hernandez 5, Rooney 20, Rooney 25, Hernandez 58, Rooney 68
 

Sir Alex Ferguson made two changes from the team that put eight past Arsenal before the international break. Rio Ferdinand came in for the rested Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez rekindled his partnership with Wayne Rooney, coming in for the injured Danny Welbeck. David De Gea kept his place in goal despite morning reports suggesting he could be rested for Anders Lindegaard. Bolton meanwhile opted for the same 4-4-2 formation with Klasnic partnering Davies up front. United old boy Chris Eagles also started the game on the right wing. 

United started the game the better side and it only took 5 minutes before the ball was in the back of Bolton's net. After some good build up Nani was played in down the right and he put in a brilliant cross which Hernandez managed to get on the end of ahead of Jaaskelainen. This was Hernandez's first start of the season and it was like he had never been out the side, slotting right back into the team. 

Whilst the team were celebrating the goal, Tom Cleverley limped off the pitch after a poor challenge from Kevin Davies in the first four minutes. Cleverley would later be seen sitting on the bench in his club suit with a protective boot and crutches. The young star may have broken his foot and he will go for a scan to see what damage has been done. Michael Carrick came on to replace him.

Bolton tried to put the pressure on United and a lot of that came from the left in the shape of Martin Petrov. They came close to scoring with a double chance which was well defended, blocked by Evans and the part-time defender Rooney. 

It was then Klasnic's turn to have a go. He received the ball on the edge of the area, turned and hit a shot which David De Gea did well to save. This is an area which De Gea will hopefully improve on after conceding the most goals from outside the area in La Liga last season.

Bolton's pressure didn't put United off, as they once again came forward. Cahill put the ball out for a throw-in, which Jones took quickly to Nani. The Portuguese laid it back to Phil Jones who put in a perfect cross which Rooney tapped in. 

Five minutes later and Rooney added a third, his second of the game. The goal, though, was all the work of the impressive Phil 'Messi' Jones. The right-back received the ball from Rio Ferdinand just inside the Bolton half and, after playing a one-two with Anderson, continued to drive into the box, beating three players. He took a shot which Jaaskelainen saved but it fell to the in-form Rooney who made no mistake in slottingthe ball into the back of the net.

Hernandez then put the ball in the back of the net after a cross from Nani but the linesman correctly ruled offside. 

United continued the second half the way they finished the first, on the attack. De Gea's brilliant distribution set up Hernandez who saw his effort blocked by the Bolton defence.

The fourth goal came from a short corner worked by Nani and Anderson. Nani drove into the box and could have had a penalty after a tangle of legs. The referee did not give it though and the ball instead landed at the feet of Carrick, who hit a shot through a crowded area only to findHernandez who yet again showed his excellent finishing. 

Bolton showed they can play football too after they came forward and Reo Coker hit the bar from the right hand side of the area. At first glance it looked like it had taken a deflection or as if the goalkeeper had saved it but there was no touch and went out for a goal kick. 

Sir Alex made a double change with Ryan Giggs and Chris Smalling replacing Ashley Young and the limping Jonny Evans.

Giggs was involved right away in the build up for the fifth goal, playing a brilliant cross-field ball to Nani who controlled it well and took it towards the penalty area. He looked up and cut it back for Rooney to beautifully put the ball in the bottom corner for United's fifth, his third of the game and his second hattrick in as many games. 

It could have been two hattricks in the game when Giggs set Rooney free down the left, the England international hitting a first-time cross to Hernandez who, agonisingly, couldn't get on the end of it. 

United in the end played some keep-ball and dropped down a couple of gears to save themselves for the away trip to Benfica in midweek.

United line up and ratings: De Gea 7, Jones 8.5, Ferdinand 7, Evans 7 (Smalling 6), Evra 7, Nani 7.5, Anderson 7.5, Cleverley N/A (Carrick 7), Young 7 (Giggs 6.5), Rooney 9, Hernandez 8.

You can view the highlights here: http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/bolton-manchester-united-motd-15391879/

If you wish to discuss the match, please visit our forum and the match thread here: http://www.soccer24-7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191813

Sparky

UNITED 8-2 Arsenal

UNITED 8-2 Arsenal

Welbeck 22, Young 28, Rooney 41, Walcott 45+3, Rooney 64, Nani 67, Park Ji-Sung 70, Van Persie 74, Rooney (pen) 82, Young 90+1

           

United romped to one of the biggest wins in premier league history after disposing of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal with a hatrick from Wayne Rooney, two goals from Ashley Young and strikes from Danny Welbeck, Park Ji-Sung and Nani. In what can only be described as a total humiliation for the French manager and the Gunners (the defeat being their largest since 1896), it was a result that even with Arsenal’s recent troubles was still enough to make people around the world, sit up and take notice. The fact it came not long after United’s neighbours Manchester City demolished Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at White Hart Lane has only added to the intrigue and excitement for this season’s title race, many now claiming the balance of footballing power has shifted to the north of England.

United lined up with an unchanged team from the one which was able to see off Spurs at Old Trafford in their last league game, with Rio Ferdinand having to settle for a place on the bench. Arsenal meanwhile had a number of absentees not least Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere but there were still plenty of familiar faces.

United started off the better side in the early exchanges, but it took 22 minutes for the first goal to be scored. Mancunian Danny Welbeck continued his scoring run after finding the net Vs Spurs as he opened the scoring with a header from 6 yards out. It was poor defending all-round as Djourou was unable to clear Anderson’s chip from the edge of the box, and with Szczesny’s indecision Arsenal were punished. The young striker’s game would later end in a disappointing fashion, as a hamstring injury would force him to come off for Javier Hernandez.

Arsenal 1-0 down were gifted a way back into the game however, as they earned a penalty, but Van Persie was unable to beat De Gea, the Spaniard getting down low to his right to palm away the spot kick. The elation on the keeper’s face as well as his team mates congratulating him was clear to see, perhaps this, a defining moment for the 20 year old after quite a bit of criticism since his big money move.

Things would get worse for Arsenal, Ashley Young scoring possibly the best goal of the game as he curled a shot from outside the box into Szczesny’s top left hand corner. Rooney would add a third, a well placed free kick from just outside the box, this time into Szczesny’s top right hand corner.

Arsenal did pull one back through Theo Walcott on the stroke of halftime, Patrice Evra’s positioning exposed, and Jonny Evans last ditch tackle unable to prevent Walcott on the right from firing low through De Gea’s legs for 3-1. The Spaniard will possibly have been aggrieved with himself for conceding a goal after his penalty saving heroics so late in the half, especially when he could probably have done slightly better.

The second half didn’t bring much change in terms of momentum shifting from one team to the other. Arsenal continued to be exposed defensively much more than the threat they posed going forward. In the 64^th minute, Wayne Rooney got United’s 4^th, yet another freekick. And not long after that, Rooney was at it again, breaking Arsenal’s offside trap with a well timed pass to Nani. The Portuguese winger, one on one managed to compose himself and with a cheeky chip converted United’s 5^th.

It would be his last action of the game, as both he and Anderson were substituted for Ryan Giggs and Park Ji-Sung. It was the South Korean who added United’s 6^th with a low shot across the face of goal from just inside the box after a pass from Ashley Young. With United in control, Van Persie was still able to pull one back for Arsenal to make it 6-2, United could be forgiven for a lapse in concentration and easing off under such circumstances, but they weren’t done yet.

By now an almost unbelievable scoreline, Wayne Rooney, 8 minutes from time, did what Van Persie was unable to do earlier in the game by converting from the spot for his hatrick after Theo Walcott’s foul on Patrice Evra. Finally Ashley Young, a menace throughout the game would put the final nail in the coffin, with a curling strike his 2^nd goal of the game, and United’s 8^th to mark one of the darkest days in Wenger’s Arsenal career.

Scholesy18

UNITED 3-0 Spurs

UNITED 3-0 Spurs

Welbeck 61, Anderson 76, Rooney 87

United in their first home of the 2011/2012 season were able to see off a Spurs side without Luka Modric as their impressive record against Spurs continued. Sir Alex Ferguson opted to persist with youth once again, naming an unchanged midfield and strikeforce from the one that started against West Brom in a 4-4-2 formation. Due to defensive injuries to captain Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand in came Phil Jones and Jonny Evans with Evra being named as captain. David De Gea retained his place in goal.

It was an evenly contested first half as United did well with possession but created few in the way of clear cut chances, Tom Cleverley one of the few who was able to test Brad Friedel’s reflexes at the age of 40 with the American more than up to the task saving a shot at full stretch from just outside the box. The Anderson and Cleverley midfield partnership did however at times look vulnerable on the defensive side to Spurs’ counter attacks but Spurs were unable to capitalise as poor decision making cost them in the final 3^rd. It would prove the same case for Spurs in the second half when Aaron Lennon got the better of Patrice Evra after the Frenchman’s failed shoulder barge, with acres of space and plenty of time the English winger was however unable to find a team mate as his cross was blocked by Jonny Evans much to the frustration of Rafael Van Der Vaart who was unmarked.

They would go on to be punished, and in the 60^th minute Danny Welbeck who had done little of note in the game up till then met Tom Cleverley’s first time cross from the right to power a header into the corner of Friedel’s right hand post. The two academy graduates once again rewarding Sir Alex for his faith in youth. From then on Welbeck would play like a man possessed, dribbling past players and firing in overhead kicks as United took a stranglehold of the game. It was Welbeck who was once again involved in United’s second, the best goal of the night, applying a cheeky backheel in the 73^rd  minute just inside the box, after receiving a pass from Anderson leaving him unmarked as the Brazillian got his first goal of the season.

Spurs looking beaten, were surprisingly almost let back into the game as Jermain Defoe cracked a shot against the post after David De Gea was unable to collect a cross from the right. Despite the setback, it was job done as Sir Alex made a triple substitution taking off Welbeck, Young and Cleverley for crowd favourite Javier Hernandez, Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Giggs. And it was the Welshman who would set up Rooney for United’s 3^rd and final goal of the night with a cross from the right, for Rooney’s 2^nd goal in 2 games.

United would finish with 60% Possession and 21 attempts on target to Tottenham’s 12 and can now look forward to a week in which they will find out their Champion’s league group opponents and a clash against troubled Arsenal.