Rooney - Developing Into A Football Great?

Discussing a footballing great or legend who is still currently playing the game is often met with an understandable air of reluctance. Very few fans would realistically and in all seriousness, label one of their players as an all time great before their career has run it's course, and even then, the player in question will have to have done something very, very special to be worthy of the illustrious label of a "legend."

So to even discuss the growing likelihood of 25 year-old Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney as the "L - word" is perhaps pushing it. No doubt at this current time, many will strongly disagree with my observations on Rooney, who is by no means a hugely popular young man, with so much scrutinization and intrusion into his life on, and very unfortunately off the football field as a modern day celebrity. 

However, no one can possibly deny the quite simply outstanding ability the man possesses with the football at his feet. He can do things on a football field that can defy belief - his ridiculous overhead kick against City at Old Trafford is the obvious example of what majestic and elevated skill level he sets himself and everyone else around him. 

Those who are privileged enough to watch Rooney week in week out playing for Manchester United, will know that one overhead kick, however stunning, is only a tiny fraction of what Rooney has in his locker. His passing, his vision, his skill, his work-rate, his passion - all up there with the greats. Whichever way you want to look at it, Rooney is very close to "having it all," as it were, and would have no problems in getting into any football club in the world.

This time last year, he was suffering a very difficult period of his career. He seemed to have lost his first touch, his passing was questionable and the goals were not coming for him. He had been involved in a miserable, high pressure World Cup, and became subject of much hate from Manchester United fans and England fans for his clubs contract saga, and bad form.

However, it is a big, player who has a poor season, yet scored 16 goals overall and assists 11. He was able to turn this form on it's head, and so far this season has continued in that vain of revival - with an impressive 5 goals and 1 assist in just three games. 

At just 25, he has broken inside the list of England's top 10 international goalscorers, and has achieved the same feet with Manchester United. He's won the Premier League four times, the Champions League once, and has won countless individual accolades.

He is currently in the form of his life, with goals flying into the net at will, passes finding their target like a sniper finds its prey, and his influence on players around him is equally exceptional, as Arsenal's Theo Walcott explained: "Just having him on the pitch you seem to get an extra percentage out of all the other players, especially when he’s playing well."

When a players sheer presence on the football field gets an "extra percentage out of all the other players," he is clearly thought of as special by his fellow team mates. Very few have this effect, and I suspect, players in the modern game such as Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta and Scholes, as well as those already undeniably established as legends like Pele, Cruyff, Maradonna, Best and Zidane all had similar effects on the players around them.

I am not blindly championing Rooney as a player as good as or better than the legends listed above, I am simply saying that one day, he absolutely could be. He has the talent, passion and determination in abundance, and if he wants to be considered a great, the man named by his fans as the "white Pele" can be, and he will be.

"Legends take football to another level, producing moments of magic which people will never forget.
It is the ability to turn a match with a flash of brilliance and the determination to win at all costs."

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball

Everyone Loves Chicharito

It seems as if Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez is universally popular. A day doesn't go by without someone heaping praise on his little shoulders. However, his popularity is not just because of his cute little baby face which has quite often been the picture of delight this season, but it is also because he is a fantastic, down to earth footballer, with an outstanding talent to score goals at the perfect time.

Opening the scoring against Chelsea in the 36th second was quite astonishing, but it was also very unsurprising when you consider his record. In one-on-ones, he rarely misses, and this was no exception as he swept the ball passed a helpless Cech for his 20th goal of the season. Despite setting them up for a very bad day and disappointing season overall, I'm sure Chelsea fans cannot be too resentful of the young Mexican who is more of a charming yet dangerous presence rather than a menacing and deadly presence of Rooney. But what a partnership they make!

Chicharito's form has been watched by millions all over the world, which only helps in the praise being garnished upon him. Brazil legend Pele, Manchester United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs, the Mexican national manager Javier Aguirre and Michael Owen - whose popularity is also increasing amongst United fans, largely due to his informative and insightful Twitter updates rather than his scarce (but often valuable) time on the pitch - are just some of the names who have applauded Chicharito.


Pele commended the goal-machine of Hernandez, and stated that he may in the future be able to reach the dizzy heights of quality that Barcelona stunner Lionel Messi currently produces with ease. The three-time World Cup winner said:

"There is no doubt that Hernandez is a promising player. He is excellent, I have seen some games of his on television and he is a fantastic footballer."

"He could be the next Messi because he has great talent; he is a big surprise just as Hugo Sanchez was because he is another that scores a lot of goals."

That truly is a compliment of the highest degree from Pele there, though despite the obvious qualities of the 22 year-old, you may doubt whether he will reach the standard that Messi has set. We will have to wait and see, bu Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with him nevertheless, as he has exceeded all expectations:

"When he came to us, at first we thought 'give him a year' but he has taken all the chances. He's been exceptional."

Giggs was also very complimentary of Hernandez, citing how well he has settled in England; learning the language and adapting so quickly to the pace of the game as his main points of success:

“Twenty goals in his first season is unbelievable and amazing. You are always in with a chance when you have a goal scorer like Javier in your team. He has made a fantastic impact, on and off the pitch. His English is perfect, which has helped, and his goal (against Chelsea) just sums up his wonderful season. 

That is coming from a man who has won 11 and now nearly 12 League titles as well as legendary status at Old Trafford whilst still playing at 37. The Mexico manager Aguirre, who like Ferguson has worked with Hernandez as a wise manager said the United star was like one of his "children", "very polite and hard-working". He said that when he first saw Hernandez at the age of 15  he "could tell straight away that he was a special talent".

Michael Owen and Hernandez have had their playing styles compared as similar, so Owen is in a perfect position to judge the progress of the lad. Owen said Chicharito has been the surprise package this year, and apart from being a "cracking lad", he is "a better version of the current Michael Owen".

All of this appreciation from such top professionals who have been there and done it will not however get into the players head and turn him into an egotistical maniac who feeds off the praise and becomes infatuated by himself. No, because when Javier Hernandez joined Manchester United - the biggest club in the world for £6 million just before the World Cup last summer, he said:

"I shall always be the same chap, with my feet always on the ground, and I see this as another challenge in my career. I am, first and foremost, a human being."

Don't you just love him? Everyone does.

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