Rooney

[Xifio]

Sir Bobby Charlton believes that Wayne Rooney will challenge Ronaldinho for player of the tournament at this summer's World Cup.

Barcelona's brilliant Brazilian is the current Fifa World Player of the Year and has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, but Charlton is backing the Manchester United striker.

Charlton said: "Every World Cup produces a great star.

"In my time I have seen Pele, Cruyff, Maradona and Ronaldo, and this summer it could be Ronaldinho, though I have a sneaking feeling that Wayne Rooney will give him a real battle for it.

"It depends how well England do in the tournament, but Wayne is a player who thrives on pressure. The bigger the game, the better Wayne plays.

"Wayne and Ronaldinho both have amazing skill and control, but don't forget Wayne is 20 while Ronaldinho is 26.

"I would be prepared to bet that Wayne Rooney at 26 will be an even more effective player than Ronaldinho."

Ronaldinho is up against Formula One's Fernando Alonso, cyclist Lance Armstrong, golfer Tiger Woods, tennis star Roger Federer and Moto GP's Valentino Rossi for the Laureus World Sportsman award.

Elsewhere, Liverpool have been shortlisted in the Laureus team of the year category.

The winners will be announced on May 22.

Rooney is good, one of the better young players around, but he's no Ronaldinho in terms of influence and presence, and I don't think he will be in six years time, or ten.

 

[SlowSilver]

Oh c'mon.. your right, he's no Ronaldinho, but he has a bigger presence and influence (to his team-mates of course). Just to show you how well this kid has done, the whole damn nation is resting on Rooneys shoulders, because of what we all know he can do on the international stage..

You can't compare Rooney and Ronaldinho, they don't even play in the same way, or position really. Two totally different players.

 

[ryan_goal]

I don't know how often you watch Man Utd play. On his day, I've never seen a player as dominant and influential as Rooney on the pitch in his position(which is most of the case this season). Perhaps Cantona was, but I am not sure of it since he retired before I followed soccer.
In the national team, when the whole nation, who boasted argubly the most talented squad of players they've ever had, cited his injury as the major reason they didn't win Euro 2004, it tells you part of the story.

 

[Dreath]

He's generally always man of the match whenever I see him.

Here's hoping he has a bad cold on Sunday.

 

[ngyc]

rooney is forward
ronaldinho is playmaking midfielder

i see no reason why they compare them

 

[Yossarian]

That pasty skinned, bad breathed, bull-elephant of a tea-bagger is gonna own us on Sunday........I can just feel it in my bones, man.

 

[eddy_87]

its not comparing who's better in that position, its the player that would make an impact.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Rooney will never reach the same level as Ronaldinho, in terms of skill/technique... that's more likely to happen to C. Ronaldo or Messi, for instance...

But Rooney does things like often supporting his team's defence... his defensive skillz are awesome... and being a forward, that's much more impressive from him... Ronaldinho doesn't defend as Rooney, and in average he runs less than Rooney... Rooney is everywhere when he plays! He got lots of stamina, he's strong and he's versatile...

If he's in great shape in the WC, i think he'll be able to compete with the likes of Ronaldinho for Player Of The Tournament...

 

[Yossarian]

Chips Ahoy speaks the truth.

 

[Andrejs]

Rooney will never reach the same level as Ronaldinho, in terms of skill/technique... that's more likely to happen to C. Ronaldo or Messi, for instance...

But Rooney does things like often supporting his team's defence... his defensive skillz are awesome... and being a forward, that's much more impressive from him... Ronaldinho doesn't defend as Rooney, and in average he runs less than Rooney... Rooney is everywhere when he plays! He got lots of stamina, he's strong and he's versatile...

Err, what is the most important aspect that makes you say that Rooney will never reach the same level as Ronaldinho? By what do you judge players? Flashy tricks and technique?

 

[Virgo]

FACT 1: Rooney is a class player

FACT 2: Rooney wouldn't get half the hype he currently gets if he wasn't english.

FACT 3: Rooney's a pace/strenght/shot type of player he has absolutely nothing on Ronaldinho in terms of ball control/technique/dribbling.

 

[SlowSilver]

You all seem to mention technique, why do people assume that fancy dribbling skills means stunning technique? Rooney's technique is just as good as anybody on the planet, in the way he controls his shooting and passing. Ronaldinho is obviously better when running with the ball, but I don't think Rooney get's enough recognition for his dribbling ability. He may not use fancy tricks to get past a player, he may not be the most 'pretty' looking player to watch, but he get's the job done, and that, is all that matters.

 

[TOON ARMY]

Rooney is still a youngster. How old is Ronadlinho, 25? 26? What i'm trying to say is Ronaldinho wasn't what he is now at the age of 20.

Rooney is only going to get better.

 

[Lean]

Rooney is still a youngster. How old is Ronadlinho, 25? 26? What i'm trying to say is Ronaldinho wasn't what he is now at the age of 20.

Rooney is only going to get better.

Ronaldinho at age 20 was way better than Rooney is.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

Err, what is the most important aspect that makes you say that Rooney will never reach the same level as Ronaldinho? By what do you judge players? Flashy tricks and technique?

This one goes for all of you that still think that Rooney will reach Ronaldinho's level, in terms of skill/technique/dribbling. I judge these by the following:


1. One-on-one situations (Ronaldinho is, and was better than Rooney, even when he was 20, at pasting by defenders on these kind of situations)

2. Ball control (Ronaldinho often runs at very high speed with the ball looking like it's glued to his feet, also, he controls the ball so perfectly when receiving a pass / Rooney is very good in terms of ball control also, but i still think Ronaldinho is better than Rooney )

3. Dribbling (well, this probably is the item where Ronaldinho gets far away from Rooney... Rooney has some good dribbling abilities, bcoz most of times he combines well: |strenght+speed+skill| / Ronaldinho... well he can either use that combination, or he can just dribble without using much of his speed or strenght... just with quick and very very skilled feet movements... he does this so much better than Rooney, that it's not even worth it try to compare )

4. Flashy tricks (the last and least important item, but the best indicator of a player's natural talent... this is not really important to have in account, when comparing players... but anyway, just to remind everyone that Ronaldinho is better that Rooney at those showy, awesome tricks that gets the crowd on their feet, screaming: "Wowwww!" )


Don't get me wrong... overall, Rooney is very close to Ronaldinho... in terms of "game productivity", for instance...
But Rooney can't even compete with Ronaldinho in terms of "natural talent"... and that's not a thing that has to do with AGE! That's just a fact, like it or not... i do believe Rooney will improve... but he'll need to improve... like greatly to reach Ronaldinho's class...


Rooney hasn't got that "brazilian" touch... that kind of stuff has to be in the genes... and Rooney just hasn't got it...

 

[Dream Team]

In a few years, there will be like 100 players better than Ronaldinho. Football will be so much fun.

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

In a few years, there will be like 100 players better than Ronaldinho. Football will be so much fun.

So true...

 

[arsenal_boi]

I was gonna say rooney is better but after more consideration, i think they are both match winners in their own respects end of story

 

[Luis Ah-Hoy]

I was gonna say rooney is better but after more consideration, i think they are both match winners in their own respects end of story

So that means that for you, the FIFA World Player of the Year award should be reviewed?

 

[BenBeckham]

brazlian gens my arse... - the fanzy tricks maybe - but being a brazlian doesn't mean you're quality.... there are plenty of sh*t playing brazilians playing in europe too.

Non the less Rooney is class as is Ronaldinho and I'm sure we could go endless to argue who's better...

let's just leave it and rather enjoy whenever such players play.