Where did it all go wrong for Rooney?
He was once touted to be the next great thing from England. The wonderkid who would take the world by storm, in the same way that Owen did...sorta. Rooney got off to a bang with Everton and at the Euros, his first international tournament. Where we seeing the first truly great English footballer and a potential world leader in the sport?
That belief began to gradually fade and fade each time Ferguson threw scorn at Rooney by bringing in a player who he had to play second fiddle to. Whether it was Van Nistelrooy, Cristiano, or Van Persie; Ferguson made it very clear that he didn't believe the kid from Liverpool was good enough to be head honcho and big cheese of the United team.
Then there was what would have been the big split. Rooney holding out for a large contract, Ferguson not having any of it. This looked to be the end of Rooney and United with the Portuguese one who may not be special anymore, waiting like a rabid dog prepared to feast. It looked almost certain to happen...until it didn't. Rooney played ball...for now.
Ferguson retired, Moyes came in, and this is where the decline began.
For no apparent reason, Moyes decided the smart thing to do that no one else thought of was to give Rooney a huge contract. Yes, the kind of wage a week that you start losing weight for tonight in order to become a professional footballer by next month. From the moment ink made contact to paper, Rooney as a viable footballer ended. Something new was born. It was red, a bit dusty and with holes in it.
Another clue: it's used to build houses.
Rooney just became useless. He offered nothing to the team, and only occassionally would chip in with some goals. Overall, he was a passer-by who was thinking of how retirment will be and what Arabic associates to align himself with to perhaps dig for some oil with his riches. Football has been the furthest thing from his mind. This season has been the ultimate culmination of his descent.
We will never see what Rooney could have done on the international stage and his relevance as a top football player is finito. He is merely the Manchester United captain who earns more money a week than your family combined, and he's laughing at all of us while he sleepwalks through matches and still gets paid for doing so.
Comment below using your Facebook or Twitter Account.
HH
