What I was trying to say in a crap way was that IMHO the extraordinary aspect of Rooney’s talent fizzled out quite quickly for various reasons. He was still world class but never lived up to the ability he showed in 2004 to carry a team. Gascoigne had that throughout his career IMO. But I was very young when Gazza was playing so might be romanticising his ability too much.
All about opinions I guess. I just remember when on form and fit Gazza carried England to their best tournament performances since 66 whilst Rooney never looked like doing that after 2004
Gascoigne was in Rooney’s standard for a couple of seasons and wasted what he was given (we know why now which is sad). Rooney, other than a few ‘blips’ in his private life, was everything you could ask of a professional footballler. Except of course he left us but most players leave their hometown clubs eventually.
Fortunately for Rooney but not us, I think Utd and Ferguson were the ideal combination for him to achieve all his success and keep him in line for the most part.
No doubt Gasgoine loved England but I think he had about as much a lasting impact on football as any number of one/two season wonders.
The downside to Rooney’s career, on the pitch, was he was required to play for other people too much by switching positions all the time. Accommodating the likes of Ronaldo at Rooney’s expense did little to further his impact on games and then playing with England and all their ‘star’ players in various mishmash setups.
He accommodated a lot more for the good of the team/s imo and something you’d never get from or expect from the likes of a Messi.
I agree Sterling is our most promising England player atm and is somebody who can’t play any other way anyhow so there is no asking him to do a different job. He’s either on form or not so will never come under the same scrutiny as the likes of Rooney.
