I remember I was on holidays with my parents when I was 14, when my dad brought a paper back an he said there was a boy Wayne Rooney on the bench today against Southampton, he said he had heard that this boy was an unbelievable talent.
From that day we both followed his football which I remember the youth cup final which I watched just to see what he was like (I was young then I wasnt interested in the academy). He scored I think the only goal for Everton in one leg in which we lost I think, it was a header at the back post. That final didnt show that much from him although he smacked the woodwork a couple of times but it did show glimpses of his raw talent, power, touch, enthusiasm. It was the game though in which he showed the 'once a blue, always a blue' t-shirt, which gave me massive hope from such a young footballer.
After that the first game which I remember him was the Arsenal game, I remember we were drawing at the time, I was up my local club having a game of pool watching soccer saturday when I heard he was coming on as a sub, my hopes immediately went up. Then late in the game it came up he scored that winner against Arsenal and I remember someone saying Wayne Rooney has officially anounced himself to the premiership with a wonder goal.
After this he was known, the big managers were praising him highly. He was my favourite footballer instantly, Rooney with 18 on the back of my next top, I opened up my first email address when I was 16, it includes number 18 because of him, he gave every Evertonian hope.
I would still love for him to come back, he made his decisions he was young at the time and he has always been wreckless at times. His real team in his heart is Everton and I truly believe he will one day be back in the top he loves.
As for comparing Ross to him, we do have a much better team now but Ross still out performed most when he played, he is as big a talent in my opinion with not as much hype around him, which is a good thing. Hopefully he can develop at Everton not Man utd.
