Football Focus

[SeanMacGabhann]

I'm not sure being a knight of the realm makes anyone a great man

And I'm not sure banning sky from your conferences (as of this week) because they replayed the rio incident is teh sign of a great man either (Wenger complained about sky repeating teh Gallas tackle but he didn't BAN anyone)

But a great manager Fergie most definitely is

[Sandperson]

They are all loons. They spend too much time in the cold and damp if you ask me. It corrodes their circuits. Fergie is impetuous and sometimes childish. It's all part of the siege mentality that he likes to instill at the club which, to be fair, has worked pretty well over the years.

Declan, I'm with you on both those points. Rooney is a great goalscorer and he's an asset to the club but I'm not sure he has ever shown his full potential. He's been lucky that Ronaldo and Berbatov have made him look good, albeit in totally different ways! ;)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

What's being born and brought up in the Gorbals got to do with the price of socialism? My great uncle was a great capitalist.

['bout now]

Is there another Wayne Rooney? The one I watch play for MU is a fantastic player with a full range of passing, work rate, goals and only 24 years old. What more could you want?

[jimmy two times]

Rooney is a superb footballer. I didn't say being a knight makes Fergie a great man, but in my books he is and he'll be greatly missed when he's gone. As for being born and brought up in the Gorbals having something to do with him being a socialist...Of course it does. It was a deprived area and his dad worked on the shipyards and was part of the union. Surely that would be the kind of environment that would help ferment a socialist outlook?

[Sandperson]

'bout now Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is there another Wayne Rooney? The one I watch

> play for MU is a fantastic player with a full

> range of passing, work rate, goals and only 24

> years old. What more could you want?

Listen, don't get me wrong, I love the chap. You are right, of course, he's extremely skillful and as I said a great goalscorer. what I didn't express very well was my feeling that he sometimes tries to win a game on his own. He drops further and further back as a game goes on, when we are losing, to the point where he'll be trying to pick balls up in advanced defensive positions. This often leaves the side a bit targetless up front.

[Narnia]

'bout now Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is there another Wayne Rooney? The one I watch

> play for MU is a fantastic player with a full

> range of passing, work rate, goals and only 24

> years old. What more could you want?

I think his first touch often lets him down. I think it is the only thing he hasn't got that the very best should have.

[jimmy two times]

He has a GREAT first touch ! His off the ball movement is world class. His finishing is very good as his goal tally this season would point to. He can shoot with his right or left, from inside or outside the area. His passing is exceptional and he can spot passes most players can't. His work rate is phenomenal, especially for a player of his ability. He has balls and a heart the size of a house. He is decent in the air and his tempremant is not as bad as people suggest considering he spends most games having lumps kicked out of him by opposing defenders. And as for trying to win games on his own....did he not score all 4 against Hull the other day?

[Jah Lush]

What Jimmy said. Rooney is a fantastic player. No question.

['bout now]

Sorry can't agree, his first touch is excellent. Particularly this season when it generally ends up in the net.

And sometimes like this and I'm no MU fan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKplXAWFZrA

[jimmy two times]

Cheers Jah...we share the same appreciation of what makes a great player because we are Spurs fans. It's inate.

[Sandperson]

Argh, stop being nice about United players. It confuses me on this thread.

[Keef]

AF is a great manager. Great man though, I think not!

[titch juicy]

rooney and gerrard are the only consitently world class english players.....ask any overseas football nation whcih english players they fear and they'll all asnwer rooney and gerrard

[jimmy two times]

I think Lampard deserves a nod in that direction as well.

['bout now]

Gary Neville is a Pr*ck.

Hope that has restored your equilibrium SP.

[Sandperson]

Phew.

[Jah Lush]

I was at White Hart Lane last night and the good news is Gareth Bale is finally coming of age. He's been fantastic since replacing the injured Assou-Ekotto at left-back. Strangely, it was the first time he'd started and finished a Premier League game with us on the winning side after three years at the club. His pace as an overlapping full-back and great crossing ability have been for all to see and has seized his chance with great aplomb.

Also, Harry Redknapp's a canny fecker. He restored David Bentley to the first team shop window last night and for once he turned in a very good performance. If anyone has a spare ?15 million to spare they can have him.

And in Luca Modric we have a little magician. He was fantastic last night and turned in a man-of-the-match performance. Fulham, it must be said were poor.

[titch juicy]

agree, but bale is a long long way from the finished product- he's had two good games against very poor opposition (on the night)- he wasn't great against liverpool

he had little or no defending to do last night, but looked great going forward as a partner to modric

[jimmy two times]

I agree to an extent about Bale, though I thought his marking for the first goal conceded against Leeds was shocking. I coach all young players to mark goal side, especially at set pieces. He was marking Beckford wrong side and Beckford scored because of this. Such a basic error that could have been avoided and surely he's had it drummed into him throughout his career from youth team football onwards about how to mark? He is very positive and gets forward well, but I think at the moment his crossing is a bit hit and miss and needs improving. His defending last night was good though and I'd rather see him in the starting line up then the lamentable Ekotto, who never seems as if he's trying very hard even though technically he's good on the ball.

[titch juicy]

assou-ekotto has the be the first name on the team sheet after lennon- he's been top top class defensively since redknapp took over

[jimmy two times]

I'm sorry I don't agree Titch. I think he doesn't like to put his foot in if he can avoid it. The best defensive performance I have seen from him was immediately after he had the run in with the Tottenham fan. Because he had a point to prove he put the effort in. He's just really interested in getting forward. I was hoping Harry would offload him.

[jimmy two times]

Also wasn't it him who didn't play to the whistle against Arsenal which resulted in us conceding a soft goal. In fact, he had fouled an Arsenal player but the ref played advantage and bizaarely Ekotto stood there waving his arms appealing against this rather then getting up and trying to win possession back.

[Jah Lush]

Bale's still only 20 and I agree that he has a lot to learn but he is starting to look the part now. As for Assou-Ekotto you have to say that he is a far better player than he was before Harry turned up.

[mockney piers]

I've thought Bale has looked a great prospect for a while. Obviously some maturing to do and it will come with experience.

Hopefully the future looks bright for England. I reckon our Tomkins could be a tidy prospect too.