You wouldn't like me when I'm angry..

[Dark Savante]

Now why can't he be that sensible in all games? He was like a puppy over the two legs - not a peep out of him.

How many of you were really on edge when Fergie left him on the pitch for 10 minutes more than he should have? :D

When Anderson went off first I was like :o

I was wondering whether the manager was going to leave him on for the whole game. Talk about a knife-edge!

[pgr17]

he was great... and put in a good shift.

i was sad for Tevez not seeing the pitch but i understand the reasoning. he'll be in the final - no doubt about it.

glad that Rooney is there though. he deserves it.

[MtP07]

Wayne really should be commended for his behavior over the two legs. He was simply great.

[Naboomagnoli]

Model pro. If I didn't know better I'd never have guessed he had a reputation for flaring up.

In fact I don't think a single player in blue (or yellow, Ed) had anything less than a good game. I think it's made the rematch in the league an intriguing prospect. I very much doubt Arsenal will be as much of a pushover as they were tonight, especially if they develop a hunger for revenge..

[johno]

Now why can't he be that sensible in all games? He was like a puppy over the two legs - not a peep out of him.

How many of you were really on edge when Fergie left him on the pitch for 10 minutes more than he should have? :D

When Anderson went off first I was like :o

I was wondering whether the manager was going to leave him on for the whole game. Talk about a knife-edge!

I cursed Ferguson for about 45 seconds non stop. :D I went Rooney on the gaffer!

he was great... and put in a good shift.

Until 10 minutes before he went off he was great, but then he started to play less under control and more neutered - it was like he was trying not to foul as opposed to playing under control which is what he was doing for most of the match.

[sdotsom]

I don't think we should be praising Rooney for not getting a yellow card. That should be the norm, not the special. Rooney should be able to rein himself in, period. I'm glad he didn't go nuts. But Rooney shouldn't be getting plaudits for NOT getting a card.

[Sapphire]

I cursed Ferguson for about 45 seconds non stop. :D I went Rooney on the gaffer!Heh. You were not alone. Fergie got an earful from me as well.

[Invincible]

http://opinionhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/scared-to-death.png

This is essentially how I felt as every second ticked until he was substituted.

[Vermont Red]

For some reason, I wasn't too bothered. True, I wondered why Fergie wasn't doing the sensible thing but I just figured that he had a good reason.

[MtP07]

I don't think we should be praising Rooney for not getting a yellow card. That should be the norm, not the special. Rooney should be able to rein himself in, period. I'm glad he didn't go nuts. But Rooney shouldn't be getting plaudits for NOT getting a card.
It's a positive step in his maturation process, and for that he should get a pat on the back.

[sdotsom]

We're setting the standard too low. Hey, let's praise a supposedly "world-class" player for not getting a yellow card. He is not new to the world scene. He's been in the limelight for 5 years at least, since Euro 04. He knows the people are watching out for him. So not getting a yellow or red card should be the norm, not some sort of great achievement.

I love Rooney, but after a point we have to stop cuttin him the slack and start expecting the great things he's capable of. He can rein his anger in, and we shouldn't be all proud and snuggly that big Wayne didnt get a card.

[johno]

Normally yes. However he's been on this yellow for 2 matches so it isn't just avoiding a booking over one match but 2, against a very good team that has a history with us.

In addition, we applaud when Ronaldo tracks back and helps or when Park scores a goal (because we don't expect these things) we should applaud Rooney for keeping his temper in check.

[J'can]

Normally yes. However he's been on this yellow for 2 matches so it isn't just avoiding a booking over one match but 2, against a very good team that has a history with us.

In addition, we applaud when Ronaldo tracks back and helps or when Park scores a goal (because we don't expect these things) we should applaud Rooney for keeping his temper in check.

I am telling you, I swear you find the most difficult position and see if you could defend them.

To the bolded section above: Are you f***ing kidding me?

[johno]

It is about the individual. For instance, why did Nate Robinson win the slam dunk contest? Because he dunked over someone 7ft tall. Had Dwight Howard a 7fter dunked on Nate Robinson, a shade over 5'5'' no one would have made a fuss.

Obviously there are base things we expect from all professionals, but none of us expect Ronaldo to work as hard defensively as Park. Nor do we slate Fletcher for not averaging 10+ goals a season. We acknowledge that they can do better, but we praise them when the exceed our expectations.

[sdotsom]

The thing is though - we slowly expect those things to change. We don't always yell and shout for Ronaldo tracking back anymore, because we're slowly getting used to it AND Ronaldo is understanding that it needs to be part of his game.

In that same vein, we've had Rooney for 5 years now, and while he still is young, 5 years at a top club should have eased his temper. He knows his importance to this team, and it's not watching from the sideline with a red.

[johno]

Ok, so how is that so different from what I said? Of course we can't excuse out of hand, the weaknesses of our players, but that doesn't stop us from being pleasantly surprised when they exceed our expectations.

[sdotsom]

Yeah I think we can agree on that - "pleasantly surprised" is what I'd call it, it just seemed that people wanted to go over the top in praising Rooney for not getting a card - my point is just that you praise someone for doing something good, not for not doing something bad.

Either way, it's all semantics and we have him for the final. To run at Caceres. All day. :D

[Achtung]

Now why can't he be that sensible in all games? He was like a puppy over the two legs - not a peep out of him.

It's all well and good for him to not have any disciplinary problems during a tie when we're on top (either by scoreline or otherwise) for 170+ minutes. But it seems to me that the "red mist" emerges as a result of the perception that either his teammates are not giving their all, or that the referee is being unfair to his team. Neither of those notions are likely to enter his head when we're winning, of course.

I'm interested to see how he channels his frustration going forward. Looking at how he played during the 2005-06 season, there were plenty of opportunities for him. Sometimes he used it to his advantage, sometimes to his detriment.

[Dark Savante]

At 23, Rooney ascends towards the dream balance of head and heart. "It's the improvement you expect from young players with talent,'' reflected Ferguson. "The most important attribute is his fantastic hunger and desire. Of course, you have to channel that desire. Sometimes it exceeds the emotions, the anger.''

Flashpoints arrive on the rare occasions when Rooney has lost possession, and he races back, looking as if he is going to launch himself like Croxteth's answer to Bob Beamon into retrieving the ball. Frustration can boil over if he feels a refereeing injustice.

"We hope that, and we're getting signs, the maturity is bringing along with it a real professionalism so he can combine that combustible nature he has with being controlled,'' continued Ferguson. "He's far better now. He is such a winner. Every training session the poor referee gets absolutely murdered. Every ball and tackle that goes in is like a cup final for him.''

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5370189/Manchester-Uniteds-Wayne-Rooney-could-become-European-Footballer-of-the-Year-Manchester-United-v-Barcelona.html