SAF: Rooney can be the next Eric

[bigtoga]

I put this in a separate thread only because of how hmmmm... *inciting* the title could be. From today's ManUtd.com: Rooney can be the next Eric (http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=102027&itype=466&icategoryid=120)The United boss is relishing the chance of working with the "best youngster in 30 years," and feels Rooney has the ability to inspire the club to a new era of dominance.

"I can see Wayne having the same impact as Eric had on the team when I signed him," Fergie told the Sunday papers.

"Eric came at a time when we hadn't won the title for 26 years and he was the man of a very important moment. Since then we have won a few titles but now we're trying to step up a few notches to a better level of play.

"In 30 years as a manager he is the best youngster I have seen," added the Reds boss. "It is a hell of a lot of money to pay for an 18-year-old - more than twice what we paid for Cristiano Ronaldo.Wow - I'm somewhat flabbergasted by this coming from SAF. He's usually all like "We want to take the pressure off the young lads..." but this puts more pressure on Rooney than anything else he could have said! SAF could've come out and said Rooney will help us win the treble this season and it isn't as "powerful" as saying he's going to be as important as Eric was when he was signed. That's just a lot of pressure on a kid and, if it hadn't been posted on ManUtd.com, I wouldn't have believed it came from Fergie.

[Mac_Howard]

Every coach that's ever seen Rooney, from around 9 years old onwards, has described him as the best they've ever seen. Alex is just the latest. He's only 18 and would get into the first team of any club in the Premiership. It does put a lot on Rooney but the noise from Sven Eriksson is that this kid has a confidence that is bullet-proof :)

[achyx]

yes he might have the same impact, but he cant be the next eric.

eric had a touch of finesse, a certain flair of him that made a delight to watch. he lit up the pitch every time he touched the ball. no doubts that rooney does that but its a whole different class (lower/higher?). rooney lacks the class and finesse of eric. time will tell if he learns it.

[Teso Dos Bichos]

They are different types of player. Eric was all skill, but Rooney is mainly strength. He will never be the next Cantona. However, that doesn't mean that Rooney couldn't have the same cataclysmic effect that Cantona's arrival had. Let's hope he does.

[Przybylinski]

How many more Rooney threads are you guys going to start. He hasn't even played a game and you compare him to the insane Eric. If he's anything like him he will be suspended for 9 month and walk away from the game early.

Seriously - I think that Rooney along with C. Ronaldo and Smith are going to keep you guys in the top for years to come. I fear having to face those guys 5 years from now.

But comparing someone to Eric, why not George Best as well?

[Teso Dos Bichos]

...why not George Best as well?

Ronaldo is the new Best, I thought everybody knew that! Oh and Rooney is the new Pele, not Cantona... ;)

[haven]

He's trying to justify the price tag. TBH, I think the club was taken back by the rather luke warm reaction to Rooney in some quarters. In a way, he is taking the pressure off of Rooney. 27m for a teenager who's scored 17 goals in the EPL? Pffft. 27m for the new Cantona? Not half bad.

[Acronym]

Hes more like Maradonna. Less parallels apply with Eric imo.

[nicephoras]

Hes more like Maradonna. Less parallels apply with Eric imo.

:eek: :eek: :eek: JFC, he's had one good tournament, which consisted of three games! How in the WORLD is he remotely like Maradona?????

[johno]

:eek: :eek: :eek: JFC, he's had one good tournament, which consisted of three games! How in the WORLD is he remotely like Maradona?????


He's joking... relax... have some green tea or something...

[mad theory]

Hes more like Maradonna. Less parallels apply with Eric imo.

This is not a joke.

[nicephoras]

He's joking... relax... have some green tea or something...

You know full well he's not joking. This is Acronym we're talking about here.

[Mac_Howard]

Alex doesn't say that he IS Cantona, or even the same type of player as Eric, but that he will have the same influence on Utd's performance. That's a different matter altogether.

[Acronym]

You're right im not joking reason:

He's a similar build.
He is quick.
He is strong.
He has very good close control.
He has very good shot accuracy.
He has a low center of gravity.

Now look at Cantona, he rarely gets about, he's more up-right and stature-esque, more positional sense etc. So there are more parallels with Maradona. Maradonna was more similar to Rooney's style of play, very quick and strong, powerful. Um yeah heh.

[Acronym]

He's joking... relax... have some green tea or something...
does green tea relax ya?

[phishy]

You're right im not joking reason:

He's a similar build.
He is quick.
He is strong.
He has very good close control.
He has very good shot accuracy.
He has a low center of gravity.

Now look at Cantona, he rarely gets about, he's more up-right and stature-esque, more positional sense etc. So there are more parallels with Maradona. Maradonna was more similar to Rooney's style of play, very quick and strong, powerful. Um yeah heh.

maradona might have umm.... 3x the quickness... 3x the speed... acronym.. you smokin morrocan hashish? or from the middle east? be serious mate...

[Acronym]

maradona might have umm.... 3x the quickness... 3x the speed... acronym.. you smokin morrocan hashish? or from the middle east? be serious mate...
I don't smoke drugs. So... Maradonna can do 100m in a widdle over 3 secs? I think sometimes phishy you speak without engaging your brain.

[phishy]

I don't smoke drugs. So... Maradonna can do 100m in a widdle over 3 secs? I think sometimes phishy you speak without engaging your brain.

u old enough to have actually watched maradona in his prime?

[Acronym]

Yup.

[Acronym]

Our kid tells me he's very fast.