For a player apparently not enjoying the most accomplished of seasons, Wayne Rooney moves among the greats of the game.
For a player apparently not enjoying the most accomplished of seasons, Wayne Rooney moves among the greats of the game. George Best is in Rooney's sights today (Sunday). So is Dennis Viollet. Frequently criticised, even subbed in recent games, the Manchester United striker will move level with that distinguished, sadly-departed duo in the club's all-time scoring charts if he nets against Everton. Rooney would have 179 goals from 362 games. Only Jack Rowley (211 goals), Denis Law (237) and Sir Bobby Charlton (249) lie ahead.
Assuming he avoids serious injury, remains at Old Trafford and averages a very manageable 20 goals a season, Rooney could break Charlton's vaunted mark before his 30th birthday. So those who occasionally throw brickbats at Rooney should remember they are in the presence of a prolific force. They are watching history in the making.
Now playing a role that more reflects the No?10 on his back, Rooney has been in the hole behind Danny Welbeck for chunks of the season, linking play and creating, occasionally going wide, yet the goals continue to roll: 32 in 38 appearances (plus two in three for England). He's breached the best defences: against Manchester City (two goals), Arsenal (three), Spurs (two), Chelsea (three) and Liverpool (two). Yet still the disparaging comments follow him around, questioning his distribution, debating his all-round contribution.
In defending the Trafford tumbler Ashley Young, Rooney made a point on MUTV this week that the focus was so intense because "whenever anything happens with any United players it gets more Press than players from other teams". Rooney's right. The spotlight does burn brightest on the champions. Rooney could have been talking about himself. No other English player has each performance so closely analysed, certainly not since David Beckham left these shores. The reason is simple. Rooney is the best English player in the country, occasionally capable of foolish acts which inevitably draw scrutiny and opprobrium.
Yet what of this suspect temperament? Rooney has been booked only once for United this season, in September at Benfica. Inevitably, Rooney's season is seen partly through the prism of that moment of madness when he kicked Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovic in October. So which is the real Rooney? Mr Angry of Podgorica or Mr Calm of Old Trafford? Rooney has tried to stop sparks flying without dampening the fire that makes him such a competitor. He is difficult to cherish but he deserves respect.
He rips up the history books. His United record is worth examining.
In the League, Rooney has plundered 126 goals in 247 games. In the FA Cup it's 14 in 26 and four in 11 League Cup ties. His 71 excursions in Europe have gleaned a healthy return of 30 goals. The Community Shield, which United include in official statistics, has produced one goal in four games. The Fifa World Club Championship has brought three goals in two games.
For those who enjoy such comparisons, Best's 179 goals from 470 games are broken down as 137 in 361 League, 21 in 46 FA Cup, nine in 25 League Cup, 11 in 34 European, one in two Charity Shields and none in his two Fifa workouts. Viollet recorded a formidable 159 in 259 League games, five in 18 FA Cup, one in two League Cup, a superb 13 in 12 in Europe and one in his two Charity Shields - all from open play. "If you drew Viollet in the 'sweep' your colleagues were paying out before kick-off,'' recalls long-standing United fan and statistician, John Russell. Rooney is truly in august company.
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