I don't know the ins and outs of all this football gubbins but my viewpoint is, why should he have to remain loyal to one club? in today's world, how many people stay with one company until retirement? I know where football's concerned, it's probably more about money than wanting to show versatility on your CV, but from what I see, players get bought and sold and move around all the time. Beckham's die hard dream was to play for Man U, but he moved didn't he? I think it's a different ball game (pardon the shit pun) being a supporter of a club and remaining loyal as opposed to playing for one.

Rooney may have hit more than one ugly stick falling from that tree but he's still a damned good player and I think it's ultimately up to him where he utilises his skill.

An overrated player. To think people were comparing him with pele and maradona....... gimme a break. The world cup showed how good he really is against world class defenders. Man city will get him because they can pay the most.


Man utd fans were laughing at the situation liverpool were/are in now but the same thing is going to happen to them. Man utd are in a decline. They will be where liverpool are now, this time next season.

Lets get realistic for a second, any Rooney cash won't be getting spent on new players any more than the £80million Cristiano money was.

As for Neuer, he can f*8k right off!

What 'World Class' defenders did he come up against in the World Cup then? Seriously?
I think he came up against better on a regular basis in europe and the PL last season.


I just dont think he was over his injury at all, and still isn't given that he's had a recurrence of the same ankle problem yesterday in training.

Anuvva Fergie reject bites the dust!!

Tevez pisses all over him anyway...


Man Utd our feeder club (O.J)

In my opinion the defenders in the PL last season were too scared to tackle rooney in case they injured him before the world cup. Can you imagine how much stick the guy who injured the 'messiah' would have got from the media. Rooney said himself that he was fine going into the world cup. He had one good season and all of a sudden he's the best thing since pele.

Posted an hour ago on the BBC website:

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has confirmed that he wishes to leave because of concerns over the club's future squad strength.

The 24-year-old, whose deal expires at the end of next season, revealed he had spoken to chief executive David Gill.

"He did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," Rooney said.

The England player's statement added that he was "surprised" by some of manager Sir Alex Ferguson's comments.

Ferguson had stated that Gill told him in August of Rooney's decision not to sign a new contract, adding he was "shocked" and "disappointed" to hear that the former Everton played intended to leave.

However Rooney's statement countered: "I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it.

"I have never had anything but complete respect for the club. How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?

"For me it's all about winning trophies - as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified.

"Despite recent difficulties, I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18."

Rooney has been linked with a number of clubs, including wealthy local rivals Manchester City, but he insisted that a concern over United's ability to attract the world's top players was at the heart of his decision to seek a move.

"It is absolutely true, as [Ferguson] said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract," he added.

"During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world."

Rooney, who Ferguson signed for £25.6m in 2004, did however praise the 68-year-old Scot, adding: "For Manchester United's sake, I wish he could go on for ever because he's a one-off and a genius."

I don't think anyone compared him to either, different theatres, but he's not overrated, his record speaks for itself.

Spurious bolleaux. Carlos Puyol nearly ruined Fabregas' chances as I recall and they play for the same country. Keep up!

Oh im sorry but I didnt realise either of them was english! Also, Fabregas wasnt deemed as Spains only hope of winning the world cup whereas Rooney was and therefore anyone who injured him would have got a barrage of abuse in the media. Just look at how the tackle from Shawcross on Ramsey was treated, it wouldve been ten times worse had it been on Rooney.

In that case I think you made the assumption that all people tackling Rooney were English?

If you think that, fair enough. I totally disagree, but there you go.

What about the Milan (among other teams) in the Champions League last season that Rooney totally destroyed?

Never thought I'd hear Rooney and clever in the same sentence LOL. But yeah, I agree, his agent is trying to be clever/playing games, as is Fergie, who is doing his level best to pretend he's desperate for him to stay, when in reality he's looking for as much money as he can get for him at the first available opportunity. Having said that,  how the Hell 'straight talking' Fergie is managing to keep up the charade I don't know, bet there are plenty of boots being thrown about behind the scenes!

'Unambitious' Man United have won three out of the last four PL titles, and the CL too. I'm sure it's not about the money at all and Wayne Ambitious Rooney will achieve even more success than that over the next four years with Man City. It definitely has nothing at all to do with City doubling his salary. I never say this about players but I dearly hope he gets crocked in his first game for Soulless City and is out for the rest of the season.

How I would laugh.

I would laugh more but I have given up on premier league and support Aylesbury United.

Im sure he would be devastated earning over £100k a week to watch from the sidelines...

He already earns that at Utd. I know you're a City fan but come on you've got to admit it's absolutely farcical that he should be saying he's leaving Utd because of their lack of ambition and joining a team that didn't even get CL football this season 

Why doesn't he just admit he has no loyalty to anything or anyone other than what goes into his bank account. Brilliant footballer (well he was, jury is now out as to whether he had one lucky season) but as a man he's a complete waste of space.

If you look in the footie thread I did mension that you could object to the comment "For me its about winning trophies", why on earth leave a club thats currently winning them?

Player loyalty to clubs is a load of bull anyway, If you had Morecambe and Man Utd... Man Utd winning trophies but players not earning a single penny for it... where as Morecambe are winning f all but coughing up the big £50k+. There is no player in this world that would turn down Morecambes offer for Uniteds... unless they were completely loaded with money already.

I won't even start on the whole badge kissing thing

Don't get me started on that either. They kiss the badge that pays the most. The point I was making is Rooney is completely loaded already and Man Utd are insanely successful and arguably have the best British manager of all time so all this talk of 'ambition' is absolute nonsense. Any move he makes know will expose him for the thick, greedy chav that he's shown himself to be off the pitch.

I'm not even a Man U fan and have grown to hate him in the last few days

Is anyone else of the opinion that Fergie is just a horrible old b*stard?

Not me. He loves his mindgames but he's a brilliant manager. Nothing to obviously dislike about him imo.

Don't think Utd have shown ambition recently though, red herring or not.

Excellent post

Haha love it.

What muppets with the banners Same old fickle united fans....


"Green and Yellow til the club is sold"


"Fergie, Sign him up"

At least it directs the fans in the direction of Rooney rather than the double dippers.

 Tapped up Rooney insulting a great club and a manager. Another Gazza in the making.
I hope he never wins another thing in his career.

Who tapped up Rooney?

Thats the big question Meaty - guess we'll find out soon enough. But rest assured he's got a done deal somewhere.

Have I read this correctly? Are you suggesting that Ferguson is completely innocent of tapping up and undermining contracts. Apologies if I have drawn the wrong conclusion.

I'm not suggesting anything other than I believe Wayne Rooney has been tapped up Joe.
I'm not stupid, I know deals go on throughout football and I know in the past we (Utd) deal within this system, but this "saga" is yet to reveal it's cause and I believe it will come to light that underhand dealings have gone on. 

There little doubt in my mind that the reasons Rooney has offered for wanting to leave the club ie lack of ambition and investment, just don't add up and he's most likely just trying to offer a smokescreen for some other problem he has. I don't actually think we know what his real problem is.

If it were simply the lack of amibition and investment from Utd, then the obvious question Rooney must answer is - why then have you been playing so badly - not just for Man Utd but also for England ? If he'd been turning in the performances then yes one might just about believe what he has to say, but no way does this explanation account for what has been happening both on and off the field in the past few months.

Although I have no time whatsoever for Fergusson, I agree with monkey about Rooney's motivation. He had no compunction to leave Everton for Man U (Why, more money, more glory). He's managed to screw up his private life and his career and he's trying to blame the world and it's mother. Not on.

Where did it all go wrong George?  etc etc.

I can't say anything about Rooney withiut resorting to a post littered with expletives! 

Bravo Mr Holloway 

I love Ian Holloway!

he should be in charge of the FA or something!