What is their beef? Well amongst others :
- He is not a great player in terms of Messi or even Charlton.
- He has not done it for England in tournament finals.
- His disciplinary record.
- He is paid too much.
- He has made mistakes in his personal life.
- He left Everton for Manchester United.
- He does not have the charisma of a David Beckham.
He was born and brought up on a council estate in Croxteth, Liverpool - the sort of place where many turn to crime and drugs - a tough area. Consequently he emerged into the high profile football world as a rough diamond - unsophisticated (too often taken as thick - especially with that very strong scouse accent).
He made his league debut at 16 after a stellar junior career and scored his first goal for the England senior team at 17! Wayne was the hottest property. Everyone wanted to sign him - recognising his potential. The reality is Everton were not a big enough club to hold him. He was always going to get to the top - it had its own unstoppable momentum because he was an outstanding young player.
Having said that there have been many outstanding juniors. The records are littered with players who did not fulfil their potential or couldn't handle the status. Wayne Rooney has.
Rooney might not be Messi but he is the best we have. He has the universal respect of all footballers as a footballer. All the managers he has played for as made him pivotal in their plans. He is captain of both his club and his country. That says so much about him. He is not star struck.
Yes when Wayne burst on the scene he had some disciplinary issues. Yes as a teenager he made a mistakes in his personal life (who hasn't). But Wayne to his great credit has learned. He has listened to wise council. Despite being a marked man and high profile he has managed to retain the energy and physicality of his game but kept his temper in check. As far as I know he continues to live happily as a family man with his wife Colleen - his childhood sweetheart and she deserves great credit too.
Footballers earn fantastic money. Some say too much. But that is the nature of football. It has spoilt many players - made them cynical - made them selfish. That is not Wayne Rooney. He is not driving around in a pink Bentley. He gives 100% in every match even if he is not playing well. He tries to respond to his managers requirement in every game - he has been asked to play in so many positions over the years - and not moaned or thrown his toys out as other players have and perhaps he might have been entitled to do.
I hope for Wayne Rooney's sake and for our sake he does have a great European finals and maybe a world cup to come. It is true he has not always been at his best in international finals - but injury and "systems" and general bad England performances have not helped.
Overall we are lucky to have Wayne Rooney. He is a credit to us and particularly to himself and his family. He has come from a difficult background to be earning millions. He has kept his feet on the ground, learnt from his mistakes, continues to give 100% and has achieved so much. A role model for any young footballer today. Well done Wayne and Colleen. Lets hope the critics will gradually get off your back - they certainly should - and I think in time you will revered as one of the greats in the way of course Bobby Charlton is!
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