Illuminattile said:
It's not just the English media that see how special he is.
I never said it was, my comment about english media overrating their players was in general. I was talking about most players that english media overrates, not rooney.
I mentioned Zico lavishing praise on him, I mentioned the FIFPro World Young Player of the Year award, I mentioned the Tutto Sport "Golden Boy" award. Inter, AC Milan and Real Madrid were all linked with the player before he left Everton, Madrid's Ronaldo heralded Rooney as "special" and said he had a "big future", Sven compared him to Roberto Baggio (who he coached as a 17 year old at Fiorentina), Diego Maradona himself said that Rooney was capable of following in his footsteps calling him a "special talent", Eusebio said Rooney could be the best player in the World, as did Carlo Ancelotti.
I never said he wasn't a special player. However, all this hype doesn't mean it's justified, that it really describes him. I'm sure you've followed this sport long enough to know what happens everytime a talent pops up. How many time haven't we read about he new Maradona or Pele? Riquelme,Saviola,Aimar,Tevez just to name a few candidates. And there are tons of other examples to and you know it. Not saying that these players are bad, but just that they aren't as good as they were looked upon, maybe wishfull thinkin?
Rooney has that star quality, that X factor, that Ronaldo doesn't have. And he is technically gifted. Look at the volley against Newcastle, look at the two goals against 'Boro in the FA Cup - another volley and a perfect 40-foot lob. He scored a goal pre-season that was all over the papers. It was brilliant.
He has an incredible footballing brain.
He is technically gifted, but really, the things C Ronaldo can do with a ball is simply different. But the differnece is that Rooney can put effeciency to his work while Ronaldo sometimes get carried away. And I also agree that he has a great vision, as I posted earlier. But listen, players like him are/were common in England back in the 70's, players like him grew on tree. The last english player that had flair,technique and all what you can think of Zidane is Gazza. The english media are somewhat overrating Rooney, not to say that he isn't good, but he isn't THAT good as the
papers make him out to be. As for former great players comment (such as Maradonas comment about Rooney) should only be taken with a pinch of sault...