The College Dropout

My point is about big matches. That's what I'm comparing. I've said Rooney is consistently very good. To be world class you have to make the difference or play very well in top games as a forward.

Wrong again. So Wayne Rooney has scored in any of his 3 finals? Messi has 2 in 2 IIRC.

Yeah Cronaldo scored a hat trick against Portugal to take his country to the WC. Just scored the equaliser against their bitter rivals. Scored in 5 consecutive Clasicos. Scored in the CL final. People may say that but they are wrong. Say the same for Rooney? Bring out the massive moments. I can think of a couple. If the best you have is a CL group game then your point is defunct. I'm talking RVP single handily taking his team to the CL. Scoring winners against City and Arsenal. I'm not saying he's not a great player. Obviously he should start for England. But world class? GTFOH.

Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney have played in the same number of CL finals (in fact maybe just 2). Messi has 3 goals, Rooney has 0. Let's not compare anything about them.

The elite is about 5 players. There's still world class players around the globe who just fall short of that bracket. Just got to look at Rooney stats and they tell it's own sotory, he makes goals and he scores goals. He can score all types of goals as well, he's a nightmare for defenders to deal with and if he stays fit going into the tournament, he's one of our biggest assets. No doubt about it. Yes and Wayne Rooney isn't one of them. To be world class you've got to surely be one of the top 3 maybe 5 players in your position in the world. He's not.

When has he been the difference in a top match?

If he's not in the elite how is he world class? He's not one the top 3 forwards in the league let alone the world. Like said, when has he been the difference in a big match? Has he carried his team? He's a very good player and he has been very consistent in his career but not world class. He's best as a cog for an excellent team. Dovetailing a RVP or Cronaldo (world class players) to get the best out of them.

Not saying he should be dropped either.

If Wayne Rooney is world class, on current form so is Daniel Sturridge. However, I don't think Wayne Rooney is world class at all. When has he consistently been the difference in big matches against top opposition? Maybe 3 or so years ago. Not this season, not last either. He's a very good player. But world class? Nope.

Eh? Manchester United have won the PL 13 times out of 22. It's been a decade since a team other than Man Utd not backed by oil money has won the PL. We've had 5 PL winners in 22 years, the same amount as La Liga. We even largely have the same 5 teams in the CL year after year. Atletico sold Falcao and got better as a team. Their ceiling is more determined by style of play and lack of rotation than anything else.

Sherwood's done okay like. Chelsea aren't the best at breaking defensive sides down. All of their best chances 11 vs. 11 came from genuine horrendous defensive individual mistakes. A 0-0 would've been a good result for them. Silly mistakes cost them then a capitulation which would make any manager very mad.

Carlo's done well to bring through Jese though

The quality of La Liga is very under-rated. The style of play from the league in general is better too. The quality of the PL is over-rated at the moment. Hence why we've been poor as a unit in Europe these last couple seasons. Spurs are 5th ffs.

Does Demba have more league goals than Cisse? Does Darren Bent?

Dive. Will watch the athletics instead.

Spurs thrown it away. Eto'o is so quick mentally in those scenarios. Superb celebration too.

Aye. Hughton's so defensive it's scary.

There's a lot of potential at Liverpool so someone will always be willing to invest. Same with Manchester United. That is.... unless they get an owner like Ashley.

Exactly what people said about Liverpool...how many league titles since the 80s? That was down to bad management mainly. They still attracted big name players though and still won trophies just not the League. I mean how does a team like Liverpool attract say a Suarez? Money is one factor but im sure Liverpool's history is a big pulling power as would Manchester United's. Suarez wasn't an elite player when they bought him though so that's why. He just cost the £20m. Man Utd. will be able to do that for the next 10 years and eventually they'll get it right. Traditionally, Man Utd. rarely sign superstars anyway.

From the times i've seen him he has been very good. I haven't used injuries against him (or Ramsey). I think you have the best fullbacks in the country and they provide the biggest threat. Even when out the side Oviedo looked a very tidy player as well. I rarely watch Southampton and when I do they always play poorly as a team. I'm sure Shaw has plenty of ability but I haven't really seen it. Azpilicueta has been solid from what i've seen. They don't play with the most adventurous of fullbacks. Nothing that suggests team of the season.

Big, black African? Definitely a DM.

Exactly what people said about Liverpool...how many league titles since the 80s? The gap from the bottom and top is a lot bigger now than then. They haven't won the league but they've won literally everything else. Outside the very elite, they can pretty much sign anyone else which means they always have the potential to challenge and win honours with the right managers and owners. And that's L'pool. Man Utd have taken advantage of the extra revenue in the game.

Mertkesacker has been better than Koscielny. How many penalties has Koscielny given away this season? And last? He's still liable to get too tight, foul his man and get sent off. No way Mignolet is ahead of Chesney. I don't know how many points he's earned L'pool but I know he's cost them a fair few. Chesney Coleman Baines Hazard Toure Ramsey Suarez Sturridge Aguero These are all automatic for me. The rest? Fernandinho close to being automatic. At CB Terry's been pretty solid. Maybe Distin next to him? Overall: I think Bale is closer to playing at the very top end of his potential (last season that is) than Neymar but Neymar possibly has greater potential. Neither have been at their best this season but Bale has been better than Neymar so far. So i'll go Bale - for now. I think part of Bale settling in better has a lot to do with Ancelotti. Ancelotti is not really a system manager he's all about the players and getting the best out of them. He'll try his best to get his best players on the pitch and getting the most out of them. Madrid are playing a system designed to get the best out of their wide forwards - Bale/Jese and Cronaldo. Neymar has come to Barcelona and gone straight into the system. They've adapted the system to get the best out of Messi and to accommodate Fabregasd, from what i've seen they haven't done the same with Neymar. However, the outside controversy and moving continents is another reason why Neymar hasn't really hit the heights at all.

I didn't know you are unable to learn things in your 50's.