Fergie reveals World Class 5, and names Rooney but no Ronnie

Sir Alex Ferguson has named the five Manchester United players he has worked with who he considers to be world class.

Peter Schmeichel, Eric Cantona and Roy Keane all make the list, along with current first-team players Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.

Ferguson also argued that Paul Scholes could be regarded in the same bracket, and predicted that Cristiano Ronaldo would become world class.

However, the likes of David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Bryan Robson were conspicuous by their absence.

"In my time I've been blessed with several world class players. Peter Schmeichel was certainly one, and Ryan Giggs for me, definitely," said Ferguson in the Manchester United Opus.

"Eric Cantona could have been even better, but for the parts of him you had to control.

"Wayne Rooney, that's four. Then there's Roy Keane, that's five.

"And I think Cristiano Ronaldo is going to be. He's playing in the hardest position, out wide, and never refuses to take the ball and attack players.

"And there's an argument for Paul Scholes, the cleverest midfield player we've ever had.

"To work with such people has been an absolute pleasure. It's fulfilled every aspiration."


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Is there something he knows we dont? How is Rooney considered in this bracket but not Ronaldo?

My guess is that Fergie looks at player from an all round perspective. Ronaldo, for all his skill, is still not a great team player, still very selfish (part of his attributes though), still doesnt track back often enough....

The fact that he names Rooney instantly is very suprising though- still not proved it in my eyes yet

I posted this in the N18WNG thread as I thought it would have been of interest to the 'redbloods'.

It is a shame that Stam, Beckham and van Nistelrooy were not mentioned as at a point they were World Class at Man Utd.

He should of just left it with Keane, Giggs, Scholes, Cantona and Schmeichel.

If he includes Rooney, he needs to include a lot of players.

I wonder why he's named him though. Thats the mystery.

There's always the argument he might say it to pander to the media, but Fergie has never been one to suck up to the media and certainly never been one to build up his young players (look at how he treated Giggs in his prime, or Beckham infact);

I'm suprised he has mentioned Rooney- maybe he sees the class on the training pitch, the attitude etc. which we dont get to see.

And why is Rooney WC, but he says Ronaldo "will become" WC?

I'm baffled, but equally quite curious, because no one can deny Fergie's stature in the game...

- not sure these comments will go down too well either with ronaldo, plus they may only inflate Rooney's ego. Strange comments if you ask me

I just can't believe he said "and there's an argument for Paul Scholes"

Fucking hell Fergie!


I think Rooney is closer to the end of his development than Ronaldo. Rooney can only get more experienced and intelligent. Ronaldo can improve further in a few areas. Maybe that was behind it.

I wouldn't of included either of them yet personally.

The inclusion of Rooney is baffling to say the least.

the other four have at least been the best in their positions in the EPL for a significant period of time....

Scholes>Rooney

I wouldny have put Rooney in there either, I personally think Ronaldo is ahead of Rooney at the moment in terms of abilty. But I guess Ronaldo has to improve his decision making and teamwork and Rooney just needs to improve his positioning. I think looking at the players he mentioned they all had great team work and never say die attitude, Rooney has this Ronaldo not so much.

Rooney is an egomaniac (thinks he's as good as Best). Sven and Fergusson both seem to have decided that the best way to get form out of him is to praise him. He wasencouraged throughout his spell of poor form this season, he was played for England even when injured. To be honest the current approach works reasonably well, and he's way too volatile to risk irritating.

Scholes on the other hand is a player Fergusson can afford to underrate publicly, even though he's clearly sublime.
The decision to deflate Ronaldo a bit is probably an attempt to keep him playing for the team, not himself.

Chap wrote:
The decision to deflate Ronaldo a bit is probably an attempt to keep him playing for the team, not himself.

give the show pony too much praise and you'll have him dancing like a salty ballerina (at tthe risk of mixing my metaphors)

If Ronaldo is world class then we're devaluing the term.

Interesting Ferguson pointed to Rooney over Ronaldo. If you have a player at the club that shows 100% commitment lives and breathes football and wants to stay at the club for the rest of his life and has ability to change the game plus make players around him to work harder. Then Rooney is world class in his eyes.

On what the real white pele is saying, as usual trying to make out the english player is better. Ferguson was clearly asked a question, responded quick didn't take it to seriously. I wish rooney and ronaldo were the same level, i like them both. But ronaldo is on another level to him.

If being one of the best 5 players in the two last major tournaments, being player of the season by some distance so far is not world class material then whatever, be blinded all your life.

Who has played the best for United not himself since there arrival Rooney or Ronaldo. Football is a team sport.

Brian3-5-2 wrote:Who has played the best for United not himself since there arrival Rooney or Ronaldo. Football is a team sport.

Rooney, this season Ronaldo.

Rooney is going through a tough time in his career imo. Ferguson see's his potential and could be stabilizing the waters around him. After all is there another young english player that carries so much pressure on his shoulders to become known as a England great?

Brian3-5-2 wrote:Rooney is going through a tough time in his career imo. Ferguson see's his potential and could be stabilizing the waters around him. After all is there another young english player that carries so much pressure on his shoulders become known as a England great?

I think people are reading far to much into Fergies comments on this thing. I don't think he took it seriously, or the players will pay attention to it.
Rooney is fine, he is having a good season from the bad form at the beginning. Played every game for the last 3 months, looked a little tired v man city, was all over the place. But 8 days break should be back to his best v west ham.

Possibly Theo.

cooperclaus wrote:Possibly Theo.

If he keeps getting better and gets in the Arsenal side nearly every week your right...

Theo started for us yesterday

regarding the Rooney V Ronaldo debate - Ronaldo still doesn't provide anywhere near the amount of end product that Rooney does.

According to most, Ronaldo has had a greeat season so far and Rooney has had an average to poor one but who has the most goals and who has the most assists?

Ok, he's flashy but for me Rooney still beats ronaldo

Not everything is about goals and assists though.

Look at the Chelsea game, Rooney got an assist, Ronaldo was by far the better player on the day though.

Winning games is all about goals and assists?

What did Ronaldo do that led to a goal? please tell me what wins matches if its not goals?

I never said goals don't win matches.

They play in different positions anyway. Facts are this season Ronaldo's build up play has been much better.

As is often stated, an assist isnt really a good way of judging.

Ronaldo could beat 9 players pass to Rooney who passes to Saha and Rooney gets the assist. Ronaldo still did more towards the goal.

His build up play may be better but at the end of the day the what he reallt gets praised for is the whipped in cross or the defence cutting ball, neither of which he manages to do on a regualr basis

cooperclaus wrote:As is often stated, an assist isnt really a good way of judging.

Ronaldo could beat 9 players pass to Rooney who passes to Saha and Rooney gets the assist. Ronaldo still did more towards the goal.

It's why I like Tomkins' idea of an assist; being one of the last 3 players to touch the ball. It's not always right, but it gives a greater insight to the amount of involvement certain players have in the goals.

Tinseldum wrote:His build up play may be better but at the end of the day the what he reallt gets praised for is the whipped in cross or the defence cutting ball, neither of which he manages to do on a regualr basis

Downing does that week in week out and you don't think he's good either.

I bet you rooneys goals: shots ration is better than ronaldo's though and his passing accuracy is probably also better

cooperclaus wrote:

Tinseldum wrote:His build up play may be better but at the end of the day the what he reallt gets praised for is the whipped in cross or the defence cutting ball, neither of which he manages to do on a regualr basis

Downing does that week in week out and you don't think he's good either.

All I said was that he wasn't good enough for england - I think hes a very effective player though and a good standard for the EPL

Ronaldo's passing accuracy is really good, something like 86%.

Better than Fabregas' as well.