Just finished watching...

"Inside Wayne Rooney" on Sky, and I have to say it was one of the most cringe-worthy things I've ever seen. Even by Sky standards the amount of Rooney blowing that went on was jaw-dropping, but one comment stood out in my mind.

Andy Gray (unsurprisingly) said towards the end that "if he wants to be, he can be the best British player ever" - Fairly understated by Gray's standard, if a little OTT by normal peoples standards.

Does anyone really think it's possible though? Being Welsh I've heard off my Grandad how collosal John Charles was, both as a striker and a defender, and the fact that he was voted Juventus' greatest ever foreigner, ahead of the likes of Platini and Zidane is testiment to how highly he's rated.

Obviously there's Charlton too, England's greatest ever player, and Moore, their only captain to lift the world cup. My uncle raves to me about how good King Kenny was - I've only seen small clips and what not, so I can't make a genuine informed opinion, but I'm told he was simply Liverpool's best player ever and to even say Gerrard is close is laughable - this is what I'm told by people who've seen both.

Then, obviously, there is George Best. Most people (though only posthumously it appears) think he was in the top 10 players of all time - could Rooney really match that.

Just curious to see what the general consensus is, I know he's only 20, but it's a bold statement to make.

Does anyone care about what Andy Gray says anymore?

As for me I say bollocks to that. Fowler was great at his age, look how he ended up.

If he wants to be is a rubbish way to put it by old Gray.

If he realises his potential would be better.

You missed off Edwards as well by the way who even Charlton would admit was better than him.

Parks Lives wrote:If he wants to be is a rubbish way to put it by old Gray.

If he realises his potential would be better.

You missed off Edwards as well by the way who even Charlton would admit was better than him.

I know he's not there. It was a concious descision. Edwards, as far as I know, is potentially England's greatest player ever. Maybe he was the most talented you've produced, but has he actually done anything to justify it? his chance was cut too short.

Obviously there's loads of others missing aswell - Law, Souness, Rush, Matthews, Gazza etc

I'd say the top elite are

Charlton
Moore
Best
Law
Dalglish

The ones you mentioned would be close, Greaves as well. I'd put Edwards with the elite group but I know what your saying.

Can't really comment on Matthews as I've only seen short clips.

I often hear Rooney's name branded about by ignorent ex-players and pundits as one of the greatest players in the word and taht he is world class etc. He is none of these things at the moment.

Even as a United fan (i'm not actually the most arduent Rooney supporter) i agree that he is supremely overrated. Talented he may be he has the potential to be a great player but there are others in this bracket that are technically far better, Messi Ronaldo Cesc etc.

Parks Lives wrote:I'd say the top elite are

Charlton
Moore
Best
Law
Dalglish

The ones you mentioned would be close, Greaves as well. I'd put Edwards with the elite group but I know what your saying.

Can't really comment on Matthews as I've only seen short clips.

Do you see Rooney breaking into that? IMHO Charles should be in there - how many of them actually became successful in a foreign league. Infact, how many British players full-stop have been successful abroad? Not just successful for that matter, but one of the clubs best players of all time...

I think it all depends on Rooney's career choices for instance whether he stays at United and how much Fergie has to do with the club i.e appointing the new management when he finally hangs up his hairdryer. Under Ferguson who Rooney clearly adores he prehaps has the potential to break into the greats but i still think it's a bit too early to tell. It also depends on how well United do over the next ten years if he stays which he says he is going to

Yeah, sorry Charles was an omission. To be honest alot of my knowledge of people like Charles, Best, Dalglish etc is things I've read, things I've heard people comment, i.e. ex players, my Dad, my Uncle who is a football anarok etc.


If Rooney realies his potential, yes. I can see him getting in that group. If he can produce the form he has shown the last couple of seasons, improve his performances in Europe, carry on his form for England and either Man United or England become succesful (very important part) and producing it all on a consistent basis for at least another 10 years then why not.

Rooney is very overrated by the English media as they are desperate for a English world class player they can rave about.

He got potential but only time will tell which category he ends in.

I think that you're all overlooking the truly glib nature of the comment. 'If he wants to be'. It isn't just about what Rooney wants, it's about the coaching he gets, when he gets injured and for how long (got injured part way to becoming player of the tournament in Portugal, was never fit at this World Cup), how successful Man U are and if he stays there.

Yes, I believe that he's got the potential to be as good as anyone mentioned so far, though I'm no expert on them. But there are a million factors that will determine whether he does or doesn't.