469 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
469 lines
17 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File
sport
|
|
football
|
|
teams
|
|
manchester-united
|
|
8417242
|
|
-----
|
|
# Alan Smith: write off Wayne Rooney at your peril, he'll soon be back to his
|
|
brilliant best
|
|
|
|
## Anyone keen to write off Wayne Rooney should think again. The Manchester
|
|
United striker may have endured a season of peaks and troughs, when he has
|
|
often looked a shadow of his former self, but that's not to say he can't hit
|
|
the heights once more.
|
|
|
|
![Wayne Rooney - Alan Smith: write off forward at your peril, he'll soon be
|
|
back to his brilliant best][1]
|
|
|
|
Spectacular: Wayne Rooney scores the winner in the Manchester derby Photo:
|
|
REUTERS
|
|
|
|
[![Alan Smith][2]][3]
|
|
|
|
By [Alan Smith][4] 7:00AM BST 31 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
[Alan's Twitter][5]
|
|
|
|
[Comments][6]
|
|
|
|
There is no question, of course, that he has not matched the electric form he
|
|
produced last season before his campaign was interrupted by an ankle injury
|
|
sustained in the last minute of [**Manchester United**][7]'s Champions League
|
|
quarter-final, first leg with Bayern Munich.
|
|
|
|
There have been flashes, however, particularly in recent weeks, that he is
|
|
beginning to rediscover the extra one or two per cent that separates world-
|
|
class players from merely the very good.
|
|
|
|
Though that stunning overhead kick to win the Manchester derby might have
|
|
proved something of a false dawn -- he was quiet for the following fixtures --
|
|
it also acted as proof of an irrefutable talent, now being complemented by
|
|
greater consistency of performance.
|
|
|
|
It has been enough to suggest that the last two months of the season could
|
|
actually be his best and give Sir Alex Ferguson a potent weapon during
|
|
squeaky-bum time.
|
|
|
|
Mind you, even if [**Rooney**][8] does reproduce his most dynamic form in the
|
|
coming weeks, he will not equal the goalscoring feats which made last year so
|
|
outstanding.
|
|
|
|
## Related Articles
|
|
|
|
* [Rooney: my future is with United][9]
|
|
|
|
16 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
* [Richards fires warning to Rooney][10]
|
|
|
|
15 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
* [Football must take action while Clattenburg takes a break][11]
|
|
|
|
08 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
* [Ferguson facing ban for Atkinson criticism][12]
|
|
|
|
03 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
* [Thick-skinned Rooney and Cole show skills][13]
|
|
|
|
01 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
* [Mancini: United given 'special treatment' over Rooney][14]
|
|
|
|
02 Mar 2011
|
|
|
|
In reality, it may be that he looks back on that single season of 30 goals as
|
|
something of an exception. It may be that, in hindsight, he considers it the
|
|
best of his career, as the campaign where everything just clicked in front of
|
|
goal.
|
|
|
|
The injury, certainly, knocked him off kilter. It takes a lot of hard work to
|
|
get to the stage when you're doing things instinctively without much thought.
|
|
Then an injury comes along to disrupt the flow and your form can easily fall
|
|
off a cliff. Quite often, it is a long, slow climb back to the top again,
|
|
particularly when the side isn't performing at its peak, as United haven't
|
|
been for most of this campaign.
|
|
|
|
Ferguson has also asked Rooney, on occasion, to do a selfless job for the team
|
|
by playing out wide in a
|
|
|
|
4-3-3 formation. Though he'll do it without complaint, it's clearly not his
|
|
best position, which brings an added complication when confidence isn't high.
|
|
I wouldn't imagine that Ferguson, however, will be worried in the slightest,
|
|
having seen his player regain that vital extra zip over recent weeks.
|
|
|
|
Further in his favour, Rooney retains a hunger and desire that only the best
|
|
can match. Unlike so many, money doesn't soften his edge nor dampen his love
|
|
for the game.
|
|
|
|
Yet it must be said at this point that, having made his debut at 16 and played
|
|
regularly ever since for club and country, Rooney does have an awful lot of
|
|
miles on the clock; certainly more than your average 25 year-old footballer.
|
|
|
|
Playing top-level football for almost a decade takes its toll on the mind as
|
|
well as the body. Not only that, Rooney's stocky build is such that it is hard
|
|
to imagine him following in the footsteps of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and
|
|
David Beckham by hanging in at the top level well into his thirties.
|
|
|
|
Furthermore, it is not really surprising he has picked up the odd injury,
|
|
judging by the way England's number 10 threw himself into tackles against
|
|
Wales last Saturday
|
|
|
|
And talking of discipline, he has reached the age now where he must be very
|
|
careful how he lives his life off the pitch; what he eats and drinks, how much
|
|
rest he takes. Because the time has now passed when he can take liberties.
|
|
|
|
Luckily, if he's looking for role models, the Old Trafford dressing room
|
|
offers a few.
|
|
|
|
All in all, then, it is far too early to suggest (if you'll forgive the pun)
|
|
that Rooney is on the wane. Granted, last year's goalscoring exploits may be
|
|
an exception, but this year's poor form most definitely seems a blip. A year
|
|
from now, in fact, we'll be wondering why on earth we ever doubted the lad.
|
|
|
|
[X][15] Share & bookmark
|
|
|
|
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
|
|
|
|
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
|
|
|
|
[What are these?][16]
|
|
|
|
* Share: [Share][15] [ ][17] [ ][18]
|
|
|
|
[Tweet][19]
|
|
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8417242
|
|
/Alan-Smith-write-off-Wayne-Rooney-at-your-peril-hell-soon-be-back-to-his-
|
|
brilliant-best.html
|
|
|
|
Telegraph
|
|
|
|
## [Manchester United][7]
|
|
|
|
* ### [Sport »][20]
|
|
|
|
* ### [Alan Smith »][3]
|
|
|
|
* ### [Football »][21]
|
|
|
|
* ### [Premier League »][22]
|
|
|
|
* ### [Wayne Rooney »][8]
|
|
|
|
Related Partners
|
|
|
|
* [Manchester United Tickets][23]
|
|
|
|
In sport
|
|
|
|
[![Barcelona v Manchester United: Champions League final live ][24] ][25]
|
|
|
|
### [Champions League final: live][25]
|
|
|
|
[![Darren Ferguson - Champions League final 2011: 'Sir Alex Ferguson got up at
|
|
6.30am to open The Cliff, but no one else was there'][26] ][27]
|
|
|
|
### ['Dad got here by sheer hard work'][27]
|
|
|
|
[![Wayne Rooney must show the world his talent in the Champions League final,
|
|
says Alan Smith][28] ][29]
|
|
|
|
### [Time for Rooney to bestride world stage][29]
|
|
|
|
[![Champions League final: Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar's
|
|
giant gloves 'impossible' to fill][30] ][31]
|
|
|
|
### [Van der Sar's gloves 'impossible' to fill][31]
|
|
|
|
[![Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][32]][33]
|
|
|
|
### [Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][33]
|
|
|
|
[X][15] Share & bookmark
|
|
|
|
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
|
|
|
|
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
|
|
|
|
[What are these?][16]
|
|
|
|
Share:
|
|
|
|
* [ ][15]
|
|
|
|
* [ ][17]
|
|
|
|
* [ ][18]
|
|
|
|
* [Tweet][19]
|
|
|
|
* ## [Manchester United action photos »][34]
|
|
|
|
See the latest Manchester United action photos - and enjoy the best full-
|
|
colour action images for Manchester United Football Club.
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
![][35]
|
|
|
|
telegraphuk
|
|
|
|
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][36] [blog
|
|
comments powered by Disqus][37]
|
|
|
|
## [Manchester United »][38]
|
|
|
|
[![Manchester United Football Club][39]][7]
|
|
|
|
[Manchester United Fixtures][40]
|
|
|
|
[Manchester United Results][41]
|
|
|
|
[Manchester United Action Photos][34]
|
|
|
|
[Manchester United Players][42]
|
|
|
|
[Manchester United Statistics][43]
|
|
|
|
[Manchester United Tickets][23]
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
[PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS »][44]
|
|
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
Classified Advertising
|
|
|
|
* [Engineering Jobs][45]
|
|
|
|
* [Cars][46]
|
|
|
|
* [Games][47]
|
|
|
|
Loading
|
|
|
|
[Find your ideal job with Telegraph Jobs][48]
|
|
|
|
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "663501"; var headline
|
|
= "ENGINEERING MANAGER, KENT"; var description = "Kent £60000 - £65000"; var
|
|
link = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/663501/permanent/kent/engineering-
|
|
manager-kent-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=663501"; var imageUrl =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/B6/46/B6E34F1D-0404-41A1-A940-BAC94E2BB846_
|
|
140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
|
|
"669090"; var headline = "Engineering Opportunities with e2v"; var description
|
|
= "United Kingdom On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669090/permanent/united-kingdom/engineering-
|
|
opportunities-with-e2v-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669090"; var
|
|
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
|
|
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
|
|
"670674"; var headline = "Graduate Recruitment"; var description =
|
|
"Lancashire, Belfast, Isle of Man On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670674/permanent/lancashire-belfast-isle-of-
|
|
man/graduate-recruitment-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670674"; var
|
|
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/48/EC/483698DD-
|
|
7BDF-4023-97B3-12F0E6A45AEC_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3";
|
|
puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description,
|
|
'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray =
|
|
eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "673197"; var headline = "Head of
|
|
Tunnels and Structures"; var description = "London On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/673197/permanent/london/head-of-tunnels-and-
|
|
structures-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=673197"; var imageUrl =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/DC/C4/DC97BBEE-5BEE-4B8F-808F-
|
|
5F406B9EA5C4_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
|
|
"669239"; var headline = "Chief Engineer - Strategic Programmes"; var
|
|
description = "Chelsmford On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669239/permanent/chelsmford/chief-engineer-
|
|
strategic-programmes-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669239"; var
|
|
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
|
|
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
|
|
"668730"; var headline = "Instrumentation and Control Engineer"; var
|
|
description = "Berkshire On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/668730/permanent/berkshire/instrumentation-
|
|
and-control-engineer-job-vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=668730"; var
|
|
imageUrl = "http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/67/C1/67297E9F-24CA-4855-ABCA-
|
|
E1BA0C66D3C1_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
|
|
"669237"; var headline = "Power Electronics System Design & Test Engineer";
|
|
var description = "Chelmsford On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669237/permanent/chelmsford/power-
|
|
electronics-system-design-test-engineer-job-
|
|
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669237"; var imageUrl =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/E7/29/E72B0493-713D-4FD9-95DC-
|
|
C57D0699BF29_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight}); var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid =
|
|
"670248"; var headline = "Engineering Management Positions"; var description =
|
|
"United Arab Emirates On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/670248/permanent/united-arab-emirates
|
|
/engineering-management-positions-job-
|
|
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=670248"; var imageUrl =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/_resx/images/TGJobs-logo_140x87-v2.gif"; var
|
|
adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid, 'headline':headline,
|
|
'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl, 'weight':adWeight});
|
|
var puffArray = eval('puffs_' + '8257595'); var guid = "669475"; var headline
|
|
= "FEA Engineer"; var description = "Stonehouse On Application"; var link =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/job/669475/permanent/stonehouse/fea-engineer-job-
|
|
vacancy.aspx?FromRSSFeed=-1007&WT.ac=669475"; var imageUrl =
|
|
"http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/logos/F4/1C/F4E5E3E5-E431-4211-8E3F-
|
|
FE8AA4CCE91C_140_87-v2.jpg"; var adWeight = "3"; puffArray.push({'id':guid,
|
|
'headline':headline, 'bodyText':description, 'link':link, 'imageUrl':imageUrl,
|
|
'weight':adWeight});
|
|
|
|
[1]:
|
|
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01848/wayne_rooney_1848658c.jpg
|
|
|
|
[2]:
|
|
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01782/AlanSmith_60_1782349j.jpg
|
|
|
|
[3]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/
|
|
|
|
[4]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/ (Alan Smith)
|
|
|
|
[5]: http://twitter.com/9smudge
|
|
|
|
[6]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-
|
|
united/8417242/Alan-Smith-write-off-Wayne-Rooney-at-your-peril-hell-soon-be-
|
|
back-to-his-brilliant-best.html#disqus_thread
|
|
|
|
[7]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/
|
|
|
|
[8]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/players/wayne-rooney/
|
|
|
|
[9]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8386615/Wayne-Rooney-pledges-
|
|
allegiance-to-Manchester-United-and-expects-to-stay-put-into-my-thirties.html
|
|
|
|
[10]: /sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/8382590/Michael-Richards-warns-
|
|
Manchester-Uniteds-Wayne-Rooney-not-to-try-overhead-kick-in-FA-Cup-semi-
|
|
final.html
|
|
|
|
[11]: /sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8366869/Henry-Winter-
|
|
Mark-Clattenburg-takes-a-month-off-as-furious-referees-submit-five-point-plan-
|
|
to-save-game.html
|
|
|
|
[12]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8358180/Manchester-United-
|
|
manager-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-faces-two-match-ban-for-criticism-of-Martin-
|
|
Atkinson.html
|
|
|
|
[13]: /sport/football/competitions/premier-league/8355129/Ashley-Cole-and-
|
|
Wayne-Rooney-show-becomes-secondary-to-classic-Chelsea-v-Manchester-United-
|
|
duel.html
|
|
|
|
[14]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-city/8355323/Manchester-United-
|
|
given-special-treatment-over-Wayne-Rooney-says-Manchester-Citys-Roberto-
|
|
Mancini.html
|
|
|
|
[15]: #
|
|
|
|
[16]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-
|
|
article-What-are-these.html
|
|
|
|
[17]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in
|
|
this article&body=Depending on your email program, you may be able to click on
|
|
the link in the email. Alternatively, you may have to open a web browser, such
|
|
as Firefox or Internet Explorer, and copy the link over into the address bar.
|
|
%0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-
|
|
united/8417242/Alan-Smith-write-off-Wayne-Rooney-at-your-peril-hell-soon-be-
|
|
back-to-his-brilliant-best.html %0A%0AFor the best content online, visit
|
|
www.telegraph.co.uk
|
|
|
|
[18]: javascript:print()
|
|
|
|
[19]: http://twitter.com/share?via=Telegraph
|
|
|
|
[20]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/
|
|
|
|
[21]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/
|
|
|
|
[22]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-
|
|
league/
|
|
|
|
[23]: http://tickets.telegraph.co.uk/manchester-united-tickets
|
|
|
|
[24]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/final_1907803g.jpg
|
|
|
|
[25]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8543646/Barcelona-v
|
|
-Manchester-United-Champions-League-final-live.html
|
|
|
|
[26]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/darren-
|
|
ferguson_1907566g.jpg
|
|
|
|
[27]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8543155/Champions-League-
|
|
final-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-got-up-at-6.30am-to-open-The-Cliff-but-no-one-else-
|
|
was-there.html
|
|
|
|
[28]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/wayne-
|
|
rooney_1907196g.jpg
|
|
|
|
[29]: /sport/football/competitions/champions-league/8541129/Wayne-Rooney-
|
|
must-show-the-world-his-talent-in-the-Champions-League-final.html
|
|
|
|
[30]:
|
|
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01907/edwinvansdersar_1907103g.jpg
|
|
|
|
[31]: /sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8541120/Edwin-van-der-Sars-
|
|
giant-gloves-impossible-to-fill-as-Manchester-United-goalkeeper.html
|
|
|
|
[32]:
|
|
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01838/newtwit_1838978g.jpg
|
|
|
|
[33]: http://twitter.com/#!/TelegraphSport
|
|
|
|
[34]:
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5036897
|
|
/Manchester-United-Football-Club-Action-Photos.html
|
|
|
|
[35]: http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/imp.gif?client=ca-
|
|
telegraph_uk_420x200&event=noscript
|
|
|
|
[36]: http://disqus.com/?ref_noscript=telegraphuk
|
|
|
|
[37]: http://disqus.com
|
|
|
|
[38]:
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/
|
|
|
|
[39]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01377/Manchester-United-
|
|
_1377233h.jpg
|
|
|
|
[40]:
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/4942710
|
|
/Manchester-United-Football-Club-Fixtures.html
|
|
|
|
[41]:
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/4942430
|
|
/Manchester-United-Football-Club-Results.html
|
|
|
|
[42]:
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/5038141
|
|
/Manchester-United-Football-Club-Players.html
|
|
|
|
[43]:
|
|
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/manutd/4942851
|
|
/Manchester-United-Football-Club-Statistics.html
|
|
|
|
[44]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-
|
|
league/8229445/Barclays-Premier-League-video-highlights.html
|
|
|
|
[45]: #configurableTab_8257595
|
|
|
|
[46]: #configurableTab_8120678
|
|
|
|
[47]: #configurableTab_8255335
|
|
|
|
[48]: http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/?utm_source=TMG&utm_medium=CS&utm_campaig
|
|
n=jobslink
|
|
|