So, back in November of last year, Wayne Rooney was playing well and we sung his praises with a look at some trite football cliches. But here’s the dilemma – since that time, Rooney has gone on an even more torrid goalscoring run and his talents transcend “football.” Thus, we present a series of trite cliches that go beyond the sport.
Against Milan in the return leg, Rooney ran onto a lovely Neville cross and made no mistake. Obviously, the average human being would see Gary Neville start to attempt a cross and give up in advance. They would roll their eyes and shrug their shoulders in anticipation. But not Rooney. He kept his focus on the .001% chance that a decent cross may arrive. And it did. And he finished it. A fan at Old Trafford, savoring the sweet taste of European victory, was heard to remark – “Wayne Rooney has a good head on his shoulders.”
Against Aston Villa in the League Cup final, Rooney fended off James Collins to nod home the winner in pulsating 2-1 victory. This was a clutch goal in a clutch situation – any other player may have gotten wobbly knees despite the apparent simplicity of the task. Not to mention the fact that Rooney, despite a robust frame, does not exactly exude height or jumping prowess. A commentator put it succintly – “Rooney is heads and shoulders above the rest.”
Just a month earlier, against City in the League Cup semifinals, deep in injury time, Rooney again used his noggin to glance home a winner. The goal culminated an emotional fightback by the Red Devils, who had lost to City and an inspired Carlos Tevez in the first leg. Rooney’s goal was not the result of an individual duel of will with a center back, but rather a sharper reaction. Rooney’s goal was the fruit of a focused and acute mind. This time, a manager took a a stab at explaining Rooney’s consistency this season: ”He always uses his head.”
Signs of this prowess have been plain for all to see since 2007. As a young man in a game against Arsenal, Rooney redirected an Evra cross with a very conspicuous part of his body. Hint – it was attached to his neck and not his torso. No, not his shoulder. This is Wayne Rooney, not Pippo Inzaghi. At the time, many Red Devils fans wondered – could this pale Scouser be the real deal? A Gunner pundit muttered under his breath – “Rooney is heading in the right direction – BAH HUMBUG!”
Still, the year before, Rooney got an infamous red card against Portugal in the World Cup. He stamped Ricardo Carvahlo’s groin and was sent off, with England to later lose on penalties. Questions abounded about his temperament, focus, and dedication. Despite a bit of provocation from Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney’s own teammates admitted he was a bit “hot headed.”
But after 20 plus goals, a League Cup, and leading the attack in a United side that is threatening for the domestic and European double, a homeless man outside a pub, watching the Milan game through a window, remarked: “Rooney has grown from strong willed and ill tempered to focused and headstrong. Defenders just seem to get out of his way.”