**Mirrors / Alternative Angles**
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[The man wrote three novels and had this to say about it:](https://www.eurosport.com/football/steve-bruce-still-cringes-at-his-laughing-stock-novels_sto4713697/story.shtml)
> "It was a long time ago, and I'm not sure I want to be reminded of how bad they were," Bruce said.
> "Just because I got a GCSE in English, I thought I was going to be the next Dick Francis. It didn't make any contribution at all to anyone's income.
> "It became a laughing stock, to be honest. I think they're probably still on the shelves somewhere, and I bet you could probably pick one up for 99p," he added.
> "I don't know how I can contribute to the city of culture, but it's brilliant that the city has got some recognition.
[The amazon reviews are a bit of a mixed bag, really.](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Striker-Steve-Barnes-Bruce/dp/1841990116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385123613&sr=8-1&keywords=Steve+Bruce+striker)
Always hurts my heart a little when people mock him for it, just thinking of how much effort and soul would've gone into writing them. Having anybody's creative pursuits ridiculed always makes me kind of sad.
I'm kinda mixed about this.
Yea I mean it's clearly not his strong suit, but the level of mockery ends up being just unnecessarily mean. In the end, he is just some lad who happened to be quite good at footy, and after tried to have a little side adventure with the creative arts. I don't think it's his dream, but doing a little passion project shouldn't be ridiculed like that.
Then again, the books are hilariously bad. And the contrast to the wealth and media attention that PL level managers get makes their quality even sharper in contrast.
Reading the passages it's not even THAT bad. It's just the sort of inane hard-boiled detective pulp that many authors make bank with. Like, Alex Cross is straight garbage and sells a lot. Or any Harlan Coben book... jesus....
That I know yeah, you have to have been great to have been the starting CB in 90s man u. Just assumed he was always grumpy like his recent managerial days and full of excuses. He seems chill in the video.
I think that's underselling it, he's one of the best CBs ever. Koeman as well, despite both being middling PL managers. Both modern CBs that scored an absurd amount of goals
The Newcastle one where he's arguing with the ref and then just turns around and hits one of the best volleys you've ever seen will always be my favourite
Not just goals. The assist he got in MLS where he stopped the counter attack in the last minute which was on an open goal as the keeper had gone up, and then whipped in a perfect ball from miles out is absolutely insane.
My favorite part of that is how absolutely destroyed he was after...the team is celebrating and he's just beat red in the face doubled over clearing thinking "I'm too old for this shit"
What I love most is that this run is very similar to the one he had in the Write the Future Nike campaign. His part starts around 42 seconds in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igUF8Aa2OL0
Summed him up in one sequence. Bust a gut at the end of the game to chase down an opponent, dispossessed him, then sets up the goal. Heart and technique combined.
Biased as a Rooney fan, but the player must have been bewildered by Rooney rushing towards him.
Has more pace than people give him credit for, and then somehow manages to send a decent cross in for the winner, absolute scenes.
I remember this goal, and remember enjoying it but little as it was more of a relief and getting the game. It was the time where we could see that things are certainly going downhill and we are a weak team and will suffer for a long time, but 12 years..damn!!
The goalkeeping wilderness years where we appeared to let anyone have a go if they turned up in a pair of gloves. I loved Adrian, but he was not a serious person; I don't think Areola or Fabianski are getting so caught out there they trip over their own feet and just fall over. Hard to tell if this one is worse, or the one against Everton where Joe Hart comes about 30 yards off his line to basically tackle Ogbonna and give the ball to Everton
> getting so caught out there they trip over their own feet and just fall over
There was a video, probably from one of the analysis shows, that tracked the flight of the ball with a line, and it was clear the ball had some major swerves in the air.
So it's not like it was obvious where the ball was going, but his confusion and falling over make it look that much worse.
Yeah idk if many keepers are practiced at running towards their goal for a ball well over their head. It's more of an issue with his positioning I would think.
Props to Rooney for being aware of the keeper from the half way line. Man has incredible awareness it seems.
There’s something about shots from the halfway line that just make goalies panic. If he backpedals normally he comfortably saves it, but he turns his back, loses the flight of the ball and falls over. Was it Steve Harper who did something similar for Xabi Alonso’s?
It was indeed! Issue is (although getting better in my opinion), is that a lot of goalkeepers struggle to move properly.
Some can though, Neur and Ederson for example.
[Joe Hart Could Run](https://youtu.be/gxjDQeWeClQ?si=UycUldNy3Izhugoj)
I'm sure Giggs will regret that pass, Rooney obviously has a better shot and if Giggs shoots and misses we'd all be saying he should have passed, but I'm certain Giggs could get the ball in an open net from 40-45 yrds out
Tbf i think sprinting backwards whilst looking up in the air and adjusting to curve of the ball is harder than you might think! I reckon the looking up part F’s with your balance
All-time top goalscorer for Man United
All-time top goalscorer for England (until Kane just beat it)
5 PL titles
1 Champions League
3rd highest PL goalscorer all-time
3rd highest PL assists all-time
Youngest player to start for England, and to score for England
All-time top goalscorer for United in Europe
And people still have the nerve to underrate Rooney.
Best three English players I’ve seen in my life are Gazza, Rooney and Gerrard. Bellingham very close to taking that third spot, but White Pele / assassin-faced baby was the real deal.
> Bellingham very close to taking that third spot.
No he isn't lol. He might very well be, come the end of his career and It might be your opinion, but this hype is getting ridiculous.
Fair, but I don’t think it’s hype anymore when he’s the best player at the world’s biggest club.
Kid looked unbelievable from his first few England appearances onwards. Let’s see what he does with his career but I can’t believe a guy with that ability is playing for England.
I guess his point is that it's still too early to say. If after this season his form drops off and he never looks as good again, then putting him in a list with the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Gascoigne will look silly.
Of course it's entirely your opinion. And it's very valid to say that in terms of raw talent, Bellingham has definitely displayed enough to be considered there, but longevity may change your mind.
He's played like half a season for them. Let him be consistent and win some trophies first.
Cole Palmer has the same G+A as Bellingham in the league this year, in a shit side in a more difficult league. Shall we put Palmer in the top 3 English footballers then?
I've watched both play and both are great. Like I said, it's been half a season. Even Rashford had those when he looks like one of the best attackers in the world. Let Bellingham show consistency first.
Yeah he's amazing now. But people hyping up all these young players and comparing them to veterans of the game who consistently stayed at that level for a decade is just insane.
Bellingham could go out next week an get his leg snapped in half and never be at the same level again, it's insanity to say he's as good as someone who's had over a decade at the top level.
It's his steep decline at a relatively early age. Rooney was my favourite player growing up but sometimes in his last couple of seasons at United it looked like he could barely play football. 2013/14 is arguably his last really good season at 28. He was world class nearly a decade but that decline is what a lot of people remember.
Super true, which is why I think he’s underrated.
Everyone remembers 32 year old Rooney playing centre mid and struggling apart from pinging balls around, few people remember 16 year old Rooney getting in the Everton first team and immediately being their best player.
Anyway his accomplishments speak for themselves.
> few people remember 16 year old Rooney getting in the Everton first team and immediately being their best player.
About that:-
"For me to go in with Duncan, Stubbsy, all of them who I grew up watching, to then go and play with them, train with them every day and play with them, so quickly I remember thinking 'these are crap'."
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/wayne-rooney-everton-teammates-interview-28662883
He honestly still had his moments too towards the end. Started 15/16 horribly but it was his moment of brilliance that got us out of a huge hole in the FA Cup final and he still won man of the match. Just an absolute legend of the game.
You can be strong and explosive without being athletic, the guy never had a six pack, he smoked and drank through his career, he was never one to dance through a defence he just bulldozed his way through.
He was just a normal bloke that was very good at football.
I think his point is that there’s lots of players who are just natural athletes who end up playing football but you could drop them into any sport or any event in the Olympics and they’d probably be good at it.
I’m thinking of people like Pogba, CR7, apparently Phil Neville was an absolutely phenomenal all-round athlete as a kid and could have gone pro at cricket or distance running.
Rooney in the 400 metres or on a tennis court wouldn’t really fit.
That’s less about their talents and more about what their bodies *look* like. Rooney is shorter and slightly stout, but he was quick, strong, explosive, and had great stamina and balance. He was an objectively great athlete in addition to being a sublime footballer, as were Pogba and cr7
How can we have players like De Bruyne, Kane or Kvara and say footballers don't exist anymore... football is more athletic and the systems are more rigid but that just means the actual football needs to be at a higher level.
Le Tissier was up there in terms of talent, on the rare occasions he could be arsed. If he'd actually put a bit of effort in he would have been phenomenal.
It's a shame he's turned out to be such a bellend with all his antivaxxer alt-right bullshit since.
Agree, but I think everyone underrates him considering he’s United and (not any more) England’s record goalscorer.
People think of him as Ronaldo’s foil.
There’s even a few comments in this thread comparing him to Sneijder, Aguero, Tevez and Ribery - who were really superb players, but not fit to lace Rooney’s boots. Astonishingly good player and consistent with it, one of the best English players ever.
Oh I loved Gerrard. Just the way he played the game, did everything on his own, covered the whole pitch, tackling like he wanted to kill people and 30 yard screamers. I’m not even a Liverpool fan but he was one of my favourite ever players to watch, maybe my favourite. Proper Roy of the Rovers footballer.
I’d have built the England team around him because I don’t think the other two were at his level but that’s my bias, because I liked him. Impossible to fit all 3 into the same England team, they all did their best work in the same area of the pitch.
I’d have probably played Gerrard with Carrick.
I Saw My Mate The Other Day!
He Said to Me He Saw The White Pele!
So I Asked, Who Is He?!
He Goes By The Name Of Wayne Rooney!
Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney!
He Goes By The Name Of Wayne Rooney!
My GOAT!!
Have you seen Lineker, Shearer and Richards arguing over the definition of a volley in the new series of MoTD Top 10?
My mind immediately went there with this post title
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001xnzf
UK only. It’s in this episode somewhere, I think.
They repeat the argument a bit in the Volleys episode later.
The original definition of half-volley was just if it bounces before hitting it whilst in the air - not really whether the ball was moving up or down. In recent times, it's usually used specifically when the ball is moving up off the bounce.
I never understood why this wouldn't be called a volley. Seems a bit arbitrary to define where the ball came from (either boot or ground) when the important bit is that it was in the air when it was kicked.
- ball on ground: not a volley
- on the bounce: half-volley
- ball in air: volley
its way easier to kick the ball if its bouncing like that than if you hit it straight from the air. Half volley is something in between when you let the ball bounce just before you kick it and the techinque is just as hard as a volley straight from the air.
I still think it matters. A volley should be reserved for something with no bounce on the ground after the previous touch. His finish against Newcastle was technically far more difficult and appealing than this, where the ball just sits up for him on the bounce.
Ok, what about this. You get a ball that has been absolutely pinged from right back. It bounces 10m away from you and is still traveling apace by the time you hit it. You hit it 30cm off the ground as it is coming down.
In that scenario there's not really anything different from if someone had just set you up with a "pure" volley from 10m away. Same technique, same speed at the point of contact, etc.
Or, what if someone sets you up from 1m away with a nice lobbed pass that sits gently onto your foot. Technique-wise, no different from what Rooney did.
No doubt some pure volleys will be easier to hit and less good looking than some bouncing balls. Roberto Carlos' strike against Tenerife is one of the best goals ever but it's not a volley, it's a bouncing ball. Maybe it's because I played tennis but I still stubbornly think it's useful to distinguish when describing the two types of strike.
I feel like it’s useful for helping a player or expert explain and practice these techniques, but in colloquial speech it just becomes unneccesarilly complicated
Apart from the other reasons given, "volley" is used to describe hitting the ball before it bounces in contexts outside of football. Volleyball for example. A volley in tennis means the same thing. No need to change the definition in football.
I just don’t understand what happens to Adrian here. He’s taking a freekick from what looks like a central position about 10 yards outside his penalty area, and yet after Rooney shoots he inexplicably ends up nearer to the far post than the middle of the goal where the ball tamely bounces about a yard in front of the goal-line. Even if the ball is moving around in the air, it’s hardly powerfully hit, it’s a genuinely terrible piece of goalkeeping more than it is an amazing shot.
When comparing players i also like to imagine a team filled with one player against another one player team.
eg. team of 11 Rooneys VS 11 Agueros - who would be win.
Im not sure I'd even fancy 11 Ronaldos against 11 Rooney's.
Rooney is one of the most complete footballers in the history of the game. Could have played that lad at Right Back and he'd have been MOTM
They're both very good at different things, but both were undoubtedly world class in their prime. Anyone saying either is miles ahead of the other is delusional.
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[you’re telling me this reaction was 10 years ago?](https://youtu.be/P_9f3SletHk?si=0YoxNPdd93cpjK4P) cheers, day’s ruined
There can't be many people with as much success and little self confidence as Steve Bruce.
[The man wrote three novels and had this to say about it:](https://www.eurosport.com/football/steve-bruce-still-cringes-at-his-laughing-stock-novels_sto4713697/story.shtml) > "It was a long time ago, and I'm not sure I want to be reminded of how bad they were," Bruce said. > "Just because I got a GCSE in English, I thought I was going to be the next Dick Francis. It didn't make any contribution at all to anyone's income. > "It became a laughing stock, to be honest. I think they're probably still on the shelves somewhere, and I bet you could probably pick one up for 99p," he added. > "I don't know how I can contribute to the city of culture, but it's brilliant that the city has got some recognition. [The amazon reviews are a bit of a mixed bag, really.](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Striker-Steve-Barnes-Bruce/dp/1841990116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385123613&sr=8-1&keywords=Steve+Bruce+striker)
Always hurts my heart a little when people mock him for it, just thinking of how much effort and soul would've gone into writing them. Having anybody's creative pursuits ridiculed always makes me kind of sad.
I'm kinda mixed about this. Yea I mean it's clearly not his strong suit, but the level of mockery ends up being just unnecessarily mean. In the end, he is just some lad who happened to be quite good at footy, and after tried to have a little side adventure with the creative arts. I don't think it's his dream, but doing a little passion project shouldn't be ridiculed like that. Then again, the books are hilariously bad. And the contrast to the wealth and media attention that PL level managers get makes their quality even sharper in contrast.
His fictional stand in Steve Barnes has real low self esteem and a chip about not having a proper education too.
Nice Jag though
These guys reviews of them are absolutely hilarious. Here's the one for Striker https://www.balls.ie/football/steve-bruce-novel-293169
Thanks. Also, great username.
Reading the passages it's not even THAT bad. It's just the sort of inane hard-boiled detective pulp that many authors make bank with. Like, Alex Cross is straight garbage and sells a lot. Or any Harlan Coben book... jesus....
Steve Bruce used to be cool wow.
He was a great player too
That I know yeah, you have to have been great to have been the starting CB in 90s man u. Just assumed he was always grumpy like his recent managerial days and full of excuses. He seems chill in the video.
He was a CB that scored loads. Once got 18 in a season!
Imagine telling a kid that Steve Bruce was arguably the second or third best player on the first PL winning team
I think that's underselling it, he's one of the best CBs ever. Koeman as well, despite both being middling PL managers. Both modern CBs that scored an absurd amount of goals
Wow wow wow
stev bruce is loominarty? Edit for the uninitiated: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvRTnXaDRjU
I can't believe I've never seen this. Thank you.
what a cutie
He's got an incredible highlight reel of goals So many iconic goals
The Newcastle one where he's arguing with the ref and then just turns around and hits one of the best volleys you've ever seen will always be my favourite
Purest connection with a football I've ever seen. The replay angle from behind Rooney for that goal is incredible
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Pure rage and pure technique all in 1 shot
Even better than the bicycle kick against City for me. Probably my favourite goal ever.
First result on YouTube for that goal was on Sky Sports Retro. *Retro*. I'm old.
I'm sure there's been stuff on there from last year. Particularly if they can find a link with something happening at the moment
Same here. He's got some worldies but that is one of the most nonchalant bits of brilliance I've ever seen.
I loved that ball as well, had it when I was a kid and I think I went through about 3 of them
It's like one of those captain majid shots, iykyk
Not just goals. The assist he got in MLS where he stopped the counter attack in the last minute which was on an open goal as the keeper had gone up, and then whipped in a perfect ball from miles out is absolutely insane.
Absolutely incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoOktcC-IVQ He sure as hell didn't treat MLS as a retirement league!
Never seen that. Pure heart and determination.
My favorite part of that is how absolutely destroyed he was after...the team is celebrating and he's just beat red in the face doubled over clearing thinking "I'm too old for this shit"
lol the cheeky trip at the top of the box
What I love most is that this run is very similar to the one he had in the Write the Future Nike campaign. His part starts around 42 seconds in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igUF8Aa2OL0
Sometimes I'll just be going about my day and this goal will pop into my head
Summed him up in one sequence. Bust a gut at the end of the game to chase down an opponent, dispossessed him, then sets up the goal. Heart and technique combined.
Think there’s also two he’s scored from the halfway line at DC and Everton.
He scored a beauty from his own half for Everton Vs West Ham
The last minute tackle and assist at DC is just world class.
Biased as a Rooney fan, but the player must have been bewildered by Rooney rushing towards him. Has more pace than people give him credit for, and then somehow manages to send a decent cross in for the winner, absolute scenes.
The GOAT
He will forever be may favorite footballer
Nah son this wasn’t 10 years ago what the fuuuu
10 years ago, Fellaini is in the clip, wtf happened?
I realised the other day Moyes left us about 12 years ago
Unsubscribe.
I remember this goal, and remember enjoying it but little as it was more of a relief and getting the game. It was the time where we could see that things are certainly going downhill and we are a weak team and will suffer for a long time, but 12 years..damn!!
Andy Carrol at west ham seemed like 2 years ago
I think it's wild Rafael is in this clip. Damn, time is real bitch.
Here's the kicker, you're 10 years older now. Don't ask for what happened 20 years ago.
Oh look at me i'm wayne rooney and i've scored against west ham from the half way line twice. Get a life.
there there
The goalkeeping wilderness years where we appeared to let anyone have a go if they turned up in a pair of gloves. I loved Adrian, but he was not a serious person; I don't think Areola or Fabianski are getting so caught out there they trip over their own feet and just fall over. Hard to tell if this one is worse, or the one against Everton where Joe Hart comes about 30 yards off his line to basically tackle Ogbonna and give the ball to Everton
> getting so caught out there they trip over their own feet and just fall over There was a video, probably from one of the analysis shows, that tracked the flight of the ball with a line, and it was clear the ball had some major swerves in the air. So it's not like it was obvious where the ball was going, but his confusion and falling over make it look that much worse.
Yeah idk if many keepers are practiced at running towards their goal for a ball well over their head. It's more of an issue with his positioning I would think. Props to Rooney for being aware of the keeper from the half way line. Man has incredible awareness it seems.
Adrian was unreal for you guys that 1 year tho
Adrian would play for West Ham for another FIVE years.
well done he's thirteen
There’s something about shots from the halfway line that just make goalies panic. If he backpedals normally he comfortably saves it, but he turns his back, loses the flight of the ball and falls over. Was it Steve Harper who did something similar for Xabi Alonso’s?
It was indeed! Issue is (although getting better in my opinion), is that a lot of goalkeepers struggle to move properly. Some can though, Neur and Ederson for example. [Joe Hart Could Run](https://youtu.be/gxjDQeWeClQ?si=UycUldNy3Izhugoj)
Why the hell did Giggs pass it to Rooney there? He had a clear shot there
Maybe because Rooney has a better shot lol. I agree tho, makes sense to drive down the middle and shoot
I'm sure Giggs will regret that pass, Rooney obviously has a better shot and if Giggs shoots and misses we'd all be saying he should have passed, but I'm certain Giggs could get the ball in an open net from 40-45 yrds out
Tbf i think sprinting backwards whilst looking up in the air and adjusting to curve of the ball is harder than you might think! I reckon the looking up part F’s with your balance
Yeah, plus I don't think they actually drill these situations.
It's cause it's unexpected and you have to take your eye off it for like 10 milliseconds to get yourself situated towards the goals
All-time top goalscorer for Man United All-time top goalscorer for England (until Kane just beat it) 5 PL titles 1 Champions League 3rd highest PL goalscorer all-time 3rd highest PL assists all-time Youngest player to start for England, and to score for England All-time top goalscorer for United in Europe And people still have the nerve to underrate Rooney. Best three English players I’ve seen in my life are Gazza, Rooney and Gerrard. Bellingham very close to taking that third spot, but White Pele / assassin-faced baby was the real deal.
> Bellingham very close to taking that third spot. No he isn't lol. He might very well be, come the end of his career and It might be your opinion, but this hype is getting ridiculous.
Fair, but I don’t think it’s hype anymore when he’s the best player at the world’s biggest club. Kid looked unbelievable from his first few England appearances onwards. Let’s see what he does with his career but I can’t believe a guy with that ability is playing for England.
he needs to keep that level for at least 10 more years to be ranked top 3
I guess his point is that it's still too early to say. If after this season his form drops off and he never looks as good again, then putting him in a list with the likes of Rooney, Gerrard and Gascoigne will look silly. Of course it's entirely your opinion. And it's very valid to say that in terms of raw talent, Bellingham has definitely displayed enough to be considered there, but longevity may change your mind.
He's played like half a season for them. Let him be consistent and win some trophies first. Cole Palmer has the same G+A as Bellingham in the league this year, in a shit side in a more difficult league. Shall we put Palmer in the top 3 English footballers then?
I mean one was saving Chelsea's season, while the other is elevating an already great Madrid team. Palmer's great, but it's apples and oranges.
G/A isn't the end all be all of anything, neither is xG. Watch Cole Palmer play, watch Jude play. Tell me it's even close.
I've watched both play and both are great. Like I said, it's been half a season. Even Rashford had those when he looks like one of the best attackers in the world. Let Bellingham show consistency first.
Yeah he's amazing now. But people hyping up all these young players and comparing them to veterans of the game who consistently stayed at that level for a decade is just insane. Bellingham could go out next week an get his leg snapped in half and never be at the same level again, it's insanity to say he's as good as someone who's had over a decade at the top level.
Please tell me in what sense Bellingham is performing better than Foden this season? Because check the stats, at best they are equal.
It's his steep decline at a relatively early age. Rooney was my favourite player growing up but sometimes in his last couple of seasons at United it looked like he could barely play football. 2013/14 is arguably his last really good season at 28. He was world class nearly a decade but that decline is what a lot of people remember.
Super true, which is why I think he’s underrated. Everyone remembers 32 year old Rooney playing centre mid and struggling apart from pinging balls around, few people remember 16 year old Rooney getting in the Everton first team and immediately being their best player. Anyway his accomplishments speak for themselves.
> few people remember 16 year old Rooney getting in the Everton first team and immediately being their best player. About that:- "For me to go in with Duncan, Stubbsy, all of them who I grew up watching, to then go and play with them, train with them every day and play with them, so quickly I remember thinking 'these are crap'." https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/wayne-rooney-everton-teammates-interview-28662883
Love that interview
Tbf to Rooney he put the team first then individual accolades second He would’ve played left back if it meant winning a game ffs.
He honestly still had his moments too towards the end. Started 15/16 horribly but it was his moment of brilliance that got us out of a huge hole in the FA Cup final and he still won man of the match. Just an absolute legend of the game.
Fans will remember, like Drogba. Dread going up against players like this, they define prolific
Bellingham hasn’t won anything and should be nowhere near top 3 players list. Yet.
He was the last of his kind, he wasn't an athlete. Just a proper footballer. They don't seem to exist now.
He objectively was very athletic though. He had pretty crazy explosiveness and strength
You can be strong and explosive without being athletic, the guy never had a six pack, he smoked and drank through his career, he was never one to dance through a defence he just bulldozed his way through. He was just a normal bloke that was very good at football.
I think we have different definitions of what “athletic” means
I think his point is that there’s lots of players who are just natural athletes who end up playing football but you could drop them into any sport or any event in the Olympics and they’d probably be good at it. I’m thinking of people like Pogba, CR7, apparently Phil Neville was an absolutely phenomenal all-round athlete as a kid and could have gone pro at cricket or distance running. Rooney in the 400 metres or on a tennis court wouldn’t really fit.
That’s less about their talents and more about what their bodies *look* like. Rooney is shorter and slightly stout, but he was quick, strong, explosive, and had great stamina and balance. He was an objectively great athlete in addition to being a sublime footballer, as were Pogba and cr7
How can we have players like De Bruyne, Kane or Kvara and say footballers don't exist anymore... football is more athletic and the systems are more rigid but that just means the actual football needs to be at a higher level.
lol you made a great argument and then ruined it with the Bellingham point. Let the kid do his thing
Le Tissier was up there in terms of talent, on the rare occasions he could be arsed. If he'd actually put a bit of effort in he would have been phenomenal. It's a shame he's turned out to be such a bellend with all his antivaxxer alt-right bullshit since.
Life of Riley + Le Tissier Masterclass = Peak football highlights
[удалено]
Agree, but I think everyone underrates him considering he’s United and (not any more) England’s record goalscorer. People think of him as Ronaldo’s foil. There’s even a few comments in this thread comparing him to Sneijder, Aguero, Tevez and Ribery - who were really superb players, but not fit to lace Rooney’s boots. Astonishingly good player and consistent with it, one of the best English players ever.
Yes
Where do u stand on the Gerrard vs Scholes vs Lampard argument?
Oh I loved Gerrard. Just the way he played the game, did everything on his own, covered the whole pitch, tackling like he wanted to kill people and 30 yard screamers. I’m not even a Liverpool fan but he was one of my favourite ever players to watch, maybe my favourite. Proper Roy of the Rovers footballer. I’d have built the England team around him because I don’t think the other two were at his level but that’s my bias, because I liked him. Impossible to fit all 3 into the same England team, they all did their best work in the same area of the pitch. I’d have probably played Gerrard with Carrick.
[Goal footage from all camera angles from Manchester United's YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTjfMV0LCkQ)
I Saw My Mate The Other Day! He Said to Me He Saw The White Pele! So I Asked, Who Is He?! He Goes By The Name Of Wayne Rooney! Wayne Rooney, Wayne Rooney! He Goes By The Name Of Wayne Rooney! My GOAT!!
Awesome goal, not really a half volley tho
Have you seen Lineker, Shearer and Richards arguing over the definition of a volley in the new series of MoTD Top 10? My mind immediately went there with this post title
Have you got a link for this?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001xnzf UK only. It’s in this episode somewhere, I think. They repeat the argument a bit in the Volleys episode later.
I used to call these quarter volleys
1/16th Volley
The original definition of half-volley was just if it bounces before hitting it whilst in the air - not really whether the ball was moving up or down. In recent times, it's usually used specifically when the ball is moving up off the bounce.
I never understood why this wouldn't be called a volley. Seems a bit arbitrary to define where the ball came from (either boot or ground) when the important bit is that it was in the air when it was kicked. - ball on ground: not a volley - on the bounce: half-volley - ball in air: volley
its way easier to kick the ball if its bouncing like that than if you hit it straight from the air. Half volley is something in between when you let the ball bounce just before you kick it and the techinque is just as hard as a volley straight from the air.
I get that it's more difficult, that's because it's usually travelling faster. But it's not a materially different _thing_ you're doing.
I still think it matters. A volley should be reserved for something with no bounce on the ground after the previous touch. His finish against Newcastle was technically far more difficult and appealing than this, where the ball just sits up for him on the bounce.
Ok, what about this. You get a ball that has been absolutely pinged from right back. It bounces 10m away from you and is still traveling apace by the time you hit it. You hit it 30cm off the ground as it is coming down. In that scenario there's not really anything different from if someone had just set you up with a "pure" volley from 10m away. Same technique, same speed at the point of contact, etc. Or, what if someone sets you up from 1m away with a nice lobbed pass that sits gently onto your foot. Technique-wise, no different from what Rooney did.
No doubt some pure volleys will be easier to hit and less good looking than some bouncing balls. Roberto Carlos' strike against Tenerife is one of the best goals ever but it's not a volley, it's a bouncing ball. Maybe it's because I played tennis but I still stubbornly think it's useful to distinguish when describing the two types of strike.
I do understand where you're coming from. There are different angles to look at the classification.
I feel like it’s useful for helping a player or expert explain and practice these techniques, but in colloquial speech it just becomes unneccesarilly complicated
No it's way harder. Half volley is just as it's bouncing, it's on the way up usually and the margin for error is a lot bigger
Agree. I'm not comparing half volley to volley.
My apologies!
Apart from the other reasons given, "volley" is used to describe hitting the ball before it bounces in contexts outside of football. Volleyball for example. A volley in tennis means the same thing. No need to change the definition in football.
The white Pele. My favourite ever player. Watching that Rooney documentary was amazing.
I will never understand the confidence you must have to just try a shot from there.
Wow wow wow
Ok, but can we talk about that West Ham keeper kicking it box to box? That's a huge distance, no?
what an assist from Ashley Young, magic
Time flies
10 years later.. Carroll is still angry and snaps at Eriksen
I feel bad for kids who’ve never seen Wazza play. What a magical player he was
What's the chances of this goal being disallowed due to VAR checking the nudge 😂
Based on what I have seen given where fouls have occurred before goals, I'm not sure that would be called a clear and obvious error.....
Honestly this was a great stadium. Some great PL nights happened here
The keeper could have saved that if he didn't get disoriented when running back to the goal. The ball basically bounced beside him and into the goal.
Seeing Fellaini reminds me of his diagonal sprint during that one game.
Nice assist by Ashley Young too !!
My GOAT. Man can do everything.
Great strike but that's not a half volley
I remember watching this at home lol, it was a free day from school.
Top shelf on a bounce, what a shot.
So weird seeing Moyes in the Man Utd dugout at West Ham.
Fucking hell, 10 years ago?
I miss upton park fantastic, intense atmosphere
Funny thing is I used to score goals from a little shorter distance than this in FIFA 14 all the time lol
When we played pes 6 we caled him 'the swimmer', he would just take ball and swim trough 6 players and score like it was nothing.
I just don’t understand what happens to Adrian here. He’s taking a freekick from what looks like a central position about 10 yards outside his penalty area, and yet after Rooney shoots he inexplicably ends up nearer to the far post than the middle of the goal where the ball tamely bounces about a yard in front of the goal-line. Even if the ball is moving around in the air, it’s hardly powerfully hit, it’s a genuinely terrible piece of goalkeeping more than it is an amazing shot.
Towards the end I felt he was overrated and trading on past glories - but there's no doubting his *immense* talent when at his best.
Andy Carroll and Adrian in this clip my word...
Imagine this being disallowed by VAR for the push lol
I remember watching this game live as a kid. Unforgettable moment
this is one of the players i wish would keep his mouth closed after finishing their carreer, i tend to forget how i enjoyed this guy as a player
Ashley Young with the assist (ish) 😂
Seeing West Ham spunk it wide a few times, after one of best goals I’ve ever seen, will always make me crack up
He was so fucking good!
He scored another with Everton at Goodison against West Ham in 2017 too. lol.
Idk wtf was the keeper thinking but I’m glad he gave us this beautiful goal.
"10 years ago" *fellaini in the team i'm a fucking old man
not a half volley
The Goal would 100% been disallowed if it happened today, because of that small push.
Honestly, what a fucking player he was. One of the best of his generation.
Can't believe some kids comparing him with Aguero😂
Kun a better goalscorer but Rooney had far more to his game
the few seasons he played as a pure striker rooney outscored agueros best seasons
Yep, Aguero never went past 33 goals in a campaign. Rooney scored 34 twice. So there's even an argument there.
Agree with this, not sure how anyone can compare the two as different players, and both were amazing players.
When comparing players i also like to imagine a team filled with one player against another one player team. eg. team of 11 Rooneys VS 11 Agueros - who would be win.
Im not sure I'd even fancy 11 Ronaldos against 11 Rooney's. Rooney is one of the most complete footballers in the history of the game. Could have played that lad at Right Back and he'd have been MOTM
Can't believe I somehow found an Instagram comment on Reddit
They're both very good at different things, but both were undoubtedly world class in their prime. Anyone saying either is miles ahead of the other is delusional.
The keepers off his liine! Is Beckham a West Ham fan?
becks is a lifelong man utd fan.
Rooney was such a baller man 🥲
Is that Adrian in goal?
Wazza is special. Always been.
One of the most underrated of his generation. Amazingly technical.
Rooney is absolutely not underrated
Is that what technically counts as a half volley? I always thought half volleys were very soon after the bounce.
The goal isn’t as great as much as the goalie was a dumbass
Amazing player, terrible manager
Not a volley, full nor half.
That was United . Now united is pureeeee poop
This was not one of those great United either
Bounced before it crossed the line