Spurs v United: Verdict

Stuart Mathieson

April 18, 2006

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BACK ON FORM: Wayne Rooney

SIR Alex Ferguson had better prepare himself for another "load of nonsense" surrounding Wayne Rooney.

The United manager was seething after the stalemate against Sunderland on Good Friday when he claimed that the hype surrounding his wonder kid winning the World Cup for England was somewhat over the top.

Fergie was incensed by what he saw as the media's take on soccer's biggest tournament, the view that the nation's hopes in Germany were resting on the 20-year-old's broad shoulders.

He argued the case that it all came home to roost against the Wearsiders in what he described as his young hitman's "worst" performance of the season.

Well, it's likely he is going to have to suffer acres more column inches and airtime propaganda as the countdown to June 10 intensifies.

The Reds boss was desperate to point out that, at 20 years of age, Rooney is still a kid. It is hard for Ferguson to convince the national press to temper their 'one-man' team line when the Liverpudlian puts in the kind of manful display he produced at White Hart Lane.

Guilt

Just four days after his lacklustre effort against Sunderland contributed to putting the kibosh on United's chances of snatching the Premiership crown from Chelsea's mitts, Rooney shrugged off the huge disappointment and personal guilt to see off a Tottenham side allegedly building up to produce the next big London challenge.

Martin Jol's young pretenders really did look wet behind the ears in comparison to the Reds and their England talisman.

Rooney looked as though he was on a personal crusade to ensure that, if nothing else, Chelsea wouldn't be celebrating the league title at Stamford Bridge before United had got out of the capital's boundaries by the late afternoon.

His executioner's eye for the main chance that was so agonisingly missing on Friday from all the side, took all the steam out of a Spurs outfit bouncing after a win on Saturday at Everton had bolstered their ambitions of securing the fourth-place Champions League berth.

United were so much more powerful and in tune than the hosts that it was hard to see this match being thrown away.

But it wouldn't be the Reds if they didn't make their fans suffer a touch even on these kind of occasions, with Jermaine Jenas sneaking a goal for Spurs. Luckily for the Reds, Rooney was in no mood to let another side deny United.

Do you think Rooney is coping with the pressure? Have your say.

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Showing 1 to 25 of 32 comments | View All

matt, bury, lancashire (18/04/2006 at 11:08)

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I have never read such a biased article. Spurs deserved a point at least - Ferguson admitted as much! They could have been two nil up in the first 20 minutes. What game were you watching?

Lord Hotspur, Civilisation (18/04/2006 at 11:10)

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You must have been drunk. I could have scored Rooney's second. Vidic should have been sent off, and United were lucky not to have lost heavily.

Martin, London (18/04/2006 at 11:26)

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What game were you watching? I suggest you subscribe to football first and check out a replay of the game. Spurs defending was naive at times, but the 'hosts' did miss four chances from well inside the 'visitors' penalty area with only the keeper to beat. Hardly comfortable was it??

GEORGE, RHYL (18/04/2006 at 11:28)

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On the pitch he is coping with the pressure.All he can do is go and have a good game and he does that week in week out.I don't think Rooney can win the world cup alone,but Lampard is a brilliant player and Gerrard is very good and there's a lot of talent in the squad.Rooney will play well and if everyone in the England side plays to their ability we could bring it home. England have a great chance and Wayne will play his part.The 1966 team is remembered as that; a team with great players.So it could be in 2006.Good luck England.

Mick, Dublin (18/04/2006 at 11:34)

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I suppose this Rooney nonsense is only gonna get worse between now and the World Cup? Tap-ins aside, I didn't think Rooney played any better yesterday than he did against Sunderland. He certainly gave the ball away a lot more. Don't get me wrong, the kid's a phenomenon and you only notice his off-days so much because of his own high standards. But against Spurs, it was Ronaldo that shone in the first half and Park in the second. And it was the two of them that put the goals on a plate for wonder-boy. Any chance maybe, just maybe, you could start giving some of the non-English players the credit they deserve?

hodie, wiltshire exile (18/04/2006 at 11:35)

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Nonsense has been written about footbal generally and MUFC in particular for at least 50 years. For Rooney read Best, Giggs, Whiteside, Robson etc, etc.
The first rule of journalism is that if there isn't a good story for today's edition then create one. A wily old fox like Fergie hardly needs advice on that score.

Joseph, Manchester (18/04/2006 at 11:42)

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Did you actually watch the game? We were a shambles for the first twenty and should have been four down. Comfortable I don't think so, for sure Spurs are wet behind the ears, but once they get a bit of experience they will be formidable.

Vidic has a lot to learn about english football and the sooner he learns the better if we are to over take Chelski.

Lee, Heywood (18/04/2006 at 11:47)

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Personal crusade?? Which of the two goals did you think he shouldnt have scored??? Both gifts one made by Ronaldo the other by Park both played better overall and Giggs and Oshea deserve SOME recognition for the way we are playing so too does Saha but as ever it is player of the month for March!! Rooney. Give us a break he is a striker afterall so scoring two tap ins barely makes a miracle. Yes his work rate is great but SAF is right he has much to learn before being hailed alongside the greats.

Garry,, Perth Australia (18/04/2006 at 12:05)

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Mate, were you watching the same game as everybody else, because if you were you would know that spurs should have been 3 nil up after 7 Minutes. The name of the game is to put the ball in the back of the net like Rooney did. A she had 2 chances the whole game and put the ball in twice. Yes i agree Spurs are still a bit wet behind the ears, but a draw would have been a fair result. the first 40 minutes your team was run off the park especially the defence, so to say that Man U outplayed Spurs, look at the stats, you biased idiot!

steve, Glossop (18/04/2006 at 12:09)

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Well he's keeping his cool on the pitch alot better. I didn't see any of the Sunderland game but anyone can have a rank game. Does Ferguson think his statements are going to make things better with the media? Maybe if he showed a better example & showed more charm & grace they may not be so eager to stir stuff. I understand the comments about Ronaldo even Park but it's clear that Roon is the better player at this stage.

Johnny Wong, Hong Kong (18/04/2006 at 12:13)

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I think RVN has passed it. He hasnt been looking sharp over the last few games. If you have watch the Sunderland and Spurs games, you can tell he has lost his instinct in front of goal, and he is getting a bit slow. The ball usually arrive to him but never successfully keep hold of it long enough...even though hes over 6 feet!!! the midfield isnt that strong now but did well over the last few games. If you look how Liverpool and Chelsea defend over the last few games especially Liverpool v blackburn first half...they never allow the opposing penetrate them or let them settle on the ball too long. Their midfielders always successfully close down on the opposing players very quickly.
Whereas Utd they the team pass freely!!!

Johnny

Bruno, Birmingham (18/04/2006 at 12:16)

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I thought spurs were the better team when they played the red devils on Monday. They were in control for large periods of the game having greater possession and more attempts on goal. I feel that Man Utd were lucky to capitalise on two Tottenham errors. I am pleasantly surprised and pleased with the progress Tottenham have made over the recent season fielding young English players.

GARY VINCENT, MOSTION (18/04/2006 at 12:50)

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WELL I WAS AT THE GAME DOWN IN LONDON AT TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH WE WERE LUCKY

jim, sydney, Australia (18/04/2006 at 12:51)

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What a load of rubbish!

It was a terrific game and United were lucky to come away with three points. A draw would have been a fair result, and had it not been for some poor finishing and one woeful error the Russians would have been claiming the silverware this week.

The power base is shifting south lads, get used to it. The boys in red of '91 are soon to collect their pensions, and the new English breed at WHL will be the team of the future and a large part of a great England team this year...

Spurrfect, Amsterdam (18/04/2006 at 13:00)

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Stuart obviously was not at the game. Spurs had more shots on target and more possession. In the end ManU were probably lucky to go away with all 3 points.

Adam, Manchester (18/04/2006 at 13:00)

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Im i really reading these comments right? People are actually claimimg Tottenham outplayed United? They came out flying in the first TEN minutes as you would usually expect a home side to do against a big side. After this united contolled possesion in the key areas. I know because ive seen the action areas stats and also watched the game twice. In the second half United were under the cosh again for about 10 minutes, but all these chances for Totenham came from set-plays and came about because Vidic made some bad clearences. I really rate Vidic but he is still a little naive in the Prem, but that will pass. The last half an hour of the game Totenham never looked like scoring. United looked like the home side. Nearly every respected football pundit in the country after the game said it was a good learning curve for Totenham against a clearly better side. I like Totenham aswell and i was impressed by their display but to claim they outperformed United, i think you should take a long sit down and consider whether football is the game for you.

GEORGE, RHYL (18/04/2006 at 13:18)

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We've come unstuck in the past by dominating games but not scoring.United showed class in finishing Spurs didn't.

Craig, sale (18/04/2006 at 13:26)

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When a side isn't playing on all cylinders it requires at least one player to stand up above all others Rooney was that man. An excellent performance and I would also like to add a note of appreciation to all fellow United fans at Spurs. We sang all the game and gave our lads great support as usual. This is often over-looked

Gary Neville, Mancunia (18/04/2006 at 13:43)

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I dont see the problem here. Fair play Rooney wasnt at his best against Sunderland or maybe Tottenham but he still scored two goals, tap ins or not. You cant expect him to play like one of the greats every game. Ruud is and always will be a scoring legend, so all this nonsense about him losing his touch and being to slow is ridiculous. The man is second leading goal scorer in the league, one behind Henry and if i was to bet on a winning goal, my money would be on him, everytime. I never felt like utd would lose to Tottenham, purely because we never do.

pete, sydney (18/04/2006 at 13:51)

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Adam, Manchester - spot on analysis. I thought Gary Neville was superb. He is an outstsanding leader. Well done Gary Neville - you are simply outstanding.
Good news for England is that Rooney only has a few more games before the world cup. He should be well rested and desperate. If e can get enough chances then England will win. Lets face it Gerard and Lampard should put enough quality balls through and that guy is strong enough to beat any defender.

Nikolai, Norway (18/04/2006 at 14:19)

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some of you need to shut it, and get behinde your team. Sunderland was a disappointment, but we managed to come clear with all three points against a Tottenham team that could have beaten anyone that day. And you can't blaim sunderland on Rooney. The hole team had an "offday" and Rooney is also just human- 20 years of age for thoose of you that has forgotten. Give him a break. The hole team will hopefully be up for it when they go to Stamford Bridge. Bring Chelsea on

Paul, London (18/04/2006 at 14:26)

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Blimey! What prompted all the pro Spurs, anti Utd rants? So Utd started cold. Nothing new there. And Spurs were quite good. Gosh, hold the front page. Tottenham had no luck in the first half because a thousand near misses will never make a goal. But when CR, Ruud, CR, Roon, bang, thanks 0-1 went in, couldn't any of you see the difference? I was impressed with the philosophical posts after Sunderland, but is this all the thanks the lads get for a superb no surrender show? It left me looking forward to Stamford Bridge. And as for Rooney, I daren't contemplate Utd without him fit and in the side.

Pat, Bickington (18/04/2006 at 14:45)

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Rooney was just sublime as he has been all season. Tottenham did not deserve a result from that game we bossed the first half after the first shaky 15 minutes and once we were two nil up at half time the job was done and we allowed Tottenham to have more possession of the football. I thought we tied the game up well after Tottenham scored, we looked pretty comfortable behind the ball, what did people expect a five nil thrashing? no Spurs are a good side and I thought we treated them with due respect and won because of this.

Sean the Red, Aberdeeno (18/04/2006 at 15:41)

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The rubbish surrounding Wayne is a disgrace, but hasn,t it always been the same for Man Utd players, Becks, Eric, Bestie etc.
This country is famous for idolising people then vomitting up envy and self rightous claptrap, especially the tabloid press. The "Spitting Images" caricature of the press as pigs was spot on.
Another of these self rightous, hypocritic, class envy ridden groups, Politicians are having a debate this Tuesday afternoon in the House of Commons about the so-called bad behaviour of footballers and how it influences young people.
A these MP,s paragons of virtue, keepers of public morality, with their index linked pensions, high salaries, paid overseas trips, peerages, umteen holidays and snouts in more troughs than pig with kleptomania.
So Wayne, go ahead and enjoy yourself because you only live once.
Ignore the hypocracy because football fans and most of the public hold football players in higher esteeem than the Press and MP,s., indeed in a survey the Press and MP,s were rated just above child murderers as the most hated people in the UK.

fred, st helens (18/04/2006 at 15:51)

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stuart matheson which planet do you live on fairy land.....

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