SILLY money may buy Shaun Wright-Phillips but few people are buying John Wardle's bold assertion!
City's chairman must have been at the Christmas sherry early when he declared that the Blues star is in Wayne Rooney's class.
The fact is that what Wright-Phillips might do today, Rooney did yesterday - Old Trafford's teenager even celebrates his birthday 24 hours before the City man.
Catch-up
Wright-Phillips had a four-year head start on the Liverpudlian but he's playing catch-up in terms of achievement.
Rooney was just 16 when he made his Premiership debut for Everton against Spurs in August 2002.
When Wright-Phillips was 16, the little Londoner was still coming to terms with the fact that Nottingham Forest had just told him he wasn't good enough to make it as a footballer. Rooney was five days short of his 17th birthday when he hit his first Premiership goal, a wonderful winner against champions Arsenal.
Wright-Phillips was 21 before he scored his first Premiership goal for City.
Record-breaker
Before Wright-Phillips was a major hit with Blues fans, Rooney, then at Everton, became the youngest-ever England player at 17 years 111 days when he made his debut at Upton Park against Australia.
He went on to become the country's youngest-ever international scorer at 17 years and 317 days.
Reacting to the clamour for Rooney's elevation to the national side, England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson applied the adage that `if you are good enough you are old enough'.
When a less vociferous debate arose over whether SWP should go to Euro 2004, the Swede was comfortable with his decision that the City player wasn't yet good enough to break up a recognised squad for Portugal.
Superstar
That tournament elevated Rooney to superstar status as he tormented the continent's best defences with four goals and helped persuade United to part with '30m for his services.
The Scouser immediately began to repay that fee with a stunning Champions League debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce.
By contrast, Wright-Phillips was unable to make a major impact in last season's UEFA Cup against a set of Welsh part-timers in TNS and unknowns from Belgium and Poland.
Had SWP been the '25m-plus jewel that Wardle reckons he is, surely he should have been able to steer City single-handedly through such nondescript European matches.
The pro-Wright-Phillips lobby will argue that their player hasn't the same class around him as Rooney enjoys with England and United.
World-beater
But Rooney was hailed a world-beater even in a mundane and unspectacular Everton team.
And even in esteemed company, the teenager is often the catalyst his team-mates expect to provide a spark.
Without Rooney, would England have made it past the group stages at Euro 2004? No.
Was it coincidence that when he went off injured against Portugal in the quarter-finals the team collapsed? No.
Rooney is a true inspiration, a man described by that shrewdest of judges Sir Alex Ferguson as `the best player this country has seen in the past 30 years'.
Wright-Phillips is undoubtedly England material and wouldn't be out of place among United's ranks. But better than Rooney, Mr Wardle? You're having a larf!
STUART MATHIESON
FORGET transfer fees, England caps or even worldwide profile, when it comes to value Shaun Wright-Phillips gets the nod over wonder boy Wayne.
No-one disputes that Rooney is a potential superstar and a rare talent, and any manager with even half a brain would like the Liverpudlian and Wright-Phillips in the same starting line-up. But it's the boy in Blue who has the more arresting overall profile.
Although four years Rooney's senior, it is true to say Wright-Phillips has been a late developer and that has helped him grow into a mature player.
Versatile
It is the City man's versatility where he wipes the floor with 'Roonaldo'.
While the expensive Reds purchase is heavy artillery, a striking broadsword, Wright-Phillips is the rapier, rapid attack force capable of hurting the opposition from virtually anywhere on the pitch.
And when it comes to goals there is nothing to choose between the two Manchester favourites.
Wright-Phillips was not a natural goal grabber in his early days and it took him what seemed an age to get off the mark in the first team, but the Blues star is a real grafter and, with help from others, has made himself into a regular marksman.
Spectacular
Not only is he now a spectacular goalscorer but he is also frequently a scorer of spectacular goals.
His first for England against Ukraine at St James Park, Newcastle, was as good as anything Rooney has produced for his country - and there would be more if only Eriksson would give the lad the chance.
Six goals this season from midfield has the durable and ever-present Wright-Phillips joint top of the Blues' goal charts and makes him as prolific as the teenager across town.
Threat
Tag those on to a double figure return in front of goal last season and it is easy to see why other teams regard Wright-Phillips as such a threat and double mark him in virtually every game.
United fans will no doubt point to Rooney as the more all-around striker, and that may be the case.But where Wright-Phillips really leaves Wayne way behind is in terms of versatility.
Wing-back, full-back, central midfield, right wing, left wing, central striker and playing off a lone front-man, the 23-year-old has done the lot over the past two seasons in the Premiership and prompted manager Kevin Keegan to joke that if SWP was a foot taller he might also try him at centre-half!
That is not to say SWP is jack-of-all-trades and master of none because that is clearly not the case.
Where Rooney relies on pace and power, Wright-Phillips has quick feet and a nimble mind to add to huge courage and a heart as big as anyone's on the planet. The City man has cunning and guile oozing from every pore and is a cleverer player than his United counterpart.
Wonderful
He is also less likely to get himself in trouble than Rooney and therefore play more games. Two yellow cards in two seasons is testimony to his wonderful temperament.
While Rooney sometimes seems intent on having a running dialogue with opponents and referees alike, and can sometimes appear immature in his actions - witness the recent events in Spain for England - Wright-Phillips has the perfect disposition and character.
He takes everything on the pitch in his stride and that is why no-one at Eastlands was surprised by the dignified and mature way he handled the racist abuse in the Bernabeu.
Off the pitch too, Wright-Phillips is among the best examples of English football.
City fans wouldn't thank their manager or board for swapping the two players for, as chairman John Wardle said, SWP is the heartbeat of Manchester City. He may well have a price in the transfer market but he is priceless as a human being.
CHRIS BAILEY
Who's the Premiership's brightest young talent: Roo or SWP? have your say
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Another slow news day I see.......Rooney wins hands down. Ask Shevchenko who he'd prefer!
The Roo wins it!
Ridiculous article. SWP is out of there ASAP anyway
Ooh, I'll need some time to think about that one!
Pointless debate. Rooney has already peaked whilst SWP improves every year. Strikers are judged by the goal record, Rooney's currently stands at a goal every 4 games....enuf said!!
Whats this comparison about? Size, money? Name it, hehehe. Poor SWP.
that hagiography of SWP is the funniest thing I have read in years. He is an OK player no doubt, but funny how really top judges dont seem to share that view. Where exactly did he come in the Euro young player of the year list won by Rooney, and voted on by coaches?
Sure rooney has a fiery temperament that could backfire. But he has the potential to be as brilliant a player and influence as Maradona. And I dont say that lightly. Maradona won the world cup single handed in 1986. He turned napoli into champions sijngle handed. Possibly, just possibly rooney could do the same for england and United in years to come, particularly as players get better protection from refs these days.
SWP may just about make the squad for the world cup. I doubt he could keep city in the premiership if they have a bad run. End of story
should I lough or cry?? 62 mil depts!!! Mr Wardle Whats your problem mate?
SWP is just a good midfielder.
Young Wayne is a force! He is unbelievable... He doesnt take prisoners at all.. HE WILL BECOME THE NEW CANTONA and RONALDO WILL BECOME THE NEW GEORGIE BEST. We just need a replacement for KEANO!!! Mavuba of B4Frenche side Bordeaux would be a fantastic signing.
I believe Rooney was just voted the best under 21 player with Ronaldo 2nd! Stupid question really.
SWP looks good for City but even Forlan would have looked good there.He will just end up on the scrap pile like all that comes from City.
swp is in a different class to rooney.
rooney needs a diet and the fact he reckons he is the best keeper at the swamp says it all.
swp will take the place of over rated beckham in the england squad and once he gets his chance he will become a firm fravourite jst like rooney has in the hearts of the nation.
finally both players are sensational in their own way.
SWP is still potential talent, he is unproven at the highest level. Rooney his junior by a number of years has demonstrated so much more.
I rate SWP and he could become a very good player but Rooney will be a world beater, he is already either world class or on the edge of it, SWP is not even a regular in the England team.
SWP is worth about 12-15 million pounds. Rooney on the other hand was a snip.
SWP should be an automatic starter for England ahead of the increasingly pedestrian Beckham. In the portugal game England were well under the cosh before Rooney went off, so to say that was the reason they lost is a load of rubbish. And what exactly has Rooney done this season. Take out the game against a woefully inept Fenerbache team and he has what, two goals. A world-class striker this does not make. It's Beckham all over again, when you become the darling of the media you can get away with anything.
Now let me think....................
one plays for a real team and the other a MASSIVE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a stupid article - 2 biased individuals comparing players that are completely different.
I without hesitation pick Shawn Wright-Phillips, he has a better temperament he keeps his cool under pressure.
Bailey is wrong. So Rooney was hailed as a world beater at everton was he? last season at everton (who finished one place below city, so the teams are of a similar standard) he scored fewer goals that SWP did at city and generally didnt have much impact. As soon as everton sold him - 2nd in the prem. I cant imagine what would happen to city if we took SWP out of our side.
SWP carried city for a lot of last season and the start of this. Rooney was unable to carry everton last year and they nearly got relegated.
Yes Rooney had good games against Croatia and Switzerland (who are both rubbish) at euro2004 , SWP would have torn those two sides apart.
Rooney is a potential superstar, but SWP is the more effective player now. Only Rooney's profile ensures that he has more England opportunities.
Playing catch-up is a joke! Yes, Rooney is England's youngest ever goalscorer, but remind me who scored minutes after coming on for his England debut? SWP.
Rooney will hopefully turn in to the best player in the world, but for the moment, he is just a boy learning his trade. SWP is now a dynamic one-man-attack capable of creating something from nothing, beating players, scoring goals, tackling back etc. He is a much more complete footballer at present.
A ridiculous debate, Rooney surely wins hands down. Wayne will be doing his stuff for United for years to come, SWP will be gone inside 8 months tops! Get over it City, stop trying to compete with United, you are always doomed to fail. For example; "The council house is better than OT", "Bell was better than Best", "SWP better than Rooney", give up lads, you are a disillusioned laughing stock with no money and the decent players you have (two at the most) are soon to play for "bigger"* clubs. *= Anelka 12/2004
SWP by a country mile! Good role model. If it wasn't for David Platt's incompetence, as he then was, England U21 Manager (and at Forest if I remember right) - "he's far too small to make the grade" - then SWP would have blossomed at the top level even earlier - then again he's still got sven's love of beckham to overcome now. Forest's loss was CITY's gain. Cheers.
I thought this was going to be a fair debate but all it has turned into is the chance for the muen reporter to have a sly dig at swp.Both players are superb players but how can you say one is better than the other when they play in different positions.
Can't help but notice that the Utd fans assertions are :
a) Based on Rooney's achievements with either Everton & England
b) IN THE PAST
They're both extremely good players, however, Rooney can never be as dear to Utd fans as SWeeP is to City fans 'cos he was BOUGHT in. I also put it to Utd fans that, as far as model professional goes they are chalk & cheese. Rooney being something along the Gazza/Stan Collymore mould while SWeeP more the Southgate/Wright Snr. mould.
Both decent players as I said, and I hope for Englands' sake that they both turn out to be as good as they promise
Firstly, this is probably not a comparison that can be made. They are totally different players. However, in response to some of the points made:
1. The comparison is supposed to be based on now, not when they were the same age. If you want to use that argument, there's plenty of time for Rooney to fall off the rails (he's certainly got the temperament to do so!). 2. Rooney wasn't a world beater while playing for Everton! Apart from a couple of spectacular goals, he struggled to get a game. Compare Everton this season without him and that tells its own story. He does, however, clearly flourish with better players around him. Who wouldn't. SWP probably doesn't have that luxury to the same extent, but to be fair, he turns it on more often than not regardless. 3. Rooney was rightly taken to Euro 2004 because we had no better options up front. If Shearer had've come out of retirement, Rooney wouldn't have got a game. That's the way football goes sometimes. 4. SWP didn't go because there's no way Sven was going to drop his golden boy (with hindsight he should've because England are, nowadays, a far better proposition with SWP out on the right). 5. It is very difficult to even think of something to seriously criticise SWP about. He is a model professional, a wonderful player as well as an exceptional prospect and is a truly nice lad. Rooney? Probably the same for most of these points, although only time will tell in terms of his prefessionalism, temperament and character!
Mundane Everton ! arn't they ahead of United in the Premiership. They are also playing so much better without wonder boy Rooney. I may be a Man City Blue but if I could Swap Rooney for Wright-Phillips it would be a no-brainer. It's down to feet, and Wright-Phillips has his firmly on the ground, sensible, inteligent, articulate and a damm good player. Rooney is Jack the Lad, head in the clouds, larakin attitude, had it too easy too soon. This does not bode well for longevity. I look at Rooney and I see Gasgoine, and Best. Sorry United you have done your money.
Redman
Are you stupid. SWP is not under 21 years of age
Mathieson! Open your one eye and smell the coffee! Rooney was hardly the inspiration at Everton that you claim him to be at United and even for England he is greedy with the ball. He also cost B#30mil more than SWP and cannot compete for versatility or creative thinking...unless you count blasting shots in from the edge of the penalty area at every opportunity ignoring the blatant passes that are availabe as inventiveness that is. SWP beats Rooney hands down for value and is every bit in the same class as Rooney and I know which I'd rather have...