WAYNE Rooney has to accept his three-match ban as a harsh lesson in life as a Manchester United player, according to boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Reds will have to do without their teenage sensation against Middlesbrough after they decided there was no point in appealing against the charge handed out for Rooney's push in the face of Bolton defender Tal Ben Haim on Boxing Day.
The 19-year-old Reds star has been quietly spoken to by Ferguson, who feels he is being singled out because of a profile that grew uncontrollably after his exploits at Euro 2004 and his subsequent move to Old Trafford.
Rooney's clash with Ben Haim at Old Trafford was highlighted by TV and the written media due to Rooney's status rather than the severity of the offence, United argue.
But Ferguson and senior players like Roy Keane have already warned the fiery Scouser that he has to learn to live with the intense scrutiny.
"Wayne is obviously disappointed. I have spoken to him about raising his hand, but he didn't need me to do that," said Ferguson.
"The profile he has in his normal life is unusual for a 19-year-old. You have to get him to behave like a 30-year-old at such a tender age.
"Young boys do have an adventure about them that older players don't have. Experience teaches you many things, but unfortunately you can't put the clock forward.
"He will have to accept the responsibility of being the most talked about player in Britain, and this is a definite lesson for him."
Media hype
Ferguson led the calls from the United camp for the FA to take a step back from a situation which has seen players on trial amid unbearable media hype.
But he also says his players have a responsibility to conduct themselves with restraint in the glare of the TV spotlights.
"We don't have any players with serious disciplinary problems, but from time to time, because of the number of games we play and the competitive level we play at all the time, you will get competitive situations arising and you depend on your players to handle them," said the United boss.
Ferguson wants Rooney to follow the hard-earned example of skipper Roy Keane, who has harnessed his volatile temperament in the last two seasons and is now rarely involved in anything untoward.
Keane and other senior players have already spoken to Rooney about the situation, and how to deal with life as a United player.
"You have to channel your aggression but the thing about forwards or explosive players is that you don't want them to lose the explosive part of their make-up, because that is what makes them," said Ferguson.
"We have had a meeting with Roy Keane and other senior players about this, and they summed it up perfectly.
"But Wayne will be all right - it is just a lesson that he can't do anything without the focus falling on it."
Do you think Rooney will cope with the pressure and fulfil his potential? Have your say.
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Costing near 30 million you would hope so!
You would have thought by now he would have started learning, this is not the first time we have talked about his volatile nature, and I fear it will not be the last. It seems harsh that the ban he will get will be the same as Dunc and Disorderly who gave the Charlton player a considerable forearm smash, however he knows the rules, and should know better.
Gazza was just as great and look what happened to him!!
He should attend an anger management course if he wants to succeed!!
Let's not be too harsh guys, he's only 19. We were all a bit hot-headed at that age, right? He is far and away the most gifted young player about and, under the guidance of SAF and Keano, will be an absolute superstar for United.
We all knew that Rooney had a violatile nature that needed to be curbed, this its just this impetousness, which he will have to learn to curb. If other teams think he`ll take the bait as easy as this he`ll become a marked man. Grow up son and think of the team before yourself. NO-ONE IS BIGGER OR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE WHOLE TEAM.
If Wayne Roonet had the same discipline and attitude that SWP has he might just fulfil that potential of being the best young player around,until then NO WAY!
On one hand we would want all these antics of Rooney stopped but on the other hand if it effects his competitiveness and alround game a happy medium must be found. He`s young and with our team around him, he`ll pick up quick whats right and wrong for himself.
What was it the Bible said about turning the other cheek,I dont recall it say fall on the ground and pretend you have been hit by a brick.I would not change anything about Rooney.
Petulant. That's all. Broke the rules of the game, and deserves the punishment, but the Bolton player deserves at least the same, for nothing else than bad acting. Worse than Rivaldo at the World Cup and that was terrible. Rooney needs a bit of a rest anyway, but does leave us thin up front, so let's hope we can get goals from other areas. Still, will never be convinced about Giggs for the long term, but he's doing well right now and we need him and Scholes to continue to step up and keep the streak alive. Difficult game at Boro, bit of a bogey team for us but we are showing decent shape lately. To all the Fletcher critics, I think he was terrific in both the Bolton and Villa games, tracked back very well, kept passes simple and clean and generally made a nuisance of himself to the opposition. Hope there's more to come from him.
Happy New Year everyone.
Silly thing to do but it goes on all the time in football, i counted 7 or 8 such incidents in the other matches shown on match of the day, but nothing was said so no action taken. Terry Henry against Newcastle tussles with a defender wags his finger and taps him on the head twice, Sky's commentator laughs it off, but in the laws of the game am offence was committed because Terry had raised his hand and made contact with the other players head. just as Rooney did, difference no press outcry and coward rolling on the floor because it is his instint to drop to the floor, as the whinger would say a "cheat"
were posting BIBLE QUOTES! now? I feel so inadequate.
ted, let's be honest, if SWP were THAT good, he wouldn't be playing for a small, bottom-half club going nowhere like City.
First an foremost the good name of our illustrious club must not be jeopordised in any way by the behaviour of players, or supporters. Although Wayne is still a boy, he is doing mens work and has to learn to rise above the undoubted intimidation he regularly encounters. He is under the microscope at all times, both on and off the pitch. The intimidation that occurs in games now is lamentable with Manchester United receiving the lions share from some opposing teams eager to pull them down a peg or two. Success breeds envy and jealosy by some teams and media but it is to the credit of most team members over many years that their conduct has been exemplary. The best way to answer the trouble makers is on the pitch!
all this flap about the bolton lads dive,it was rooneys dive that started the handbag twirlin in the first place.
all it was was push in the face there was nothing wrong with it but the player he pushed was a girl and held his head and got a way with it