THERE are some fairly sane folk walking this planet who consider the Harry Potter films superior to the Godfather trilogy; more sadly there are others who believe Shayne Ward is a better singer than Frank Sinatra, writes Tony Lanigan.

Worse still, it became obvious this week that there are a huge number of self-confessed sports fans who judge that a pretty Royal, who is quite accomplished at riding a horse, is our finest sportsperson of 2006. After all, it was `Noddy' who did the jumping.

Clearly, many of that disquieting group must also have voted in the poll to find the best 50 Manchester United players of all time.

Otherwise, why would Wayne Rooney figure anywhere near as high as No 11?

Even allowing for my lingering prejudice over the `Once a Blue, always a Blue' leaving the Goodison Academy to "win things" at Old Trafford, it is an insult to great United servants like Billy Foulkes, Dennis Viollet, Mark Hughes and Pat Crerand to be relegated to positions below the beefy and belligerent Scouser.

Rooney has worn the famous Red shirt for just over two seasons during which time he has been seriously injured, banned for a sizeable period and conducted a running, abuse-riddled battle with referees. Significantly, the club have endured their worst spell of success for a decade.

Now, there is no questioning Rooney's prodigious talent and, having signed a new contract for the next six years, he will undoubtedly figure highly among the United legends if he remains healthy.

But it is exceedingly premature to thrust him among the finest of his predecessors at the age of 21 when his progress has stalled to some degree, as highlighted by his series of misses in the Manchester derby.

The list is featured in United Opus, launched this week, which no doubt will have the old Stretford-Enders rushing to get hold of a copy as it is conservatively priced at just three grand.

OK, it is not exactly a pocket companion and anyone thinking of a quiet read on a train journey would need a handcart to get the tome to the station as it weighs in at about 80 pounds.

No doubt Roy Keane's prawn sandwich brigade will look forward to finding United Opus in their Christmas stocking but for the terrace lads who revere the greats of the past, their only chance of a glimpse is at a library which can afford to stock it.

The only future publication which might challenge it for size would be a record of the verbal exchanges between the Red Knight and the Special One between now and the end of the season.

Tweet