Yeah, noticed that too Biggus - "Rooney to leave United" has actually been splashed on the headlines the past couple of days.

I can't say that I have ever seen Rooney as more than a quality footballer (not really a 'star' in the way that Beckham was) so for me the impact of and interest in any stories involving him is minimal.

The amount of column inches devoted to him and the fact that he is england's golden boy would, however, suggest that his popularity is still at an all-time high.

You cannot avoid this news at all in this country. It dominates every inch of media. Radio, television, front pages of newspapers. I think this leads up to being the biggest, and most controversial transfer in the history of English football.

I'd be stunned if he stays now. With Rooney going, Valencia out for months and Giggs/Scholes not playing much it's seriously going to hinder ManU's season, we've a great chance to finish above them

Apparently he's rejected a move to Juve after finding out the Old Lady was just a nickname.

Biggus wrote:

Perhaps some of you UK based people can tell me, is Rooney still a popular favourite and draw card with the public, would he still sell shirts etc?
Because here in Australia this is big news.

He is, or should I say was, an idol in Manchester and to United fans everywhere. On top of that most neutral England fans love him too.

IBL wrote:

I'd be stunned if he stays now. With Rooney going, Valencia out for months and Giggs/Scholes not playing much it's seriously going to hinder ManU's season, we've a great chance to finish above them

We'll definitely finish above them. In fact no one in Manchester should be finishing above us this season.

James wrote:

They're Manchester United though Ricky. Individuals leaving the club won't effect them. Their finances may not be too great, but they'll never go bankrupt. They're the worlds biggest club.

This whole situation reminds me of the Roy Keane outburst. He was quick to come out with similar comments when United went through a barren spell, and pretty much the same spine of the team he slagged off, went on to win the double.

I really couldn't give a shit about Rooney though, or where he ends up. Only thing i've taken out of this, is that it's made me really appreciate how Cesc and the club dealt with the entire summer.

No one's saying they will go bankrupt, mate. It only takes a 5% decrease in your level, or even just staying at the same level you were at the season before, to go backwards in this ever evolving game of ours.

United are in a poor position, a poor position now, and looking at their squad, their financial commitment to said squad, there in a poor position moving forward. Rooney has as good as said that himself, whether you choose to believe him or not is another thing - personally, I do.

Of the team that featured in the Champions League final against Chelsea in 2008, these players are now either gone, or very likely, going by the end of the season.

van der Sar
G. Neville
Hargreaves
Scholes
Giggs
Ronaldo
Tevez
Rooney

That's without mentioning the serious decline of Rio Ferdinand, who hasn't been near a top class player for 2 seasons now. And then there's Wes Brown, Evra, Vidic, O'Shea, Carrick, Park Ji Sung, Owen and Berbatov, who are all reaching the decline phase of their careers - and one or two, the ones with real quality, will be getting itchy feet no doubt after recent events.

Do you see the required talent in the likes of Kuszczak, Rafael, Fabio, Evans, Smalling, Gibson, Cleverly, Fletcher, Gibson, Anderson, Nani, Obertan, Valencia, Wellbeck, Macheda, Bebe, Hernandez - to go on and win the big trophies over the next 5 years, minus the guidance of Ferguson?

I don't, and neither does Rooney - and that's what United and Fergie are banking on. The amount of money they have invested in first recruiting those players, and secondly pinning them down in long-term contracts, where they are paid more for their potential than their current ability, is a massive financial undertaking - similar to what we've seen at Arsenal in the last several years. Basically I'm saying additional serious investment is going to be difficult and would render all of the huge investment in those players futile.

They're in a very precarious position, there's no doubt about it.

So, based on what you're saying Ricky, we can rule out him moving to Chelsea?

Where do you think he'll end up? The way i see it, is that Chelsea aren't in any better position for the future than what United currently are. Abramovich seems to have put his wallet away, and wants them to become a self-sufficient club. They've cut the wage bill, aren't looking to re-negotiate contracts, and certainly don't have any better a youth setup than what United have. He may win trophies over the next year or two, but what i'm saying is that their ambition, to me, only seems to match United's.

He'll go to City, be on more money a week than what many of us won't earn in our lifetime, and claim that it's all down to ambition. Bullshit i'm afraid.

We'll see I guess.

I think there's a big difference between the situations at United and Chelsea. Sure they're ageing in the same way, but they have far more top class footballers still in their prime than United do - and perhaps the main difference: unlike United, they haven't committed a huge proportion of their financial clout into what I would essentially call duds. They still have money to invest in new contracts and new players - United, in my opinion, have financially committed to the squad at their disposal, allowing for the odd change. Much like Arsenal have.

I genuinely think United have only two top class players: Vidic and Rooney. No one else. Some good players, sure, but not top class like those two. Chelsea have Cech, Terry, Cole, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Drogba - perhaps even more. I don't see how they are comparable both now and looking forward. When you also factor in the chance that Abramovic can flick the switch at any moment and compete with anyone.

Put it this way if I said to you as a 25 year old footballer in his prime (forgetting about Arsenal) "you can join United or Chelsea, take your pick" right now, honestly who would you choose - where are you more likely to win trophies?

City seems the most likely destination to me - put one in United's eye without even having to change beds, and get paid a mint to do it. But there are a lot of problems with the idea, not least the two clubs agreeing on a valuation.

Reckon Rooney might end up leaving for a figure in the 30m range, as there are relatively few clubs to which you feel he would agree to go, but United have no time to haggle or cause trouble if they want a fee at all.

@ Ricky.

I think if i'd signed a contract at the world's biggest club, one that made me the worlds most expensive teenager, paid me £100,000+ a week, gave me 3 League Titles, 2 League Cups, 1 Champions League, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, made me one of the worlds best strikers, supported me during personal problems...i'd probably get my head down and work harder than ever before as soon as times turned slightly hard. I say that, but he's playing for a club that is still currently unbeaten this season.

I would at least keep my mouth shut until the end of the season, and not leak stories to the press like a coward. Everything about this is just bizarre to me, and stinks of greed. Perhaps i'm the fool that still believes there's some loyalty left in football. Hardly the finest example though, seeing as this is the same man who left his boyhood club for fierce rivals. I doubt it'd stop him again. Anyway, that's my opinion, and you're just as entitled to your own 🙂

No, that's all perfectly reasonable, mate. Although, I don't think we know the half of what's gone on there, and probably won't until Rooney's next book comes out, or Fergie's!

Still the question remains, who would join? You know the only answer can be Chelsea.

Also I really do find the accusation of him lacking loyalty when he left Everton harsh, and genuinely always have. He had the world at his feet, had just starred in a major international tournament as an Everton player - the only sensible course of action was to leave. Everton got extremely well rewarded in the process, too, don't forget that. He did nothing wrong by going to United, he was never, ever going to achieve anything at Everton. It would almost be like criticising Aaron Ramsey for leaving Cardiff at 17.

Ferguson looked a broken man at his press conference on Tuesday. Unless that conference is worthy of a BAFTA, i really don't see any of what he said being bullshit. Ferguson says they haven't fallen out, Rooney declares his respect for a great man. Something may have happened behind the scenes, but when you're playing at the club like United, under a manager like Ferguson, you think you'd want to work that out. So, i'm not sure about that.

Chelsea are currently head and shoulders above any other team in this league. They'll win the league easily. But like i said, i really don't see them showing any more ambition in terms of future progress at this current time. Their team is ageing, and over all, have a much older team than that of United's.

And, i do agree about that. A move to United was too good to turn down. However, i very much doubt you'll see Aaron Ramsey stabbing us in the back in 4 or 5 years time.

I think we've come to the conclusion that we both have reasonable reasons for holding the opinion we do. Like you said above, agree to disagree. Will be very interesting to see where the guy ends up though.

I agree about Aaron btw, seems a genuinely good guy. Fully expect him to become a legend here one day.

My money is on City FWIW. I certainly can't see him moving abroad.

Anyway, i see 30 United "mobs" turned up outside his house tonight 😆