There used to be a time when the general belief was that, though Rooney was a Scouse rough arse and you could see from where he gathered his general footballing approach, you could never say he was ever involved in the 'black arts' on the football field. Not any more. It seems that the shoe-in England internationals, Terry, Gerrard and Rooney lead a charmed life in all domestic matches.
His deliberate kick could not in anyway be regarded as a genuine tackle. He should have been red carded for that, he got nowt. And the Helmut Haller impersonation in the second half took simulation to the stage of the London Palladium. What is simulation if it is not that?
Putting aside the blue tints on the presciption lenses is difficult, but every Rag tackle takes man and ball, every push pass, the passer is impeded if he felt he wanted to continue his run into space, every Blue who beat a Rag defender or midfielder legitimately, is grabbed or scragged on the way past in order to arrest the flow of the move. Every time Rooney is dispossessed the Ref is subject to verbal abuse.
I have seen enough of MANUre over the years to conclude that this approach is one which must be fostered on the training ground.
