Scott Lawless looks into the debate that has the whole footballing world talking

IN the past few weeks there have been numerous sports articles
claiming, that, if they had to choose between Wayne Rooney and
Cristiano Ronaldo, they would choose the English front man.

That decision is formed based on one of Johnny Giles’ favourite
quote, “honesty of effort”. Graham Souness claimed that opposition
teams would prefer to see the Portuguese star on the team sheet than
Rooney.

Work rate of course, is an important part of football and the work
Rooney puts in does create space for players like Ronaldo and Tevez to
thrive.

But ask anybody in the game, the hardest thing to do in football is put the ball in the back of the net.
John
Giles is not one for the statistics, but I am. This season, United’s
winger Ronaldo has played 42 games and has scored 37 goals, as opposed
to Rooney’s 38 games played and 17 goals scored.

It’s not just about the goals though. When Rooney went nine games
without a goal, it was Ronaldo’s hard work that laid two goals on a
plate for Rooney against Aston Villa a few weeks back.

Also, let’s compare their consistency. Rooney, throughout his
Manchester United career, has regularly gone on an eight or nine game
run without scoring. However, this season, when United needed a goal,
there has been only one man who has stepped up.

Rooney for all his work and endurance has not been the player that
people thought when he first came. He doesn’t burst through defences
and hit unstoppable shots from outside the box like he did when he was
18.

This is possibly due to manager Alex Ferguson’s reluctance to play
him behind a striker, most believe this is his most effective position.
And who knows, if United get a big target man next year, it may be
Rooney that will be the star of the show playing in his natural
position.

However, this year most of the plaudits must go to Ronaldo. Not
since, when Thierry Henry was at his best have we seen one player,
almost single-handily defeat teams in the Premier League and you could
argue that if Ronaldo keeps this form up, he may eclipse the wonderful
French man.

There is also, the myth that Ronaldo does not perform on the big
stage. He is top scorer in the Champions League with 7 goals and has
scored against Arsenal and Liverpool in the league. But it was the
all-important first goal in Rome, which showed the class of the 23 year
old.

As Paul Scholes clipped the ball in, there was no one to be seen.
But, out of nowhere, Ronaldo rose highest to score a wonderful header,
which showed so much heart, pace and commitment. That has summed up his
season and that wasn’t even enough to silence some of the critics
about his impact on big games.
How do you define a big game? United
played Derby County away, who showed great persistence throughout the
game only for “you know who” to come up with a great finish. Three
points is three points and every game is a big game, particularly
towards the end of the season.

What more does Ronaldo have to do to be appreciated by the Irish media?

Dennis Irwin claimed that Wayne Rooney has played as good if not
better than Ronaldo. Eamon Dunphy continues to question how effective
he is and many sports journalists are not appreciating the fact that a
truly great player is having the season of his life in the best league
in the world.

Ronaldo is closing in on Van Nistelrooy’s record of 44 goals
during a prolific season five years ago. But that was just his game.
Ronaldo sets up many goals, contrary to belief; he does track back,
while at the same time entertaining the crowd with memorising runs and
fancy flicks.

As the season comes to a close, many believe that it is Rooney’s
time and that he will be the one to fire United to Premier League and
European glory. However, when United have been struggling for goals,
there has only been one man that has burdened the responsibility.

If they are to achieve the Double this season, it will be Ronaldo
that will fire them to glory. If that happens then he will surely get
his well-deserved World Player of the Year award.