Actim Reports
Wayne's world implodes
By Alfonso Torr, LeagueFootballLive
Sir Alex Ferguson has put it down to the weight of expectation and others have suggested it was fatigue after another gruelling season.
Whatever the reason for Wayne Rooney's poor form at the World Cup, the Manchester United striker has plenty to do to restore his reputation as a world-class player.
Rooney failed to score in four matches and looked a shadow of the player who shone for United last season as England slipped out in the second round with a dismal 4-1 defeat to Germany.
United manager Ferguson was "not totally surprised" by England's failure, but has backed Rooney to come back better and stronger for the experience and thinks he will impress at the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
Ferguson explained: "I think there was such expectation on him. There was talk he was going to be the player of the tournament.
"Don't forget, that was the prelude to the whole thing -- he was going to be the star, he was going to outshine them all -- (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo. So that level of expectation comes into it.
"And he's not got great experience of [playing in] the World Cup really. You wait, in four years' time you'll see a different player."
Rooney's dismal displays in South Africa are even more baffling when you glance at the Actim Index, the official ratings system of the Barclays English Premier League.
The 2009/10 season was his best yet in terms of EPL goals as he scored 26 goals in 32 appearances. Only Didier Drogba, with 29 goals to his name, netted more times than Rooney.
Rooney averaged a goal every 110 minutes and roughly three shots on target every game. In fact, the former Everton star hit the target more times (94) than anyone else in the EPL, while only Drogba had more shots off target than Rooney.
He averaged a Match Index of 21 at home compared to 15 away from Old Trafford, with his best score of 63 coming on home soil.
Six yellow and no red cards shows Rooney kept his temper in check last season, although he did concede 24 fouls.
Perhaps the most impressive statistics show that Rooney made 41 dribbles, crossed 47 times and produced six assists. His all-round talents are obvious, even if he did not showcase them in South Africa.
Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool star, thinks he knows why Rooney went missing at the World Cup.
"In the Premier League his performances are staggering, spectacular," he said.
"In the Champions League he is good, but less so. In the national team, he struggles rather more.
"It's in the Premier League, where he is incredible, that he feels happiest.
"Since I joined Real (Madrid) a year ago I've been watching a lot of Premier League games at home on TV and I think to myself, 'My God? What a rhythm they play at!'
"Maybe it's hard for the English players to adapt to international football, to feel comfortable on the pitch. Watching England in this World Cup, my impression was that they struggled to enjoy the game."
ACTIM HEAD TO HEAD
Wayne Rooney v Didier Drogba
WAYNE ROONEY
Team: Manchester United
Position: Striker
Mins on pitch: 2879
Goals: 26
Shots on target: 94
Shots off target: 64
Passes: 596
Dribbles: 41
Crosses: 47
Assists: 6
Yellow cards: 6
Red cards: 0
Index score: 585
Index ranking: 7th
DIDIER DROGBA
Team: Chelsea
Position: Striker
Mins on pitch: 2962
Goals: 29
Shots on target: 87
Shots off target: 71
Passes: 315
Dribbles: 22
Crosses: 52
Assists: 13
Yellow cards: 7
Red cards: 0
Index score: 703
Index ranking: 2
By Alfonso Torr, LeagueFootballLive
Sir Alex Ferguson has put it down to the weight of expectation and others have suggested it was fatigue after another gruelling season.
Whatever the reason for Wayne Rooney's poor form at the World Cup, the Manchester United striker has plenty to do to restore his reputation as a world-class player.
Rooney failed to score in four matches and looked a shadow of the player who shone for United last season as England slipped out in the second round with a dismal 4-1 defeat to Germany.
United manager Ferguson was "not totally surprised" by England's failure, but has backed Rooney to come back better and stronger for the experience and thinks he will impress at the next World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
Ferguson explained: "I think there was such expectation on him. There was talk he was going to be the player of the tournament.
"Don't forget, that was the prelude to the whole thing -- he was going to be the star, he was going to outshine them all -- (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo. So that level of expectation comes into it.
"And he's not got great experience of [playing in] the World Cup really. You wait, in four years' time you'll see a different player."
Rooney's dismal displays in South Africa are even more baffling when you glance at the Actim Index, the official ratings system of the Barclays English Premier League.
The 2009/10 season was his best yet in terms of EPL goals as he scored 26 goals in 32 appearances. Only Didier Drogba, with 29 goals to his name, netted more times than Rooney.
Rooney averaged a goal every 110 minutes and roughly three shots on target every game. In fact, the former Everton star hit the target more times (94) than anyone else in the EPL, while only Drogba had more shots off target than Rooney.
He averaged a Match Index of 21 at home compared to 15 away from Old Trafford, with his best score of 63 coming on home soil.
Six yellow and no red cards shows Rooney kept his temper in check last season, although he did concede 24 fouls.
Perhaps the most impressive statistics show that Rooney made 41 dribbles, crossed 47 times and produced six assists. His all-round talents are obvious, even if he did not showcase them in South Africa.
Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool star, thinks he knows why Rooney went missing at the World Cup.
"In the Premier League his performances are staggering, spectacular," he said.
"In the Champions League he is good, but less so. In the national team, he struggles rather more.
"It's in the Premier League, where he is incredible, that he feels happiest.
"Since I joined Real (Madrid) a year ago I've been watching a lot of Premier League games at home on TV and I think to myself, 'My God? What a rhythm they play at!'
"Maybe it's hard for the English players to adapt to international football, to feel comfortable on the pitch. Watching England in this World Cup, my impression was that they struggled to enjoy the game."
ACTIM HEAD TO HEAD
Wayne Rooney v Didier Drogba
WAYNE ROONEY
Team: Manchester United
Position: Striker
Mins on pitch: 2879
Goals: 26
Shots on target: 94
Shots off target: 64
Passes: 596
Dribbles: 41
Crosses: 47
Assists: 6
Yellow cards: 6
Red cards: 0
Index score: 585
Index ranking: 7th
DIDIER DROGBA
Team: Chelsea
Position: Striker
Mins on pitch: 2962
Goals: 29
Shots on target: 87
Shots off target: 71
Passes: 315
Dribbles: 22
Crosses: 52
Assists: 13
Yellow cards: 7
Red cards: 0
Index score: 703
Index ranking: 2
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