Date: 19th October 2011 at 3:45pm
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In the aftermath of yesterday’s game, a gesture by Wayne Rooney seemed to rile up fans more than anything during the game.

Despite a soft red card for Nemanja Vidic as well as boo boys favourite Michael Carrick starting (who am I kidding his performance was still one of the game’s most talked about features) it was Wayne Rooney kissing the badge that seemed to get people talking.

Last night’s game was a hard one, tougher than expected against a team I, as well as many others, expected us to roll over but it took two Rooney penalties to dispatch the Romanian side.

Having converted the first effort, the striker proceeded to do the unthinkable and plant a smacker on the club’s emblem.

It was around this time last year that Wayne Rooney appeared to sever all ties with the club and fans by declaring he wanted a move away as the Manchester United’s ambitions did not match his own.

There was uproar, this was a man that had kissed the badge and stated just months previously it was his intention to remain at the club for the rest of his career so what had changed?

Cue banners being brandished at our game against Bursaspor and visits from masked men to his home to threaten against a proposed move to neighbours Man City but in the nature of the whole whirlwind affair by the end of the week, the situation had been rescued and Rooney, having admitted he was wrong, signed a new deal (a much more lucrative deal!) that would keep him at United for years to come.

The damage had been done though, Manchester United being Manchester United are a club not too fond of Scousers but Rooney had been our Scouser now he was as bad as the rest of them. Rooney wasn’t helping matters either, still performing like he had a problem. People thought he would be moving on in January or at the end of the season and that the signing of a new deal merely meant that we would be able to command a bigger fee but something finally clicked and in a flash Rooney began to restore his reputation.

The overhead kick against Man City went some way to healing the rift, scoring the solitary goal against Chelsea in the first leg of our Champions League quarter final first leg tie did too and by the end of the season with title 19 wrapped up and yet another appearance in the Champions League final (Rooney’s goal in the 3-1 loss was our sole moment of joy) it appeared the transgressions of the past Autumn were a mere after thought in what was another successful season.

I have always stated I could forgive without forgetting, I could not did not fully discard my liking of him in light of his comments and looking at how the matter has panned out those that were screaming that we sell him will be happy with how Sir Alex dealt with it as the striker has been knocking them in for fun this term, already on 13 goals.

I think despite Rooney’s apologies and the work he has done to make amends, we have every right not to forget as he questioned the quality of our club, it’s legends and the work of great men like Sir Matt and Sir Alex. I can also understand why some choose not to forgive too as that is a big thing for a man who had only just seen his first birthday when Sir Alex Ferguson took control of the club to do.

Rooney kissing the badge last night wasn’t as big a crime as it is being made out to be by some, by now we all know that Rooney is quite temperamental. When things are going well he is in good spirits. Despite what is going on with England and with his father, for United Rooney is flying and fingers crossed could beat the 34 goals he scored in 09/10 with 11 goals to the 7 he had scored by this time in that season.

Rooney is loving his football and the kissing of his badge, all though too soon after last season’s events, could benefit us as it may mean he is now back in love with United.

People have every right to remain cautious in regards to dealing with Rooney but for now take the gesture for what it was and allow him to continue to prove his apparent love for us by scoring goals.

 

6 responses to “Rooney: It started with a kiss…Again”

  1. RedScot says:

    Yikes it started with a kiss in my opinion there is nought wrong with a bit of ‘hot chocolate’.In fact in tandem with a frothy top, scrummy.
    .
    Lets be crystal clear United have few truly world class players and Wayne clearly is one world class player when is off field activities are under control.
    He is ours and regardless of what has happened in the past as far as I think not being a goodie two shoes myself, it basically is in the past.
    We need to get our heads around that, move on and give our full backing to the players that represent the club.There are many non United people that will happily and with vigour crash brickbats over his back, ridicule him and attempt to derail him and United for their own benifit.
    I certainly would not support this,if and its not an ‘if now our manager views Rooney as the fulcrum of the club I fail to understand why supporters cannot get on board with this and take our lead from Sir Alex.
    We have bigger issues to deal with in the makeup of the team than our talisman, who is likely to be gracing the United shirt for the rest of his playing carreer at the Theatre of Dreams.
    Lets get beind him and the players, I think thats what you call…….’support’!

  2. Ben H says:

    Bit of a renaissance for Michael Carrick last night. His passing was excellent, and for the first time, he didn’t just not put a foot wrong, he influenced the game heavily, from that slot in midfield where he drops back into the defence if anyone parades forwards. Great combative and intelligent performance I thought

  3. Joe says:

    @Ben H

    He still missed a sitter, though.

  4. Nati says:

    Who hasnt missed a sitter??? I also thought Carrick was the best player from United. Hope he continues to play well.

  5. nip says:

    so he kissed the badge, no big deal, get over it