Becoming England's top goal-scorer and cap-winner would be an astonishing feat, whatever era you’re on about and whatever you think of him as a player
Much has been made of Wayne Rooney’s unsuitability to lace Jimmy Greaves’ or Bobby Charlton’s boots.
As he approaches their England goal-scoring totals, people like Paul Merson say “you have to put it in perspective. Sir Bobby Charlton scored 49 goals for England against much better teams“ and Rooney “hasn’t won the World Cup, has he?”
No, he hasn’t, and yes, there were fewer Mickey Mouse sides in the good old days. Although Charlton and Greaves both scored hat–tricks in a 9-0 thrashing of Luxembourg, and Greaves, like current skipper Rooney, scored only once in World Cup finals.
But if you want a different perspective on Rooney, look at the England Under-21 goal-scoring record Saido Berahino is chasing - the total of 13 jointly scored by Alan Shearer and Franny Jeffers.
Remember Jeffers - Arsene Wenger’s “Fox in the Box”?
He first played for the Three Lions against Australia in 2003, alongside another debutant, Wayne Rooney.
Two hugely-promising talents who went to the same school and the same Everton Academy.
One never played for England again. Thus far, the other has played a further 98 games, scoring 43 times, and is on course to score more goals and win more caps than any other Englishman in history.
Whatever era you’re talking about and whatever you think of Rooney, that is an astonishing achievement that deserves the utmost recognition and respect.
And of you want more perspective, Paul Merson played for England for seven years. And scored three times.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/brian-reade-column-wayne-rooney-4443489#ixzz3GHpWty4q
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