What a week

What a week it has been. Not entirely sure where to start. I suppose with the issue that literally everyone is talking about. Yesterday, Nemanja Vidic turned 29. So Happy Birthday to him.

In a smaller headline mentioned by a few newspapers, United hosted Bursaspor on Wednesday evening and never has a game been overshadowed so much by a player who didnt even take to the pitch. No, not Owen Hargreaves, but Wayne Rooney. Before the World Cup, Rooney was perfectly happy and declared he was at the best club in the world. Then after an iffy start to the season, and a variety of conflicting reports in the press, we were told that in August, Rooney turned up and said he wasnt sure the clubs future plans were ambitious enough, and he wanted to leave. What Rooney, or more likely the agents who dwell on players shoulders whispering money into their ears, was effectively doing was raising doubt over the ability of Manchester United to attract talent and earn success. If Rooney or his agents can read, perhaps a topic of discussion for another blog, any remotely-related-to-football book will detail United as having arguably the richest history of ANY football club and its ability to earn trophies is just unquestionable.

After these comments were made, Sir Alex engaged in a frank interview in which he played an absolute blinder. He solidified the clubs stance on matters and planted the seed for the mindset of Rooney the villain, the one who had it wrong. Shortly after, as I return to my desk today, I read that Rooney has decided to stay. A new five-year deal in fact. Probably with a fair bit of money per week.
Rooney stated: I said on Wednesday the Managers a genius and its his belief and support that have convinced me to stay.Im signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning ! history which is the reason I joined the Club in the first place.Im sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what theyve read and seen. But my position was from concern over the future. The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and its up to me through my performances to win them over again.

Im not really going to analyse what has changed Rooneys mind. Maybe he had a short spell of Im-bigger-than-the-club syndrome. And you can reel off a list of names of players who have thought that in the past, but the club remains as solid as ever it was. Partly due to the superb management of Ferguson and his team. But also the fact that United have people at the club who exemplify what it is to be United. Bobby Charlton is involved, former players have roles in the academy, Ole Solskjaer is handling the reserves, Giggs, Scholes and Neville live and breathe United. Not every club is so fortunate. If, as a disillusioned player, you stop for a moment, look around, the very essence of United is there to see. However good the player is, that aura cannot be surpassed by one player. It can only be added to, polished and improved. And Rooney may have realised that, whilst he is exceptional, he cannot overshadow United. He has decided to be part of the future of the club, that would have stood proud whether he stayed or not. I hope this whole debacle helps Rooney learn, because there is no better place for football than Old Trafford.

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