Fans Comment
Steve Hili

Rooney's off
27 August 2004

These may well be Wayne Rooney’s last hours as an Everton player. For a lot of people myself included this has been a moment we have been dreading for ages. Remember the once a blue always a blue vest…seems like such a long time ago.
The situation is that the best young player in Europe, an Evertonian, our great white hope, seems to have decided that he wants to leave. If that is the situation then we would be fools to try to hang on to him. David Moyes has said on numerous occasions he only wants players who want to play for the club. If Rooney wants out, we should get as much as we can from his sale and move on, NOBODY is bigger than the club…NOBODY.

Now…honestly does ANYONE believe that Wayne is leaving Merseyside because of the Massage parlour/Prossie/whatever situation. I’ve never really been that bothered to go to Manchester but if they don’t even have prossies and massage parlours then it is hell on earth! Reports are suggesting that he reckons there would be less pressure if he left. Run that by me once more - less pressure if he joins maybe the biggest club in Europe rather than stay at Everton, a club where he is adored and (used to be) protected!

At the end of the day I would LOVE to see the Wayne Rooney we all know and love pull Everton up from the shoestrings and make us a force to be reckoned with. I live in Malta but I do my utmost to try and get to Goodison as often as I can. I have seen wonder shows from a kid who loves this club like we do. I have seen this lad fight and scrap for the blues, and enjoy every second he is out on the pitch. This was pure joy. Would the Wayne Rooney after Euro 2004 be the same kid? Is the Paul Stretford version of Wayne Rooney the hero we all fell in love with? I somehow doubt it.

It must be hell for the kid. A few short months ago this boy was living out his dream. Playing for his beloved team in front of thousands of adoring fans, receiving rave reviews. The situation is that he will have ended up a professional football but having only played 2 seasons for the club he loves. Two seasons. And why? Not because his chance to play for Everton only came at the tail end of his career, or because of injury, or lack of talent or even because he had to move to save his career, he would have chose money over a dream. When he is in his late 30s he’ll realize all this. He could have lived the dream a bit more but if all the speculation is true he CHOSE not to. Things have become complicated. Paul Stretford must have explained to him the importance of looking after number one…that of course is much more important than any dream.

Rooney has been a hero to Evertonians, and this summer he was a hero to the nation. He is only 18 I know, but that does not mean he’s a little boy. Why doesn’t he just come out with it? Wayne for God’s sake, if Evertonians mean anything to you anymore just answer this bloody question…what do YOU want to do?

If you want to stay tell us now. Become the hero of the hour. Turn all the conspiracy theories on their head. Make us love you even more. Make us believe in the romance of football again. This could be the beginning of a story to rival the Rocky epics.
If you want to leave Wayne don’t insult our intelligence and just piss off. We will survive without you, survival and sticking together is what being an Evertonian is all about, but you would know that wouldn’t you?

Steve Hili