Once again in a pre-season match (this time in South Africa) Rooney was booked for a wild challenge and had to be substituted as his increasing frustration put him at risk of being sent off. His "Mr Angry" act is wearing thin. He is also extremely arrogant when substituted in big games, with petulant little displays to show his unhappiness. Something I've never seen the likes of Ryan Giggs ever do. Giggs is the consummate professional. Rooney could do worse than to watch Giggs and copy him.
EPL referees have been too lenient with Rooney, prone to giving him far more slack than is afforded to most players. The refs should crack down on him next season. It'll do him good. If he's got to be angry all the time to play well then he can't be much of a player. Big balls + bad temperament means that you'll keep letting yourself and your team-mates down. It's association football not a prize fight.
Next season is a big one for Rooney domestically and for England. It's time for him to get superfit. Compare his physique with Ronaldo or the much older Beckham, and its clear that Rooney lacks the physique of the superfit athlete. He's carrying too much weight. Last year, I saw a photograph of him after a game sitting in the dressing room, and I was amazed by the amount of flab he had around his midriff.
If he were fitter, he'd have less to become frustrated about. He'd make more of the fifty-fifty balls, be quicker around the pitch and probably find that clinical finishing touch which is sadly missing from his current repetoire.
At the moment, Rooney is a good player, a very good one. But he's a work-in-progress. To become great, he needs to do something about his temperament and his fitness.
