GARY LINEKER: Sorry Carlo, but I'd take Wayne Rooney over Didier Drogba any day

07 November 2009 20:17
I asked Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen on Match of the Day last week who they would rather have - Fernando Torres, Wayne Rooney or Didier Drogba? [LNB]Shearer went for Rooney, Hansen for Torres. And Shearer made us laugh, unwittingly I think, after the show when he said: [LNB]'Great question. If you asked 10 different people you'd get 10 different answers.' [LNB]Well, you know what he meant! [LNB] Tough choice: But Rooney's talent is hard to argue with[LNB] To prove the point, Terry Venables and Trevor Francis opted for Drogba when I asked them the same thing. Drogba and Rooney will be the central figures for today's clash between Chelsea and Manchester United, while Torres's Liverpool try to get back on track against Birmingham tomorrow. [LNB]So it's my turn to make the difficult comparisons between three of the greatest strikers the Premier League has seen. If current form was the sole determining factor, you would have to go with Drogba, the ultimate battering ram of a centre-forward. [LNB]He has been unstoppable in recent games and while his finishing has sometimes been erratic, at the moment it is lethal. I would love to have played with him. [LNB]Graeme Sharp, although not as skilful as Drogba, took the weight off my shoulders at Everton, helping create space for myself and the rest of the team. You can see the number of touches Drogba unselfishly gives Nicolas Anelka during a game and I bet it's a concern for Sir Alex Ferguson today. [LNB]Round of applause: Rooney has developed into a great player[LNB] Drogba will have spells, however, where he's a bit profligate in front of goal and that's not something you could say about Mr Hansen's choice, Torres. As regular readers know, I take a special interest in strikers and Torres is the best finisher I've seen in a long time. [LNB]Most strikers have to miss chances to score them but it is rare to see the Liverpool man scuff an opportunity - and that's down to being equally good with either foot or in the air. [LNB]If Torres could guarantee his fitness he'd be priceless but injuries are part of the game and it is a deficiency for the Spaniard. When he's not 100 per cent fit his form suffers. [LNB]At times I'm sure it's only courage that keeps him out on the pitch when he's got a knock - particularly as Liverpool have no-one to replace him - but it means he sometimes can't make the all-round contribution Drogba does. [LNB]It's fantastic for English football that we have a player, Rooney, who is even mentioned in the same breath as those two players. [LNB]But I would go even further. Although he might not have the brute power of Drogba or natural goal instinct of Torres, his all-round ability means if I had £60million to spend on anyone in the Premier League, he'd be the striker I'd go for. [LNB]Rooney is three world-class players in one and doesn't have an identifiable weakness, which is incredible for a player who has just turned 24. I hadn't even won my first England cap at that age. [LNB]He is the consistent goalscorer whose ratio for Manchester United and England is the 'magic' one-in-two only the best strikers achieve. He is the pure footballer who can unlock a defence with a killer passor create space with a sudden clever movement. [LNB]And he is the unselfishteam player who works harder than anyone else and can play anywhere onthe pitch to help the cause; able to drop into midfield, go wide,operate as a lone striker or play in the hole, whatever the managerrequires. [LNB] Taking off: Drogba has had an exceptional start to this season[LNB] Drogba might outshine Rooney if he takes his blinding form into today'sgame but, over the course of a season, Rooney is the first name you'dwant on your teamsheet.[LNB] He's not the greatest English player of all-time - yet. But he has the potential to overtake Sir Bobby Charlton and Tom Finney. [LNB]It is inevitable if he stays fit he'll break the England appearance andgoals records (he currently has 25 goals in 55 internationals),although Ryan Giggs's appearance record for United might be beyond himas I'm not sure we'll see Rooney play into his late-30s, having a different body shape to Giggs's wiry build. [LNB]Rooney has won everything at club level bar the FA Cup. And this summer he has the chance to make amends for being sent off in the 2006 World Cup by joining the legends by going to South Africa and making it 'his' tournament. [LNB]Talent-wise, Rooney has everything and it must give Ferguson a huge advantage when he's planning for games like today's. He can play Rooney up with Dimitar Berbatov, use him as a lone striker if he's worried about Chelsea's power in midfield or even have him as a wide player if the priority is to stop Ashley Cole breaking forward. [LNB]I've never seen anyone create space for himself so well on a pitch. It's a great lesson for kids to learn. Add to that his fiercely competitive nature, and you can see why Chelsea will fear him today. [LNB]I'm not sure becoming a dad will change his personality or will to win. It might make him grumpier on the pitch through lack of sleep! Show me a player who's not competitive and I will show you one who isn't successful. [LNB]I've seen Michel Platini whack a tree with his golf club because he was frustrated. Having kids might give Rooney a new perspective on life but it won't change his passion for the game.[LNB] All smiles: Fatherhood won't change Rooney on the field[LNB] And people shouldn't be holier than thou about it. The best players in history have lost it on the pitch - Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and Dennis Bergkamp to name three. [LNB]Apart from the Drogba-Rooney showdown, United's main challenge will be trying to stop Chelsea in the centre of the pitch. Chelsea look stronger in that department, with Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack. [LNB]It's a position Ferguson might need to strengthen, with Giggs and Paul Scholes in the veteran stage. Anderson's time will come, Nani has been average this season (and that's being kind), while Antonio Valencia works hard but is no Ronaldo. [LNB]I would pair Berbatov and Rooney together as they have to cause Chelsea problems rather than just matching them in midfield. The game is significant in terms of the title race and I am sure the winners will be made favourites. [LNB]But, although Chelsea are leaders, they are under pressure too because they will want a healthy gap going into January when Essien and Drogba will be at the Africa Cup of Nations. [LNB]Carlo Ancelotti will already be looking at the January window, possibly his last chance to buy anyone for a year. [LNB]If I were him the first thing I'd do is make a discreet enquiry for David Villa and see if he'd come to the Premier League. I'm not sure he would but he's top drawer, the kind of player Chelsea need if they want to stay ahead of the rest. [LNB]In a perfect world, they'd be able to sign Rooney. But I don't think even Roman Abramovich's money would tempt Sir Alex to sell. [LNB][LNB]David Cameron might not be a fan of my jokesGood cause: Although my ball skills aren't what they were[LNB] I'm not sure David Cameron liked my suggestion when we met up that if England won the World Cup under Fabio Capello, we should try for an Italian Prime Minister![LNB]Mr Cameron could be a lucky man if he wins the election next year. Not since Harold Wilson has a PM been able to watch England in a World Cup final and who knows what will happen next summer.[LNB]I was with the Tory leader to promote Tickets for Troops, a scheme which provides free sporting tickets for soldiers injured on duty. Unfortunately, when I juggled the ball I knocked over a lampshade and hit a picture of Boris Johnson. [LNB]I did point out it had hit the inside of the lampshade and would have gone in. It was all in a good cause. [LNB]For details visit www.ticketsfortroops.org[LNB][LNB]Hodgson could be the man to inherit Capello's crownEVEN though Fulham lost in Rome, Roy Hodgson has done an amazing job. Roy, as well as Steve Bruce and Harry Redknapp, have shown our bosses can do well given the right opportunities.[LNB] He's the one: Hodgson would be a good candidate for the national job[LNB] I'd ideally like an Englishman to be England manager. It's only because there was no obvious candidate that Fabio Capello got the job. [LNB]It would be nice to think that, when there is a vacancy, English bosses will be sufficiently successful to be considered as the next man in, with Roy leading the way.[LNB] England manager Fabio Capello in awe of Sir Alf RamseyFA Cup round-up: Southampton, Notts County and Huddersfield go throughChelsea can win the title if we beat United, insists Blues star BallackChelsea reprieve! Transfer ban on hold - but Carlo says he won't be spendingFOOTBALL NEWS AND VIEWS FROM AROUND THE NET[LNB][LNB]  Explore more:People:Boris Johnson, Trevor Francis, Ryan Giggs, Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Harry Redknapp, Steve Bruce, Michael Essien, Carlo Ancelotti, Harold Wilson, David Villa, Paul Scholes, Gary Lineker, Alex Ferguson, Roman Abramovich, Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer, Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, FERNANDO TORRES, Fabio Capello, Didier Drogba, Antonio Valencia, Nani, David Cameron, Frank Lampard, Michael BallackPlaces:Liverpool, Rome, South Africa, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail