rooney and ronaldoThis time last year, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney had scored 14 Premiership goals between them, Ronaldo with 8, Rooney with 6.

This season, Rooney has 19 Premiership goals to himself.

This time last year, we had scored 34 Premiership goals.

This season, we we have scored 53 goals.

We had played in 21 Premiership games by this time last season, we have played in 23 Premiership games so far this season. Competing in the World Club Cup explains the difference.

So to look at things more fairly, Rooney has played in 22 Premiership games this season, scoring 19 goals. After 22 Premiership games last season he had scored 9 goals.

During the 08/09 season, Ronaldo scored 18 Premiership goals, which is 1 less than Rooney has scored by January this season.

For all the talk of crisis on the field and frustration about our performances, if we had a defensive record that was anything like last season, when we had a fully fit for defence for large chunks of the season, we would be miles ahead at the top.

As it is, this season Rio has played in 5 Premiership games, Nemanja Vidic has played in 13 league games, Edwin Van der Sar has played in 6 league games.

After 23 Premiership games last season, Rio had played in 17 games, Vidic in 22 and Van der Sar in 22.

We’re top of the league, having played 1 game more than Arsenal, 2 games more than Chelsea. But where would be had we not been crippled by defensive injuries, or if our rivals had suffered anything like the injuries we’ve put up with this season?

———

Like what you see? Please vote for RoM