“Remember the name, Wayne Rooney!” the commentator said, after watching a 16-year-old Rooney score a superb goal against Arsenal whilst playing for Everton. This was the goal that ended their 30-match unbeaten run, whilst also making him the youngest scorer in Premiership history. He was making his 10th appearance for Everton, after scoring a brace against Wrexham in the League Cup two weeks previously.
After scoring a total of 17 goals for Everton, he joined Manchester United, and aged just 22-years-old, has 99 club goals to his name.
It is rather fitting that he has the opportunity to score his 100th goal against his former club, with United travelling to Everton this weekend.
“I am doing well at the minute and hopefully that continues,” Rooney said. “I am really enjoying my football. I am enjoying the way the team is playing. It is always nice for any player to score 100 goals. If I can do that back at Everton, where I started, it would be really pleasing. If I do score at Everton, whether it was my first or my 100th, it would be really sweet.”
Rooney scored against Everton the season before last, during the match that felt as if it had won us the title. At one point during the day, Chelsea were leading against Bolton whilst United were 2-0 down at Goodison Park. However, courtesy of goals from Phil Neville and John O’Shea, it was all set up for Rooney to bag our 3rd, turning defeat in to victory. He celebrated in front of the home fans before kissing our badge in front of the away support. That shut them up. The match was wrapped up by Chris Eagles in the final minutes, seeing us end the day 4-2 winners.
Whilst I’ve spoken to Everton fans who still feel a great deal of fondness for Rooney, the general feeling is of total hatred, which I can’t get my head around. “Die die, Rooney Rooney, die!” chant their fans when the teams face each other. What did they expect? For him to stay at Everton forever?
The treatment he receives at Goodison Park will only spur him on to score his 100th goal against them, although I do wonder, will he reveal a shirt that reads “Once a blue, always a red” this time around……?
Given Rooney’s form, do you think he’ll score his 100th goal against Everton at the weekend?
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