Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has recently expressed his disappointment with the quality of strikers in the Premier League. Known for his no-nonsense approach and scoring prowess that led to 208 top-flight goals during his career, Rooney is less than impressed with today's frontmen.
The shift from direct football to intricate tactics and patterns has seen a decline in traditional centre forwards. This evolution of play style seems to have left Rooney underwhelmed, especially when it comes to Erling Haaland.
Despite being widely recognized as one of the best strikers in top-flight football, Haaland doesn't quite meet Rooney's standards. The Manchester City superstar is often praised for his goal-scoring ability but according to Rooney, he lacks aggression against defenders.
Praise for Jean-Philippe Mateta
In contrast to his critique of Haaland, Wayne Rooney holds Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in high regard. Since joining Crystal Palace permanently from Mainz in 2022, Mateta has been nothing short of sensational.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has made significant contributions to Crystal Palace, with 151 appearances and an impressive total of 50 goals, while also playing a crucial role in building up their attacks. Rooney believes that Mateta’s all-round game makes him the most effective target man currently playing.
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United legend, said:
“I like Mateta. He’s clumsy. He doesn’t look great on the eye, but he occupies defenders.
“He makes it a difficult game for defenders to try and deal with him. That allows the other players to come into little spaces. So I like him. But other than that, No 9s are going out of the game.”
A look at Mateta’s performance
Mateta’s performance since joining Crystal Palace has been remarkable. He scored four goals in nine appearances across all competitions this season alone and continues to be a crucial part of their attacking strategy.
His physicality and clinical edge make him a formidable force within what many consider being one of the toughest divisions globally - The Premier League. His success isn’t limited by geography; his skill set would see him succeed anywhere. Rooney had previously tipped Arsenal to move for Mateta during the summer. Despite interest from several big clubs, Mateta remained at Selhurst Park, continuing his impressive form from last season.
Crystal Palace has already won two trophies under Oliver Glasner, and their hopes of lifting a third heavily rely on keeping Mateta. His consistent performance and significant contribution to the team's success make him an invaluable asset to Crystal Palace. While Wayne Rooney may be critical of some strikers in the Premier League, he certainly sees value in Jean-Philippe Mateta’s style of play. As sports fans and sports betting enthusiasts continue to watch this season unfold, it will be interesting to see if other players rise up to meet Rooney's high standards.
