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| The Manchester United captain became England's leading scorer on Tuesday |
THERE are few people in a better position than Paddy Crerand to assess Sir Bobby Charlton and the player who has taken his 45-year record as England's top goal scorer, Wayne Rooney.
Crerand played for a decade with Sir Bobby in the 1960s and early 1970s and has seen virtually every game Rooney has played since he joined Manchester United as a summariser for the club's television station MUTV.
While acknowledging that Rooney is an England great he rates Charlton as the better player. Here's his breakdown of their qualities, attributes and playing styles ...
Shooting/goalscoring
"I don't think there is a great deal of difference between their scoring abilities. They can both score from distance, close range and any angle. But Bobby was more natural with both feet than Wayne is. Wayne is obviously in the box more because Bobby, certainly in the later stages of his career, was more of a midfield player than a front player.
"Bobby had that wonderful and rare ability to strike the ball superbly with either foot. I played with him for years at United and I didn't know which was his stronger foot. I'm not even sure that Bobby knew.
"If you think of many of the great players who have graced the game - like Puskas, Pele, Maradona, even Messi - they were definitely stronger on one side. Cristiano Ronaldo can shoot with power with both feet but it is still clear his right foot is stronger. With Bobby you just didn't know.
"Wayne has got a terrific shot with his right boot and they have both scored some memorable goals in their club and international careers but I would put Bobby above him on shooting because of his ability with both feet."
Heading
"Wayne comes out on top here. Although he's not very tall, he's scored a number of goals with his head and is never afraid to put in an aerial challenge. If there was a weakness in Bobby's game it was his heading . "Ironically, one of the most important goals Bobby ever scored came with his head - United's first in the 1968 European Cup final against Benfica form David Sadler's cross. I think Bobby was more surprised than anyone when it flew in.
Dribbling
"Bobby comes out top here. I was dead jealous of the way Bobby could run. He was a beautiful runner. He was like a gazelle. He had fantastic balance and could go by opponents with a dip of the shoulder and had great pace. Wayne is quick enough but is more of a passer and a thinker than someone who runs with the ball."
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| England's Wayne Rooney celebrates his 50th international goal during the UEFA European Qualifying match at Wembley Stadium |
Passing
"Bobby was a terrific passer of the ball, with either foot, spraying the ball out to the wings from midfield. Wayne also has a great passing range,
long and short. I would put them equal there."
Tackling
"Bobby didn't have the nasty streak that Wayne has. He left the tackling to me and Nobby Stiles.
"Wayne loves a tackle though. He's got a natural aggression and it is an important part of his game although it has got him into trouble a few times in his career."
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| Rooney has overtaken Bobby Charlton as England's leading scorer |
Versatility
"Wayne is a great team player. He will put in a shift anywhere he is asked to play. He wants to do everything and he's a very intelligent player. I feel he would make a great midfield player but people argue that that he's more important to United up front and that's probably the case at the moment.
"All the time I played with Bobby at Old Trafford he was in the middle of the park, although he wore the No 9 shirt. He would get up and down the pitch. He had a great engine. He may not have wanted to tackle much but you could always depend on Bobby's ability."
Discipline
"I can't remember Bobby ever being booked whereas Wayne has had his disciplinary problems, usually when he gets frustrated with himself or the team. Maturity and being made captain means he has become more responsible and careful. Playing for United and England you are always under scrutiny but the spotlight is even more intense when you are captain for club and country."
Leadership
"Wayne has always been a very vocal player, even before he became captain. Denis Law was actually captain for much of my time at United but everyone in that team was a leader to some degree. When Bobby was captain he led more by example.
"Bobby has always been a very quiet man and quite shy. And he's still a little bit like that today."
Overview
"You don't get as many caps and score as many goals as Bobby and Wayne have done for England without being a great player. "Wayne can play anywhere but I think Bobby was a better player. You talk about the great international footballers that have ever played for England
and Wayne is up there but I don't think he is as high up as Bobby, who, in my opinion, is alongside Tom Finney and Stan Matthews as the best England ever had. "
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