Quiet These Paintings Are

Thank God the international break is almost over and we can get back to business. Few stories round today. More Rooney, the best summary of which is this in The Sun, with comments from Capello:

Yesterday he told an interesting tale of how he bumped into Alex Ferguson at a UEFA meeting in Switzerland a few years ago.

Capello recalled: “It was not long after Rooney joined Manchester United.

“Ferguson said ‘Fabio, I’m crazy. I’ve just spent an awful lot of money on a very young player’. Now, he is happy because he had spent the money on one of the best players in the world.”

Asked who Rooney most reminded him of, Capello immediately replied: “Raul.”...

“When I went to Madrid for the first time, Raul was only 19, very young in footballing terms. But he was already the leader of the team.”

Could Rooney, likewise, go on to captain his country? “Why not?” said Capello.

And from Rio Ferdinand:

“Wayne is improving the right way and beginning to play consistently well in an England shirt.

“Watching from the side on Saturday, I got a better look at how individuals are playing and Wayne was probably our best by quite a distance.

“He was doing the things the manager asks of him, picking the ball up in dangerous areas and getting people in on goal. And getting chances himself.”

The Independent get ready for the return to league action with a bit of a superfluous dig at Rooney in their England report:

Even his performance in Saturday's 4-0 friendly victory over Slovakia, when he scored twice, could not dispel genuine fears that his suspect temperament will let England down at a crucial moment

Rooney himself has some comments about staying at Man Utd, from The Telegraph:

In an interview with Inside United magazine, Rooney said: "I hope I'm still at the club when I'm the same age as guys like Ryan, Paul and Gary."

"I've always said that as long as the United want me, I'm happy to stay at the club. I don't want to leave.

"I love United and I have no reason to think about moving. I'm sure I'll be here for a long time."

Elswhere Jonny Evans talks of what an achievement qualifying for the world cup would be, from The Mirror:

Evans is chasing five club trophies this season, but said: "Qualifying for South Africa would be bigger than winning at United - and harder too. It would be massive if we did make it, but we've a long, long way to go."

The Independent report on Argentina, saying Tevez may be left out as they go for a more cautious approach away to Bolivia.
And Gary Neville has a few words on his return from injury:

"I have got the opportunity to be fit now and hopefully be available for Sunday, Tuesday and the games coming up in the next couple of months which are vital for us," the right-back added: "It starts on Sunday. It will be a hugely important game and we will need the crowd behind us. We certainly know what we need to do.

"I feel okay. It was the first time I had played in six or seven weeks so I felt a little bit rusty but I am hoping to get back into the squad and get back with the lads as soon as possible for what is hopefully going to be a great two months.

"I need to be fit for the last months of the season. There is no doubt about that. We need every player fit, including Wes (Brown) and Rafael (da Silva) but obviously I've got to concentrate on my own fitness and get myself ready.

"I have been training now for the last couple of weeks and I was in the squad at Fulham. I haven't had the chance to play for the first team yet so playing at Newcastle was important for me to get some minutes under my belt before a first-team game."