I have followed this forum ever since I have followed Everton (5 years or so). Since this post speaks to me I think now is a good time to emerge from the shadows .On a whim, a friend and I decided to choose Premier League teams to support and we both independently selected Everton. I can't speak for him but having a prominent American on the squad was a key factor in my case. We have since encouraged a couple more friends to follow the club. Additionally, we've both spent a decent amount on club gear, watched every game and will be taking a trip overseas in the next year or two (my friend has already been once). I've said all that to say this; the impact of a globally recognized player like Rooney is hard to overstate.I truly think we could pay him 500k a week and he'd still be a good investment for what he brings off the pitch. The Kyle Walker example is a good one. Rooney is going to draw attention and create interest regardless of how he performs and that has tremendous value for the club.
