There's three simple reasons for this: 1.) Welsh fans don't assume they'll win every tournament they're in (mainly because they aren't in any), nor assume automatic superiority over every team they face. For example, look at those "only Montenegro" comments in the media (and even on this thread...), ignoring they're currently ranked 26th in the world - ahead of Turkey, Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine (among many, many others) 2.) It's the Welsh rugby team that's in the media cocunut shy, not their football team. 3.) The Welsh don't overrate their players like English fans habitually do.
Rooney can do that job and I'd even suggest that Ashley Young could thrive in that role. Lampard plays a more direct version of it for his club, as does Gerrard. Scholes would've been more than capable of playing it. England has and had loads of players that fit that role. The managers haven't used it, though.
I know he's a Gooner, not to mention a bit of a Chav, but Wilshere looks like he could be talented enough to do the job - if he can be kept out of jail!
How much ability has Rooney actually got? A lot of people talk about Rooneys ability. Sorry I've never seen anything that resembles outstanding ability. Yes he scores a few goals and can score the odd free-kick, then again so can lots of players. Rooney has no close control, no left foot, no vision, no intelligence, no composure and a limited amount of skill. Is he worth leaving out for other players that will perform as part of a cohesive unit ie a team, then yes. Darren Bent is more prolific anyway. Why not try Andy Carroll and Darren Bent up front?
Erm... because they both have every problem you just mentioned about Rooney, to the power of 10. As for Carroll- i appreciate you're a pool fan but seriously; a player who isn't yet proven at club level cannot seriously be considered at international level. Maybe one for the future though. The only advantage i can see with going for a completely new-look strike force is that we might thereby be forced to play a team game again, something which has been lacking for nigh-on a decade.
I would have to agree. He's a talented player, but his childish petulance is always going to be a problem. He's far too easy to wind-up. He's too thick to realise that, and so every opposition side will try to get him sent off - And probably succeed!
May be the luckiest break England has had in a long time. I'm obviously in the anti-Rooney camp. Two things stand out: 1. He's failed to perform in world cups. 2. He becomes a big ball of negativity. Crouch is just the opposite: a player with limited talent who does more than he should by working hard and doing his best--kind of like Kuyt, actually. Players like that are useful on talented teams because they tend to have too many show ponys and benefit from an extra work horse. I would say the one England player who would play for anyone is Young. The way he creates space on the edge of the box, combined with his crossing ability, makes him really outstanding. Given how embarrassing the team has been lately, I'd say play the youngsters, maybe with a certain number of veterans to help out. At this point most fans would or should be satisfied with a team playing attractive football with enthusiasm. It's certainly more than they've been getting the last few tournaments.
Why not try Andy Carroll and Darren Bent up front? ----------------------------------------------------- Because without a shadow of doubt, that has to be the worst suggestion anybody could think of. I see the authorities have taken the opportunity to handicap England, (not realising our biggest handicap is ourselves!) so no surprise to me whatsoever.
I agree. Let's give some of the youngsters a try. Could they do any worse? How about Welbeck and Sturridge - assuming they can be coached not to get in each other's way?
England could try the Villa front three from last season, but I'm not sure how effective it would be at international level. The other alternatives are to either go with youth (Carroll and Sturridge?), which I doubt Capello would consider, go with a proven partnership in Defoe and Crouch, which I can't see either or try something new. Perhaps Villa's current pairing of Agbonlahor and Bent, which appears to be working pretty well or either Gerrard or Lampard up behind a striker that can hold the ball up, like Zamora? Nothing outstanding there for me, but you'd hope that the friendlies would be used to try and establish some sort of viable alternative to Rooney. I wonder if Zamora and Johnson could make a late push for the squad, under Jol's tutelage? It's a long season for Fulham, though and it seems pretty unlikely, but there always seems to be a wildcard in there somewhere. Walcott and Carlton Cole? Maybe not, eh?
Someone that can stay on the pitch for 90 minutes? Going by his performances at the last tournament, practically anyone would be better. He was absolute ****e.
Rooney was exceptionally poor, even by the standards that England set in that tournament. Spain's performance in the last tournament has been exaggerated wildly. They were exceptionally lucky and got some extremely favourable refereeing decisions throughout, bar the final. They're an exceptionally good team, but they're not unbeatable. The way that they're allowed to cheat all the time doesn't help, though.
PNP is right. All these people who champion Rooney seem to forget that he can only be of any use if he's actually on the pitch. Unless he grows up - fast, he should be left out. Personally, I'm sick & tired of his infantile tantrums, and his belief that the usual rules don't apply to him because he's "special", and can do whatever he likes.
Sorry Luke, but for me, he's becoming a "luxury" player. Sometimes he performs - when he's in the mood - other times he's totally anonymous. Add to that, as I said before, his proclivity to allow himself to be wound up - and thus, sent off - and you feel like you have a time bomb just waiting to explode. You can actually see it coming, sometimes. You can visually see him getting more and more wound up as decisions go against him, or things just aren't going the way he thinks they should; and you just know what's coming next. Again, for me, unless he can learn to control his infantile behaviour, he's too much of a liability.
