There's no way Roy will have the balls to bench him, so the fact is that Rooney - banned for several games for exhibiting gross ill-discipline the last time that England entrusted itself to him, and the player himself having failed consistently to transfer his club form to the national team - will start. My question to you all is: should he waltz straight back into the squad? If we were talking about a Messi, or an Ozil, or even a Ronaldo, I'd be more inclined to believe that we should start with him, even disregarding the fact that this isn't the first time that he's shown himself completely unable to compose himself for the big international tournaments, but he isn't in the same class as those kinds of players. Sure, he's probably the best player we have - at club level - but I am not convinced by his national credentials. I am firmly of the view that he should start on the bench. Not only as confirmation of the fact that he has to earn his place in the starting XI, but mainly as a massive thumbs-up to the players who have been forced into doing the business whilst Rooney served his ban (having let the side down, in his last match for England).
We see eye to eye on this. England's been good entertainment so far. They've had good results and given a good account of themselves, even if, god knows, they've not been world-beaters. Why put in a player who's history at big tournaments has been to become poisonous?
He shouldn't have been included in the squad in the first place. There is always going to be a risk that he reacts and gets himself sent off. We are better offf without him.
surely a team is more important than an individual...with Rooney does not come a promise of success...however the 'team' has performed well and deserve to be shown faith that they are not just there to make up numbers until Master Rooney returns.
The question is null and void - the various corporate sponsors of Rooney will see their investment play, regardless of form, fitness, or the fact somebody might be doing a better job in his position.
England I think after the start we've made will beat Ukraine by 2 or 3 clear goals so no he shouldn't. I can't see any other result than that for us. I'm putting my credibility on the line but with no proof to you all I said to a mate that we'd beat Sweden by one goal. Often we lose the first match and have to hope that so and so loses to so and so and all that bollox but we've made a positive start so I'm supremely confident of a 2 or 3 goal win. Now if we struggle to beat them or get a draw then put him in although a draw is all we need. If Woy parks the bus and plays for the draw then keep the same team for the next round.
Correct me if I'm wrong by Rooney's goal scoring record during major international tournaments has been appalling! What gives him to right to displace a player who has scored and has shown we don't need him?
Yes. We were far too open with two strikers against Sweden and Young didn't cover himself in glory when he played there... or after on the wing for that matter.
Lets be fair since 04, one tourny we didn't even qualify, so he wasn't really going score in that one, and another he was injured, one of the metatarsal brigade.
If you were picking Englands players on their past performances we would have an all new team. Rooney was appalling in South Africa but I understand he was not fully fit. It's different now, we have a new manager who so far has done well with his tactics and subs IMO. Roy has already made it clear that he will pick him because he is simply the best forward England have. I have a feeling we may at last see the Rooney that we all know is in there. It's about time he turned in a top performance for England. I would play him for sure.
I don't think so, mate. Even Crouch has a better record for England than Rooney. Rooney = 28 goals from 74 appearances Crouch = 22 goals from only 42 appearances Rooney shouldn't even have been on the bus. But, as I said, Roy simply didn't have the balls to leave him behind. It's shameful, when you think about it.
Crouch has managed 22 England goals in a career that started at 24, Rooney is 26 and has 28 England goals already, by the time he's Crouch's age he will have pissed all over him. Rooneys best years are ahead of him still, I don't see this as a good comparison whatsover.
Kinda surprised some of u think England have a better chance of success without him than with him. Let's not forget he scored more goals than Defoe, Carroll and Welbeck put together in the PL last season.
He's the best English forward without question, and he's one of those players whose inclusion gives a psychological lift to the whole team. Its unfortunate for Carroll, but he'll have known a hatrick would have made no difference, only in that JD will now be less likely to get a late app., so he won't take it badly. At his age he will be pleased to have done well when his chance came, so thats a step forward in his international career. Rooneys game inbetween the frontline and the MF is exactly whats been missing, especially v France. He still may not play so well, he hasn't played for a month so it remains to be seen how he gets on with heat and humidity, he might be shagged after an hour, if he's given that free role he'll need to cover ground to find his spaces he likes to suddenly turn up in. In that respect it is probably better to start him while he's at his freshest, sitting down in heat and humidity still takes a bit out of you.
I have no objections to him playing but if he runs around like a headless chicken as he did in South Africa, I hope Roy has the balls to sub him if his performances do not live up to the ridiculous hype we're seeing in the media. Some of the crap I've seen on TV makes him out to be the return of a player like Zidane or Péle. Rooney.... our saviour. Hmmm
