Because on Planet Gary he was one of the greatest players ever to walk onto the pitch and Rooney has a cheek to think he could ever be a fraction as good......
I say it again, I think he should start. However before he has been guaranteed a start because he has been used as the lone forward and all our other strikers, pretty much post Owen, have been average. Now we have a very hot in form Sturridge so an alternative, less effective (IMO) role will have to be found for Rooney, as Sturridge has to play. Rooney is apparently being played out left in the next game as an experiment which for me suggests there isn't absolute confidence in him as a 2nd forward/number 10 or he wants someone else in that middle role. Much like with Gerrard, I can't see form being any factor. Roy will play these 2 regardless and will shoe horn them in if necessary. I see no reason why Wayne should be untouchable though now there are other options. People spent years slagging of England managers for playing Lampard and Gerrard together despite both being a country mile the best midfielders available. Same applies here. It's the best team that should be selected, not necessarily the best players.
I dont think he is untouchable, but unless we have a like for like replacement in the number 10 role, which we dont, why even bring it up? (Lineker I mean) There are no English players close to Rooney in the role behind the striker.
Without a doubt. He was a very, very decent player but you would like to think that he of all people would ease up on them a bit as he should know exactly what they're going through right now.
Sterling? I'd personally play Rooney in the 10 role in the first game at least but Sterling has been brilliant there for Liverpool this year at times and you'd say is more in form and 100% fit. Not really any different to Shaw or Baines being taken over Cole (who has been MUCH better for England than Rooney in the last couple of tournaments). It's worthy of debate is all I'd say and you can't really criticise a pundit for raising it. I personally think Rooney had a good start to last season but that aside has struggled for large periods in the last 2 years. The fact he perhaps struggles to cope with the expectation of a nation at tournaments is another factor. He will undoubtedly start v Italy if fit but if it's another abject performance then perhaps we need to try something else. He certainly shouldn't be started in a wide role.
Yep. He usually played on the wing, but has played the attacking role at the tip of a midfield diamond.
He can play either wing, up top, in the hole or even RB and he played all of them for us at some point last season. He finished the season in great form playing as number ten.
Yes agreed. They all will be ready to use Rooney as scapegoat, they started it already, why else do you think everyone seems to be slating Rooney. As much as i want England to do well, we all know the truth, England are just not good enough. Who here really thinks England can make it to the final? nope, they weren't even make it into the Semi-s, Quarter Final as best as always. Do you really thing teams like Spain Germany or Brazil will be really scared if they face England in the knockout stages? no but this is world cup, anything can happen but England are just not good enough.
