Posted this on the match thread, maybe it's better suited on here. I'd simply move Sterling out wide & play Rooney behind Sturridge. Lallana is another option & if he was brought in I'd drop Welbeck. Rooney's scoring record for England is excellent, overall better than 1 in 3 & better than 1 in 2 over the last 3 years. With the lack of experience we have up top I don't think we can currently afford to drop him.
Experience didn't help him hit the target last night though, or track back. Comparisons have been made to Gerrard playing out of position, but if he was out wide he'd still give 100%. In fact Welbeck isn't a winger either but he still gave his all. Rooney didn't. Regardless of experience, Sturridge is better than Rooney and Sterling was dangerous in the #10 role. In 10 years Sturridge, with any luck, could have a similar record. EDIT: Experience also didn't help him to play a corner kick onto the field of play.
I think your understating how bad the two full backs were, they constantly got pulled out of position, Rooney and Wellbeck were there to cover the full backs, not do their job for them.
Erm, no. The bit you emboldened answers that. All I can do is repeat myself: They were passing it out from the back (not catching us on the break or anything) and the centre back or full back was able to easily pass the ball unopposed to the winger who was then able to turn and run at Baines. If you're set up in full defensive mode which you obviously are if it's coming out from their defence/keeper, then there's no excuse for that. If they were able to pass straight to their strikers to turn and run at the defence then we'd rightly blame the midfield for not stopping it; it's the same on the wing, the wingers have a responsibility to prevent a simple pass out wide. To put it simply, Italy should have to beat two men to get to our byline, not just one. If they're able to run at our fullbacks at will, they'll beat them eventually. They didn't actually beat them very often from memory, but the one time Baines got turned inside out they scored. In this modern age of defending from the front and organised teams, it's inexcusable.
Do you think all players hit the target all the time? How do you know Rooney didn't give his all. The corner was proper ****e, but **** happens. In 10 years Sturridge will be touching 35 & nowhere near Rooneys current England record, as he will also be nowhere near Rooney's overall record. Sturrdige has had a good season. What has he shown to you that suggests his next ten seasons will be like his last & not all **** like his previous 6 seasons? Rooney has been consistent for 10 years, playing at the top level since he was 17. His record & experience, to me, suggests it will more than likely be him that changes a game rather than any other of the forwards. Sturridge & others also missed a few last night, or have they gone unnoticed because it's Rooney bashing week?
Agreed. Why? He's a selfless worker for the team, his adaptability means he'll do owt and play anywhere when maybe he should say **** off up front or nowt. Just watched Balotelli's goal again. Welbeck didnt track his man and Candreva just walked past Gerrard.
I'm not saying Wellbeck/Rooney did a great job at protecting the full-backs, they didn't but that responsibility also falls on the sweeping midfielders who completely neglected their jobs as well. At times Rooney actually had to cover at full-back because Baines had drifted so far inside. The main reason the second goal was scored was because Glen Johnson went for a wander instead of sticking to his position.
Rooney wasn't great last night, but he wasn't the worst player in the England team. The stick he's getting is a bit daft.
I don't want Rooney chasing back to the left back position. Play him in his best position where he can do most damage.
Either play him in his natural position or drop him for a proper winger. Roy can't afford to experiment, we need to win games with the strongest team.
Would Argentina play Messi and Brazil play Neymar on the left wing? I don't think so. If you play Rooney in the hole he can drop into centre midfield when we loose the ball. Also thought we where naive at times.
Add to that Sturridge getting suckered for Italy's first then it's fair to say Rooney had nowt to do with their goals but everything to do with ours.
With such a small amount of games to play you should only play your form players. If they show bad form, drop them and give someone else a chance who could be raring to go.
Well Neymar has played LW for much of his career including at Barca this season so not a great comparison there, he also played LW for Brazil against Croatia
The same old England dilemma, do we adjust a system to fit a "star" player, or do we select the best team and drop "star", as always the "star" must play.... thats why we will never wing anything. Simple fix really, you want Rooney to play you either stick with one up front and drop your in form striker to accommidate rooney, or you play two up top to give rooney the support and platform to perform. Personally I want to see us be brave and play a fuild 4-3-3/ 4-2-3-1 Gerrard and henderson holding, barkley in front of them. Sterling and lallana as wing forward, sturridge leading from top (wing forwards dropping back when we don't have ball.
The difference is Neymar played as a left forward. He didn't have defensive duties. Fred and Hulk drop back in when they lost the ball. You didn't see Neymar trying to defend in the left back position.
