Former England midfielder Paul Scholes was frustrated by the role handed to former team mate Wayne Rooney and called for him to be used in the centre-forward position. "The disappointing thing was not the way Wayne Rooney played but where he was played," Scholes wrote in his blog for Paddy Power. I don't blame Wayne one little bit but he was played in three different positions. He's without a doubt England's best goalscorer but he was played on the left, played on the right, then in the centre. "Where's the confidence in Wayne to say: 'You're our main player. You're our centre forward'? If he plays there, he scores goals."
definitely shouldn't blame Rooney for being played out of position. Sterling proved he is very effective though so Welbeck should be out and Sterling on the wing with Chamberlain (if fit enough) on the other side.
Sterling was better out wide. All his best play came from wide positions where he took on his man. Centrually he got lost. Hes never a number ten in a million years. A winger if ever there was.
Apart from the goal, where he picked the ball up centrally, turned, beat a man and played an inch perfect ball through to Rooney on the left to cross
Hart Johnson Cahill Jagielka Shaw Gerrard Henderson Barkley Sterling Sturridge Rooney Baines is awful and play Rooney in his strongest position.
Just drop Rooney and stop bottling it. His best 2 positions are 9 and 10. Sturridge and Sterling are better options. Also Baines needs someone who can give workrate in front and is clever to release him forward (the reason we picked him I assume?) Just drop Rooney and play Lallana/Ox. This obsession with playing Rooney does my head in. He is a good player and deserves to be in the squad. We have better for the starting XI.
He WAS a top player at 17-23 but is no longer. Not a bad player but time to move on. Sterling a far better 10. Pace to burn, beats people and stretches the game. Roo is closer to Sturridge but again pace is the difference. Rooney is decent back up.
Shall i list all the strikers and number tens who dont have pace and make your pace argument look stupid? Pace... The english obsession. Its pointless without end product and even more pointless in the number ten role. Hes a better striker than sturridge. Have you seen his record? Hes a better number ten than sterling. You should look at his assists. Sterlings better out wide than rooney though.
Why on earth do people suddenly want Sterling as number 10? Barkley would be a far better choice if not Rooney.
The usual Manc bias/scouse hatred blinds you. Rooney is still a decent striker. Records mean nothing, its the here and now. The past is exactly that. The only people who think he should play are Man U supporters and Woy. I've a great stat for you though as you love them so much, 3rd world cup, still hasn't scored.
Because we englishers are thick and presume pace is the answer to all problems. Got a problem? Pace and powwwweeeeeerrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How come so many slow players are brilliant though? The englishers became scared and angry at this question..
I'd have picked Barkley pre tournament, with Sterling and Ox wide. Then allowed them to rotate. However he looks great in there and I have to admit Welbeck was very good. Rooney doesn't offer the movement to play the style we want to and should do. The pace of Sterling is not the reason to pick him, its just an added bonus. He has skill, passing ability, a bit of everything.
Lets base it on last season then. So that sterling dropped and rooney as number ten? Though had rooney played all season at a number 9 he would have 20+ goals easily. He scored 7 in qualifying too. Rooney last season - 29 games 17 goals 10 assists. All comps 49 games - 24 goals 19 assists. Better than him funny guy
Good record, as always. Good player. Flops against the best and is easily dealt with. Scored maybe 1 against top 4 sides in PL all season despite Moyes making him the main man. For England competitive, since start of last season 2 goals in home games against Poland and Montenegro.. He was not very good in either game or any that have followed.