Indeed they should have. By others i assume you actually mean rooney. England fans tend to mean rooney when they say others should have done something.
Gerrard and Henderson were playing against 4 central midfielders. Not sure what anyone expects them to do against 2 extra players? England had the numerical advantage out wide but failed to use it due to Welbeck & Rooney being played out of position and Johnson & Baines not supporting the attacks enough (probably down to Roy's negative 1970s tactics)
You and i both know its true. Engalnd fan mentality. Blame rooney for everything but always expect him to be our hero. Were a nation of thick embarrassing ****s basically.
Not really exclusive to Rooney. And he's brought most of it on himself! What with the ridiculous red card in 2006 against Portugal and the abusing of England fans in 2010.
Well at least this is first time, a world class striker has been involved in setting a goal, only because the dribble and pass by Sterling for Rooney in 3! world cups.
Rooney's not done anything at the WC in his career. Not a single goal. So it's hardly an expectation that he's going to produce, as he's never delivered anything ffs. The pressure on him is more about justifying his place in the side
I don't know anyone who expects Rooney to be our hero - he's rarely performed for England. It's only the media who are obsessed with him because they're idiots who latch on to any big name player to either fawn over or criticise.
True but this happened in 2006 and 2010. Rooney was unfit in both as he was recovering from injury. Hes not the only player to have poor world cupa due to injury yet i dont see portugal getting on ronaldos back based on south africa for example. Nobody has said hes lit up a world cup but **** sake, lets not crucify him before the tjing starts (already happened) and then blame him entirely when others are much worse. He can be bad fir united, especially after injury. The fans dont get on his back though and he always comes good. We have more reason to have ago than england fans too all things considered. I guarantee the likes of sterling amd barkley are in for a horrible 10 years in the england side as all our hopes will be pinned on them. Good luck to them as they will need it. We are a ruthless set of supporters and the media magnifies it ten fold.
I think the press had decided he was going to to be the villain of the piece before the WC started in fairness, but that's just the way the game is. Never been any different in the modern era. Woy has compromised his team to make a place for him, a mistake made by a whole succession of England managers who've tried to shoehorn players into a side and ignoring their club position and where they're most comfortable. It's simple for me with Rooney. He either starts up front or in the No.10 role, or he doesn't play. Woy sticking him out on the left was a crap call
He starts up front then as hes our best striker plain and simple. Alongside sturridge not in place of as Rooney thrives with a partner.
Again that's compromising Woy's chosen formation to make a place for him. On current form he doesn't deserve a place up front in place of Sturridge, so it's the No.10 shirt or the bench for me
It can work and is still widely used to great effect. Madrid play 442 quite often for example. 4231 is a brillaint formation with the right players. We dont have those players.
We agree on something then, and I say that not to vilify Rooney. It's like Ramsey trying to shoe-horn Greaves in the '66 side - he didn't. As it's a fourteen man game now, I really do think he'd be better off on the bench. in fact, if he's fit, I'd prefer to see Ox and/or wellbeck there. Three from Wellbeck, Sterling, Ox and Barkley behind Sturridge, rotating between the three of them. That said, Poyet (a man I admire) has just said Uruguay would fear most playing Studge and Rooney as a striking pair, and I don't think he's bluffing. Maybe we'll go 4-4-2, with sterling and Ox on the wings. Or Llallana, perhaps? Hope we don't try and contain them and go for a draw though.
A draw would be risky because, knowing England, we'll get completely turned over by Costa Rica's greater desire, effort and directness.
