He has shown what he can do against international minnows whos game plan is just to see if they can survive not getting hammered. Rooney isn't alone in not performing at the big tournaments, in the big games but saying he has never been given the same licence isn't true. He just played to a standard that we haven't seen in 12 years, but he has produced in other ways (goals scored) when playing against sub standard defences so fair play to the guy for being on the verge of breaking Charltons record.
Club level. Always rated Rooney at club level but he along with a number of other players (who have been great at club level) have failed in the big international games but excel in performing against the weak defences.
England haven't performed as a team. It's too much to expect brilliance from one player to save a team - which has been with the case with Messi and Ronaldo too. Their international performances are light years away from what they do for their clubs - in better international teams too.
If I said he had to the save the team, you would have a point but as I mentioned he wasn't alone in not performing then you're rolling out the excuses as you don't want to say hes been a let down (like other talented players) in the big games. But hey, at least he will break the record and hopefully before we face San Marino!
Would somebody please shut Townsend up. (That's the boring and useless pundit, not our player). He is really annoying
Yeah, you're probably right about Rooney, I just tacked him onto the the thing I say about Gerrard and Lampard. Still it should be seen as embarrassing that he's going to be our all time top goalscorer yet he's only got one World Cup goal. Definitely. His performance against us in the 3-1(?) remains the best I've seen from an opposition player at the Lane, especially when Scholes was sent off, he was outstanding in bullying both of our defenders and remaining a threat. He's often a bit of a scapegoat for England but he has been coasting for awhile in terms of just doing enough to give a case for staying in the team. He does genuinly seem to care and put the effort in, I just don't think he's good enough to give him the armband and make him effectively undroppable. Thought Welbeck was alright in that half, Rooney and Sterling too. Lots of average stuff too though and this is against a defence that looks like a poor pub side. Can't say I'm impressed with Clyne having talked him up, although the centre mids and Welbeck deserved an ear bashing for leaving him against 2 Lithuanians in the one real chance they created.
He has always done a fine job with the under 21's even when the team has been struggling. Not sure what the future holds in terms of him staying with us but he may have got a nosebleed after scoring that goal!
He hasn't had a good game when it's mattered in a major tournament, I agree. But neither has Ronaldo (although to be fair he has performed heroics in qualifying) and Messi has had few. England are a poor international side when compared to those which compete for international titles. Those that do so are strong teams.They have a number of top players covering the strengths needed to succeed at that level - tight defence, playmaker, ball winner and goalscorer. It's difficult for one individual to thrive without the other components. Even with Gerrard, Lampard, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole etc, England were still short of what was needed.
From their lineup it looked like they are playing him as a no. 10 in a 4-2-3-1 whereas normally they've been using a 4-3-3 and Carroll has had to do a little more dog work deeper in midfield, a task he's always given his all at while controlling the possession game as well, to his credit. I have a feeling he'll be with us next season and I really hope I'm right. Right on cue he gets subbed off with an injury
Its tough for Carroll when he plays a deep role as he's criticised for a lack of end product ,when he is rarely in a position to play the final pass or be in a position to take an attempt at goal. He can look like the weak link in the team, as the good work he does goes unnoticed. But if you remember he used to make an impact each time he came on, or played in Europe. I think he has genuine passion for making it at spurs, along with Kane, Mason and Bentaleb so I hope you're right and we see him next season.
Luke, will just have to agree to disagree regarding the international form. Although the legend Scholes did sort of agree with me regarding Rooney peaking earlier in his career but then you (or Roy Keane) may disagree...yet I'll have the ginger xavi on my side!
I think you can add to that Boss that despite Carroll's physical size and frame, which could have been an issue for him at PL level, he's shown a willingness to run the hard yards at Swansea when he's had to and I think that gives him a good chance of making it with us. Ultimately, he can work on core strength in the gym if he really needs to, the important thing is as you say he has the right mentality and he has a good passing range and technique on the ball. There is plenty there for our staff to work with, lets hope they choose to.
