Did you watch Alli play against France or Germany? The last time Rooney played like that, Leicester were in Div.1. He'll be picked because Hodgson's a mediocre manager that we will be well rid of when he retires. His picking of unfit and off-form players will ensure that we don't get far in this tournament. Shame really because with the right selections there's the genesis of a competitive team to be had.
But Alli would be better on the left than Rooney as well, whereas Rooney can only play at the top of a diamond (or as a no. 10) these days, so I would go with Alli on the left from the team options posted
Barring injuries, who do we think will be the 3 to drop 1. Rashford 2. Delph 3. Drinkwater I should say my choice would be 1, 2 and Wilshere but I can't see Dier, Drinkwater and Wilshere going, and Dier has to go. Why he loves Wilshere I don't know.
Rashford's selection has a lot to do with Welbeck's injury. Woy likes to have pace and the option of playing another forward wide right or left in the 3 in a 4-2-3-1. Rashford has to be a better option than someone like Troy Deeney, who is unlikely to play if selected. Rashford provides great pace and movement against tired defences - and as we've seen in the PL, he can be a game changer.
I'd go with Rashford, Delph and Wilshere. I like youth to be given chances but Rashford's just a bit too young for a major tournament, while the other two are liabilities in terms of injuries.
If there is a back four or MF equivalent of Rashford this season who could be taken as a 'wildcard' option, then I am happy to see the list of candidates.
Actually, thinking about it I would drop Delph, Sterling and Wilshere. Rashford could do some damage for a final 10 minutes.
Indeed. I have to confess ignorance of other players in other positions who have had similar impact on their teams performance like Rashford, but I am happy to be educated about them.
Don't get me wrong, I don't like Rooney but with Woy, we are resigned to the fact he will start, so my thoughts were more where we can do as well as possible despite him being in the side. What I meant with Alli is that I haven't seen enough of him to know whether he would be better as a number 10 behind the striker(s) or as a central midfielder or even elsewhere
Would it really damage an England manager's prospects if he just stated the obvious: certain players are going to be in the squad regardless of form, fitness or injury because it's not up to him, as the various sponsors who want a return on their investment demand they go. That's the reason why Beckham and Rooney have both gone to tournaments despite being injured, just like it's why Ronaldo played in the 1998 World Cup final even though he clearly should not have been on the pitch that night (or for that matter why Brazil played that ludicrous 4-2-2-2 formation in the 2006 WC just to get Ronaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho and Adriano on the pitch at the same time) Seriously, what would The FA do if the England manager said that? Fire him because Coca-Cola got their knackers in a twist? Good luck finding anyone who'd want to take the job if that was the case.
Good point, it'd lose him his job (should he really care at his age anyway?) but it'd change things for future managers and we might see a more fair selection
How the hell is Delph going? He's an appalling footballer. To think Mark Noble hasn't been called up and Delph has, is insane.
... seen a lot written about the centre-backs ... but if we actually move away from the usual optimistic haze it becomes obvious that we do not have two world class centre-backs .. therefore we are likely to conced so why not stack a team with attacking options and just outscore the opposition ... or at least make them have to defend for most of the game thereby mitigating the obvious problem? Drinkwater and Vardy have an almost telepathic understanding and Vardy will be far more dangerous with Drinky looking to put him in ... it's worked all year and any teams trying to play a high line would be in for a torrid time ... Woy has also publicly mentioned that he wants this team to 'do a Leicester' ... to then cast drinkwater adrift makes absolutely no sense ... both Vardy and Drinkwater have a winning, combative mentality ... Here is what I would ideally like to see ... Hart Rose Dier Smalling Clyne Townsend Drinkwater Alli Sterling Kane Vardy ... won't happen because Woy isn't brave enough to put Rooney on the bench ... but that team would give any opposition nightmares with its' pace and movement ...
