Is that the same Rooney who you thought shouldn't be in the squad He's our talisman at the end of the day, and still one of, if not, our best player/s. Think he's a good captain too.
People are giving Roy credit...... It's that everyone knew that the tactics we started with wouldn't work.
OK, I'll explain for the... what is it, must the 4th time.? I wouldn't be taking Rooney to the Euros as a striker. He's not a striker, never has been in my opinion, despite his goals. He's always been an attacking midfielder. Now he's playing as a playmaker and he's good at it because he is a creative player. Thing is, I was dreading Hodgson would take him as a striker. Now you know. Perhaps you can explain to anyone else who asks the question, 'cause that's the last time I do it.
I still really can't get excited by England. I'm quite enjoying the tournament, but just 'yeah, whatever' about England. Honestly don't know why.
Well I thought that was a poor game played by two poor teams. England couldn't put 5 passes together in the first half. I said th either day Wales have Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and zero other quality. England were poor. Glad Roy made two positive changes at half time, but we still weren't good second half. Passing was poor and pedestrian. First decent team knock us out.
I have always said that Rooney has been held back by having to be all things to all men. He works so hard because he is passionate about England...he would play with a broken leg even if it threatened his career. Would that all players were like him. At the *** end of his career, we may finally see the best of him.
I thought this at Italia 90 - started poorly, grew into the tournament and in the end were best team there. The winning team from these competitions are usually the ones who start slowly and build.
Fair enough, like I said earlier I wouldn't play Kane as a lone striker again, particuarly in games where we we're likely to dominate posession. Nor would I start Sterling again - I actually expect this one to happen. But there's no guarantee that had we started with Vardy & Sturridge it would have worked. In fact, you could argue that Wales were settled in and comfortable in the game, and couldn't handle us when we switched things up...
Not at all. I have just been fed up with England playing Rooney as ManU used to play him. At ManU he was surrounded by other very dangerous players, who took opposition attention away, so he could play in a forward position. Within England, Rooney was the best player, so got all the attention and has been utterly nullified, during tournaments, over the years, as a striker. So you play him where he naturally wants to be, in midfield, where Everton played him in his younger days, and is a very good good player indeed.
I think that's unfair. Yes, we weren't Germany or Spain, but nearly every team has struggled breaking down 'lesser sides' this tournament. I thought Wales looked solid defensively and we looked fairly potent in the second half. we are decent and will be difficult to bear when we meet the good sides.
Agreed! And I doubt the national team are too concerned by my indifference. I dunno, I'd prefer Iceland to win it.
I still really don't understand this viewpoint at all. I'm a passionate football fan, about Saints as a Southampton boy, born & bred. And about England as an Englishman. Really don't see how passionate football fans don't get excited about their national team.
I know what you're saying there FLT. This was two international teams playing like they were involved in a scrappy Premier League game. Both will be better elsewhere, England potentially more so.
