But he's not played as a centre forward for most of that time. You could say the same about Bergkamp. His stats should be compared to players who have played the same role. He's been a very effective PL player for many years, although their have been dips in his performance and he's been in terminal decline for a couple of years now. His England performances have been very disappointing at tournaments (bar his debut in 2004), but he's contributed significantly in qualifying. Rooney won't be remembered as a top class player, but as a very good one who played in a very successful club team. All PL teams would have taken him at his peak without any hesitation.
No surprises. Lingard, Walcott and Sturridge join Alli at the front of a 4-2-3-1. Knock on wood four Spurs make it through the game without incident. I am not feeling charitable towards Southgate for playing our fullbacks more than they would play for Spurs fresh off an injury received playing for England. To put it mildly.
That's what I was aiming at. He's been a very good player. Not the best at international level although the best of his era that has produced very, very little for England. Very much the Keegan of his day and hyped to a similarly ridiculous level. The reaction to his inevitable decline would have been hilarious had it not been that his selection was very clearly holding us back. We've had the denial - "He's still our best player and a great captain" when he was plainly neither. "He'll be a great midfielder". This one had no basis in club football and was found to be completely false when he was given a midfield spot in a major tournament where he hid behind Eric Dier. Then, we have to endure a press conference with him in attendance to break the news that he's dropped to a grieving nation. Even then he's out as part of a "tactical change." Beckham was just dropped as was every other player when his time was up. The reason he got booed is not necessarily because everyone hates him but because people are fed up with being told lies by the FA, England managers, the press, pundits, etc. We could all see the old warrior's legs had gone. Making out that it's not true or that it's the passing of a great legend isn't something that most people share and continually telling us otherwise is insulting.
It's poor. Dele looks okay as do Stones and Henderson but Sturridge, Dier and Walcott have been very poor.
England are poor from 2-11 - no great surprise there - and lucky to be level only thanks to Hart. What's more annoying is the ITV commentary. Tyldsley clearly thinks that the sun shines out of arses of Stones, Lingard and worst of all Sturridge.
Here's a stat that The FA won't like: after 60 minutes, England have managed as many shots on goal in this match as San Marino have in theirs ...and it gets worse, considering with their solitary shot on target San Marino scored an equaliser against Norway.
The most entertaining thing about this evening has been the last twenty minutes of San Marino's Twitter feed...
Finally, Sturridge is removed having done nothing of any use whatsoever in 80 minutes. If he gets picked in front of Rashford again then Southgate HAS TO GO!
