Off Topic International Break Thread

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
"Thanks for that Brian" said:
For all of his god-like status with pundits and the media, he's only scored 20+ PL goals twice in his career (in 09/10 and 11/12). That's five years since he achieved the feat. On top of that, he's only scored 15 or more on a further 2 occasions (in 05/06 and 13/14). For a first choice striker in the most successful club side in the PL during that period, that's distinctly underwhelming.

In the same number of games, Shearer scored 66 more goals (260 v 194) for a far worse team. His strike rate (0.44 goals per game) is the almost exactly the same as Andy Cole (0.45), Michael Owen (0.46), Robbie Fowler (0.43) and Les Ferdinand (0.42). Three of those had very limited international careers.
He's nowhere near the record of Henry (0.68) and not particularly close to Shearer (0.59).

He's 6th in terms of strike rate for England behind Greaves (0.77), Lineker (0.60) Hurst (0.49), Shearer (0.48) and Charlton (0.46). Over a third of his goals have come against the true minnows of the game, most of which didn't exist when other top scoring internationals were playing the game.

He's been a long-serving England player and much of that during a time when we haven't been very good. However, the reaction of the hacks in the media says more about their need to sensationalise everything than it does about Rooney's career, both domestic and international.
Click to expand...

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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PleaseNotPoll
littleDinosaurLuke said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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...
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
 
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!
 
It's gotten a little dark on the Sammarese Twitter...
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
You must log in or register to see media
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back