Poor old Wayne, he can't win, there is no doubt he is a great player, for club and country, he loves the game and will do anything to put on his boots and give it his best, most of us know his best position is up front or playing just off the striker and that is where he succeeds but if managers insist on playing him out wide or in other positions it's hardly his fault, he will do it because he has the quality, flexibility and he will do anything for the team, I know he is on vast wages and should be capable but out of position all players lose their edge, after all you wouldn't ask an electrician to install toilets and bathrooms, you'd get a plumber. To get to the World Cup Rooney scored, 6 ( or was it 4) goals and made countless assists for his contribution and indeed during the game against Italy he made the Sturridge goal with a class cross and okay, he missed a goal chance but he made himself available to take the chance, how many times so far in the W/C has a player hit the ball and it's gone in off of a deflection or post and people have been ecstatic over the player, look at the Messi goal for Argentina, no matter how great the approach it bounced in off of the post, his position and approach play was no in way better than Rooney, thanks to the post, one is a hero, the other a zero. It's a sad fact there are other players in our team that for one reason or another are failing but are obviously coated in Teflon, nothing sticks, certainly not blame, Johnson, Gerrard and Hodgson the manager to name a few. I am honestly not trying to be over critical of the England team, I think most of them are great and are busting a gut to bring us some success but all the blame coming from the so called experts was being directed towards Rooney, it not his fault he is obeying team orders and we have a team captain who disappears and is obviously below par. Rooney is a great lad, gives 100% plus, ask any foreign player or manager what England player they would choose from the current England squad to select or play for their country and it would be Rooney every time. It's up to Hodgson to play Rooney in his preferred position, if he fails then drop him but don't let's blame him for all that goes wrong, he is a great asset for us but there again, he is like Marmite, you either love or hate him and we are English..
I don't love him or hate him, right now for my money he does not deserve the lone striker role due to current form, and it is quite clear trying to fit him in comes at the expense of the team, so he should be dropped for now. It may do him some good, a hungry Rooney with a point to prove coming of the bench would scare most teams. My problem with him and his Man Utd PR machine is that they believe he should start every game and apply pressure through the media, all to protect their ludicrous £300k a week investment.
I think he's still a valuable member of the squad, but I think we suffered on the wings because Rooney wasn't sitting back and providing cover for Baines. Our weakest positions are the full-backs so cover is absolutely essential when Baines or Johnson go on a run, and as we saw with the first goal absolutely no one was picking up Marchisio. So many people slate Milner, but it's for reasons like this that he plays all the time for England. When a full-back makes a run he stays back and covers until Johnson comes back into defense. On the subject of Rooney, I think he should play 45 minutes for England. He struggled with all the running needed to be on the wing, so I'd play him and let him know that his game is 45 minutes long and that he can use his energy throughout a shorter period.
Listen to people who play with him - they all say how good he is I would play Rooney in the middle of that 3 with Welbeck/Sterling wide.
Welbeck went missing for Italys second goal. The formation meant England played with one less player in midfield v Italy's five. At times it was 5 v 3. It made little difference who was left and right going backwards as the players were unsure of roles. England like anybody else have to play what they train.
I would have Lallana for Welbeck, and play him on the left where he can cut inside and also track back. This would leave Sterling on the right of Rooney where he is for Liverpool. This would give us a potent and balanced front 4 with the excellent Sturridge, while giving us more options in midfield. As for leaving Rooney out, I would rather drop Gerrard and welcome Wilshere into the team As to whether we love or hate him, its a simple equation Rooney + goals = LOVE Nothing to do with Marmite see !
Overpaid, overhyped and has never put in a decent shift in for his country when it comes down to the finals. Put him on the bench and watch him sulk because I am just fed up with hearing how pumped up he is to show his goods on the ultimate stage. Message to Rooney: Go out there and prove to me and the rest of your doubters that you are worthy of an England shirt and I will willingly change my mind - Deal? You know you can do it so now is the time to step up. Love Mike.
