Should Rooney be an automatic choice, if England get a result tonight against Sweden?

[Seagulltonian]

As per the thread title.

With this being the match that finishes off Rooney's ban, if England get a win tonight against Sweden, should Hodgson restore Rooney to the starting line-up for the final group game?

I think that Hodgson will pick him in the final game, even if we get a win against the Swede's tonight

 

[KZNSeagull]

No.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Yes. He's our best player.

 

[Simon Morgan]

Logic dictates that he really should play when available. Not too sure about these reports saying Carroll to start tonight though; I thought Welbeck was terrific against France.

 

[Kumquat]

Don't think it will be based on the result but on what formation he wants to play against Ukraine. Though I can't think of one that he wouldn't fit into. Also he is supposed to be fit and raring to play. Can't see him not playing. If we'd beaten france I could see why he might, but even if we beat Sweden we will still need to get some form of result against Ukraine potentially so think he'll be an automatic pick.

 

[happypig]

Personally I can't stand the bloke, but I'll suffer him for the greater good, he has to play.

 

[Acker79]

We win and score more often when he doesn't play. I don't think this is because we are particularly a worse team with him, just that we rely on him. Everything is built towards him as the target, and if he has an off day, or if our opponents stop him, they pretty much stop us. And since our opposition are international class, they are better at stopping him than your average defence may be.


Should he play? I want to say it depends on the tactics. I want to say if we play as a team that happens to have Rooney in it, we may start getting better stats with him than without him. He can't be our sole outlet.

But, when we look at our other options of danny welbeck and andy caroll, I think it would be best to start rooney, regardless.

Having said that, I don't know how much difference it will make. I'm not convinced we'll get a result against Sweden given our record against them, so it may be a moot point.

 

[Gritt23]

No-one should be an automatic choice, but it's hard to see anyone doing enough to justify keeping Rooney out.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Yes. He's our best player.

This, 100%.

 

[BensGrandad]

Think he will be raring to show how good he is but I would bring him on as a sub and then let him loose on either Spain or their group runners up in the next game..

 

[Sheebo]

an I just vote for yes and not the 'there is absolutely no doubt we'll win the Euro's when he's in the team'
bit pls - what was wrong with yes or no?!

 

[albion534]

Carroll is playing due to Sweden being crap at defending corners and free kicks

I would start Rooney because I think him and welbeck are good together and feed well off each other

 

[Seagulltonian]

an I just vote for yes and not the 'there is absolutely no doubt we'll win the Euro's when he's in the team'
bit pls - what was wrong with yes or no?!

Just being a bit tongue in cheek

 

[Mackenzie]

Of course, he's the ONLY goal threat we've got.

 

[Mellotron]

Yes, signs from the last 3 games suggest this is an England side who play AS A TEAM. If he can fit into that, it would improve our attacking ability massively.

 

[ArcticBlue]

I must say I posed myself this question before the comp started. However it appears that Hodgson is changing his team based upon the opposition and also given that Rooney would walk into most teams in the comp you have to play the guy. Like him or not he is a pretty special player.

 

[StonehamPark]

Don't like him too much but there's no doubt that he's our best player.

 

[SeagullSongs]

If we draw or lose tonight, then definitely bring him in. If we win, then have him on the bench but likely to come on the second half.

 

[Simster]

Yes. He's our best player.

Almost. He's our second best player, after Ashley Cole.

But YES, he should. Our other strikers are gash by comparison.

 

[NickBHAFC18]

Yes. He is by far the most talented player in the squad (even though some of his performances don't seem it), and when you need that one moment of brilliance, he is the player who can deliver it.