You've been reading the daily mail too much mate. Hasn't scored in the World Cup has scored at the euros and if he has scored 39 goals against minnows then well.... That's not right so I'm not going to waste anymore time pointing it out. Brazil are a minnow are they??
yes he has. He has scored in the European Championships. He hasn't scored in the World Cup, but he has scored in the EurosWas Brazil in a major competition then, or just a friendly?. Rooney has not scored in any of the major tournaments, against the minnows in the qualifying stages only.
So don't play him! Sturridge is by far the better choice up top, so no place for him there.
You can't expect Rooney to be played wide in a 3-man attack, its not his best position. His is too slow to be played out on the wing. His preferred position is just behind Sturridge in the hole. There are other players better in a wide position. I don't think he will be dropped though.quite. on reflection i think slagging him when playing out of position is unfair. he *is* probably a tad overrated, but mainly on the basis that he hasnt delivered the potential consitantly and when it matters internationally. he has had a good season in a poor Man U side and shone brightly in the past for them. he is a top player. if he's played wide though, we cant expect him to perform to his ability. slate him when he's given a game in the hole.
He just joins a long line of England players who have excelled for their clubs, showed early promise in internationals but never consistently produced.
What's interesting at World a Cups is players who have failed in English football, look great in their international sides.
There are already several who looked distinctly average in the PL, looking excellent in Brazil.
A lot of football followers make the mistake of judging players on their club performances. They look at all the top players in the PL, think its the highest standard in the world and rave about English players doing wondrous things supported by top foreign players.
There is no bigger stage than the World Cup and it shows us all which players can step up to the plate. Who can raise their game, display their talent and have the temperament to withstand the intense pressure. Basically, it sorts the men out from the boys. The top players revel on the highest stage and write their name into history. Pele, Cruyff, Rossi, Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldo, Iniesta etc. Over two World Cups, Banks, Moore and Charlton cemented their reputations with England. They were respected the world over. They were world class and proved it.
Recent times have proved that England have had no world class players and consequently fall short in tournaments. Gerrard and Rooney have had plenty of opportunities to prove themselves at the highest level but fans are still falling into the trap of making excuses for them. Gerrard was played out of position to accomodate Lampard too many times and Rooney has always been injured and now, when fit, is being played out of position.
The two of them are short of top-class and are not England's future. You won't get any more out of them. The future lies with Barkley, Sterling, Sturridge, Lallana, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamb, Shaw etc. They need to be blooded, gain the experience on the highest stage and mature. If we get two world class players out of this group, then we've got a chance. We've got no chance with Gerrard and Rooney.
Martin Peters and Alan Ball only broke into the England team about a year before the 66 World Cup but they learnt quickly and played a major part in our subsequent victory.
The likes of Gerrard and Rooney are tarnished with failure and don't have the winning mentality on the highest stage. Short of top class, they have massive pressure heaped on them and ultimately fail to produce. Never mind how young some of these England players may be, one or two could be world stars of the future. Only time will tell if they develop, given the chance.
The PL hides the deficiencies of some England players. They are just part of the cosmopolitan, international tapestry of the league. They are supported and carried by top players around them and when they are exposed on the highest world stage, playing for their country, the cracks appear. You can pay Rooney a kings ransom to play for his club but it won't make a jot of difference to his temperament. He has fragile confidence and doesn't cope well with pressure. Eventually, his game cracks and he falls to pieces. Played out of position, he should still have the discipline to carry out the role assigned to him. He is a highly paid, experienced professional but all we hear are the likes of Ferdinand making excuses for him. Poor show!
I am only watching our young players in this tournament. I want to get a feel for the future. Do we have a chance in 2016/2018. Who has the temperament to succeed at this level?
Sadly, a lot of this campaign will be dominated by discussion about Rooney. We have to move on and find better.
He just joins a long line of England players who have excelled for their clubs, showed early promise in internationals but never consistently produced.
What's interesting at World a Cups is players who have failed in English football, look great in their international sides.
There are already several who looked distinctly average in the PL, looking excellent in Brazil.
A lot of football followers make the mistake of judging players on their club performances. They look at all the top players in the PL, think its the highest standard in the world and rave about English players doing wondrous things supported by top foreign players.
There is no bigger stage than the World Cup and it shows us all which players can step up to the plate. Who can raise their game, display their talent and have the temperament to withstand the intense pressure. Basically, it sorts the men out from the boys. The top players revel on the highest stage and write their name into history. Pele, Cruyff, Rossi, Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldo, Iniesta etc. Over two World Cups, Banks, Moore and Charlton cemented their reputations with England. They were respected the world over. They were world class and proved it.
Recent times have proved that England have had no world class players and consequently fall short in tournaments. Gerrard and Rooney have had plenty of opportunities to prove themselves at the highest level but fans are still falling into the trap of making excuses for them. Gerrard was played out of position to accomodate Lampard too many times and Rooney has always been injured and now, when fit, is being played out of position.
The two of them are short of top-class and are not England's future. You won't get any more out of them. The future lies with Barkley, Sterling, Sturridge, Lallana, Welbeck, Oxlade-Chamb, Shaw etc. They need to be blooded, gain the experience on the highest stage and mature. If we get two world class players out of this group, then we've got a chance. We've got no chance with Gerrard and Rooney.
Martin Peters and Alan Ball only broke into the England team about a year before the 66 World Cup but they learnt quickly and played a major part in our subsequent victory.
The likes of Gerrard and Rooney are tarnished with failure and don't have the winning mentality on the highest stage. Short of top class, they have massive pressure heaped on them and ultimately fail to produce. Never mind how young some of these England players may be, one or two could be world stars of the future. Only time will tell if they develop, given the chance.
The PL hides the deficiencies of some England players. They are just part of the cosmopolitan, international tapestry of the league. They are supported and carried by top players around them and when they are exposed on the highest world stage, playing for their country, the cracks appear. You can pay Rooney a kings ransom to play for his club but it won't make a jot of difference to his temperament. He has fragile confidence and doesn't cope well with pressure. Eventually, his game cracks and he falls to pieces. Played out of position, he should still have the discipline to carry out the role assigned to him. He is a highly paid, experienced professional but all we hear are the likes of Ferdinand making excuses for him. Poor show!
I am only watching our young players in this tournament. I want to get a feel for the future. Do we have a chance in 2016/2018. Who has the temperament to succeed at this level?
Sadly, a lot of this campaign will be dominated by discussion about Rooney. We have to move on and find better.
I agree with all of this bar saying Gerrard has fallen short in international tournaments. After one sub appearance at Euro 2000 he played well in 2004 bar one mistake against the French and then at the World Cup in 2006 he was England's top scorer. Gave it his all and scored four years later (though I'd agree England were shithouse at that tournament) and then was voted into the UEFA team of the tournament for the 2012 Euros, he's done pretty well! I do think Brazil will be his swansong though, he'll call time at the end of the cup.
You can't expect Rooney to be played wide in a 3-man attack, its not his best position. His is too slow to be played out on the wing. His preferred position is just behind Sturridge in the hole. There are other players better in a wide position. I don't think he will be dropped though.
Sorry 8 that was a thumbs up Stevie ME aint good enough.
Rooney - our man of the match.
Rooney - our man of the match.