Is Wayne Rooney World class?

[Herr Tubthumper]

So by your definition is Glen Johnson closer to being World class than Wayne Rooney?

A team with 32% possession is rarely going to give it's strikers enough service to be truly effective and get into the game. I would class Champions league football above the European Championships in terms of quality and his scoring record in that is very good.

And above all, if you really believe Rooney is class then you are part of the problem. History will not look back on Rooney as a brilliant player. He's a pasty and pudgy lad who can play well, this is all.

 

[Common as Mook]

I suppose the thread title is a joke?

England have one World Class player and have done for the last 12 years. Ashley Cole.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I suppose the thread title is a joke?

England have one World Class player and have done for the last 12 years. Ashley Cole.

Fair comment.

 

[pork pie]

Or is he massively over rated?

As I wrote on another thread.

In my opinion, his involvement in our last two matches personifies all that has been wrong with England for decades. Disgusting attitude, poor performances, but others get dropped so he can walk into the team and do f uck all.

 

[Simster]

I suppose the thread title is a joke?

England have one World Class player and have done for the last 12 years. Ashley Cole.

Correct. Although I'm sure Joe Hart could prove himself a superb keeper in years to come.

 

[Seagull58]

Well said.
We are technically inept in this country. Our players have been declining in technical ability for 15 years and it is getting progressively worse. To watch England players unable to control, hold and pass the ball to a member of their own side is painful. These are the basics of the game ffs. We can all see it but the football authorities are not prepared to rip up their own blueprint for the game.
Watching 6-7-8 year old kids chasing around like headless chickens, with crowds of parents bawling at them from the touchlines is sickening. It is the worst possible preparation for learning the game. For years kids learnt the basics of the game in the streets and in the playgrounds. Trapping and killing a tennis ball with one touch was essential. You learnt to shield the ball and some boys developed the ability to dribble effortlessly past opponents. Organised football started at around 11 years of age. By then kids were confident on the ball and they had learnt the basics. They didn't have the pressure of parents and coaches drumming garbage into them. Nowadays, there seems to be a headlong rush to try and get kids organised as young as possible, without any thought to pace of development.
I know you can't turn the clock back to the days of street and playground football but somehow we have got to start re-creating that environment.
Many years ago a young boy in Belfast used to go and watch his mum play hockey. Whilst the game was in progress, he would dribble a tennis ball up the touchlines, round the corner flags and back. He would practise trapping and controlling the ball and if he found a willing accomplice, then they would pass to each other until the sun went down.
Not everyone will grow up to be George Best. All we are asking is that our kids are given the opportunity to master the basics of the game.
Thats the starting point.

As a youngster Bestie was once criticised for not having much of a left foot. Apparently, if his bio is to be believed, he played the next game for his school team with no boot on his right foot and scored 8 goals with his left. I'm not saying that kids should do that (Maradona could barely stand up with his right foot) but it was embarrassing to see the lack of ball control last night and it highlights his commitment to improving his technical ability. As Bestie said about Carlton Palmer "He can trap the ball further then I can kick it". To be fair to Carroll he wasn't too bad with his head and chest control last night but OMG what a carthorse when the ball is on the ground. Compare him with the big Germans and it is REALLY embarrassing.

 

[pork pie]

I suppose the thread title is a joke?

England have one World Class player and have done for the last 12 years. Ashley Cole.

So who plays Center half better that John Terry in the world? Even an aging Terry was was the outstanding defender of the Euros.

 

[leigull]

So who plays Center half better that John Terry in the world? Even an aging Terry was was the outstanding defender of the Euros.

You missed all the times Balotelli was through on goal in acres of space last night then?

 

[Seagull58]

I suppose the thread title is a joke?

England have one World Class player and have done for the last 12 years. Ashley Cole.

Gerrard is a world class player who was sacrificed by previous England managers to accommodate lesser players like Lampard.

 

[Seagull58]

So who plays Center half better that John Terry in the world? Even an aging Terry was was the outstanding defender of the Euros.

Terry's party piece is throwing himself in front of the oppo as he's shooting. Its a good trick but he gets caught out through lack of pace far too often to be considered top quality.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

You missed all the times Balotelli was through on goal in acres of space last night then?

Good point. A few blood and thunder challenges seem to gloss over this fact in most peoples minds.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Terry's party piece is throwing himself in front of the oppo as he's shooting. Its a good trick but he gets caught out through lack of pace far too often to be considered top quality.

Agree, see above.

 

[leigull]

Terry's party piece is throwing himself in front of the oppo as he's shooting. Its a good trick but he gets caught out through lack of pace far too often to be considered top quality.

Exactly. And the reason he has to fling himself in front of the ball (rather bravely at times I might add), is because he was either out of position, or too slow too stop the opposition getting into that position in the first place.

 

[Insel affe]

World class in my definition means he should constantly perform at major tournements then.........

Hell No !

 

[leigull]

I don't think Rooney can be blamed too much for not performing last night, it was his 2nd competitive game in what 6 weeks? He was never going to be match fit or sharp. I think Roy's one big mistake in the tournament (in hindsight) was bringing Rooney straight back into the side and not continuing with Welbeck/Carroll

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I don't think Rooney can be blamed too much for not performing last night, it was his 2nd competitive game in what 6 weeks?

And whose fault was it that he has only played 2 competitive games?

 

[BadFish]

Gerrard is a world class player who was sacrificed by previous England managers to accommodate lesser players like Lampard.

Yup

 

[leigull]

And whose fault was it that he has only played 2 competitive games?

Fair point!

But I just don't think he should have been dropped straight in on his return like he was, it would have taken 3-4 games to get back up to speed and there was little to no chance of England getting that far in the tournament. Easy to say after the fact though I accept.

 

[Mo Gosfield]

I don't think Rooney can be blamed too much for not performing last night, it was his 2nd competitive game in what 6 weeks? He was never going to be match fit or sharp. I think Roy's one big mistake in the tournament (in hindsight) was bringing Rooney straight back into the side and not continuing with Welbeck/Carroll

Another Rooney apologist....sorry but even if Rooney had been playing twice a week up to last night people would have come on here and said he needed a rest. Every tournament there is another excuse for him....tired, injured, personal issues etc....anything but the bloody truth.
HE AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

 

[leigull]

Another Rooney apologist....sorry but even if Rooney had been playing twice a week up to last night people would have come on here and said he needed a rest. Every tournament there is another excuse for him....tired, injured, personal issues etc....anything but the bloody truth.
HE AIN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

No no no, you get me wrong, I am not trying to say he is world class, just that he was dumped straight back into the side based on his reputation, rather than form/fitness. He would have put on a much better showing had he not had his petulant moment a few months ago to get himself sent off. Not saying it would have made much/any difference to the team, but he would have looked slightly more up to standard than he did against Ukraine or Italy