[Shaun]

Seems a divisive subject and there's now arguably enough counter-options provided they don't get injured before the end of the season (Vardy, Kane, Welbeck, Sturridge, Berahino, um...Walcott ...) so thought I'd make a poll.

[Mystic Mock]

As long as we're not playing 4-4-2 then I would have him play behind the two strikers Kane and Vardy.

If it's 4-4-2 however then his sitting on the bench.

[alex_front2]

No, under no circumstance should he be any where near the squad.

He only gets picked to play for England as he plays for Man U and the FA like the commercial benefits that he brings. Had Rooney still played for Everton, or a club like Stoke or Swansea he'd be no where near the national set up. He's way behind the likes of Vardy , Kane and Sturridge on current scoring ability.

As for the captaincy claim that should always be re-evaluted and now that can go elsewhere. Rooney seems about as inspirational as mouldy lettuce. He can barely string a sentence together. If I were an England player I'd be p*ssed off having to play with a £300k player who is below bang average and expects others to support him in the "Rooney record breaking scoring show".

Also counties like Germany don't give a crap about "star players" and "commercial interest" of a player, it's all about if a player is on form and performing week in week out. It's about the team, the "Mannschaft". Thomas Muller is a top player but he's not a huge Rooney level star.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

As long as we're not playing 4-4-2 then I would have him play behind the two strikers Kane and Vardy.

If it's 4-4-2 however then his sitting on the bench.

You think Vardy will start above Sturridge if fit? I doubt that tbh.

On form he should be no where near the first team but it would be a very brave England manager who dropped the captain and all time leading scorer.

[alex_front2]

Kane and Vardy should be a partnership. Roy needs to capitalise on the fact that these two go way back, despite the title rivalry they know each other relatively well and played together at Leicester (Kane on loan).



http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeToyIJW4AAy0JK.jpg

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

You think Vardy will start above Sturridge if fit? I doubt that tbh.

On form he should be no where near the first team but it would be a very brave England manager who dropped the captain and all time leading scorer.

If Sturridge gets picked over Vardy in the starting 11 then it just shows you how corrupt the whole system is really.

Btw I'm a fan of Sturridge, I've always been since he came through at Chelsea, but his been injured for most of the season so he certainly should not be picked over Vardy who's had a fantastic season and is playing for the soon to be champions in the Premier League.

[Alf]

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks, because if he's not injured then Rooney will be starting as captain. You can bet your bottom dollar on that.

[Shaun]

not really grasping the point of the poll there are you

[bots]

As a Scotland supporter, I think Rooney should be a must start for every game

[Crimson Dynamo]

no, no, no

he has NO place in the squad and neither has Wiltshire or Walcott

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Shaun

not really grasping the point of the poll there are you

Au contraire, I grasp the point perfectly.

English football fans always scapegoat their best player, not that there's anything to scapegoat for at the moment, after a perfect qualification for the latest tournament, but they won't let that stop them.

If negatives are all people go looking for, then that's all they'll find.


For us to leave Rooney out is the equivalent of Portugal leaving out Ronaldo, Argentina leaving out Messi, Germany leaving out Nauer (Their countries best player).

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

[Alf]

I remember the lead up to Euro 96, Shearer was bang out of form and hadn't scored far a good while, people were looking towards other options then, he walked out of the tournament with the Golden boot, which proves my last quote of the last post.

[Denver]

Shouldn't even be in consideration

[Alf]

Just to back up what I said on Shearer, here's a snippet from a Telegraph article.



As Shearer sat inside St James' Park on Thursday, facing the question-firing squad with his back ramrod-straight and eyes glinting with steel, his mind wandered back to those 12 goalless games he endured before Euro 96. Names of other noted poachers were being touted around, respected finishers such as Les Ferdinand, Andy Cole and Ian Wright. Venables would not be swayed. He knew Shearer could form a devastating partnership with Teddy Sheringham, the famous SAS.


"A month before the tournament, Terry said to me: 'You will be starting the tournament.' I always remembered the belief that gave me. That was a great piece of man-management. That always stuck out for me. Every player loves to be told how well they are doing, what a good player they are.''


His confidence bolstered, Shearer tore into Europe's finest, finishing as top scorer with five goals, dovetailing brilliantly with Teddy Sheringham. Although England ended empty-handed and broken-hearted, Shearer had handsomely repaid Venables' faith.







Why don't we start boosting Rooney's confidence by telling him how good he is, instead of the opposite? It's too late to start saying how great he was, when he retires.

[Mystic Mock]

Rooney is still a good player, but you can't blame people for wanting replacements that are better at this current moment.

[alex_front2]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

no, no, no

he has NO place in the squad and neither has Wiltshire or Walcott

This.

I'd add Lalana, Milner to that axe list and even Henderson

We need to phase out these bang average, World Cup failure players (bar Luke Shaw who iirc only played in dead rubber game v Costa Rica). And this will be controversial but I'd also review Joe Hart as a GK certainty to start. For me Forster is ahead of him in the pecking order. It's just that Hart plays behind a superior Man City defence. Also not sure about Cahil but he may be there as centre back options are poor.

[Alf]

Michael Dawson has been brilliant for Hull City this season, Gary Cahill been bang average this season, so if it's all about form, does that mean Michael Dawson should be in before Cahill?


Or is Rooney singled out because he's the media's wet dream?

The fact that Rooney is being singled out is because you all know he's our best player, you just have to look at the facts and his CV to see that.

Why scapegoat Rooney for England doing well in the past 2 years? why not Danny Rose or Jordan Henderson?

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Alf

Michael Dawson has been brilliant for Hull City this season, Gary Cahill been bang average this season, so if it's all about form, does that mean Michael Dawson should be in before Cahill?


Or is Rooney singled out because he's the media's wet dream?

The fact that Rooney is being singled out is because you all know he's our best player, you just have to look at the facts and his CV to see that.

Why scapegoat Rooney for England doing well in the past 2 years? why not Danny Rose or Jordan Henderson?

Danny Rose has had only one cap but I agree about Henderson. There are other players who are in better form.

[Shaun]

Butland out for 3 months and missing the Euros poor guy

[alex_front2]

Originally Posted by Alf

Au contraire, I grasp the point perfectly.

English football fans always scapegoat their best player, not that there's anything to scapegoat for at the moment, after a perfect qualification for the latest tournament, but they won't let that stop them.

If negatives are all people go looking for, then that's all they'll find.


For us to leave Rooney out is the equivalent of Portugal leaving out Ronaldo, Argentina leaving out Messi, Germany leaving out Nauer (Their countries best player).

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Rooney USED to be good, he's past it now. Ronaldo still scores goals.

[alex_front2]

This:

Sam – ‏@sjam29

I don't understand pundit's view on Rooney?

"He has to start because of his record."

Sure! We may as well play Lineker and Owen too then!

[Alf]

Originally Posted by alex_front2

Rooney USED to be good, he's past it now. Ronaldo still scores goals.

That's your opinion, but you also come out with statements like Eddie Howe should be the England manager. So I can't take your statements seriously.


And I also have facts on my side, like, in qualifying for the up-coming European Championships, which one player in the whole group in which England were in, finished as the groups top goal-scorer?

And when you answer, this.

In your opinion it's a miracle, because the player is no longer good enough, so how could that have possibly happened?

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by alex_front2

This.

I'd add Lalana, Milner to that axe list and even Henderson

We need to phase out these bang average, World Cup failure players (bar Luke Shaw who iirc only played in dead rubber game v Costa Rica). And this will be controversial but I'd also review Joe Hart as a GK certainty to start. For me Forster is ahead of him in the pecking order. It's just that Hart plays behind a superior Man City defence. Also not sure about Cahil but he may be there as centre back options are poor.

Forster was shocking tonight, I would pick Hart and Butland over him anyday of the week.

[alex_front2]

Originally Posted by Alf

That's your opinion, but you also come out with statements like Eddie Howe should be the England manager. So I can't take your statements seriously.


And I also have facts on my side, like, in qualifying for the up-coming European Championships, which one player in the whole group in which England were in, finished as the groups top goal-scorer?

And when you answer, this.

In your opinion it's a miracle, because the player is no longer good enough, so how could that have possibly happened?

That's because the EURO qualifying games essentially became the " let's help Wayne Rooney break Sir Bobby's goal scoring record" show. Players literally playing ball to him just so he could inch closer to topping the scoring charts [loved the fact 'Own Goals' beat him for a while ].

When a player win a penalty, Wayne took it. Pathetic. Love the fact that his place is now under threat. If Hodgson was a good manager he'd axe Wayne, but he's crap and will pack Wayne's suitcase for France (Argentina dropped Aguero to bench as he's not performing. Kun Aguero.) Face it, Wayne Rooney's golden days should be over.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by alex_front2

That's because the EURO qualifying games essentially became the " let's help Wayne Rooney break Sir Bobby's goal scoring record" show. Players literally playing ball to him just so he could inch closer to topping the scoring charts [loved the fact 'Own Goals' beat him for a while ].

When a player win a penalty, Wayne took it. Pathetic. Love the fact that his place is now under threat. If Hodgson was a good manager he'd axe Wayne, but he's crap and will pack Wayne's suitcase for France (Argentina dropped Aguero to bench as he's not performing. Kun Aguero.) Face it, Wayne Rooney's golden days should be over.

Let's be honest, you'd love him to be a failure at the Euro's, just so you can say "I told you so"

Whoever plays, just support them, and be happy for them.

Already, before the tournament has even started, you're against the manager, I've seen nothing he's done so far to warrant the negativity.

And your against the captain, he's been singled out because he's our best player.

I've heard it all before, it's just funny how it's always the manager and the best player that aren't good enough, coincidently the media's favourite targets.

We used to idolise our best players, Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker ect, where did it all go wrong? I don't know, maybe Rooney will be idolised when he retires, you reckon?