when is the last time rooney did well for england? playing him upfront with no support is a sure fire disaster, unless we set the world alight when he is banned, u can put him behind welbeck as they work together at utd
England would have struggled to even qualify for this tournmant and the last one without Rooney. The three best England performances of this campaign, 3-1 away to Switzerland, 4-0 vs. Bulgaria, and 3-0 away to Bulgaria, were on the back of Rooney. And the same in the world cup qualification campaign Rooney was England’s highest scorer and got the highest assists. Also the last tournament we failed to qualify for, euro 2008, Rooney was missing through injury for most of the campaign, including the final crucial game at Wembley. So to underestimate his value to England, you just don’t understand what his does on the pitch
I'd dispute that England play better with Rooney in the side- this was certainly not the case in the WC two years ago and nor does he make a particularly huge difference to England's qualifying performances for Euro 2012. In fact, his red card that earned him the two match ban is further evidence of his unreliability. Not only does he fail to deliver in big tournaments (certainly the last ones he's featured in), his temper can and does still get the better of him. And furthermore, England's win percentage without Rooney is 69%, versus 60% with him-and England have even scored more goals per game when Rooney hasn't featured. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...e-better-off-without-him-at-euro-2012/page/11
As Ive alrerady pointed out in another thread, in both of those tournaments he was rushed into the squad unfit and forced to play carrying injuries. So it's not rocket science why he didn't play well. England is clearly not the same team without him playing and playing well, because he is our only deep lying forward, no other England player can play that role, so we can't expect to break down well orginised teams easily.
England wouldn't have qualified without Rooney's performances in this campaign, even his poor ones he provided crucial assists and goals, England wouldn't have qualified without Rooney in the last World cup, certainly not the emphatic victories against Croatia home and away. Watch back the games against Bulgaria and Switzerland also. And as I keep pointing out, he was injured before the last world cup, and Capello did not play the same system as he did in the qualifiers, he stuck to a rigid system that did not suit Rooney.
Bottom line is, we don't know how England would have fared without Rooney at the World Cup because he went and played- had he not started, then who knows, we might have actually done better.
Put him behind Welbeck and England will get overrun in midfield and defence. Look at the lack of pace in the midfield and defence - it would be suicide. Perhaps against Ukraine, England can get away with it - but generally speaking I am not happy seeing England line up with Rooney in that position. If England want to maintain a balanced team which can keep control of a game, he should be either the target man or one of the flanking forwards. Rooney is actually very good as a wide forward.
"You don't have to use short passes," the new England manager could be heard shouting at one point. "Not if you want to use your big man up front." " From a report of yesterday's training session. Encouraging stuff.
Doubt that Hodgson will revert to thumping the thing long all the time.....but there is a big difference in playing the "long ball" and playing more direct. Personally I can't see England doing much in this tournament (hope I'm wrong) but equally I can't see Spain winning it. Much like teams figured out Greece after 2004 teams have now figured out Barcelona/Spain.....encourage them to shoot from distance (rarely) send in crosses from wide (more rarely)...clog up the deep defensive middle of the park (see Chelsea and England in the recent Barca/Spain games ) and, like Greece (the anti Spain) there is no plan "B"....the key with beating Greece is to a) play 'em at their own game (Sweden at Euro 2008) or b) get ahead of them (Brazil, confederations cup 2005, Russia, group game 2004 and any other half decent team since.....score first....they're fcuked)