And, we're off.....2016/17

[HomerJSimpson]

No England player has ever took the stick and bad press as Rooney has been given, the whole team was poor against Malta and only he was booed.
Right now he is at the fans and media centre for all that is wrong with the team and is being made the scapegoat.
If England win comfortably tomorrow without him starting then that's what'll be focussed on.

It wasn't a great performance and there were a few that didn't perform well but Rooney was definitely a scapegoat as you rightfully say. How much of this decision by Southgate to put Rooney on the bench is to do with him flexing his managerial muscles in front of the FA and perhaps less to do with the tactical needs of the team away to a tricky opponent

 

[Hacker Khan]

It wasn't a great performance and there were a few that didn't perform well but Rooney was definitely a scapegoat as you rightfully say. How much of this decision by Southgate to put Rooney on the bench is to do with him flexing his managerial muscles in front of the FA and perhaps less to do with the tactical needs of the team away to a tricky opponent

Or it could be that he is that rare breed of England manager, one that picks players that are in form and not by reputation (also known as the Darren Clark disease) and Rooney has contributed little in real terms when it matters for club and country for a long time now.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Or it could be that he is that rare breed of England manager, one that picks players that are in form and not by reputation (also known as the Darren Clark disease) and Rooney has contributed little in real terms when it matters for club and country for a long time now.

We can but hope that he is indeed picking on form and not reputation

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Or it could be that he is that rare breed of England manager, one that picks players that are in form and not by reputation (also known as the Darren Clark disease) and Rooney has contributed little in real terms when it matters for club and country for a long time now.

No issue with Rooney not being picked for any team based in form.
Have a read of Southgates comments about Rooney before and after the Malta game, how important he is, how he can influence games, how the media treat unfairly etc
He then makes him Captain, we win, he drops him! Is Southgate being his own man or listening to the media?

 

[USER1999]

When I was watching the match, it felt like I was watching subbuteo. There was so little movement in the final third of the pitch. It wasn't Rooneys fault, it was all of them.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

No issue with Rooney not being picked for any team based in form.
Have a read of Southgates comments about Rooney before and after the Malta game, how important he is, how he can influence games, how the media treat unfairly etc
He then makes him Captain, we win, he drops him! Is Southgate being his own man or listening to the media?

It does seem that Southgate wants England to play at a faster tempo, something Rooney is no longer capable of.

This was obvious last season at club level and contributed towards the downfall of van Gaal, Southgate does not want to go the same way.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

It does seem that Southgate wants England to play at a faster tempo, something Rooney is no longer capable of.

This was obvious last season at club level and contributed towards the downfall of van Gaal, Southgate does not want to go the same way.

Dier is unavailable so he plays Rooney instead, why play Rooney at all? he's not a midfield player and surely it's not another England manager who thinks it is?
I get it was Southgates first match and unexpected, but surely he wouldn't of got poorer opposition to try and get the players to play the way he wants and to pick those best suited. I didn't see any of this faster tempo against Malta or was that because Rooney played.

 

[Liverbirdie]

No issue with Rooney not being picked for any team based in form.
Have a read of Southgates comments about Rooney before and after the Malta game, how important he is, how he can influence games, how the media treat unfairly etc
He then makes him Captain, we win, he drops him! Is Southgate being his own man or listening to the media?

Or the Man U manager has had a quiet word with Gareth, and asked him not to play him?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Or the Man U manager has had a quiet word with Gareth, and asked him not to play him?

Fair one, he'll want to be fresh for next monday

 

[Liverbirdie]

Fair one, he'll want to be fresh for next monday

Precisely.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

I didn't see any of this faster tempo against Malta or was that because Rooney played.

Obviously not solely responsible but he does seem remarkably pedestrian these days which, in the role he fulfilled on Saturday,slows down the whole team.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Obviously not solely responsible but he does seem remarkably pedestrian these days which, in the role he fulfilled on Saturday,slows down the whole team.

But that's the managers responsibility to pick the right player for the job and if me and you can see that that isn't Rooney, why was he picked?
He'll be on the bench tomorrow and if Henderson or Dier take a knock, it'll be Rooney replacing them!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Fair one, he'll want to be fresh for next monday

Liverpool can only hope 😁

 

[Kellfire]

Did anyone see Benteke's goal after seven seconds tonight? Hilarious defending.

Pogba made Stekelenburg look stupid tonight, too.

 

[richy]

I can't believe Henderson is going to captain the national side.

England are poor because he is deemed one of our better players now. We've regressed so much in the last few years it's astonishing.

 

[freddielong]

When I was watching the match, it felt like I was watching subbuteo. There was so little movement in the final third of the pitch. It wasn't Rooneys fault, it was all of them.

Its catch 22 though if the ball is getting stuck in midfield it makes it impossible to time your runs, I would agree that it wasn't all his fault but he is not good enough to play out of position.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I can't believe Henderson is going to captain the national side.

England are poor because he is deemed one of our better players now. We've regressed so much in the last few years it's astonishing.

I wouldn't say that Henderson is necessarily great captain material.

What I would say is who is a regular more senior player than him, currently?

Who says captains have to be the better players? Some of the worlds greatest players haven't been captains.

 

[Beezerk]

I can't believe Henderson is going to captain the national side.

England are poor because he is deemed one of our better players now. We've regressed so much in the last few years it's astonishing.

Applause.

He's England's new Gareth Barry. Steady but when it comes to it, classless.

 

[Liverbirdie]

Applause.

He's England's new Gareth Barry. Steady but when it comes to it, classless.

I cant argue, as Henderson does do the safe thing far too many times, but again, easy saying it shoudnt be him as captain - offer who it should be, and why. :thup:

 

[Kellfire]

I cant argue, as Henderson does do the safe thing far too many times, but again, easy saying it shoudnt be him as captain - offer who it should be, and why. :thup:

Hart if he's to be the goalkeeper for the time being. Experience.