Rooney - "not world class?"

[Beezerk]

I think if England put all their eggs in one basket (pace). We will be found out again. We need to be able to pace and move too.

Nail...head.
I'm fed up of hearing that old comment "his pace will scare them", sounds like that dinosaur Trevor Brooking on endless loop!
Pace is fine but...
We cannot pass the ball for any length of time, so getting the ball out to the "pacey" wide players in the first place rarely happens. when it does happen they run themselves into dead ends and lose the ball.
We have no plan B when the above fails, which it usually does against most teams.
Walcott has pace, for now anyway, but he lacks a good first touch and quality when it really counts.
Rooney should be a great player but looks like he eats too many pies on a Saturday night to be taken seriously nowadays. he is also too individual when he pulls on an England shirt.
We don't have a massive pool of talent to choose from thanks to the FA having dropped the ball for the last 30, 40, 50 odd years. Barkley is a must start for me in the World Cup but I'm sure Woy will play safe and have him warming the bench due to his short sightedness and probably pressure from above.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

your original point was that sterling a pace would frighten defenders to death. So whilst your points raised here are valid, the question still needed to be asked. I still think that sturridge considers himself a central player. He may drift wide. But if asked to start out wide it may not work. I hope to be proved wrong. I also think at intl the Liverpool/Newcastle approach won't be successful in Brazil. So hot and humid that ball retention will be key. I agree that that front three could be attractive, but if we don't score early then I think it'll be a struggle after 60 minutes of chasing the ball. We will find out soon enough, but I'll be surprised if we go that Atk minded.

My inital point was that Sterling has pace that would frighten people but i also posted his other strong points.

Where players start is no relation to where they play. Front threes around the world at the top teams are now very fluid - the false 9 some call it - Barce,Madrid,Spain,Munich,Germany - the list of successful teams with a fluid front three are growing - thats what Liverpool play - we retain the ball very well and then the front three using clever movement , pace , intelligent runs and outstanding ability create havoc up front. We at times have looked a big venerable at the back through poor defending but that has been mainly at set pieces.

With a solid back 4 - which England have - plus two great fullbacks - which England have, a creative solid midfield three - which England potentially have in Gerrard plus Barkley plus one more - Henderson/Lallana/Wilshire plus a front three of Sterling, Rooney,Strurridge with players like Rodriuguez ( who is very under rated ) - they have the potential to really cause a few surprises.

Havent a front three like that isnt "attack minded" and certainly isnt the Newcastle Method.

The main problem for England is the coach - i very much doubt he has the ability to play like that - i have no doubt Wellbeck will be in the team , plus Carrick and they will look to set up banks of four to be solid.

 

[Papas1982]

My inital point was that Sterling has pace that would frighten people but i also posted his other strong points.

Where players start is no relation to where they play. Front threes around the world at the top teams are now very fluid - the false 9 some call it - Barce,Madrid,Spain,Munich,Germany - the list of successful teams with a fluid front three are growing - thats what Liverpool play - we retain the ball very well and then the front three using clever movement , pace , intelligent runs and outstanding ability create havoc up front. We at times have looked a big venerable at the back through poor defending but that has been mainly at set pieces.

With a solid back 4 - which England have - plus two great fullbacks - which England have, a creative solid midfield three - which England potentially have in Gerrard plus Barkley plus one more - Henderson/Lallana/Wilshire plus a front three of Sterling, Rooney,Strurridge with players like Rodriuguez ( who is very under rated ) - they have the potential to really cause a few surprises.

Havent a front three like that isnt "attack minded" and certainly isnt the Newcastle Method.

The main problem for England is the coach - i very much doubt he has the ability to play like that - i have no doubt Wellbeck will be in the team , plus Carrick and they will look to set up banks of four to be solid.

I think Hodgson will surprise a few. It's no surprise that he's currently watching more saints and Liverpool games than others as both play similar styles. I like the look of Barkley although he is still young and cm usually improve with maturity. Don't think he has an assist to his name yet. I'd defo agree and leave welbeck at home. Maybe with. UTD currently being out of top tier he'll get dropped. I may have been harsh with comparison to Newcastle, unfortunately Rooney although capable of drifting like Suarez will drop too deep as he always does and then we will have a lack of focal point up top. If We could tie a string round rooney and keep him within 30 yards of goal he'd. E a much better asset. He will no doubt break countless records but at what goal ratio. Nowhere near the top strikers of this era where 1:1 is becoming the benchmark.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Rooney missing today & could also miss the Munich game. If UTD have a chance at Munich they need need Rooney fully fit.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I think Hodgson will surprise a few. It's no surprise that he's currently watching more saints and Liverpool games than others as both play similar styles. I like the look of Barkley although he is still young and cm usually improve with maturity. Don't think he has an assist to his name yet. I'd defo agree and leave welbeck at home. Maybe with. UTD currently being out of top tier he'll get dropped. I may have been harsh with comparison to Newcastle, unfortunately Rooney although capable of drifting like Suarez will drop too deep as he always does and then we will have a lack of focal point up top. If We could tie a string round rooney and keep him within 30 yards of goal he'd. E a much better asset. He will no doubt break countless records but at what goal ratio. Nowhere near the top strikers of this era where 1:1 is becoming the benchmark.

Rooney will be pushed forward by the likes of Barkley

But there is also a case for Rooney not to start and put either Lallana or Rodriguez in his place.

Would certainly like to see it

Or even have Rooney play in the No10 role infront of Gerrard and an other and have Lallana in the front three

There is so many options available

But there is the Woy factor - and he hasnt ever surprised anyone as yet. He believes his tactics have worked in the past and sticks with them

 

[MadAdey]

My biggest fear is that we are just going to go out with a good old 4-4-2 with a rigid formation that will have no movement and no idea. Players will be too easy to mark and keep control of.

The modern day game is all about free flowing football and movement. I just like the look of Sturridge, Rooney and Sterling. All of those players will just float around the pitch making it difficult to mark and when we get the ball. When you look at Liverpool Sturridge and Sterling are popping up all over he front line, when yo do that then you can't man mark them and you will get times when they will not be picked up and get some space, they do it week in week out. Rooney too is a player that will float all over and can make things happen when he gets the ball. Put someone behind them that is good on the ball and we can have a go at teams.

It is time that England tuned into the modern game and stopped playing in rigid banks of 4 with no movement and wingers that just hug the sideline, modern day players move around the pitch in advanced roles. It can work because Gerrard will stay in position and keep the shape.

I do not think we have much chance of getting far, but hey why not at least have some fun while we do it. I would prefer to loose 4-2 instead of a boring 1-0. BUt then that is why I love watching Liverpool under Rodgers. After we get knocked out I do not want to look back at another string of boring England matches, moaning about the tactics Woy employed. I want to look back and remember how exciting we were to watch, how they took the game to other teams and had a bloody good go.

Call me stupid, but do you know what. If Woy actually drops the negative defensive tactics and uses all our young players, maybe we can pull off a few surprises. You put the likes of Sterling and BArkley in the team and they will play their heart out. 12 months ago those 2 would never had thought in their wildest dreams they would be playing at the world cup and will go out and enjoy themself.

 

[pbrown7582]

Rooney missing today & could also miss the Munich game. If UTD have a chance at Munich they need need Rooney fully fit.

He'll be there just having a rest today, wasnt needed by the seems the Juan and only seen the magpies off.

 

[Snelly]

He looked a very long way from world class last night. Had a niggling injury of course but all the same, not great on yet another big occasion.

 

[Golfmmad]

He looked a very long way from world class last night. Had a niggling injury of course but all the same, not great on yet another big occasion.

Have to agree with you there Snelly.

The two chances Rooney had last night he would normally eat them up and put them away.........

It's also worth remembering that he seems to get "Niggling injuries" at around World Cup time. Not making excuses for him but a bit worrying with the WC not far away.

 

[Rumpokid]

As per thread..Not world class,yet allowed to 'earn' 300 k a week, i guess he is on a par with Fellaini,......... who is to blame from the fall from grace of a passing side to a hoof it up front side????

 

[evahakool]

My biggest fear is that we are just going to go out with a good old 4-4-2 with a rigid formation that will have no movement and no idea. Players will be too easy to mark and keep control of.

The modern day game is all about free flowing football and movement. I just like the look of Sturridge, Rooney and Sterling. All of those players will just float around the pitch making it difficult to mark and when we get the ball. When you look at Liverpool Sturridge and Sterling are popping up all over he front line, when yo do that then you can't man mark them and you will get times when they will not be picked up and get some space, they do it week in week out. Rooney too is a player that will float all over and can make things happen when he gets the ball. Put someone behind them that is good on the ball and we can have a go at teams.

It is time that England tuned into the modern game and stopped playing in rigid banks of 4 with no movement and wingers that just hug the sideline, modern day players move around the pitch in advanced roles. It can work because Gerrard will stay in position and keep the shape.

I do not think we have much chance of getting far, but hey why not at least have some fun while we do it. I would prefer to loose 4-2 instead of a boring 1-0. BUt then that is why I love watching Liverpool under Rodgers. After we get knocked out I do not want to look back at another string of boring England matches, moaning about the tactics Woy employed. I want to look back and remember how exciting we were to watch, how they took the game to other teams and had a bloody good go.

Call me stupid, but do you know what. If Woy actually drops the negative defensive tactics and uses all our young players, maybe we can pull off a few surprises. You put the likes of Sterling and BArkley in the team and they will play their heart out. 12 months ago those 2 would never had thought in their wildest dreams they would be playing at the world cup and will go out and enjoy themself.

That just about sums up what I think as well, with this managers lack of modern day tactics we have no hope for this World Cup.