England vs Italy (Group D) Saturday 14th June 2014

[Balbi]

is indeed the operative term. Rooney has played 9 and 10 to considerable effect. Only a bigot would say different.

except at every major tournament after 2004!

 

[Pickman's model]

i think rooney was better when he had less hair

 

[marty21]

I still want Rooney to start - in a central position - but I wouldn't base that on his World Cup record - which is dodgy - I just think he may come good

 

[Lo Siento.]

is indeed the operative term. Rooney has played 9 and 10 to considerable effect. Only a bigot would say different.

Left of an attacking three is a forward position. Ronaldo and Messi (RVP & Suarez to a lesser extent too) have all had brilliant games out there. And again, I've not denied at any point that Rooney is a good player or indeed clearly called for him to be dropped.

 

[magneze]

This debate reminds me of Beckham towards the end of his career. Undroppable it seemed and yet he just wasn't good enough most of the time - just there in case he belted in a free kick.

 

[Onket]

i think rooney was better when he had less hair

He was better when he had head hair growing on his head, and arse hair growing on his arse, tbf, rather than some Frankensteinish mixture of the two.

 

[Joe Reilly]

So? He's played more international games than them too...

Nope.

 

[The Octagon]

Rooney to score a header against Uruguay.

You heard it here first

 

[Pickman's model]

This debate reminds me of Beckham towards the end of his career. Undroppable it seemed and yet he just wasn't good enough most of the time - just there in case he belted in a free kick.

beckham's greatest "contribution" to the england team was his dismissal against argentina

 

[Pickman's model]

Rooney to score a header against Uruguay.

You heard it here first

van persie does it better

 

[Lo Siento.]

Nope.

Yeah, he has more caps than Lineker and Shearer.

 

[Balbi]

Fergie knew it was time up. He tried to warn us subtly. Then Moyes fucked it

 

[Joe Reilly]

are you sure? maybe in qualifiers, but probably not in World Cups (Lineker scored 10 in world cup finals)

Well if you don't score enough in the qualifiers you don't get to the tournament. Remember how many times England have failed to qualify for major tournaments for precisely that reason?

 

[Pickman's model]

Fergie knew it was time up. He tried to warn us subtly. Then Moyes fucked it

when beckham received the mark of ferguson everyone knew it was time for him to leave

 

[marty21]

Yeah, he has more caps than Lineker and Shearer.

Lineker scored 48 in 80, Shearer 30 in about 60, Charlton 49 in 106 Rooney has a worse record than all 3, 39 in 93? I'm not sure where this argument is going -

 

[Joe Reilly]

Yeah, he has more caps than Lineker and Shearer.

True, but not Charlton who is still the leading scorer.

 

[marty21]

Well if you don't score enough in the qualifiers you don't get to the tournament. Remember how many times England have failed to qualify for major tournaments for precisely that reason?

but he needs to score in the finals - something he doesn't seem able to do - I'm now thinking they should drop the whiny cunt

 

[Lo Siento.]

True, but not Charlton who is still the leading scorer.

Charlton who was a midfielder. So yes, he has a better goalscoring record than England's greatest ever midfielder. But not better than the 3 best England strikers of the modern era (Owen, Shearer and Lineker)

 

[Joe Reilly]

Lineker scored 48 in 80, Shearer 30 in about 60, Charlton 49 in 106 Rooney has a worse record than all 3, 39 in 93? I'm not sure where this argument is going -

The argument is 'competitive goals'. Rooney tops at age 28.

 

[Pickman's model]

but he needs to score in the finals - something he doesn't seem able to do - I'm now thinking they should drop the whiny cunt

you have unrealistic expectations if you expect rooney to score. i'd be quite happy if he stuck to making the occasional goal.

 

[marty21]

The argument is 'competitive goals'. Rooney tops at age 28.

how about competitive goals in the finals themselves? I think he might be level with Emil Heskey

 

[Pickman's model]

The argument is 'competitive goals'. Rooney tops at age 28.

you seem to be shuffling the goalposts around and about as each of your claims is disproved.

 

[Pickman's model]

how about competitive goals in the finals themselves? I think he might be level with Emil Heskey

i think he might be level with the mighty david seaman.

 

[Joe Reilly]

Charlton who was a midfielder. So yes, he has a better goalscoring record than England's greatest ever midfielder. But not better than the 3 best England strikers of the modern era (Owen, Shearer and Lineker)

Rooney is just one behind Owen, and already had 9 more than Shearer.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Wikipedia has a list of top goalscorers, and you can toggle it to list by avge. goals per game.

Though that does put Peter Crouch above Shearer and Charlton

 

[Balbi]

True, but not Charlton who is still the leading scorer.

He has to score 11 times in his next 13 games for England. I don't see that happening.

Charlton also scored at consecutive World Cups.

 

[marty21]

Rooney is just one behind Owen, and already had 9 more than Shearer.

how many has he scored in the FINALS of major tournaments?

 

[Joe Reilly]

you seem to be shuffling the goalposts around and about as each of your claims is disproved.

I'm the one doing the disproving. Try and keep up.

 

[Joe Reilly]

how many has he scored in the FINALS of major tournaments?

5...so far.

 

[Lo Siento.]

Rooney is just one behind Owen, and already had 9 more than Shearer.

Right. Michael Owen who scored more goals than Rooney in fewer games, but nevertheless played his last England game aged 28.