Welcome back folks,
It's time to warm up to the thought of the weekend's impending Euro 2008 qualifiers. Yes, how England's national team desires European glory too.
This Saturday, they travel away to face Israel. Next Wednesday, they travel away to face Andorra.
With England lying third in Group E, behind Russia and group leaders Croatia, these two games will be crucial for Steve McClaren and his men.
So far, there has been criticism of McClaren's tactical choices and picks for his first, second, third XI and so on, if he even has up till Plan C.
But if there's any hope for England's potency at this stage, it may perhaps lie in the form of the rejuvenated Wayne Rooney.
His recent scoring prowess means he may be starting to find his feet again, after being injured almost a year ago.
Yes, he may have had a quiet season by his standards, since he was taken to the World Cup last year, only to have his recovery delayed.
But with Manchester United doing so well at the top of the English Premier League, Rooney's form has escaped the distracted critics so far.
Lately though, the signs are there that he's steadily emerging to show his natural brilliance once again.
The Postman's Midweek Question: Do you expect Rooney to explode for England in this weekend's Euro 2008 qualifiers, or be a flop?
Don't forget, you can still be in the running to win ESPN STAR Sports' ultimate prize for The Postman's Writer of the Month.
That would be an autographed 2006 World Cup England jersey, framed with a certificate of authenticity, and autographed by star players such as Rooney himself, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and David Beckham.
Tell us, in not more than 200 words, (please click link right for auto word counter).
Post your views here by clicking on "comments" below my sign-off here or e-mail us by clicking the link right, and writing under the heading "Midweek Topic".
At your service,
Ernest Luis
The Postman
The New Paper
(PS. E-mailers and especially bloggers, e-mail us your full name, age, occupation, contact numbers and favourite teams, to be in the running)
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22 comments:
Whether Wayne Rooney will be a flop or not depends on the services he has from the midfielders. If Steve continues to play the likes of Barry or Downing, Wayne Rooney will not score the goals like he did for Manchester United.
Wayne Rooney is the type of player who needs time on the ball to deliver flicks over the heads of naive defenders and score specatacular goals.
At Manchester United, he has plenty of services from the likes of Ronaldo and Giggs. Which England countrymen you people think resembles Ronaldo and Giggs? Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole? You got to be kidding me. Joe Cole is injured and even though I'm a Chelsea fan, Shaun Wright-Phillips may be given first XI, but he ain't no Ronaldo or Giggs.
Bottom line is, Wayne Rooney thrives on good services to make him explode.
Hm... anyone has any idea who would be partnering Rooney up front? Playing him as a lone forward would be plain stupid as he's not the out-and-out striker sort of player. How much you get out of him thus largely depend on the formation McClaren chooses, and the players he fields.
His form has been blowing hot and cold this season. On one hand, you can't really say he's been terrible (he's Man U's 2nd top goalscorer this season after Ronaldo), but he hasn't exactly been on fire either. Scoring 3 goals in the last 3 matches for Man U would do his confidence some good, but personally, I won't read too much into it. As I've said, he's not the goal poacher type of player in the first place, so I don't understand why people keep expecting him to score 20 goals a season. Moreover, 12 league goals (and the current overall 3rd top goalscorer in the league) is a more than decent tally by any standard.
England should be able to win against Andorra (they can't be that rubbish can they?), but away to Israel might be a difficult one. I'm not an England supporter, so I'm hoping they end up falling flat on their faces though.
Rooney's greatest asset was never his goalscoring record. Though you could say that his season has not been spectacular, his mere presence on the field makes a difference in the performances of the Red Devils. When played behind the main man, his tenacity, creativity and eye for goal puts him in the side. Even though some might argue about his displays, he still has some 15 goals? And most would forget that he's just 22. Perhaps the bursting to fame at the young and tender age of 17 has been a double-edged sword. Earmarked as the most gifted player since Gascoigne, most defenders has paid close attention to him ever since and the media never fail to attack him when they need a scapegoat. With Crouch, Bent and Owen out, i guess Johnson would be the main striker for England. With England needing goals, the English would be looking to Rooney to provide inspiration. However, England tend to be alittle too defensive away from home and the game in Tel Aviv could see Rooney being marked out of the game. But i still pick England to come good for this two qualifiers. With or without Rooney scoring, Rooney should still play a key role.
Cheers,
kel
Why do I always get the feeling that he's going to explode the wrong way? Wrong way meaning getting cards and being booted off the field. Looking at his EPL performance, he seemed to have managed to controlled his temper. Rooney, to me, is a two-edged sword in that way. He actually resembles Totti, who's gifted but with a professional attitude that doesn't match. They may be the best players for their country, but they might not be the right player. But hey, there aren't a lot of strikers left in England if you take out Rooney.
Rooney is not a pure striker as in the class of owen = he would fit well behind the hole of the two strikers as he is tenacious and has decent long range shots. There are also a few factors to consider such as English talents been overated we have all heard of dyer, jenas, walcott and rooney being the next Great thing etc but they are over-rated. I doubt rooney would do well for england as he is very temperemental and he doesn't get the support from midfield as he is getting from manchester united players now. We all have seen that the pairing of gerrard and lampard doesn't sparkle. But against small teams, they may do well but against well organised teams I recon England will be in deep trouble as they don't have consistent scorers and their midfield has not found the correct combination - thus i believe that rooney will not do well with the current england squad during internationals.
I believe Rooney will score a couple of goals in England upcoming matches against Israel and Andorra.
As seen in the FA cup quater final replay with Boro early this morning and against Bolton on Saturday, Rooney is finding his form at a time just when Man U and England need him most. Like many others said, he is not an out and out striker which is true. He does the most damage when he sit just behind the main striker and takes the ball with him, muscle his way into the box either laying passes to his teammates or have a go himself.Having the kind of services he enjoyed in Man U won't be that hard to find in England with players like Gerrard and Lampard around. Coupled with that kind of current form of his, he is bound to explode and make up for what he missed in the international scene so long he can curb his temperament and not explode in the other sense here.
The question here is does England needs Roooney to be on fire to beat Israel and Andorra? No disrespect to them but the qualities in the England team is much more superior than Israel whose most famous player is Berkovic, and Andorra? Who can name me a player from that team? If England can't get a positive result from both matches then they shouldn't appear in Euro 2008.
Cheers
rooney's more of a provider nowadays rather than a striker, although he does make some attempts. the reason why he was able to start scoring those goals now was because of the terrific service he gets from Man Utd's midfield, especially from Ronaldo. other times, he turns provider for another player, usually ronaldo, to score. rooney can't go out and win the ball purely on his own; he needs a striking partner and a winger whom he can establish a rapport understanding with. england doesn't really use a lot of wing play, and even if aaron lennon was played in the wings, the outcome won't be as effective as with ronaldo. maybe this can't be helped because the players spend more time with their clubs than their national teammates. but that's one of mcclaren's toughest job; he needs to find a winger who can complement rooney's style.
another problem that rooney may have managed to curb slightly is his temper. he doesn't lose his temper as frequently now, but when he does, he always does something stupid. this can be quite dangerous for england if he got sent off, especially if his striking partner somewhat rely on him as a provider. but a player like andy johnson may not be that affected. that's why i don't think it's wise if mcclaren relies heavily on rooney. his temper is still a huge problem.
One swallow does not make a summer and in England's case, one man does not make a team. No matter how talented Rooney is, he alone cannot carry the England team on that broad, young shoulders of his.
It would be foolish for England to depend solely on Rooney when they have the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Terry in the team. The problem with England is that they are trying to accommodate all their stars players when what is desperately needed is to find the right team-balance.
Like his predecessor, McClaren is trying to put square pegs in round holes. As the manager, his moral obligation is to ensure England win and not bow down to players' egoes and star names.
With the amount of talent they possess, England shouldn't have any problems dispatching Israel and Andorra. However, it is incredible to see them still struggling to put away lesser teams and play to their true potential.
England should do well to learn from the mistakes Brazil made in the last World Cup. They tried to play all their star names and forsake team balance and what happened? Out they went in the quarter-finals.
What McClaren needs to do is to ensure Rooney plays in the "hole" where he is at his devastating best and build a supporting cast with the right team harmony to utilize his prodigious talents.
Wayne Rooney may be 1 of the bright stars for the England Squad, but without the proper balance, he will not shine like he does at club level as he does with his other England Team-mates
At club level, Rooney has the chance to shine as he has the services of Giggs, Scholes (who have the experiences) + the in-form Ronaldo(Creativity)
If Rooney is to Shine on the International Lvl, striking the balance of the England squad will be of great urgency. Playing him in his natural position would juz bring the best out of him.
The current England squad may have all the stars and qualities, but judging the way Mclaren has handled the England squad...he is still doing the same mistakes as Sven-Goren Eriksson
England Squad Problems
1:Predictable way of Play
2:Gerrard-Lampard Midfield
3:Error prone Goal-Keeping
4:Playing players out of position
5:Missing of Potent Strike Force
6:Inexperienced young players
7:Formation 4-4-2, 4-5-1, 4-4-1-1,
4-3-3 ????
8:Best XI
9:Defensive partnership
10:Lack in Team Spirit
Without solving these problems, Wayne Rooney will find it difficult to shine at the International Lvl compared to what he acheived at Club Lvl.
Give Wayne Rooney the licence to roam around behind striker will make Israelis keep their tails withnin hind legs.
Like Great White Shark lurking and sniffing out preys to be killed, Rooney likes to drift in front of midfielders but behind strikers to launch deadly assaults through long range shots result in goals or split opponents defences up with his slaloms or passes that becomes goal assists.
He laso likes to draw defenders to himself so that other team mates, become unmarked, can score goals too.
Always help out in defence when other threat, is a good virture of Rooney's, prevents opponents to score against his team.
With his current rediscover how to score goals, like his two goals against Bolton in recent 4-1 win, will allow Rooney to explode into lethal goal scoring machine cum with goal assists in this weekend Euro 2008 Qualifiers, that allows England keep in touch for a place next year's Euro Championship.
From: Chester Low
Rooney will not score in the two qualifying matches, extending his goal drought internationally but he will play a key role in influencing the outcomes of both matches. In my humble opinion, if he does not do anything stupid (getting involved in the wrong situation like what he did against Middlesbrough), he will be a key player in opening the defenses of Israel and Andorra.
Rooney is a fantastic player but at the tender age of 22, he has yet to add consistency to his play. The best has yet to come from the special player of England. He needs to move from the realm of potential to achieving it!!
The good news is that Owen Heagreaves in back. Hopefully he is not being overrated and can make vital contributions to the game. As for Johnson, he is still unproven at this level. He does add pace and aggression to the front line and hopefully if he is chosen to start, he can be more clinical in front of goal.
May 8 2007 is the day of reckoning, where presentation of EPL Trophy To Manchester United takes place.
Having lost it's EPL Crown to Manchester United, Chelsea players are not in the mood to play and subsequently lost it's match to Manchester United which is liken to icing on Red Devils Victory Cake.
Meanwhile, ungracious Chelsea losers walk around to 'puta' visiting fans, officials and players after the match and continue to do so after trophy presentation.
From : Chester Low
Built like a wrestler but possesses the exquisite touches of a performer, that best describes Rooney. Like him or loathe him, he is England's best talent for years. With him in the side, he makes the difference between an average English team and a good one. Whether he scores is of not utmost importance because his goalscoring has never been the strongest part of his game. Instead its his ability to bring the rest into the game that is his greatest asset. If he does not score, the media seem to go on and on about his goal drought. But have we ever seen him dropped from either Man Utd or England when fit? No matter what, he is still the person capable of a goal out of nothing when the team needs him. However, if the team does not perform well, I suspect that he will be one of the scapegoats that the English media slaughter first. Like most EPL watchers, I have a soft spot for underachieving England and I do hope Rooney or anyone else fire England to Euro glory starting these qualifiers.
Cheers,
kel
I would like to talk about Rooney's girlfriend Coleen. (Are they married now?) A woman who sticks through her boyfriend even when he beat her sometimes should be admired. Are we talking true love or the $$$?
In Euro ‘04, it was Rooney-inspired performances (in terms of creativity and goals) which lifted England and the fans until that fateful metatarsal bone injury. Since then, Rooney has not been his best.
He is still the much-talented player who creates space and opportunities for his team-mates while making those explosive runs. However, his predator-instinct seems to lost the killer touch.
His temper may have mellowed a bit but that doesn’t seem to make him a more complete player. Guidance from fergie may have reduced the caution cards. But did that somehow restrain Rooney?
To call him a flop (just because he is still finding his scoring boots) is harsh. Perhaps if he’s allowed to run on a looser leash, we will see glimpses of Rooney at his best in Euro ‘08. Even if he doesn’t, he still will be an invaluable asset to the team’s performance.
Judging by the British media's tendency to build up the hype over a player and then knock them down hard when they fail to perform beyond their expectations, Rooney is definitely in a no-win situation.
If he performs, the tabloids will shower him with plaudits and hail his as a genius. If he fails, he will suffer the inevitable criticisms and backlash. Hence, what is most important is for Rooney to focus on just playing his football and ignore all the hype surrounding him.
There is no doubt Rooney is critical to England's success at international level. When he is on song, he is England's best player by a mile. However, it's not fair to depend solely on a 21-year old, no matter how talented he is. England need to ensure every player plays to their full ability.
Football is a team game. Hence, Rooney needs a balanced and great supporting cast for him to utilize his undoubted ability. As the old adage goes, you win as a team and you lose as a team.
If McClaren gets the team balance and tactics right, expect Rooney to explode against the minnows.
Who should Wayne Rooney partner in attack?
* Jermaine Defoe? The stylo-milo striker is the best choice I think.
* Andrew Johnson? Loss of form so far.
* David Nugent? David Who? He plays for Bury.
I ask questions and most of the times never get the answers. Truth hurts? :(
Rooney will definitely explode, so he will score for England this weekend. His individual brilliance will show on the international stage because he is desperate to prove himself, especially after he got injured in England's Euro 2004 campaign and flopped during the World Cup 2006. He will want to show the world that he is really worth the hype that everyone else makes him out to be. As shown in recent Man Utd games, his form's returning.
However, the pressure and burden to perform will get to Rooney and his temper will also explode, so he will earn himself another yellow or even a red card. We still haven't forgotten his temper and how babyish he can be when he is stirred up by his opponents, including Cristiano Ronaldo in the last World Cup. He reminds me a little of David Beckham or Roy Keane - great players, but easily agitated.
After Rooney scores a goal, I see him getting into a controversial brawl with an opponent, who will taunt him for some silly behaviour on the pitch. Maybe we might even see the "Rooney head-butt", this time round. However, a red hot Rooney will definitely display his individual brilliance.
I think Rooney will have a hard time trying to score this weekend.
With established England strikers like Owen and Crouch out of this game, Rooney will be the only recognised striker on international stage. Israel defenders are most probably going to mark Rooney tight and this will create space and chances for Rooney strike partner to shine. Whether its Defoe or Johnson or any other English players, they would have to take their chances on goal with Rooney luring defenders away.
I think Rooney will not be consider a flop this weekend, you have to pity a young man like him to carry such huge scoring responsibilites.
Rooney is a fascinating player as his moments of brilliance really blows you away. Problem is it comes only once is a while. Scoring goals is not something he does often. I tend to compare him with Ronaldo as it is quite obvious who is the player that can influencing every Man U game. Rooney tend to pale behind his shadow. If he plays infront of good players like Lampard, Gerrard, John Terry, he will have a tough time reading their moves because of lack of playing time with them unlike Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs.
In international games, Rooney has not got the experience to adapt to all kinds of players and find his niche. Let's hope he will find himself on the international stage soon.
I remember about a Question Of The Week where Ernest The Dumbest ask about our best player so far. My answer was Wayne Rooney. Do I get an ipod? Hell no. It was given to an old man who doesn't know how to operate with an ipod and chose Didier Drogba when he's not even a Chelsea fan.
Pujangga Malam, as for your invitation, I ACCEPT. I'll come ON MY OWN this Sunday PROVIDED I don't get lost and it doesn't rain.
I'm not a pro street soccer player. Just let me play goalkeeper and MAYBE we have friendly chats the upcoming weeks. I said MAYBE.
'the write off' Qyaerus-Syahrein
If Andy Johnson gets in the starting line-up, I expect Rooney to be at his best.
If Andy Johnson gets in the starting line-up, I expect Rooney to be at his best.
As we saw in the Everton-Arsenal game, Johnson did well holding the ball up and constantly helping out at the wings as well. This will allow Rooney more space to attack, as we all know Rooney plays at his best as a second striker.
Since Israel and Andorra are not exactly top teams that could provide England with too many problems, I think Rooney could very well continue his fine form of late by having a hand, or leg, in some of England's goals.
However very much will depend on McClaren’s formation and team selection. He has yet to find a way to accommodate both Lampard and Gerrard, and England does not have wingers in the class of Giggs or Ronaldo. So therefore, the only way for England now is the long ball from Lamps or Stevie G to Johnson, who will try to hold the ball long enough and wait for the support and Rooney and co.
-Raymond Ng, 19, Man U fan
Since Israel and Andorra are not exactly top teams that could provide England with too many problems, I think Rooney could very well continue his fine form of late by having a hand, or leg, in some of England's goals.
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