Who does he drop for Rooney???

Got to be Ashley Young? But then is he going to play 3 strikers? Naaah. Going to have to drop one of the scorers, and what about Walcott? Came on, scored, set one up? Can he leave Rooney out?

 

welbeck. pretty quiet until goal. i would like to see Rooney and carrol together

 

Why does Rooney have to come into the starting 11? Was hardly in good form in the warm up games, was he?

 

Nobody, put him on the bench and let him work for his place like everyone else.

 

He should drop Carroll. That was the perfect game for him (Sweden i.e. premiership-style). He took his goal brilliantly but for me it has to be the Man Utd trio up front, with Young wide left, Welbeck up top and Rooney just behind.

 

Young was absolute gash tonight!!!

 

That goal was the best touch I've seen from an England player since Gazza V Scotland.

 

Agreed, he was very poor - hence I'd drop Young - but then could you have Wellbeck, Carol and Rooney? No, probably drop Carol.

 

Agreed, Young was tripe tonight, but the Man U trio know how to play together (on paper). That's who I would go with, for sure.
Pretty much what wakeyred said too.

 

no way can he drop carol best man on pitch tonight by a long way.

 

I agree. Start him on the bench.

 

Some fair comments regarding why change a winning team/make him work for his place but the fact is, like it or not, Rooney would walk back into pretty much every side in the world, if fit, in this sort of knockout style scenario.

 

Nobody, he shouldn't even be in the squad and I believe that the only reason Hodgson included him is because of pressure from the FA after their embarrassment of begging for his ban to be shortened.

 

Doubt it.... but that's a different question. Just out of interest, had he received a two match ban or not been fit for the first two games, without the "embarressment of the FA begging for his ban to reduced" would you bring him straight back in? I really think anyone who say's no is being influenced on non footballing reasons.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not Rooney's biggest fan, but he is our only front player who a strong case could be made for being 'World Class'

 

I wouldn't bring him back in and I'd have to be pretty desperate to ever include him in my starting 11. It isn't for non footballing reasons at all, it is quite simply because on the pitch he is petulant, lets the occasion get to him, sulks and doesn't perform for England. Take the world cup for example, he completely choked, did nothing constructive, got the face on with everybody and insulted the fans because HE wasn't good enough.

Most overrated striker to play for England that I can ever remember.

It seems to me that because he was impressive as a youngster it means that anything he does now is suddenly hyped up till it is about 10 times as good as it actually is just because it's him. Take the overheard kick against city for example. I've seen Rory chuffing fallon do one just as good and it never got a mention, i've seen Danny Rose score one twice as good and again no mention. Rooney scores one from a few yards out whilst totally unmarked and the world goes crazy. He's like Michael Owen, burst onto the scene as a kid and he's set for life in football despite turning out to be average really.

 

He's got to come back for me ( and I don't even like the bloke or think he's anything like the player he is hailed as) because at least he can hit a decent pass and thats more than we were doing last night for most of the game. Lets face it we were pap for big sections of the game against an average international side last night and like him or lump him Rooney would be an improvement. Ashley Young? forgot he was playing at times last night and Walcott he looked great when he came on but he's just as likely to be anonymous in the next game, thats just the way his career has gone. Oh and forgot about Milner - wish Roy would!

 

I would rest Welbeck. The lads put 2 good shifts in and got his reward.

 

None of them. We need at least a draw, so keep Rooney on the bench until, or if, he is needed.

 

I think it has to be safe options with a stronger squad of eleven who will be solid defensively, at least to start with. So, I would not start with Young, but would start Milner, who is better defensively. The quick players can come on if we need them later in the game, when Shevkenco's legs have gone a bit.

 

Now I know it wasn't pretty, and Rooney was sh*te (as were Young and Welbeck!), but we are through and that's all that matters. Well, apart from the fact that I got the team selection up front spot-on. Not bad for a girl.

I'll go back to the ironing now.........