The "i'm not interested" international friendlies thread

[TBM]

It isn't always about scoring, with Rooney though, he does a lot of tracking back and helping out the defence. Leave the goals for Sturridge and Lambert, let Rooney play that free role

[Sanguine]

Absolutely agree those who find the argument that 'oh well Barkley sometimes loses the ball trying something different' a little tedious.

The lad is 20 and is trying to be the type of player that can open up opposition defenses. Of course occasionally he is going to try something that doesn't come off, even the very best players have that problem, but he still succeeds more often than not and is electrifying to watch. We moan about stagnant football that goes nowhere, and we moan about players who try to take the ball forward in risky maneuvers that don't always pay off. Sadly the British public will never be happy. Maybe we deserve Farage.

But cos of that, isn't he better to bring on with say half hour to go once we've worn the oppo down

The Times today flips this around - rather than looking at it your way, they suggest that in bringing on the likes of Sterling and Barkley with 30 minutes left, we would essentially just be giving the opposition 60 minutes where they don't have to worry about pace and a bit of guile.

[No Fixed Abode]

We certainly looked better in the 2nd half v Honduras with the introduction of Barkley, Wilshire and Lampard.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Lol. Lampard was shocking.

[No Fixed Abode]

Lol. Lampard was shocking.

Poor fishing, even from you m8.

[Silver Fox]

The good thing about Fwank is it's hard to give the ball away when your nowhere near it at any time

[Royalclapper]

Think Rooney's main issue is to sharpen up his first touch. He does have the natural balance and vision lacking in so many other England players, however, his poor first touch is like gifting the ball straight back to the opposition when they wait for him to have a heavy touch and just nick it off him.

[Whatevs]

If ever a player is in that side because of his reputation, its Rooney; he takes up the space of others, hasn't the discipline to play wide and frankly, apart from a tap in from 6 inches against Ecuador (where Lambert handled the ball before the goal) Rooney has looked less of a goal threat than Glen Johnson.

Well that and his goals return for a struggling Utd side, in which he was one of few positives this season, and his record for England in the qualifiers.

I think it's easy to see an untried and untested player, who hasn't yet failed, as a better option than a more experienced player who'd had their ups and downs but you have to time throwing the new players in carefully IMO. We've got a lot of inexperience in the side already, and with Rooney's potential to win games it would be very hard for a manager not to select him because a few youngsters look good in flashes.

Rooney really does need to step up to the plate though. I'm not suggesting he's undroppable, but his record outside of tournaments where, to be fair to him, we've thrown him in out of desperation when he's probably not been fit to play effectively, is good enough for a manager to stick by him. Initially at least.

this is the sensible approach.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Lol. Lampard was shocking.

Poor fishing, even from you m8.

Definitely rattLOLed.

[Mr Angry]

LOL!!!

Lampard was only brought on in order to protect more important players from the Honduran kick-fest; his net contribution in the 10 minutes that he was on was oxf*rd all cubed. Still, that should be enough to convince some MLS team to spunk wads of dosh at him.

[No Fixed Abode]

LOL!!!

Lampard was only brought on in order to protect more important players from the Honduran kick-fest; his net contribution in the 10 minutes that he was on was oxf*rd all cubed. Still, that should be enough to convince some MLS team to spunk wads of dosh at him.

Certainly kept the ball better with the introduction of Lampard. And that's what you need in that humidity.

[Mr Angry]

83min: You feel Frank Lampard's England career is coming to a close but there is time for one more cap at least, with the soon to be former Chelsea player replacing Henderson.

86min: Not long left now, and England look no closer to opening the scoring as Lampard gives the ball away in midfield. More changes coming up...


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldc ... z348lScA7t
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

On for 7 minutes; his ONLY contribution in the game.........

[Sanguine]

France 8-0 Jamaica.

[No Fixed Abode]

83min: You feel Frank Lampard's England career is coming to a close but there is time for one more cap at least, with the soon to be former Chelsea player replacing Henderson.

86min: Not long left now, and England look no closer to opening the scoring as Lampard gives the ball away in midfield. More changes coming up...


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldc ... z348lScA7t
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

On for 7 minutes; his ONLY contribution in the game.........

I love your hatred for all things CFC related Mr A. Certainly had egg on your face after flicking the V's at Stamford Bridge a couple of years ago.

[Royal Rother]

We are not going to win the WC with or without Rooney.

Rooney is nearly finished and will probably retire soon from international football in the hope of prolonging his career by a year or 2. (Well you would too wouldn't you when "earning" £15m a year?)

No point taking him in the 1st place imo - his record at tournaments illustrates quite clearly that he doesn't have the mentality to handle long spells away from home. Probably homesick the poor lamb.

His presence in the starting 11 will hold back the development of others, something which is crucial to our chances in 2016 and 2018.

It would be a mistake to leave out one of new breed of exciting dare-to-believers like Sterling, Lallana or Barkley for the has-been, past-it Rooney.

[stealthpapes]

Absolutely agree those who find the argument that 'oh well Barkley sometimes loses the ball trying something different' a little tedious.

The lad is 20 and is trying to be the type of player that can open up opposition defenses. Of course occasionally he is going to try something that doesn't come off, even the very best players have that problem, but he still succeeds more often than not and is electrifying to watch. We moan about stagnant football that goes nowhere, and we moan about players who try to take the ball forward in risky maneuvers that don't always pay off. Sadly the British public will never be happy. Maybe we deserve Farage.

But cos of that, isn't he better to bring on with say half hour to go once we've worn the oppo down

I'm trying to remember who it was that bemoaned the idea of bringing on players to make an impact. One of the more genuinely WUT bits of football insight made on this board.

[No Fixed Abode]

We are not going to win the WC with or without Rooney.

.

St8
the
obvious

[Mr Angry]

83min: You feel Frank Lampard's England career is coming to a close but there is time for one more cap at least, with the soon to be former Chelsea player replacing Henderson.

86min: Not long left now, and England look no closer to opening the scoring as Lampard gives the ball away in midfield. More changes coming up...


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldc ... z348lScA7t
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

On for 7 minutes; his ONLY contribution in the game.........

I love your hatred for all things CFC related Mr A. Certainly had egg on your face after flicking the V's at Stamford Bridge a couple of years ago.

Nothing to do with Chelsea; this is about England. If it was about Chelsea i'd probably suggest that if an experienced manager like Mourinho thinks Lampard is past it, then he is.

You stated that he held onto the ball, yet there was an independent observer posting how he gave away possession, proving you were wrong. And you are spot on - retaining possession will be vital in the World Cup.

Fantastic player in his prime, but at best a bit part player for the National squad (but vital to give experience to the younger players in the dressing room and at the hotel) in the last 3 or 4 games he will be involved in before his retirement.

[Mr.Swainey]

Lampard shouldn't even be in Brazil, let's be honest.

[No Fixed Abode]

83min: You feel Frank Lampard's England career is coming to a close but there is time for one more cap at least, with the soon to be former Chelsea player replacing Henderson.

86min: Not long left now, and England look no closer to opening the scoring as Lampard gives the ball away in midfield. More changes coming up...


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldc ... z348lScA7t
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

On for 7 minutes; his ONLY contribution in the game.........

I love your hatred for all things CFC related Mr A. Certainly had egg on your face after flicking the V's at Stamford Bridge a couple of years ago.

Nothing to do with Chelsea; this is about England. If it was about Chelsea i'd probably suggest that if an experienced manager like Mourinho thinks Lampard is past it, then he is.

You stated that he held onto the ball, yet there was an independent observer posting how he gave away possession, proving you were wrong. And you are spot on - retaining possession will be vital in the World Cup.

Fantastic player in his prime, but at best a bit part player for the National squad (but vital to give experience to the younger players in the dressing room and at the hotel) in the last 3 or 4 games he will be involved in before his retirement.

I didn't say he was passed his best - I just said England were better with Barkley, Wilshire and Lampard in midfield than they were with the line-up that started the game. The kept the ball better and put more pressure on Honduras.