Any point taking Rooney?

[TBM]

3 game ban

Means he misses all the group games

Should Fabio still take him?

[Friday's Legacy]

3 game ban

Means he misses all the group games

Should Fabio still take him?

he's too important not to take. bent and (?) to take on europes best then. early baths on the cards for england. ireland's fate still to be decided but we'll enjoy just being there if we get there, or what we can remember of it.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Will mean he is fresher for the knockout stages if we reach them. One of the big problems last summer was that many of the players weren't fit enough because of the long season.

[RoyalX]

Yes. What reason could you have to leave him behind?

[No Fixed Abode]

What 4 strikers would you take to Euro 2012?

[sandman]

Villa, Llorente, Pedro and Negredo. Oh you mean England.

[No Fixed Abode]

Villa, Llorente, Pedro and Negredo. Oh you mean England.

[sandman]

Obviously upset I didn't pick Torres.

[roadrunner]

What 4 strikers would you take to Euro 2012?

Far too early to decide that.

[cmonurz]

I'm hoping that Sturridge and Welbeck have made a big case by the end of the season, but I don't think both will go and I expect Welbeck to get the nod, alongside Rooney, Bent and Carroll. Personally I'd take Crouch over Carroll, just for the former's pedigree at international level.

Random misc England stat - Ashley Cole could win his 100th cap next summer if we have a good Euros.

Another random stat - the only player in the last England squad currently playing his football abroad was Scott Carson.

[TBM]

Yes. What reason could you have to leave him behind?

he wont get to play much, if at all

[Stranded]

I wouldn't take him.

If we qualify through the group stages given the standard of the groups we're likely to have to qualify out of, by the time of the quarters we're likely to have found a decent formula.

He's also shown that his temprament isn't the best at times, so coming in with a point to prove at the QF's could see him so wound up to prove a point that he could be an easy target to wind up and get sent off again.

[PEARCEY]

As with Stranded. Leave him behind. He needs to learn to respect the shirt,his team-mates, manager and supporters.

[leww_rfc]

too early yeah... but i'd go with this.


Welbeck, Rooney, Sturridge, Bent, Carroll/Zamora.

[Handsome Man]

Wellbeck, Bent, Sturridge and Defoe, currently, but others have six months to prove themselves. I am not quite sure who but Agbonlahor, Owen and Carroll must also have a chance. No place for Rooney.

The ref made the correct decision and the ban was fair: consistent with Arshavin and it being a second red card. But I still feel sorry for him. Players get sent off in football all the time without there being a major inquest.

I don't see how it can affect our chances not having Rooney there, though. Our ultimate success will have nothing to do with how many superstars we have on the pitch but more to do with whether we can play as a team.

[PieEater]

"Rooney banned for three games what a joke - if it was a Dutch, Spanish, Italian or German player they wouldn't even get one game #fact."

I tend to agree with him, except it's an opinion not a fact. A petulant rather than malicious act but an easy target for the England hating authorities to throw the book.

[cmonurz]

Equally many were saying last week 'Rooney will get away with it, UEFA will only throw the book at small teams'. All too easy to portray England as 'victims' when things don't go our way.

[soggy biscuit]

Got bored of the self pitying UEFA/FIFA hate England brigade years ago.


Are these people even aware that every country has loads of belmonts who bang on about the authorities being harder on them than anyone else

[Ian Royal]

It's stupid to go with a squad that deliberately leaves you weak for the guaranteed three games you are going to play.

The team is what's key, something England fail to realise every single time. When these players don't play together much as it is, you can't chop and change just to accomodate one person with an attitude problem. Even if he is arguably the best player in the team.

Be far better off taking someone who can actually play in the majority of our games. What would we do if we took him and the team that's been starting has been playing well and winning games? Ditch someone who's been achieving so Rooney can play?

The only reason to take him is if you assume the other strikers will fail. If you're assuming that, you've picked the wrong squad in the first place and the chances are he won't get to play much, if at all, anyway.

[Man Friday]

Agree with every word IR has just said. Plus, I don't rate Rooney that highly anyway and would consider NOT taking him even if he were eligible. He's let us down too many times in the past, not only in terms of discipline but also performance.

The most overrated player England has ever had. And that's saying something.