England manager Roy Hodgson: "Wayne Rooney is the captain and has done a fantastic job. 109 games and 51 goals and there are not many players in Europe who will reach that success. We are very grateful for the goals he has cored for us in qualifying.

"I have to select teams against Turkey, Portugal and Australia. Rooney is an important player but the is not demanding to play in the opening game. I am under no pressure to select him.

comment by Robberts (U1145)
posted 12 seconds ago
Well, I presume he's responding to leading questions...
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I know, but whoever asked that question might have talked about whether Rooney should be involved in the first place.

My guess at the team, will be:

Hart,

Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Rose,

---------Henderson, Alli

Sterling Rooney Lallana

--------------Kane-----------

England manager Roy Hodgson: "When we were thinking how many players were wanted, there was uncertainty over Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson, both are medically fit and it was better to add players to the squad. I am making life harder for myself by naming 26 which has to be reduced to 23.

"Danny Welbeck's injury did disrupt my plan because it is about balancing the team. We had a very good qualification campaign and you don;t want to lose players from it. We will miss the options he gives us.

"Marcus Rashford is one of the contenders. Competition is strong and he deserves to be selected for the main squad but I am pleased someone who has had an outstanding end to the season has a great future. He will have the chance to knock someone off their perch."

Really hope Rooney plays at 10 and not up top...

comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 minutes ago
My guess at the team, will be:

Hart,

Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Rose,

---------Henderson, Alli

Sterling Rooney Lallana

--------------Kane-----------
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other than kane that forward line looks awful, 2 players who have had (very) poor seasons, and a player who has zero goals for england in 21 appearances.

in fact between sterling and lallana they have 2 goals for england in 41 matches (!)

comment by Robberts (U1145)
posted 54 seconds ago
Really hope Rooney plays at 10 and not up top...
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I think it's a question of which of Kane and Vardy will play; he can't possibly leave both out and retain any credibility. So I'd imagine Rooney won't be up front, or at least won't be up front on his own.

comment by Don Draper's dandruff (U20155)
posted 25 seconds ago
comment by Busby (U19985)
posted 2 minutes ago
My guess at the team, will be:

Hart,

Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Rose,

---------Henderson, Alli

Sterling Rooney Lallana

--------------Kane-----------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
other than kane that forward line looks awful, 2 players who have had (very) poor seasons, and a player who has zero goals for england in 21 appearances.

in fact between sterling and lallana they have 2 goals for england in 41 matches (!)

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To be fair he said that was a guess at Roy's team, not his own wishes...

For what it's worth, my guess at Woy's XI is:

Hart

Clyne - Smalling - Cahill - Rose

Henderson - Wilshere

Lallana - Rooney - Alli

Kane

If Rooney plays at 10 then he disrupts that Alli/Kane partnership. If he plays up top then what do you do about Kane? You're shoehorning in an inferior player whichever way you look at it.

--------Rooney
Vardy--Kane--Sterling/Townsend/Lallana

Yeah that certainly isn't my pick

Not much choice really....

comment by Spurtle2 (U1608)
posted 2 minutes ago
If Rooney plays at 10 then he disrupts that Alli/Kane partnership. If he plays up top then what do you do about Kane? You're shoehorning in an inferior player whichever way you look at it.
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I agree, Alli was class against Germany (I think?).

Rooney has been decent in that AM role recently though, whatever people may say. Not the Rooney of old, but recycled the ball well and shown glimpses.

Ah shiiiit forgot about that...

Actually, you could get a decent Spurs-based side in there:

Rose, Walker, Dier, Alli, Kane.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/10284250/wayne-rooney-wants-holding-midfield-role-for-england-at-euro-2016

No quotes, obviously, but still

comment by Galvbacca..The Shunned One (U10415)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Robberts (U1145)
posted 9 seconds ago
Ah shiiiit forgot about that...

Actually, you could get a decent Spurs-based side in there:

Rose, Walker, Dier, Alli, Kane.


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We'd probably lose the third place play-off
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We'll get to the final and finish runners up, and for the first time in history, Arsenal will win an international tournament.

It's almost like even Hodgson is resigned to the fact he's shoehorning Rooney in even though he's not good enough any more

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

He's rubbish in midfield though... play him behind a striker.

comment by Galvbacca..The Shunned One (U10415)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Chris HaaKsworth (U11574)
posted 25 seconds ago
It's almost like even Hodgson is resigned to the fact he's shoehorning Rooney in even though he's not good enough any more
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It's not almost like at all
I think he should play midfield too actually....might as well
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Badly phrased... we all know Rooney will be shoehorned in regardless. My point was that even Hodgson seems to be acknowledging he's not good enough any more and that he has to find a new position he can fill in just to get him in the team.

Like Stephen Ward at Wolves under Mick McCarthy... think he played every position except CB and GK

I guess you have to play him alongside Wilshere in midfield. If the alternative is playing Henderson there then it's damage limitations.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator