After England's underwhelming exit from Euro 2012, I keep reading that 'Roy Hodgson would have been slated by the media and fans if he hadn't picked Rooney.'
I'm sorry but it is Hodgson's (very well-paid) job to make thos big decisions.
This isn't blame Rooney for England's exit. Our nation's footballing performances go way beyond the effect of one man. But Rooney has not kicked on in tournament football since his stellar debut in Europe 2004. On the contrary, he has gone backwards and has been a red-card in waiting to boot.
However, like David Beckham and Bryan Robson before him, he has somehow become this talismanic figure without whom England are destined to, er, exit early from the tournament (hang on I'll get back to you on that.)
Instead he was allowed to become this malign influence on the English camp. Imagine you are an English forward knowing you would be dropped for the Ukraine game, no matter how well you played, because the gentlemen of the Fourth Estate have decided that Rooney is England's best player (despite no evidence to that fact internationally) and must be selected for this tournament, despite in all likelihood, having a minimal impact on it.
Rooney rolls up unfit, blowing like a train after 20 minutes but assured of his place because, well, he's Wayne Rooney.
Until we have a man with the cojones to make his own decisions and to hell with the press and an over-excitable public, we will have more of the same for the rest of time.
No comments:
Post a Comment