How would they do...? - Page 6

If Rooney is fit he will go, that isn't even a question. No matter who we get in the group he will go. Capello doesn't strike me as someone who would have another striker in there to 'try and get out of the group' instead of Rooney. I think a manager with his record is a winner, he will go there to win the tournament (whether that is delusional/wrong whatever) it will mean if Rooney is fit he will go. If we were to play any top nation and Rooney was on top of his game we would have a fighting chance because, simply, that is how good the guy is and I don't think you could say that for any other of our players certainly not attacking ones anyway.

I think it could be good for us in a way. It forces Capello to look at a plan B anyway, the side will function much, much differently without Rooney. I'd love to see a fit raring to go Rooney coming off the bench with a point to prove if we got through/if ban gets lessened in the group stages.

Neither of them are yet good enough though.

Hard to argue against Rooney slotting straight back into the team after the group stages because, no matter how well we've played without him, as JB said he's that one player who can turn a game on it's head.

That said, catch 22, can't not play him and lose without facing questions, can't play him and lose without facing questions.

Moral?

Don't *bleep*ing lose. Don'y face questions. Happy days.

quote Andy Jay

A lot of people clearly do not understand why England won the world cup in 1966. Jimmy Greaves, arguably the greatest English goalscorer of all time (not statistically for the nation, but at club level, who the *bleep* matches him?) was dropped in favour of Hurst for the tournament.

I thought Greaves played the group games until he got an injury then wasn't fit until the final?

Anyway, I'd take Rooney because if he wants to be on his game, he can win us games single handedly. I know he rarely does it in tournaments and obviously shouldn't just walk back into the squad when he is unbanned but i reckon its worth a punt.

Better than some people are saying, at least he'd motivate them better than the last number of managers. Deserves his chance I think. Takes away one of the best part of his management which is signing players and forming teams, can't do that internationally and puts more focus on tactics, which isn't as strong as some other areas. Still though, still think he'd do a fairly good job yet get slated for not delivering a tournament win or final even though it was more because the players weren't good enough.

Would mean starts for Defoe, Parker, likely callups for the likes of Dawson, Walker, Crouch etc. Wouldnt be triffic at all.

quote DjedwardSmith

It'd also signal the reincarnation of little and large up top.

I think that's a bit harsh on him considering that whenever everyone has been fit for Spurs, he's played 4-5-1 with VDV in the hole for the past year and a bit. He's not stupid either, he has put on defensive teams when he needed to like away against Milan in the Champions' League he got it just right tactically.

Redknapp is never a tournament manager. Would be a disaster.

They would play with more motivation, but the lack of team quality will still lead to the same old result of them losing on penalties in the quarter finals of tournaments.