Soccer

» SimonMelville - From the BBC Sports website:

From the BBC Sports website:
Eriksson gambles again on Rooney

Well, I don't agree. I think Rooney should be taken to the World Cup.

If he's going to be back in training and available to play in the knock out stages we should take him.

He's unlike any other player we have -- without him we are half the team.

OK, he won't be match sharp. But it's not as if we're asking a parks player to step up at a moment's notice. He's ony missed the last few weeks of the season so his core fitness will be fine.

As it is, he's had a slightly longer spring break than the rest of the squad. Think of it as a holiday. The sort of holiday you spend with excruciating pain in your foot.

For however long he can be on the pitch in an England shirt could be the difference between success and failure.

Sven -- take him.
Sir Alex -- stay out of this. If Rooney wants to go then let him go.
It's none of your business.
BACK OFF.
And keep backing off, fella.

-- posted by SimonMelville

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» dantilles - From the BBC Sports website:

I agree that it is worth taking Rooney to the World Cup. Even his presence in the squad gives everyone a lift (and all the attention on him takes the pressure off other players). Having said that though, it is really doubtful that he will play a major role in this tournament. I mean Owen broke his foot in December (different circumstances I know), returned to training in March or April, and was still struggling to make any impact by May. No matter how good Rooney is, if he doesn't start proper training until 14th June we won't see him anywhere near his best for a while.

Where Eriksson has really gambled though is in only picking 4 strikers. If Owen gets injured or suspended and Rooney isn't fit then all we're left with is Crouch and Walcott, neither of whom is likely to strike fear into opposition defences. We needed another proven goalscorer in the squad. Our midfield is potentially full of goals but we can't just rely on them.

-- posted by dantilles

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» SimonMelville - From the BBC Sports website:

In response to From the BBC Sports website: posted by dantilles:

From http://www.lse.co.uk/ShowStory.asp?story...

Rooney still unlikely to play in World Cup says expert
Thursday, 8th June 2006, 12:26

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The chances of Wayne Rooney playing a full game for England during the World Cup are still highly unlikely according to a top orthopaedic surgeon today (thurs).

The Manchester United striker was cleared to return to England's training camp in Germany after flying to Manchester for his latest scan, with doctors saying there was a good chance he would be fit to play in the knock-out stages, which begin on June 24.

But medical staff could not agree on the result, forcing them to seek second opinion from Angus Wallace, professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.

James Bliss, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals in London, said this suggested the scan was not as good news as has been reported.

He also said he could see Rooney limping in pictures of him training, and said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was right to be worried that his star striker could be injured for far longer if he returned to action too soon.

Mr Bliss said: "I'm not so sure it is such good news from the scan. I think he would have gone back to the training camp whatever the results.

"The fact that they had to ask Angus Wallace for a second opinion suggests that the scan may not be as encouraging as first thought.

"If you look at the pictures from the other day there's a couple of times he strikes the ball quite well but he limps as soon as he comes down. He tries to take the weight of his foot. Although he might say it feels fine, he's clearly having trouble, if you know what you're looking for.

"The significance of that is the million dollar question.

"I think the likelihood of him playing at the level he needs to play at for competitive football is no more than 50-50. He may well be able to get back to jogging and light training, but that's very different from the sort of stresses in a game.

"The problem is when you accelerate and decelerate, that puts huge loads on the injured area. The main stresses come from jumping and changing direction quickly.

"So until he gets back to full training with sprinting and hard turns and tackles he won't know whether he's able to play.

"I don't think either he or Sven or anybody else will know what level he's at for another two or three weeks.

"Realistically I think two or three weeks from now, if he's able to sprint and change direction he may be able to play but I'd be very surprised if he's able to play a full game, if at all.

"The main danger is he could break down again. That doesn't have to mean the bone fractures again, just that the swelling and irritation and pain comes back, and he wouldn't be able to play.

"If he gets tackled or someone steps on his foot as he turns then there's a real danger it could fracture again. It's definitely more vulnerable because of the recent injury.

"What's more of a risk that he breaks down under the stresses of the game."

Mr Bliss said Rooney would be wary of re-injuring his foot when he returned, and opposition players would try to exploit that and even attempt to cause another break.

He said: "That's exactly what they're going to do. They are professionals and they know certain things you can do.

"Obviously you can be sent off for deliberately stamping on someone's foot, but there's certain other things you can do like tackling from a certain angle or going past him on his weak side where he can't turn as fast. If they've got any sense they'll make him turn so he puts more pressure on his weak foot.

"The bottom line for Wayne Rooney is he's been thinking about nothing but his foot for weeks. At the back of his mind he will still be a little bit guarded about it and that'll take about another ten weeks for him to get full confidence back.

"I'm sure that Alex Ferguson's main concern is that Rooney could injure himself for a much longer period of time. That's a genuine possibility.

"If he were to injure his foot it's going to take longer to settle down next time. It would be unlikely for him to need surgery if he breaks down again, although it is a possibility. You have to cross that bridge when you come to it."

-- posted by SimonMelville

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» Moolay - From the BBC Sports website:

quite frankly, I'm not surprised Fergie is worried about him going. Imagine if he suffers a re-occurance or makes it worse - iimagine losing a player like him for a whole Premiership/Champs league season!

It would be silly to play him against Paraguay, who are likely to be quite physical. But that's not an option anyway. It would be silly to play him against T&T, unless a 10-minute run-out at the end would benefit his match fitness.

And it would be silly to risk him against the Swedes - unless he truly was match-fit and we haven't already qualified.

But after that? At 100% his value to the England team would be beyond measure. More than any other player in the squad he is capable of winning a match with one flash of genius. Personally, I can't see him being 100% this summer.

However, even at 70%, what a player he would be to bring on for the last 15-20 mins of a game. When the opposition are likely to be tiring anyway, maybe he could manage one or two strong runs or long-range shots he's capable of.

This may be how he would be best deployed now he's going. But if nothing else, it will be a morale boost to the team and will have the opposite affect on teams due to play us.

-- posted by Moolay

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