Soccer Thread

[Gamblor]

Don't overlook Rashford, guys.  The kid is insanely composed for a teenager, and he can score goals for Manchester United, which is quite a statement, this year!

He seems promising - I think he averaged about a goal every other match with United. He's young, though, and there just isn't enough evidence yet that he can sustain his form.

Remember how everybody claimed Harry Kane was a one season wonder after scoring 21 goals in the 2014-15 Premier League season?

I realize he doesn't have the body of work; at his age, how could he?  However, he is big, strong, fast, and relatively fearless.  He is MILES ahead of Rooney, as a striker.  The sad thing is, I'm sure Roy will keep Rooney, because he is  <<gasp>> "our captain".  Sorry, man, it's about results, and Rooney's days are (or should be) quite numbered, at least in the main striker role.

I definitely think Rooney should stay home. As I said, Defoe is a better choice and I agree that Carroll might be worth a punt. Rooney is clearly past his prime. It's possible he will recover his form (or some of it), but I wouldn't risk taking him to France.

Hodgson would be better of playing different players - no matter who he plays, he'll be slated in the press if England don't win. And that's not likely to happen anyway. May as well make a go of it and try something different.

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

[Adam White]

Don't overlook Rashford, guys.  The kid is insanely composed for a teenager, and he can score goals for Manchester United, which is quite a statement, this year!

He seems promising - I think he averaged about a goal every other match with United. He's young, though, and there just isn't enough evidence yet that he can sustain his form.

Remember how everybody claimed Harry Kane was a one season wonder after scoring 21 goals in the 2014-15 Premier League season?

I realize he doesn't have the body of work; at his age, how could he?  However, he is big, strong, fast, and relatively fearless.  He is MILES ahead of Rooney, as a striker.  The sad thing is, I'm sure Roy will keep Rooney, because he is  <<gasp>> "our captain".  Sorry, man, it's about results, and Rooney's days are (or should be) quite numbered, at least in the main striker role.

I definitely think Rooney should stay home. As I said, Defoe is a better choice and I agree that Carroll might be worth a punt. Rooney is clearly past his prime. It's possible he will recover his form (or some of it), but I wouldn't risk taking him to France.

Hodgson would be better of playing different players - no matter who he plays, he'll be slated in the press if England don't win. And that's not likely to happen anyway. May as well make a go of it and try something different.

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

To be fair, if Rooney goes and is rubbish, the media will make a big deal about that. Roy can't win. The general opinion seems to be that he shouldn't go, though. At least that's what it seems like.

[TimmyB]

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

And, I would be 1000 times better than Shaq, if I were two feet taller than the way God made me!   

Sorry, but being a die-hard United fan, I know just how far "past it" Rooney is.  Any ball into the box will either be handled poorly by his lack of first touch, or never be touched at all, due to his lack of pace and lack of leaping ability.  Those skills are gone and they aren't coming back.  His ONLY possible salvation (to play at this level, anyway) is to move into the midfield, but there are just SO many attacking mids that are already so far ahead of where he MIGHT be.

[Gamblor]

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

And, I would be 1000 times better than Shaq, if I were two feet taller than the way God made me!   

Sorry, but being a die-hard United fan, I know just how far "past it" Rooney is.  Any ball into the box will either be handled poorly by his lack of first touch, or never be touched at all, due to his lack of pace and lack of leaping ability.  Those skills are gone and they aren't coming back.  His ONLY possible salvation (to play at this level, anyway) is to move into the midfield, but there are just SO many attacking mids that are already so far ahead of where he MIGHT be.

Okay then, I get what this is for you United fan. You're just mad Wayne isn't giving you 30+ goal seasons anymore. Rashford is some sort of new hope, but he could still turn out to be a Walcott (Arsenal fan).... Call me when Rashford atleast comes close to 20 goals five years in a row and you can say he is better. Have fun on Thursday nights

[TimmyB]

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

And, I would be 1000 times better than Shaq, if I were two feet taller than the way God made me!   

Sorry, but being a die-hard United fan, I know just how far "past it" Rooney is.  Any ball into the box will either be handled poorly by his lack of first touch, or never be touched at all, due to his lack of pace and lack of leaping ability.  Those skills are gone and they aren't coming back.  His ONLY possible salvation (to play at this level, anyway) is to move into the midfield, but there are just SO many attacking mids that are already so far ahead of where he MIGHT be.

Okay then, I get what this is for you United fan. You're just mad Wayne isn't giving you 30+ goal seasons anymore. Rashford is some sort of new hope, but he could still turn out to be a Walcott (Arsenal fan).... Call me when Rashford atleast comes close to 20 goals five years in a row and you can say he is better. Have fun on Thursday nights

Mad?  The only thing I'm mad about is that idiot who is running my club into the ground. 

If you wait until Rashford (or ANY player) has 5-20 goal seasons, you have just wasted five years of your life waiting!  Let's face it, England aren't that strong.  It will hurt them not in the least to play their young kids right now.

[Adam White]

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

And, I would be 1000 times better than Shaq, if I were two feet taller than the way God made me!   

Sorry, but being a die-hard United fan, I know just how far "past it" Rooney is.  Any ball into the box will either be handled poorly by his lack of first touch, or never be touched at all, due to his lack of pace and lack of leaping ability.  Those skills are gone and they aren't coming back.  His ONLY possible salvation (to play at this level, anyway) is to move into the midfield, but there are just SO many attacking mids that are already so far ahead of where he MIGHT be.

Okay then, I get what this is for you United fan. You're just mad Wayne isn't giving you 30+ goal seasons anymore. Rashford is some sort of new hope, but he could still turn out to be a Walcott (Arsenal fan).... Call me when Rashford atleast comes close to 20 goals five years in a row and you can say he is better. Have fun on Thursday nights

Mad?  The only thing I'm mad about is that idiot who is running my club into the ground. 

If you wait until Rashford (or ANY player) has 5-20 goal seasons, you have just wasted five years of your life waiting!  Let's face it, England aren't that strong.  It will hurt them not in the least to play their young kids right now.

The truth is, Rashford is lucky. If United spend a lot of money this summer and bring in more big names up front, he might find himself struggling to get starts or even out on loan.

[TimmyB]

Umm Timmy, Rashford is a good prospect, but lets be honest, Rooney would be a way better striker if he still had legs. However, he doesn't, which is why I agree he should be left off the team. It can't happen though, he has been too big a piece of their core for years. Remember the kerfuffle over Landon being left off last US World Cup team? Imagine that but a million times worse. The UK media would make it into a story that never ends.

And, I would be 1000 times better than Shaq, if I were two feet taller than the way God made me!   

Sorry, but being a die-hard United fan, I know just how far "past it" Rooney is.  Any ball into the box will either be handled poorly by his lack of first touch, or never be touched at all, due to his lack of pace and lack of leaping ability.  Those skills are gone and they aren't coming back.  His ONLY possible salvation (to play at this level, anyway) is to move into the midfield, but there are just SO many attacking mids that are already so far ahead of where he MIGHT be.

Okay then, I get what this is for you United fan. You're just mad Wayne isn't giving you 30+ goal seasons anymore. Rashford is some sort of new hope, but he could still turn out to be a Walcott (Arsenal fan).... Call me when Rashford atleast comes close to 20 goals five years in a row and you can say he is better. Have fun on Thursday nights

Mad?  The only thing I'm mad about is that idiot who is running my club into the ground. 

If you wait until Rashford (or ANY player) has 5-20 goal seasons, you have just wasted five years of your life waiting!  Let's face it, England aren't that strong.  It will hurt them not in the least to play their young kids right now.

The truth is, Rashford is lucky. If United spend a lot of money this summer and bring in more big names up front, he might find himself struggling to get starts or even out on loan.

No, I disagree with you on the "lucky" part.  As for big names, who the heck is going to come (from that category) to United with this oaf in charge?  He sold Hernandez, he misused ADM so badly that he left, he puts people out of position just to show them who's in charge,... No one of any headline material is coming.  Would it be great if they did?  Not really, because lvg will muck it up for them, just as has done for the others.

[Adam White]

No, I disagree with you on the "lucky" part.  As for big names, who the heck is going to come (from that category) to United with this oaf in charge?  He sold Hernandez, he misused ADM so badly that he left, he puts people out of position just to show them who's in charge,... No one of any headline material is coming.  Would it be great if they did?  Not really, because lvg will muck it up for them, just as has done for the others.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not slating Rashford. I think he's really talented. But he's lucky, because if it weren't for injuries to other players (and poor summer transfer business), he wouldn't have had the chance to start and impress. He was a last-minute bench filler for the match against Midtjylland - and then Keane went out injured and Rashford got his chance. And scored twice. And the rest is history.

He was playing in the reserves just before that.

[TimmyB]

No, I disagree with you on the "lucky" part.  As for big names, who the heck is going to come (from that category) to United with this oaf in charge?  He sold Hernandez, he misused ADM so badly that he left, he puts people out of position just to show them who's in charge,... No one of any headline material is coming.  Would it be great if they did?  Not really, because lvg will muck it up for them, just as has done for the others.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not slating Rashford. I think he's really talented. But he's lucky, because if it weren't for injuries to other players (and poor summer transfer business), he wouldn't have had the chance to start and impress. He was a last-minute bench filler for the match against Midtjylland - and then Keane went out injured and Rashford got his chance. And scored twice. And the rest is history.

He was playing in the reserves just before that.

OK, I see what you are saying, now!  I thought you were referring to his abilities.  You are spot-on about being in the right place at the right time.  And, now that you mention it, who is Keane? 

[Adam White]

So... looks like all this talk of Rashford and the Euros might've been a bit premature.

[bencrix]

Especially since it looks like no one from Man U will see much of the field in any case - Kane & Vardy keep scoring...

(For what its worth, I would have brought Walcott along for his speed and ability to play on the wing)

[Adam White]

Especially since it looks like no one from Man U will see much of the field in any case - Kane & Vardy keep scoring...

(For what its worth, I would have brought Walcott along for his speed and ability to play on the wing)

If Rashford is injured and can't play, then that only leaves Rooney and Smalling. I reckon Smalling will start. Not sure about Rooney, though I bet he gets a start at some point if Woy bothers to bring him to France.

[bencrix]

Apologies about forgetting Smalling. He had a great year and looks like a starter.

My main point was that I don't see either Rashford or Rooney playing much, given the competition at their positions.

That said, I don't have a problem with both being on the squad. One for the future, the other for experience in the locker room. They could also function as impact substitutes.

[JaxAvondale]

West Ham qualified for Europa League when Man U won the FA Cup on Saturday. West Ham is moving into Olympic Stadium in August. Huge step for West Ham.

[TimmyB]

Apologies about forgetting Smalling. He had a great year and looks like a starter.

My main point was that I don't see either Rashford or Rooney playing much, given the competition at their positions.

That said, I don't have a problem with both being on the squad. One for the future, the other for experience in the locker room. They could also function as impact substitutes.

Ben, you haven't been watching United this year if you think Smalling has been great.  He has been dreadful, and should have seen about 10 red cards.  It finally caught up to him on Saturday, when he was given one.  He panics in possession, and tackles people, American football style.  If he is the best England can do for a CB, God save more than the Queen.