Oh what the hell one more for the road before I hit the pool...if we're going to make an actual effort at real discussion...
Rooney was poor too. His assist in the first game was fairly routine (I mean he did the job, but not a difficult ball to play) after a great ball from Sterling that led him into the position, and of course Sturridge could hardly have missed from there. Rooney should have had a hat trick against Uruguay with even mundane finishing (honestly, two truly shocking failures to score), and much like Sterling with the Italy goal, Sturridge did the work with a great move and pass to set up the cross, which Johnson put through the defender's legs.
More to the point, Rooney did a poor job in his other responsibilities as a midfielder in both games. He didn't track back on the second half goal Italy scored and the combination of a deep centerback pairing and Baines just getting beaten did the hard work. That's partly on Roy...I can only assume Roy thought Rooney couldn't be dropped, but he really just didn't fit. I think you could have had a more solid midfield with Barkley and/or Lallana and I actually think James Milner could have been a good fit esp. against Uruguay. With that you'd be counting on the fullbacks to create offense along with Sterling but they were doing that anyway.
Sterling, who did most of the work in putting Rooney in to create one, and Johnson and Sturridge combined to create the other in full. Henderson and Gerrard weren't really given the job of creating goals, though Henderson put a scorcher on goal early against Italy, forcing a strong save. Playing a midfield "duo" against Uruguay was stupid anyway, as mentioned. There's a reason LFC always had at least a 3 man central midfield in almost every game, 4 if you count Sterling in the diamond in some. The diamond might not have been a bad call -- could keep Rooney in the XI as a striker, play Barkley left (supposedly he's as good with left as his right), Henderson right and Sterling at the head with Gerrard as the steering wheel type.
But the worst performing unit of all for England IMO was the centerback pairing and you can probably include Hart in that mess too. He looked like he was bricking it early and when it came time to make the big save, he didn't. But you can't let him of all people go right between and behind the central defenders. Jagielka just not good enough. They may basically need a whole new back four by Euro 2016. Cahill will probably still be all right, but the others will be 31-33 years old. Rooney will be almost 31...they're a team in transition and god help them if Woy is the one leading it (but he won't be).
If Suarez had done what I think he did, I don't think 2-3 weeks is a real surprise. You can have a partial removal and be back in about that time. It's if they actually repair what's there that takes a lot longer. Most impressive was that he had the fitness...or maybe just gutted it out. We'll probably know tomorrow or the next day how far along he really was -- or at least URU will, maybe the media won't.
What you mention about Uruguay's passing is why I'm not so convinced that England's midfield really got beat that bad considering there were only two of them in the middle most of the time. But URU is going to basically be about how many chances they can get for Cav and Suarez and if that means bypassing the midfield ASAP and playing lower risk balls then whatever. Doesn't look like Forlan is going to play much of a role.
and the FA that screwed him over on the word of one witness of very shaky repute.
