It is a huge week in the life of Manchester United and England. There can be no denying that since Wayne Rooney's red card against Montenegro, the striker has suffered a loss of form. Even before the Montenegro match the media had leaked the story about Roney's dad and the alleged match fixing. I predicted a reaction duing that match but not the one that we got. I tongue in cheek suggested he might get 3 goals not 3 game ban for a silly sending off.
Thursday sees the appeal from the FA to UEFA to get Rooney's 3 match suspension reduced to what could be only 2 matches. Should his suspension be reduced then he has to go to the Euro's. His availability for what is shaping up as a crucial final group game will undoubtedly give his international team mates a boost. Or will it.
Holding a sceptic view of the draw, plus the fact that France's post World Cup form has been amazing, unbeaten in 16 matches and with Sweden not ever losing a competitive fixture against England and a realistic state of play could see England on just 2 points from the first 2 games. With a partizan crowd and a gruelling journey before the final match against Ukraine and suddenly England are not so guaranteed to even qualify from the group. Has Rooney shown he can handle that kind of situation? You would have to say no.
What if Capello selects a youthful squad as expected and they go on to beat the French and Swedes. OK you can play fringe players in a final griup game if nothing rests on the outcome but who would Capello drop if England do get to the knock out phase. I appreciate that Rooney has contributed to the qualifying campaign and when on song he is England's greatest player by some way. He also is the man opposing managers want to send centre backs out to wind up. Let's be fair. It isn't always just defenders that wind Rooney up. Remember a winker from Portugal?
Strangely while Rooney faces the prospect of missing out on the Euro's though suspension, since then you could argue that the English strikers stepping up for consideration has not been coming. Aston Villa pair Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor seemed definates in the England squad leading up to the Spain and Sweden friendlies. Now club form has dipped mixed with an injury here and there and the pair don't look the same players. What was the statistic on Bent at the weekend. He touched the ball about 20 times in 90 minutes of football. Stats can lie but that tells me he did not do good enough holding the ball up or finding space for team mates to find him. But Bent will score goals with the supply from the England team.
Fulham's Bobby Zamora is playing pretty well and links well with the team yet as we assume Capello is going with a flexible 4-3-3/4-5-1 then Zamora does not score enough for a lone front man. Danny Welbeck may get a run in the Manchester United side due to injuries but not only is he on an injury comeback of his own but he is also not a prolific striker, but one who can hold a ball upfront. Then we have to consider Jermaine Defoe who has taken avantage of Rafael van der Vaart's injury and shown Harry Redknapp and Fabio Capello why he should be in the frame even just as an impact sustitute.
The one English striker who has performed consistently this season for club is Daniel Sturridge. His international opportunities have been limited however but Sturridge will surely go even if he is only cover for Ashley Young. The advantage Rooney has above all of his rivals is that he can do everything they can do yet he also has an x-factor about him. He can do the unthinkable, the sublime and leave us all awestruck.
How does all this affect Manchester United I hear you ask. Well like I said it has been obvious that Rooney hasn't been his brilliant best recently. I have no idea what the situation with his father is, and the pending appeal may be affecting him. On Wednesday night his club will need him to provide the cutting edge in ensuring United gain the point they need for Chamions League knock out qualification. Should Rooney not be up for the match or allow another hostile atmosphere and stern defenders kicking him, then United could unbelievably suffer the humiliation of the Europa League. They then travel back to Manchester to prepare for a home match against a buoyant Wolves team which will not be an easy game.
A perfect week for United will see an away win at Basle to progress in the top European competition, Wayne Rooney successfully appeal his 3 game suspension, and close the gap to Manchester City to just 2 points. City themselves may be out of the Champions League so on a slight down mood and play a tough match away to Chelsea who themselves have just found a little form. What odds on Daniel Sturridge scoring against his old club?
The time has come to get off Rooney's back a bit. He carries the expectation of a whole nation on his shoulders and the hopes of the biggest club in club football. His life has been scrutinised since he broke into the Everton team and scored his wonder goal against Arsenal. He has had to deal with his family letting him down and a wife who is detemined not to be outshone by her talented husband. Already at a young age he has provided so many moments of skill and entertainment that we watch over and over again. Now I am praying that UEFA do the right thing and reduce his ban so the world can enjoy a few more. Luckily Sepp Blatter has no control in this decision which is a relief to us bitter English. UEFA are a sensible organisation and common sense should prevail. We all hope.
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