WATCH: "I understand and respect the manager's decision." Wayne Rooney on not starting: https://t.co/Qe4vQa74dw https://t.co/FRzIEoLIG5
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) October 10, 2016
Gareth Southgate has announced that England Captain Wayne Rooney will be dropped for the clash in Slovenia. This has been coming. Rooney has been in the news constantly this season, for all the wrong reasons and his 'dilemma' is threatening to overshadow both domestic and international football. But this is the price you pay when you are the captain of both club and country and the highest paid player, shouldn't matter, but it does.
5 - No England player made more tackles (5) or had more shots (5) than Wayne Rooney against Malta. Determined. pic.twitter.com/9hE1qFWuJM
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 10, 2016
The press-pack which was so fervent in its defence of Rooney turned a few weeks ago, leaving only the ex-players defending Rooney. But I feel as if the defence of Rooney, by both the press and pundits has led to the over the top backlash we now see. Rooney does not deserve to be booed, yes it is worrying, it is clear his ability has slipped from the force of nature he once was. But it is clear that his performance is not one of attitude, just time. He's old for his age. He's played a lot of football since he was a teen and had a lot of injuries. If he's on the way out, he's on the way out. But the England fans who boo are the epitome of everything United fans detest about the national team.
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