Paul Scholes urges England to play Wayne Rooney as a centre-forward

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/15/paul-scholes-wayne-rooney-england-world-cup

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Paul Scholes has expressed his disappointment at the different positions that Roy Hodgson chose to play Wayne Rooney during England’s 2-1 defeat to Italy.

The 28-year-old became increasingly marginalised as the game progressed and played on both flanks to little effect, rather than in his preferred central role. Scholes wrote on the Paddy Power website that he was disappointed “not in the way Rooney played, but where he was played.

“I’ve previously said the best position for Wayne is centre-forward,” continued Scholes. “If you think about the contenders at the World Cup and goalscorers – Holland play RVP [Robin van Persie] in his best position. Brazil play Neymar where he wants to play, Argentina with Messi, Portugal with Ronaldo.

“I don’t blame Wayne one little bit but he was played in three different positions. He’s without a doubt England’s best goalscorer [his record in qualifying showed that: seven goals]. But he was played on the left, played on the right, then in the centre. Where’s the confidence in Wayne to say: ‘You’re our main player. You’re our centre-forward.’ If he plays there, he scores goals.”

Scholes further defended his former Manchester United team-mate stating that “Wayne will play anywhere he’s asked” and that he is not “a moaner or a sulker” but despite the result, the former midfielder was encouraged at some of the performances of the younger players and feels there is “more to come” from the squad ahead of their crucial clash with Uruguay on Thursday.

“Raheem Sterling did very well for England and went past the opposition impressively, but his final pass wasn’t up to standard. Maybe it was inexperience, or tiredness, and he will get better. Other positives for me were that Ross Barkley looked strong when he came on, and Daniel Sturridge was lively too.

“I thought we took Danny Welbeck off too soon (maybe he was injured) but my feeling is there is plenty to come from these players. We should have little to fear from Costa Rica or Uruguay, who are shocking defensively.”