Pickford clean sheet in Rooney farewell celebration

Am I soft for thinking this a well-deserved gesture? A nice thing? I seem to be in a minority, especially listening to former players' views. I'm thinking they are jealous. Some people of course think he abandoned us, others feel he didn't do enough in major tournaments. Whatever your gripe, he is England's highest scorer... in history. I think that's something to be proud of and should be celebrated. This is a friendly. He is also in good form. What harm does it do?

Embarrassing ourselves at Wembley. Not competitive.

However I am still amazed by some of the players Southgate calls up and wouldn't be surprised if Hibbert and Osman get recalls in the not-too-distant future.

Despite his goal, Callum Wilson is not good enough and neither is Winks.

What's happening that USA seem to be going backwards? Do they get their squad from mls and college or whoever plays in Europe?

Disagree with you about Wilson, who else does he pick? When fit, Wilson has scored goes in the Prem, and he isn't that old either (26) so it isn't a Kevin Davis style call-up.

What it does show is a dearth in English top-flight strikers; I guess after Kane, Wilson and Rashford we look at Glenn Murray, Charlie Austin and then youngsters.

We used to have Wright, Cole, Sherringham, Fowler, Sutton all not getting a game!

I don't think you're soft mate and feel similarly to yourself.

Rooney has been the best, record-breaking, English goalscorer for a generation for both club and country. Thing is, he doesn't fit the media's preferred profile, isn't the squeaky clean, easy talking, handsome, mid-Atlantic accented poster boy.

He's someone born and raised in a rough Northern city environment, someone with failings and weaknesses, not the cleverest off the pitch but at times a genius on it.

If his appearance raised lots of money for decent causes and goes to help those who can't help themselves, then that can only be a good thing.

Too often are public figures honored posthumously; so what's wrong with celebrating grand achievements when they are good and well?

One is using his past career to get a charity match and money to charity, the other is getting all the clubs to pay for a ٣m backhander for leaving the job he is very handsomely paid for.

Oh wait, it gets better, he's actually staying on in another capacity and still getting paid a wedge for that too... fuck's sake!!!

Still a couple more years for them to develop and we'll see what we got by 2021.

Wayne Rooney was the best player of his generation above many great players and the best English player since Gaza. To get over 100 caps is a massive achievement, as is scoring more goals for your country than any other player. I guess you don't like him but facts speak for themselves.

As far as I am aware, the MLS are getting to the latter stages of the playoffs: has this impacted the players selected for last night's game?

Would be a different story if Lukaku was an England player. Alan would need a restraining order.

Much improved by the 'mericans after the break, but you can see why they failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Pulisic looks a player, mind...

It was a way apparently of publicising the charity - no doubt the one Rooney's agent thought would be a great way of making out what a great guy our Wayne is. If he donated (say) 10% of his annual earnings to the Charity then sure - what a great guy. Really how much money do footballers need!

"But if players from the '60s/'70s had the chance it probably would be eclipsed"

What??? You mean all them caps and goals which were earned and scored in the pointless home international matches?

Get real! who do you think has been the best English striker in the last 15 years then?

They appear to lack any direction at the top, still yet to appoint a permanent manager for what, months now?

The teams I see at college level, still the main source of entry for the MLS, a big issue for quality, lack individuality.

Their standout, Pulisic, American in birthright but anything else but in his footballing education. A Croatian heritage which screams skill and craft.

It reminded me of Beardsley, when we got him the team was so poor and everything he did was often two/three steps ahead of anyone else in the team. Pulisic was so frustrated.

It appears that football still is sat behind all other major league sports and is stalled, even in decline. Very sad.

Link

As he mentions, he learnt a lot about himself and "I'm probably mentally stronger and developed that thick skin because a lot gets said about you when things aren't going well."

For me, along with Gana Gueye, he has been Everton's Mr Consistency and best player this season, even with missing a few games due to his hairline skull fracture.

Delighted for the lad.

The players seem like a good group and I give Brands and Silva a lot of credit for this – the group last season stunk and hopefully they have got rid of the bad eggs or most.

Moyes's teams (particularly season when we came 4th) showed what camaraderie and team spirit can do. On the outside, it seems we have that in abundance as well as a load of quality players. Long may it continue.

I'm not that convinced by Southgate either. He gives away caps for what reason when he should be building a team.

I thought Rooney looked pretty good yesterday albeit against a really weak team. Surely the MLS should be improving the state of their national team and glamourising the possibilities. I guess they are rebuilding... same as us.

Alan @7, have you ever considered an anger management course?? Wow, you've vented some anger towards Rooney there, matey. My phone was smokin' as I read it!!!

Hope you feel better for your rant. But facts are facts & he is England's No1 goalscorer and I think Man Utd's too. So, in reality, he can't be quite as shit as you make out... can he?

I am running for cover now!!!

I agree entirely; I don't know why he gets so much stick. You can't achieve all he did in his career and be shit at the same time.

We have one budding world-class star, a couple of youngsters with exciting talent, and a whole bunch of Bobby Who, Julian Why and Jorge VillaFucksHeDoingOnThe Pitch.

And we have a Klinzi Hangover of lack of belief, which hasn't been a problem for the US in previous decades. This program is adrift, and if they don't name a manager soon, it's just going to drift out of sight.

Be of good cheer. Couple more years go by and we see what we have.

Regarding that stiff Klinsmann, we missed a chance with a manager right here in MLS, Gerardo Martino.

He had Atlanta playing attacking, attractive soccer.