SteveStrummerUK
Hmm. A few plus points, but sadly a few more negative ones. Why is it that we're still so dire at keeping the ball, especially once we get in the opposition half? It seems even the pundits seem to think our best (and most frequent) scoring chances are going to come on the break and from set pieces. I think Rooney's had his day too. I say 'had' his day, but when has he really lived up to the hype and potential when it's mattered? I know he's arguably been the best of the bunch for a while, but when you look at the players he's always classed alongside, they always have the knack of delivering. Rooney reminds me a lot of Graeme Hick. They both obviously possess plenty of talent, and in their time, both have been lauded as the saviour of the national team. But when measured against the very best, they come up short. With Rooney, he looks good posing around on a drizzly afternoon in December at Villa Park in a team constructed around him, but when he's been exposed at the very top, it's always been a different story. Hick was the same. He scored shed-loads of runs down the road here at Worcester against any number of journeymen medium-pacers, but once Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh got him in their sights, his footwork and shot selection let him down time after time. Maybe it's the media that over-hypes these players for whatever reason, but let's be honest, the wages they get paid and the esteem they're held in by people in their sports suggests they are, or at least should be, as good as the players they're always mentioned alongside. Maybe it's something more than just skill and talent that separates them. maybe it's 'passion' they lack, or even just good old fashioned 'bottle'. I don't know, but it's so fecking frustrating.
I've seen a lot of Graeme Hick (on video) and yes he was very talented, but (like you said) when "measured against the very best", he came up short. I think the "very best" of em tend to do really well (consistently) due to their disciplined mental outllook......(it's not the dog in the fight, but the fight in the dog). The players that make a conscious effort totake up any challenge, fight through the toughest of conditions, and determine themselves to see the team through......end up to be very successful. Talent alone won't achieve this.
In the late 70's and early 80's, (generally) most international teams feared the W. Indies bowling attack as they were a formidable force. I always looked in opposing teams to see who'll actually take up the challenge and fight through the difficult attacks.......a few "tough guys" that come to mind were Alan Lamb & Graham Gooch. The Autralians also had quite a few (mentally tough) players that took on the Windies.
IMO, the modern players seem to be more fit/athletic and possibly just as talented, but they don't have the same disciplined outlook as the players of old.......they seem to depend on their talent alone to get the victory.