Delph for England

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Just found out Rooney has about 5years to go on that contract. The way things are going for ManU it's not inconceivable they wont be able to afford to pay him a few years down the line. They really could be heading for trouble.

Don't worry about Rooney, he's got a clause in his contract should they be relegated.

[tomd2103]

Sadly, I don't disagree Tom. Why would someone like Martinez want it if they cannot affect change throughout the system. It's a prestigious position devalued by those who are tasked govern and develop it.

Agree and when you throw in the fact that they would be hounded by the press, then it's not a particularly attractive proposition. 

[damon loves JT]

I read somewhere that when Honda built their new factory in Swindon and were recruiting workers for the production line, one criterion was that anyone with any previous experience in a British car factory was not to be considered.

Maybe there needs to be something that radical in place for the England team. The notion that 'this is England and we expect things to be done in a certain way' is preventing a proper clear-out of our psychological baggage.

I don't mind if England lose every game, provided they're trying to play and trying to build for the future. Forget 1966, forget the Three Lions and Nobby Stiles and all that shit. Start again.

[Dr Butler]

Ctrl+Alt and Delete........time for a England reboot.

UTV
The Doc

[godzvilla]

Very pro Delph article with some interesting stats from today,s Metro ...................Godzvilla!

Why Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph could become an England regular
Andrew Raeburn Thursday 4 Sep 2014 1:47 pm

Aston Villa have supplied more England internationals than any other club – and Fabian Delph took the total to 73 when he came on against Norway on Wednesday night.
In a neat twist, he took to the Wembley turf alongside James Milner, who was the last Villa player to win a debut cap for the Three Lions back in 2009.
But while the introduction of Milner was derided, unfairly, by his vocal band of critics, the younger Yorkshireman enhanced his growing reputation with a very tidy display indeed.
It may have only been a 25-minute cameo, but his efficient use of the ball, eagerness to show for it and the general increase in the team’s tempo that coincided with his arrival won him praise.
Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph, who deserves to be listened to whenever he speaks, led the chorus of approval.
Henry Winter        ✔ @henrywinter
Follow
Fabian Delph a definite positive for #eng v #nor. On for only 21 mins but injected some much-needed impetus into midfield. Good debut. #avfc
2:42 AM - 4 Sep 2014

The number crunchers also backed up this view.
Captain Wayne Rooney, in 70 minutes, touched the ball 29 times and completed 15 of 20 passes. Delph, in a third of the time, had 23 touches, easily the most involved of the six substitutes, and completed 18 of 19 passes. His stats, pro rata, more than measured up to Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

But of course spreadsheets don’t tell you everything. They can’t show whether a player looks at home on the international stage, or fits in happily with the ‘big names’.
Yes, it was ‘only’ Norway. Yes, it was only 25 minutes. But after another fairly anodyne display by some experienced internationals, the fact Delph’s brief contribution stood out shows you he has what it takes.
But even if he’d given the ball away numerous times and joined the likes of Jake Livermore, Matt Jarvis and former Villa players Lee Hendrie and Brian Little in the ‘one cap as a brief sub‘ category, just making his England senior debut will have felt like a success.
In 2010, towards the end of his first season at Villa, he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury that kept him out for 10 months, while an ankle injury curtailed a loan back at his first club Leeds. In his first three years in B6, he started just 18 Premier League matches.
Delph finally became a regular under Paul Lambert, but after an inconsistent 2012-13, he finally hit his straps last season, after being told to have more self-belief.
His superb form, which included a cheeky backheeled winner against Chelsea in March, made him the clear winner of the club’s player of the year award – and has now translated into an England call.
About time, too. Delph’s call-up was, to some outsiders, an indictment of the lack of midfield options after the retirements of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, and injuries to Michael Carrick and Ross Barkley.
But those who watch him week in, week out, will know Delph has the quality to succeed at the highest level.
Most importantly he has the character to realise he hasn’t cracked it just yet – and the hard work to stay in exalted company starts now.

[PaulWinch again]

Phil Mcnulty gave him 5/10, the same as Milner and said he didn't make an impact. I can only assume he didn't watch the game. 

[ChicagoLion]

Phil Mcnulty gave him 5/10, the same as Milner and said he didn't make an impact. I can only assume he didn't watch the game.

just take the MLY away and there he is.

[Fasth56]

It really is a sad indictment that the flat track bully  that is Rooney could soon be England's leading goal scorer. His scoring record against the big countries, in footballing terms, is abysmal. He has scored only 3 goals in finals of tournaments and the majority of his goals against what you could call the second tier of world football or in friendlies.  He is what they called a busted flush.

[Dave]

It really is a sad indictment that the flat track bully  that is Rooney could soon be England's leading goal scorer.

Does it really matter? Nine of Sir Booby Charlton's goals came across three 8-0 wins. Fifty years later, nobody thinks any less of him because he happened to score quite a lot of his goals against rubbish opposition.

[Deano's Mullet]

Has anyone come in for Delph yet? Has he been tapped up yet? The one thing I hate about our lads getting picked for England. Great to see him there though.

[Fasth56]

It really is a sad indictment that the flat track bully  that is Rooney could soon be England's leading goal scorer.

Does it really matter? Nine of Sir Booby Charlton's goals came across three 8-0 wins. Fifty years later, nobody thinks any less of him because he happened to score quite a lot of his goals against rubbish opposition.

I think it does, 12 of Rooneys goals have been scored in friendlies. Chalton also turned up at major tournaments.

[themossman]

Stats across different generations are pretty misleading anyway. Plus, who cares?

[ozzjim]

Dunno but I would prefer a world cup winning legend of the game being our leading scorer than a thuggish, extremely money grabbing granny prostitute shagging bloke that swears incessantly at referees and does not even justify his place in the side.

His goal count is significantly devalued by the fact that IMO he should not have been picked in many of the games he has been because he has been picked solely on the ideal that he is the great Wayne Rooney, when in truth for about 3 seasons he has been completely and utterly shit.

[SoccerHQ]

Delph looked pretty comfortable last night and actually has pace in what is looking a very static paced central midfield.

[ozzjim]

Delph did lots more than Wilkshire, who is fast becoming the new Rooney in terms of playing off his name. McNulty, as ever, will not acknowledge anything outside of the top 4 is worth praise. Find for their chief sports reporter he spends most of his time loving the top 4 as much as he physically can.