Wayne Rooney reveals he wasn’t impressed with style of play employed by England coach Roy Hodgson or Manchester United flop Louis van Gaal
England skipper slams possession game championed by former Three Lions and Manchester United bosses
WAYNE ROONEY believes England and Manchester United failed last season because they 'over-complicated' football.
The Three Lions skipper has fronted up after the humiliating defeat to Iceland left the nation reeling in embarrassment, as highly-paid stars looked devoid of attacking ideas or direction.
And now Roo has revealed his own thoughts on the path England should take under Sam Allardyce, believing they should ditch the laborious possession game seen under Roy Hodgson and play on the front foot.
He told the : "You need to get the balance right. You can over-complicate football. You keep moving the ball but if you're not getting near the goal, what's the point?
"We were very poor against Iceland.
"Football can get lost in this new way of playing. Everyone is passing and moving when sometimes the simplest way - get it out wide, get crosses in the box, pick up the second ball - can be best.
"It's not always the perfect way, the prettiest way, this vision people have of how football should be played - but it might get you a goal.
"Possession's fine but it needs to have direction to it - and most times that has to be towards goal."
Louis van Gaal received heavy criticism from United fans for his team's laboured performances - often shunning individual flair in favour of possession football.
Rooney continued: "Every coach has his own thoughts on how it should be played, but if it's not working, what's the problem with going long, getting them on the back foot, make it uncomfortable for them?
"There are a lot of different ways to approach it, but pass, pass, pass, and then eventually pass back to your goalkeeper?
"For a forward player, that gets frustrating.";
"They have to be able to be trusted. I don't think there would be any issues.
"And if there are any issues, you send the player home."
United face Leicester in the Community Shield next Sunday, fresh from a 5-2 victory over Galatasary in pre-season.