Aug
30

What is Wrong With The England National Team?

Author: editor Cat: Football

After England departed these shores for South Africa a few weeks ago, there was much anticipation that finally, the football team may bring the trophy home. All the same, that dream was destroyed in no uncertain terms by the old enemy Germany in Bloemfontein as England crashed out of the competition losing 4-1. How may well such an experienced team who qualified so easily fail to perform? Not surprisingly, the English media has put together no shortage of scape goats and causes for what was England’s worst defeat at a World Cup. There has been plenty of talk about the Italian manager, formations and more but the problems are much deeper.

Since its formation in 1992, the Premier League has achieved fantastic success as an international brand. The cost of this success has been felt by English football. Increased TV income has forced wages to increase. In turn this has meant there has been an evergrowing divide between club and country. Clubs pay their players lots of money and are a lot more reluctant to let their footballers appear for their countries.

In return, players get massively rewarded by Premiership clubs to the extent that success is categorized by getting money-spinning contracts rather than anything they achieve on the pitch. Typical footballers who rarely turn out for their teams are still millionaires and once these footballers put money ahead of playing matches at club level, there can be little doubt they do not have the mental strength or hunger to play international football.

Typically, there was always a regional reserve league which meant young footballers from lower league clubs may be guaranteed playing against decent reserve teams from larger clubs like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester United. All the same, in recent years, the EPL has changed consequently they will only play versus other EPL reserve teams. This means that Championship reserve teams no longer get to play versus Premier League sides. For teams like Ipswich Town, it means their reserve team now plays against Stevenage as an alternative to Tottenham Hotspurs and this drop in standard in opposition definitely has a negative effect on the footballing education of young footballers.

With a huge amount of money on the line, everything is tailored for EPL survival. Clubs spend large sums of money securing allegedly superior foreign managers and footballers in a bid to retain their EPL status. The ambition of promoted clubs to the Premiership extends no further than finished 4th bottom. The Premiership cash bonanza means that Premiership clubs can offer £1-2m for young players at lower league teams. The footballers are eager to move and secure their financial futures but it may also signal the end of their careers. The young Crystal Palace star signed for Spurs but scarcely played and was last heard of on loan at Brentford, a league lower than when he was at Crystal Palace. From a football mind-set, Bostock would have been best served staying at Palace and learning his trade. How many more young players careers are curtailed like this pursuing the money rather than playing the game?  It’s difficult to blame the young footballers for taking the money.

There is also the usual accusation that clubs play too many matches in England and increasingly more managers want a winter break. Bear in mind, players don’t look to be tired once asked to fly off to the United States or Far East on pre-season tours. Or how about England’s friendly game next June away in Thailand?

There are simply too numerous ready made excuses for failure that players are ready to accept. They live a life well away from the real world with their mansions, sports cars and trophy wives. Basically, there is not enough hunger or desire.

The game in Thailand also illustrates another trouble. Along with the Premiership being a global brand, so are the England team. Supporters want to observe the big Premiership stars play for England and in friendlies like this, those stars will be expected, if not contracted, to turn out.  Even so, it is not the case that the best 11 footballers make the best team. Too a great many players are in the team based on reputable name rather than performances. Young players should be promoted into the senior squad sooner.

For the forthcoming Euro 2012 campaign, England should dispense with the services of all footballers aged 30 or over. None of them have played well in South Africa therefore why should England persist with them. It would be much better to promote younger footballers who may still be hungry for success. Nonetheless, while the worshiping of the Premiership carries on, things are not likely to improve anytime immediately.

 

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