posted Nov 19, 2007

The position of the English manager will always be impossible when failures at Premier Division clubs are appointed manager of the national team. Both Gerard & Lampard score the occasional spectacular goals. What England need now is a new manager and two constructive, positive players in the midfield to service strikers like Crouch.

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posted Nov 19, 2007

I as a dutchman completly agree with sfelix. Compared to the netherlands the facilities and structure of the grassroots game in england isn't really up to date. Bobby Robson once said that dutch amateurclubs had the best facilities he'd had ever seen compared to any other country. Dutch clubs are provid with pitches and dressingrooms by the local council.

Most dutch clubs provide football for all ages from 6 till 60, for men and woman. And as a rule every club must start a new season with at least 2 teams.

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posted Nov 19, 2007

Play inferior players because they are English? Certainly NOT! BUT, why not have a quota of English players on academy books at each club if you will BUT DO NOT INSIST THEY BE IN THE LEAGUE TEAM!
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That is one of the more interesting ideas I have heard in the whole debate - I shall start to take the issue seriously again.

Sir I take my hat of to you and your ability to use your brain.

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Well that is what happened here in Canada. Our development program (Junior Hockey) lowered the quota to 2 foreign players, which has opened up more spots for Canadians to improve their skills at an elite level with elite coaches. It makes too much sense though for it to become reality! lol

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posted Nov 21, 2007

Some people seem to think that playing more English and home-grown players in the prem, or bringing in legislation that restricts the number of foreign players in a team, means we lose quality and the league suffers. For example, this is exactly what Arsene Wenger said, who is admittedly a brilliant manager but probably cares relatively little about the 'state of the game' in England, so to speak.

So if we take Cesc Fabregas (who came from the world-renowned Barca youth academy) out of the league it will be a weaker league? Maybe so, but who's to say that there isn't a talented young player in the English youth system that, with the right support, training facilities and nurturing, couldn't become the next Cesc Fabregas? You've got to remember this isn't an instantaneous process - it just took Scotland the best part of 15 years to fix the negative effects of too many foreigner players in the league.

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posted Nov 21, 2007

I agree with Parker in some sense. I think it would be good if England didn't qualify if it meant that someone would sit down and pick a team properly and think about what they're doing.

On the other hand, as I am English, I hope they get through and then think about picking good teams from there on in without them having to do it the hard way and failing.

We havn't failed to qualify before so if we do now then that must mean McClaren is a rubbish manager.

Anyways, come on England play with some passion. Think about the fans and not just the money.

Watching you watch is just like watching Burnley - BBBOOORRRIIINNNGGG I feel that these two teams I support are a like. They can play decent footabll but they just seem to choose not to.

People pay money to watch you so give them something in return. People would rather have England lose fater giving everything they've got instead of playing rubbish and undeservingly going through.

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posted Nov 21, 2007

We always seem to to put one player in the limelight leading up to the game. We always seem to rely on one player.

Say if Rooney is injured everyone thinks our chances are smashed and the same if Owen or Gerrard is injured.

The real trouble is that they don't train enough with each other so they don't bond like they should.

They need to start working more as a team and stop making big boots up field or going backwards. feed the ball up along the ground preferably up the wings, cross into Crouch for him to have a chance to have a header.

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posted Nov 21, 2007

As a late comer to this discussion and an N. Irish fan might I suggest that the next English manager tries picking the team from anywhere but the Premiership. As we and others have proved at least they'll get players for whom playing for their country is a great honour and these guys will play they hearts out. Unlike the overpaid losers England currently have.

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posted Nov 22, 2007

Think we can put this question to bed now! Answer - NO!!

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posted Nov 22, 2007

True that!!!!

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posted Nov 22, 2007

Part of me wished the unthinkable, that England would fail to qualify.

AT least we would then get rid of McLaren, who was one of the worst International managers we have ever had.

He was not respected by the team, other managers or the majority of football followers in this country.

My big concern is that most likely person the FA will choose to replace him will not be the best person to make the England name respected if not feared, but someone who will take the job and work with one hand tied behind his back by an FA doing the will of the Premiership clubs.

We all know that the wishes of the Premiership take precedence over Englands needs. We develop hundreds of good young players every year, in this country, but they rarely receive the skills training they require due to the preponderance of foreign players in this country, many of no better quality than potential English talent.

I do not pretend I know the full answer to this, but I believe all Premiership teams should be made to play no less than 5 English qualified players in their first team, each and every match, commencing August 2009. This will upset the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, in particular, and Portsmouth and Spurs to a lesser extentcoming a third tier nation in International football.

If the FA fail to act decisively now they will bear a huge part of the blame for the increasingly poor performances of the National Team.

That said I was appalled by the lack of endeavour, passion and skill of numerous players last night.

Wayne Bridge and Wright-Philips showed a woeful lack of class, Carson and Lescott that they lacked the necessary experience, while Gerrard, Lampard, Barry
and Campbell all lacked passion ansd direction.

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