Blame Johnny Foreigner!
Since the Premiership began way back in 1992 we have been dogged with the idea that foreign players are ruining the game and not giving our younger footballers a chance. They have football boots don't they? How on earth can we be so arrogant to blame good old Johnny Foreigner for all of our short comings.
Now i'm not talking about players with sublime talent like Cristiano Ronaldo, Ginafranco Zola, Dennis Bergkamp or Eric Cantona, because I highly doubt any football fan, regardless of club alliance or patriotism would not want to see these men play football. We in this country are usually very territorial, we like to 'defend our manor' and look after one another whilst trying to humiliate a rival. Sure you need this in football, you need to be able to rant and rave at your enemies when they beat you and also take the flip side and be over come with sheer joy and ecstasy when you win. But does this make us narrow minded in order to accept change?
Tostao, the famous Brasilian forward who lifted the 1970 World Cup was recently quoted as saying 'it's easy to play against the English national team as they play one way' and 'you will not succeed unless you are open to change' - both statements would be hard to argue against. English players tend to pride themselves on drive, enthusiasm and determination in order to succeed - so basically attributes and characteristics of workhorses and athletes rather than footballers. Now, not for one second am I stating that talent alone can get you through to the top - you need all of these talents in your locker but you must be able to admit when you are wrong and in need of change - the philosophy of football in this country by the wider majority is very old school and we have been left behind by many nations.
Can England produce a player of pure brilliance like Zidane? Or grace and balance like Johan Cruyff? Of amazing imagination and breath taking skill of Maradona? Or a visionary of passing like Platini or Riquleme? Of course it is possible but will the talent and skill be able to come through with the level of coaching that is currently on offer in this country? I'm not talking about at top clubs and even some Championship sides - i'm talking about the building blocks for young footballers to develop. We've had every excuse under the sun in recent year - 'kids are too lazy playing on their computers' , 'society is to blame' and even more comical 'the weather'. We keep hearing stories of millions and millions of pounds being pumped into grassroots football to improve facilities for kids to play. Thats all well and good but it could be compared to the preparing of beans on toast from a Chef that has been given Claridges for a day - rather than pumping money into an institution that has more problems than facilities, England really needs to open it's eyes and see the real problem.
We have a massive shortage of players that like to pass the ball and keep possession of the football. You see far too often players passing the ball too quickly in order to attack when a more patient build up is required - a major reason why England have failed at major international tournaments over the years. We need to start from the bottom up and build into the make up of youngster what a real footballer is. Dribbling is also another quality that is lost on this nation, which is ironic considering the wing wizard himself Stanley Matthews was from Staffordshire. We need to have more players who are brave enough to take men on, get supporters out of their seat and play football.
Fabio Capello (another dodgy foreigner apparently!) has the immensely difficult task of winning the world cup in 2010 with England. Everyone knows the hype and build up that will focus around Rooney and co come May 2010 and then i'm sure we'll find a villain to blame for the reason England self-destructed. England need to look for the real reason they fail to deliver in tournaments and it is all so easy to blame 'the bloke who doesn't speak the Queen's English'.
I have been privileged to travel the world, meet many different people and experience different cultures. Now before you think i'm a Communist Marxist-Leninism nut case - I am far from it and am fond of my home - I am just more open minded than some Englishmen who are far too stubborn to see that there is a life outside of England, and for that matter the way we English interpret football. Back to my travels - I was always concerned and angered by the fact that many foreigners always views us as arrogant and larger louts. As I don't perceive myself as either I always found this acquisition quite unfair - but the more I think of it the more I have sympathy for people with this opinion. Of course you are subjected from some people with the entire history of Ireland, Australia and India - which although was horrific really can't be laid to blame on the sons and daughters of this nation now. However, moving forward a couple hundred years we still have a arrogant tag and stubbornness in our make up - we need to be open to change, both socially and in term of football. Are we that stubborn to try and adapt to a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 or shall we stick to 4-4-2 as 'thats what we know best'.
Anyone not wanting to see Cristiano Ronaldo run rings around defenders or Cesc Fabregas open up a defense with a perfectly delivered pass should maybe take up a new sport as footballer really isn't for them. The shortcomings of young English footballers isn't the fault of Johnny Foreigner invading this fine land to earn trucks loads of money, it is down to the stubbornness and arrogance of this once fine footballing institution to not be open to change . England needs to reassess it's footballing philosophy before throwing more and more money at grassroots football. Without players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres or Didier Drogba our football would not be as exciting, fun and entertaining. These players would be in Spain , Italy or to a lesser extent Germany. Then we may have another debate on our hands, why are there no English teams in the semi finals of the European Cup? These issues swing in round abouts, you can't have your cake and eat it - just make sure it's a good old fashion English tea cake rather than that fancy foreign muck!
Source:(Stretford-end)