Euro2012: Will England fail again?

Put your hand up if you still think English players are amongst the best in the world.

Quite a few of you. Well you all have a bit more faith then I do.


With 51 days to go until the European Championships 2012 kick-off in Poland and Ukraine, I offer my opinion on why England continually fail at major tournaments and why I have do doubt they will fail again.

There was a time when I was like all of you. I believed that the England team was bursting at the seams with countless numbers of world-class players waiting to be propelled onto football's biggest scene. Player's that could match the legends that have appeared in the French, Brazilian and Italian national teams over the years.  I always saw a team that could with the World Cup, the European Championship and become the number one side in the world. A team that could add to the solitary World Cup win of 1966. (Did that actually happen?) I have to ask myself the question.

I have watched England since France 1998 and followed them in every tournament since - apart from the one they failed to make in 2008! (Failures like this should be unheard of.) With each failure I say to myself, next time. Next time we will come good, next time we shall win.

But of course the next time comes and go. 14 years since I started following England, 46 years since that World Cup win, now just weeks before the next big tournament, or failure, it seems the right time to give up.

I always looked at the likes of Campbell, Ferdinand, Scholes, Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Owen and Rooney and believe that the constant dreams of England finally performing on the biggest stage would come true. But as always I was left feeling the usual anti-climax.

Why is this? Why do we constantly fail?

I would offer the simple reason that we have a severe lack of world-class player's. However no-one ever settles for that reason. So let's look at the development of our youngsters.

Young English talent from the about the age of eight or nine are brainwashed that passion and belief will bring them success. This has never been true. Learning the basics of football and building on skills is often put to one side, or in some cases completely forgotten about. Also at this age it is also not unusual for boys and girls to be playing football on full-size pitches that to be honest most of us would struggle to run about on. They are taught to run everywhere quickly even for tackling. The focus is not on the ball but the player. It makes it look like Paul Scholes can tackle.

At an early age young English talent are not taught close ball skill, or to pass and move like many foreign countries. This is something that the Spanish and Brazilians show perfectly. Fitness work also seems to be second-best compared to countries such as Germany and Holland  - you do not see players of Emily Heskey's build in other teams.

There are a few players that are hand-picked from the poor-grass roots set-up in England are are put into a professional club. However only a few of these are then good enough to make the transition successfully enough to make the international stage. These are usually the ones who are picked by the prefessional clubs that follow a 'European' model.

Away from skills and fitness English youngsters learning the game see on the TV from a very early age that anger and belligerence are acceptable (for example Wayne Rooney's behaviour on and of the field or the Chelsea team surrounding referees.) This behaviour which is often mirrored by parents on a Sunday morning who happilly and loudly abuse the officials.

Let's also look at the players that currently make up the England team to see if the problem is there.

The team is made up of mainly 'experienced' players, those who have appeared in multiple matches at international level for several years or more. Apart from the most recent friendlies it is very rare that any youth breaks into the team. Capello, unlike those before him, made it clear that it was his intention to pick players based on form instead of experience, but this was clearly never the case.

Yes Capello does hold the highest win percentage of any England manager. But there is no denying that he controlled and managed a group of desperate, last chance saloon players who are, or nearly are, on their last legs.

Did I say last chance saloon? The 2010 World Cup should have been their last chance, however there is no doubt in my mind that whoever takes over for the European Championships this year and in to the future will continue to play the same players.

Whoever takes over will inherit a group of players with egos that are difficult to control, especially as The FA are not paying their wages.  Many managers have tried to control these egos, and until the World Cup 2010 Capello seemed to be doing so but as always the egos proved too big for the team. I don't think it is entirely possible unless we start all over again. The current players do not feel the need to preform on an international level. Player's retire early, such as Paul Scholes. Why? Club football is simply more important.

Problems do not just exist in the England national set-up though. Raymond Domenech failed completely to control his players when he was in charge of France, their egos were all far too big for the team. Age may also play a part. Both the England and France squads were old when they caused problems, however Joachim Loews young Germany squad are giving him no problems at all.

There needs to be a balance. However England can never quite find that balance.

The alternative view seems to be that the presence of foreign talent in the English Premier League leaves very little room for English players to play at the highest level. I do not agree with this, the view is absurd. If English talent was good enough it would get into England's top sides. It is that simple. Frank Lampard, John Terry and Ashley Cole all appear in the Chelsea side as regulars and Wayne Rooney is in fantastic form for Manchester United. Both sides have won the league with these players in the team. But arguable the next 'generation' of English talent is not talented enough. They are not nurtured enough from a young age to make the jump to Premier League standard like our international counterparts are.

Why is is that these players, with a mix from other clubs such as Liverpool and Tottenham, fail to perform on the international stage? They can not be said to have 'failed to break through' after all they are playing for the biggest teams in the country, so with this it can not be said that they do not have the experience at the highest level. Is their a behaviour that is drilled into them at club level that once these restraints are moved they fail to play football as it should be played. I find this difficult to believe.

For those that watch the Premier League every week you will see much of the same style that England have played with other the years - inflexible, aggressive and with a focus on tackling the man instead of playing the ball. And lets not forget the long ball! Those few teams in the Premier League who try to be different, try to play like other European clubs are often kicked off the field. Something which is tolerated in England, but not across the continent.

This does pose a problem though. There is no getting away from the fact that English teams are among the elite in European competitions. Apart from this current season, English teams have dominated the Champions League for some time. Incidentally these are the same English teams who have a large number of foreign players. The same English teams who try to play a less traditional English style.

So what is the answer?

I don't have one, so sorry if you were expecting one. If change is so happen then The FA and The Premier League need to work together and not against each other. Otherwise we will be dreaming of more glory like 1966 for many more years to come!

Good luck to whoever takes over as England manager, but I don't think it will help them much.

Footballs greatest ever player......

Lionel Messi is the best ever? It has been debated and argued since his remarkable goals against Bayern Leverkusen in the Champions League this season. Messi quite delightfully and effortlessly strolled through their defence as if it was not there. He scored his goals with a magnificent variety of shots, chips and lobs. Two came with his left foot and one with his right. In the process he once again opened the debate of who is footballs greatest ever player, and at the same time put forward another strong case in his favour. He emphasized in the process that the playing field is not level in physical terms, but that does not stop him.

For Messi is small, yet his boyish build is of a big benefit to him. It has no impact on him at all. In fact it helps. He is still too quick, too skilled and just too good for even the most powerful defenders.

Messi became the first player to score 5 goals in a Champions League game. He also has one quadruple (v Arsenal), one hat-trick (v Viktoria Plzen) and nine braces in the competition. With 49 goals in 64 games, Messi is the fourth top scorer in the history of the Champions League (since 1992-93), behind Raul (71), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (56) and Thierry Henry (50). Messi has scored 12 goals this season in the Champions League, which equals the best total in a Champions League campaign (since 1992-93). The others to reach that tally were Van Nistellrooy (2002-03) and Messi himself (2010-11). He has scored twice as many goals as any other player in the Champions League this season and since his goal in the 2009 final, Messi has scored 33 goals in 30 Champions League starts.

Messi continues to make an excellent case for himself, and he is only 24 years of age.

But the best-ever? Arguably not for the criteria that is often put forward. However comparisons are subjective. Times have changed, football has changed. Different eras. Different styles of football. Players get too much protection from referees. Ultimately, the game is easier. However, comparisons are subjective. Winning a World Cup, why should this have to be on the list? Messi played for Argentina in South Africa and was admittedly disappointing. He was lively enough in the early games, but was not able to save Argentina from a thrashing at the hands of Germany.

Messi insisted he was satisfied with his form and refused to blame Diego Maradona, a star in the Argentina side that were triumphant at the Mexican World Cup of 1986. Maradona was a star, but is an erratic and explosive team manager who was blamed in some quarters for keeping Messi out on the wing rather than spear-heading the attack as he does so profitably for Barcelona. There was an element of envy in such tactics, there is no doubt about it. Surely though a player should be judged on his appearances he gives week in and week out. Not how he performs over a handful of games every four years. George Best was the best of his generation, but he never played at a World Cup.

Should the World Cup be the ultimate criterion just at the Olympics are said to be in Athletics? If so, then what becomes of the other great Argentinian, Alfredo Di Stefano, who never appeared in one? He played his club football with Real Madrid, whom he inspired to the first five ever European Cups. He was playing 'Total Football' long before anyone else had ever dreamt of it. He was a tireless and influential box to box player who single handedly carried Madrid for many years. However he never kicked a football in a World Cup Game.

Pele.

Pele did play in the World Cup and without doubt played better on the world stage then anyone before or after him. He was just 17 years of age when he took the world by storm in Sweden at the 1958 World Cup and was the same 12 years later in Mexico 1970. On both occasions he led Brazil to World Cup Glory. He scored twice against Sweden in the 58 Final in Stockholm to win the trophy. Unrivalled skill, power, invention, genius. technique and flair.

Who could match him?

Not even Maradona. Even with that amazing solo burst against England and then against Belgium in Mexico City in the 1986 World Cup. He was jointly awarded the honour of Fifa's Player of the Century with Pele and earned 91 caps for his country, finding the net on 34 occasions. The World Cup winning captain finished his career with 292 goals in 583 club and country appearances.

Lets not forget Johan Cruyff. The Dutch winger won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974 - a record jointly held with Michel Platini, Marcco van Basten and Lionel Messi. The Netherlands never lost a match in the 33 games in which he scored. In total he scored 324 foals in 568 games for both club and country, but he never lifted a World Cup.

In terms of current players, lets not forget Cristiano Ronaldo. He is the most expensive player in football history after moving from Manchester United to Real Madrid for 80 million pounds in 2009. At 27, he has won the Champions League and already has 88 caps and 32 goals for Portugal. At club level he has 183 goals in 309 club appearances. Other awards include the European Golden Shoe and Premier League Golden Boot. His 53 strikes in one season for Real Madrid is also a club record.

And the already mentioned George Best. He won the 1968 European Cup with Manchester United along with winning the European Footballer of the Year in the same season. Best also grabbed two English league titles (1965, 1967). He won 37 caps for Northern Ireland and scored 214 goals in 616 appearances before retiring in 1983.

Other Candidates: Eusebio (Portugal), Franz Beckenbauer (Germany), Michel Platini (France), Zinedine Zidane (France).

So, let us be happy with saying that Messi is, at this moment, the finest footballer on the planet. As for in the history of the game, the debate will rage for years.

Referee Dean got Tyne-Wear derby spot-on

The laws of the game do not state that the referee should take into account the time of an incident or that the game is a local derby.

They do however say that the game is refereed based on the opinion of the referee in the decisions he makes.

This is exactly what Mike Dean did. He applied the law perfectly for 90 minutes and whilst leaving the field of play.

Lee Cattermoles first minute lunge on Cheik Toite could have easily been a red card. But thankfully for the sake of the game referee Mike Dean gave Cattermole a stern talking to and rightly issued the yellow card.

The next 30 minutes saw five cards issued and a penalty correctly awarded for a blatant shirt pull by Mike Williamson.

However it would be a great help to the game if more referees were bold enough to give more penalties for blatant infringements inside the penalty area. Although admittedly not all of them are quite as obvious as today's.

Dean had no option but to show the red card to Stephane Sessegnon for swinging his arm although contact was quite minimal. The reaction from the Newcastle man was highly embarrassing and hopefully he will be quite disappointed when he sees a replay.

Mike Dean also awarded Newcastle a clear penalty for a foul on Shola Ameobi which will be one of the easiest decisions he makes this season.

The sending off of Lee Cattermole was also spot-on. He followed the officials almost the whole length of the pitch debating numerous decisions and I shall leave it to the lip-readers to work out what he said just before he was given the red card.

A strong and physical game which you would expect from the two teams, although along with their managers lost their heads at times. However referee Mike Dean kept his for the whole 90 minutes and produced a fantastic display and reminded many that there is still a very high standard of refereeing in the Premier League.

Even Match of the Day gave him 9.5/10!

England need a manager sooner rather than later

Since the departure of Fabio Capello England are once again back to square one. They have started that well known trip of going round in circles with no-one in sight to take control.

It reminds me of the stage we were at with a certain 'Wally with the brolly.' When Sven-Goran Eriksson stepped down The Football Association appointed his assistant which turned out to be an unforgivable mistake.

They can not afford to do the same again. It was the correct call to let Stuart Pearce take charge against Holland, but he can not stay in the long run, not even as a stand-in for the European Championships in the summer. His CV just does not have enough experience or success on it.

On reflection, it wasn't a bad performance against Holland but we should not read too much into the result. Pearce was brave to select the squad that he did and it certainly opens up more possibilities for the summer.

There is no denying that Holland played the game as a friendly. There is no point pretending that England played really well against world-class opposition, because they did not. Holland played at a walking pace for 90% of the game, and when they did step-up the pace they easily exposed the very fragile English defence.

Admittedly England were missing a handful of key players - John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. Three players who can change a game, pull off that match winning moment and more importantly three players who the rest of the team can rally behind.

As for the players that were on the field. Ashley Young picked up from where he left off for England, he was by far the best player on the field and since his injury return he is getting back to his best. Adam Johnson looked threatening every time he picked up the ball, has a really eye for the game and looks more and more at home in the England team with every cap.

Off the field, the recurring message from The FA is that there is no rush to appoint a new coach. Personally I would like to know what their plan is as I'm not convinced they have one. Waiting until the end of the English season and then appointing Harry Redknapp or another candidate is not the right way to go, but it seems to be the option that The FA is taking. Whoever takes the job needs longer than two weeks to sort things out. Turning the fortunes of England is not going to happen with a short term fix. It's going to take a lot of time and a lot of planning.

Many people are taking a different view on the situation. They believe that the European Championships are not the main issue here, but that we should be looking 2 years down the line to the World Cup 2014. However this is wrong, I am pretty sure that people have been saying this since 1966!

My own view is that the powers that be need to bite the bullet and come up with some kind of arrangement with Tottenham that enables Harry Redknapp to take charge as soon as possible.

From leadership off the field to leadership on it, England need someone to take control. I am not sure why Stuart Pearce took Jo Hart into the press conference with him when he had no intention of giving him the armband. Hart had to face the question, 'are you going to be captain?' I imagine he had no idea. Naming the captain on match day is not the way to go, if there is no long-term leadership off the pitch then we at least need someone on it.

On the whole, we may be 4th or 5th favourite for the tournament, but instead off constantly looking two years down the line, and when that comes around looking two years down the line again, The FA need to act now and give us the best chance of being competitive in the summer.