Maybe it's the players mindset? Who on here are thinking " oh no an international break " when all we want is for the west ham game to come around? Maybe that's how the players view it? Even if it's subconscious? Just a thought!
except very few English footballers play abroad, and our top division has fewer domestic players aa a percentage than any other major European league. even middling clubs like stoke now regularly put out sides with one English player. I remember 10 years ago when the arse put out sides with 3 English players and that was an anomaly. now theyre all at it. the Germans and spaniards do well in part because bayern and barca have 7 or 8 domestic players in their XI
I've said it before and I'll say it again, at the moment, for as long as England maintain this "if they aren't pure Englishmen, they aren't going to play for the country" routine, they're not going to progress as a footballing nation. When you look at the smaller countries (by size) that are half decent, such as Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Scotland (yes, even Scotland) and Finland, they have players that are from (or have heritage in) different cultures to their own. Even larger countries such as Germany, USA and even Spain have done it in recent times, because they know that they need the best possible players available to them representing their country. I can see the argument against it; England are a proud footballing nation and we won the 1966 World Cup with our own stock, but the state of World Football has changed, to the point now that you can't win a major tournament with the likes of Joe Bloggs or Dan Smith playing for England. As romantic an idea as it is, England are now playing catch up because of their insistance on just relying on English players. There's so much talent playing the English league and yes, some of it is foreign. But if any of them become eligible to play for England, why shouldn't the FA be fighting to snap them up? The best recent example is Adnan Januzaj. He's got the footballing world at his feet and in my humble opinion, Man U did well to hang onto him. Now, when it emerged he could play for England, there was a buzz in the media; they know he's talented, the fans know it and as Hodgson was keeping an eye on him, I guess the England set up did too. He wouldn't be eligible until 2018, but even so, he would've been a valuable commodity to the England side. However, it came out that unless the FA changed their selection policy, he would remain ineligible due to his background. What a crock of ****. The FA need to drop their 'pride' stance and start looking a bit further afield than pure blooded Englishmen, otherwise you'll never be as good as Germany or Spain.
Taking into account our two new signings from South America; here's a humbling comparison of our national teams England. Population 53 million, World Cups: 1, European Championships: 0 Uruguay. Population 3,3 million, World Cups: 2, Copa Americas: 15 Uruguay has also won 2 Olympic Golds at football and the 1980 Mundialito. Great Britain has won 3 football golds.
I'm not against Football teams using their money to make an ustoppable force, City and Chelsea are prime examples, but I do believe that the Premiership needs to put in rules that they must have at least 5 domestic players playing in the starting line-up at all times, that is the only way that England will even attempt to get better.
In all honesty, I believe that the other Countries just had better quality in the last 10 years and we just simply aren't good enough. Gerrard, Lampard, Rooney, Terry etc all excelled in the League so there's no excuse for them under-performing. I just think that we haven't had the necessary quality and skills (and managers) in order to do as well as the other big hitters in World football. Look at Spain, they struggled like us really, then all of a sudden dominated World and European football for decade and have now whimpered off with their tail's between their legs. Our youngsters at the moment i.e. Sterling, Barkley, Stones, Oxlade-Chamberlain etc all look as though they have the potential to become a massive force in World football in years to come and I think the fact they're in the Premier League also bodes well for the future. Even Eric Dier at Spurs looks as though he's going to be something special.
I predict a dull draw. However they might tonk us. Or we might scrape a win. I don't think it's going to be an exciting classic. We won't walk it. They might scrape it. Bet I'm right somewhere along the line.
To a large degree your right, part of the English cricket team is S. African or born in other countries.
Joey Barton loves to talk, but I think he is correct in this "In an exclusive blog for Eurosport-Yahoo, Joey Barton says England will continue to fail at international level until we allow young players to develop away from the limelight. It’s often said that the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result. On that basis, English football is insane." Story here
I do hope we have a go. We just don't seem to see it anymore. Alas, being away to the other strongest team in the group, we will play for a draw.
England side vs Switzerland: Hart, Stones, Cahill, Jones, Baines, Delph, Henderson, Wilshere, Sterling, Rooney, Welbeck
I dont rate Hodgson at all. Certain players should be in the squad but probably not starting but FFS We are England. Course i want them to win. Getting beaten wont help us one bit. Get over this game and these young players will develop with some fairly easy games to go to the Euros.
So Woy has sacrificed the Ox for a slightly more defensive midfield. Fair enough - Henderson and Wilshere are both lightweight, after all.
