Time for a UK team I think. Mingland could've done with someone of Kenny Miller's calibre up front with a Gary Caldwell shoring up the defence.
Nobody has offered up a reason for this anomaly. Is there something wrong with the the selectors idea of just what's wanted, or is it something to do with the English psyche? They've been trying since 66 to do something special, maybe the pressure is just too great.
When you had decent players, you had **** luck or a **** manager. Now you've got luck, **** players and a semi-decent manager. The perfect storm hasn't brewed since the blind Azerbaijani linesman gave you the goal that never was that propelled them to glory.
In the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, 10 out of the 22 starters were English. 45%, which is pretty impressive considering how many foreigners the top teams employ. We didn't even qualify for Euro 2008. As SMASM says, 'tis a mystery. Ashley Young has been brilliant for United this season but he couldn't make a 10 yard pass for England. Similar thing with Rooney. Cole's penalty in the shootout vs Bayern, in the biggest club game on the planet, was coolness personified, but last night's was pitiful. Playing for England seems to render our best players useless.
But the stars of your big sides are not English. They're invariably 'Jonny Foreigner' types. Bar Rooney, not one English of your forwards are first 11 regulars (maybe Young(?)) for their respective club sides.
2 English teams played that final, whats the percentage for the last champions league final? Also if Bayern and BVB where to reach the final at the same time you could guarantee that there would be more than 10 Germans starting.
