Doog

underachieved by whose standards? the media? england are not, nor have we been for some time, one of the best 4 nations in the world. therefore if we reach the quarter finals in the world cup (which we have) and the semi finals in the european championships (which we did in 96, were **** in 2000 and were a penalty shoot-out away from doing so in 04) then we are achieving exactly what we should for a nation at our level. how on earth can you find the nerve to complain about the media's involvement in the overhyped state of the english national team and then TEN MINUTES LATER spout the very same overhyped drivel that you find so offensive?

or am I giving you too much credit

super_imps

I know I'm supposed to jump on BG and berate him, but it's an interesting point.

English club football isn't in crisis. There's probably never been a better time to follow the game, at all levels.

But the English national team certainly is in crisis, it'd be ludicrous to suggest anything else after what happened tonight, a nation of 60 million with the alleged best league in the world should qualify for these tournaments, full stop. And our youth system is failing to produce players that can match up to what other countries are doing. All the most exciting young players in the Prem are from elsewhere.

The whole football culture is wrong. Even for kids at age 7 or 8 it's a win at all costs mentality, coaches shouting "get rid of it!", an emphasis on size and strength rather than skill (would Kaka have come through the English system?) and so on.

All summed up, I think, by the way our greatest young hope is Micah Richards, an old school defender.

James M

maybe if english players were better they would come through?

Ratinho

ahh this ****tarded argument again.

If only Luke Chadwick had played more for United eh?

ericcantona7

Comparing McClaren to Mourinho tactically just utterly hilarious.

Mourinho wouldn't come anyway, but he'd solve problems. </BLOCKQUOTE>

yeah, mourinho has never played 451/433 with swp on the right and joe cole on the left </BLOCKQUOTE>

and it worked for him, just like Fergie played Rooney up front works for him but doesn't for McClaren.

super_imps

I'd fully support a requirement for two English u23 players in the match squad fwiw. Coupled with an increase of a Premier League bench by two players anyway. It's all good experience.

poyplemonkeys

Comparing McClaren to Mourinho tactically just utterly hilarious.

Mourinho wouldn't come anyway, but he'd solve problems. </BLOCKQUOTE>

yeah, mourinho has never played 451/433 with swp on the right and joe cole on the left </BLOCKQUOTE>

ahahaha, you're actually comparing Mourinho's tactical competence to McClaren's I didn't think you could be serious, but you are. They play the same formation, wow. Wenger plays 4-4-2, so does Mark McGhee. Must be of similar levels. Actually the most retarded argument I've seen in recent times.

Mourinho outclasses McClaren in any positive catagory you could wish to mention.

Arjen Robben

What's the radius inside which clubs can sign up youths?

Tony7

yeah we need more youngsters in the team, if players like Carson, Lescott, Richards, Wright-Phillips, Defoe got a chance then we might have qualified. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Mabye if more English players were coming through there would be a bigger pool of talent to pick from. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Doesn't matter what young kids come from because a new manager wont drop the big names and if he does and a result goes agaisnt him the media will say why didn't so and so play.
Another thing if a young player makes a mistake I dont think the manager will stand by him and carry on playing him as much as an older pro.

Rekwob Toille

the very idea that theres players good enough to play for england but they'll never get a chance at clubs

theres lots of english players in the PL with no chance of getting near the team ffs

all that happened is mcclaren got unlucky with injuries and hasnt worked out that you need at least one defensive midfielder in 442 systems, its not the media, its not foreigners, any decent manager can turn england back into the championship contenders they were 2 years ago and then when you get down to quarter finals its pretty much luck