English Dillema

The team that i support for the Fifa World Cup crashed out of of the biggest football tournament in the round of 16′s in dramatic fashion one less from their quarterfinals defeat during the last installement.

Fabio Capello’s charges were given a footballing lesson by Joachim Low‘s Germany who are a superb mix of both youth and experience. Now my conclusion on why the English again have failed to make it into the last four,finals or even winning the tournament.

1. The English team are too dependant on the “Big Names”
2. Too conservative tactically
3. Too many foreigners in the local league which has stunted youth development
4. Investment in very expensive foreign coaches and not youth development
5. The ability to pick players based on reputation and not FORM

If you watched the Germany game, the German team which has a reputation of playing boring football came out and show cased what the world has never seen from them before. Flair,Speed,Confidence,Youth and passion.

What did Germany do that England forgot to do?

1. Evaluate the team and pick players based on FORM and NOT on reputation (ie – Ballack didnt make the team)
2. Investing in youth development and a local coach
3. Playing tactics based on opponents and not whats suited the players the have
4. Play players on their best positions

I could go on and on but these in my opinion is the contrasting difference.

You could see that the English players had a hard time keeping up against the Germans in all areas. Wayne Rooney was jadded, Lampard was lost, Gerrard was played out of position, Crouch was not used, Lennon was not used, Dawson was not used..the list goes on and on.

The English FA have some serious thinking to do.

My recommendations :

1. Sack Fabio Capello
2. Hire a local manager
3. Hire Arsene Wenger to coach the under 21 (or someone in the same league with youth development)
4. Stetting min number of local players per starting line-up in the local league

Its going to be a while before 1966 is repeated unless there are no plans to do so in the first place. Time for things to be done differently, the same formula clearly does not work and time to bring on a new fresh approach.