A 3-1
defeat at the hands of their Italian counterparts saw England’s under-21s
dumped out the European Championships. Shock. I’m genuinely astounded. Who could have foreseen this?
(For new
readers, yes, this is sarcasm)
It’s the
same old story for the Three Lions, regardless of the setting, expectation,
level or event. Remember the days when England weren’t boring, bottle-job let downs?
Me neither.
After a 3-2
win over Germany’s youngsters back in March, it looked like Gareth Southgate
was the right man to lead the under-21 side after all. A nearly flawless
qualifying campaign and the emergence of several Premier League stars to boot,
it seemed like England would have a chance at the Championships in the Czech
Republic. Alas, as with all other England sides, this journey was cut short.
Taking
senior internationals such as Raheem Sterling and Jack Wilshere to the
Championship would have been sticking duct tape over the obvious cracks in the foundations
of English football - we would have been cheating ourselves. Those seniors
played no part in Southgate’s prior plans, and bringing them in would have shown
a complete lack of belief in both the under-21s he’s trusted in, and the plan
set out to succeed in this tournament.
Over the
next few days, blame will be passed around by the media between Southgate and
his squad, but both are to blame. There is real quality in that cluster of
players, but Southgate failed to squeeze the best out of them. A slow and
mind-numbingly painful brand of football helped the likes of Nathan Redmond,
Jesse Lingard and Alex Pritchard stand out, but ultimately made everyone else
look like brainless entities.
The
lethargy and diminished-motivation in this England side is one that’s resonant of
the senior side, but not with the under-21s of the past couple of years. The
suddenly arrogant mentality of Southgate’s side cost them at this tournament,
just like England at every other tournament since the turn of the century.
The cycle
of England’s failures is so repetitive that it’s no longer gut-wrenching - it’s
just plain comical.
Unfortunately,
this continual underperforming on big stages has led the English public to
underrate their own players, regardless of age or achievement. Three games
without a goal, and people think Harry Kane is a “fraud” and isn’t a promising
talent. The lad scored thirty-one goals already last season. Thirty-one. That’s
a big fucking number, don’t you think?
Raheem
Sterling won the prestigious European Golden Boy at the back end of last year,
yet suddenly he’s average and won’t become world class. The knee-jerk reaction
amongst football fans is laughable.
Yeah these players are pony, aren't they lads?
So, what
happens now?
Calls have
been made for Southgate’s head in spite of the progress he’s overseen, but
failing to deliver when it matters most could see him leave a role he’s
undertaken for under two years. The older generation are pleading and praying
that Glenn Hoddle will take over as under-21 boss or even land Roy Hodgson’s
job.
Oh boy.
As a player,
it’s undeniable that Hoddle was a genius in a league of his own. Since hanging
up his boots, however, it seems as though he left a few brain cells behind with
them.
Hoddle
failed as a manager and is now failing as a pundit; appearances on Sky Sports
are becoming fewer and fewer, and whilst he had commitments with Queens Park Rangers
up until February of this year, it comes of no surprise.
Tottenham
fans who were privileged enough to watch Hoddle play every week must realise
that the man is not the Messiah - his words aren’t a divine right to follow.
This became frighteningly apparent when he suggested Spurs play a 3-5-2 under
Andre Vilas-Boas, with Andros Townsend occupying a free role and incorporating
two poachers in Roberto Soldado and Jermain Defoe. I won’t even begin to pick
out the flaws of this plan because of its amateurish absurdity.
*Shudders*
Southgate
should keep his job until the next under-21 tournament at least, and hopefully,
he’ll be able to recreate the form and freedom played in qualifying on the big
stages too.
Beyond
that, the FA simply must overhaul their coaching system if England are to
become a great footballing nation again. Old ideologies regarding patriotism
and privileges to play for England must be abandoned, and tactical coaching,
perhaps implemented from foreign staff (don’t get me started on the nationalist
regime currently in place at St. George’s Park), must be introduced.
Mentalities of English players have to be stronger too, but this won’t improve
if the senior manager only motivates the thought of sleep.
The English
have to step out and dare to be different, to try new things in the pursuit of
success. However, with the venomous nature of the English press poisoning the
minds of the country, a shift into new territory is in doubt.
A Daily
Mirror article (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/brentford-appoint-head-philosophy---5929799)
this week mocked Brentford FC for appointing a Head of Football Philosophy and
Player Development.
“How will the players
have time to kick a ball with all that philosophising they will be doing?” the
article says. A nationally respected newspaper is mocking the Bees for using a
certain football model, simply because it’s different.
The idea could be
brilliant and win Brentford promotion, but could send them back to League One -
however, the Mirror haven’t given it a chance yet.
This pessimism
regarding foreign ideas is plaguing the English game, and soon, it will leave
us eating the dust of every other major footballing nation.
The Mirror
mocked Brentford as if every English philosophy has been a success. The England
side are becoming a joke, a parody of themselves; to quote Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting
different results”.
If we have to hire
foreign staff in search of long-term success, then so be it. The international
game isn’t about pride anymore - it’s about winning, with style and a flourish.
Like it or not, we have to adapt to keep within touching distance of the
footballing elite.
I’m fully expecting a
middle aged man named Trevor from Wolverhampton to contact me insisting “We
need English managers to manage England! These foreigners have won us nothing!”
and so on.
Yeah, like the English
managers have won us so much. I can’t get enough of this country’s winning
habits.
Roy Hodgson's England are a tedious chore to watch
A manager, just like
any other person applying for a job, should not be judged on his nationality,
race, religion or ethnicity, but by his skillset.
If we want better
English managers, then overhaul coaching systems too. Clubs and countries don’t
hire managers based on their fancy name or ego-size, but by their skills and
ideas (which, for the record, is why John Barnes is not in a job).
In line with this
idea, English managers and coaches shouldn’t be scared to move abroad and
broaden their horizons. Newcastle United appointed Steve McClaren as their new
manager, who has managed in Germany and the Netherlands, whilst his new
assistant, Ian Cathro, was the assistant manager at a successful Valencia side
last season - this blend of international ideas could stand the Magpies in good
stead (until they’re prematurely written off by the press).
FA Chairman
Greg Dyke set England a target to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup. If he thinks
this goal is realistic, then he must mastermind a national revolution.
