Another tournament, another disappointment. The usual rhetoric of “learning lessons”, “looking in the mirror” and “analyzing where it went wrong” was immediately spouted by a group of players who once again failed to deliver on the big stage. The biggest problem, though, is that we don’t ever seem to learn lessons.
Of course the manager has attracted criticism. Fabio was supposed to be the one, the man who could finally lead us to glory, and he came with a sparkling CV sporting trophies from Spain and Italy. The main problem with Capello though, is a lack of plan B. We played 4-4-2, we stuck to it rigidly, and when we needed to change the game he could only muster like-for-like substitutions. And in those situations it seemed he was bent on choosing the man least likely. Shaun Wright-Phillips over Lennon? Emile Heskey over Crouch? Do me a favour. Whilst other teams pick formations which suit the players, or pick players which suit the formation, we do neither.
We are still facing the same problem as 6 years ago, trying to cram Lampard and Gerrard into our side. They have never managed to work together effectively, partly because it isn’t natural to them, and partly because they seem completely unwilling to adapt. So, you either allow both to play off a single striker and sacrifice your width, or you drop one.
Still, Capello can’t shoulder the blame for a group that qualified so emphatically and then failed so dismally at the main event. We put 9 past Croatia in 2 matches who are certainly no mugs, but we barely fashioned a chance against Algeria. We conceded just 6 goals in 10 games, but then defended against Germany like a park side. If Dagenham conceded those goals I’d be absolutely livid. Against better sides we leave ourselves exposed because our full-backs and most of the midfield go forwards, leaving only 2 or 3 players to stop counter-attacks when we inevitably give the ball away with a typically rash pass. And worryingly, the rest never seem to have the legs or inclination to get back and recover.
Does our constant failure at the big tournaments point to deeper issues? Many people say our players play too many matches, but actually the number is comparable to other top sides at the World Cup. Perhaps the fact that our entire squad plays in England is an issue – the demands on the body are clear given the pace and physicality of our game compared to the rest of the world. It isn’t just the English players – how many of this year’s stars have come from the Premiership? Most of the teams with English-based players are out.
This physicality is quite relevant. It is something that is built into our game from an early age. I’m sure many of you will have played youth football and will remember how it is dominated by strength and power. If you’re big you are automatically a defender regardless of skill, the game is about getting it forwards into attacking positions and dominated by the kids who grew faster and can kick it further. 11-a-side games on full-size pitches are the norm even at 10 years old. Players are regularly released by pro clubs for being too small. Everything is geared towards winning, and whilst this mentality is worth having, it is not more important than developing skill.
Compare this to Barcelona’s “La Masia” training centre where, according to Messi, “we trained every day with the ball, I hardly ever ran without a ball at my feet”. Or the Dutch, who play 4-a-side until 9 and 7-a-side until 13. Holland were doing this in the 80s from the ideas of Rinus Michels, and they have continued to evolve. There is a youth coaching diploma, and a star-rating system for academies; training is focussed on the ball. When former Barcelona youth coach Rodolfo Borrell took a job with Liverpool’s academy last year he had a simple verdict on the quality he found upon his arrival: “Unacceptable”.
After our 2nd-round exit at the 1998 World Cup, Howard Wilkinson conducted a review of English football and produced the Charter for Quality, with the aim of improving the technical ability of our young players. The key was that youth development should focus on ability and not results. Clubs had to recruit from their local area, not from all over the country, and coaches from different clubs would meet to discuss training methods, focussing on skill and technique and not putting too much emphasis on strength and stamina. Wilkinson is clearly bitter that his blueprint was chipped away at by the FA and never implemented as he envisaged. He was not replaced when he left in 2002. Sir Trevor Brooking is the closest we have now, but he too is fighting a losing battle as the only real football man at the FA.
The National Football Centre to be built at Burton is another key part of the long-term plan which the FA haven’t delivered. It was first mooted in 2001, and is still not finished. If you look at France with its famed Clairefontaine facility, or Italy and the equally impressive Coverciano, the top footballing nations have a centre which trains the best coaches, and the best young players. Whilst both countries failed at this World Cup, both have recent success we can only dream of. Spain (14,860), Germany (6,570) and France (2,588) all have far more UEFA ‘A’ licence coaches than us (1,010), even though in Spain it requires over 700 hours of work as opposed to 245 in England. The quality of coaching is absolutely key in teaching young players the right habits and the most important aspects of the game.
Having said all that, we should still be doing better with what we have. Whilst our top flight is about fast-paced action, putting teams under constant pressure and exerting physical power, we seem to get caught playing some kind of half-baked continental game at international level. It isn’t as slow as the Spanish, but neither is it as fast as club football. We attempt to keep the ball, then get itchy feet and attempt a 50 yard through-ball. We don’t seem to get people forward as quickly as our club sides, and we don’t seem to work as hard to win it back. If we can’t match the other teams for skill, at least get in their face and force them back.
Looking past the doom and gloom, there does appear to be a chink of light at the end of the tunnel. Our U17 side won the European Championships this year, beating Spain in the final. Hopefully we can turn this generation into one which is fit to carry the hopes of the country. In the meantime, this should be the last time we see the likes of Lampard, Heskey, SWP, Upson, James, Green, Johnson, Carragher. The time has come to start planning for 2014, and that means players like Joe Hart, Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson.
That about sums it all up , I have to agree , youth is our future , has to start now! And bye bye Fabio , we need an Englishman please.
Good article, Agree with alot of that.. especially about to do coaching qualifications myself!