Would u have thought differently if u were an Indian Cricket Fan?
The following is a letter to the Football 365 mailbox, by a disgruntled English football fan.
Forget Steve McClaren and the current crop of players. England as a nation has far more systemic and deep rooted problems than the present situation might suggest. It is our football culture that needs some serious thought, everything else is a reflection and consequence of that culture.
England is the wealthiest football nation on earth, and so I start with the premise that those who have propelled the FA, the clubs and the game as a whole to such a privileged position have every right to expect this country to be amongst the front runners and innovators of the world game. I often hear that we have no divine right to win tournaments, to have the best players, to play the highest quality of football, even to qualify for the finals in the summer every two years. It may be true that the right that we have is not divine, but we damn well do have a right to expect much more than we are currently experiencing.
There is little purpose in continuing to circumnavigate this blame game merry-go-round, everybody with an opinion, yet nothing ever changes. The blind leading the blind comes to mind. Ideally, we the fans could sit back and simply enjoy our football, proud of its culture, its history and heritage and our national team. After all, it is the FA's mandate to oversee the running of the game in this country.
In the twenty odd years that I have followed the sport I have seen little sign of competence from the FA, little vision for the game or ability to intellectualise what is required to reach the pinnacle. Football at the top level is all about an intellectual approach and having the vision to design and deliver a strategy for success.
It can hardly be a coincidence that none of the five best teams in this country are managed by an Englishman. The idea that they have simply not been given the chance is a fallacy. If we are totally honest, bar Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, the rest of the Premiership is low on creativity, flair, style and tactical proficiency.
Bernado Corradi's description of our new Under-21 manager should ring loudly in our ears. So too should the cries from all those who were adamant that the new national team manager had to be English. In some games in the Premiership the ball is more like a hot potato than something that should be cared for and caressed. It makes absolutely no sense that the best teams in this country can manipulate the ball in a fashion to match Europe's best, yet almost exclusively the teams below claim that they can't compete so need to find other ways. Why is this not the case in virtually every other league in the world? Somebody still finishes tenth as well as bottom.
The media does not fill me with a great deal more confidence. What should be the bridge between those who manage the game and those who fund it has turned into nothing more than a vehicle for entertainment. All that power and ability to influence, yet detail is not its strong point, forensic analysis is non-existent. We live in an age where there has never been better ways of sharing information and ideas yet a controversial incident can lead to weeks of pointless discussion with the same bones picked over time and again.
The most popular newspapers lazily take up page after page describing who the next big transfer deal will involve only to claim something different a few weeks later. Why do people trust an organisation that only has an accuracy rate of about ten percent? Manchester United are linked with over £400 million worth of players every summer. The articles don't, however, leave it as just a link. Read the match reports in these newspapers and it's not uncommon that one incident takes up its entirety; the goals scored and the rest of the action are hastily crammed into one paragraph at the end. The language used is more suited to the Beano than an informative piece.
The television shows are full of bland characters, they are pressed with time and tell us mostly what we already know. The only show that examines action in some detail, Sky's 'The Last Word', is half an hour long and often only covers a couple of matches a week. Don't get me started on Groundhog day (Sky Sports News) and their 'investigations'. Sky only cover football from two countries, Spain and England, because they don't want ratings affected by showing games at the same time.
How are we supposed to gain a rounded knowledge of world football with only two countries to choose from? Where is the South American football, except in the middle of the night on Channel 5? The Copa Libertadores is one of the most interesting and exciting tournaments of the year. Few South American players, the most naturally gifted in the world, grace the Premiership. Instead, all of Latin America's best players light up the magnificent 'La Liga'. Even the teams at the bottom of other European Leagues have several South Americans, bought for little money, because they have more quality than your average Scandinavian. Ten minutes listening to Talksport is enough to realise that radio has little input in the media's ability to inform, educate and seriously debate the issues.
We should be listening to, and reading articles from, people who inspire us with their knowledge, descriptive qualities and ability to analyse and inform (Our ears are burning - Ed) about a game where a scratch beneath the surface reveals a hugely complex array of players, styles and tactics. It is worrying that the two British journalists that I respect above all others have lived abroad for many years. Tim Vickery in Rio and Graham Hunter in Barcelona. There is not an article or broadcast involving these two gentlemen where I don't feel as though I have furthered my football education.
"I'm not interested in furthering my football education," I hear you cry. That may be so but it still hurts the same to see this country underperform year after year and for the majority of all our lifetimes. If all of the above was in good order none of us would need to be well versed in the art of producing a successful football nation. But as with all areas of life it pays to be a responsible consumer and we are all consumers, the most dedicated on this lump of rock which we call home.
We cannot simply blame the FA, managers, players and the media. If a wife remains with an abusive husband it is highly unlikely that he will suddenly find a conscience and become the wonderful, caring man that she craves. The only true indicator that any of the above have that they are failing to reach even the minimum required performance is the profit margin.
I am in no way suggesting that people simply stop the feeding frenzy, we need first to nurture a sense of what is required ourselves. Knowledge is power, and anyway, how can we articulate our demands if the level of understanding of the average fan is substandard? The evidence of poorly informed fans is everywhere - the work rate and passion brigade seem to believe that a lack of quality players and tactical nous has nothing to do with it. Working hard and showing some passion (like players actually have none) is all you need, apparently. The fans who seem to believe that their clubs players are better than everyone else are just as bad. The public need to wake up and realise that they are an accomplice in this charade.
We have no other option than to use our financial muscle alongside a clear and concise message. The status quo is simply not acceptable, we have been treading water for far too long. A limited evaluation of youth football provides the evidence that we are failing to grasp even the basics after ten years of academies. Our future is at stake.
Somebody has to be at the top of the tree. Why not us, the wealthiest football nation on earth with the most passionate fans? We have underachieved for the majority of our history and allowed hundreds of millions of pounds of OUR money to be wasted. We cannot trust those whom we have entrusted our national obsession. Their record speaks for itself.
The truth is though, I fear that we are all the enemy of English football. As I said earlier, the blind leading the blind comes to mind.
Damian Phipps, Cheshire
What part of the above would be different to you, if you are an Indian Cricket team fan? Huh.
Forget Steve McClaren and the current crop of players. England as a nation has far more systemic and deep rooted problems than the present situation might suggest. It is our football culture that needs some serious thought, everything else is a reflection and consequence of that culture.
England is the wealthiest football nation on earth, and so I start with the premise that those who have propelled the FA, the clubs and the game as a whole to such a privileged position have every right to expect this country to be amongst the front runners and innovators of the world game. I often hear that we have no divine right to win tournaments, to have the best players, to play the highest quality of football, even to qualify for the finals in the summer every two years. It may be true that the right that we have is not divine, but we damn well do have a right to expect much more than we are currently experiencing.
There is little purpose in continuing to circumnavigate this blame game merry-go-round, everybody with an opinion, yet nothing ever changes. The blind leading the blind comes to mind. Ideally, we the fans could sit back and simply enjoy our football, proud of its culture, its history and heritage and our national team. After all, it is the FA's mandate to oversee the running of the game in this country.
In the twenty odd years that I have followed the sport I have seen little sign of competence from the FA, little vision for the game or ability to intellectualise what is required to reach the pinnacle. Football at the top level is all about an intellectual approach and having the vision to design and deliver a strategy for success.
It can hardly be a coincidence that none of the five best teams in this country are managed by an Englishman. The idea that they have simply not been given the chance is a fallacy. If we are totally honest, bar Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, the rest of the Premiership is low on creativity, flair, style and tactical proficiency.
Bernado Corradi's description of our new Under-21 manager should ring loudly in our ears. So too should the cries from all those who were adamant that the new national team manager had to be English. In some games in the Premiership the ball is more like a hot potato than something that should be cared for and caressed. It makes absolutely no sense that the best teams in this country can manipulate the ball in a fashion to match Europe's best, yet almost exclusively the teams below claim that they can't compete so need to find other ways. Why is this not the case in virtually every other league in the world? Somebody still finishes tenth as well as bottom.
The media does not fill me with a great deal more confidence. What should be the bridge between those who manage the game and those who fund it has turned into nothing more than a vehicle for entertainment. All that power and ability to influence, yet detail is not its strong point, forensic analysis is non-existent. We live in an age where there has never been better ways of sharing information and ideas yet a controversial incident can lead to weeks of pointless discussion with the same bones picked over time and again.
The most popular newspapers lazily take up page after page describing who the next big transfer deal will involve only to claim something different a few weeks later. Why do people trust an organisation that only has an accuracy rate of about ten percent? Manchester United are linked with over £400 million worth of players every summer. The articles don't, however, leave it as just a link. Read the match reports in these newspapers and it's not uncommon that one incident takes up its entirety; the goals scored and the rest of the action are hastily crammed into one paragraph at the end. The language used is more suited to the Beano than an informative piece.
The television shows are full of bland characters, they are pressed with time and tell us mostly what we already know. The only show that examines action in some detail, Sky's 'The Last Word', is half an hour long and often only covers a couple of matches a week. Don't get me started on Groundhog day (Sky Sports News) and their 'investigations'. Sky only cover football from two countries, Spain and England, because they don't want ratings affected by showing games at the same time.
How are we supposed to gain a rounded knowledge of world football with only two countries to choose from? Where is the South American football, except in the middle of the night on Channel 5? The Copa Libertadores is one of the most interesting and exciting tournaments of the year. Few South American players, the most naturally gifted in the world, grace the Premiership. Instead, all of Latin America's best players light up the magnificent 'La Liga'. Even the teams at the bottom of other European Leagues have several South Americans, bought for little money, because they have more quality than your average Scandinavian. Ten minutes listening to Talksport is enough to realise that radio has little input in the media's ability to inform, educate and seriously debate the issues.
We should be listening to, and reading articles from, people who inspire us with their knowledge, descriptive qualities and ability to analyse and inform (Our ears are burning - Ed) about a game where a scratch beneath the surface reveals a hugely complex array of players, styles and tactics. It is worrying that the two British journalists that I respect above all others have lived abroad for many years. Tim Vickery in Rio and Graham Hunter in Barcelona. There is not an article or broadcast involving these two gentlemen where I don't feel as though I have furthered my football education.
"I'm not interested in furthering my football education," I hear you cry. That may be so but it still hurts the same to see this country underperform year after year and for the majority of all our lifetimes. If all of the above was in good order none of us would need to be well versed in the art of producing a successful football nation. But as with all areas of life it pays to be a responsible consumer and we are all consumers, the most dedicated on this lump of rock which we call home.
We cannot simply blame the FA, managers, players and the media. If a wife remains with an abusive husband it is highly unlikely that he will suddenly find a conscience and become the wonderful, caring man that she craves. The only true indicator that any of the above have that they are failing to reach even the minimum required performance is the profit margin.
I am in no way suggesting that people simply stop the feeding frenzy, we need first to nurture a sense of what is required ourselves. Knowledge is power, and anyway, how can we articulate our demands if the level of understanding of the average fan is substandard? The evidence of poorly informed fans is everywhere - the work rate and passion brigade seem to believe that a lack of quality players and tactical nous has nothing to do with it. Working hard and showing some passion (like players actually have none) is all you need, apparently. The fans who seem to believe that their clubs players are better than everyone else are just as bad. The public need to wake up and realise that they are an accomplice in this charade.
We have no other option than to use our financial muscle alongside a clear and concise message. The status quo is simply not acceptable, we have been treading water for far too long. A limited evaluation of youth football provides the evidence that we are failing to grasp even the basics after ten years of academies. Our future is at stake.
Somebody has to be at the top of the tree. Why not us, the wealthiest football nation on earth with the most passionate fans? We have underachieved for the majority of our history and allowed hundreds of millions of pounds of OUR money to be wasted. We cannot trust those whom we have entrusted our national obsession. Their record speaks for itself.
The truth is though, I fear that we are all the enemy of English football. As I said earlier, the blind leading the blind comes to mind.
Damian Phipps, Cheshire
What part of the above would be different to you, if you are an Indian Cricket team fan? Huh.
lovedale spoke out loud at 1:13 PM
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