Under Gareth Southgate England have come a very long way in a very short period of time. Linking back to my post from last week England, for decades, were a predictable team who the bigger teams found easy to beat. Simply ‘playing at pace’ was, so often, rolled out as being England’s supposed “strength” (no apology for the inverted commas) it became laughable.
We’re now seeing the folly of the aforementioned ‘strategy’ employed by successive England managers. Frankly, there was a time, I believed our (well – most of us) national team would never move on from the dark ages. Praise whatever supreme power you believe in – the ‘Three Lions’ have now moved on.
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Our very own Trevor Brooking deserves a great deal of praise for the part he’s played in the St George’s Park revolution. The successful installation of the ‘England DNA’ has been, in no small part, down to much of the input and guidance that Sir Trev has provided. Not that he got much praise for it. In actual fact he endured a political campaign to discredit much of the work he put in to setting up the elite system that is now producing world-beating players and squads throughout the various age groups.
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The results are there for all to see. Reigning World Champions at both U17 and U20 levels. As more and more players progress through from those squads the full national team are getting stronger and stronger. Even the likes of Pep Guardiola, with all of the talent that he has at his disposal, is encouraging and bringing through the likes of Phil Foden – giving him more and more game-time in the Manchester City first team as the months roll by.
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I’ve previously written about the bravery of Gareth Southgate to blood youngsters, who aren’t even established regulars at their clubs, in to England matches. Chicken and egg – they play well for England, ergo, they find that there’s pressure to play them in the Premier League & not, as traditional, received wisdom suggests the other way around. What I like most about Southgate is that he adapts. He’s a modern manager for the modern game. Would you have seen Delph and Rashford replaced by Lingard and Sancho in bygone days? Frankly I wouldn’t have made those changes but they turned out a masterstroke.
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The other aspect of yesterday’s match (as I write) that, particularly, pleased me was the way that England bossed the game. Listening to Stuart Pearce on Talksport today he was bang on with his comment that England could have found themselves 3-0 up by half time with the chances that they created. There are often games where you do boss possession and create considerably more than your opponents but find yourselves level or behind. The great thing about this England team seems to be their, unstinting, belief in the system they play and their team-mates ability to see the plan through. Yesterday England were in control of the game in the first half by dominating possession against one of the best teams in Europe. There’s a confidence about the England squad which, given time, I believe will develop in to a swagger. The achievement of coming top of a group of 3 containing Spain and Croatia should not be underestimated. It’s a fully deserved achievement that should get all the credit that it’s due IMO.
The only thing that does concern me about the new ‘England DNA’ and St George’s Park Elite lies in the fact that it is an ‘Elite’. Earlier this month, and in October, major concerns were raised by some in the game about the lack of funding finding it’s way to ‘Grass Roots Football’. As a manager of a local U14’s team I can say, with complete conviction, that the lack of funding at our level of the game is embarrassing when compared with the likes of Germany, Spain, France and Holland. For me the ‘National Game’ is not just for an ‘Elite’ – it’s for all. St George’s Park is built and, now, just requires that it be maintained. Why should such a large percentage of the money in football remain at the very top echelon, when there are thousands of teams up and down the country cancelling training and matches when the inclement weather kicks in, while those at the top of the game congratulate themselves on the achievements of the Elite. You can, probably, gather this is something of a bugbear of mine. It gets right up my nose in-fact. Something needs to be done to ensure that kids, who are desperate to play, aren’t left sitting at home, looking, longingly, out of the window wishing they were pitting their wits against their league rivals or learning and growing because match and training pitches are waterlogged or cut up so badly they’re unplayable. In the, aforementioned, European countries there are more than enough all-weather and indoor pitches to cope. In, competitively, footballing affluent England there’s a massive shortage that needs addressing. All of this when obesity rates in boys and girls in this country are going through the roof. If you don’t believe what I’m saying about the ‘Elite’ access then have a look at how much it costs youth coaches in this country, personally in most cases, to fund an equivalent UEFA B Licenced Coaching course compared to those other European countries. And where does that, hard earned, coaches cash go to? Doesn’t seem fair to me.
Back down off my soapbox I have to admit that I’m a very happy England fan today. Apologies to those who visit the site who aren’t England fans, I hope you found the article of some interest to you, but it’s been a long time since England have had as good a year as 2018 has been so it’s great to write about it. Long may it continue but it’s my, heart-felt, wish that those at the top of the game are considering those at the bottom of it at the same time.
COYI! West Ham 4 The Cup!