Root and Branch reform at the FA is what England need

Well it has been almost 5 days now since England’s dismal display against the Germans and I have had time to reflect, calm down and digest some of the stories that have surfaced since the game last Sunday.


The biggest disappointment for me was not just the Germany game but the whole tournament, we were, what are the words, absolutely shit, throughout the tournament. I know we have a tendency to over hype our players and chances but we were tipped as one of the favourites and a team to fear by many of the top nations before the tournament kicked off, now Wales, Montenegro, Switzerland and Bulgaria will be looking forward to taking 3 points off England in the Euro2012 qualifiers.

Stories surfaced today about a rift between Gerrard and John Terry. This does not surprise me as it was clear that there was no harmony in the camp and the players were not playing for each other. Lots of interviews from the players after games mentioning the word “individual” surprised me and none of the media seemed to pick up on it. Football is a team game first and foremost, yes individuals make the difference but only if the team is behind them.

There are some vicious rumours going around that the split is to do with an extra marital shenanigans that Gerrard got up to pre World Cup. The England players allegedly know about it but the press currently have a gagging order on them imposed by the courts. Terry apparently felt it unjust that he was stripped of the captaincy for something similar (although he did rattle a team mates missus, Gerrard isn’t alleged to have done that, but it would be funny if he had shagged John Terrys bird) Whatever it was there was clear disharmony in the group and where smaller nations and even the South Americans seem to play with pride and play for their country the England players seem to be more concerned about their club and winning the Premier League and Champions League.

Adding to the speculation I have also heard, off an unreliable source I might add, is that one of England’s main strikers and stars was struggling due to him having a go on a lady of the night. Again unsubstantiated rumours but still no excuse for being shit!

As a result of our piss poor performance and the expectation we have as a country I have decided now to expect nothing from any major tournament England are involved in and think as a country we should celebrate every goal like it is our last!!! If we beat mighty Switzerland in qualifying for Euro 2012 we should have street parties to celebrate.

There have been many theories put forward about why we were so bad and how we can rectify this consistent underperformance but for me the buck stops with the FA. The FA needs root and branch reform and since 1990 they have failed us. The problem with the FA has always been the fact the majority are not football people, they are just men in suits. I wonder what qualifies somebody for a role within the FA? Yes it is a large complex body and needs leadership and a commercial nous but there needs to be a balance. The FA should be ran by football people, people who have played the game and studied it not some slick twat in a suit with money and a position of power.

Trevor Brooking, a much loved figure in the game, is the man essentially responsible for the development of the English game from grass roots to professional coaching an area where we have failed miserably to develop any coherent direction. The building of the FA’s centre for excellence is currently under construction but only after it had been shelved years earlier. This is one example, Wembley being another, of a lack of a proper direction within the FA and the inability to create an ethos or environment for developing players and coaches. This is what has cost England and led us to have to seek the best management from abroad, who couldn’t get a bunch of talented players to beat Algeria. Rifts aside I would have thought my girlfriend could have put out team to play better than they did.

A framework needs to be put in place and it needs to keep kids playing pass and move football until around the age of 12 or 13. Even then they should be encouraged to play football and try to keep the ball. When young players are 12 or 13 they can make mistakes and learn from them. A philosophy needs to be instilled at school level and amateur club level and the clubs have a responsibility in their academies to ensure young English players are given a chance and allowed to develop and play.

There is an issue of average foreign players in the game, where clubs seem to feel more secure in buying in cheap, in football terms, foreign players who have experience and games under their belts in their native countries or elsewhere. Having seen a dvd or two of them play they feel more secure in investing in them rather than young players from the academy or players from the lower leagues. Don’t get me wrong, the foreign influence on our game has made it better, more professional and we have had some great players grace the Premier League but very few English players grace the European leagues.

It is maybe a cultural thing and to do with our lazy attitude to languages but it would be nice to see some young British players moving to clubs on the continent, in Spain, Holland, Germany and even Italy and France. Maybe they could unearth the nest Fabregas?

That is the beauty of the World Cup, it is truly a World Wide competition, and a chance to take a step back from the hype of our own league and the marketing of the players and have a look at what the other successful European nations are doing or have done years ago.