Sad State Of Football

[Crazyface]

So then, at the World Cup 2018, there will be no Wales, no Scotland, no Northern Ireland. Just little 'ole England. No I'm not gloating, coz I don't care about them. It just shows, to me, how shocking the state of football is here in Britain. Will Rep of Ireland make it? Martin O'Neil, I suspect will find a way. But only just. Is it worth the effort? England are boring to watch, by all accounts, and trash. Mr O'Neil's team are not known for free flowing football either, and win or lose 1-0. Both teams probably won't get out of the first groups they are putin (did you see what I did there?), and will be home before the first postcards they send.

 

[User62651]

Nah, England will do ok, last 8 probably, maybe last 4. Depends on how burnt out they are after an EPL season but weather shouldn't be as fierce as normal for a world cup so that may also help with a higher tempo 'British' style game. Get that Spurs spine into the team. Honestly who are that good internationally these days? - Brazil nope, Germany not where they were, France nope (they play Giroud after all), Spain nope. Italy may not qualify, Dutch are crap and out, Argentina really struggled to qualify. In Europe it will be a European winner as usual so that leaves Spain or France or Germany as winners with England/Portugal a little behind. African teams have gone back since 20 years ago, Asian teams are poor, N Amercian teams are very weak this time.

Eire wont get out of the group if they qualify.

Scotland, Wales, NI, 1998,1958 and 1986 since they attended respectively. Hardly new.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Apart from the lat Euros where it was harder to not qualify it’s been the same way for nearly 20 years has it not - I think the republic every now and then have made - once in 08 when it was just them. Wales once in 50 years , N Ireland once in 30 years , Scotland not been in one for 20 years - so it’s not really a new thing

 

[Crazyface]

But at each World Cup the amount of teams there has increased and yet our "home" nations still can't find a way in. Aren't Iceland there? Shocking!

 

[Hobbit]

Some of the diddy teams from elsewhere in the world wouldn't get close to qualifying if they were in the same group as Wales but the nature of regional qualifying means reasonable teams don't make it because of the strength in their region.

Its been great to see the romance of a Cameroon or Japan at the finals but does it add to the quality of the football?

 

[User62651]

But at each World Cup the amount of teams there has increased and yet our "home" nations still can't find a way in. Aren't Iceland there? Shocking!

Iceland may have a team of sorts at present due to top coaching and defensive tactics and possibly a weak group and have done quite well to be fair but they were nowhere for decades. This will be their 1st world cup, Scotland have managed 8 to date albeit some time ago. Uruguay won the thing twice long time back but probably wont again, things change. Not sure it relates to a team becoming much worse, just others improve more from a weaker starting position. All levels off in the end.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Bear in mind that nations with smaller populations tend to have peaks and troughs regarding qualification to a great degree than larger ones. Iceland have done nothing for years, currently have a solid group of players and so are having a golden period. In a tournament or two they will disappear again. It's a numbers game to a large degree, how big is your population and how many from that population are likely to be interested in football?

 

[guest100718]

But at each World Cup the amount of teams there has increased and yet our "home" nations still can't find a way in. Aren't Iceland there? Shocking!

the number of teams hasnt increased since 1998.

 

[pbrown7582]

But at each World Cup the amount of teams there has increased and yet our "home" nations still can't find a way in. Aren't Iceland there? Shocking!

this type of attitude is part of the reason for the failures. no one has a right to be at the world cup finals the place has to be earn't too many in the UK believe we have a right to quailfy and beat the little nations like Iceland.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

A couple of weeks ago there was a Sunday with four 'good' EPL teams playing.
Of the starting 44 players only about 6 or 7 were English.

Same with the SPL where the clubs buy cheap foreign players who know if the do well in Scotland they will pick up a lucrative contract with an English team.

I do not think UK teams will improve until we see more UK players playing for UK teams.

 

[MegaSteve]

With the recent good results at junior level isn't the future looking brighter?
For England at least...

Believe the upturn in fortunes is down to better [more organised] coaching being available at junior level...

 

[Rooter]

With the recent good results at junior level isn't the future looking brighter?
For England at least...

Believe the upturn in fortunes is down to better [more organised] coaching being available at junior level...

I believe England has always had a pretty decent junior level, the problem lies when the young lads hit 17,18 and there are no top clubs for them, so they end up in the championship at best, only the odd one gets a break at a chelsea, city, liverpool etc. Bring in a homegrown player rule, where 75% of your squad must be from the home nation, it would shake up world football and probably never happen, but it would be great for the game. Too much money involved for it to happen now though.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

With the recent good results at junior level isn't the future looking brighter?
For England at least...

Believe the upturn in fortunes is down to better [more organised] coaching being available at junior level...

Over the years Scotland has done well at fitba and golf at junior level so I would not bank on it.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Weren't the Italians complaining of a worse problem just before they won their last World Cup??
No on has a devine right to play anywhere, but the youngsters too often take the money to sit on a bench over playing for a slightly"lesser" team and play regularly.

 

[User62651]

Weren't the Italians complaining of a worse problem just before they won their last World Cup??
No on has a devine right to play anywhere, but the youngsters too often take the money to sit on a bench over playing for a slightly"lesser" team and play regularly.

This is true, every one of the England team plays (or sits on bench) in the EPL.

In fact who was the last England player to be playing for a foreign club when playing for England? Hart at Torino I guess? Outfield players though - Hargreaves for Bayern maybe?

 

[Kellfire]

This is true, every one of the England team plays (or sits on bench) in the EPL.

In fact who was the last England player to be playing for a foreign club when playing for England? Hart at Torino I guess? Outfield players though - Hargreaves for Bayern maybe?

I thought maybe Eric Dier but a quick google confirms he only played for the junior teams while based abroad.

Beckham or Hargreaves would be a guess, beyond Hart.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I thought maybe Eric Dier but a quick google confirms he only played for the junior teams while based abroad.

Beckham or Hargreaves would be a guess, beyond Hart.

McManaman when playing for Real Madrid?

 

[MegaSteve]

As usual I've explained myself poorly ...

Kids of a much younger age now how more access to 'proper' coaching... As young as five!
Someone who's got a coaching badge not just a well intentioned Dad doing his best...

For older kids there are now sports academies with professional coaching...
Not just a 'regular' teacher who might do geography one day PE the next..

It's about building a decent platform and I believe the FA finally have got the message...

 

[Kellfire]

McManaman when playing for Real Madrid?

That'd be earlier than Beckham and Hargreaves' last appearances I'd guess.

 

[richart]

I believe England has always had a pretty decent junior level, the problem lies when the young lads hit 17,18 and there are no top clubs for them, so they end up in the championship at best, only the odd one gets a break at a chelsea, city, liverpool etc. Bring in a homegrown player rule, where 75% of your squad must be from the home nation, it would shake up world football and probably never happen, but it would be great for the game. Too much money involved for it to happen now though.

There are very few 17-18 year olds playing in the championship. At that age, unless they are exceptional they are just not good enough. Look at Harry Kane. Went out on loan in his late teens, and hardly pulled up trees. Gylfi Sigurdsson came through our academy and got in our championship team when he was 20.

There have been a lot of promising 17 year olds that never make it. Think I saw that when England won the U17 World Cup six years ago, three of the players were playing in the Premiership, which is ok, but the majority were not playing in the championship but non league. seems like you really need to judge players when they are 20-21, and playing against seasoned pros.:mmm: