Comments on: Tackling the Talent Gap in England http://soccerlens.com/tackling-the-talent-gap-in-england/11585/ Football News Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:17:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: BD Condell http://soccerlens.com/tackling-the-talent-gap-in-england/11585/#comment-101432 BD Condell Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:33:05 +0000 http://soccerlens.com/?p=11585#comment-101432 Firstly, let's note that this is not just an English problem, it pertains to all the so called 'home countries'. For almost 3 decades you could look at the Scottish, Welsh, NI and Rep. of Ireland squads and find, if not a decent handful, then a whole host of players who plied their trade at the highest level of the English League. It would take too long to list the players and the teams and what they achieved but it's fair to say that you look at these squads in recent years and struggle to find a single top class name among them. I can't remember such a dearth of talent, at the same time, amongst these 4 countries. Nor do I have the answer, although I do believe strongly in what is not the answer. I can't disagree more with the conclusion that it is down to acadamy's, coaching or grass roots structure in the game. The FA and various vested interests in England have been bleating about this for years. It must be 10 years ago now that Howard Wilkinson promoted this view and was backed by the FA and we have had acadamy's etc. coming out our ears ever since, multi millions invested in this area and have seen no tangible result. There's actually an argument that there is TOO MUCH structure and coaching in football today. To support this I point to the (by comparison) golden era, the 60's, 70's and '80s, even up to the mid 90's when talent poured forward without sophisticated acadamy's, coaching techniques or kids being taken out of their environment when they were still kids. The 'home countries' all had a far greater wealth of talent and were, relatively, more successful. It's a non argument as far as I'm concerned. I also don't buy the misconception that players don't get a chance. If you're good enough you're good enough. Even at the top 4, 'kids' have been brought into the squad and given games and some time to mature but time and again they don't measure up. Most go on to reasonable careers in the game but fall well short of international quality. I believe you are born with the talent. Coaching is only something like 10% of the equation. Should we believe that a Best, Charlton, Moore, Dalglish, Rush, Keegan....pick your own names, would not make it today because they wouldn't get a chance? I don't. I have no idea what the reason is but I firmly believe it is nothing to do with acadamy's and coaching (in a positive sense at least) or foreign players shutting out emerging talent. Firstly, let’s note that this is not just an English problem, it pertains to all the so called ‘home countries’. For almost 3 decades you could look at the Scottish, Welsh, NI and Rep. of Ireland squads and find, if not a decent handful, then a whole host of players who plied their trade at the highest level of the English League. It would take too long to list the players and the teams and what they achieved but it’s fair to say that you look at these squads in recent years and struggle to find a single top class name among them. I can’t remember such a dearth of talent, at the same time, amongst these 4 countries.

Nor do I have the answer, although I do believe strongly in what is not the answer. I can’t disagree more with the conclusion that it is down to acadamy’s, coaching or grass roots structure in the game. The FA and various vested interests in England have been bleating about this for years. It must be 10 years ago now that Howard Wilkinson promoted this view and was backed by the FA and we have had acadamy’s etc. coming out our ears ever since, multi millions invested in this area and have seen no tangible result. There’s actually an argument that there is TOO MUCH structure and coaching in football today.

To support this I point to the (by comparison) golden era, the 60′s, 70′s and ’80s, even up to the mid 90′s when talent poured forward without sophisticated acadamy’s, coaching techniques or kids being taken out of their environment when they were still kids. The ‘home countries’ all had a far greater wealth of talent and were, relatively, more successful. It’s a non argument as far as I’m concerned.

I also don’t buy the misconception that players don’t get a chance. If you’re good enough you’re good enough. Even at the top 4, ‘kids’ have been brought into the squad and given games and some time to mature but time and again they don’t measure up. Most go on to reasonable careers in the game but fall well short of international quality. I believe you are born with the talent. Coaching is only something like 10% of the equation. Should we believe that a Best, Charlton, Moore, Dalglish, Rush, Keegan….pick your own names, would not make it today because they wouldn’t get a chance? I don’t.

I have no idea what the reason is but I firmly believe it is nothing to do with acadamy’s and coaching (in a positive sense at least) or foreign players shutting out emerging talent.

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