The Foreign Player Myth.

‘English players are getting worse because of all these foreign players coming over to our league.’

That sentence is one I hear all too often when discussing the state of the English game. I believe that is a complete cop-out of an argument and is just the easiest bit of old tripe or rubbish for some supporters to say so that they don't have understand the real reasons behind their countries failure to succeed at the highest level.

YOUTH SET-UP

The main portion of blame often falls to the story that the young English players can't get a game and progress to the starting XI because of the foreign players blocking their path.  When in actual fact the harsh reality is that clubs don't care what nationality you are. 'If you’re good enough you’ll play' for us is the answer and that’s the right attitude to have. Players from all over the world come to this country just to join a clubs youth set-up. Arsenal is a prime example; close to half of their squad last season came in some shape or form from their youth teams. Granted that only 4 or 5 of them players are English that advanced through the ranks, but shows that philosophy of 'good enough you'll play' and forget where you come from. It’s not just Arsenal who do this of course, it’s becoming the norm throughout youth systems up and down the country and around the world, and rightly so. It's an unfortunate result that the English players just aren’t advancing and proving their worth as quickly as their foreign counterparts who seem to be able to develop and learn the game a touch quicker, which in football terms equates to miles rather than yards.

FORMATIONS AND TACTICS

Formations and tactics obviously have a massive part to play in all football clubs and games the world over. 25-30 years ago 85% of our clubs played 4-4-2 and as a result the national team did much the same, it was just the English way. The more prevalent and important the European competitions have become in the last 15 years it sees most teams adapting and changing their way of play maybe 2 or 3 times within one match. Quite frankly the English players don't seem to be capable of adjusting and just sliding into different positions and formations as easily and quickly as say a Dutch player for example, who by the time is leaving his teenage years has learned more about the game than even some lower league managers may know, which just proves that our coaching and academic set-up has failed.

FOREIGN COACHES

So the foreign players aren’t blame, are the foreign managers? Should they pander to some fans and pundits and just play the English lads regardless if they’re not good enough? No is the answer of course not and us as club fans would be furious if they did.  It comes back round to that four-word saying  'good enough you'll play'.  But aren't these coaches the ones that brought these strange complicated tactics in and ruined our 'world-beating 4-4-2 system?  No, they improved and implemented a style and way of play and helped make our league the most entertaining in the world.  Their techniques with regard as fitness, diets, training and so on, have extended some players careers by 5 years or more.

BUT WE ARE ENGLAND

One quick word for the point that very few fans still bleat on about 'but we are England we invented the game we are the best’ it really is such a non-argument and waste of time debate.  Without sounding too harsh on these fans, that statement is one of utter stupidity.

RECORD AND RESULTS

The simple notion is that people are just over ambitious about our results and performances at international tournaments.  The facts are that since 1966 England have taken part in the final stages of over 20 major tournaments and reached the semi-final stages just twice.  Our place among the greats is not in debate because we are not amongst them.  The sooner we are realistic towards our team the more we will enjoy watching them play the beautiful game.  I accepted this a while ago and now supporting England this way is so much more enjoyable and watchable.  No pressure or expectation in my eyes, when we play bad which we will as even the best teams in he world do then it's ok and we move on.  When we play well and win then enjoy that moment and hope that we are on the right track.  My point here is to just take one game at a time as the old cliché goes and have fun watching your country play and be proud whatever the result.  After all we all watch football because we love it.

ROUNDUP

So are foreign players to blame for the national team not winning the big ones?  No chance, they brought new techniques, lifestyles, play, tactics and style that helped advance and improve our players immensely.  It's my belief that England are not as bad as they are because of foreigners but they are as good as they are because of them. COME ON ENGLAND!

By @AshleyCalver1