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The 4-1 defeat to Germany was perhaps the end of the run for England’s so-called “golden generation” of players, that really wasn’t so “golden” after all, since several of them know this might be their last shot at a World Cup.
But let’s ask this: what was so “golden” about this so-called “golden generation” anyway? It certainly wasn’t their technical ability or any greatness they’ve achieved. Far from it, any collection of English footballers between the 50s and 80s would be far more fit to be called a “golden generation”, because those were times when the English game was awash with real, home-grown talent.
Contrary to popular belief, past generations of English footballers were not lacking footballers of real technical quality: Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, Len Shackleton, Ernie Taylor, Johnny Haynes, Bobby Charlton, George Eastham, Bryan Douglas, Trevor Brooking, Alan Hudson, Frank Worthington, Tony Currie, Stan Bowles, Peter Barnes, Chris Waddle Glenn Hoddle, Gordon Cowans, John Barnes and Paul Gascoigne among others all attest. But was it down to effective youth policies, or was it luck that produced this kind of player for generations?
The sad fact is in the era of the cynically rebranded “Premier League”, the quality and quantity of English footballers of real class has actually declined. And only recent failings – Euro 2008 qualifiers and this World Cup – may force about a change that should have been brought about earlier.
Go back to what Tommy Docherty and Brian Clough said in years past and heed their wise words!
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