English football’s in a mess. The national team’s consistently inconsistent and only a handful of local players in the English Premier League can cut it with internationals.
The problem is not on the pitch. Top-end English football has too much money for its own good. It’s got fat while grassroots English football has become a shadow of its former self.
The problem is the new TV rights. Sold for a record $10 billion for seasons 2016-2019, the announcement was greeted with much media fanfare.
While this makes the Premier League the richest league in the world, it does nothing for clubs such as Rotherham and Gillingham.
English football has neglected the most important teams, without enough funding for its lower leagues English football will without a doubt disintegrate.
In the old days – pre-1993 – English football used to distribute money equally between not only the first division clubs but those in the lower divisions as well. Manchester United would receive the same amount as a lower division cellar-dweller.
But with the EPL’s introduction in 1993 the big clubs began pocketing a higher proportion of the TV rights deal. It were their matches pulling in the most money and so they wanted a greater slice of the TV rights pie.
This meant that lower division clubs lost a large source of their revenue. This hit the game’s grassroots hard. Lower league clubs could no longer invest in youth squads. Without the extra money they used to get it was no longer financially feasible to maintain a youth system. Some clubs could only afford to send a senior team onto the park.
These youth systems are integral to the progression of English football, no talent means no English football.
The impact has been highlighted in recent years with the lack of young English talent coming through the system. For those who make it into the bigtime, the riches are considerable. The likes of Raheem Sterling are being sold for exorbitant prices as the big clubs recognise the lack of English talent being produced.
The reason old fellas like Frank Lampard go beyond their used-by dates is because Manchester City did not have enough English players to fill its quota of English locals in the team. The situation has become so dire, that a team like City, which has an extensive youth system, cannot find eight English players to fit into its Premier League squad.
Hence, young players like Anthony Martial are fetching art-market prices as English clubs scour a failing youth system for hard-to-find talent.
During Round 6 of the 2015-16 Premier League season Manchester City had only two English players in its starting 11 – Sterling and Joe Hart – against West Ham. Manchester United had three English players in its starting line-up against Southampton, while Arsenal could only find space for Theo Walcott in its team to play Chelsea.
In all, the EPL’s four biggest teams had a total of seven English players in their starting line-up. This is an abomination.
The effects have already started showing in the Premier League’s biggest clubs, which is a clear indication of the storm which is to come. A big storm.
On the other side of the ledger, the number of foreign players in the English Premier League has skyrocketed. They may look good on the pitch and put bums-on-seats, but the foreign raiders are ruining English football.
This is best seen in results from the Champions League group stage, where out of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City, not one is on top of their group after three games. All have struggled to put their mark in Europe this season. Their failure thus far has been a disgrace to English football history in Europe.
The powerhouses of European football no longer include the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, or Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles. The Champions League no longer includes English teams among its list of favourites, the honour now lies with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid.
There have already been calls to strip the Premier league of its four Champions League spots down to three, and give the extra spot to a more deserving league such as La Liga, which is going from strength to strength.
There is a disparity in the number of talented players coming through, one only has to look at Barcelona’s La Masia to see that there are so many talented players emerging.
Nevertheless, England’s lower leagues were where young talented players had the opportunity to develop, relatively unknown players could work their way to the Premier League, players such as Charlie Austin.
Austin played in a semi-pro league not too long ago, and in the 2014-15 season scored 18 Premier League goals for the relegated QPR. This no longer happens in England, and talent is wasted in lower leagues, players with the quality of Austin will go unnoticed until the system changes.
It is clear that top flight greed is having a damaging effect on not only the league but on the English national team. If it continues down this path we may unfortunately see the death of English football in our life time.
Money is slowing killing the English game.
Matias
Guest
Abandoning terraces and having only all seated stadiums, high ticket prices has made English football atmosphere terrible boring. The worst thing is that tradition were youngsters went on matches has mostly died. 40 years ago some 90% of crowd behind the keeper were teenagers or younger (mostly) men. No likely 85% are over 35 y old, either middle or upper middle class folks.
Batigol
Guest
+1 for mentioning Rotherham, UTM!
Jack
Guest
Not true Freddie. I've follwing English fottball all my life and England as a second team. Lots of Aussies would love to see England do well. An English World Cup win would be the second best result and I have no expectations of Austrlai ever making the semis. The best run sport in Australia is the AFL and they have a deep focus on the juniors and the grass roots. That's where it all starts and that is where it will start for England.
Freddie
Guest
Colin, you need to understand the Australian mentality. When English teams were winning in Europe, it was all down to the foreigners, because English players were crap. Now English teams are struggling in Europe, it's all down to the English, because their players are crap, despite their being precious few in the starting line-ups. This, is the post-colonial chip on the shoulder at its very worst. Constantly trying to find fault with the English.
Colin N
Guest
"Still, it doesn’t explain why English teams have been rubbish in Europe for several years now, which is probably down to the inferior English ‘style’ that works well domestically but is dealt with by better teams on the continent." I'm not sure it's to do with the English style as the tactics are being implemented by foreigners, who have a continental way of playing. Personally, I think being risk-averse in their signings has been an issue; why sign a potentially world class player for £5m when you can buy an already proven individual for £20m? That youngster may turn out to be one of the generation's best players but, in the mind of English clubs, why take the risk? That comes to another issue with the top clubs in England and that's arrogance. They think money can buy the top players but often it can't, particularly if it's someone like a Neymar or, going further back, Ronaldinho. If you're Brazilian or Argentinian and you have the option of Manchester United or Barcelona, who would you go to? Even if United were offering more money, you would still go to the Spanish club and that's cultural more than anything else. Therefore, English clubs need to be a bit more intelligent in who they bring in and then provide them with an opportunity. They also need to realise that having a core of Englishman will provide a massive benefit. Bayern Munich have a core of top German players, while Real Madrid and Barcelona have a core of Spanish players. Look at the Chelsea side that won the Champions League in 2012, the Manchester United team that won in 1999 and 2008 and the Liverpool team that won in 2005, they all had prominent British players that led the respective teams.
Colin N
Guest
"having B teams like Germany which would be great from a development standpoint, but will never happen because there are too many people looking after their own patch." Not really. People are opposed to it because the lower league is the real heartbeat of English football. Interestingly, the influx of foreigners actually helps lower league football. The money means that talented players, who don't get a chance because of your £30m individuals, get released and get picked up by clubs from the Football League. It's why it is so competitive and why you get teams like Middlesbrough going to both Manchester clubs and winning, Sheffield Wednesday comfortably beating Arsenal and MK Dons thrashing Manchester United.
Colin N
Guest
And there was me thinking that England finished nine points above Poland in the 2014 World Cup qualifying.
Colin N
Guest
If you're taking that Gary Linekar tweet seriously then well... And no one is 'sticking out their chest,' you would be doing well to find an example of that.
Stevo
Guest
England are very much in danger of losing their 4th CL spot to Italy. Poor performances from English teams in Europe this season will almost certainly see them dropping the 4th spot to Italy. Its a very real possibility.
Freddie
Guest
A chippy Aussie, what a surprise. I'd sort your own problems out first, like a proper functioning league, and moving the focus away from parochial insignificant sports like Aussie rules and rugby league. English football should be doing better of course, with the financial muscle it possesses, but to call it a failure is typical Australian chip on the shoulder nonsense from a culture that defines itself as being er, um, not English. Still, you keep telling yourself you're superior, we know how good it makes you all feel.
Realist1
Guest
@ fadida, you point that England were in a weak group, well guess what, they didn't choose their opponnents, beat what's in front of you. As for Major nations, are Holland a major nation then, they're not going to France next. As the old adage said, you've got to be in it to win it and if your clairvoyance skills are so good, I'm pretty sure you'll be a multi billionaire when you take the bookies to the cleaners next year.
Towser
Guest
Fadida Your point about Hoddle et al is well taken. Personally I dont despair, I've seen the reality over many years and I'm just glad that Australia my adopted country with a far thinner playing pool and weaker football culture is at least trying to learn and improve.
Fadida
Guest
I always enjoy your childhood memories Towser, and I think what you are saying is in essence along the same lines as our observations. It's England's insular nature which favours a fast, physical game over fancy, technical football. Tactically most teams are still playing basic English football, which is why I prefer the A-League. Other countries have defined their development, eg France and Germany while England is unchanged. Even going back to the 80's and 90's players like Hoddle, Barnes and le Tissier were "luxury" players. The latter barely played, with the talents of Batty, Palmer, Geoff Thomas all getting many more caps. The big difference today is that there is barely a talented ball player now coming through. Mind you England are struggling to find decent central defenders and keepers now, once their strength. Stocks are incredibly thin, and the next"big thing" is nowhere to be seen. Actually the last "big thing", Wayne Rooney has shot his bolt, having never been close to the player he looked like being, all of those natural instincts knocked out of him.
clipper
Guest
I would argue that the 1990 team was pretty good and were unlucky not to make the final. Cracking song that year with "World in Motion'
Fadida
Guest
The "rough diamonds" are powerful physically but woeful technically. They can't be polished by the time they leave youth football. Why don't Arsenal, Chelsea, the Manchester teams produce more than one or two good English players a decade? United's last good ones were the "class of' 92"! How can the most successful English club not produce any top quality English players? None!
Fadida
Guest
A defensive Englishman. The point is England are often in weak group so qualify easily for tournaments. When they get there they bomb. Their record against "major" nations at tournaments is appalling. You will no doubt be optimistic that Wazza, Gazza, Dazza, Welbs, etc will be a chance to win and then crying "lack of passion!" when they lose on penalties in round 2, having scored twice in 3 group games. Both from set pieces.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Spot on. The EPL is not the issue, if the English players were good enough they would be playing for the big 4. English footballs issue; - A quarter of the number of UEFA accredited coaches compared to Spain and Germany in High Schools. - Terrible grassroots development (all about size and strength, not technique). - Afraid to ply their trade overseas - Evil media who hype a player then knock them down If England had any idea about training their youth they would be able to mount a serious international challenge and their league would have talented Englishmen in all teams. Can you blame clubs for going for foreign players when they are worth half the price and are twice the player?
CG2430
Guest
Unless you're an Englishman I'm surprised that you care, but whatever. I'm particularly accused by a couple of themes. First, why are English clubs not signing English players. Obviously they represent poor value - either low-skilled or commanding too high a wage (or a combination of both). This might explain it: "The belief that England lacks coaching quality and depth appears to be backed up when figures elsewhere in Europe are examined. England has just 1,178 coaches at UEFA "A" level, compared with 12,720 in Spain and 5,500 in Germany. At "Pro" Licence level, England has 203 coaches, Spain 2,140 and Germany more than 1,000." http://www.espnfc.com/story/1572894/mark-lomas-counting-the-cost-of-coaching Still, it doesn't explain why English teams have been rubbish in Europe for several years now, which is probably down to the inferior English 'style' that works well domestically but is dealt with by better teams on the continent. PS Real Madrid, for example, has won the Champions League/European Cup 10 times - it's hardly the new phenomenon which you imply it to be. As to the comment regarding Champions League places, completely laughable - it's a coefficient system with which discretion has nothing to do.
CG2430
Guest
Correct - and La Liga is already maxed out at four spots (plus Sevilla as Europa League winners) as it leads the coefficient rankings.
Anon
Guest
Great article, agree with a lot of the pouts regarding sterling and tv revenue. English talent has really been on a down for a while , doesn't look like they will improve significantly any time soon