A Theory On Why England Do So Poorly At Football
Has anyone here ever thought that perhaps our players are not very bright compared to other nations such as Germany, Italy and Spain?
There is more likelihood that these foreign players are educated and think better about tactics and composure etc.
Our educated people at school mainly play rugby and cricket which we are good at despite the pool of people playing rugby and cricket is low.
Foreign footballers often are educated and so they think more and plan better and execute the ball better.
Just a thought to throw open.
There is more likelihood that these foreign players are educated and think better about tactics and composure etc.
Our educated people at school mainly play rugby and cricket which we are good at despite the pool of people playing rugby and cricket is low.
Foreign footballers often are educated and so they think more and plan better and execute the ball better.
Just a thought to throw open.
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And with that, the entire argument goes out the window
Do you mean in terms of how to play the game and maybe conduct themselves fitness wise or just generally as in going to school...and getting A levels.
I know overseas footballers appear to speak english in a better manner than some of the England players but not all cricketers and rugby players are perfect either.
Infact given the latter is now professional I suspect less and less are going to uni or getting a load of top grades which I presume is what you meant?
Anyway I'd rather they were good at playing the game these blokes are paid millions to do than come across as world perfect and really intellectual....
I'd leave that to the people running this country who seem to act like a rabble of schoolboys having a playground fight at times.
No, they lose because they're just not as good as the other teams.
Balotelli has very little football intelligence, but Andrea Pirlo has bags of it. Zinedine Zidane, Eric Cantona, Bastian Schweinsteiger (despite the stupid pass at the end of this match) and Paolo Maldini are all players who have exhibited this trait too.
I'd agree that a lot of English players seem to lack that football brain.
I think thats from sunday league football where there is no effort to ensure players are taught awareness, finding space and when to play the right pass. You dont need a footballing brain to succeed in sunday league football.
Unfortunately, I think you're right. At a grass roots level, the game is in played a way that doesn't translate into success at the highest levels.
At the highest level there are factors such as dealing with the stress of the media scrutiny and dealing with pressure and at crucial moments being able to concentrate and keep cool.
I am not always talking about academic education but simply been more able to grasp these factors that seperate the greats from the rest as a team.
I don't think there is any correlation between educational attainment and footballing skill, but I think the concept of "footballing intelligence" could be summed up by the following example of Paul Gascoigne.
I think everyone knows Gazza is no Albert Einstein, but I remember listening to Chris Evans talking about a conversation he had with him once about the Euro 96 goal against Scotland. He asked him how he knew that the right move was to chip it over Colin Hendry, and Gazza's response was "I just knew. I don't know how I knew, but I just did". It's a sixth sense, which the really top players have, and I don't think it can necessarily be coached.
How can we tell? Just because in a post-match interview where the questions are 'Good match, but was the second offside?' they don't go deep into political philosophy or recite poetry?
I think there's surely something a little dense in the mindset of people who watch these interviews post and pre-game and expect this.
'Well he said he did alright in the game but he didn't address the crisis in the Eurozone at all. Thick bastard'
A lot of footballers are working class lads. They're no more ill or further educated than the majority of the fans.
I am not sure that many of the current cricketers went to "posh schools"
Sure somebody like Strauss but then do did Lampard.
As Bomo says...more footballers are working class and might be seen as "thick" whatever they did.
It takes more than just running onto the pitch and sprinting aimlessly hoping you accidentally do something with the ball.
Technicality maybe but England didn't lose any matches this tournament
Any team playing a slow passing build up which on occasions meant passing the ball back to their half and building up again would be booed by fans, it would even be considered time wasting if you were winning and you would receive abuse.
I think fans today know what's going on and are far more educated on football methods and tactics.
Maybe a new generation learning to be comfortable passing there way out of trouble will come through inside 10 yrs.
If the England team did adopt this style ,hopefully in time our players will gain far more composure and the extra skill learnt from playing the continental style, instead of the one way direct football we have only ever used. easy said than done.
problem is can we expect our players to play one way week in and week out for their clubs and then expect them to have the skills needed to play like Spain, No Way, we have to be realistic, i think we have to look at Germany and study their game, slow patient build up when needed, can be direct if the opportunity arises and unlike the Spanish they have no problem crossing the ball in the air. which will always be a part of our game.
Indeed and for fear of venturing dangerously close to optimism, I think in retrospect this competition will judge England very kindly.
The German manager was praising England's progress the other day. i think once people look beyond the 'OMG we're out and therefore crap!!!' (or more accurately return back to watching Coronation Street) I think most of us will be surprisingly satisfied with what the team did this year.
The situation of a post match interview creates quite a stifling scenario where the same stock answers have to be given in response to the same questions being asked.
The media training that footballers get means that they are told to never say anything controversial or anything that may upset anyone, therefore their answers come across and bland, boring and unimaginative.
It's all about showing respect for the opposition who are always hard to beat and their ground is never an easy to place to come etc. You hear the same crap so many times that post match interviews with players just aren't worth listening to, but at the same time, are they a true reflection of a players real personality? Maybe, maybe not, but they are a restrictive environment to be in.