The Dissolution of English Football

Last week, the English national soccer team fell 2-0 to Croatia in Zagreb. While Croatia boasts a decent squad of internationals playing in top leagues, the talent of the English far supercedes. So why did England fall? And, why does England continue to disappoint on the English stage? Depending on whom you ask, there are many reasons for this, and very few of them are wrong. Below are the main reasons why this is so.

Some England supporters have lamented the lack of a world-class left-sided midfield player and have overrated the likes of Middlesbrough midfielder Stewart Downing as a result. This explains why a player the calibre of a Bobby Convey - who was a flop for much of his time at DC United of Major League Soccer - forced his way into a Reading side that gained promotion. Left-sided midfielders are priceless in England.

Some rightly feel that the tactics of Sven Goran Eriksson were too conservative and restricted explosive attacking midfield players from their normal club roles such as Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. Such tactics result in playing down to the level of your opponents; thus, ushering the way for a defeat to minnows Northern Ireland. Obviously, I'm ignoring the many 1-0 and 2-1 results which could've easily been victories of two goals or more.

Along with that, manager selection comes to mind. Steve McClaren may just be one of the most overrated managers of all-time before it is all said and done. He rarely has a bad thing to say about any player or manager, and possibly, this is a meal ticket to working for Sky Sports as a pundit, but it does not win you matches. Examine his teams’ finishing positions at Middlesbrough, and moreso, the number of purchases he made that went awry. For the match against Croatia which has come under great scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike, McClaren tinkered with the formation and utilized a 3-5-2. For the record, I have no problem running the 3-5-2 as opposed to the 4-4-2 given England's talent; however, McClaren should've tinkered with formations during friendlies and not European qualifiers. There is a major difference and this may result in England fighting for a play-off spot.

Also, a growing contingent feel that the English game has been taken over by foreign players. Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock told Sky Sports News, “I just look at it in general, we have got good players but most of them play with the majority foreign players in their own club side.” Although Warnock is known for running his mouth, he couldn't be more correct. It is not a distant memory to recall the ignominious night in which Arsenal fielded an all non-English team. The thing is, it's not just Arsenal. There's El Liverpool and Chelsea to boot.

This is no indictment on foreign players. They've helped make the English Premier League the most entertaining league in the world. However, it's been at the expense of the development of young English players who have a harder time than usual of breaking into their stacked squads, which, in turn, must avoid relegation will all of their might.