Former England defender Paul Parker has suggested that failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals, could be the wake up call that the English game needs.
Parker believes there are too many foreign players in English football, a situation that must be addressed by the authorities, to ensure that English talent is nurtured and recognised.
While the influx of foreign players over recent years has improved the quality of football in the premier league, Parker says that doesn’t make it the best league, just the best paid league.
“What we need to see is younger players coming through into the Premier League from the lower divisions”. He says that the football scouts are not interested in looking at the lower leagues when there is a chance of jetting off to Spain or Italy.
“It could be a major bonus for English football if we don’t go through to Euro 2008 - but only if the Football Association and everybody else starts talking and come to the realisation that we’re not good enough as a national team.”
While I agree that the England team needs an overhaul, I cant agree that foreign players in the Premiership are to blame. If anything the younger players will learn from the best, and improve their skills and flair, something that we have never encouraged in English football.
2 comments so far
1 Terry Lane // Nov 15, 2007 at 12:29 pm
I agree. The failure of the English national football team cannot be blamed on foreign players. Ask anyone who uses this crass and shallow argument why England failed to qualify for the 1974 & 1978 World Cup.
2 Foreign Players // Dec 10, 2007 at 8:20 am
You cannot blame the number of foreign players. Not at all. Italy and spain have a higher percentage of foreign players. We should blame McClaren for our malaise.