Buzzin Football

After watching the England v Mexico friendly and listening to former England players say that they felt technically inferior to their Central American peers it has led me to consider the youth system England and the way in which we develop our football players. Having played football consistently from a young age there is one thing that has struck me as a fundamental problem with our youth system. Essentially this is our over emphasis on results over performance.

Clearly at the highest levels of football results are imperative. We would all rather see England play badly and win the World Cup this year than see a free flowing team crash out in the semi-finals to a well organised opponent. Yet this is not something that needs to filter its way down to the youth leagues. If one looks at Spain and Brazil, undoubtedly the best teams in the world right now, then there is a level of flair and creativeness that has been missing in England teams for a long time. We cannot simply say that these are countries that biologically produce more flamboyant footballers; it is clearly more complicated than that.

Over the years we have seen teams such as France, Spain, Holland and Portugal produce players possessing an expressive ability that is so rarely encountered in English football. The reason for this is grounded in the way in which we nurture our young stars.

This overemphasis on results encourages our youngsters to play the percentages instead of expressing themselves and finding out the kind of player that they are. Looking at some of our most talented players highlights this point effectively. Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have long been described as world class talents and this is inescapably true. Both are outstanding footballers yet at the same time they are incredibly effective without being unpredictable or flamboyant. It is clear from watching both that they are impeccably skilful individuals possessed with a creative footballing mind, yet there is something which separates them from players such as Fabregas, Xavi and Iniesta of Spain. It is easy to say that the difference is one of ability or technique, but this is not the case. Some of the moments that both Gerrard and Lampard have produced are phenomenal both in terms of technical ability and ingenuity, yet they are far less common that their Spanish counterparts.

It is as a result of our over-emphasis on victory that young players are encouraged to avoid the improbable and thus we produce players conditioned to pick the most effective option rather than the one which could potentially change the course of a game.

This mentality benefits the English game at lower levels, with a number of industrious midfielders being incredibly effective at breaking up play, playing the simple pass and leading by example. When one compares Scott Parker with someone like Luis Garcia there is the clearest of contrasts. The former is consistently effective at club level without being outstanding whilst the latter has had a record of inconsistency interspersed with moments of inspiration. Whilst this may be good for the strength in depth of our professional league it is to the ultimate detriment of our national team.

All of the best and most expressive footballers in the world right now have an incredible competiveness and desire. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney are all exceptionally talented and natural players but at the same time are blessed with an intense desire to win. The problem for England is that Wayne Rooney’s expressiveness is the exception rather than the rule. Any world class player has to possess this desire in order to succeed and thus there is no need to nurture it.

If we encourage young players to express themselves in 7-a-side, one touch football then we can allow them to enjoy the game before anything else. There is no need to move on to full 11-a-side games until under-15 football because before that point young players are simply not physically able to play such a game. The other advantage of emphasising technique over victory is that it allows us to identify the most gifted players more easily. In this system the children with a winning mentality that are less gifted will still flourish purely because of their desire, yet at the same time the more natural players are able to express their ability and can be given the chance to develop before it is determined whether or not they have the necessary mentality to succeed at the highest level.

Looking across the Channel at France one can see a prime example of the success that can come from a structured, financed and dedicated youth system. The Clairefontaine academy has become famous for producing players such as William Gallas, Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka yet it is just one of 9 elite youth academies spread across the country. With a focus on developing technique, tactics and movement as well as strength and fitness these academies are a glaring example of what we lack. Having such a structure in place means that the best players are taught in the same way across the country and are given the opportunity to develop all aspects of their game.

There have been and continue to be excellent youth academies in this country at club level with teams like Crewe Alexandra, West Ham and Arsenal consistently producing talented youngsters. The problem with this system is that it is not in any way coordinated centrally by the FA and many of the best teams in the country are acquiring players from all over the world rather than focussing on young English talent.

This is exactly where the French system puts ours to shame and highlights once again the need for centrally controlled academies across the country. Not until the most talented players in this country are brought up under a unified system with a common understanding on how the game should be played will we see a generation of players develop with the kind of expressiveness and ingenuity that we see so infrequently. This will not be of any hindrance to players like Gerrard whose commitment and desire to win will never falter; it will simply allow them to be brought up under the best coaches, the best facilities and the best methods that this country has to offer.

Until this is done we will continue to view our continental counterparts as technically superior and the sooner this myth dies the sooner we can start to compete consistently at the highest level.