The technical inferiority of the English Football game

[Anonymous]

I wanted to post a very controversial topic and see what reaction I would get from Lager Drinking hooligans that pervade this Third world country that is called England.

The topic as you might have guessed (despite the hangover) is the
Technical inferiority of the English Football game.

To clearly demonstrate the above I shall provide only a few names that even the most inibriated of Hooligans cannot disagree are quite disgusting players:

- The Neville Brothers. I am amazed by the amount of time these 2 fools have been playing for professional sides (not to mention the National team). Here a few examples of their skills: The last minute penalty given away against Bulgaria in England Bulgaria (england eliminated) and recently the free kick against Man U against Deportivo (Man U eliminated) there are many many other classics

- S. Campbell M. Keown and other Oaf like defenders that pervade the English game. Faaaar to big and faaaaar too unskilled. Classic Example of incompetence: The header of S. Campbell that went through his legs (!!) that cost England a goal in a recent game.

- E. Heskey: as powerful as a war horse but as skilled as a pregnant Rhino. When has he recently done something good for England ?

- Erikson is not English but is the Best Manager you have EVER had. Considering you claim to have invented the game you should do better.

- R. Ferdinand: Maybe with the millions of pounds he has he could afford a watch and stop costing his club and country loads of points and problems. (however Rio is admitedly quite skillful)

- The amount of Italian players that come over and are considered demi-gods despite in Italy they don`t make the first side of Serie B teams:
Zola, Di Canio, Vialli, Ravanelli and many others. These guys were booted out of Italy and came over here only to be considered gods gift to footie.
If this isn`t proof enough of the lack of skill I don`t know what is!!

- There is also a final proof about the technical inferiority of the English game in all international competitions of the last 20 years. England has never reached the final.

[Anonymous]

I see that the I-talians have still not got over their untimely exit at the hands of a country, better known for dalmatian spit roasts than football.
We may not have the most technically skilled players in the soccer universe but at least we don't play a style of football less interesting than watching 'Countdown' on Channel 4, in a grimy council estate in S****horpe, on a bank holiday.
Face it, for all your 'technical skills' (which are inevitably subsumed under a blanket of whining, diving, and spic like gesticulations) you have done next to nothing since winning the World Cup in '82, except bore the pants of a generation of TV viewers.

All this talking will inevitably stop once you are thrown out of Euro 2004.

[huggybear]

Zola, Ravanelli and Vialli not good enough to make a Serie B team? Funny, I remember Vialli and Ravanelli being the forwards in the Juve team that won the title and the European Cup in consecutive seasons and Zola won about 35 caps for Italy,bplayed for Parma and was bought by Napoli to replace Maradona. Sure Di Canio was never a big star in Italy but then he never played for a big club here. Yes he was a god to his clubs' fans but more for his occaisional brialliance when it was needed rather than his consistent performances. Celtic, Wednesday and West Ham - two of which are since sunk divisions.

[Anonymous]

What r u talking about we have the most exciting football league in the world along with the spanish

[Anonymous]

I am sad but not suprised by your argument. English footballers are like any other some are technically poor perhaps but then some have more ability than some foreign players. Some have pace some have power the best have it all but al of this is not the point and this is something that you have missed because instead of thinking you seem to have some hang upson hooliganism which is yet another point you clearly have no grasp off.

Bassically the English game is quiker and more direct than on the continent. The question you have to ask yourself is does this have any effect on the technical ability of players or not. I would say not because of course a player with more time on the ball in Italy can have the same technical ability as a player in England but which one is better technically. To be able to cope with the quickness of the English game pplayers must have technical ability or how else would they cope. I would argue that English players have perhaps more technical ability however this is not as visable to the narrow brain but how else do they manage to play in such a frentic environment. It is much easier to look like having technical ability with loads of space of time in Italy but much easier in fact to notice even better technical ability in English payers if you are looking for the right things.

[Anonymous]

Hello again,

I see my message posted has created some answers (some more comprehensbile than others). However overall I am unconvinced by the examples and cases submitted:

-The Dalmatian Spit roast posting:
Yes well I cannot deny I am still bitter about those half witted dog eating punks that barely understand the offside rule kicking out the country that has elevated Football to an art form (arguably Brasil has played some part in this art).
However about the whining and diving, No longer can the English game claim that it does not have this behaviour on the pitch.
I cannot recall a precise example but all the top strikers play the game with the same rules:
A. Shearer, M. Owen, R. V. Nistelrooy, Reyes, are all known to "loose" their grip when running towards goal.
About the boring game.
The aim of the game is to win not to entertain. If you want entertainment by a Playstation.

- Zola / Vialli / Rava et co.
Yes admittedly when they were at the top of their skill level they played in clubs that are at the top of the European scene.
My point was merely that once they were no longer at that level they came over to England and were considered to have skill levels unseen since Gaza (before drink and gamble hit him).

- Exciting game.
Yes I see your point however also recording a game of pinball and playing it back with Fastforward is equally exciting. However my point was that there is a lack of technical skill involved in the game and this ultimately limits its as is historically PROVEN by simply looking at the teams that have won the Champions league and Uefa Cup in the last 20 years.
Not to mention the winners of the World Cup.

- More time on ball = less skill.
Yes well try you are effectively trying to tell me that Maldini, Cannavaro, Nesta and Co leave strikers in Italy more time on the ball.....
And therefore as they have more time on the ball it is an easier game to play....
Strange how as its an "easier" game to play no English stiker makes it over there were its all just sooooooo easy. And by the way the pay is higher.... (so its not the money keeping them in England)
The only exceptions are Gaza that Lazio still love simply for having beaten Roma and then did nothing else. Also many years back there was I. Rush and D. Plat as you can see we are already going back into history to find other (very rare) examples.
However I have problems understanding the rest of the babblings of C. Morgan.

"In Italian footie there is an attacking phase and a defensive one. Each of as important as each other." (G. Trappattoni)
It seems to me that in the English game there are also 2 phases.
The attacking one and the one where you boot it upfield as hard as you can....

[Bykerlad]

You must watch a lot of Prem football for someone so disparaging. You must also be aware that we have the highest viewing TV figures for our league games than any other country. Maybe its a case of high art versus entertainment. Your Italian game is boring, boring. Live games from Italy helped me sleep after dinner on a Sunday afternoon. So for this, much thanks.

[Anonymous]

It is very contravesial. But its a question of styles? one which is built upon imagination flare skill vision grit and passion! the other from a holigan high on viali"Get it out, clear the ball, take him out",wack it up there.A passion for breaking legs.

One of attack, one of defense chooseing attack over defense, and one choosing defense over attack, a fine balance.Which do you choose?
But i think its clear to see its logical to choose attack over defense because sometimes the best form of defense is attack.
The fact of the matter is that the best players in the world are not english infact the best players in the premiership are not english, why are there so many players from abroad coming over and making huge impacts in the english game, its because the english game is ****.
Anyone who truly understands the game can see that England choose to play in a defensive role and like playing that way and when they do get the ball look imbarasing, its simple the best teams, the best players in the world dont win by looking back all the time they win by playing positive attacking football!
why are Italian rejects seen as stars and "magicians" its cause the English game is lackin some 20 years or more behind Europe Brazil and soon to come asia and africa. Its only a game but I and many supporters expect more the talent is out there, but the mentality of choosing the wrong types of players is clear, something breed deep in the game from managers to fans right through to the comentators watching the games, something need s to change.