England: Is It The Manager, The Players, Or Both?

Blog member Corned Beef Futbol raised some interesting points in a comment today namely;

I think yesterday reinforces the idea that managers have less control than fans think they do once the players are on the pitch.

I highly doubt he (Tuchel) instructed us to sit that far back and not try and stretch them or counter. Some of the interviews after suggest this, that they weren't instructed to sit back as much as they did and there was a mental element.

Here is what I think...

It's one thing being given instructions, it's another thing having the ability to carry them out when faced with high quality opponents.

For me, it's not a case of England players not following instructions, it's more a case of we are devoid of genuine top international players.

Playing well in the 100mph PL is totally different to facing top international teams and what the last 60 years has shown us is that our players simply aren't good enough when it gets to the business end of the WC and Euro's.

Out of the whole squad at this WC Bellingham is the only English player, possibly along with Pickford, that might potentially get into a World Best 11. And neither of those two are nailed on to be included.

One thing that has been consistent in the last 60 years, and especially as other nations have improved their game, including the lesser nations, is that England are miles behind the top teams in technical ability and ball retention.

How come the likes of Japan, Morocco and even Cape Verde, to name but three, can play a passing and ball retention game that eludes England?

That means England often struggle to control games from the start, even when we go in front and even more so when we go behind.

So, why are we so lacking in technical ability? Why haven't we improved over the years as other nations have?

Frankly, I don't know.

Is it coaching methods from junior level right up to making a first team debut?

Is it that the 100mph high pressure game of the PL makes it more difficult to control and pass the ball - and hone in that skill - than the slower pace in other leagues? I think that could well play a part.

Is it that players from some nations, for whatever reason, just possess more natural ability?

For example, Brazil and to a lesser degree Argentina have been producing brilliant technical players for decades when many of them started playing the game by kicking cans around as kids long before modern coaching methods existed.

Whatever it is, until an England manager fully understands and accepts the limitations of our best players and adopts the tactics to get us to that (here we go again) next level that can win us a tournament - I can only see us continuing to lose QF, SF and finals.

Mind, not being able to harness the skills of the likes of Grealish, Palmer and Foden by not even including them in the squad, instead favouring 'workhorses', doesn't help.

The PL is touted as the best league in the world. Maybe.

But it doesn't turn out English players who are the best in the world.

As the WC and the Euro's keeps proving time and again.

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