England is land of wasted opportunity.?.

[Unregistered]

I think this article a little overstretched, but generally has an interesting point. Many people here in US see English player-producing system as supreme standard. Here...


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...n-England.html

[Unregistered]

The English system is a mess and unfortunately has had too much influence on the US. Let's look at the success of two tiny countries at the recent World Cup - Belgium (population 11 mill) and the Netherlands (population 17 mill). How are they so successful at producing international level success while the larger countries (England 53 mill, US 317 mill) bomb?

[Unregistered]

The English system is a mess and unfortunately has had too much influence on the US. Let's look at the success of two tiny countries at the recent World Cup - Belgium (population 11 mill) and the Netherlands (population 17 mill). How are they so successful at producing international level success while the larger countries (England 53 mill, US 317 mill) bomb?

One is universal buy-in in the Netherlands and Belgium on what to do. There are also far fewer clubs trying to meddle in the process and offer absurd money to kids. From the article:

"Money does not shout in football. It screams and many parents follow the siren’s lure.
Germany’s World Cup success has intensified English deliberations about how to deepen the talent pool. Joachim Löw was able to call upon strong characters, individuals who would not melt in the crucible of the toughest competition. Germany’s education system helps; their young players spend more time in academia than their English counterparts."

Their small physical size may also be part of the reason - you can practically walk across those countries in a matter of hours. Easier to centralize programs with top coaches and facilities and not have kids be far from family/traveling too much.

[Unregistered]

The English system is a mess and unfortunately has had too much influence on the US. Let's look at the success of two tiny countries at the recent World Cup - Belgium (population 11 mill) and the Netherlands (population 17 mill). How are they so successful at producing international level success while the larger countries (England 53 mill, US 317 mill) bomb?

I am not sure about England's issue but wouldn't the variety of different sports available to boys in the US be a contributing factor? If soccer was the primary sport that attracted the best male athletes in the US, I would expect similar results to Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. Unfortunately soccer is behind football, baseball, basketball and hockey as the sport of preference for the vast majority of US youth athletes. Just a thought.

[Unregistered]

The English system is a mess and unfortunately has had too much influence on the US. Let's look at the success of two tiny countries at the recent World Cup - Belgium (population 11 mill) and the Netherlands (population 17 mill). How are they so successful at producing international level success while the larger countries (England 53 mill, US 317 mill) bomb?

How do you measure success? England have won 1 World Cup. Belgium and Netherlands have 0 between them?

[Unregistered]

I think this article a little overstretched, but generally has an interesting point. Many people here in US see English player-producing system as supreme standard. Here...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...n-England.html

You really think many people in the US see the English player development system as the supreme standard? I have never, ever heard anyone say that. Certainly no one knowledgeable about soccer. People frequently say the EPL is the best league, but never that English players, or the system that produces them, are the best.

[Unregistered]

How do you measure success? England have won 1 World Cup. Belgium and Netherlands have 0 between them?

I think the OP was talking about being currently successful, not in the distant past like 1066 or 1966 or whatever.

[Unregistered]

You really think many people in the US see the English player development system as the supreme standard? I have never, ever heard anyone say that. Certainly no one knowledgeable about soccer. People frequently say the EPL is the best league, but never that English players, or the system that produces them, are the best.

Yeah right, the Central/South American coaches are the ones to be with? What a laugh. All poor scrubs from developing countries who don't squat about soccer.

[Unregistered]

Yeah right, the Central/South American coaches are the ones to be with? What a laugh. All poor scrubs from developing countries who don't squat about soccer.

Not talking about whatever foreign coaches come to the US, talking about the Belgian, Dutch and German development systems as practiced in those countries.

[Unregistered]

How do you measure success? England have won 1 World Cup. Belgium and Netherlands have 0 between them?

The point is that England has had a poor showing the last few rounds. Little old Belgium and Netherlands has performed much better and both countries have well developed, well run development programs that get clubs (and money) out of the system.

[Unregistered]

I think the OP was talking about being currently successful, not in the distant past like 1066 or 1966 or whatever.

We could all use a new William the Conquerer...

[Unregistered]

I think the OP was talking about being currently successful, not in the distant past like 1066 or 1966 or whatever.

So can you explain when either of these countries were "currently successful"?

[Unregistered]

Yeah right, the Central/South American coaches are the ones to be with? What a laugh. All poor scrubs from developing countries who don't squat about soccer.

Really? Chile and Uruguay have done a lot better than England of late. And btw Chile is no economic slouch.

[Unregistered]

So can you explain when either of these countries were "currently successful"?

In the land of anyone that hasn't won a recent World Cup is unsuccessful, perhaps you have a point.

However, if you seriously want to argue that the Dutch aren't significantly ahead of England in terms of development and play over the past several years then you are just trying to pick a fight.

[Unregistered]

Don't think it takes the money OUT - those systems use Transfer Fees to compensate the youth clubs as players who go on are sold - Ajax for example has been very profitable as a result, they sell their prospects and keep their first team on a short budget, best Dutch players work in England and Germany, Spain, Italy...