24 Feb 2018 04:10:59
Here is a question for you folks. Why can't english football produce players capable of dictating the tempo of there game? I feel I appreciate a player like Scholes more now than I did at the time. However, since Scholes and Gerrard have called time on their career, England don't seem to have a great passer of the ball or someone who can dictate the tempo. Carrick is another who was good at this but obviously he is retiring. Where have these types of players gone? Players like Gerrard and Scholes were so technically gifted, and it just doesn't seem like those calibre of player are being produced any more, is it because Scholes was such a special player? Kroos is the closest I've seen to Scholes in my opinion.
Just interested in your thoughts, after all I'm an Irish fan so I'm used to watching steve Davis or Glenn Whelan. A far cry from the likes of Keano!
Caolán.

1.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 09:19:39
I feel that most players natural ability is trained out of them by the time they get to regular first team football, too many rules and restrictions and not enough let them be who they are. I realise players need to understand team play and tactical things but in England especially it seems almost as if they are told not to utilise their natural skills.

2.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 10:05:03
Too much emphasis on this country in being physical and athletic rather than technical and gifted. Often when I was younger I remember one of my friends who was a powerhouse striker with pace and strength but couldn’t finish to save his life was picked over someone who was clearly more gifted and technically superior. As WRD says either it gets coached out of the lads or these technical players are cast aside from a young age for being too small and they never find a way back in. Shame really as we have seen at united size and height does not necessarily translate to success.

3.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 10:16:23
Caolon_2,if you get a minute, check out the likes of what ajax were doing from the mid-eighties, its only now were starting to realise their way is the right way, also, what manager now has the luxury to take the time to teach methodology and technical awareness, hence why the short-term fix is go foreign, we need the likes of liam brady to be brought in, now there's a player to learn from!

4.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 11:42:55
The problem with creating a team of athletes is you go to a World Cup with a midfield 3 of henderson, Alli (who is severely overrated) and Livermore. I’d love ya to bring through a player or two who have the ability to control games, and just be an all round midfielder. Gomes looks to be the best in our youth at the moment for technical ability, but like you have been saying he way the English game is I won’t be surprised to see it being years before he gets a chance.

5.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 11:44:21
Class of 82, isn’t Liam Brady one of the most respected youth coaches around? Not to sure what our coaching staff is like at youth level at the moment.

6.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 14:02:16
Wilshere could have been. We have too much emphasis on athleticism rather than control and skills.
Instead of running around a pitch without a ball, do it with a ball each at a young level. Practice shielding against multiple players with both feet having to be used.

7.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 14:47:02
John Carver among others said I was too small at 15 to be a pro. Good coming from a fat chappie.

8.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 16:12:08
Caolan I totally agree. there are some very talented youngesters coming through in gomes, sancho and foden but are they going to be given a chance? Sancho is flourishing at Dortmund and looks a fantastic player. I think we do have technically gifted players but it seems it gets coached out of them when they break into the first team. Wilshere springs to mind although that is most likely down to his injuries. One of the most ridiculous things I have seen recently is Everton loan out Lookman to RB Leipzig and have spent 30 odd million on Walcott whilst Lookman is not playing fairly regularly for Leipzig. I think he scored the winner on his debut. It is this sort of short termism that is killing the English youth. the fact we will have a midfield of livermore henderson and alli going into the world cup is bordering on embarrassment.

9.) 24 Feb 2018
24 Feb 2018 20:38:23
Caolon_2,yep, brady is widely respected AND wasted at arsenal, he has helped bring through loads of youth players who hit the barrier of going as far as the reserves and having to move on, only wilshire i think has made the switch, but for me, brady is all about helping the next generation, doesn't court the limelight and is open-minded in his approach to new methods of teaching, put that together with his studious nature and the fact he's a good man, i think he'd be a revelation coaching at united, but alas his loyalty to the arse (like pat rice) means this probably will never happen, a shame though.