FIFA U-20 World Cup. The cup that brought you Lionel Messi

[Doore]

Our current squad has a lot of overhyped players...most of whom aren't a patch on some of the talent we had even back in the 70's when we didn't qualify.....it was of course harder then as less teams.went to the finals.

 Too many foreigners etc will eventually as G Taylor has said will drain our resources, unless you somehow get lucky, or more of our young players look to make it abroad as say the French do.

  This side still, has Beckham and Neville, who were of the generation that Ferguson was forced to play in the Champions League by the 3 foreigners rule....so were given a kick start along with Butt and Scholes.

  Would they make it now?

Completely agree Reg.  However, in your first paragraph you said less teams qualified.  That should really say fewer teams qualified.  Woo, I corrected Reg!

[Reg Smeeton]

Woo, I corrected Reg!

   A fool's brain digests philosophy into folly, science into superstition, and art into pedantry......GB Shaw.

[Piemonte]

I dont believe that Beckham and Neville for example became the players they are because of early champions league experience.

They became the players they are through hard work, profesionalism and good coaching.

By that logic you could pop Pook and Holgate into a champions legue side and in 5 years they'd be ace. :?

[Doore]

Once again I admit defeat to the great Reg Smeeton.  He knows more than any mere mortal could ever know.

[Reg Smeeton]

I dont believe that Beckham and Neville for example became the players they are because of early champions league experience.

They became the players they are through hard work, profesionalism and good coaching.

By that logic you could pop Pook and Holgate into a champions legue side and in 5 years they'd be ace. :?

 This is a good argument....no doubt players like Beckham get to where they are because of talent, yet because football is a relatively short career, getting opportunity in a strong side at a good level of competition is crucial....

 Frank Lampard was voted no 2 player in the world.....yet at WHU he looked no better than OK, it wasn't until going to Chelsea to play CL that he thrived.

 Nevertheless he'll probably go through an England career having played 1 WC and flopped in that.

[Reg Smeeton]

Once again I admit defeat to the great Reg Smeeton.  He knows more than any mere mortal could ever know.

 Sorry Doore, I didn't realise I was in a competition with you......what's the prize?

[SwindonTartanArmy]

The foreign invasion has a lot to answer for PM.  I wonder how it'll effect England's national team in years to come.

if you take our current squad as an example it seems to be helping. best set of players (admittedly not showing it in performance terms, but i'd partly blame sven for that) we've had for years and it coincides with the massive boom in foreign players over here.

You could argue that as the proof that it is hindering the team. Probably the best, most talented group of players that england have had for decades, yet they still cant compete.

how do you figure that one then?

i thought the original point was that foreign players hinder the development of english talent, when this is the best crop of players we've had for 30 years and they had to break through in spite of this alleged negative foreign influence.

it all reminds me of the old "all these foreigners taking our jobs" argument used by ignorant idiots.

so, how exactly did foreign players stop our national side from under-performing at the world cup? because they all had good seasons until it came to sven organising them all....

Natural talent will nearly always break through. ie Rooney. However you could argue that there are a number of very good english players over the years that never really got a chance because of teams rather going for a quick fix foreign import. So many players over the years have been hailed as the new great white hop, but never really get a chance.

Wasnt Nigel Quashie being hailed as the next big thing when he played for the england u21s?

[Simon Pieman]

Interestingly some of the best English players of our time have emerged out of West Ham, where the investment and realisation in youth talent is evident. So I do think the whole foreign argument is valid.

If you look at Spain they don't realise their full potential either. Italy aren't as bad because they seem to 'top up' italian playing talent with foreign stars. All but the exception of the biggest teams (one of which is buggered now). I think playing in the same league forges a bond as well (for the older players). That was a big contributing factor in Italy's win in the world cup I feel, perhaps England could emulate this?

At the end of the day we're a nation of bottlers.

[janaage]

OF said "it all reminds me of the old "all these foreigners taking our jobs" argument used by ignorant idiots"

No I'm not arguing about talented foreign players coming to our shores and playing for our top clubs I just think there are too way average foreigners plying their trade in the top flight (and Championship for that matter) which means the British players have less of an opportunity to play at the highest level.

Look at players like Paul Lambert and John Collins, both went abroad played at Champions League level and Scotland reaped the rewards.  Hopefully with Celtic playing more Scots and Gary O'Connor playing in Moscow the youngsters will get used to competing with the best and take that to the international level.

[Stef Troll]

Well im hoping the Czechs win now as ive stuck a few notes on them to win the game today at evens money.  

[oxford_fan]

No I'm not arguing about talented foreign players coming to our shores and playing for our top clubs I just think there are too way average foreigners plying their trade in the top flight (and Championship for that matter) which means the British players have less of an opportunity to play at the highest level.

thats true, but the foreigners wouldn't be in the side if they weren't better than the equivalent english talent.

i'd agree with some sort of capping whereby you're not allowed more than 5 foreign players in your matchday squad.

[SwindonTartanArmy]

No I'm not arguing about talented foreign players coming to our shores and playing for our top clubs I just think there are too way average foreigners plying their trade in the top flight (and Championship for that matter) which means the British players have less of an opportunity to play at the highest level.

thats true, but the foreigners wouldn't be in the side if they weren't better than the equivalent english talent.

i'd agree with some sort of capping whereby you're not allowed more than 5 foreign players in your matchday squad.

They are not better, just the same but cheaper.

[oxford_fan]

i missed out the word "value" after "better"

[Doore]

Unfotunately we are in the realms of idealism versus realism.  Ideally clubs would buy the British option, but the foreign option is cheaper.  Therefore managers and Chairmen go for the cheaper option to protcect their clubs. Its the way the market works.  Its interesting that when a major tournament has recently been played that we talk about football in terms of whats good for the national game, but once the club season starts we will all be looking out for our own clubs once again.  For example, if Darren Bent is rated at ten million, it is likely you can pick up a similar player for half that, spend the other half on another decent player.  Any fan of their club would want to take the second option.

[Stef Troll]

Fair play to Scotland.  They had too much grit and determination for the poor Czechs nd proved me wrong