How to solve England's ills

[Doggy Styles]

England reached semi-finals of major tournaments in 1990 and 1996, and if they could take penalties they might have gone on to win them.

But since 1996 England have been on a consistent low, with this year being the worst - we were crap in South Africa, and got only one vote apart from our own in the world cup election.

Here's the answer - start by getting rid of Beckham. He's been a Jonah ever since he made his debut for England, straight after the 1996 tournament. He introduced the celebrity culture while playing and captaining all those disappointing tournaments since, and this year he was the assistant manager in South Africa and our "special ambassador" at the world cup bid.

England should forget using celebrity as a yardstick for someone's worth around the England football team. Unfortunately they are doing the opposite, there are now moves to make Beckham chairman of the FA.

[gingerjedi]

Do what the French did, clear 'em all out and start again.

It's the only way to cut out the cancer.

[swamp]

Completely agree.

Beckham has nothing to offer England.

[doodab]

Actually we were pretty good in 1998, and the game against Argentina was one of the the best of the tournament. 2002 we weren't brilliant but we weren't completely tulipe either, and in Euro 2004 we were as good as anyone until Rooney got hurt, even then we had a goal dubiously disallowed that would have seen us through to the semis.

You can hardly blame Beckham for "introducing celebrity culture". It's the media and the ***** who pay too much attention to it who are the problem. Cull the population of Britain by transmitting subconscious messages that induce suicide during the X factor (yes, I know it makes normal people suicidal but they are the ones we want to keep) and we'll be victorious in 2014. Or at least make the 3rd/4th play off.

[shaunbhoy]

Heard it all now. England's footballing woes all down to Beckham.

Might I remind you that without said Beckham, England might not even have made it to the 2002 World Cup?

The problems run a lot deeper than a few celebrities. Maybe if the "Best League in the World" was not full of foreigners, the standard of English players and their national team might be a tad higher?

[Doggy Styles]

Heard it all now. England's footballing woes all down to Beckham.

Might I remind you that without said Beckham, England might not even have made it to the 2002 World Cup?

The problems run a lot deeper than a few celebrities. Maybe if the "Best League in the World" was not full of foreigners, the standard of English players and their national team might be a tad higher?

Maybe, but I'll tell you what Teddy Sherringham said after that goal against Greece to qualify for the world cup (Sherringham 'won' that free kick). "It's about time he scored one. He'd missed the previous 10."

Through his career Beckham took every single free kick for England while he was on the pitch. If someone takes every single free kick, then obviously he is going to be the only one who ever scores or makes assists from them, regardless of his success rate. His success rate was at best average.

But back to the original post, which was a bit tongue in cheek but with a serious point to be made.

There is plenty in the English game that can be changed, but the subject of this thread is deliberately about just one of them. Coincidence or not, the facts speak for themselves - the higher up the England food chain that Beckham has risen, the worse England's fortunes have become. Now we're at a point where everyone is obsessed with him, and England have reached their lowest ebb.

[minestrone]

Too many foreigners.

And unlike your cricket team you cannot get them to play for you

Beckham was one of your best players for a long time so I do not know why he is getting the blame. I actually quite like the guy and in some ways (why am I saying this?) respect the chap.

[shaunbhoy]

Coincidence or not, the facts speak for themselves - the higher up the England food chain that Beckham has risen, the worse England's fortunes have become.

How exactly is it Beckham's fault that Lampard and Gerrard cannot string two passes together when they play in the same team? Similarly, how can he be held responsible for a string of goalkeeping howlers? Or for the fact that most english players, when the chips are down, cannot score penalties? Or for taking Walcott to the 2006 Finals simply to warm the bench?
He may not be everyone's cup of tea, but seeking to put the blame for all the English team's maladies at the door of one person is rather missing the point, not to say hugely churlish.

[configman]

Maybe if the "Best League in the World" was not full of foreigners, the standard of English players and their national team might be a tad higher?

Unfortunately same can be said about Commerce and Industry, more preference given to employing foreigners and the UK (not just England) is becoming weaker and weaker in everything. Looking back on my CV I have not worked with a team in England that is predominantly British since 2004. One of the reasons I am emigrating is that I no longer feel at home in my home - I am expected to adapt to the culture of the foreigners and that is only comfortable when I am the foreigner in a another country not at home. I think the same is of the England Team, they are English but are expected to adapt to the culture of an Italian or Swede, surely it should be the other way.

[doodab]

Maybe, but I'll tell you what Teddy Sherringham said after that goal against Greece to qualify for the world cup (Sherringham 'won' that free kick). "It's about time he scored one. He'd missed the previous 10."

Through his career Beckham took every single free kick for England while he was on the pitch. If someone takes every single free kick, then obviously he is going to be the only one who ever scores or makes assists from them, regardless of his success rate. His success rate was at best average.

I'd be interested if you actually have statistics on his and others success rate, or are just expressing an opinion. My guess would be his strike rate was on a par with other free kick specialists such as Roberto Carlos. The best I can find is that RC managed 11 goals in 125 games as opposed to Beckham's 17 in 115 games an England shirt. Not all from free kicks, obviously but I can't seem to find any detailed data.

I read somewhere that statistically speaking, shooting isn't the best use of a free kick, the strike rate even for the best is quite low. For example, this page states that only 5 players have managed to score twice from free kicks in world cup finals.