PHOTO: Is the English national team regressing or progressing? see what Joey Barton thinks

The England national team should be one of the best  in the world, given that the Premier league is the best league in the world, in terms of viewership, sponsorhsip deals and its competitiveness. But unfortunately it is not, as all these are not reflecting on the English national team as it ought to, just like in Spain, and Germany.

The English national team is no where near the likes of Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina or even Zambia...and other top ranked natiopnal teams around the world, as their leagues are structured in a way that the philosophies of teams are also carrried into the national team, but not in England.

One of the contributory factors as to why the English national teams have suffered over the years, is becuasue of the absence of English managers in the top five or eight clubs in the Premier League. Unlike in Germany, Spain and France where there are less of foreign managers, the top teams in the English Premier league are virtually dominated by foreign managers. These managers also do not trust the English players, as once they are appointed, they bring in their own foreign players from previous club, who understands their philosophies to come play for them, thereby sideling the English player or make the English player do all the running in his team...lol...

It is said that England is the home of football, and the national team has produced some of football greats. But placing those names side by side with others on the international stage, you discover that those names are not that great afterall. I do not mean to be rude, but looking at the players produced by England, how many of those players can raise their heads up high and say they can stand shoulder to shoulder with what football has seen for the last two to three decades? none!

England has what it takes to build a strong national team, but will the media allow the coaches to pick their players and not hype a player for a coach to pick him, just because he is playing for Manchester United, or Spurs or Arsenal and Chelsea. If the player is good, the manager will know, and see how such a player can fit to his philosophy.

The English media has been identified as one of the factors also affecting the national team. They  just do not  know how football works, especially when it comes to talent, and what player has what it takes and who doesn't. It took the country decades to win a FIFA competition, with six of the first eleven being players of Nigerian origin; and you ask yourself what happens if those boys decides to switch allegiance? 

The team they have right now, still cannot compete in big stage. Fine they have qualified for the world cup, which is not a surprise, as the world knows, England are good at qualifying to a major competition, but lack the talent to actually play in those competition. This was why Joey Barton has questioned whether the if the team is progressing or actually regressing. See his post:

 "It's incredible to see how far we have regressed as a footballing nation despite having the best players and managers all around."