21/06/2002 - Entry #3
Update: Hehe. And for Ed's benefit, I'm not in the least bit offended by the latest Tv Go Home. If there's one thing I've learnt from my continued reading of Tv Go Home, it's that they loathe and despise all walks of human life with a furious passion that can never be quenched. Their bitter hatred for each and every human being in existance marches on undaunted by such trifling insignificances as what they've actually done to deserve such contempt. It doesn't matter what you like or dislike, Tv Go Home hate you with every shred of their being regardless. So I've learnt to just like what I like and hate what I hate, knowing deep down in the bottom of my heart that regardless of any of it, people will still detest me. It's what gets me through the day.
The interview went quite well, incidentally. It was very cursory, since Mychal, the interviewer, had another appointment to make. But for the short time we did chat, it all seemed to go fine. I'll hear from them in the next couple of days, and if it all went as well as I think it did, I'll start working their game at the beginning of next week.
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Did you see David Seaman after the match? The saddened frown? The dejected slump of his shoulders? His head hung in disbelief? Yeah, that's how I feel right now. *sigh*
I'm absolutely gutted. I mean, I suppose there's no shame in losing to Brazil, and we went into this competition with odds of something like 20-1 to win, and ended up as 10/3 (Blue Square even had us as 3/1 favourites). But still.
Sick.
I guess I ought to look forward to the Qualifiers, and Germany 2006. I'm slightly worried that both Seaman and Martyn might both be looking a little long in the tooth to play, which leaves the door wide open for David James. If there's one thing the England team doesn't need, it's David James in net. I can't remember a worse keeper representing our national side. He's terrible! I'd really like to see Paul Robinson preened for 2006. I adamantly want England to develop a much better youth training system, and bring more young talent onto the scene. Paul Robinson is already a superb keeper who looked totally capable in Europe two years ago at the tender age of 19. He's already the keeper for the England Under 21s, and 4 years is plenty of time for him to improve. Some of the youngsters coming through are great players (Seth Johnson, David Dunn, Alan Smith, etc.), and I'd so love to see them properly nurtured into world class players. It may even be too late for them, but surely it isn't for some of our real youngsters. Look at our Under 19 side two years ago. 4-0 win against Andorra. 5-0 win against the Faroe Islands. 2-1 win against Italy. Absolutely walked the group. Matthew Hamshaw scored three goals in three matches, and what happened to him since then? Lee Jackson scored two goals in the first 5 minutes against the Faroe Islands, and now he plays for Barrow AFC (yes). How did we do in 2002, though? 2-1 defeat to Italy. 3-1 defeat to Portugal. Failed to qualify. Surely we can build up the youth squads and get more quality youth players through camps like Ian St. John and the Mizuno School. Why can't we find more Jamie McMasters? The entire Leeds United team praise Jamie as being the best natural footballer they've ever seen, and he's only 16. Tyrone Thompson and Iain Hulme are both potentially incredible players for the future. Ian Dawes has played for the England U-15s, U-16s, and now the U-17s, but does anyone even know who he plays for? (Liverpool). People complain that England can't produce quality left-wingers, but Matthew Etherington represented England U-16s, U-18s, U-20s and U-21s. Marvin Brown, Chris Dillon, Alan Young, Chris McPhee, there are plenty of excellent prospective players on the up and up. Why can't we make something of that? Surely they can be encouraged to improve, instead of just left to rot on the bench. Does it really come down to the likes of Michael Chopra having to force his way into the spotlight due to being Asian? Every one of these players could be trained into the national role, I'm sure of it. Intrinsic talent plays a part, obviously, but some of these kids MUST have the talent. They just need more coaching, and better coaching. This is why I don't mind the insane amounts of money being poured into football today. Anything which will encourage youngsters to get into the game is fine by me. Foreign players flock to the European leagues not only cos of the mythos surrounding the game here, but also the huge wages to be earned. There's no reason why young players should be any different. If inflated wages and pure greed is what it takes to get young players into the game, so be it. I want to see top-class kids work up through the ranks, fully nurtured by their clubs and coaches and develop into some of the best players in the world.
The two players I'd most like to see in the England squad next time around are Paul Robinson and Alan Smith. The former I've explained, and the latter I adore. He battles, he scores, he gives it his all. A totally English player. He's played superbly for the Under-21s and Leeds, and he's shown that he can play up front, on the right wing, and remarkably on the left wing too. If there's a downside, it's that he has to watch his temper (much like Combative Defender Danny Mills, who, incidentally, has been excellent this World Cup).
Oh well. While England keep playing the long ball game with their 4-4-2 formation, with a squad still finding places for the likes of Teddy Sheringham and Martin Keown, I can't imagine we'll see youth players being preened for world-class status. We're just too stuck in our ways, perhaps. Even Eriksson seems to have adopted the Graham Hill method of play (for the record, I actually like the 4-4-2 formation. Just not when the ball's hoofed forward 40 yards from defence).
*sigh*.
I'm going to bed.
Please sign the Guestbook. For the love of God, sign it now.
P.S. Really do keep an eye out for Jamie McMaster though. If he lives up to his potential, he'll be the best English player of all time. Chopra could be a natural born goalscorer too. My personal tips for the future.
P.P.S. For those who don't know, our Euro 2004 Qualification matches are against Slovakia, Macedonia, Liechtenstein and Turkey. On paper, only Turkey seem threatening, but who knows.