Soccer Type People: A Kwerstion

[War Machine Dawg]

How have the Brits become so terrible in futbol? I know Beckham retiring didn't help, but they weren't that great even when he was playing. Seems as if they've gotten really bad in the last 4 years, though. Just not producing enough quality British players, poor evaluation, coaching? What gives?

[messageboardsuperhero]

I'm no soccer expert, but personally, I don't think they've really produced enough elite level athletes to hang with the Brazil's, Germany's, Argentina's, etc. of the world. Yes, they are always solid from top to bottom and fundamentally sound- but none of them wow you with their athleticism, and this hurts them against teams that are just as polished as them.

[Intramural All-American]

Here's the thing, the EPL is the greatest soccer league in the world. But when you think of the teams, the best players are foreigners. Van Persie, Aguero, Suarez, Toure, Hazard, Dzeko, Giroud, Lukaku are all elite goal scorers, and they all are from other countries. You do have Rooney and Sturridge, but Rooney just seems to struggle in international play (Sturridge is a freak) Manchester City is made up almost entirely of foreign players. England is by no means bad, but they are just not a world power. However, they have some young players who are extremely talented (Shaw, Barkley, Sturridge, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain) and they will be tough to deal with going forward.

[Dawg61]

England struggles to score and one of the greats Rooney is on the downside of his career. When England gets elite strikers they'll be good. Suarez is elite and he ripped them a new one today fresh off of knee surgery and not 100%.

[rabbitthedawg]

They have some damn good golfers.

[ShotgunDawg]

When you think of England, think of the Big 10/ Notre Dame. They invented the sport, really care, and they get a lot o hype, but, in the end, their recruiting area is full of thick ankled white guys.

[SignalToNoise]

Here's the thing, the EPL is the greatest soccer league in the world. But when you think of the teams, the best players are foreigners. Van Persie, Aguero, Suarez, Toure, Hazard, Dzeko, Giroud, Lukaku are all elite goal scorers, and they all are from other countries. You do have Rooney and Sturridge, but Rooney just seems to struggle in international play (Sturridge is a freak) Manchester City is made up almost entirely of foreign players. England is by no means bad, but they are just not a world power. However, they have some young players who are extremely talented (Shaw, Barkley, Sturridge, Sterling, Oxlade-Chamberlain) and they will be tough to deal with going forward.

Good post with good points.

Sturridge will be a good one.

[DudyDawg]

Biggest problem you highlighted.

Very solid, not elite. Basically they have a ton of NBA all stars but no LeBron's or Kobe's. A ton of good players, no huge weaknesses, but no great players who can score five goals in a tournament and win it for you