Mentality of English football

It's laughable that England fans moan at the standard of technical players in the country when all they do is criticise the ones we do have. England will never ever be a nation that plays technical football from the back because it is not in our identity. Right from kids football down the park to the Premier League itself, we value CBs who make blocks and clearances over those who intercept and build attacks. We value CMs with the better stats rather than the ones who are brave on the ball under pressure and can play. We also value pacy one dimensional wingers over clever no 10s

Case Study 1 - John Stones

Stones has struggled this year in a Martinez-coached defence. His team have conceded a lot of goals, and so questions have rightly been asked of him. Not sure where the critics of Coleman, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Jagielka etc. are, but Stones in particular has been ridiculed, often for trying to play out from the back and, occasionally, getting caught out. It's an almost identical situation to Rio Ferdinand at that age who made numerous high profile errors, was told he wasn't a natural defender, and was suggested to play in midfield instead

While it's doubtless that Stones has a lot of improving to do (which CB is top class at 21? Certainly not the CBs held in the highest regard today) the benefits of him playing for England is huge. He suits international football

Partnering Smalling and Cahill is disastrous because it is simply not possible to build from the back with them and you have to use the long ball far more often than you would like. Smalling in particular is a clown in possession. England fans will have him as their no 1 CB because he's quick and strong. And his qualities are useful, but only if he's next to a more cultured CB (think Blind at Utd)

I look forward to the Euros when Smalling and Cahill receive possession, can't do anything with it, and pass to the FBs/GK all game

Even our goal yesterday came from a pass between the lines from Stones. It allows you to play through teams

Case Study 2 - Jack Wilshere

Forgetting his injury problems, England fans still don't rate this guy. Why? Because he doesn't score goals...

Watching runners like Milner and Henderson (tragic that they will be going to the Euros) only makes you appreciate Wilshere more. He is just everything that they aren't. A gifted passer and dribbler, who can take the ball in tight spaces and turn defence into attack. England fans will prefer average CMs like Noble and Drinkwater though

Case Study 3 - Adam Lallana

Was bashed on here yesterday even though he clearly had a decent game. People don't understand his game. He brings fluidity and a link between the midfield and attack, starting moves and retaining possession. You can't just field an XI of players with the best stats and think it will work. You also can't field players who are uncomfortable with the ball and think they won't play terribly. At international football in particular having talentless workhorses is even less useful than in the prem, as it's played at a slower tempo where you could be exposed

Even at RB Clyne is regarded highly and I'm not sure why. Walker's performance yesterday was much better than Clyne's on Saturday and that's not to say Walker is great or anything, just think people's perceptions on players are often incorrect, just because Clyne played for a fashionable club like Southampton while Walker was under the spotlight at Spurs at a young age, making mistakes