Why is the standard of British-African football poor?

[emir]

As the African Cup of Nations is on currently, it got me thinking hard. There are 90 players in the AFCON, who happen to be born in France, whereas in comparison, England only has 4 players. The French NT is currently stacked with talent of French players of African descent. During the WC final, there were 5 French players, who were of African background, and all their 3 substitutes in the game were of French-African background. Then, we can look at the German NT and recently they have started to produce great players who have African background, players like Boateng, Rudiger, Gnabry and Belgium are producing the likes of Lukaku, Batshuayi, Kompany, Origi, Dembele, etc. Then you look at the English NT and there are currently no players of African background on the team. Arguably, the best player to have played for England in the last decade, of African heritage, was Welbeck and he is a bang average player. Players like Jordon Ibe showed glimpses of brilliance but in the end, they failed to impress. Then, you have players like Iwobi and Zaha, who were deemed not good enough by England.

Historically, the BAME group who represent England in international football are always the Caribbeans but we all know that Caribbean football standard is generally a lot lower than African football. In Britain, this is the opposite and what are the reasons behind this? This is an issue for England as other European nations like France, Belgium, Germany have benefited greatly from this department and England haven't.

 

[Death]

Just look at how some Toffees treated Anichebe and how we massively played him out of position. And things will start to come clear.

 

[TheBigIguana]

I don't think this is as bad as you're making it sound. First the current team has Dele Alli and Barkley who are both eligible for Nigeria plus presumably when healthy Hudson-Odoi who can play for Ghana. Second the current youth teams have a TON of players who fit this description. Off the top of my head Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Tammy Abraham, Lookman, Reiss Nelson and I think both of the CBs from the u21s team that finishes up the tournament this week are all eligible for African nations.

I'm also not sure why the standard of Caribbean football matters as most of the players who make it and are eligible to also play for nations in Africa or the Caribbean grow up in England/France/Germany/Belgium and are trained there.Right now Sterling, Sancho, Walker and Rashford all fall into this category so excluding that same type of pipeline makes it look like England aren't taking advantage of something that they kind of are.

 

[Hibbo]

I don't think this is as bad as you're making it sound. First the current team has Dele Alli and Barkley who are both eligible for Nigeria plus presumably when healthy Hudson-Odoi who can play for Ghana. Second the current youth teams have a TON of players who fit this description. Off the top of my head Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, Tammy Abraham, Lookman, Reiss Nelson and I think both of the CBs from the u21s team that finishes up the tournament this week are all eligible for African nations.

I'm also not sure why the standard of Caribbean football matters as most of the players who make it and are eligible to also play for nations in Africa or the Caribbean grow up in England/France/Germany/Belgium and are trained there.Right now Sterling, Sancho, Walker and Rashford all fall into this category so excluding that same type of pipeline makes it look like England aren't taking advantage of something that they kind of are.

Really??? You learn something new every day.

 

[TheBigIguana]

Really??? You learn something new every day.

Yes Ross dad is Nigerian so he could have played for them. He isn't close with his dad I don't think, hence the surname Barkley which is his mother's, so it is doubtful he would have played for them but he does fall into this category.

 

[f.t.r.s]

Maybe because there's no such thing?
If you're British then you're British, regardless of race, religion and origin....

 

[DrEFC]

Yes Ross grandad is Nigerian so he could have played for them. He isn't close with his dad I don't think, hence the surname Barkley which is his mother's, so it is doubtful he would have played for them but he does fall into this category.

 

[chrismpw]

I don't think it's down to heritage, it's down to the fact they've been through the over controlling British FA system (by which I mean coaches all having their same FA badges). Any flair or uniqueness is coached out of them in an effort to ensure they just make simple keep - ball passes and avoid defeat.

Plus there's the crippling pressure put on them by the British media desperate for a story to sell, to collect mney for their owners, meaning that every error on the pitch or faux pas in a private life is trumpeted from the rooftops.

Brittle confidence, little flair or creativity are the result. Sound familiar?

 

[kev]

I don't think it's down to heritage, it's down to the fact they've been through the over controlling British FA system (by which I mean coaches all having their same FA badges). Any flair or uniqueness is coached out of them in an effort to ensure they just make simple keep - ball passes and avoid defeat.

Plus there's the crippling pressure put on them by the British media desperate for a story to sell, to collect mney for their owners, meaning that every error on the pitch or faux pas in a private life is trumpeted from the rooftops.

Brittle confidence, little flair or creativity are the result. Sound familiar?

You think that only applies to people of British/African descent??????

 

[chrismpw]

You think that only applies to people of British/African descent??????

Not in the slightest. It explains the reticent dirge the English team consistently churn up irrespective of racial background.

 

[kev]

Not in the slightest. It explains the reticent dirge the English team consistently churn up irrespective of racial background.

So nothing to do with the original post . . . . . . reported for off topic lol

 

[chrismpw]

So nothing to do with the original post . . . . . . reported for off topic lol

It relates to the post as it attempts to explain why those of African descent passing through the British system don't appear to be as good as those who go through eg the French system. That's exactly on topic you horror!

 

[McBain]

Oh I don’t know maybe its because your massive racists? Yeah not Rocket Science this.

Current World Number One Womens Tennis Pro is Ash Barty is an Indigenous Aussie girl BTW and youse just had to cheat VAR to beat Cameroon.

Boris Johnson about to be your PM.

You got a lot of problems FYI.

 

[kev]

Oh I don’t know maybe its because your massive racists? Yeah not Rocket Science this.

Current World Number One Womens Tennis Pro is Ash Barty is an Indigenous Aussie girl BTW and youse just had to cheat VAR to beat Cameroon.

Boris Johnson about to be your PM.

You got a lot of problems FYI.

Can't argue with the last bit

 

[degsy]

As the African Cup of Nations is on currently, it got me thinking hard. There are 90 players in the AFCON, who happen to be born in France, whereas in comparison, England only has 4 players. The French NT is currently stacked with talent of French players of African descent. During the WC final, there were 5 French players, who were of African background, and all their 3 substitutes in the game were of French-African background. Then, we can look at the German NT and recently they have started to produce great players who have African background, players like Boateng, Rudiger, Gnabry and Belgium are producing the likes of Lukaku, Batshuayi, Kompany, Origi, Dembele, etc. Then you look at the English NT and there are currently no players of African background on the team. Arguably, the best player to have played for England in the last decade, of African heritage, was Welbeck and he is a bang average player. Players like Jordon Ibe showed glimpses of brilliance but in the end, they failed to impress. Then, you have players like Iwobi and Zaha, who were deemed not good enough by England.

Historically, the BAME group who represent England in international football are always the Caribbeans but we all know that Caribbean football standard is generally a lot lower than African football. In Britain, this is the opposite and what are the reasons behind this? This is an issue for England as other European nations like France, Belgium, Germany have benefited greatly from this department and England haven't.

Erm, cricket and rugby?