Is Raheem Sterling Really Too Good for the 21's?

Southgate should be able to pick the best players for his squad, so why can't he choose Sterling?

Qualification for Euro 2016 is as good as confirmed after just one game. That away win to Switzerland was impressive, both in terms of result and performance. We must now prepare for 2016 in the 'right way' and with it being over 18 months away we have a lot of time to build the squad and prepare our players. Next summer is the U21 Euro's in the Czech Republic. Last time around England embarrassed themselves with as abject a performance as has been seen for some time. Pearce could take some blame yet he was understandably frustrated that he was denied some of the best players eligible for that tournament. We must not let this happen again. So why are we with Raheem Sterling?

What is evident for English football is that we have a new generation of talent coming through and emerging. This not only gives us hope for the future, but allows us to build a new way forward. 

In the game against Switzerland it was pleasing to see Hodgson exploit the talents and attributes of Welbeck and Sterling and allow them to counter attack with their speed. This is a tactic I believe England should be trying to embrace at international level for the next Euro’s. Counter-pressing has become a very effective and successful style of play seen in the success of Real Madrid, Dortmund and Atletico Madrid in recent seasons. The players in the England squad suit this system more so than a possession based, build up play. 

Now whether we can truly put our faith in Hodgson to lead this new generation with the modern tactics and methods required has already been questioned after Brasil and this blog has its doubts over Hodgson’s suitability and approach. Although he has made some gaffes recently it was his comments of acceptance regarding England’s performance which frustrated me most about the manager. He simply cannot accept mediocre levels if we wish to succeed. And this brings me on to the Under-21’s.

A new era, yet same problems

Stuart Pearce had to go. He was tactically poor, evidently frustrated and becoming an ever growing isolated figure at the FA. He was seen as the ‘old school’ FA and Dan Ashworth wished for something new. Whether a Hodgson/Gareth Southgate duo is one of modernity is questionable yet in fairness to Southgate, what he has done has been positive so far. He has spoken well in terms of what he expect from the players, the commitment they must show and the importance of these players being regularly playing for their teams. He is hitting all the right notes. 

And yet on the issue of Raheem Sterling he (understandably but disappointingly) has towed the FA line. He has spoken of Sterling as being a player who ‘too good for the Under-21’s’. Really? The worry is we are seeing a similar issue as to what happened to Pearce in 2013.

Southgate has sought to justify not including Sterling, as he says “Raheem is one who I don’t say is finished at this level but, clearly, having played in the World Cup, he’s now made himself pretty much a first-choice for the senior team."

And highlighting his frustrations with Hodgson not allowing Sterling to play for him he says, “Whilst as a coach you always want the best possible players available, sometimes I don’t think it is the right or appropriate challenge for the individual player,” 

Yet it was this comment which puzzled me and which once again highlighted the problem with how we perceive youth teams in England. The culture is wrong, “What would we get back in terms of his feelings and his mood? He is a great professional, I have to say, so I am sure he would react to it in the right way because he did when he came back with us last year. His training was fantastic. But are you going to get exactly the same performance? He has got England seniors, he has got Liverpool with the league, he has got Liverpool with the Champions League. On the list of priorities, the 21s wouldn’t necessarily be so high. For the group, you think you’re bringing back the best players but it wouldn’t necessarily guarantee you get a better performance whereas the boys with us this week, for them this is everything.”

Whether this is the FA talking or Southgate’s own views I am not sure, but there is clearly a sense that Sterling is viewed as ‘too good for the 21’s’, which I am sorry to say simply isn’t true! Yes he is an exceptional talent yet does this mean he cannot play for the 21's? There are some talented players coming through the system who will play for the 21’s this Friday against Croatia in the play-off. Why isn’t Sterling there? This is a big game for English football, and will be more challenging than a game against San Marino. It all comes back to the cultural approach of English football and the perception of youth levels.

As Stuart Pearce has said this week, "You pick anyone age-appropriate that you need and, after that, I'll take whatever I've got. That includes Sterling. It's for the greater good of England. As I've said before, unless we start winning things at youth level, it won't replicate itself at senior level. We're trying to fix the roof before the foundations."

We neglect, others embrace. Who's better?

Let us compare to other nations and see what our problem is. Now for youth players, a key opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of international football is through tournaments. 

In the 2011 Under 21 tournament England were a mockery, and it was a key indicator that we simply do not value players gaining experience. Stuart Pearce was adamant that England’s top young players should have gone to the Under 21 Euro’s yet too many dropped out. Fast forward to 2013 and we saw the same situation again. England came to the tournament with players for the most part devoid of Premier League experience. Effectively it was a Championship Under 21 team. This is not conducive to success and is damning indictment to the growing issue of the Premier League.

Now whether it is some sort of arrogance in our nation (which is founded on nothing) that some players feel above the Under 21’s, that it is viewed as inferior, I am not sure. Unfortunately England has a habit of 'fast tracking' talented youngsters through the youth system straight up to the senior side. 

Yet when there is a tournament surely those who are legible to play should be representing their country? It seems ludicrous to think a friendly versus Brasil is more important than an actual tournament? Yet that is how the England team is viewed. No wonder we struggle in tournaments, our young players are not used to them.

Remember when Spain's Cesc Fabregas and Germanys Mesut Ozil all gained their first experience of international tournaments at Under-21 level. Were these experiences key to their rise to their levels of quality? It certainly would have helped. What about when Argentina's Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero represented their country in the 2008 Olympics. Not only was it an honour for them, they won gold and they are now two of the best in the world. I cannot stress the importance we need to place on having our youth participate in this events. Players should be playing throughout their age groups to experience tournament play and the feeling of the ‘big games’. 

In 2011 Spain took World Cup winners Juan Mata and Javi Martinez to the Under 21’s and won the tournament. Unlike some English players they did not reject calls from their country, these players did not feel superior to this level and came back victorious, giving Spain more silverware and importantly experience of tournament football. In 2013 Spain took Thiago Alcantara, Isco, De Gea, Koke, Muniain and many other talented players. These were not fast tracked into the seniors too early. 

Spain appreciate nurturing their new generation together as a group and also importantly see the value and need to ‘win’ and ‘succeed’. They have understood the key methods of youth development through their coaching, style and philosophy. They also respect and understand that tournament football for their youth sides is not only important for the player to experience those kind of games and environments but also to build team cohesion for the coming decade.

When you look at Spain’s success, their cohesiveness has come from development through the youth ranks of international football. Their recent success has been built on the education and experience of players gained through youth competitions. The bonds built, the knowledge gained at top level tournaments, and the relationships built between players, both on and off the pitch, have laid the foundation for the side we see today.

The worry for England has always been the neglect or even arrogance shown to these youth competitions, where many players (with clubs pulling the strings) will choose not to travel and represent their country. Many believe themselves to be too good for that level or prefer to preserve themselves for the more important season ahead for their clubs. This has led to a lack of experience and minimised the cohesion between players. Development and progression into the senior ranks is diminished.

There is clearly a lack of respect given to international youth tournaments. In the best interests of talented English players, the FA and clubs should continue to work together to support the production of talented English players for England teams but there needs to be greater enforcement of talented English players experiencing international football at age specific levels.

A key opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of international football is through tournaments. When there is a tournament, surely those who are eligible to play should represent their country? Yet we seem to have perennial issues of injury and unavailability. No wonder we struggle in tournaments, our young players are not used to them.

The FA must seek to make sure their youth sides are filled with the most talented players available. They need to be harder on clubs to make sure players attend matches when called up and they need to stop ‘fast tracking’ talented young players to the senior set up… where they often just sit on the bench. Quite frankly the FA needs to show more support for international youth tournaments by making sure the best team is assembled.

Selecting the strongest squad to achieve qualification for next year’s U21 Euro’s would have been a start. If they do qualify, which I hope they do, then Southgate should have the freedom to pick whoever he wishes next summer and should not be dictated to by Hodgson, or any club manager. 

It should be an honour to represent your nation, at whatever level, and England need to start winning these type of tournaments. The proof is in the examples of recent winners Spain and Germany. We have talent coming through now, we must nurture and develop this talent properly. If we continue to do what we have done previously then we simply fail this generation like we did the last.

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