The majority of clubs in the premiership rely on talent imported from Europe, Africa and elsewhere to support their bids for success in both the premiership and in Europe. The top English teams rarely play a majority of home based players, sometimes there is barely an English player on the pitch. And English players are barely represented abroad – the only foreign based player in the last England game plies his trade in America – which doesn’t really count, despite its name, as a major league.

The atrocious levels of intrusion by the English media will leave any manager of the English national team with zero private life. The coverage of the private life of Sven-Goran Eriksson filled both back and front pages – there was even a recent story linking him with an amorous encounter with a younger woman who he had apparently kissed – turned out to be his daughter. This, along with the downright insulting headlines about managers such as Graham Taylor and Steve Maclaren, must turn many potential managers away from the game.

Too frequently English players are outshone on the pitch by foreign players who can trap, hold and pass the ball with ease and panache when the English game seems to be more of a kick and charge or pass and stand about. We lack the basic skills which are taught in other countries before matches are even considered.