Peter Anderson ⚽ I was reading an article the other day about Harry Maguire and the World Cup when I noticed a surprising stat: Maguire is 29 years old. 

So what? 

Not that it is very surprising, it is just that England have lost another "golden generation" of centre-backs since the retirement of Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher and Ledley King. Let me explain. A year or so ago, I wrote an article about the golden generation of young English keepers, none of whom made it to the top of the game. Kirkland, Robinson, Wright, Green, Nicky Weaver etc were widely hailed as a golden generation of keepers, yet not one of them went on to perform consistently at the highest level of the game.

As English world class centre-backs Ferdinand, Terry, Carra and King were retiring it seemed that their boots would be filled by the plethora of young English talent coming through. Now, that generation are hitting their thirties and, like the keepers, none of them has fulfiled their potential. Ten years ago the pundits were getting excited about the talent on show at centre-back. Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, John Stones, Chris Smalling, Tyrone Mings, Mason Holgate, Ben Gibson, Michael Keane, Conor Coady et al were being touted as the next John Terrys. Unlike Terry, not one is a world class centre-back. It could be argued that if John Stones hadn't been hampered by injury then he would be world class. I guess we'll never know. The rest are all also-rans in the race for the top.

Harry Maguire is certainly the poster boy for English failure in this department. An averagely good defender at Leicester City, he was bought by Man U for £80m in 2019. Most people thought he was not up to the required level for Man U and certainly not at that price, but a collective madness had infected the club at this time and he was promoted above his capabilities. Much to the joy of Man U haters, who revelled in the fact that he cost more than Virgil van Dijk.

Dier is another interesting case. He started as a midfielder for Spurs and showed good potential, but he was moved back into defence were he looks bang average.

Tyrone Mings was another "hot ticket" but he too has failed to live up to expectations. At the start of the season he couldn't make it onto the Villa first team and missed the World Cup due to his frequent mistakes. He looked pretty good at the Euros a few years ago but his form soon tailed off. Probably the worst defender on the list is Keane. Everton paid Burnley £30m for this dud and he has gone on to epitomise everything that is wrong with Everton's recruitment policy. They have spent over £700m on an awful squad. When Keane plays you can guarantee a colossal mistake or an own goal, thankfully for Everton he rarely plays.

Smalling was another one promoted above his ability. Initially touted as the new Ferdinand, Man U bought him in 2010, were he quickly failed to shine. Apparently he is now playing exceptionally well at Roma, but failed to make the recent England World Cup. It seems that ship has sailed. As it also has for Ben Gibson, nephew of Middlesboro chairman, Steve Gibson. He shined at his uncle's club, but when he made the step up to the EPL with Burnley he looked completely out of his depth and was quickly loaned to Norwich.

The England national team has done really well of late and look sound enough at the back. It could be argued that that is down to the abilities of keeper Pickford, and Walker and Shaw at full back. Maguire, Dier and Stones seem to rotate in the two centre-back spots and do alright. The defensive unit being stronger than the individuals available. In football it seems that good young players are like London buses, and fulfilling that early potential is much harder than we can imagine.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

Lost Golden Generation

Peter Anderson ⚽ I was reading an article the other day about Harry Maguire and the World Cup when I noticed a surprising stat: Maguire is 29 years old. 

So what? 

Not that it is very surprising, it is just that England have lost another "golden generation" of centre-backs since the retirement of Ferdinand, Terry, Carragher and Ledley King. Let me explain. A year or so ago, I wrote an article about the golden generation of young English keepers, none of whom made it to the top of the game. Kirkland, Robinson, Wright, Green, Nicky Weaver etc were widely hailed as a golden generation of keepers, yet not one of them went on to perform consistently at the highest level of the game.

As English world class centre-backs Ferdinand, Terry, Carra and King were retiring it seemed that their boots would be filled by the plethora of young English talent coming through. Now, that generation are hitting their thirties and, like the keepers, none of them has fulfiled their potential. Ten years ago the pundits were getting excited about the talent on show at centre-back. Harry Maguire, Eric Dier, John Stones, Chris Smalling, Tyrone Mings, Mason Holgate, Ben Gibson, Michael Keane, Conor Coady et al were being touted as the next John Terrys. Unlike Terry, not one is a world class centre-back. It could be argued that if John Stones hadn't been hampered by injury then he would be world class. I guess we'll never know. The rest are all also-rans in the race for the top.

Harry Maguire is certainly the poster boy for English failure in this department. An averagely good defender at Leicester City, he was bought by Man U for £80m in 2019. Most people thought he was not up to the required level for Man U and certainly not at that price, but a collective madness had infected the club at this time and he was promoted above his capabilities. Much to the joy of Man U haters, who revelled in the fact that he cost more than Virgil van Dijk.

Dier is another interesting case. He started as a midfielder for Spurs and showed good potential, but he was moved back into defence were he looks bang average.

Tyrone Mings was another "hot ticket" but he too has failed to live up to expectations. At the start of the season he couldn't make it onto the Villa first team and missed the World Cup due to his frequent mistakes. He looked pretty good at the Euros a few years ago but his form soon tailed off. Probably the worst defender on the list is Keane. Everton paid Burnley £30m for this dud and he has gone on to epitomise everything that is wrong with Everton's recruitment policy. They have spent over £700m on an awful squad. When Keane plays you can guarantee a colossal mistake or an own goal, thankfully for Everton he rarely plays.

Smalling was another one promoted above his ability. Initially touted as the new Ferdinand, Man U bought him in 2010, were he quickly failed to shine. Apparently he is now playing exceptionally well at Roma, but failed to make the recent England World Cup. It seems that ship has sailed. As it also has for Ben Gibson, nephew of Middlesboro chairman, Steve Gibson. He shined at his uncle's club, but when he made the step up to the EPL with Burnley he looked completely out of his depth and was quickly loaned to Norwich.

The England national team has done really well of late and look sound enough at the back. It could be argued that that is down to the abilities of keeper Pickford, and Walker and Shaw at full back. Maguire, Dier and Stones seem to rotate in the two centre-back spots and do alright. The defensive unit being stronger than the individuals available. In football it seems that good young players are like London buses, and fulfilling that early potential is much harder than we can imagine.

Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports

13 comments:

  1. Delle Alli in midfield also crashed and burned for some inexplicable reason.

    Still, As Joey Barton points out why do the English FA consistently reward failure? Woodgate has won FA and still gets the job renewed.

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  2. Steve R
    Yes, football is littered with bright young things that don't quite cut the mustard. It fascinates me. Remember Frannie Jeffers? The fox in the box! Delle is the latest to crash and burn, but won't be the last.

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    Replies
    1. Tell me about it. My son has been told he has the goods to turn professional but he's little interest. Just wants to play community football with his mates. Flipping would have given my right arm for that chance at his age!

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    2. Wow! To earn a living from playing any sport would be just incredible. They say youth is wasted on the young!

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    3. It really is. Lovely left foot and prolific goal scorer at junior level, bumped up early by his teams. Tried to push him... "Nope".....

      Maddening...

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  3. I think they will win the Euros next time around.

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  4. Seems Man City have been caught cooking the books.....

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    Replies
    1. My son told me that - they might be deducted points

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    2. Never happen. The FA are pissed at us for spreading out the finances by giving 8 year contracts, they'll allow City to pay a fine and move on.

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  5. I've read a few reports they might be kicked out of the EPL and demoted to a lower league...Imagine next season Haaland could end up playing against Shrewsbury ....

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  6. So IPTV services in Northern Ireland under investigation with users potentially 'liable to prosecution', say PSNI....

    The use of Internet Protocol television (IPTV) as a means to watch premium content - such as live sports or films that would ordinarily be available only through premium subscription services - has exploded in popularity in recent years.....

    The piece ends.....

    The police also insisted there is "concrete evidence" the proceeds from pirate TV services is used to fund other forms of crime. "There is also concrete evidence that shows money made from the sale of counterfeit goods, such as IPTV, is used to fund other forms of crime across the world ranging from human trafficking to drugs supply, so there really is no such thing as victimless crime," the PSNI statement added. "We all end up paying the price."

    What if 'you' buy an Android RV box from Amazon/ Ebay and a couple of USB memory sticks and youtube a "How to set up and install IPTV on an Android box?" Or "How to install KODI on to a laptop?".....No money is handed across to fund crime.

    Are they going to knock on peoples doors on any given Saturday at 3pm and make sure 'you' don't open up a footy streaming link?

    I'll throw this into the mix Quillers.......How many serving police officers do you think use illegal streaming services to watch their favourite team?

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    Replies
    1. Frankie from what I gather it's run like a business anyway and you are 100 percent spot on.

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  7. And my lot are doing their level best to drive us all to drink, the shrink or an early appointment with the Grim Reaper! Don't ask me who should replace Jesse James!

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