Arteta for England

[danielneeds]

Just got back from South Africa, had a brilliant time despite England's shambolic displays.

Have missed most of the dissection of England's campaign, but one thing I am sure of is we need to shallow our pride and offer Arteta citizenship and a place in the England side.

Nobody in our midfield plays with their head up, and until we develop our youth sides, we need someone with a bit of vision in midfield who can knit the play together and service our finishers like Rooney, Gerrard and Lampard.

He's nowhere near the Spain side due to Xavi, Iniesta, Xabi Alonso, Fabregas, Javi Martinez, so would surely give the offer serious consideration at least.

I know some would consider it beneath England to have a player with no heritage playing for us, but look at what Marcos Senna did for Spain, and look at all the non-German born players currently starring at the Word Cup in their national side.

Time to put aside the old ways of thinking and build for the future.

 

[Pringle]

a good shout imo! stunned he has never played for spain - a top player!

 

[Bronno]

Good player, but I don't think it should happen. If he'd grown up in England I'd probably support it.

Having said that, I think I'd find it easier to cheer him on rather than Terry, Cole etc.

 

[thinktank]

Just got back from South Africa, had a brilliant time.

Talk us through the atmosphere.

 

[danielneeds]

Talk us through the atmosphere.

Brilliant really. Everyone there so proud of the achievement of their hosting the tournament, couldn't of had a warmer welcome, and none of the problems people were expecting before the tournament, even in Joburg.

A lot of South Africans were supporting England because of the Premier League, had many conversations over a beer as to why we did so badly, lots or Americans, Mexicans, Argentinians and Spanish around too.

In the end we got a bit sick of the football and after seeing the 3 matches we had tickets for, we spent more time exploring the Cape coast, and going on Safari. A beautiful country.

 

[thinktank]

Brilliant really. Everyone there so proud of the achievement of their hosting the tournament, couldn't of had a warmer welcome, and none of the problems people were expecting before the tournament, even in Joburg.

A lot of South Africans were supporting England because of the Premier League, had many conversations over a beer as to why we did so badly, lots or Americans, Mexicans, Argentinians and Spanish around too.

In the end we got a bit sick of the football and after seeing the 3 matches we had tickets for, we spent more time exploring the Cape coast, and going on Safari. A beautiful country.

lol Not surprised..fucking Jabulani.

 

[PT]

I agree with the OP in that football should adopt cricket and rugby philosophy by recruiting platers to play for the National team via citizen qualification.

It is tenuous right now anyway and the Republic of Ireland, for one example, have pushed the boundaries for years.

Arteta would stroll in to a squad 23 and would certainly get the natural English lads looking around a bit.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Says alot for the state of our national team if we're trying to call up someone who is at best 6th choice for Spain.

We don't need to go down this road. We need to do what the Germans did, concentrate on youth and get a settled team together for the next 2-3 years.

 

[mil1lion]

Huddlestone and Arteta in the middle would be rather tasty.

 

[Kushal]

Brilliant really. Everyone there so proud of the achievement of their hosting the tournament, couldn't of had a warmer welcome, and none of the problems people were expecting before the tournament, even in Joburg.

A lot of South Africans were supporting England because of the Premier League, had many conversations over a beer as to why we did so badly, lots or Americans, Mexicans, Argentinians and Spanish around too.

In the end we got a bit sick of the football and after seeing the 3 matches we had tickets for, we spent more time exploring the Cape coast, and going on Safari. A beautiful country.

I echo this completely! The organisation and proceeding of things have been far smoother than the last World Cup and Euro championships.

 

[danielneeds]

Says alot for the state of our national team if we're trying to call up someone who is at best 6th choice for Spain.

We don't need to go down this road. We need to do what the Germans did, concentrate on youth and get a settled team together for the next 2-3 years.

What like Podolski, Klose, and Cacau all born in other countries?

I agree that the German youth system is top class, but Spain, Portugal and many others have naturalised citizens in their teams over the last few years, and apart from our U17 European Champion group develops, there is a lack of talent out there, particularly players who play with their head up.

 

[jurgen]

Cacau you can have but Podolski and Klose were just small kids when they moved to Germany so its a little different. That's not to say I'm against it. If you look at this country and its history, and the makeup of our society, I find it strange that the likes Germany, Portugal and Spain are showing us the way in terms of integrating those who want to join a nation into their sporting fabric. If someone feels they want to represent England because of the opportunities they have got from participating in our society, then why should we stop them?

I think its just too controversial a step to take though, and a foreign coach particularly would never live the public outcry from idiots down. Thats excluding whether someone like Arteta would actually want to "renounce" his Spanish heritage to play for us in the first place. And let us never mention Almunia, that cretin would be desperate to play for anyone who'd take him but we can breed our own awful keepers thanks very much Manuel.

 

[THOWIG]

Huddlestone and Arteta in the middle would be rather tasty.

For Tottenham Hotspur.

 

[Coolpudge]

Says alot for the state of our national team if we're trying to call up someone who is at best 6th choice for Spain.

We don't need to go down this road. We need to do what the Germans did, concentrate on youth and get a settled team together for the next 2-3 years.

Or does it say alot about the quality that the Spanish have?

I think Arteta would walk in to the England team, never mind the squad. If you play a 3 man midfield with him, Huddlestone and Hargreaves (if ever fit) or Rodwell or Milner I think you would have a very good midfield.

 

[MattyP]

I echo this completely! The organisation and proceeding of things have been far smoother than the last World Cup and Euro championships.

You didn't have to get back from the Royal Bafokeng stadium. That was shambolic.

As for the OP, no, Arteta is Spanish, he should not play for England, just as Robert Green is ****ish and should also not be allowed to play for England.

 

[spurdownunder]

You didn't have to get back from the Royal Bafokeng stadium. That was shambolic.

As for the OP, no, Arteta is Spanish, he should not play for England, just as Robert Green is ****ish and should also not be allowed to play for England.

That's not fair.



On all the other ****s in the world.

He's worse than all of them.

 

[Coyboy]

Says alot for the state of our national team if we're trying to call up someone who is at best 6th choice for Spain.

We don't need to go down this road. We need to do what the Germans did, concentrate on youth and get a settled team together for the next 2-3 years.

Or does it say alot about the quality that the Spanish have?

I think Arteta would walk in to the England team, never mind the squad. If you play a 3 man midfield with him, Huddlestone and Hargreaves (if ever fit) or Rodwell or Milner I think you would have a very good midfield.

He said it, it says more or as much about a national team with Alonso, Fabregas, Iniesta and Xavi to choose from.

The two are not mutually exclusive (being opportunistic and developing our players from youth) and while this is a bit left field and probably won't happen, it's not something to sniff at.

 

[spursandbarca]

and the germans dont push it

podolski and klose polish

boatang ghanian

cacau, ozil, both not german either

 

[RobinLeonard]

and the germans dont push it

podolski and klose polish

boatang ghanian

cacau, ozil, both not german either

Özil is third generation german, Boateng's father is from Ghana but his mother is german and he grew up in Germany, Podolski moved with his family to Germany when he was 2 years old and Klose moved to Germany when he was 5.

They are all, except for Cacau, german. They have grown up in Germany and they have learned to play football in germany.