"The X-Factor Syndrome"

You may read the title and think "Why is Ayo talking about X-Factor, isn't this a football blog?" After this blog you will understand why the state of British football links to the mediocre talent pool show that has brought less talents to the UK music industry then I go to gym. (I'm trying to loose weight by the way but I hardly work out, I know it doesn't make sense to me either)  What is the X-Factor Syndrome you ask? Well its the syndrome where a star is made from the show, they are hyped up for months, they get the Christmas number 1 and 5 years down the line you never hear from them again Rick Waller, Gareth Gates and Darius are all victims of this. This is the state of English football we have talent emerging every season, they get hyped up as the next English stars. They don't get a look in at their clubs so they're loaned out and wither away into the football wilderness in the lower leagues or they retire early then expected. Then you wonder why the England team never does well in major tournament every two years.

You all remember David Bentley don't you? He was tipped to be the next David Beckham, he retired at the age of 29 after a disappointing career that had so much promise. Quick, great shot and even a greater cross he didn't have look in the Arsenal team. (Funny how down the years Wenger has over looked so much English talent but that's for another blog.) he went on loan to Norwich then Blackburn where he picked up his career again, gained a few England caps and earned himself a big money move to Spurs then that was the beginning of the end for Bentley and the rest is history. I believe this all could've been avoided if Arsenal gave him a chance and a run in the team. As Lampard said in his Sun piece last week  he made his debut at 17 and at 18 he was a regular the season after. But these days its unlikely this happens to young English players. Their loaned out, get sold and in most cases you never hear of them again. A lot of Premier League clubs are not giving English players their chance to play. They rather play experienced foreign players or snap up young foreign players who are alien to the league. The loan system used to work it made David Beckham the player he was when he went to Preston. It revived Daniel Sturridge's career but these are a few players who really turned it around. Gregg Dyke needs to change or work around the loan system. Designing a U21 league will not unearth the next Rooney's, Cahill's and Hart's of the next generation.

 You look at Spain team of the last 4-5 years, this amazing German team that recently won the World Cup and the Brazil team of the last two decades. They were great because their leagues made them great by giving players of that respective nation a chance in their leagues. The reason why the England team suffers because most of these players are not starters for their teams and are over looked by foreign players. Yes the Premier League is best league in the world anyone would be a fool not to think so. But the league is flawed and doesn't have a blue print in how it can make the national team a success. Spain were a success because the Spanish League had a blue print in making and raising their players a certain way and making sure these player get games for their clubs and are starters in the top teams and other clubs. I believe that the Premier League needs to have a system where the next English talent get a look in their teams especially in the Top 5 where there's hardly any English players. I believe that the Premier League should instate a law where a number of English players should be in the squad and at least play 15-20 games a season. This way English players get in team and if their good become starters and wouldn't need to be sent out on loan. The loan system is not working and Gregg Dyke and the FA needs to follow the blue print of Spain, Italy or Germany or England will continue to suffer in many more years to come.