The numbers look bad for Roy Hodgson. Only 33% of the players who started in the Premier League this weekend are eligible for the national team. Only 12 of the 61 signings that cost clubs a transfer fee this summer involved Englishmen. The last time a team started the season with an all-English side was in 1992 and that team was Coventry City, who now play in League One – in Northampton. Long gone are the days of Steve Ogrizovic, David Busst, Phil Babb and Brian Borrows.
But are we really that bothered? Should Manchester United fans worry that Marouane Fellaini could take away playing time from Tom Cleverley? Should Spurs fans fret over the futures of Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe now that the club have bought Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue and Roberto Soldado, and seem intent on buying Willian. Should Arsenal fans petition Arsène Wenger to spend, spend, spend on young English players who may help the national team?
England's friendly with Scotland last week was a peculiar success. Wembley was nearly full, 9 million people watched the match at home on ITV and the SFA asked for a regular fixture between the teams. When we put this question to our readers, 86% of respondents said they would like to see England face Scotland in a regular international friendly.
Perhaps this is where we are now. We are happy to watch England face local rivals rather than compete with the elite teams on the international stage. We no longer expect England to win the World Cup, so just enjoy the players on show in the Premier League and savour beating teams on the second rung of international football. Do we really want to sacrifice the Premier League for the England team?
Do you care that clubs are picking fewer English players than ever?
