Football has always been about the glamour and glory players, though. I'd say in England though the days of players like Stuart Pearce, Tony Adams and Sol Campbell are over as you're not allowed to tackle any more. Close ball skills and distribution are more valued in a modern centre half than being able to munch their striker and clear the ball up field. I'd also say it's better that way, and the FA coaching manual philosophy has for far too long been written by old men with 1970s stone-age route one hoofball aspirations. England have only just learned how to pass the ball, while the rest of Europe has been at it for decades now.

I mean reading that article sums it up. I don't know who the guy is but he's got it totally arse backwards. "The mentality has changed. Technical possession is the focus." "“There is a more technical emphasis. Defenders are expected to come out with the ball, to ask themselves: ‘What can I do with the ball?’". Then what exactly is this 'youth coach' teaching kids to do? It's not 1996 any more.