Goat Boy wrote:I think it's absurd that players who have played a handful of games at club level are now being talked of as first choice international players. They haven't even produced one good season amongst them.
That's the joy of it. International and club football are different beasts.
Club football at the top level is more rarefied and of a greater quality than international football at the same level, and while there are doubtless many reasons for this, as well as perspectives on why it is happening, at least part of it is because clubs have their players on full-time contacts, can adopt systems, drill players within them, and develop or buy in players who suit that system and put the management structures in place. Of course, international managers can't have that time, and are limited in the players they can choose from, so that continuity is lost. And there are only about 10 competiive matches a year for most of them to work within.
Recognition of that is what has prompted the FA to create the academy system and St George's Park, and to try to establish continuity, and a framework into which developing players can slot, effectively creating (they hope) something like a club atmosphere. It seems to be paying off at youth and under-20 level.