Friday 5 December 2014 16:32, UK
The release of the FA's 'England DNA' report has provoked a mixed reaction from Premier League managers.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, his Everton counterpart Roberto Martinez and Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino believe the initiative could have a positive impact but Burnley manager Sean Dyche has warned against the danger of "elitism" among top players.
“I think the federation has responded well by restructuring the academies and by developing grass-roots football,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.
“The most important thing is to get good education to people who start to play at the age of seven years old.
“What is very important for English football is to target exactly what kind of qualities we want to develop and at what age.”
But Wenger is convinced a tweak rather than a major overhaul of English football is required, as long as the main focus is on the enhancement of technical ability.
“I think good technique is the most important. I don't think a major overhaul is what English football needs,” he added.
I think good technique is the most important. I don't think a major overhaul is what English football needs.
“After that I think the attitude of the players in England is good, they love their country. They want to do well for their country.
“They are under a lot of pressure when they play for the national team, but they all want to do well.”
Everton manager Martinez also welcomed the launch of the DNA report, an initiative he feels could bring positive benefits.
“It’s been seen in other countries and has given a bit of direction, with everyone together and thinking along the same lines,” he said.
“You have seen it in many countries - Belgium, Holland, Spain - the long-term programmes have really helped the countries find a way of playing and a way of developing players, so it is positive to have something like that.”
Spurs boss Pochettino managed to bring the best out of a number of young English players when he was in charge at Southampton and while he accepts English prospects could benefit from added support, he is convinced they also have qualities youngsters from other countries rarely possess.
"From my experience, I think we have top quality young English players," he said.
"It is important to realise young English players have a very good quality and skill and technical ability.
The long-term programmes have really helped the countries find a way of playing and a way of developing players, so it is positive to have something like that.
"English players are also brave and if we can mix both qualities we can build in the future a very strong squad and maybe in the next few World Cups a national team that can try to win the World Cup.
"After two years in England, I have realised the players have a lot of quality - they just need the chance to show it and we need to help them improve.
"The one quality the younger English players have is they are brave and very aggressive.
"This is the principal qualities we need to keep and then add the qualities of playing from the back and on the grass. I think this is the way we need to go."
Meanwhile, Howard Wilkinson, who was FA Technical Director from 1997-2002, has also backed the proposal.
“It looks very sound and solid. It’s a plan that, if everything their talking about comes to fruition, has a lot of merit,” Wilkinson told Sky Sports News HQ.
But Burnley manager Dyche has voiced concerns players could lose their raw edge if they are coached to play in a certain way from a young age.
When you get these elitist groups, sometimes the rawness of a player is lost and I think they've got to understand that.
"It's diluting to get this elitism," he said.
"We know they're going to get enhanced coaching and better facilities at almost every level but you can't get so drunk on it that you forget about the passion, pride, belief, desire and will.
"When you get these elitist groups sometimes the rawness of a player is lost and I think they've got to understand that.
"They get treated unbelievably well. Sometimes, farcically well. You get a 14-year-old needing a rub down before training. I can't accept that.
"I spoke to an eight-year-old who told me he had done his hamstring. I said, 'I can't believe you know what your hamstring is, son. Now go out there and get running.'
"People might say it's an archaic view but I think the moral fibre of footballers is as relevant now as it’s ever been."
