And the reason England are out of the World Cup?

Here's a radical thought - perhaps the players just aren't good enough?

Often we blame the FA, the manager, or the players being tired but none of these arguments hold true.

• The FA? Say what you like about them - and there is a lot, I mean a lot, to criticise - but they do invest in the national team. Good facilities, good back room staff and good logistical support. They've not always been like this - but most of the of the other FAs, especially the smaller ones who don't have the English FA's resources, would love to have the support the English FA supply,
• The manager? The last three have all been successful outside the England job - even the 'wally with the brolly' has shown that he is a good manager by winning the Dutch league, and not with one of the 'glamour' teams
• Poor 'man-management'? The last three managers have (a) been laid back and tried to treat the players as adults and let them make choices, (b) tried to be the players' friend, and (c) had a strict regime. The players haven't responded to any of these approaches and I'm not sure what other options are actually left.
• The players are tired? Rubbish. None of the England team were in the Champions League final and many of the other teams have key players who are based in the English, or other European, leagues and it doesn't seem to have hindered them.

The simple fact is the only constant has been the players. We desperately need to see the Emperor's New Clothes that is the Premier League and how truly 'world class' our players are. The EPL is great entertainment, it may be the wealthiest league in the world, but it's not the best. Virtually no English players are 'world class' - very few would make it into the other top national teams starting 11 - and those who are labelled as such, e.g. Rooney, have consistently failed on the big stages of the World Cup/Euro championship.

Let's accept it - we don't have, and have never had, a 'golden generation'. The players are good, but are over hyped and not world beaters. They are technically poor - they lose possession and cannot adapt tactics to the situation as was clearly shown in today's game. At best they've been a 'bronze generation' (insert gag here about footballers wives and fake tan...). Let's be honest, a last 16 finish is about right.

What would I do next? Little - Capello is still the best manager for the job given who he can pick, and remember England qualified with relative ease. If he goes then either call the players' bluff and get Hiddink, or if we need an English manager get in Hodgson who works well with 'lower level' players as demonstrated with his spells as the Swiss manager and at Fulham.

What can you do? Give up the Premier League - don't believe the hype. The EPL is good fun - but it's not top quality. Get in touch with real lower level and the grassroots. Support your local team - not a 'brand'. Learn to love good technical football - not the kick & rush we see every week. It may not give as much 'excitement' and it will need to be for the long term - but it's the only way England will ever become 'world class'.