The Myth and British Steel and Spine « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News, supporting the club, the players and the manager

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THE MYTH OF BRITISH STEEL & SPINE

Don McMahon

Let me begin by stating emphatically that I am not British nor do I have any particular bias for or against Britain. Now we’ve cleared that up, I will try and explain my viewpoint and its subsequent aspects.

Numerous bloggers, some of the media and many supporters from some EPL teams, seem to adhere to the dubious principle of British steel and spine as the solution to all things lamentable in the UK Football scene.

According to these admirers of the British principle,  their national and local Clubs could stand to infuse their starting 11’s with a good dose of British steel and spine, something like taking a vitamin like Iron (Fe) before embarking on their usual seasonal combat.

Their arguments usually follow common themes such as; back in the good old days, players like Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Moore, Alan Ball, Jackie Charlton, etc. were all British and were tough, skilled Footballers who won things including the WC in ’66!

Therefore, if we could find more such Footballers and parachute them into the national and local Clubs, all things would be cheery and cozy again…Britain would rule the waves…cheerio, blah,blah,blah.

Their second thesis is that British born and bred players have a more direct, tougher and no nonsense approach to the game, as compared to those fancy-footed, tippy-tappy, greasy foreigners who are showoffs and divers/cheats etc. This is the Stoke theory, which espouses a rougher, tougher, long ball, they don’t like it up them philosophy….clearly the future for teams with British spine and steel. If you can’t beat them by skill then beat them by brutality, even if you lose…at least they’ll not dare try that tippy-tappy fancy shite again.

The final nail in this particular coffin is the theory that, because Britain invented the modern game, and the game belongs to Britain, and until recently, was intended to be a very fast, tough tackling, physical and confrontational sport, it should somehow return to its roots. Small, agile, skilled and tippy-tappy players need not apply.

Well we  have all seen what British spine and steel has offered Britain since 1966 in all competitions such as the Euros and the WC. Over the last 6 seasons, the teams that won the EPL had a combination of hard-working, very skilled and very eclectic players from many countries. RVP was the player of the year in the EPL but he has Dutch spine and steel. From 2002-2012, 7 out of 10 PFA winners were greasy foreigners. Thierry Henry and Ronaldo each won it twice in that time.

The real question is whether British spine and steel actually exists or ever existed. To determine that we’d have to agree on and understand what this concept actually represents. Is it the ability to play through an entire season, regardless of injuries, fatigue or whatever and still play like a champion? In that case such stalwarts as Giggs and Scholes at United, Drogba at Chelsea and Gerrard at Liverpool among many others, have earned the title.

Is it the ability to frighten the crap out of an opponent by being particularly menacing and physically intimidating? Players such as Gary Neville, Keane, Viera, Carragher, Shawcross and others merit this dubious honour.

Could it be the ability to play under any and all conditions, whatever the score, and yet still give one’s best? I can think of men like Henry, Bergkamp, Shearer, Bale, Kyut, Schmeichel as prime examples.

I am sorry to admit that I can’t really accurately and precisely define what this supposed essential quality is and I really doubt that others could as well….but I’d be pleased to be proven wrong. In my humble opinion, if it can be proven to exist, it would be a rather insignificant factor in the total panoply of Football essentials because those who espouse such claims usually end up stating that such and such a team needs such and such a player, and we all know from experience that one player rarely makes a difference if the team is mediocre.

Sure Ronaldo and Messi do but that is the exception to the rule. Put them in a sub-par team and they’s struggle to make an impact in a competitive league. That is not to say that they aren’t superb talents on their own but both have what I consider to be the essential element of the Beautiful Game: the ability to produce results. This has little to do with nationality but everything to do with attitude and will to win. Now that takes steel and backbone!

Therefore, I conclude, rightly or wrongly, that British steel and spine are a myth. I officiated a friendly game between the WC champions England and a local Rolls-Royce 11 during the Montreal Expo in 1967.  I won’t reveal the score but what I saw was a superbly talented 11 capable of playing any position on the field (which they did in rotation) and which contained men who were proud to play the Beautiful Game with dignity, penultimate skill and enjoyment….we could learn from them about what Football really needs….and it isn’t a quick dose of steel.

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