Let’s just put aside all those ideas of passion, hunger and wanting it more, we need to go back to basics…
Is a player technically sound?
Does he have a football brain?
Is he at peak fitness today?
Does our tactical approach suit him?
It wouldn’t matter a jot how much Raheem Sterling wants it if he is technically flawed and incapable of producing a cross.
I don’t mind how many goals Harry Kane has scored in the past if today, when I need him to perform, he doesn’t look fit enough to take a corner.
Wayne Rooney has been great for England but this is not a testimonial, he was not good enough to play up front, and he then proved he’s not good enough in another position.
We cannot start shoe-horning failing players into different roles, for fun.
I don’t want players who are up for it and can sing with passion, I want players who are good enough, and organised.
That is what the game is about - and it’s simple.
Football skills, physical and mental, brought together through fitness, organisation and tactical nous.
We have tried top foreign coaches and they couldn’t make it work, we have tried the passionate approach, and we have now tried the dull methodical way.
It has to be the players.
The occasional genius/supreme athlete papers over the cracks, but our league structure just doesn’t produce quality in quantity.
Let’s face it - not one of our players would get in the German or Italian team.
That’s where we are in world football.
So let’s forget passion and desire for the moment and firstly try to produce capable footballers.