PA PhotosAdam Lallana: Young, gifted and English

Matthew Le Tissier retired a decade ago. Hard to believe really that time has gone by so fleetingly, almost like the genius of the man himself, time has strode effortlessly on while those around him look on and wonder what just happened.

In a week where Saints fans are wondering what Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert have to do to be recognised at international level, we are reminded of the national disgrace that is Le God's eight measly caps.

It would seem we haven't moved on. England coach after England coach still looks for the traditional English style of player rather than giving the flair players a chance, but that is the way it is likely to stay until the Football Association change their philosophy from the bottom up. Bunch of twits.

I still look back to 1997 with a hint of bitterness. Le Tissier got a rare start for Hoddle's England, and in a wholly lacklustre team performance in which the only goal saw Ian Walker beaten at his near post, it was the Saints man who seemed to be made the scapegoat.

I distinctly remember Steve McManaman had an absolute shocker that night, but escaped any criticism whatsoever. It seemed crazily unfair that Le Tiss should shoulder the burden of a terrible England performance and that it saw an end to his short international career. In total he played just 326 minutes for England, a damning statistic that must make Messrs' Taylor, Venables and Hoddle blush.

Since Le Tiss retired the likes of Wayne Bridge and James Beattie have managed to get England recognition whilst at Saints, and apart from them and perhaps some muffled shouts for Matt Oakley in 2003, we probably haven't had any players worthy until now. The sad thing is that when I watch England play, just like in the late 90's, we seem to be crying out for someone with a creative spark. Lallana would be ideal, just like Le Tissier was, but as Englishmen we shy away from mavericks.

As for Rickie, that is a harder task, and sadly I think time might be against him. He is competing against some decent forwards for a place, but Lallana's exclusion - and I could make arguments for the likes of Dyer and Britton at Swansea too - is unfathomable. We bemoan not being able to play like the Spanish or the Germans, but continue to persevere with a team of players that simply don't fit that style.

The good work of the likes of Roberto Martinez, Brendan Rodgers, Nigel Adkins and others, promoting good football within their club sides is being wasted at international level. I don't dislike Roy Hodgson, let me make that clear, but he is unlikely to be in the job for a long spell, and I hope that the next appointment is a young, forward thinking manager who will set the team up to play with panache.

We have a history of not nurturing our naturally talented players. You would have thought Hoddle himself might have had sympathy for Le Tiss given his own frustrations, and latterly Paul Scholes (for my money the most naturally gifted midfielder we have ever had) was forced to retire due to being played out of position. Even current skipper Steven Gerrard, so often the talisman for Liverpool has made international duty look like an unwanted labour at times. His fault? Or another victim of not being used to his potential?

The new St. George's facility would look to be a step in the right direction, but that needs to be coupled with the right coaches.

Whether Rickie Lambert or Adam Lallana ever get call ups is not the underlying issue, though both are certainly good enough and many from other clubs are too. It is more a question of philosophy and attitude. There is a reason Xavi names Matthew Le Tissier and not Paul Ince as one of his boyhood heroes...

Keep the Faith.

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