[/quote] I will admit I have a soft spot for Birchall and all the other 06ers. I just find some of the these up and coming players aren't as hungry as they should be. When Birch started he was hungry and hustled like a mad man. People Sancho and even Densil played like mad men when they went out there. This young crop don't have the hunger I saw in those guys. So I'm sorry If I don't feel the love for them. They have to earn that. They haven't yet, so I won't give them the same bligh I will give Birchall and the others. Them new fellas too young to be playing this tired already.
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And the reason these guys were so brilliant in 2006 was:
1. We had a very good coach who coached the fringe players into good play
2. They were playing with top class professionals (Yorke, Latapy, Shaka, Stern John, Carlos) who knew the game, played at the highest level and wouldn't tolerate any inferior play. None of the current players have that.
So first, we have to invest in a good coach. The locals don't have the knowledge, experience or exposure. Second, we have to get a core team and play a lot of friendlies at every open date as all the top teams do. There is no way to excellence without that.