I think long term the worse thing we ever did was win the World Cup in 1966. It turned football in this country inwards and we didn't develop our coaching like the Dutch, Germans then eventually Spanish and French did. Thankfully at around the turn of the century we began to take youth development seriously and seem to be producing good English players.
This plus foreign players coming over en masse since the 90s, combined with better facilities and preparation has made it a much higher standard, even down the pyramid.
By the end of the 90s the stadiums were falling apart and with hindsight Hillsborough was inevitable at some stage. If the Sky money has done nothing else it has built some great stadiums. Hooliganism and racism - although the later was as much a societal problem as a football specific one - have been heavily reduced or pushed to the margins.
I am sure the 70s and 80s were fun to live through but they were of their time.
This plus foreign players coming over en masse since the 90s, combined with better facilities and preparation has made it a much higher standard, even down the pyramid.
By the end of the 90s the stadiums were falling apart and with hindsight Hillsborough was inevitable at some stage. If the Sky money has done nothing else it has built some great stadiums. Hooliganism and racism - although the later was as much a societal problem as a football specific one - have been heavily reduced or pushed to the margins.
I am sure the 70s and 80s were fun to live through but they were of their time.
