Someone mentioned Scholes in the other thread as the best English player of the last 20 years. He is, unquestionably, the most technically gifted English footballer I have seen in my 43 years.
And what did we do with him? Stick him at left midfield, and play Gerard, Lampard, Uncle Tom Cobbly and all ahead of him at CM. And then wonder why he retired early from international football.
England do not, and never have, valued the ball enough at international level. They'll play it around for 5 or 10 passes, but then someone can't resist trying a 50 yard pass that gives away possession 95% of the time (Steven Gerrard, I'm looking in your direction). Doesn't matter in the EPL, you'll get the ball back in 30 seconds. At international level you might not see it for another 2 or 3 minutes.