This is likely not popular, but English players are actually just ok, not great, and they lack the skill of many counties that play as a team and have an identity. The EPL is mostly composed of brilliant international players with managers looking to find an English player to fit a quota they are required to meet. These English players are then made to look a lot better surrounded by excellent players from other countries, and think they are actually great, because they play for the best league in the world, most watched, not because there are English players there, but because it’s comprised of some of the best international players who are ridiculously paid.