Does the future of English football involve the English?

[sid_19840]

The EPL is undoubtedly the best football league in the world with its pace,talent and class in display each week.But a major concern is whether all the foreign influx supports English football.There seems to be fewer English players(especially young English players) making the starting elevens in several top premier league teams,an Arsenal for example.Even an upcoming side like Bolton used foreign talent and experienced personnel to build its squad in the last few years.But is all this actually helping English football?The national team for eg has not been able to do much for several years despite most of its players playing in the top leagues.

 

[Kev]

Basically it call comes down to cost. Clubs can buy established players from foreign leagues much cheaper than from English clubs. I dont think its all doom and gloom for English youngsters as there is now a very good Academy system setup, of course it can take quite a few years before the system really starts to pay off. So we should start to see good young English players emerging soon.

 

[sid_19840]

Well I understand why clubs are going for the foriegn players as you say.As for the academy,it can benifit someone for sure,but I reckon that the only way that youngsters can really develop their skills if they are actually put up in match situations against the best players which we're not seeing apart from the odd English youth player.

 

[sachin]

Well if you look at Arsenal you'll see we have many English Youth players playing for International side-whether it be U16's,U17's and so on...-Arsenal have more English youth players than anyone else........i think.......?

 

[cricket doctor]

English football is not short of talent for sure but when it comes to International games, it also depends on team's strategy and mentality. I'm hopeful that SM will gradually change the things and he's started to explore young talented players.

 

[sid_19840]

Well if you look at Arsenal you'll see we have many English Youth players playing for International side-whether it be U16's,U17's and so on...-Arsenal have more English youth players than anyone else........i think.......?

Im not talking about the squads of these teams,there are a reasonable number of English players in every top league club,but how many of them actually get to play on a Saturday or Sunday?Unless these boys are given a chance to play you'd never find out how good they actually are.What about the national team performances in the past few years,do any of you think that it has to do with the league structure and amount of foreign players?

 

[Kev]

The point is Sid, that these players arent ready now, but in a couple of years some (not all) will be. The acadamy/youth systems are a very long term thing, A youngster can be 10 years there before they are ready for first team so I think over the next couple of years we'll see more and more young English players emerging from those youth sides.

 

[evertonfan]

I think it's more to do wit the national team not gambling enough. There is plenty of good young talent who play regulary for their teams week in and week out but the the England team don't bat an eyelid in their direction. Just have a look at Boro; Their whole side is built around a foundation of youth and it must make every Boro fan proud that they aren't afraid to blood their youth. As i've pointed out, there are good young players who play regulary for their club yet they never get called up for England. I'm taking a biased side to the follwoing suggestion but I think that Tony Hibbert, who is only 23, has been one of Everton's most consistent performers over the past couple of seasons and I seriously think he can fill in for Gary Neville at right back when he finally hangs up his boots. There are also plenty of nippy little midfielders roaming about and doing well in the Premiership who I think are more than capable of doing a job for England. For example, I think Steve Warnock, Leon Osman and Nigel Reo-Coker are all very underrated.

 

[sid_19840]

What Im pointing to is a slightly different issues,Im not saying that we dont have cover for all the positions,we have decent cover for all postitions.What Im saying is if there are too many foreigners in the league?Middlesbrough have an excellent youth system with lots of talent but I only see 2-3 of them playing the in weekend EPL games.Had the foreign players not been there(or been lesser in number),wouldnt these youngsters of Boro have had more first team opportunities.Take the Italian League for example,around every Italian team in their top league must have having more than half of the side consisting of Italians on an average.And who won the last world cup-Italy,maybe their league structure and system might have something to do with it?

 

[Sureshot]

It's akin to English County Cricket, quite often foreign players are better and cheaper.

I think foreign sporting influence is great, look at some of the players to have graced the prem that are foreign.

Henry, Cantona, Schmeichel all players who have had a monumental affect.

 

[puddleduck]

Sid it's a bit of vicious circle. If you have too many overseas players then the home grown talent maybe doesn't play enough. If you have too little, then the quality of opposition and different approaches and techniques that can be learned from by playing with or against are lost.

End of the day, the world is rightfully moving more and more towards a place where anyone can work anywhere, a free market, and as such it is a good thing that players from all over the world can come and ply their trade in a country that is so multicultural.

 

[Sureshot]

Anyone can work anywhere?

Maybe John Reid missed that bit yesterday then... Not just players though, I'm so proud of Britains great diversity of people/races/religions (don't always work well together in other countries)/etc.

 

[sachin]

I don't think haveing so many foreign players negatively affects English players-National team-.The Foreign players generally bring alot of qaulity to the Prem,and the oppurtunity for the English game to move forwards in terms of tactics,Technical qaulity and just general Class.Consider that most of the best players to grace the Premiership are Foreign.

 

[m_vaughan]

I agree with sid, the number of english players playing in the "matches" are reducing and being replaced by foreigners. One of the reasons could be cost. I think Spurs made a profit when they sold Carrick to Man Utd, and put in Zokora in his place.

I dont see the point of having so many english youth players if they wont end up playing for the main team in the big matches. the current arsenal squad is terrifying if you are an english fan.

But as far as Chelsea are concerned the main core of players are English....Ashley Cole, Terry and Lampard. There is Joe Cole as well who is an important member of the squad and SWP too has played quite a lot this season. Wayne Bridge's first team chances seem to have been reduced due to Ashley Cole, but he is very much a part of JM's plans.

 

[sachin]

You are very wrong when you think that English people are going to put there national team over their club team.Arsenal has much English youth,who are 'very much in AW's plans'...