Comments on Some People Are On The Pitch: Foreign Legions

Strangely enough, I think Wigan were the worst tea...

2007-05-21T20:56:58.618+01:00

Strangely enough, I think Wigan were the worst team this season in the Premiership for not having any form of Academy set-up.

If you go to their website as I did earlier in the season, you'd be hard pushed to find any information about their new young players coming through... because essentially there aren't any.

I'm not even sure Arsenal has an academy. They see...

2007-05-21T19:37:44.474+01:00

I'm not even sure Arsenal has an academy. They seems to cut loose any decent English youngsters, later to resurface as starters for other clubs. Outside of West Ham, Villa, and a few others, no seems very concerned about it either.

Absolutely. It wasnt a pop at ManUre, just that th...

2007-05-21T19:23:35.223+01:00

Absolutely.

It wasnt a pop at ManUre, just that they are the best example.

Even Wengers host of young boys [leave it] at Arsenal are mostly foreign.

That's the same for any of the top sides. Gerrard ...

2007-05-21T18:46:12.507+01:00

That's the same for any of the top sides. Gerrard was the last star to come out of the Liverpool academy. Now it's filled with foreigners and mediocre British players that end being sold to league one sides.

I think its mainly B) in that list.Clubs attempt t...

2007-05-21T18:34:30.712+01:00

I think its mainly B) in that list.

Clubs attempt to bring youth players through the academy, only to see there time and inverst poach before turning pro, or not long after.

Compare the United squad, full of youngsters such as Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Nevilles etc.

When was the last time a United youngster broke into the first team and made an impact?

The current squad is ull of older players, or players bought for huge sums, such as Carrick and Rooney.

Fantastic! I couldn't agree more that this ratio o...

2007-05-21T18:25:47.388+01:00

Fantastic! I couldn't agree more that this ratio of foreign to British players massively helps the league, but that boost is proportionate to malice it causes the national side.

I think the reason for the influx of foreign players is three fold:

a.) The ineffective Reserve/Academy/Loan systems
-Not enough games, not enough quality.
-Massive investment of time and resources needed.

b.) Overpriced British players/Underpriced foreign players
-Scarcity, there is enough quality British/Irish players to supply the top flight. This causes the truly class players to be outrageous and the mediocre to be very expensive.

c.) The overall wealth of the Premiership
-Clubs have the cash to buy whomever they desire. It's an instant gratification system. Why bother developing tomorrows stars, when you can let Spain, France, etc. foot the bill, then snatch them up on the cheap when they hit 19 or 20 years old.

The solution for the national team (FA can you hear me?) is to hire a more worldly, imaginative manager who can see the attributes the current players have and sculpt a style of play from it.