Foreign players in the Premiership

[KolaKubes]

While the Premiership looks to be edging in front of La Liga and Serie A these days, the number of domestic players filling out the elevens week in week out is way down on their two main rivals.

Is it that the influx of foreigners is stopping the development of young British and Irish players, the traditional backbone of English club sides, or is that the standard of young player being produced by the game in this part of the world is insufficient?

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

I think Toshack makes a good point here http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7108754.stm

part of the problem is a generation of English coaches who played their football during the days of long ball in the eighties. What on earth could they impart to youngsters?

Much as I get derided for it, I also see a fair bit of academy football and while the likes of Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool seem committed to promoting skillful youngsters, others like Blackburn, Man City and Bolton have U17 sides packed full of six foot plus monsters.

Not just in soccer but in all sports around these parts, we still have a huge grá for the "whole-hearted" artisan over the more mercurial talents of the artist. We'll laud a Fabregas, a Cantona or an Henry when they emerge in the game but we refuse to promote the sort of policies at underage level that would allow indigenous versions to come forth.

The most talented English players of their generation are Rooney, Gerrard and Ferdinand and, yet, each also had the physical build to compete coming through the ranks.

The academy system in England has created a situation where the next Scholes is even less likely to successfully come through youth football now. It's about physique and fitness from 15 onwards and, yet, it is far easier to add those qualities later than to turn an athlete into a skillful player.

Exhibit A for me is Micah Richards playing international football.

F*cking clueless in that sort of game.

In fairness to the FAI, I think we have a bit better attitude here and it is no coincidence that our players are pro rata far better represented in the Premiership than English players are.

[Roman Abramovich]

Exhibit A for me is Micah Richards playing international football.

F*cking clueless in that sort of game.


your 100% wrong in that statment.

[jimmy magee]

Gerrard was the captain the other night. He is the epitomy of what is good and bad about the English style.

Therein lies the problem. They need a foreign manager if they're gonna do anything notewothy.


with regards to the premiership, foreign players imo can only help their English counterparts learn.

[KolaKubes]

Naff the footballing purist likes Micah Richards.

Jesus, this argument makes itself.

Year after year after year, English football produces and promotes that sort of centre-half.

Tony Adams was a joke on the continent and is still ranked right up there in England.

Painfully dumb stuff.

[Roman Abramovich]

Naff the footballing purist likes Micah Richards.

Jesus, this argument makes itself.

Year after year after year, English football produces and promotes that sort of centre-half.

Tony Adams was a joke on the continent and is still ranked right up there in England.

Painfully dumb stuff.

I say again. your 100% wrong about micah richards.
easy knowing you havent seen much of man city or crotia apart a few of his england games.

our knowledge of football is limited to the odd game here and there you see.
Thats quite sad.

In my opinion Richards would waltz into utds team at right back. Liverpools team at centre back, Chelseas team at right back and arsenals team at right back.
Not many players in the prem could do that.

[RonnyB]

In my opinion Richards would waltz into utds team at right back. Liverpools team at centre back, Chelseas team at right back and arsenals team at right back.
Not many players in the prem could do that.

Spot on.

Another thing I notice about England from a technical point of view is that probably the most technically gifted player they've had in recent times was Scholes. When Sven arrived though he picked a formation that suited Beckham more than Scholes as his England form suffered as a result despite the fact he was playing his best stuff for United.

For me the FA's biggest error was sacking Hoddle.

[Roman Abramovich]

Spot on.

Another thing I notice about England from a technical point of view is that probably the most technically gifted player they've had in recent times was Scholes. When Sven arrived though he picked a formation that suited Beckham more than Scholes as his England form suffered as a result despite the fact he was playing his best stuff for United.

For me the FA's biggest error was sacking Hoddle.

they had to sack hoddle. they had to be seen to make a stance.
but there would be nothing stopping them re-hiring him now. time has moved on like.

I agree with ya on the tech gifted kinda. Personally i think joe cole is up there and bentley. They have great tech ability, great skill, great dribbling etc.

[STEVIEG]

they had to sack hoddle. they had to be seen to make a stance.
but there would be nothing stopping them re-hiring him now. time has moved on like.

I agree with ya on the tech gifted kinda. Personally i think joe cole is up there and bentley. They have great tech ability, great skill, great dribbling etc.

Yup


good post

[KolaKubes]

I say again. your 100% wrong about micah richards.
easy knowing you havent seen much of man city or crotia apart a few of his england games.

our knowledge of football is limited to the odd game here and there you see.
Thats quite sad.

In my opinion Richards would waltz into utds team at right back. Liverpools team at centre back, Chelseas team at right back and arsenals team at right back.
Not many players in the prem could do that.

Are you sure I'm not 94% wrong though?

Richards is a phenomenal athlete but his positional sense is woeful and his technique is decidedly average.

Considering that with midfields becoming bogged down in mutually nullifying tactics, full backs have come to the fore as playmakers, a lack of technique in the position is a killer. It is the main reason Heinze was dispensed with and why Utd's play is so lopsided without Gary Nev being fit.

You could be right about Richards getting the right back slot at Utd but only because its occupied by a centre half at the moment.

[Roman Abramovich]

Are you sure I'm not 94% wrong though?

Richards is a phenomenal athlete but his positional sense is woeful and his technique is decidedly average.

Considering that with midfields becoming bogged down in mutually nullifying tactics, full backs have come to the fore as playmakers, a lack of technique in the position is a killer. It is the main reason Heinze was dispensed with and why Utd's play is so lopsided without Gary Nev being fit.

You could be right about Richards getting the right back slot at Utd but only because its occupied by a centre half at the moment.

you havent a clue about richards.
havent a clue.

One of the best centre defenders in england if not the world is shocking positional wise.
then you have one of the best defenders in england who is shit hot positional wise but if they fall over, get caught wrong footed etc are fucked and cant recover.

your 100% wrong about richards.

The fact that you bash richards and then think and still think fabregas isnt a proper midfielder and think hargreaves is your saviour for utds midfield i really really really do question your football knowledge.

Your nuts. 100% nuts