Mnf - A Sad Indictment Of Top Tier English Football

[SimplyRed]

I've just watched the Monday Night Football on Sky and was saddened to note there was just THREE English players in the starting 22.

Is it any wonder that our national team struggles in the international arena?

Surely the Premier League can no longer be called "English Football"? It is simply football which happens to be played in England with English clubs!

What is happening to OUR game?

['Orns]

I've just watched the Monday Night Football on Sky and was saddened to note there was just THREE English players in the starting 22.

Is it any wonder that our national team struggles in the international arena?

Surely the Premier League can no longer be called "English Football"? It is simply football which happens to be played in England with English clubs!

What is happening to OUR game?

It's not ours any more SR, and hasn't been for a long time

Imagine what it will look like in another 5 years if we don't do anything. PL is a turn off for me

[swampy]

Premiership clubs could be seen as some sort of franchise/brand. A rich foreign investor picks a club, maybe changes the name, re-brands the stadium, brings in a foreign coach and imports overseas players. The matches are then televised worldwide and we have a global brand that is then promoted close season with tours of the Far East and the USA. The ticket prices rocket and the grounds come to resemble theatres and the whole demographic of the spectator base changes. A few clubs - notably Swansea - have bucked this trend to some extent. More importantly, do we want part of this?

[JammyOne]

Every League team should have a minimum of 6 English players in their starting line-up on a average over the season (to account for injuries). That would certainly give motivation to the likes of United, Cheslea, Manshity, Arsehall to produce some English talent. It would also solve the problem of Rooney, I think United would then have to include him and that will keep him fit for England.

[Kermit the Frog]

The PL bugs the hell out of me - All this talent waiting in the youth teams of some great teams but they dont get played and more often or not get sold to the lower leagues. It's all money. Rubbish.

ANyone else fed up already with Carraghers accent? Goes so high pitched haha!

P.S. I am not a racist

[CodeRed]

More importantly, do we want part of this?

We - as Bristol city maybe not

But We - as in Sky subscribers (those of us who do) have made this all possible, we fund sky they fund the PL- clubs buy the best players, often from abroad....to raise the standard ....to charge more from Sky.....who charge more from us.....and so it goes on

[Stoke_Gifford_Red]

Also it is worth noting that according to today's guardian the proportion of English players has reached an all time low:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/19/england-qualified-players-premier-league

[Kid in the Riot]

Depressing to hear Greg Dyke Chairman of the FA saying that foreign money in English football will never change now. The horse bolted a long time ago on that one and it's what's ultimately driven English football to the position it finds itself in now.

The toothless FA have sat back and let the Premier League spiral out of control.

As you rightly say the Premier League is no longer an 'English league'.

That's why there's no doubt in my mind we're heading towards a European super league and also the Premier League globetrotting.

Cardiff fans coming on here chirping away at how great they are, wonder how they'll feel when they are playing a quota of home games in south east Asia??

Personally, I want no part in that but good luck to em.

[SimplyRed]

The thing is, I wouldn't mind if this was confined to the Premier League but, to a lesser extent, it is also happening in the Football League with many of the bigger clubs fielding foreign talent.

One of the problems has also been the rise of the EEC, without a doubt. At one time, UEFA could dictate how many foreign players were allowed in each team, but no longer - thanks to the EEC.

If the FA had invested in better coaching, maybe clubs wouldn't need to go abroad to find talent.

It's difficult, and probably incorrect, to lay the blame on one particular event and, in truth, the contributing factors have all come together to create what we see today.

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy watching PL football, and perhaps I am a contributing factor too, but it's getting to the stage where the identity "English Football" has lost it's meaning and it's importance in the greater scheme of things. That's what I find sad.

[chipdawg]

The problem with a 'quota system' for the number of English players is that you add a premium onto the already expensive transfer fees for home-grown talent. Coupled with the academy system and new financial rules, you'd end up with all loads of very good English players sat on the benches of ManUre, Citeh, Chelsea, Liverpool, etc. because the smaller PL clubs can't afford them and the big clubs can't afford to let them go. I do think that the penny is starting to drop with regards mutually English talent and we will start to see more of the young, local lads coming through; Barkley started very well for Everton on Saturday and he was up against Redmond for Norwich who also looked decent. Moyes used players like Keane and Lingard a lot in preseason and Southampton had Ward-Prowse and Shaw starting for them at the weekend

The other way to look at it is if there was a quota for English players in Premier League sides, would we have someone like JET in our side now or would he be warning the bench of a Hull or a West Brom, just so they can meet their target?

[spudski]

Premier League clubs could be seen as some sort of franchise/brand. A rich foreign investor picks a club, maybe changes the name, re-brands the stadium, brings in a foreign coach and imports overseas players. The matches are then televised worldwide and we have a global brand that is then promoted close season with tours of the Far East and the USA. The ticket prices rocket and the grounds come to resemble theatres and the whole demographic of the spectator base changes. A few clubs - notably Swansea - have bucked this trend to some extent. More importantly, do we want part of this?

The only way football will change is if fans walk with their feet.

We sit and moan about how football is going, either down the pub. at work or through a forum, but we actually do **** all about it.

By 'feeding the monster', either by going to games or subscribing to Sky, it will only get worse.

It has now become a catch 22.

Take our own Club for example.

SL's dream is for us to be in a shiney new stadium, all corperate and comfy. To get to the Prem etc.

But do 'real football' fans want that. Would the majority of City fans we have now be prepared to pay £40 a game and up?

What is sad, is that if we did make the Prem, many fans we have now, wouldn't be able to afford to go,,, but would be easily replaced by a new set of fans that can, and enjoy the glory and glitz.

If change is ever to happen, then fans need to unite and stop going.

Preferably, i'd like the FA to take the game by the scruff of the neck and go down the German route.

However they won't because too many at the top make a bloody good living from the way it is.

[Briz]

When the FFP comes in for the Prem, I think that there should be a rule saying that if an English player under 24 players a certain amount of hour s, then there wages will not count towards FFP

[Super]

Southampton had four academy graduates playing on Saturday. Fair play to them.

[marshy]

Man Utd come in for a lot of stick from football supporters but in the game against Swansea they started with Jones, Ferdinand, Carrick, Cleverley, and Welbeck. Giggs as well who could have been English. Then Rooney who came on as sub.

[Nibor]

TBH I don't really give a toss about the nationality of footballers. I just like watching good football. There are things I dislike about the Prem (media hype, cheating, abusing refs) but nationality isn't a big deal for me. I am sure the majority will bang the Engerland drum though.

If we want the England national side to be better I think the FA could significantly improve the standard of young players by limiting the size of academy squads to 18 u-21s, forcing players to sign for clubs down the pyramid where they'll get games instead of sitting in the stands until 22.

I don't think there's any real need to limit the number of foreigners in an XI, firstly I doubt EU law allows it and secondly the economic differences will level out in time so it won't necessarily be cheaper to sign foreigners.

[Robbored]

TBH I don't really give a toss about the nationality of footballers. I just like watching good football. There are things I dislike about the Prem (media hype, cheating, abusing refs) but nationality isn't a big deal for me.

I am sure the majority will bang the Engerland drum though.If we want the England national side to be better I think the FA could significantly improve the standard of young players by limiting the size of academy squads to 18 u-21s, forcing players to sign for clubs down the pyramid where they'll get games instead of sitting in the stands until 22.

I don't think there's any real need to limit the number of foreigners in an XI, firstly I doubt EU law allows it and secondly the economic differences will level out in time so it won't necessarily be cheaper to sign foreigners.

Completely agree Nibor. I too like the PL and whenever this point about too many foreign players I always think of those terrific players we've had the pleasure of watching.

Klinsman, Zola, Henry, Bergkamp,Ronaldo, Vieira, Van Persie, Torres and Fabregas to name just a few

[Cowshed]

Completely agree Nibor. I too like the PL and whenever this point about too many foreign players I always think of those terrific players we've had the pleasure of watching.

Klinsman, Zola, Henry, Bergkamp,Ronaldo, Vieira, Van Persie, Torres and Fabregas to name just a few

Produced by more forward thinking leagues and FA' s.

The premier league and FA push down standards here nationally by having no cohesive strategy for the development of kids from an early age.

France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain spend far more on coaching kids than the world's richest league.

Britain is in the dark ages as far as developments goes. Strategy for kids pre academy age is non existent. English kids by eight and nine generally are already years behind those abroad. It's saddening to witness children's coaching set ups abroad v the UK' s.

The malaise could easily be rectified by diverting cash from players and agents to a national coaching framework. At present not even 1% of the EPL' s TV cash will support coaching children.

What the EPL and FA sustains v Spain and it's tens of thousands of kids coaches should be looked upon as a national disgrace.

Sadly BCFC are nearly balls deep in the mire themselves.

At least Van Persie sends some of his EPL loot on kids coaching back home in the Netherlands. A case there of looking after his own.

[beaverface]

The only way football will change is if fans walk with their feet.

We sit and moan about how football is going, either down the pub. at work or through a forum, but we actually do **** all about it.

By 'feeding the monster', either by going to games or subscribing to Sky, it will only get worse.

It has now become a catch 22.

Take our own Club for example.

SL's dream is for us to be in a shiney new stadium, all corperate and comfy. To get to the Prem etc.

But do 'real football' fans want that. Would the majority of City fans we have now be prepared to pay £40 a game and up?

What is sad, is that if we did make the Prem, many fans we have now, wouldn't be able to afford to go,,, but would be easily replaced by a new set of fans that can, and enjoy the glory and glitz.

If change is ever to happen, then fans need to unite and stop going.

Preferably, i'd like the FA to take the game by the scruff of the neck and go down the German route.

However they won't because too many at the top make a bloody good living from the way it is.

Completely agree.

We had Coventry fans coming on here the other day asking us not to attend the match to show solidarity, but then we have our fans saying "all things aside, we're going to support Bristol City not Coventry".

Trouble is, there's always going to be fans who will willingly pay £59, £60, £100 a ticket, or constantly renew their Sky subscription, and whilst that happens the clubs (and those that be) will continue to do whatever they want.

[Rob k]

Jamie C is going to be a horrendous pundit.

[Robbored]

Jamie C is going to be a horrendous pundit.

He clearly knows his stuff but what that stuff is is hard to tell. I can hardly understand a word the bloke says.

[Pickle Rick]

Every League team should have a minimum of 6 English players in their starting line-up on a average over the season (to account for injuries). That would certainly give motivation to the likes of United, Cheslea, Manshity, Arsehall to produce some English talent. It would also solve the problem of Rooney, I think United would then have to include him and that will keep him fit for England.

For as long as sky pump the money in, this rule would never come into place.

Same issue when sky were investing heavily in Italian football. It went bust and now there are less big names and more quality Italians on a lower wage.

[TheCulturalBomb]

The FA need to implement a rule where every team must have 2 players on the first XI that are English, and another 2 on the bench.

[B1ackbird]

He clearly knows his stuff but what that stuff is is hard to tell. I can hardly understand a word the bloke says.

If he just went down a couple of octaves it would help

[UREDS_91]

8 of the goals scored in the premier league last weekend were by English players, many more than any other nationality. It may be a case of the foreigners improving the English talent that we have, allowing them more opportunities to score goals by creating more options than some other english players would...

But that's just me playing devils advocate!

[IdliketoRogerMoore]

Man Utd come in for a lot of stick from football supporters but in the game against Swansea they started with Jones, Ferdinand, Carrick, Cleverley, and Welbeck. Giggs as well who could have been English. Then Rooney who came on as sub.

Ryan Giggs is welsh through and through and never could have English!

[22A]

It's not just an English problem.

A few years ago the then German national manager requested that all Bundesliga teams must have a minimum of 2 Germans under the age of 21 on the pitch at all times. So if one needed to come off through injury, his replacement would also be an U21 German.

The idea was that all these young players would improve their skills and give a greater choice for the national team.

Needless to say, the clubs refused to cooperate.

[North London Red]

Not sure I buy the argument about players needing to go to foreign leagues to improve the national team. Take the 2006 world cup - only 1 of the 32 teams had a squad consisting entirely of players based in their country's domestic league.

That country was Italy, who won the tournament.

[Briz]

Done some research. The avarege of the amount of English in all premier league first team squads is 1/3. The lowest being Arsenal with only 16% of the first team English. And the joint highest are Hull and Norwich with 48% of the first team squad English

[Brizzle Jordan]

Ryan Giggs is welsh through and through and never could have English!

Could have played for Sierre Leone also.

[Red Knowle]

It's not just an English problem.

A few years ago the then German national manager requested that all Bundesliga teams must have a minimum of 2 Germans under the age of 21 on the pitch at all times. So if one needed to come off through injury, his replacement would also be an U21 German.

The idea was that all these young players would improve their skills and give a greater choice for the national team.

Needless to say, the clubs refused to cooperate.

German club's can already have starting eleven who are home grown as for improving skills Germany has 27000 coaches England less than 2000. Same sort of thing v France Holland Spain.spot the difference in quality.

[Cowshed]

There are more qualified coaches in the Netherlands than England. Football in that country from grass roots to the erevesdie is geared up to produce streams of players. Players of considerable quality included.

The EPL does not meet the above standard. The entire country does not. Why? Primarily the FA and EPL.

[Eco]

What's the EPL ?

[Portland Bill]

What's the EPL ?

English Premier League I presume.

Just going back to the OP and him talking about the Man City V Newcastle game,what stunned me more than anything was the sheer lack of atmosphere during the game.

Man City and Newcastle used to have real fervent supporters who really created a great atmosphere,Monday nights game at times was like a football match in front of a cricket crowd.

[chipdawg]

There are more qualified coaches in the Netherlands than England. Football in that country from grass roots to the erevesdie is geared up to produce streams of players. Players of considerable quality included.

The EPL does not meet the above standard. The entire country does not. Why? Primarily the FA and EPL.

For all it's faults, I don't think you can blame the Premier League for the quality of grass-roots football in this country; they've actually contributed significantly to coaching of children, it's just that the money disappears into the black hole that is the regional FA system- and there in lies the problem. The FA system of county authorities run by whichever old fella sticks around long enough isn't fit for purpose, but they can't get rid because everything is voted for by these representatives and any significant change would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. What we need are professionally run 'regions' with a centre of excellence in each where kids go to be taught the basics from a young age and they don't go anywhere near a professional club or a competitive game until they're a teenager. I also don't know why none of the big clubs have set up a 'Mestella(sp?)'-type football school. Regardless, the problems start at the very bottom and go to the very top in this country and I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel myself

[Cowshed]

 

For all it's faults, I don't think you can blame the Premier League for the quality of grass-roots football in this country; they've actually contributed significantly to coaching of children, it's just that the money disappears into the black hole that is the regional FA system- and there in lies the problem. The FA system of county authorities run by whichever old fella sticks around long enough isn't fit for purpose, but they can't get rid because everything is voted for by these representatives and any significant change would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. What we need are professionally run 'regions' with a centre of excellence in each where kids go to be taught the basics from a young age and they don't go anywhere near a professional club or a competitive game until they're a teenager. I also don't know why none of the big clubs have set up a 'Mestella(sp?)'-type football school. Regardless, the problems start at the very bottom and go to the very top in this country and I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel myself

The Netherlands and Spain do not rely solely on regional centres as they are not thoroughly inclusive, and accessible. The model they use is mass coaching. The Spanish attempt to provide coaching for every kid nationally. They have created a national framework of qualified and inspected coaches of tens of thousands. Coaching badges can be removed if coaches do not adhere to standards set.

The Spanish model see kids being coached often for free. That would not be possible in Bristol FFS/Brazillian soccer schools costs. Bristol Community trust runs coaching at a cost, Provision for kids before nine is hardly cohesive or far reaching.

In the UK the above could be financed in every town and City. This cannot happen as the EPL and FA do not want it to. The money is not disappearing into the FA because hardly any TV money is dedicated to coaching. 5% of the TV deal they have would train enough coaches to surpass Spain and put a legacy in pace for decades.

I have had the opportunity to witness what occurs in the Netherlands v England and Bristol. I have had the opportunity to see what a large City like Bristol provides for kids pre academy age. I have seen what BCFC provide and Rovers. The difference was truly saddening.

The EPL and FA are a disgrace as they are letting kids and the game down. The abject standard here would not be acceptable in France, Germany, Netherlands ... The blame as you say lies at the top.

[chipdawg]

 

The Netherlands and Spain do not rely solely on regional centres as they are not thoroughly inclusive, and accessible. The model they use is mass coaching. The Spanish attempt to provide coaching for every kid nationally. They have created a national framework of qualified and inspected coaches of tens of thousands. Coaching badges can be removed if coaches do not adhere to standards set.

The Spanish model see kids being coached often for free. That would not be possible in Bristol FFS/Brazillian soccer schools costs. Bristol Community trust runs coaching at a cost, Provision for kids before nine is hardly cohesive or far reaching.

In the UK the above could be financed in every town and City. This cannot happen as the EPL and FA do not want it to. The money is not disappearing into the FA because hardly any TV money is dedicated to coaching. 5% of the TV deal they have would train enough coaches to surpass Spain and put a legacy in pace for decades.

I have had the opportunity to witness what occurs in the Netherlands v England and Bristol. I have had the opportunity to see what a large City like Bristol provides for kids pre academy age. I have seen what BCFC provide and Rovers. The difference was truly saddening.

The EPL and FA are a disgrace as they are letting kids and the game down. The abject standard here would not be acceptable in France, Germany, Netherlands ... The blame as you say lies at the top.

I'm not saying that the Premier League shouldn't or couldn't put more money into grass-roots coaching, but they do provide millions of pounds of funding every year, both directly and indirectly. I hate Man City, but when I lived in Manchester they were always advertising free soccer schools with coaches from the club, often in some of the most deprived areas of Manchester. The English FA is amongst the richest and most well funded football organisations in the world, but they spunk hundreds of thousands of pounds on pointless bearocracy every year. I don't so much care what model coaching children takes as I do ensuring that the archaic system of authority within the FA is broken apart and replaced with streamlined, professional decision makers. Like I said though; it's turkeys voting for christmas so we're stuck with an organisation that will hemorrhage money and continue to exist in the dark ages

[Jordan Tansley]

For all it's faults, I don't think you can blame the Premier League for the quality of grass-roots football in this country; they've actually contributed significantly to coaching of children, it's just that the money disappears into the black hole that is the regional FA system- and there in lies the problem. The FA system of county authorities run by whichever old fella sticks around long enough isn't fit for purpose, but they can't get rid because everything is voted for by these representatives and any significant change would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. What we need are professionally run 'regions' with a centre of excellence in each where kids go to be taught the basics from a young age and they don't go anywhere near a professional club or a competitive game until they're a teenager. I also don't know why none of the big clubs have set up a 'Mestella(sp?)'-type football school. Regardless, the problems start at the very bottom and go to the very top in this country and I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel myself

Spot on. Absolutely spot on.

In the Weston area the Woodspring FA, which usually handles youth football in the area, decided that when the FA banned kids below under 11's from playing competitive football (it now has to be friendlies to stop your typical dinosaur YT manager playing to win before developing) that they wanted no part in it.

Thankfully, through the Somerset FA and the cooperation of local youth teams there has been a new league body set up which we hope wont go down such a route. There is going to be a representative side from a selection of all the teams and that might be a good thing too.

[Cowshed]

I'm not saying that the Premier League shouldn't or couldn't put more money into grass-roots coaching, but they do provide millions of pounds of funding every year, both directly and indirectly. I hate Man City, but when I lived in Manchester they were always advertising free soccer schools with coaches from the club, often in some of the most deprived areas of Manchester. The English FA is amongst the richest and most well funded football organisations in the world, but they spunk hundreds of thousands of pounds on pointless bearocracy every year. I don't so much care what model coaching children takes as I do ensuring that the archaic system of authority within the FA is broken apart and replaced with streamlined, professional decision makers. Like I said though; it's turkeys voting for christmas so we're stuck with an organisation that will hemorrhage money and continue to exist in the dark ages

The EPL drips a tiny amount of money into coaching at grass roots level. It is not even 1% of their income. More, far more will go towards one club's parachute payment for four years In the same period.

The EPL is the richest league in the world and in unison with the FA should be able to rival coaching frameworks in Europe. The FA have to kneel down to the EPL, they are not its rulers. The premier league now controls much of football the Elite player programme was created by the top divisions, but has it shut academies down. City's academy status has improved, but the structure beneath it is poor. That national problem cannot be improved without the top clubs and their league deciding it must occur.

Right across the country one to one coaching from an early age needs to be free and readily available as it is in the Netherlands. Coaches need to adhere to national standards e.g Spain.

Where is the free coaching in Bristol? How many hours a week is it? What standards are in place? I have looked.

I recently saw "coaching" here from one of our professional clubs where very young kids were allowed to smash the ball up a court. National standards should be in place to stop that everywhere.

[chipdawg]

The EPL drips a tiny amount of money into coaching at grass roots level. It is not even 1% of their income. More, far more will go towards one club's parachute payment for four years In the same period.

The EPL is the richest league in the world and in unison with the FA should be able to rival coaching frameworks in Europe. The FA have to kneel down to the EPL, they are not its rulers. The premier league now controls much of football the Elite player programme was created by the top divisions, but has it shut academies down. City's academy status has improved, but the structure beneath it is poor. That national problem cannot be improved without the top clubs and their league deciding it must occur.

Right across the country one to one coaching from an early age needs to be free and readily available as it is in the Netherlands. Coaches need to adhere to national standards e.g Spain.

Where is the free coaching in Bristol? How many hours a week is it? What standards are in place? I have looked.

I recently saw "coaching" here from one of our professional clubs where very young kids were allowed to smash the ball up a court. National standards should be in place to stop that everywhere.

That's not what I'm saying. Of course the Premier League could give more money; that can be applied to any aspect of football, it's the richest league in the world. However, it's kind of like criticising a billionaire for only giving £10million to charity; he could afford more but it makes a hell of alot more difference than any amount of money I could give.

It's not the Premier League's responsibility to ensure the quality of grass-roots coaching, though you would think they would have a vested interest in ensuring it's widely available and of the highest quality. The FA turns over hundreds of millions of pounds every year- a large proportion of which is derived from the Premier League. It's for the FA to organise coaching and to ensure it is of the highest standard and they just don't measure up and they never will whilst being run by dinosaurs. Even if we presume that individual Premier League clubs have a moral duty to coach kids in their area, how would that help Bristol? Or Sheffield, where I live? The only organisation that reaches across the bredth of the country is the FA and it's their responsibility; not the Premier League. I don't suppose the Ere Divisie, Bundesliga or La Liga has national responsibility for coaching standards in every municipality in every part of their respective countries; that's the realm of the FA or the government

[Cowshed]

That's not what I'm saying. Of course the Premier League could give more money; that can be applied to any aspect of football, it's the richest league in the world. However, it's kind of like criticising a billionaire for only giving £10million to charity; he could afford more but it makes a hell of alot more difference than any amount of money I could give.

It's not the Premier League's responsibility to ensure the quality of grass-roots coaching, though you would think they would have a vested interest in ensuring it's widely available and of the highest quality. The FA turns over hundreds of millions of pounds every year- a large proportion of which is derived from the Premier League. It's for the FA to organise coaching and to ensure it is of the highest standard and they just don't measure up and they never will whilst being run by dinosaurs. Even if we presume that individual Premier League clubs have a moral duty to coach kids in their area, how would that help Bristol? Or Sheffield, where I live? The only organisation that reaches across the bredth of the country is the FA and it's their responsibility; not the Premier League. I don't suppose the Ere Divisie, Bundesliga or La Liga has national responsibility for coaching standards in every municipality in every part of their respective countries; that's the realm of the FA or the government

I understand what you are saying, but without involvement of the top club's anything the FA do will be not be far reaching enough.

Clubs in the Netherlands have made coaching of Kids a responsibility. The attitude is utterly different.

German club's again have a sense of responsibility. Some see it as a badge of honour running huge networks of kids teams.

In Spain the FA have national standards set with its top division and yes those standards reach everywhere.

The French FA were advised by their own government to improve.

The EPL here has become omnipotent and damaging it dictates to the FA how academies, and the FA national centre will be run as well as bullying the football league. If it had any morals yes it would be committed to the kids of this country.

[22A]

Done some research. The avarege of the amount of English in all premier league first team squads is 1/3. The lowest being Arsenal with only 16% of the first team English. And the joint highest are Hull and Norwich with 48% of the first team squad English

Could that be because Hull & Norwich have the least amount of money available? Thus they develop their own talent rather than splash the cash on known talent.

[Aizoon]

Is it any wonder that some kids have taken to supporting Barcelona (the real one). If you're going to support a team of foreigners, why not choose the best?

[downendcity]

When Man City can afford to spend £100m on foreign players in the summer ( and Spurs are not going to be far behind them), what incentive do they have for developing young British lads at grass roots level?

While ffp is designed to reign in profligate spending and might be on the horizon,. who else has my cynical feeling that the top clubs will find ways to circumvent the financial rules so they can pretty well carry on as before?

[Cloggie]

and where's George (your mayor with the red trousers - how did he ever get elected??) in all of this?? spending more money on hair-brained schemes no doubt..... I live in a town of just over 16,000 people in the Netherlands where the local council has spent more than two million euros on three artificial pitches, lighting for these and one of the three other grass pitches, and an expansion to 18 changing rooms.....and all of this dedicated to football only.

The club plays 6 levels below the level played by PSV in Eindhoven..... this also keeps more than 1200 people occupied - mainly kids who mostly train twice and play once per week....and by the way, keeping them busy and tiring them out also keeps street crime down!

So George.....what are you doing to help the situation???? or does this make too much sense for local politicians to handle...?????

[phantom]

I've just watched the Monday Night Football on Sky and was saddened to note there was just THREE English players in the starting 22.

Is it any wonder that our national team struggles in the international arena?

Surely the Premier League can no longer be called "English Football"? It is simply football which happens to be played in England with English clubs!

What is happening to OUR game?

Ahh - reading Rio Ferdinand's tweets too!

[SimplyRed]

Ahh - reading Rio Ferdinand's tweets too!

Sorry - I don't do Twitter - what did he say?

[exiledinwatford]

He clearly knows his stuff but what that stuff is is hard to tell. I can hardly understand a word the bloke says.

Sky+ it then play it back real slow. Lowers the level and you can understand about one word in four......

[phantom]

Sorry - I don't do Twitter - what did he say?

similar to what you said

@rioferdy5: Shame that only 3 players on show tonight were English....doesn't bode well for the future of our national team that..."

[Pickle Rick]

Er, okay then some had played abroad though, which was my point

Zambrotta, Materazzi, Gattuso, Camoranesi, had all played or come from abroad originally and all played in the final of that world cup, so made a contribution to it. The French team they faced had pretty much a team full of players who had played elsewhere as well.

Think you can add De Sanctis & Perotta. Perotta may have played and was at Southampton as a kid

Guiseppe Rossi too?

[Cowshed]

and where's George (your mayor with the red trousers - how did he ever get elected??) in all of this?? spending more money on hair-brained schemes no doubt..... I live in a town of just over 16,000 people in the Netherlands where the local council has spent more than two million euros on three artificial pitches, lighting for these and one of the three other grass pitches, and an expansion to 18 changing rooms.....and all of this dedicated to football only.

The club plays 6 levels below the level played by PSV in Eindhoven..... this also keeps more than 1200 people occupied - mainly kids who mostly train twice and play once per week....and by the way, keeping them busy and tiring them out alnso keeps street crime down!

So George.....what are you doing to help the situation???? or does this make too much sense for local politicians to handle...?????

That needs to be national responsibility. From schools to club's to FA/EPL.

I would look there at BCFC and its governing bodies from football. Ashton Park and the rest could be used as part of a framework of coaching. Ashton boys are out there outside the ground ... BCFC could have been out there this summer holiday running courses for kids. A simple improvement to make.