Some of the fees paid for average British players are ridiculous Fletcher 14 million, Dawson 9 million, Jarvis 10.75 just to name a few recent ones. Why? They're not that good, they are not even that young. Is it because it is the richest league in the world? They are amazing players? The required British quota? or is it just there are few good british players but high demand for them? Please shed some light on this. As much as I would want to see as many British players in our league as possible the ridiculous fees mean it makes little financial sense for clubs. Or are the high prices actually good for football in this country?
I think some of the time the 'value' is because it's a case of what you see is what you get. They're often proven top flight performers & there's not the same settling in period, language barrier, etc. But it's an idiotically inflated market and very few are worth anywhere near the transfer paid.
That's it in a nutshell Beefy - while there are clubs out there prepared to pay over the odds for reasonable but not exceptional players the market will always be overly inflated.
I think Exile is correct, Because the english league is so different to the continent, faster and more physical most british players are already proven so it is one risk less, any continental signing will have the doubt over them about will they be able to cope with the demands of our game, some players can, alot can't.
It says something about us as a nation when we buy the best foreign imports to come and play in our top league and meanwhile how many of our best players actually play abroad? In the 70s, 80s & 90s we produced the likes of Kevin Keegan, Glenn Hoddle, Chris Waddle, Ray Wilkins, Steve Archibald, Gary Lineker, Gazza, Graeme Souness, Trevor Steven and even Paul Ince who all played abroad for top clubs at the height of their careers. Nowadays I am struggling to name one top British player who plays for a top foreign club!
i think it would benefit english players to play abroad and widen their horizons. they won't cos of the money paid to them over here. you can be a decidedly average footballer in england and still earn £1m+ each year - i include some norwich players in that. why would they give that up?
you forgot Jay Bothroyd and Colin Kazim Richards. the only one i can think of is Aiden McCready who is with Spartak Moscow i think.
I can only think of Scott Carson in Turkey and Aiden McGeady (I know he's Irish) playing for Spartak Moscow being exports currently. In reality how many England internationals would get a game for any of the top European sides and why would they leave their comfort zone and risk playing overseas? I think our league is still the highest paid in the world so it is hardly likely that we will export many players.
Thing is, this country is where the money is at, so why would they up sticks with their families to move to another country!
You can add David Platt to that list as well. It's an odd thing that at a time when our domestic football was long ball and hard tackling, we produced some very technically gifted players. The likes of Hoddle, Waddle, Gascoigne would walk into the England side today. I think it's three fold why our players don't go abroad now. Money, technical ability, and the fact most would probably have to play for lesser clubs (domestically) abroad than they do here. Mind you, there's the possibility that one J. Barton could be gracing the French league soon...
everybody slag of our league, but cesc fibreglass came over here to learn his trade before going back to barca, so it can't be that bad. Pique as well.
Don't think it's the league so much, Guru. More the quality (or lack there of) that our clubs produce. Both Fabregas and Pique were the product of foreign clubs youth schemes before they ever set foot in England.
He hardly played for a top European club did he! Surely if our national team is to get better and match the more technically gifted teams, we need to encourage our youth players to go abroad and learn the continental style of playing. More emphasis on ball skills like excellent instant control and range of passing rather than the 100mph pressing game that we play here!
bit harsh. lille were in the champions league. it shouldn't just be the very top players going abroad to play for the biggest clubs - all players should be open to the prospect of playing in a foreign clime - it adds something to their game and certainly offers them different views and differing mentalities. i applaud joe cole for trying his luck abroad in order to play football and try a different way of life. he may well regret coming back! but not many players do it - look how many just sit on their backsides picking up their wage packet.
I know exactly why the foreign teams don't buy English players. Because they are expensive and utter ****.
