English/British Players

Ignore costs, value for money, grittiness, opinions etc, we are talking about the whole package. This is a simple yes or no to whether you'd like to see a core English/British element to the Newcastle United line up. This is not a decree that we have a team of English/British players or players who have come through our own youth system (though the latter would be nice in my opinion), just simply that you prefer a core to our team.

 

Yes it's easy to see frank the french man process has gone Pete tong

 

Oh come on Mrs Moyes.

Why don't you ask if people would like us to sign a decent winger, whether they'd like there to be a choice of beer for sale at the matches or whether they'd like the person who sits in the seat next to them to have better personal hygiene ? The answer to all of these will be "Yes". It doesn't make the subject one that dear to their hearts nor is it an indication that they'd be willing to put up with us signing fewer players so as to be able to afford to buy whatever number of English players we could afford on whatever transfer budget we will have to spend.

 

There should be an option for 'I don't give a **** where they come from as long as they respect and play for the shirt on their back'

 

You are a no then. The question could maybe have been worded a bit better. Would you prefer an English core is really the question. I will amend.

 

OK, I have clicked no but only in the sense of I don't care as long as they give it their all, etc

 

I disagree. Its a simple question, would you prefer an English/British core as we discussed. No muddying waters etc about budgets, the basic statement we discussed. I should have worded it better with "prefer" instead of like.

Your assertion that an English player of a similar standard would cost more is not necessarily the case. And is easily countered that if you buy them young and develop them over a period, you'll end with your English core. Regardless our discussion ended earlier ended not with talking about budgets but whether we'd like more English/British players. I said they would, you said they wouldn't.

I could muddy it with a whole load of circumstances. I'm not suggesting whether it can work under this regimes budgetary constraints. Nothing will work under that!

 

We know you're a no too Freddd, so put it up.

 

Fair enough. I just want more English/British players as I believe we should have that as a British/English club. I expect all players to give their all, regardless where they are from.

 

I think we need leaders in the team and in England that tends to mean English or British. Look at one of the biggest failures of the season - Man U. What's gone? The influence of their British players. Ferdinand in particular, Fletcher, Carrick, Evans has dropped off, Scholes gone for good, Giggs on the wain. Look at the other "flops" (it's all relative!) in Man City, too reliant on hugely talented but questionable mentalities - Kompany, Aguero, Toure. Now look at the success stories - Chelsea, with Jose bringing Lampard and Terry back to the fore, Liverpool with Gerrard, Henderson, Sturridge, Sterling. Look at the failures of Spurs, of Newcastle and compare squads, look at the success of Everton and consider how pivotal Coleman, Baines, Jagielka, Osman, Naismith have been to that success. 100% DMW is on the money here - if we keep buying foreign it'll kill the club. Look at Fulham, Sunderland. How many examples do you need?! Championship offers more of the same, look at freakin' Burnley! English manager, Leicester the same.

I was thinking about this, about teams who have a similar or lesser budget but manage to pull out decent performances and tried to work out what the common denominator is and one of them is not having an indigenous core. Rightly or wrongly, I think there is always a mentality in foreign players that's a bit mercenary. Call it homesickness, but I think the fact they have travelled, they have opened themselves up to move countries says that they are comfortable doing so. This morning I heard Robbie Fowler talking a bit about this, saying he had offers from abroad but was more of a home-lad. That's a British trait, but it also means we understand the culture, the area, the expectancy, the media, and so on. Ask yourself if you could happily beggar off to Spain or Italy and just get on with it - I personally couldn't and maybe that's cos I'm English, but cultural adjustments are harder than we think; we're all guilty of thinking of players as panini stickers.

I would love to see us revert back, get Armstrong in and blooded properly, take a good look at Remie Streete, perhaps tie up a deal for Richards, for Lescott, look at Tom Ince, Scott Sinclair, Jordan Mutch, Danny Ings, Ryan Gauld (of course), Scott Brown - there's dozens of players who will step up, like Lallana, and do a job better than the half hearted garbage we've put up with.

If Pardon't stays, he has to grow a pair. If he's so untouchable, why doesn't he bl00dy well fight back? Get in that boardroom, demand voices. No manager can rely on voices with zero talent, or talent with no voice - Shola and Coloccini respectively! It's a balance, but I cannot believe it's that hard.

We need characters at the back who can read a game and shout about it, a commanding voice in the middle of the park and around 40-50% of the names on a teamsheet to be British. Pardew must know this - his "tactics" are as ancient and British as Hadrians Wall, and about half as flexible. But what he wants is hard work and hard running, and he has jelly babies to do it. Don't get me wrong - Pards should go - but if he's going to stay then for chrissakes get the tools to do the job.

 

How many of these could have a genuine future here?

Alnwick
Tavernier
Dummett
Streete
Newton
Sammy
Armstrong
Campbell

I'd guess that if given the right opportunities, then 4 or 5 of those lads could be regulars in around 2-3 years.

 

Think Tav and Sammy have seen the ship sale but the rest all have a decent shout.

 

A big yes from me.

 

Okay I've voted no because I think that is in keeping with the sense of the poll but it's a bit of a lie. All things being equal, I would prefer an English core. I'd like a Geordie core, either in the sense that they were born here or that they're a product of the academy. One of the few things worth watching these days is whether Armstrong will nick a consolation goal once we're 3 - 0 down.

The point we were discussing, and which I don't think the current wording addresses, is how important you think it is. For me it would be nice if it occurred and did not require any tradeoffs but that it isn't essential.

 

OK, given the context you've put it in:

>> Would I 'prefer' a British (ideally partly Geordie) core? Absolutely, I think it's easier to have an affinity with 'local lads' who in turn are more likely to have real pride wearing the shirt and give their all (not to say that all foreigners do not have that pride and passion, but certainly not all will)

>> Do I think it's 'important? ' Debatable. In the context of bringing some togetherness and leadership within the squad (and from the stands), then probably. In terms of will it necessarily change the club's fortunes, maybe not.

>> Do I think it's 'essential'? = In terms of delivering success, no not necessarily. Teams can do well - certainly in the short term - without a core of British players.

So all-in-all, very desirable, but not a 'requirement' as far as i'm concerned.

Of course, the ideal would be a team full of local lads who do really well and we win silverware and are all happy. Reality is that won't happen.

If we had 4 - 6 Brits who are first team regulars then I think that would be great. Ideally the captain would be one of them, but it's not necessary. Bottom line is, as the Real Sir Alan Pardew said, I just want a team that care, show desire for the club and always do their best - and ideally do well for the club. If that means they are all from Madagascar, then fine.

 

You're only saying that because you're from Madagascar.

 

Ssshhh. The others don't know about that.

 

Implement a Cantera policy like Athletic Bilbao. Hasn't done them any harm over the years.

 

Sorry, I wont say another word.

 

Yes. But we need to be brave and go for it. Probably the best example in the league is Southampton but they seem to have a vastly superior youth system. That's where it has to start.