The lad did well and kept a clean sheet thus enabling us to qualify for Euro's with a game in hand. Hayden unplayed.
Just how many young players from Chelsea are out on loan looking excellent? Clubs must be keeping a close eye on proceedings as there could be a few gems to be had if they do their usual and don't promote. Young Woodman is a cracking prospect. He is obviously well liked having been part of all the junior set ups. Not the biggest, maybe 6ft or 6ft 1in. Probably looks smaller than that as he is not really built at all. I now think he's a top fella too after meeting him the other week and him being so nice to my 8yr old daughter. Had plenty of time for everyone who wanted a quick chat. Reminded me of when Lee/Shearer/Speed did the post match chats in the corporate. The opposite of the likes of Bellamy and Dyer. His 7-0 prediction against Wolves was a bit off the target mind.
I was astonished by the make-up of the young squad now. Yet another example of the FA failing to get any kind of grip on the game whatsoever. Once upon a time you'd see players from all over the place, even the likes of Crewe or Peterboro would have a young'un in there. Now it's nothing but big clubs; how long before Freddy's turning out for the Man City Reserves?
What is the FA supposed to do if the best players have been signed by the best teams ? Play somebody less good just because he comes from a smaller club ?
I think you are angling at the FA growing a set of balls and taking back control of football in this country. Ensuring there are rules governing the promotion of home grown talent into the first team squads, with particular reference to English players. It would be nice but many are happy to see the PL monster continue to **** football and the development of the English pool in this country. If the likes of Chelsea were prevented by the rules of simply hoovering up young talent and churning them up like some kind of cattle farm, it would undoubtedly see an end to this situation and help the game here. Play them or don't sign them should be the rule within reason. We've gone over this a thousand times mind, it is just the same arguments under a different packaging. I will be amazed if many of these young English lads having proven themselves down the leagues are subsequently given the opportunity to step up. The whole buying and loaning of young players is being badly abused, that much is obvious to even the most blind. The talent would be far better spread across the country getting opportunity. Anyone who thinks this big club scattergun approach is beneficial to the English game and our national team is a moron.
I have less of a problem with players being loaned out from big clubs. At the end of the day they are playing competitive football, which is what they would have done if they had been signed by the club they've been loaned to or hovered up and loaned out. The real damage is done by hovering then up and sticking them in the reserves from 18 - 22 when they should be developing.
I don't have a problem with the loan system, its age old and useful. My issue is many of these are just being hoovered up in a scattergun approach. They are told to go out on loan and prove themselves, earn a place in the first team squad. So the young players go out and do that, come back, the big club spends another gadzillion pounds on a foreign player, they go back out on loan, do well...rinse repeat until they eventually go down the leagues at 23-24 having had their development stalled and begin their career from there. Mentally its not a progressive progress eventually. A far healthier process is either they are promoted after the successful season and given a chance, moved up a grade in loan (preferably abroad), or released/sold. Some clubs do it right, many just hold onto them. There really is no need for Chelsea to have 50 players out on loan. Its ridiculous. That is solely about monopolising the talent pool. Anyway I want a draft introduced. That will really **** up these big global monster clubs. Plus the draft parties look the business.
I think that the system is abused by clubs like Chelsea & Man C who scoop up any young talent with even a hint of talent signed up to prevent other clubs attaining them. For me, I would limit clubs to only allowing U 21's go out on loan BUT only to lower league clubs. I do not believe PL clubs should loan players to other PL clubs, in fact I would ban PL clubs from taking players on loan, with the clubs earning fortunes pay up or shut up. Obviously I would allow emergency signings but only for goalkeepers. For me it's about nurturing your own talent and if a position becomes available then promote your reserve. If he's not good enough then he shouldn't be in the squad.
I think putting a limit on the total number of players above 16 that a club is allowed to have on its books would be useful. Clubs would have to keep & invest or get rid and let some other club have a go at bringing the players on
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...youth-wage-cap-to-halt-too-much-too-young-cu/ Finally some common sense coming to the fore. Typical its since a German gets involved This is is what it takes if the FA and PL refuse to implement rules for fear of upsetting the clubs, or hiding behind laws etc. Hopefully they all will follow suit in the interests of the game here and the national team. Its a start. I'd prefer it went much further with restrictions running up until 21 countrywide, but its a start.
It's a start, but under those owners, and that manager. I'd love it to spread, but I can imagine Mansour and Abramovic just saying "good work, Liverpool, all the more boys for us, then". It's nowhere near good enough and yet another shameful indictment of the FA.
No doubt about that at all. They have no interest in how the national team does or about the general health of the game here. As long as the money rolls in and they sit with the other elite tossers at the CL table comparing yachts, all is good.
