I'm not interested in percentages etc. If they were good enough then they would make it. Claiming that having a high number of foreigners in the Premier League makes it harder for young English players to get established is rubbish. However, if they claim had been the increase in standard makes it harder than that would be understandable. Youngsters have always had to fight for first team football, having English or foreign competitors makes no difference.
Well that's one way of looking at it for sure. I quite fancy that LFC were happy to see him go as we had others coming up with less complicated issues. (ibe for one) My opinion of ince's father is former by cynicism perhaps but i fancy that there must be some kernel of truth in it somewhere.
Again, you put it in a better way than me Henderson for £16m and £60k per week or Lucas at £6.8m and £40k per week...?
Frank lampard and Wayne Rooney both have a lot of hunger and both have lots of England caps. On the flip side Mellor is a hungry Steve and he never quite made it.
I think everyone's making too much of his use of the "f" word here. In the article (as far as I can see ) he only mentions foreign players once, and is using them as one reason amongst many that progress is difficult for young players. Just as relevant are the points about the culture surrounding players these days- the inbuilt star status and wealth accorded to young men who don't have the maturity to handle it. He's saying that they have to be hungry to succeed and work hard and not think that they've suddenly "made it" because they've signed for a big club. I, for one, wholeheartedly agree with that.
Agree with the last point and for those saying foreign influence is bad. If Cruyff does not bring his Dutch philosophy to Barcelona in the 90's you do not see this great Barca team over the years, you don't get la masia at the peak it is today, and you don't see Spain win the World Cup/Euros.
You should be interested in percentages because they are making a nonsense of your argument. Why do you think that the USA and China lead the medal tables at the Olympics? It's not because their athletes are innately better. It's not even because they have better facilities. In some instances it may be because they have pharmacists. It all boils down to numbers. Both of those countries have many many more athletes in training. It's simple mathematics. The wider the base tha higher the pinnacle. That's what we have done by importing players at all levels. We have widened the base available. In so doing we have magnified the level of competition that our own youngsters face - no matter what their level of skill!
saint, I don't disagree about the culture and have said so above. My points about foreign players are made as a counter argument to G's if you're good enough argument. It's a highly complex issue but Gerrard is right - the real work starts when you arrive!
Yes foreigners are cheaper... and yes they are better... pl is top league in world. It was nowhere close to most competative before the foreigners came. Spain and Italy always had us spanked. So, yes, it is hard for a British youngster to make it through... but the ones that do have an advantage of playing competitive footie against the worlds best every week. Somewhere there is a balance... you need the best foreigners but you also need some opening for club-developed players. I wonder what affect requiring half your sub bench in each game to be under 21 and been at your club 2 years would have.
The reason I mentioned the B-Team thread earlier is because I argued the point about this country lacking qualified coaches, facilities and appropriate equipment. You are right to say the highlighted bit and that is the point I was making. I think these two threads boil down to the same thing, we do not invest enough money into the youngsters in this country. I will have to agree to disagree on the foreigners issue because I truly believe if a player is good enough they will come through the ranks like Wilshire, Henderson, Welbeck, Stuirridge and Walcott have and others such as Sterling, Ibe, Wisdom and Kelly will do given time (all Liverpool I know but that's familiar territory for me). The real problem is the investment, plus the lack of interest in English youngsters from the bigger clubs. Edit: so in a sense, it is harder for youngsters of today to break through because I don't think the support is there in this country like it is in others. Of course, the support is probably equal to yesteryear but other countries have improve. however, it nothing to do with an influx of foreigners and everything to do with our methods stagnating. In a round about way, you could blame foreigners (not directly) but I think that is glazing over the issue. PS...not to mention they're cheaper!
He hasn't deserved to play all season, I've been wanted Ibe to be picked since this season started. Sterling has lost the plot. Needs a loan to sort him out.
