One of the things that has been pointed out recently, is how 'English' Charlton is terms of their players and how this may have attributed something to our current success. However, i was watching Arse v Ful last night and counted no fewer than 17 players on show from different countries..... Australia (Schwarzer) Brazil (Santos) Spain (i'm sure i saw one there somewhere!) Russia (Ars) Norway (Hangeland and Riise) England Belgium (Dembele and Verm) Poland (Szzzccczzzzzzzzzeny) Wales (Ramsey) Holland (VP) France (this is Arsenal !) Morocco (Chaamakh) Cote D'Ivoire (Toure) Cameroon (Song) Swiss (Ponderous) Nigeria ( cant rememeber who, but know there was one) USA (Dempsey) Any i missed ?
Yesterday was the first time in 6 years arsenal didn't start with a French man, or so i heard, could be wrong.
I can't see how it helps the English game or players though. If you want to see English sides you have to drop a couple of divisions. That's not healthy for progress and that shows in tournament football.
Diaby came on - he's French. On bench... Benayoun - Israel Kasami - Macedonia Gecov - Czech Frei - Austria Baird - Northern Ireland So, that makes 23 different countries
A lot of credit for Barcelona's youth system is put down to their high intake of Dutch players/staff through the late 90's/early 2000's.
And also that they had a fantastic crop of young players coming through - Iniesta,Busquets,Messi,Xavi at the same time. Things like this are cyclical in sport - look at Man U with the Beckham,Scholes,Neville,Giggs era and Australia with the Warne/Mcgrath/Waugh's - Man U buy their way into the Champions league now - and Oz are **** !
The English game has suffered immeasurably due to foreign players. I would like to see evidence of how our national side has improved since 66. Both off and on the pitch. I don't get ur argument about Barcelona don't make sense.
They all didn't come through at the same time. Xavi was already lurking around the first team, often partnering Cocu and never looking like becoming the player he is now. As for Iniesta, Messi and Busquets. Well, firstly they have come through separately and in Iniesta and Messi's case were signed after the new scouting system was implemented by the Dutch management. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's a good thing that our league is becoming over run by foreign players, but there are benefits if done sensibly. Looks like that much criticised exercise (love the rhyme) that Barcelona carried out for all those years has not only benefited them, but the national team.
The point is that Barcelona went through a transitional stage, hiring dutch youth coaches and signing a influx of Dutch players in search of that famous ''dutch style'' football. At the time success on the pitch started to dry up as the Kluivert's etc weren't up to it, but behind the scenes with scouting and on the training pitch, the youth were being drummed in to pass and move etc. It's not only benefited the club, but the national team.
It's not really benefitted holland has it? I also see it in our own industry. And if it is truely cyclical what are England cycling around? The silar systemon a boris bike with a flat tyre?
But you asked how it affected the English game - not how all these signings have had an affect on their own countries. I just pointed out that when Barcelona were much criticised for hiring lots of Dutch staff, it's now benefited the domestic game and nationally. If done responsibly, there are benefits. But again, I do think clubs are too heavily reliant on signing players from abroad as the costs are much less.
I guess he meant Gervinho, who is Ivorian, though I cannot say there is a striking physical similarity. The Spaniard was of course Arteta and the Nigerian was Etuhu. He forgot Mertesacker (German), Djorou (Swiss), and Arshavin (Russian). Sloppy work, Stu, must do better! I was watching the match with my girlfriend (she's Haitian) and speculated that it might have set the record for the number of different nationalities. Being Haitian, her only question was how they all managed to get visas to enter Britain. (For those unfamiliar with Haiti, I should explain that Haitians have two priorities in their lives. Firstly, how to eat that day, secondly, how to get a visa so they can escape their tragically martyred country. A visa is a magical object for them).
Just a nickname. The "ginger Pele" ain't Brazilian either. Apologies to you for some sloppy work of my own. You did already have Swiss on your list. At a quick count I make it 24 different nationalities if we include those on the bench who did not play, though I stand to be corrected.
Fulhams sub keeper Etheridge i know is not english i think its philippines if you've not added him to your list. Also hasn't Frimpong declared for Ghana?
