16 Sep 2015 05:30:26
I think a English teams really need an English/British core. Preferably home grown.

I look at City and Man U, then Arsenal - not surprised at the limited recent European success.

Although we have some good English players, none are taking a leadership role. And I think Rossiter is the only Scouser in the 1st team, no?

You can buy the best talent but you can't buy commitment, hunger and passion.

I don't like it when we lose but if the players run themselves into the ground, at least I know they gave their all.

Let's take Carra for example. Not the most technically gifted but how many times have we seen him put his body on the line?

And then we look at a Lovren and how many times has he used his body to block anything?

Then we look at Bayern, Juventus, Barcelona - lots of home grown local players.

TV money is killing the English game. The 'best league in the world' . I'd rather we have a Pool team that cost a lot less but plays with way more heart.

1.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 06:44:42
Pretty much all of what you say is unfeasible. Teams looks to buy the best players available that can fit into the system. Would you rather the English teams rejected the best players for local players? What you can do is run a good academy setup and unearth the more talented kids from your locality and and give them good coaching and bring them through, but at the end of the day, if they are a Spearing over a Gerrard, would you keep playing Spearing or would you go out and buy an Alonso?

Lahm is the only player from Munich at Bayern, Pique the only player who was born in Barcelona, and Marchisio the only player born in Turin who plays for Juventus. If you are looking for an example of how local talent is exclusively used or given preference over outside talent, Bilbao is a more pertinent example, and they have done well to an extent, but have struggled to really improve because of this. Now, they make the odd exception ad bring in footballers from outside.

"Money is killing football" is such an ambiguous term to use. It has made plenty of players and agents very rich, and that may or may not be detrimental to their performance, but the big money that PL for example gets, is because its watched all over the world, like you in Singapore. It's a global game these days and it reaches out to almost everywhere i the world and its that demand that makes money through broadcasting and attracts sponsors to invest big in clubs. While local talents are important, Milner, Lucas, Bellamy, Suarez and Kuyt are all examples of players who have played for Liverpool in the recent past who you cannot accuse of passion or desire or work rate. By no means is the lack of local footballers the reason for failures of English clubs in Europe clearly.

2.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 07:49:24
Agree with AG on this. Failure of clubs has nothing to do with Non-home grwon players.

3.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 08:08:12
I think all the potential champuons need some British players, at least a couple but not necessarily any more. let's be honest there are not that many.

4.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 08:19:10
Great post AG.

5.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 11:21:11
Singaporered louvern is always using his body to block Sakho from getting in the team, does that count?

6.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 13:09:45
Singapore. if it weren't for the money people like you and me in asia or any other continent bar Europe wouldn't be watching the game. I'm noy sayi

7.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 16:19:03
What about Utd Ag?

They've never been the same since the Manc lads fizzled out

8.) 16 Sep 2015
16 Sep 2015 16:32:19
Money isn't killing the game. Its already dead.
- WE RARELY HAVE GENUINE FOOTBALLERS ANYMORE - the game is overpopulated by mercenaries, wanna-be pop-stars and ego maniacs. This is a direct result of the inflated monies. Its obscene and like an inflated housing bubble will eventually burst!