10 Feb 2019 00:17:56
I was reading up on the 'Three Degrees' of West Brom, with the sad passing of Cyrille Regis recently, and then watched MOTD this evening.

Is today the most number of black players who have been on the pitch for us?

We started with 6 (VVD, Matip, Keita, Fab, Wiji, Mane) and ended with 7 (TAA for Wiji and Studge and Origi for Mané and Bobby)?

Interesting to see, only 1.5/ 2 generations since Regis, Cunningham and Batson we're trail blazers.

Next is the emerging Indian/ Asian talent coming through, I wonder if they will have as much impact in the next couple of generations?

{Ed0333's Note - wouldn’t that be something Zeddicus if the Asian/Middle East/Asian talent emerged soon what a healthy position football would be in? I’m so looking forward to seeing the next Asian Ronaldo, the next Indian Messi etc. Good post mate.


1.) 10 Feb 2019
10 Feb 2019 01:22:27
I would love to see some of Asian players in Premier League too (apart from Japan and Korea), though if I'm not mistaken it will be quite difficult given the rankings of most of these countries for them to get work permits. I did notice there were quite a few great talents (potentials) from these lower ranking countries.


2.) 10 Feb 2019
10 Feb 2019 00:41:59
Yep, totally agree 333 mate. I’m of Indian descent myself and can totally sympathise with the, certainly Indian if not Asian, complaint that parents would rather their children went into a profession than risk a sporting career. I once had an ambition that I would be the first Indian player for Liverpool, but i didn’t take into account that I’m crap at football 😂😂. Nope, it was definitely down to my parents 😂😂.

I see players like Chopra and now Choudray for Leicester and think there is hope yet. Along with players like Son for spurs and Kagwa previously of United and think there is SOOO much yet to come from the Asian continent.

Middle East is already emerging with players like Salah and Mido and Elneny but there’s half the worlds population in Asia, there must be some considerable footballing talent there.

{Ed0333's Note - I think asian parents wanting their kids getting a traditional proffesion rather than playing professional sports is seriously on the wane mate. Certainly most of my asian mates with kids I know would love their kids to be excel in the sporting world apart from one who wants his kid to run his supermarket empire. You mention chaduary and Chopra both of them are from mixed race parentage (is it ok to say that term now if not my apologies didn’t mean to be offensive don’t live in the UK and not abreast of what terminology is acceptable and what’s not) it’s needs a Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan kid to play in the premiership to break the barriers ala Moin Khan in cricket. Zesh Rehman springs to mind (lovely guy by the way) but he wasn’t exactly a household name. I remember growing up in the 80’s in west London and there was an Indian guy who used to play for Southall or Hayes and was around the same standard as Alan Devonshire (google) who was on the same team, the Indian kid didn’t go proffesional because his parents wouldn’t let him, coupled with the fact there was institutionalized racism in proffesional footbal in that era. Those days are fortunately a distant memory now. It beggars belief that with all the British Asians in the UK playing football none of them are good enough to play in the premiership. I sincerely hope this changes soon as can you imagine the shirt sales if a Premiership side had a player named Khan, Singh or Patel? I’d love us to have numerous academies in the Middle East, Far East etc to unearth a global superstar from those regions. I better stop now before I start putting people to sleep mate lol.


3.) 10 Feb 2019
10 Feb 2019 09:46:44
The initial comment was something i’d noticed as well yesterday, when they all celebrated after scoring the first goal. I have also often wondered why China and India, two countries with a third of the worlds population between them, have never produced a player of real note. I know they are both reasonably new in terms of development, but China at least, i’d have thought, would have managed one euro star by now. There will be a Black Friday style brawl when that cash cow emerges, i reckon (look at Espanyol’s new signing’s interest over there) .


4.) 10 Feb 2019
10 Feb 2019 08:07:13
I'm of Indian origin too. For me, the success of any country in football begins at the grassroots and the younger ages. And in countries like India, boys simply dream of cricket, even though things are evolving with 2 football leagues. However there is very little support from the government; it's all being supported by owners of leagues and teams. So until a massive push comes in from the government, not much will happen. But it's a curious thing, because even with grassroots development it's not always a guarantee that football will develop to the highest level. If you look at the USA, loads of money and effort have been spent on grassroots development and introducing the sport (the World Cups) since 30-40 years now, and it is still seen mostly as a sport for young kids and women.

{Ed0333's Note - don’t underestimate the effect of the Indian Super league and Indian premier league is having on the youth of India. Although you’re correct in saying it’s not being pushed by the government perse kids identify with celebrities such as salmon khan, Ranbir Kapoor and sachin tendulkar respectively. Also if memory serves me correctly athletico Madrid own a franchise also? Countless iconic football clubs from around the globe have set up academies in India Liverpool being one. Anyway nothing will displace cricket in India but there’s no doubt sometime in the near future football will make some huge inroads. The only thing stopping India producing talent Is having transparent administration. Corruption is rife and affluent people will just pay for their kids to be picked hence diluting the quality and some of the talented ones falling by the wayside.


5.) 10 Feb 2019
10 Feb 2019 11:06:46
Mixed race isn't one that'll offend people like myself ed, it's half-cast that we tend to frown upon.

{Ed0333's Note - cheers mate. When I was growing up in 70’s and 80’s half caste wasn’t offensive and then did become offensive and replaced by mixed race. I left England years ago so wasn’t too sure. I appreciate feedback Thankyou. Out of interest what is the courteous way to describe someone of dual heritage?


6.) 10 Feb 2019
10 Feb 2019 21:06:17
Mixed race would be my go to phrase these days. My kids are mixed race, and they’ll hopefully both represent Liverpool in years to come!