Arsenal-No British Players Last Night

[Bwian]

Not even on the sub's bench!

Explain to me how the Premiershite is improving the English National side again?

That's the first time that's ever happened in the Premiershite...

 

[Dr Breakfast]

As much as I enjoyed the result immensely it does have to be said that it is a worrying statistic. The fact is we just don't have many world class English players, and those we might have are given little chance.

It seems Spurs are the biggest club to have a large English contingent, so it's them I lend my premiership support to, if I'm bothering at all.

 

[tedebear]

its also a bit more concerning when you include nationalities of managers, owners etc.... English Premiershite?? hardly....

 

[Napper]

Arsenal are excused

 

[Brovion]

Yeah, at least the Pally had some British players and a British manager. Not good enough admittedly but then the same can be said about most English players. From a Brighton point of view it was obviously good to see them lose, from an England one it wasn't.

 

[Rich Suvner]

whilst many people on here may dislike Man Utd at least Fergie has always promoted promising British talent. Smith, Rooney, Fletcher etc are getting to play matches on the biggest stage currently.

even Chelsea under Mourinho seem set to base their team around British players when you consider that Terry, Lampard are the backbone with Bridge a regular (possibly to be replaced by Cole), Parker is a ready made replacement for Makelele and if the rumours are true Owen will soon be spearheading the attack.

I f***ing hate Arsenal though.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

As long as ######## ####### don't use yesterday's game as an excuse for bragging about being a major team in WORLD football, I don't mind.

But, given the result, I guess that's about as likely as Leeds 'One Point' United supporters coming on here, puffing themselves up as some sort of European Super Club.

 

[Rich Suvner]

AThe fact is we just don't have many world class English players, and those we might have are given little chance.

sorry mate, utter bollox

world class players in their positions:
Rio Ferdinand
Sol Campbell
John Terry
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
David Beckham
Michael Owen

potential world class players currently getting the chance:
Wayne Rooney
Shaun Wright Phillips
Jermaine Defoe

not many national sides can boast this many players that virtually any club side would buy/play if given the chance

 

[Easy 10]

If all the big clubs took the Arsenal route (ie buying the best young talent from abroad) then there would be a real crisis in the game in a few years time. Thankfully Man U and Chelsea maintain a good crop of the best english players, and they get regular european club football.

The problem HAS already manifested itself in the goalkeeping position though. Robinson is currently the best english keeper by a distance, but there is absolutely naff-all in terms of backup. And 10-15 years ago, Robinson would barely have got a look-in.

 

[Dave the OAP]

sorry mate, utter bollox

world class players in their positions:
Rio Ferdinand
Sol Campbell
John Terry
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
David Beckham
Michael Owen

potential world class players currently getting the chance:
Wayne Rooney
Shaun Wright Phillips
Jermaine Defoe

not many national sides can boast this many players that virtually any club side would buy/play if given the chance

I tend to agree, however I am not sure I would call Rio Ferdinand a World Class player...certainly he is a very good defender. I think if you were to look at a "world x1" I dont think any English players would get there on merit, perhaps lampard or Gerrard, but that would be it really.

I think Terry Henry is the best player I have ever seen play in all the 40odd years I have been watching football....the only few who come close is of course Pele, Cruyff and maradonna - they were more creative players who could turn a game, but he is just consistantly brilliant game after game. I thought both goals last night were sublime.

 

[Icy Gull]

Bunch of hypocrites, the lot of you. Are you trying to tell me that if Brighton went down the Arsenal route you'd be complaining? They are producing sublime competitive football on a shoestring compared to Manchester United and Chelsea. As non fans I'm sure you'd love them to have a team of Dickov's and other nearly men. They can't compete with the big two so they bring in foreigners, most of whom happen to be French, which I belive is the REAL reason so many of you little Englanders hate them

I'm sure Wenger would happily have the English players that are at Chelsea and United, but he can't afford their ludicrous wages and transfer fees. Wait until they have a new ground and can compete with United on a level pegging and things will change.

 

[tedebear]

As far as I can say Icy Gull - its not being hypocritical - its just extremely dissapointing?

To be honest with you - yes I'd be dissapointed if Brighton went down the Arsenal route - but then again I'd be delighted if our side were made up of local home grown talent, which would never happen entirely - ie Brighton born and bred - it seems there is little allegiance to anything these days except money!!

 

[Icy Gull]

As far as I can say Icy Gull - its not being hypocritical - its just extremely dissapointing?

To be honest with you - yes I'd be dissapointed if Brighton went down the Arsenal route - but then again I'd be delighted if our side were made up of local home grown talent, which would never happen entirely - ie Brighton born and bred - it seems there is little allegiance to anything these days except money!!

Except that British players that are good enough end up at Chelsea and United and possiby Madrid, disappointing but when have we have we ever produced the World's best players? Nothing's changed except the quality of football in the Premiership.

 

[Dr Breakfast]

sorry mate, utter bollox

world class players in their positions:
Rio Ferdinand
Sol Campbell
John Terry
Frank Lampard
Steven Gerrard
David Beckham
Michael Owen

potential world class players currently getting the chance:
Wayne Rooney
Shaun Wright Phillips
Jermaine Defoe

not many national sides can boast this many players that virtually any club side would buy/play if given the chance

It depends on your definition of world class, and the point I was making was more on those waiting in the wings.

Aside from the players you mention above who have we got waiting for the future? Yes there's Stewart Downing who could hopefully cut it one day but when you look at the England under 21 side there actually aren't too many players that are even premiership quality.

Dan Harding is in the side for one!

And Jon Stead one for the future? No offence but I don't think he's gonna be terrorising the defences of national teams worldwide in years to come.

My point is that when you look at Brazil they have players coming ou of their ears with class and skill. There's always a hot new Brazilian wonderkid on the scene coming through the ranks and we just don't have that here.

I think Gerrard and Lampard are wonderful players, Owen on his day is up there and Rooney and Wright-Phillips will hopefully be in the national side for years to come - but take them away and we're completely buggered for backup.

Meanwhile, take Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Denilson out of the Brazil squad and they'd still have hundreds of players waiting in the wings that could do a job.

Ok this is an extreme example as Brazil are consistently the best team in world football but they don't have a league full of foreigners do they?

 

[Bwian]

Bunch of hypocrites, the lot of you. Are you trying to tell me that if Brighton went down the Arsenal route you'd be complaining? They are producing sublime competitive football on a shoestring compared to Manchester United and Chelsea. As non fans I'm sure you'd love them to have a team of Dickov's and other nearly men. They can't compete with the big two so they bring in foreigners, most of whom happen to be French, which I belive is the REAL reason so many of you little Englanders hate them

I'm sure Wenger would happily have the English players that are at Chelsea and United, but he can't afford their ludicrous wages and transfer fees. Wait until they have a new ground and can compete with United on a level pegging and things will change.

Arsenal have had longer than most teams to build a throughput of talented English players by using their youth system. How long have they been one of England's top sides? Where are their academy players? ManUre have a system in place and have had for years. As have Liverpool, Everton and other sides. Arsenal have bought in cheap imports which now dominate their entire squad. That is a fact and it has nothing to do with being a Little Englander to be critical of their methods.

It has nothing to do with their side being dominated by French people either-more to do with the fact that there wasn't an English/British player in sight to represent the (current) 3rd best side in the Premiershite. THAT is alarming for English/British football in general.

 

[Icy Gull]

Arsenal have had longer than most teams to build a throughput of talented English players by using their youth system.

You have a point, maybe Brady is the wrong man for the job? Barrett, Sidwell, and others I'm sure have come through the youth system, they're just not good enough for top flight football. As a manager would you turn down Fabrega and the other cheap imports for players like that?

 

[Bwian]

You have a point, maybe Brady is the wrong man for the job? Barrett, Sidwell, and others I'm sure have come through the youth system, they're just not good enough for top flight football. As a manager would you turn down Fabrega and the other cheap imports for players like that?

Either their system isn't as good as Liverpool's, ManUre's, etc OR they know that the cheap foreign player is by far the cheapest route? And quickest! For every Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes or Dwayne Gooney there are scores of Sidwells, David Thompsons etc. Maybe the Arse's board of directors don't want to invest properly in an academy? Only they know.....

 

[wilderabeast]

F*cking disgrace Arsenal sb playing in Frances prem div not ours

 

[beorhthelm]

That's the first time that's ever happened in the Premiershite...

Not true. Chelsea fielded an all foreign team on at least one occasion. In one game, i cant recall who against, there wasnt a single Englishman in either line up.

 

[The Laughing Bluebird]

Re: Re: Arsenal-No British Players Last Night

Not true. Chelsea fielded an all foreign team on at least one occasion. In one game, i cant recall who against, there wasnt a single Englishman in either line up.

It was the first time a 16-man squad has not included an Englishman. Makes you wonder why Eriksson bothered to turn up. Couldn't have been to watch Andy Johnson. After all, Johnson was playing up front.