I think a more important factor is the immobility of English players

Look how many players from other countries ply their trade in England. Now consider how many English players move abroad at an early age. Fact is, there are only 20 PL teams and a finite number of top flight games to play in. Players from Spain or France maximise their opportunities (and learn more about the game) by gaining experience in other countries, but English players don't bother. And why would they, when Man City are ready to snap up any half-decent prospect for double the fee and triple the wages that any other European team would pay, just to bump up their homegrown numbers? Look at the huge Chelsea squad - in a heathy system, those youngsters would pack their bags and find a new club in another league where they could settle and develop. McEachran is a good example - heralded for years as the next big thing, but passed over in favour of several multi-million pound signings after countless loan moves. Even we're guilty of it - look at Thompson or McGrandles. Neither of those look like good career moves at the moment. I think as long as talented young players are bench-warming or sent off on loan repeatedly at top half PL clubs, those stats won't change.

Posted By: King on October 2nd 2015 at 08:52:49

Message Thread

Some disconcerting footy stats in The Times this morning (Other Football) - Old Git, Oct 2, 08:33:33
- This article is good on the German system which starts at the grass roots... (Other Football) - Vivid Data Shark, Oct 2, 11:18:25
- it should be simple (Other Football) - paulg, Oct 2, 09:59:49
  - Do you think that would actually make us better? (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Oct 2, 10:49:41
    - We got rid of kick and rush years ago (Other Football) - bjg123, Oct 2, 11:34:03
      - Well that's really good news (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Oct 2, 11:59:03
        
        I've watched years of yoof football from U10 TO U16, there's not much hoofing (Other Football) - BSE Canary, Oct 2, 12:34:03
    - I think it would (Other Football) - paulg, Oct 2, 11:05:42
    - I think they would be wanted but they get paid far too much over here (Other Football) - lurd, Oct 2, 10:55:46
      - I think that's a big part of it as well as some culture issues (Other Football) - megson, Oct 2, 13:37:30
      - Yeah that could be it (n/m) (Other Football) - SimonOTBC, Oct 2, 11:56:46
  - not allowed to due to EU law. (n/m) (Other Football) - fal5taff, Oct 2, 10:01:00
    - and the Prem clubs would never agree to it and they effectively control the FA (n/m) (Other Football) - mr carra, Oct 2, 10:32:46
    - Unfortunately, yes ... (Other Football) - paulg, Oct 2, 10:04:46
- Wow, that last stat is the killer (Other Football) - Tricky Hawes, Oct 2, 08:36:48
  - I think a more important factor is the immobility of English players (Other Football) - King, Oct 2, 08:52:49
    - there's that, plus inflated cost of English players (Other Football) - CWC, Oct 2, 10:12:57
    - This ^^ (n/m) (Other Football) - megson, Oct 2, 09:46:11
  - Dietmar Hamann was talking about this on radio (Other Football) - Charles21, Oct 2, 08:46:19

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