Would a Quota on Foreign Players Make Any Difference to the English Premier League?

A foreign player quota; that is a limit on the amount of foreigners you can have in your squad. Discussed by world football’s leaders, many have blasted leading clubs to take into account players born in the country they play in, as those clubs prefer to sign cheaper foreign alternatives. The influx of foreign players in the English Premiership in particular has long been drawn up as a reason why England constantly fails on the international stage.


While just eleven ‘foreigners’ were listed to start in the first week of fixtures at the start of the Premiership in the 1992/93 season, a massive 59% of players that took to the field in last year’s campaign were foreign. Fans of the England international team will suggest that those foreigners are taking up valuable squad places for English youth, but is that the case? If those English youth players are good enough, they will be able to realise their dreams of moving to a top four club- as Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips have all done.


That’s not to say a stint at a top four club is the best for young English players because they will often get limited playing time. Often, a spell at a smaller club can benefit those youngsters greatly- the likes of Leighton Baines at Wigan, Micah Richards at Manchester City and Fabrice Muamba at Birmingham can testify to this. Whereas at a top four club the trio would be mostly bench players, they are allowed to flourish in an environment with less pressure and if they have not already, they will get their first England caps in the coming months. Even though the top clubs do not really take gambles on those players from the lower divisions, clubs further down in the Premiership do- as shown when Everton paid what could be an eventual £5m to bring Joleon Lescott to Goodison Park. Impressing greatly, Lescott has been one of the star performers of an Everton side that qualified for the UEFA Cup. Another young English player to do well in the Premiership is Nicky Shorey, bought for a mere £25,000 from Leyton Orient to eventually arrive with Reading into England’s top flight, and even earning himself an call-up to England’s friendly against Brazil a day before his wedding. The last example I bring you is that of once non-league winger Michael Kightly, who could soon be playing in the Premiership. The English player moved to Wolverhampton Wonderers from Conference side Grays Athletic, with Premiership champions Manchester United apparently interested in getting his signature. Once known as ‘the Ryan Giggs of non-league football’, Wolves have put a £2m value on Kightly and with his stock continuing to rise, it is likely he will make the step up sooner rather than later.


How does the influx of foreign players help the England national team, you ask? Foreign players have contributed to developing one of England’s greatest squads of all time, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand all capable of getting into any football side in the world. The foreign ‘invasion’ has also meant English players have gained football knowledge and skills they would not have had there been a ban on foreign imports. Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon possess technical prowess matching some of the best continental players in the world, with the former regularly turning in virtuoso performances for Chelsea while the latter hoodwinks defences with his quick feet and ability to play in confined areas.


A quota on the amount of foreign players allowed in the Premiership would not just be detrimental to the league as a spectacle, but it would not help the national team either, with only a larger amount of mediocre players becoming available. Only the cream of the crop rise to the top, and in today’s difficult Premiership it is clear that those best suited to playing for England are doing so. All that is needed for the national team is a half decent manager and some serious, serious penalty practise and they will be up there competing with the best as with the likes of Bentley, Richards and Lennon coming through the wait for England to end their barren run on the national stage draws closer every time a promising youngster manages to break into the Premiership.

Can English Players Flourish At Arsenal?

'He'll never sign for Arsenal, he's English. Don't you know Wenger hates English players?" This is the response a friend of mine gave me when we discussed Arsenal being linked to Leighton Baines. Although the first Wenger team was built of an English back five (Seamen, Dixon, Adams , Bould and Winterburn), these players were inherited from a previous Arsenal manager, George Graham. Even so, they have surmised that Wenger's stringent diet routine and methodical training schedule increased their careers by at least another five or so years. The sight of Parlour marauding up and down the right flank was a common one at the start of the new millennium and of course which Arsenal fan can forget Ian Wright latching on to through balls to round the keeper and score.


However, in recent times Wenger's transfer policy has been to sign mainly foreign players. Why, you ask? Wenger has always been priced out of the market for the top class England players. Wayne Rooney, a player who Wenger admired went for a reported £30 million pounds, whereas Wenger found the world class Van Persie for around £2.75 million pounds, less than a tenth of Rooney's cost! Other examples would include £30 million pounds for Rio Ferdinand compared to £150,000 pounds for Kolo Toure, or even £1 million pounds for the prodigious Cesc Fabregas whilst Michael Carrick went for £18.6 million pounds.


Nevertheless, many critics of Wenger's transfer policy say he could sign other less priced English players, such as Joey Barton, or Steve Sidwell, or even David Nugent. What they fail to realise is that Wenger has had his hands burned thrice by English players and thus is wary of taking the risk again. Pennant, a promising winger and thought of by many of being capable of replacing Ljungberg on the right wing was constantly drinking after games, arriving late for training and getting into the press for bad behaviour. Francis Jeffers, the supposed next English Michael Owen tempted Wenger to part with £10.5 million pounds for him- but he developed into a flop of the highest order and was quickly jettisoned for a huge loss. Lastly, all Arsenal fans can remember being knifed in the back by club idol, and possible future captain Ashley Cole. The England left back met London rivals Chelsea's manager and director of football in a hotel just a week before a big game and then wrote a book critisising all at the club- manager, players, and fans included.


This is not to say that a stint on the books of Arsenal Football Club is bad for English players. There are many examples of English players leaving Arsenal to go on and shine at other clubs. Steve Sidwell, who flourished at Reading, being one of the most exciting players in a team that took the Premiership by storm has now gone to FA Cup winners Chelsea. David Bentley, a promising talent that could play either on the flank or as a secondary striker (in the Dennis Bergkamp role) sadly could not wait for his chance as he had the then great Pires and Ljungberg ahead of him on the flanks as well as Bergkamp himself in his role up front. He has since moved on to Blackburn, where he has impressed greatly and was recently linked with Premiership Champions Manchester United for a reported £6 million pound move. Jermaine Pennant is of course at UEFA Champions League finalists Liverpool, driving forwards and pinging in crosses from his favoured position on the wing. Even a mere season at Arsenal will help no end as Harper and Stack at Reading, Jerome Thomas at Charlton, Fabrice Muamba at Birmingham as well as many others scattered across the lower leagues of England will tell you.


Wenger does not ignore English players, he merely looks at what is best for the club and if he can purchase a foreign player, at a fraction of the cost, of an English player with similar talents, then he clearly is doing what is best for the club and its supporters. Even so, there are still English players blossoming at Arsenal Football Club. Theo Walcott, one of the upcoming stars of the next generation was wanted by Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool among others but he chose to come to Arsenal as he saw young players have a good chance to succeed with the Gunners. His skill and pace enticed Arsene Wenger to fork out £5 million pounds rising to a possible £12 million depending on appearances and trophies won, making the then sixteen year old Walcott the most expensive player of his age in the history of British football. Along with Justin Hoyte, an England U21 regular, Walcott makes up the second half of just two English players in the Arsenal squad.


Do not be fooled by the scarcity of English players however- Arsenal still have a great interest in developing English youngsters. The problem with buying English players is that very few of them have the technical skill required to perform on the big stage in Arsenal's passing game. Only the likes of Aaron Lennon and Joe Cole possess this in the current England setup, and since both of those players play for direct rivals they are off limits for the near future. Arsene Wenger is a smart man and quickly found a way around this problem. By developing youngsters in Arsenal's very own youth teams, the ability to adapt to Arsenal's continental style of football is instilled in these players from a young age. These players although not ready to make an impact now will form an English spine for Arsenal in a few years. The likes of Henri Lansbury, a swift attacking midfielder will provide competition for places when he is ready. Along with Marc Randall, another central midfielder, Matthew Connoly, a central defender and current captain of the Arsenal reserves and Jay Simpson, a striker that scored the first ever hattrick at the Emirates Stadium, these players will undoubtedly push for Arsenal places in the coming years. Even if they do not make it playing for Wenger's Arsenal, they will find other clubs gladly willing to take them on their books due to their thorough Arsenal education. I write this to inform and educate those that do not know of the miracle we are currently witnessing at Arsenal. Too often Arsenal fans are taunted by those supporting rival clubs about the lack of English talent at Ashburton Grove, now those remarks can be buried in the scrapheap as they deserve. Although not possessing many English players in the current first team, it is undoubted that the future is not just red and white for Arsenal, but red and white for England as well.

Carlos Tevez, a worthwhile signing for Arsenal?

Throughout this transfer window, Arsenal Football Club have been linked with a series of players, whether winger, striker or midfielder. Now that Henry has gone, these rumours about which striker Arsenal will sign have increased no end, and one of the most appearing rumours on various sports websites is that the Argentine Carlos Tevez will be moving to Arsenal. Tevez, a 23 year old who shone at the 2006 World Cup for Argentina has been credited as the main reason West Ham United escaped relegation to the Championship. "Carlitos" scored 7 goals in the last 10 games of the Premiership season moving West Ham from a position where all seemed lost to stay in the Premiership after Tevez scored the winning goal against champions Manchester United on the last day.

These performances caused Tevez to be linked to a number of clubs- the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea all mentioned as a possible destination for West Ham's stellar performer. However, potential buyers will be put off by the fact that Tevez is not owned by a club, but a company. Media Sports Investments. This ownership by a third party led Sheffield United to ask for a court hearing questioning West Ham's right to stay in the Premiership. Almost certain to move, Carlos Tevez is too good for a club of West Ham's stature and will soon be off, although where to?

Arsenal and Inter Milan are the two clubs he has been most strongly linked with recently. Inter Milan want Tevez to strengthen their quest for the Champions League, and Tevez revealed he would be happy to move there. Tevez spoke to Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, saying: 'Inter is a great club. There is a true possibility that I will wear the Nerazzurri colours next season. 'It's also true that Real Madrid are interested in my services but my agent knows exactly how I feel about it - better Inter than Real.'

Although the Argentine contingent at Inter would make things easy for Tevez to move there, it is questionable whether Inter need another striker, already signing David Suazo from Cagliari to add to Ibrahamovic, Crespo and Adriano already at the club. A move to Arsenal makes more sense as the Gunners need a striker to replace the departing Henry. "Carlitos" admitted he was interested in a move to Arsenal, telling the Sun: "I know people are now talking about Arsenal and obviously that is something I am excited about. It's another big club and the good thing is I wouldn't have to move out of London. I also already know English football and I like it. Arsenal's style is more technical than physical so I could fit in no problem."

Tevez found West Ham difficult at first as the then manager Alan Pardew refused to play him in his favoured position up front, often sticking him out wide on the wing or leaving him on the substitutes' bench. However, after Pardew was sacked new manager Curbishley played Tevez as a forward and reaped the rewards as West Ham United were saved from the drop. Now that Tevez has adapted to English football, he would be a player that could come in and make an immediate impact at Arsenal without needed the settling in period that a player based in a different league would.

Even though Tevez was hardly prolific during his stint in East London , he scored for fun during his spells at Boca Juniors Argentina's Primera División and Corinthians in Brazil 's Série A. His record of 1 goal every 3 apperances for West Ham United was by no means poor as he played on the wing for most of it and can only score more in a team that creates more chances. Carlos Tevez joining Arsenal would be a signal of intent from Wenger and no doubt he would terrorize not just Premiership defenses, but European ones as well.

What must England do to find success on the International stage?

Despite having undeniably talented players, lots of money and of course a passionate fanbase, England have only won the World Cup once, way back in 1966, and have never won the European Championships- reaching the semi finals only twice in those. Ranked a lowly eighth by FIFA, it is a surprise that the country with the most watched league in the world finishes below the likes of Portugal and France- teams that have a very weak domestic league when compared to the English Premiership. Two things have haunted England at major tournaments, the first being a lack of technical skill possessed by their counterparts on the international stage; the second being failure to take penalties well at the highest level. Too often, such as in 1998 and 2006 World Cups as well as in the 1996, 2004 European Championships England have failed to deliver when it comes to penalty time, and the national team has suffered because of it. This inability to take penalties is not just a feature of the full national team- recently the England U21 team was knocked out of the European tournament for their age group after losing to eventual winners Holland in a penalty shootout. With regards to penalties, there is not much England can do to help them score more at international tournaments bar practising, practising and practising some more in pressure situations. In that respect, it was heartening to see the England U21 squad playing a penalty shootout against Slovakia after a friendly at Stuart Pearce's request, as these types of shootouts can only help players handle the pressure.

The other matter however, which is the lack of technical skill possessed by most top flight England players mean they are destined to fail unless they fix this weaknesses, and fast. Of the current England setup, only Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon possess the quick feet and ability to play in small spaces that most of their foreign counterparts do. More work needs to be put in at youth level by the Football Association in order to try and fix this, and youngsters need to be encouraged to play with the ball at their feet, concentrating on playing a good game rather than just the win. In Brazil, younger players play as they wish, being encouraged to beat their man and make short passes rather than mindlessly hoofing the ball up front. Positions in a formation are given once the players are older and wiser and even then it is the players that choose where and how they would like to play rather than a coach giving orders. As the players grow up, not just a will to play Brazilian's "samba style" is instilled in them but also the confidence to keep their cool even when the clock is running down and a goal is needed. Statistics prove how little English players are at the forefront of trophies compared to the other countries they compete with. Just 16 English players have played in a UEFA Champions League final since its inception, compared to the 90 Italians that have featured in the same amount of time. Surely this shows that something needs to be done?

Even for all these problems, England still have a strong team and that is because of one thing- the availability of foreign players to clubs in the Premiership. Although most argue that this is the reason England do poorly in international competitions, they fail to realise England did not win anything from the World Cup win in 1966 to the first influx of foreign players in the Premiership. The large amount of foreign talent available means only the best English players will survive, as they likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney have shown. Also, English talent is able to compete with players from Spain, France , Italy and Brazil as well as learn skills from them- something they would never have been able to do had the league only allowed British players. England fans may despair as they do not look like winning anything under McClaren's reign- but with the likes of Theo Walcott, Micah Richards and Wayne Rooney emerging it is hard to see how they will remain starved of success for much longer. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa would seem the best place to start as by then the precocious Rooney, Lennon and Ashton will be in their pomp, ably supported by the experienced Gerrard and Hargreaves and backed by the developing Walcott and Richards.