It's been a strange pre-season so far in the Premier League because although we still have a month of the transfer window to go, not much has happened.
Part of that is down to the World Cup of course, part of it is down to the situations at certain clubs - not least Liverpool - and a lot of it is down to the new rules and regulations surrounding players.
Milner: home-grown and in demand
The home-grown rule and the new 25-man squad limit have, I think, led to drastic rethinks at some clubs. I am going to have to reserve judgement on the former, but you can already see the latter causing problems.
Take Manchester City. I know they are not exactly a classic example but what happens when they have to register 25 players? I think they have something like 59 players with squad numbers, so you have to assume there are going to be a fair few who aren't under 21 and don't make the cut.
There's still nothing in place to prevent clubs from going abroad for 15 or 16-year-olds because they know that by the time they are ready for the first team, they will be classed as so-called homegrown players. I hope it works to England's benefit but it is going to take time for people to get used to it, to work with it and to fully understand it ... me included!
Jamie Redknapp
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Instantly you have some unhappy players on your hands and all you can do is send them out on loan, or sell them. That means players coming and going which hardly helps build an affiliation with a club or its supporters. People love your Jamie Carraghers and your John Terrys, those one-club players, but with this new rule they are going to become fewer and farther between.
As for the home-grown rule I can see what the thinking is, but it is going to take a long time for this to have a serious impact on the England senior team. And while it is no doubt designed to encourage clubs to nurture English talent, it doesn't close the door on someone like Arsene Wenger signing foreign kids, does it?
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I know it's all down to European law but there's still nothing in place to prevent clubs from going abroad for 15 or 16-year-olds because they know that by the time they are ready for the first team, they will be classed as so-called home-grown players. I hope it works to England's benefit - especially given the World Cup we've just had - but it is going to take time for people to get used to it, to work with it and to fully understand it ... me included!
Tradition
I do think Premier League managers already realise that you need a core of British players to do well. Sir Alex Ferguson has always had it from Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville through to Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney. Liverpool have had Carragher and Steven Gerrard and now have Joe Cole.
Jose Mourinho knew it and John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard have been central to Chelsea's success. Even Arsenal, when they were winning the league, had that English back four and have since had Sol Campbell, Theo Walcott and now it looks like Jack Wilshere will continue that tradition.
But what clubs are finding is that it is hard to sign young English talent because there is not too much of it up for grabs. The James Milner situation is a classic example; admittedly Man City coming in always bumps the price up a bit, but £30million is a little over the top - especially when you consider Barcelona got David Villa for €34m.
I would've loved to have seen the Spain striker come to the Premier League because while we do need to make sure there is room for English players, we still want to see the best in the world plying their trade here every week.
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It wasn't quite the same watching Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Real Madrid and not Manchester United last season and I sincerely hope Cesc Fabregas stays at Arsenal. Believe me, I am no different to any fan and when we turn up at The Emirates for Super Sunday, I want to see him pulling the strings in midfield as much as any Arsenal supporter.
I do hope Mario Balotelli comes here because he is a real talent and given that he turns 20 four days before our season starts, he fits into the new guidelines nicely. From what I have seen he has all the ability in the world but his attitude is a serious doubt. Only a few days ago he was seen brandishing a toy gun in the streets of Milan, which is hardly what any Premier League manager wants from his star striker.
Maybe Roberto Mancini will be able to calm him down because he knows him from his time at Inter, but if he can sort his problems out, I think he would be a great addition to our league.
And hopefully he won't be the only big-name arrival before the transfer window closes and those 25-man squads are submitted.
Comments (32)
Damian Taylor (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...
I do not agree with Greg Bishops comments! You seem to think that a player who is at a so called "lesser" club wont reach their potential, there are plenty of players that have really shown their true potential at lesser clubs and moved to bigger clubs and failed miserably! examples: bentley-shone at rovers, bit-part player at spurs. jeffers-quality at everton, arsenal ruined his career etc. Also, why do all man utd fans expect to win the title every season, when fergie first took over he didnt win the title for years until he built his team, he is building a youthful squad which will progress, as he did with the likes of scholes, neville, giggs & beckham, sometimes its better to build from within than splash 100million on players-that wont guarantee success straight way-chelsea is a perfect example! after all the spending, it took a few years to actually win the title and now they have cut down massively as its not needed. Maybe Ozil will be a good signing but thats the only player you may need, watch the potential first & then say something! until then-trust fergies judgement, its worked in the past!
Posted 15:48 5th August 2010
Sean O''leary (Liverpool fan) says...
Kevin - Villa won''t be anywhere near 4th this season. The squad ran out of steam in the last two months of last season, and O''Neill hasn''t expanded the pool of talent much so far (although his budget doesn''t help). I think 6th would be a great showing again for them. Liverpool won''t be as bad as last season either.
Posted 15:09 5th August 2010
Belfast Kiwi (Arsenal fan) says...
And while it is no doubt designed to encourage clubs to nurture English talent, it doesn''t close the door on someone like Arsene Wenger signing foreign kids, does it? J Shea, T Cruise, M Randall, G Hoyte, J Simpson, H Landsbury, R Murphy, C Eastmond, JE Thomas, K Bartley, S WAtt, K Gilbert, C HEnderson, B Afobe, L Freeman, D Boateng, C Aneke, G BHall, J Meade, S McDermott.... .just a few of the English lads developing at Arsenal factually inaccurate
Posted 14:17 5th August 2010
James Lindner (Manchester United fan) says...
Jaime speaks extremely sensible words as always, however clubs have known about this new rule for years so it isn''t limiting anyone. It''s only Fergie who constantly talks about bringing through his home grown youth players amongst the elite clubs and thats a credit to him, he''s had the time to create a system that works and the club reaps the rewards. Wenger has the same phylosophy but favours a foreign passport unfortunately and as for continual spending from City, Chelsea & Spurs then this doesnt guarantee success as you will find out. The top players in the league will be the same again as usual, dont expect any young bright new star to emerge as nobody will be given the time to develop in the first team when pressue on points each & every week is so intense. FOOTBALL - the best game on the planet!
Posted 13:37 5th August 2010
John Philips (Tottenham) (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I keep reading how Man City are signing all these super star players, but no matter how many stars you have you can only put 11 on the pitch at one time. The ones left out will get disgrunteld. and morale will plummet. they may have a great squad, but will never have a great team.
Posted 12:35 5th August 2010
Mathew Hall (Newcastle United fan) says...
Top 4 this season as the squads are will be chelsea, man u, arsenal, man city/tottenham. however if fergie splashes a little bit of cash and signs ozil i think he would slip right into the team and offers value for money at his current age and ability. A combination of Hernandez, Rooney and Ozil would be enough to win the prem this season. Hopefully Cleverly either gets some games or is sent out on loan because he looks an imensely promising piece of talent.
Posted 11:44 5th August 2010
Jonathan Curtis (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Arsenal with an English spine.... OAP Campbell, an overated Walcott and a baby Wilshire is hardly a spine. No mention of the spurs neither who have a whole host of full England internationals.... King, Dawson, Huddlestone, Lennon, Defoe, Crouch.... now thats not just a spine its the whole body!! Agree with the rest Jamo....
Posted 11:27 5th August 2010
Alan Lawson (Queens Park Rangers) (Queens Park Rangers fan) says...
I don''t agree with the 25 man squad rule. This is club football not International football. It won''t make the slightest bit of difference to our national team & a few player''s who are left out will be disgruntled. Along with all the sensless bookings for fouls, they are turning football into a joke.
Posted 10:19 5th August 2010
Kevin Wilson (Coventry City fan) says...
I think spurs fans will get a reality shock this year, they will finish about 7th and man city will finish 6th and mancini will be sacked mid season. If you are going to make a serious attempt at winning the league you neeed to at quality players and thats exactly what chelsea have done, they have ramires and look favourites for ozil, this will be chelsea''s year for the league and champions league, lampard top goal scorer in premiership as well. i think the suprise package will be aston villa who will get that 4th place, o''neill is a world class manager and built a good strong team.
Posted 08:41 5th August 2010
Matt Askew (Arsenal fan) says...
John Smith, Your a goose. Fabregas is a young player who has alot of pressure that is not needed this close to the start of the season. He will stay at ARSENAL & will play with the heart he has shown the last 6yrs. Just because you have sour grapes about Berbatov leaving spurs. Getover yourself mate. Arsenal will dominate this season & Spurs will finish 7th
Posted 02:19 5th August 2010
Mark Stephen (Manchester United fan) says...
will be an interesting season - if we dont sign a couple of world class players ie ozil/benzema or similar then its chelsea 1st arsenal 2nd man utd 3rd city 4th so come on fergie spend some of that £90 you have in the bank or forget the title and champs league this season :(
Posted 23:29 4th August 2010
Ricardo Thorpeo (Manchester City fan) says...
man city have signed top quality players in silva, yaya toure. and jerome boateng with milner ,balotelli and david luiz hopefully to follow i can see city really challenging this season and for many more to come top 4 easy and probaly a trophy or 2
Posted 22:48 4th August 2010
Dave Murphy (Manchester United fan) says...
The idea of the rule is a good one but looking at the end result and the impacted players. So far it looks like the rule will hurt the recovery chances of Owen Hargreaves and Jonathan Woodgate, neither seem likely to be included in their clubs 25 squads. How does that help the English team again ?
Posted 18:19 4th August 2010
Mike Stanton (Manchester City fan) says...
Robbie Cochrane (Liverpool fan) - Man City has a lack of English core? Compared to who? English players who have represented England at senior and under 21 level are: Hart, Lescott, Onuoha, Richards, Bridge, Barry, Wright Phillips, Adam Johnson, Michael Johnson.
Posted 16:42 4th August 2010
Mike Stanton (Manchester City fan) says...
Everybody - Manchester City will NOT have a problem with this rule! We have 12 ''home grown'' players that will be in the 25. We have an abundance of under 21 year olds. The only players who will miss out are the ones we are looking at moving on - Jo, Caicedo plus around 3 or 4 youngster over 21 who have been loaned to lower leagues in the past - Logan, Etuthu. There is even room for Robinho if he can get his head straight and Santa Cruz if he does not move on. If anything, this rule will make us stronger as their is quality for every position. Bring on the new season!
Posted 16:27 4th August 2010
Jake Cummins (Chelsea fan) says...
i think we will win the premiership because we might bag a deal for Ramires of Benfica and Ozil of Werder Bremen and please can we beat man utd in the comminutity shield and Hamburg in our freindly match
Posted 16:08 4th August 2010
Anthony Buckle (Chelsea) (Chelsea fan) says...
personally i think manchester city are going to struggle in order to mount a title challenge, it takes time for teams to gel and lets be honest they haven't had a great pre-season. i think they will make the top four but that's as far as they'll go i think. i hope fabregas stays at arsenal as he is the heart of their team and just feel he is too big a player to replace with the season only a week away now. i predict chelsea to retain the title with manchester utd second. unfortunately i think it could be a sorry old season for liverpool again as they just aren't good enough, putting too much pressure on torres and gerrard. anyway just my opinion - Come On Chelsea!!!!
Posted 14:07 4th August 2010
Dave Sumner (Coventry City fan) says...
This could be a good thing for the Championship. If Premiership teams are limited on the number of players in a first team squad then there maybe players of a higher quality available for loan which championship teams could benefit from. It will be interesting after the transfer window closes to see which players have been left out and what championship clubs could capatilise on that. Being a Cov fan I''m hoping we could pick up a decent striker.
Posted 13:26 4th August 2010
Tom Smith (Manchester United fan) says...
i think with man u buy ozil we will win the premship cup and areneal go 2nd and chelsea go 3rd and man city go 4
Posted 12:53 4th August 2010
Richard Milgate (Southampton fan) says...
I feel this will mean young players are removed from smaller clubs. Just look at the young lads who Southampton have had to sell in the past.
Posted 11:33 4th August 2010
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