Arsenal
Why England should trust Young Guns
Whilst we are distracted by the ease at which English teams have dominated the Champions League, it only serves to cement the exile of our young players
Despite not making the final, Lionel Messi has been the success story of the Champions League. With effortless skill and astute vision, he has been a joy to watch. His much hyped battle with Cristiano Ronaldo turned how to be a no contest as, at just 20 years old, he was the attacking heartbeat of a Barcelona side with an apparent embarrassment of riches. With 72 matches under his belt and 30 goals, surely the sucess of Messi tells us something about the failings of an England team with few young prospects to turn to and a dim future ahead?
Look at all the big teams in Europe and you’ll see they each have their own batch of prodigies, all boasting to have the world’s hottest new prospect. In Spain, Messi’s catalan compatriot, the 18 year old Bojan has forced out Theirry Henry and put Ronaldinho in a strop. 19 year old Athletico Madrid forward Aguero has already played 71 games for his team bagging 22 goals. In Italy, one time Chelsea target Pato has scored an incredible eight goals in 15 for AC Milan. Meanwhile, 17 year old Inter striker Balotelli is setting Serie A alight with his performances. So to England’s teenage attacking talent: Theo Walcott still spends most of his time on the Arsenal bench whilst Chelsea’s Scott Sinclair has been sent on loan an astonishing four times in the last 12 months.
“It’s about time English clubs showed the next generation some pride”
So, are we really surprised England have failed to qualify for Euro 2008? If the situation remains the same, how can we expect to qualify for the 2010 World Cup? Or Euro 2012? Are we to rely on the same old heads? Bring Beckham out of a third retirement? We might as well get Gascoigne and Lineker back as well for what it’s worth.
In Europe, young players are shown off like trophies. Oppositions cannot deal with their speed and unpredictability. After all, how much homework can you do on a teenager? It’s about time English clubs showed the next generation some pride. And it’s not that England doesn’t have good young players, it’s that our clubs aren’t prepared to risk playing them. But why?
We have become a faithless footballing country.
The endless wells of cash have made it a safer bet to place faith in a hot prospect from outside Britain rather than play our own locally produced players. Our academies have become a novelty, an empty gesture. In fact, the Premiership has become a school for blooding football’s youngsters like Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and Manchester United’s Anderson. Sure, they’ve improved the league, but would they have been given the same chances at other clubs? Are we just doing a favour for our rivals by giving playing time to foreign youngsters rather than our own? By so frequently overlooking rising youth, does this mean our top clubs believe the country is ill-equipped to train new talent?
“Surely the proof of a good footballer, as in any profession, lies in performance under pressure?”
Last season, Glen Roeder had a revelation which sadly failed to linger as he drafted in youth players to an injury stricken squad. The young Canadian David Edgar and still-wet-behind-the-ears Steven Taylor featured against Bolton and performed exceptionally. Edgar named Man of the Match. Roeder was baffled. So with this epiphany, you’d expect it would leave a lasting impression, not just to Newcastle but the entire league. Well, Newcastle’s single hot prospect Andy Carroll has been sent on loan and the Premiership has chosen foreign imports over its own academy hopefuls. Surely the proof of a good footballer, as in any profession, lies in performance under pressure? Yet how can we expect to compete if we don’t give our players a chance? It seems Premier League clubs freely distance themselves from the responsibility of providing England with a future.
The Champions League has demonstrated the improvement of the Premier League but the success of English teams stand to leave damaging repercussions for the country’s future. Huge cash influxes from TV revenues threaten to usher more money to pass onto to the continent and fewer chances for young talent.
Should Chelsea win the Champions League, they’ll undoubtedly attempt to coax Messi to the Bridge, Scott Sinclair will be forced to look elsewhere. Man Utd are already eyeing Moutinho and a plethora of young foreign stars. For the sake of an all-star league, are we saying goodbye to competing in national competitions? We can all be proud of the resilience of Chelsea, the determination of Liverpool and the industry of Man Utd. But the glory of Champions League success can only be temporary. A façade for what can only exacerbate the challenge for up and coming prospects, and strangle the future of our national team.
Is it time for Premier League clubs to start taking risks on their young England hopefuls? Share your views in the comments section below.
Tags: AC Milan, Anderson, Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas, Champions League, Chelsea, England, Euro 2008, Inter Milan, Italy, Lionel Messi, Manchester United, Scott Sinclair, Spain, Theo Walcott 
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You make some decent points. It’s a pity, really, because your argument has already fallen down before you get to them.
Faith in youth? From whom? Aragones may be desperate for Bojan to play for Spain, but the boy isn’t really Spanish. Messi isn’t Spanish, and neither is Aguero. Pato isn’t Italian. In fact, Balotelli is the only relevant example you give, and he’s jockeyed his way into contention because of Ibrahimovic’s patchy form.
So… nice idea. 3/10 for execution.
Lampard,Terry,Bridge,J.Cole, A.Cole,SWP,Sidwell.
All (but Sidwell) are Enland internationals…and play for Chelsea.
Hmmmmmm, no English talent?
Look again.
chelsea have invested a shed load of money intheir academy and they got to the final of the youth cup for the first time in forty years…be patient players will get their chance.
As Rob said earlier, you have defeated your own cause by naming a host of foreigners playing in Serie A.
However, the blame falls squarely on the ineptitude and indecision of the English FA in creating a National Academy which should be used to steer and nurture young talent.
Ok im chelsea’s No1 fan im calvin from avforums and we are by far the best team to ever grace the champions league, We have planty of english talent who came before RA and he’s millions, Lets hope Messi does come next season as i can watch him from my arm chair as im chelsea’s No.1 fan.
Sports Journalism is a crap. In one page they will say that Arsenal failed because of youngsters and in another page they will say England should depend on youngsters.