11 Oct 2013 12:00:33
Hi Utd fans its international time so in the interests of England's future what do you think.
Of a system where any club that starts 35 or more of the 38 games with 5:or more English players receiving 5 bonus points at the end of the season.
It wouldn't be compulsory and any club who thought fielding 7 or more overseas players was worth forfeiting the bonus points would be free to do so. I think it would encourage clubs to back English lads where ever possible.
I would like you thoughts but please remember its just an idea so go easy on me :-)

1.) 11 Oct 2013
I don't think it would really address the issues of the lack English players. I mean clubs would soon realise that those 5 points could be made up by fielding a talented group of foreigners over the course of the season. I personally think more drastic steps needs to be taken to ensure the future of English football, however I can actually see the spineless FA concocting something similar to appease fans in the short term, without actually addressing the real lack of quality of English footballers.

2.) 11 Oct 2013
I don't think such a system would be viable, surely just increasing the number of homegrown players a club has to have in their squad is a better solution. Maybe they could extend it to not just being in the squad but that maybe four of the match day 18 have to be home grown and at least 8 of your 25 man squad have to be home grown with the view of making it 10 in a squad and 6 in the match day 18 a couple of years down the line.

I wouldn't be against them taking a hard line and saying that 8 of your 18 man matchday squad have to be homegrown. That way at least one english man will have to play for every side every week.

But the real issue isn't the number of players to pick from but the quality of them.

Belgium for example isn't a large country and the majority of their top players play outside of their own national league. But they have take some huge measures to improve coaching at grass roots level right up to the top of their game and is has resulted in them having this great current generation of players such as Hazard, Witsel, Fellaini, Benteke, Dembele, Vertonghen, Vermarlen, Kompany, Mingolet and Lukaku. Then if you look at the even younger lads they have some great young prospects coming through such as Januzaj, Bakkali, and Tielemans.

We should be focusing on the training and coaching we give young players and the way we educate these young players.

This may mean we need to make some big changes to the way the game is played, even to the extent of removing some of the physicality within the english game to allow these young players the chance of playing competitive football at a younger age without the worry of injury.

3.) 11 Oct 2013
The FA could try and make a law about the number of English players fielded but probably the only way you could deal with non-compliance is by points deductions, rather than a reward system.

I question whether it would make any difference. The reality is that English players have never been that good. Barring 1966 at home, the international team has always failed miserably. Nor are English much sought after by top teams from other countries. So IMO that the number of foreign players is a red herring to avoid discussion of the true problem which lies somewhere between awful youth training and a ruling authority that has no vision. I don't believe it's down to innate inferiority, because just look what happened when the right investments were made in the Olympic squad.

4.) 11 Oct 2013
I think if we rewind 10 years then ask the same question would u be so up 4 it?

5.) 11 Oct 2013
English players (young and old) can play abroad just the same as foreign players can play in England.

I think the problem lies within coaching at kids level. Maybe we need more emphasis on technique rather than winning matches being the be all and end all that encourages focus on the big lads that do well whilst they're physically ahead of their peers but are soon exposed as average players when the others catch up growth wise.

6.) 11 Oct 2013
The big changes need to happen at grass roots level.

The youth players need to play more football at an early age, but critically have the time to spend with coaches etc.

There also needs to be a change in philosophy. I had no problem with Wilshire saying only players born in England should play for England or whatever it was he said. It was what followed that was bad. English players try hard, are determined and like to tackle. The mentality needs to shift from the if in doubt boot it out to needing to hold onto the ball and be comfortable with it at your feet. Until that happens the national side will never triumph over the more technically gifted nations

7.) 11 Oct 2013
Thank you all for responding, I don't know the answer but I do know the powers that be haven't found it after all these years and by being open to fans ideas and possible solutions wouldn't hurt. I think smaller clubs need to be encouraged to produce English players and bigger clubs need to have an inventive to take them over cheaper overseas players. A few years back Arsenal wanted Darren Eaddie from Norwich ( don't laugh:-) it was a long time ago, Norwich wanted 7 million so we bought Overmars for the same money that has been part of the problem, premium as a posed to bargain prices for going English

8.) 11 Oct 2013
The problem with English football is it has gone stagnant. Individuality and skill is trained out of youngsters as they are forced to play and train within a system. That is why nearly all of the creative and exciting players in the Premier League are from overseas.

9.) 12 Oct 2013
Gunner

A solution like that would only work if it was pan European otherwise our clubs would be at a disadvantage. Without going into a monologue the FA need to look at why it is easier to bring a 16 year old from abroad than it is to develop an English lad. The rule about where kids live and proximity to the club means talent cannot necessarily go to the top clubs. Whilst it was meant to even out the playing field it means the top clubs go abroad rather than get the best English talent. The FA also need to look at how much coaching badges cost because it limits the numbers of coaches. We need to look at what schools are doing and is talent encouraged there. I know from experience that coaching when young needs to be very good or real talent can go by the wayside.

{Ed002's Note - You need to read the regulations about bringing 16 years olds from abroad.}

10.) 12 Oct 2013
It would be controversial but a wage cap would sort it out. If clubs were allowed to allocate a maximum of £2mil to cover the wages of their 25 man squad per week. That would mean the league would not be disjointed and then the money saved can be spent on improving coaching, youth football and building pitches where kids can play 24/7 not when they have to book in advance and pay £5 each time.

That is the core problem of why we are being left behind, it's alright building all these new pitches, but how often can a gang of kids actually go and have a kick about on a Thursday after school?!

We would lose some quality players in the short term and obviously some TV money and sponsorship, but if we want it all then it will continue to ruin the game. These big investors aren't bothered about building an English legacy they just want as much fame and fortune as possible which is fair enough. We need to change our whole focus of the game and whilst there will still be a lot of money made by clubs, more can be invested in infrastructure and youth.

Superstars may leave or if a team has too many stars it will need to compensate with youth players being in the squad. Either way youth players will be given more of a chance to develop for first teams.

If we did this for 10 years the rest of Europe would follow suit so there would be no distinct advantage, but we will have a stable system which will encourage youth development and will perhaps make clubs more family orientated and attract less of the mercenaries.

I appreciate there are loads of things to consider and draw backs. But if we are serious about change starting with a wage cap at the top we can then build around it to ensure we have a fantastic game of football and work the problems it leaves out before implementing the cut.

{Ed002's Note - This will hasten the pan-European split and the creation of an elite league - which will be happening regardless.}

11.) 12 Oct 2013
12 Oct 2013 16:41:55
Ed02, Perfect then, why delay the inevitable if it means we can get the ball rolling quicker on feeding more cash to other areas of the game. The big clubs are leaving for their own new cash cow then better it happens sooner. I bet the big games get played in China & the Middle East as well - do you think we could reach a point where games are played at Old Trafford rarely as it's more lucrative to take the game out of Europe? {Ed002's Note - The Pan European split will be just that - at the discussions about it three or four years ago one club raised the of a higher-profile world club Championship at the end of the season. Support was not great as I recall.}