Are Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea & Blackburn Guilty Of Not Giving Home Grown Talent A Chance?

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While on Manchester United’s foray in Japan for the World Club Championships, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has once again reiterated that he would like to see a limit on foreign players in the starting XI’s in the Premier League, with the United boss all in favour of having to field 6 British players in the starting XI.

Speaking ahead of Thursday's match against Gamba Osaka Ferguson said: “I think it should be a concern when local and national players are not given opportunities, so therefore eventually there have to be limitations on foreign players. That way clubs' youth systems are protected. Progress is progress and the future has to protect the national game.”

Even though we all know this contravenes EU law and is highly unlikely to be introduced. What would happen in the Premiership if it, was introduced today?

The first club that springs to mind would be Arsenal, having fielded an entire team of foreign imports on more than one occasion. However, they do have 11 players from the British Isles in the first team squad, though not one of these players is out of their teens yet. So while they have youngsters coming through they would struggle to have six British players start for them in the Premier League and be competitive. Leaving them to field their Carling Cup kids to meet the quota.

Chelsea, don’t even have the option of fielding British youngsters, because they simply don’t have any. While they do have 5 England Internationals at Stamford Bridge if you look further than that they only have 2 other English players in the first team squad. Yes they also have Michael Mancienne on loan at Wolves, but with Luiz Felipe Scolari willing to send a player out on loan that has pushed himself into the thoughts of England boss Fabio Capello, with his performances for the Under-21’s. What message does that send to the British schoolboys at the club?

You then look at Liverpool and it would appear that Rafa Benitez’s side would struggle immediately if this quota was introduced. Only 8 English players and Irishman Robbie Keane in the squad, with only Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher along with Keane likely to be in Rafa’s starting line-up on any given match day. In fact no British talent has emerged from the Red half of Merseyside and been used by Liverpool consistently since Gerrard and Carragher along with Michael Owen burst on to the football scene many years ago now. They have 7 British players out on loan, but we all know these players are highly unlikely to feature for the Reds in the future.

So now to Blackburn, who you might have thought, would have a British heart and soul? Not at all, only 6 English players, 3 Irish and a Welshman and of these they could just about scrape together the required 6. For 3 of these 10 players are goalkeepers and Danny Simpson is on loan. So Blackburn would struggle to as they are now anyway if this quota were to be introduced.

So is it any surprise that Ferguson would like to see this quota introduced, with the knowledge that as it stands now it would severely impair his three closest rivals, while having little effect on his own side

If you go through the rest of the squads in the Premier League most clubs would be ok, with all the other clubs having enough British players on their books that either play for the first team or have a realistic chance of playing in it. Tottenham might have the best of it, with Spurs able to field 7 England Internationals, 3 England Under-21’s, 2 Welsh Internationals and a Scottish International if all fit. Although one of the Under-21’s is on loan, but could still field a very strong side as they have the players there to choose from. Aston Villa would find it very easy to, with their current crop at Villa Park.

So regardless of whether a quota is ever introduced shouldn’t clubs like Liverpool, Chelsea, Blackburn and to a lesser extent Arsenal as the Gunners have a crop of English youngsters coming through, be looking to produce some real home grown talent and not be looking abroad every time, when trying to find new recruits for their clubs? Not just for their progression, but for the progression of the game in England.

The New Voice Of Football column at FootballFancast.com

Liverpool Boss Benitez: New Deal "Could Be" Resolved By The End Of The Month

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez refused to be drawn on how negotiations are going on a new deal at Anfield, but indicated that “it could be” resolved by the end of the month.

Former Valencia coach Benitez revealed recently that talks were due to get underway regarding an extension to his current deal at the Merseyside Club, which runs out in 2010.

However, when asked about how close the talks were to a conclusion and the possibility of a resolution by the end of November, Benitez insisted that his focus was on the Reds Champions League clash against Marseille on Wednesday at Anfield.

Benitez replied: “It could be, but I prefer to concentrate on this game.”

Benitez also revealed that Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, will be fit to face Marseille after missing the Premier League match with Fulham on Saturday with a groin injury. Benitez also believed that England International Gerrard could start and might even play the full 90 minutes.

Benitez added: “Gerrard has trained today so he is available. I think he would be fit to last 90 minutes if he needed to.

”It depends on the player, but he is fit and he can start if necessary and after that, it depends on how he is feeling during the game.”

Sweet & Sour Injury News For Liverpool Boss Benitez

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has revealed that he expects Republic of Ireland International Robbie Keane to be fit to face Fulham at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday, but captain Steven Gerrard is a major doubt for the visit of the Cottagers.

Keane, who injured his shoulder in the win against Bolton Wanderers at the weekend has withdrawn from the Ireland squad to face Poland this week, but Benitez has insisted that the withdrawal from the Irish squad was merely a precaution.

“Robbie Keane's injury is not serious,” Benitez told the club's official website.

“He had a problem but [withdrawing from the international duty] was just a case of prevention. I think he will be okay.”

However, the Reds boss will be without his skipper Gerrard after a groin strain forced the midfielder to pull out of Fabio Capello’s squad to face Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Benitez believes the Champions League clash with Marseille is a more realistic target for Gerrard, who will be out for 7-10 days after having a scan.

“Steven had a scan and he will be out for seven to ten days, depending on how he progresses,” added Benitez.

“He could be back for the Marseille game but each player is different. We have to start working with him and see how he does.”

Benitez Urges Liverpool To Show Passion & Character Against Bolton

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is pleased to have a Premier League clash so soon to put right the “disappointing game” against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Wednesday in the Carling Cup, which the Reds lost 4-2.

Benitez rested several key players against Tottenham, with Steven Gerrard, Robbie Keane, Jamie Carragher and keeper Pepe Reina just some of the star names missing from the Liverpool team-sheet on Wednesday, although Spanish International Fernando Torres did make his comeback from a hamstring injury.

However, Benitez, while disappointed with the loss to Spurs has insisted that the Premiership remains the most “important competition” for the Merseyside club this season and has called on his Anfield side to show the character and passion in their league encounter with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

“After a disappointing game it is good to have another fixture so quickly and that is what is happening now," said Benitez.

“We have got to show the character that we have shown in the past and respond to defeat in the right way.

“That is the most important thing.

“We have enough quality in our squad, so if we show the right character and passion we will be okay.

“Everyone will be really focused because this is the league and we know this is the most important competition for us.”

Banks To Reposses Liverpool As Reds Face Financial Meltdown?

Premier League club Liverpool are on the brink of financial meltdown if they cannot refinance the £350million loan owed to the bank or pay the amount off in January, according to Keith Harris the person at the centre of several takeover deals in the Premiership.

Harris has expressed concerns that unless the Merseyside club can repay or get a six-month extension to the loan due in January. Then there is even the possibility of Anfield being repossessed by the banks that the loan is owed to in light of the recent credit crunch.

The Reds American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr owe a reported £350million to two banks, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, both of which have suffered in the current financial climate, with Harris believing that Liverpool will have to cash in on some of their star players like Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane in order to balance the books at Anfield or face being repossessed in the worst case scenario.

Harris has also revealed that it is very much a buyers market in terms of selling clubs, with potential investors not so ready to part with their money to own a Premier league club.

“The one that worries me is Liverpool. It has never been more difficult to find buyers,” Harris said.

“It's no longer a question of price negotiation - it's should we? People are wondering if now is the time to spend.

“Liverpool's debt is due in January, with maybe a six-month extension.

“The two banks which are the principal lenders - the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia - are two of those that have suffered. Whether they want to lend it again or not, they may not be able to.”