Youth is all that matters...today anyway
Thursday, 24 September 09, 06:29 AM · Comments(18)
From what I can see there isn't too much going on out there. I suppose the biggest discussion point at the minute (apart from the FA's refusal to punish Bellamy, Neville, or Mascherano) is Arsene's insistence that the enforcement of a restriction on the transfer of u18's would ruin his youth policy, and while Arsenal probably have more at stake than most other clubs, it is a rule which will negatively impact every club in Engalnd.
Here is why.
As Wenger has said, if you have a child gifted at music, you want that child to go to the best possible school. Why should that be any different for football? Parents should be left to decide what is best for their children, not FIFA/UEFA/FA. Sure, some parents will exploit their children, but that happens anyway and is the exception rather than the rule. And opening the doors for agents to get involved with players under 18 is just asking for trouble.
While on the one hand FIFA/UEFA/FA say they want to stop the absurd money being spent on players, they also want to restrict a clubs ability to live within their means by training youngsters. Sure, not every kid that comes through Arsenal's youth set-up makes it at Arsenal, but many go on to play at the top level with other Premier League/Championship clubs who perhaps don't have the resources to dedicate such time and money developing players in the way Arsenal do.
When the FA closed their academy they put the onus on clubs to develop young English players. By closing the academy's doors, they made a very clear statement that they did not want to develop young players in England and would rather spend money on anything but player development. It can't be a coincidence that the number of English superstars dropped in the generation immediately following the closing of the FA Academy. Nor can it be a coincidence that the new generation coming through are better now for playing alongside talent from across the globe. You can try and blame the influx of foreign players all you like for the original dip, but that isn't the reason the national team has sucked for so long. It took time for clubs to adapt and start training youngsters properly. Those fruits are now being seen for the first time. In 2003 the FA were given a green light to develop a new Academy along the lines of the French's Clairefontaine. Here we are in 2009, where the hell is it? If it exists, I've never heard a single thing about it.
People are very fond of mentioning all the foreign kids at Arsenal, but what about Wilshere, Watt, Randall, the two Hoytes, Pennant, Gibbs, Cruise, Gilbert, Lansbury, Emmanuel-Thomas, Ayling, Freeman, Cole, et al who would and have fit into clubs from the Premier League to League 1? Arsenal are bringing through more English yougsters than practically any other club, and this is reflected by the number of them found in the u21, u20, u19 and u18 England teams. Even Capello praises Arsenal's youth set-up, and surely one of his main concerns is ensuring there is a steady stream of English talent coming through.
So are these young players better or worse for playing alongside and against talented youngsters from around the globe? Not only does it enhance their technical ability, it teaches them how to integrate with players from other cultures, a major part of being a professional player these days.
Some clubs want to develop youth players, others don't. What happens if you stop clubs from signing u18 players from around the world? You stop the development of home-grown players. As Wenger has always said, if a player is good enough, he will make it through the system regardless of the nationality of players around him, and to be the best you have to face, train, and learn with the best.
There is no doubting Cesc's natural talent, but, at 16, he and his family obviously realised that his opportunites would be restricted at Barcelona so he chose to leave and join Arsenal. Where would be now if he had been forced to stay at Barca for those additional two years or more? Sure, he very possibly would have broken through, but he mustn't have felt that he would or he would have stayed. Arsenal took him and help mould him into the professional that is now wanted by every club across the globe. Under FIFA's new proposals, that would not be possible. And Mark Randall would not have gotten to play alongside him in the Reserves. Would Randall or any of our other young English players benefited more from NOT playing alongside Cesc Fabregas? I doubt it very much.
As Arsenal fans, we have to acknoweldge that we have more to lose than other clubs with the implentation of any restriction on the signing on players under 18. How many other teams where able to field an almost entire team of teenagers in the Carling Cup, many of who were English? Not Liverpool, Chelsea, or even Man U managed it. Arsenal have shown that their policy works. Why should every club be punished for the actions of a few? If a club cannot conduct business properly when it comes to ANY player, then restrictions should be placed on them, not everyone. You don't jail a whole town because one person robbed a shop.
So, despite saying the cash being spent by the likes of Man City, Madrid, Cheslea and Man United is obscene, the combined efforts of the governing bodies will force every team to enter bidding wars for the best over-18 players, while youngsters will be forced to stay at clubs that perhaps they don't want to be at. In the main, youth development will be left to the poorer clubs who can't afford the inflated prices English players command as the richer clubs realise there isn't enough talent on their doorsteps to field a compeititive team and splash more cash.
As Wenger also says, between the FA, UEFA, and FIFA, clubs are forced to recruit only kids that live within 90 minutes, so when you look at the London clubs, you automatically put the 'lesser' clubs at a disadvantage as surely the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and the Spuds will gobble up all the talent in London and QPR, Fulham, Crystal Palace etc will be left fighting over the scraps. If they could sign foreign youngsters, not all the best English players will go to the big clubs. Would Walcott have spent ANY real time at Southampton if larger clubs had no choice but to buy 'local'?
The entire proposal is absurd, and any club that backs the proposal should be slapped silly til they realise the folly that is the governing bodies of football and the impact it will have on EVERY level of the game.
Rant over....For now...
That's really all there is, no doubt we'll have some news about the team for the trip to Fulham tomorrow, so until then...have a good one Arse lovers.
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LadyArse
belfast, GB
Arsenal and the world of football from a woman's perspective
18 Comments · Add yours
Hi Lady; I like this blog and have been reading it lately so don't be angry with me if I disagree with you. I've supported Arsenal since Charlie George scored past Ray Clemence to give us that first double. I am too set in my own ways to folow any other club but I don't hate other clubs not even Spurs. Perhaps because I live on the other side of the pond.
Our club has a strategy geared towards making tons of money and not spending any. That is why they are so upset about the new rule. They don't talk about winning tropies in their meetings, but rather making a great player on the cheap. The new rule still allows us to buy 17 players with no restrictions. We just don't like paying. Real Madrid, Barcelona, United, ..etc invest their money by puting the best possible team on the pitch. Our money goes straight to the pockets of shareholders. Some fans say Buying dosen't neccessarily produce results. I say look again at the records of those clubs. I don't belive our board are capable of reading the truth out loud if it were writen for them. We the fans should keep the pressure on them to buy until we win the Champions league. We have the money and the manager to do it.
Hey
Don't be afraid to disagree on here, no-one will get mad, &I know I get it wrong a lot so I'm not afraid for people to challenge me, that's how good debates, &solutions,come about. 
I can totally see where you're coming from &how it looks like we are just pocketing money, &I suppose, in a way, becoming a selling club,but I think there are other factors to be considered.
A youth project such as the one Wenger has chosen to undertake at Arsenal does not hapen overnight, &the first, or even second generation may not be enough to 'make the grade' &win trophies (which I know is what football is supposed to be all about). What it does do is give us a real chance of getting the next Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, whoever, before they come with a £40million plus price-tag attached. Added to that, Wenger isn't really trying to develop superstar individuals, he's developing a unique team, with technically gifted individuals who have been schooled together to the large part &as such operate as a unit which is the most effective way for a team to play.
A youth system &scouting network, along with state of the art new stadium,training facilities &coaches do not come cheap. While it is easy to say we have xxmillion in the bank,we should spend,I don't believe it is necessary to spend to be succesful &would rather be solvent than in Liverpool or Man U's financial position (I know we have debt,but that's on an asset).
I'll concede, Wenger is too tight &could do with spending a little bit more,but I genuinely don't believe that spending is the long term answer, &while we aren't getting trophies at the minute, filling your team with loyal,gifted players who have grown up together will win you more in the long term than a team bought...just ask Chelsea, no CL,haven't won the PL in 3 years,&only made it to the FA cup final because we kept Arshavin on the bench,money comes &goes,loyalty stays for years. Wenger is building long-lasting success not short term immediate gratification
And that was all that the comments box would allow me to write lol.
I just know I'm willing to have the patience to see if Wenger can pull off what he is trying to achieve. I don't think it has ever been done before on this scale, and if he is succesful then we will have trophies for generations, not just a few years like those who buy buy buy...and if it fails...then we sack him and buy buy buy with all the money he has made us over the last decade and a bit lol
Trophies aren't a divine right of any club, and there are only four on offer each year, three that count, and only two which are really important to the top teams. Cup competitions will always need luck, so they can't be 'guaranteed' so that leaves the leagues, Champions & Premier, and only one team can win each of those.
It has been four years since we won a trophy, look at Man City, 26 years they have been waiting. While some people say that four years is too long to go without a trophy, I say take your head out of your arse and get a reality check. If it wasn't for Wenger, we wouldn't have the expectations we do now, and yet we use them to beat him every single season...
When I first started supporting Arsenal they won the double immediatly and then I had to wait 8 years for another trophy. After that it was another 8 years again for another trophy so real fans do care about trophies but they're not everything.
To the best of my knowledge the shareholders don't get a dividend at Arsenal.
Wenger has spoilt us stupid over his first 8/9 years at the club, and while our expectations have naturally risen with the success he brought us, we should not use it to beat him with.
I could maybe understand the obsession with buying if we had no visible youth policy with wonder-kids making their way through...but we do, and I know that I would rather have generation after generation of players who are Arsenal thru and thru who form the core of the team, than mercenaries who go to whoever will pay the most.
Arsene knows...and while we know he could maybe do with loosening the purse strings slightly, I trust that he still knows and will be vindicated in the end.
Have you seen his pre-Fulham press conference? It's brilliant, I don't know what has happened to him this season, but I love it. He no longer tries to be the diplomat and there seems to be a new spark about him, a desire to fight & challenge the press to prove the things they say about him and Arsenal. He's blunt when he needs to be and tells it straight.
It's fantastic.
...And he also gave a little hint that Chesney might be starting on Saturday, as when asked if Mannone would start he said words to the effect of a lot can happen between now and then and couldn't guarantee it even tho Almunia will definately NOT be playing....
Chesney...the one and only...nobody I'd rather see LMAO
I haven't seen it yet.
How come the pre Saturday press conferences have switched to Thursday?
I would prefer to see Wurzel myself.
Haven't a clue
I meant to mention before that the first name Wojciech is like Patrick down here. It's the local saints name I think. Maybe he might prefer Worzel.
It's probably because the Highbury opening was a conveniant time.
Mucho gusto, LA.
Cracking blog.
True... they don't.
I've read it in a few blogs and mostly as a reaction to the lack of spending in the transfer window.
Cheers
Hi Lady; I like this blog and have been reading it lately so don't be angry with me if I disagree with you. I've supported Arsenal since Charlie George scored past Ray Clemence to give us that first double. I am too set in my own ways to folow any other club but I don't hate other clubs not even Spurs. Perhaps because I live on the other side of the pond.
Our club has a strategy geared towards making tons of money and not spending any. That is why they are so upset about the new rule. They don't talk about winning tropies in their meetings, but rather making a great player on the cheap. The new rule still allows us to buy 17 players with no restrictions. We just don't like paying. Real Madrid, Barcelona, United, ..etc invest their money by puting the best possible team on the pitch. Our money goes straight to the pockets of shareholders. Some fans say Buying dosen't neccessarily produce results. I say look again at the records of those clubs. I don't belive our board are capable of reading the truth out loud if it were writen for them. We the fans should keep the pressure on them to buy until we win the Champions league. We have the money and the manager to do it.
Hey
Don't be afraid to disagree on here, no-one will get mad, &I know I get it wrong a lot so I'm not afraid for people to challenge me, that's how good debates, &solutions,come about. 
I can totally see where you're coming from &how it looks like we are just pocketing money, &I suppose, in a way, becoming a selling club,but I think there are other factors to be considered.
A youth project such as the one Wenger has chosen to undertake at Arsenal does not hapen overnight, &the first, or even second generation may not be enough to 'make the grade' &win trophies (which I know is what football is supposed to be all about). What it does do is give us a real chance of getting the next Messi, Ronaldo, Rooney, whoever, before they come with a £40million plus price-tag attached. Added to that, Wenger isn't really trying to develop superstar individuals, he's developing a unique team, with technically gifted individuals who have been schooled together to the large part &as such operate as a unit which is the most effective way for a team to play.
A youth system &scouting network, along with state of the art new stadium,training facilities &coaches do not come cheap. While it is easy to say we have xxmillion in the bank,we should spend,I don't believe it is necessary to spend to be succesful &would rather be solvent than in Liverpool or Man U's financial position (I know we have debt,but that's on an asset).
I'll concede, Wenger is too tight &could do with spending a little bit more,but I genuinely don't believe that spending is the long term answer, &while we aren't getting trophies at the minute, filling your team with loyal,gifted players who have grown up together will win you more in the long term than a team bought...just ask Chelsea, no CL,haven't won the PL in 3 years,&only made it to the FA cup final because we kept Arshavin on the bench,money comes &goes,loyalty stays for years. Wenger is building long-lasting success not short term immediate gratification
And that was all that the comments box would allow me to write lol.
I just know I'm willing to have the patience to see if Wenger can pull off what he is trying to achieve. I don't think it has ever been done before on this scale, and if he is succesful then we will have trophies for generations, not just a few years like those who buy buy buy...and if it fails...then we sack him and buy buy buy with all the money he has made us over the last decade and a bit lol
Trophies aren't a divine right of any club, and there are only four on offer each year, three that count, and only two which are really important to the top teams. Cup competitions will always need luck, so they can't be 'guaranteed' so that leaves the leagues, Champions & Premier, and only one team can win each of those.
It has been four years since we won a trophy, look at Man City, 26 years they have been waiting. While some people say that four years is too long to go without a trophy, I say take your head out of your arse and get a reality check. If it wasn't for Wenger, we wouldn't have the expectations we do now, and yet we use them to beat him every single season...
When I first started supporting Arsenal they won the double immediatly and then I had to wait 8 years for another trophy. After that it was another 8 years again for another trophy so real fans do care about trophies but they're not everything.
To the best of my knowledge the shareholders don't get a dividend at Arsenal.
Wenger has spoilt us stupid over his first 8/9 years at the club, and while our expectations have naturally risen with the success he brought us, we should not use it to beat him with.
I could maybe understand the obsession with buying if we had no visible youth policy with wonder-kids making their way through...but we do, and I know that I would rather have generation after generation of players who are Arsenal thru and thru who form the core of the team, than mercenaries who go to whoever will pay the most.
Arsene knows...and while we know he could maybe do with loosening the purse strings slightly, I trust that he still knows and will be vindicated in the end.
Have you seen his pre-Fulham press conference? It's brilliant, I don't know what has happened to him this season, but I love it. He no longer tries to be the diplomat and there seems to be a new spark about him, a desire to fight & challenge the press to prove the things they say about him and Arsenal. He's blunt when he needs to be and tells it straight.
It's fantastic.
...And he also gave a little hint that Chesney might be starting on Saturday, as when asked if Mannone would start he said words to the effect of a lot can happen between now and then and couldn't guarantee it even tho Almunia will definately NOT be playing....
Chesney...the one and only...nobody I'd rather see LMAO
I haven't seen it yet.
How come the pre Saturday press conferences have switched to Thursday?
I would prefer to see Wurzel myself.
Haven't a clue
I meant to mention before that the first name Wojciech is like Patrick down here. It's the local saints name I think. Maybe he might prefer Worzel.
It's probably because the Highbury opening was a conveniant time.
Mucho gusto, LA.
Cracking blog.
True... they don't.
I've read it in a few blogs and mostly as a reaction to the lack of spending in the transfer window.
Cheers
