UEFA criticises English teams.....fairly
Monday, 30 March 09, 09:13 AM · Comments(3)
By Michael Sinnerton
This week's findings that Liverpool have 62 professionals on the books has caused uproar at UEFA. Usually I would take UEFA's thoughts on English football and the Premier League with a large pinch of sodium chloride but with Manchester United and Arsenal payrolling a squad of over 50, you can't help but feel sorry for the young players trying to make their way in the game.
Liverpool's "62" includes 17 players currently out on loan. Interviews in Observer Sport with two of these, Craig Lindfield and Jack Hobbs, claim they find the situation "frustrating" and "demoralising". Hobbs is now a successful part of Leicester's promotion push in League One whilst Lindfield is starting to make a name for himself in League Two. Godwin Antwi, another signed by Benitez, is refusing to contemplate signing another contract for Liverpool preferring to take his chances lower down the ladder at the chance of first team action.
Gordon Taylor, PFA chief executive, spoke recently of the wastage in the game: "Six hundred each year join clubs at 16," he said. "Of those 500 will be out of the game by 21. It's not good enough. We have got to look at improving the success rate of academies."
It seems unlikely that Liverpool gain much benefit from contracting this many players, in fact they probably have an inflated wage bill to deal with as a result. In fairness to Benitez some of the players he has signed may well end up making the breakthrough and saving the club large transfer fees (or even earning the club transfer fees) only time will tell.
As a Liverpool fan though, there is nothing better than seeing a young player break through to the first team and really make it. We are fortunate enough at the moment to deflect questions about youth policy with reference to Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard. The question remains though whether any will follow in their footsteps, with none of the 206 FA Youth Cup winning team making an impact. The Manchester City team they beat in the final contained current first-teamers Micah Richards, Michael Johnson, Ched Evans and Daniel Sturridge.
The solution currently being offered by UEFA is limiting the number of contracts, in the same way that only 25 players can be registered for the Champions League. This however would require backing domestically something which is never a guarantee. Surely this is something which all Premier League fans would unite behind? Whilst having a large squad is important, stockpiling talent seemingly without any real intention of utilising it can only have a negative impact on football in the long term.
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3 Comments · Add yours
Good post Sinno, enjoyed reading that.
It's a similar story in Scotland - the Old Firm reserves are full of guys who could be playing first team football elsewhere in the SPL/SFL. Whether they go for the money or they genuinely believe they're going to be starting in the Champions League I'm not sure, but the stockpiling is detrimental to the development of both the players and Scottish game in general.
Yeah I agree, top blogging Sinno.
But, let me play devil's advocate ever so slightly. I'm not sure that this is as bad as it's being made out. I think it's good that these players (the vast majority of whom are young and local) are developing their skills with some of the world's best facilities. I think it's good that they get to play with top class professionals. I think it's good that they get the best possible back-room staff. I think it's good that they get paid well.
Moreover, I think it's good for British football. You just have to look throughout the whole of the Football League to see players who didn't make it at the top level but who are good club pros, making a good living and entertaining fans of clubs who will never get into Europe.
This seems to be just an easy stick to beat the top clubs with. All of these players have made the choice to sign these contracts and they have the right to leave the clubs if they want.
Agree with Joe - whilst not having first team football must be frustrating, it can't hurt to be learning at one of the top clubs in world football. And if they're not good enough, it's not as if they're dumped like an abandoned animal - the clubs help to find a club more suited to their level.