Quote:
Originally Posted by NBC
Development. It is easier for big clubs to pay for foreign stars than to develop their own. Too many big clubs that play in Europe against other top clubs are light on home grown talent. You need your best players playing at your best clubs. Granted it is a bit better now, but a few years ago Aston Villa supplied a disproportionate number of England squad players and clubs like Arsenal did not.
But this is a major digression from this thread.
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I'm not entirely convinced with this argument. While clubs in the top flight might not be able, or willing, to offer youth players first team opportunities, England has a lot of well funded clubs across the divisions that could provide homes for budding talents. Personally, I believe that the problem is the curriculum at these academies across the country rather than the lack of opportunities at those operated by the top six or seven clubs.
Academies across the country need to take lessons from places like Southampton. As they have produced Bale and Oxlade-Chamberlain, they are doing something right.