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'The Prof' Defends Wenger's Policies

New Vital Arsenal Member, Professor Calculus, voices his opinions on the pro's & cons of signing English players.

The Prof says.......

What people have to realise is that we are part of europe whether we like it or not, too often we have a Dad's Army mentality, perhaps we have an island mentality I dunno, whatever the reasons, to want a player just because they're English is pointless. I have absolutely no problem admitting that the best thing to ever happen to Arsenal is a Frenchmen.

Barcelona are dominating Spanish and european football right now and they have few Spanish players, I doubt their fans care. So when people say 'I would like more English players at Arsenal' they should be saying 'I would like more decent English players in England' because that's the problem, not Wenger's transfer policies.

Not one England manager has won the premiership and few English players have won anything in europe. Players like Walcott and Rooney are exceptions to the rule of English players who lack technical ability.

So, if you're Arsene Wenger who's sides play a technical, fast, passing game, do you buy Thomas Rosicky for £7 million or Andy Johnson for £8 million? Likewise, for the estimated price of Upson we have bought Toure and Eboue and still have some change left over. So instead of the FA coming out with random abuse towards Arsenal and their lack of English talent they should stop burying their heads in the sand, concerntrate on raising the standards of young English players to match their continental counterparts and then lower the prices.

The good thing about football is that it's performance based, by and large favouritism, politics and all that bollocks doesn't come into it because it all happens on the pitch not off it, so if there are good English players available then it is in Wenger's best interest to buy them, I still reckon we will get Davies.

Written by Professor Calculus




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Writer: Rocky7 Mail feedback, articles or suggestions

Date:Tuesday July 18 2006

Time: 7:01PM

Your Comments

" good article- a very good read"
millers4eva
I agree the FA should be doing more for english players but the clubs also have a responsibility to develop home grown talent. Arsenal it appears dont seem capable of picking up young talent of their own as they always have to raid foreign teams for their exciting youngsters. Isnt it about time someone from arsenal went to see the ajax academy or some of the french clubs & see how they go about picking up young players at a very early age & developing them. Arsenal have kids as young as 9 years old so why are none developing the skills required? They cannot all be rubbish.
Ashburton Gooner
There's a rule in England that each a club has a ten mile catchment area where they can recruit young players, each club is not permitted to take players outside this radius. These restrictions don't apply in Europe, so if you weigh up Islington and Enfield versus the rest of Europe you see why it is so hard to recruit English talent versus European.
Little Dutch
Little Dutch - Is it not 30 miles? Either way, you're still competing with other teams in that very small area for that talent, especially in London.
Rocky7
very impressive post i like it alot and it all makes sense. its a part of football i havent really nown much about but ive learnt alot from this article and it is all in my opinion 100% true
abdleb
a grerat article. arsenal maybe dont have enough home-grown tallent, but ib feel that the premiership should not be all about england even it is based in england. however i do understand the FA's want for englsih talents, and it is always nice to see a quality english player in an arsenal shirt. however we should not be put under too much preasure to field an average English team instead of a classy team of non-English players.
ArsenalRob
I have to agree that has to be more done in the prem to get our homegrown talent to come up through the ranks, there must be a lot of hiddent talent in the islinton area, they just have to find it. it was a relly good read and it has opened my eyes a hell of a lot, yes it hurts me to say arsenal do poach young talent from other clubs but if we can do it that way why not do it in a park or a youth leage in London? It is exactly the same
Walcott
Cant wait for the day when the Spurs first team walk out onto the park to represent ENGLAND. Walcott on the subs bench.
TeddyLyon
You're going to have to wait me thinks!
TimJ
Wenger's got the problem well in hand. His Ivory Coast slave ships won't dock this year until all hands can sing Rule Brittania and Knee's Up Muvver Brown.
greatwhitenorf
I really like that article you should be a proffessor
kenyanrudeboy
Superb. Vital Arsenal have made a top class signing there. ;)
simmy8_2000
TeddyLyon, you are closer to your dream than you think. That England performance at the World Cup was just like Spurs since the introduction of colour television. Embarassing and overshadowed by our closest rivals.
northwilts
amen 2 dat! tgat article is spot on! when english football gets better we will in embrace it, if it doesnt we wont simple as that!
Louis-10
Wenger doesn't like English players.
USA
And vice versa.
USA
 

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