Inevitably I expect The Arsenal to fall short of the title this year. I am not certain of it, however, I begrudgingly expect it. Whether this is our fault for not spending enough or the oil clubs for spending so much it’s uncompetitive, is not important. That is an argument Gooners have been having since Cesc left for Barca. All I know is if we do fall short Arsene will be questioned by the experts of the game Savage, Shearer, Owen et al for his ‘fear of spending on international superstars’. And how happy will MOTD be? The two Alans will be very proud of themselves. The brave decision made at the start of the season picking two of Europe’s most expensive squads, to win the most squad dependant competition in the country, will prove just how much they understand the modern game.
Today we welcome back @brdgunner for a guest post. He has a few things he would like to get off his chest.
Is it just me, or do the UK football ‘experts’ simultaneously complain about a lack of “English players getting a chance” while asking the same clubs to buy the world’s best players to prove their ambition?
It’s a contradiction in terms to expect clubs to buy the world’s best players to win trophies and have the patience to produce young English talent. How can a top club give young English players a chance if they face broken badges after a defeat?
I should note that, in the main, I reference three football clubs to illustrate my point, The Arsenal, City and CFC. The reasons for this are, well, I am a Gooner, scrap that, a proud Gooner. The other two clubs, City and CFC, best illustrate the hypocrisy from football ‘experts’ and media.
Before fans of City and CFC get excited, I accept you have a right to be competitive. It’s not the clubs I have too much grievance with. You could show a bit more class. Celebrating 100 goals halfway through a season does lack a certain decorum that we at The Arsenal are more accustomed to. However, I guess you are still getting used to winning things so it’s to be expected. As for CFC, is there an easier club to dislike? If so I don’t want to see it. It must be ‘orrible bruv.
I accept that football has changed. I accept that it’s the best squad that finished first, and not always the best team. My concern is with the press coverage of the Premier League as a competition, especially MOTD. Apparently, the big issue in the Premier league is not the competition being dominated by two billionaires, it’s the lack of English talent.
So why are the media so quick to celebrate the “achievements” of CFC and City one minute, then criticise the Premier League clubs for not having enough home grown players the next? How is a club meant to produce local young players if they are being dismissed for not having the same depth, quality and experience as the oil clubs?
Inevitably I expect The Arsenal to fall short of the title this year. I am not certain of it, however, I begrudgingly expect it. Whether this is our fault for not spending enough or the oil clubs for spending so much it’s uncompetitive, is not important. That is an argument Gooners have been having since Cesc left for Barca.
All I know is if we do fall short Arsene will be questioned by the experts of the game Savage, Shearer, Owen et al for his ‘fear of spending on international superstars’. And how happy will MOTD be? The two Alans will be very proud of themselves. The brave decision made at the start of the season picking two of Europe’s most expensive squads, to win the most squad dependant competition in the country, will prove just how much they understand the modern game.
Considering the national paranoia regarding producing English players, shouldn’t Arsene be given a little credit for using home grown players like Gibbs, The Ox, Jack, and if he was fit Theo? Many would have given up on these players in the pursuit of a trophy. Arsenal might not have produced these players from the cradle; however, we are the highest ranked club giving them a chance. City and CFC wouldn’t take the time to blood the aforementioned players. Winning is too important for teams with their rich history of success.
I am not suggesting that Arsene is a bastion of the England team. I am simply using Arsenal and the manager as an example of the hypocrisy in the British sport media.
“Buy the best players or you are not ambitious to win a trophy”
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“Where are all the young English players?”
If the English football media want more English players to be developed by the Premier League’s leading clubs, they should recognise and congratulate them when they do. Instead of the current trend, attacking teams for lacking ambition when they don’t buy the highest scoring striker in Spain, France or Portugal. The less pressure we put on teams to perform at the unrealistic standard set by clubs with limitless resources the better it will be for the league and the national team.
A note to the Arsenal faithful, I am not for one minute suggesting not winning anything for eight years is something to shout about. Or that Arsene is the messiah – in recent seasons he has very much been the naughty boy. I am not going to say, “Yeah we have not won anything, but we make a profit every year.” I do however believe we should apply some perspective. The big clubs of our time have all had barren spells far longer than eight years – City & CFC especially.
EXAMPLE OF AD POSITION
