Ive been saying this for years now .Its stupid to keep buying players from abroad as we dont have the quailty of players that we should have .Ok people like Henry are good for Arsenal BUT clubs should also bring players up from grass roots .Soon there will be no one to pick from !!!

here is one that Paul will like:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h5...scologo203.jpg

Arsène Wenger believes Arsenal’s multi-national youth policy is not harming the standard of English football.
The state of our national game has been in sharp focus since Steve McClaren’s side lost so lamely to Spain in midweek. Certain figures in football have pointed the finger at the big clubs like Arsenal for failing to field English talent. At his press conference ahead of the home game with Wigan, Wenger staunchly defended his position.
“Whenever England do not win it is always my fault,” he joked, “even when I am not at the game.
“We have invested a lot of money in our academy youth system but it is true it is not necessarily for young English players. It is for young players but not necessarily English players.
“For me it is all down to quality. I believe that to protect the players is not the best way. To put players in my team who are not good enough would not strengthen the England team but weaken the Arsenal team.
“We are in a world where you have to be good enough," he went on. "If England want to beat Brazil then an English player who comes to Arsenal has to be stronger than the Brazilian. If you are not good enough you won't beat Brazil.
"You have to accept that we live in a world that is not down to protection but quality. And, my friend, if you are good enough then nobody will stop you.

“Nobody stopped Steven Gerrard playing at Liverpool, nobody stopped Frank Lampard playing for Chelsea and they have the money to buy who they want. Nobody stopped Rio Ferdinand playing at Manchester United.
"Take Justin Hoyte here. Until I played him for the Club, nobody even thought about him playing as a regular for England Under-21's.
"That's why I just think it is the wrong debate."

So basicaly hes saying we have no talent left in England

No, he's saying why degrade the quality of the Premiership and include English players just because they are English and not because they are better than the next Brazilian/French/Italian/German in the queue to join the club - which is understandable when you see how money-oriented the sport has become. We do still have good players but not THE best.

The Brazilians absolutely 'live' football from the day they are born - that's why they are the world's best and most talented footballers. We don't operate the same lifestyle or society over here which is why you get a few gems who are on a par with the world's best (Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Owen) but most aren't anywhere near the same league.

ok 9ill give u Gerrard and lampard but do people still put Beckham up as a good player? he is one of the most over-rated players in the world and has been all his life! he has never done anything to earn that title other than style his hair a cetain way

What the **** do you know? You must have been like 10 when Becks was mashing up Europe with ManU. In my opinion he is one of the most under-rated player in history. It's a lot like JBJ. Nobody took him serious cause he was a "pretty-boy". Becks did never fit into REAL's team. If he had stayed in Manchester he would've won the Golden Ball for sure. People who think Becks is just aout the looks have no clue about football or are stupid.

I don't rate Becks as a great player now - age catches up with everyone at some point and unfortunately he hasn't lasted as long as the other 'golden' generation of Manchester United youngsters that emerged in the mid-late 90s.

He was still head and shoulders above the likes of Scholes, Neville and Keane. In fact, the only member of the old-guard that gave him a run for his money was Giggs but, where Becks has fallen somewhat by the footballing wayside, Giggs is still clinging on to his great form. You can see he works harder to do it now than he did do 5 years ago but it's still there.

I'm not convinced it is still there with Beckham but, even so, he was 'great' when he was at Old Trafford - one of THE greatest even.

I just watched the 1999 CL final again today after getting it on DVD and, as the waves of nostalgia rolled over me, it was instantly recognisable who was running the show for United that night - it was Becks.

Bayern München was running the show, no Becks, no ManU. Bayern HAD TO WIN that game. Cross-bar from Janker, post by Scholl, Basler in one of his greatest games ever...it had to be 3-0 and that would've been it. But hell...than came the 90th minutes (some say it was actually days :( )...very sad moment in my life. The most undesreved victory in football history. At least we won it 2001.

Otherwise, I agree with you. Becks isn't as good as he was (maybe also because there has never really been a place for him at Real). Nevertheless, people who put into question his talent are ignorants.

not a clue about football! and becks mashing up europe with manu just show how little u know about football! the reason manu wont the CL back in 99 was nothing to do with how good beckham was it was down to sheer luck and the good players like Keane,Schmicheal,Sherringham,cole. these were the backbone of the Utd team for years. beckham was average at best! good at fre kicks and corners and they werent always that good. hed have never won the golden ball and there is a reason why he was sold!!!

he was over rated for one reason and that is because he was english!

he never made it in spain and the reason hes off to america is he knows he would make it in italy and england at his age ands talent! over rated to the last degree! never in the szame league as the other utd greats like keane,giggs,best,schmicheal,cantona these are the players that changed a game and beckham wouldnt be amoung them