I must admit my interest as an observer in the Premier League has waned over the past couple of years and the debacle over the 29th game this season gone hasn’t exactly endeared me to the Premier League ‘product’.
The amount of money being pumped in is obscene and the distributions down the food chain is so poor to the extent where we’re not far off a static top division made up of the same clubs with a handful who simply cycle in and out every few seasons. When someone like Derby and probably Stoke do make the grade they’re chewed up and spat out and for all of the money the club are probably worse off for the experience.
It would be interesting to know if anyone has ever looked at what the distribution of TV revenue etc and how past and present compares.
Interesting point Reg made about United and Internationals. What ‘big’ club in the Premier League last produced an England international? If you look at the recent additions coming into the squad a lot of come from the Championship or lower level Premier League sides albeit they’re hovered up fairly quickly it’s a bit of a worrying trend for the long term.
errr well...
Of course gerrard and carragher from liverpool and before them Michael Owen.
Theres the whole man utd brigade of england internationals who are now starting to drop off the international scene (becks, the nevilles, before them butt and scholes etc)... apart from them there's Wes Brown.
I can't see Arsenal producing an England international in the future, unless they leave a la bentley... their last one was Ashely Cole, and before him it would probably be Ray Parlour?
As for Chelsea's English contingent, joe cole and lampard, of course products of that fine crop of West Ham talent of the late 90s including Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand of course. Apart from them there's only John Terry.
Then a quick glance at who's in and around the England Squad at the mo,
defence... there's micah richards, City, Lescott from wolves, Bridge southampton, Woodgate- Boro/Leeds
The midfeild is testament to Dazzza's point. Hargreaves- born in canada, signed by munchen... Lennon- Leeds.... SWP- City.... Downing- boro.... Walcott- Swindon/Saints.... Carrick- Geordie but hammers... with the exception of Gerrard, no player produced by a 'big club' in the middle... closest being David Bentley who of course turned out for Arsenal a handful of times before moving on.
Strikers much the same. Crouch- originally at Spurs, then QPR... Defoe- a hammer.... Rooney- Everton.... Ashton- Swindon
..... Agbonglahor- Villa
Looking over the squads of the 'big 4' its hard to see where the next potential England standard academy product will come from.
Arsenal have some quality young Brits but they always have... United and Liverpool seem happy to go abroad for their dose of youngsters and Chelsea, while abramovich is about, are more likely to spend big for the short term rather than the long term.
worrying indeed.
