Arsenal backlash begins

Steven Gerrard, Liverpool and Englands star player, has added his voice to the growing number of players, managers and officials concerned at the effect the increasing number of foreign players is having on the England national team.


Of the 220 players who started in last weekend`s ten Premier League fixtures, only 74 (roughly a third) were qualified to play for England and the likelyhood is that the number of foreign players will continue to grow.

Asked if he was in favour of the quota system, Gerrard said: “Yes, definitely I am all for there being a rule change.

(It has been suggested that each premier league side fields a minimum of six English qualified players)

“Something has got to happen otherwise there will be more and more foreigners and they will take over. There is a big danger that we stop producing quality young kids because of the amount of foreigners in the game. If foreigners do take over completely, it will affect the national team even worse than maybe it is now.

“I can proudly say I am playing in one of the best leagues in the world, but the important thing is to have one of the best national teams as well. It`s pointless having the best league in the world if our national team is going to suffer in the long run, so it`s important to keep bringing quality players in, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen. Otherwise the national team will struggle.”

Gerrard is the first senior England international to raise concerns about the growing overseas influence in our Leagues.

The plan put forward by Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, and supported by Gerrard could be doomed, as the European Commission, has reiterated that sport will not be exempt from the EU Reform Treaty and that footballers like all other European citizens will continue to enjoy freedom of movement.

What is your view, is Gerrard right, do you care about the National team ?

Even if you don’t care about the England team, do you agree that a poor National side will ultimately undermine the premiership ?

Arsenal are currently Englands (term used very loosely) best side, but they rarely if ever include an Englishman or any other British National in the starting line up.
Are English players not good enough or is it that they now cannot get signed on at pemiership clubs because of the large number of initially cheaper foreign imports and foreign managers favouring their countrymen ( Wenger of Arsenal and Benitez of Liverpool, Gerrards own manager ! both cases in point).

Football lovers, let us have your views ?

Article submitted by regular Vital Huddersfield poster, patriot, X Arsenal fan and football lover “tonytime”, whom we thank.

Link to Trevor Brooking article on this subject HERE


Link to Stuart Pearce article on this subject HERE



LINK to humorous look at the foreign future HERE