FA’s homegrown crusade an uphill battle against Premier League’s sexy signings

Buying young and British has not always proved successful but there are examples of homegrown players establishing themselves. Yet there will always be money to bring in a World Cup finalist or a Champions League winner

• Greg Dyke: ‘Give young talent a chance and we can win 2022 World Cup’

Reports that Arsenal are once again looking at Chris Smalling emerge at exactly the same time the Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, is bemoaning the dearth of English talent in top-level English football and trying to do something about it.

As if to emphasise what the Antiques Roadshow might term the collectability of England-qualified players Arsenal were also one of the clubs said to be interested in Phil Jones around the time he joined Manchester United from Blackburn in June 2011. As were Chelsea and Tottenham, allegedly, though Liverpool were the side most conspicuously in the hunt for the galumphing defender.

Related: Greg Dyke: ‘Give young talent a chance … and we can win 2022 World Cup’

Continue reading...











via Football | The Guardian http://ift.tt/1ETedmi