A Foreign Invasion? By Josh Cooper

Over the past seasons the number of foreign players playing in the premiership has increased dramatically. Mangers are keen to look abroad for new talent rather than in England or their youth teams and fans aren’t worried if it gives their team three points every weekend. However is this sort of behaviour proving a downfall for the national side? Has this injection of foreign players in the Premiership diseased the English game?

Having seen the England team fail miserably at this summer’s world cup in Germany perhaps it is now necessary for the F.A to clamp down on the number of foreigners allowed in a squad. This would mean that more money and emphasis would have to be spent on youth teams in the country, resulting in more English players playing in the Premiership and a greater selection for the national team. At

the moment 56% of players in the premiership have come from abroad, a daunting fact for Steve McClaren. And it’s rising.


Teams such as Arsenal often field a team containing no English or home grown players, which although produces great football and many great players, it is not contributing towards the English national team. From their youth team only a small minority will play for Arsenal, with Wenger opting to buy from his native France and other foreign countries. 81% of Arsene’s squad come from overseas and Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordan Taylor has recently criticized Wingers’ transfer policy. ‘It’s a joke,’ he says, ‘are our stars of the future getting the opportunity they need?’ However Wenger quickly defended himself. ‘The manager’s job is to put out what they think is the best team for their club. Should I select a player just because they are English? It is up to others, such as the FA and Premier League to decide what is best for English football.’
A valid point but couldn’t he show more faith in his youth team, and convert them into great players; the way he converted Henry and Vieira.

Weather the FA will do something about it, it is clear that the vast amounts of foreign players in the Premiership are stunting the growth of domestic players, and the national team.