I'm not to sure if this should be on here but reading todays news whinger seems to have seen the light that an english club should have an english spine! Will we have one? Will saville, chalobah, mcechren and bertrand have a real chance to establish themselves?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the PL, you definitely need a midfield with steel. Many times, those players will be English, but even players from elsewhere are fine if they have the qualities required. 

 

Since Patrick Vieira left, Arsenal has not had many players like that. Alex Song and Alou Diaby maybe, but one is gone while the other has barely played in recent years. 

 

Chelsea have had the same problem since Essien's decline. 

Edited December 19, 201213 yr by DaRick

I'd rather our team have a Chelsea spine rather than trying to achieve an English spine.

 

England is struggling to produce quality players and will continue to do so for some years.

Their invincibles team barely had any English players in it at all.

I'd rather our team have a Chelsea spine rather than trying to achieve an English spine.

 

England is struggling to produce quality players and will continue to do so for some years.

 

Exactly. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole didn't form such a brilliant spine of our club because they were English. They were able to do so because they were great players. I have a really good feeling about Chalobah (ironically, the one player on the OP's list who isn't truly English), but I really can't see the likes of Bertrand, Saville and McEachran forming the spine of our team in the future. Good squad players and maybe one or two starters, sure, but our core will likely be foreign and I have no problem with it. 

Their invincibles team barely had any English players in it at all.

’m sure that side had Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell plus Keown and Parlour would have also been involved? And Man Utd have always had a number of British players.

 

I think all successful sides in the PL need a British contingent. It’s great and all very well having a side of skilful foreign players who can produce the flair and moments of magic but you need a balance. It might well be a cliché, but many of the foreign players do go missing when the going gets tough and during the winter – especially at away games up North (let’s hope ours don’t tonight).

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Edited December 19, 201213 yr by Nibs