What are the exact criteria regarding 'home grown'. Schwarzer has been living and working in Britain long enough to become a citizen does that count? 

Well, we made two bids for Ruddy, a good homegrown keeper with Prem experience, but Norwich turned us down. He was clearly our top target as Cech's deputy. As soon as we decided to look elsewhere the Schwarzer thing must have happened very quick and we didn't have to deal with a selling club as he was a free agent, hence the reason it took everyone by surprise.

 

Another surprise for me is the fact he was available. What date did he become a free agent? I assume he had a few offers, but Chelsea and Mourinho (plus the money) were too good to turn down.

 

It wasn't long ago Arsenal were trying to sign him (was it last summer?) and Fulham said no. By all accounts he didn't have the best season last season but I think he's a smart choice as our number 2. I said a while ago that we should think about signing a proven veteran who wouldn't mind a last shot at glory and a last big pay day but would also accept being the reserve. That's exactly what we've got and it makes sense. Back-up keeper was a real problem position for us.

 

When news of Ruddy broke I was keen, I must admit, particularly because of his homegrown status, which we've now lost in regard our number 2 keeper, and as such we will have one less outfield foreign player, as per the rules. I'm not surprised Norwich turned us down. I wanted us to bid higher and maybe we would have in the days before FFP, we don't know. The club clearly felt £6m was their ceiling for a back-up and they've plumped for a foreigner, and in light of that decision, Schwarzer seems a pretty smart choice.

 

 

FFP and the homegrown rule are "broken".

 

FFP is all about encouraging clubs to live within their means but the homegrown rule instantly inflates a players worth so to comply with one rule makes it hard to comply with the other. 

 

I believe players under the age of 23 are exempt from the Homegrown rule which I think goes a long way to explaining most of our recent transfers. 

 

There really is a lack of quality English talent at the moment and you only have to see how England have slipped to 14th in the FIFA World Rankings and our poor showing at the Euro Under 21's tournament to see that. 

 

We've been linked to Rooney who is one of the few English players that you could argue would improve our squad but his wages are embarrassingly high and would really make a dent in the good work the club have done in shifting high earners off the books to comply with FFP. 

 

I understand the FA wants to encourage clubs to promote from their youth academies but if teams are forced to use players who aren't ready just because they need to comply with certain rules then the standard of football is at risk of dropping and if that happens things like sponsorship deals and TV money might drop too which again will have knock on effects for FFP.

 

I know I am looking at the extremes of it all but it just seems one big contradiction to me. 

Why would he want to? I would think that after the world cup he will retire and move back to Australia anyway.

I believe players under the age of 23 are exempt from the Homegrown rule which I think goes a long way to explaining most of our recent transfers. 

 

21 I believe.

21 I believe.

 

You're right, I just checked on the Premier League site:

 

"What is the Home Grown Player rule?

 

The Premier League welcomes overseas players but remains aware of the need to sustain the development of home-grown talent.

Some of the world's biggest football stars compete in the Barclays Premier League, and while there are benefits in having overseas players in the competition, it is vital long-term youth policies are not affected.

Talented individuals can be role models for children and the more skillful players there are in the Barclays Premier League, wherever they are from, the better.

To ensure that Premier League Clubs continue to produce top home-grown talent, the 20 Clubs introduced a Home Grown Player rule from the start of the 2010/11 campaign. Clubs cannot name more than 17 non home grown players aged over 21. For example some clubs will have a squad list of 23 because they may have 17 over 21 non home grown players. "

 

I said yesterday in the Ruddy thread before any of us had a clue this was happening

 

"Mark Schwarzer just left Fulham on a free and would be a decent back up for 12 months"

 

 

I stand by my assessment. 

 

Ohhh, hark at the man who knows stuff and that.....

 

 

Clever sod 

I guess it depends on whats going on with Hilario. If he has left and Blackman has been promoted to 3rd choice we will be as we were last season. We do have to keep an eye on this though as we dont see to be buying many homegrown players. We dont want to be in a case where we cant add one of our decent players into our squad because we dont have enough overseas player spots.

We should go out and buy Bale and Hart and maybe even Baines just to even it out a little lol

It's always interesting to read the views of fans of the club an incoming player has just left ..

 

http://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?topic=31131.0

 

Interesting, indeed.

 

 

bucksfulham

Look closely at the picture :not convinced that it isn't a "photoshop" fake

 

 

I dont see the point in the FA setting 'home grown' rules anyway when any player can come through our academy and be considered 'home grown'. Yes this promotes youth but it does'nt do anything for the National set up or the FA as that 'youth' could be from anywhere they dont have to be English.

 

Just another cop out from the FA for failing the grass roots set up in this country while trying to push the responsibilities onto clubs.

Great piece of business I think, good quality keeper on a free and solid back up to cech. This is unlike us, I was expecting a £20m bid for Ruddy

I dont see the point in the FA setting 'home grown' rules anyway when any player can come through our academy and be considered 'home grown'. Yes this promotes youth but it does'nt do anything for the National set up or the FA as that 'youth' could be from anywhere they dont have to be English.

Just another cop out from the FA for failing the grass roots set up in this country while trying to push the responsibilities onto clubs.

It would be against the law to state that a player has to be English. The European Union has freedom of movement for residents of any of it's member states. With that in mind it hardly matters from there whether a player is German or Brazillian.

Announced his international football retirement effective immediately.

Edited November 6, 201312 yr by skippy

Hmm. Not sure how I feel about this. If I'm Ange I'd be begging him to reconsider- Schwarzer gets to pick the brains of the best coach in the world and it is important to have him in the setup for that reason

Maybe he got a tap on the shoulder and Ange wants to play a younger keeper and plan for the future.

Dissapoined Mark wont be at the cup.

Doubt it was from Ange, I suspect it was from even higher up. The original idea was to go with an experienced international name for the WC, but the FFA are looking at Asia Cup 2014 as the priority. Ange wanted to be competitive at WC but he is - fortunately- being given a clean slate.

He must have been gently pushed before he jumped. I can't understand why he would want to hang up the boots now when the world cup is just around the corner, and realistically it would be his last one.

Seems odd. But it is the one position where I feel we have depth.

 

Awful squad btw. If that's as good as we have then schoolings will probably be the norm in Brazil.

I'd be happy for him to be given another year with us. Most likely he would be 3rd choice but if he is happy with that then i would be!

Thanks for the memories for the Australian National Team since 1993 Mark. Fair effort and I still won't forget your heroic efforts on Wednesday November 16 2005 against Uruguay which secured our first World Cup qualification for the 2006 World Cup since 1974. Here is the moment when he took a vital save that ensured that John Aloisi would send Australia to Germany for the 2006 World Cup!

 

Schwarzer said in Sydney: "I've had messages from the boss, he's very keen for me to re-sign with the club.

"And that's all I really need to know, that he wants to keep me at the club and I'll leave the rest up to the powers-that-be to sort it all out.

"I'm confident it'll be sorted out in the next week or two.

"I still want to stay in Europe as long as possible. If I have the chance to stay at a club like Chelsea, I'd love to do so because it's an unbelievable experience.

"I had opportunities to play in the Champions League semi-final and vie for the (Premier League) title - and that's something invaluable and something I hadn't experienced before. And I wouldn't change anything for it."


Read more at http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mourinho-very-keen-schwarzer-stay#Mko3LpG3RSkrZjVG.99

Sounding like Schwarzer will be backup GK again, but to who.

Edited June 4, 201412 yr by skippy

Sounding like Schwarzer will number backup GK, but to who.

 

us, silly.

Perhaps he'll be ?3, since Hilario is probably going to be released (if not already).

Sounds like Cech is staying on and Courtois is going back out.

Edited June 4, 201412 yr by Jonty

Perhaps he'll be ?3, since Hilario is probably going to be released (if not already).

 

He's on the list of out-of-contract players. I'm not entirely sure when the last time he actually made an appearance was so I would have thought this will be his time to slip out (then again we have been saying that for a while...), although as far as I am aware he is involved with the coaching staff?

 

He's been with us for eight years believe it or not!