64 2GM FridayFebruary282014 | the times the times | FridayFebruary282014 2GM 65 Sport SpecialReport SpecialReport Sport GRAPHIC: RODDYMURRAYFORTHETIMES MILESTONES Young, gifted and held back 2.3% 9.5% English players in Premier League 5 players 21 players last season Radicalthinking aged 17-20 aged 21-24 English players in Premier League English players in Premier League starting line-ups in 1992-93 starting line-ups Howearlierattempts to last weekend 12.7% nurturenew talent fared 28 players 189 needed to arrest aged 21-24 67.3% 148 40 88 verthe past40years, the three years under the age of 21 by aclub 69% foreign FA has triedvarious youth within the Englishand Welshprofes- players players players made fewer appeared in initiativestotryto nurture sional system”)leads some clubs to than five more than home-grown talent,half- intensifyefforts to importforeign Oheartedly changingfrom talent at academylevel. Eight does not downward spiral appearances half the games one approach to another (OliverKay seem enough when Manchester City’s writes). Here are some of the most total included Richard Wright,their significant milestonesinyouth devel- 36-year-old third-choice goalkeeper, English players in Premier League English players who appeared for the top four teams, i.e. Manchester United, opment. and DedryckBoyata and GaëlClichy, starting line-ups in 2002-03 32.7% Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal Belgian and French respectively. of English football 1984 72 English players 29 The FA opens anational Schoolof 2011 out of 220 Corresponding “top four” Excellence at Lilleshall, Shropshire, ElitePlayerPerformance Plan lays out representation by national with an annual intakeofplayers edu- requirements to improve facilitiesand spelt it out with statistics, outlininghow diffCity), JonFlanagan and Raheem players in other leagues catedand trainedatthe centre, away increase exposure to high-quality Englishplayers had gone from repre- Sterling(both Liverpool), Nathan Ligue 1 (France) from their clubs, between the agesof14 coachingfrom2,500 hours of coaching senting69per cent of startingline-ups Redmond (Norwich City), LukeShaw 38% 8.1% and 16. Pupils includeMichael Owen, contact time to up to 10,000 hours by in the Premier League in 1992-93, to and Calum Chambers (Southampton), 18 players 70 Jermain Defoe, Phil Neville, Sol the age of 18. Reserve-team format is 38per cent in 2002-03to32per cent in Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City) and aged 30+ La Liga ( Spain) Campbell, Andrew Cole, JoeCole, scrapped, replacedbyunder-21 and un- FOR THE GOOD 2012-13. SaidoBerahino (WestBromwich Jamie Carragher and ScottParker. der-18 leagues. Last weekend wasatypical one: only Albion). Curiously,ofthose seven, 60 Pros The listofplayers above shows Pros Greater emphasis on coach edu- OF THE GAME 32.7 per cent of those players who three (Zaha, Sterlingand Berahino) Bundesliga (Germany) several success storiesand suggests cation, improvements of standards and featuredinstartingline-ups in the top were bornoverseas. 52 that Lilleshall developedgrounded, facilities(in education as well as train- divisionwereeligibleforRoy Hodgson’s The concernisnot only that English English players in Premier League disciplinedprofessionals as well as ing) and increasedaccess to the highest TimesSport begins team — and of the 72 eligible English- football is failingtoproduce enough starting line-ups in 2012-13 Serie A (Italy) good footballers. qualityofcoaching. men who started, 18 were aged30or footballers of the requisitequality — a 52 Cons The schoolwas closedafter Cons Premier League wasaccusedof afive-partinvestigation over, while only 14 were under the age legacythat reflects inadequaciesin Howard Wilkinson, the FA technical bullyingthe Football League intosteer- of 24.Alarmingly,this included just coaching, facilitiesand perhaps more English players in Championship director, said it wasan“inequity” to ingthe best talent to the biggest clubs, into thefutureof eight of the 29 players who have deeply rooted shortcomings of tech- starting line-ups this season selectanational elitegroup at such a some of whom had little record of appearedfor England Under-21 this nique, outlookorculture — but that the youngage. Of the final year of nurturingEnglishtalent. Under-21 and English football, season. ever greater financial stakes have graduates in 1999,only Defoe had a under-18 league format provedunpop- That figure, of only one third of created an environment in which the 32% successful Premier League career. ular. pre-emptingthe Premier League starters beingEnglish, majorityofPremier League and Wilkinson preferredtoreplicatethe commissionset up by is trottedout so oftenthat people have Championship managers seem far too centreofexcellencemodelataregional 2012 become dismissive of it. The cream ris- preoccupiedwith their nextresult to level, with the clubs in charge. Approval, finally,ofanoverhaul in GregDyke, theFA es to the top, we are told. It justmeans think longterm. coachingatjunior and grassroots level. that the best of the rest filter down to This merely reflects the trends that 50.9% 1997 Competitive element is introduced chairman, and free of the Football League. So how about this the Professional Footballers’Associa- Wilkinson introduceshis Charter for only gradually,five-a-sidefootball for statistic: only 50 per cent of players who tion highlighted in 2007inarobust Percentage of minutes played by nationals* Quality,and youth development under-8s, nine-a-sideuptounder-12s. itspolitics. Oliver Kay, startedinthe Sky Bet Championship reportcalled Meltdown.The reportwas England FranceIGermany taly Spain becomesthe responsibilityofthe clubs, No more primaryschoolchildren ChiefFootball lastweekendwereEnglish.Of484play- publishedshortly afterEngland’sfail- 80 who are obligedtocommit to fundinga playingonfull-size pitches. ers startingmatchesinthe Barclays ure to qualifyfor Euro 2008 — though drastic improvement in facilities. Pros More emphasis on skill, enjoy- Correspondent,paints Premier League and Championship it wascommissionedbefore — and 70 Purpose-built academiesreplace the ment and on individual improvement lastweekend, only 204 (42 per cent) includedthe line: “Weare asecond-rate English players in Championship oldcentresofexcellence. rather than results. theoverall picture were English. 60 starting line-ups last weekend Pros Betterfacilities, more contact Cons Long wait to implement changes The CIES Football Observatory, ‘Likesomuchelse the time with players, fewermatches. that maytakemore than adecadeto basedinSwitzerland, prefers to use a 50 Cons The plan wasnot radical bringreal benefits. different statistic,focusingonthe per- FA does, the commission enough. Clubs complainedabout centage of minutes played by national 40 the 90-minuterule, 2012 players in each league per season. In the is at riskofbeing which restrictedthem St George’sPark, the new firstseven seasons afterthe CIES began 30 to signingyoungsters National Football Centre, reducedtoanexercise 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 its records in 2005-06, the figure for -06 -07 -08 -09 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14** 50% who livedwithin that opens near Burtonupon Englishplayers in the Premier League in diplomacy’ travellingtime from Trent,Staffordshire. wasbetween 40.8 per cent and 46.1 per Percentage of minutes played by Under-21† nationals Teen wonders their ground. Pros Atrainingbase forall 12 cent. The Times,however,can reveal footballingnation and, if nothingis Players under 20 who started England’snational teams tisalmostsix months since Greg that the figure has fallen from 45.5 per done, we are adecadeawayfrombeing 2010 andwithamoreserious, 10 Premier League matches Dykestood in the restaurant on cent in 2011-12 to 39.3 per cent last athird world footballingnation.” last weekend Premier League academic approach the 29th floor of the Millbank season to 37 per cent so far this season. “What is at stake,” the Meltdown 8 introducesthe “home-grown to sports science as Towerand declaredastateof It is gettingworse, not better. reportadded,“is not justthe future of Raheem Sterling, above player ruling”.Clubs must well as educatingcoaches. Iemergency. Englishfootball, he As arough indication, that figure of the England team, but the fundamental 6 (Liverpool) name aminimum of eight Cons Idea wasfirstraisedin1970s. said, wasa“tanker which needs 37 per cent impliesthat,ateachPremier right of Englishplayers to rise as far as Nathan Redmond home-grown players in a Nothinglikethe scope of Claire- turning”. League match, only seven of the 22 their talent will takethem. That right is 4 (Norwich City) 25-man squad. fontaine, the French schoolofex- It wasalittle toonear the knuckle for players in the startingline-ups would now denied.” 2 Calum Chambers, right, Pros Clubs encouragedto cellence,whichwasitsinspiration. some, but justabout everythingDyke be English, as would one or twoofthe Richard Scudamore, the Premier and Luke Shaw integratehome-grown talent into No directinvolvement in the said that afternoon wascorrect. As the substitutes.Hodgson has indicated that League chief executive,admits having 0 (Southampton) their first-team squad rather than sign development of youngplayers. FA’s new chairman, he sawhimself as if 70 Englishplayers startmatchesin “flipped” and concluded that some- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 stopgaps from abroad. the brave helmsman, ready to turnthe the Premier League on anygiven week- thinghad to change afterEngland’s -06 -07 -08 -09 -10 -11 -12 -13 -14** Saido Berahino Cons The looseness of the “home- Defoewas one of the (West Bromwich Albion) *National: player born or grew up in the country **2013-2014: games until 21/02/2014 talented boys at Lilleshall ship around and set offonaradical new end, the poolofplayers of interest to abjectfailure to qualifyfor Euro 2008. † Source: CIES Football Observatory http://www.eurofootplayers.org/ grown” definition (“players trainedfor course towards his bold target of glory him is closer to 40. But it took 2½ years forthe Premier Player under the age of 22 during all the season in the 2022 World Cup. If he erred, it The figuresare even more League to introduce its “home- ates an opportunityfor players to have mandatoryrelease forinternational 366 trainingcentresacross Germany. Online and on tablet wasinimaginingthat this particular worryingwhen it comestothe grown player rule”,whereby clubs more access to bettercoachingatthe football, particularly youth tourna- Moreover, there wasafirmcommit- TOMORROW TALKING POINTS FORCHANGE tanker would respond well even to the percentage of Englishplayers had to includeaminimum of eight leadingacademies. ments, or recommendingawinter ment taken by all Bundesliga clubs to Join thedebate today suggestion of beinghandledforcefully under the age of 22. In 2005-06 home-grown (which does not All these advancesincoachingand break to ensure that England do not increase their commitment to develop- Over the nextfivedays, Times writers adoption of avolunteeringculture. As and decisively.Nobody in English they accounted for6.4percent of necessarily mean English) players facilities, alliedtothe new National turnupfor World Cups and European ing, nurturingand promotingGerman ‘Grassroots facilities will investigateand make aresult manyEnglishboysstill start Canthe Three Lions football likes the boat to be rocked. the minutes played in the in their 25-man squad each Football Centre at St George’sPark, in Championships exhausted. talent. Hasitworked?Don’t justlookat recommendations on such topicsas: the mostcompetitive sportingraceof Dyke’sso-called“England commis- Premier League. By this season. Burtonupon Trent,should bringbene- AfterGermany’shumiliation at Euro the national team. Look at Bayern areunderpressure. We all at adistinctdisadvantage in terms roar again?Ask Matt sion”,afive-month exercise in asking season, that figure has It took another four fits, but if Dykefeels that these are 2000,the DFB (German FA)under- Munich. Look at Borussia Dortmund. enabling young players to gain of coaching, facilitiesand funding, questions and chewingoverawide fallen to 2.7 per cent, years forthe FA to gain merely long-overdue steps in the right took awide-rangingreview of its DoesEnglishfootball have the only have amodest first-team experience with the FA doingits best to play Dickinsonlivefrom1pm range of conflictingresponsesonyouth which means that,on approval foranextreme- direction, rather than the far-reaching approach to youth development. vision, the courage, the will or the lead- No matterhow manyplayers catch-up afterdecades of neglect. development and the future of the average, English ly belated overhaul of its reforms that would makeuplost Whereas the FA seems terrifiedofeven ership even to trytoemulatewhat has stockofpitches andit’s England’sacademiesproduce — and is money the root of all On Monday national team, had hopedtobeable to youngsters appear approach to playingand ground on Spain, Germanyand other sayinganythingbetween now and this been achieved in Germany? how good they are — it will not england’s football evil? Gabriele Marcotti puts sign offits keyfindings and recommen- foratotal of 53 min- coachingatgrassroots leadingnations, he is not alone. summer’s World CupinBrazil, forfear Dykehas already establishedthat likelytoget worse matterifthe path to the firstteam is The Englishgame is the richest in the dations at ameetinglastweek and utesin everyPremier and junior level, laying Even if the qualityimproves, will the of distractingthe England team, the Englishfootball has aserious problem. blocked.Asolution has to be found. world but is that wealth ahelp or a our ideas to thetest in release them to the FA board yesterday. League match. out termsfor amore tech- players get the opportunity? Even if DFB had its programme approvedand He and his commission have to pin- before it gets better’ The under-21 league has to be hindrance to talent development? It did not happen. Likesomuch else the Last weekend, only nical, fun-based, posses- they get the opportunity, will English ready to go by the time Germany point not only precise issues, but also improved, the loan systemreformed Michel Platini, the Uefa president,is aspecialeditionofthe FA does,with manygood intentions, eight Englishplayers sion-basedapproach. It took football give them the best chance of unexpectedly returnedfromthe 2002 how they propose to address them. The and feeder clubs considered. amongthose who thinks it makes us the commission is at risk of being under 22 startedmatches four years forthe Premier exhibitingtheir talents on the interna- World Cupasrunners-up. feelingpersists that they will optfor a providing better grassroots lazy, turningtoforeign imports podcast, from 5pm. reducedtoanexercise in diplomacy. in the Premier League: League clubs to force tional stage? Here we enter what has to The DFB’s “Extended Talent Promo- steadier,more conservative course, facilities, coaching and funding instead of producingour own, but this Watch thelivedebate If the commission is to be aworth- WilfriedZaha (Car- through its ElitePlayer be another integral partofthe commis- tion Programme” involved great that they will stop some wayshortof The roots of football’s grassroots crisis is toosimple. Our national team was while exercise, it cannot be about Performance Plan sion’s work, which is to get afairer bal- investment in coachingat46club acad- trying to turn the tanker around. That canbetracedtothe origins of the mediocre when our leagueswere hosted on YouTube walkingonegg shells. Englishfootball Dykemay become (EPPP), which, whatever ance between the interestsofclubs and emies, 29 further education colleges would be agreat shame. It is about time sportand the Victorians’obsession stuffedfull of Englishmen, not cheap has aproblem. In September,Dyke mired in politics its shortcomings, cre- country, whether that means securing designed“elitefootball schools” and someone rocked the boat. with masculinityand wholesale French and Danes. thetimes.co.uk/football