Offhand, I can name eight foreign-owned teams in the Premiership: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Fulham, Portsmouth and West Ham.
Birmingham could soon join those ranks, giving foreigners controlling stakes in half the league's teams.
But is this a good thing or a bad thing for English football fans?
Other than Fulham, the foreign-owned clubs have generally been well-stewarded. Expanded budgets have allowed them to attract talent from all over the world—think of Ronaldo, Torres, Drogba, Elano, Benjani, Laursen, Essien, and Sven.
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Last season's Champions League semifinals featured three English teams, which says a lot.
But the news isn't all good for fans—the influx of foreign stars hurts England's National Team. England's lack of depth in goal and at forward is a testament to the problem.
The crux of the issue is that foreign investors are more inclined to purchase stars than develop local players. Paul Robinson, David James, and Scott Carson are the only three notable English goalkeepers starting in the Premiership. At forward, only Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are integral to their clubs' plans.
As attractive as the EPL is to global stars, clubs have no problems attracting international talent—provided their owners are willing to pay for it. The influx of foreign players is an inevitable consequence of regional and globalized economic structures—and the commercialization of football as a hugely profitable consumer commodity.
Unfortunately, the pursuit of profit in the Premiership has left England's international squad on the brink of a crisis. Only time will tell how things play out.
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10 months ago
Firstly foreign ownership has benefited Fulham alot and took them from nowhere to the Premier League. Secondly it is the money that BskyB that made the league what it is today not foreign owners!
All this has been going on for years and has nothing to do with foreign ownership! Cheaper European as well as african imports and Foreign Coaches yes.
What about Green in goals at West Ham or Kirkland at Wigan? Yes foreign players are effecting the national team but that has zero to do with foreign ownership apart from maybe Abramovich but even he has 5 england internationals in his team!
10 months ago
Melvin, Melvin, Melvin....
"Other than Fulham, the foreign-owned clubs have generally been well-stewarded"
Eh?
10 years ago they were in Division 3, now they're a midtable Premiership team.
"the influx of foreign stars hurts England's National Team"
What was the excuse in the past then?
I don't quite understand what your point is.
Are you suggesting by putting English players of less-quality in over superior foreign players that is somehow going to make the England team better?
The fact that these English players aren't good enough to displace these foreign players shows that England simply does not have good enough players....
10 months ago
Foriegn ownwership has made the Premier league as rich and as popular as it is today. ten years ago, players would only come to England when none of the big clubs in Spain or Italy wanted them. Now, it's the other way around. Foriegn players actually want a carrer in England. Fulham & Chelsea have benifitted the most as Fulham were dead and buried in Division 3, and Chelsea were almost out of business. But Fulham have established themselves in the Premier League & Chelsea became Champs. Enough said.
10 months ago
May I point out how many clubs are essentially fan-owned? We have to remember that the people footing the bill for smaller clubs like Charlton and Palace, Wednesday and Southampton don't necessarily want foreign investment either, and to be fair, they have pretty much stayed that way. The trend is thus: foreign players, require more money to play here, prices go up, therefore the cost of wages goes up, therefore the money required to keep players at a club goes up, and so on, and so forth. Nasty chain this - and new English Talent? Apart from feeder clubs like Ipswich, where are they going to come from - and how can they possibly compete, when top teams seem to think the best quick fix is "buy a foreign player"???!!!
from 10 months ago
That seems a more constructed point. However, why exactly should a players nationality make a difference - do clubs exist to serve their country?
I think not, they exist to serve their fans, and can you blame a manager for wanting a 'quick fix'? Particularly now, when managers who finish 5th are under pressure for results immediately.
10 months ago
I'm sorry but has anyone looked at some of the squads in the premier league this season??? Manchester City with their new foreign owner are playing Michael Johnson and Micah Richards in their first team, Onouha and Hart pushing for first team spots. Sean Wright-Phillips also came through Man City's Academy. West ham had the same a few years ago with Lampard, Carrick, Joe Cole and Defoe all coming through at a similar time. You get situations where a few good players all come through together (look at Manchester United in the 90's). I hardly think there will ever be a 'crisis' for English talent!
10 months ago
Looks like u r again having a some good blows from your critics Melvin! Neways, your arguement can be deemed from different perspectives which will make it ambivalent. Like, the foreign investers are literally trying to 'manage' the clubs themselves, which Roman Abramovich has shown off late with Chelsea. But if you take the better side of it, these foreign owners have drawn in many footballing talents from both Europe and Home. Also the English football owes its popularity to the foreign owners (In the recent years of course). And about the National team.....you must understand not all owners are not self centred like Roman. THey want their team to win and if the Youth Academy reports a prospective footballer to be promoted to the first team, i don't see the owners meddling with the manager regarding this. So, the 'crisis' factor is simply a piece of trash.
10 months ago
Andrew - if the money had come from BskyB alone, I don't see clubs having spending spree like Portsmouth and and Man City this season since BskyB's inception. Green and Kirkland are not exactly good enough to even be in the England squad. But they are being given chances which could aid in their progression and may lead to them being much better players and challenge for a place in the England squad
Johnny - I mean even decent English players are not given the chance they deserve. Defoe is an example of this sort of injustice. How can anyone progress from their current standard without being exposed to higher levels of play i.e. haveing regular first team football? Besides, why pick on the one error I made in terms of Fulham when the fact is other 8-9 foreign owned clubs are already benefitting? Which is my point, that foreign investment benefits clubs but not the national team.
Simon - good point, I did not see it that way. Guess the vicious cycle goes on and on. It is precisely this quick fix mentality that is not giving opportunities to the rising English stars who may benefit from competitive exposure and go on to become excellent players.
Liam - this (West Ham) happened because they were given chances at regular football. And Manchester City is only 1 team with the 3-4 players you mentioned. I do not think this makes up much in an international team that requires 20 squad players. And as I stated, it is in attack and in goal where there is the most obvious lack.
Sheikh - haha everyone has their opinion about such contentious issues and it is really fun to read the other perspectives and discuss. It is my opinion that there is this lack of young bright English players coming through the ranks. Why give opportunity to someone who needs time to mature when you can get a foreigner and do the same job (immediately?) when you have the finances to do so?
10 months ago
Both Green and Kirkland have already played for England Melvin....and yes the spending sprees have increased THIS season but that has nothing to do with the fact the league has been attracting top players for years with or with out foreign ownership.
10 months ago
Having played for England does not mean they are good enough, that is the same as saying anyone that is given an international cap is a quality player and I believe we can all think of examples of crappy one-off caps on players who were not good enough.
Yes the league has always attracted top players, but it is the amount of (top) players and the money spent recently that is the issue I am dealing with. Just look at the Big Four, 3 of which are foreign owned and look at the nationalities of the players they bought this season, as well as the number of England internationals in their first eleven (especially forwards and goalkeepers).
10 months ago
Well I think they are good enough Melvin or I wouldn't have said it would I? And Rooney nominated for the FIFA player of the year award...what do you think about that?
10 months ago
It's rather sad to see so many of the under-21s going unused by the England setup. Definitely good enough, for the most part, they all require confidence to make it into the "big time" of the EPL, Championship and England - name one player who has played for the country after the U21s over the last few years? Anyone?
Why is this? I personally would cite big name syndrome, but hey, look at David Bentley - snubs U21s, plays for England. Hmm.
10 months ago
Andrew - If Rooney comes in top 3 for that particular award I will personally post an article to apologise to everyone for my ignorance, you can hold me to that. Till then, I think its a stale topic since he has began to pick up form and is no longer an issue with me, really wonder why you are still harping on it. As for Green and Kirkland, you have your opnions and I have mine. Still feel they are not good enough, or they will be playing for better clubs, and would REALLY be in for a shout in displacing Paul Robinson as England No. 1 who has been having a spate of horrendous performances.
Simon - Totally agree with you on that! Even if there were, they are few and far between. Besides not many end up in the big clubs.
10 months ago
Two words will blow your entire argument apart: Aston. Villa.
Lets take a look at the Villa squad shall we?
Goalkeeper - Scott Carson (english)
Defenders - Zat Knight, Curtis Davies (both english)
Midfielders - Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Craig Gardner, Ashley Young (all english)
Forwards - Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luke Moore, Marlon Harewood (all english)
Now lets go a bit more indepth...key players for Aston Villa so far this season: Martin Laursen, Gareth Barry, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor....All english except Laursen.
Yes, foreign talent might hinder the progress of the English National side...but nowhere near to the degree people suggest. Aston Villa could fill half of the English squad themselves. Three quality midfielders from one team alone....doesnt sound like a problem to me. Granted most of these players are under-23, but I seem to recall a famous, Premier League winning Manchester United squad.............
The real problem is that most young players dont get the development they need. I'm a coach, for under 9s, and I can tell you now, that there is no shortage of potential. However, potential is nothing unless you realise it. These children dont realise their potential for various reasons, often involving a lack of investment in grass roots football by major clubs and the government alike. The real issue isnt that big clubs buy foreign to solve a problem, its that the english coaching system is for the most part, lacking. As a result, there are so few good english players with experience, that the prices are inflated, making it in their best interests to look abroad.
Compare the number of great Dutch players in the last five years to English....Why does Holland have a far superior pool of talent? Because they are trained more effectively from a young age. English youth football typically doesnt focus heavily enough on technique and skill development. Rather we want the quick boy with the powerful shot to play up front and the big strong lad at the back.
This is before I mention all the hindrances to youth football...such as the ridiculous crime rate and resulting fear, not just in kids but parents too.
The problem isnt foreign at all...its the same one thats been present on our very isle for years. That, my friends, is fact.
10 months ago
Yes Villa is playing well with these English players. And only TWO (Barry and Carson) feature for the England squad. Either that is a fault of McClaren, or those players are just not good enough. What the choice is, I leave it up to you. One thing is for sure, these players are young and could very well feature in the England setup as much better players given the level of competitive football they are exposed to.
Mind you, Villa is but ONE of the 8-9 teams that I have mentioned, and that itself doesnt make you much of a case.
As for your other points, they are probably right. I would still think the foreign ownership is a contributing factor, along with the reasons you mentioned.
10 months ago
My point is that its both. McLaren sucks as a coach, and English players in general arent good enough to compete with national sides with better grass roots schemes.
Foreign ownership doesnt change that. Buying foreign players doesnt change that.
The development of 8 and 9 year olds is unaffected by Premiership sides buying foreign players.
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