Youth Missing in Football's Spending Spree

As football’s so called “silly season” begins, it is important to note just how Barcelona won the treble this season. While the beauty of their football was certainly special, what is more amazing is how many players came from their youth system.

As we see teams like Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City try and win trophies through their checkbooks rather than young stars, Barcelona is becoming the exception rather than the norm. 

When Barcelona beat Manchester United 2-0 in Rome last week, seven of their starters were products of their youth system (Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, Sergi Busquets, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Lionel Messi).

Barcelona also did it with a coach, Pep Guariola, who came coached some of these players at the youth level. Guardiola is also a former European Cup winner with the club as a player, and has now repeated the feat as a coach. These facts serve as a breath of fresh air when we look at the way other teams around Europe are managed these days.

Chelsea are certainly the easiest target when criticizing how money is changing football, as it was the takeover by Roman Abramovich that began the ludicrous spending in the English Premier League.

Chelsea looked to build what looked like a carbon copy of Real Madrid’s “Galacticos”, since stars such as Michael Ballack, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Hernan Crespo, Didier Drogba, Damien Duff, Michael Essien, Claude Makelele, Arjen Robben, Andriy Shevchenko, and Juan Veron, amongst others, have all been brought in since the Russian billionaire took over the club in July 2003.

Many of these players have been busts at the club, whether it was because of their inability to adapt to life in England, age, or falling out of favor with the manager.

Abramovich has also started a carousel of coaches, including a who’s who of managerial icons including European Cup winner’s Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink, and Jose Mourinho, and World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Even the little known Avram Grant has been given a chance at Chelsea, but leading his side to a second place finish in the EPL and a penalty shootout loss to Manchester United in the European Cup Final was not enough to keep his job.

Chelsea have now turned their attention to try and beat out Real Madrid to sign AC Milan midfielder Kaka, for what is being reported as £73.5 million. Chelsea have managed two FA Cup wins in the past three years, but have missed out on the two biggest prizes in each of those three seasons.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the only former Chelsea youth player to receive much playing time in that span has been John Terry. All the rest have been bought, leaving us to wonder if Chelsea even has a youth team any more.

Manchester City are arising as the “new Chelsea”, and their new owners, the Abu Dhabi group, wasted little time flexing their financial muscles. Their first signing came right under the noses of Chelsea when they grabbed Brazil striker Robinho for £32.5 million, a British record.

Although talented, Robinho was a temperamental star at Madrid, and there was no telling how he would play in the more physical English game. Although Robinho scored 14 goals in the league this season, he was terrible on the road, and had to be disciplined for extended stays in Brazil after international duty.

Manchester City have made numerous other signings, although they failed to secure Kaka, they did manage to bring in Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, and Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge, a backup to Ashley Cole. The only real logic in bringing these players in, was because they could.

Bridge had played sporadically at Chelsea since Ashley Cole moved over from Arsenal, and although a decent footballer, few could see how Bridge could be a long term solution for City.

Given falls into the same boat. Even though Ireland’s number one was spectacular this season for both Newcastle and City, his signing has severely stunted the progression of Joe Hart, considered by many England’s future goalkeeper.

Despite these signings, City failed to qualify for next season’s Europa League, making it even harder for them lure in big names, although Gareth Barry did sign with the club. Barry’s decision to leave Aston Villa and the chance to break into the top four and play in Europe, show just how money is ruining the game.

Although these two English clubs certainly have more money than most, there is no denying that Real Madrid are following a similar past. Besides Casillas and Raul, Madrid have not been impacted by youth players either.

Manchester United do however believe in youth, but they do so by buying youngsters, such as the Da Silva twins and Macheda, rather than producing them. This is not to say that all of Barcelona’s players came from their academy, as we all know they have bought stars such as Dani Alves and Thierry Henry.

The important thing for Barcelona is that they do put stock into their youth and their ideology of playing the game the right way, and with Pep Guardiola at the helm and Bojan and Pedrito waiting in the wings,  it looks as though they will stick with this philosophy. One can only hope.