Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has called Newcastle United a disgrace for the lack of English players that the Magpies are fielding in their starting eleven this season.
In our three Premier League games this season, Newcastle have fielded one Englishman in each of their fixtures, with defender Steven Taylor starting away at Manchester City, while striker Shola Ameobi started in the home matches at St James’ Park against West Ham and Fulham.
It was the match at the Etihad Stadium that Ferdinand was particularly referring to, as he spoke to the Mail on Sunday about the issue of foreigners in the Premier League.
Ferdinand said: “Having so few English players in the Premier League diminishes the English team, of course it does. Look at the Manchester City game recently against Newcastle. There was barely an English player on the pitch, three out of 22 starters. That is a disgrace.”
Rio continued: “If you look at it and ask whether there should be a stipulation that you have a minimum number of players who are English, even just in your squad, I think that should happen. If you look at a lot of teams, there are England players who aren’t playing for their clubs — yet we’re hoping to go to a World Cup and do well!”.
The 34-year-old makes a valid point about having a minimum number of Englishmen in the squad, as that’s already a rule that is place! Clubs can have no more than 17 players who are not deemed to be ‘home grown’ in their 25-man squad.
With Newcastle’s recruitment of players from France, Englishmen are being pushed out, but when young, English talent is so expensive, you can hardly blame clubs for looking elsewhere on the continent.
However, should there be a stipulation of having a minimum number of English players in your starting line-up?
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Come on Alan wood u can’t blame Man U for buying foreign players we have and had always for the last 20 years produced more English players had more English players in our team at one stage half the national team was Man U players so get real all teams are buyin foreign cos there cheaper English players are over rated and over priced but Chelsea and arsenal are the 2 worse for buyin foreign players Newcastle and city not far behind
Well Mr Ferdinand,if there was a decent centre half in your man utd team .you wouldn’t be there your too slow now and too turn England down .well say no more .newcastle united are owned by an Englishman who can’t afford to pay silly money out for players like you .so he pays less for better in France .and there in the E U. So what .about English players and the lack of them .where’s the English talent in our beloved game .theres only one really and he’s gone too real Madrid .why .its money money money .too highly paid .so if the toon can’t get British talent at a reasonable price .that we can afford .what can we do eh !!! We go abroad . Football players get paid too too much .what about the real guys .the heroes who are in Afghanistan fighting .there on far far far less money than you .so just think before you accuse the toon .remember 2009 .no englishmen in your starting line up .just gooney and scholes .its the way it is football is global .not just English .anyway is Ireland .wales and Scotland .are they not British .its always English in this country .not British .your a cockney .so stay there we have 2 feckers up here at the toon .ashley .kinnear no more .keep out .
I couldn’t care less what Rio Ferdinand has to say to be honest, the blokes a gobsh*te, so I will go with Gregg Dykes comments instead.
If it was for clubs like Man Utd spend stupid money on English players over the years they may be more affordable. Yes they have produced alot of their own but Carrick, Rio, Rooney, Young, Smalling, Jones, Zaha. Man U aren’t alone though, Chelsea, Arsenal, City and Lpool have help create the problem as well.