The Offside Yap #4

In the latest instalment of The Offside Yap, we have called upon some of our contributors to give their thoughts on an issue in the game which has got us thinking… This week we asked the team: The English Premier League is blessed with talent from across the globe. However, Premier League aside - the top leagues around the world are not blessed with a wealth of English talent. Why is it the case?

Jess Martin believes the reason is simple…

@jessfmartin – English players are not as frequent in foreign leagues because they all want to play in their own domestic league. The English Premier League is the best the world so why would they choose to up sticks and move to another country? 

Emily Clark feels it has something to do with English home comforts!

@EmilyClark11 – I think English players are less open about adapting to culture changes and the external factors, away from football, that come with playing in a foreign league

Spurs fan Morgan Hammond has his own take on the topic..

@morganhammond89 – The style of play on the continent is very different to that which English talent is used to. Thus the transfer from England to other European clubs can often be an uneasy transition. There is evidence to suggest this, for example, Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate at Real Madrid. 

Fellow Spurs fan David Lee believes the strength already existing across Europe, means there is no need for foreign clubs to dip into the English market

@David_Lee91 – The quality of players being produced on the continent in recent seasons explains the lack of English representation in Europe’s top leagues. Why would European teams look for English talent when they have cheaper and technically better options on home soil?

However, Harriet Drudge feels that the English talent that may exist simply isn’t in the shop window for potential buyers.

@hmdrudge – The problem isn’t that foreign clubs are ignoring our talent – English clubs aren’t blessed with a wealth of English talent themselves, and if they are, they are reluctant to give youngsters in particular the chance to shine. So how can we expect the top European clubs to be fighting over them?

Yet, Emily and Morgan do predict that we could see more English players dotted around Europe in the near future.

@EmilyClark11 – I think the number of English players that have truly had success in foreign leagues is limited (maybe this is because not many move, like you say). Should a solid number of English players make the transition, and make it well, then that would attract more substantial and frequent moves. 

@morganhammond89 – I believe there is a growing trend in that English players are increasingly finding themselves on the fringes of their parent clubs. Therefore they may be forced to go abroad in the future. 

Greg Helmich sees the benefits that England players playing across Europe could offer Roy Hodgson and the national side.

@GregHelmich – I think this is part of the problem to why the national side has struggled so much in the modern era. If more English talent went abroad I think it would improve their overall performance on a national level. Maybe the success of Gareth bale at Real Madrid will go some way to changing this.

However, Harriet feels there is bigger problems in English Football that must be addressed before we can even consider trying to rectify this ongoing concern.

@hmdrudge – Rather than the top-down, elitist approach we adopt to player development now, we need a shake-up to build from the grassroots by increasing investment in and improving facilities and coaching. We need to give potential stars of the future the best possible chance of making it as a professional here before we start worrying about exporting our talent to leagues around the world.

So what do you think? Why are there so few players playing in the top leagues around the world? Do you believe the national team could benefit from England’s finest players experiencing football outside the Premier League?

Episode 30 of The Offside Rule Podcast (We Get It!) will be available on our Audioboo page on Thursday 20^th March. This week the ladies will champion home-grown talent!