Arsenal Banter Archive September 14 2018

14 Sep 2018 08:45:59
Following on from the loan system comments below, I believe that the 25 man overage squad should be reflected in clubs only being permitted to own 25 overage players. Thoughts?

{Ed001's Note - agreed.}

14 Sep 2018 10:24:56
Personally I think 28 over 18s and let those who ain't good enough have a chance elsewhere.
It's been over a decade since Cesc came through our youth system and became a top player and he was in our best 11 at 18 not just our best 28
Thee will always be players who mature later than others but they will do that elsewhere too, it's those who stagnate at under 21 level and end up out of the game at 22 we need to be getting the best out of at a much earlier age.
With the loan system they go out to Chalton for a few months as big time Charlie's who think they are doing Chalton a favour knowing they will return to thier rightful place at their parent club but if they found themselves at Chalton for real at 18 they might well realise they were fighting for their careers before they lost their edge after being discarded at 21 or 22.
Talent is being wasted at an early age by lack of real opportunity and to much short term luxury without the need to achieve then suddenly dumped when no longer of any value at an age where they've lost their early keen edge.

14 Sep 2018 11:07:11
G62 - The suggestion of 28 over 18 players you suggest is flawed, as many teams, particularly the high spenders will fill their squad with more experienced players and very few 18-21 year olds. Which in turn will lead to teams retaining far fewer under 18 teenagers and possibly more teams shutting down their youth academies as they produce even fewer first team players.
These days there are not many U21 players playing regularly in the starting Premiership line ups of top teams, as the level at the top is extremely high and young players rarely possess the necessary physicality until they are 21 years of age.
Staying at the club whilst under 21 allows players to train and learn from top international players. Which they won’t learn playing at Charlton. Arsenal have entered the Checktrade trophy where young players can play, as well as in the League Cup.

14 Sep 2018 12:57:39
The problem is a player at 18 at Arsenal might be our 8th best CB at the club but with loads of potential so we give him a 5 year contract on 5k a week to protect our investment, but by the time he's 20 he hasn't progressed as everyone hoped and he's still 8th choice with no real hope of progression at Arsenal.
A league 1 club would like him and would offer him first team football but they can only offer him 3 years at 1500 a week, the 20 year old is left with a choice of stay at Arsenal until his contract runs out and earning 750,000 but watching his football career fade away completely or joining the league 1 outfit to save his career and possibly earn a move back to a big club but lose half a million in wages to do so.
It's a huge decision that young players shouldn't have to make because the system allows rich clubs to cover all angles at the cost of the vast majority of young hopefuls careers.
In the decade since Cesc broke through Arsenal have produced far more never to be heard of again millionaires than they have premier league quality players from our academy.
Clubs need to be made to play or release young talent rather than simply hog them then write off wages and young careers as part and parcel of the way they do things.
Big clubs trap young raw talent with high wages and long contracts because they can not because it's for the best for the players or for football.

14 Sep 2018 20:38:46
Of Arsenal 2009 youth cup winning squad only Wilshire and Le Coq went on to have any real premier league carers to mention and Le Coq only got his chance out of our desperation at the time.
Given a real chance or released earlier would Jay Emanuel Thomas and others gone on to have better careers have had if they had not been shipped from pilar to post on loan deals?