Over the 40 odd years that I’ve been an Arsenal fan, I have enjoyed and suffered many ups and downs but one of the most enjoyable ups has been witnessing the development and success of home-grown talent.
I’ve always got a ‘kick’ out of seeing one of ‘our own boys’ make the grade, it’s an essential part of our great club and I believe it makes our club a bit special…
Players that come up from ‘within’ seem to have a connection with the club, and with the fans.
When I became a regular on the North Bank in the early 1970’s, the team already contained many players who had been developed through from Apprentices and into top class 1st team players. The likes of Jon Sammels, Peter Simpson, John Radford, Ray Kennedy and George Armstrong were a major part of the squad that won 3 trophies in 2 seasons. They had all grown-up, developed and progressed through from the Youth Team and Combination Team and matured into top top players for the 1st team.
Later on and into the mid to late 1970’s I saw many others making their debuts and enjoying success like Graham Rix, Trevor Ross and Wilf Rostron. Not all of them stayed at Arsenal but they ‘cut their teeth’ at Highbury before going on to have successful careers at other First Division clubs.
Into the 1980’s and I saw other’s following the tradition like Brian McDermott and Martin Keown.
Of course, under the present ’90 minute’ rule it’s possible and even probable, that none of the above would have been allowed to join Arsenal as Apprentices or Trainees…
Imagine the Arsenal Double team of 1970-71 without Radford and Kennedy leading the attack, enjoying a constant stream of accurate crosses from Geordie Armstrong?
Who would have received Chippy Brady’s pass in added time [Graham Rix] and provided the pinpoint cross for Alan Sunderland in the 1979 FA Cup Final???
The 90 minute rule has prevented Arsenal from scouting schoolboy footballers in some of the traditionally strongest football areas in Britain. Like the North-East, Yorkshire and Lancashire but that rule is set to be scrapped as part of the new Elite Performance Plan (EPP), a plan fully supported by Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson.
The E.P.P. looks set to be implemented in time for next season and as I understand it [thanks to Young Guns] the players will receive many more hours of training, more in line with Spain. Equally as important, this means that Arsenal will be able to source players from anywhere within England [and Wales I guess].
So who knows, our next Jackie boy might well be a ‘Wor Jackie’ from Northumberland…. 😉
Written by Allezkev
Morning All
Good Post AK, I didn’t even know there were restrictions in place 😉
Does this mean Wenger will be poaching all the young English kids now instead of those from Barcelona…
You forgot about Brady, O’Leary and Stapleton coming from the youth ranks.
Good morning
Interesting post.
From Highbury, anything new?
great post ak,
good morning chelsea just confirmed the signing of 33year old manager andre villas boas whos the smae age as drogba now that is interestig……
Hi JM, AF
No news yet again…..
I’ll be back later, have a good day….
Good post AK47!!
Morning Gooners [or mid-morning].
Padraig the 90 minute restrictions don’t [or didn’t] apply to the R.O.I. only to England & Wales. Scotland, i believe, have their own regulations.
Thanks JM, nothing from Highbury mate, or anywhere…
Thanks AFC fan. Now we’ll see CFC start to spend, while we wait, wait, wait, zzzzzz.
Thanks Rico, it’ll also mean that ManUre can source players from down here [and out West]… so whilst it opens the North & the Midlands back up to our scouts, you can be sure the Northern clubs will be sniffing around in London & Essex…etc.
Cheers Lee, how’s things amigo?
Some guy on LG told me he has a friend who works at The Grove [stadium] and since Kroenke has taken full control, nothing has changed!
It kinda makes me feel that we’re gonna have another summer of transfer ‘If onlys’ and ‘Might have beens’….
As the days and weeks pass by i suspect that Wath is gonna be able to say…” I knew this was going to happen”, or words to that effect….
All good mate…..looks a bit bleak at the mo! But I’m with Will, I think there’s gonna be some suprises!!
I really hope so mate. From what i’ve been getting thru the blogs, it seems that quite a few fans have ditched their season tickets. Now if that doesn’t make old stubborn-bonce sit up and take notice, then only his P45 will do the trick…
What about the fan who jumped the fence & played back in the late 60’s early 70’s cough! cough! 🙂
GG9, now your talking about my hero….
But my point was about the Brits Arsenal used to be able to source up North and in Scotland. The 90 minute rule, as i understand it, means you cannot sign a schoolboy who takes longer than an hour & half to reach your training ground.
Hopefully that’s about to change…
Oh, for another 18 year old Charlie…
News
a) The German club will in the coming days to present an official proposal advanced by Nicklas Bendtner from Arsenal.
According to the Times, the leaders of Borussia Dortmund is determined to ensure Bendtner, but the transfer will not be easy to accomplish, because that Arsenal want 12 million euros for the pass and the advanced German club will not be interested in coming to this value.
b) Today and yesterday have “seen” several times … Stanford Bridge is not silent with Villas-Boas and the option Falcao.
c) The sport in Spain is in bankruptcy. Football inclusive.
JM, you think Falcao will follow to chelski?
The termination clause is low – 30 million euros. Hulk has a clause of 100 million.
I doubt that Villas-Boas go alone. Will want to take players and players who preferably knows.
I would say 80% … unless Arsenal anticipate 🙂
chelski it is then JM!!! 😉
Good post Ak.
Does that mean we might have a load of Norfaners my God its bad enough having foreigners but at least they learn to speak English Norfaners speak English and I still cant understand them. I spose we will have to wean them off of mushy pea’s
And there’s me worried we were going to get Bartley back Haggytied
Cheers SP.
I wouldn’t a couple of Norfaners like Johnny Radford or Geordie Armstrong.
Quiet on here today, i’ve had to do some housework to pass the time ffs.
I wouldn’t MIND, that should read…. Back to the mop for me!
How you going mate, Got rained off so had an early day, i must admit i thought the 90minute rule had been lifted yonks ago, i wasn’t aware of it. seems a bit strange when we get players from all over
I agree SP, it would be great to have 11 Londoners in the side, but you have to get the kids off of their PS2’s, or whatever, to achive that…
From what i read on Young Guns, the 90 min rule is going this summer, so Wenger will have to hire a couple or three Northern scouts.
I’ll let you get on with your domestics may catch you later.
I’m good btw, keeping myself busy with the mop and duster, lol.
Bit suprised when you said you was off to do some work….
What’s the world coming to eh???
Plenty of talent up there that’s for sure, wouldn’t surprise me that was the reason the rule came in in the first place, to keep them up North
Been working in Bishops Stortford bit of a relaxed pace in the country
Boo! ANother good one, AK. I must say, forty years! That’s a loooooong time to be supporting our club. It would be interesting to see the players we spot… and cede to the Mancs and the Chavs and the other moneyed clubs. Lol.
Hello, Steve. I was also wondering why you were working… 🙂
The Lady of the House seems to be enjoying her hols. Go enjoy some more, rico.
I’ve never really worked out how the 90 minutes actually woks. I mean 90 minutes from Highbury can some days mean Finsbury Park . I am sure that the captive area would be larger up north due to the driving time.
Hi agag, yeah it is a long time, but i’ve had some fantastic high’s in that time.
You still flying all over the place?
Potter, i think the idea behind the 90 min originally, was to give the smaller clubs a chance of keeping they’re local talent.
Seems as if the Nicklaus Bendtner saga is coming to a conclusion.
Maybe when he’s gone we’ll see Wenger sign a couple.
I was quite cheesed off that Wenger didn’t sign Gameiro. It looks like PSG are putting together a really usefull squad of players
Good!
Hey, AK. Done with your mop duties?? 😉 Well, with some astute signings, fantastic highs may just be round the corner again… 🙂 No flights, AK. 😉 I’m trying my best to stay put. 🙂
I see Nik might really be off. should make rico happy.
Hey, Lee. Howdy?
Hi guys, don’t you hate it when real life gets in the way?
I started going to Highbury properly in the 75/76 season so I remember a lot of those players but I am not sure if opening up London to the money of both Manchester clubs is a great idea.
Ha Ha agag, my Mrs Mopp duties are finished. I think i did a very good job, especially as i’m one of those helpless men…lol
I do hope your right about ‘astute’ signings agag, although ‘any’ signing would do me at the mo.
No flights??? Does that mean your on a sandy beach eating a coconut???lol
Hi Will, yeah, i know what ya mean, but they can’t sign everyone, no matter how hard they try.
Blackburn are on their doorstep, but they’ve still managed to turn out some good Kids of their own.
I would imagine that the two Manc clubs will start looking at other areas up North primarily, like the North-East and Yorkshire.
What it means for Arsenal, is that we can scout all over the country, and with our coaching record and the importance put on technique, i think we’ll pick up some good lads who’ve recently have been out of reach. Let’s hope so anyway…
Boo – afternoon guys and gals 🙂
We signed anyone yet ….
I hope so as well, I hope our academy pulls kids in.
Did I just read Nik is off – yeehaaa 🙂
Feather duster, next, AK?? 😉 I shan’t say a thing about helpless men. Both Gazidis and AW have made mention of signings. I hope these signings are darned good ones. Or the wait for silverware shall continue. I’m back in Manila though. 🙁 But I have trips lined up all the way to December, so life isn’t all that bad. 🙂
I think we have a great scouting system. It’s how little we want to pay that is the problem. I’m convinced other clubs just look at who we want to buy, then actually go out and buy those players. Weren’t we endlessly linked to Dzeko before the Citeh bought him? (not that he has set the blue side of Manchester alight, exactly…)
Dinner for me then i’m here to annoy you all evening 🙂
the only one were linked to rico is AK and his mop, reckons he can mop the floor with everyone
All I want is a big statement buy, someone that makes the football world say wow, they are back in the game.
Ha Ha SP…. I’m also a dab hand with that feather duster….. I’ll leave that thought with ya to digest…..lol. The pots are boiling…
the thought of that feather duster has made me want to start digging holes AK
Will i think it will take a few big signings for that to happen
I am not sure a few but one big one. Say Benzema and that would put us back on the map.
a) Ricardo Alvarez, mid-wing Argentinean Sársfield Vélez, is appointed by the Argentine press Sporting targeted for next season.
According to the newspaper Olé, Sporting is one of several clubs that are in the race to the contract of the player. The competition, however, commands respect …
Arsenal , according to the same book, is the front line to rescue the jewel of Velez, and an offer of around 15 million by the middle pass.
Inter Milan, Milan, Rome, Malaga and German clubs are also aware of Ricky Alvarez.
b) I see a little of Zenit – Kuban (1-0 per hile). Kuban entered a player, advanced, Ivory Coast, with 2 meters and 10 … came from Bruges (Belgium)
It seems that Barcalona have sold Bojan Krkic to Roma for £9million.
Does that mean they’re saving up, in order to bid for Cesc?
Will, Benzema would be fantastic, and i was hopefull that AFC might go for him awhile ago. But as the summer has progressed, reality has kicked-in.
Are you still optimistic about a Wenger transfer suprise package Will..?
Intent, that’s what we need/want!!! Come on ffs!!!!!!
ye, Bojan probably goes to Roma
Yeah I am Kev. Just the way Wenger was talking.
When will the Arsenal back to work?
Lee, i know it’s not Wenger’s style, but the whole club could do with a signing like Sol Campbell, not necessarily a c/h, but a player of that calibre, a player that’ll put bums on seats, a player that’ll get kids asking for AFC shirts with his name on it, a player that’ll get the AFC blogs buzzing, a player that’ll show the rest that AFC are back in business as a serious competitor…
And then i woke up…
Will, i love your optimism mate, Wenger talks the talk, will he walk the walk?
JM, Falcao to CFC looks a certainty now, you agree?
I really hope not., but can you imagine a new coach arive in an ambicious club with much money to spend and not indicate one or more players for win titles?
That is the kind of player I am talking about Kev, a ready made Henry or Bergkamp.
JM, Villas-Boas knows the Portugese market best, so he’s certain to have a spend up on players he’s most familiar with.
What’s the betting if he wins the league, he will be called the new special one?
I know Will, and after 6 years of anti-climax that’s what the whole club could do with. We all need a lift, but i just can’t see Wenger suprising us.
All the same i’ll be absolutely delighted to be wrong…
But if he doesn’t win the Champions League he’ll be sacked.
Chelsea are like a banana republic…
Boo, again 😉
Chelsea are a joke but their fans don’t care, they are like Magpies.
We need one big signing and that makes other players sit up and notice.
Hi Rico.
yes he knows portuguese market. However, no boundaries today. Everyone can know football games from every part of the world, read the comments and appreciate the highligts.
I ‘m quite sure he not suport Chelsea when he was a child… even he is descendent from an english grandfather
Hey Rico, how’s the holiday going..? You got a nice tan yet..??
Will, i don’t know what the hell is going on with Samba..?
You know, one day Wenger might just buy someone, without it turning into the Forsyth Saga…
JM, do you reckon that Falcao might have an English Grandfather, from Islington maybe..?
Hi Will
Still no signings then 🙁
Ashley young is in United… he is an Arsenal fan, isn’t he ?
Hi AK, wind burn, just wind burn Played golf this morning, windy and a bit af rain, but the air is wonderful :);)
Hi JM, he is – how could he go to the mancs….
Is not Falcao, is Villas-Boas. His granfather is (or was… ?) English. He were living in Porto.
Young would have been perfect. Him on one side with Nasri on the other and Theo upfront and you are right Kev, we do make a dogs dinner of signings.
“The paternal grandfather of Villas-Boas was English (with the exception of a Portuguese great-grandmother), though born in Lordelo do Ouro (close Porto), whose father’s family was already established in Portugal and whose mother moved from his native Cheadle, Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, for Guimaraes in the early 1900s. As a result, Villas-Boas says “flawless” English
Will you guys please take this in, big signings like benzema is not going to happen you may get a well known centre back maybe even a DM but i cannot see a forward, he may push the boat out of around twenty mill bot it will be a one off
Boo to you Steve, very boo.
Aleksandr Kerzhakov from Zenit anyone? Arshavin’s mate it seems.
Or Moussa Sissoko for £7million……..
And so it goes on, and on and on and on ad infinitum….
Steve – spot on, i have now accepted we will sign a load of unknowns….
Aleksander Kerzhakov was playing today for Zenith. I watch him a little bit.
I think is a completely different player from Arshavin. (Zenit won 1-0)
rico, what can you do for blocking the signs of unknows players?
JM, Nothing, we all know what wenger is like…
ok, I’m agree… 😉
I’m offski again folks……
Catch you tomorrow…….
🙂
Lets face facts, we were in deep shit goalkeeper wise at the end of last season, what does Wenger do signs Leyman in my eyes that showed me that he is not looking to buy big because at the end of the day we still have three suspect goalkeepers and he intends to keep them, Since the window opened two very experienced defenders have been on the market and as far as we know he has not moved for them, i was hoping that he may have done a deal and they were in the bank, but why shouldn’t he announce it. we are in the shit as far as defence and he has not shown any interest, which suggest to me that either he still has no money or he is going to buy cheap. Going to S America as soon as the window opened suggests to me that he was looking for cheapies, as the first thing i would have done in his position was to have brought either of the two defenders on the market not buggered off and allow others to get in before me
I listen a few moments ago, we offer 15 millions to Ricardo Alvarez. We are in the top of the list…
New Post up guys…