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Cassell points to future

THE man who has ushered more English talent into the Premier League than virtually anyone else in the last decade, reckons football should not get hung up on the foreign numbers game.

Instead, City's Academy director Jim Cassell urged British society in general to shepherd its youth more towards sport.

And he pledged that the Blues would be investing more time, money and resources into youngsters from the local area without turning its back on a global market.

The latest bout of hand- wringing from those who believe the England team to be on a permanent downward spiral due to a lack of homegrown talent arrived with the publication of figures this week that showed the talent pool at international level is drying up.

National coach Fabio Capello was even forced to dip into the third tier of the English League to find a goalkeeper in Peter- borough's Joe Lewis.

Statistics produced by Opta, who compile the Premier League rankings, show that of the top 30 performers in the top flight this season only ten are eligible for England with only three of those in the top 17.

Down

Of 532 Premier League players, only 34 per cent are now English, a total down from more than 70 per cent when the league was formed a decade and a half ago.

It is a situation that has prompted FIFA chief Sepp Blatter to propose his `six plus five' rule that will mean no more than five foreign players in any starting line-up from 2012.

He is working with UEFA and the European Union in a bid to make his idea a reality so that `leagues are more equal'.

If Blatter is successful it will mean most clubs drastically altering the way they recruit both senior and Academy players and it would be a move that would not be opposed by the players' union in this country.

The Professional Footballers' Association chief executive, Gordon Taylor, is on record as believing that older, ready-made foreigners are blocking young English players' paths into the Premier League.

One of those youngsters, Blackburn's David Bentley, said he believes that a solution would be to impose quotas at Academy level, too. It is something that City's Cassell doesn't rail against, though he sees a much a bigger picture for football, sport and the nation.

"The world has changed and the game has changed with it," he declared. "I wouldn't necessarily oppose such a quota system but we should not get too hung up about it, or fear competition from abroad. In an ideal world all kids at clubs would come from the local area, but that is now fantasy.

"Freedom of movement, the European Union, the global media explosion and the money in the game all mean that times have changed for ever.

Encourage

"If we want more home- grown kids coming into the game, then we have to make access easier, the coaching better and the competition stronger. It makes me laugh that schools are encouraged to compete in league tables when it comes to the academic abilities of their students and then are encouraged not to have any competitive sport. It's barmy.

"I can promise our fans that we, at City, will increase our local recruitment as much as possible and get involved as much as we possibly can, but we cannot ignore the world stage or we could be left behind."

Cassell speaks from a position of strength having overseen 26 of his Academy students graduate into the top flight.

Last season's City side was peppered with those he and his coaches had nurtured - Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha, Michael Johnson, Stevie Ireland and Daniel Sturridge to name but five. He also oversaw a winning FA Youth Cup side that contained six boys who had been with the club for more than half their young lives.

"It is a conscious decision to try and bring in as many local lads as we can, but only if they are of the correct quality," declared Cassell. "If you looked at our opponents in the cup final, Chelsea, they largely recruited from far and wide.

"When you talk about City's three oldest age groups in the Academy, then you are talking about 66% of the players being British and we feel we have the correct balance in that respect.

"This homegrown-versus- foreign argument is not just peculiar to football; look at both codes of rugby there are loads of Australians, New Zealanders, South Africans and even Argentineans playing at the top level, and I am sure their fans and administrators are having the same debate.

"The fact is that British domestic sport is among the best and most competitive there is, and our Premier League is the dominant domestic competition in the world.

"Sepp Blatter's proposal merits serious consideration and there is no doubt that it would constitute a revolution in the game. I believe we should welcome it in many ways because it would seriously level the playing field. I am sure lots of clubs would feel that way."

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Let's hope that City do stick with certain young talent instead of giving it away...... the goal scored by Ched Evans for Wales last night was pure class!

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Well done Jim! Another one last night: Ched Evans scores for Wales on his full debut.

There has been much talk of a quota system but the big clubs will block it because the current situation suits them. The free movement law could be tackled head on if UEFA had the strength of character to get the right lawyers and fight back. They can apply for an exemption which the law does allow for.

I think David Bentley has a point with his experience at Arsenal. Rather than a quota for senior football perhaps we need to start at the Academy level. And perhaps the "G14" will accept that as a compromise.

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Meanwhile in Portugal, the Portugese FA have confirmed that Chelsea have shown/registered an interest in Big Bird, sorry, Big Phil..... don't recall them advising such things about City..... maybe Frank hasnt approached him after all.

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yes, yes thats all very interesting but any news of a manager?

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why has jim cassell not been knighted for his contribution to society? other so called "stars" get one for far far less

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Jim never a true a word spoken,it certainly would put most clubs on an even keel and i for one would love to see how your chelsea's and arsenel's of this world.sadly it wont happen i can't see it anyway?

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apparantly we are £103 million in debt

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We have some very talented youngsters and it is important that they get their chance. I want to see Danny Sturridge and Ched Evans given a proper chance in our first team rather than having ever more foreign imports blocking their path e.g., IMO Sturridge is a better prospect than Caicedo. Evans scored some fantastic goals last season and deserves a good run in the team - rather than persevering witht helikes of Vassell. We need a new manager who will commit to our youth rather than always looking abroard for talent. I think Bentley has a point about Arsenal; yes they play lovely football to watch but how many British based players do they have? I heard the same from a young chap here in Bristol who had a trial at Arsenal - mainly foreign imports even at junior level (and Arsenal weren't the only club doing this). There should be a limit to the number of foreign players at a club at the junior level. Jim Cassells deserves all the plaudits that he gets - let's not waste the young guys who are coming through.

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Peter- borough's Joe Lewis??? England have the best keeper they have had for years - Joe Hart!! CTID

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I see Blatter wants to limit the number of foreign players, now that English teams are dominating the CL. He didn't seem so bothered when Spanish ans Italian teams were dominating.

Kicker conspiracy lives!

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Last seasons Champions League semi-finals include 4 teams from the Premiership for the first time.Sepp Blatter is trying to introduce a formula to help restore this money driven situation back some kind of normality where all teams have a reasonable chance of winning.Not content with creaming of Europe's top talent by offering wages that they can only dream about in their own domestic leagues,Premiership teams are now cherry picking off the best youngsters from Europe. Boys spotted playing in other clubs Youth teams are being induced by Premiership teams to move to England with their families. It is no wonder that Blatter is attempting to rectify this situation, clubs should in theory be able to compete on a level playing field but when certain clubs have massive buying power where money is no object,what chance does a club that is trying to work within a proper finacial structure really have.FIFA need to introduce legislation that imposes maximum levels of debt that clubs may be permitted to incur with a limited amount of flexibility to allow clubs to update their facilities. An ordinary working man has to pay more to watch football in this country than virtually anywhere else in Europe.If soccer is allowed to continue without introducing more control we will soon be paying £40 to watch our teams play. years.

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James Robson (mu muppet) states that United's profits significantly outstrip Ours but why he is pointing that out I can only assume its another MUEN dig at MCFC sadly our PR people and management (excet Thaksin) are just allowing United,their fans and the PR men to stamp all over us. However this obscene and unethical dominance MUFC are enjoying doesn't take away the fact that MCFC have the best Youth academy in the country if not in Europe,this years FA YOUTH CUP WIN compounded that FACT! Jim Cassell has buit an institution in my opinion where young players are coming off an assembly line as fast as cars at Vauxall motors,I coud have said ROLLS ROYCE because the quality is so good and full of great potential -thanks to Jim and his staff -THE FUTURE IS BLUE whilst United's youth set up is faltering HENCE not many coming through at all!!!!!

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TS can forget about Scolari:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_3623856,00.html

It's the Portuguese Football Federation itself that has issued the statement that Chelsea are interested in Scolari. It remains to be seen if he will be their first choice, but if asked, who do you think Scolari will jump to, Chelsea or Man City?

Remember, no such statement has been made by the PFF about City's approaches to Scolari, which means that either Scolari has been contacted behind PFF:s back or that simply City is too irrelevant for them and Scolari.

TS a "shrewd businessman" my *ss.

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We were 103 mill in debt at the end of the 2007-07 season ,but debt free now .What did someone say the other week on here, "keep Sven and get rid of Dr T ?.... idont think so.

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Total waste of space again MuEN.!!
The EU stated yesterday that in NO circumstances did Blatters idea have a hope in hell. And issued an immediate red card to him.

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Thaksins dogged persuit of Ronaldinhio and his shirt selling potential is a slap in the face of Super Jim, the Accadamy and it's young starlets. Just proving that Mcfc to him is a Profit Making investment and not a love for the game.
The thinking behind it will see all our better home grown talent plying their trade elswhere

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Anyone watch that garbage last night ?,could not help thinking we are still seeing the effects of Sven’s reign as England manager,18 substitutes on the bench, under Sven it was not uncommon to use 11 during friendlies prompting a FIFA directive.

No wonder the national team has trouble qualifying for tournaments if these games are not taken seriously, I mean if all these matches have no relevance and are not even used to get 11 players to play as a team, then how are they supposed to take the real games seriously ?, it is very sad but watching England in a friendly is painful

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Jim Cassell talks so much sense. also his contribution in the youth set up has been phenomenal, I wish he could be used in some form in the first team set up it would benefit the players greatly, Liverpool once had a lot of coaching staff coming through the ranks ironically during there most successful period. Seriously I think the first team could benefit from him in some capacity even if it is just training because his lads look a lot fitter than our first team.

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Lee Bradbury: Of course the way England plays is Eriksson's fault. So is the global warming, the war in Iraq, the soaring food prices and that England failed in the Eurovision Song Contest.

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Lee, your dislike of Sven is now bordering on the obsessive. What on earth did Sven have to do with Capello's substitutes last night. Do you honestly think Capello would have thought 'this is what Sven would have done.' I think your dislike of him is now getting a little unhealthy. In your head he's a fifth column intent on destroying English football and, who knows, beyond. Sven to blame for the credit crunch? Sven to blame for rising youth crime? Sven to blame for the fact that English tennis players are still not breaking through at the top level? Come on, come clean. Are you a wind-up merchant? Or do you really believe in the sh1te you write? Or are you Sven? You've got me at it now.

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If Sven is to be sacked then I am afraid that we are going to have to wait until Chelsea appoint their new manager(see todays link with Scolari) and wait for the scraps left under the table.

Also impressed with Ched Evans goal last night, looked a confident striker. Lets hope he gets a chance in the first team

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Looks like another day of not-news news. Enjoyed the jokes yesterday but mine was not put on. Cannot for one minute think why! How about 'songs that make you think of City' today? I have just listened to 'Ever had it blue?' by the Style Council in the car. The answer is 'YES!'

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MUEN, where is the story on City being a debt-free club? Now that's a priceless story.

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Unfortunately there is a big difference in the training of youth and seniors.

What JC does with the academy level players,both training and coaching is worlds apart in terms of skill,tactical and physical fitness.

The scum tried it about 3/4 seasons ago when they appointed John Ryan as assistant manager/first team coach and the players were complaining about their dip in form and it ended up with Roy Kean running most of the training sessions and the return of Carlos Queros.

Whilst JC is a very knowledgeable man in football terms i think he is very happy running what is acknowledged as the finest academies in the world.

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Personally I would far rather have Rijkaard than Scolari. He would be available earlier and is a better coach at club level anyway. Remember we have a UEFA cup match in mid July and we really need a coach who can engage with improving the squad asap. Scolari would no doubt want a holiday after the Euros which wouldn't leave a helluva a lot of time to get the team playing how he wants before the UEFA Cup match.

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