successful. When the big 4 can spend 3 or 4 times as much on squad wages as a a midtable team and have more players out on loan than a mid table team has in total it is hardly a level playing field. FFP was never designed to level the playing field it was designed to stop smaller clubs overreaching themselves. To know their place so to speak.
This piece was originally written last summer, partly in response to Greg Dykes Vision. So forgive any examples that may have changed. When this was written Chelsea had 26 players out on loan. That is 26 players they are stockpiling so that others cannot have them. If they were available on the open market then Player values would become more affordable. I’m not against the loan system, but that is ridiculous. I’m also not in favour of Salary caps or preventing very rich people spending their money in any way they see fit. So what would I suggest?
Firstly I am going to look at how the playing staff are structured at a club. The clubs have to name a 25 man playing staff for each competition, but can have other players on their books. I think that this should be tightened up. I suggest that clubs have 3 “squads”. I think that 2 “squads” Senior and academy would be ideal, but I think a third “Development” squad might be more more practical. Although in the context of this article I think practical is not necessarily an appropriate word.
The senior squad of 25 players is to include all players aged 23 and over who are on the books of that club. That includes all players whom that club have out on loan, e.g. Karl Darlow would be included as one of our 25 senior players Last Season. However, some players 23 or over may be named in the “Development” Squad. There would then be a “Development Squad” which would be a mixed age group. The problem with the B team approach is that with all the players being young there are no senior pros to help out from whom the youngsters can learn. I am therefore reluctant to say there must be so many players under 23 or no more than a few older players, I think that
is for the clubs to decide for themselves. Getting senior pro’s to accept that they are only development squad players will limit the number anyway. Eg Obertan. However, again the Squad should be limited to 25 players and that should include any players out on loan to other clubs.
I think that there are four key factors about the development squad. The first is that clubs should be obliged to promote two younger players from the development squad to the senior squad each year. Given a career expectancy of 10 years for a player then logically 20 of the 25-man senior squad would have come through the development squad. Also these 2 players cannot be transferred out of the club for at least 18 months from their promotion. This ensures they have a chance to establish themselves. The second key is that players being transferred into the
club cannot be named in the development squad. If a club brings a player in they are either senior squad players or covered by the academy system. Bringing in players to the development squad other than through the academy would stifle development of the academy system. The third key is that the Development Squad should provide flexibility.
Development squad players should be allowed to play Senior matches for a limited number of games so that they can cover for injuries etc. Also senior players should be allowed to play for the development squad for a limited number of games when returning from injury etc. Given that the squad can be 25 players and has this flexibility there will still be scope for a few players to be loaned out to other clubs for development at lower levels. The fourth key and by far the most difficult to put into place is a competitive structure for these squads to develop.
Before I outline my proposals for this I wish to address the Academy structure and there are a few other points I wish to address.
The Academy system is for players up to the age of 21 and is designed as a progression from schoolboy football into the professional game. The Academy should be the source of the development squad. The fact that clubs cannot buy players and stick them strait into the Development squad should guarantee that. The only issue with the current system that needs addressing is that their needs to be an emphasis on local talent. At the moment there is a culture at the top of buying the best youth players from all over the world and then loaning them out to clubs in
the lower leagues to develop. Whilst this is not necessarily a problem when it applies to a couple of players, it becomes a problem when it is the norm. This, however, can be addressed by the loan system and by instigating a couple of simple rules such as ensuring that players cannot be loaned out until at least 18 months (3 transfer windows) after they have been bought into the club, and that the length of loans is strictly controlled and limited.
The other points I wish to make are that this is not for everybody. Certainly it should apply to all Premier league clubs, and also for those Championship clubs who still believe that their rightful place is in the Premier league. However, for the Football league clubs it should be optional. This leads me to my proposed competitive structure for the development squads. I am assuming that there are 28 teams in this structure although there is flexibility for more. This is the 20 premier league teams the 6 being promoted or relegated and a couple more for those who wish to opt in. These would play in 4 leagues. These would be drawn world cup style each year to ensure that they do not become stale which it might do if it were regional and all the London clubs just played each other. This
would provide 12 games per season with the top 2 going into a knockout tournament for a cup. I would also suggest that as many clubs on the continent have B teams, a European competition might well be an option.
Another idea is that these development squads should be used to raise the profile of the clubs and the EPL world wide by playing in tournaments worldwide. Maybe 8 team tournaments played wherever the clubs or the EPL needs a boost. Alternatively wherever Ashley plans to open a new store. Finally I would suggest that for the 20 Premier league teams they should be obliged to play their development squads the League cup. These measures should mean that there is adequate competitive competition for developing players especially when combined with the loan system.
My thoughts on the loan system have already been touched upon. However, to expand them fully they are. Players who are 23 or over are part of the clubs own squads even if out on loan. The idea that clubs can gain a competitive advantage by loaning players from top clubs whom they could not afford to buy or pay their wages is not fair on the clubs around them. So the loaning of senior pros is obviously restricted in these proposals. Not stopped, for it is appropriate in some circumstances. However, loaned players should not be able to play in any competition that the parent club has entered. So premiership clubs who loan out players would not do so to other premiership clubs. Nor would they be able to play in the FA cup. They would be able to play in the league cup because the development squads are playing in that competition. If they are playing in Europe then they would not be able to play in the
Champions league or Europa League whichever was appropriate. That stops the “can they play against their parent club” question outright. They can’t play against their rivals either.
The purpose of the loan system is to give young players experience of playing competitive games at a level appropriate to their development. So loaning a player aged under 23 to a Football League team is still beneficial to both teams provided there are adequate constraints. The restraint of not being able to loan out a player you have just bought is one of these. Whilst there is no problems buying a player in January and loaning them back to that club for the rest of the season, they should be based at the parent club for at least 18 months to become integrated into the culture of that club. Also loans should be restricted to a maximum of half a season and the loaning club should be making a significant contribution to the wages.
There’s a lot of detail in there so to summarise. The idea is to level the playing field slightly. Rather than trying to restrict spending via salary caps for squads or individuals. The idea is to restrict the number of players at the clubs disposal. Therefore ideally there should be the first team squad and the academy. But given the number of games and competitions this isn’t practical unless we recreated the reserves/B team. However that needs to be done in a competitive way, hence the ideas above. Please remember that they are only ideas, and the chances of them being adopted are negligible.
Premandup
Well I know absolutely nowt about that Najar lad from Anderlecht, but I’ve done a bit of Utube scouting there and he looks very decent. An out n out right winger perfect for what we need.
All that said, I’m certain it just a rumour and we won’t actual be in for him – but that’s what we need IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I think we are all assuming we will be playing the Southampton that beat us 4-0 away and not the one that were very lucky to win 2-1 at SJP – remember the obvious hand ball at the end that denied us a penalty?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I know we have to consider our opponents, but under Pardew & Carver I think we used to focus too much on them and tried to combat their strengthens instead of focusing on our own. Of course we have to be cautious of Saints & Saido Mane in particular – but I hope to see us focus more on our offensive play rather than trying to contain this season
Sharpy17(Quote)
fingers crossed Sharpy
attack attack attack
attack is where its at. (Phil Lynott)
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Boots – it’s not like we have a defence to rely on. We may as well take the ‘vindaloo’ approach …. we’re gonna score one more than you!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
trouble is we cant score for toffee either. 😕
Doh!
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Boots – pre season has just been a smoke screen man mate. A bit of a rope a dope type approach. Just wait til the season kicks off … God I’m nearly convincing myself here like 😆
Sharpy17(Quote)
We have to attack. We can’t defend and we are just a **** up away from conceding which is always round the corner.
Stuart79(Quote)
I’m starting to feel that buzz a new season brings. It’s one of my favourite times of the year, irrespective of whether I feel confident or not about Newcastle’s prospects. I love the way the drama unfolds on the first weekend, and every weekend thereafter, actually.
My hope for the season, as it is every season, is that everything will fall into place and we’ll barnstorm our way to an unlikely championship. I’d settle for a good top half finish. I expect lower.
More than anything, though, it’ll be the highs and lows that will define the season for me – the unexpected wins, the headshakingly bad defeats; the stunning results, the deflating performances; the personal triumphs, the individual nightmares. Football is the best drama on television, it beats any reality show hands down and is a natural documentary being made as you watch in real time. Wonderful entertainment.
I’m quite happy with our new signings, but would be happier if another centre back had been signed, and a couple more, actually, but let’s not be greedy.
As for starters: Probably Cisse and De Jong forward, Sissoko and Wheyayeman fetchin’ an’ carryin’, Colback and Anita further back. No doubt Taylor and Williamson will partner in defence, with Janmaat and Haidara as full backs.
I expect Mitrovic and Mbemba to start from the bench so they can get used to the crowd and get a boost from them when they make an appearance – unless we’re losing 7 nowt.
Bring it on.
Howay the lads.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Good post Bris. I agree with every word. Looking forward to a 10am trip to the pub on Saturday for breakfast and beers with my mates and then an early riser on Sunday to watch the boys.
Brutal early schedule for us but I hope we can nick a few points to keep the mood from turning sour. I think we’ll be fine once we get past the first few matches when the new lads are bedded and Cabella, Dummett, Marv, Collo, Tiote are fit
MDS(Quote)
Bring it on!!
An unlikely CL spot, I’ll settle for Top 8.
I “expect” nothing less!!! 😆
Lionel Speed(Quote)
🙄 Ahh look at the romantic fools…. all dressed up to the nines and nervously awaiting their dates to arrive… it’s only when the flowers start to wilt that all the bitter sweet feeling of the promises to come, disappear and the reality of cold lonely nights at home in front of the tv hits home! 😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Football is one long honeymoon, the caress of nubile flesh, an eternal orgasm.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Cold shower Bris, cold shower
Premandup(Quote)
😆
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie@87…The voice of experience there 😆
Bris 😯 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Bloody hell, some of you have hit the crack pipe early today 😆 I can’t see anything other than a defeat for first few games, though I hope, as ever for more. Was actually feeling very upbeat when we got the 3 lads in but that burst of joy has subsided like a house with dodgy foundations with it looking ever increasingly like that’s our lot.
Cannot understand for the life of me how they can let us go into the new season with effectively the same back line. What happens if Mbemba or Colo gets injured? and don’t forget Saylor is made of glass so we CANNOT rely on him either. As for Willo, deary me, and who is going to supply Mitro man with the ammo he needs?, job half done. Let’s hope Steve is Harry Potter in disguise .
kimtoon(Quote)
From a Football365 article pointing to 10 new players they want to watch:
“Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle United)
I think that Georginio Wijnaldum (or Geordie Wine Gum, as he’s been christened) could be one of the signings of the summer, but there is a special place in all of our hearts for a striker who has a reputation for being absolutely bats**t mental.
Mitrovic has scored 36 goals in 69 league games for Anderlecht since moving from Partizan Belgrade in 2013, and scored against both Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last season. That’s the boring bits out of the way.
In May 2014 he head-butted Club Brugge defender Bjorn Engels, after being sent off for allegedly spitting at fans who were insulting him in the reverse fixture. A year earlier he was sent off for violent conduct after striking Neftchi Baku’s goalkeeper in the Europa League. He put on weight over summer 2014 after eating too much of his mother’s cooking, and celebrates goals by flicking his tongue between his middle and index finger. You wouldn’t take him home to meet your mother, but you might do if you knew she was out.
It could go brilliantly or it could be a disaster, but it will always be worth watching. Mitrovic has spoken about following in the footsteps of Alan Shearer at St James’ Park. Combine Faustino Asprilla and Temuri Ketsbaia for more likely (and exciting) expectations.”
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy@76, I read yesterday that the club had said there’s no interest in that Najar lad. Think it’s a hopeful agent trying his luck having seen the other two secure the PL dream.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, yep, gonna be interesting watching Mitro man.
Need to sing
Mitro Mitro man ( to Sinita’s macho macho man tune) when ever he scores.
kimtoon(Quote)
So the Daily Mirror are paying £250,000 to NUFC to ‘sponsor’ the academy in return for Sports Direct to increase their adverts in the paper and Mirror get exclusive access to NUFC leading figures…
Stuart79(Quote)
it’s all about his baby Stu. The Mirror should of told him to naff off.
kimtoon(Quote)
Richie 😆 not me, happened to a friend of mine 😎
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Why Kimtoon?
Lionel Speed(Quote)
I hope we keep Cabella. I think there’s something there. He just needs to toughen up and he should be better this season having had a year to adjust.
Stuart79(Quote)
Agreed, Stu.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
We signed a defender yet.
Ime starting to wonder why no PL club have signed Austin yet,yes he’s only got a year left on his contract,yes he’s 27 next month,yes there is the medical side but if his goals help to keep you in PL and 70/80 mil better off he’s worth a punt for some side imo
icedog(Quote)
We really must have a poor defence. Apparently Rivière has scored in training… 😯
Stuart79(Quote)
No one has signed Austin because QPR are looking for a pay day with the 15m fee! I’m glad teams are staying away..silly money for a player in the last year of his contact… maybe common sense is being applied for once.. some team will get him for 9 to 10m in a week or twos time!
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Thirty thousand turn up to watch toon train today
icedog(Quote)
Sorry 13.000 still canny like
icedog(Quote)
Stuart…It’s not the defence that stops Riv scoring, it’s the fact he’s rarely hit the target that does 😉
hope ya don’t exaggerate like that with the women 😆
Aussie…I’ll believe you… 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Lionel@99 Why ? Well, because it’s unhealthy to just have one paper hold the monopoly on player contact and they are also paying him as well as carrying more SD adverts. How will the club ever foster a good relationship with the press as a whole, believe it or not it can help a club to have a good relationship with all the press. What about the local rags as well, the fans always had a link to the club through them in the past. No, sorry, for me it’s not right but of course others won’t be bothered by it and that’s their choice.
kimtoon(Quote)
Ice@102, Still waiting for those signings that will excite the fans that Steve mentioned AFTER we signed the 3 lads.
kimtoon(Quote)
The problem I have with exclusive access is that we’ll be forever wondering if it’s true what’s being written. The club will only allow what they want to come out and be reported. Surely we want to know what’s actually happening at the club, not just what the club want us to hear or think?
Anyway, Schtevie is on Radio NCL tonight so that should be an interested listen. Doubt we will get anything out of him in regards to transfers but would like to ask him if he’s happy with our defence…
Stuart79(Quote)
KIM you and me both mate,all this talk of strikers is doing my heed in when we all know what we want
icedog(Quote)
Kimtoon and Stu, they are of course all fair points, i would just be interested to see the details and how exclusive and comprehensive the Mirror’s access is. Many in house media outlets have exclusive access to players and stories etc, to get people to pay to access that info., there are still stories in the press about those clubs players and policies.
I certainly agree in getting all general stories out there through the general media, just depends how restrictive it will be for other media outlets. Old Ed has every story about NUFC there is out there, doesn’t mean they are true or valuable. If the Mirror has stories first, I would probably use their site more, good for them and good for Ashley’s SD sponsorship, but i would still expect there to be other news about NUFC around.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
Lionel, it was the Mirror that said Austin was a done deal after their exclusive with Mac after his unveiling. Now were they told that off the record or what? They look a little foolish now when weeks later Steve has said on SSN that there is no contact over Austin. If they are going to be told duff info then what’s the point and if they weren’t given that info then the club should of said sooner that there’s no interest. Of course at that time season tickets were slow to be renewed so maybe that had something to do with the fact it wasn’t denied back then.
kimtoon(Quote)
Stu what time is he on?, I will try and listen in if I can.
kimtoon(Quote)
By the way happy birthday TOONSY have a good
icedog(Quote)
I can’t even read the article at the Telegraph about this issue, it is stuck behind a paywall. The question is will Newcastle fans get exclusive access to the Mirror articles, and how do we go about proving we are fans!!??
Your example is a good one, Kimtoon, if they are going to get exclusives/ or supposed exclusives then so be it, it is just an upfront payment rather than back hander bribes. The fact is i have just added the Mirror bookmark to my index, so it is working for them, however that works for them with me just reading their articles for free. If the Mirror has said Keegan had lied and Ashlet et al hadn’t, i wouldn’t have believed it i would have cast around for other views and evidence.
The end of the day, our team is going to play football matches soon and some will be lucky enough to be there to watch them, the rest will find some media outlet to read about how we are playing and developing. If we want to find a place to read about Ashley being a nasty man i am sure we’ll find one, and then we can go to the Mirror to lift our spirits again.
It is all business. Bollocks to it, extra 250,000, take it, and then get on with the football season, 22 blokes on a football pitch, and hopefully 55,000 in the stands.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
On at 5:30 Kim.
Lionel, If The Mirror are paying £250,000 it’s a fair bet they will want excellent access and better than anybody who isn’t paying for it.
I see Sunderland are about to sign Leroy Fer. Everybody is strengthening. Wonder how much we will have improved in real terms when we take everyone else’s improvements into account?
Stuart79(Quote)
Indeed, Stu, that is why i have just added their bookmark – I’d never read the Mirror before at all. Actually makes it easier, not much news on us there, though. Maybe they were waiting to finalize that media deal before signing our last 5 players, so the Mirror can get their monies worth.
Lionel Speed(Quote)
what does everyone think about the new keepers coach ? i would of liked too have seen Pavel back at the club , but this lad was here under SirBobby and at that time we had good keepers so he must know a thing or 2 About training the keepers too a good standard
Axel(Quote)
Kim/Stu it’s on at 6pm. 6-7pm Radio Newcastle.
georgio(Quote)
So 5.30 or 6-7pm, who’s right?#confused 😀
kimtoon(Quote)
Axel@119, If he was good enough for Sir Bobby, I’m happy enough.
kimtoon(Quote)
Lionel, The Mirror is my daily paper, I have found them one of the more accurate sports pages/rumours but the Austin thing they got horribly wrong.
kimtoon(Quote)
15,000 Turn up for a training session open day 😯 can’t see many teams topping that for fanatical support
kimtoon(Quote)
Carver was good enough for Sir Bobby too…. Together Simon Smith works with England and is top notch so he gets my vote.
Shamrock(Quote)
Sham, Don’t mention Carver, you’ll set Eric off 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Total Sport is on at 5:30pm, so tune in then and you won’t miss anything!
Stuart79(Quote)
Stu, cheers
kimtoon(Quote)
14mil for Dzeko is good value. Roma have got themselves a good player.
Shamrock(Quote)
“We’ve done our business.” Says Steve!
Stuart79(Quote)
Excellent article Premand. I haven’t much to add to it as it is comprehensive. Corruption tends to creep in as the amount of money available increases. The Prem is now a direct threat to every other league, particularly in Europe because of the incredible TV deal. If anything, the number of English players who will be in any first 11 will continue to shrink. Eventually the current system will not be attractive to anything but the top 5 or 6 teams and it will be difficult to sell the Prem as a competitive league. But I think we’re still several years away from that. New rules need to come in to avoid corruption like what we’ve seen with FIFA.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Has anyone been to Carver’s spa yet? Have a mud pack and your toenails clipped for 250 pounds? Sounds wonderful.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Stu, was an interesting listen, he didn’t actually rule out more in though. Still, no more mention of those exciting signings he mentioned before. Colo to stay captain too, I thought that would be the case.
kimtoon(Quote)
he dozy twonk names collo as his leader, he just lost me sticking a headless chicken in charge that aint a leader by a country mile
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
same old same old
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
ne wonder the press named him the wally with the brolly
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
He also admitted it will be very difficult to get top 8 with the squad. Fair enough I reckon. He was certainly open and honest. Fair play.
Stuart79(Quote)
This media partner thing seems to set up animosity in the rest of the press. Luke Edwards can barely contain his contempt and The Guardian pre-season write-up had a paragraph about the restrictions (although Louise Taylor hardly needs anything to set her off).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
On the other hand, don’t most of the press just copy what their competition says and call it an exclusive? In today’s world where information is disseminated so quickly the other hacks will be on it immediately. The main problem is that NUFC can control what is put out more easily when there are fewer to question what they say.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
we might of signed 2 goalscorers but that aint ganna make up the difference on the goals that same old defense is ganna leak, we 2 players short of what we needed so its ganna be, the same old story as last season simple as that
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
If McClaren is on a Radio Newcastle phone-in what exactly are the preferred media partners getting for their money?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Don’t BBC Radio Newcastle have radio broadcast rights for NUFC games? More murky waters? But, what cannot be denied is that NUFC have pissed off some of the reporters at a few broadsheets and they will have their knives out.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
media partners whats the big deal there story still hits the internet so we still get the news the same way except the club get extra dosh so weres the big deal at
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
whats more important to me is we aint got a defense that can stand up now that is a big deal for me
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
http://blog.foxsoccer.com/post/125861331942/ronaldo-tricks-people-on-street-disguised-as class lmao
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE – I saw that Ronaldo thing on SSN site. It’s class isn’t it!. That young kid will never forget that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Our eyes weren’t deceiving us, ESPN say Krul was one of the worst ‘keepers last year:
http://www.espnfc.co.uk/barclays-premier-league/23/blog/post/2547865/tim-howard-worst-of-premier-league-keepers-joe-hart-in-best?
The Sunderland giraffe was the best according to ESPN criteria.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric. That was shot stopping. Doesn’t take distribution into account.
Premandup(Quote)
Krul had a bad season last season (who didn’t). But he’s a better keeper than that. He’s not the best keeper in the league, but he’s certainly not the worst either.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see all the paper talk today has been linking us with Jesse Lingard again.
Sharpy17(Quote)