The FA Premier League are set to meet in the coming months to discuss a new rule – which should it be accepted – would mean that Clubs must include at least two Academy graduates on the substitutes bench for each game.
Many believed the new substitutes rule, which now allows seven players to be named instead of five, would benefit youngsters anyway, indeed Arsenal have already used a handful of Reserves so far, but the governing body want more to be done.
FIFA and UEFA are committed to helping the progression of home grown young talent in a world which is now dominated by money, and they will no doubt be delighted after the a spokesman confirmed yesterday the plans to look at this new rule.
“This is something that has been discussed in the past and may be looked at again, but there is no fixed timetable as yet,”
Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs have both been on the bench for the Gunners already this season, and with record numbers of scholars turning professionals at Arsenal in the last years, the initiative will tend to focus on some of the other Club’s in the top four.
Liverpool Reserves coach Gary Ablett has admitted his frustration at many of his youngsters being dumped back in the second string after excellent pre-seasons, the ruling would also effect 13 other teams who currently fall short of the specifications.
It would mean that Arsène Wenger could select his usual 5-man-bench that he has throughout his rein, but would not have the luxury of another two options of his choice which he has had so far this term, instead having to select graduates.
Article By – J.Sanderson
i think wilshere, lansbury, gibbs and randall would be pushing for the bench anyway as well as possibly hoyte and simpson
The problem with the rule is; a team could have 4 of their academy products in the 1st XI, but because they havent also got 2 on the bench they would be breaking FA rules. This needs to be addressed before they can bring this rule in. Something like a total of 3 or 4 in the match day squad (which includes the first XI and the subs) would make more sense.
Would the acadamy graduates include Cesc, Bendtner, Clichy, Djourou etc??
This wont affect us as Arsene regularly has two Arsenal acedemy such as Wilshere and Ramsey.
on the bench
I doubt Ramsey would count as an Academy player. Would need to be at the club three years to qualify.
Well thought out P-Y, personally I think the rule is a good idea, but as you mentioned all the ins and outs need to be considered.
might not be as good an idea as they’d imagine. The academy boys might not even be used at all, they’ll just end up being selected for the sake of selection.
Wilshere will make the bench most games and if he starts, I’m sure Randall and Gibbs can be on the bench. I’m not too worried, I see it as a chance to give the younger players more experience and if a game is won, Wenger has shown he’ll given them a chance.
It won’t come into affect until next season either, if it does get passed.
hey j. took the friendly goals out, because there aren’t so important.
Great rule, really. At least, the academy players would be more thought of and may gradually get chances….
i think the rules 2 or 3 seasons too soon for arsenal. if fa implement the rules after world cup 2010 then the likes of wilshere, gibbs, randall, hoyte and landsbury might ready to play more regularly.
I am against any rules like this. First of all, why do they have to be on the bench? Secondly, how will it benefit anybody to be on the bench just so the team isn’t breaking any rules? Can you see Chelsea having two academy products on the bench and then just the 5 man regular bench. Those two academy guys would never, ever be played. They would just be sitting there while Joe Cole and Michael Ballack get put on, it wouldn’t change a thing.
Btw. Do you have any idea how they will define the term academy graduate? There must be some years before some age. I’m guessing at least 3 years before the age of 18 (that’s when players come out of the academy age). Players are not born at the club so at some age they must join. Wilshere joined when he was 9, some do when they are 12, Freeman joined at 15, for example. So there must be a definition of who counts.
I remember France had same type of rule it didn’t work, much less they eventually scrap it.
I agree with stone great point m8
Lansbury, G.Hoyte, Jay Simpson, Wilshere, Randall, Gibbs and so on. We have a lot of “bench-material” :)
I hate positive discrimination of any kind, it’s patronising to all concerned. What has to be checked is that the mechanism is in place to enable academy players to have a fair chance and at Arsenal it is. Therefore the enforcement of the rule is unnecessary. FIFE/UEFA only have to make sure that all clubs are giving their academy players the chance to get in to their respective 1st teams.
P-Y made a good point and they should address that (but lets face it they wont an it’ll turn into a joke, with some poor side getting docked 5 points and relegated because they fielded one and put one on the bench). Personally i like the idea of having two academy graduates in a match day side, wouldent be too much trouble for us and i think most sides in the league would infact benefit from it. I meen Derby have this kid called Robertson who soem of you might remember of being man of the match against our reserves last season even though we thrashed them 5-1. Looked an awesome player so i neva understood why they didnt/havent given him a first team chance considering how shyte they were and to an extent still are doing.
Dan Gosling might finally get his Everton debut aswell for that matter, their wasting him atm and hes class.