Royalee's Premier League Team Of The Decade

Season's greetings to everyone, I hope you all had a very merry Christmas and have something suitably fun to do this evening. Seeing as we've come to the end of the decade and this has brought about some nostalgia with regards to football, for a bit of fun I've decided to copy Andy Gray and have a crack at naming from Premiership Team Of The Decade.

I've gone for a 4-4-2 formation as I feel it gives me the most freedom in terms of who I can pick, let me know what you think and leave a comment with your own teams if you'd like...

Goalkeeper: SHAY GIVEN - This was a hard one for me as Gray picked Friedel and he's been very consistent over the years. However, I think it's slightly easier to look good as a 'keeper in teams like Blackburn where you have lots of shots to save and he lost his place at Liverpool. By the same token, Cech and Van Der Sar have played at top clubs and won trophies, but since the Hunt incident I don't think Cech's been the same and he gets away with a lot because of his size and Van Der Sar isn't what he once was in my opinion - he's made errors in big games and has benefited from playing behind a super defence. Pepe Reina deserves a mention, but I decided to give it to Shay Given in the end - at the start of the decade Newcastle were challenging for a Champions League spot under the late Sir Bobby Robson and Given shone then, as he also did last season when they struggled and then at Manchester City. I feel that he has the all round package as a goalkeeper as his decision-making is usually very good, he's as athletic a goalkeeper as I've ever seen with great reactions who is confident in taking cross and has good distribution.

Left Back: PATRICE EVRA - I think Evra shades this over Ashley Cole as I think he's been more consistent and is better defensively. There is no doubting Cole's attacking attributes and pace, but I feel Evra has these to match and in addition has improved decision-making with more mental strength. Time and time again I've seen Cole make silly errors like his part in the Michael Essien own goal against Reading which seriously dented Chelsea's title hopes on Boxing Day 2006, his reckless tackle on Alan Hutton in a 4-4 draw at White Hart Lane (he wasn't sent off for this, but he should have been and it again showed his inability to keep his cool) and his part in England's defeat against the Ukraine in our only defeat in qualification in October. Evra came to United at a time where Mourinho was cementing Chelsea's dominance at the summit of English football and has been a revelation, winning 3 Premier League titles and looking for another this time around.

Centre Back: JOHN TERRY - A product of Chelsea's academy system and the rock upon which they have built their success in the Abramovich era. At a time where the game has changed so much in terms of the technical aspect and the influx of a continental style from the arrival of foreigners, Terry remains a no nonsense stereotypical English centre-half. However, at a time in which these players out being phased out of the game at the top level, Terry remains very effective and uses a combination of strength, anticipation and timing to form one of the best central defensive partnerships in world football with Ricardo Carvalho. Terry has captained his side to 2 Premiership titles in addition to a host of other silverware and for this, he was one of the first names in my side.

Centre Back: RIO FERDINAND - Although I think that in more recent years, his partner in crime Nemanja Vidic has been the better of the two in terms of individual performance, Ferdinand has performed at the top of his profession for the entirety of the last decade. He is renowned as a footballing centre back and I struggle to disagree with Andy Gray's selection here. Ferdinand has the whole package really - a steady composure, excellent technique and skill on the ball combined with the raw physical attributes required to succeed. The transfer fees he has commanded at Leeds and Man United just go to show how highly-rated the former West Ham player is by his coaches former and present.

Right Back: GARY NEVILLE - For me this was the weakest position I had to choose from as there haven't really been any alternatives to Neville with longevity at the top level in this area. Yes it could be argued that the likes of Micah Richards and Bakary Sagna are the future, but they haven't really done it on the big stage for a sustained period of time and won honours. In spite of his recent injury problems, Neville has been around for the entire decade and winning trophies for pretty much the whole time as club captain of Manchester United. For these reasons, I really don't see any alternative to the former England right back.

Left Wing: THIERRY HENRY - Ryan Giggs has picked up pretty much every award possible in the last 12 months or so, but I can't help feeling that this is partially out of guilt that he was not presented with such awards during the 90's, during which he was arguably at his peak. Henry on the other hand is capable of playing anywhere across the attack and has really stood out as the best at what he does in the noughties. Blistering pace, exquisite skill, plenty of goals in him and one of the very best players to ever play in this country make him a must-have.

Central Midfield: PATRICK VIEIRA - Another member of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' which went the season unbeaten on their way to lifting the league crown in 2003/4. Big, strong, uncompromising, yet amazingly comfortable on the ball with an eye for goal in addition to his defensive attributes, the Gunners have had a gaping hole in their team ever since he left for Italy. I think this underlines his quality and based on the impact he's had on football over here and the void he seems to have left, he edges it over Roy Keane, who I thought was better in the previous decade like Giggs.

Central Midfield: FRANK LAMPARD - Just edged it over Gerrard for me due to his consistency and trophy collection over the decade. He scores a ridiculous amount of goals for a midfielder, is ever-reliable just like his England central midfield partner, has superb vision and anticipation and always manages to time his runs to perfection. Vieira's physicality combined with Lampard's attacking attributes would provide the perfect balance in my opinion and I don't think there are many who would relish the prospect of lining up against them on a Saturday afternoon!

Right Wing: CRISTIANO RONALDO - Former World Player of the Year, drove Manchester United towards European glory and 3 back-to-back Premiership titles...and all this coming straight after the infamous 'winker' incident at the 2006 World Cup with team-mate Wayne Rooney, who he would form a devastating attacking partnership with. Not the most likeable of players at times, but there's no doubting his brilliance - another of the first names on the teamsheet.

STRIKER: ALAN SHEARER - Broke Jackie Milburn's Newcastle goalscoring record this decade and was one of the best target men I've ever seen along with Drogba. Single-handedly carried Newcastle at times and was a big miss when he retired from international football after Euro 2000. I don't rate his managerial skills, but I couldn't fail to pick the Premier League's record goalscorer. Totally unplayable on his day.

STRIKER: WAYNE ROONEY - Ever since he burst onto the scene that day at Goodison Park where he unleashed a wicked curling shot over David Seaman to send the Everton faithful crazy, he was destined for greatness. It's incredible to think that he's only 24 years old yet he's achieved so much since he emerged onto the scene in 2003. Andy Gray picked Gianfranco Zola, but again I think that Zola was coming to the end of his best days at the start of the noughties whereas Rooney has swept all before him, which makes him my final pick.

Premier League Home Grown Player/Squad Size Ruling 2010/11

Proposals

Last month the FA Premier League announced that it was to introduce a new home grown player and squad size ruling, to be brought in for the start of next season (2010/11). The league's Chief Executive Richard Scudamore confirmed that "as of next season clubs will be required to have a squad named of up to 25 players, of which no more than 17 can be over the age of 21 and not home grown. The definition of 'home grown' is trained for three years under the age of 21 by somebody in the English and Welsh professional system. Clubs will have to declare their 25 at the end of August when the window shuts and then again at the end of January."

This is in a similar vein to the ruling UEFA brought in a few years back which stipulates similar limitations in terms of maximum squad numbers and a minimum of 8 'home grown' players in each squad. The idea behind this is to protect the interests of each country's domestically-trained assets and give them every chance to progress through first team football, or so Michel Platini says. The question is though, does it really work?

Is this really the root of the problem?

Looking at the Dutch, who many would agree are the masters of bringing their own through, you begin to see other problems which may be more prevalent in terms of the production of young footballers. PSV Eindhoven, known for producing the likes of Van Nistelrooy, Philip Cocu and Jaap Stam in the past, have complained that the main problem facing them is that they are not being able to hang on to their prized assets due to the Bosman Ruling. There is no doubt that there is still a lot of good young talent in Holland, but its clubs are losing the incentive to nurture them for fear of losing them - nothing to do with home-grown 'quotas' and everything to do with money as they cannot afford the same wages some of our rich oil industry billionaires can.

Aside from this point that the FA (and FIFA/UEFA) could be targeting the wrong source of the problem in the first place, is this going against the grain of freedom of trade and everything the EU stands for? Surely in a place of employment, it is wrong to discriminate against a player not born here if they are good enough to do a job in the eyes of their prospective employers? FIFA/UEFA/the FA's product is based on entertainment and quality which then draws in the money through gate receipts and television revenue, and the game appears to be flourishing and healthier than ever, so why the need to go back to the old days?

Speaking of money, let's take a look for a second at the millions upon

millions of Pounds, not to mention the time and effort invested into our academy systems (and we're not alone, the model was taken from abroad where it has previously been implemented in places like France and Holland). The academy systems are beginning to finally show signs of fruition in this country with players such as Theo Walcott, Aaron Lennon, Glen Johnson and Wayne Rooney all becoming familiar figures in the English national team having come through them.

Where are football clubs getting all the money from to fund these academies and the future of our game? That's right, TV revenue and other income streams directly linked to the high quality of the product on offer - thanks in no small part to the foreign influences in the Premier League. Would so many people from across the world tune in without entertainers like Arshavin, Drogba, Torres and Robinho appearing as regularly, instead being being replaced with unspectacular, if steady home-grown players all over the pitch? Of course, we have our own talents in those I've mentioned and Joe Cole (who is as close to a Brazilian as we have in terms of technique and tricks), but surely the natural balance between Brits and foreigners can find itself without the intervention of governing bodies in this manner?

One thing I've yet to touch upon is a rather puzzling additional ruling with regards to academies and home-grown players which the FA have, in their infinite wisdom, seen fit to pass. This ruling is the '90-minute from home' rule which in short means that clubs are no longer allowed to draft in players who live more than a '90 minute commute' from them to play in their academies. So hang on a second, the Premier League want to bring in a rule which 'encourages' youth development through forcing clubs to name home-grown players in their squads, yet restricts their movement within our own country, thus restricting their development in the process? Good thinking.

Opposition from a couple of friends

Two men who are also slightly miffed by this are those best of pals Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. Ferguson said, "The 90-minute rule is the most ridiculous rule I have ever known. 90 minutes could be 5 miles up the road. I would have thought it was illegal to deny a young boy the chance to come to a club like Manchester United but it is something we can do nothing about." Wenger shared Fergie's concerns and when taking into account his own good work at bringing youngsters through at Arsenal, he added that:

"It will make that policy virtually impossible. If you cannot add any players under 18, and you have the home-grown rule, and on top of that English clubs are limited to bringing in young players who live less than 90 minutes from the training ground - how can we produce home-grown players? Personally, I don't know. So it's vital that this under-18 transfer rule is not implemented because English clubs would have a domestic limitation and a foreign limitation, making it harder to produce home-grown players.

"In England we accumulate disadvantages. We cannot buy (an academy player) outside our 90-minute radius, so already we cannot take a player from Manchester or Southampton. We cannot take a player from Asia, North or South America. What can we do? We can only pray that somebody next to London Colney is as gifted as the next Maradona and says, 'please can I play for you?' We want to be the best league in the world and that is why we have to open the doors to the best players in the world. The first signs, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka going to Spain, are not very good for us. You have to accept that the best have to play with the best."

Going back and focusing strictly on next season's new ruling, I could understand limitations placed upon squad size years ago, but surely this is shooting our own clubs in the foot nowadays? Cup competitions are already being devalued as it is without extra incentive to rest players for vital league and Champions League games as the latter increase in number. This is damaging the domestic game to a large degree, so why impose such restrictions? Are Chelsea going to risk Drogba in an FA Cup game knowing that if he gets injured they may be forced to play Daniel Sturridge on his own at Old Trafford the following week if he gets injured? No disrespect to Sturridge, but there is no comparison between the two - at this stage in his career anyway, so why put him under unnecessary pressure when he could be sent out on loan to gain vital experience instead of this self-imposed nonsense?

So far I've only really looked at the top clubs, but the effect may hit the Hulls, Birminghams and Blackburns of this world even harder. These clubs muddle through as it is scouring the world for bargains on cheaper wages than their English counterparts - what would happen to them if they were being prevented from doing so and in addition English players' transfer fees and wages were artificially inflated as a consequence of the new ruling? Supply would not be equal to demand in terms of the players required and average players like Kevin Davies and Mark Noble could be fetching 8-figure fees in the not-too distant future with the gap between top and bottom widening yet further. This would make for a less competitive league and attendance figures and revenue could again fall as a direct result of this.

Proposed solution

As crazy as this may sound, I think that UEFA may have hit the nail on the head with their recent proposition regarding spending. A big reason for over-inflated salaries and teams looking abroad for players is the influx of foreign ownership in our game and clubs spending far outside their means in business terms. European Football's leading body recently put forward plans to prevent clubs from spending over what they take each year in terms of revenue. After careful consideration, this is not as daft as it seems...

Under this new system, the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea would be forced to rethink their foreign policies and look to use their facilities to bring through more players from their own countries. Madrid have already proven they can do it with Raul and Casillas, City with Wright-Phillips and Stephen Ireland and Chelsea with England captain John Terry. In my opinion this would be preferable to an imposed salary cap per player, or squad restrictions and would force clubs into becoming more efficient in terms of their operations as well as perhaps restoring some identity. Of course this would still leave the door open to bringing in top quality foreign players, but in partnership with a healthy production line of British youngsters. Naturally, we'd also scrap that daft 90-minute rule as it is denying our youngsters the chance to gain top coaching and experience, which is what they'd want in a new system.

Thoughts?