League finally acts to reel in clubs

It may have taken a two year transfer window ban for one of the big four Premiersip teams but finally measures have been introduced to curb one of the more controversial aspects of modern Premier League football.

From next season a quota system will be introduced, meaning clubs will have to submit a list of 25 players, at least eight of which need to be ‘home-grown’.

What’s home grown you may ask? Well in this case it’s any player who has been registered for at least three seasons at an English or Welsh club between the ages of 16 and 21. Then any player on top of the squad limit of 25 has to be 21 or under.

I have to admit I feel it is about time these measures were introduced. The size of some Premier League squads is ridiculous as clubs stockpile players, both young and old, to try and safe guard against failure - especially since the advent of the transfer measure.

While it won’t prevent clubs signing 16 year olds from abroad (without tapping up, of course!) it should at least encourage youth development and see young British players given their chance. Given the amount of money piled into academies at the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, who have two of the largest squads in the Premier league , we have seen precious little come from it.

Part of this surely must be because there are just too many players. Youngsters barely get a look into the first team which surely stunts their development. I know you can argue if they’re good enough they will play, but sometimes players need match time to develop, rather than endless training sessions and reserve matches.

It should also give the sides a more, er, ‘English’ feel. Liverpool, for example, have the highest percentage of expatriate players – a staggering 90%. Regardless of the talent in the Reds ranks, that percentage is too high for an English club. Boss Rafa Benitez is, unsurprisingly, dis-pleased at the speed of which proposals are being introduced as that will mean urgent squad trimming at Anfield.

I understand the success and global appeal for the Premier League means the clubs have every right to harvest the world’s best talent but surely the academies principal responsibility is to bring through young domestic based players?

It will be interesting to see the movements amongst the Premier League elite over the coming year and, in the long term, whether it will benefit young players or simply reduce the quality of the league overall.