Are we becoming the new Arsenal

[Alex]

I mean that as in, we are buying up alot of youth talent at the moment. 5 or 6 i can remember since july. Question is, do you think its a good policy? Or should we be buying for now and not the long term future? I mean with all the purcheses rafa has made with the youths it points out to me that he wants to create a dynasty of good players that come through from a young age. I mean, imagine if he had found another Adybayor or Fabergas. These two are going to be very good players in the future and will take arsenal into the next period nice and smoothly.

I for one think its a good thing and to be honest like this sort of policy than going for the Neill's of this world.

Opinions?

[lfc4ever]

Ask me again in 10 years time!

Hopefully, we will all still be here discussing the same ****, looking for No 25 though, all a little older, all a little wiser and looking back 10-12 years ago to when Rafa arrived and Est1892 & the youngsters all signed up to the cause.

Hey-ho, onwards & upwards.

[Shaggy]

Adebayor was already an established international playing for Monaco (I thought he was ****ing rubbish when he played for them against us at Anfield ), but I take your point.

Of course it's a good policy. It's a great policy and I'm looking forward to it paying dividends.

[kurtangle01]

It's a good policy IMHO because if the players turn out to be good enough we'll be getting them at a fraction of the price now than we would when they've actually made a name for themselves.

Arsenal are certainly the template to follow it would seem because they have some good young players coming through who will probably be in their team for the next 7-8 years.

[Helios Creed]

I mean that as in, we are buying up alot of youth talent at the moment. 5 or 6 i can remember since july. Question is, do you think its a good policy? Or should we be buying for now and not the long term future? I mean with all the purcheses rafa has made with the youths it points out to me that he wants to create a dynasty of good players that come through from a young age. I mean, imagine if he had found another Adybayor or Fabergas. These two are going to be very good players in the future and will take arsenal into the next period nice and smoothly.

I for one think its a good thing and to be honest like this sort of policy than going for the Neill's of this world.

Opinions?

I think we'd bought something like 12 even before last July as well - we should reap the dividends in a few years.

[andyinswinton]

It can't be a bad thing although if it stifles the young local lads coming through then that isn't a good thing. To miss out on a new Gerrard, Fowler, Owen or Carragher because we have focused too much on foreign talent would be terrible.

[kurtangle01]

It can't be a bad thing although if it stifles the young local lads coming through then that isn't a good thing. To miss out on a new Gerrard, Fowler, Owen or Carragher because we have focused too much on foreign talent would be terrible.

If a player is good enough he'll find his way through and if not he wont.

[Alex]

It can't be a bad thing although if it stifles the young local lads coming through then that isn't a good thing. To miss out on a new Gerrard, Fowler, Owen or Carragher because we have focused too much on foreign talent would be terrible.

Yes it would, but what if it creates the next Henry or Ronaldinhio or Zidane. Not saying it will but you never know. Although saying that i wold much prefer another couple of local lads.......could certainly do with another Owen and a few more Carraghers

[ElRobbie]

I don't think the policies are quite the same really if you look at how much they have spent (individually) on young players compared to us and the calibre of the young players they've brought in. We will probably get a lot more dross than they do I would imagine, in the hope one or two will come good.

I think its a good thing bringing in top quality young players most definitely but it seems like Arsenal are willing to pay more for the best young players, as Benitez said, the likes of Diaby and Walcott weren't cheap.

The likes of Lupoli, Fabregas and Merida were very shrewd deals, to be honest, I wonder with Benitez's knowledge of the Spanish market how we missed out on Merida, maybe Wenger was tipped off by Cesc.

Didn't they pay 6-7m for Adebayor?

[einar]

Maybe Rafa is spending all this money on young players now because he knows the investment is coming in.
I hope in the future he can spend this amount of money on young players and an x amount on older players.
Maybe there is not a player out there he wants that he can get so he concentrates on the young players now.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Not bothered.

But what about these Uefa rules where we have to have at least 4 or 5 players from England come through our youth system.

Regardless of all these young foreigners coming in the academy will still have to produce some local talent which is good enough.

[Shaggy]

I don't think the policies are quite the same really if you look at how much they have spent (individually) on young players compared to us and the calibre of the young players they've brought in. We will probably get a lot more dross than they do I would imagine, in the hope one or two will come good.

I think its a good thing bringing in top quality young players most definitely but it seems like Arsenal are willing to pay more for the best young players, as Benitez said, the likes of Diaby and Walcott weren't cheap.

The likes of Lupoli, Fabregas and Merida were very shrewd deals, to be honest, I wonder with Benitez's knowledge of the Spanish market how we missed out on Merida, maybe Wenger was tipped off by Cesc.

Didn't they pay 6-7m for Adebayor?

I thought we tried for Merida? I was under the impression he chose Arsenal ahead of us?

Adebayor was undisclosed, but I'd have thought he cost £5m minimum.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Yes youths good if these player are good and progress and are given the proper amount work and games to become good players.

[Nicey]

I think it is an excellent policy and one which needed to be put in place. We have not been producing any players anywhere near getting into our first team on a regular basis and I'd rather try and develop 10 young players then buy some duffer from Senegal

[cobain]

Adebayor was already an established international playing for Monaco (I thought he was ****ing rubbish when he played for them against us at Anfield ), but I take your point.

Of course it's a good policy. It's a great policy and I'm looking forward to it paying dividends.

Adebayor had a shocker that night yeah...