Golden Oldies Prove Youngsters Are Not Yet Good Enough

With the return of Thierry Henry to Arsenal and Paul Scholes to Manchester United it makes you wonder about the plight of the younger players at not only these two clubs but at clubs around the country.

Henry scored the only goal in 3rd round FA Cup tie against Leeds coming on from the bench replacing teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Paul Scholes scored the first in a 3-0 win for Manchester United against Bolton Wanders at Old Trafford in the Premier League after coming out of retirement to come on as a substitute against Manchester City in the FA Cup a week ago.

Robbie Keane is another player who has come back to the Premier League on loan to Aston Villa where he will play when a chance can be given to England U21 striker Nathan Delfouneso to prove he can score goals in the Premier League.


One reason youngsters would give as to why they are perceived not to be good enough is that they don't get enough chances in the first team. Oxlade-Chamberlain is an example of this as he moved to Arsenal in the summer for £12 million and has not even started two consecutive games for the North London club. Theo Walcott on the other hand is a first team regular and after he has said that he would prefer to play as a striker than a winger he has only scored four goals this season showing he isn't ready to replace Robin Van Persie as Arsenal's first choice striker. Add to that contract negotiations continuing where the England international wants a reported £80,000 a week shows that young players are demanding more than what they are supplying.


This is the case of Manchester United youngsters Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison who both were instrumental in the club winning the FA Youth Cup last season. Pogba, a French youth international who is similar in playing style to Michael Essien has recently changed his agent to Mino Raiola who's clients include Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic which isn't a group you want to be a part of since Zlatan has a black belt in taekwondo and Balotelli does fireworks in his bathroom. Both however would make interesting party guests though so you would be sure of a good time off the pitch but on the pitch they are likely to let you down when it matters.


Ravel Morrison who has been lauded as the best player to come out the Manchester United Academy since Paul Scholes has the talent but not the clean life off the pitch which is led by the returning midfielder. The England youth international has already been in court and although the club have stood by him he has rejected a new contract offered by the Manchester club.


"His agent has been working hard to get him another club. We've offered him terms which he has refused. His demands are unrealistic as far as we're concerned." said Ferguson


How can a player like Ravel Morrison demand unrealistic terms when he hasn't done anything at the club who have shown him loyalty? How can Paul Pogba do the same when  like Morrison he hasn't done anything for the first team? How can Walcott demand £80,000 a week when he hasn't helped Arsenal win a trophy since he arrived at the club?


Paul Scholes would never have demands that were deemed unrealistic like Morrison and Pogba. Henry did much more than Walcott had to be rewarded with a £80,000 a week contract. Are the players too greedy or is it there agents who are trying to get their clients a  unrealistic deal or it could be a bit of both.


What young players should realise is that when they get a chance they should take it and if they don't then they should knuckle down and work hard so that next time they will take there chance and they will be rewarded with a new contract which leads to more money and former players remaining as former players.

The F.A. Reveal Reasons For Luis Suarez's Eight Match Ban

The Football Association last night released a 115 word document giving details of why Luis Suarez was given an eight match ban for racist abuse towards Patrice Evra.

The Liverpool striker was given a eight match ban and fined £40,000 after the F.A. claimed he racially abused Evra by calling him a "negro" during the 1-1 draw at Anfield on October 15th 2011.

The report states that, after being tackled by the Uruguayan, Evra asked Suarez why he had kicked him, to which the forward replied in Spanish: "Because you are black."

When Evra challenged him to repeat the answer and said he would "punch him", Suarez said: "I don't speak to blacks."

Suarez is said to have used the term "negro" seven times in around two minutes.

In giving the reasons for the length of the ban, the report said: "Given the number of times that Mr Suarez used the word 'negro', his conduct is significantly more serious than a one-off use of a racially offensive term and amounts to an aggravating factor."

The report states in its summary: "Mr Evra was a credible witness. He gave his evidence in a calm, composed and clear way. It was, for the most part, consistent, although both he and Mr Suarez were understandably unable to remember every detail of the exchanges between them.

"Mr Suarez's evidence was unreliable in relation to matters of critical importance. It was, in part, inconsistent with the contemporaneous evidence, especially the video footage.

"For example, Mr Suarez said that he pinched Mr Evra's skin in an attempt to defuse the situation. He also said that his use of the word 'negro' to address Mr Evra was conciliatory and friendly. We rejected that evidence.

"To describe his own behaviour in that way was unsustainable and simply incredible given that the players were engaged in an acrimonious argument. That this was put forward by Mr Suarez was surprising and seriously undermined the reliability of his evidence on other matters.

"There were also inconsistencies between his accounts given at different times as to what happened."

Liverpool have been strong in their support of Suarez criticising the F.A. and claiming Evra should also face charges after he admitted insulting Suarez during the altercation.

The club's players and Reds boss Kenny Dalglish also wore T-shirts in support of the Uruguayan before their draw with Wigan on 21st December.

The F.A. and Liverpool were given the findings on Friday by the Independent Regulatory Commission. Both parties have the right to an appeal and must reply by 13 January.