25 man Premiership Squads - The opportuntity

[Moi]

As a massive optimist, the countdown on Sky sports is depressing me ever so slightly with all the fruitless speculation over the summer period.

There has been plenty of coverage given to the new Premiership rules regarding 25 man squads, and how they have to include a given amount of British players and U21's.

Some of the Premiership squads are massive, and some top international players are going to go without football for a long period. So far there hasn't been much transfer activity around these players.

Surely, that means the calibre of loan players available for Championship clubs is going to be elevated considerably, and hopefully the 'transfer panel' have spotted this. I may be wrong about the rulings but this is my interpretation. Owen hargreaves, Stephen Ireland and Jonathan Woodgate to name a few. Reserves or competitive Championship football?

 

[king_congo_red]

Reserves or competitive Championship football?

You're missing two important options there - loan or permanent moves to a top foreign league which doesn't have such ridiculous rules.

 

[Al LeftLion]

When do they have to name there 25 man squads?

 

[Rich]

I tend to agree, there is a huge opportunity here to get some bargain price top level footballers.

The more pertinent question would be, though, how many of our Championship rivals are going to be able to strengthen through these means?

Imagine an Owen Hargreaves playing for Swansea, for example. Man Utd would probably still pay the majority of his wages too.

Perhaps this is the reason we've not done any business. Not only could the TAP think that waiting until the 25 man squads are announced could give them a way into getting top quality, they could also be thinking that spending £2.5m on Darren Pratley, for example could be money better spent on getting a Premiership proven midfielder for the season. They could surprise us yet.

 

[It's Baggio]

Spain have similar rules.

It's worth pointing out that u21's don't count towards the 25 man squad. You're essentially allowed 25 'over 21's' and then as many u21's as you like.

 

[Azza]

When do they have to name there 25 man squads?

I think (think) that it's 1st September. At least that's what I remember having to do on Football Manager.

I could of course, be completely wide of the mark though.

 

[DapperDan]

I tend to agree, there is a huge opportunity here to get some bargain price top level footballers.

The more pertinent question would be, though, how many of our Championship rivals are going to be able to strengthen through these means?

Imagine an Owen Hargreaves playing for Swansea, for example. Man Utd would probably still pay the majority of his wages too.

Perhaps this is the reason we've not done any business. Not only could the TAP think that waiting until the 25 man squads are announced could give them a way into getting top quality, they could also be thinking that spending £2.5m on Darren Pratley, for example could be money better spent on getting a Premiership proven midfielder for the season. They could surprise us yet.

Was there a glimmer of optimism in your post then?

 

[It's Baggio]

When do they have to name there 25 man squads?

The deadline is 5pm, Sep 1st. 24 hours after the transfer window shuts.

 

[Matt90]

You're missing two important options there - loan or permanent moves to a top foreign league which doesn't have such ridiculous rules.

Don't Italy and Spain run similar similar rules.

If Milner goes to city expect Ireland to be part of the deal (possibly Onuha as well). I can still see Arsenal making an interesting move for somebody and Chelsea are bound to start a merry-go-round.

Can we name a 25 man squad?

 

[Rich]

The deadline is 5pm, Sep 1st. 24 hours after the transfer window shuts.

Then surely the squads will be thought through, and players begin to move in the mean time. If someone isn't going to be part of the squad they would surely want to move to get some football asap, rather than wait it out, and find themselves sitting on the sidelines.

 

[Rich]

Was there a glimmer of optimism in your post then?

There's always optimism in my posts!

 

[Clifford]

It will certainly be worth looking at who is left out once the transfer window shuts and championship loan window opens.

Premiership and European clubs can't loan outside the window so we will in effect be one of the highest placed clubs that these players can play for. It's more likely that some club with blatent disregard for finances will pick them up like Pompy or Cardiff and get promoted ahead of us.

I think the rule could have an overall negative effect for us. Premiership clubs already stockpile under21's and negatively affect their progress. Now they will probably do it more.

Teams might not be so keen to let players like Gunter go in future.

At least Arsenal will have to start playing the occasional English player.

 

[It's Baggio]

Then surely the squads will be thought through, and players begin to move in the mean time. If someone isn't going to be part of the squad they would surely want to move to get some football asap, rather than wait it out, and find themselves sitting on the sidelines.

That's where the benefit to Football League clubs comes in.

If a player doesn't leave in the mean time and is stuck as 26th/27th man at 5.01pm on Sep 1st then his options are pretty simple. Either stay and play reserve Football or go on a short term loan to the Football League because you can't go to another PL club at that point or even go abroad.

 

[Daniel]

I wouldn't be suprised this is a reason for the transfer market being so quiet. All championship teams including ourselves are waiting for the squads to be announced before they make their moves, players included...

 

[king_congo_red]

Can we name a 25 man squad?

Is a 21-year old counted as over, or under 21? Also, what's the cut-off point for birthdays and such like?

We currently have 19 'over 21's', plus Gunter, McGugan, Thornhill and Moloney who are 21 exactly and Darlow the only 'squad' player who is under 21.

 

[It's Baggio]

Is a 21-year old counted as over, or under 21? Also, what's the cut-off point for birthdays and such like?

We currently have 19 'over 21's', plus Gunter, McGugan, Thornhill and Moloney who are 21 exactly and Darlow the only 'squad' player who is under 21.

In keeping with UEFA guidelines, an Under 21 player is defined as one who is under the age of 21 on 1st January in the year in which the season commences. For the 2010/11 campaign Under 21 players will have been born on or after 1st January 1989.


Gunter, Moloney would be under 21. Thornhill, McGugan over 21.

 

[Tutts]

There was a piece in the guardian at the weekend about this.

I think only Wolves and Man City were over their foreign player limit, so there's not much scope for poaching.

Sorry to bring down an optimistic thread. lol

 

[king_congo_red]

There was a piece in the guardian at the weekend about this.

I think only Wolves and Man City were over their foreign player limit, so there's not much scope for poaching.

Sorry to bring down an optimistic thread. lol

I don't think it's the 'foreign' player limit, which was causing some players concern - more the fact that the squad is limited to 25 'over 21' places. I know Spurs, for example, were cautious about giving a place to Woodgate, given the chance of him spending most of the season out injured.