Premier League Homegrown rule

[Badboy 1,526]

"A homegrown player is classed as a player that was registered with the FA or the Welsh FA for 3 entire seasons before their 21st Birthday"

Mikel was signed by Chelsea in June 2006. He turned 21 in April 2008. Which means he only played 2 full seasons before his 21st birthday.

That would mean kakuta and bruma will be home grown !

[EskWeston 696]

That would mean kakuta and bruma will be home grown !

Yes indeed they will class as homegrown, as will most of the young players we sign. Only ones like Di Santo and Matic that join at an older age will not qualify.

[EskWeston 696]

Another revival of this thread as things stand:

1.(HG): John Terry

2.(HG): Ashley Cole

3.(HG): Frank Lampard

4.(HG): Ross Turnbull

5.(HG): Daniel Sturridge

6.(HG): Michael Mancienne

7.(HG):

8.(HG):

9. Petr Cech

10. Branislav Ivanovic

11. Michael Essien

12. Didier Drogba

13. Mikel

14. Florent Malouda

15. Jose Bosingwa

16. Yuri Zhirkov

17. Paulo Fereira

18. Salomon Kalou

19. Alex

20. Nicolas Anelka

21. Hilario

22. Yossi Benayoun

23. Ramires

24.

25.

U21 Players:

1. Jeffrey Bruma

2. Patrick Van Aanholt

3. Gael Kakuta

4. Fabio Borini

5. Josh McEachran

So we are effectively playing with a squad of 21 players supplimented by 5 U21's who do not need to be included in the squad list. Are we looking a little light? Does the departure of Matic signal another arrival. Time is running out on transfers now.

[Kostas 1,468]

We look a bit thin in the central defense and the central midfield but that may be due to being spoilt since the Mourinho days.

Hopefully youngsters will be able to step up when needed and make up for the odd game Belletti or Joe Cole played last year.

As a pessimist I think we'll be in trouble around December with injuries,suspensions and our usual Christmas hangover combined.

A quality back-up keeper would certainly be welcome but hopefully Hilario or Turnbull could fill Cech's shoes when needed despite being completely useless.

[EskWeston 696]

I guess the question is, we have the space for 4 players, 2 home grown and 2 foreign. Do we need them?

Centre backs, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Mancienne, Bruma

Midfielders: Lampard, Mikel, Essien, Ramires, Benayoun

Forwards: Drogba, Anelka, Malouda, Kalou, Sturridge

What we have is players able to play a number of positions, Zhirkov and Malouda can play on the wing or in midfield. Anelka and Sturridge play the CF role and on the wings. Benayoun can play out wide if needed. Plus the youngsters to drop in as and when. We could certainly cope with the squad as we have it now.

[zolayes 14,489]

I guess the question is, we have the space for 4 players, 2 home grown and 2 foreign. Do we need them?

Centre backs, Terry, Alex, Ivanovic, Mancienne, Bruma

Midfielders: Lampard, Mikel, Essien, Ramires, Benayoun

Forwards: Drogba, Anelka, Malouda, Kalou, Sturridge

What we have is players able to play a number of positions, Zhirkov and Malouda can play on the wing or in midfield. Anelka and Sturridge play the CF role and on the wings. Benayoun can play out wide if needed. Plus the youngsters to drop in as and when. We could certainly cope with the squad as we have it now.

feel we are one midfielder short especially now cork and matic are out on loan. wouldnt like to suggest who although im tempted to say arteta

[EskWeston 696]

feel we are one midfielder short especially now cork and matic are out on loan. wouldnt like to suggest who although im tempted to say arteta

Possibly could do with another midfielder yes, but if he stays (as i think he will now) Mancienne can play in the midfield holding role, as he has done for Wolves.

[Manuf 1,448]

Bumping old thread. Dunno how we are gonna handle this 8 homegrown players. We lack few people. Btw does Sturridge counts as u-21? Because he finishes 21 on September 1st.

1. Petr Cech

2. Henrique Hilario

3. Ross Turnbull (HG)

4. John Terry (HG)

5. Alex

6. Branislav Ivanovic

7. Ashley Cole (HG)

8. Yuri Zhirkov

9. Paulo Ferreira

10. Jose Bosingwa

11. Frank Lampard (HG)

12. Michael Essien

13. John Obi Mikel

14. Ramires

15. Florent Malouda

16. Yossi Benayoun

17. Didier Drogba

18. Nicolas Anelka

19. Salomon Kalou

20. Danny Sturridge (HG)

U21:

1. Jeffrey Bruma

2. Gael Kakuta

3. Patrick van Aanholt

4. Josh McEachran

5. Fabio Borini

[EskWeston 696]

Well it most certainly looks like we are making up our 25 by using young players. Very brave move for sure, but one that will give the youngsters involved a lot of confidence. Our squad is very strong and has players capable of covering a number of positions. Our U21 list will really be players like Clifford, Sala, Tore ect... who could be drafted in if there is an emergency or if Carlo feels he wants to give them a game.

[NoFear 23]

Very very bold move if there are to be no more signings... And apart from GK position, there does not seem to be any rumor about any other player as well. But in a way I'm happy about it. We have a lot of versatile players in our squad and this should benefit all of them from getting good game time.

And like Esk says, it gives a lot of confidence to the youngsters as well. I just hope fans remain patient and supportive of the manager if and when things dont go well as we expect !!! Our defense will be hit severely if Boss does not make it and a couple of CBs get injured.

[Kostas 1,468]

It has nothing to do with boldness it's just yet another summer in which we've missed out on our primary targets.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I think John Mikel Obi counts as homegrown but I may be mistaken. He was signed at the age of 18 and by the time his third season with us had finished, he was 21, which qualifies him I think.

[Kostas 1,468]

I think John Mikel Obi counts as homegrown but I may be mistaken. He was signed at the age of 18 and by the time his third season with us had finished, he was 21, which qualifies him I think.

Mikel joined in June 2006 and turned 21 in April 2008 while still in his second season with us, therefore he doesn't qualify. If he were borne 3 months later or his transfer had gone through one season earlier as planned he would have turned 21 in his 3rd season and would be eligible to be listed as home-grown.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Yeah you're right, my mistake.

[Kostas 1,468]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record I have to insist that our squad is nowhere near complete,the season has hardly kicked off and we already don't have a proper RB and CB on the bench tomorrow.