Albion Blog - Homegrown Gems?

Albion blogger Jarrod Hill watches with interest the wider scope of the new 'homegrown' rule to be implemented ahead of the Baggies' trip to Middlesbrough.

Firstly allow me to apologise for the length of this blog, but one of the subjects discussed has made my blog a bit longer than usual, try not to drop off half way through!

Tomorrow's game represents one of our toughest fixtures of the season and for once I would be happy with a draw.

Along with ourselves and Newcastle, Middlesbrough have made a good start to the season and look to have shaken off the disappointment of relegation and look a sure fire bet to be amongst the challengers for automatic promotion.

Their biggest strength is out wide, and the emerging talent of Boro winger Adam Johnson will be a real test for our full-backs. Jeremie Aliadiere has also found his feet at this level and will look to continue his early season form, so Albion defenders Jonas Olsson and Shelton Martis will need to keep him quiet.

But I am sure Middlesbrough will be feeling the same about meeting us, the fact we haven't played anywhere near our potential and have still managed to remain unbeaten while topping the league must give them their own fears.

Our manager Roberto Di Matteo still seems to be learning as much about his players as they are about him, his tinkering with the formation and players has worked well so far but at some stage he will need to settle on his first XI.

I know we will need horses for courses at times and injuries and suspension will always have a bearing on what team can be chosen, but all successful teams have a large degree of continuity.

We did win on Tuesday, but the formation of one up front and one supporting didn't quite work and Robert Koren operating as the second striker at times looked a little lost. One up front against Doncaster at home did baffle me but I am sure Roberto would point to the fact we did win the game 3-1.

One theory is that Tuesday's change of formation was a test run in preparation for tomorrow's game, and I wouldn't bet against it. I have given up second guessing line-ups and formations so I will leave it to you to choose, my only prediction is a bright future for young striker Chris Wood.

His goal on Tuesday was a cracker and real rival for goal of the season, and if he can keep improving his all round game will have big part to play in our season.

The big talking point this week has been the clarification of the introduction next season of the eight home grown players rule. For those not already aware of the new ruling it states: -

Such Premier League club will be required to have eight 'home-grown' players in their squad of 25, and this can be no more than 25 unless those extras also in the squad are under 21.

Alterations can be made to the squad named, but only at the end of the summer and winter transfer windows, but these alterations must see this squad stay within the limits of no more than 17 players, out of the 25, over the age of 21 and not homegrown.

A player is defined as 'home-grown' if they have trained within the professional system in England or Wales for three years or more and are under the age of 21.

I appreciate that this rule doesn't affect us yet but I would like to discuss its implications on football in general.

My initial reaction is that top English players under the age of 21 will be worth their weight in gold as they will qualify as 'squad extras,' with the FA seeing this as the key factor in helping to develop young English players towards our national side.

But how will it affect different clubs?

Chelsea already have problems due to their transfer ban, and other clubs will need to carry out some transfer pruning during the summer. Not necessarily to comply with the rules but to remain competitive in all competitions and I think that is a key point.

Teams competing in Europe often carry larger squads to be able to cope with the amount of games and the eventual injuries and suspensions, but under the new rules these additional squad members will need to be English and under the age of 21.

You can now see why all the top sides in England have embarked on a campaign of recruiting the countries finest young talent, even if they happen to be at other clubs!

Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore has gone on record to state the new rules will be a success, but my question is, how will you measure if they are successful?

I do not buy in to the theory that if our clubs are forced to play English players that it will ultimately lead to an improvement in quality at national level. I am a firm believer in the belief that the cream eventually rises to the top and players with talent and the will to succeed will find a way to get there.

The FA may well have spent their time and our money better by encouraging youngsters to play football at an early age, rather than sitting playing on their X-Box.

I know they publicise their training camps at every given opportunity - and always have the media lap dogs there to pedal the myth - but when looked at in greater detail they only just scratch the surface.

For example, there are a vast amount of schools throughout the Midlands that do not have football teams or an organized league and I find it amazing. My first taste of competitive organised football was at school when I was only seven and too young then to play for a club, as the youngest then was under 10's.

If I hadn't have had this early taste, I may never had gone on to love the sport as much as I do.

Consequently if the FA believes the new rules will benefit our clubs, again we will see. My feeling is if it's to the benefit of our clubs, then surely they would have implicated these procedures themselves without having to be coerced into it by our Football Association.