British players going abroad

Billy Dean · July 30, 2017

seems more and more young players are giving up hope of getting a chance in English football and moving abroad to give themselves th best possible chance of making it. So far we've got:

Reece Oxford (loan) and Mandela Egbo at Moenchengladbach,
Kaylen Hinds at Wolfsburg,
Dan Crowley at Willem II,
James Horsfield at NAC Breda
Mukhtar Ali at Vitesse
Chris Willock at Benfica
Mason Mount at Vitesse (loan)
George Dobson at Sparta
Oliver Burke at Leipzig

Jadon Sancho possibly off to Dortmund too.

Hope some of them make a success of it to increase the trend, as it's clear English football is letting the kids down at the moment (apart from a very small handful of clubs).

Gonna try and follow how they're getting on and post updates in this thread.

Jamo Martinez · July 30, 2017

Who was that Scottish lad who went to Sporting Lisbon a few years back now? Ryan Gauld? Haven't heard anything of him for a while.

I think more should try it.

flibbyflob · July 30, 2017

Think a lot more will try. Be interesting to see if Brexit hinders their chances of a move though.

Billy Dean · July 30, 2017

Jamo Martinez said:
Who was that Scottish lad who went to Sporting Lisbon a few years back now? Ryan Gauld? Haven't heard anything of him for a while.

I think more should try it.

Oh yeah forgot about him. About to go out on loan: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40705863

Connor · July 30, 2017

Not really given up but on loan/possibly on loan:
Lewis Baker is possibly going back to Vitesse after a really good loan spell last season
Todd Kane at Groningen

Good buys:
Gareth Bale at Real Madrid

Again, not really given up but developing abroad:

Jack Harrison at New York City FC in the MLS.

Billy Dean · July 30, 2017

Connor said:
Not really given up but on loan/possibly on loan:
Lewis Baker is possibly going back to Vitesse after a really good loan spell last season
Todd Kane at Groningen

Good buys:
Gareth Bale at Real Madrid

Again, not really given up but developing abroad:

Jack Harrison at New York City FC in the MLS.

Yeah was probably exaggerating to say given up to be fair.

Will Baker be going back permanently?

Connor · July 30, 2017

Billy Dean said:
Yeah was probably exaggerating to say given up to be fair.

Will Baker be going back permanently?

Not sure. Seen a loan again being mooted and he's rated but we all know the score with their youth system.

Billy Dean · July 30, 2017

O think there were some rumors about Patrick Roberts going to Nice or Porto too but seems Southampton are front runners at the moment

Armel · July 30, 2017

I think it's too soon to spot a trend. In general I don't think loads of British (especially youth) players enjoy playing abroad; different culture, language etc. They prefer staying where they are comfortable.

Manchester United used to do something similar with Antwerp. A couple of players who did this were John O'Shea, Johny Evans, Danny Simpson ... It worked to a certain extend but they (Manchester United) had to send some one of their own coaches with them to make them feel comfortable (Andy Welsh; and they also planted Warren Joyce there).

barneygumble · July 30, 2017

Jack Harper is at Málaga.

And there are absolutely tonnes in the Scandinavian Leagues.

toffeejack · July 30, 2017

it is very odd how little british players play abroad compared to every other country in europe, i think it does follow the british mentality of not wanting to go far from your comfort zone.

so arenal had willock brothers then? i can see one is starting for them now in their friendly, whereas the one you mention left for benfica. Are they brothers?

You see most of the teams in the prem and you do wonder why they even bother with an academy. It's purely used to raise players' profile in order to sell them for a few million. Youngsters are not being given the same opportunities as abroad so it would be good to see more and more make the move for their own prospects.

Billy Dean · July 30, 2017

toffeejack said:
it is very odd how little british players play abroad compared to every other country in europe, i think it does follow the british mentality of not wanting to go far from your comfort zone.

so arenal had willock brothers then? i can see one is starting for them now in their friendly, whereas the one you mention left for benfica. Are they brothers?

You see most of the teams in the prem and you do wonder why they even bother with an academy. It's purely used to raise players' profile in order to sell them for a few million. Youngsters are not being given the same opportunities as abroad so it would be good to see more and more make the move for their own prospects.

I think they are brothers mate.

I think the young players coming through these days are more sought after in Europe because they're properly educated now. I read somewhere that German clubs are sending a lot of scouts to English academy games now.

It makes sense for European clubs to pick them up if they can. They know if they come good an English club will come in and blow an obscene amount of money on them. Probably the club that let them go in the first place

toffeejack · July 30, 2017

Billy Dean said:
I think they are brothers mate.

I think the young players coming through these days are more sought after in Europe because they're properly educated now. I read somewhere that German clubs are sending a lot of scouts to English academy games now.

It makes sense for European clubs to pick them up if they can. They know if they come good an English club will come in and blow an obscene amount of money on them. Probably the club that let them go in the first place

#hargreaves #dier