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we listed 12 "Home Grown" Players in our 25 man squad last year against a requirement to have at least 8 (in order to be allowed a 25 man squad).
That was very impressive and a mark of our investment in the Academy and in mostly English talent.
The Home Grown uns were Hart, Given, Taylor, Richards, Logan, Lescott, Bridge, Barry, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Johnson and Johnson.

There is serious speculation that a number of these are on their way.

Logan already gone
Bridge's replacement recruited already
Given keen on a move (?) and you'd guess he'll be allowed this time
MJ had a couple of run outs in the EDS so may be getting back, but a risk
SWP subject of much speculation (but Wigan!)

This would leave us light on home grown talent, so either SWP/Given are going nowhere, or we will need to bring in 1 or 2 "Brits".
Nedum and/or Weiss could come back, if not "out of favour", but they are both talking like that's not an option they think they have.

Interesting to see whether this gives any credibility to the Jack Rodwell rumour which is about the only home grown player we've been associated with by the press (apart from left backs).
In any event it'll be interesting to see who makes up our pot of home spun talent this time out and whether it is the minimum allowed.

You can call on an 'unlimited number of players U21'. We've just given another one of those a medical this morning & are talking to many more around the world.

Question: did Clichy move to Arsenal before July 26th 2003?

If so, since he was still 17 y.o. he could/should be able to be classified as Home Grown if my understanding of the rule is correct.

I've looked on Wiki and it's written that Wenger visited him and his family in June 2003 but it doesn't say anything about the actual signing.

markuse wrote:Question: did Clichy move to Arsenal before July 26th 2003?

If so, since he was still 17 y.o. he could/should be able to be classified as Home Grown if my understanding of the rule is correct.

I've looked on Wiki and it's written that Wenger visited him and his family in June 2003 but it doesn't say anything about the actual signing.

I don't know but I've seen it said, perhaps on here, that he will count as a 'home grown player'. May be true.

markuse wrote:Question: did Clichy move to Arsenal before July 26th 2003?

If so, since he was still 17 y.o. he could/should be able to be classified as Home Grown if my understanding of the rule is correct.

I've looked on Wiki and it's written that Wenger visited him and his family in June 2003 but it doesn't say anything about the actual signing.

good point
i think he is so a straight swap for bridge when he goes.
Still a bit close to the mark if we let SWP and/or Given go, and the under 21 pot is just bunce

I'm pretty sure Clichy qualifes as home grown.

Dameerto wrote:I'm pretty sure Clichy qualifes as home grown.

http://onlinegooner.com/phpbb2/viewtopi ... 50e8277571

According to this he is homegrown.

Is only a blog but I'd expect the gooners to know this.

So we've got

Given
Richards
Bridge
M.Johnson
Milner
SWP
A.Johnson
Taylor
Barry
Lescott
Hart
Bellamy
Clichy
Onouha

Don't know about Weiss with him being 21 and nearly 22.

So if Bridge, SWP, Bellamy and Onouha are expected to go then that leaves us with 10, Given would make 9 and i can't see anyone going after that. M.Johnson will stay one more year if purely for the HG rule and Taylor will stay as a 3rd keeper. So we reach the bare minimum 8 HG players plus two dormant HG as cover.

the_georgian_genius wrote:So we've got

Given
Richards
Bridge
M.Johnson
Milner
SWP
A.Johnson
Taylor
Barry
Lescott
Hart
Bellamy
Clichy
Onouha

Don't know about Weiss with him being 21 and nearly 22.

So if Bridge, SWP, Bellamy and Onouha are expected to go then that leaves us with 10, Given would make 9 and i can't see anyone going after that. M.Johnson will stay one more year if purely for the HG rule and Taylor will stay as a 3rd keeper. So we reach the bare minimum 8 HG players plus two dormant HG as cover.

The fact that we've heard nothing from MJ for months males me fear that he's finished. We'll know soon enough though.

the_georgian_genius wrote:So we've got

Given
Richards
Bridge
M.Johnson
Milner
SWP
A.Johnson
Taylor
Barry
Lescott
Hart
Bellamy
Clichy
Onouha

Don't know about Weiss with him being 21 and nearly 22.

So if Bridge, SWP, Bellamy and Onouha are expected to go then that leaves us with 10, Given would make 9 and i can't see anyone going after that. M.Johnson will stay one more year if purely for the HG rule and Taylor will stay as a 3rd keeper. So we reach the bare minimum 8 HG players plus two dormant HG as cover.

So, dead certs to stay: Hart, Taylor, Richards, Lescott, Clichy, Barry
Speculation surrounding: Given, SWP, Milner, Johnson A, Johnson M,
Probable goers: Onuoha, Bridge, Bellamy, Weiss

So if the Milner and AJ stories are bull and they don't agitate for a move we have our 8. Just
MJ might be worth another punt (I love him) but was a waste of a spot last year. Do we do that again? 9

Just saying it's tight and the trend needs to be watched.

Ted Hughes wrote:

the_georgian_genius wrote:So we've got

Given
Richards
Bridge
M.Johnson
Milner
SWP
A.Johnson
Taylor
Barry
Lescott
Hart
Bellamy
Clichy
Onouha

Don't know about Weiss with him being 21 and nearly 22.

So if Bridge, SWP, Bellamy and Onouha are expected to go then that leaves us with 10, Given would make 9 and i can't see anyone going after that. M.Johnson will stay one more year if purely for the HG rule and Taylor will stay as a 3rd keeper. So we reach the bare minimum 8 HG players plus two dormant HG as cover.

The fact that we've heard nothing from MJ for months males me fear that he's finished. We'll know soon enough though.

I too think he is finished but i'm sure the club will keep him on for one more season, send him out on loan in the second half as i think then he will have 1 more year left which will either mean he will have shown enough to earnt a new contract or we get a bit of money for him.

Clichy joined arsenal on 4th august 2003 about a month after his 18th birthday

Ted Hughes wrote:

the_georgian_genius wrote:So we've got

Given
Richards
Bridge
M.Johnson
Milner
SWP
A.Johnson
Taylor
Barry
Lescott
Hart
Bellamy
Clichy
Onouha

Don't know about Weiss with him being 21 and nearly 22.

So if Bridge, SWP, Bellamy and Onouha are expected to go then that leaves us with 10, Given would make 9 and i can't see anyone going after that. M.Johnson will stay one more year if purely for the HG rule and Taylor will stay as a 3rd keeper. So we reach the bare minimum 8 HG players plus two dormant HG as cover.

The fact that we've heard nothing from MJ for months males me fear that he's finished. We'll know soon enough though.

Even if he is fit and training and concentrating on football, I think chances of him getting games for us next season are slim to none. Best case scenario for him at this stage is loan to Championship or at best to some Premier League strugglers.

I have to admit that I gave up on him few years ago. It's not like he is some kiddo (in footballing terms) anymore. He is 23 and should be in his prime now.