Source: Team_Talk
Wenger: New rules are ridiculous
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has labelled the Premier League's new squad rules "ridiculous" and "a disaster for this country".[LNB] The boards of the 20 Premier League clubs last year unanimously agreed that squads should be limited to 25 players, eight of which must be 'home-grown' in order to assist the England team.[LNB]But Wenger, who on Friday revealed he is close to penning a new contract with the Gunners, is far from happy with the changes and believes they will do nothing for the league's chances of remaining the best in the world.[LNB]Quoted in several national newspapers, he said: "Instead of asking 'we have the best league in the world, how can we make it greater?' they wonder 'how can we make it smaller?'[LNB]"The rules they decide are a disaster for this country. Ridiculous. They are all artificial and have nothing to do with top-level sport."[LNB]Wenger, who has introduced the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas to the Premier League during his 14-year spell with the north London club, continued: "You have as many foreign players in Spain as in England.[LNB]"You can sign players from all over the world in Spain. Why do they still produce players and we do not? It's down to the coaching.[LNB]"I've been educating players since I was 25 and I know one rule. The first thing you do to develop a player is to put him with another good player. If you are a great player, you want to play with great players."[LNB]The Frenchman reckons the home-grown rule gives too much power to players and their agents and will lead to an increase in financial demands which are already "paralysing the market".[LNB]He added: "I read that (Stephen) Ireland wants to go only if Man City gives him £2million. That's because the new rules transform, even more, the agents into mercenaries. It is absolutely ridiculous and it is paralysing the market.[LNB]"Nobody buys. It is a joke. But they will create more rules like that, the home-grown rule, which is rubbish. It is not linked with quality. Do you really think it will remain the best league in the world? No chance.[LNB]"The Premier League have to decide: are they here to prepare the national team, so let's kick everybody out? Or are they here to be the best league in the world?"[LNB]Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has defended the new rules, accusing Wenger of being "emotive" in his criticism.[LNB]Scudamore had a measure of sympathy with the Frenchman, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: "In some ways, I agree. For 12 years, I argued for an open system.[LNB]"But there is a point at which you have to do something for the greater good.[LNB]"What we're trying to do is get young players through. It's not about the top superstars.[LNB]"They can have as many under-21s as they like. It's not restricting the number of players - we're restricting the number of over-21s.[LNB]"What we're trying to do is make the marginal decisions go the other way.[LNB]"If you're about to decide whether to give a young player a contract or buy a foreign player, then all of a sudden you think maybe we'll err on the side of the young player.[LNB]"I think Arsene, much as I respect him, has got a little bit emotive on this one."
