shabz
Full Member
With the signing of Maguire today, it is the only the fourth time we have signed a British outfield player since SAF retired. In this window we have signed three of those four British players alone with the last one being Luke Shaw in the 14/15 season.
Over the years we have been blessed with some of the best British players in recent memory and, once upon a time we were the only destination for top British players to sign for or at least we made them a priority. This influx of top homegrown talent has been non existent in recent years and the dressing room has been questioned on more than one occasion.
The drive, determination and passion that homegrown players show in a league they have grown up watching and playing in can't usually be matched by your equally talented overseas counterpart and it has shown throughout the history of this league. If you have players at a club who are giving their all week in and week out it is infectious, it is expected that you perform to these levels and, if you don't there will be someone who will tell you exactly how poorly you are performing. I don't believe it is solely a British player who has to have this mentality, but in terms of a squad makeup the more top quality homegrown players you have the better you tend to perform.
James put everyone's fitness to shame at the start of preseason, Wan-Bissaka has been arguably the top performer since he arrived and with the addition of a proven top centre back like Maguire, I have no doubts that he will become a leader and example in no time. Of course all of our future signings will not be British, but in order to keep setting examples for the squad and all future signings, I believe this trend needs to continue.
We are still lacking in other areas but if we can get the personnel we already have firing on all cylinders and actually build an environment where there is a battle for places again then that's something I'm sure all of our fans will appreciate.
Over the years we have been blessed with some of the best British players in recent memory and, once upon a time we were the only destination for top British players to sign for or at least we made them a priority. This influx of top homegrown talent has been non existent in recent years and the dressing room has been questioned on more than one occasion.
The drive, determination and passion that homegrown players show in a league they have grown up watching and playing in can't usually be matched by your equally talented overseas counterpart and it has shown throughout the history of this league. If you have players at a club who are giving their all week in and week out it is infectious, it is expected that you perform to these levels and, if you don't there will be someone who will tell you exactly how poorly you are performing. I don't believe it is solely a British player who has to have this mentality, but in terms of a squad makeup the more top quality homegrown players you have the better you tend to perform.
James put everyone's fitness to shame at the start of preseason, Wan-Bissaka has been arguably the top performer since he arrived and with the addition of a proven top centre back like Maguire, I have no doubts that he will become a leader and example in no time. Of course all of our future signings will not be British, but in order to keep setting examples for the squad and all future signings, I believe this trend needs to continue.
We are still lacking in other areas but if we can get the personnel we already have firing on all cylinders and actually build an environment where there is a battle for places again then that's something I'm sure all of our fans will appreciate.