Liverpool and England midfielder Steven Gerrard has said that he would not be against a rule that imposes quotas in the Premiership.
This comes a short while after both Steve Coppell and Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly said that they were in favour of a rule that would limit the number of foreigners taking the pitch.
Even the English Prime Minister has something to say on the issue.
So the big question is- Do we need a quota system ?
The all time top goal scorers list of the Premiership has three foreigners in the top 10- Theirry Henry, Dwight Yorke and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Henry has gone to Barcelona, Yorke isn’t likely to increase his tally at Sunderland, and Hasselbaink now plays for Cardiff City.
The senior English team last won a major tournament in 1966, when the likes of Hurst and Charlton helped them to win the World Cup.
The English U-21 side- the’ feeder’Â to the national team last won the Euro U-21 Championship in 1984.
England’s hopes for qualifying for Euro 2008 are hanging by a thread. Missing next summer’s tournament in Austria and Switzerland could mean the biggest ever disappointment for English fans since the failure to make it to USA ’94.
Let us take a look at the Liverpool side that beat Fulham 2-0. ( Starting 11 only)
Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Mascherano, Gerrard, Voronin, Crouch and Benayoun.
Number of English players –2( Gerrard and Carragher)
A look at the United side that beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0.
Van Der Sar, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Anderson, Hargreaves, Giggs, Tevez, Saha.
Number of English players- 3 ( Brown, Ferdinand and Hargreaves)
The Arsenal squad, which beat Reading 3-1.
Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Clichy, Eboue, Gallas, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Adebayor,Rosicky.
Number of English players- 0
The Chelsea squad, which drew with Everton 1-1.
Cudicini, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Bridge, Lampard, Essien, Wright Philips, Drogba, Obi Mikel, J.Cole
Number of English players –4 ( Bridge, Lampard, Wright Philips, Joe Cole)
What Sepp Blatter plans to introduce is making the 2, 3, 0 and 4 that you see above a minimum of 6 ( Only five foreigners in the starting lineup)