With Fabio Capello at the helm, there is no doubt in my mind that England's football future is looking bright. Of course being Italian I'm a bit biased, but Don Fabio is a winner and as such, the man usually likes to pick players who are winners themselves. No one will dispute that John Terry, [...] Click to continue reading...

Yo yo yo yo yo! Blap blap blap blap blap! Etc etc. After a very very well deserved two week holiday, STT is finally back on your interwebz to bring you everything you need to know about football, and also some stuff you probably don't really care about.

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Arsenal are thought to be tracking Monaco pair Frederici Nimani and Nicolas N'Koulou. Nimani, 19, is a striker from Chad while 18-year-old N'Koulou is a defender and both are understood to have caught the eye of Arsene Wenger. It would not be the first time the Frenchman has brought in youngsters from his homeland to the club, [. Click to continue reading...

Here's an interesting article by Greg Lalas about soccer salaries in the U.S.: "MLS getting what it pays for". Rather than wanting more millions to import marquee players from around the world, he's advocating that MLS teams pay more for "mid-tier players". And according to Lalas, that means MLS would become a better career choice for some of the players currently in the USL. Click to continue reading...

Can't help but let out a little cheer for the National Youth League which kicked off on the weekend. Australia has been missing this development stage now for a few years and it is fantastic to once again see a national comp for future Socceroos and A-League players.

Of course this first year is going to be pretty low key and I am not sure what the crowds are going to be like but the point is that we will now have year round competition for our up and coming youth. Click to continue reading...

What goes around comes around. Arsenal have developed a reputation of sneaking away top youngsters from clubs when they turn 16. Now it seems that someone else is on the verge of luring away a top talent from the Gunners. Jack Wilshere maybe only 16 but he has already become the ... Click to continue reading...

The injury situation at Newcastle United is due to improve with 3 players due to return to training on 6th October. Jonas Gutierrez - returns to training this Monday Jonas Guttierez is the only senior player due to return to training on 5th October, but also youngsters LuaLua and Andrew Carroll are due to return to training [. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder Deco believes Porto have the ingredients to cause Arsenal's youngsters plenty of problems when the two sides meet in tomorrow's Champions League group game. The Gunners head into the game having suffered an astonishing 2-1 loss at home to Hull City in the league on Saturday. Click to continue reading...

I'm still recovering from that. Tip of the cap to the coach and players of Hull City - they played an outstanding game, whereas the high paid players of Arsenal looked liked they didn't care Geovanni's goal was sublime, but he was given too much time and too much space. William Gallas is once again facing a hail of criticism for his shoddy defending and leadership.

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Its difficult swallowing losses to Fulham and now Hull. Especially after that wonderful mid week dismantling of Sheffield Utd at the hands of the youngsters.

Admittedly the goals that sunk the Gunners were top notch. Almunia, even if he had morphed into a giant octopus with flailing tentacles, would have had a tough time keeping Geovanni and Daniel Cousin from the back of the net.

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Arsene Wenger is faced with an interesting problem. Last week he watched his youngsters and reserves destroy a decent Championship outfit in Sheffield United, 6-0 in the Carling Cup. On Saturday, he watched his much lauded first team go down 2-1 at home to newly promoted Hull. The question is, how much better than the reserves are the first team? Click to continue reading...

Following the defeat against Hull City there is plenty of navel gazing, doom and gloom descends upon Arsenal fans, then end of the world is nigh, Wenger is a rubbish manager.  The real problem is Wenger is a very conservative manager in his team selection.   Wenger likes to give the youngsters a run in the Carling [. Click to continue reading...

Excellent piece in today's Times.  In short, you need to spend big to get a world class youth policy.  Well worth a read, this, and shows just how far off we are in this regard. Meanwhile, here are the Fulham youngsters on Soccer am, a skills showdown or somesuch between Danny Hoesen and Matthew Briggs. Click to continue reading...

By 1970's Gooner Nonchalant, arrogant and naïve. These are the words that a lot of fans are using at the moment. This is indeed how best this Arsenal and a lot of past Arsene Wenger sides, can be characterised. All these negative attributes arise from the youthfulness of the players and indeed of any youngsters that you may come upon in everyday life. Click to continue reading...

Wellington won, honest the beat the leaders Sydney FC. I kid you not. And Victory had another sent-off, for what I don't know.


Central Coast thumped Perth, will Dave Mitchell be sacked after Pim Verbeek's vote of confidence, and the youngsters shine for the Kruse less Roar.

Queensland Roar are better away. Click to continue reading...

Carling Cup holders Tottenham face a tough task in the fourth round of the competition after being pitted against seven-time winners Liverpool in one of three all-Premier League ties.

Spurs, who defeated Chelsea to lift the trophy last season, took a break from their league troubles to dump Newcastle out in the previous round and must beat top-flight opposition again if they are to progress. Click to continue reading...

Betis defender Luciano Monzón is one of the few youngsters that has made a quick impact as soon as he arrived in Europe.   His ability to make a name for himself with Real Betis earned him his first-ever callup to the Argentine national team. The former "Boca Baby" has seen 2008 be very [...] Click to continue reading...

Another Friday means match day is soon to come. This week it's newcomers Hull City visiting the Emirates. It was a crazy week, as the youngsters were the toast of the Carling Cup's third round with their thrashing of Sheffield United. Lots of interesting news to go around as a result.

Cesc talks about fearing for his first team place with the sort of young talent below him.

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Premier League leaders Arsenal take on surprise package Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. The Gunners are flying high at the top of the Premiership and take on top-flight debutantes Hull on the back of a 6-0 destruction of Championship side Sheffield United by their youngsters in the Carling Cup, but expect manager Arsene [. Click to continue reading...

Arsenal midfield maestro and Euro2008 Champ Cesc Fabregas believes he will have to raise his game after the performances of Arsenal's young guns on Tuesday night. Arsene Wenger used a squad with an average age of just 19 for the Carling Cup clash with Sheffield United at the Emirates, but still saw his talented men [. Click to continue reading...