When Scunthorpe snapped up young Accrington Stanley forward Robert Grant in June 2010 there was much talk about him being the next off the remarkable production line at Glanford Park.

The likes of Sharp, Paterson, and Hooper had or were set to move onto bigger and better things so fittingly hopes were high that the youngster from Stanley could live up to his striking predecessors in Northern Lincolnshire.

Indeed at the time Grant, who had hit 18 in 51 appearances for Stanley, stated that he was hoping to follow in the footsteps of Iron legend Kevin Keegan 40 years previous by earning a move to the top tier from Scunthorpe.

Nigel Adkins certainly believed Grant could become a special player. The 20-year-old was already a first team regular at the Lancashire club and was someone who looked to have a bright future ahead of him. Although he was out-of-contract, as he was under 24, compensation was due to Accrington. A fee of up to £260,000 was agreed based on performance and appearances at Scunthorpe.

However things have not worked out and instead of following in the footsteps of his hero Keegan he now appears to be taking the route back to the lower league football. With his contract expiring there is a controversial decision to make regarding his future but where did it go so wrong?

With Scunthorpe in the Championship, youngster Grant was always signed as one for the future and his start at the club established that with only minor roles coming off the bench. However one of his earliest appearances, as a substitute against Manchester United in the cup, confirmed that he could potentially have a distinguished career for the Iron. He put in a self-assured display for a 20-year-old coming up against one of the best sides in the world.

Despite this it was quite a shock to see him named in the starting line-up by Ian Baraclough for our game at Leicester City in October. Thrown in the deep end by the inexperienced boss, Grant looked something of a fish out of water and was substituted after only 56 minutes.

After being continuously used in a bit-part role, Grant decided to gain some much-needed playing time at League One side Rochdale. He made the ideal start for the Dale, netting on his debut and went onto make six appearances for the club, scoring once more before being recalled by Scunthorpe. However as Scunny struggled at the bottom of the Championship, Grant remained a squad player regularly featuring off the bench. He only made six more starts as the side were ultimately relegated back to League One.

This summer Grant was understandably keen to ‘draw a line’ under his disappointing first season with the club, failing to live up to the potential that Adkins first saw in him.

Big things were expected of him in League One as although he looked out of his depth in the Championship he had already demonstrated he could perform at this level during his short loan-spell at Rochdale. It started well enough and by November Grant had registered nine goals in League One. His fine performances at Charlton and at home against Tranmere demonstrated the obvious ability that he possesses. But frequently during the season he has failed to illustrate this ability; repeatedly frustrating to watch, polarising opinion on the terraces and at times proving to be a liability for the side.

Consequently Grant’s status at Scunthorpe remains one of untapped potential.

The irregularity in his play is probably the most infuriating part of his game. For every stunning long-range wonder goal (Tranmere) comes an instant that costs the side crucial points (Colchester). His past substitute appearances had resulted in self-seeking long range efforts that made life difficult not for opposition keepers but for our ball boys.

Grant was probably signed by Adkins with a view to playing him as an out and out striker but I personally think he has the ability to succeed as a winger. Too often earlier in the season, while played up-front, he was dropping deep after being left isolated by our uncreative midfield. He lacks the height and all-round ability to cause major problems in a league dominated by burly centre-backs in the centre of attack. However his nine goals for the Iron this season demonstrate that he is very capable of scoring goals. Perhaps a wider role would let this talent shine through? Indeed, the versatile front-man performed well on the left-wing during his loan-spell at Accrington, claiming three goals in his seven games back at his former club.

In part, Grant was quite unfortunate to get injured during January when Knill strengthened the attack, switching to a 4-3-3 formation with Parkin leading the line with Duffy and Barcham providing support on the flanks. However he came back from his loan spell with a better attitude and looked decent enough leading the line during our last three games of the season. Perhaps this has made Knill re-think his opinion about young Grant.

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With an option to extend his current contract available it is possible that he does have a future at club after all if they decide that his obvious potential outweighs his dubious attitude. This and his recent improvement in performance and attitude may just be enough for him to get another year at the club.

However with the option to get rid approaching many fans believe it is time to cut our losses with the egotistical 21-year-old whose potential remains yet unfulfilled at Scunthorpe United. I just wonder if Alan Knill agrees.

Let me know your thoughts about Bobby’s future with the club on Twitter: @aidanmccartney

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There have been few downsides, if any at all in supporting Spain over recent years as their Tiki-taka style has won worldwide acclaim and swept aside all possible opponents in their successful pursuit of both European and World glory. Another Spaniard who can feel proud of his efforts this season is Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez who has been courted by many clubs; namely Liverpool after steering his Latics side clear of relegation despite working with one of the Premier League’s tightest budgets. The former Swansea manager believes defending the European crown will be the toughest agenda yet for La Roja, and contends that Group B possesses some dangerous challengers who may well threaten the dominance of Vicente Del Bosque’s side.

“I wouldn’t say it’s for Spain to lose; it is probably the hardest out of the last three tournaments, firstly because anyone that plays against Spain knows it’s acceptable to do whatever they want to get a result and that’s a big advantage. As we have seen before in examples from this season, when it is acceptable for you to do that; be very defensively minded and negative with your play just because you are playing against Spain. Therefore it will be very difficult for Spain to find a way to win games and playing in a European competition you know all the teams will be very strong defensively and focused on stopping Spain. This is something we didn’t see in South Africa, there were the South American teams which are completely different to the Europeans and we saw Spain struggle with teams like Switzerland and Germany. For me Group B has the finalists; they may not win the tournament but you are looking at Holland, Germany, Denmark and Portugal so I think that group will set the standard. I think the nations with the best opportunity are Germany and Holland but I do feel Spain needs to find a solution for who will put the ball in the back of the net. It’s as simple as finding someone who can convert those chances and if they can they are the team to beat.”

 “For more insight from Roberto Martinez and other leading managers plus all the coverage of Euro 2012 go toyahoo.eurosport.com”

Former Southampton captain Claus Lundekvam has shockingly revealed details of a Premier League betting scandal.

The Norwegian defender played for the Saints between 1996 and 2008, and has blown the lid on a frequent betting scandal, in which players co-operated with other teams and money was made for the individuals in question.

“It’s not something I’m proud of,” Lundekvam revealed to The Sun.

“For a while we did this almost every week. We made a fair bit of money. We could make deals with the opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty.

“Those were the sorts of thing we had influence over.

“The results were never on the agenda. That is something I would never have done. We were professional competitors. Even though what we did, of course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing.

“I know it happened at other clubs as well.

“We footballers live in a bubble. It was part of the lifestyle and the excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Andy Carroll’s thundering header for England at Euro 2012 against Ukraine was an example of the upside to the 23-year-old’s game. But is it enough to spark interest from more than just West Ham in the Premier League?

Andy Carroll’s move to Liverpool never really seemed to sit right. His Premier League experience amounted to less than a season, and the transfer fee spent by the Anfield side was well above what the striker was and will be worth. Difficult circumstances, certainly, but is it proof of a poor performer or should other clubs be looking to give Carroll a second chance?

There’s been nothing concrete to suggest Carroll would fit in with Brendan Rodgers’ philosophy at Liverpool. Rodgers would take him under his wing, of course, but the playing style may be too far removed from Carroll’s natural game.

He’s a powerful striker who’s able to lead the line, but his limitations, at least from what we’ve seen, do not point towards a striker who would thrive with the ball played on the deck. His performances toward the end of last season and at the Euros were promising, an indication that there is a good and potentially valuable player in there. But it’s clearly not enough to convince his current side to see out the next 12 months with him, at least.

Carroll’s ambition is clear: he wants European football, whether that’s at a previously unmentioned club or Newcastle. West Ham’s offer of an eight-year contract should have made him look twice, as I’m sure many others did, but he’s clearly not looking to commit to a club who have not had a stable short-term future in recent years.

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But is a club like West Ham the best that Carroll can hope for at the moment? There’s no doubt that the manager in place would get the best out of him, as Sam Allardyce’s style of play is suited to a big man up top. And with West Ham willing to invest so much in him, Carroll would possibly have the luxury of the club building the rest of the team around him and his strengths.

Newcastle have something very positive going on at the moment, much of which was built on the sale of Carroll to Liverpool. Their work ethic and available strikers (Demba Ba’s future is still unclear) would point towards a much smaller role than Carroll had before. However, despite Carroll fancying a pre-game drink or 10, there has been proof of a determined player when he’s in the mood.

And that’s the main concern: is there any club besides West Ham who would make Carroll feel wanted and motivated.

Should Tottenham have a look? Again, I’m sure Andre Villas-Boas’ on-field vision will work against a player like Carroll, but a club playing at that level is not a completely ludicrous idea for Carroll. A similar £35 million fee, however, would be. Although I doubt there are any clubs looking to make that mistake.

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There was promise for Carroll in the recent past. He was seen as the long-term partner for Wayne Rooney in the England setup, and he has shown that he’s capable of finding the net from outside the penalty area.

Carroll is far from an elegant player, but he’s also far from useless. His time at Liverpool has been one where everyone other than Liverpool fans are waiting and hoping for a mistake or poor performance from the striker. Everyone knew that £35 million was beyond ridiculous, but it was just necessary to hammer it home a few more times.

Away from that, Carroll could still prove to be a good player. A target man who will do well with the right service. And although many clubs want to replicate the successes of the Spanish, there will be teams who are more suited to Carroll’s ability on the pitch.

The premier league have re-iterated their desire for Premier League teams to shake hands before a game, according to the Guardian.

This is despite anxieties over certain players refusing to shake hands with one another a succession of games in the Premier League this forthcoming September. The first match of concern is between Chelsea and QPR at Stamford Bridge on September 15th. It is though that Rangers’ defender Antonio Ferdinand will refuse to shake hands with Chelsea captain John Terry after the racist allegations made against Terry which resulted both men being embroiled in a dramatic court case over the summer.

The weekend after the West London derby is a clash between fierce rivals Liverpool and Manchester United. This rivalry was intensified even further at Old Trafford last season when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez refused to shake the hand of United defender Patrice Evra following a race row which resulted in Suarez picking up an eight match ban over the Christmas period.

In addition to this, the match between Chelsea and Manchester United on October 28th may cause even more controversy, when John Terry matches up against United defender and older brother of Anton, Rio Ferdinand. Rio is also thought to be angered by Chelsea defender Ashley Cole’s decision to testify in favour of his teammate Terry in court in July. As a consequence of this, Rio landed himself in hot water so the FA when he labelled Cole as a ‘choc-ice’ on the social networking site Twitter.

The Premier League introduced the handshake for the 2008/09 campaign as a goodwill gesture. However, it first attracted attention during a match between Chelsea and Manchester City in February 2010 when City defender Wayne Bridge refused to shake the hand of John Terry following Terry’s affair with Bridge’s wife.

Before the beginning of the season the Premier League did give its 20 member clubs the option of removing the pre-match ritual of the handshake. However, all clubs were unanimous in agreeing that it should remain.

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With football’s silly season already in full swing and rumour abound that players and managers alike will be seeking pastures new, experienced fans are starting to see a familiar pattern emerging.

Overinflated transfers fees, shock bids for unknown quantities and Harry Redknapp denying links to every player under the sun are just some of the qualities fans await with anticipation, all while the Sky Sports News team has a heart attack providing 24 hour coverage to all and sundry.

The Premier League’s biannual centrepiece is as theatrical as it is uncompromising but amidst all the gossip and intrigue, there’s a sense of inevitability when awaiting the transfer window’s trademark features.

While it may provide a wonderful attraction to football lovers worldwide, every year supporters soon remember how predictable the whole process has become. Below is a gallery of scenes that fans can expect to witness before the window slams shut at the end of August.

Click on Jim White to unveil the 15 things we can expect from the transfer window

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Given his declaration that Manchester United can cope without a specialist defensive midfielder this season, there’s a sense that Sir Alex Ferguson is now eating his own words.

As the world awaited their first glimpse of Robin Van Persie in a United shirt on the first Monday Night Football of the season, the need for a new defensive shield became all the more evident on an eye opening night at Goodison Park.

Van Persie’s £24 million switch to Old Trafford has unquestionably captured the imagination of United fans desperate for their team to regain the supremacy relinquished to rivals Manchester City last season. But there are question marks over whether the money used to acquire the Holland striker should have been reinvested in impoverished areas of the squad considering the abundance of attacking talent already present at the club.

On the face of it, Ferguson’s decision to sign van Persie appears rash and a reaction to City’s last ditch Premier  League title triumph in May. There’s a feeling that the 70-year-old has overlooked a paucity in midfield and impulsively splurged a chunk of his budget on a player he believes will re-establish them as the dominant force in English football

That notion is strengthened given the unexpected revamp of United’s shape. With football still in the midst of a tactical evolution, prompted by Barcelona’s tiki-taka philosophy, Ferguson acted in accordance adopting a fashionable 4-2-3-1 as opposed to the trusted 4-4-2 that has brought him unprecedented success during 25 years at the Old Trafford reins.

The result of that deviation left an imbalance in the United midfield that the Red Devils’ chief has struggled to correct given his limited options and eagerness to accommodate new signing Shinji Kagawa into the starting eleven. His desire to mimic Barca’s methodology came at a cost though as his midfield were ruthlessly crushed by a vibrant Everton performance led by the imperious Marouane Fellaini.

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If the alarm bells weren’t already ringing in Ferguson’s ears by the time the Belgian had headed the Toffees into a second half lead, they should have been blaring at the final whistle. Having found himself forced to partner Michael Carrick alongside Nemanja Vidic (who was returning from a nine-month injury lay-off) in central defence on account of a crippling injury crisis, you’d imagine the inclusion of an anchor man would be an obvious pre-requisite.

But without the means of installing a layer of protection in front of the back four, Carrick and Vidic were terrorised by David Moyes’ men, in particular Fellaini, as they exploited the space afforded to them in and around the penalty area to great effect. It was an oversight on Ferguson’s part not to recognise that danger and take the necessary measures in sheltering Carrick and Vidic from a Merseyside pummelling with subsequent games against Southampton and Fulham only serving to emphasise the need for a specialist defensive midfielder.

Much was said about Ferguson’s decision to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement in January to fill a creative void in the midfield following his failed pursuit of Wesley Sneijder last summer. It appears as if history has repeated itself this year only although it’s highly unlikely the United boss will be sending an urgent SOS to Roy Keane like he did Scholes. But in prioritising the signing of van Persie he has overlooked a fatal flaw in his team that could have grave long-term ramifications.

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In a 4-4-2 he could get away without deploying a defensive midfielder but the change to a Barca style 4-2-3-1 necessitates the implementation of an anchor. Yet Ferguson continues to turn a blind eye opting for his central trio to be geared towards a possessional based game working from the mantra of ‘why win the ball back when we can keep it?’ In a similar strategy to the one applied by the Catalan giants, that sees Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi collectively share the ball-winning duties, Carrick, Scholes and Cleverley function as deep lying playmakers with the focus on utilising their keen reading of the game and intelligent positional play.

Although it could be argued that La Liga is an entirely different environment to the robust setting of the Premier League, several of the Red Devils’ rival clubs, including City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham, operate with a comparable framework accommodating both a tough tackling anchor man and a player competent in retaining possession. Needless to say you can’t hold it against Ferguson for attempting to instil a flexibility to his side through the use of modern tactical concepts as the game continues to evolve. However, against stronger opponents he will endure a greater punishment for deliberately ignoring the kink in his side that could prove to be the deciding factor in the pursuit of their top-flight crown.

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has stressed that veteran defender Jamie Carragher still has an important part to play in the club’s future.

The ageing centre-half has fallen behind Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in the Reds’ backline, but with the Dane and Martin Kelly struggling with injuries could be used by the Northern Irish coach more frequently.

Rodgers has reconfirmed the defender’s importance both on and off the pitch.

“He’s critical. The likes of Andre Wisdom look up so much to guys like Jamie Carragher,” Mirror Football quote Rodgers as saying.

“For them to be on the same field as him, and to learn from his experience and leadership qualities is very, very important.

“Sometimes as a coach, you can coach players, you can talk with them, you can educate them, but when they go out onto the field, if they’ve got top players around them that can also help them manage the game from the inside.

“Guys like Carra are top class at that and, for me, your young players are only as good as your senior players,” he concluded.

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Liverpool take on West Brom in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.

By Gareth McKnight

Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Wigan Athletic. These are all the teams from Lancashire and Merseyside, who have played in the Premier League in the last ten years. Hull City, Leeds United and Sheffield United. By contrast, these are the select few teams from Yorkshire and Humber who have played in the Premier League in the last ten years.

This is staggering on two counts. Firstly, it is staggering when you consider that Yorkshire, by area at least, is the biggest county in England. So large in fact, that it has subsequently been broken up into sub-counties as a result. Secondly, it is also incredible because in Leeds and Sheffield, Yorkshire has two of the biggest cities in England by population.

All this has led me to ponder, what has and is going wrong with football in Yorkshire? In deliberating this question I asked a friend. To which he retorted, ‘it’s easy, Yorkshire has more rugby teams like Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls.’ It was then I reeled off Wigan, St Helens, Widnes, Warrington etc.

And just to note this article is not an anti-Lancashire piece by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it is admirable that within the last ten years, so many Premier League teams have come from the north-west. But, as a Yorkshireman, it seems puzzling to me how in such a big county, especially a county that loves it football, how we have had such feeble representation when it comes to backing a top flight team.

This article seeks to simply consider some of the possibilities. The first one is this. It has been well documented that there are certain players in the Premier League, most notably London-based players, who are reluctant to leave their clubs, even though they are surplus to requirements at that club. For example, do players such as Sebastian Squillaci at Arsenal and Paulo Ferreira at Chelsea remain unwanted at their respective clubs for fear of leaving London? I would argue yes. And this made me wonder, do players simply not want to play in Yorkshire? Do players find the prospect of living in Barnsley, Leeds or Sheffield untenable? By comparison do cities such as Liverpool and Manchester represent a hub of activity for the top flight players?

Or, instead on focusing on what Yorkshire is doing wrong, maybe we can look to the north-west and be in ore of what they are doing right. I think there are two teams to thank in particular for the success of football in the north-west, Liverpool and Manchester United. And it boils down to the notion that success breeds success. It is so true. Both Liverpool and United, have pretty much monopolised the Premier League title honours for the past thirty years now. Within this period, the north-west has produced quality players such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard Jamie Carragher, the list goes on, of players who have all turned out to be legends at their respective clubs.

I think most people reading this article will remember the famous scene when adoring Leeds fans swarmed round Alan Smith, praising his loyalty to a failing cause. Smith was a Yorkshireman with great potential. He ultimately found the lure of Manchester United too great. Within this period Leeds produced two other fine young talents in Aaron Lennon and James Milner. They both have sought pastures new in London and Manchester.

One bitter and perhaps misguided argument would be to say that in the top four divisions in England, there are more teams from Lancashire and Merseyside, 17, than there are in Yorkshire and Humber, 10, and therefore the likelihood of having Premier League representation is greater. What a terrible argument people may think. What realistic chance do teams such as, and with all respect, Fleetwood, Morecambe and Rochdale have of playing in the top flight? Well the 1996-1997 campaign is a great example of how teams can make a meteoric rise through the leagues, as Wigan Athletic beat Fulham to the Division Three title that season, whilst Swansea City finished fifth.

A major indicator to success or failure in football is financial backing. The demise of Leeds United, invariably Yorkshire’s biggest club, occurred due to a complete over expenditure which led to the club in financial ruin. With the risk of picking on Wigan Athletic, they have shown over the past seven years that with sound financial backing, small teams can survive in the Premier League. Football Fancast’s Thomas Hallett wrote an article on ‘Do football fans really matter anymore’? For all that Leeds are a hugely supported club, because of their lack of major investment in the past ten years, they still lie a division below the likes of Wigan and Swansea.

Finally, maybe Yorkshire just hasn’t had that bit of luck. Sheffield United fans would argue that if it wasn’t for the Carlos Tevez affair, the following five years may have been so different.

These are just suggestions. Perhaps it is just complete chance that Yorkshire clubs haven’t been successful in recent years. Or maybe it is just sour grapes from a disappointed Yorkshireman?

Regardless, I would love to read about what people think about this so please leave a comment and give me your suggestions.

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Matt Read

follow me on twitter @Matt_of_the_day

The cries of “he’s just too good for you” were once reserved solely for Adel Taarabt, but now these words are inspired by a young star at Crystal Palace, whose recent performances have seen him tear through Championship defences as the club surges up the table.

Wilfried Zaha is the latest extraordinary talent to have emerged from the exceptional youth academy at Crystal Palace. At just 19 years of age he has already made a home for himself in the heart of the supporters with the pace, flair and eye for goal that define football as one of the most breathtaking and entertaining sports in the world.

His newfound prolific nature in front of goal has all but confirmed suspicions that he possesses all the attributes required to succeed at the highest level but while a move to the Premier League may be inevitable, it might not be as forthcoming as the nation’s tabloids would have you believe.

Crystal Palace may not be able to boast the same history, stature or financial arsenal as rival teams around the country but the club beautifully illustrate the benefits of promoting a family atmosphere and the local community. As a result the fans share a genuine sense of belonging and in a strange way the process of administration has been a blessing in disguise. How many clubs in English football can claim they’re happy or even inspired by their current manager and chairman combination?

The current youth set-up is littered with ‘local lads’ that are well aware of a realistic path to the first-team, especially now the club is renowned for providing a stage for young players to flourish. The new financial regulations of the EPPP will see the Premier League vultures become a prominent feature at clubs like Crystal Palace and so it’s vital that they maintain this ethos and continue to enhance their positive learning environment.

In 2010 Bromley-born centre-back Ryan Inniss rose to fame when he captained the England U’16’s to victory in both the Victory Shield and the Montaigu Tournament in France. However, despite a concrete offer from Manchester City, Inniss turned down a bumper pay pocket in favour of signing a professional contract at Crystal Palace. His decision highlights a refreshing display of maturity and one that will hopefully be replicated in the future.

[post_link url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/2012/10/championship/crystal-palace/premier-league-clubs-told-to-cough-up-more-than-11m-to-land-starlet,https://www.footballfancast.com/2012/10/championship/improvement-continues-as-crystal-palace-rise-to-fourth,https://www.footballfancast.com/2012/08/football-blogs/are-these-footballers-mollycoddled-from-too-young-an-age” target=”_blank” type=”tower”]

In the case of Wilfried Zaha, both he and manager Dougie Freedman have worked closely in various capacities over the past five years. Zaha recently revealed that he misses South London when he’s away on international duty, an admission that not only highlights his affinity with club but also the fact he’s not quite ready for the next stage in his career. Freedman’s legendary status at the club coupled with his playing career as a striker means he is the prime candidate to help Zaha fulfil his potential. An opinion Freedman also appears to share:

“The arrangement I’ve got with the club is that I will let Wilfried and his family know when I can’t develop him any longer – and I will also let them know which club for him to go to.” (Croydon Today)

On the outside this statement may be perceived as the customary stubborn and ignorant attempts to hold onto the club’s prized asset, but it’s clear that there is a mutual respect and affection between the key trio of club, manager and the player. The modern sacking culture in football means such long-term and rewarding relationships are an increasing rarity, which is perhaps the reason why so many players are easily lured away with financial incentives and misleading promises.

In recent times we’ve witnessed promising strikers Marvin Sordell and Connor Wickham struggle to adapt to life in the top flight after seemingly outgrowing the Championship. The pressure and expectation of such high-profile moves coupled with a drastically reduced playing time means their development has been bought to a rapid halt.

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To put their respective downfalls into perspective, Sordell managed just three substitute appearances in the second half of Bolton’s relegation season and has notched up just one goal this year in the Championship. Wickham has also only managed a solitary goal for his new club but has yet to clock up a single minute under Martin O’Neill this season, which is remarkable considering their demoralising stats in front of goal.

Zaha need only be reminded of former academy graduates John Bostock, Tom Soares and even Wayne Routledge to understand the perils of moving on too soon. He should look to learn from Nathaniel Clyne, who agreed to sign for Southampton last summer despite reported interest from Newcastle and Manchester United. Clyne is now playing first-team football for a team in the Premier League that endorses an attractive brand of football. As a result he has continued to prosper and has surely established the perfect platform for him to achieve the next step-up.

I hope that the future transfer of Wilfried Zaha provides a turning point that sees youngsters trust their club with the timing, fee and destination of any potential move onwards and upwards. It’s imperative that they join a team with a similar playing philosophy that can offer a regular first-team role rather than a few extra zeros on their wage packet. If the next generation of stars are to fulfil their potential then it remains clear that they should keep their eye on the ball rather than their bank balance.