Rant over

A couple of interesting graphs posted on the BBC website today that tells a dramatic story to the reason why we had three of the four semi-finalists in the Champions League, yet we didn't qualify for the European Championships in Switzerland and Austria.

Only 170 of the 498 players who started matches in the top flight in 2007-08 were English - just 34.1% of the total. However it can be pointed out that these generally tend to be the best players in the world. This cannot be said for teams playing foreigners lower down the leagues.Credit to the Hammers for having the most Englishman. Curbs has always been known for his witty dry sense of humour and playing teams predominately of Brits. Kudos to Martin O'Neill too. At the other end of the spectrum, it is no surprise to see Arsenal and Liverpool rock bottom, but it is Blackburn. Fulham have half of the American 'roster' in their team of course.

The other numbers that are worrying, and I don't have a graph, are that of the teams academies, now in nearly every case dotted with young talent from overseas. This is where the world cup winners of tomorrow should be coming from, but all clubs are doing is helping groom Nigeria, Spain and France's national teams. I don't see Barcelona, Milan and Lyon's youth team being stuffed full off Bristish youngsters.