Arsène Wenger's policy of recruiting teenagers at Arsenal has been strongly criticised by Uefa's president, Michel Platini. Wenger has a reputation as one of Europe's foremost talent spotters, with Cesc Fàbregas, Theo Walcott and Fran Merida, a highly rated teenager signed from Barcelona, among the youngsters he has brought to the club, but Platini disapproves of his compatriot's approach in the transfer market.
"I do not like the system of Arsène Wenger," the former France international said. "In France, Italy and Spain it is easy to buy with money the best players at 14, 15 or 16. I don't like that. If the best clubs buy the best 15 or 16 (year-old) players, (it) is finished for all the clubs in Europe. If my son is playing at Millwall and at 16 Manchester (United) come in for this player, then when will Millwall have a good team?"
Wenger's purchases also include Gilles Sunu, signed at 16 from the French club Châteauroux this year, and Carlos Vela, a Mexican forward bought at the same age from Chivas de Guadalajara two years ago and now on loan at Osasuna in Spain.
In 1999 Wenger brought a 15-year-old Jermaine Pennant from Notts County.
Meanwhile, Sven-Goran Eriksson, never the type to remonstrate angrily with his players, felt compelled to raise his voice after Manchester City's 6-0 defeat by Chelsea and there will be further evidence of his displeasure tonight when the team go to Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup.
Training at City yesterday was devoted almost entirely to the art of defending and a forthright Eriksson said he would field virtually his first-choice team so his players could show Saturday's humiliation was a one-off.
Tonight Eriksson intends to replace Joe Hart with Andreas Isaksson in goal but is not expected to rest other regulars.
Franz Beckenbauer last night joined the critics rounding on the England coach, Steve McClaren, when he dismissed England as a "school team" who lack heart and leadership. Beckenbauer, the former World Cup-winning captain and coach of West Germany, was shocked by the state of McClaren's team when Germany won 2-1 in an August friendly at Wembley. "It was like a school team; they were not talking and not supporting," he said. "That was the biggest surprise. There is no life in this team."
Since that August defeat England's hopes of reaching Euro 2008 have dipped appreciably and, to qualify, they now need to beat Croatia at Wembley next month and hope Russia drop points against Israel or Andorra.
"A European Championship without England wouldn't be the same," added Beckenbauer. "That would be a big loss."
It would also spell the end of McClaren's turbulent spell in charge of the side, though the assistant manager, Terry Venables, feels that would be a serious mistake.
"If you tear it up," said Venables, who also stands to lose his own job, "somebody just ends up having to go through it all again.
"We got five convincing wins on the trot, scoring 15 goals, and people loved the way the football was being played. But you can't expect to be average at the start of a campaign and fantastic at the end of it. Steve has been involved with the team for five years but it is still different (from his role as a coach)."
