5 replies to this topic

[Laurie]

With Zambia winning the African Cup of Nations, I know that a few eyes are now on some of their stars and whether they could potentially step up to a bigger stage at club level.

But is the African market one that Scottish clubs could exploit more?

I know that we need to look at bringing through more Scottish players, but there will always be foreign imports at some level.

We have overspent on overrated foreigners at times, and these days the British and European market is very much inflated cost wise - with bargains seemingly quite hard to find.

But what of Africa?

OK, there are certainly potential problems with work permits - but I wonder if there would be some great potential bargains or prospects if more Scottish teams linked up with African countries.

There have been a few flops in the SPL already, but also a few reasonable success stories.

Personally, I'd like to see more Scottish youngsters coming through - and I think we are going that way - but it wouldn't hurt to maybe look at a market where potential bargains could still be found, and possibly players with big sell on values.

Just look at the success of players such as Adebayor in the Premier League - a player from a small African nation.

[sheeptastic]

 Laurie, on 13 February 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

With Zambia winning the African Cup of Nations, I know that a few eyes are now on some of their stars and whether they could potentially step up to a bigger stage at club level.

But is the African market one that Scottish clubs could exploit more?

I know that we need to look at bringing through more Scottish players, but there will always be foreign imports at some level.

We have overspent on overrated foreigners at times, and these days the British and European market is very much inflated cost wise - with bargains seemingly quite hard to find.

But what of Africa?

OK, there are certainly potential problems with work permits - but I wonder if there would be some great potential bargains or prospects if more Scottish teams linked up with African countries.

There have been a few flops in the SPL already, but also a few reasonable success stories.

Personally, I'd like to see more Scottish youngsters coming through - and I think we are going that way - but it wouldn't hurt to maybe look at a market where potential bargains could still be found, and possibly players with big sell on values.

Just look at the success of players such as Adebayor in the Premier League - a player from a small African nation.

I agree with this view, African footballers often have a great work ethic and do not cost as much as European or British players

[Bundy]

African footballers have a tendency also to be terrible cheats, and if they're decent enough, have to disappear for internationals and often take a while to return. There's definitely some talent there but I'm not sure it's something I'd want introduced. From what I seen of the African Nations, for every good player, there was three or four bad players/cheats.

[jaybee1978]

I'd rather we just gave our own youngsters a chance. We have taken a chance with Chalali but to be honest I think we'd have been better off with Megginson playing.

We have had success in the past with Zerouali though.

Edited by jaybee1978, 13 February 2012 - 07:27 PM.

[Stewart]

You are right Africa is abundant with tallent, i am out there in 2 weeks and will take in quite a few games and i always leave them having seen
a great game with top class individual performances

[Laurie]

The first of many potential big moves for Zambian players I wonder...?

Quote

Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka has issued a come-and-get-me plea to the Premier League - with Arsenal,Newcastle and Fulham all monitoring his progress.

The Young Boys hitman played a major part in the Copper Bullets winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in their history earlier this month and is seen as one African football’s hottest prospects.

Mayuka, who joined Young Boys from Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2010, is the Swiss side's top scorer this season having netted six times.

But the 21-year-old now wants to make the move to one of Europe’s top leagues, with the Premier League his preferred destination.

Arsenal, Newcastle and Fulham have already showed an interest in the 21-year-old, but the English trio face a fight on their hands with a number of other European sides weighing up moves.

Mayuka's agent James Barrett told talkSPORT: "There has been interest shown from Arsenal, Newcastle and Fulham. Emmanuel wants to play in the Premier League, which he feels is the best in the world, but there is more concrete interest from other European clubs."

Edited by Laurie, 16 February 2012 - 02:10 AM.