ospect in English football today. The composure he shows on the ball, and the lack of nerves that he shows when he steps out on to that pitch, be it the much treaded turf of St. James' Park, or the much less hallowed turf of Scunthorpe United show that he is most certainly one for the future. One thing is for sure though: when he pulls on the red and blue striped shirt, and kisses the badge just before stepping onto that pitch, he does it with pride, and a sense of duty.Compare him with a certain John Bostock. 19 months ago, a nervous, anxious, 15 year old boy, was greeted with roars of applause and appreciation as he stepped onto the Selhurst Park pitch, to play out the remaining 1/3 of the game against Watford. On that day, Bostock did nothing out of the ordinary, but his age made the occasion extra special, and a moment to remember. People had thought prior to the game, that this day was a day to remember, that you could tell the grandchildren all those years later where you had been when Palace legend John Bostock first made his way onto that pitch.
How wrong we were.
19 months on, and Nathaniel Clyne has matured, despite still being the seemingly youthful age of 17, and now has his place secured in the starting XI to the point where the previous right-back is being put up for sale. Meanwhile, a money-thirsty John Bostock waits in the stands, listening to his top of the range iPod Touch, which probably has the entirety of iTunes on it, s
imply because he has more money than sense.This is a great shame, because there is no hiding of the fact that John Bostock is an extremely talented footballer, but yet this is what football has become. It is a rarety that a player such as Clyne will come through the youth system not for money, or fame, but for the love of the beautiful game, almost with the same attitude as Gary Neville, and there is no chance that he won't emulate the England and Manchester United right-back's success.
Yet in todays game, players like Clyne are not making the headlines, but players like Bostock, because nowadays you read less and less in the 'papers about brilliant performances, and more and more about high transfer fees, and high wages, and this is highlighted in a week where Spanish giants Real Madrid seem certain to spend £180m on just three players. These players have not joined Madrid because of their love for the club, but for the fame and fortune that it will bring them. There are plenty of bright prospects in the lower leagues of football, but because of what the game has become, these players are now ignored, as money takes control.
We'll see how the likes of Bostock, Ronaldo, Kaka and Villa do at their clubs next year, but I highly doubt there will be as much promise there as there would be if clubs invested in signings for the future. And this is where Simon Jordan got it right at Palace. Because of his philosophy and putting everything into the youth system, the Bostock blow wasn't as big as it would be at another club.
But at least, next year, for those of us living in a world where clubs push the boat out on £1m signings rather than £100m signings, we can look forward to football lovers like Nathaniel Clyne, and Fabien Delph.
Gibbo
