Has it really been 15 years since Alan Hansen made the worst prediction since Michael Fish's disastrous weather forecast in 1987. How those words have come back to haunt the Match of the Day expert.
Now what he will say is that he meant to say you can't win anything with a team completely made up with youngsters. Most of us acknowledge you need a sprinkling of experience if you are to be successful.
Gary Neville recently predicted that it would take England 10 years to be competitive at international level. If you analyse the U21 players who have broke through into the full team and in 10 years they will all be 29-32. In their footballing prime.
Then I got to thinking which clubs are successfully bringing English young players through capable of potentially breaking into Fabio Capello's Euro 2012 squad.
Arsenal have 3 genuine prospects with Wilshire, Walcott and Gibbs all with a real chance provided they all gain a decent run of form and fitness. From Villa, Agbonlahor is a player due to his international experience is still a novice and again given form and fitness is another who is challenging the established members. Should Gary Cahill secure a move to a top 6 team he could go but as long as he is struggling at Bolton it won't happen.
If Gibbs can't find form and fitness another potential left back is Ryan Bertrand. Although he might not make Chelsea's team, a spell on loan in January may force his way into the squad. Whether he is selected as a wide player or as a striking option it looks like Sturridge's consistency will ensure his place. Jack Rodwell may not be prominent yet but an injury here and there, maintaining his own form and even a move in January could see hi shoot up the pecking order. Man United may come calling after losing Anderson on a long term injury. Rodwell's current team captain Phil Jagielka showed he deserves a place in the squad after his performance against Spain.
Man City should provide right back competition in Micah Richards along with keeper Joe Hart and midfielder James Milner in a midfield position. Neighbours United will expect defenders Smalling and Jones to join forwards Young, Rooney (provided his suspension is reduced) and Welbeck (provided he starts scoring regularly and if Tom Cleverley can regain fitness and find his early season form it will be hard for Capello to overlook him.
Another possible surprise inclusion come next year could be Danny Simpson. A long shot I know but all he can do is keep up his club form. There are also calls to include his club mate Steven Taylor. Another centre back performing consistently is Ryan Shawcross. With Stoke seemingly set to make the next phase of the Europa League, he will have plenty of opportunity to show his credentials.
A couple of outside chances who are playing well for their clubs are Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Matt Jarvis (Wolves) and Wright-Phillips (QPR). All three are some way short but are on the emergency last resort list. They will need to just concentrate on their club form and see where it leads to.
One more youngster definite to go is Kyle Walker from Tottenham. He looks set to maybe even start but that depends on Richards, Smalling and even Jones. His club team mate Scott Parker should in my opinion be made the England captain. I know he isn't one of these players who need an armband to perform but he has become so important in his position I just feel he is the best choice out of the guaranteed starters to lead on the pitch. Bet that provokes a lot of sour Chelsea "fans". And obviously Aaron Lennon will feel unless he is injured then he is another cert.
So if all these new and young players all keep performing and maintain fitness Capello's youngsters could form the baulk of the squad. Joe Hart and Stockdale both young in football terms. Walker, Richards, Smalling, Jones, Shawcross Gibbs or Bertrand all early twenties (Jones exception) plus Jagielka whose under 30. Parker, Milner, Sturridge, Young, Walcott, Lennon, Wilshire and Cleverley providing midfield options and Rooney, Bent, Agbonlhor and Welbeck as your forward options and throw another goalkeeper onto that list and you have 22 of a 23 man squad possibly already.
The likes of Glenn Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, Baines, Lampard, Gerrard, Jole Cole, Ashley Cole and Gareth Barry are no longer automatic choices and have their work cut out to gain a place in the squad. I have been saying since the World Cup that I would rather get an international beating by trying the youngsters than with the same old flops. I stand by this. The only way the youngsters are going to get experience and big matches is if they play them. Their good enough for the Champions League and Europa League.
The term "Golden Generation" was coined by the media but I feel they were premature. This current crop of players from the ages of 27 downwards really does have the potential for greatness. What would Busby or Ferguson do? If the boys are good enough they will play. After all. You can win things with kids.
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