2007-08-23,  by Jeremy Wilson - The Telegraph

An effortless shift from right-back to the centre of Manchester City's defence has demonstrated Micah Richards' adaptability but, according to his first coach, the journey is destined to end in the middle of the park.

Simon Clifford will feel more than a little pride if, as expected, Richards features in the England defence to face Germany tonight, yet he believes it is the likes of Owen Hargreaves, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard who have most to fear from the 19-year-old's rise.

Clifford said: "When he first broke into the team at Manchester City, he had not really played at right-back. He was a central midfielder and I think that will eventually be his best position. For me, he [Richards] could be a better midfield player than Steven Gerrard because he is more complete. People have seen what he can do in defence but not so much what he can do on the ball. He can score goals as well and support the strikers."

2007-08-23 

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has hit out at the academy system in English football as he continues to be frustrated in his search for young British talent.

The 46-year-old told BBC Radio 5live and BBC News that club academies were failing to produce top players and warned: "It's going to be a downward spiral now. Where are we producing the players? We've got all these academies. But I don't think they are working. There seems a dearth of young talent. We're not producing like we used to."

With England losing at home to Germany in a friendly, ahead of crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia next month, Bruce admits he fears for the future of the national side. "I can't see the development of the young players and where are the young British players?" he said. "I'm after a young midfield player and we're scouring, scouring and scouring the lower divisions and the Championship but there seems a dearth of young British talent."

by Rick Broadbent - The Times, 2007-08-13 

Meet a 19-year-old who eschews money and top clubs’ advances to play for fun.

It may just be that the most exceptional footballer in the land is not the England captain who has recently signed a £130,000-a-week deal at Chelsea but a slight teenager who wants to shun the bright lights for a piece of the action in West Yorkshire’s coal-mining belt. Meet Duncan Williams.

In an age when football has a get-rich-quick feel about it, this 19-year-old from Leeds sounds a lone voice. Terry is rich beyond his wildest dreams, while David Beckham has spawned an empire founded on the cult of celebrity. Williams plays right midfield for Garforth Town, has turned down advances from Middlesbrough, Everton and Bolton Wanderers and refuses to be paid.

“I want to become the first player in the Premier League who does not have a wage,” he said. “I don’t think it’s right that you get paid for doing something you love when there are people being killed all over the world.”