Villains and Saints promote youth as Hammers and Fulham help the aged
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By Brian Sears 13 September 2013 If you win nothing with kids then Aston Villa and Southampton will win nothing - but their fans might appreciate they are trying to succeed with promising young players. There's a huge contrast in the age of Premier League starting line-ups so far this season, from nippers Aston Villa (average 24.7 years) and Southampton (24.9) to oldies Fulham (30.2 years) and West Ham (29.1). The youngest top-flight line-up in England this season was the Villa side who met Liverpool and lost by a single goal to a tean that was almost three years older per player. It should be noted that Liverpool - so far - have an age profile this season most likely to deliver the title. Why? Because it is typical that a title-winning team in Europe's 'Big 5' divisions will average 27 years old, give or take a few months. Last season, United's title winners had an average age of 26.76 years. Barcelona's title winners in Spain had an average age of 26.73 years. PSG's title winners in France averaged 26.87 years. Bayern's title winners in Germany averaged 26.2 years and Juventus's title winners in Italy averaged 27.7 years. With a long way to go and many changes to come (caveat, caveat), Liverpool's age profile at 26.9 years on average is looking better than too-young teams at Spurs and Arsenal and too-old teams at Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd. Remarkably, the 21 different players chosen by Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert (on the pitch or the bench) for Villa's opening three games have all been 28 years old or younger. Southampton meanwhile have been promoting teenagers. Only six teenagers have started Premier League games this season and three of them have been in Southampton colours, with Luke Shaw, 18 in July, being the youngest. At the other end of the age spectrum Fulham have already used 17 different players in their three starting line-ups (no other club has used so many) and 11 of them have already celebrated their 30th birthday. Elsewhere Ryan Giggs (40 in November) and Jussi Jaaskelainen (38 last April) are the Premier League's most senior starters this season. Indeed when Luke Shaw was born, Giggs had already played five seasons for Manchester United, chalking up 148 league appearances and scoring 28 goals. The graphic below gives each club's average ages this season.
Villains and Saints promote youth as Hammers and Fulham help the aged
Villains and Saints promote youth as Hammers…
Villains and Saints promote youth as Hammers and Fulham help the aged
By Brian Sears 13 September 2013 If you win nothing with kids then Aston Villa and Southampton will win nothing - but their fans might appreciate they are trying to succeed with promising young players. There's a huge contrast in the age of Premier League starting line-ups so far this season, from nippers Aston Villa (average 24.7 years) and Southampton (24.9) to oldies Fulham (30.2 years) and West Ham (29.1). The youngest top-flight line-up in England this season was the Villa side who met Liverpool and lost by a single goal to a tean that was almost three years older per player. It should be noted that Liverpool - so far - have an age profile this season most likely to deliver the title. Why? Because it is typical that a title-winning team in Europe's 'Big 5' divisions will average 27 years old, give or take a few months. Last season, United's title winners had an average age of 26.76 years. Barcelona's title winners in Spain had an average age of 26.73 years. PSG's title winners in France averaged 26.87 years. Bayern's title winners in Germany averaged 26.2 years and Juventus's title winners in Italy averaged 27.7 years. With a long way to go and many changes to come (caveat, caveat), Liverpool's age profile at 26.9 years on average is looking better than too-young teams at Spurs and Arsenal and too-old teams at Man City, Chelsea and Man Utd. Remarkably, the 21 different players chosen by Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert (on the pitch or the bench) for Villa's opening three games have all been 28 years old or younger. Southampton meanwhile have been promoting teenagers. Only six teenagers have started Premier League games this season and three of them have been in Southampton colours, with Luke Shaw, 18 in July, being the youngest. At the other end of the age spectrum Fulham have already used 17 different players in their three starting line-ups (no other club has used so many) and 11 of them have already celebrated their 30th birthday. Elsewhere Ryan Giggs (40 in November) and Jussi Jaaskelainen (38 last April) are the Premier League's most senior starters this season. Indeed when Luke Shaw was born, Giggs had already played five seasons for Manchester United, chalking up 148 league appearances and scoring 28 goals. The graphic below gives each club's average ages this season.