Players Twenty-Three and Under

Everyone always claims how the installment of youth is a key factor to a successful football team. Here's a list of players aged twenty-three and under who are likely to feature in the Barclay's Premiership this season: First Team Regular Squad
Arsenal: Szczesny (21,Poland), Vela (22,Mexico), Walcott (22,England), Ramsey (21,Wales), Song (23,Cameroon), Wilshere (19,England), Jenkinson (19,England), Gibbs (21,England), Traore (21, France), Eastmond (21, England), Oxlade-Chamberlain (17/18, England) 11
Villa: Clark (22, England), Baker (20, England), Lowry (22, Ireland), Albrighton (22, England), Delph (22, England), Bannan (22, Scotland), Hogg (23, England), Herd (22, Australia), Delfouneso (20, England) 9
Blackburn: Olsson (23, Sweden), Formica (23, Argentina), N'Zonzi (23, France), Rochina (20, Spain), Blackman (22, England), Hoilett (21, Canada), Goodwillie (22, Scotland), Hanley (20, Scotland) 8
Bolton: M.Davies (23, England), Alonso (21, Spain), Lee (23, S.Korea) 3
Chelsea: Sturridge (22, England), Bertrand (22, England), Van Aanholt (21, Holland), Kakuta (20, France), McEachran (18, England), Romeu (19, Spain) 6
Everton: Gueye (21, France), Coleman (23, Ireland), Rodwell (20, England), Silva (21, Portugal), Anichebe (23, Nigeria) 5
Fulham: Kasami (19, Switzerland), Gecov (23, Czech Rep.) 2
Liverpool: Carroll (21, England), Pacheco (20, Spain), Henderson (21, England), Wilson (20, Scotland), N'Gog (22, France), Spearing (23, England), Shelvy (19, England), Kelly (21, England), Flanagan (18, England), Eccleston (21, England), Ayala (21, Spain), Insua (22, Argentina) 12
Man City: Boyata (21, Belgium), M.Johnson (23, England), Weiss (22, Slovakia), Balotelli (21, Italy), Aguero (23, Argentina) 5
Man Utd: Anderson (23, Brazil), Cleverley (22, England), Evans (23, N.Ireland), Amos (21, England), Fabio (21, Brazil), Rafael (21, Brazil), Hernandez (23, Mexico), Macheda (20, Italy), Smalling (22, England), De Gea (21, Spain), Jones (19, England), Welbeck (21, England), Pogba (18, France) 13
Newcastle: Krul (23, Holland), Tavernier (20, England), Gosling (21, England), Vuckic (19, Slovenia), Ranger (20, England) 5
Norwich: Vaughan (23, England), Pilkington (23, England), Rudd (20, England), Martin (23, England), Bennett (23, England), Smith (20, England), De Laet (23, Belgium), Naughton (23, England), Adeyemi (20, England), Francomb (20, England) 10
QPR: Taarabt (22, Morocco), Ephraim (23, England), Doughty (18, Wales) 3
Stoke: Arismendi (23, Uruguay) 1
Sunderland: Wickham (18, England), Colback (21, England), Ji (20, S.Korea), Meyler (22, England), Cattermole (23, England), Mignolet (23, Belgium) 6
Swansea: Taylor (22, Wales), Caulker (19, England), Sinclair (22, England), Dyer (23, England), Cornell (20, Wales), Cotterill (23, England) 6
Spurs: Bale (22, Wales), Rose (21, England), Walker (21, England), Livermore (21, England), Sandro (22, Brazil), Townsend (20, England) 6
WBA: Mattock (21, England) 1
Wigan: McCarthy (20, Ireland), Di Santo (22, Argentina), Moses (20, Nigeria), McArthur (23, Scotland) 4
Wolves: Vokes (21, England), Hammill (23, England) 2

From this it looks to be that four players aged twenty-three and under is the optimum number to start in a Premiership XI. This must be mixed with vast experience, which is why Arsenal miss out on the trophies because they put too much emphasis on their youth. Chelsea go to the other extreme and that lack of youth will pay a heavy price at some point. The reason why Manchester United perform so well is because Alex Ferguson gets the balance right; Anderson, Rafael, De Gea and Hernandez will start most games alongside the vast experience of Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Giggs etc. But when push comes to shove, United have the youthful back-up with the likes of Cleverley, Welbeck, Macheda, Jones and Smalling who will provide pace and fitness towards the end of games and in cup competitions.