tippingnoddles

Just an observation, since Brexit, less imports in the prem 2 Div 2, bigger gap now between that level and men’s football. Under 18 resembles Southampton school boys of old, with some of the better English players recruited with promises that can’t be cashed but overall standard definitely not strong enough for step up yet. Better boys need testing elsewhere rather than frustrated not getting a look in because managers job is always on the line here.

It would be great to see some of the young lads having a pathway from league 2 upwards. Can you lmagine playing under 23 football at 17 and still hanging around at 19. It’s like being held back in class. The challenges need to be incremental,. Go and look at the development of Aaron Ramsey and see how he has developed. We can say that he’s a keeper and it’s a long game but often the outfield players are not afforded the same opportunities. The key is getting them the right clubs that play good football and setting expectations for development. With the shopping that we have done now, I think the expectation is that we will have a repeat of the era where Hew Jennings/Malcolm Elias were at the wheel and the steady inflow of players came in that were physically more robust and athletic. The landscape has changed and a more graduated approach is needed.

😂

Apart from the players already in the first team. Saints don’t seem to have a good idea of how to use and graduate the loan system. Conflicting directions from Matt Crocker in the athletic in his first year said that Loans were a last option. Instead he created a bottle neck for the young ambitious players. The players that were on loan were one day beating Rangers playing for Ross county one day and then playing conference or League 2 the next. Anybody who watched saints vs Huddersfield in the FA cup or Saints vs ManCity would realise that you have to strike the iron while it’s hot. Getting somebody from an amateur set up was a mistake because his approach was just to get in ready made players he knew from England set up, piss off the players who weren’t being managed on their pathways and create a huge bottle neck for everybody. Crocker is gone but can the club manage the playing time of their young players. We are always in a crisis so understandable that we don’t really give any chances to the clubs youth apart from Chelsea players and then boast that we have a pathway. Right now would rather join chelsea and have decent playing time at a good club rather than bottle neck or conference or League 2

They need a goal, papa John and caribou cup goals for proper B team. They will remain motivated and challenged. Also more proper friendliest against men’s team like Brentford.

So glad to see the young boys get a chance. They need to really boost the B Team to do well in Papa Johns cup. Young lads would rather play against league opps rather than prem 2, div 2. Proper growth, challenge and motivation for boys who want to prove themselves

Broja had to train with players worse than a Chelsea B team on a regular basis. surprised young players come to Southampton when they might get game time yes albeit scrapping through or train and improve with technically better players on a day to day basis and get lots of run outs in the minor cups and again struggling clubs and the chance to sit on the bench and learn how to win. We sometimes overrate the fact that we have this pathway that basically means play but you might not win much. Players want to win things and we hope to get them here by saying that they will play, no young play wants to be the main focus in a team when they are still learning. Southampton needs to invest in youth as well as experience to lead and guide the boys. Dont see any leaders/organiser out there.

Another one in the mix to be fast tracked? https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/transfer-news/will-armitage-southampton-transfer-latest-6547844

Chelsea have a production line of right backs who have moved on because they are not Champions league standard at the moment i.e Lamptey is at Brighton, Aina at Fulham and countless others out on loan. In two years time there will be more. We are recruiting for premiership and they are recruiting for Europe