Average age of team last night....

[washsaint]

For the 10 outfiled players that started last nigh the average age was 21.......and we only had 1 player over the age of 22 (Perry) with 8 of the 10 being under 21.

 

Quite incredible that we were able to win..................the performance last night exceeded any of the play from the whole of the last season.

 

We also started with 6 Academy graduates.

 

In the same way we were not the worst side ever after 2 defeats (despite what many on here said), nor are we promotion material yet. But the young lads are learning quickly, are mixing their style of play and there is true competition for places. All has to be good....plus the worry that the nippers would be bullied by CCC bruisers is not coming to pass. Norwich tried to kick our lads all night long (Mills expecially) but we gave as good we got.

 

Certainly gettiong mroe pleasure from watching these lads grow into good players and playing the right way than the mercenaries and has beens we have had for a number of years

[Saint Martini]

The only main problem is inconsistency, but for a team that does not need to get promoted inconsistency is not that big a problem. As long as the bad spells don't become too long. The results this year are going to be a rollercoaster, be prepared for it.

[Iowsaintsfan]

if they are good enough they are old enough.

 

Anyway good post

[Fan The Flames]

I went and watched the Arsenal kids last week, they are excellent and along with our youngsters you can see the level of skill being brought through is very good. I would have wished for a better blend, but I agree there is something exciting about seeing the kids come through.

I don't really get this mercenary notion, football has always used transient labour, it’s down to the management team to buy the right ones and keep them motivated.

[krissyboy31]

As soon as Lowe and Wilde decided to take the club in this direction, this season has always been about surviving the drop. If we can (IF) and If we can keep all of our better youngsters (an even bigger IF), then next season, or the season after, we will be in a much better position to mount a promotion challenge.

[Gis]

It's a great pity that this countries 'nanny state' rules mean that Sky are probably going to have to blur out 90% of the Saints team faces to protect them due to their very young age in future televised matches

[Scummer]

Burnley played a 15 year old last night, the youngest ever player in the football league. He's so young that they aren't even allowed to pay him.

[JohnnyFartPants]

Burnley played a 15 year old last night, the youngest ever player in the football league. He's so young that they aren't even allowed to pay him.

 

Don't give Lowe ideas!!

[Cheeky Monkey]

We are a poor mans Arsenal....not much wrong with that...

[Danbert]

We are a poor mans Arsenal....not much wrong with that...

 

Actually we are Crewe Alexandria

[Kingsland Codger]

A couple of incidents from last night ...

 

The Norwich keeper cleared from defence and the ball went over the half-way line on on his right, towards the Norwich winger, Croft, and Mills. Just before they both challenged for the ball, Croft stopped and then took half a step back, directly into the path of the incoming Mills. Mills had no time to check, made contact with Croft and the referee gave a free-kick to Norwich. Clever play by Croft and as the guys around me commented, that's the experience of this league for you, a more savvy full-back wouldn't have been suckered in to the challenge.

 

So what happened in the second-half? Llallana gets the ball close to the penalty area, he works his way just a yard inside the box with his back to goal, put himself between the ball and the defender and the Norwich player is daft enough to challenge. Down goes Llallana, the referee gives the penalty and there is no way back for the Canaries.

 

The kids are learning very fast and, hopefully, the mistakes made earlier this season will be learned from and improvements will show.

[Window Cleaner]

A couple of incidents from last night ...

 

The Norwich keeper cleared from defence and the ball went over the half-way line on on his right, towards the Norwich winger, Croft, and Mills. Just before they both challenged for the ball, Croft stopped and then took half a step back, directly into the path of the incoming Mills. Mills had no time to check, made contact with Croft and the referee gave a free-kick to Norwich. Clever play by Croft and as the guys around me commented, that's the experience of this league for you, a more savvy full-back wouldn't have been suckered in to the challenge.

 

 

.

 

 

In the good old days that was called obstruction and would have been an indirect free kick to us.

[Mr saint]

For the 10 outfiled players that started last nigh the average age was 21.......and we only had 1 player over the age of 22 (Perry) with 8 of the 10 being under 21.

 

Quite incredible that we were able to win..................the performance last night exceeded any of the play from the whole of the last season.

 

We also started with 6 Academy graduates.

 

In the same way we were not the worst side ever after 2 defeats (despite what many on here said), nor are we promotion material yet. But the young lads are learning quickly, are mixing their style of play and there is true competition for places. All has to be good....plus the worry that the nippers would be bullied by CCC bruisers is not coming to pass. Norwich tried to kick our lads all night long (Mills expecially) but we gave as good we got.

 

Certainly gettiong mroe pleasure from watching these lads grow into good players and playing the right way than the mercenaries and has beens we have had for a number of years

 

 

Does anyone know the average age of all the other Championship teams from last night just to get some sort of comparison?

[derry]

Burnley played a 15 year old last night, the youngest ever player in the football league. He's so young that they aren't even allowed to pay him.

 

Barnsley, name- Reuben Noble-Lazarus- 15yrs 45days.

[derry]

Actually we are Crewe Alexandria

 

No, we are not, we are Southampton.

[derry]

In the good old days that was called obstruction and would have been an indirect free kick to us.

 

The ref just got it wrong, the Norwich player wasn't clever, just clumsy.

[carljack]

In 2008 the St Marys campaign seemed just like any other season, but it wasnt,it was different in many ways and so were those who did the playing,in 2007 the average age of a player was 26 in 2008 it was NN NN Nineteen

[West End Saint]

A couple of incidents from last night ...

 

The Norwich keeper cleared from defence and the ball went over the half-way line on on his right, towards the Norwich winger, Croft, and Mills. Just before they both challenged for the ball, Croft stopped and then took half a step back, directly into the path of the incoming Mills. Mills had no time to check, made contact with Croft and the referee gave a free-kick to Norwich. Clever play by Croft and as the guys around me commented, that's the experience of this league for you, a more savvy full-back wouldn't have been suckered in to the challenge.

 

So what happened in the second-half? Llallana gets the ball close to the penalty area, he works his way just a yard inside the box with his back to goal, put himself between the ball and the defender and the Norwich player is daft enough to challenge. Down goes Llallana, the referee gives the penalty and there is no way back for the Canaries.

 

The kids are learning very fast and, hopefully, the mistakes made earlier this season will be learned from and improvements will show.

 

I agree that the boys are learning and I have no doubt we are in for a roller coaster season at times we are completley inept defensively and at times breathtaking going forward there is a lot of growing for the team to do but I think I may enjoy the ride but there will be lots of ups and downs and mid table would be success