Crazy Diamond Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Your ability wasn't that great either mate... Leon Best: All my mates are in prison "My attitude when I first started at Southampton was bad. Let's just say I wasn't the best behaved back then. "I was young and never listened to anyone. I always thought that I knew what best. But you learn. "I was never fully focused when I was younger. I always thought someone was against me — it was like I always had to prove something. "I went to Coventry but I had injuries. It just didn't feel right but this one point in my career, everything is right." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Funny thing how many of our trainees have this problem, be interesting to hear what McGoldrick thinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Fair play to him for admitting it. Funny thing how many of our trainees have this problem, be interesting to hear what McGoldrick thinks. Best, McGoldrick, Ranger...who else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 5 November, 2011 Author Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Best, McGoldrick, Ranger...who else? A friend of mine left the academy because he said he basically had no life outside of Saints anymore, he was sick of not seeing his friends and family when he was growing up. He got an injury that they wanted to help him with but he chose to opt out. This was a few years back, so maybe the academy wasn't brilliant on the human side of things. You never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 I have a mate who was on the books of Bristol City then Aston Villa, he played against Shearer and Wallace with his academy team, because of the surroundings he was use to he thought he was invincible, until the day him and his mate went to meet some girls they had met who never turned up as arranged. The two of them missed the team bus and that was the end of both their football careers. He says he can remember sitting on the stairs listening to the Villa youth coach telling his Mum & Dad that their son had blown his chance in football.......... That was it, the guy is now a retail buyer. Leon Best is a lucky boy that he was allowed to get away with bad attitude, and now finds himself in the Premiership on the crest of a wave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadia Sllim Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 I have a mate who was on the books of Bristol City then Aston Villa, he played against Shearer and Wallace with his academy team, because of the surroundings he was use to he thought he was invincible, until the day him and his mate went to meet some girls they had met who never turned up as arranged. The two of them missed the team bus and that was the end of both their football careers. He says he can remember sitting on the stairs listening to the Villa youth coach telling his Mum & Dad that their son had blown his chance in football.......... That was it, the guy is now a retail buyer. Leon Best is a lucky boy that he was allowed to get away with bad attitude, and now finds himself in the Premiership on the crest of a wave. Leon has missed Nigel's bus! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Fair play to him for admitting it. Best, McGoldrick, Ranger...who else? Er... Brian Howard ? Mark Peters ? ...Ian Baird ?...(all " star " players as juniors but had an "attitude") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 (edited) A friend of mine left the academy because he said he basically had no life outside of Saints anymore, he was sick of not seeing his friends and family when he was growing up. He got an injury that they wanted to help him with but he chose to opt out. This was a few years back, so maybe the academy wasn't brilliant on the human side of things. You never know. Of course, the whole Academy concept was a bit experimental in the beginning, and it took time to develop but it has to be said that if you want to get to the top in any profession (or sport) you have to be dedicated. Sounds like it was hard on your mate, but if he had a good family home and circle of friends that was more important to him. Nothing wrong with that. To stories that underline this... Harry Redknapp quoted .." the young Frank Lampard (then at West Ham) was first to show up in the mornings before training and stayed on after the end of the day ..to practice ..some more " Bjorn Borg is still a legendary figure in Sweden (30 years after he won the Wimbledon tennis title 5 times in a row). He was renowned for his long, daily training sessions and they used to keep the sports hall open after hours -just for him to train. After he decided to " retire " from top tennis (aged 25) he was asked how his life would change.."oh I shall train less now, he said ...maybe only 3-4 hours a day!" IF you want to make it - you have to be dedicated. Football isn't just a few hours daily training and a game on Saturdays. It's (your) whole life..while you can. Edited 5 November, 2011 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 In his heyday t was said that peter Shilton was a perfectionist. Stayed behind well after training, practising crosses, saves the lot. If senior players were not available got youth players, trainers and even the groundsman to ping balls into the goal area ! Going back a bit, Kevin Keegan was supposed to be very professional in hs attitude to fitness and training Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaz Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 I blame Woopert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Fair play to him, wad pretty gutted when we lost him tbh... Good player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkymojo44 Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Scott McDonald (or Macdonald?) - anyway, yeah i think he also got shipped out after a bad attitude, but at that age.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Diamond Posted 5 November, 2011 Author Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Fair play to him, wad pretty gutted when we lost him tbh... Good player If I remember rightly, before the away leg of the play-offs in 07, he and Cranie had already decided they were leaving, which says it all for me. Given his performance in the game itself, I couldn't wait to see the back of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Nathan Dyer too..? I think it's more a "young kids dealing with success and privilege" thing in an environment where they see a lot of extremes of behaviour really, there are going to be a lot of bad attitudes. To be fair to Best, he's improved a fair bit in the last 6 months and found a role in a successful team for the time being, but I can't see him sustaining his place if they want to stay up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 When he and Walcott were coming through it was Best every one was raving about, then Walcott hit the scene with a bang and Best disappeared under his shadow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pezza Posted 5 November, 2011 Share Posted 5 November, 2011 Tha acadamies are great for the development of players but seem to turn a fair amount into "billiy big boots" I was an apprentice at saints in the 70's who used to have to get the bus in and home and lived with mum and dad and carried on hanging around with my mates. Never had a chance to get above myself, mind you I was crap and got released anyway!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 6 November, 2011 Share Posted 6 November, 2011 If I remember rightly, before the away leg of the play-offs in 07, he and Cranie had already decided they were leaving, which says it all for me. Given his performance in the game itself, I couldn't wait to see the back of him. I think its fair to say George Burley might have had something to do with that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamesaint Posted 6 November, 2011 Share Posted 6 November, 2011 A friend of mine left the academy because he said he basically had no life outside of Saints anymore, he was sick of not seeing his friends and family when he was growing up. He got an injury that they wanted to help him with but he chose to opt out. This was a few years back, so maybe the academy wasn't brilliant on the human side of things. You never know. I think it was the human side of things that let the academy down a few years ago. As well as the problem highlighted above with the attitudes of the likes of Best, McG, Dyer etc it seemed to do very little to encourage the youngsters to want to play for Southampton.The way that the likes of Matt Mills, Crainie (leaving us to join Pompey FFS!!), Best, Blackstock etc all moved on at seemingly the first opportunity to me indicated that there was no "club spirit". We were producing good players but other teams reaped the rewards. Mind you, I suppose you could say that the lack of club spirit at that time emanated from the boardroom down and that you couldn't blame yongsters for wanting to leave if they could see what a state the club was in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stthrobber Posted 6 November, 2011 Share Posted 6 November, 2011 I have a mate who was on the books of Bristol City then Aston Villa, he played against Shearer and Wallace with his academy team, because of the surroundings he was use to he thought he was invincible, until the day him and his mate went to meet some girls they had met who never turned up as arranged. The two of them missed the team bus and that was the end of both their football careers. He says he can remember sitting on the stairs listening to the Villa youth coach telling his Mum & Dad that their son had blown his chance in football.......... That was it, the guy is now a retail buyer. Leon Best is a lucky boy that he was allowed to get away with bad attitude, and now finds himself in the Premiership on the crest of a wave. Indeed he is. He is one of a few players who have left Saints to go other clubs, none of which were as big as us, but now find themselves playing in the Premier League. I was astounded yesterday when I heard someone remark on 5 Live that Best's contribution to Newcastle's game yesterday was "outstanding" If a player is to make it through the academy, he needs to be single minded and dedicated. Redknapp said at a Fan's Forum that too many kids have the ability, but get distracted once they get into their late teens and fall by the wayside. I'm not sure if Mike Williamson ever played a senior game for Saints, but he's also now at Newcastle having gone to, (I think) Torquay and Wycombe Wanderers. Nathan Dyer, now at Swansea (via the cells in Pompey nick), along with Garry Monk, so it shows these guys had the ability to make it at the top level, but maybe didn't have the application, or like Best let their ego/attitude get in the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain sensible Posted 7 November, 2011 Share Posted 7 November, 2011 Best probably got his backside properly kicked somewhere on the way, which woke him up! A lot still to be said about the "Old School" motivational techniques! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany S Posted 7 November, 2011 Share Posted 7 November, 2011 IF you want to make it - you have to be dedicated. Football isn't just a few hours daily training and a game on Saturdays. It's (your) whole life..while you can. Heard a good example of this recently, Craig Johnston was interviewed by Keys and Gray on talkSPORT (shudder), was fascinating hearing him talk about how he dedicated himself to practising the game, because he knew that unless he did that, he wasn't good enough to make the team at Middlesbrough. He would practise for hours and hours on end every day, and waited until he was given his chance, which he took with both hands and of course went on to have some pretty good times in that great Liverpool side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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