youth players

[saints-til-i-die]

So, I've not seen much of the youth squads etc.

 

Who are we looking at as promising talents for the future? Chambers, Reeves, Ward Prowse, Shaw are the most known. Anyone know much of the youth set up and players?

[Saint Garrett]

Seager and Targett are pretty highly rated I think. Corby Moore also looks technically gifted when I've seen him.

[saints-til-i-die]

Is Targett the other LB?

[Bentley]

Can someone clear up for me what position Reeves plays in? He has seemingly come in at left back when brought on in first-team league games, but I remember seeing him play against Millwall in the FA Cup last year and he played center midfield (attacking more than defending too) and now I read he scored two goals in the U21's yesterday, is he just a good utility player?

[Badger]

Is Targett the other LB?

 

yes

[david in sweden]

So, I've not seen much of the youth squads etc.

 

Who are we looking at as promising talents for the future? Chambers, Reeves, Ward Prowse, Shaw are the most known. Anyone know much of the youth set up and players?

 

Difficult to judge when most are only names in a match report, but I watched a " streamed " U21 game v. a rampant Liverpool side who had several Prem. players in it ...a week or so ago.

Liverpool had most of the play, but finished poorly, as we defended well, and they can feel lucky that they won the game through an unfortunate "own goal " deflection by Saints' best defender Turnbull.

olher notables were CB Jack Stephens, and FB Matt Young and Matt targett. Calum Chambers looked impressive as did the US goalie Cody Cropper - but tbf ..it's early days to talk about Prem. debuts for anyone, but perhaps the two who looked best were; RW Jake Sinclair, and the speedy LW Lloyd Isgrove (newly selected for Wales U21).

 

Sam Hoskins - is a promising striker (presently out on loan to Stevenage), and the U18 top scorer Ryan Seager.

[Saint Garrett]

Can someone clear up for me what position Reeves plays in? He has seemingly come in at left back when brought on in first-team league games, but I remember seeing him play against Millwall in the FA Cup last year and he played center midfield (attacking more than defending too) and now I read he scored two goals in the U21's yesterday, is he just a good utility player?

 

Yer, he's not particularly young though, he's 21. Wouldn't be surprised I he's let go this summer.

[david in sweden]

Can someone clear up for me what position Reeves plays in? He has seemingly come in at left back when brought on in first-team league games, but I remember seeing him play against Millwall in the FA Cup last year and he played center midfield (attacking more than defending too) and now I read he scored two goals in the U21's yesterday, is he just a good utility player?

 

.......I seem to recall that he played last season in the League Cup game v. Preston and FA Cup game v. Millwall, and has been used in several different roles this season, and even scored as an on-coming sub. in the L. Cup game at Stevenage.

 

The big fear is that he may become the type of highly versatile player who can play almost anywhere , but never able to command a regular place of his own.

Clubs need them, but they seldom get much glory. In the past we had Delap, Tessem, and Lloyd James who were able to play almost any role, but really never got established in their own right.

[Sour Mash]

Yer, he's not particularly young though, he's 21. Wouldn't be surprised I he's let go this summer.

Agreed, Reeves will be on of those shipped out in the summer. Would do a good job for someone like Bournemouth if given a run.

[Benali Saint]

Is Targett the other LB?

 

Arsenal have already been linked with him

[pangy]

Seen highlights of Ryan Segar and he looks decent,very good finisher but a little on the small side

[CFSFC]

Reeves Wont leave as he will be an excellent player.

[Saint Garrett]

Reeves Wont leave as he will be an excellent player.

 

Just cant't see it. He's 21, doesn't really have any physical attributes either. Quite good technically but he's hardly played and is 21. Most players if they're going to be regulars in the prem are playing week in week out by the time they're 21.

[S-Clarke]

Reeves Wont leave as he will be an excellent player.

 

Not sure. There's too much in front of him, and he's at an age where he needs to be playing to continue his development. I find it hard to actually describe him as one of our young players anymore.

 

He's a decent player, but not in the same league as Bale/Lallana/Ox/Shaw. Will probably turn into a decent Championship player.

[UpweySaint]

Im sure the same was said about Baird, now fulham wouldn't be without him. Certainly not a bad player to have around if he's happy to keep putting a shift in when called upon and can kick on in training, no telling where hard work and dedication might lead him, some players naturally develop later.

[Pilchards]

Isgrove is the one I reckon could be the next big hit as supporters love a gifted nippy winger.

[Saint Charlie]

Isgrove is the one I reckon could be the next big hit as supporters love a gifted nippy winger.

 

He is 20 and hasnt ever managed regular football for the U21 side let alone a sniff of real first team involvement on a consistent basis.

[Saint-Reece]

He is 20 and hasnt ever managed regular football for the U21 side let alone a sniff of real first team involvement on a consistent basis.

 

I THINK he's had his fair few problems with injuries to be fair to the lad

[david in sweden]

Seen highlights of Ryan Segar and he looks decent,very good finisher but a little on the small side

 

so let's not remind ourselves of Marian Pahars, then.

[Andre]

Can someone clear up for me what position Reeves plays in? He has seemingly come in at left back when brought on in first-team league games, but I remember seeing him play against Millwall in the FA Cup last year and he played center midfield (attacking more than defending too) and now I read he scored two goals in the U21's yesterday, is he just a good utility player?

 

He mainly plays in midfield now, either as a left winger or central attacking midfielder. He sometimes plays at left back like he used to as well, and occasionally as a central midfielder.

 

As for our youth players, I did a little rundown on the Football Forums here; the main ones I'm looking out for are Sam Hoskins (striker, U21s), Calum Chambers (winger, U21s), Ryan Seager (striker, U18s), and Matt Targett (left back, U18s). We have a lot to look forward to, as usual.

[*Halo*]

So, I've not seen much of the youth squads etc.

 

Who are we looking at as promising talents for the future?

 

 

Judgement of players' potential ability (naturally) is a personal thing, and some will see things in a player they like which others may not, and vice-versa. For me, of our young players who've not yet made the breakthrough to the first team squad, a small number stand out as having potential real quality. As is usually the way at Southampton, we are blessed with a fine crop of young talent all round for their age groups, but then of that group, there are those who just seem to have that extra 'something about them' factor that sets them apart.

 

Whether or not they actually go on to fulfil that obvious potential, is one thing; yet, something that is for sure, they couldn't be in many a better place to have the oportunity for doing so, than at Southampton.

 

*Halo*'s "ones to watch", are:

 

Corby Moore: A really naturally gifted central midfield playmaker, who for the age-group sides, just 'oozes class'. He is blessed with an excellent and very natural ability to read the game, great vision, awareness of what is happening around him, and good decision making process in selecting the right thing to do next. He plays with his head up, and always seems to have/engineer for himself the time on the ball and the composure to dictate the tempo of the game.

 

He is a very creative player, with great technical ability, and an assured first touch, who can also score goals from midfield as well as making them for others. Really hopeful of great things from Corby, he has stepped up very well to the Under 21's/development side, and would expect to see him involved much more with the first team squad next season.

 

 

Jake Sinclair: The Brother of Scott Sinclair, Jake is a very promising striker, with pace to burn, excellent ability on the ball, along with that key strikers' instinct of being in the right place at the right time, to get on the end of team moves. His direct running and movement off the ball makes him a real handful for defences, and he also has a few skilful tricks up his sleeve, which adds nicely to his 'unpredictability factor'. At just 5'7", Jake is never going to cause many problems in the air, but his low centre of gravity only adds to his game, with his great balance and agility, making him a player who can change direction and shift through his gears very quickly.

 

A very tricky striker, with a great finish, and a bright prospect indeed.

 

 

Matt Young: A very exciting future defensive stalwart for us. Matt is a dominant force at the back, captaining the Under 18 side before establishing himself with the U21's, he is a very strong and vocal presence, who seems to take upon himself the responsibility for organising the defence. Always comes across as a very switched on lad, great awareness and anticipation, makes a lot of interceptions, and often the one in the right place covering for his team-mates when required. Can play all the way along the back line, though my thoughts are will more likely emerge as a quality Centre back in the end, who is more than capable of covering at full back when required.

 

Potential homegrown SFC Captain in the making.

 

 

--

 

 

Honourable mentions also for a few other very promising lads from the Academy Age-Groups:

 

I've not seen as much of these guys yet, but ones who stand out for me are --

 

2nd Year Scholars: Fraser Colmer, Southampton born full back with a crunching tackle, equally comfortable playing on either side, and Jordan Turnbull, who seems to be in the mold of a composed centre-back who has the ability to bring the ball out from the back. Sam McQueen (another Southampton boy), is a quick and skillful, creative left sided attacking midfield/winger/forward, who has already scored goals for the development squad, and seems to have great confidence about himself, should be exciting to watch his progress, along with "the new Paul Scoles" Harrison Reed, a mature and robust (yes, like the PDT's "reworked business plan" ) combative and high energy central midfielder, aggressive in the tackle, and classy passing ability.

 

1st Year Scholars: Matt Targett, Left Back, highly rated at the Club, and could well be "the next Luke Shaw".

Sam Gallagher, the 6'4" Target Man/Forward we signed from Plymouth, maybe "the next Alan Shearer" in the making, but with pace.

Ryan Seager, out and out goal-poaching-machine, Gary Lineker style. Has made rapid progress, and is impressing a lot of people, not only with his goals, but his attitude and work rate. And a quick mention for Jake Hesketh, a promising ball playing creative midfielder, who dictates the tempo.

 

In short, we are blessed with an abundance of promising young talent at Southampton Football Club, including many others I could also have mentioned, but in order to not ramble on for ever, I've just stuck with my personal "essential selection", from my limited knowledge on what I've seen from them so far.

 

Hope it whets your appetite, for our future, of what is to come from one of the Top Academy production lines in the country, that is only going to get better and better. Category One, and hopefully with the steady growth of our Club over the next "phase of the project", the power to keep hold of the exciting talent we produce.

 

The future is indeed bright.

 

Go and grow your own, Arsenal.