Second Chance Programme

[dubai_phil]

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/saints-second-chance-programme-790009.aspx

 

So we will trawl the Country for youngsters kicked out of Academies and give them a second chance in their late teens to catch late developers.

 

Interesting.

 

Someone must have reviewed how kids of that age are handled by their clubs.

 

Wonder where that idea originally came from?

 

Joking aside looks a great idea and a good programme

[Saint Garrett]

It is a good idea, and there are 'late developers'...but on the whole, if kids haven't made it by 20, they'll probably not be good enough to play in the Premiership.

[This Charming Man]

Should get Glenn Hoddle to come in and help run it.

[shurlock]

An excellent idea - people initially make it for all kinds of reasons which have nothing to do with football. It's not as if by 16-19 the dye is cast. Rickie is a perfect example of someone who got a second chance.

[saints-cris]

It is a good idea, and there are 'late developers'...but on the whole, if kids haven't made it by 20, they'll probably not be good enough to play in the Premiership.

 

Genuinely the case, 1-2 may be lucky. Really are trying to find a needle in a haystack with this one.

 

Would be a better idea for a lower league club maybe.

[Saint_clark]

In Germany, players are considered young up until 23. Years back in England, you rarely got a chance in the first team till you were 20-21. It's only in the last 10 years that we've felt a need to rush players through.

Hopefully this will work out well for us...but I can't honestly remember a player who was let go from an academy at 16-17, who then went on to be a star in the Prem.

 

Having said that Lallana didn't really start to show his true potential till he was 19-20.

[Bobbyboy]

Still a chance for tommy forecast then?

[shurlock]

In Germany, players are considered young up until 23. Years back in England, you rarely got a chance in the first team till you were 20-21. It's only in the last 10 years that we've felt a need to rush players through.

Hopefully this will work out well for us...but I can't honestly remember a player who was let go from an academy at 16-17, who then went on to be a star in the Prem.

 

Having said that Lallana didn't really start to show his true potential till he was 19-20.

 

Of course, you might never know: promising players may have been let go by academies, never to return to football.

[Sour Mash]

Didn't Lambert pretty much drop out of football at one point? DJ Campbell? Ian Wright? Having said that, I'd imagine academies are sharper than ever these days, can't see too many future stars coming from this.

 

I actually think this is as much to do with creating a Southampton brand of doing things a bit differently, than actually be a realistic source of future Prem players.

Edited 24 April, 2013 by Sour Mash

[Saint_clark]

Of course, you might never know: promising players may have been let go by academies, never to return to football.

 

True. And I guess even if these players are only league 1/NPC quality, we'll be able to sell them for anything up to a million.

[dubai_phil]

Didn't Lambert pretty much drop out of football at one point? DJ Campbell? Ian Wright? Having said that, I'd imagine academies are sharper than ever these days, can't see too many future stars coming from this.

 

I actually think this is as much to do with creating a Southampton brand of doing things a bit differently, than actually be a realistic source of future Prem players.

 

I assume that you have written off the chances of Isaac Nehemie then. He'll be most upset

[ant]

A couple of years ago I found an interesting article discussing 'relative age effect' i.e. kids born in September to December often have an advantage over those that came into the world closer to the end of the academic year. Given that they're nearly a year older they're often bigger, more physically able and shade out the more technically skillful types.

 

Ah, here it is: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/19/fa-plans-age-group-football

 

Supposedly the FA were looking to initiate a shake-up and Spurs seem to have their share of Summer babies, but I'd be willing to bet many academies still fall prey to simple fallacies. There's plenty of reasons why players could be worth taking another look at.

 

So long as this initiative doesn't cost the earth and we don't end up with too many 'Nile Ranger' types at the club, I can't see how it's anything other than a positive step. 16 is no age to throw a player onto the scrapheap.

Edited 24 April, 2013 by ant

[Sour Mash]

I assume that you have written off the chances of Isaac Nehemie then. He'll be most upset

He'll live. On a conspiracy theory basis, could this be a chance for our academy team to experiment with new training methods/approaches on this lot, rather than our first choice academy lot.

[paris]

We have one playing in the 18s i see from the article ....

[dubai_phil]

He'll live. On a conspiracy theory basis, could this be a chance for our academy team to experiment with new training methods/approaches on this lot, rather than our first choice academy lot.

 

Yup they could bring in a Vision Coach, a Kicking Coach.

 

I'm still sure I've read much of that stuff before somewhere.

[Fan The Flames]

There are loads of players dropped that have made it. Ian Wright is the classic example; we dropped Dennis Wise, Graham Roberts and Kevin Phillips who all went on to do quiet well. We benefited from Pompey failing to sign up Bobby Stokes grhs.

[JPTCount]

i think most of u are missing the point, this is to give kids who have had their future ripped up a chance at experience & qualifications to keep them in the game, as a player or otherwise. it's also investing in a local college that do vocational courses. so much more than just trying to make sure no1 slips under the radar, or making a quick sell on to a l2 club.

[shurlock]

i think most of u are missing the point, this is to give kids who have had their future ripped up a chance at experience & qualifications to keep them in the game, as a player or otherwise. it's also investing in a local college that do vocational courses. so much more than just trying to make sure no1 slips under the radar, or making a quick sell on to a l2 club.

 

Very true

[Mikey88]

When I was at Blackburn as a youngster we were constantly told not to give up if we were released as Alan Shearer himself was released by Newcastle before joining Saints. Fact of the matter however, is that many children do simply give up if released as they feel that was their one chance to succeed. Anything that gives kids a second chance in the game has to be applauded as many academies are ruthless in the way they deal with their players!

[mcjwills]

Still a chance for tommy forecast then?

 

Only of I can bless this water into wine.

[Golden Balls]

Will all be worth it if it brings us one first teamer.

 

Looks good on the club too

[Mowgli]

i think most of u are missing the point, this is to give kids who have had their future ripped up a chance at experience & qualifications to keep them in the game, as a player or otherwise. it's also investing in a local college that do vocational courses. so much more than just trying to make sure no1 slips under the radar, or making a quick sell on to a l2 club.

 

Well said. If I was a youngster setting out then this would give the Saints Academy the edge for me over other clubs. Knowing that I will get support even if I don't make the elite squad of youngster being fast tracked to the first team.

[Junior Mullet]

Saints very nearly dropped the mother of all clangers by letting Bale go before he broke through.

[positivepete]

Neil Benson from Sparsholt had a spell coaching at the Saints academy a few years ago. Ran Salisbury Youth after that. Sparsholt have also had links with Arsenal and Chelsea in the recent past. Neil also has a 23 year old son released by Saints in the past.

[simo]

Takling of academy's has anyone seen that Crewe will be putting out a team made entirely of academy players at the weekend , Thats good stuff !

[This Charming Man]

Takling of academy's has anyone seen that Crewe will be putting out a team made entirely of academy players at the weekend , Thats good stuff !

 

They've always had a good academy over the years and have produced some half decent players.

[Monk]

I see that knob Neil Benson is involved

[captain sensible]

All Prem Clubs are doing this....It's the Academy Lite version. West Ham have just started this and QPR and Reading field an Academy Lite side.......which got smashed by Richmond College 7-1.