Personalities in the Squad

[Saint Charlie]

Whilst footballers tend to get a lot of stick for their lifestyles and antics (in many cases rightly so) I can't really think of any players in our squad that seem to be anything less than good professionals and in many cases players that come across extremely well in the media and if you meet them face to face. Certainly the vast majority represent the club very well in times were most people need no second invitation to hammer footballers.

 

Whilst this might seem like luck, I would doubt that it is. There have been numerous references this summer about the team spirit and how easy it is for new players to settle into the squad and we know that when looking at transfer targets personality is very important part of that, although is often overlooked by fans and in some cases, clubs.

 

Also, in terms of the players that come through the academy, the Bale's, Walcott's and AOC's are all player and people that seem quite down to earth despite their fame and the current crop are the same. JWP did virtually every media interview in the recent U21 Intl break and seems very intelligent and motivated whilst Shaw, Chambers etc also come across as driven but not overly arrogant and seem to genuinely appreciate their career. A contrast from the likes of Sterling, Ravel Morrison, Phil Bardsley (below) etc.

 

All in all they seem a well balanced, driven bunch and that must help around the training ground and on the pitch. Certainly makes a change from the QPR, Sunderland type fiascos or clubs like Newcastle where there are clear cliques.

 

 

Edited 26 September, 2013 by Saint Charlie

[Wes Tender]

It does seem that all through our journey back from the third division and continuing to the present time, our squad appear to have retained excellent team spirit and a level-headed harmony towards each other. I believe that this began right from the beginning of our upwards push with the signing of several individuals who had been captains of their former sides. I suspect that at one time we had a squad comprising perhaps 6/7 players with captaincy experience. Generally a player who is made captain has qualities of leadership, a never say die determination and is capable of setting an example to his team. Perhaps that team spirit and the fact that we had that calibre of player meant that big time Charlie egos would not be tolerated.

 

It seems that when we have brought in players since, we place as much importance on their characters as we do on their ability. The result has been that new recruits appear to settle in quickly and make friends with most of their colleagues without forming cliques. This is interesting, as it would be easy for there to be cliques of the older players and the younger players, the Latins and the British, but the outward appearance has been that this is not overtly so. Up until the signing of Osvaldo, it was evident that we had avoided signing any player with the remotest hint of a bad boy attitude, but his signing can perhaps be excused on the basis that Pochettino knew him well and how to handle him whilst certain that he could get the best from him.

 

It was encouraging to read stories in the media about how new players had received such friendly assistance from their colleagues to help them find a place of their own and generally feel welcome, enabling them to settle in quickly. I have a suspicion that where players we are targeting know players who are here, they get a very positive report of what a friendly bunch of lads we have and that must be a factor in them coming here in the first place on the one hand, and remaining loyal to staying with us once they have been here a while on the other.

[The9]

Puncheon, Barnard, Seaborne, Forecast. All far from upstanding citizens during our rise from L1. The treatment of Puncheon actually underlines the firm line taken, however, he's undoubtedly a bottom end Prem player yet we happily shipped him out for the whole Championship campaign.

 

Seems fairly obvious our recruitment policy has changed with the signing of Osvaldo, but he hasn't punched anyone, erected an arty composition in the centre circle or boarded any ships and asked anyone to walk the plank yet, so he can have the benefit of the doubt for now.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Certainly makes a change from the QPR, Sunderland type fiascos or clubs like Newcastle where there are clear cliques.

 

 

I agree with all your post, but it makes me laugh how some of the usual suspects that love a moan about "the committee" and our transfer activity have all hailed these three clubs and said we should be more like them.

 

As I said in the summer, some of these people appear to just want us to sign people for the sake of us signing people. Regardless of quality, or the effect it may have on a well balanced squad.

[farawaysaint]

I've no doubt Dani may be a bit divisive and Boruc is a nutter though he's my favourite player at the moment.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Puncheon, Barnard, Seaborne, Forecast. All far from upstanding citizens during our rise from L1. The treatment of Puncheon actually underlines the firm line taken, however, he's undoubtedly a bottom end Prem player yet we happily shipped him out for the whole Championship campaign.

 

Seems fairly obvious our recruitment policy has changed with the signing of Osvaldo, but he hasn't punched anyone, erected an arty composition in the centre circle or boarded any ships and asked anyone to walk the plank yet, so he can have the benefit of the doubt for now.

 

What did Forecast do? Sincere question, as I missed whatever it was.

[Saint Charlie]

Puncheon did show a good attitude to win around the situation though, and has never appeared to be any less thought of by team mates.

 

Not sure what Forecast did apart from being rubbish?

 

The other examples are fair enough, and can add Guly's drink driving incident. These all seemed one off's though, and Guly aside, nobody was found guilty of anything.

[farawaysaint]

Puncheon did show a good attitude to win around the situation though, and has never appeared to be any less thought of by team mates.

 

Not sure what Forecast did apart from being rubbish?

 

The other examples are fair enough, and can add Guly's drink driving incident. These all seemed one off's though, and Guly aside, nobody was found guilty of anything.

 

Widespread reports of his conduct when out in Southampton mostly.

[holepuncture]

It seems that when we have brought in players since, we place as much importance on their characters as we do on their ability.

 

Aside from Lee Barnard going to crown court on A/GBH, Dan Seabourne in intensive care, Forecast slapping women in clubs, Puncheon slagging off the club and chairman on Twitter, Guly careering down the road drunk in a Porsche at 4am.. I completely agree!

 

IIRC a player from Bristol City due to join us was rejected for failing the interview process? Im sure Cortese and or Reed have mentioned before that players character and integrity were now a key part of the recruitment process. Saints academy have also been rightly praised for developing talented footballers, who are also decent, rounded and educated individuals.

 

This makes me a very happy saints supporter.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Widespread reports of his conduct when out in Southampton mostly.

 

Actually, thinking about it, Forecast was already here right? As in the current administration "inherited" him.

 

So perhaps a bit unfair to lump him in with the others.

[The9]

Puncheon did show a good attitude to win around the situation though

 

He showed a previously unseen ability to suck up to our glorious leader, certainly.

 

Forecast had a load of "do you know who I am"s and a reported punching of a woman in the face.

 

Seaborne definitely broke his skull getting chucked out of a nightclub, Barnard wore a bandage on his hand for months due to his incident, and I'd actually forgotten about Guly's incident - weren't we already in the Prem by then ?

 

As for "not thought any less of by his teammates", footballers don't generally give a toss about that stuff in the professional environment, none of it matters on the pitch unless there's a direct impact.

 

Hell, even my Saturday side kept picking a guy when he was on trial for rape (my strike partner for the best part of 2 years as it happens, I never saw him away from matches) until it became obvious that his acquittal was on a technicality in some very dubious circumstances and THEN they told him not to come back - not that he was staying in the area anyway...

[The9]

Actually, thinking about it, Forecast was already here right? As in the current administration "inherited" him.

 

So perhaps a bit unfair to lump him in with the others.

 

Fair comment, so are we talking about the Liebherr Era (Pardew onwards), just Adkins' time, Adkins & Pochettino, or maybe the Les Reed regime being responsible for the "good influence" policy ?

[KelvinsRightGlove]

Fair comment, so are we talking about the Liebherr Era (Pardew onwards), just Adkins' time, Adkins & Pochettino, or maybe the Les Reed regime being responsible for the "good influence" policy ?

 

I assumed this initially, but looking back there is no mention made. My mistake.

[Saint Troy]

Fair comment, so are we talking about the Liebherr Era (Pardew onwards), just Adkins' time, Adkins & Pochettino, or maybe the Les Reed regime being responsible for the "good influence" policy ?

 

I think the attitude of the yougsters was installed whil Rupes was here with Georges Prost and the likes - really set up an academy designed not just to produce football talent but to manage it with a decent attitude as well - not always going to work out but as a rule I struggle find genuine academy products that are a bit of a nightmare.

 

Adkins was definitely keen on the attitude of players and think this has been continued and long may it remain

[Gemmel]

There was a bit in The Sun last week (Didnt see anyone post about it) with an interview with Fonte, who said that the players had got together to sort out Osvaldo with a car and a house to make sure he felt welcome and that is teammates wanted to show him they were here to help.

 

It was a throw away interview, but great to see that spririt of togetherness is still alive and well.

[iansums]

I won't be happy until we see a team of players without a tattoo between the lot of them.

[paulwantsapint]

The players looked like real close mates on tue

I think it was

Rickie, wanyama, Clyne, Fonte, Morgan, lovren, Boruc & osvaldo ( probably missed someone out) all sat together happily signing autographs at the back of the itchen

[MINIBARCELONASAINT]

I won't be happy until we see a team of players without a tattoo between the lot of them.

 

Quite the contrary, I want to see them with a matching tattoo that bonds them together

[sandwichsaint]

I was disappointed to read a post somewhere on here last week referring to the players throwing their shirts into the crowd at Liverpool last week and indulging in lots of man-love at the final whistle; the poster put it down to 'the spirit the MP has generated', I wasn't going to rain on his parade at the time and spoil my/his weekend, but this is utter horseshi7.

 

'Team spirit' started with AP and was carried on massively by NA, MP was lucky to inherit a team 'together as one' and TBF, if it's not broken, it hasn't needed fixing.

 

The 'togetherness' thing is what sets us apart, we genuinely seem to be doing things 'the Southampton way' (Jeff Stelling's comments today) and if we can retain this focus we will become the Academy of choice for pretty much every talented player in our catchment area.

 

Happy days.