Proud of our academy

[Mouldy Coat]

Really pleasing to hear on Danny Fox's departure, Poch talking about Matty Targett getting an opportunity. Saints are really making a name for themselves by continuously breeding new talent and more importantly they are given a chance in the first team. Surely any proud father in the country bar the Skates would be happy if their son had an option to go to Saints academy, you would choose it over any other.....this has to be good for Saints and long may it continue. As a saints fan this is what makes me most proud of my team over anything else...just saying

[LaptopSaint]

Agreed. And the best bit is that they're good enough. More than good enough. Just add Messi and we'll be sorted.

[S-Clarke]

I must admit, I get much more satisfied at the prospect of a young lad breaking through, developing and playing a part, rather than us spending £15m on a mega-star in the hope he turns good.

[Manuel]

Yep, a long term recipe for success. Reassuring for the future and exciting month on month to see what new stuff we bring onto the pitch.

[ExSt Peter Saint]

It really feels as thought the players coming in are ready now, unlike when we were struggling at the bottom of the championship with youngsters being thrown in to sink with a ship going down. Hope we all still feel as positive at the end of the season.

[Turkish]

It's an admirable policy but you need the right blend of Youth and experience. We've been fortunate so far in that Shaw, JWP, Chambers have adapted well to the premier league. If one of them had needed another year to get to grips with it it would leave us very thread bare in those positions. Very few players are ready to play regular top flight football at 18 and we are fortunate that we the ones with thrown in have swam rather than sunk. It won't be that way for every player though.

[70's Mike]

It's an admirable policy but you need the right blend of Youth and experience. We've been fortunate so far in that Shaw, JWP, Chambers have adapted well to the premier league. If one of them had needed another year to get to grips with it it would leave us very thread bare in those positions. Very few players are ready to play regular top flight football at 18 and we are fortunate that we the ones with thrown in have swam rather than sunk. It won't be that way for every player though.

 

but that is the issue how do you know if they are ready to play at 18 unless you try them. Other clubs refuse to give players a chance. We have a very good academy but we are kidding ourselves if we believe it is better than everyone elses, the difference is we try them in the first team other clubs do not,

[Barry Sanchez]

but that is the issue how do you know if they are ready to play at 18 unless you try them. Other clubs refuse to give players a chance. We have a very good academy but we are kidding ourselves if we believe it is better than everyone elses' date=' the difference is we try them in the first team other clubs do not,[/quote']

 

We have to try them, we are not in the same position as others, not to detract from a the great success it has had over the last 30 years.

[Barry Sanchez]

I like to think most are in this camp, but this place doesn't suggest it. They demand constant signings, then give the signings no time and ***** about them for months.

 

There's no better club for youngsters in England right now. If they go to City, Chelsea etc they just aren't going to get games even if they're good enough, bar the odd cup match. Here they have all the facilities, great coaching and know if they're good enough, they can get in. It's the only way to run the club and I hope we keep investing in it as much as possible.

 

Mix that with 2 or 3 good signings each SUMMER and things will go well. If Shaw goes we can sign a new LB and let Targett compete with them. So long as there are no other sales I think we could still have a very good squad and push on. More concerned about MP staying and who we'd recruit if he did leave.

 

I agree but what 2/3 good signings have we made in the last 2 summers?

[S-Clarke]

I agree but what 2/3 good signings have we made in the last 2 summers?

 

Ummm....last summer, Wanyama and Lovren? Both significantly improved the squad.

 

Season before.....Gaston Ramirez, Clyne, Boruc, Steve Davis, Rodriguez....? and your point is, exactly?

[KelvinsRightGlove]

It's an admirable policy but you need the right blend of Youth and experience. We've been fortunate so far in that Shaw, JWP, Chambers have adapted well to the premier league. If one of them had needed another year to get to grips with it it would leave us very thread bare in those positions. Very few players are ready to play regular top flight football at 18 and we are fortunate that we the ones with thrown in have swam rather than sunk. It won't be that way for every player though.

 

Without wanting to look for an argument, I would also suggest the club, manager (including Adkins with JWP & Shaw) and most of all the academy deserve credit for preparing them.

 

For this crop of players who have been at the club 10 years of so, there has to be a large portion of credit given to the club for getting them ready to play at such a young age. As you, quite rightly, say not many players are ready at 17/18/19.

 

There is of course an element of good fortune too.

 

Maybe it's the clapper in me, but hey, you make your own luck right?

[JoeShmoe]

It's fairly clear that the parents of the prize 12-15 year olds might see us as a more favourable destination than Manchester, London etc because there's a much better chance of them getting a chance to play, the whole thing is self fulfilling

[St_Tel49]

We have to try them, we are not in the same position as others, not to detract from a the great success it has had over the last 30 years.

With all respect Baz MoPo is in a better position to judge the readiness of our kids than you are

And he is obviously prepared to back his opinion.

[Leicestersaint]

It is all very encouraging - let's hope it continues!

[Saint_clark]

It's interesting that these players are coming in with literally no first team experience and making it look like nothing. Perhaps it's the fact that we play the same system at every level now? You can't even say we're waiting longer before putting them in as Shaw and JWP were both 17 and Chambers and Gallagher were both 18.

Exciting times ahead.