Youth Keeper Harry Isted Signs Pro Deal

[Saint_clark]

Congratulations to him.

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/harry-isted-signs-pro-deal-1417959.aspx

[Golden Balls]

Never easy for a young keeper to break through.

 

I know Les Read said recently he doesn't believe in investing in players development and a "Southampton way" only to then loan them out. However with keepers I think it's worth it.

[Saint J 77]

It would be great if we could bring through a top keeper from our youth team. When was the last time we had a keeper come through the ranks to become a first team regular?

[Chez]

It would be great if we could bring through a top keeper from our youth team. When was the last time we had a keeper come through the ranks to become a first team regular?

 

Alan Blayney? Maybe Keith Granger before that, but goal keeper seems to be a position we have struggled to develop for many many years

[Badger]

It would be great if we could bring through a top keeper from our youth team. When was the last time we had a keeper come through the ranks to become a first team regular?

 

Alan Blayney? Maybe Keith Granger before that, but goal keeper seems to be a position we have struggled to develop for many many years

 

Neither were regular though were the? just a few end of season games before falling into obscurity.

 

Racking my brain, but the last one I can think of who made a run of appearances is Steve Middleton (mid 70's) , and before that Gerry Gurr (late 60's).

[VectisSaint]

Neither were regular though were the? just a few end of season games before falling into obscurity.

 

Racking my brain, but the last one I can think of who made a run of appearances is Steve Middleton (mid 70's) , and before that Gerry Gurr (late 60's).

Even gerry Gurr and Steve Middleton were hardly regulars. Gerry only ever made 49 apps and Middleton 30.

Recently Michael Poke at least made more apps that Blayney, 4 v 3 to be fair. Poke has at least made a decent career for himself in the lower leagues, though looks like he will be back in the Conf next season when Torquay get relegated again.

[Shropshire Saint]

Even gerry Gurr and Steve Middleton were hardly regulars. Gerry only ever made 49 apps and Middleton 30.

Recently Michael Poke at least made more apps that Blayney, 4 v 3 to be fair. Poke has at least made a decent career for himself in the lower leagues, though looks like he will be back in the Conf next season when Torquay get relegated again.

 

Gerry Gurr had, after a nervous start, the makings of a brilliant keeper but suffered an injury from which he never fully recovered. He ended up playing I think for Aldershot before retiring early and taking up a career in music.

[sidthesquid]

It is strange that for all the long list of great players we have developed there has never been even a half-decent top-flight keeper amongst them

[Saint Charlie]

Never easy for a young keeper to break through.

 

I know Les Read said recently he doesn't believe in investing in players development and a "Southampton way" only to then loan them out. However with keepers I think it's worth it.

 

Agree. Gazza is crying out for a loan spell to play 40 league games in L1. Cropper must also need that soon enough.

[SuperSAINT]

Has been released according to the O.S.

 

Young goalkeeper Harry Isted, who has made four under-21 appearances this season, has left the club by mutual consent

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Good luck to the lad - although my poor old brain is now stuck in a logic-loop trying to comprehend how he could possibly have been ''quite young for his age group'' !

[Saint-Armstrong]

Has been released according to the O.S.

 

Had his dad tweeting me on Twitter for a while voicing his disappointment with the academy at Saints.

 

Has said about it going stale, not developing the lads enough and Harry being better off elsewhere.

 

Has played for Stoke in recent weeks according to his old man and has been trialling around other PL clubs.

 

Whether it's true or just bitter parent syndrome, I've no idea.

[trousers]

Didn't we sign "the next Joe Hart" sometime last year? 16 / 17 year old lad IIRC? Probably more likely to be a case of Isted dropping down the pecking order

[Saint Charlie]

We brought in Lewis from Shrewsbury with a bit of fanfare so the writing was probably on the wall for him then.

 

Having said that, the clips Ive seen of Lewis so far aren't overly impressive.

[VectisSaint]

Had his dad tweeting me on Twitter for a while voicing his disappointment with the academy at Saints.

 

Has said about it going stale, not developing the lads enough and Harry being better off elsewhere.

 

Has played for Stoke in recent weeks according to his old man and has been trialling around other PL clubs.

 

Whether it's true or just bitter parent syndrome, I've no idea.

Could be more evidence of what some people can see that our much acclaimed Academy is going backwards (or at least not progressing) with poor quality coaches and the Club resting on its laurels beieving their own hype that we have the best Academy.

[SuperSAINT]

Had his dad tweeting me on Twitter for a while voicing his disappointment with the academy at Saints.

 

Has said about it going stale, not developing the lads enough and Harry being better off elsewhere.

 

Has played for Stoke in recent weeks according to his old man and has been trialling around other PL clubs.

 

Whether it's true or just bitter parent syndrome, I've no idea.

 

Good insight mate! Cheers for sharing.

[Deano6]

It's awfully unfair but I tend to automatically assume that any of our youth kids that haven't shown a sign of breaking into the first team are sh!t - so I'm not too upset about this. Even those that do get near the side, if they're not holding down a starting position pretty quickly (Shaw, Chambers, Walcott, Ox, Bale) then again, for me, they're not worth keeping.

 

I'm fully aware I'm wrong to think this, before you feel the need to point it out. But I do believe it.

[Saint-Armstrong]

Signing for Stoke City tomorrow.

 

Not rated by Dave Watson so allowed to move on.

[VectisSaint]

It's awfully unfair but I tend to automatically assume that any of our youth kids that haven't shown a sign of breaking into the first team are sh!t - so I'm not too upset about this. Even those that do get near the side, if they're not holding down a starting position pretty quickly (Shaw, Chambers, Walcott, Ox, Bale) then again, for me, they're not worth keeping.

 

I'm fully aware I'm wrong to think this, before you feel the need to point it out. But I do believe it.

Bit different for a keeper though. He is only 18, no keeper breaks through at 18. Butland is considered young for a keeper but he is nearly 23.

[SuperSAINT]

Signing for Stoke City tomorrow.

 

Not rated by Dave Watson so allowed to move on.

 

Fair enough.

[corky morris]

Signing for Stoke City tomorrow.

 

Not rated by Dave Watson so allowed to move on.

 

As a parent who has a number of years experience of lads at Stoke's academy, I reckon Saints academy must be pretty **** as Stoke haven't developed a player since Wilkinson who was rubbish too.

Good luck to him, but don't for a second think it's a step up at Stoke, it's not!!

[The Cat]

The best keeper we have developed in recent memory is probably Darryl Flahavan. Never played for Saints but had a decent career elsewhere.

[VectisSaint]

The best keeper we have developed in recent memory is probably Darryl Flahavan. Never played for Saints but had a decent career elsewhere.

...until yesterday.

[St Chalet]

Scott Bevan was one of ours, has done alright in the lower leagues.

[david in sweden]

Could be more evidence of what some people can see that our much acclaimed Academy is going backwards (or at least not progressing) with poor quality coaches and the Club resting on its laurels beieving their own hype that we have the best Academy.

 

For all the praise for the Academy, it should be remembered that it's a competative unit and everyone must push themselves and not expect to be " spoon-fed" by coaches.

 

Ronald Koeman talks about " competition for places " in the first team squad, but it's just as important even for a 16 year old to "push himself " a bit and seek to impress the Academy coaches. I know little about Harry Isted, aside from what has been written, but if the lad hasn't impressed in training and doesn't meet the expected criteria then he's not likely to progress...not with SFC anyway.

 

Saints have Dave Watson as goalkeeping coach (also England coach) and so his opinion has to be respected to a high degree. It's tough on Isted, but in time he may become a decent keeper, but as memory serves me, we've not any " young keepers " leave the club in the past, who've later gone on to do better elsewhere and play at top level.

[Toadhall Saint]

Had his dad tweeting me on Twitter for a while voicing his disappointment with the academy at Saints.

 

Has said about it going stale, not developing the lads enough and Harry being better off elsewhere.

 

Has played for Stoke in recent weeks according to his old man and has been trialling around other PL clubs.

 

Whether it's true or just bitter parent syndrome, I've no idea.

 

Is his dad a qualified coach? Or even someone that knows how an academy is run?

 

I'll be keeping an ear and eye out for this lad just to see if SFC have got it wrong. Wouldn't be the first time but then that's no different to any other academy.

[Saint-Armstrong]

https://twitter.com/HarryIsted1/status/690618604014997504

[Maggie May]

https://twitter.com/HarryIsted1/status/690618604014997504

 

Stoke City certainly have a good eye for a goalie.

 

Shame.

[angelman]

Isn't it really the case that there is so much money now coming into the game, that you can choose the creme de la creme and buy it in for the 1st team, rather than develop it? In the past few years we could happily take the moral high ground when looking at ManU, Chelsea etc and the way none of their academy products made it through to the first team. Maybe we are now getting like that. I know that there are exceptions, and maybe the academy isn't going through a good patch at the moment, but the more money there is in the game, the less we need to rely on the academy. A shame, as I am sure that we can all agree how nice it was when Poch brought through so many.

[Batman]

Isn't it really the case that there is so much money now coming into the game, that you can choose the creme de la creme and buy it in for the 1st team, rather than develop it? In the past few years we could happily take the moral high ground when looking at ManU, Chelsea etc and the way none of their academy products made it through to the first team. Maybe we are now getting like that. I know that there are exceptions, and maybe the academy isn't going through a good patch at the moment, but the more money there is in the game, the less we need to rely on the academy. A shame, as I am sure that we can all agree how nice it was when Poch brought through so many.

 

Think united are a poor example. For all my supporting life they always have had people in the first team squad from the academy/young talent pool

[CB Fry]

A shame, as I am sure that we can all agree how nice it was when Poch brought through so many.

 

Remind us who those "so many" were again.

[angelman]

Shaw, Chambers, Reed, Isgrove, McQueen, Rowe, Gallagher and Sinclair all got a chance and appeared to a greater or lesser extent. Granted Sinclair had 1 minute in a cup game! And maybe you might think that Shaw was brought through before MP arrived.

[whelk]

Shaw, Chambers, Reed, Isgrove, McQueen, Rowe, Gallagher and Sinclair all got a chance and appeared to a greater or lesser extent. Granted Sinclair had 1 minute in a cup game! And maybe you might think that Shaw was brought through before MP arrived.

 

I wouldn't count Shaw - that was nothing to do with MP's shrewd eye for a player. The rest apart from Chambers have not shown they are good enough for PL at the moment so would say that was showing naivety.

Actually agree MP is good at coaching young players though.

I don't think it is so much a manager thing more quality of crop thing with RK.

[Dalek2003]

I wouldn't count Shaw - that was nothing to do with MP's shrewd eye for a player. The rest apart from Chambers have not shown they are good enough for PL at the moment so would say that was showing naivety.

Actually agree MP is good at coaching young players though.

I don't think it is so much a manager thing more quality of crop thing with RK.

 

I think Reed and Isgrove will break through, or if not, we will get a retunr by selling to the likes of Ipswich.

[david in sweden]

I wouldn't count Shaw - that was nothing to do with MP's shrewd eye for a player.

The rest apart from Chambers have not shown they are good enough for PL at the moment so would say that was showing naivety.

Actually agree MP is good at coaching young players though.

I don't think it is so much a manager thing more quality of crop thing with RK.

 

 

Correct " Whelk ".

 

Luke Shaw had played a dozen games as Adkins' first-choice LB, before we'd even heard the name " Pochettino".

 

Pochettino maybe good at coaching youngsters, although in a recent interview he admitted his big mistake in thinking he could rehabiliate an older one-namely Osvaldo.

 

Aside from bringing in younger players in the usual Cup games, he failed to select the correct start side against a poor Sunderland side in the infamous League Cup when we were within sight of a place in the last four, and were beaten miserably.

 

His "so-called " reputation in bringing on players like Sam Gallagher is also a fallacy. He was forced to play young Sam, simply because of Osvaldo's suspension after the Fonte incident, and the subsequent injury to Jay Rod, at a time when Lambert in in poor form and had no alternative strikers.

 

Poch nevertheless only started Sam in 2 games, and gave him the nominal 10 minutes sub app. in 18 others.

[angelman]

But there was a different feeling around the club with regards the academy players. They may only have gotten on to the bench or on the pitch for a minute or two, but you could look down and think "hey, it looks good that the next crop is coming along nicely". But now, you look down and think whether anyone is going to come through and are any ready for the 1st XI now? Am I the only one who thinks like this? Maybe I'm wrong and maybe there is a bit of revisionism going on.

 

Taking things as they stand today, Reed might well be the only one, but would you have him over any of those who currently occupy the midfield?

 

Having said that, we did have 2 academy players yesterday in Targett and JWP on the pitch, so all is not lost. Targett was brought through in to the PL by RK, and lately seems to be first choice in the 3-5-2 (or whatever it is) formation. Being pragmatic about things, and acknowledging the competition that you face in the PL, maybe 2 or 3 is the most one can realistically expect. While it would be lovely (and make sense business wise) to have 50%+, that is a little unrealistic.

[CB Fry]

Shaw, Chambers, Reed, Isgrove, McQueen, Rowe, Gallagher and Sinclair all got a chance and appeared to a greater or lesser extent. Granted Sinclair had 1 minute in a cup game! And maybe you might think that Shaw was brought through before MP arrived.

Shaw was the regular left back prior to Poch arriving.

 

Chambers is the only one.

 

The rest of them have been "brought through" to what? They're not good enough regardless of a few pointless cameos in League Cup matches. Plus Gallagher who played because we had no one else. Still yet to see anyone here saying we shouldn't have bought Austin but "brought through" Seager/Sam instead, exposing the central contradiction behind all this wailing.