lifeintheslowlane Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Wouldn't it nice to think Saints are not only breeding a new generation of excellent footballers but also a breed of youngsters who aren't simply motivated by money, bright lights and instant gratification. A breed that are enjoying their lives as professional footballers with a group of closely bonded players working for each other in a common cause. The cynic will say players will always go where the big money is but what if those highly rated young players don't want to go while they can see rewards that don't just swell the bank balance. Wow wouldn't that upset the apple cart. Is it a pipe-dream; are The Academy working intently on such aspect as morality, loyalty and other aspect of life that have previously been though as unrelated to football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Try telling that to their parents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 To get through our academy it's clear that you need more then talent alone, a work ethic and team mentality, an unselfish nature. I would suggest that youngsters who fundamentally lack these qualities wouldn't get in in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearsy Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 team spirit is highly valued here i reckon, not many clubs would drum out their star striker for merely head-butting a centre back. If it happened at qpr they'd prob get a bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano6 Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 At West Ham they have a training session dedicated to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmel Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27158586 A very loosely connected article (Based on the sentiment of the OP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonraker Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 (edited) Interesting perspective, and one that has some merit. The majority of premiership players earn enough money over three or four seasons to set themselves up for life circa £4 - 5m. Received wisdom has held that players will always move for a bigger pay day/bigger club/trophies. Whilst these factors will continue to be in play the approach Saints are currently taking will have some impact in countering them. There is no guarantee and only time will tell but to me the litmus test is AL if he stays then I believe others , not all, will also stay. If this is backed up by a few key and squad improving signings then we will have a great deal to look forward to, perhaps even an FA Cup final appearance! Edited 25 April, 2014 by moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igsey Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 I'm not even too bothered if they stay at Southampton or go elsewhere - more footballers that are actually decent people too is always a good thing. More Lallanas, fewer Ronaldos please - sure, he's possibly the best player in the world, but he's also a grade A pr*ck. Bale's right up there too, but he's humble, modest and most importantly grateful for where he is and the chances he's had. The Ronaldos and Rooneys of this world think they deserve things handed to them on a plate and that they are bigger than the team. Seems to me that the Saints lads won't end up going that way, and that can only be for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersonic Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 The problem is that there will always be some who are motivated by bright lights, instant fame and the money which can come with being a professional footballer. There's nothing which can be done to stop this. Even if a player has been with Saints from the age of 8 and breaks into the first-team at 18/19 may have their head turned by a greedy agent or parent etc. I'm sure we all know people in our work who are motivated solely by money. Question comes to ask - do we sign a kid who's got all the talent in the world but is a cocky little ****, or do we sign on with less ability but a team player? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifeintheslowlane Posted 25 April, 2014 Author Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Yeah I think many on this forum have presented Luke Shaw's departure as a foregone conclusion...as a given. In the past I think that would have been a reasonable assumption but it's taking on a lot to think you can get inside the head of a young player who has been part of his team's recent successes and The Academy culture. Notice Les Reed's emphasis today on the importance in honouring contracts...I hope that's been a big part of the Academy kid's education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Pipe dream I think. It would be nice to think that you could amass a group of lads who have money a bit lower down their list of priorities but it wont happen. To me footballers seem to be driven by their status within the football bubble and being on big money then at a big club is how the status is measured. We will continue to lose players until we are within 10% of the top wages. I cant think what Ronaldo has done wrong other than a few lairy haircuts, he has worked hard to become a top player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifeintheslowlane Posted 25 April, 2014 Author Share Posted 25 April, 2014 It's an interesting point about players like Rooney. Do young kids aspire to be like Rooney anymore...OK he's on an obscene wage but when did you last see him smile in the normal run of things. Do kids want to be a wealthy, miserable footballer...or a happy grounded one? A drop in the crime figures today is supposedly related to the passing of the "booze culture" are kids really changing, is there hope for a more thoughtful society? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Teach them the Southampton way, so they're crap when they go anywhere else! It's the future... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 We raise them well, that's for sure. There are some players who will inevitably end up elsewhere if they deserve to be fighting for elite honours, but very few will jump ship at the first opportunity. They know this is the best place to be for a young player. I don't think it's fair to say they're a new breed, though. There are plenty of good, honest professionals throughout the league pyramid. It's just nice to see so many of them at our club! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olallana Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 I'm not even too bothered if they stay at Southampton or go elsewhere - more footballers that are actually decent people too is always a good thing. More Lallanas, fewer Ronaldos please - sure, he's possibly the best player in the world, but he's also a grade A pr*ck. Bale's right up there too, but he's humble, modest and most importantly grateful for where he is and the chances he's had. The Ronaldos and Rooneys of this world think they deserve things handed to them on a plate and that they are bigger than the team. Seems to me that the Saints lads won't end up going that way, and that can only be for the best. Yes, what an arse! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2579466/Cristiano-Ronaldo-astonishing-gesture-pays-operation-10-month-old-baby.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igsey Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Yes, what an arse! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2579466/Cristiano-Ronaldo-astonishing-gesture-pays-operation-10-month-old-baby.html Shush, stop proving me wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olallana Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Shush, stop proving me wrong Don´t worry mate, it´s the Daily Mail after all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobM Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 The biggest thing for me is proving you don't have to leave Southampton to play for England. That and Premier League football should be enough to convince many to stay with us. All that's left is European football, which the very best talent will want to be involved in. If we continue the way we have been recently - retaining our homegrown stars and adding some quality via the transfer market - European football is the next logical step. If we sell up too many (I think we have to accept at least one will leave) then we can forget it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 The biggest thing for me is proving you don't have to leave Southampton to play for England. That and Premier League football should be enough to convince many to stay with us. All that's left is European football, which the very best talent will want to be involved in. If we continue the way we have been recently - retaining our homegrown stars and adding some quality via the transfer market - European football is the next logical step. If we sell up too many (I think we have to accept at least one will leave) then we can forget it. champions league is what it is. that and winning trophies nearly every season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igsey Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 champions league is what it is. that and winning trophies nearly every season Trophies aren't necessary - Arsenal and Spurs don't seem to have any trouble attracting or keeping hold of their players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 Trophies aren't necessary - Arsenal and Spurs don't seem to have any trouble attracting or keeping hold of their players. bale, modric, Berbatov, Sherringham, fabregas, RvP, Nasri, Clichy.... they both regularly miss out on players Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint137 Posted 25 April, 2014 Share Posted 25 April, 2014 If you follow the young players on Twitter all you see is a great sense of shared history and they're genuinely made up when one of their group graduates to the first team. Shaw in particular has posted photos from when he was 12/13 and playing alongside JWP, Chambers, etc saying how its great to now all be playing in the first team together. They all come across as a genuine good lads, its clear that the club put great emphasis on this. From Lallana down they're all humble and working together for each other and the team. All seem genuinely aware of the privilege they have to play footie for a living and to play for Saints. Think it will count in our favour, not in all cases, but I think we'll keep hold of Shaw unless Chelsea come knocking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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