What really happens to those lads who don't make it ?

[david in sweden]

Gradually we see the names of those Academy lads who - along with many others - just " don't make the cut " and end up leaving the club. 

The brutal truth is that the higher you climb the tree, the further it is to fall  and sometimes it isn't even your own fault. 

Although results show that Saints may not be the best in the Premier League, we are still amongst the top 20 clubs in the country, and that means 

that someone like Matt Targett - good as he was - weren't better than the likes of Ryan Bertrand at the time, and whereas experience is a key factor

in many professions, every passing birthday means that Prem. footballers are that much closer to a VERY early retirement. 

 

Those lads who get into the system at junior school level, and later into an Academy have a very short time to establish themselves before reaching       

the next level and maybe even a seat on the first team bench - without ever getting a Premiership debut, means tough decisions have to be made. 

Many fall by the wayside yet still go on to make careers in the game and a CV that Includes Saints' Academy is still a very good recommendation                

for those who maybe starting out at a club  - at a somewhat lower level .

 

The stats. of young players who actually make it to a Prem. debut are so incredibly small  (0.05 %) that you wonder how they ever made it.

In that respect Saints have produced a long list that began with; Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Ox-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, 

Luke Shaw,  Calum Chambers ..etc,  all of whom went onto clubs who had "sugar-daddies " to meet their every need, whilst Saints needed to 

"sell to survive"  but nearly always left us with the short end of the deal, and the vain hope that  "big money buys" might succeed instead.

Many youngsters who depart should take encouragement from a list of names that does NOT show on the Board at Staplewood, who also left the 

club at an early age. That list began in Lawrie McMenemy's time, with ....Dennis Wise and Kevin Phillips, and in later years has included the likes of ;

Danny Ings, Tyrone Mings and Ben White (whose name recently turned up in the latest England squad).

 

Some youngsters who never get near a pro. football career, may end up playing Sunday league, or just quit to start another profession. 

Those who persist with " their dream " will find the path is a bit steeper, but need the reassurance that in life ..some things may take a little longer...