The Official Southampton FC Thread
Discussion
BrabusMog said:
It also begs the question, what is the secret ingredient at your academy? Consistently churning out top quality players, it puts many other clubs to shame.
Many ingredients, but keeping the lads grounded, making them play in a style which keeps the ball, looking after their families and creating the right environment for them as well as having great facilities. Having a scouting network which gets many lads from the age of 8 (and some we take from other academies a little later e.g. Banana) Apart from that it's just luck 
There must be some geographical advantage too. Southampton and Reading are the only top tier academies in the South outside of London, whereas it you were a talented kid in the North West you'd have the choice of 6 (the 2 Manchester clubs, the 2 Liverpool clubs, plus Blackburn and Bolton)
Truckosaurus said:
There must be some geographical advantage too. Southampton and Reading are the only top tier academies in the South outside of London, whereas it you were a talented kid in the North West you'd have the choice of 6 (the 2 Manchester clubs, the 2 Liverpool clubs, plus Blackburn and Bolton)
Surely competing against the London academies negates this advantage?Truckosaurus said:
There must be some geographical advantage too. Southampton and Reading are the only top tier academies in the South outside of London, whereas it you were a talented kid in the North West you'd have the choice of 6 (the 2 Manchester clubs, the 2 Liverpool clubs, plus Blackburn and Bolton)
Everything's just better in the south.Truckosaurus said:
There must be some geographical advantage too. Southampton and Reading are the only top tier academies in the South outside of London..
Premier League clubs do have facilities / development centres outside of their immediate catchment area - Chelsea, for instance, have one in Portsmouth which (they hope) will hoover up any local talent..SS2. said:
Truckosaurus said:
There must be some geographical advantage too. Southampton and Reading are the only top tier academies in the South outside of London..
Premier League clubs do have facilities / development centres outside of their immediate catchment area - Chelsea, for instance, have one in Portsmouth which (they hope) will hoover up any local talent..Shnozz said:
I never knew that mate (despite knowing a scout for Portsmouth).
I think they have quite a few dotted around - the MO seems to be to invite a load of local kids along to be part of the 'Chelsea experience' and any that show any promise are offered trials at Cobham or one of their Elite Centres.Whatever they're doing, it doesn't appear to have generated much talent for their first team over the years..
So Osvaldo is gone, we have a good loanee in and I'm starting to feel happier that our youngsters are in a better place to take the positions. Hoping that now Celtic are out of Europe, we might get a keeper? We still need 1-2 signings including a very good central defender and someone else to bang in a few goals until j-rod gets back
Cie said:
SS2. said:
Disappointing to see so many Liverpool fans on Rickie's back after just a couple of performances - surely they didn't expect him to fill the void left by the goofy, cheating, racist cannibal ?
They're scousers, don't expect much from them. 
Lallana , Shaw , Lovren , Lambert , Chambers & probably Schneiderlin ,
How much do you think these players would have been worth if they were for sale this time last year ?
Do you think the ex manager is mainly responsible for the crazy monies being paid for these players ? i would probably say it is, is he that good ?
How much do you think these players would have been worth if they were for sale this time last year ?
Do you think the ex manager is mainly responsible for the crazy monies being paid for these players ? i would probably say it is, is he that good ?
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