Saints Academy Thread

FT 2-1 win for u18s.

 

They needed that

 

Some good play - but some of the worst camera work I've ever seen!

 

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015...ver-transfer-market-strategy-was-highlighted/
Interesting view on Isgrove's recent contract and loan out. Suggesting that loaning him out earlier may have risked him leaving at the end of the contract in the summer (if he tasted playing in the 1st team elsewhere), whereas tieing him down first was a smart move.

Les Reed suggests that Isgrove will feature for us next season, but I have to admit (although I hope he makes it) that I wondered if we were signing him just to guarantee we would get more money for him in the summer.

 

http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/shef...y-there-s-more-to-come-from-isgrove-1-7172006

Isgrove had a respectable start at the Owls. Manager said it was a lot for him to be thrown in straight away and the team had to get used to him. Said that 5 clubs were after signing him, but Wednesday had a good relationship with Southampton.

 

I definitely think his contract extension had next seasons potential European roadtrip in mind.

Despite our frequently-lauded ability to bring through youngsters, we would currently struggle to field the required number of 'homegrown' players under UEFA rulings without having to dip into our youth teams.

 

Chart on Sky shows that we are a team with one of the lowest number of homegrown players (8). Not our fault as we have raised the little buggers...they just keep leaving home.

 

So:
Forster
Davis?
Clyne
Bertrand
Prowse
Reed
Morgan
Who else? And I am guessing they don't count, Targett, McCarthy,Seager etc etc.

 

Wouldn't they count Isgrove...he is 22.

 

Prowse & Reed might even be too young

Forster
Davis. K
Clyne
Bertrand
Morgan
Rodriguez (remember him)
Davis. S
Isgrove

 

Sky discussing the problem of getting youngsters through to the first team, so they visit West Ham and City. Apparently City haven't got anyone through to the first team in 6 years despite spending a fortune on their academy. Sky then listed how Chelsea (1 player), United (1 player) and Arsenal (3 players) have done better.

Shame there isn't a team that regularly gets youngsters through into the first team who go on to be internationals.

 

Sky probably think Arsenal's three as Walcott, Chamberlain and Chambers ....

 

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/fo...HAILS-Southampton-top-producer-English-talent

Gareth Southgate praises Saints Academy after promoting Targett to the u21s.

 

He will be saying it again in a years time.

 

A video about the youngsters going on a cookery course. It has been mentioned before that the club try to prepare young players for life and to encourage healthy eating. They are apparently also going to a farm to see where food comes from (and I thought it was Sainsburys ). I think it is a good idea to introduce variety to their training, even above the value of the cookery lesson itself. They also learn a valuable life lesson about humiliation by wearing silly hats.

 

Under 18's just won 2 - 1 against Norwich, last minute winner from Marcus Barnes, Olufela Olomola got the first in the eleventh minute, a good name for a Referees note book!

 

Wilshere and Gibbs are definitely 2, Bellerin the other?

 

http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/lowestoft_town_chief_set_to_leave_blues_for_southampton_1_3972599
This article about a chap from Lowestoft coming to manage Saints u18s has just come up on Newsnow as posted yesterday, but is dated February. May be old news, but news to me.

 

It was posted on here at the time.