I am starting to get seriously excited, no, not like that, about our youngsters. In the past we have had the occasional player to raise our hopes, but it now appears that we have a seriouly promising total squad, from young Killip to Jayiisimi. Apologies if I have not spelled his name correctly. I would like to see Godfrey on the bench at times, against Rotherham would be a good start. These lads must be encouraged and rewarded.
Yes GE, I'd love to see Godfrey at least promoted to the bench and if he is, it would be fantastic IMO. He appears to be a very versatile player and AN has stated he still has to work out his best position. He played as a CB in a recent match and if he could make the step up, it could mean that we could rely less on Bassong in future!!!
Josh looking like Theo Walcott, Nelson with his first goal for us and Pritchard assist and great on the ball.
Good to see the Almighty given His full name for once. Looking pretty good there. Fourth goal was sublime.
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I read in one of the reports that the red card was a bit harsh, but seeing that, I think it was totally justified!
Thanks DD. Though a few minutes highlights in no way tells the full story of the match I thought Pritchard was superb, And Oliveiras goal was up there with the ones scored by the twins earlier this season. AN is definitely getting to the point where first team selection is incredibly difficult. I only just noticed that the captain was Louis Thompson. I get the feeling that Neill really rates this guy.
Arguably we now have too many young players looking capable of doing a good job in the senior team. Young players do to be integrated with support. Put too many on the field at once and you run the risk of naive mistakes. This season we have been doing a good job, I'm glad Maddison has been loaned out as he is getting to play senior football too without us having to worry too much about the balance of youth in our team. I think Alex manages a young team best, this could be due to him being a young manager. He has done more for us as a team that develops young players than any recent manager I can think of. I think his claims of building a dynasty are looking genuinely possible. Being a team that young players want to play for is a good way to get the pick of the better players. Southamptons success is self sustaining because young players want to be there.
Great to see evryone starting to play as a team - well going forward anyway!!! We just need to be a bit more astute defensively and we could easily stay at the sharp end of the Championship till May. I'm beginning to get the feeling that some of our more senior players such as RM should be 'rested' when we're up against a team with pacy wingers and whilst a youff player may make the odd mistake, at least he should be bale to match his opponent for pace and I'm hoping we may see more of them introduced as the season progresses, especially if we can progress in teh EFL Cup. It would be fantastic if we could even go part of the way to emulating the success Southampton have enjoyed.
Plenty of senior players make more than the odd mistake (i.e. Bassong, Martin, Whittaker) and struggle with pace.
Louis Thompson is a future captain of the first team, he needs a chance in the first team and NOT sent out on loan. He's developed to where he is at our club and that should continue. Ben Godfrey is another great prospect. Let's not be afraid to give them a chance!
Godfrey on the bench as a CB regularly would be great to see. Especially over Bassong or Turner. Can't see AN doing it though. It's great to see Thompson impressing, he look like a good kid, and a really hard worker. He's got the touch too. Could be a valuable CM player if we use him. I'd much rather play him than Mulumbu next time Tetty gets banned and we are playing a defensive midfielder. Pritchard looked great again in the highlights. His delivery and how he turns with the ball and runs forward. Like a right little Wes! Nelson's goal was exciting. No matter what level it was, no keeper would have saved that. Even in the Championship. Josh's hat-trick was a perfect response to Jacobs performances and praise. He's not getting the chance to prove it in the first team at the moment. He's doing it when he gets to play in the cup or U21's though! That's all you can ask of him at the moment, until he is given more first team chances.
I'm sure if AN were to give some of the more promising youngsters a chance, fans would 'cut him a lot more slack' I CERTAINLY would!!! Some great comments FML. Tettey's on 4 yellows, so will almost certainly be banned before PNE come to visit and it would be great to see LT given his chance over the lumbering Mulumbu. OK, a week's a long time in politics (and football) and less than 162 hours ago, we were all full of misery and woe after losing at the death to Newcastle - now we're all advocating AN to give more of the youngsters their chance and it would be great to see more of them at least in the match day squad.
I'm still p*ssed off about that mate! Every now and again my gf hears me mumble.. "Last f**king minute.............2 goals!? In the last f**king minute!?"