07 Aug 2016 01:51:34
Is it just me, or do you guys agree that Jack Grealish would make a great signing for any premier league club? He's a good young talent IMO and would flourish well in a good environment like Saints supply.

1.) 07 Aug 2016
07 Aug 2016 06:55:02
I would rather give a lad from are academy a chance than buying in one I do agree with below posts that we should be giving jack stephens and mc charthy a chance and that Alfie jones will be a beast in a few years.

2.) 07 Aug 2016
07 Aug 2016 11:27:03
Grealish looked a good prospect a year or so ago but I think he flattered to deceive . He would be expensive and nothing better than we have so why? Goals are what we need this season and as much as CP ( had he had a couple of large glasses of vino when he said this ) wants to turn Redmond into the new Thierry Henry ( slightly ambitious! ) we don't have an out and out finisher. Anyway he won't get that done this season if ever so we must invest . Honestly believe a top CF is coming subject to us stumping up the cash for the transfer fee and personal terms . Got a feeling it will happen early this week.

3.) 07 Aug 2016
07 Aug 2016 11:21:28
Absolutely agree Oliver. Their are quite a few gems and unpolished diamonds in our academy. I am very confident that Claude has already checked them out. Can see a few coming through this season.

Also on another note agree with Wildfire Saint that Jack Grealish would be a promising player to sign - but not for us I'm afraid we have talent enough in the academy. What we have in the first team is enough also. COYR's.

4.) 07 Aug 2016
07 Aug 2016 13:49:33
Problem with bringing the academy players in to the first team is the risk . Unfortunately because we are doing so well we have to keep the very high standards up . If we were scratching around in mid table or just below we could blood a few but if we want to keep challenging for European football and maybe the top four I just don't see it happening unless a string of injuries occur . We are better off loaning out some our best academy players to monitor their improvement and should any of them shine in the championship we could always recall them in the January window . Like in any business you don't change a successful business model if it is working . This sounds unfair to the best of the academy boys but when we were bringing players through over the last few years we were never in such a strong position in the PL and remember a lot of them were brought through when the finances of the club were in tatters so we had no choice, we have now . Sounds unfair I know but that is the way I see it.

5.) 07 Aug 2016
07 Aug 2016 14:47:58
As I said in a previous post this is a good time to try these academy players in the cups like the league cup and the JPT trophy. Yes loaning a few out to lower league teams could be beneficial but only if the team they go to offer plenty of game time. Sitting on the bench would be of no benefit at all. Better off in the reserves and academy teams.

In the Friendlies Claude used quite a few fringe players and was happy in what he saw. I forget the manager at the moment but he quoted "if they are good enough they are old enough to play". I'm sure the Southampton Board are intelligent enough to know that you don't always get instant success and have given Claude the go ahead to blood these young players at some stage.

He has had success in the past blooding young players and I have every confidence in him doing this again. Like I've said there are quite a few uncut diamonds in the academy and just need polishing. Lastly if clubs keep bringing in "foreign talent" then the academies will end up a waste of time. Trust in our youngsters there is a production line of them coming through. Get behind the team, manager and be the 12th man. COYR's.

6.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 02:56:56
I agree, the young lads in the academy have quite a lot of potential going forward but chris said, we are at a point where we need to start building up the squad with players that have experience if we're going to keep challenging for those European spots and even PL top 4.

That's not to say that the younger lads wouldn't flourish if they were tried in the first team but is it really worth the risk when Saints are pushing to be on par with the big guns?

I completely have faith in the Southampton board/ managerial team and CP himself that he'll make the right call when it comes down to it but I have to say, loaning some of the brightest young lads out to Championship clubs would be the best way to see how progressive they can be in regular first team football.

I suppose back to the original point, yeah, Jack's talent should be given to a club that doesn't have so much potential coming through the youth system. I don't suppose he'd really get a look-in here, what, with the players we already have.

Cannot wait until new season, see you all at St Mary's! COYR's.

7.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 09:24:05
Good points but let's remember just because they're are older more experienced players in Europe doesn't mean they'll adapt to the prem it's a risk spending 15/ 20 mill on a player that might end up rubbish when we have eager youngsters waiting for the chance to shine.

8.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 12:55:00
The problem is we don't seem to have the same quality coming through the academy at the moment as we did in the days of Theo, the Ox, AL, LS, CC etc. We have though made massive profits on the likes of Mane, Spider, Clyne, Lovren etc. who didn't come through the ranks but were skilfully brought in so things have changed slightly . I am absolutely sure another diamond will rise to the surface from the lads but at this stage nobody seems to be standing out . We did make a couple of very poor signings i. e. Osvaldo, Ramirez, Forren etc. but those were in the days of Cortese who seemed to think that he was in charge of everything but now thankfully the club is being run in a totally professional manner and will continue to get it right in my opinion . However if things do start to falter I have complete faith that the club would act accordingly . We must trust them they certainly haven't let us down at all over the last three seasons and some people have very short memories about where we were 7 years ago but for some reason still find it necessary to criticise .

9.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 15:24:47
I am concerned with a lack of quality within the squad especially the attacking options.
We can't keep selling the best players and think we will be fine every year.
I do not see the CL appearing on the horizon in the near future, if we make top 10 we'd have done well.
If someone out there can see a current 15-20 premier league goal scorer in our team please say.

10.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 16:05:07
Totally agree Russ but with transfer fees for the top players just being down right stupid I think we are looking closely at players that are not already recognised as top targets . I think we will bring in a goal scorer just may take a bit of time to sort it out . The club just won't pay silly money and I think that is sensible but I do agree we do need someone pretty reasonable . We also don't seem to have midfielders that can score from outside the box . We'll see, time yet.

11.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 19:10:40
Again with apologies I have to say this again and I sincerely hope that I will be proved wrong in the future. Unfortunately we will never be on a level playing field with the so called big guns.

Too much gap in the financial stakes for starters. What we are doing at the moment ( and long may it carry on) is competing with what we got to a very high level. We produce talent from the academy again and again. The big guns wait in the shadows, watch them closely and then at the right moment snap them up. Nature of the beast I'm afraid.

Claude is keeping a close eye on the youngsters and will bring them on as he has done in his management past. We also go abroad and get in talent at the right age and bring them on. Again in come the big guns and grab them at the right time. We can't stop this merry go round but profit from this.

This profit is ploughed back into the club for the future. But in the meantime we successfully compete in the Premier and have achieved Europe 2 yrs running. Many other teams sit back and watch and are envious. This is as good as it gets I'm afraid. How I wish for a good cup run ( Wembley would be nice) We will march on. Keep the faith.

12.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 15:52:33
Just a few names from our excellent academy that are coming through with very promising futures. You'll see a few that have played in the latest friendly games. Sam McQueen, Turnbull, Jack Stephens, Ryan Seager, Jake Hesketh, Josh Sims, Jason McCarthy, Callum Slattery, Yan Valery.

Apologies to all the other academy players that I haven't mentioned. If none of these are considered stand out players even though our manager and the head of the academy think so then I'll be damned.

We have a friend that works at the academy (not a top job) who says they have a great number whose future might not be at Southampton but will progress in a professional career at one of the other league clubs.

13.) 08 Aug 2016
08 Aug 2016 19:54:19
Going back to "lack of quality" coming through the academy. Just a few names to throw in the ring Sam McQueen, Jake Hesketh, Ryan Seager, Jason McCarthey, Dominic Gape, Callum Slattery, Yan Valery, Jack Stephens, Josh Sims. These players are highly thought of by Claude . Apologies to all the others I've never mentioned. Keep you eyes out for them.

14.) 09 Aug 2016
09 Aug 2016 13:31:56
If Claude Puel thinks any of them are ready he will play them but who are you going to leave out of the existing first team squad? Just doesn't make sense to play an unproven player ahead of our current starting eleven unless one of them gets injured or shows a real lack of form.