I know we have Best Saints XI but it got me thinking about all our youth players past and present. There were players that made their name with Saints and others elsewhere like Graham Roberts for example and players like Dennis Wise and Kevin Phillips who made their names elsewhere who went on to play for Saints later on in their careers. Using youth who would be in your best Saints youth eleven? I am just going to think about mine for a bit.
Aaron Flahavan (can’t think of another keeper) Steve Mills RB Malcolm Waldron CB Graham Roberts CB Luke Shaw LB MLT Morgan Shneiderlin Steve Williams Mick Channon Alan Shearer Gareth Bale Bench Reuben Agboola CB Matt Taggart LB Graham Baker Mid JWP Mid Dennis Wise Mid Bobby Stokes For Rod Wallace For Danny Wallace For Steve Moran For Couldn’t remember another keeper so went with 9 outfielders on the bench. Weak at GK and CB but the rest of the team is streets ahead of what we currently have, with few exceptions. Steve Mills would have been a great right back, had he not been injured in a car crash.
Daryl Flahavan Jeff Kenna -- Tyrone Mings -- Martin Cranie -- Wayne Bridge Gareth Bale -- JWP -- Lallana -- Matt Oakley -- Matt LeTissier Alan Shearer We just don't produce defenders or goalies!
GK Darryl Flahaven RB Jeff Kenna LB Gareth Bale CB Rueben Agboola CB Graham Roberts DM Steve Williams RM Terry Paine (C) LM/AM Matt Le Tissier F Mike Channon F Martin Chivers F Alan Shearer Subs Blayney, Bridge, J Stephens, JWP, Holmes, Lallana, D Wallace, R Wallace, Moran. Are we counting Morgan?, I thought he came from Strasbourg.
GK Harry Lewis RB Calum Chambers CB Jack Stephens CB ? LB Luke Shaw RM Theo Walcott CM James Ward-Prowse CM Alex Chamberlain LM Gareth Bale CAM Adam Lallana ST ? I'm only picking players since I've been following football and have actually seen play, so 2005+, and have played a handful of games for us. Does strike me as we haven't really produced a decent striker or centre back whose played for the 1st team significantly. Goalkeeper as well (although Lewis did make a handful of appearances so just about counts in my head), but those positions are definitely the weakest when coming out of the academy it seems. That's not a bad side to be honest; an improved goalkeeper, another decent centre back and a striker and that'd be solid enough.
Gerry Gurr as keeper for me. Just about qualifies as a youth player as he joined us at 17 but was an Arsenal academy graduate and played for QPR and Guildford before joining us. A great keeper who bridged the gap between Campbell Forsyth and Eric Martin but had his career cut short by a shoulder injury. Defence of (Shoehorn) Luke Shaw RB, Agboola, Stephens, Bale A midfield of Payne, Le Tissier, and Williams Strikers have to be a front 3 of Martin Chivers, Mick Channon, and Alan Shearer.
I am sure that I read somewhere that originally Franny Benali was a CF and Kevin Phillips CB for our youth.
Gurr Kenna Waldren Stephens Shaw Paine Williams Holmes Channon Shearer Bale 433 formation Subs Flahaven Chambers (covering right and centre back) Bridge Wallace Wallace Chivers Le tiss Baker.G. Sydenham
