http://mobile.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/chelsea-u18s-1-3-saints-u18s-690282.aspx?pd=634978945060000000
Interesting conversayion on twitter also, as Chelsea youth twitter account posted that it was 0-2 saints a Manutd youth account commented along the lines of "theyre pretty good ay" to which chelsea replied something like "absolutly dominating, theyre ruthless too". A couple of nice comments.
This is the future. An academy that is so good players and parents are selecting us over other academies. Arsene Wenger said that Arsenal had a good academy...just not as good as Southampton's. He praised our scouting and technical training. Cortese's idea is that they supply the core of the future team...we have to get through an interim period before this comes to fruition.
Top three of each group go into an end of season tournament. We should be in that. The u21s also doing better after a dodgy start.
Matt Targett is allegedly a bit tasty. May have to go on the bench before the end of the season, especially with Fox injured and Shaw not 100 percent fit, although pretty sure will just move Clyne to left back if needs be.
Targett has been training with the first team. Another reason why our academy is good for young players...better chance to get experience and even be up for selection than at clubs that prefer to pay 35+ for players.
double edged sword, to spread the word we should be in the major leagues, yet players like JWP, Shaw, Sinclair, Turnbull, Rowe, Chambers and Targett are all involved with either the first or the U21 team when they could be playing for the U18s in what would be a very tasty team. Yet by promoting these players we weaken the U18s yet free up space for 16 year olds to progress and parents can see that the club is proactive about promoting youth players. Our u18 and u21 teams are both very young on average
Really frustrates me that we're not in the next gen series. It seems to be picked on reputation as opposed to actual success of youth academies it would be great to see our boys against the real creme de la creme of Europe like Sporting Lisbon, Ajax and Barca.
If we win the U18s this time, we'll probably find ourselves well-positioned for inclusion if/when NextGen expands again. In fact, there's a non-trivial chance that Villa might pull out if they go down this year, and if so that spot likely would be offered to either ourselves or Fulham, assuming that Man U doesn't reverse course and suddenly take an interest.
[video=youtube;-oWmWSEvXkM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oWmWSEvXkM&feature=player_embedded[/video]
We are in second place with 1 point behind Fulham (who have 2 games in hand). ManU are in third. We'd remain second even if the others won their games in hand. We look nailed on for the end of season tournament (for those in top three at end of season).
We await the highlights against Palace, sounds like a ding dong game. Chelsea keeper was a great help. Wonder what apposing fans will call thier number 8 if he makes it professionally, wonderful name of Isak Sswankambo
Should be an interesting game on April 6th when you play us (Fulham) at your place. Either way it looks like both our teams will make the playoff/knockout stage. There is an advantage in finishing top, as the top team plays the winner of the "non-elite" groups play off in the semi final. 2nd and 3rd in the elite group play each other in the other semi. Could easily be a Fulham v Saints final. Don't know where the final is played.
Very complicated format, but I suppose it results in a lot of 'meaningful' games which was the the intention. And also means that a good side which finds itself in a lower group has the chance to redeem themselves rather than lose out completely. Very pleased with our academy results...we are certainly paying more attention than we have in the past.
Highlights are on OS Player, if you don't want to know the score yet look away now, Saints won 4 - 3, another brace from Ryan Seager, it was 1 - 2 at half time.
Sounds like an exciting match between our academy sides today - and still looks like Fulham v Saints final for me. Manchester Utd were in the Dallas cup tournament with our lads, but didn't even make it out of their group, (whereas Fulham beat their group leaders 5-1 in the final) - so I think you will beat them in the semi.
