I thikn we're doing just fine. It appears that the system is to get the yoof onto the bench for a few games, then (as per Sam G) give a few minutes on the pitch towards the end, presumably all with ongoing asessment of temperament. It's a good way, IMO, to bring them to the stage where they aren't terrified running onto a pitch in front of 30,000. After all that acclimatisation is done, they'll be assessed on their play and picked accordingly. It looks to be working just fine. Vin
That's the whole point in loaning them out. If they are not likely to make it at Saints the club will do all they can to make sure they find another club before their contract ends and loaning them out is the best way of doing this. If they are good enough, it is better for them to play U21 games against other premier league teams than Chamionship or Div 1 games. That was the main point of creating a premier academy league. When they are really close to first team football they spend a time training with the first team and experiencing the match day environment.
There are very few teams who use their Academies as much as we do. Off the top of my head, I could only say Liverpool (went through a few kids over the Christmas period), United (maybe, most of their Academy products are well established a few years now i.e. Wellbeck, Evans etc) and Spurs (see Liverpool). So let's just be happy we're doing that much for now.
A commentator remarked how confident Sam Gallagher looked coming on against a top PL club...'He's not phased at all,' he said.
We're safely in mid table, the priority must be the FA Cup. We can afford to give some youngsters league matches.
I think our final league position this season will be very important for the players we would want to bring in - I feel that with the level of players that we attempt to sign, a few of them were possibly put off by our low league finish last season, and if we're going to convince players that they'll end up in the champions league, we need to be showing progression, so I think the league is still very important - and we aren't so comfortable that we can start taking risks with youngsters.
It has been mentioned about all our first team kids, they play with no fear. If they screw up they know they will be given more chances. One major problem is that alot of the up and coming players basically play wide so either a change of formation or an injury to one of our main players are they only way they will get game time
Danny Rose (although he moved from Leeds at 17, but hey ho), Andros Townsend (ugh), Harry Kane, a few others. They tend to use them more in the Europa League.
