http://www.itv.com/sport/football/article/2014-08-01/wenger-arsenal-can-provide-england-spine/ Wenger looking forward to Arsenal providing the spine of the English team...Chambers, Walcott and Oxo mentioned I know he was nice about us yesterday but this is
I will be proud if the England team are revealed to be mainly made up of Saints graduates...realistically that could happen and we are well known enough that it will be acknowledged. Would be especially nice if some were still playing for us Arsenal may had input in the development of Walcott and Oxo...if injuring them and holding them back is included...but bit soon to claim anything for Chambers.
http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1184...ampton-s-player-sales-vindicate-academy-trust Not quite relevant, but not sure where to put it. Piece about the Academy.
http://www.espnfc.com/club/chelsea/.../smith-youth-development-is-strictly-business in relation to your article Fran, which focuses on Chelsea
The business plan of using the Academy to supply first team players and provide income for the cub is a sound one. I know some fans thought we should never sell our good players, but the Academy has to be paid for. Unlike Chelsea, we do showcase our youngsters in our team, which is better for us and better for them. We have tended not to loan them out, thought there are signs that we may start to do that. we have also had a policy of having fewer youngsters so their path is clear...that may also change...perhaps by having more satellite academies. If we steadily improve and become a European contender, we have an increased chance of keeping players, but we may still sell 1 or 2 every season (when it suits us rather than when it suits other teams).
You only have to look at the continuing exits from Atletico Madrid & Dortmund to appreciate the current natural order in the football world. If Jay & Morgan stay this summer, then even if we finish top 10 and win a cup to get Europa league football we will still struggle to hold on to them. One of Le Tissiers answers about staying was that he got to play the same teams at Southampton as he would for any other team, so moving was pointless. His era was really before the cult of the champions league. Now players seem happy to sacrifice regular premier league football to be in a squad playing in a handful of extra matches. Plus all this is not even factoring in the extra money involved.
I can only imagine. I do unfortunately care about that side too and how it depicts just how far our game has fallen behind! I am learning though. This World Cup, I left my bag of England tat in the loft!
