I have read with interest some of the posters views on the Academy. We all know that the Academy was set up to attract youngsters with talent from the local area. Prior to the Academy we had the youth system and brought through players. Such as Terry Paine, Micky Channon,Matt Le Tissier and of course Alan Shearer that made it through to full internationals. In addition to that you had the Wallace brothers and Stevie Williams and a host of other players that played top flight football with out ever getting onto the full international stage. Since we changed the youth set up into a full Academy it is surprising the number that have come through it and have made it into the top flight football including full internationals. Here is a list that I can remember :- Full internationals Chris Baird........ (NI) Gareth Bale....... (Wales) Leon Best ..........(R.O.I) Wayne Bridge.....(England) Arron Davis........(Wales) Scott MacDonald.(Australia) Tim Sparv..........(Finland) Jake Thompson...(Trinadad & Tobago) Theo Walcott......(England) Under 21 internationals Martin Cranie Dextor Blackstock Andrew Surman Alex Chamberlain Above are just a few that have or are near to making it into top flight football. It is quite an impressive list I think you will agree. Rather more than some would have thought I would wager. My challenge to you is can you think of any others that have made it into top flight football (under 21 internationals or Premier ship players) to add to the above list, that have come through the Academy? If they are foreign players they must of played at the top level (minimum under 21 international) for their respective countries.
Matt Mills made it to Manchester City in the Prem. He should be back at that level very soon, I would expect - I rate him highly.
Yes guys you are right.......I should of course add Schneiderlin to that list. He played under 21 for France last year did he not. Also what about Bart did he not play a couple of games in the premier for us?
Not sure that he did actually come through the Academy, although he was only a youngster when he came here. I think he was over Eighteen though. Certainly played in the top flight if he did.
What about the centre back that went to QPR he had a couple of games in the premier from our youth ranks. I forget his name though.
Schneiderlin started life at Strasbourg in France and Kenwyne Jones started at Joe Public F.C in Trinidad and Tobago. Neither came through the Saints Academy.
There have been a couple that made it after coming through our youth ranks (not Academy) and being rejected.
Hasn't the Portugese lad that is still with us, played for the under 21's or was it the under 18's that he played for?
Thinking about it, i'm not sure if Dexter Blackstock came through our youth system. Think he was at Newbury or Oxford or something like that??
kenwyne came to us when he was 18, but I regard him as our product, when he came to us he was a centre back!
