So, the uncertainty of the manager is behind us, and the club's policy of Academy = success reasserted. However, is that ambition? What would make you feel happy going in to the new season?
People probably won't agree with me but if it was a straight choice between making the Champion's League occasionally or having a solid Premier League team of which the majority were Academy products and playing "The Southampton Way, I would choose the latter. I would identify more with the team of our home grown talent than a bunch of mercenaries who only want to get their "dream move" to a bigger club and I would feel more pride in the club..
But we haven't been tested with a £30M offer for Matty yet, so we don't even know if the latter is a reliable blueprint. I think you get more loyalty, but not sure if even thats enough now. Didn't think Chambers would leave, and he was living in London before the ink dried!
I think that signing JWP on a long term deal is a strong signal of the club's future intentions, Chambers left because we had Clyne at the time. The money invested into Staplewood is a strong indication of the club's business model, it is to ultimately be self sufficient through developing the majority of the first team through the Academy. It is a long term plan but I believe that Puel was chosen as the right man to oversee the plan in action.
Be interesting to see what would happen if a big offer came in for JWP, be great seeing him reject a move. But he seems to be cut from a different cloth anyway.
Nothing the club do could ever make me happy or satisfy my demands for more success, on a plate, now. I demand it, & when I get it, it won't be enough.
Or tie them to those bungee ropes they use in training. An attempt at flight, followed by being slammed forcibly back into the gym, should do it.
...unless they offer silly money. The options at the top are a bit limited really. I voted for the yoof but would still like to see one big signing to kick the season off. Either way I think silverware is important this year. A good cup run domestically or Europa wise would do that. Arguably more important than a top 4 finish.
I am a bit torn on this one. I love the idea of the academy and the ideology of a teamw hci creates talent, it doesn't just ship it in, but by the same token we just sold a brilliant talent in Mane and I want that money to be put on top of the money we surely already had to invest in some more ready-made talent. I am happy to have Romeu partnering either Clasie or Reed all year, but we definitely need another big DM for when Romeu is out. And the number 10 player... surely we can get one this year? I would love it if someone came thriugh from the academy to fill any of the holes in our team, but most of what I saw of the academy last year was prettty poor.
Option 4 devalues what was a sensible thread and poll for me. That's like a childish dig and really no need for it. Shame because it shows the OP's feelings and a poll shouldn't have that. I'd go for a combination of 3-5 players (depending on how many go) and "whatever Les does is Gospel" because I trust his decisions and even if this one ****s up, he's earned a reprieve already. He'll just correct it next time I am sure. Archers' post hits the nail on the head.
Bla bla bla. It was actually a fair point because I was asking YOUR opinion and saying "What Les says" is a cop out.
Why the bla bla bla spacedsaint? It's not really fair to say that if someone actually thinks that Les has got most things right (especially the big things). Just because you don't like it when someone defends the club. Saying "what Les says" is not a cop out, if I believe the club is in safe hands, based on what he's done to date. If you lost a thread to have a discussion, be prepared to discuss it. "Bla bla bla" is not having the discussion. Let's not let this degenerate into a drunken rant again, but have a clear and sensible discussion. I'm happy to discuss my views and other peoples.
