We were moaning about last season that the system for our allowing our Academy lads to progress was failing due to the erratic state of the Under 21 set up. At least this competition gives the U23's a chance to play against more experienced opposition and give us an opportunity to assess their performance. I follow the Saints in every competition that uses a football and I care whether we win and am disappointed when we don't, at whatever the level.
I'm already more interested this year than I was last season in the revamped U23s. They are a strong side and I feel they are nearer to being in the first team than before. And although originally against the principle of this cup, it is a good test for these lads and may prove helpful in their development. I think it will be tough for the U23s (of any club) to make it to the end, so we should party if we do. No way we'd fill Wembley again (unless out of sentiment), but I think plenty would go.
Looking at the gallery from last night...that's a pretty exciting team, isn't it....with several who will play in the first team under Puel (who likes to rotate and rest players). This revamped U23 format will keep them match fit and alert between call ups to the first team. Makes you wonder how Koeman couldn't see it and how we would have done this season if he had kept trying to play the same players till May.
Olomola will get his chance soon, will have to change tactics as there will be little point putting crosses in, he is a strapping lad but about an inch taller than Harry Reed
Well if you want to keep players match fit, send them on loan. Don't invade a competition designed to give League 1 and 2 clubs the opportunity to get to Wembley. Start your own damn competition.
Not bitter then PL? It's what it is - the changes were made and I hope Saints take full advantage. If Pompey get relegated a few more times, you can have the FA vase all to yourselves... I don't think our kids are interested in that cup.
I'm not bitter, I just consider it insulting and degrading that League 1 and League 2 clubs are relegated to training opposition for kids from Premier League clubs. If Premier League clubs hoard countless young players, in addition to buying ready made players from abroad, resulting in them not getting much first team action, that's not our problem. The premier league created the problem, the premier league can fix the problem. Neither is the under-performance of the England team our problem, although the argument that it's simply down to there not being enough English players in the PL is a simplistic and childish argument... as after all, I don't recall England winning many world cups in the 80s either, when the majority of Division 1 players were English.
Its the first year, if L1 and L2 clubs were good enough to thrash the U23 teams, I doubt the U23 would be included next year
Some teams seem to hoard players....don't think Saints are in that category. The youngsters are being developed and some will inevitably end up in the lower leagues,,,,wait a minute, that means we are spending money developing players for the lower leagues.
Despite the fact you can't recall players outside of the transfer window? The FL invited us, we didn't invade your competition. For what it's worth, I agree with the lower league clubs, but if we as a club feel its beneficial, we're not going to turn THE INVITATION down. Maybe you should focus on boycotting EFL matches as well, as it's their decision to invite teams like us.
I was mainly referring to teams like Chelski when I mentioned hoarding who have something like 46 players on loan which is ridiculous. Again, not our problem. And you may have been invited, but that doesn't make it right or justifiable.
1990 was our most successful World Cup abroad when we had the European ban Agree that the hoarding of players is very unhelpful..Chelsea having 30/40 on loan. If you don't have a use for a player then you shouldn't be allowed to keep them
https://southamptonfc.com/news/2016-10-13/video-under-23-preview-arsenal-Southampton U23s take on Arsenal this evening. Jaidi is playing some younger players and Yan Valery (an under-18) talks about the value of this to him.
