youngsters

As many are calling for major signings in Jan, this could basically close the door on the very promising youngsters coming through, especially with the stupid 5 sub rule. We are trying to build a rep for our accadamy and would it not be better to try and blood the 5 or 6 players on the brink of the first team (not all at once) even if we blow an automatic promotion spot, and well done to the lads today

 

Nothing is worth blowing an automatic spot. If we get to the PL, the rule is 7 subs..they'll get a chance.

 

Or buy a couple of players get promoted then we don't have the ****ty 5 sub rule?.

 

I would prefer the youngsters to be bought through personally - more satisfaction as a fan then

 

I've been trying to put this side of the arguement forward for a while now. After all, bringing the kids through is part of the plan.

I've not been saying that we shouldn't make signings next month (indeed, if we want automatic promotion this season then I think we have to make signings next month), just been putting this side of arguement forward.

 

yeah i agree - the aim eventually is to have 50% of our side from the academy

 

The fact of life is that we are aiming at an auto spot but there's not much light beween us and the following pack. No risk will be taken unless forced on us.

 

Nigel will have to be confident that the player can step up. Ben Reeves was on the bench on Saturday so it wouldn't be a total departure for the youth team to be involved. We have been pretty lucky with injuries so far and I imagine some of the young guys will be involved in the second half of the season if they impress in training.

 

Well, the thing is, how good can a Saints academy get, given that Saints could/will be joining the elite, next season ..? If Saints get promotion to the Premier League, whether of not they win the League Championship, are they eventually able to produce two-thirds of the team from the academy..? I think Saints will have to become the club of choice, as they are not very far away from being anyway, to learn and succeed as a top player.

 

Loan them out to a L1 club imo and get a closer look at them playing week in, week out.

 

I agree i'd like the youth break through to the first team. But as someone else said this is the time to push as much as we can. Bringing in to many youngsters at one time would not only hurt our chances it would hurt the youngsters to.
We badly need to bring players in to strengthen us and the youngsters will bolster our team further.

 

Jack Cork has just jokingly tweeted that he has to keep on his toes after tonight

 

Ward-Prowse, Shaw and Sinclair will be first team soon enough anyway. Cortese is aiming for half of the first team to be academy graduates, which amazingly Crewe and Watford have often achieved at times this season.

 

That's because they're both skint and ****e.

 

Indeed. In a sense these things are relative. A poor club may have to sell off all its big earners and field almost an entire team of academy potential. Ring a bell..?

 

Crewe actually have some pretty good youngsters, it's worth checking them out on FM. Nick Powell looks particularly promising and apparently has been linked with Arsenal. Scored a stunning goal a couple of weeks back as well.

I don't know for sure if the likes of Sinclair and Ward-Prowse are quite ready to play at this level yet, but it would be great timing if they were. Sinclair especially as we are lacking that kind of player.

 

With the amount of left-backs we have, Shaw might have to wait a while.

 

If we don't see a new striker come in we need to see Sinclair make the step up. Probably need both considering the strife LB is in.

 

This was a brilliant result but there is a huge gulf in class beween the early rounds of the youth cup and the demands and pressure of the Championship. Lets just trust in Nigel to blood them when he thinks they are ready. The cup game at Coventry would be a good test.