Article: Saving English Football - also, are Saints playing their part in player development? | Southampton FC, Football

[video=youtube;v1qd7d990HA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1qd7d990HA[/video]

 

Actually most of those comments were perfectly reasonable at the time. They weren't slagging him off, but saying let's wait and see because we have been here before. The only wrong thing was suggesting that RL won't get fifteen goals this season...I'm certain he will...if he doesn't Saints will be in trouble.

 

You're wrong there. A player called Ikechi Anya who played at Watford last season was a former Glenn Hoddle academy player.

 

I think Mr Osvaldo might disagree with that view. After all, he was bought to compliment, and to take some of the scoring responsibility off Rickie's shoulders.

 

Actually meant that Saints must be playing badly if Rickie couldn't manage to get fifteen goals.

On a different note, I am amazed that some fans are convinced Rickie and Dani cannot play together based on a couple of games. I'm hoping for good things once they are on each others wavelength.

 

Yeah, I get you now. On your other point, there have been cases where good players have been unable to co-exist on the pitch, but it's more to do with how they've been asked to play together, rather than an inability to do so. For example, for years Gerard and Lampard weren't able to play together, which was ridiculous, given how good both players undoubtedly are. Striker partnerships are slightly harder to get right, but I have little doubt that Mauricio will find the right pattern for Rickie and Dani, even if they can't work it out for themselves.

 

Beddy

That's an interesting point but I'm not sure I agree. Travel abroad and you will always find British people working in foreign countrues. As a rule, the British have travelled well and established rhemselves in careers. A good example of this can be found in the book about Charles Smith who played for Saints and helped introduce the game to Brzail. Whilst this is primarily a book aboiut football, it is sobering to learn just how much the British helped develop industry and transport in Brazil. By and large, the British seem to thrive whilst working abroad whether we are talking about the likes of Richard Rodger's designing buildings in France, the developments in Dubai or further afield with British business men now working in China. This seems very rare when you translate the situation to football.

There have been some very good points made within this thread and I've no doubt that the lack of children regularly playing the game does have a huge bearing. As relevant as this is, I still can't see how this impacts on the lack of British players ploughing their careers abroad other than the fact that there is a smaller pool of players to choose from. Given the number of foriegners in the PL, it is curious that more British players don't travel abroad to play.

 

Think for British players to play abroad they have to be very proactive.
That means trying to arrange trials for themselves etc.
Many foreign clubs outside of the elite sides will not have large scouting networks, so won't be looking at 18-21 yr olds from England.

The vast majority of kids will find a non-league side and will get a semi-pro contract and look to forge an alternative career.
It will take a determination and bloody mindedness to not go with that and look abroad in the hope of a playing contract after rejection from this country.

That's where the FA have to do better in giving our kids the exposure and opportunity to play elsewhere.
We should look at the Belgium FA and other countries with a poorer domestic league about how they go about pimping their players to foreign leagues.

 

I think that their should be a maximum of 7 (or below) non homegrown players in the starting eleven. I think this would help out the English game a lot. Also I think Southampton are doing very well in helping the England cause out, by making players like The Ox, Walcott, Shaw and Chambers who are still young and v. talented players. As well as having 9 regular English first team players albeit 3/4 being bench players. So COYR!

 

Problem is both players played as the forward most offensive player for their respective teams last year. Osvaldo played at the top of the tree for Roma with Lamela and Totti providing the second striker roles and you could argue that Rickie played in a similar role for Saints with Rodriguez and Lallana in support.
At times, Rodriguez played alongside Lambert in attack and it worked very well. The same can be said of Welbeck midweek for England. Rickie seems to benefit from playing alongside someone of real pace who likes to bomb forward.
The same can be said of Osvaldo who enjoyed a fruitful partnership with Lamela (despite the punching incident). Lamela you could argue is a similar player to Rodriguez.

Personally, I don't think it'll work. I think it has to be Rickie or Osvaldo alongside Rodriguez. And i'm surprised that we let young Mayuka go because he would have been a good back up for Rodriguez in the same role.