http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...8150/What-I-would-tell-the-FA-Commission.html Another positive piece, we are very 'in' at the moment. DTLW
This is all getting a little ho-hum. That article wasn't particularly blazing enough in it's praise, so I actually had a little yawn while reading it. Don't know how I'm quite going to last until Arsenal. I suppose watching the 3 lions will just have to do.
On the plus side... Cortese's little 'The Southampton Way' line is getting a lot of airing. Bet he likes that.
I wouldn't recommend that the FA Commission bother going to Liverpool. This was the response of one of their posters when asked should they buy Lallana: "Good little player and part of a new breed of young, skilful, technical British footballers. However, we need to look at better players with experience and the ability to match. Not saying Lallana isn't a good player - just that I don't wish to spend a sh*t loan on his potential and waiting 5 years to see if it comes off. Rather spend the money on good quality players, with experience and reputation around Europe/World." If that is the way they like it I wouldn't let a Liverpool player pull on an England shirt again.
If he hasn't reached his potential yet, after saturdays display, then Lallana really is going to make Messi look ****e!
Judging by that age comment, it looks to me as if they put two vaguely-understood ideas (Lallana is new to me, and Lallana is from a team that is known for its academy) and concluded that he must be 19 or 20 years of age.
Im quite happy for us to be the only club supplying the 1st team with a stream of **** hot youngsters. It gives us a massive advantage, financially as well. Lets not share our secrets!
Didn't they pinch the previous one as well, Huw Jennings, now at Fulham, along with Wigley and Malcolm Elias, our previous Academy team. Just shows that you can replace the personnel, but not the vision.
Firstly agree with the comment at the bottom...like the sentiment but where is the research. An article that long should have had facts...could have been far shorter if it basically says what is in the title. Casting my mind back to the beginning of the Liehberr/Cortese era, one of the papers mocked Nicola for going to the FA (or PL...not totally sure) at their invitation and then telling them where they were going wrong. They called him jumped up for daring to have an opinion about football when he had no background in the game. That was the beginning of his disillusion with the media. Well, who the **** is laughing now! A few months ago Nicola said that Southampton regard one of their duties as supplying players for the England team. We all know this has a financial implication really...a cheap way of getting quality players compared with trying to buy Messi et al...but it should be music to the FA's ears.
Unless someone comes up with an international academy where the best kids from all over Europe, or even the world, are nurtured, the Southampton model has to be the most sustainable way of feeding both club and country. Fran is absolutely right in pointing out that Nicola was mocked for putting his views to the FA, but (and will I have to rinse my mouth out with wormwood after saying this) we shouldn't forget that it was Rupert Lowe who laid the foundations for our current success with academy graduates.
I have to disagree as it was Dave Merrington who honed our youth structure with Laurie and has never been given credit for it. It is he we have to thank for the Wallace boys, Shearer and Matty and that super little right back who went to Blackburn with Shearer. What I will say about Lowe is that he had some very good ideas and some original ideas. The trouble was his very good ideas weren't original and his original ideas weren't very good
He provided the backing at the time though (within the limits of available money) and he got the stadium built. We just didn't have enough money to sustain it, especially once we got relegated. Of course he made mistakes, but doesn't make everything he did wrong. Even Nicola makes mistakes (wash my mouth out with soap ).
What I would tell the FA Commission: The world of football cannot be built on foundations of sand, grow some balls and do something about it.
There speaks the voice of wisdom honed through hard experience. Everything with the FA is short termism. They don't plan long term.
