Great post and I couldn't agree more with this Chilco. I also feel Clyne thoroughly deserves it as he seems to be very level headed and prepared to work hard for his future both with us and with England. I was at the Everton game last season and he was absolutely outstanding, making a certain Coleman look average at best.
It is the double-edged sword of international recognition. We need there to be a route for Southampton players to make the England team, or no (English)player worth their salt is going to want to stay, but after the summer we've had...
It's getting to be that half the England squad will have played for Southampton at one time or another. Whilst it's annoying to keep losing our players to the big teams, that's got to be an attractive draw for any academy graduates or young players looking to make their name.
I find it worrying that youngsters are no longer thrilled to get their first contract with us, but already have half an eye on moving on. I know we come out of it financially well, but I want us to keep the best, not just the second best.
Unfortunately, it appears to me to be the only way we can progress. If we're going to be financially viable then developing young talent, selling for more than we think they are worth and looking for undervalued replacements is the only way we're going to manage it. Our academy gives us a huge advantage on that front. I would love for us to be able to keep them but FFP prevents it, if I understand its implications correctly. Sad but true (I think - happy to be corrected). Vin
I agree that growing some to play and some to sell is a good financial plan, but you would hope to get a few seasons out of them. It's like we're selling them half-formed....I don't think that is always in their best interest (or that of England for that matter). Some will have a good attitude, but some will earn a fortune and do okay without achieving their full potential.
Half-formed is the best time to flog them. Before they fail to develop as well at they seemed likely to. Sell them at the peak of their hype. Also, sorry to be brutal but I really don't care if it's in their best interests (or England's) - if Luke wants to be paid to pork up and warm a bench, that's his choice. The fee for him has paid for the academy, which is the bit I do care about. Vin
Been a lot of media talk about Chambers jumping straight into the next squad. But as a RB or a CB? If it's the latter, then Clyne has every chance of also getting in.
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City) Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Calum Chambers (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Everton) Midfielders: Jack Colback (Newcastle United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) Forwards: Rickie Lambert (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)
It's strange, i'd normally be pleased to see a saint in the squad, but i simply couldn't care less about chambers
Thank goodness for that. That defensive line-up is laughably bad for England. I presume the Granny Shagger is going to be Captain. Good old England, providing belly laughs for years... and for years to come.
I was so proud of him last year..captain of U19s. After last year. it's a bit harsh that only one Saints' player (Forster) is in the team....though we can lay claim to developing a few more. Good to see Lambert back in.
The England selection never ceases to amaze me, Callum Chambers was Saints second best RB last season, certainly not first choices at CH and would have been at least 4th choice (or lower) DM. Now having played three games for Arsenal at CB he gets picked for the national squad because he is so versatile playing at RB, CB or DM. If he isn't careful he will end up like Jones and Smalling who are not good enough in any one position to truly warrant their place but simply get in the squad because of who they play for and continually fail to deliver
Remember, Wenger reckons he's a centre half and Wenger has never been wrong & has never taken English players and made them worse.
