We all the superstar factory has a reputation for producing excellent footballers, but how to do we go about integrating them into the team? Twenty minutes at the end of a game as a sub, a full game on a rotational system to prevent our other players getting tired, cup games for the nascent talent, a run of four or five games in the team (with the undoubted adulation of the fans, saying "he's one of our own"), or some other method?
Well indeed. To my mind, it becomes a wee bit harder to integrate youngsters into a squad, then a first 18, then get on the pitch for a substantial amount of time, when that team is flying near the top of the league, and needing every best individual at the top of their game. But I suppose if you have enough diversity of tournament and league competition and you have a high enough grade of youngster coming through, then it can be done. One of the reasons for the new Saints Academy facilities is that they want to produce youngsters who can accommodate the highest level of competition.
Cup runs are useful for this, and as the squad tires more and injuries start to bite in, I'm sure we'll see the likes of Harry Reed used more frequently and for longer periods. Then it'll get to the point where actually that rotation becomes seamless in terms of the quality.
Well, not really as Koeman has taken the Capital One Cup seriously and the further you get in a cup, the stronger the side you put out.
Agreed, but just meaning as a general rule - plus that's where we've been blooding Targett as a full 90 minute player.
The Saints method is to have the Academy and u21 teams training alongside the senior squad, so that integration is less painful. It has been noted how mature and confident our youngsters are when they get an opportunity. Look how Shaw, Chambers and JWP just came out and played when selected.
