It is oh so very good to be a Saints fan at the moment. All my mates who support other clubs keep telephoning me to ask what is going on and why are we so good? I was in Istanbul a couple of weeks ago when a Turk said "Agh. Southampton. They are very good aren't they". To which I replied "Yes and they're even better now matey." http://www.footballfancast.com/prem...st-thing-to-happen-in-modern-english-football
Indeed, it read like a football fairy story at points [and one could argue that the last 5 years have been], but one was left with an inner glow and a smile which is difficult to wipe from the face at present. A thoroughly enjoyable read. Is the very best yet to come..?
Gruffudd Owen must be a Saints fan I would guess. If he isn't you can see why he has been won over. And in answer to his question, yes we are!
Nice sentiment but of a bit of a dodgy article really. We are quick to criticise anti-Saints journalists for errors but we tend to turn a blind eye to the pro ones. So, for example, Cork and Clyne are not products of our academy. Generally, its just a bit over-hyped. To call our performance against Sunderland, "one of the greatest and most complete team performances ever witnessed in the Premier League", is a bit of an exaggeration! Also, I know we have done things differently than the 'splash the cash' teams but lets be honest, we would probably still be in the lower leagues without our own, friendly billionaire. Still enjoyed reading it though. And I think we are one of the best things to happen in modern football (although you would probably have to add Swansea to that shortlist). I remember those two penalty misses against Watford..
Probably a Swansea fan. Next article will be how Swansea and Saints are so similar (when they aren't)
It did read home grown talent to be fair which could be in relation to nationality rather than being a product of our own academy.
It seems there's a distinction between Academy and Home-Grown these days. For example, Arsenal were/are often quoted as home-growing players that never got anywhere near the club until they were 17, 18 or 19. Before Chambers re-ignited the Saints-Arsenal transfer movement, there were plenty of articles around that made no mention of Walcott and OXO's early development at Saints Academy. I know, I read them, aghast..! So while Jack Cork was a pupil of Chelsea's Academy, and Clyne came from Crystal Palace's school, they have developed as young players at Southampton. This is the only way I can explain the otherwise factual error on the part of the writer. He's not alone in making errors. They all make them.
Southampton’s summer windfall has not hindered the chances of its homegrown players, either. Nathaniel Clyne, Jack Cork and James Ward-Prowse remain highly valued members of the team
The term "homegrown' refers to players either being grown on these shores or having been here for a number of years as a youngster. Eg. Man United can call Luke Shaw a 'homegrown' player in their squad numbers and someone like Morgan may be close to being called it (I can't remember the ruling). This is for Premier League and Uefa squad rules.
OK. Which is why articles about Arsenal's home grown players [for example] can continue to annoy me. They infer that Arsenal brought them along and give no credit to their schooling club. Typical..!
Thanks (and FLT), that makes sense. I still think he is over-hyping our performance against Sunderland, but still...... As I say, I enjoyed reading it. It is an amazing story really, if it were a work of fiction it would probably be too ridiculous to take seriously. All it just needs someone to write the perfect ending!
Tbf, so do I. On MOTD, Shearer said we were brilliant. We weren't that good. I suspect, like me, you have watched the whole match through a few times, and after the hysteria has died down one begins to realise that we were very good indeed, but not quite brilliant. We actually played significantly better against Arsenal in the League Cup. Some of our play during that game was truly excellent [I remember declaring my astonishment at the time]. Another thing. Sunderland, though poor, weren't abject. Their fans said they downed tools. In fact, you can see them trying hard for much of the match. Instead, there were several key moments where their players switched off, or were simply outplayed. Saints were a much better team than they bargained for. True, after 5-0 they were in shock, hence the cricket score, but they weren't as bad as the pundits make out. They weren't good either though..! I prefer to think of the last 5 years as being the opening chapters of a very long and delightful book. Perhaps even a saga.
No doubt it will continue to be a roller coaster. Ups and downs. I just want an unbelievable, ridiculous, romantic, happy ending to this particular chapter.
You will have it. I have said several times, the story is written... Lallana and Lovren looking down at their losers medals while moping at the bottom of the Wembley steps, just as Captain fantastic hoists the little silver beauty high in the air..... to the sound of Saints fans singing "Oh When the Saints Go Marching In".... a proper football anthem.
