Ronald is the first fully-fledged, top of the line, well rounded manager [and Erwin] we've had since the new owners invested in the resurrected Southampton FC. Anyone who comes after that has to be of the same pedigree or better, if possible. The next one may require higher standards from the Academy before the young players get a look in. Ronald's attributes [and Erwin's] have been that they are willing to bring in the younger players because they see that as their way as coaches. To their professional trophy acquiring detriment, in my opinion. But they see more than just silverware. They want to put something back into the game by bringing on young players. When Saints go higher, this will only get more and more difficult, but we have it in us to succeed at it like no other Academy in the UK.
The Koemans have utilized the Academy far less than Poch did, or Adkins before him. Reed and Targett are the only two with more than 60 total PL minutes this year, appearing in 7 and 6 matches thus far; Chambers alone saw more than double the number of minutes last year that all of our kiddies combined have in '14/'15.
The only player Poch bought through, was Calum Chambers - and even then, it was only because of an injury to Clyne! Shaw and JWP already broke through under Adkins, although Pochypoo will get the credit I'm sure. This year, we've had the highest number of academy debutants this season, far more than Poch, or even Adkins, did. I would say that this wouldn't have happened if Koeman wasn't interested in the Academy kids.
Poch also brought through Gallagher, who played more last year than any of the kids have thus far this season. As for the number of debutantes, most of those were one-offs of a couple minutes at a time when we were ravaged by injury and thus had the kids on the bench. I'm not saying that Koeman doesn't care about the Academy, but he definitely has not prioritized getting the youngsters first-team football over short-term results.
Same applies to those somewhat limited minutes our kiddies have seen this year. Point being, if we're fretting about the possibility that future managers might prioritize immediate results to giving time to the youngsters, we're already there...it's been diminishing year on year since returning to the Prem.
Giving youngsters more time before introducing them to the first team can be better tho. No point in rushing a youngster through.
Likely (though our first season back was teeming with kiddies, if perhaps only by necessity). I don't intend it as an indictment of Koeman, it's just a consequence of progressing; the further we get, the more good players we have, and the less likely that we're going to be willing to (or often, be forced to) roll the dice by sticking a teenager out there. Europey scares me, but it's one of the potential positives...we're likely going to need to rotate the squad more aggressively if we reach the group stage, and that likely opens up more opportunities for the youngsters.
Koemans is clearly looking at some of the youngsters for next season judging by the number that now train with the first team quite regularly. I can see Reed being a regular first choice next season.
