By the way PL, shouldn't you be moaning to the bosses of your club, rather than telling us 'we' did it? I didn't personally get the memo (or the option to vote).
Didn't like the idea of this competition at first for all the reasons that others didn't, but once in it, I want Saints to gain something from it in experience and to do well. And it will be interesting to see how the Academy sides do against lower league sides. However, even though the League 1 and 2 clubs voted for it (so I don't think we bear any responsibility for that), it will feel wrong if Academy sides make it to the final. A conundrum.
Saints and the players and the other clubs will gain nothing from this. It's a farce and further proof the football authorities don't have a single clue what they are doing. Football League are now challenging the FA hard, as most incompetent football body.
Don't agree we will get nothing from this...the young lads will get true competition outside playing purely against other academies. I get that. Whether it makes sense for the leagues is the real question.
Hmmm don't you think the idea is to see how the players fare at league level albeit it may be lower league than they might actually be involved in the future. Perhaps give them a better chance to shine and be noticed............ As a club is it not noticeable that over the last couple of seasons we have not brought anyone else through from the academy since probably ward Prowse, Targett has been back up for two/three seasons. Cant think of anyone else or am I wrong?
That's cos Koeman turned a blind eye towards it. The likes of Reed, Hesketh and Stephens (and possibly McQueen) will be involved a lot more this year. It's noticeable that they all train with the first team still, having not done so last season under Koeman. Last year stunted their development, I'd imagine Claude will slowly re-integrate them this year.
Hunter spoke about it being good for the youngsters whether they play in the first team or move on to a team in another league. It's almost like a finishing school...which is why a group stage was useful....no point in a knockout at the start. After all, we would be out now if that was the case.
McQueen was involved a lot last night and came over well in the interview afterwards. He seems very happy with what has happened and his move to a different position.
The penalties thing gives young potential England players practice at this in a competitive sense. Nerves were clearly present last night. Can't be a bad thing considering the England penalty bogey history.
I thought it was a good experience for the youngsters to be playing a senior team. Seems like a good step in their development. At least they actually play instead of warming a L1/Championship teams bench on loan.
No he didn't. He did exactly what Puel is doing now, he ran his eye over them in his first pre-season, gave them opportunities in friendlies & minor cups and decided they weren't good enough to be in the first team squad, but left the door open for them to really impress or go on loan. For all any of us currently know, Puel may end up with exactly the same opinion of them. Although I don't doubt that he's under more pressure from Les Reed, than Koeman was to involve them.
He never gave them a chance in the cups as we always played strong sides. Friendlies was out of necessity because we a) didn't have a team and b) the internationals were on extended break. Koeman never involved them in first team training once the season got going ... Puel is. Some of them want to go out on loan, Claude is denying them that because he wants them here.
Could have sworn that JWP, Reed, Sinclair, Omar Rowe & Isgrove all were involved in the first two league cup games in Koeman's first season. I swear that, because they were. Koeman involved players as he saw fit. None of us know exactly what players on what day did or did not train, but it's a myth that Koeman washed his hands of all the youngsters. If they were good enough, they would have been involved more. But thankfully we did narrowly avoid relegation, despite this very obvious mistake by Koeman.
On reflection, the rumours about Koeman & the Youngsters were true. He actually beat many of them. Harrison Reed died 3 times from some of Ron's beatings. He was merciless. "You cannt pass the ball, you cannnt make my tea properly, you cannnt recite the words of the dutch national anthem, you useless ginger cannnnnt"
That was Pochettino in 2013/14 season. Koeman never involved them in matchday situations. He went on numerous occasions with 6 subs, for christ sake. That's not involving the youngsters is it.
I do know and he excluded them. He barely spoke to them or encouraged them. I believe he is an arrogant man with some kind of chip on his shoulder. Maybe because he had his nose put out early on by Les Reed with regards to one particular lad and evidence suggests he was vindictive in his response. Of course they are good enough. The game is all about small margins based on confidence at this level. I would suggest to you that Koeman may have deliberately made sure their performances weren't good enough by discouragement to back up his lack of development capability. Koeman is not and never was able interested in developing young English talent.
