david in sweden

last established Academy graduate to get first team recognition? ....(better late than never) ..but Jack Stephens came in after the departure of Fonte and van Dijk and although he wasn't a regular first choice at that time, he must be past 100 apps. by now.. Others?. well that Ward-Prowse fellow came through the Academy and got a few starts - didn't he ?

.Sort of ...yes ? ....provided that they don't actually expect to play for Chelsea. Many good youngsters have come through their Academy, and they do it by numbers. A few years back, I reckoned they had 35 players out on loan. They may make a career but end up playing elsewhere. It may have been true in the past, but when the ownership spends hundreds of millions every year, very few kids make it to be " permanent fixtures ".

"Sport Psychology " never used to be quite so complex. Lawrie McMenemy had the answer when he said .. " Players are only people ....you have to kiss some ...and kick the others." His team selections were roughly-based on the analogy of ...." 2 prima donnas and 8 road sweepers..." Q - ..........What's so difficult ?

The whole team was the worse after Romeu's departure, although I didn't begrudge him the move, and his career in Spain has blossomed at a late age. He and JWP had a good partnership but many people tend to devalue Prowsey's contribution, and for those who only credit him with the free kicks don't remember that in many cases his free kick goals got us valuable points. If free kicks like his can be easily disregarded , why aren't there half a dozen other players just behind his tally. ? JWP's contribution to the club is unparalleled and not just because of the length of service the long run of uninterrupted, injury-free games . Many times I 've watched his sweeper-type role and almost faultless passing skills. His main fault was that he wasn't demonstrative enough in the media and (unlike a few others in the past ) wasn't all mouth and trousers, and understood the faults better than the players who committed them. On the rare occasions that he went on the attack, he showed good vision, and in emergencies was as good a full back as any we've had . Downes has good skill but his injury problems of late have become a little disturbing, but I'd sign him in a blink if WHam willingly let him go.

.. .and might even be valuable in teaching " the occasional scorers in the side " to keep the ball down instead of pumping shots into Row Z.

...and further condemned England to an early exit by failing to include MLT in the squad ..(a player he left out because MLT (reputedly) refused to sign for Spurs), but who had a 99% success rate with converting penalty kicks. Yeah sure! .... good call Glenn.

One tip to Russell Martin. Make sure everyone has penalty-taking practice. Going back 20 plus years ago, I met ..the then ...newly-appointed England Manager - Sven-Gorän Eriksson.. in Stockholm .. (a long story for another time). In a brief conversation, I reminded him that England had been eliminated from international competitions half a dozen times in their past, because they failed to find half-a dozen players capable of scoring penalties in a shoot-out. (a terrible way to decide a winner, but only slightly better than a coin toss). (In truth it was a hard task, in a league where barely 30% of the players are English and each club's designated penalty specialist is often a foreign import). but two decades later ..England still manage to lose games because of the same problem, even with a manager who was a " penalty failure " himself. Svennis' reaction to my comment shocked him, he went quiet and asked ...Is that really correct ?.... and I assured him it was, and he thanked me. (However, he did ignore my advice to select James Beattie and Wayne Bridge more often), but a couple of weeks later, he was interviewed on a TV channel and announced that he was implementing training with penalty kicks, (luckily it wasn't necessary in the World Cup that followed). Sven even made mention of the subject of training for penalties in his autobiography, (but failed to credit the source of his decision was me ... oh well). So back to Russell Martin ..so close yet .. in seeing ourselves at Wembley ..with penalty kicks required to find a winner, after a gruelling 120 minutes play we have the prospect that a late substitute, brought on in added time has to take the vital kick to win the game... I won't fantasise further - it's too horrible. ...but the fact remains that everyone likely to be involved - including goalkeepers - must get some real practice in ....at taking penalty kicks...just in case.

Difficult to compare the Turkish League standard with anything in England, but as everyone is employed by Sport Republic...and we will be without Bazunu for at least half of next season ....might it be the right time to get Matrusz Lis back to Saints and see how good he really is? Likewise ...as Trabonsor seemingly don't want to pay money for Onuachu, he could move over to Göztepe, still stay in Turkey and play in the top league, and it wouldn't cost SR anything.

Firstly, I will admit that Whitey Grandad got right. His suggestion was to play the best we have - despite the prospect of another slaughter. Together with dozens more on here I had the thought to "play it safe " and not take chances with our best players - in case of injury. WRONG ! It was an entertaining game that we deserved to win. What a difference from the last three miserable games which were beyond criticism. After Leeds dominance in the first 15 minutes, we really turned it on and in hindsight it was one of the best performances I've watched this season. The midfield trio took control and - even without Stuart A. - we looked a cut above Leeds' aggressive opposition. Great goals from Adam. A and Smallbone. Although Alex McCarthy didn't have a lot to do, he was in the right place at key moments and made a couple of top class saves. Everyone put in a shift and if we can hold this sort of performance for the (potential) three games ahead , we might still see ourselves back in the Prem.

........but that would be a hollow victory ...... even if Ipswich only get one point.

for once we have a striker who is over 6 feet tall, so ...why wouldn't we play him at CF ? We've lacked height up front since Pelle left. .... as long as we have wingers / attacking FB's who can centre the ball and not have to play the ball on the ground, perhaps we will see a headed goal....

re Saint lards comment above ... Looks like the governing bodies may still have a say. If Everton get further punishment now or later , and Leeds and /or Leicester get the same then a lot of clubs may end up in another league with points deduction to boot then a lot of celebrations may be short-lived.

Yes you made a good point Whitey, but I guess this is one we ....." should agree to disagree on "....we only need to wait 48 hours to get the answer. The result is still immaterial but I'd like the best and fittest available going into the play-offs and if we don't know the best line-up by now, there is a real problem.

Many have remarked that this is " a meaningless game ", and whilst that maybe true from Saints' viewpoint, it's desperately important for Leeds. Whilst they have a superior GD , they must beat us to get promotion, whilst hoping Ipswich will lose, as even a draw will be enough for Ipswich to go up. With the prospect of winning the play-offs is a big challenge without Gavin Bazunu and Stuart Armstrong's availability, it's the last chance for those " bench candidates" to impress RM before he chooses his starting side for the play-offs. Although some may think he is... "doing Leeds a favour " if he plays too many of the " second string " an appears to play....an understrength side. In truth... he may be trying to " protect " those key players who will be needed for the next 3 weeks and who are vital whilst we still have the chance to get the final promotion spot. I think we should be glad if everyone gets through the match without injuries. It seems RM has settled for Macca as the keeper for the play-offs, so he should surely give Joe Lumley an outing in this " meaningless match". We older fans who recall the successful Leeds' sides of the 1960'-70's may also remember the oft-quoted comment that Leeds were... " tough, but fair ". Something their fans regularly ignored when they would provoke visiting sides... ( like LIverpool .. ) with chants of ..,,." you'll never walk again " . I think this may be a very tough match, and not particulary fair, either.

more than 2 months ........since anyone has posted anything on Adam Armstrong's ongoing contribution throughout the campaign. Having played second-fiddle to Che Adams since his arrival, at last we have seen something of the form we hoped for when we first signed him. The first striker to get to 20 goals - since Danny Ings - plus a dozen assists has earned him the Players Award AND the same accolade from the Fans. It is also notable that he is often the first to track back when the opposition gets a counter attack, and tackles as well as any defender. He has deputised for Jack Stephens on many occasions this season and is a good role model at both ends of the pitch and truly deserves these awards. well done Adam.