david in sweden

more like WIND-UP thread. think NA is trying to decide which one of them to go with . We need an eventual replacement for Jaidi but even he is still injured / in training at present. ...expect a centre back signing before 31st. (not ITK - just common sense and an investment in security) ..think what it would have been like if it was Fonte sent off ..and not Chaplow.!

.....it hasn't even begun to be a bubble yet ...!

must be nice to have so many people agreeing with you this time, dell days ... ....for my part ...Nigel Adkins ?...I've run out of superlatives....!!!!!!!!!.

Adkins seems satisfied - and he picks the team ...if anyone is still doubting DCs fitness ...think what he'd be like if he was "fully fit and injury-free " . How much more proof do you need. He's already won us 3 points this season whilst the rest of the side squandered chances. He was the only one who could finish properly. Barnsley manager said QUOTE - "Southampton could have won by 5-0 "

I'm sure he'd love to come back..but who would take him ?...he isn't even first team squad at Rangers PLUS he is already 33 years old ..and we have people on this site claiming David Connolly is TOO OLD !

must admit I was a little surprised now to see a thread reveived after 6 months .....!

..but he ( Flahavan) was a youth player for Saints at one time, I think ...? even if he didn't progress past the juniors. ....or was that his brother who died so tragically ?

was this written before /after we signed Danny Fox...? and if the rumoured loan of Seabourne comes off then the situation isn't any worse..as we don't have N'Guessan anymore. He's now on loan (from Leicester) to Millwall and he scored for them last Saturday.

...not likely to be disclosed until Monday...no point in "surprising " the squad the day before a match. Plan A ..if we win saturday... NA says...we had a good result but we need good cover and competition for places. Plan B..if we don't win...NA will say ... disappointing . We didn't take our chances he (new signing) will give us extra an dimension to the attack..( I'm assuming it'll be a striker). NOTE: similar comments if it's the central defender....

It was a hypothetical question ...I don't think any of us is in doubt over that....and so his number is of little consequence. Probably one of the " ....teen " numbers...as 5 is the only spare " defensive number " and that will be reserved for a new central defender.....

when he came (from Exeter) he was described as one of the best talents in L1..maybe thats his level ? (No disrespect). Haven't seen too many " rave reviews " over him in recent months..and let's be honest, we want someone who wouldn't be out of place when we go up to the Prem. He might not be up to it in NA eyes. If he starts becoming a star player in B'mouth line-up then he'll have improved enough to get back in contention...He'll still remain a Saints player ...as B'mouth will never find the money to buy him !

don't think the number is important -is it ? more important - WHERE he plays.....and WHO he replaces...

A lot of people would like to look 18 when they were around 40, but ...at least he'd have funds to pay his fine ..!

I think it's a very interesting thread, and brings back lots of memories for older fans. My comments on # 18 were only setting the case straight regarding some of the players quoted by Matthew Le God. Of course the a lot has changed in the last 10 years, not least the training methods, footwear and that bl**dy beach ball they played with in the last World Cup. Saints have always had a good youth team set-up (relatively speaking) and older fans can recall the epic exploits of the Youth side in the 1950's when they had some great scraps with Man.Utd.s " Busby Babes " in successive years in the FA Youth Cup. The main difference of course is that in bygone times, few players got to their first team debut before they were around 19 or 20 if they were lucky, and even then as "stand-ins " for injured players..by the time they reached 22/23 they weren't likely to make it and then moved on to lower league football. We often had a Reserve side in their mid 20's who were only selected in an emergency. In an early interview when Gordon Strachan was manager he made the astounding statement that in years to come there wouldn't be Reserve teams , only youth team players - that turned out to be a very prophetic comment. Today's Academy side is a real revelation and many fans are well-acquainted with those who play at U16 / U18 level already, and those who are " on the up ", and the phenonema of 16 /17 year olds debut-ing has not been so unusual at all. Surman, Walcott, Bale and more recently Alex O-C. When I was a regular fan (at the Dell) I enjoyed watching Youth games, too and seeing the younger talent emerge, although in those days few " made the grade " when older. (Anyone who thought Mick Channon's windmill goal-celebrations were unusual or strange should have seen him as 16 year old... scoring goals for the Reserves and then doing his own lap of honour - and even leaping the boundary wall - to celebrate with the often sparse groups of supporters). Lots of fun and very entertaining. I hope this thread continues with more names and memories from contributors.

I'm more than a bit miffed at the lying bar stewards at Tottenham, who used the Bale deal to get rid if him (Forecast) onto us, England keeper in the future, my a'rse. I think we owe them one. ..'arry .wanna buy Jason Puncheon by any chance?...Good deal, there's something in it for you .....

HE IS FIT. He played in several practice games AND on Tuesday night and looked good (acc.to all reports). Surely we can put this slur behind us he is still young-ish with a career ahead of him. Av.age of team is still over 25.

...enough to cover for all eventualities....injuries, suspensions, loss of form...bad attitude ! We've cornered the market on "lefties ". (Don't complain! There was a time when we couldn't get a good left back for love or money ..btw ..when does Rudi Skacel sign ?)

Wayne Bridge came as a 16 y.o. trainee. He certainly played a lot of youth level football before he signing prof. when he was 18...and the rest ..is history. Mike Williamson came as a n 18 y.o. from Torquay I think, and began in the Reserve side in 2001, He was unable to establish himself in the first team where the centre backs at the time were Michael Svensson and Claus Lundekvam !. He was later being loaned out and eventually moved from club to club. He currently has a 5 year contract with Newcastle. Monk came to Saints as 18 y.o. ...from Torquay but it was 18 months before he played for the first team where he played 10 games +3 sub.) but played over 100 games for the Reserves in what was often a very young side. He was later loaned out before moving in 2002. He is currently captain at new Prem. side Swansea and just signed a new 3 year contract. Kevin Phillips did play for our "Youth" side and actually played some games for the (then) Reserve side in 1990-91 season, but his progress was eclipsed by the presence of Jason Dodd and Jeff Kenna...and he was later released. Matt Oakley came as a 16 year old " trainee" and signed a prof. 2 years later (1995), so he certainly played Youth team football for 2 seasons before moving up to first team level. I can't see a "Jones" on the above list..but if you are thinking of Kenwyn J. he came as an 18 year old and began with Youth / reserve football and had "lots" of training before graduating to first team level..the phrase " rough diamond " often being used. If it refers to Lloyd James ..he certainly came through all the U16/U18 levels before playing first team football in CCC 07/08. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know that theoretically the Academy began 10 years ago, but it's totally wrong to suggest that there wasn't a good youth /trainee /apprentice set-up before that. There are many such examples ; prime ex. is Nick Holmes who began playing schools football in 1968, and later signed as " apprentice aged 16. went through Reserves and over 500 first team games, FA Cup Winner 1976 and team captain for several seasons. Throughout the mid / late 1980's Dave Merrington managed the most successful Youth sides Saints have ever produced, many moving up to First team level and international honours. Alan Shearer and Neil Maddison came from the north East as 16 y.olds and played at youth level before signing pro. Matt Le Tissier began as a 16 y.o. apprentice as did the three Wallace brothers - and no-one can say they didn't get some sort guidance and training (!). The "Academy " has now become highly sophisticated and the most successful youth development programme in the country, but the "basic system " has been in place for decades albeit, underfunded without proper resources and too-often ignored.

THURROCK ? ..where on earth is that? take away his GPS... and maybe he'll lose his way back.

I can't decide ..really. Let's buy both ..just to be sure.

Nice one though...perhaps we should have this as cover to progs. for all games.... home and away?

Did you really not believe him the first time Alps? He's talked about nothing else than the 5 year plan since he came.... It's not bull sh*t to him . A man with a vision cannot be denied.

really ? ....are you on good terms with S-G Eriksson ?

Oh dear... pity..but it was a nice goal - wasn't it ?