Saint-Armstrong

Don't think he's saying you'd have to be "happy" about it. But appreciating your past and your roots is important in appreciating today.

http://uk.isidewith.com A relatively quick quiz on political issues, where you are asked to state your views and rank the importance of them to yourself. I took this little quiz earlier, and perhaps surprisingly, turned out as agreeing with Labour more than Conservatives or Liberal Democrats, who I would tend to associate more with. Anyway, take the test and post your findings! (P.S. I'm not sure how accurate this is)

Because I watched the press conference maybe? Daft comment.

Mauricio Pochettino: "The first thing is that I still have one more year on my contract." "The second thing is that we still have six games until the end of the season and we are trying to focus as much as we can to get the maximum number of points out of those games." "Third of all as first team manager I am always focused on the team and the game ahead." "I am also working in a calm manner and I am open to discuss with the board whenever it's convenient and necessary in the future but I think there is still time until that happens and I am always open to discuss with the board whenever it's necessary in the future." Sounds promising to me, considering some said he had lost interest and was just seeing the season out before walking away. Of course, he still could. But that's not the vibe I am getting from him at all.

:lol: Classic. [video=youtube;ll0dfWe-63w]

Spot on. I was a big fan of Cortese, the success on-pitch was unprecedented. But it's not unfair to say there were several shortcomings off the field or away from the football. It was a little bit sad seeing that carpet cleaning/laying company having to threaten legal action, and our commercial side of the club is under-developed, compared to competitors.

Article also posted on OS. Shamelessly seen as posted on the Aussie Saints FB page, so adapted it somewhat due to some of the wording - but all credit to those guys for the idea and the artwork.

Makes me laugh. People relished the new 'era of openness' and said they'd appreciate to know what's going on more, Cortese's era being too secretive or whatever. Now that Hofstetter and Rogers are honest and admit the books are "surprising" and "difficult", people moan that they're not gushing with optimism or false promises. I feel comfortable with the current Board of Directors, and the continued backing of Katharina Liebherr.

Well, there we go. You said "his 7 Juve games" - wasn't aware you meant Serie A only.

No shot on target in his 7 games? He's scored twice and hit the woodwork twice in the four games I've watched. I tend to follow/watch Serie A. Not sure what you're on about here. They're quite happy with him out there.

The boy has well and truly come good, and I think he can get even better if he stays with us and with this group and manager.

Some words from Mauricio Pochettino in the tunnel... “I think it was definitely one of our best. We want to congratulate the fans. We want to give them that victory.” “I was very happy, we were playing very well. At the same time I was very angry, we were wasting chances.” “Even before the game (I was enjoying it) in the dressing room there was a very good atmosphere and good energy." “When the whole team plays well, as it did today, the collective has a power that is irresistible.” “I am very happy overall because it was very deserved by the players and the supporters.” "It was just an amazing performance.”

Rodriguez x2 Lambert Lallana 8th place is ours.

**** me. That forum is genuine as well. Good lord.

2 and 9 already used, definitely.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/video_and_audio/#TWEET1083457

From what I've read/seen elsewhere, this guy was going on about WW2 and doing the Hitler salute.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26704856 What do we make of this? Certainly interesting and rings true for me.

Les Reed: - Everyone at Southampton works to the same philosophy - Therefore, the manager can pick young players and allow them to make mistakes - No one at the club is going to punish or criticise the manager for doing that - We take boys from the age of 9 to 17 ideally - At 17 we decide whether to offer them a contract - Contracts offered to 17 year old players are all standardised and the same - We then offer them a range of incentives to encourage good practice and reward hard work - We believe that standardised contracts with incentives are the best way to handle youngsters and encourage them to make the first team - We will offer new contracts to exceptional talents once they get to 18 or older - We emphasise to them that we all start on the same starting line together - From there on, it is all about the hard work that you must put in to reap the rewards - Our club's structure is different from Chelsea or Manchester City - That's because everyone within the club buys into the philosophy - From the youth coaches to first team coach - I say first team coach because that is what he is, he's a very good coach on the training pitch - He was appointed because of his philosophy in this regard - He has plenty of experience in nurturing young talent from his time in Spain - Everyone buys into the fact that whether a first teamer or not, at the ages of 17 and 18 you will train with the first team on a regular basis - For example Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse, they have to train with internationals - Luke had to face Lallana, Rodriguez etc. in training, he trains alongside a Croatian international in defence, Dejan Lovren - This is hugely beneficial, just training with senior pros is useful - I don't understand the logic of investing significant sums in trying to attract the best possible young stars from abroad - You then end up sending out the best of your own prospects to other teams who don't nurture them with the same level of interest - I don't think the lower league environment is the best way to nurture your young players - There's a theory of 'rough them up' but I don't agree with that - We place high standards on our lads - We monitor them heavily - They gain their mental and physical strength at Southampton, nowhere else - I don't buy the argument that loan spells in the lower leagues makes players better - There are cases for loans though - I think youngsters are better off in their own clubs - But it depends on clubs providing the right experience - It's sad to see young players in limbo, it's sad that they will never make their first team and spend their time on loan at several clubs - We'd never attract the players here if it seemed we took lots in, kept some and discarded the rest just to make some money off of it - We are selective - We take our lads in on the promise that we will do everything possible on and off the field to make you a Premier League player - There is a pathway for you if you do what is expected and required of you - Luke and James have not been on loan, neither has Calum - They have made the transition into the Premier League with very little difficulty whatsoever - Competitive football is not important as such - The standard you are playing to is far more important - It's not Southampton's job to produce players for the Football League - It's Southampton's job to provide for Southampton and that is what we will continue to do - We can create the competitive environment in our B Team/U21 side in order to help progression - We need to work together to improve the U21 league - We need to think outside the box to incentivise the league more and make it that 'B' league that many discuss - I can't envisage a time when United and Oldham fans standing together to cheer a team with mixed identity - Is it Oldham or is it Manchester United B? - Our academy is thriving because we believe we are doing the right thing - Loans and feeder clubs are not in our formula - I understand that there are League One and League Two clubs would like the opportunity to borrow players - I can see that as appealing for smaller clubs - But I think a lot more thought needs to go into it - For example Arsenal and Barnet, who turns up to support? - Is it Arsenal fans to see Arsenal's reserves, or Barnet fans to watch Barnet? - I don't believe in loans or feeder clubs - We believe that preparing our players with our own curriculum in house - That makes them suited to our system, not anyone else's system, but ours - It won't work to develop better English talent for the international squads in the future - The difference is, our best 17, 18 and 19 year olds are playing in our first team, not anywhere else - The top clubs, rather than parking players elsewhere, should develop them - These players tend to leave the big club and end up with a career in the Football League - Great for the player, getting a career, but why go to those top clubs in the first place if they don't maximise your potential - As a club, if you just turn the player into a Football League player, why? - We should work together with the U21 league and develop the international aspect - The Next Gen competition etc should be worked on so we can make these young players the best that they can be - We need to think outside the box if we want to develop better talent

Les Reed will be on the show at 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Repeated at 11pm. The theme and key topic for discussion is youth development and how to have a successful academy. I'm sure there's many of us who will be interested in that. Hope this has been of use.

That's it, get his book out of that ****ing shop again.

Is this a Premier League best or a all-time best? I'd imagine PL?