Good article...

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

http://www.football365.com/f365-says/8621503/F365-Says

 

Saints' Future Looks Even Brighter Than The Present

Southampton are safe from relegation, and with an exciting, young squad and an exciting, young manager, Nick Miller thinks even more exciting things lie ahead for them...

 

It is of course too early to come to a definitive judgement on Mauricio Pochettino: Southampton manager, but the first job he would have been tasked with is done. Even before their assured (with the notable exception of Artur Boruc's occasional circus act) 2-0 win over Reading they were probably safe, but now, with 37 points on the board and six games remaining, they really are secure from the drop.

 

And not just secure - they have a reasonable chance of sneaking into the top half of the table, which would be quite the result. Only four newly-promoted sides have managed that in the last ten seasons - Manchester City in 2002/3, West Ham in 2005/6, Reading in 2006/7 and Birmingham in 2009/10.

 

The challenge for Southampton now is to avoid what happened to three of those four, who struggled and were eventually relegated in subsequent seasons. This, presumably, was one of the primary motivations for Nicola Cortese replacing Nigel Adkins with Pochettino earlier this year - Cortese had an eye on the future, as well as the present.

 

The outcry following that decision was understandable, because Adkins was doing a perfectly decent job, but it wasn't necessarily that Adkins was performing poorly, just that Cortese thought Pochettino could do better now, and indeed in the future. Most managerial changes are judged on what the outgoing boss has done, rather than what the new man could do, which is understandable given the former obviously has concrete information, but is often not a constructive way of looking at things.

Indeed, perhaps the success of Southampton to this point, and perhaps further in the future, may encourage other clubs to adopt a similar, ruthless approach. Adkins got Southampton into the Premier League, and while he may well have kept them there had he stayed, he was perhaps not the man to ensure they progress to better things. Pochettino looks a more likely candidate to achieve the latter.

 

And looking at their side, Pochettino could well have the squad to be more than simply a Premier League survivor. In Jay Rodriguez, Rickie Lambert and Gaston Ramirez, they have an exciting and dynamic forward line, ducking here and there, interchanging splendidly. As an aside, Adkins started with that trio together only three times in his time in charge. The midfield also looks handy - Morgan Schneiderlin is perhaps the best 'under the radar' player in the Premier League this season, while Adam Lallana was recognised by England earlier this season.

 

With some judicious additions in the summer - a keeper, a centre-back or two and some squad depth further up the pitch - and they could potentially challenge for European qualification next term. Indeed, as I wrote*here

*shortly after his appointment, player recruitment was another justification for Pochettino's appointment - he is simply more likely to attract exciting players than Adkins. Of course, keeping hold of their existing talent will be the first priority, and one expects Luke Shaw, Schneiderlin and others will be in the minds of the bigger boys when they plan their transfer activity.

They also have a hugely exciting youth to their side. Of the outfield ten who started against Reading, Steve Davis is 28, Jos Hooiveld is 29 and Lambert is 31 - the rest are 24 and under. That Shaw is 17 is astonishing, given his speed, power and assurance on the ball. I'd like to have a look at his birth certificate please - he's Southampton's answer to Kanu.

And the procession of youngsters looks like it will continue too. They're currently second and third respectively in the Under-18 and Under-21 Premier League Elite Groups - indeed, they're one of only two teams to qualify for the Elite phase of both those leagues this season. The other is Manchester United.

 

So if the present looks pretty good for Southampton, the future could be even better.

Nick Miller - follow him on Twitter*here

[Chewy]

Didn't realise the stat about the youth teams. Quality first team, and quality future. Just need some more quality in the back up areas and we will really be going places.

[BARCELONASAINT]

It is always nice to read articles highlighting the positives coming out of St Marys instead of the continual dross they normally print to sell newspapers. I think most Saints fans are aware we possibly have some very exciting future talent in the youth teams and that if these young players can avoid the bright lights of the so called big 4/6 clubs should they come knocking then the future looks very bright for Saints.

The one thing i think we do very well at here is keeping very young players level headed. They can see that if they progress they will play in the first team regularly rather than be a bench warmer possibly at another club.

This summer will be the most interesting for me because i feel it will define where Saints go from here. We will without doubt be attracting alot of interest from other clubs for some of our players....every player has his price....but i expect and hope Saints refuse all offers for any of our top players unless offered ridiculous ammounts of money that we could invest in more young gems.

[Stepgar]

For me Luke, Clyne and spider are the key players for me to keep hold of.

[hypochondriac]

For me Luke, Clyne and spider are the key players for me to keep hold of.

 

And jay rod. Lambert will stay as will Adam. If we can keep those first four players then we will do really well next year.

[Shroppie]

For me Luke, Clyne and spider are the key players for me to keep hold of.

 

I would add Cork. Remember how the season picked up when he came back.

[Danish Saint]

Decent article. A better CB than Jos is really all we need with the current form... oh... and getting more and better things out of Ramirez.

[The Kraken]

Decent article. A better CB than Jos is really all we need with the current form... oh... and getting more and better things out of Ramirez.

 

We're now at the point where its going to take a lot of money to replace our first team players (except for still at CB). The only areas of the squad we're light at are the reserve full backs, a really top first choice CB or two, and perhaps we're missing some genuine pace out wide (for all the creativity that Lallana, Ramirez and Puncheon have, none of them are blessed with a great deal of pace). The mistakes we made of the the cup final season need to be borne in mind; we have a decent squad for the most part, and rather than adding to it with another 7 or players over the summer we should perahps look to only bring in half that amount, but spending higher if we have to (although if can still bring in Clyne-type bargains that's quite obviously to be enccouraged).

[The Kraken]

Decent article. A better CB than Jos is really all we need with the current form... oh... and getting more and better things out of Ramirez.

 

We're now at the point where its going to take a lot of money to bring in someone to replace our first team players (except for still at CB). The only areas of the squad we're light at are the reserve full backs, a really top first choice CB or two, and perhaps we're missing some genuine pace out wide (for all the creativity that Lallana, Ramirez and Puncheon have, none of them are blessed with a great deal of pace). The mistakes we made of the the cup final season need to be borne in mind; we have a decent squad for the most part, and rather than adding to it with another 7 or players over the summer we should perahps look to only bring in half that amount, but spending higher if we have to (although if can still bring in Clyne-type bargains that's quite obviously to be enccouraged).

[MarkSFC]

As nervy as it may be through the summer and given our history it is fairly natural to think we may lose one or two major players, HOWEVER this is a different club now with different owners and more importantly a different CEO. I truly believe that ALL the key players will stay, and most have signed long term anyway. We do not need to sell, we are in the Premier League and things are progressing. The whole ethos of the club is one of development and progression and this will continue until Cortese achieves his ambition which I believe IS Champions League. Unrealistic for most to comprehend but visionaries and highly talented people achieve unrealistic and exceptional things. Cortese is one of those people.

 

Its going to be an exciting few years, starting with 3 or 4 major signings this summer!!

[dubai_phil]

We're now at the point where its going to take a lot of money to bring in someone to replace our first team players (except for still at CB). The only areas of the squad we're light at are the reserve full backs, a really top first choice CB or two, and perhaps we're missing some genuine pace out wide (for all the creativity that Lallana, Ramirez and Puncheon have, none of them are blessed with a great deal of pace). The mistakes we made of the the cup final season need to be borne in mind; we have a decent squad for the most part, and rather than adding to it with another 7 or players over the summer we should perahps look to only bring in half that amount, but spending higher if we have to (although if can still bring in Clyne-type bargains that's quite obviously to be enccouraged).

 

Deep down, this time last year, I don't believe a single Saints fan believed that Luke Shaw would be the LB solution. While we knew he had potential we would have not expected the lad to have been so mature, so steady and play so many matches (at his age) without a fear of burn out.

 

IMHO a great deal of "Next Season" depends on the ability of Stephens, Targett & Chambers to step up to the First Team and fill those back up places to Clyne, Shaw & CB. We KNOW that the way to improve and go up the League is to always buy better than we have, but could we do that with Shaw, Clyne & Maya/Fonte/Jos/Forren?. (Yeah I know the invisible man).

 

Now, imagining that they COULD step up and strengthen the squad. That leaves us able to look to buy that other Wide Player (Better than Puncheon as eg), another Striker (Better than JRod/SRL ah OK with the POTENTIAL to be better maybe!) and possibly one more CB/CM OR a decent Keeper IF the Madman doesn't sign on for longer.

 

Now THAT starts to get exciting, achievable without breaking the bank as well.

 

Oh and one other MINOR issue. The income we will earn in the PL from TV will go up significantly next year. The more of the Youth Team who can "Do a Luke" (maybe JWP will be ready for more matches), the less "Squad players" we need to buy = the more possible money for 1st Team Salaries, which will make it HARDER for top clubs to get our kids to warm the benches

 

Still, Swansea did OK after some of their talent was stolen last year.

[The Kraken]

Deep down, this time last year, I don't believe a single Saints fan believed that Luke Shaw would be the LB solution. While we knew he had potential we would have not expected the lad to have been so mature, so steady and play so many matches (at his age) without a fear of burn out.

 

IMHO a great deal of "Next Season" depends on the ability of Stephens, Targett & Chambers to step up to the First Team and fill those back up places to Clyne, Shaw & CB. We KNOW that the way to improve and go up the League is to always buy better than we have, but could we do that with Shaw, Clyne & Maya/Fonte/Jos/Forren?. (Yeah I know the invisible man).

 

Now, imagining that they COULD step up and strengthen the squad. That leaves us able to look to buy that other Wide Player (Better than Puncheon as eg), another Striker (Better than JRod/SRL ah OK with the POTENTIAL to be better maybe!) and possibly one more CB/CM OR a decent Keeper IF the Madman doesn't sign on for longer.

 

Now THAT starts to get exciting, achievable without breaking the bank as well.

 

Oh and one other MINOR issue. The income we will earn in the PL from TV will go up significantly next year. The more of the Youth Team who can "Do a Luke" (maybe JWP will be ready for more matches), the less "Squad players" we need to buy = the more possible money for 1st Team Salaries, which will make it HARDER for top clubs to get our kids to warm the benches

 

Still, Swansea did OK after some of their talent was stolen last year.

 

All good points, Phil.

 

I was just looking at last season's final table, and it shows just how much you have to keep improving to venture further up the league once you're around the top ten. Last season Wigan finished 15th on 43 points. To finish 5 places higher, in 10th, they'd have only needed another 5 points. However, to finish another 10 places higher in 5th, they'd have needed an extra 23 points; 19 more points than 10th place. And 28 more to finish 4th. The degrees of improvement suddenly become much more exaggerated the higher you go, and going from even 7th to 5th can be a massive undertaking.

 

And of course, the higher you go the better the standard the squad needs to be, and the better the youngsters coming through have to be. Its a bit much to expect a Luke Shaw to come through every season or two. To have Theo, Bale, Oxo and Shaw all within 10 years is phenoemenal. There's a reason that clubs such as Arsenal, who have a decent history of bringing their own talent through, look to buy elsewhere; because the gulf at the top is sso vast that they need the very best.

[The Kraken]

Deep down, this time last year, I don't believe a single Saints fan believed that Luke Shaw would be the LB solution. While we knew he had potential we would have not expected the lad to have been so mature, so steady and play so many matches (at his age) without a fear of burn out.

 

IMHO a great deal of "Next Season" depends on the ability of Stephens, Targett & Chambers to step up to the First Team and fill those back up places to Clyne, Shaw & CB. We KNOW that the way to improve and go up the League is to always buy better than we have, but could we do that with Shaw, Clyne & Maya/Fonte/Jos/Forren?. (Yeah I know the invisible man).

 

Now, imagining that they COULD step up and strengthen the squad. That leaves us able to look to buy that other Wide Player (Better than Puncheon as eg), another Striker (Better than JRod/SRL ah OK with the POTENTIAL to be better maybe!) and possibly one more CB/CM OR a decent Keeper IF the Madman doesn't sign on for longer.

 

Now THAT starts to get exciting, achievable without breaking the bank as well.

 

Oh and one other MINOR issue. The income we will earn in the PL from TV will go up significantly next year. The more of the Youth Team who can "Do a Luke" (maybe JWP will be ready for more matches), the less "Squad players" we need to buy = the more possible money for 1st Team Salaries, which will make it HARDER for top clubs to get our kids to warm the benches

 

Still, Swansea did OK after some of their talent was stolen last year.

 

All good points, Phil.

 

I was just looking at last season's final table, and it shows just how much you have to keep improving to venture further up the league once you're around the top ten. Last season Wigan finished 15th on 43 points. To finish 5 places higher, in 10th, they'd have only needed another 5 points. However, to finish 10 places higher (in 5th) they'd have needed an extra 23 points; 19 more points than 10th place. And 28 more to finish 4th. The degrees of improvement suddenly become much more exaggerated the higher you go, and going from even 7th to 5th can be a massive undertaking.

 

And of course, the higher you go the better the standard the squad needs to be, and the better the youngsters coming through have to be. Its a bit much to expect a Luke Shaw to come through every season or two. To have Theo, Bale, Oxo and Shaw all within 10 years is phenoemenal. There's a reason that clubs such as Arsenal, who have a decent history of bringing their own talent through, look to buy elsewhere; because the gulf at the top is sso vast that they need the very best.