Luke shaw

[Nick]

hes a chelsea fan, would he come?

isnt there a similar up-andcoming-amazing-doesnt-even-have-to-be-english centre back out there?

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I don't think a young left back is worth 30mil. if we are to buy him, we need to sell one LB and buy at a reasonable price.

Agreed.

Given other areas of the team which need strengthening (centre-half, midfield and a couple of forwards), a young, overpriced left-back ought to be way down on our shopping list; even less so if a bidding war starts between several other clubs.

Pellegrini needs to spend a little time working his magic on Clichy, rather than needlessly splashing out on this lad.

We absolutely don't need all that. Centerback is a must and top quality attacking midfielder IF one is available. Quality not quantity should be the motto from now on.

From what I've seen of Shaw he is real deal. 30m FOR US for a guy who potentially locks down the position for the next 15 years is going rate.

[sheikh it all about]

This thread begs the question of what motivates our development players. Do they join in the realistic expectation of progressing to the first team? Or to grow in an ultra-professional setup with a view to moving on at the right time?

I imagine they fall into both camps.

[Wooders]

I would think most would be grateful to be developed in what will be one of the worlds best academies - but realistic that only the very best will make it - just like at barca, bayern or aby other elite club

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

I would think most would be grateful to be developed in what will be one of the worlds best academies - but realistic that only the very best will make it - just like at barca, bayern or aby other elite club

Some people seemmtot hink we are building some sort of human factory. Developing players is not exact science and they are not robots. I'm sure we aim to bring in best raw material possible and have best possible infrastructure and coaching. Vast majority of those boys will still be sold and only creme de la creme will make it. If we get a lad once every two to three years making it to first team we will have pretty amazing set up.

If we see exceptional young talent available somewhere we should not hesitate to try and sign them. It's the other end we should concentrate on, that we wouldn't be in position where we have to bring in Demichelis or someone like that to make the numbers. That our Academy not only provides first team with quality but also quantity to some extent.

Oh, and another team the number of players making OUR first team is not the only thing that makes our Academy desirable. It's the number that make it as professional footballers that is meaningfull. You have to remember that once they join our Academy that's their real career path and any plans of being doctor or lawyer they (well the parents) may have had goes out of the window.

[Ted Hughes]

I would think most would be grateful to be developed in what will be one of the worlds best academies - but realistic that only the very best will make it - just like at barca, bayern or aby other elite club

Some people seemmtot hink we are building some sort of human factory. Developing players is not exact science and they are not robots. I'm sure we aim to bring in best raw material possible and have best possible infrastructure and coaching. Vast majority of those boys will still be sold and only creme de la creme will make it. If we get a lad once every two to three years making it to first team we will have pretty amazing set up.

If we see exceptional young talent available somewhere we should not hesitate to try and sign them. It's the other end we should concentrate on, that we wouldn't be in position where we have to bring in Demichelis or someone like that to make the numbers. That our Academy not only provides first team with quality but also quantity to some extent.

Oh, and another team the number of players making OUR first team is not the only thing that makes our Academy desirable. It's the number that make it as professional footballers that is meaningfull. You have to remember that once they join our Academy that's their real career path and any plans of being doctor or lawyer they (well the parents) may have had goes out of the window.

That is all true, BUT at some point we have to draw the line & say that we are actually going to pick out the best players & trust them to take part in the squad.

Signing one 19/20 year old won't stop that of course but rumours suggest we are watching several young players for next season as well as having already signed two 17/18 year old African lads (possibly 3) & if rumours are true, a 20 year old Argentinian.

We can't make a habit of signing players like Shaw & also have a genuine route from the academy to the 1st team.

At some point it has to be the case that the manager is almost forced to trust some academy players rather than just signing people for all positions. Otherwise managers will just take the easy route. Imo, we are reaching that point, if we're not there already.

[bayblue]

That is all true, BUT at some point we have to draw the line & say that we are actually going to pick out the best players & trust them to take part in the squad. Signing one 19/20 year old won't stop that of course but rumours suggest we are watching several young players for next season as well as having already signed two 17/18 year old African lads (possibly 3) & if rumours are true, a 20 year old Argentinian. We can't make a habit of signing players like Shaw & also have a genuine route from the academy to the 1st team. At some point it has to be the case that the manager is almost forced to trust some academy players rather than just signing people for all positions. Otherwise managers will just take the easy route. Imo, we are reaching that point, if we're not there already.

Good points, and I suppose one benefit of having the director of football role as well as a manager is to prevent too much short term or "easy route" decisions from the manager.
I've not seen enough of the academy lads to know just how good they are but I think Shaw is a very good young talent and so I'd be in favour of bringing him in.

[Twobob]

The one thing no academy can give is real PL match experience which is why a talented player like Shaw will develop quicker at a club like S'hampton.

[Ted Hughes]

That is all true, BUT at some point we have to draw the line & say that we are actually going to pick out the best players & trust them to take part in the squad. Signing one 19/20 year old won't stop that of course but rumours suggest we are watching several young players for next season as well as having already signed two 17/18 year old African lads (possibly 3) & if rumours are true, a 20 year old Argentinian. We can't make a habit of signing players like Shaw & also have a genuine route from the academy to the 1st team. At some point it has to be the case that the manager is almost forced to trust some academy players rather than just signing people for all positions. Otherwise managers will just take the easy route. Imo, we are reaching that point, if we're not there already.

Good points, and I suppose one benefit of having the director of football role as well as a manager is to prevent too much short term or "easy route" decisions from the manager.
I've not seen enough of the academy lads to know just how good they are but I think Shaw is a very good young talent and so I'd be in favour of bringing him in.

We don't currently have a player of Shaw's quality & reliability. None of our current academy kids could be expected to step straight into our first team as regulars, BUT one big reason for that is because Shaw has actually been PLAYING in Southampton's team.

Whether Shaw develops on to be another level of skill like some are suggesting, I have no idea. Some kids do, some don't. But we have players in our academy who can produce the same or better quality ON THE BALL, as Shaw is doing right now. I would say significantly better but that can't be proved if they are playing at a lower level.

I think Angelino would be absolutely outstanding from a football perspective, if he played with our first team right now but would struggle as a defender both physically & for experience. Shaw is bigger & stronger, so obviously allied to his football ability, better.

If Angelino doesn't make it though, it won't be down to lack of talent.

[Dameerto]

Its the perfect chance to watch him in action, the Spurs/Southampton game is kicking off soon.

[Ted Hughes]

He's already made more half arsed challenges, failed to go forward/back & been positionally up his own arse, more times than Micah does in a fucking season.

I don't care if he scores 3 from 60 yards, the fact that he is not performing at a level worthy of a City shirt in this game, shows how there is NO CERTAINTY of these players reaching the level some claim, just because they look good sometimes as kids.

Just as his non performance in this game doesn't mean he is shit or can't live upto his potential, neither do a few good ones mean he is a certainty to be the next Stuart Pearce .

£30 mil is a gamble, not a certainty. Lety's hope whatever they decide is the right decision.

[Sideshow Bob]

Would he get a second look or be in any way remarkable if he were Italian or Spanish or Belgian? I think we know the answer.

[Ted Hughes]

Would he get a second look or be in any way remarkable if he were Italian or Spanish or Belgian? I think we know the answer.

I think everybody would look at him, he has most of the attributes you would want in a player.

But the question is whether he gets a bit better, a lot better, or becomes a genius, or alternatively whether he doesn't get any better at all.

If he is definitely going to improve a lot, then you pay the £30 mil & that happens, you are happy. If he stays the same player or only improves a bit, you have wasted £20-25 million quid, because right now he is nowhere near a £30 mil player.

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Would he get a second look or be in any way remarkable if he were Italian or Spanish or Belgian? I think we know the answer.

This guy looks legitimately super promising, not just promising for an englishman.

[Nigels Tackle]

Would he get a second look or be in any way remarkable if he were Italian or Spanish or Belgian? I think we know the answer.

This guy looks legitimately super promising, not just promising for an englishman.

agreed
to be holding down a regular place in a top half premier league defence at the age of 18 is going some
should stay at soton for another couple of seasons imo

[Dameerto]

He's going to get picked up by one of the big clubs - or by one mid-table team with delusions of grandeur - in the near future, hopefully we can persuade him to come here instead.

[Slim]

He's going to get picked up by one of the big clubs - or by one mid-table team with delusions of grandeur - in the near future, hopefully we can persuade him to come here instead.

You're talking about Villa aren't you?

[Dameerto]

He's going to get picked up by one of the big clubs - or by one mid-table team with delusions of grandeur - in the near future, hopefully we can persuade him to come here instead.

You're talking about Villa aren't you?

Stoke of course, Hughes for the win!

[Slim]

He's going to get picked up by one of the big clubs - or by one mid-table team with delusions of grandeur - in the near future, hopefully we can persuade him to come here instead.

You're talking about Villa aren't you?

Stoke of course, Hughes for the draw!

Fixed it for you.