“@marmeliser totally agree, even though us fans dont like the way our board is set up you can't take away what they have done .my foundest memories, were over trumpton, when we had Hollaway, penrice, purnell, wilmott, stewart and and browning. there were probably more but all home grow, not all world beaters but very strong as a unit”

“Lets hope we can get back to the days of Phillips, Hill, Coles, Burnell, Tommy Doc, Lita, Brown et al playing in the first team - would bring the crowds back to support local lads
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Err, no, because that would mean we were playing in League One!

I'm all for home grown talent and I'm glad to see we are reviewing the system but I hope we take alot of advice from clubs and people who know how to get the job done. Lets hope they get it right time time and start to achieve what other clubs seem to be able to. My dream would be for us to achieve half of what a club like Ajax mange to do. I know its a tall order but lets set the targets high and if we get halfway there then we are going in the right direction.

First, the philosophy has to flow though the whole club. From under 16's to the first team and full backed by the supporters who must understand that young talent takes time to flourish.”

“@ baboonass

my point was that the players i mentioned were not strictly 'local' to southampton. their 'net' was wider than the immediate area, and way more effective.

in the case of palace they're in london, so competition is intense as there are so many clubs.

the last player to come thru the gas system of note was scott sinclair. in earlier days they had the likes of mabbutt and lloyd who went on to england honours, as well as others like holloway, penrice et al who played top flight football. city's record by contrast....

still, the gas had craig bellamy early doors, and let him go...

a bit of history on scouting. 2 people 'ran the show' for many years - messrs rae and then fawthrop - the latter was 'in charge'' of the academy for a while and 'rated' damian spencer!!!
i don't think anyone too often had the 'eye' for a good player for years - and thats locally or nationally.

finding and developing football talent is part of the 'core business' of a football club. but for the investment from the likes of steve lansdown, city would have been bust years ago as the record on finding local talent of MAJOR note has been, well, terrible.”

“@marmeliser, when i started to write the first comment, i almost got into a rant, The coaching and scouting set, are the foundations, when i say local clubs i was pointing at rovers and city. I don't think it matters as to where they come from, i.e. bath newport, if they come through the youth set up school leaving age, up to say under 19's they've basically learned their trade at our club and that what i was getting at. Rovers in particular have wasted young talent, you do have to take a leaf out of the big boys books, even at 16 17 some of these lads big let them train with the first team/ reserves give them a taste, if they feel valued then maybe they might feel an afinity to the club, wether thats Rovers or city they might not have their heads turned so easily”

“Lets face it as a sporting city the size of Bristol its a joke. You can build and plan the best academy you like but for interest from the public - guys you can't polish ****s. Rovers have the knack of spotting local talent only to offload them for a quick Buck (literally). They should have obligation clauses in their contracts but then we would be accused of stifiling ambition. When I went to Eastville many years ago for a trial (unsuccessful) all the first team were there encouraging ,giving tips even to the point where good old Harold Jarman bought the lemonade. That team had been together for nigh on 3 years with 60% home grown still playing. Nice lemonade too!!!”

“Bob, have it right......Bristol is dead from the neck up in general ambition veries the rest of the country. We cannot even copy the successful format of others and as imitation is something to be really considered, dire. All very sad but it has not changed in years has it?? Well Mr Lansdown these 10 years on andstill **** under your command??? Were it just 10 years by God! Not much to applaud in over 100 years is it?”

“Crystal Palace for instance appear to have a conveyor belt of kids coming through,City do not have the same. I for one do not know if it is down to recruitment, insufficient coaching, lack of talent in the area, or that lack of commitment by kids in Bristol.
Somehow that aggressive streak to succeed is lacking in Bristol is lacking. Too soft?”

“Crystal”

“@ baboon ass

bale came from.........cardiff

walcott....from swindon (bought for 1K)

others...from the channel islands and well away from southampton

the palace kids - well look who they're up against, yet they STILL produce

actually chelsea's academy has NOT been a success - by their criteria

city's problem goes back to a permanent lousy scouting network for the last 40 years”

“The like of man u's Chelsea etc etc, acadamies cannot be compared to anything that the lower divisions set up. prem clubs recruit from all over europe to bring the best youngsters in. The likes of C#@y Southampton etc will bring on local talent, which will hopefully fill a first team spot in years to come, that said southampton do seem to be doing something right as in developing a decent crop of youngsters but only to have them poached by prem clubs. That said shouldnt all lower league clubs make strides to bring on local talent then they wouldn't have to rely on loan signings from clubs higher up the leagues, surely there is talent within our local teams, to let them have a run out instead of giving another clubs Youngsters the experience.”