Southampton - Youth & Stability

Southampton - Youth & Stability

Today I've taken control of Southampton, taking control of the team in their first premier league season with the aim of premiership stability and the development on a young team, using home grown and signing young talent.

After agreeing to try and avoid relegation I've been given a £16m transfer kitty along with £425k p/w wage budget. I'm hoping to bring in only players under the age of 23 to develop a young solid team that can push for a European place within the first four years.

Southampton - The Team

Currently the senior squad is seriously lacking youth, with only four players currently 23 or under. I'm hoping to sign six or seven younger players that can be weaved into the existing squad with the hope of making them permanent first team players for the second season.

I'm also looking at making two young loan signings, I've got my eye on a few players and signing updates are to follow.

should try and push for a title challenge instead of avoiding relegation............. you should get jordan rhodes and bring in conor clifford on loan from chelsea cos he has a thing for long range strikes

I'd agree but the problem is, I want to bring in youth and doing that means first season may be a bit of a struggle as long as I stay in the league and can bring a few players in that's my main goal for the first season.

Southampton - Squad Updates

As I've taken over quite a small squad I'm happy enough not to sell any players at least until January where I can get a broader picture of who features in my game to game plans. After getting Luke Shaw (a promising reserve player) signed into a new contract and promoted him to the senior team I recieved several advances from Manchester United, all of which have been declined. He seems a decent young player who I would like to develop further.

My first two signings were Steven Caulker on a season long loan from spurs and Steven N'Zonzi from Blackburn for £4.8m. N'Zonzi will do a good job for me in the first season, It remains to be seen if he will want to stay after that, I'm presuming all depends on our final league position as he currently see's the transfer as a "stepping stone", Which I'm more than happy for it to be aslong as he does a good job and we make some money off of him.

After several failed attempts at getting Fabio Borini on loan from Roma I've given up for now, hopefully at the end of the season things will be a little better with the team reputation and another move can be made for him either in a loan capacity or a full transfer.

Southampton - Transfers In

http://mojoimage.com/free-image-hosting-11/4939transfersin.png

Southampton - Transfers Out

http://mojoimage.com/free-image-hosting-11/504transfersoutr.png

Southampton - Preseason Friendlies

After testing out a few formations in the below friendlies, I have ended up with a modified 4-5-1 with the aim of keeping the ball and moving it around the pitch with a decent amount of pace and plently of possession.

Preseason Results

http://mojoimage.com/free-image-hosting-11/3926preseason.png

Formation

http://mojoimage.com/free-image-hosting-11/8407formation.png

More to follow...

Nice formation mate, and nice transfers.

Hope than N'Zonzi will bring you some money

Matchday One: Baptism Of Fire?

http://mojoimage.com/free-image-hosting-11/6674mancityresut.png

With my game game away to the champions Manchester City, I can only hope it doesn't end a cricket score! I'm not looking to play any different against big teams as I want the squad to get used to the new formation and playing together, so youth will feature in this game.

Match Result: Manchester City 3 - 1 Southampton

After Tadanari Lee scored in the first minute, quickly followed by him hitting the bar I thought I may be able to get something from the game but City proved to strong in the end; We looked tired in the second half so fitness is something we need to look at. Luke Shaw was given a debut and became the youngest ever premier league player, he didn't have a great game and was at fault for two of the goals. Hopefully another start against Newcastle at home can give him the boost he needs.

I ended up with 51% over the 90 minutes, which I'm very happy with away at Man City, looks like the formation may work with some slight modifications. I'll look to make adjustments a few games in once I've seen who does where well on the pitch

Matchday Two: First Home Game

With Newcastle up next I decided to give a run out to my new young Portugese striker Esmael Goncalves, I think he has the potential to be a similar play to Drogba, he's strong and looks like he has a bit more to him, We'll see after the game.

Match Result: Southampton 1 - 1 Newcastle

http://mojoimage.com/free-image-hosting-11/1781southnewcastle.png

Going 1-0 down in the first two minutes wasn't the start I was after, We were on the back foot for the rest of the first half, A free kick on 39 minutes saw Jose Fonte knock one in at the near post bringing us back level at half time. Goncalves has show a bit of flair, and provided a few crosses into the box in the second half fairly happy with his contribution. Luke Shaw finished the game with a 7.0 rating, not bad for a 16 year old in the premier league against Newcastle.

are you using the update so southampton are in the premier league cos you failed to tell me that lol i thought you were in the championship

Ah forgot to say sorry, I'm using LFCMarshall Update :).