some academy gossip

[SouthAfricaRed]

To be fair, if you were in their shoes, having been relegated, would you take 12M for a 17 year old that had never played in the Premiership?

If I were an owner that was looking for Quick money then Yes

If I were an owner that was looking after the best interest of the club and it's long term future, then No. It's not just Wallcott. There is a list of talented players that they have sold in the past few years

[dom9]

If I were an owner that was looking for Quick money then Yes

If I were an owner that was looking after the best interest of the club and it's long term future, then No. It's not just Wallcott. There is a list of talented palyers that they have sold in the past few years

Like James Beattie

[enema of the state]

To be fair, if you were in their shoes, having been relegated, would you take 12M for a 17 year old that had never played in the Premiership?

like a shot

[dirty_sanchez]

Like James Beattie

Beattie was good until he got fat.

[le2red]

Beattie was good until he got fat**.

** = signed for Everton ??

[lfc4ever]

I'm hearing on the grapevine, and this is from someone who has had dinner with Heighway recently, that Heighway is openly critical of Rafa and this in front of strangers on the same table as Legends.

No doubt these kinds of words always make their way back to the boss, one way or the other, and no matter how untouchable you are, the kind of language used should not be acceptable if you wish to retain your current position.

[Rich]

Not wishing to further add to the gossip (yeah right!) but Heighway was very critical of Houllier as well.

Maybe Heighway has a problem with Managers/Coaches that do not give Youth an opportunity in the first team?!?

[dww]

If I were an owner that was looking for Quick money then Yes

If I were an owner that was looking after the best interest of the club and it's long term future, then No. It's not just Wallcott. There is a list of talented players that they have sold in the past few years

I get the impression that Walcott wanted to move to the PL. He was good enough to Southampton to make sure they got money for him, but he wanted to leave they had no real choice. It was also probably the best deal for Southampton. Their squad has remained strong and they have been able to bring in good coaches/staff/players and have a decent enough chance of coming up.

Any claim that a chairman who wanted to make money would rather be in the Championship than the Premiership is clearly wide of the mark. Even if it weren't for the T.V. money the increased gates make a huge difference.

[nobbylad]

Not wishing to further add to the gossip (yeah right!) but Heighway was very critical of Houllier as well.

Maybe Heighway has a problem with Managers/Coaches that do not give Youth an opportunity in the first team?!?

From what I've heard, Heighway isn't liked by many/any of the lads at the Academy and this isn't something recent.

[Rich]

Maybe he's a miserable gossiping *******?

[dirty_sanchez]

** = signed for Everton ??

Yes, there is a curious synchronicity between those two events I must admit.

[Assassin]

IMO The only Great players I can think of that have made it as managers are Beckenbauer, Cruyff and Dalglish.

Anybody think of someone else?

Peter Reid

[Resu]

he should be on here then.

[rushscored4]

Southampton have a much bigger catchment area than us too. Apart from Portsmouth, they have been the only big club (premierhsip) on the south coast for over a decade, and their scouting network stretches as far as Bristol, Devon and Cornwall. If you're a kid in those areas, they are more likely to choose Sothampton than Bristol Rovers.

So you're saying that within an hour's drive of Liverpool isn't a bigger catchment area than around Southampton?

The population of the North West of England, North Wales, Cumbria, West Yorkshire and the North Midlands (all of which are within an hour's drive) must total over 10m. I know there are a lot of other clubs to compete with there are some very talented youths from Merseyside, Manchester and Cheshire who have chosen to go to Crewe because they think they'll have a better chance of making it there than at a bigger club like us.

[Red Chilli]

IMO The only Great players I can think of that have made it as managers are Beckenbauer, Cruyff and Dalglish.

Anybody think of someone else?

Zico?