As we all know Southampton is home to some of the finest young minds in this country. What you might not know however, is that it also boasts some of the finest young footballers too. Although the Saints don’t currently find themselves in the best of positions, either financially or in the Championship standings, they are showing signs of a team that can provide bags full of goals and entertaining football.

Since reaching the FA Cup Final and achieving Uefa Cup qualification in 2002, Saints embarked on a dramatic demise. A shambolic 2004/2005 season, thanks to Harry Redknapp, ended a 27 year stay in the top division and brought with it the huge financial problems that follow relegation from the Premiership. After failing to achieve promotion back to the upper tier after 3 seasons, and falling deeper into financial difficulties, Saints were backed into a corner.

To avoid administration, the sale of the team’s better players was forced upon them, leaving the club in a position in which a squad full of 18-21 year old youth academy graduates had to be relied upon to reignite a once mighty teams fortunes. Dutchman Jan Poortvliet was brought in over the summer as new Head Coach, having convinced Saints Directors that he has what it takes to turn a team of boys into an army of men.

Having been a member of the vastly successful 1970’s Dutch national team, Poortvliet has promised to bring with him his own brand of ‘Total Football’; a strategy built on the 10 outfield players attacking as a unit with intricate, technical passing. Luckily for Poortvliet, the class of 2008, the Academy boys thrust upon him, are in no way lacking the quality to achieve such a style. Youngsters Adam Lallana, David McGoldrick and Morgan Schneiderlin in particular have the potential to be very good professionals indeed.

Although achieving only 3 points from their opening 5 games of the season, the team has begun to turn some heads, and entertain the fans as they do it. Saints may not, as the old adage goes, be able to "win anything with kids", but this crop of players looks as if they can quite quickly become a very talented team of men, very capable of ultimately successful football. Given the time to develop and the support of the fans, I think the Saints have a good chance of achieving something special.

Student tickets can be purchased through the club directly or the SUSU Box Office, and they start from as little as £16. Bring your support to St Mary’s, these boys can play!