Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Sunday September 9 2007
Time: 12:22PM
UK time is: 14:23:12
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Redknapp plotting saints raid?
The news of the world are today claiming that Harry Redknapp is 'plotting a New Year raid on Southampton' looking to sign their midfielder Andrew Surman.
Redknapp should know the fella well enough from his brief 'sabbatical' with our neighbours down the road - and he actually loaned the youngster out to Bournemouth during this spell.
It is claimed that Tony Adams watched the highly regarded 21 year old for the saints again QPR last week.
Surman was born in South Africa, but moved to England when his English parents returned in '95 and the saints soon made him part of their Academy, which giving credit where it is due is quite impressive, but ours should see less of this local talent lost to the red half of Hampshire in the future though.
I have seen a bit of the fella and he looks to have a pretty classy left foot on him - he made his U21 debut for England on Friday, scoring in the 3-0 win over Montenegro - so if Redknapp is prepared to see him the latest to make the switch from red to blue then going by what I have seen then he would not be a bad signing at all.
Clearly, those that hold a really strong grudge against the saints could find it hard to accept him - should he sign - as some have Martin Cranie since his switch, along with others before, but my belief is always - so long as they are good enough and give 100% for Pompey I could not care where they came from. If Redknapp rates Surman that would be good enough for me.
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Your Comments
The boot is now firmly on the other foot if we are going down the road and taking all their good young players. Long may it last!!
eastneydave
he does seem a tasty prospect - so if he is good enough and we can get him, sign him up 'arry... yep, they spent far too many yrs getting the cream of the crop, times are changing.
pompeyrug
for some reason, its very satisfying seeing southhamptons acadamy producing talent, and then nicking it when it looks like doing well...it just seems that we almost have access to two acadmies now, ours and theres, and we just need to pick the best...that said, it could take a while to accept from some of the more devout pompey fans, but like i say nicking southhamptons young talent can only be good, cant it?
pompeycarpet
Too right, how good it is too offer Premiership football to the scummers better players.
He is a decent young player and if the turmoil is as bad as rumoured then we could see an exodus of their talent.
Young Crainie has done well and had a decent game for the U-21 's the other night.
Owenspompey
He is highly rated. Wouldn't come cheap.
storagematt
yep, that is a problem isnt it mate - young english talent can be even more expensive than the overseas lot...
pompeyrug
that said, why are the rumours about him NOW? - i dont claim to be an expert, but hasnt the transfer window closed?
pompeycarpet
I have seen this guy play a number of times - he is an excellent prospect and would be worth the reputed 3.5 million. He is similar to Matty Taylor but possibly less utilitarian and more classy. when you think of the cost of English players it doesn't seem to bad. I would love to see this guy at Fratton.
Et_tu_Pompeii
there will be transfer talks even when the transfer window is closed wont there... i dont think we can ever have enough englishmen in our squad so if we can snap him up for £3.5m im pretty sure that 'arry will...
pompeyrug
Living in Wiltshire the scummers are one of the biggest recruits of new talent in this area no less than four of my lads club of under 9's have just been signed. Obviously, if he's good enough this year what a dilemma!!!
L L Blue
pompey are getting their academy act together so if pompey starting looking around at the real youngsters then you might be spared the dilemma mate... altho im not sure too many would hold it against you or him if the opportunity to maybe become a pro came along, even if it meant taking the saints route.
pompeyrug
Wooo - stop fellas arent we getting a bit carried away with ourselves. Agree - their academy is more estabished than ours. Agree - English talent is good to have on our books. Agree - It's good that for the first time, in a long time youngsters will see Pompey rather than Scum as the team to sign for, But .... we are not taking their cream ... Where's Walcott ,,, Where's Bale... Last time I looked they weren't at Fratton Park. Pompey should be out and about picking up these players - If saints scouts can find them why can'y ours ?? For the first time in ages we are not a selling club so if we found a talent we could for once actually hold on to them and we wouldn't have to pay 3.5 million to the scum for somebody who was on our doorstep. I haven't even heard of Surman or seen him play (I don't watch the lower leagues !!!) but the point remains...
Chix
And another thing...... although it applies less to kids... players who go from Red to Blue do have to work harder to be accepted in Pompey colours... it's the way of the world, same applies to villa/brum, celtic/rangers, arsenal/spurs. Every player has to prove themselves at a new club for whatever reason, Pompey is built on pride & passion so anybody moving 10 junctions down the 27 will have to show, more than others that they really want to play for Pompey. it takes a lot to be forgiven, but forgiven they can be in time.... Same applies to managers !!! - Although, I can justify that now as he did get them relegated :)
Chix
tbh Chix from the limited time ive seen surman he does look like being another of the cream mate, has such a sweet left foot on him. we should be able to be getting the future walcott's, bale's, surman's etc ahead of scum from now on, but until we do altho it might mean having to pay for them we can take theirs... also im alot more forgiving about scum players coming to pompey than some others are - the way i see it as soon as they come over to the blue half, so long as they give 100% i couldnt care about their scum backgrounds.
pompeyrug
In reference to your comments about scouts Chix, I can tell you that the Pompey scouts are actively out and about. As a mini soccer manager for probably the biggest club in the area. I know that they have already had a look at our Under 7 and 8's at end of last season with a couple of kids being picked up and the Under 9 and 10's to follow this season. I understand that the old original team of scouts have been remployed as there was obviously an issue with that amount of talent being found from the mini and youth soccer teams in the area.
blarmy
this is further good news to hear and more evidence that the right steps are being taken...
pompeyrug
We have a Pompey scout up here who was appointed when Paul Hart took over, but there are strict rules on recruiting talent from another region.
He comes with us to a few of the Pompey games up North, and he states that a couple of his charges are already interesting the club.
Owenspompey
i cannot wait for the day when pompey actually field another of their own produce - and by this i mean a kid that has come through hte system, not just a youngter that has joined as a 15 or 16 yr old, which would also be great, but a nipper working his way through will be great in 10 yrs or so - and i can really see plenty of this happening if we keep things going as they are.
pompeyrug
there are VERY strict rules about scouting for players - not least distence from clubs. You cant expect youngsters to travel far at all from where they live to training grounds, so the areas are small to start off with. I have only ever know 1 person to be "scouted" by pompey - and that was about 10 years ago. Other than that, no-one from our "biggest club in the area" has even had anything suggested. We certainly need more people covering a wider area of the country if we want to pick up the talent, lets hope we do!!!
pompeycarpet
Couldn't agree more rug. We have only really seen one good crop of youngsters in the last 40 years and that was in Jim Smiths days when we reached the Youth Cup semi final - Awford, Anderton, Symons,Flahavan etc.
eastneydave
Dave, you bring back great memories again mate, there were some classy players in that team and many of them served us very well, and brought in a lot of money to the club, when we really neede it, mind you Jim and Martin Gregory bloody wasted it.
Owenspompey
...and then sascha bought it back...GOD SAVE THE KING
pompeycarpet
Dave.. what about Foster, Viney, Denyar, Puller, Knight, Ellis ... Weren't these home grown ? - I can't remember exactly but always thought they were local kids .. .. Hardyman, Leeworthy (I know those were as I played with them) , Sandford...
Chix
i didnt realise that surman was actually a scummer fan too - he's supported them since he was a kid... this would not put me off us trying signing him, but would make it alot harder - and unlikely - for him to come to terms with, as it might alot of fans?
pompeyrug
Depends how good he is Rug! If no one else from the Prem comes in he'll sign. Too good an opportunity for the lad, money is so big now, one contract would see him set for life.
L L Blue
Yeah but, if you reversed the situation, could anybody here, after supporting Pompey all your life go and play for saints.... Imagine if you found yourself in the cup final against Pompey and with a minute to go it was 0-0 and you as a scummer player had to take a penalty.... Could you ever show your face in Pompey again if you scored ..... could you just 'do your job?' would it be a case of 'Pompey 'til I die, unless I play for the scum'
Chix
re the penalty thing... I just couldn't do it...... but then again, I wouldnt have signed for saints in the first place..... but then again, they probably wouldn't want me anyway...... Don't think I need worry anymore, It aint gonna happen.......
Chix
what a scenario mate - pompey fan all my life, but a professional footballer signed up by scum with a penalty to beat pompey in the last minute of the cup final, bloody hell what a quandry to be in...
pompeyrug
that is probably going to be my 'hypothetical' debate of the day for tomorrow mate, you have inspired me for my new assignment for an article to be used tomorrow!
pompeyrug
Just pleased to be of any mental assistance I can. Ive spent the last hour 'doing' Pedro Mendes (only you will know what I mean !) Just finished the Champions League final...
Chix
well mendes does take some doing... :) i know what you meant mate.
pompeyrug
Blast the penalty wide, principles do not enter into it.
Owenspompey
i dont know mate...
pompeyrug
Rug, go on blast it wide, you know it makes sense, i quote from Delboy Trotter, the wider the better, hit the Royal Box, you know you want to.
Owenspompey
:) i'm just glad it is only a 'hypothetical scenario' and it will never happen...
pompeyrug
Rug, you still want to miss dont you, i admire you avoiding the penalty scenario, but smash it wide.
Owenspompey
i want to miss but im not sure i would...
pompeyrug
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