SAINTS B’s torrid run of form has been well documented from the relegation from Premier League 2 Division One last season to not even being able to put one winning performance together this.

On paper, the first team haven’t really picked up too many more points since around a similar time, with the B’s last win coming against Derby in February.

Last season, things were different. A small first team squad was stretched by injuries and was forced to pluck teenagers who weren’t ready out of the academy to populate Premier League squads, leading inevitably to poor results.

This dominoed into the B team’s eventual relegation as their best players were instead being beaten in the first team, rather than helping their teammates who were also now short on numbers, missing their key players and getting beaten week-in, week-out too.

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It wasn’t really avoidable last year, but now it seems that a minor solution is somewhat obvious and sitting right under our noses, at least a solution to get a winning mentality and some confidence back into the young Saints – who are meant to be the future of the club.

Daily Echo: Caleb Watts, 19, is a B team regular who featured for the first team last campaign (Pic: Stuart Martin)Caleb Watts, 19, is a B team regular who featured for the first team last campaign (Pic: Stuart Martin)

But it’s one that I believe would have a holistic affect, bringing some more of that same confidence into the first team, keeping fringe players match-fit and chomping at the bit with desire.

In Premier League 2 – the category one academy football league system that Saints B compete in – the age limit for participating players is under 23, those born after January 1 1998.

However, Premier League 2 also stipulate that three over-age outfield players can feature in every match, leaving the door open for anyone who may be making a return to fitness, hasn’t played in a while or just needs to rediscover some confidence.

Already, I’m thinking some of Saints’ first team fringe players like Yan Valery and Nathan Tella, 22, who have played a combined total of ten Premier League minutes this season – and that’s just one sub appearance for Tella – are eligible.

Daily Echo: Yan Valery (right) has only played in the EFL Cup for Saints so far this season (Pic: PA)Yan Valery (right) has only played in the EFL Cup for Saints so far this season (Pic: PA)

That, added to the occasional appearance of a first teamer who has missed a run of games or is on a return to match sharpness, like Shane Long, 34 – who was subbed on by Hasenhuttl against Wolves in the Premier League at the weekend.

Further to the point, Saints B play with the exact same playbook as the first team, and to a specific detail, too. If Hasenhuttl switches to a 4-1-4-1 for the weekend so too will David Horseman – transitioning between the teams should be occurring seamlessly, it’s not taking advantage of one of the big positives of the whole playbook.

Daily Echo: Both Saints teams play with the same tactics that they have both trained midweek (Pic: PA)Both Saints teams play with the same tactics that they have both trained midweek (Pic: PA)

If Saints were to take advantage of this, the first impact would be a bit more quality on show for the B team just to stop the rot, get one or two good results and restore a winning feeling within the academy’s most promising youngsters.

And it’s not like doing this would limit the gametime of those youngsters in favour of playing already past-their-best seniors or the sort, Horseman is fielding actual 15-year-olds every game – they might be talented but do they need to play 90’ against men eight years their senior every week?

The second effect would surely be one of increased development, if they were witnessing what it takes on a matchday, in the dressing room and on the turf, for someone like Tella to graduate from that same team and become a member of the first team squad, they would learn from that and only get better.

The former Arsenal youngster played four times in the competition last year and scored four, before being given a permanent birth in the senior squad.

Daily Echo: Nathan Tella has made the jump from Saints B to the first team but has now seen his game-time limited (Pic: PA)Nathan Tella has made the jump from Saints B to the first team but has now seen his game-time limited (Pic: PA)

Thirdly, as mentioned, it would give the Saints players who are now suffering as a result of an expanded squad chances to stay match-fit and score some goals, make some game-changing performances and remember that they have the requisite skills to earn a winning feeling.

Theo Walcott is about to make a return from injury, Hasenhuttl is over encumbered with players in his position, could he not turn his craft to the B team for just one weekend – show the young, aspiring attackers how he made it to be an England international and two-time FA Cup winner whilst getting himself back up to speed?

Again, it is only now that Saints’ squad has the newfound depth in nearly all positions that this kind of thing would be possible.

These ideas are nothing new and are merely reminiscent of the way old reserve football worked, and I’m not too sure why it’s strayed far from that – especially with the EFL Trophy already exposing under-23 teams to men’s Football League sides on a semi-regular basis.

Daily Echo: Saints B take on League One and League Two teams every year in the EFL Trophy (Pic: PA)Saints B take on League One and League Two teams every year in the EFL Trophy (Pic: PA)

Playing under the name of Saints B, it makes sense to actually make it a B team consisting of the best youngsters and fringe first teamers.

What do you think?