Matthew Le God Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 "Alex is not going to go anywhere - we're talking about a very young player in the first year of a professional contract." Nicola Cortese in BBC interview 8th December 2010
alpine_saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 According to the Daily Mail, a deal for 5m to Arsenal is close to being signed. Not only is the amount outrageous (I can beleive NC is agreeing to this...), but Arsenal will wreck him like they did Theo. And this also calls into question the wisdom of the rumour that we will not make any signings in this window, esepcially if Puncheon goes too. FFS...
NickG Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 very different than Walcott in that he is in contract. He can hardly be hating winning 6-0 and scoring for fun so much that he can sit back and wait 4 months and review it
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I am flabbergasted anyone reads the Daily Mail let alone buy it.
dune Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 According to the Daily Mail, a deal for 5m to Arsenal is close to being signed. Not only is the amount outrageous (I can beleive NC is agreeing to this...), but Arsenal will wreck him like they did Theo. And this also calls into question the wisdom of the rumour that we will not make any signings in this window, esepcially if Puncheon goes too. FFS... How did Arsenal wreck Walcott?
dune Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I am flabbergasted anyone reads the Daily Mail let alone buy it. I bought it this morning.
NickG Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Mail said other day he was going to Stoke I think
dubai_phil Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Well, he doesn't look to be going to Liverpool http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/8258473/Liverpool-manager-Kenny-Dalglish-targets-four-January-buys-in-crucial-transfer-window.html
trousers Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I am flabbergasted anyone reads the Daily Mail let alone buy it. Ever since the Labour Party got soft on crime I steal my copy from the illegal immigrant paperboy on the walk to my privatised train in the morning.
Katalinic Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 The papers know nothing it's all guesswork - make enough claims and one will come true eventually. Since Cortese arrived, every transfer has been negotiated in total secrecy. The truth is that NC is probably not even bothering to return calls about AOC.
Danish Saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 When is £5 mill a give-away? That's not leaving for free. Sure, it's half his valuation..... but then again: How reliable is any info in the Mail?
Barry the Badger Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Am I the only one who thinks 5m would be a decent price for a 17 yr old who has only played league 1 football?
Joensuu Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Calm down Alps, we definately won't sell AOC for £5m. I agree with Duncan, the Daily Heil is a tragically inaccurate, sensationalist rag, which seems to be the sole preserve of women in shoulder-padded suit jackets who wonder why they were never promoted out of the lowest tier of management.
dubai_phil Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 We have one thread where it seems that Saints have made some speculative bids for players who will improve the squad, which appear to have been turned down. We have a thread where we discuss how Millwall & Blackpool have made speculative bids for Puncheon. We have a thread where it appears that Arsenal may may a speculative bid for AoC based on speculation by a paper. And it is a disgrace and the Chairman is two faced. Hmm AoC is hot property. He will NOT win someone the PL or CL place this season, he isn't ready, so 5 or 10 mil is a lot of money to punt now. At the end of the season, contracts end, players move and budgets get re-assessed. Anything now will be aimed to be trying it on to get him on the cheap. Maybe we need the cash maybe we don't, but my guess is that we don't and that playing in the NPC next season will be worth more than 5mil on our revenue streams. The business logic doesn't seem to work. NC is a business man, so it will come down to risk management. If he thinks their is a risk of losing the asset for nothing (ie career ending injury) then I would expect NC to take the offer. If he is insured for the transfer value then tehre is no risk and a businessman doesn't need to sell. So it's a try on from Arsenal IMHO.
angelman Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Question - if AOC does go, do you think that the team will play any worse? While it would be nice to hang on to the kid, develop him along with ourselves, the answer might put things into perspective.
itchen Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 According to the Daily Mail, a deal for 5m to Arsenal is close to being signed. Not only is the amount outrageous (I can beleive NC is agreeing to this...), but Arsenal will wreck him like they did Theo. And this also calls into question the wisdom of the rumour that we will not make any signings in this window, esepcially if Puncheon goes too. FFS... Could you give us some insight into why you've chosen to believe this rumour above all the others (Oxo to Man U or Liverpool for £10m, Oxo to Stoke, Oxo to Spurs, Oxo to Pompey)? While you're at it, could you explain why you believe a story in the Mail above Adkins apparently going on record yesterday that he was confident that Alex wouldn't be going anywhere during this transfer window? I know the Mail used to be the chosen place for leaks during the Lowe years but he's been gone for a while now and, as we know from the staggering amount of rumours (on here and elsewhere) that turn out to be untrue, the new regime does not leak.
SaintBobby Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I'm sure the club are working on the basis that AOC isnt going. If he does and we get £5m+, Im sure that would change their transfer strategy.
St Chalet Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 (edited) I've merged the AOC to Arsenal threads. Would be surprised if we sold at £5m to be fair. £5m and a 5 year deal to take a couple of Arsenal's promising youngsters each season on loan might be good business though. Edited 14 January, 2011 by St Chalet added the loan aspect
dubai_phil Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Question - if AOC does go, do you think that the team will play any worse? While it would be nice to hang on to the kid, develop him along with ourselves, the answer might put things into perspective. AOC is this season's Papa/Antonio rolled into one and he is one heck of a lot more consistent than they were. Would we miss him, no the team itself is good enough, but we WOULD miss that "Impact Player". Jeez we had thousands of threads on that subject all summer long and into the early weeks of the season (and poor results as well). Would we miss AoC, no, but we would need an Impact player PDQ back into the squad. What we would also miss is watching him develop and improve every week and we would miss the "Excitement" of what he could become for us IF he stays on the bus
trousers Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Calm down Alps, we definately won't sell AOC for £5m. I agree with Duncan, the Daily Heil is a tragically inaccurate, sensationalist rag, which seems to be the sole preserve of women in shoulder-padded suit jackets who wonder why they were never promoted out of the lowest tier of management. And there was me thinking left wing people were a kind hearted and benevolent species rather than nasty sweeping-statement judgementalists... ;-)
St Chalet Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1346960/Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-close-5m-Southampton-Arsenal.html Pretty sure that Mark Chamberlain was at Pompey, not Saints when Walcott was here.... Looks like a lazy article, albeit the headline on the online Sport section.
Joensuu Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 And there was me thinking left wing people were a kind hearted and benevolent species rather than nasty sweeping-statement judgementalists... ;-) Aww, bless you trousers. You must realise neither the left nor right have a monopoly on being sweepingly judgemental. As an economic centralist I reserve my right to belittle all journalism of the economic extremes, whether the Heil of the SW. Anyhow, returning to the matter in hand. I'm suspicious of journalists, many seen to just make things up. There is an order of accuracy in papers, with the FT and Indy at the top, and the gutter rags at the bottom. The source of publication (and a little common sense) suggests to me that this story is unlikely to be true.
Toomer Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I think Solent said something along the lines of a pre-contract with Arsenal £5m which is the lads prefered choice and that he had also been in talks with Newcastle.
Phil the Saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I think Solent said something along the lines of a pre-contract with Arsenal £5m which is the lads prefered choice and that he had also been in talks with Newcastle. No good a mere slip of a lad going to Newcastle he will get a cric in the neck looking up for the long ball under their current Manager............................
SuperSAINT Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I think Solent said something along the lines of a pre-contract with Arsenal £5m which is the lads prefered choice and that he had also been in talks with Newcastle. Didn't hear Newcastle mentioned (but i was driving) The rest is spot on to what they said, though.
warsash saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 I think Solent said something along the lines of a pre-contract with Arsenal £5m which is the lads prefered choice and that he had also been in talks with Newcastle. Yeah Solent reported that Arsenal was his preferred choice but he had also had talks with Liverpool & Newcastle. Solent believe any deal would involve him being loaned back for reest of season. No transfer fee quoted.
EBS1980 Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Well yesterday the papers said he was off to Liverpool for £10M. Today they are saying it's Arsenal for £5M, wonder where he is will going tomorrow for £2.5M?
Viking Warrior Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Each paper is bad as the other they all spout different views or make up stories. when it comes to football news you can bet clubs who want a certain player use the the players agents to unsettle player b by putting non stories in the press. Its a bit like X factor. the has beens were never known then every aspect of these wannabees life is spread across every page. even the decent papers were full of strictly come dancing. By the way I have it on good authority the Real madrid and Barcelona are also very interested in AOC. each willing to pay upto 15M for his services
trousers Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 If a 'loan back' deal is hatched this would get Cortese off the hook (so to speak) as it wouldn't completely undermine his "Alex isn't going anywhere in January" statement. Technically, he would be keeping his word. Hmmm...
St_Tel49 Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Am I the only one who thinks 5m would be a decent price for a 17 yr old who has only played league 1 football? Why do you want the money?
Saint Charlie Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 The key is selling for what represents a good deal for us. With Walcott and Bale we got screwed so lets not have that again!
Lallana's Left Peg Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 We don't need the money, so what would we do with £5m right now? We couldn't attract a £5m replacement in League 1. No point buying a load of new players with it - what is the point when the squad we have is good enough right now? You think £5m is steep for a League 1 player and it is. But what price we hang onto him a few years and he helps back to the Premier League where you get something like £30m a year just for being there? The only grounds that we sell are if he wants to leave and his performances suffer as a result. But selling to get money - silly.
alpine_saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 We don't need the money, so what would we do with £5m right now? We couldn't attract a £5m replacement in League 1. No point buying a load of new players with it - what is the point when the squad we have is good enough right now? You think £5m is steep for a League 1 player and it is. But what price we hang onto him a few years and he helps back to the Premier League where you get something like £30m a year just for being there? The only grounds that we sell are if he wants to leave and his performances suffer as a result. But selling to get money - silly. Very good post. The money is just going to burn a hole in our pocket, but selling him could de-rail our promotion challenge, which will make 5m look like chickensh*t then.
alpine_saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 The key is selling for what represents a good deal for us. With Walcott and Bale we got screwed so lets not have that again! Exactly.
trousers Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 We don't need the money, so what would we do with £5m right now? We couldn't attract a £5m replacement in League 1. No point buying a load of new players with it - what is the point when the squad we have is good enough right now? You think £5m is steep for a League 1 player and it is. But what price we hang onto him a few years and he helps back to the Premier League where you get something like £30m a year just for being there? The only grounds that we sell are if he wants to leave and his performances suffer as a result. But selling to get money - silly. Nail on head. Which is why Cortese won't sell him (for anything less than REALLY silly money) if he doesn't want to leave. I think we can safely say that IF he does leave for anything south of £10m it won't be for the money.
Thedelldays Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Why do people go on about arsenal not being good for Walcott... When they clearly are.. It's an embarrassing statement to make
alpine_saint Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Why do people go on about arsenal not being good for Walcott... When they clearly are.. It's an embarrassing statement to make You cant say that. He was at the top of his game when he left us, his intiial progress has been stuttering and inconsistent at Arsenal to say the least.
Ken Tone Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Yeah Solent reported that Arsenal was his preferred choice but he had also had talks with Liverpool & Newcastle. Solent believe any deal would involve him being loaned back for reest of season. No transfer fee quoted. Exactly what I heard. NB no fee mentioned, but the statement was definitely made that AOC had been in talks with those clubs and he preferred Arsenal. This is the first time I've heard anyone claim AOC had actually been in talks. That is a really signficant step up from the usual level of rumour.
Thedelldays Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 You cant say that. He was at the top of his game when he left us, his intiial progress has been stuttering and inconsistent at Arsenal to say the least. Top of his game?? No he was not.. He played a handful of games with no expectation.. And scored a couple of goals.. To suggest he was better off staying with whiskey George and even Te Dutch duo than going to one of the finest clubs in Europe who bring through superb youngsters is just plain daft. You only have to look at what he has achieved at 21 years old
NickG Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Can't see any reason why saints would let him leave now. Expect to see him for rest of season. Whether that is because he is being sold at the end of the season, or loaned back doesn't really matter.
Chez Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 his dad was youth team coach with skates when he decided, against the wishes of his boss (Hart) to send him here that is incorrect. Mark Chamberlain was at SFC when Alex joined us ten years ago. Mark only joined the skates as a coach in 2008.
Chez Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Why do people go on about arsenal not being good for Walcott... When they clearly are.. It's an embarrassing statement to make agreed. After the initial period of him being placed into their reserves rather than their first team, any supposed stumblings are purely down to the fact he has suffered a couple of really bad injuries, absolutey nothing to do with being held back and not given games.
NickG Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 that is incorrect. Mark Chamberlain was at SFC when Alex joined us ten years ago. Mark only joined the skates as a coach in 2008. Aplogies. I heard an interview with Mark saying although Paul Hart was his boss he wouldn't agree with Hart and sign Alex for skates - didn't realise he was only there a shortwhile
Thedelldays Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 agreed. After the initial period of him being placed into their reserves rather than their first team, any supposed stumblings are purely down to the fact he has suffered a couple of really bad injuries, absolutey nothing to do with being held back and not given games. It is ridiculous to suggest someone who has just turned 17. And only played a handful of games in a lower division, was going to walk into a team with Thierry Henry and co.. It simply does not happen
MacFad2207 Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Just had a friend who is watching SSN text me to day Oxo at Arsenal Training Ground with Mark.... Looks like it is true.
Window Cleaner Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Just had a friend who is watching SSN text me to day Oxo at Arsenal Training Ground with Mark.... Looks like it is true. perhaps he's just looking at the facilities
St Matty Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Having seen a few games by Walcott, a just a handful from Gareth Bale I would definitely NOT want to sell AOC. It's players like these that make watching the Saints worthwhile and I don't want to see them at other clubs (sitting on the bench usually)
Liquidshokk Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Just had a friend who is watching SSN text me to day Oxo at Arsenal Training Ground with Mark.... Looks like it is true. Bad news if true
Frank's cousin Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Whatever his value to us, punt by the big boys or what NIcola, Adkins or even his father say the sad fact of football life is that if the players wants to go, there is nothing that you can do about it - its simply then a case of getting the best deal. I know the 5 year plan is all about building a side of core players that have come through he ranks, but the key long term is getting to a position where players dont want to leave because of the success they can achieve by staying. The problem for Saints will always be money though. Purely because I do not see a time when we are paying players £140k a week, whiuch you would have to fork out if you wanted to keep a Bale or Walcott once they got to the standard they are playing at now... overwise we may have in our imaginations a wonderful one off Champions league season, only to see the best all leave the following summer to higher wage payers (eg the Beyer Leverkusen scenario of a few years back)... that is the best we can hope for unless wage caps are introduced and not just the halfway house based on turnover, but an actual total that is fixed for all teams... that is ONLY way any kind of level playing field can be created. I would love to see a 'no transfers under 22' rule that would encourage clubs to invest in tehir academies as we do.. but because we have 5 pro leagues with so many clubs relying on selling ybest players to survive, this would nnever happen... we just need to accept the fact that until we get to the prem, the youngsters that really show promise will go much earlier than we would want, as the ****** clubs know they can get a bargain and its only a matter of time before kids heads are turned, by media, agents and the general 'want it now culture' of the modern age.
Gingeletiss Posted 14 January, 2011 Posted 14 January, 2011 Just had a friend who is watching SSN text me to day Oxo at Arsenal Training Ground with Mark.... Looks like it is true. Can't see that being true, unless a fee has been agreed, he is contracted to Saints you know.
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