AC Milan could rival Arsenal in race to sign Southampton wonderkid Oxlade-Chamberlain

[sambosa75]

Alex has some of the biggest clubs in the world interested in him and important people in the national setup rating him very highly. Selling him for £10m, when he still has over 15 years of good playing time ahead of him, would not be "incredible business". With the club being backed financially for the first time in 125 years, it is under no financial pressure to sell.

 

SO what are you proposing? We hold out for another 3 or 4 years until he blossoms in to a £25m player? I wish I shared your optimism but in the real world the lad will be gone the first opportunity he gets which is why re-couping £10m on such a player would undoubtedly be "incredible business".

 

The lad will be gone the first opportunity he gets, without a doubt.

[sambosa75]

A strange logic you use there. As Saints are not a Championship club at the moment, so Alex hasn't had that opportunity. Doesn't mean he wouldn't though. Some of the best managers in the world have publicly rated him highly as have important people in the England setup.

 

Cant see why you'd think it was strange logic. Are you saying Theo Walcott wouldnt make an impact in League 1? If you are, I think you are wrong.

[Matthew Le God]

Except that the evidence from January (and you could argue the summer) suggests that is not the case.

 

- Do you know how much Guly cost? His loan fee and transfer would have likely been significant.

- Do you know how much Forte cost?

- Richardson in the summer cost £450k, Dickson £225k and Butterfield as an out of contract Championship regular wouldn't have been cheap.

- Lallana on a new 4.5 year deal is a very significant show of intent.

- Chaplow, although the transfer fee was small he'll be on a good contract.

 

In any case most of the spending on the squad to get it promoted has already taken place. The squad shouldn't need much spent on it, nor are players with high fees easily attracted to League One.

 

Also you ignore the multi million spending on Staplewood.

[dronskisaint]

Its the Mail.........again ffs.....................

 

This...check their record, guess at an agenda...sigh!

[Matthew Le God]

The lad will be gone the first opportunity he gets, without a doubt.

 

Well you are wrong. Cortese has said he turned down offers in January. So Alex hasn't gone at the first opportunity.

[dickyhale]

Personally I'd rather have Craig Mackail Smith but then what do I know.I am not particularly concerned about next season or the one after because it's a pound to a radish that AOC won't still be here anyway. I'd rather have a lighting fast,man shrugging off striker who's scored a shedload now than a wonder boy who's just using us as a stepping stone...but there you go, I have strange opinions about many things.

Good shout or Cox from WBA

[sambosa75]

- Do you know how much Guly cost? His loan fee and transfer would have likely been significant.

- Do you know how much Forte cost?

- Richardson in the summer cost £450k, Dickson £225k and Butterfield as an out of contract Championship regular wouldn't have been cheap.

- Lallana on a new 4.5 year deal is a very significant show of intent.

- Chaplow, although the transfer fee was small he'll be on a good contract.

 

In any case most of the spending on the squad to get it promoted has already taken place. The squad shouldn't need much spent on it, nor are players with high fees easily attracted to League One.

 

Also you ignore the multi million spending on Staplewood.

 

So your argument is if someone came in and bid £10m for AOC, £5m for Fonte or £7m for Lallana we wouldnt accept because we are under no pressure to... Do you not think the players would want a say in the matter?

[sambosa75]

Well you are wrong. Cortese has said he turned down offers in January. So Alex hasn't gone at the first opportunity.

 

He wasnt given the opportunity. Lets see if Cortese's resolve is as strong in January...

[Matthew Le God]

Cant see why you'd think it was strange logic. Are you saying Theo Walcott wouldnt make an impact in League 1? If you are, I think you are wrong.

 

That isn't what I said at all. You were using Walcott playing in the Championship as a reason for him being better than Chamberlain. Although it is currently impossible for CHamberlain to match that as he is in League One. That doesn't mean he couldn't though.

 

Technically I think Chamberlain is much better than Walcott at the same age.

[Matthew Le God]

Lets see if Cortese's resolve is as strong in January...

 

Well "if" in January 2012 Saints are in the Championship and towards the top of it, I think you will see the same happen.

Edited 4 March, 2011 by Matthew Le God

[Matthew Le God]

So your argument is if someone came in and bid for AOC. Do you not think the player would want a say in the matter?

 

Teams have bid already for Chamberlain and they were turned down.

[hypochondriac]

That isn't what I said at all. You were using Walcott playing in the Championship as a reason for him being better than Chamberlain. Although it is currently impossible for CHamberlain to match that as he is in League One. That doesn't mean he couldn't though.

 

Technically I think Chamberlain is much better than Walcott at the same age.

 

chamberlin isnt doing as well as walcott did in the ccc and he is a division lower

[St_Tel49]

Swap deal for Messi

 

No - that would be Lallana

[dickyhale]

Just read this about Carroll (dont really believe it myself)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3445593/Why-Carroll-had-Toon-laughing-all-the-way-to-bank.html

[aintforever]

I'm getting fed up with these Chamberlain stories, one day we hear how he's worth 10million quid and Barcelona want him, then the next day he's made to look ordinary by Walsall and we lose.

[hypochondriac]

I'm getting fed up with these Chamberlain stories, one day we hear how he's worth 10million quid and Barcelona want him, then the next day he's made to look ordinary by Walsall and we lose.

 

Thats sort of my point. Don't knock the stories though, it will be brilliant of someone believes the hype and gives us some serious wonga.

[Matthew Le God]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1362860/AC-Milan-eyeing-Southamptons-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain.html

 

The Gunners invited him to watch the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash against Barcelona two weeks ago.

 

I doubt this is true, but if it is, Saints should take action against Arsenal for tapping him up.

 

Interesting no Daily Mail "journalist" (in its loosest sense) puts his name to the article, nor do they give sources.

 

No doubt the Daily Echo will run with this story as they do with other unsubstantiated national rumours about Saints...

Edited 5 March, 2011 by Matthew Le God

[egg]

Don't get me wrong he's a talented kid but am I the only one that thinks he might struggle to make the grade at Milan, or Barca, Man Utd etc etc?

[Matthew Le God]

Don't get me wrong he's a talented kid but am I the only one that thinks he might struggle to make the grade at Milan, or Barca, Man Utd etc etc?

 

Well Ferguson, Comoli, Wenger, Pearce and Brooking think otherwise...

 

And they all know more about spotting young football talent than any of us!

[egg]

Well Ferguson, Comoli, Wenger, Pearce and Brooking think otherwise...

 

And they all know more about spotting young football talent than any of us!

 

That's the weird thing for me. I have seen a lot of great players down the years (those guys more so) and I just don't get it with oxo. I remember the Wallaces as nippers, MLT and various others and am not quite sure what oxo has that seemingly puts him on another level.

[Chez]

chamberlin isnt doing as well as walcott did in the ccc and he is a division lower

 

Chamberlian was ****e last Saturday, but in general he has been tremendous and has easily matched Walcott's performances in the CCC in this division lower. Don't tell me, you're another one that thinks Butterfield could do a job a right midfield?

[hypochondriac]

Chamberlian was ****e last Saturday, but in general he has been tremendous and has easily matched Walcott's performances in the CCC in this division lower. Don't tell me, you're another one that thinks Butterfield could do a job a right midfield?

 

What has butterfield got to do with chamberlin? He really hasn't been as good as Walcott IMO

[eelpie]

Another unfriendly attempt to destabilise Saints by R*****'s pals in the Daily Mail.

And the Star was their source ffs.

[Thedelldays]

AC Milan for OxO

 

 

is this how ridiculous the rumour mill journos are getting..

 

LOL

[Chez]

What has butterfield got to do with chamberlin? He really hasn't been as good as Walcott IMO

He really has.

As for the Butterfield remark, I've seen posts on here suggesting we should cash in in Chamberlain - which I strongly disagree with, and I've also seen posts suggesting Butterfield could do a job there. I don't want to think about losing Chamberlain and then have to rely on a player like Butterfield to fill that right midfield position. It's not a step back its a giant leap backwards.

[Thedelldays]

how has he...walcott was equally good against better players.

[hypochondriac]

how has he...walcott was equally good against better players.

 

IMO Walcott was better against better players...

[ericb]

For me Walcott showed at a higher level how good he was (anyone remember him ripping Reading apart?). That doesn't mean that Oxo is bad, just that until he's played at a higher level you can't make a fair comparison.

[Gemmel]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-News-Manchester-United-are-preparing-a-10m-bid-to-sign-Southampton-teenager-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-article716100.html

[S-Clarke]

The articles credibility is ruined by this statement:

"£10million deal. -The whole package will be the biggest paid for a teenager"

 

Rooney? Theo...?

[farawaysaint]

The articles credibility is ruined by this statement:

"£10million deal. -The whole package will be the biggest paid for a teenager"

 

Rooney? Theo...?

 

Just goddamnit journalists just goddamnit. This speculation is seriously beggining to irritate me, considering all of our deals have been done behind closed dooors it's either the other clubs or his agent stirring and either way they should shet the hell up.

[Sour Mash]

Chamberlain has loads of potential, but in my opinion, its just that at the moment, would be a big gamble for a champions league type team to pay big money for him. Long, long way from the finished article that would do a job at the very top level.

[benjii]

He has a good football brain, he is quick, he can hit a good pass, he can cross well on the run, he can use his left foot, he can track back and defend, he can score goals...

 

He is well worth £5m of any top club's money.

 

Which is why, if he does go, we will get loadsa money.

[redkeith]

I think they are wrong about Man U.

 

I reckon that Ferguson is really after Gobern. That tackle at Bournemouth reminded him of Scholes.

[Gemmel]

I think they are wrong about Man U.

 

I reckon that Ferguson is really after Gobern. That tackle at Bournemouth reminded him of Scholes.

 

 

Well someones interested in Gobern....... Over 600,000 views (And there are other versions with thousands of hits)

 

Young Mr Gobern is famous across the World.

[EastleighSoulBoy]

I think they are wrong about Man U.

 

I reckon that Ferguson is really after Gobern. That tackle at Bournemouth reminded him of Keane.

 

That's better.

[derry]

If Utd don't pay up front it won't happen, we don't do the never never. There is no point in letting him go for half now and half maybe sometime never. Set a fee plus a sell on and let him go for that.

[Saint_Jonny]

It is annoying that if we sell him for say, £5million with an extra £5million later, if he has anything like the success that Theo or Bale have had, he will be worth double or tripple what we get for him in a few years time. Meh.

[Trader]

Well Ferguson, Comoli, Wenger, Pearce and Brooking think otherwise...

 

And they all know more about spotting young football talent than any of us!

 

What they see is a football brain.

 

He might be marginally slower than Walcott, but Walcott's problem is he may get there quickly but doesn't know what to do with it then - and they fact that pace fades quickly when he gets a bit older (Michael Owen anyone?)

 

Chamberlain on the other hand seems to instantly recognise situations and tries to act on them, ok his passes don't always come off but IMO that will come.

 

In short, much more potential than Walcott who has never really realised his own potential because it was always limited to pace.

[Barry the Badger]

In short, much more potential than Walcott who has never really realised his own potential because it was always limited to pace.

 

I never understand the "Walcott hasn't reached his potential" argument. When fit he is first choice for a team in the Champions League and fighting for the Prem title, he has scored a hattrick for England, and would probably be in the starting 11 every time for England if he could stay fit.

[Trader]

Hmm...

 

Seems injured a lot then.

[Smirking_Saint]

What they see is a football brain.

 

He might be marginally slower than Walcott, but Walcott's problem is he may get there quickly but doesn't know what to do with it then - and they fact that pace fades quickly when he gets a bit older (Michael Owen anyone?)

 

Chamberlain on the other hand seems to instantly recognise situations and tries to act on them, ok his passes don't always come off but IMO that will come.

 

In short, much more potential than Walcott who has never really realised his own potential because it was always limited to pace.

 

Glad there are others on here that see the lads talent and can recognise it.

[latter day saint]

Glad there are others on here that see the lads talent and can recognise it.

think the overall majority do, its just the usual weirdos this site seems to attract that have trouble seeing the obvious.

[Dark Munster]

Bring Arsenal, Manure, AC Milan, Barcelona, and anyone else interested with tons of wonga, into a room, and let the bidding begin.

 

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Bring Arsenal, Manure, AC Milan, Barcelona, and anyone else interested with tons of wonga, into a room, and let the bidding begin.

 

 

Sort of a reverse Dragons Den, where the Dragons are only too willing to chuck their money at the product in question!

[st alex]

He really has.

As for the Butterfield remark, I've seen posts on here suggesting we should cash in in Chamberlain - which I strongly disagree with, and I've also seen posts suggesting Butterfield could do a job there. I don't want to think about losing Chamberlain and then have to rely on a player like Butterfield to fill that right midfield position. It's not a step back its a giant leap backwards.

 

One of the very few sensible posts I've seen on this thread, who anyone thinks we could replace him with is beyond me. And I'm not sure why Walcott's used as a constant comparison other that that he played in a similar position - Walcott's barely improved since leaving. Those saying we should sell, were probably saying that £5 mil was a great price to get for Bale for as well. Bale was made to look quite ordinary a lot of the time for us as too, excelling mainly at the start of the season and when taking free kicks. Walcott was very good for us, as he was a little faster and he exploits his pace more which is very effective against football league teams, in terms of technique and creativity Chamberlin is better, he can actually cross as well.

 

In response to earlier posts, Those with even shorter memories who can't seem to remember games a few weeks ago seem to have also forgot that yes Chamberlain has played on the left, against Man Utd and for large spells in games around the time of the Man Utd game and he looked very ineffective and uncomfortable. Its almost as if people just want Arsenal/Barca/Milan to sign him to give them an excuss to go and support them.

 

If we do get £10mil for him then it would be good business, but no one worth £10mil will come here, no one worth £5mil would come here either, no one even worth £2/3 mil would be likely to come here. The money wouldn't really be that useful, except that our bank account would be healthier, and if it's difficult for us to negociate fees for players now, it would only get harder.

[St_Tel49]

SO what are you proposing? We hold out for another 3 or 4 years until he blossoms in to a £25m player? I wish I shared your optimism but in the real world the lad will be gone the first opportunity he gets which is why re-couping £10m on such a player would undoubtedly be "incredible business".

 

The lad will be gone the first opportunity he gets, without a doubt.

He has already had an opportunity - he didn't go!

[St_Tel49]

One of the very few sensible posts I've seen on this thread, who anyone thinks we could replace him with is beyond me. And I'm not sure why Walcott's used as a constant comparison other that that he played in a similar position - Walcott's barely improved since leaving. Those saying we should sell, were probably saying that £5 mil was a great price to get for Bale for as well. Bale was made to look quite ordinary a lot of the time for us as too, excelling mainly at the start of the season and when taking free kicks. Walcott was very good for us, as he was a little faster and he exploits his pace more which is very effective against football league teams, in terms of technique and creativity Chamberlin is better, he can actually cross as well.

 

In response to earlier posts, Those with even shorter memories who can't seem to remember games a few weeks ago seem to have also forgot that yes Chamberlain has played on the left, against Man Utd and for large spells in games around the time of the Man Utd game and he looked very ineffective and uncomfortable. Its almost as if people just want Arsenal/Barca/Milan to sign him to give them an excuss to go and support them.

 

If we do get £10mil for him then it would be good business, but no one worth £10mil will come here, no one worth £5mil would come here either, no one even worth £2/3 mil would be likely to come here. The money wouldn't really be that useful, except that our bank account would be healthier, and if it's difficult for us to negociate fees for players now, it would only get harder.

Some our fans have the negotiating skills of housebricks. I am glad that it is NC in charge.

[hypochondriac]

Anyone who believes we will be able to keep Chamberlin long term and then sell him for 35 million is living in a world of their own. Chamberlin is nowhere near as good as Bale was/is and how people can say that Theo has not improved since leaving here I just don't understand some of the posters on here. He is a key player for Arsenal when fit, scared the life out of Barca this year and last and has scored a hat trick for England. Yeah no progress at all!

[The9]

Anyone who believes we will be able to keep Chamberlin long term and then sell him for 35 million is living in a world of their own. Chamberlin is nowhere near as good as Bale was/is and how people can say that Theo has not improved since leaving here I just don't understand some of the posters on here. He is a key player for Arsenal when fit, scared the life out of Barca this year and last and has scored a hat trick for England. Yeah no progress at all!

 

I agree re: Chamberlain, really hasn't done a great deal or shown much beyond incredible pace and a bit of dribbling skill.

 

Completely disagree re: Walcott's development, as I suspect Sven did in 2006 when he saw how good he could be, and Capello by 2010 when he saw how he hadn't improved from there... He's still making the exact same choices he did at Saints (early cross when there's no-one there, though still doing the good stuff he did too) but he only looks better due to the players around him and the opportunities he's been given due to the club he's at. He may be slightly stronger but it's not that important to his game as he has the pace and balance to get around stronger opponents and has always been outweighed anyway.

He'd have never got the chance to play against Croatia when in the Championship but I don't think he's shown Saints fans anything he didn't already do here even in his peak moments - his improvement has only been in his ability to do what Theo does for another 5 seasons on top of the piece of one when we saw him.

 

He was a phenomenon for Saints, and with the exception of a slight maturity physically and having better players around him, the only area I think he's improved is his consistent level from training every day with better players - he was already outstanding at Saints and his level is still where he was in 2006 - just on the fringes of the England side as a flair player who is still a little inconsistent but brings pace and the ability to beat people when he runs at them. Even experience doesn't seem to have changed the on-pitch Theo.

 

In contrast Gareth Bale HAS improved since leaving Saints, adding masses of strength under Ramos and recently an inner belief that he can perform at the top level. He already had excellent technique, and though he's not necessarily any better at defending, he's got the confidence now to regularly do to Prem and Champions League defences what he was doing to CCC teams in 2007. Though even he was getting the better of Ronaldinho for Wales when still a Saints player...