God, I hate Arsenal....

[ToreSF]

http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/arsenal-planning-southampton-raid-fullback-shaw-1621051

 

Probably nothing in it, but still. Very annoying how they have a reputation of producing their own talents when all they do is stealing others.

[itchen_dan]

Couldn't agree more. At least we are getting back to where we should be and will therefore be able to use these in our own first team (ie Barcelona) rather than produce and then sell.

[Glasgow_Saint]

Sell him and AOC for 10 million and buy 10 players for 1 million each

[Glasgow_Saint]

Couldn't agree more. At least we are getting back to where we should be and will therefore be able to use these in our own first team (ie Barcelona) rather than produce and then sell.

 

we will ALWAYS be a selling club!!

[saintscottofthenortham]

we will ALWAYS be a selling club!!

 

That explains why AOC went in January.

[Pedro]

Not that we have bought youth, Stephens from Argyle recently, plus others in the past.

[Glasgow_Saint]

That explains why AOC went in January.

 

DONT get too attached!!

[Icey Saint]

gets right on my nerves (for want of a stronger phrase) old chicken faced french tosser moans about Barca tapping up his players and how its not acceptable and then spends six months courting AOC and know wants to steal another one away

[ToreSF]

Hopefully you're wrong. At least think we did well keeping Lallana and AOC during january, shows we're no push over in the transfer market. And as a club most of look upon as wealthy, we won't get much for 1 mill.

[Deppo]

Didn't we do the steal Theo from Swindon and Lallana from Bournemouth?

 

“Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.” William Shakespeare

[Glasgow_Saint]

Hopefully you're wrong. At least think we did well keeping Lallana and AOC during january, shows we're no push over in the transfer market. And as a club most of look upon as wealthy, we won't get much for 1 mill.

 

Stronger position now and we can negotiate best price, but still a selling club ( but who isn't I suppose ) football hierarchy

[Glasgow_Saint]

Didn't we do the steal Theo from Swindon and Lallana from Bournemouth?

 

“Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.” William Shakespeare

 

And pulis from Stoke!!

[dubai_phil]

Yeah like where did we find Walcott, Lallana, MS & as mentioned Jack Stephens?

 

Of course we'll be a selling club. Man Utd had to sell Ronaldo, bet Chelsea wish they could sell Torres hahaha

 

AOC will go, but we have now got a proper scouting & management set up. (Almost the same set up that found Guly & Fonte ) and somehow I don't think that they p1ss away 10 mil the way George Burley and co did last time we were in the Championship

[Evil Monkey]

This makes me very angry.

[rallyboy]

things have changed since Theo -

1. we are now in a much stronger position to offer these players competitive football,

2. we can afford to negotiate hard and Nicola doesn't take prisoners,

3. Arsenal are becoming a less attractive move with every passing week.

 

 

Do come talk to us Arsene (if you think you still have the backing of the board), but there are no more cut price deals for cash.

We intend to be playing against Arsenal in the next two/three years and when that day comes we would prefer the youngsters to be playing for us rather than sitting on your bench.

[dubai_phil]

things have changed since Theo -

1. we are now in a much stronger position to offer these players competitive football,

2. we can afford to negotiate hard and Nicola doesn't take prisoners,

3. Arsenal are becoming a less attractive move with every passing week.

 

 

Do come talk to us Arsene (if you think you still have the backing of the board), but there are no more cut price deals for cash.

We intend to be playing against Arsenal in the next two/three years and when that day comes we would prefer the youngsters to be playing for us rather than sitting on your bench.

 

You forgot 4

 

Jose Morinho plays a far less expansive style of football and flair players will be given less freedom of expression next season.

 

Allegedly

[Huntingdon]

Arsene Wenger will be sacked within 12 months, so he's better off staying here

[SuperMikey]

Would be gutted if he went - it would make our youth team on FM12 a lot weaker...

 

 

[hoozonside10]

The last thing Arsenal need right now is a skilful yet lightweight winger. They need a couple of centre-backs in the Tony Adam mould and a strong ball winner in midfield-oh, and a decent goalkeeper, at least that's what every Arsenal fan I know has said. Hopefully Wenger feels the same way.

[dubai_phil]

The last thing Arsenal need right now is a skilful yet lightweight winger. They need a couple of centre-backs in the Tony Adam mould and a strong ball winner in midfield-oh, and a decent goalkeeper, at least that's what every Arsenal fan I know has said. Hopefully Wenger feels the same way.

 

YOU MEAN THEY'RE AFTER KELVIN & FONTE??? - Arrrgh Disaster, our NPC season is doomed

[hoozonside10]

The last thing Arsenal need right now is a skilful yet lightweight winger. They need a couple of centre-backs in the Tony Adam mould and a strong ball winner in midfield-oh, and a decent goalkeeper, at least that's what every Arsenal fan I know has said. Hopefully Wenger feels the same way.

Ok should have actually read the link! Assumed it was another Oxo story..doh!

[scotty]

Not that we have bought youth, Stephens from Argyle recently, plus others in the past.

 

Thats true enough, and dont forget that lad from the tyneside area we grabbed to come up through our ranks, I forget his name now, alan something? Whatever became of him?

[Matthew Le God]

Very annoying how they have a reputation of producing their own talents when all they do is stealing others.

 

Jack Stephens from Plymouth Argyle

Theo Walcott from Swindon Town

Adam Lallana from Bournemouth

 

etc etc

 

Every club does it.

Edited 9 May, 2011 by Matthew Le God

[Huntingdon]

Yeah like where did we find Walcott, Lallana, MS & as mentioned Jack Stephens?

 

Wasn't there some controversy with the way we snapped up McGoldrick from Notts County?

 

I also remember Oxford being quite unhappy when we took Dexter Blackstock from their academy for pittance

[Nexstar]

Ha, Wenger can forget it. If this guy looks to be 'the next Gareth Bale' then Cortese would stick two fingers up at Wenger, who would be spending at most a couple of hundred thousand on him.

[Matthew Le God]

Arsenal can't just pluck him for a compensation fee from us in any case.

 

Luke signed a 3 year professional deal with Saints in December 2010.

[Chez]

Thats true enough, and dont forget that lad from the tyneside area we grabbed to come up through our ranks, I forget his name now, alan something? Whatever became of him?

we didn't buy/steal him from Newcastle though.

[Chez]

Arsenal can't just pluck him for a compensation fee from us in any case.

 

Luke signed a 3 year professional deal with Saints in December 2010.

 

Harding, Dickson, Mills, Stephens and now Shaw. Saints are leftbacktastic.

[St_Tel49]

Why does everybody believe this stuff? We were categorically assured by all the media that AOC was leaving last January.

[Nexstar]

Why does everybody believe this stuff? We were categorically assured by all the media that AOC was leaving last January.

 

I don't think people are believing it, but it's not a "when pigs fly" situation.

[L1Minus10]

tribalfootball is the biggest pile of **** ever.

 

According to them, Chamberlain moved about 6 times in January.

[benjii]

Harding, Dickson, Mills, Stephens and now Shaw. Saints are leftbacktastic.

 

And Ben Reeves.

[scotty]

we didn't buy/steal him from Newcastle though.

 

I didnt say we had. Just saying he's not exactly a local boy made good, he must have been playing for somebody, probably on tyneside, before coming to us, loads of the players who've come through our youth setup have come from other clubs, hopefully Jack Stephens will be one of the next stars in waiting

[alpine_saint]

Some of you wringing your hands and worrying seem to forget that our chairman is now Nicola Cortese, and not Rupert Lowe.

 

Cortese BINNED enquiries about AO-C in January without responding. I have complete trust in him that should he sell someone, he will be adequately replaced and that the replacement will be lined up for the same time as the exit.

 

Have we sold ANYBODY of ability and value under Cortese ? I think not.

[JustMike]

NC has said via Solent that "no one will be leaving unless the club want them to" that'll do for me

[sussexsaint]

Have we sold ANYBODY of ability and value under Cortese ? I think not.

 

This! , I have far more faith in our new regime than a ot of people, even more so now I see how Puncheon was dealt with. Previous incumbants would have taken the money and said' he asked to leave nothing we could do' Cortese made him play with the kids

[Wade Garrett]

Thats true enough, and dont forget that lad from the tyneside area we grabbed to come up through our ranks, I forget his name now, alan something? Whatever became of him?

 

We had a North Eastern base back then, and a brilliant scout called Jack Hixon. It brought players like Shearer, Maddison and Widdrington to the club. We didn't steal them from anywhere else, we scouted and developed them ourselves.

[St Chalet]

NC has said via Solent that "no one will be leaving unless the club want them to" that'll do for me

 

and it will 'do' for Puncheon as well

[scotty]

We had a North Eastern base back then, and a brilliant scout called Jack Hixon. It brought players like Shearer, Maddison and Widdrington to the club. We didn't steal them from anywhere else, we scouted and developed them ourselves.

 

Blimey, that takes me back. Maddison was one of my favourite players.

[angelman]

Jack Stephens from Plymouth Argyle

Theo Walcott from Swindon Town

Adam Lallana from Bournemouth

 

etc etc

 

Every club does it.

 

I see a small difference. Maybe semantics though. Our academy has a deserved reputation. While we might buy these youngsters, it is to build and develop their talent (of course for our benefit) and to be fair, they can probably do it better with us than at many other clubs. Arsenal come along and take these youngsters when we have done all the hard work. It seems that they leave us with nothing much more that they can be taught, and it is the exposure to higher level footie that either makes or breaks them.

 

But, is it really a problem? For decades we have done this, and the biggest problem that we faced was Bosman (and I know we are not alone in this). It is one of the ways that we financed ourselves.

[Miltonaggro]

Some of you wringing your hands and worrying seem to forget that our chairman is now Nicola Cortese, and not Rupert Lowe.

 

Cortese BINNED enquiries about AO-C in January without responding. I have complete trust in him that should he sell someone, he will be adequately replaced and that the replacement will be lined up for the same time as the exit.

 

Have we sold ANYBODY of ability and value under Cortese ? I think not.

 

Spot on. In one respect a 'firm' approach would be interesting as I have an inkling that Cortese in 'negotiation' mode from a very strong position would be something to see and marvel at. I am not sure if Arsenal would be able to match Saints valuation of AOC, and unless courting clubs are very serious indeed our young prospects will be going nowhere...

[Rebel]

The whole academy and youth system in England needs an overhaul!

 

Two things need to happen - the first being an end to the poaching of the best youth players by the big clubs and the second and end to the dumping of young players before they have been given a real chance and with no qualifications or training.

 

Firstly clubs should be allowed to recruit scholars/schoolboys from anywhere - dump the 90 mins travel rule!

 

Once a club has a boy registered as a scholar they should have first refusal on offering him an apprenticeship at 18 and the right to his registration meaning another club can't simply snatch him away.

 

Apprenticeships should be for 5 years - from the age of 18 until 23 - giving all young players the time to develop properly. An U21 academy league should be introduced as well as U23/B teams playing in the lower leagues for the bigger clubs. And any player that doesn't make the grade by 23 should come out of it as a fully qualified football coach, fitness coach, physio or something like that.

 

Any player sold before they are 23 should incur an automatic sell on clause or substantial development fee for the original club in the player registration.

[ecuk268]

Mick Channon was about to sign for Swindon when Ted Bates nabbed him on a Sunday (against the rules, apparently).

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Arsenal annoy me because they are all fart and no ****. That is all.

[Chez]

Some of you wringing your hands and worrying seem to forget that our chairman is now Nicola Cortese, and not Rupert Lowe.

 

Cortese BINNED enquiries about AO-C in January without responding. I have complete trust in him that should he sell someone, he will be adequately replaced and that the replacement will be lined up for the same time as the exit.

 

There was absolutely zero pressure from the Chamberlain family for a move in January. He never ever was going to move in the window no matter who offered money, so I don't see his non movement as any great coup by Cortese. If he stays in the summer then that is different and full credit must go to the guy (should genuine offers be made) and should he sign an extension then you won't hear a word on this subject from me for some time.

 

One question. Could you expand on the term adequately replaced? For example was Graham Le Saux (lined up for the same time as exit) an adequate replacement for Wayne Bridge? IMO Le Saux (and I thought so at the time not just afterwards) was a poor replacement, but the majority at the time would probably have suggested it was an `adequate' replacement. Le Saux was a flop, largely injured and woefully short of pace that was exposed on a regular basis.

 

I think what I am trying to say is that `adequate' is such an `average' word. Could you not stretch to something like, potentially as good or suchlike?

Edited 10 May, 2011 by Chez

[Frank's cousin]

Thing is its also that balancing act - he has 2 years left on his contract - if we were to get back to back promotions and be in the prem, could you see AOC signing an extension? If not, then surely its best to let him go with the longest term and thus the best fee? Difficult because we want to see our chairman play hardball, but the realities are such that we could end up with nothing if we keep players until their contracts are up... and I actually agree with the bosman!

[derry]

AOC would be bloody daft to go to Arsenal. MU is where he should go and where Walcott should have gone, they know how to use pace and win things whereas Wenger wants a team of a thousand passes and struggles to win anything.

[itchen]

It doesn't sound like Adkins expects Oxo to leave:

 

'The season was capped off in style for two members of the current squad, as Alex Chamberlain and Adam Lallana received call ups to England's Under-19s and 21s respectively.

 

The gaffer hailed the progress of the duo, and predicts that they will be instrumental to the team next year should they come through their international involvement unscathed.

 

"We have Alex and Adam Lallana which are two fantastic call ups. They have done ever so well, but we have to make sure that we get their bodies right because both of them have had injuries.

 

"We need to get them right because they are massive for our football club for next season, but likewise it is great to be selected for England and I'm sure both will want to be involved with it."'

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2357231,00.html

[up and away]

There was absolutely zero pressure from the Chamberlain family for a move in January. He never ever was going to move in the window no matter who offered money, so I don't see his non movement as any great coup by Cortese. If he stays in the summer then that is different and full credit must go to the guy (should genuine offers be made) and should he sign an extension then you won't hear a word on this subject from me for some time.

 

IMHO the only reason Oxo did not leave in that January window was because Cortese would not budge from Arsenal having to pay the maximum, something they were not prepared to do. Mark was happy to say previously that he was staying at Saints, but the only thing we got out of him then were that the numbers being talked about were staggering and what a good club Arsenal was. What's going to happen now I don't know, but when the lad and his family are now saying positive things, it has to be good. Whether because of Cortese'e expected stance has an influence I do not know, but any contract renegotiations or the lack of should tell us all we need to know.

 

 

 

AOC would be bloody daft to go to Arsenal. MU is where he should go and where Walcott should have gone, they know how to use pace and win things whereas Wenger wants a team of a thousand passes and struggles to win anything.

 

I get the feeling either team would have been equally poor for progressing the lad, he basically needed to be at a club where he would get a game every week where mistakes would be over looked and the onus was on Theo making and scoring, irrespective of how selfish that became. Doubt if that would have worked for any club in the Premier, but certainly would have in the Championship. Theo came into the game late on and I feel he has an important aspect missing on the mental side of the game. With all his talent he is absolutely clueless in certain situations, far better to those he has regularly been exposed to on the wing. When I have seen him played up front in the middle he always looks like a rabbit in the headlights, unable to create space even with that abundance of pace. He always gravitates to the position where the ball is expected, irrespective of how many defenders are there already or takes up a no mans position that loses either way. Rather than take up a position where he has the best chance of scoring should the ball come to him. He needed to go out every weekend and fill his boots until everything became second nature to him. Admittedly Arsenal never helped where he was so enamoured with those around him his only thought were others rather than himself.

[derry]

IMHO the only reason Oxo did not leave in that January window was because Cortese would not budge from Arsenal having to pay the maximum, something they were not prepared to do. Mark was happy to say previously that he was staying at Saints, but the only thing we got out of him then were that the numbers being talked about were staggering and what a good club Arsenal was. What's going to happen now I don't know, but when the lad and his family are now saying positive things, it has to be good. Whether because of Cortese'e expected stance has an influence I do not know, but any contract renegotiations or the lack of should tell us all we need to know.

 

 

 

 

 

I get the feeling either team would have been equally poor for progressing the lad, he basically needed to be at a club where he would get a game every week where mistakes would be over looked and the onus was on Theo making and scoring, irrespective of how selfish that became. Doubt if that would have worked for any club in the Premier, but certainly would have in the Championship. Theo came into the game late on and I feel he has an important aspect missing on the mental side of the game. With all his talent he is absolutely clueless in certain situations, far better to those he has regularly been exposed to on the wing. When I have seen him played up front in the middle he always looks like a rabbit in the headlights, unable to create space even with that abundance of pace. He always gravitates to the position where the ball is expected, irrespective of how many defenders are there already or takes up a no mans position that loses either way. Rather than take up a position where he has the best chance of scoring should the ball come to him. He needed to go out every weekend and fill his boots until everything became second nature to him. Admittedly Arsenal never helped where he was so enamoured with those around him his only thought were others rather than himself.

 

I thought the same but he didn't give any other scenario any chance and just went to Arsenal. Two things are needed by very quick players, firstly the other players have to stay out of the space he needs to run in and Arsenal don't do that, everybody runs in front of him, even the slower full back overlaps him forcing him back or inside. Secondly he has to stay out of that space and leave it for the run past the defenders. He plays like any other player at Arsenal, tracks back but doesn't really defend, often faces his own goal and joins in the passing movements usually ending up boxed in by his own players and left with no space to exploit behind defenders. The Croatia game was set up perfectly for him, also he scored against I think Germany U21 breaking from the halfway line, however he rarely uses his one unique asset, his pace.