Looks like Chamberlain's off then

[Matthew Le God]

The squad numbers being released today (With Chambo at 11) almost feels like a direct response to these quotes.

 

Or more likely, a way for people to buy the kit when it goes on sale for the first time tomorrow in the knowledge of which player has which number beforehand.

[Jimmy_D]

Or more likely, a way for people to buy the kit when it goes on sale for the first time tomorrow in the knowledge of which player has which number beforehand.

 

...

 

Well that little feeling of hope didn't last long!

[up and away]

Please don't disrespect his parents if you have not heard their comments first hand.

 

I remember speaking to AOC at Dag & Red and he said he would not be going anywhere in the January window.

 

He's a very nice lad and I'm disappointed with people making out that he is anything else from out of context quotes.

 

He is one of us until he is sold. Then we should still respect him for the money he has generated for the club and helping us to promotion.

 

Respect goes both ways, but I cannot ignore the quotes from the player himself. In no way were these out of context, this was a deliberate attempt to promote a move,

 

Since all of this began with the leaking of his contract terms it was engineered to get the lad a move to a top club. He would have gone in the January window if Wenger had stumped up the cash but was not prepared to go that high. Realisation is that the move will not happen unless someone comes up with that contract figure. So we are expected to lower our asking price to facilitate a move on his behalf? get real! Or even worse, accept even lower so he can go to a club of his choice.

 

Like it or lump it he will have to prove his worth in the Championship and get a club to come up with the right money to allow the move. I have no doubt he is good enough and will get his move in the next window and we will all be happy.

[sammysaint]

i couldn't understand it either him having a new number and it looking like he wants out i reckon if he is off its for 12 mill most of it being paid upfront with him being loaned back for the season or 6 months.

 

it is annoying me though him talking to the press as it seems hes being told what to say as he is being nice about everyone but politely saying ive had enough and ready to leave and i want the premier league clubs to bid for me now, his best bet tho IMO is to play championship football so hes playing against some quality players and in jan if we don't look like were going to make playoffs then leave.

[Itchen_block4]

Should he though? Say if NC sets a price of £12m and the best offer we get is £10m. Should we just let him run his contract in the reserves and leave for free? Never going to happen, we're rich but not rich enough that we can let a £10m go to waste (whilst paying his wages). It would be nice to be one of the first clubs to take a stand against player power, but I'd prefer a hypothetical £10m to spend on a promotion push if we are not going to benefit from his services to the team.

 

It's disappointing he has come out with this (and he has been very careful not to say anything that could be construed as a formal transfer request, why miss out on the loyalty payment?), although it kind of looks to me more like he has done it to try and generate bids from other clubs, not because he wants out at all costs. I think if he was denied a move this summer, he would knuckle down and still put in performances for us, in hopes of a January move.

 

He's a very talented player with a good attitude. If a decision to stay is made for him, he's not going to sit and sulk in the reserves and risk setting his career back enormously. He'd be out of his mind to let that happen at his age and with so much promise. No-one can force him to stay longer than his contract. If for us its a choice between £10m now or say £7.5m next summer and keeping him for a season, I'd take the latter. On his relatively small wages, I'd argue that it would be worthwhile to keep him on as a player that could be a catalyst to promotion. Risking a slight loss on him would be no different to signing a new player with that difference.

 

Cortese is entitled to price bidders out if he doesn't want to sell. Our plans don't inlcude selling him, so the kid's attitude to the situation is his problem way more than it is ours.

[Jimmy_D]

He's a very talented player with a good attitude. If a decision to stay is made for him, he's not going to sit and sulk in the reserves and risk setting his career back enormously. He'd be out of his mind to let that happen at his age and with so much promise. No-one can force him to stay longer than his contract. If for us its a choice between £10m now or say £7.5m next summer and keeping him for a season, I'd take the latter. On his relatively small wages, I'd argue that it would be worthwhile to keep him on as a player that could be a catalyst to promotion. Risking a slight loss on him would be no different to signing a new player with that difference.

 

Cortese is entitled to price bidders out if he doesn't want to sell. Our plans don't inlcude selling him, so the kid's attitude to the situation is his problem way more than it is ours.

 

By that logic, if we're going to keep him here this season on the basis it'd cost more to replace him than we'd lose by keeping him here a season, might be we end up keeping him here next season as well as we'd still be due compensation at the end of his contract due to him being a youth player.

[Thedelldays]

The squad numbers being released today (With Chambo at 11) almost feels like a direct response to these quotes.

 

Probably not

[LGTL]

His Dad hates us, lets not forget that. He is the one engineering all this, who else would a 17 year old lad turn to? You can bet AOC is saying "dad, what should I do?" and you can bet your life you know his response.

 

If I was 17 and at Pompey then me and my dad wouldn't give two ****s about leaving, so fair enough I guess.

[Chez]

His Dad hates us, lets not forget that.

 

********. His dad wanted him here and now thinks the time is right for a move to the big four. Nothing to do with him hating us at all.

[LGTL]

His dad wanted him here so that his kid had the best chance of developing into a great player, which he has/will do. Lets not pretend either of them have any affiliation to us at all.

[Chez]

His dad wanted him here so that his kid had the best chance of developing into a great player, which he has/will do. Lets not pretend either of them have any affiliation to us at all.

not having an affiliation is not the same as hating is it? Besides having been here for ten years Alex is bound to have an affiliation so you are still talking ****. The fact is he can make a huge move and it is very hard to turn that down. I will be as gutted as the next guy, but let's not start making **** up. Accept it and then think of him no more.

[LGTL]

Why are you assuming i'd be all that bothered? I'd do exactly the same in his position. Your posting stance is strange as i'm actually responding to those who think he would stay at Saints given half the chance, which I don't think he would.

 

I'm glad we agree.

[DrunkenSaint]

You cant just walk into any PL club with the experiance that he has and expect to be playing first team footy straight away, so for him to say he wants to join a top 4 team and expect that he's in dream land....First team football is alot better for you than sitting in the reserves for a few seasons playing in empty grounds, we can offer the first team footy, great training facilities (probably in the top 3 in the country) and then a possible big money deal in a few seasons. NC has a 5 year plan to become a regular european cup club and if we do have the money ppl think we do than i think NC will make this happen. So if he went this season by the time he gets into a regular first team place in any of those clubs he wants to join, we'd probably be what he wants...a top european club.

[Genk]

Not a fan of the way he has talked in the press to be honest. Yes there is a chance things have been twisted by the papers but if he doesn't want to be here then get the cash in and lets invest in 3 decent top end Championship players. Have heard rumours about him being a very arrogant and rude individual towards young kids asking for autographs but hey I don't know the guy so can't comment fully.

 

If you asked me would I rather keep Lallana or Chamberlain for the course of the season....I would bite your hand off at Lallana personally

[SparkySaint]

...

 

Well that little feeling of hope didn't last long!

Wow I made a fire! Oh no wait, its gone out

[Smirking_Saint]

Seriously? When you have Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham competing for 3rd and 4th do you really think a club such as Saints will get there? Tottenham cant keep hold of Modric, Arsenal cant keep hold of Fabregas & Nasri, Man U couldn't keep hold of Ronaldo. Players are always looking for the bigger, better deal. Just look at Villa, a club bigger than Saints cant keep hold of Downing, Young, Barry and Milner. Newcastle couldn't keep Andy Carroll. What we need to do is make sure we milk as much money as possible for their transfers and have a great youth set up and scouting network that means when these players do move on we have good other players lined up to replace them. The same way as the likes of Lyon do in France.

 

NC's stance against not being bullied by the big boys is admirable, but it's one mans crusade to change an entire sport, it's a battle he cant win. For the sake of SFC he'd be best off selling AOC to the higest bidder, the best deal for Saints, not the best club for AOC, he has pinned his colours to the mast so f*ck him and all the stuff about selling him to the right club for him that was spouted in January.

 

And FWIW i agree with you about the press and i agree that for AOC as a footballer he'd be best off playing first team football for us next season. But that is football in 2011, money rules. Some of you lot need to stop dreaming and realise that.

 

Good post

 

FWIW if NC wants it enough, and I mean enough to really fund things, but not in the way that Liecester are going about things then I think we may end up as a safe, mid table team we almost where under Strachan. But it will take time, patience, cash, luck and the right people making the right decisions, that doesn't mean NC throwing a wobbler every now and again.

 

Will we ever be champions league team ?? Not for atleast a decade, and even then spending somewhere more then Man Citeh have to achieve the same as the stadium will need to be extended in the hope that we drag in a decent level of supporters, and that means decent football and star signings. In reallity we may make it back into Europe, perhaps a villa or something, but not for a long long time and TBH the supporters will need to show the same level of patience, something we don't seem capable of.

 

AOC will go, and I don't blame him for it, I just wish he went about it quietly behind the scenes like Walcott instead of all this vocality (unless it is pure press BS). The difference is probably that we don't need to sell and NC has told him that. I fully expect AOC to be playing this season, and be gone the next, or else he would be gone by now. Barring a disasterous season from the lad or a big injury we may inherit a bigger fee next year.

[CB Fry]

I don't think it's too crazy to think long-term we could be like Villarreal for instance.

 

 

Everton, Spurs, Aston Villa and Newcastle are finding it pretty much impossible to be like Villareal for instance.

 

We have absolutely no chance of being like Villareal for instance.

 

Seriously you people give it up. We've been promoted to the second tier and we might end up back in the Premier League in the next two or three years. Might.

 

If we end up like Blackburn for instance, or Sunderland for instance, or Stoke for instance or Fulham for instance we'd be doing bloody well and as as well as we will ever, ever, ever do.

 

That is aiming high. That is high ambition, that is the stretch this club could possibly acheive.

 

Can you f uckw its give it up, we're not ever going to be in the champions league.

[NickG]

probably not.

[Chez]

Why are you assuming i'd be all that bothered? I'd do exactly the same in his position. Your posting stance is strange as i'm actually responding to those who think he would stay at Saints given half the chance, which I don't think he would.

 

I'm glad we agree.

My posting stance relates only to your comment about his dad hating us which is not true. Far too many lies written about Puncheon on here that have become gospel. This lie about Alex's dad is not going to become gospel.

[AussieDog]

As long as he gives 100% in matches and training, I really couldn't care less about quotes in the press. They've probably chucked him a few hundred quid (at least) for a 30 second chat and put their own spin on it. It's the nature of the sport/business that the better players want to a) test themselves in a better environment and b) earn a shedload of money. Saints need to ive in the here and now but keeping an eye on the future.

It's as much a gamble for us keeping him as it is for us to sell him. If he bombs this year, or breaks his leg in his next game we've lost the opportunity to cash in and strengthen the team elsewhere.

If we keep him and he sets the Championship alight in the next 6 months, maybe his valuation will double (and the really big spending does seem to happen in the January transfer wndow when clubs start to panic).

 

Who's to say that the next player through on the conveyer belt isn't actually going to be better? James Ward-Prowse has been given a squad number and isn't even 17 until November, so they obviously have high hopes for him. We all thought Theo couldn't be replaced, yet some people are now saying AOC is even better (I don't think so personally, but I do thing Theo has underachieved so far). Bale looked useless in his first year at the Academy, by all reports, then suddenly made a massive leap forward in his second season. We seem to have exciting prospects coming through in defence, midfield and up front. I love being a Saints fan! lol

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Everton, Spurs, Aston Villa and Newcastle are finding it pretty much impossible to be like Villareal for instance.

 

We have absolutely no chance of being like Villareal for instance.

 

Seriously you people give it up. We've been promoted to the second tier and we might end up back in the Premier League in the next two or three years. Might.

 

If we end up like Blackburn for instance, or Sunderland for instance, or Stoke for instance or Fulham for instance we'd be doing bloody well and as as well as we will ever, ever, ever do.

 

That is aiming high. That is high ambition, that is the stretch this club could possibly acheive.

 

Can you f uckw its give it up, we're not ever going to be in the champions league.

 

How many 'for instance's?

[AussieDog]

Everton, Spurs, Aston Villa and Newcastle are finding it pretty much impossible to be like Villareal for instance.

 

We have absolutely no chance of being like Villareal for instance.

 

Seriously you people give it up. We've been promoted to the second tier and we might end up back in the Premier League in the next two or three years. Might.

 

If we end up like Blackburn for instance, or Sunderland for instance, or Stoke for instance or Fulham for instance we'd be doing bloody well and as as well as we will ever, ever, ever do.

 

That is aiming high. That is high ambition, that is the stretch this club could possibly acheive.

 

Can you f uckw its give it up, we're not ever going to be in the champions league.

 

 

 

What a negative and unimaginative way to think.

 

Of course the Champions League is going to be hard to crack with the way the game is AT THE MOMENT. The game is undergoing change, and either the powers that be will make a change, or the fact that one or two of the "big clubs" will eventually go bankrupt will force a change. We need to be in a position to take advantage when that change happens, and if we do, then there is no reason why we couldn't challenge for Europe and even the Champions League. We may not win the Premier League (we haven't in the previous 125 years, so the odds are quite long! lol) ... but we were only 3 points off it once, so who's to say we can do that again? As long as whatever ambitions we have are well managed financially, then what's wrong in having a plan to be amongst the best?

Fail to plan = plan to fail!

I guess some people prefer to dwell on the negative so that they can be pleasantly surprised when their ambitions are exceeded. I prefer to aim high and enjoy the ride

 

Oh....and didn't Blackburn win the league after being a nondescript lower league team for many years?? I'd settle for that, thank you

[Matthew Le God]

The latest Mirror article...

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Saouthampton-prepared-sell-Arsenal-target-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-for-12million-plus-in-cash-article773372.html

 

The quote from the "Saints insider" is a little strange...

 

A Saints insider said: “It’s not true to suggest that Nicola is refusing to even discuss offers for the player.

 

“If someone makes what he considers to be a decent offer he would listen. But it would have to be cash up front, at a level that the owner finds acceptable.”

 

Sounds made up to me. Journalist seems unaware the club is run by Cortese completely and owned by the Liebherr estate.

 

The article also says "Cortese, who wants £12m-£15m". Which again makes no sense, how do they know this? I very much doubt Cortese makes this info available to anyone. If a bid of £12m is enough for them to accept, why the £15m figure?

 

Just looks to me like the Chamberlains' are getting the Mirror to help a deal happen with an article every day because Cortese refuses to play ball.

Edited 20 July, 2011 by Matthew Le God

[S-Clarke]

The latest Mirror article...

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Saouthampton-prepared-sell-Arsenal-target-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-for-12million-plus-in-cash-article773372.html

 

The quote from the "Saints insider" is a little strange...

 

 

 

Sounds made up to me. Journalist seems unaware the club is run by Cortese completely and owned by the Liebherr estate.

 

The article also says "Cortese, who wants £12m-£15m". Which again makes no sense, how do they know this? I very much doubt Cortese makes this info available to anyone. If a bid of £12m is enough for them to accept, why the £15m figure?

 

Just looks to me like the Chamberlain's are getting the Mirror to help a deal happen with an article every day because Cortese refuses to play ball.

 

The ''daily'' stories at the moment are almost certainly media plants, driven by his advisers or agent. Not anything to do with the club in anyway at all.

 

As has always been the case (the article from feb is brilliant), until NC feels the offer is right for the club and Alex himself he won't deal. This media crap isn't going to help things.

[SaintNeil90]

If he really wants to go then good riddance, I hope you have a **** career. I say that because Im sick of the lack of loyalty in the game. He is young, we are on the up, he could get prem football while developing with us but no he wants to try and compete for a place in a team of international superstars like van persie, wilshere, arshavin, nasri. Sorry chamberlain but your in a dream land.

 

PS Shame your Dads a c0

[Mustapha Fag]

you know what theres some rubbish written in this thread, Neils being just one example

 

you need to realise that in walks of life people strive to better themselves, be it monetry or career, and sometimes that oppurtunity will only come once.

AOC really could get injured this season, his dream then is over

You or i would jump at the chance if in our chosen career path we could work if a much higher profile company with better immediate and future prospects, and quadruple your wages at the same time time

Why hate the nipper for making the same choices we would

Loyalty in football is within supporters and a very small amount of players and staff, we need to realise this

[jimmysaint7]

When he finally goes I for one hope we don't try to get him on loan, if he states he is good enough let's just sell and let him rot at arsenal reserves!

[Smirking_Saint]

If he really wants to go then good riddance, I hope you have a **** career. I say that because Im sick of the lack of loyalty in the game. He is young, we are on the up, he could get prem football while developing with us but no he wants to try and compete for a place in a team of international superstars like van persie, wilshere, arshavin, nasri. Sorry chamberlain but your in a dream land.

 

PS Shame your Dads a c0

 

Lack of loyalty ??

 

Give over, if he is planting these things in the press then I am a little dissapointed but FFS the lad will go a long way in the game and who are we as supporters to hold him back. It just doesn't happen. IF I was in Chamberlains shoes and was offered 1st team Prem football I would go for the good of my long term career, or else I may stay for another year.

 

We are saints, in the championship, and only just, players will always look to better themselves or else you have to question their ambition, this is why I will hold no grudges if he leaves and we get a decent fee for him.

[Dellman]

Its sad when 'supporters' rubbish the guy for lack of loyalty because it's dead certain they would do the same if they could quadruple the pay packet, who wouldn't? I want to keep him because I think he will be better than Theo, he's stronger and got more football brain but if he goes I will wish him well and be proud that we've produced yet another star, perhaps when we are in the Premiership we will actually keep them

[Charlie Wayman]

You blokes never learn do you, Arsenal are not interested anymore. They are too busy hanging on to what they've got and finding a new manager to move Wenger upstairs. It's experience they want now not snotty nose, pimply kids with "p-o-t-e-n-t-i-a-l"

[Stepgar]

Was just reading the quotes of the week from sky sports-

 

When the bus comes along, you have to jump on it." Southampton starlet Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain hints that the Premier League is his next stop.

 

Made me chuckle anyway.

[Smirking_Saint]

You blokes never learn do you, Arsenal are not interested anymore. They are too busy hanging on to what they've got and finding a new manager to move Wenger upstairs. It's experience they want now not snotty nose, pimply kids with "p-o-t-e-n-t-i-a-l"

 

Arsenal are a fading force and will do well to finish in the top 4 TBF.

 

If I was footballs next young thing I wouldn't be looking at arsenal, thats for sure.

[wild-saint]

Arsenal are a fading force and will do well to finish in the top 4 TBF.

 

If I was footballs next young thing I wouldn't be looking at arsenal, thats for sure.

 

if not united i would be tempted by Liverpool under daglish.

[saintjay77]

The latest Mirror article...

 

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Saouthampton-prepared-sell-Arsenal-target-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-for-12million-plus-in-cash-article773372.html

 

The quote from the "Saints insider" is a little strange...

 

 

 

Sounds made up to me. Journalist seems unaware the club is run by Cortese completely and owned by the Liebherr estate.

 

The article also says "Cortese, who wants £12m-£15m". Which again makes no sense, how do they know this? I very much doubt Cortese makes this info available to anyone. If a bid of £12m is enough for them to accept, why the £15m figure?

 

Just looks to me like the Chamberlains' are getting the Mirror to help a deal happen with an article every day because Cortese refuses to play ball.

 

From that link they can't even spell Southampton correctly!

[um pahars]

Seriously? When you have Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham competing for 3rd and 4th do you really think a club such as Saints will get there? Tottenham cant keep hold of Modric, Arsenal cant keep hold of Fabregas & Nasri, Man U couldn't keep hold of Ronaldo. Players are always looking for the bigger, better deal. Just look at Villa, a club bigger than Saints cant keep hold of Downing, Young, Barry and Milner. Newcastle couldn't keep Andy Carroll. What we need to do is make sure we milk as much money as possible for their transfers and have a great youth set up and scouting network that means when these players do move on we have good other players lined up to replace them. The same way as the likes of Lyon do in France.

 

NC's stance against not being bullied by the big boys is admirable, but it's one mans crusade to change an entire sport, it's a battle he cant win. For the sake of SFC he'd be best off selling AOC to the higest bidder, the best deal for Saints, not the best club for AOC, he has pinned his colours to the mast so f*ck him and all the stuff about selling him to the right club for him that was spouted in January.

 

And FWIW i agree with you about the press and i agree that for AOC as a footballer he'd be best off playing first team football for us next season. But that is football in 2011, money rules. Some of you lot need to stop dreaming and realise that.

 

Spot on.

 

King canute had the same problem with some of his courtiers, until of course he proved them wrong!!!

[alpine_saint]

I see Arsenal are lashign out via the Sun this morning.

 

All the comments under the article from Arse fans are really funny; they really think they are still a footballing force.

[um pahars]

Everton, Spurs, Aston Villa and Newcastle are finding it pretty much impossible to be like Villareal for instance.

 

We have absolutely no chance of being like Villareal for instance.

 

Seriously you people give it up. We've been promoted to the second tier and we might end up back in the Premier League in the next two or three years. Might.

 

If we end up like Blackburn for instance, or Sunderland for instance, or Stoke for instance or Fulham for instance we'd be doing bloody well and as as well as we will ever, ever, ever do.

 

That is aiming high. That is high ambition, that is the stretch this club could possibly acheive.

 

Can you f uckw its give it up, we're not ever going to be in the champions league.

 

As with Turkish, I think you're close to my thinking (although I would say that there would always be a chance of finishing fourth and scraping in to the champions League on an exceptional basis).

[rshephard3]

Arsenal are a fading force and will do well to finish in the top 4 TBF.

 

If I was footballs next young thing I wouldn't be looking at arsenal, thats for sure.

 

Agreed, I think there's much more chance of them finishing outside the top 4 than winning the league. I cant believe he has played enough good football to warrant anyone spending big on him, especially if we are (rightly) holding out for a lot of cash upfront anyway tbh. If he does end up staying he'd better not flop for us after a summer of speculation. Cant see that happening but would be sad if it did.

[Glasgow_Saint]

I can see a stalemate approaching, AOC wants out & we want too much and neither will budge! Cue repeat of kenwyne jones

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

solent say a source at sms told them no bids received for AOC this summer as of yet. arsenal apparently sounded out a possible transfer which inc add ons and a loan back but NC wants full value up front so a bid was never forthcoming. liverpoool made desisory offer back in january but no contact from them or Man Utd since.

[CB Fry]

What a negative and unimaginative way to think.

 

Of course the Champions League is going to be hard to crack with the way the game is AT THE MOMENT. The game is undergoing change, and either the powers that be will make a change, or the fact that one or two of the "big clubs" will eventually go bankrupt will force a change. We need to be in a position to take advantage when that change happens, and if we do, then there is no reason why we couldn't challenge for Europe and even the Champions League. We may not win the Premier League (we haven't in the previous 125 years, so the odds are quite long! lol) ... but we were only 3 points off it once, so who's to say we can do that again? As long as whatever ambitions we have are well managed financially, then what's wrong in having a plan to be amongst the best?

Fail to plan = plan to fail!

I guess some people prefer to dwell on the negative so that they can be pleasantly surprised when their ambitions are exceeded. I prefer to aim high and enjoy the ride

 

Oh....and didn't Blackburn win the league after being a nondescript lower league team for many years?? I'd settle for that, thank you

 

 

Don't flatter yourself - there is nothing "imaginative" about saying lets aim for the champions league. That kind of thinking a seven year old could come up with.

 

And there is a hell of a lot wrong with "having a plan to be amongst the best". You talk about "big clubs" going "bankrupt" but don't think for a second that "planning to be amongst the best" could bankrupt us.

 

As Um Pahars rightly says, there is a possibility that in one isolated season we might might might finish fourth, as Everton/Newcastle/Spurs did.

 

But that is absolutely as high as we could ever get. And frankly, I couldn't give a stuff if we never kicked a ball in the champions league.

[Dellman]

Is Champions League talk a little premature?

[Chez]

if not united i would be tempted by Liverpool under daglish.

 

I suggested them back in January. He would have gone straight into their first team IMO as they were crying out for a right winger. He might still do so as I don't think they have addressed that position.

[saintjay77]

Don't flatter yourself - there is nothing "imaginative" about saying lets aim for the champions league. That kind of thinking a seven year old could come up with.

 

And there is a hell of a lot wrong with "having a plan to be amongst the best". You talk about "big clubs" going "bankrupt" but don't think for a second that "planning to be amongst the best" could bankrupt us.

 

As Um Pahars rightly says, there is a possibility that in one isolated season we might might might finish fourth, as Everton/Newcastle/Spurs did.

 

But that is absolutely as high as we could ever get. And frankly, I couldn't give a stuff if we never kicked a ball in the champions league.

 

May as well give up then eh? No point in aiming high or when we get anywhere aiming for any higher either. Just be happy in the championship selling off any tallent we un-cover and look forward to playing s****horpe and the occasional ex prem team. I mean, whats the point in going for the prem if all we aim to do when there is hold on and hope we have a flash at the top. Thats Pompey logic so if its good enough for them then its good enough for us right?

 

Barca invested heavily in their youth system which in turn started producing there best players and now look at them. Their current team is littered with players that they had on their books at 9 years old.

 

I wont be hacked off if we never make it anywhere near the top but I hope we are at least aiming for the top as I dont fancy supporting a club that has no ambition to achieve anything.

[AussieDog]

Don't flatter yourself - there is nothing "imaginative" about saying lets aim for the champions league. That kind of thinking a seven year old could come up with.

 

And there is a hell of a lot wrong with "having a plan to be amongst the best". You talk about "big clubs" going "bankrupt" but don't think for a second that "planning to be amongst the best" could bankrupt us.

 

As Um Pahars rightly says, there is a possibility that in one isolated season we might might might finish fourth, as Everton/Newcastle/Spurs did.

 

But that is absolutely as high as we could ever get. And frankly, I couldn't give a stuff if we never kicked a ball in the champions league.

 

 

You obviously only chose to read the parts that suited your limited ambitions. In the next breath you are saying we could finish 4th in one season. Funny that. I thought 4th place got a Champions League slot!

[up and away]

Seriously? When you have Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham competing for 3rd and 4th do you really think a club such as Saints will get there? Tottenham cant keep hold of Modric, Arsenal cant keep hold of Fabregas & Nasri, Man U couldn't keep hold of Ronaldo. Players are always looking for the bigger, better deal. Just look at Villa, a club bigger than Saints cant keep hold of Downing, Young, Barry and Milner. Newcastle couldn't keep Andy Carroll. What we need to do is make sure we milk as much money as possible for their transfers and have a great youth set up and scouting network that means when these players do move on we have good other players lined up to replace them. The same way as the likes of Lyon do in France.

 

NC's stance against not being bullied by the big boys is admirable, but it's one mans crusade to change an entire sport, it's a battle he cant win. For the sake of SFC he'd be best off selling AOC to the higest bidder, the best deal for Saints, not the best club for AOC, he has pinned his colours to the mast so f*ck him and all the stuff about selling him to the right club for him that was spouted in January.

 

And FWIW i agree with you about the press and i agree that for AOC as a footballer he'd be best off playing first team football for us next season. But that is football in 2011, money rules. Some of you lot need to stop dreaming and realise that.

 

This has nothing to do with being able to keep Oxo irrespective of his wishes, this is all about getting a fair price for the lad. All those other teams you have mentioned can't stop their player leaving, but they can ensure they get paid sufficiently, which each and every one of them will.

 

The problem we have with Oxo is that Arsenal don't want to pay the value we insist upon and the lad seems to think we should facilitate this by selling him on the cheap. The highest bidder does not come into this but the club of his choice. IMO his contract sets out all the conditions and values that will trigger an automatic move without Saints having any possibility to stop the move. It would not surprise me that Cortese has some leverage in insisting all the payments are done up front, but I really don't believe Wenger values Oxo anywhere near these total figures. Whether that is because of the players actual potential or Arsenals real needs, either now or future.

 

The is little doubt in my mind that the player is good enough and given time in the Championship will readily show that. Other teams all the way up to the top are faced with this problem and the player will eventually go. But as other teams can manage to get top dollar for parting with a player they wish to keep, why not us?

[Frank's cousin]

This has nothing to do with being able to keep Oxo irrespective of his wishes, this is all about getting a fair price for the lad. All those other teams you have mentioned can't stop their player leaving, but they can ensure they get paid sufficiently, which each and every one of them will.

 

The problem we have with Oxo is that Arsenal don't want to pay the value we insist upon and the lad seems to think we should facilitate this by selling him on the cheap. The highest bidder does not come into this but the club of his choice. IMO his contract sets out all the conditions and values that will trigger an automatic move without Saints having any possibility to stop the move. It would not surprise me that Cortese has some leverage in insisting all the payments are done up front, but I really don't believe Wenger values Oxo anywhere near these total figures. Whether that is because of the players actual potential or Arsenals real needs, either now or future.

 

The is little doubt in my mind that the player is good enough and given time in the Championship will readily show that. Other teams all the way up to the top are faced with this problem and the player will eventually go. But as other teams can manage to get top dollar for parting with a player they wish to keep, why not us?

 

This - v good summary - Turkish is right with respect to the situation, which is a sad one IMHO, but we are under no obligation to sell at below our evaluation, something that Ox would have agreed to when signing his contract, (which suddenly means feck all...)

 

Employment law being as it is, means the FA or UEFA can do nothing to 'restrict' transfers of young players - (unlike enforcing a max foreign contingent in tehir competitions - something that they seemed to forget they could do, probably to keep the big clubs happy... ) We just need to accept that football is no longer about teh real fans of the vast majority of clubs, but geared towards the majority of armchair'siupporters' of the 'big' clubs....

[Turkish]

This has nothing to do with being able to keep Oxo irrespective of his wishes, this is all about getting a fair price for the lad. All those other teams you have mentioned can't stop their player leaving, but they can ensure they get paid sufficiently, which each and every one of them will.

 

The problem we have with Oxo is that Arsenal don't want to pay the value we insist upon and the lad seems to think we should facilitate this by selling him on the cheap. The highest bidder does not come into this but the club of his choice. IMO his contract sets out all the conditions and values that will trigger an automatic move without Saints having any possibility to stop the move. It would not surprise me that Cortese has some leverage in insisting all the payments are done up front, but I really don't believe Wenger values Oxo anywhere near these total figures. Whether that is because of the players actual potential or Arsenals real needs, either now or future.

 

The is little doubt in my mind that the player is good enough and given time in the Championship will readily show that. Other teams all the way up to the top are faced with this problem and the player will eventually go. But as other teams can manage to get top dollar for parting with a player they wish to keep, why not us?

 

I take it you didn't read this part of my last post then;

 

"For the sake of SFC he'd be best off selling AOC to the higest bidder, the best deal for Saints, not the best club for AOC, he has pinned his colours to the mast so f*ck him and all the stuff about selling him to the right club for him that was spouted in January."

[up and away]

Originally Posted by up and away

This has nothing to do with being able to keep Oxo irrespective of his wishes, this is all about getting a fair price for the lad. All those other teams you have mentioned can't stop their player leaving, but they can ensure they get paid sufficiently, which each and every one of them will.

 

The problem we have with Oxo is that Arsenal don't want to pay the value we insist upon and the lad seems to think we should facilitate this by selling him on the cheap. The highest bidder does not come into this but the club of his choice. IMO his contract sets out all the conditions and values that will trigger an automatic move without Saints having any possibility to stop the move. It would not surprise me that Cortese has some leverage in insisting all the payments are done up front, but I really don't believe Wenger values Oxo anywhere near these total figures. Whether that is because of the players actual potential or Arsenals real needs, either now or future.

 

The is little doubt in my mind that the player is good enough and given time in the Championship will readily show that. Other teams all the way up to the top are faced with this problem and the player will eventually go. But as other teams can manage to get top dollar for parting with a player they wish to keep, why not us?

 

 

I take it you didn't read this part of my last post then;

 

"For the sake of SFC he'd be best off selling AOC to the higest bidder, the best deal for Saints, not the best club for AOC, he has pinned his colours to the mast so f*ck him and all the stuff about selling him to the right club for him that was spouted in January."

 

Read it, understood it and still disagree with the main point of the post. This is not about forcing Oxo to stay what ever, this is just about getting the same premium other clubs receive that are forced to sell players. The main point of your post is "NC's stance against not being bullied by the big boys is admirable, but it's one mans crusade to change an entire sport, it's a battle he cant win." This is your interpretation, mine is that the lad is worth a lot more money and we should do our best not to let him go on the cheap, which I believe Cortese is doing. In reality that will mean letting him show his potential in the Championship. You can say this is Cortese not being bullied, but it is also the only way you will get anywhere near the true value for the lad. Cortese and Adkins are not daft and keeping a player against his will is always liable to go off in your face, but it is a difficult scenario if you are trying to get the value you believe the player is worth.

[CB Fry]

May as well give up then eh? No point in aiming high or when we get anywhere aiming for any higher either. Just be happy in the championship selling off any tallent we un-cover and look forward to playing s****horpe and the occasional ex prem team. I mean, whats the point in going for the prem if all we aim to do when there is hold on and hope we have a flash at the top. Thats Pompey logic so if its good enough for them then its good enough for us right?

 

Barca invested heavily in their youth system which in turn started producing there best players and now look at them. Their current team is littered with players that they had on their books at 9 years old.

 

I wont be hacked off if we never make it anywhere near the top but I hope we are at least aiming for the top as I dont fancy supporting a club that has no ambition to achieve anything.

 

You obviously only chose to read the parts that suited your limited ambitions. In the next breath you are saying we could finish 4th in one season. Funny that. I thought 4th place got a Champions League slot!

 

 

Awwww, bless. Hark at the superest dooperest fans.

 

If you think that not being bothered about being in the Champion's League means "we might as well give up then" you're supporting the wrong club sunshine. Go and support Chelsea if you're that desperate for Champion's League football.

 

My realistic aspiration of solid mid table Prem is stretching, ambitous, but actually achievable and would give me a decade of joy if we achieved that for ten years straight. I definitely wouldn't be whinging, *****ing and moaning about "getting to the next level" like you couple of divs.

 

And the comment about comparing us to Barcelona is so embarrassingly pathetic I won't even bother addressing it. Suffice to say I sincerely hope you weren't born in 1977 as your username might suggest as that makes you the same age as me and screw me sideways you're an embarrassment to my generation. I sincerely hope you're 14 because your logic suggests it. Barcelona have claim to be the biggest club in the world. Southampton, funnily enough, don't and never will.

 

And our Aussie friend, same goes. We're never going to be in the champion's league, my point was it isn't completley impossible for us to finish fourth one season - Everton did it once and never really looked like doing it ever again - but it is so unlikely it is untrue, and we definitely should not be aiming or targeting to get there.

 

We're never going to be in the Champion's League. Put your willy away, it's not the nasty man with his limited ambitions stopping that happening. It just isn't ever going to happen, ever.