http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/9559925.stm Clearly someones taken him aside and said he should be nicer about us! P.S sorry for the topic choice I'm aware everyones sick of it at the minute!
Yeah I think everyone knows Chamberlain's a fool (influenced by his dad I know) and AT LEAST a year of Championship football would have done him the world of good! Who knows if Saints were to go up, a year in the Premier League would have been even better! But I'm kind of relieved he's gone now as he could have been causing a bit of disruption and it's a very good deal for the club.
It's not good for team spirit if one player reckons he's too good to be there..another reason not to go for a big star name but rather someone who fits in. Our players should all know we are a great club and they are very lucky to play for us.
Claridge might have been reasonably pleasant about Saints but not sure his assessment that AOC isn't anywhere near as good as Theo - not so sure he isn't to be honest, he certainly is stronger and not as easy to knock off the ball like Theo is Speed about the same, crossing he is better than Theo and goal scoring probably about the same
Don't let your dislike of Claridge cloud your judgement. He often comes out with the sensible view. Yes, he often praises Saints through a tortured and constricted throat or gritted teeth, but he does say it. Personally, I agree with his assessment of OXO's situation, and that he did need a couple more seasons with us. Where I differ is whether he is better than Walcott was at his age, or not. I think they are/were on a par. The problem with Theo is that he went backwards for a season or two, through not being played enough, and he's never fully revealed that extreme potential he had. Alex will have the same problem, unless Wenger has learned the lesson, in which case, Arsenal won't be winning any titles with a relative rookie in the team. It's a Catch-22 situation. Arsenal must play Chamberlain often for his potential to blossom sooner, and they weaken their team by actually doing so. Loan him back to us..? I think that's realistic. The truth is, as Claridge said, Chamberlain needed to stay with Saints for another two seasons. The issue for Arsenal was, they possibly could have been outbid in two years time. So they had to buy, at an inflated price, now. I bet Cortese made them aware of that little nugget of info.
That's a great assessment TSS. I don't think Arsenal will loan him back though, but I hope they don't loan him to another Championship side. Imagine if they lent him to Pompey!
He will never be loaned back to us. He'd be spitting feathers if he was. Has any player ever been loaned back?
