This is a thread that happens to be about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. I'm sure some of you would like to read about his progress at Arsenal. And it's a reasonable article to read, as well. But it's not all about that. It's abo.... Well perhaps I'd better leave it to you. Click the link, and apologies if it has already been posted. Temperamental posters may like to clear the room of breakables: OXO
OK, which academy did OXO come from..? Arsenal..? No. So, have Arsenal unearthed their own Rooney..? No, again. Another misleading headline that doesn't credit the people who actually did produce OXO. Yes, the article does give credit where it is due, but as we all know, 90% of people will just look at the headline.
"Unearthed" doesn't imply that they raised him. On the contrary, it means they found him. Manchester United didn't raise Rooney either.
They hardly found him. His performances for Saints were shouting his presence to all and sundry. BTW, just in case you think so, I'm not bitter that he's gone. Just annoyed that the story writers get it wrong yet again.
For all those who are offended by Saints not getting due recognition, I would say that £12-15 million for a seventeen year old is reasonable compensation.
I like Oxo. Always did and probably always will. If he gets chosen for Euro 12 then Buona fortuna. Just hope he doesn't score against us next season, running past the Northam in his celebration as he kisses the Arsenal badge. That would make him a cu..
really hoping wiltshire is fit soon, him and oxo playing in the middle is the future of england and arsenal
It would be nice, if and when he first comes back to St. Mary's, for him to get a decent reception. I'm sure a fair share of people will boo him though - same as Walcott. I reckon of the former Saints playing in the Prem: Bale, Surman, Baird will all get warm receptions Jones, Dyer, Bridge will get booed
Agree with the above but can't see Bridge getting booed. We got a good deal out of that at the time and you can't argue with a player going for Champions League football. He wasn't to know at the time they would buy Cole and he would warm the bench. Everytime he got a good move they bought in another player to replace him so he got a stigma as a bench warmer. Would like him to come back to us, is it a loan deal at Sunderland?
Totally disagree, as your average Joe Public man in the street, I'd much rather have winning 'world class' players in the Saints line up rather than money in a bank that I certainly don't have access to. I think it's grotesque that the same half dozen teams clean up all the silver wear (with the odd exception) year after fecking year. Tedious. How do they do it? By hoovering up all the available talent from lower league teams. Why are they lower league teams? Because the 'Half Dozen' ensures it stays that way. Arsenal fans complaining they haven't won anything for 7 years! 7 years? No sh1t!!!!!!!!!!!!
As would we all. Unfortunately, the reality is that players are always going to want to have the chance to play at the pinnacle. However, beyond the financial compensation, each world class player that we produce is a walking advertisement for this club...with the change in Academy rules, our history of producing young stars is going to make us a rather popular destination. And as the club rises, those players who want to be the next Oxlade-Chamberlain or Bale might not feel as much pressure to go elsewhere for the limelight, and if some of them stick around, perhaps the next generation will as well. £12-15m is the upfront payment...the boost to the reputation of our youth development system is the add-on which could be several times more valuable.
Well said Schad. The reputation of Saints academy was the reason the Oxo came here to begin with even though we were not in the top flight. By having a good reputation of producing great talent and giving them first team experience more and more young players will want to come here rather than get swallowed up in the Acedemies of the big clubs where they will always struggle to get in ahead of the world class stars they have. Here they can learn their trade and potentially get Premier League experience. However, it does stand to reason that it will make it more difficult for the young players to come through if we are in the Premier League, as it stands to reason the standard of player in front of any academy player will be much higher, than it was when Bale, Walcott and Oxo came through. Coretese's vision of being self sufficient through production of home grown talent will be very appealing to parents who want their children to have the best possible footballing start, it will take a while but if we suddenly have a group of players come through at the same time (ala Beckham, Scholes, Giggs et al) that are up to scratch it could be the back bone of a succesfull Saints team for years to come.
