His development has most certainly stalled this season, but how much of a concern is that? He is still only 19 years old and like many other young players, he is going through a tough learning curve in his career. Look at someone like Bale for example. He went through a period in his career where it looked he might not fulfil his potential. But, Chamberlain not having a good season has been a problem for us, as we are too reliant on our first choice front three. Chamberlain started against Brighton and he had another disappointing game. This time last year, Chamberlain was in great form and it was against Blackburn, that he got his first Premier League goal in that 7-1 win over them, then there was that performance against Milan. Was the England call up too soon? - Not sure to be honest, as I think that sort of experience is invaluable to a young player. A young player can only learn from playing in games like that one Chamberlain played in at the Euro's. What's his best position? - Wenger has spoken about him being a possible midfielder in the future and when he plays on the wing he always tends to drift, rather than hugging the touch line and beating his man. Maybe, Wenger should give him a chance to play in the Cazorla role and see how he does. I am still confident that Chamberlain will come good, we saw what he can do last season, so he clearly has the talent to become a massive player for us, but maybe we expected too much from him this season. Only the really exceptional young players can play and perform week in week out. (Fabregas,Messi,Rooney and even Wilshere to a lesser extent). Hopefully, he can put in a good performance against Blackburn tomorrow, and that might give him the confidence he needs to kick on again.
I see him being more and more a AM as he develops - which is a shame as we're very well stocked in that position and really need out and out wingers. When he played for England he did very well in the AM role. He has been average this season, but then he's competing with quite a strong group and is only young - hopefully he's just improving areas of his game in training, and in the summer/next season will kick on - the potential is definately there.
The issue with Ox is he's not a striker. To play across the front 3 you need to be "more than" a winger for Arsenal - as Pod, Giroud, Gervinho, & Theo are. Ox is not there yet with goal scoring, and isn't a "natural" striker. Perhaps he'll improve on that as this, and next season progress. No need to worry with him now at 19.
Welcome to top flight football OXO. It's been a steep learning curve for him but he's young and still not fully developed. But rest assured he will be learning a lot from our top midfielders - Cazorla, Wilshere, Diaby, Rosicky and Arteta.
I'm afraid the ox situation for me epitomises what's wrong with football, and I'm not blaming the lad, but he was signed by us on a 20k a week contract, within a year he was given a new contract on 50k a week when I don't think he really learnt that new contract. This is where clubs are in such a difficult position, what should have happened was that ox should have been told he would have to put in two good seasons before getting that sort of money, but because of the way players and particular agents operate, the club felt they had to tie him onto a long term deal, in case he continued to perform well and had other clubs sniffing around. I have also noted that he has been appearing in TV ads as well. There is such a problem that players earning that sort of money so young can think they have already made it, and just struggle to keep the same motivation and hunger. The guy is 19 and earns more money in a week than most of us will earn in a year, probably has women throwing themselves at him as soon as he walks out the door (despite not being the boniest person lol) and is something of a celebrity, appearing in TV ads. Now that's not to say his form will not come back, but it's easy to see how these young players can drop of, sometimes they never manage to turn it round, and sometimes it's just a blip, I just think modern day football in rich leagues like England leads to these things happening to players like ox, he now has great wealth and celebrity status without really earning in. Here hoping that he knuckles down and remembers that he still has a lot of work to do.
People get carried away with yound players, Sterling is this season's Chamberlain. Once a player has got a reputation and caused problems in some games the opposition look more closely at how to stop them which makes things more difficult for them to star but realistically, how many games did Chamberlain actually star in last season? Not many. In addition to the fans' expectation being raised players can also get carried away, I wouldn't be surprised if AOC expected to get the better of players at sides like Wigan and Reading after having more than held his own against the likes of Milan last seasoon, that's not how it works though. Walker is similar too. Managers seem to have cottoned on to the fact that Walker relies on the expectation that he's faster than the opposition's winger but if you stick a fast player there they can take advantage especially as he will not tend to pick up a winger until they're brought into the game, giving them a headstart. In attack we also see every week that one player will mark Lennon and when he gets the ball, another follows round the back to the touchline in order to stop Lennon knocking the ball past his marker or defend against Walker overlapping around him on the flank which means they have to move the ball inside which Lennon is improving at and Walker is working on. I don't watch Chamberlain closely but I'm sure when he plays defences are more aware of him and have a plan to keep him quiet, I doubt he's actually got worse as a player.
Good post, same in all sports you burst on to the scene as an unknown, it is how you kick on once people have worked out your initial technique. Otherwise your weaknesses are used against you.
Oxo will come good. He is still just raw talent, but this and last season are experience seasons for him. He's getting game time now and learning his trade. I'm glad we've signed him up to a long contract because I think he will become one of the most exciting England players in a long time. I also think his best position is on the flank because he has a very direct style of play and isn't afraid to take players on.
He is English so the usual english tax (his wages) and expectations rise way out of line with his talent. The best example i can give you is Fabregas, who was far more talented than any of wilshere, oxo or theo were at 18-20 but the hype surrounding him was far less (mostly from outside of this club). People in Spain weren't going doolally over him either because ever since 08 there has been an increase in the level expected of a Spaniard especially a CM. The attention showered on OXO which is accompanied by the obligatory inflated wages and transfer fees shows the dearth in truly talented English players in the World. Which is why I believe the statment made by Guardiola when he said they have many Wilsheres in their youth setup is only 50% mind games and 50% truth. Whether those players live up to the potential is separate. The better footballing countries expect certain levels of abilities from their youngsters while we are still impressed when we produce one.
All very insightful posts that I agree with! I just wanted to add that I am glad he hasn't featured as much this term seeing as he's young and just as quickly as the few good performances he strung together last season buoyed his confidence, a few bad matches and it could be shot. Glad we brought in experience like Cazorla and Nacho to take the load off of Ox and Gibbs and to teach the young'uns. I truly believe in a few years our youth will shine (Ox, Scnezney, Gibbs, Jenkinson, Wilshere, and even Walcott). Unlike previous seasons where these players were forced to perform because of a lack of depth and experience in the squad, they now have players to learn from again. Excited for what the future holds!
Oh and I said 'and even Walcott' only because he isn't as youthful as the rest, we all recognize and respect that lad's potential and ability.
I left a wetsuit by in the parking lot just off the 1O1 near Cardiff reef. Be a Dear and pick it up for me when you're next passing. Cheers mate.
What size? It's 70 degrees farenheight today, no promises it won't be retuned wet, ESPECIALLY if the surf is good! Ill make sure to rinse off the salt water though
Ive never seen anything from him to sugest he's a wide player. His one great performance for us was playing CM and the odd time he does do good stuff at the moment it's when he moves central. Wonder if he needs a season on loan somewhere where he can play that position?
I would put him and Ramsey on loan. They desperately need to have a full season under their belts. It would also tell us if they were good enough too.
Another terrible performance from the Ox. At this rate, he might not get another start this season. If someone like Aaron Ramsey put in the performance he did today, then I think it's fair to say the reaction might have been a little different.
