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Craig HillSaints attempt to retain Oxlade-Chamberlain
July 22nd 2011 12:24
Southampton Football Club, more affectionately known as the Saints, have long had a record for producing fantastic young players, with an academy to be proud of- perhaps the finest outside the top flight.
In the past, the likes of Gareth Bale, Leon Best, Wayne Bridge, Theo Walcott and Chris Baird have been a product of their system, alongside Arron Davies, Scott McDonald, Tim Sparv and Jake Thomson, all representing their respective countries. To a lesser extent, Dexter Blackstock was another talent who started at Southampton (although he came through the Oxford United youth academy before Saints paid compensation of £275,000 to bring him to St. Mary's).
So it was of no surprise, then, that another starlet would come through at some time, and in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, they have that starlet. At the age of 16 years, 199 days, he made his first-team debut, becoming the 2nd youngest Saints player ever to take to the pitch (behind Theo Walcott, who was just 16 years and 143 days when he made his debut- and only 15 years and 175 days when he made his Reserve Team debut).
Alex made 36 appearances in his first season, scoring 10 goals along the way, and naturally has been courted by several Premier League clubs, most notably, Arsenal and Manchester United.
In fact, he has been linked strongly with a move to the Emirates this summer.
But Southampton manager, Nigel Adkins, has urged the teenage winger to spend another year on the South coast.
"Obviously in the last couple of days there have been a few comments that have come out nationally," Adkins said on Sky Sports News.
"The expectation for a 17-year-old boy and his parents to be linked with big football clubs obviously will play on people's minds, but I think he's handled himself ever so well, and he's loved at Southampton. We believe it's better for him to stay at Southampton and play his football and keep developing. We've got to try to make sure we look after a young boy who's handled himself ever so well but has been placed in a situation with speculation. It's speculation with big football clubs people always dream about."
Oxlade-Chamberlain expressed fears earlier this week that delaying a move to a big club could hamper his future prospects, saying he feels ready to make the step up immediately.
See what Sky Sports think of the youngster on their website: Sky Sports low down on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
In the past, the likes of Gareth Bale, Leon Best, Wayne Bridge, Theo Walcott and Chris Baird have been a product of their system, alongside Arron Davies, Scott McDonald, Tim Sparv and Jake Thomson, all representing their respective countries. To a lesser extent, Dexter Blackstock was another talent who started at Southampton (although he came through the Oxford United youth academy before Saints paid compensation of £275,000 to bring him to St. Mary's).
So it was of no surprise, then, that another starlet would come through at some time, and in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, they have that starlet. At the age of 16 years, 199 days, he made his first-team debut, becoming the 2nd youngest Saints player ever to take to the pitch (behind Theo Walcott, who was just 16 years and 143 days when he made his debut- and only 15 years and 175 days when he made his Reserve Team debut).
Alex made 36 appearances in his first season, scoring 10 goals along the way, and naturally has been courted by several Premier League clubs, most notably, Arsenal and Manchester United.
In fact, he has been linked strongly with a move to the Emirates this summer.
But Southampton manager, Nigel Adkins, has urged the teenage winger to spend another year on the South coast.
"Obviously in the last couple of days there have been a few comments that have come out nationally," Adkins said on Sky Sports News.
"The expectation for a 17-year-old boy and his parents to be linked with big football clubs obviously will play on people's minds, but I think he's handled himself ever so well, and he's loved at Southampton. We believe it's better for him to stay at Southampton and play his football and keep developing. We've got to try to make sure we look after a young boy who's handled himself ever so well but has been placed in a situation with speculation. It's speculation with big football clubs people always dream about."
Oxlade-Chamberlain expressed fears earlier this week that delaying a move to a big club could hamper his future prospects, saying he feels ready to make the step up immediately.
See what Sky Sports think of the youngster on their website: Sky Sports low down on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
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