sadoldgit

Exactly. I remember feeling gutted when Steve Williams went to Arsenal. Not sure if it was a good career move for him as he wasnt as good for them as he was for us and never became the England player I thought he would. It has been happening forever and will continue as long as there is professional football.

If the asking price is 8m and we were to match that, wouldnt it be down to terms and conditions then?

Give up altogether mate!

If that is the asking price why pay more?

True but then we often play people "out of position" and it is up to them to make the most of it. The injury came at a bad time but I dont think he would have made the squad if fit.

I still think that Rodriquez has work to do on his game (not saying that Welbeck and Townsend are better). He looked out of place in his debut whereas Lallana loooked right at home in the team. He clearly improved last season though so it would be good to see get another chance at the top level.

I dont think it is a question about being happy about it. It is more about understanding the situation. We didnt have a problem in taking the young Lallana from Bournemouth. In a results driven business teams are always going to look to bring in the best they can and players are always going to look to play for the best club they can.

I dont have a problem wth his decision about moving to a bigger club but I do worry about why suddenly he is being seen as an England CH when he hasnt exactly been brilliant in his few games for Arsenal in that position. Of course Hodgson might see him as a RB or a utility player (I am sure he could do a job in midfield too). Good luck to the bloke but I really dont think his call up is down to him now being an Arsenal player for 5 minutes.

Agreed.

If this was the case though surely Clyne would have had just a good a chance of getting called up last season when we were "fashionable" when three of his colleagues were called up? Fpr whatever reason Hodgson, at the moment, doesnt fancy Clyne. I really do not believe it has anything to do with playing for us. Chambers may well have been called up if he was still with us. Hodgson would have seen a lot of him last year (although of course not at CH).

I am calling you Delldays because that is who you are. I am not sure why you have become Batman but the change of name hasnt changed your posting style sadly. Did JRod pay well for a couple of years before his call up? No. I am saying you have lost it because, very clearly, you can get called up to the full senior sqaud if you play for Southampton. You can also get called up for the full senior squad if you play for Aston Villa (Delph) or Newcastle (Colback) neither team of whish are a top 6 club. You seem to have some kind of blinkered view about how these things work. Hodgson, for whatever reason, has decided, at the moment, that Clyne isnt good enough. I dont think that reason is because he plays for Southampton. If it was he wouldnt have selected Lallana, Lambert and JRod last season would he? It isnt hard mate.

Maybe because we are very short of CHs but not short on midfield players???

No Delldays, not in my opinion. In the opinion of the Engalnd manager who called up three Southampton players last season.

I really dont know. What I do know is that his performances at CH for Arsenal have been criticised by people who play the game. I also know that playing for Southampton didnt stop Lallana, Lambert and JRod getting called up.

We were not a big club last season but it didnt stop the England manager watching many of our games or selecting three of our players for full international duty and JWP for the Under 21s so why should it hinder Clyne's progress?

Better than Clyne? Hmmm not sure. Better than Johnson, could well be but nowhere near the experience. The trouble is, as has just been said, that we panic when things arent going well and look for the next big hope (Wilshire for example). Chambers needs to be nurtured and developed. Playing International football is a big step up from playing League football and he is still very inexperienced. The whole point of the Under 19s and Under 21s is to develop players. Just throwing them in at the deep end isnt ideal. I hope for his sake that he does go on to have a decent career but he wasnt even a mid table team's first choice last season.

Because your statement is clearly incorrect.

Once again Delldays you are losing the plot. Once again, it didnt stop Lallana, Lambert of JRod being called up, why should it prevent Clyne?

Future being the operative word here. He was a bit part player for us not a first team regular and although has clear potential, that is what development throught the U21s is all about. He has been exposed a few times at CH for Arsenal and is not ready for the full International team yet.

Paying for Saints didnt stop Lallana, Lambert and JRod getting called up. I am sure he will get his chance with us if he keeps playing well.

Yes. He hasnt proved himself good enough from his club appearances yet and has been blamed for a couple of goals at CH for Arsenal. He is still a novice at this level.

Oh dear. What do you want the club to do exactly? They have already bought a lot of players in and are trying to bring more in which may or may not happen because as with all clubs not every target comes off. You have NO idea what is going on behind the scenes but he have decided whatever it is, it isnt good enough for you. If things are so bad wouldnt you bebetter off supoorting another club or finding another hobby? You seem to spend your whole life moaning about the management on an internet chat forum - not health mate. Get out of the house and do something worthwhile for a change. You sound like a young man - find yourself a girlfriend, take up golf, anything but waste your life here.

I am not touchy about it. I am touchy about your constantly negative posts Charlie. You are so bloody depressing.

Is it just me or do all UKIP candidates look unhinged?

Yep, as you say, they have paid for potential which we all know is a gamble. It is all academic now however as the deal has been done and he now plays for Arsenal. Time will tell if Wenger's gamble has paid off but £16m is still a lot of money (een if it does include add ons) for a young kid who has yet to play a full season at the highest level. RK must have sanctioned the move and he knows what he wants better than we do.