Bless. See what I mean, FLT? You're getting the sympathy vote now. Personally I prefer your avatar, but what do I know?
http://www.just-football.com/2016/0...alex-oxlade-chamberlain-southampton-transfer/ Jose apparently confirmed he has spoken to Ox
More on that, later... (I spoke to José at length about Alex - most of it should be in the papers tomorrow - anything that doesn't get included, I'll share here)
EXCLUSIVE: José Fonte admits to Chamberlain talks - https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/pr...ack-to-southampton--have-begun-085710510.html
He supposedly turned down 90k a week from Arsenal. Saints shouldn't pay him anywhere near that. If he turned down that money because he wasn't sure about his future and would rather go somewhere he can play, then we can maybe afford him, and it's also a good sign his head is in the right place. If he thought he could get more money, then he's both too greedy and deluded about his own value. I like Chamberlain though. So I think it's the former. Would like to see him on the left wing, and Mane on the right. That's a pair of wingers who can pass, cross, dribble, finish and have speed. Granted, neither one of them has ever been able to do all those things at once, or any of them consistently, but the potential is massive. We could also move him to the middle, and that may eventually be his destination. But I think to start off with, it would be best to put him where we know he's been successful and isn't having to learn too much. Let him get a good string of games under his belt and get back in rhythm and get some confidence. Still don't think its going to happen, but I've come around to thinking that it MIGHT happen at least.
I like your thinking, and one of the advantages of having Oxo and Mané on the wings is that it means Tadić might just become the creative attacking midfielder we need, playing down the middle.
I think it's more likely the Ox would be central, with tadic and mane either side of him. I'm not sure tadic has the defensive part of the game down enough to play centrally - plus he is at his best on the left wing IMO.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the positions. Tadic, Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain playing behind a main striker would have the potential to be quite a fluid three, with all three able to interchange positions fairly frequently. I'm not quite as keen on Ox the player as some others but bringing one of our previous departures back in his prime would be a bit of a statement.
Yeah, chaos is good. A fluid attacking trio backing a striker who requires constant attention in either Long or Austin is a great way to panic a defense. We're at our best when the ball and our attackers are moving quickly, and that would be a very aggressive lineup.