Topic: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

[AndyMuller]

To be honest I am in love with his bird.

[Naby Lad]

Why? He hasn’t played there much recently, what are you basing your opinion on?

The times he did play there.

Can't control a ball. Can't pass. Can't play in tight spaces. Constantly wanders out of position and just stands wide or next to the bloody striker.

[Coolie High]

The times he did play there.

Can't control a ball. Can't pass. Can't play in tight spaces. Constantly wanders out of position and just stands wide or next to the bloody striker.

When was that though can’t really remember.

[Naby Lad]

When was that though can’t really remember.

I'm not going to list all the times he's played CM.

He's played there just as often as he's played wide. The only decent thing he provides is the odd 30 blam to mask a poor performance.

But if you want to go with the argument he never plays there, then what you basis the idea of playing him there on then?

[Johnny Foreigner]

Prior to the last injury; he was ok; not great. New injury and he will never be great; probably on a decent contract/nice guy and klopp likes him.. Still - move on. He's a passenger on big bucks now

[Haggis36]

People are being disingenuous to suggest he's always been poor - he looked genuinely excellent for a period of time after he settled in and was in the starting eleven on merit. You can label it a purple patch if you want, the truth is we'll never know what his level would be like now if he didn't suffer a catastrophic near career-ending injury.

He's also no longer at the level we aspire to and is never likely to get the games he needs to play himself into proper form (if it's even possible given the injuries he's had).

Both of those statements can be simultaneously true, it's not an either-or. I feel for him because I like him a lot as a person and it's always gutting to see a player robbed by injuries, but it's spots like his, Origi's and a couple of others that we need to be focusing on in the summer. If we want to carry a small squad then it needs to be a squad with players who can contribute to the required level and for a long while now it's felt a little like he's just making up the numbers.

[Lastrador]

When was the last time he finished a game? Must be our more subbed out player by a large margin, which could be an indicator of how ineffective he usually is.

[newterp]

Injuries have completely robbed him. He can't play in this team (well when we are playing well).

[Simplexity]

I would play him at right back and see what happens.

[killer-heels]

I would play him at right back and see what happens.

Possibly, but he is another who has two years left on his deal. I really think we need to be moving him on, he hasnt contributed enough and takes a fair chunk of wages.

[SMASHerano]

Feel bad for him because prior to that injury against Roma he was our best midfielder. Right now he isn't doing anything to justify his huge wages. I don't know if anyone will be able to match them considering his injury record and his non-existent performances since he got back from that injury. I guess we are stuck with him for the next 2 seasons and he either gets better or not.

[Simplexity]

Possibly, but he is another who has two years left on his deal. I really think we need to be moving him on, he hasnt contributed enough and takes a fair chunk of wages.

May as well try him there till the end of the season. He cannot possibly be worse than Trent at this point.

[killer-heels]

May as well try him there till the end of the season. He cannot possibly be worse than Trent at this point.

We could but most times we dont even have a centreback on the field so I am sure Klopp would be worried with doing that.

[Gerry Attrick]

We could but most times we dont even have a centreback on the field so I am sure Klopp would be worried with doing that.

Alexander-Arnold was hardly rock solid at RB against Dwight McNeil. Got done up like a kipper twice and just switched off on at least one occasion.

[killer-heels]

Alexander-Arnold was hardly rock solid at RB against Dwight McNeil. Got done up like a kipper twice and just switched off on at least one occasion.

You dont, as a manager, plan for that to happen though do you? You dont think oh Trent was shit defensively last game so i will put a midfielder at fullback despite my reservations and worries around how crap he might be at defending.

[decosabute]

Through bad luck with injuries, Chamberlain and Keita have ended up being very little use to us whatsoever. Both were smart signings on paper and have done well for us at times, but Ox is a shadow of what he was with what his body has been through and Keita is never available. Assuming Gini leaves, we'll need at least one, if not two more forward-thinking midfielders in the summer that we can depend on.

[Gerry Attrick]

You dont, as a manager, plan for that to happen though do you? You dont think oh Trent was shit defensively last game so i will put a midfielder at fullback despite my reservations and worries around how crap he might be at defending.

Well no, but I guess it may reach a point of Alexander-Arnold continues to be pants at both ends of the pitch that Klopp could at least try and get something helpful going one way. Doubt it but Alexander-Arnold is bordering on unplayable and not in the good way.

[RedKenWah]

I have sympathy for the lad, he’s had a horrendous injury record which each one has kind of robbed him of momentum when he was pretty much in the form of his life at one stage, but now it’s a little bit like the Adam Lallana situation. What makes it worse for him is that he needs his dynamic pace to do what he did best in midfield and that’s drive forward and add to the attacking part.

He probably needs a run in the team to get some form of level back but even though this is the perfect opportunity for him to grab giving everything going on, he’s not done enough to warrant it unfortunately, but it’s certainly his for the taking.

Playing him at RB would be interesting mind, certainly give TAA competition for sure.

[killer-heels]

Well no, but I guess it may reach a point of Alexander-Arnold continues to be pants at both ends of the pitch that Klopp could at least try and get something helpful going one way. Doubt it but Alexander-Arnold is bordering on unplayable and not in the good way.

Maybe. He does have some of the qualities. To be honest i am thinking of the longer term.

[Reeves]

To be honest I am in love with his bird.

[Fromola]

I don't see what he offers at all now. At least Keita is productive when he actually gets on the pitch.

It's like playing with 10 men. He's a great lad and it's a shame what the injuries have done to his career, but we can't carry him.

[mrantarctica]

To be honest even though he perhaps didn't have the greatest impact on the game, I'm glad that he was involved. Before the game I had thought we should freshen things up and bring in some new faces to introduce a little unpredictability and variation in the way we play.

I doubt that he has quite go his rhythm but I think that both he and Shaq bring us a bit of goal threat from outside the box. If they can really go hard at training to get their shooting boots on then it might mean teams will be less keen to let them have the ball on the edge of the area (or even further out). That might just invite a little bit more room for the players.

Up until now, all our goal threat has pretty much just been Mane or Salah getting in the area and other teams have shown that if you just crowd around them and get legs in the way then they don't really score any goals.

[ep1987]

To be honest even though he perhaps didn't have the greatest impact on the game, I'm glad that he was involved. Before the game I had thought we should freshen things up and bring in some new faces to introduce a little unpredictability and variation in the way we play.

If your idea of unpredictability is whether a player will control the ball or not then sure. His poor performance was entirely predictable based on all recent evidence; as others have said he was in flying form before his injury but that was almost three years ago.

[Clayton Bigsby]

I'm not sure Ox is ever gonna be the player that I and I'm sure others envisage him to be when looking at his fundamentals, e.g a solid 10+ goal a season player. That doesn't mean he can't still contribute to the team but I guess when you look at our mix in midfield, we are crying out for a reliable scorer and if Klopp and his team also feel this way and want to bring someone in, I think he is at risk

[The North Bank]

Shame the injury jinx followed him to Liverpool. He had the potential to be incredible, Wilshere was another one, hes now at Bournemouth on a pay as you play!.

[[new username under construction]]

Should never ever play as one of the front three, he just can't do it. Great in midfield but God knows why we persist with him up top anywhere, never had a good game for us up there

[RedForeverTT]

Should never ever play as one of the front three, he just can't do it. Great in midfield but God knows why we persist with him up top anywhere, never had a good game for us up there

A couple of months ago I criticised him for not knowing what to do as a front 3 and it seems like the problem persisted. Maybe he will never have that kind of instinct in a forward role.

But generally he has regressed since coming back at the end of last season. It was a breath of fresh air when he joined us in 17/18 but have been steadily in decline following his injury.

[Red-Soldier]

Shame the injury jinx followed him to Liverpool. He had the potential to be incredible, Wilshere was another one, hes now at Bournemouth on a pay as you play!.

Did he have a bad one at Arsenal too?  I know he was regularly injured, but did he have one like he did against Roma for us?

Shame really, he was a cracking player for us that season, in the form of his life!  He offered that drive and shooting from distance that nobody else seems to have.

[redk84]

When gini made that run in the 2nd half...I could imagine Ox doing this also

I want him to get back to doing things like that, he has it in him
Definitely a confidence player and i think we need to try him centrally more, give him license to get forward and never know...he is dangerous around the box too

he's been back for a bit now and is another one of ours that look a bit jaded, want to see more from him

[Andy-oh-six]

He looked upset when he came off. I read it as a reflection of him knowing that he was very poor rather being upset because he was coming off. It’s sad to see how little he contributes.

[Agent99]

Did he have a bad one at Arsenal too?  I know he was regularly injured, but did he have one like he did against Roma for us?

Shame really, he was a cracking player for us that season, in the form of his life!  He offered that drive and shooting from distance that nobody else seems to have.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alex-oxlade-chamberlain/verletzungen/spieler/143424

He had a number of knee injuries at Arsenal which kept him out for a few months at a time but nothing as bad as the one against Roma.

[AmSeeker]

It will take him time, and a number of games to get up to the levels.

The problem is once he reaches those levels, he'll get injured again. The cycle never ends.

Shouldn't be carrying such injury prone players - were warned before signing him.

[Gaz123456]

So sorry for him, he seems a really great guy who genuinely cares for the club.

Sadly there's no room for sentiment and he's a very long way from becoming the player he was. Personally I think that his time as a first team player here are over.

[Pistolero]

Shame the injury jinx followed him to Liverpool. He had the potential to be incredible, Wilshere was another one, hes now at Bournemouth on a pay as you play!.

How was he at right back for you NB?...played there a couple of times didn't he?....the all hands to the pump nature of this season means he might have to fill in there in the not too distant!

[The North Bank]

Did he have a bad one at Arsenal too?  I know he was regularly injured, but did he have one like he did against Roma for us?

Shame really, he was a cracking player for us that season, in the form of his life!  He offered that drive and shooting from distance that nobody else seems to have.

I remember this one because I was there, first home game of the season in August, he was on fire, set up Giroud for a goal and was running the game down the wing. Then...

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed he could be out of action until November.
The England international, 20, was injured during Saturday's 3-1 Premier League defeat by Aston Villa.
t the player tweeted:"Gutted I'm injured so early in the season. But I'm going to be working hard to hopefully be back playing in three months."
He is likely to miss England's World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine next month.
Wenger said Oxlade-Chamberlain may not require surgery but added: "He will be out for at least six weeks. He has a posterior cruciate problem, a ligament which is stretched."


He didn't come back till the new year. His career with us was always like that. Work your way into the team - Get in top physical shape- Become one of our best players- Breakdown- Miss months..... Then do the same again.

[The North Bank]

How was he at right back for you NB?...played there a couple of times didn't he?....the all hands to the pump nature of this season means he might have to fill in there in the not too distant!

Played as a wing back in a back 5, including in the cup final victory over Chelsea. Very good going forward, when he can run onto the game and see it infront of him, it gives him a chance to get to top speed as runs faster over long distances than short bursts.

Ball over his head was a calamity though, didn't know where he was in relation to the centre backs and the goal, he hasn't got the awareness for it.

I don't expect hed be doing much defending most games at Liverpool so its worth a try. 

[Pistolero]

Played as a wing back in a back 5, including in the cup final victory over Chelsea. Very good going forward, when he can run onto the game and see it infront of him, it gives him a chance to get to top speed as runs faster over long distances than short bursts.

Ball over his head was a calamity though, didn't know where he was in relation to the centre backs and the goal, he hasn't got the awareness for it.

I don't expect hed be doing much defending most games at Liverpool so its worth a try.

Got to be...not expecting a mid-career masterclass renaissance a'la Ray Kennedy...just an assist for one of those things again?...what are they called?...oh yeah, goals, would do at the moment!

[Fiasco]

The problem with Ox isn't just that he had a serious injury, the problem is that particular injury was a big one in a long line of other injuries. I'd happily take the patient approach with him if his general injury record was sound but unfortunately it isn't and as he gets older with more wear and tear and with a seemingly natural tendency to pick up injuries, I don't see how he gets close to previous levels and/or gets a consistent run in the side without breaking down.

I think he's a boss lad and tries hard but it seems that his body isn't there at the minute.

[Coolie High]

He hasn't played in midfield, he'll go a run of games where he doesn't play then suddenly stuck out on the wing, I think some of you may have unrealistic expectations of players. You want them to come back from injuries not play for a number of games, get played out of position in a team deflated of confidence and still be world beaters?

[Naby Lad]

He hasn't played in midfield, he'll go a run of games where he doesn't play then suddenly stuck out on the wing, I think some of you may have unrealistic expectations of players. You want them to come back from injuries not play for a number of games, get played out of position in a team deflated of confidence and still be world beaters?

He wasn't good when he played midfield for a team posting 99 points last season. Most of his 'good' performances were just the same as his bad ones only masked by him blamming in a shot from 30 yards.

He made 43 appearances last season, are you really saying he didn't play midfield in any of those?