Chez

I think David Pleat was having a final look at Surman today with a view to a bid. Forrest were rumoured to have tried to get fellow left sided player Gary McSheffrey on loan with Anderson out for a while and Surman would fit their needs. I might be wrong of course as Forrest are also looking for a striker and perhaps were giving Saga or Scotland the once over.

agreed.

nicely done.

I think dillusional is the popular reponse to that sort of post (whether it is the correct term to use or not) I'd of thought you'd struggle to find many (perhaps any) supporters that rate Smith and are happy having him in the side.

likewise. He looked a far better prospect than James yet it was James that got that extra time needed to improve. Skacel did pretty well when he came in but only his heading appeared to be better than what Mills served up. IMO what MIlls needs is games and lots of them. If he had got the game James has had I would suggest he would be flying by now.

yep, Chemistry.

I thought he was pretty much available on a free now isn't he?

I wonder how bad he is going to have to play before Mills gets another chance? Just out of interest who would play right back if James got injured?

it was, the player didn't want to take a cut in wages and we didn't want to subsidise them.

according to his agent he had an option to stay at Hertha but he chose to come back. Some how I doubt that is the truth. In terms of transfers I am dissapointed we didn't sign Wayne Brown. Leicester just taken him on loan, he would have bene perfect for us - another big tough ball winning CB would have been just the job IMO especially considering Molyneux's lack of height.

according to his agent Pavel Zika, he had the option to stay at Hertha Berlin but chose to return to us. Not sure a football agents word is gospel though.

Molyneux could become a Saints great in years to come - who knows. Skacel will never be that now.

behind Bale, Claus, Baird, Jones, Guthrie, Pele and Rasiak..and maybe even Saga

never been a fan but he's better than the ****e Holmes and Smith. This is why we are struggling. The standard of player at the club at present is appauling.

I'm surprised someone hasn't described you being anti Saints for buying a ticket and subsequently backing Lowe or some other **** like that. Anyway, good on ya mate, try to enjoy it...that won't be easy I can assure you.

best of luck with the chemo Ed.

I don't know why but I find it hard to believe that fans that support Lowe (or at least those that are more sympathetic about the situation he has come into to) would be trying to spread their views to other Saints fans by manhandling people in the concourse. I of course was not a witness to the event so will have to accept your account.

no one can force him to leave if he has a contract. The board could put pressure on him to leave but in the end if he wants to be here he will. Whether that means he will get a game is a different matter but once the window closes and he hasn't gone then the manager may as well play him.

perhaps he was even worse at the weekend. Just because you scored a goal it doesn't mean you played well. Can anyone enlighten us as to his actual performance on Saturday? At that level he should shine even if he is only 19.

Lallana has been playing right wing. That is why he may not have been tracking back - thats not his job. If you say it is his job let me point out that Holmes never tracks back ever. As a right midfielder his responsibilities will change and I expect him to do that job. He is a real talent and he works hard. He needs to be in the side. I agree he always comes inside. So long as the left sided player gets to the byeline it won't hurt us too much in a 4-4-2.

agreed. Holmes is ****e.

I've never really liked him, primarily because his fitness was poor when he first came and he has failed to improve it since he got here. Perhaps he has never had an engine but to only last 60 minutes when playing in midfield is poor. Also he dives. In pretty much every single game you will see him stutter down towards the corner flag before allowing himself to be `touched' by the defender before falling over to `win' a free kick. This helps Saints but I hate it, sorry but cheating like that is crap and every now and then the ref spots it and doesn't give it and we end up being in trouble. What I really hate though is when he shirks his responsibilites defensively because he seems lazy. I'm talking about not getting into the correct positions early because that would take effort, not tracking the runner cos that would be tiring, not tucking in or covering round because he just can't be bothered. Perhaps this is all down to his poor engine, perhaps its down to him not being a fullback, either way I find it hard to excuse which perhaps is unfair. What I saw at Reading was beyond the pale. He had a good game, but in the second half a simple one two from Reading that put their guy in could easily have been prevented but Skacel just shrugged his shoulders and acted as though it was the midfielders man when it was quite obviously his. I am not sure how else to describe the incident other than him being extremely lazy and not giving a **** - which almost cost us. Let me counter my own criticisms by saying I think he should be in the side, he is better than Molyneux (from the little I have seen) and Holmes, he has a great first touch and great ability on the ball. I have also been impressed by his heading ability since going to fullback. I also think he has been treated very poorly by the management and forgive him wanting away. The way he has been treated who wanted want away?

correct. Match what he was on before to ensure we get compensation should he leave and sign for someone else. Whether we actually really wanted him or not is another thing. Perhaps we offered him the same wage thinking he woul ddecline and then after no one showed any interest (knowing they would have to pay a fee) he actually signed the damn contract and we were then forced to loan him out to avoid him causing an `disruption'. Why anyone felt that Ryan Smith was a better option is beyond me.

lets hope Seijs and Molyneux proves more successful than Smith and Holmes who are bloody rubbish IMO. I have to ask why do we need a middle man? If Pearson (sorry to go over old ground) had been here couldn't he have been responsible for calling other managers and askign about availability? Yet more money spent. Why do you need middle men when all you need to do is pick up the phone and ask the rival manager "is your lad available?"

absolutely spot on. No matter what you think of both players, they are terrific prospects (both England U21 squad players) and the only real talent we have at the club. With players like Ledley and Fabian Delph seemingly having £6m price tags and Ben Watson going for £2m, Lowe is not going to let either leave for £1m or whatever. The key thing is how close are we to administration and is there a chance that Skacel will leave.