Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Sneak preview of tomorrow's coverage of the crisis meeting in the Echo: Crisis meeting at Saints! Whole staff interrogated as Rupert's train picture goes missing. "I don't care if we lost again at the weekend, where's my bl**dy painting", Lowe was heard to shout.

That's why we're streets ahead of our rivals: Rupert's forward planning is second to none.

Desperately poor today. Yes we had chances in the first half but so did they! Apart from the keeper and centre-halves, we looked weak all over. The full backs were left exposed by two wingers who are lightweight and didn't track back. The central midfield was also lightweight and there was no cohesion between Surman or Schneiderlin. The front two weren't great but at least there was effort from both and everything Saga hit was on target. Good to see him score and get a nice reaction on his return throughout. On a more general, personal note, I can't afford a season ticket any more (2 kids under the age of 3 can do that to you!) so the occasional games I can get to, I treasure. But it's hard to treasure those games when whatever you do get to see is complete dross. I'm not sure if we can even blame being 'forced' to mainly play mainly kids. The organisation of the side is p*ss poor and I'm not entirely sure the players know what they're meant to be doing. And that, unfortunately, is a damning indictment of the management team. If this is total football, it's totally unacceptable.

The positioning of Schneiderlin and Surman in the midfield was particularly poor. There was no cohesion between the 2 of them; Schneiderlin was too deep and was almost an auxiliary centre-half at times, which left Surman isolated. We need the midfield general we thought Wotton would be and fast.

Thinking logically, if there's no news today, I guess we'll have to wait and see whether he's part of the Norwich squad for their game against Barnsley. If there is something in the offing, then I'm sure neither us nor Fiorentina will want him to play for them and risk the chance of an injury, which could scupper the deal.

This remains the most worrying aspect, if nothing comes to fruition by tonight.

I see Norwich have recalled Cureton from Barnsley. Hopefully this is a promising sign?!

Maybe it will be a case of replacing an AL (Lallana) with an AL (Lupoli), if it seems like Saga is going to be staying?

Amazing. The article makes even less sense when translated into English!! LUPOLI, the ready Southampton to take it 15.01.2009 12,48 of Conterio Mark E' in program for this afternoon an encounter between the leadership of the Southampton and the agents of Arthur Lupoli. The player, that he has given l' goodbye to the Norwich with months d' advance payment, is always of property of the Fiorentina but the Saints seems disposed to find it from, quickly on loan oneroso. To care, yesterday, Pantaleo Corvino it does not have intentional to cant itself but it is clearly that the future of Lupoli will not be in river all' Arno.

I see what happened there. Dos Santos is going to Paris SAINT Germain, somewhere mishears a whisper and, hey presto, he's going on loan to SAINTS. Easily done.

Sounds like this whole Lupoli thing could be on then. I seem to recall him playing wide right or up front when he was at Derby, so right side of a front 3 would be ideal. Has scored a few in the past so could turn out to be a really good signing.

Returning to the initial post - how confident are you that this is true MB?

Delia, reinstate him right now. I insist!

Maybe the plan is to go from having the youngest side in the League, to the oldest, to see which performs best. If it is the latter, we will, no doubt, abandon our youth policy and return to Rupert's Secure Retirement days, to provide a place for ageing stars to have one last hurrah!

Experienced players in, Saints win. There's a link there I'm sure but I just can't work out what it is!

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/article.php?page_id=11196 Jan seems to be hinting at further transfer activity at St Mary's (near the end of this article). I wonder if he means players in or players out (or even both)???

A new defender is acquired and there are Saeijs of relief around St Mary's!! Or maybe it's just a cunning plan by Rupert: if the fans start to chant for Jan P. to go, he can send Mr Saiejs back to Holland instead... Seriously, though, welcome to Southampton, Jan. We need a leader at the back & I really hope you're the answer.

I really hope Saints are serious about using him because boy do we need some inspiration from somewhere. I'd like to see him played in the hole, just off the central striker, particularly if Lallana is sold.

To be honest, that's the way I see it too! Scary that it's looking like we're going into these crucial games with Perry as our only decent centre back.

As the title says really, seeing as the Christian Dailly rumour has died a death...

Does the lack of any news mean we can file this in the Paul Allen folder of unfulfilled rumours?!

Unfortunately Bristol Rovers would want us to cross their palms with silver. And we ain't got none.

Has our Church Newpaper been delivered yet?

The Sunday Mirror has Pearce in our predicted team! Are they not up to date on all things Saints? Are we no longer big news?!

Hold on - let me call the missus. I knew I could be right one day...!