saint1977

They are giving it a good go to be fair! Someone hadn’t told Ian Holland with those two late wickets. Batting has been a lot more difficult at the Ageas this season, don’t agree with Northeast it is just the time of the season. Mitchell and Hildreth made tons today on surfaces that have done a bit as well. Pitches might need re-doing over the winter to get more pace, bounce and consistency in them. Mason Crane can’t bowl on the current pitches when fit and I don’t think Northeast joined to average 25 although he did pick up a winners medal in June.

That's right, and I still think it is highly unlikely to happen. It might come to down to whether May and the ERG's differences are so far apart that they'd rather risk PM Corbyn. Although can't see him getting on overall majority, even with the crazy state of politics today. Some of the stuff McDonnell is coming out with is nuts, and could unite the Tories, but I think Boris is too far right even for the Tories now, JRM who knows, for that to realistically happen. If she can't get it through Parliament, that could trigger an election and yet more instability. It was being hinted at in the papers but very risky.

Notts are making some cracking signings - Joe Clarke, Zak Chappell, Ben Duckett and Ben Slater, an opener, which is something Hants desperately need. Middle order looks OK with Donald joining Northeast, Rilee, Dawson and Vince, but we are virtually 3 down for zip all of the time.

Will settle for that. Only 3-0 away to a side that will finish top 2 and CL finalists vs a bottom half Championship side is good going. Only Ings is good enough to play in the PL, and couldn’t play today. The saving grace is that the other sides that aren’t PL standard either such as Cardiff, Hudds and Newcastle didn’t win. It’s how we do against them that will determine if Hughes can pull off a miracle and keep that garbage up.

Every goal might count in May. Ings is the only PL quality outfield player we have so no point going gung ho. Just get away with the 3-0 if possible.

Forecast looks a wash out, good news for Hants as horribly outplayed. Need new top 3 for next season, a bit like England. Yorks will probably be OK although Anderson will run through Hants like a raw scotch bonnet chilli if he plays for Lancs at the Ageas.

Pace - Bournemouth have lots of it, whereas the Puel and Pellegrino eras sucked any urgency out of Saints. Having said that, Leicester were poor at SMS but our players didn’t have the quality in the final third to finish them off with Ings struggling with his feet. Leicester fans frustrated at the slow build up and losing that pacy counter attacking thrust that was their hallmark. I’m sure it’s the first thing their new manager will fix if they get someone that understands English football better.

Marvellous state of global politics - a Nazi in the White House, an anti-Semitic Communist idiot as UK leader of the opposition with 500k Trots behind him, the centre right UK PM under threat from the UK far right hiding behind Brexit, and far right lunatics in Hungary and with their claws in Sweden, Austria and Germany. Putin seemingly with a hand in some of the above. History shows that embracing the far right leads to communism through the back door long term.

I'd agree with this Windows but also whilst there's been some atrocious batting (we know Vince struggles on anything other than a shirt front) by both sides there's also the quality of the bowling to consider. You've got Overton and Steyn, who both bowl at around 90mph and when there's movement in the atmosphere if they pitch it up straight, wickets will follow as county batsmen aren't used to that stuff. Not sure England's top order would do any better. You've then got Abbott in the form of his life, Gregory is having a great season with bat and ball and those are good conditions for military mediums like Davey and Holland. Fidel hasn't featured much but is still mid-80s mph and can bowl some magic balls in with the four balls. Modern batters aren't used to having to tough it out, and possibly less technically able to do so, than their predecessors, so they try to hit their way out. Against Steyn, Overton, Abbott, C Overton et al, you'll come unstuck.

Great post. Whilst I’m keen to see the back of Gao, Les and Kreuger, this club has added a lot to English, and world, football in the last 50 years. I’d like to have seen us win more trophies but I’ve no regrets about being a Saints fan. Is Football 365 linked to Bet365 at all? If so, could be another anti-Hughes pop originating in the Potteries?

Boris has really lost the plot with his latest article, sounds like his personal life has got to him and gone cuckoo. Disgusting analogy to make and sufficient for another Party and his sacking I should think. Probably being kind to him too, don’t think his mental health is up to frontline politics and it’s bad enough having a loony and despot in charge of the opposition. Got booed heavily at the Oval yesterday.

30-4, deary me, come on lads, show some application. Pitch and overheads must be doing plenty. Even another 100 on the board might be too much for Worcs unless the sun comes out or the pitch dries out. Just got to get as many as they can and fight it out.

The madness of that match summed up by Livingstone hitting a couple of glorious straight sixes and then slogging one to get caught. If I was his captain, I'd fine him 2 weeks wages fpr that, pure laziness in the situation Lancs are in. That's probably just the last hope gone (good for Hants btw!) of Lancs staying up. I don't think the pitch report is going to reveal much other than the standard of batting in D1 longer format, and some of the limited overs stuff as well, is abysmal. Apart from those selected on England tours, every other D1 top and middle order batsman should be playing overseas this winter, whatever the conditions, and get bat on ball in a longer format. Good morning for Hants, Steyn got the key two including Barnard who can hit out. 70 odd lead now, so have to bat properly, plenty of time left so get over 200 and set them 275-300 at least. That will be hard to get this time of year last knock. That 30-odd by Adams and 48 by Northeast is looking like gold.

First hour defines the season tomorrow. Three or more wickets and we are right in it. If the sun is out, our chance may have gone. Stupid collapse today, Barnard isn’t exactly Sam Curran or Ben Stokes but he was too good for the top and middle order today. Decent if frenetic innings from Adams and young Soames but Vince sparked off a collapse with quelle surprise a loose drive and snared in the slips. Frustrating as so much talent but not much up top to go with it. Abbott back in form but need Steyn rolling back the years tomorrow, movement at high pace.

1) Gabbiadini's second at Wembley 2) Rickie's goal v Man City, 2012 3) Beattie's header/shoulder v Wimbledon in 99, followed by MLT direct from a corner 4) Either of the MLT stunners v Newcastle - choose your favourite 5) Pahars v the Skates 2003, sublime goal and I was sat right behind it. Honorable mention to Matt Oakley for his stunning long ranger in 2005 which stunned the blue few into silence, even the Chapel went nuts!

He and his agent could do a Winston Bogarde and just take the cash and play for the U23s every so often. It depends how motivated Fraser is to get on his with his career and life. It sounds like he is anxious about the situation which is good as this transfer window will have told him that Les's contract is a millstone around his neck. Compromise agreement would be the most sensible option all round - say 25% of the duration as a lump sum (which is lot of money over 4 years), release him from his contract on a free. That's what I'd do, club are going to take a large bath here in any case, so might as well bite the bullet whilst we still have the TV money. Osvaldo would have been as bad, if not a worse loss. The big lesson is never to let Les Reed anywhere near first team matters again and he may be an obstacle to resolving this as he'd have to admit a massive mistake that really isn't explainable rationally, and as we saw at the fans forum, taking responsibility is not his strong suit. So it might be contingent on how keen Fraser is on a fresh start. Fraser might sit it out until the January window, save up the dosh in the meantime, and then be decisive then in taking a different course.

Hope he keeps it up. Seemed a decent lad and not his fault Les screwed up abysmally with Pellegrino (again). Might enhance the chance of at least recouping a bit of the money we paid.

Good post, if Hughes is starting to rip up the slow, sideways risk free corporate template then good and was evidence of this today. What Saints fans want is a higher tempo, and fitter side who look to get on the front foot. Puel and Pellegrino never understood this. Some excellent displays today - PEH, Lemina, McCarthy, Redmond, Mo - and some more mixed but nearly everyone put in a proper shift which is the core of what we ask for. Long offered us an outlet and invited more pressure onto us after he was forced off injured. Austin had a shocker, finishing has to be top drawer as he isn’t going to offer much else these days, but that penalty was shocking and missed another very presentable chance. Charlie is still a decent 20 minute impact option off the bench if we need a goal but would like to see more of Gallagher after the midweek cameo in other games.

Most large businesses on a global scale have to invest to put right unexplainable and sackable errors such as Forster second extension, Pellegrino, Carrillo etc. Instead, they’ve cut further and retained the buffoons that made them, which is also unexplainable. People moan at the fans but that’s been the one constant element which has backed the club. 3 wins in 29 games and people ITK expect fans to be hunky dory. Just hope Zaha is injured today as Saints might have a chance of causing an upset.

Definitely, vile actions and I hope the judge had the good sense to tell his team not to try the mental health excuse to save everyone time. I would make him, if the families were willing, face them in person to explain why he did what he did. With online and white collar crimes, it’s too easy for criminals to justify their repugnant behaviour without actually seeing the impact. Som3 won’t care but if a few can be reformed it could reduce future misery whilst still forming part of the punishment alongside prison.

There aren’t enough McInnes facepalms in Portsmouth to sum up my feelings about the latest score....17-2 second knock. If they dropped some catches when Essex batted, they really did produce the perfect terrible all round cricket display. Can’t bowl, can’t bat, can’t field.

England have bowled OK this morning but India's bowlers don't have to bowl to the likes to Kohli. Cook is well past it, England legend but even Gooch is effectively telling him to public to retire. Jennings is glue foot and won't crack this level consistently, Root is exposed at 3 and was last time he tried it when he wasn't skipper to boot. Just select who they feel are the best top 3 technical batsmen in those positions at domestic level and stick with them for 20 Tests at least. They'll have ups and downs but we can't keep chopping and changing with players who have already proven they aren't good enough. Pope looked promising although he bats at 5 for Surrey, but shows there are technical players out there. Onto Hampshire. Jimmy out early, clean bowled. Must be pushing 40 now, Trescothick or Gooch he isn't. Thankfully Weatherley and Holland are sticking with it for now. Need to bat time, get as many first knock and grind Essex down. Siddle and Harmer first change is pretty handy though. White of the Craig variety laid into the bowlers again yesterday, sounds like another Trent Bridge display from earlier in the season, apart from Abbott.

Wycombe it could be then. That 0-0 draw there in L1 was dire. Burton could be an option if they hold on, Villa missed pen in last minute. Oxford would be a good night out. Got a feeling it might be Bournemouth though

FGR please, never been there. Angleman had better get his burger and chips on the way to the ground though, no chance of getting one there, unless he likes soya or a vegan substitute.

That presenter’s shirt is a right state. And now we have Merv Hughes moustache.