derry

Every time I've seen him play he looks a class act. Certainly better than anybody we've got here. It's all about providing an end product and that is what he is good at. He puts the ball into dangerous areas which we don't do nearly quickly enough.

I get the feeling at the moment that Reading aren't interested in letting him play for somebody else and still paying some of his wages. They are quite happy for him to be available to them. I think it's a case we pay him or it doesn't happen. Either way we haven't pursued it yet and maybe don't intend to.

Agreed, it's not about the football but there is a very fine line between scoring from set pieces and not scoring at all. The central midfield isn't really working and we aren't getting much from general play. On the run in the games will get tighter because a lot of the games will mean a lot for one reason or another to our opponents. That means we have to be able to get goals from all phases at some point but at the moment we don't seem able to get much out of general play which could well cause us to drop points.

In some respects his statement is true. Lambert is a long way short of last years scoring record and only has 8 goals from play in about 40 matches. We are also scoring the majority of goals in the last few matches as a result of set pieces.

We are talking about the loan period. There hasn't been an offer to match his contract, in fact there appears to have been no contact at all since the original enquiry. It may be we don't want to match his contract.

Hardly any player we have signed in the last two seasons happened without press and website speculation. Certainly, Lambert, Barnard, Hammond, Jaidi, Dickson, Richardson, Martin, Seaborne, in fact apart from Butterfield, Chaplow, N'guessan and Forte everybody.

Everything is factual. We contacted Reading, he'd know more by the end of the week, his agent has spoken to Saints, there has been no contact, nothing is happening, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. He'd like to come on loan and earn a contract if we are promoted. He wasn't asking for more money but would need his contract to be matched. I haven't spoken to Brian but he knows the questions came from me and he was honest with his answers which are hardly more than common sense. Unlike the Echo/Reading media speculation and jumping the gun.

I haven't spoken to Brian, but he has answered some basic questions via my son. He can hardly blab about nothing happening. It is common knowledge that he wants to play for Saints, lives locally, and is a Saints supporter. His contract was announced by Reading last close season and the level I presume is similar to our highest paid players. What he has said is Saints know his contract and he isn't asking for more than that which seems fair to me. We need him more than he needs us. We either match his contract or he stays at Reading or goes to some other club. Reading say we haven't been in contact since the first enquiry which doesn't seem like a lot of interest to me.

He isn't talking to anybody except when asked because nothing is happening. It's in the press, McDermott is quoted, saying that nothing is happening is hardly going to make a difference. Saying that he would be a good signing is what this site is about, opinions. If the club think they are going to be able to sign player without publicity they won't be signing many good players, Oh!!!. The better the player the greater the speculation.

Brian isn't going to move and lose money. His contract is until July 2013 so unless we match that, it isn't going to happen.

Saints have been nibbling at him since last season. It is relative, he is a good player, at our level an outstanding player, better than any central midfielder available here, it is what he could do to improve us that I see. He directs and passes in midfield at the moment and for a long time we haven't had a leader in midfield. On Monday Brian thought it might happen but nothing happened.

Could somebody please point out the next Mick Channon in the youth team. Chamberlain is already doing that. It's a central midfield leader we need. Fonte might do it but it wouldn't be him more like one of the spare full backs. It's bad enough at the moment that we aren't playing that well but getting results scoring mostly from set pieces. If that dries up, we won't be promoted, playing stopgaps while our competitors are flying.

Unless we contact Reading again it isn't going to happen. Reading are playing two defensive midfielders, two quick wingers and employing route one pragmatism to get results. Playing Brian Howards brand of incisive passing and possession play isn't wanted. They bring him on when they are behind and can't get a goal and risk losing one of the defensive midfielders. It's our loss as we need a leader in the team and we don't have one, they don't come cheap. Brian is hardly the loser, he has a good contract until July 2013. I think we are pursuing a charity shop strategy with signings. Adkins did after all contact Reading last week and Brian's agent has spoken to Saints. Since then no contact. It wouldn't surprise me if we bring in a cheapie as cover but will that make us play better? because we are winning a lot of matches without playing well and relying on set pieces for goals.

There is no doubt he would come if asked. It depends I suppose on other options and whether other targets want to come. Noone else would have Brian's reasons, living here, supporter, and wanting to prove himself here. It's a shame, he could have improved us. Whoever we get in, he has to be better than those here already and a leader. Average backup doesn't cut it for me. If things don't work out on possibly cheaper options we might revisit.

It looks like it isn't going ahead.

You could well be right.

He is a good player, but my comment stands as more a criticism of the content of the Saints team of Indians but no Chiefs. We need on field direction and he would supply that. He could well get back into Reading's team and has already played 22 games but was out through injury and Reading are doing well.

You may be right Ron but as I said before Brian did say he would know more by the end of the week which didn't sound like anybody was in a rush. He did say that Saints knew his current contract and he wasn't looking for an increase. I think there is an urgency on here that isn't there in the real world. I think if it was over I would know pretty soon after, that it wasn't going to happen. Thursday is still a week away as you say.

I've taken a close interest in this lad as he and his girlfriend / were friends of my son while he was still at Saints. He could pick locks with his left foot and direction/tactical etc wise he is streets ahead of anybody else at Saints. We haven't had a player with his range of passing for years, probably since MLT. He would make an enormous difference to our team play especially to Chamberlain, Lallana, Lambert and Barnard/Guly. We have no leadership on the field and he would lead and direct.

I don't think Brian's contract is at a level which is any different to the likes of Fonte, Lambert, Lallana etc. Some of the figures being quoted on here are really a waste of a post, It remains whether the approach was made as a result of the committee including Cortese or just an enquiry that was leaked but isn't being pursued. Up to 10pm last night there had been no change.

I think maybe as there was an approach last week but after costs were looked at things didn't progress, although to be fair, Brian did say he would know more towards the end of this week which said to me that nobody was pushing at either end.

That's the problem with statistics they can't be extrapolated to work anything out as an end result. In our case Peterborough and Bournemouth away and only 3 home games.

I've not heard a thing today but I didn't really expect to, as my son is working and the loose arrangement was for sevenish this evening. I think Brian was going to contact him later on in the day. If anything is happening or either of them decide not to, it won't happen. My son isn't really that bothered about Saints or professional football, although he is sport minded. So he is not bothered either way as it makes no difference to him where Brian plays. Although if Brian joined Saints he would probably use my spare ST when he was available.

It's hypothetical but I would think that would be the strongest pairing defensively.

I could be wrong but I just can't see the club gambling on what could, if one of the central midfielders is long term injured, mean that a player that must play is in a recuperation phase. On the other hand I can't see Brian Howard being anything other than the first pick central midfielder.