derry

It's got to be a gamble taking a player that is recuperating from a cruciate and playing his first games for a club in a crucial position. It's bad enough taking somebody who is fit and could get injured but knees need care not **** or bust situations.

The mail copying the echo and vice versa. Brian said on Monday that he would know more by the end of the week so it looks like nobody is in any rush except Saints fans. In any event he will be letting my son know as soon as it happens.

No, but my middle son is.

If there is truth in it, would any employee of Cortese's dare make a premature comment of any sort.

Hi Dave, unfortunately there has been no change. As you say he would be a great signing. I might be going to the driving range with my son and Brian tomorrow pm, so I might get a better idea always providing things haven't moved on and he would be otherwise engaged, hopefully.

He Hasn't.

I can't wait.

Quite! But up to now there has been little evidence of a change in attitude by either side. I wouldn't put it past the Echo to print this story to spite Cortese. I hope he sees through it if that is what it is and gets on and signs him.

The Echo is the problem Nick, a complete back page and banner headlines. I bet Cortese is unhappy about that being broken prematurely before there is agreement on anything.

This might be the reason that things are moving slowly. I'm not sure Reading are interested in contributing.

It wouldn't break our reported levels.

We do know there is bad feeling between Cortese and the Echo. The premature big story today won't help that.

Yes.

Nick I'm trying to play it down. The Echo has a complete back page and big photograph plus more on the inside sports pages. Anything I put on here to try and balance that sensationalism won't hurt as it will be seen as factual. I don't think Brian is doing anything and the only reason my son is being told is that they are good friends and he is asking my questions, as I am aware of the damage that can be done through speculation. My read on this is that we are now in a great position to get promoted, but still misfiring in central midfield, Brian has been identified as an available short and long term solution to give us the direction we need in the middle. He has been a target for a long time and I do know that Pardew was chasing him last summer but he signed a new 3 year contract at Reading and was made captain and didn't want to drop into division 1. Bearing in mind the set up for bringing in players he is still on the committee's list. I think that in the position we are in Cortese would see the sense of strengthening now, especially as Reading look like they will let Brian leave, Southampton is his home and was his first club, and with his help, provided we do get promoted it would take away the barrier of dropping down.

There is two pages on today's Echo saying it is a done deal which could well anger Cortese and cause him to ditch it. I'm saying no it isn't. It is rediculous to pre-empt the official announcement. Brian has never made any secret of the fact he wanted to play for Saints at some point. Pardew wanted him but he wasn't interested in long term div 1. If he is going to sign it will happen quickly if all the details are settled. At the moment there is little fact in the leaks purely speculation. I hope it doesn't bugger the whole thing up.

Ron I am at home with my son. Brian is talking to him via texts at this minute. Nothing is happening, Saints know what his contract is and all he is looking for is the same figures. He is happy to sign on loan and permanently if we are promoted. He isn't talking to anyone except friends. It seems the Reading end is leaking like a sieve. Unless his contract is accepted it won't happen. The conversation is along the lines that the Echo knows something he doesn't. The sarcastic response was It looks that way. I'll let you know if anything moves. I just hope that this Echo/media thing doesn't bugger it up because Cortese won't like it. He hasn't spoken to Saints yet but his agent has.

We missed out on Austin, it seems everybody knew about him except us. We missed out on Aaron Martin until Ian Baird put him forward. 29 goals this season we should at least trial him. We don't seem to be very good at scouting local players.

He is better than anybody we have in central midfield. He was I believe injured and Reading are on a good run and he hasn't been able to get back in. I might be seeing him on Thursday, there is no doubt he would come if the terms were right and the club's agree, he feels he has unfinished business at Saints. He is a natural left sided central midfielder who passes forward which is just what we need. However at the moment nothing has happened.

We need players to win the ball because we keep giving it away. Yes Fonte could play CM but unlikely to happen.

A big difference is the number of set piece goals we are scoring.

All the teams at the top will drop points. I would be surprised if most don't drop at least 10 points.

No. I mean nowhere near.

Brian Howard rang my son this morning, as I got him to send Brian a text last night which he responded to this morning. Firstly this site is grossly premature. That is not to say it can't happen but it is a long way from where it is implied here. I think he has had an injury earlier in the season and as Reading are doing well has to wait his chance.

This is a case of really jumping the gun. I have been in contact with Brian and the way it is being put about as a done deal is nonsense. That is not to say it can't happen but it is nowhere near at this point in time.

6 away - 11 points, 3 home - 9 points.