chrisobee

Blimey, could you have not highlighted the main point you were referring to a little larger, I can barely read it However, we are not going to get Mourinho, Wenger or anyone of that ilk. I even saw a reference to Marcello Lippi somewhere ! I neither know nor care who is wrong, who is right, who might be ITK, who isn't ITK. I am capable of deciding for myself based on the actual facts available as to my own views on a subject. I'm not hopeful we'll get a manager I am keen on based on what I KNOW and is freely available to all. But football is full of surprises and maybe I'll be wrong, I fervently hope so in so far as I have any hope left !

Oh good, we agree

I can't be bothered to work it out but 99% sure they are saying that is how many we would need IF Kent get maximum possible points from their last 2 games and Warwickshire getting maximum points from their last game. However, since we are playing both it's not relevant as it definitely is mathematically impossible for Kent and Warwickshire to get maximum points and us to get 37 points ! Kent like us have only won 2 games all season, Warwickshire have won 5 which is why they are in with a chance of survival. A draw v Lancs would be a great help but failing that a win in either of our 2 games will almost certainly be enough as would 2 draws. Win both and we might get 37 points !

Flat, it's all pretty much been said. I also remember supporting a friendly, family club for whom promotion in 1966 was an amazing achievement, even at the age of 10 I was able to enjoy that success and the halycon days of the 80's and 90's. Throughout that time of course we were lucky enough to attract some of the best players England had to offer but the one constant was that no matter how successful we were, who played for us Saints remained a friendly club, it had a sense of loyalty and stability. However, the last 10 years it has all changed and for the worse. I couldn't even name off the top of my head all the managers we have had in that time. There is no loyalty in football in general and certainly none any longer at Southampton. It's no wonder Matt Le Tissier is held in such high esteem, for all his faults he epitomised what this club is or at least was all about. However it seems we cannot learn the lessons of the past, I wonder if any club previously has sacked their manager after a 4-0 win ? Of course yet another new manager will be appointed soon but how many managers are going to want to come here when they are really on a hiding to nothing ? It's yet more uncertainty and you really begin to wonder if it is worth the frustration.

Strange day and not a good one for us with only some late resistance getting us to 160, Lancs 124/2. Afraid Warwickshire had a very good day in the end. From 107/7 to 176/9 and then 118 for the last wicket, Tahir hit 69 off 74 balls ! Kent 37/3 in reply. So they could well win and we lose which puts a different complexion on our game with them though luckily Kent are below us as well. Derby were all out for 44 and now 127/4 after Gloucs made 156. 24 wickets in one day.

You may be right but this might just be the final straw as far as Pakistani Cricket is concerned. Aside from the obvious facts that no International cricket is being played in Pakistan and the increasingly frequent occurrence of controversy involving Pakistan this really could not have happened at a worse time. The current floods are one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit Pakistan with thousands dead and an estimated 17 million affected by the flooding. In a country where cricket is followed with such passion the current team were really duty bound to give them inspiration, even aside from the match fixing allegations their capitulation in the final test was just abject. Even now, 15 months after the attack on the Sri Lankan team, the PCB have not submitted a report to the ICC. However, you have someone like Javed Miandad who really should know better, actually wanting action taken against the Sri Lankan team for complaining about lack of security ! Pakistani cricket needs a complete overhaul starting with those at the highest level. The air of corruption surrounding the PCB will not go away any time soon unless changes do occur, I'm not convinced that countries will continue to support them. As someone pointed out Yorkshire hosted a match between Australia and Pakistan, they did indeed lose about £500,000 in the process. Are they or anyone else going to repeat that ? Of course it hardly seems likely. Nobody even knows yet if the ODI matches will go ahead. Pakistan are saying they intend to play but how many players will need to be replaced, 7, 8 ? It's anyone's guess and if Test matches can give opportunities for alleged match fixing then the opportunities in 20/20 especially played at such break neck speed must surely be much greater. The Pakistan team should just return home and take no further part in International cricket until the ICC are convinced they have at least taken significant steps to put their house in order. Having been fortunate enough to have seen the likes of Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan and many other great Pakistani cricketeers play it's not something I would say unless I really believed there was another solution, I don't see one and so sad as it would be I think it is time to say enough is enough. Time will tell what follows but I really do believe that this would be the lesser of several evils.

I think the ECB could make it happen if they want to, if they need him to play badly enough and Hants, rightly, don't want him let him go on loan anywhere. He's not really our player anyway under Central Contracts, simply someone who plays for us when the ECB and in this case the player himself feel like it. Nowhere near a good enough attitude and if we are blackmailed into playing him it will be shameful.

For all I care he can play for Essex/Kent, anyone against us as long as he doesn't play for us. He is the most selfish, egotistical cricketeer I have come across in 45 years following Hants. Playing for us would be an insult and I truly hope Rod Bransgrove tells the ECB where they can go. As for this from Pringle: "If they refuse then the England and Wales Cricket Board should reduce their annual handout. After all, England expects every fiefdom to do its duty." Whilst I agree under normal circumstances this is anything but normal. Hopefully he'll do his hamstring again and problem solved. Is it wrong of me to wish injury on a player ?

I bet that would have stayed buried had it not happened:rolleyes:

Would be nice to add the County Championship in the next few seasons, with the players we have coming through I think we have a great chance though even more reason to stay up this season. I'm not sure if Christian wasn't still dazed by the blow he took a few days ago:D

I must admit to not being the greatest fan of 20/20 though days like yesterday and England's win a few months back in the World Cup show it does have a place, it's clearly here to stay anyway! I just would like to see less games and/or perhaps play 2 games at the same ground in one day to make it pretty much a full day's entertainment and less time therefore used up in the process. Clearly even with poor weather it is possible to play 3 games, the fact it was of course 2 knock out semis and then a final makes it far more exciting for myself, I used to much prefer the old knock out style of 50 over cricket. Finally a word about Rod Bransgrove, I'm always delighted for him when we win something as he really does love Hampshire and he deserves a successful side.

I'm sure like me he knew as well

Razzaq said when he arrived he was really looking forward to play for us. Maybe lack of form took the wind out of his sails a bit but he really did the business when it mattered and I'm sure he was desperate to do well, fair play to him but as before we had a real team playing out there, Christian might easily have opted out after the bad blow he took in the Championship match but no doubt he was keen to get there as well along with everyone else. I'm not even going to think about our best player on the day, I'll just name all 11 as well as those who contributed in earlier matches. Now if we can build on the confidence and keep our place in Division 1 of the Championship I'll be very happy !

Credit where due, he delivered when it mattered !

No, it was very enjoyable..........reading it 5 minutes ago;)

No panic, the 1st run would have counted but scores and wickets lost would then have been equal so who knows how they decide it then ! I care not now Fully justified the decision to not pick KP even though some people thought we needed him with so many players out, I said we didn't and the young guys delivered, Corky bowled superly, Razzaq scored some vital runs and it was truly an 11 man effort rather than 10 men plus one prima donna. Superb though my nerves are still in shreds. What a transformation.

Hampshire squad includes Pothas ! Hampshire squad Abdul Razzaq, JHK Adams, AM Bates†, CC Benham, DR Briggs, MA Carberry, DT Christian, DG Cork*, LA Dawson, SM Ervine, SP Jones, ND McKenzie, N Pothas, H Riazuddin, JM Vince, CP Wood Essex squad RS Bopara, DJ Bravo, MA Comber, AN Cook, Danish Kaneria, GW Flower, JS Foster*†, DD Masters, JC Mickleburgh, AP Palladino, ML Pettini, TJ Phillips, RN ten Doeschate, BJ Walker, AJ Wheater, CJC Wright Nottinghamshire squad SCJ Broad, AD Brown, SL Elstone, PJ Franks, AD Hales, DJ Hussey*, SJ Mullaney, DP Nannes, SR Patel, DJ Pattinson, CMW Read†, RJ Sidebottom, GP Swann, GG White, MJ Wood Somerset squad JC Buttler, NRD Compton, Z de Bruyn, JC Hildreth, M Kartik, C Kieswetter†, BJ Phillips, KA Pollard, AV Suppiah, AC Thomas, PD Trego, ME Trescothick*, ML Turner, MTC Waller, CM Willoughby

Almost lost another one it seems : http://www.skysports.com/cricket/match_report/0,19822,11066_85254,00.html "there was a nasty moment when Christian had the grille of his helmet penetrated by a Zander de Bruyn (1-17) bouncer. Blood was pouring from the bridge of the Australian's nose but, after several minutes of treatment, he bravely continued." Not sure I have ever known one team have so many injuries in the same match !

They should get more than enough anyway ! As for Ervince I think it was maybe to do with the fact that with so many players wearing different players shirts and sweaters he had on his own sweater but Vince's shirt and it proved all too confusing for the Echo reporter:D Or maybe it was Vince wearing the wrong shirt/sweater !!

Yes, imagine the possibility of having to beg KP to play as we didn't have enough players ! A few Sky pundits ( who should know better) were saying he should be selected even if only Lumb was out. Why ? Do we really need him so much, he's in poor form anyway despite 80 v Pakistan, was a very scratchy innings.

Hants 224-4, match drawn. Not that it really mattered in the end but Bates did bat at 6, 16 not out and another good knock by McKenzie, 60 not out. Lancs lost v Durham which is good. Vince also regained a little bit of form with 43.

News looks better, Ervine and Cork should be fit http://ht.ly/2oJfW

All things considered we are heading for a reasonable draw v Somerset. Without Cork and Ervine for most of the Somerset innings Tomlinson bowled 32 overs( excellent 7-85), Christian 22.1 and Briggs 27.5. Even McKenzie weighed in with 10 tidy overs, 0-24. 132 behind on 1st innings Hants are 177/3 at tea with McKenzie on 40 and Christian 26. Of course Lumb hasn't batted and I doubt Ervine/Cork will be allowed to bat above 7 having been off the field for much of the Somerset Innings ( we had 3 substitute fielders at one point including physio Craig DeWeymarn who confused a lot of people by wearing Cork's shirt and this developed into a real farce when for some reason Christian wore Ervine's sweater when he went off ). If this is the case then Bates, Briggs or Tomlinson will have to bat at 6 which would seem totally unreasonable to me and I'm wondering if this is the case then surely this rule about players being off the field batting no higher than 7 needs to be looked at as our disadvantage is enough already.

You could try the Legal Complaints Service or maybe advise your Solicitor first you are planning on doing so: http://www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/home.page

RIP Saint Markus Liebherr, the fans will always remember and love you, a true gentle, kind giant