Weston Saint

Adams is not fit. Alsop will open. Not sure Crane will play this one. Another seamer.

Only 7 points from 4th now

Along with Vince and Topley. Thant is 20% on the full squad. Well deserved

Do not believe all you read in the press. The contract will be made up of appearance bonus, win/draw bonus, scoring bonus, and those bonuses will depend on position in the league after each game. Those bonuses will be fairly high even as much as 40 - 50% of the finally "reported" figure. Gaston will not have been picking up anywhere near £60K per week.

Proper man, proper family, proper footballer, proper football. How times have changed!!

Mark Bryans ‏@MarkyBryans 10m10 minutes ago East, England Wenger dismisses Wanyama interest: "I rate the player but we are not on the case." #AFC

Southampton FC ‏@SouthamptonFC 1m1 minute ago Koeman says nobody will be leaving #SaintsFC in January – not even if offered £100million.

On Friday night you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of my life, the mother of my son, but you won't have my hatred. I don't know who you are and I don't want to know - you are dead souls. If this God for which you kill indiscriminately made us in his own image, every bullet in the body of my wife will have been a wound in his heart. So no, I don't give you the gift of hating you. You are asking for it but responding to hatred with anger would be giving in to the same ignorance that made you what you are. You want me to be afraid, to view my fellow countrymen with mistrust, to sacrifice my freedom for security.You have lost. I saw her this morning. Finally, after many nights and days of waiting. She was just as beautiful as when she left on Friday night, just as beautiful as when I fell hopelessly in love over 12 years ago. Of course I'm devastated with grief, I admit this small victory, but it will be short-lived. I know she will accompany us every day and that we will find ourselves in this paradise of free souls to which you'll never have access. We are two, my son and I, but we are stronger than all the armies of the world. I don't have any more time to devote to you, I have to join Melvil who is waking up from his nap. He is barely 17-months-old. He will eat his meals as usual, and then we are going to play as usual, and for his whole life this little boy will threaten you by being happy and free. Because no, you will not have his hatred either.

I have not read through this thread, just a few posts so forgive me if this has already been posted. Dr. Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and well-respected psychiatrist--a man, whose family was German aristocracy prior t...o World War II, and owned a number of large industries and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism. 'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of our world had come. My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.' We are told again and again by 'experts' and 'talking heads' that Islam is the religion of peace and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor-kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. It is the fanatics who teach their young to kill and to become suicide bombers. The hard, quantifiable fact is that the peaceful majority, the 'silent majority,' is cowed and extraneous. Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people. The average Japanese individual, prior to World War II, was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians, most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'? History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt. Yet for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points: peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun. Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late. Islamic prayers have now been introduced into Toronto and other public schools in Ontario, and, yes, in Ottawa too while the Lord's Prayer was removed (due to being so offensive?! To whom? Not to the vast majority of Canadians!). The Islamic way is only peaceful until the fanatics move in. In Australia, and indeed in many countries around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have the halal emblem on them. Just look at the back of some of the most popular chocolate bars, and at other food products in your local supermarket. Foods on aircraft have the halal emblem, just to appease the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding throughout the world. In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to integrate and there are now dozens of ?no-go? zones within major cities across the country that the police force dare not intrude upon. Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim community in those areas refuses to acknowledge British law. As for we who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to the only group that counts -- the fanatics who threaten our way of life.

I was surprised he did not sign as a Kolpak as I suggested at the back end of last season but this it from the cricinfo web site explains

OK I will spoil it and name them all Back (from left): Allen Tankard, Matthew Le Tissier, Steve Davis, Neil Maddison, Jamie Webb. Middle row: Andy Cook, Leroy Whale, Ray Wallace, Keith Granger, Peter Spargo, Ian Down, Greg Llewellyn. Front: Francis Benali, Barry Wilson, Alan Shearer, Phil Underhill, Rod Wallace, Jason Walkington.

Link worked well, survey fine and I have completed. Let us give the lad some slack and just give an honest response to his survey. What the hell does it matter where he is studying!

Briggs signs for Sussex in a 3 year deal. Released early from his contract with Hampshire. Charlie, doubt we will sign a batsman for Championship games. The emphasis when I spoke to Rod Bransgrove was another front line bowler.

From BBC's Ben Smith "FSG's decision to sack Rodgers was made before today's Merseyside derby but the owners did not want to disrupt preparations for the match by making an announcement before the game. Even a victory at Goodison Park would not have prevented Rodgers losing his job. "Rodgers was not told at Goodison Park. He was visited at home by Ian Ayre and I am told he took the news with dignity and good grace. Many of the players are now off on international duty and so there was was no chance to say goodbye to them. FSG wanted Rodgers to learn of the news from them and no one else and hence the decision to tell him within an hour of the result."

Here is my take an it refers to Championship Cricket only What a fantastic roller coaster season we have had. Our late season performances with a settled side have justified us staying up and I am confident we will learn from this year and be much stronger next season Rod Bransgrove’s dream of winning the 1st Division Championship is a distinct possibility. Now to the team Jimmy Adams A poor season by his standards as a reluctant captain until he stood down and his benefit must have been on his mind. 760 runs @ 27.14 with 1 hundred and 5 fifties Michael Carberry Did not appear a good season either but he scored 1129 @ 38.93 with 10 fifties but no hundreds. I suppose the lack of converting to hundreds is why he was perceived as having a poor year. James Vince Cannot fault his captaincy since he took over. 3 wins 2 draws and 1 loss in a contrived game says it all. However he only scored 743 @ 28.57 with 1 hundred and 5 fifties. He was out for 0 4 times, more than any of our other players. Last 4 innings he has been bowled and with a number of lbw his may be developing a flaw in his game. Has taken the highest number of catches in the team at 21 Will Smith Not the player of last season but fairly steady scoring 859 @ 34.56 with 6 fifties. Still an important member of the team Liam Dawson Another who disappointed early on pushed up to open and not much used for his spin. Then came a meeting with the coach, words were said, he was dropped for the first time in his 1st team career, asked to go on loan and since back has been the Liam of old batting at his natural position of 5, scoring runs, taking 22 wickets at important times and his fielding at 2nd slip is still one of the best in the Championship. Why has he improved? I think it was because he was taken out of his comfort zone and made to think! Adam Wheater Tidy keeper but only 562 @ 26.8 will put him under pressure with McManus waiting in the wings. I think McManus is the better keeper and has shown some maturity in batting. Sean Ervine Suffered a broken finger mid-season but 508 @ 33.86 and his skill at protecting tail enders late in the innings makes him a continued valuable member of the team as the all-rounder taking 15 catches mostly at first slip Gareth Berg Great signing. Middlesex had written him off and told members he would never play again at this level. We have made them look a little silly. 42 wickets @ 28.11 and 672 runs @ 32.00. True all- rounder at number 8 Danny Briggs Seems to be out of favour with 2 up and coming spinners breaking through. Would not be surprised to see him at another county next season! Ryan McLaren Only here for a short while but has made an impact and would be a good Kolpac signing for next season Fidel Edwards Enough said. Emense. Never mind he leaks runs he does what a number 1 bowler should do, take wickets 45 @ 20.88 in 8 matches. Glad he has signed and when out 1st Div status still very much in the balance. James Tomlinson Lost speed and knack of taking wickets. Do not see him playing much next season but likely to be more involved in a coaching role Of the others Gatting tops our batting average for the few games he played but not really enough overall and blocking prospects and released Terry has not done anything wrong but not quite up to the standard we are looking for and went back to Australia a few weeks ago (does have 1 year of his contract left but likely to e 2nds cricket only if he stays) Wood I have said before has an injury that prevents 4 day cricket. Shame as he showed potential but we have signed Topley now. New Boys waiting in the wing and could be ready next season Crane is already making big waves and he will be our future 1st choice spinner. We also have Taylor as a spinner as well and he is captaining England Under 19 on tour in the Autumn We have Brad Wheal and Ryan Stevenson. Both have appeared in the first team and bowlers and both highly rated. Stevenson is ahead of Wheal at this stage Batting we have Tom Alsop who is at the top of the order in the seconds and nearly ready. He can keep but primarily a batsman. We also have McManus who is a keeper who can bat as demonstrated in the 2 first team games he played this season Others are perhaps a little further behind and not ready for next season

Interesting, who would you see needs to go and why? We have Topley and Fidel Edwards signed up. Hopefully McLaren will sign soon.

Don't know. Just something that came out of the Yorkshire dressing room

Yorkshire hate Sussex and hoped we would win our last game and they could send Sussex down. they will be up for it tomorrow. The door is slightly ajar.

We need 200 to win! Whatever happens Hampshire were right to gamble against Yorkshire. I have found no one in the ground who did no agree.

The thinking behind this was that Dale did not want to rely on the weather in Nottingham and saw a chance of a result here. He discussed it with Yorkshire who wanted a smaller total to go for. Obviously we wanted a bigger total to leave them but negotiations were stacked in Yorkshire favour and eventually the declaration just before play started was agreed. Although we got a good start the wicket was always favoured the batting side and so it proved despite good bowling from Hampshire.

Today I spoke with the person allegedly attributed with the comment about Adams, Kevin James on Solent. He said someone had misunderstood his comment and he has no idea about Adams other than he, Kevin James, expressed the view that he could not see him taking back the captaincy. So no basis for the comment I made for the rumour in my original post.

One of the problems facing clubs, particularly Hampshire, is the lack of concentration in building an innings in the 4 day game and to a certain extent the 50 over format. There seems a tendency of late for players to go for quick runs and never mind they get out to a bad shot. When players come up against better bowlers like we have in the 1st division the mind set cannot cope. That has been our problem until recently. The Test series against Australia proved the point. Australia were so intent on playing their shots that they lost the art of building an innings and lost a series they were strong favourites to win by a street. The Hampshire team have noticed and taken that on board. As a result our performances have improved of late. Unfortunately it might be too late for this season but sets next on a firm basis. There are one or two players in the first team squad who are blocking the way for useful younger players who are now knocking on the door. I will not name either sets of players but the club are aware and more will be revealed when the release information is published by the club. We are trying to sign McLaren on a 2 or 3 year contract. It is not a done deal but positive vibes so far. If he does sign it will be as a Kolpac. We are also talking to Edwards but may face competition from other clubs. Nothing was mentioned about the “overseas” possibility next season but it is likely to be a bowler. The club are very impressed with Stevenson and he is bowling at about 83mph and getting the ball to go both ways. They expect his speed to increase as he develops. An exciting find. Watson is a possibility. He has gone home to think about it. However he will only be used for white ball cricket. I know a lot more about the Dawson affair now. I will not repeat it but let us just say it had the desired effect and I can see why the coach took the decisions he did. There is nothing above that is not readily available from various outlets so I am not breaching any confidences. It has been gleaned from frank talks with the Chairman, Coaches and Players by me and other friends over the last week. They are all refreshingly honest and understand the issues and what needs to be done to arrest a very poor season in red ball cricket.

I dined with Rod Bransgrove today. His one remaining wish is for us to win the 1st Division Championship. The club still see this as their main task. He is bitterly disappointed with the way this Championship season has gone.

No.

Well done to Carberry who passed 1,000 championship runs for the season in this game and that without a century this season. Well done to Edwards who took his 300th first class wicket in this game Well done to Adams who got a big century, his first of the season Shame we had such a disaster on the first day on a very flat wicket.