Weston Saint

Balcombe is a good prospect, strong and fast and can bat at No 9.

North opened for Durham when he played for them in 2004 season Scored 29 & 4 at the rosebowl in first game of the season. We won At Durham later in the season against us he batted at No 4 and scored 0 & 23no. Drawn match Never bowled in either match

Was not that impressed when he played for Durham a few years ago but he seems to have improved so let's hope he can do a job for us. Tahir was always a doubt for us early season and bearing in mind he and most other spinners prefer the later season hard wickets he will not likely be missed. Also we have a good bowling line up for the early season seam and swing so to strengthen the batting during that period is a good move.

Sounds like continued speculation rather than fact at present. He was unhappy about not starting regularly for Norwich on a season long loan. Norwich have sacked their Manager so all change. Why would he come here on loan? Unless of course we guarantee him a regular start and we know the dangers of that.

To be honest I am fed up with all this back biting. OK we have different opinions but they can be debated sensibly without retorting to sarcastic coments. There is too much of it on this forum and it is unnecessary. The original poster is as much to blame as many others. So many interesting threads are ruined by a certain group of people from both ends of the spectrum who just cannot get away from this boring habit. So someone gets facts wrong, someone has an opinion out of kink with the majority. So what! Debate it by all means but keep it civil at least without snide comments. And those who post just to get posters backs up, they know who they are......best form of criticism is to ignore. I do.

Whilst I have never rated Euell and certainly not at the wages and add ons he is getting I have to say this is a good post.

How can anyone feel sorry for a player on £0.75m a year plus NIC in the Championship. He is not a player that has justified or likely to justify that wage. If he is so desperate to play go and ask for his contract to be cancelled without compensation but being a free agent he can then find a new club and, if he is so sure of his abillity, sign elsewhere for a fat signing on fee. But he won't. He has a contract and he is entitled to be paid whilst he helps drag us into posible Administration. Jason, I can understand why you were unhappy about your contract details being released (and the fact you have not challenged means the figures are correct) but in my opinion you should shut up about playing and being pushed out.

Here's one. Last summer at Goodwood races I spoke to John Motson and happened to mention Duncan Holley (Fitzhugh Fella of this thread for those who did not know ) asking if he remembered him. Immediately he said "Duncan - In That Number fame - of course I do give him my best regards when you see him again." As Duncan knows, I did pass on his best wishes.

I had to interview Peter Shilton when he was playing for us. He had made an insurance claim but breached the conditions. Whilst we had every intention of paying it (the breach had not caused any prejudice) I was asked to go and see him to make sure he understood for the future. He was a complete gentleman and accepted my "admonishment" and we then spent time talking football before I took my leave. Another time Harry Redknapp, whilst he was still manager of Bournemouth, had been paid out for a home burglary claim but was unhappy with the settlement figures. I fielded the complaint and after he accepted my reasoning we spoke about Saints and the possibility of him becoming manager (he said no hope as he said McMemeny, although not with the club at that time, was still pulling the strings with Askham) and other matters including a story about Frank Lampart senior and the loss of a suitcase containing ......... best I do not say

Pleased to report that all three start for England Under 19's today against SA under 19's.

Excellent win but it we are going to get out of this mess we must do it more often against teams around us. Let's hope we can beat Doncaster next week to cement this win. Then we need to beat Norwich at their place. Not a wish......a need. Let's hope this is a start in our recovery and not a blip and another false dawn For tonight I am very very happy.

I was there and after spoke to Ken Dulieu. It was then I realised that he had been to see me at my office on a previous occasion to try to convince me his surveillance company could now provide me with a top service having not previously lived up to their promises. Suprise, suprise he still failed to come up with the goods.

Smoke and Mirrors.

Lallana is out. Not been able to train this week and is being given another week to get fit.

Assume Adam is still not yet fit.

Jermain Defoe's return to Tottenham Hotspur has yet to be finalised and reports suggest that not only has a fee yet to agreed with Portsmouth but the deal could also come under close scrutiny for a possible breach of transfer rules. A dapper Jermain Defoe was all smiles when unveiled earlier this week. The delay in Defoe's move will cause confusion amongst fans who witnessed the player's unveiling at White Hart Lane ahead of Tuesday's 4-1 win over Burnley in their Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie. Fans greeted Defoe warmly after it seemed the striker had completed a £15 million move from Fratton Park after just 12 months on the south coast. However, it is understood that a final deal is yet to be agreed between the two clubs and paperwork remaining unsigned; as such Defoe's registration remains with Portsmouth. Added to that, Premier League rule L19 states: "A Club which transfers or cancels the registration of a Player may not apply to register that Player within a year except with the prior written consent of the Board." It is less than a year since Defoe was loaned to Portsmouth and technically Tottenham still held his registration until May when the transfer was made permanent. The only player ever to be permitted such a move was Chris Powell when he returned to Charlton, though he was without a club. And Tottenham have previous experience of the rule when they initial attempted to sign Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson. That fell through when the Premier League blocked Spurs from loaning him back to the Elland Road side immediately. Further muddying the waters are reports suggesting Defoe's mother could have played a part in negotiating his return to White Hart Lane, a fact which would breach transfer regulations as she is not registered to do so. Last year Defoe split acrimoniously with his former agent Sky Andrew, who is now suing the player for breach of contract. Andrew alleges Defoe was illegally represented by an unregistered agent in his £7 million January 2008 move to Portsmouth. As a result of the continuing case Defoe was unable to appoint new representation and was therefore left to negotiate the move to Spurs himself. The Guardian reports that Andrew could make a further claim against Defoe if his mother, Sandra St Helen, influenced the transfer. In another twist it has been reported that the deal initially stalled Defoe when Defoe demanded Portsmouth pay him a £700,000 loyalty bonus due to him because he did not seek a move away. Despite the uncertainty Defoe has begun training with Spurs, but at present would be ineligible to play for Harry Redknapp's side.

All parties, and I mean all parties, now see Fulthorpe as another "tyre kicker" without the means to progress any issue relating to our club. Forget him. He is history

At least some read my opinions. I have received an email to my orginal post on here to point out that although Davies was signed on 10th January 2008 whilst on Crouch's watch (which started on 17th Decembere 2007) the deal was as good as done long before that. I do recall it was a loan with an option to purchase so I am prepared to accept the deal might have been all but signed before Crouch took control and correct my post.

I suspect Saints are paying his wages as Bournemouth have no money.

Classic :smt043

Wow, the Echo reveal details of players wages that have been known to many on here for ages and the forum goes into anti Lowe overdrive. Let's try to get a balance and not try to take sides. Lowe was responsible for Rasiaks wages and they were unsustainable in the league we were in but comparable to those in the squad at that time who did not have the 50% relegation clause in their contract when we came down. Lowe was, by his choice of Managers in the Premier, a big part of the responsibility for the relegation. That is a given Wilde & the Executives then carried on this wanton disregard for keeping the wage bill within our reasonable means although I am happy to confirm the fact that Crouch did oppose the Euell signing. During his term Crouch paid a centre back who had been out with injury for long spells at his previous club and had yet to gain a reputation as a good defender £10,000 a week in the Championship!!! For those who argue he balanced that out with the loan deal for Rasiac & Skacel that is wrong. When he signed Davies he had every intention of keeping that pair. Rasiak went because Bolton made an offer that could not be refused and Skacel, having confirmed to Hone he was happy to stay then pushed for a loan much to their disappointment. So they have all played a major part in our downfall with a common denominator being our Financial Director, Jones. So let's not start portioning blame. Let's not give credit to any of the above. Let's all unite in condemming all that has occurred leading up to and since our relegation without exceptions. Bickering over who is to blame is as decisive as those who have put our once great club in this position.

Ted Bates Peter Osgood Mick Channon Laurie McMenemy Just for the entertainment and history

He has just said he fully intends to be part of England's tour of the West Indies - SkySportsNews

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/?page_id=10276

No he cannot.