Weston Saint

Overall as I left the ground I was happy with a point against a decent Ipswich side. We did lose our way in the second half yet during that period we did equalise! John does not fit into the system, that is for sure. He lacks movement and means when we are putting moves together he is unable to move into spaces. In the first half McGoldrick was supposed to be playing wide right but too many times he drifted into central positions narrowing the field of play and cutting down the midfields passing options. John tried to cover that area but was too slow in getting there. Dyer can run with the ball but last night he was totally ineffective despite his surges. He was switched to the left in the second half but no different. I thought Wright Phillips offered more when he came on and I would like to see what he can do from a start and bring Dyer on for him once he has run out of steam. Davis was good again but late on he started his old habit of kicking upfield instead of letting the defence take it out. It just meant the ball was comng back again putting pressure on a very frail defence often beaten down the flanks and unable to deal with the high ball coming in. I agree with Um Pahars, a good stopper but weak on decision making. Overall our defence did look weak. Our midfield looked tired and lost their way from about 55 minutes. Bright note, we did score 2 goals and having lost the lead equalised and held on as Ipswich upped the tempo. Last season we had a team of overpaid and unmotivated individuals who only escaped relegation on the last day. Now we have a completely new team of young, hungry and skillful lads. They lack experience but every game like this will bring them on. This is not a few weeks plan this is a long term plan we need to buy into. I for one have come away from the games having seen a loss to Birmingham, a win against Birmingham and a draw against Ipswich with more satisfaction than I have from the last three years performances in this league. I agee now, however, that we do need a couple of experienced heads who can talk to the players on the field of play. We can still play a high number of young players but from the good batch we have, 20 games each this season should be enough for their development. I am just unsure where those experienced players will come from!

Ah yes the Newcastle game. On the way home going over the Chapel Rail Bridge I jumped for one of the overhead metal bars, slipped and hit my head. Severe concussion so much so I had forgotted I had taken my English 'O' Level the day before. The following day was a Physics 'O' Level which I had failed miserably twice before. I passed it so it must have knocked some sense into me. Perhaps I should revisit old grounds Happy days

To make a good comparison you need to look at the wage bills for each Championship club. Outside of those with parachute payments coming in I assume we are very much out front. Add to that our overheads for the stadium and I would suggest we are (or were) very much in the mire. Half year accounts for period July - Dec 2008 will be the best way of assessing our position but that is a bit of a way off yet so we have to trust the boards actions until we know different.

Was not aimed at you G, you have been consistant in your comments. But there are many others that seem to think we will win the league when we win one then relegated when we don't. Perhaps I am lucky with my life as football plays only a small part. Too many other interests. Let's hope Sainst are like HantsCC, bottom of both leagues a month or so ago and being written off, then yesterday top of both leagues with a remarkable turn round in form.

I am prepared to give it time. We have very little alternative imo. Depressing I agree but this thread was always going to be a knee jerk. However we are very short of experienced leadership to help the kids out.

Do not disagree other that I am happy it was a red card. OK from one angle available to the TV it was a challenge for the ball that was a bit late but from all other angles available and from the referee position it looked a horrendous tackle and worthy of a Red card

Well said Dave. Agree with all you say. In fact I nearly posted the same until I read your comments.

Imran Tahir unlikely to be available for our final match against Notts as he is contracted to return to SA to play for Titans. Let's hope we give him a 2 year contract before he goes.

"Being used as a pawn...not smart enough...politically motivated....out of his depth.." Comments like this show you no nothing of the man. He was not being used. He was gathering information (I was getting the same from other sources) and letting the forum know what he could. There was much more he did not say and probably never will. Not smart enough. As I say you do not know him or his background. If you did you would find he is quite a smart and quietly intelligent individual. Politically motivated. Well he had a bad run in with Lowe and dislikes him. Nothing wrong with that as he has always been open about that. Out of his depth. You need to know all of the above to make such judgement. You are entitled to your opinion......I just think you are wide of the mark Duncan is alive and well, is in touch with this forum and I am in contact by email and mobile on a pretty regular basis.

Overjoyed. What a turn around to our season

Blimy just got in and found Surrey 90/6 If the rain holds off we should win.

G Mockles Davies was a high earner with a past and present history of injury. I am glad you are not looking after the purse strings at SLH! However, yours is a fan knee jerk reaction so I will forgive you that.

Lancs win by 1 run, we are still top and it's still on.

I do not usually repond but you irritate me so I will. It is you, or at least your postings, that is one of lifes little tragedies. Having got that off my chest I will refrain from responding further.

Notts have Lancs at 91/5 off 21 overs! Want Lancs to win this one but looking unlikely.

Spoken to him quite often in the summer, quite mature for his age.

With such a big score and Surrey so far behind I think they have decided that 1 more point for Surrey bowling will not mke a difference. They must take the 9th wicket in the next 1.2 overs as the cut off is 130 overs.

Dimi out for 99, 451-7 (125 overs) Pothas 130no

Yep for Hants 1st team it is. In the Championship I should add

Excellent. 427-6 of 121 overs - max batting points and season best scores from Dawson, Pothas and Dimi

Decent article on the Hampshire site. http://www.rosebowlplc.com/news/face-to-a-name/

Too heavily involved as captain as NZ for me. Tahir might be available all season although if he continues to bowl well Pakistan may want to pick him again

I think it is safe to say that in view of Lowe Group/Wilde/Crouch shareholdings the first thing that will happen is an offer document being put to the plc board. At that stage the shareholders and LSE will be advised. Remember what Wilde said about the right offer recently. Looking for share movement is not going to give a clue imho.

Would not read to much into it at the moment Trousers. Same thing happened a while back in the "tommac" era and nothing happened then. Look for the £1m+ movements and maybe then we will have something to talk about. Movement of shares is small fry at present.

I spoke to Imran Tahir on Saturday. He does not know yet whether he will get a new contract but said he was in talks. Problem with Imran, who is a quiet friendly man, is that he is our one oversea's player and it may be Hants will want to strenthen somewhere else. Hope not though. We have the talent in batting (not many top batsmen have succeeded regularly this year in the Championshiop because of the weather). Pace bowling is ok with Thomlinson and Tremlett as main strike with Balcome and Griffiths as back up. Dawson is a decent spinner but is beginning to look like an allrounder (batter who can bowl a bit). We have Dimi and Slug as change bowlers as well. We need a top class spinner and Tahir fits the bill