Weston Saint

No problem. Free drinks tended to dull my brain

Had a lovely conversation with Dennis Hollywood at the match today. Sat with him for a while with Brian O'Neil hovering as I was sat in his seat. Although Dennis was a kicker he gave George Best respect but always played him out of the game with skill. Told me his hero was Dennis Law who he met several times after they both retired. Jim Steel was presenting a signed ball to the winner of the the correct score but tried to walk away with the ball. Told him it was the first time he had made a tackle and come away with the ball Great day. This was my 6th game in Corporate and I have not seen the away side score at all. May be Saints will give me a free entry for life Good to let my brother use my season ticket for those occasions May be it is him who is the lucky charm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31873471

Matt Coles leaves Hampshire by mutual consent. When we took him on loan with a view to signing him the message that came down from Kent was that he would need to change his attitude and listen to advice. He wss a little overweight and I never saw him trim down. Very disappointing last season. He hit one great 50 in T20 game in Essex but after that he was repeatedly caught cheaply on the boundary. He could not get his head around the fact Essex was a small ground and it was a one off Seemed to me to he lacked the intelligence to be a good player and the fact it was mutual suggests Hampshire felt the same. No indication yet where he will go but in my opinion he has wasted his talent and I cannot see him changing now.

I am told ALDERWEIRELD has had a slight set back and not available for Sunday.

With just 13 games to go and 4th in the league at present thoughts are very much on a European qualification of some sort. But are we ready! If we look at Champions League qualification some suggest our sought after players like Schneiderlin, Clyne and Alderweireld will stay, but will they? We are limited on what we can pay these players and certainly will not be able to match the £80,000 - £100,000 a week they can attract at the 2 Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool. OK, qualification will up our income substantially but we need to offer long term wages and therefore it is necessary to qualify every year. We are simply not big enough financially to compete. We are earning world respect but until our overseas income matches that respect we are not one of the “big 6” It will be fun, particularly if we qualify for the group stages by finishing in the top 3, but with a small squad and not enough money to commit to a larger one will our league position suffer. We have got away with it so far despite injuries to key players but upping the ante with even more games will stretch us even more. If we go into the Europa League we face the same problems albeit against opposition we should be able to compete with but Thursday away games in some of Europe’s outback it is bound to have an effect What if our sojourn in Europe so affects our Premiership aspirations that we find ourselves in a relegation battle. Don’t say it will not happen. Just look at some of the other teams that stretched themselves. Ask Birmingham, Leeds, Wigan etc. Where are they now? Not sharing the massive money that being a member of the Premier League offers and even more so in 2016/17 season So do we look to be a top 8 club and settle for ruffling the feathers of the big clubs on a regular basis until we can get our income to a level that turns us into a big club or go into Europe and hope that will be the catalyst for such increase in income on a regular basis? For me the Jury is out! I am very much undecided.

Total embarrassment.

We certainly do John.

I met GM at that same event he posted earlier, and Pancake in London! Still having nightmares about both!!!

The scan cannot diagnose concussion but it can identify an injury such as swelling and bleeding.

"With your sponsorship of Southampton FC, what impact is there on overseas sales in your markets when players from that country regularly play in the first team"

Concussion is the symptom of a minor brain injury. It may mask a more serious brain injury hence the period of rest. I appreciate he has had a brain scan and been given the all clear but as he has a headache today and Koeman has already said the health of the players are more important than points it is very unlikely he will be available for West Ham but will be ok for Liverpool. I am not medically trained but have dealt with many brain injury compensations and read numerous reports from the brain injury experts.

He has a groin injury and out for a few weeks. Was with his Dad last night and he should be back for the Saints game.

I think you should look again and then decide who is rewriting history! He only scored 5 league goals in his first season (35 appearances) 0 goals second injury hit season (18 )

Ok I will keep my mouth shut in future. Geez!!!

A friend of mine who is a referee says it was a penalty. Fonte's arm was not in that position when the ball was kicked so his interpretation was that it was hand to ball not the other way. We were lucky to get away with it but swings and roundabouts.

Seems he is forgetting we had as many shots, 10, as United and only 1, ours, was on target. How is that defensive!

Chelsea and Man City.....were coming for you

Forster – Has made some mistakes but his kicking is excellent. Good first half 7/10 Clyne – Has improved further this season and is now the best English right back (wing back) and deservedly now an England international 8/10 Fonte – Another who has improved with the added responsibility of team Captain. Another who has been rewarded with an International cap 8/10 Alderweireld – Undoubted class player with great poise, cool head and great reader of the game. 9/10 Yoshida – Prone to the odd mistake when on the ball but good defender and can bring the ball out and can pass well. 7/10 Gardos – Disappointed with him. Well able to defend high balls but lacks the confidence/ability to bring the ball out or find the right pass. Now number 4 choice but not a disaster if he is called into action. 5/10 Bertrand – Has developed into a very good left back (wing back). One of a myriad of successes this season. We have certainly not missed Shaw! 8/10 Schneiderlin – Undoubted talent and first on the team sheet. His form and work rate has not diminished and good to see him now recognised internationally by his Country. 7/10 Wanyama – Has stepped up to the mark and has immense strength and presence in front of the defence. 8/10 Cork – Injuries have kept him out for a while so I am rating him on his performances in the side. Tidy creative and now scoring goals. 7/10 Tadic – Great start to his Saints career but tailed off in recent games although he looked back to some form again Arsenal. That drop in form means 7/10 Davis – Busy midfielder always available for a pass and can create. Lacking goals which again means 7/10 James Ward Prowse – Similar to Davis at present and needs to be more creative. Good dead ball deliveries. Still young and an undoubted talent 7/10 Long – I like him as he produces something different. Like a wasp round the opposition defence and an integral part of the squad 6/10 Mane – Started well, fell away but now playing in his best position, quick and scoring goals. 7/10 Pelle – First couple of games he lacked everything but having acclimatised himself to premier football he has proved to be excellent and another rewarded with international honours. 8/10 I have not rated players who have yet to make a regular impact but I am impressed with Reed and can see him being our next star player. Targett has not disappointed but a little inexperienced at present. So for me player of the half season is Alderweireld

Gordon Simpson ‏@gordonsimpson 6 mins6 minutes ago Asked about Steven Gerrard, Koeman smiles and says if he wants to continue playing in England after this season he can come to #saintsfc

West Stand AKA Eric on BBC News now.

3 centre backs as against Everton. Maine plays behind Pelle because we are away and he offers more pace.

No there was not. I have spoken to Mike Richards, Director at the time of purchase, on this and he insists there was no link to Arsenal in any way or form.

Ah thought straight red was 3 but it was a professional foul you are right.