Weston Saint

Chris Woakes made his maiden first class centry against Hamsphire at the Rose Bowl in 2009 season. He hade his highest score 136no against Hamshire at Edgbaston last season and he has just got his best bowling figures 7/20 this season. The boy loves playing against Hampshire!!!!!

Coming up to kick off and the anticipation rises as I log in to BBC Sport Championship page. My heart says a 1-0 win but my head says I will take a draw. After all Ipswich are one of the teams tipped for success. Ten minutes in and we are 2-0 up. I am happy with that as I combine looking at the updates as I mess about with other things. Then just before half time and 3-0 with reports we were playing them off the field. It just could not get better. Soon in the second half and the score changes to 3-1. Bugger! but still confident. Hold it there Saints. Then 3-2 and the spirit sinks. The heart pounds. The nerves set in and I log off.....but only for a few minutes as I cannot resist having another nervous look. Davis makes a superb save but it looks like Ipswich have the pressure and the edge. Lallana makes it 4-2...game over and a relieving smile. 5-2 and it really is the icing on the cake. A warm satisfactory glow of pride and excitement. Bring on the Lions on Saturday.

Perhaps this present kick up the backside is exactly what Puncheon needs. He clearly thinks he is better than he is. He can be a decent player when he puts his mind to it. Clubs in higher divisions would not have sought him out and played him regularly when he was on loan. However when it comes to matching the alleged value of £1m placed on him by the club, they shy away. Puncheon needs to understand at Southampton it is about the squad. Very few have a right to be on the teamsheet every week. They have earned the right. Puncheon must go about it in the same way. He might be stuck with us for the rest of his contract. He needs to decide if he is going to change his ways to fester. He has to be hungry in training. He has to fit in. He needs to heal old wounds. He has to make the first move and the club then need to hold out the hand of reconciliation. A bad boy can turn. Remember Kenny Burns of Notts Forest!

But they only had 2 strikers available on Saturday so Ings is the third. Does not mean they will release their hold on J Rod

Burnley do not want to sell him so have put a price of £6m. That is too high a value for Saints even with the money we have from the Chamberlain deal. Cortese will not pay more than his valuation on the player. I think therefore that it is dead in the water. As for Maynard, who knows? There is rumour we have made an enquiry but again it is all internet chat. I suspect Cortese and Adkins are not fretting over another striker. It would be handy but not a priority yet. The same for Centre Back. We can compete in this league without another. The right sort would make us stronger but again not so urgent that we need to panic buy.

In fairness Phil, the Echo had a small article on this last Thursday. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9188628.Chambo_switch_takes_academy_earnings_beyond___40m/

Not when it is down to DL where a match is rained off whilst the side batting second are still chasing a total previously set. That is my understanding

Red in my opinion having viewed it on BBC. Doubt he will appeal it.

Bloody Cricinfo have changed it now to Vince.

Bates opening the innings against Scotland.

Interesting goings on in Durham!!!! Hants declared on 275-7 Durham forfeit first innings. Hants forfeit second innings. Durham need 276 to win from what looks like 82 overs. Well done to both captains.

Just heard Foster has signed a 3 year extention contract with Essex

First Class • 54 matches for the club. • 2,997 runs at an average of 36.54. • High score of 219 scored against Nottinghamshire in 2009. • Four x 100s, 20 x 50s. List A • 53 matches for the club. • 1,958 runs at an average of 39.16. • High Score of 108 – scored against Sussex in 2007. • Two x 100’s, 19 x 50s Twenty20 • 47 matches for the club • 1,101 runs at an average of 24.46. • High score of 124 not out – scored against Essex in 2009. • One x 100, six x 50s. Hardly nish wadesmith!

Nope, Frank Cousins in his SMS debut

There is no doubt Chamberlain has talent and it will be realised in the next few years. He will be a big miss but he would have moved on the one of the top 4 before reaching those heights anyway. We might have rich owners but it is clear they expect us to be run on a good business basis. It is all about trading so if we are going to get a good payment now and reinvest it into the football side I am sure we will come out stronger for it. We are no more a selling club than Arsenal when a player wants to move on to what he thinks is a better deal. We have stood our ground and fought off the rest just like Arsenal but sometimes you have to bend and look at the greater good for the club.

I mean Adkins before anyone questions me.

What a great weekend with Saints and Hants thumping the opposition. Finished off by speaking to Nigel Atkins who was at the game with his family. What a very pleasant man.

We have talked about strengthening yet this very competent starting line up containing only one new face, Jack Cork. In my opinion he did have added value. The side looked together and ready for the start of the season. Great testament to Adkins and the coaching staff. As others have said, Leeds played dirty early on and the referee was a bit soft on them but otherwise had a good game. It was the linesman who flagged for the penalty and I was convinced it was until I saw the incident on BBC later. Very dubious. Davis did all required of him. Richardson was strong at the back but his distribution let him down again. Harding had an ok game. Martin is a bit green and no doubt in my mind he was told to do the simple things like clearing the line and not relying on playing pretty. He will gain from this experience but that position could be our weak link. Fonte had a great game. Guly was out of position and drifted in too much reducing the outlet opportunities but had a decent game. Jack Cork had a great game and looked a good addition to the midfield. Lallana started quiet and then exploded into the game. Hammond had one of his most influential games for Saints. Lambert had a decent game. Connolly is real class and just wins my man of the match. Chaplow, when he came on was his usual busy, aggressive, mistackling self and will be ideal for waking up midfield when they need it. Not a starter though, for me. De Ridder showed the skills he has and when he gets used to Championship Football in England he will be a real threat. I an now no longer concerned if Chamberlain goes although I would prefer he stays as it gives us more options. I would start De Ridder on the right as soon as he has bedded in Schneiderlin looked his usual comfortable self on the ball. Great classy win.

The wicket is pretty flat at the moment but is likely gain a bit of turn later. Yorkshire were boring and too defensive. They could and should have upped the run rate. They could and should have declared earlier. They were only ever interested in making sure Hampshire did not gain points over them. It gives Cricket a bad name. They only gained 3 batting points in the alloted 110 overs. Tony Pigott there again today but he was not there to look at the pitch. He had his other hat on accessing the Umpires. Peter Such also around on behalf of the Selectors looking no doubt at Briggs and Rashid

Balance of the team is all wrong. Dimi is fit but could not get into the side. Kabir is fit but cannot get into the side. Yet our only change bowler is the woeful bowler, Ervine who only managed a 3 over and 2 over spell. Wood bowled well and deserved his place. Cork was OK. Why are we playing 2 spinners!!! Dimi or Ali should have been in the side for Briggs (only because Tahir is our overseas player and of international class) We have Dawson to turn to if we needed him. I bumped into Cork just before the game to ask about the toss. "I lost it and they bat" was the reply. Says it all really. I walked away from the balcony on one occasion as I was fed up clapping Yorkshire players achievements. Thoroughly depressing day but the food and company was to its usual high standard. Pitch Inspector, Pigott was present again today. Nothing to report would be my guess.

http://www.where-are-they-now.co.uk/southampton/

Nassau States looks a difficult one with Midday looking to be the first horse to win it 3 times. Snow Fairy is a danger but I am going for Crystal Capella to beat them all. My only selection of the day.

Mine arrived this morning. All present and correct.

Cannot see past Redwood for the Glorious Stakes. I have a feeling Saigon might just sail past Harbour Watch in the Richmond Chachamaidee from Law of the Range in the Oak Tree

Radio Solent reporting Griffiths has signed a new 2 year contract. Also confirmed on Hants Web Site