Weston Saint

Spoke to someone on Saturday afternoon who confirmed it is done. I assume the club are not announcing it as it is only for the Academy at present. He is not old enough to sign a main contract. As for Chaimberlain, he said it was an ankle injury but everyone within the club are keeping very quiet on what tye of injury and how bad it is. Official line is that he is resting it and will be assessed in 2 weeks.

We started brightly but no end product. Then after about 10 minutes MK Dons came back into the game but were not a threat. We made too may poor passes. Chaplow and Lallana were the worse culprits. We did not move about enough up front and lacked pace. Hardings final ball into the box was very very poor. Then they scored from a corner, their first one and their first real attack. Clearly we were unable to play the diamond formation the side was set up for. Second half, more of the same. Then MK Dons broke with pace. Davis beaten on his right hand near post yet again. Does he not know where it is!! Changes then made by both sides, a bit late in our case I thought at the time. On comes Forte and bang bang we are level. Barnard, who I thought was not having the best of games, controlled a wonderful pass from Lallana and finished with a very good strike. Although it was always edge of the seat from then on we really never looked like letting the lead go. Great win, keeps up the momentum and the pressure on other sides about us. Men of the match for me was Fonte and Butterfield. Both looked assured and cool in defence. Jiadi his usual air dominance. Lallana had a quiet first half but a very influential second. Well done Forte. Changed the game with two goals close in. Shows what we can do if we get players in the box and deliver the ball. MK Dons looked tidy and worked hard. Can see why they are in with a chance of the playoffs. Ref was poor. When he was pushed by one of the MK Dons players late on he bottled it and only gave a yellow. Surely it was a red. It was a two handed lunge and push in the chest.

Funny thread to be arguing about or style of play or our Manager but threads do tend to drift from the original points. Saint Lard has held his view since Adkins was appointed. He appears to have been a Pardew supporter and was underwhelmed by Adkins appointment. He is correct that our performances of late have been poor. We have been winning and that is the the object of the excercise but the manner of our displays have been below what we were promised. There are question marks against Adkins but he was never bought in as a Premier Manager but one with potential to grow with the job as we progressed. Pardew and Cortese just did not get on for whatever reason and that alone was reason enough for change. I had severe doubts that Pardew could take us all the way and I am yet to be convinced that Adkins will although he has started well and does have the players on his side. I was speaking to someone who is a massive Saints fan but has been watching Championship football because his son plays in that league. He considers that when we get promotion we will find the Championship better suited to our flowing, passing side of football. There are less poor pitches, less spoiling teams and a better standard of football. He is confident we will grow and display the type of football we have been promised. This season is just about getting us up. Yes we want attractive flowing football. Adkins has shown us he is capable of coaching his team to that aim and the team has shown they are capable of that style. It will come and we need to be patient. Let's reserve judgement on our Manager until the end of the season.

He has a groin injury which they expect to be resolved by that game. He could not play tomorrow if we had a game, if I understand the issue correctly

Me and one other connected to the family

Date of Birth 12th December 1987. So he is 23

It is Saints medical practice for all players with leg injuries, even minor, to use cruches until the injury is assessed so don't read anything into that at present

Although we still have 10 games to go I think Brighton are too far ahead now so it is second place or the playoffs. We are still favourite to get automatic and I would say Peterborough close behind. BUT if Peterborough do get past us at the post we should be well able to cope with Huddersfield/MK Dons/Bournemouth/Leyton Orient. It would only become an issue if one of those got second and we had Peterborough in the playoff pool. Alpine....take a deap breath....release slowly...see it is not that bad

Disappointed after we were 1-0 up but another point towards our goal. Shame Lallana has a groin injury (do not know how bad it is) but he is a quick healer

Groin Injury. Do not know any more than that

Think we have to be careful here not to blame Howard. He wants to play for Saints again at some time in is career. He considers he has unfinished business with us as a local lad. He is only part way through a very good contract with Reading and getting games. They are in a division higher than us and in with a playoff chance. Saints called Reading to see if he was available if we approached them formerly. They made Howard aware of that interest but Saints did not take it further for whatever reason. Readin start him on Saturday, he has a good game and the Manager confirms he is still part of the promotion chasing squad. Howard ends speculation by stating he will be staying with Reading at present. It is well known by friends of Howard that he would have loved to have joined us on loan until the end of the season with an option to sign should we gain promotion. However he was not prepared to take a cut in wages. In view of his age that was sensible. I suspect Saints have contacted a number of clubs. This one has leaked, others may not have done.

On tour with England Lions in West Indies. Just taken 6/45 with match figures of 9/96 his best bowling figures in First Class Cricket. Top wicket taker for England on tour with 24 from five matches average 18.58. Also recored his highest score - 38no in a previous game on tour. Jimmy Adams also in team as opening bat has 350 runs (4th highest for England) from 5 matches with 1 century and 2 fifties averaging 43.75 Adams has also taken 5 catches and Briggs 3

I am going to keep my powder dry until the emergency loan period ends next Thursday at 5pm but don't ridicule OldNicks comment. Look at what is going on, or more to the point the lack of it!

1st Nov – Saints 9th – 21 points from 14 games Peterborough 5th 22 points from 14 games 1st Jan – Saints 2nd - 34 points from 21 games Peterborough 11th 30 points from 20 1st March Saints 5th – 52 points from 31 games Peterborough 4th 53 points from 32 Today Saints 4th – 61 points from 34 games Peterborough 3rd 65 points from 36 Hardly closing fast. You have been listening to too much hype

Players and staff now told to sign contracts agreeing to work for free or the club will close http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/9427611.stm

Sad to say it looks unlikely now. If Howard/Agent has not held talks with Saints yet despite enquiries to Reading last week (or the weekend at the latest) it may be terms could not be agreed with Reading and we are looking elsewhere. We have another week to find someone so no panic yet.

Emergency Loan period ends 5pm on 4th Thursday of March according to Football League rules. So no panic yet as today is the 3rd Thursday in March.

Echo say Adkins approached Reading last week so the Gobern ban was not the reason. Schneiderlin's long term injury was likely to be the reason. They say there are still major stumbling blocks. I should say so. Howard has a good contract with Reading that still has about 18 months to go. He is on good wages and not likely to take a drop. Unlikely Reading would fund some of it. Then there is the issue on playing Div 1 football. I doubt Howard would want that long term. Then there is the fee to make the deal long term if we persuaded him to stay....promotion would be the only persuasion in my opinion. Reading will try to sqeeze as much as they can. With this out in the open on in the media and forums will this ruin any talks? Who is manipulating the media. Reading? Howard? Howards friends? It certainly won't be Southampton FC. It might happen, then again we know the history of so called deals when they have broken before they are finalized. Good it it happens but I am not holding my breath.

Lambert (Norwich Manager) rated him so much he followed Drew when he was on honeymoon, spoke to him and signed him up. When Drew was injured the first time he was brought straight back into the team but was injured again against Leeds. As soon as he was fit again he was back in the team. He is one of Norwich City's highest paid players. He still has a love for Saints but happy at Norwich. If they get into the Premier I predict he will still be a regular choice in midfield. Shame we had to sell him when in Administration.

Turner, Middleton, Boulton, Montgomery, Wells

I agree with this post. As we were leaving "Derry" said to me,"the result was better than the game" Cannot argue with that although we did sparkle late on as Swindon became deflated.

No, it is the same team that started against Hartlepool

This post is like trying to read a foreign language without having a clue what language it is!!!!

I know two who have spoken directly to Benali but they do not shout about it on forums because they have not spoken to Cortese.

In those days;_ -------------------------------Goalkeeper-------------------------- --------------Right Back------------------------ Left Back ------------Right Half----------Centre Half-----------Left Half------- Outside Right---Inside Right----Centre Forward---Inside Left---Outside Left Ah those were the days 2-3-5