Weston Saint

We had Surman, he could not get into our first team. We loaned him to Walsall and then Bournemouth. When he returned he went into our first team having gained experience. We have Lallana, he could not get into our first team. We loaned him to Bournemouth and soon after he was in our first team. Both had a contract with Saints. Reading loaned Antonio to us. We nearly did not get him back in January then Reading allowed him to come back on a further loan. Now he is part of their first team. See the connection! That is what clubs in higher divisions do. I am not fussed about him. He was ok, nothing more.

Assuming we only draw those 11 points put us on 131 from 13 games and 6th in the table. Kent on same games are on 123 Essex after 14 are on 115 Warwickshire after 13 on 104 Essex & Warwickshire are playing but at lunch on day 2 the only play (yesterday) Essex 90-7 Fixtures to come for bottom 4 Lancashire v Hampshire Warwickshire v Kent Kent v Hampshire Essex v Durham Hampshire v Warwickshire Yorkshire v Kent Our games against Warwickshire & Kent look massive. Providing we avoid losing both or at least win one I think we will be safe. Essex favourites to go down. My tip will be Kent to join them.

Yorkshire facing minimum of 72 overs after Hampshire declare. Good move to get a few overs in before lunch. Looks like a draw though with Hampshire picking up 11 valuable points. Correction 71 overs

Vince passes 1000 first class runs in his career Close 367/3 of 99 overs Adams 162no Vince 122no Unbroken partnership of 215 runs in 49.2 overs

That is just want Vince needed. He has broken the barrier. He has never lacked confidence

Adams passes 6,000 runs. 132no - Vince passes highest first class score 77no 292-3

Totally agree with up and away. Good post

223-3 at tea. Adams 104 not out....24 from 6,000 First Class runs for his career.

It is all a matter of opinion. Each of us have one. Let us just beg to differ. We have all made our views known.

We did not let them go, they signed for bigger clubs. Only Dennis Wise was let go and that was in his early development.

Not in recent times. People were bias because he was offside so much but some of that was his thinking time was faster than some of the team around him. When he got the ball he passed it and moved into space. Again some of our players did not read that and made him look poor again. Me, you and Derry have all watched him from an impartial point of view and all have come up with the same opinion.

Agree with that assessment, B.

I listened to it as well and agree with you, hense my last paragraph.

I am not so sure it is not sports wide Stu. When Hampshire played at Basingstoke in their annual 4 day county match, a chance for local corporate indulgence no one wanted to pay and we had very little. I believe the cost per person was £125 plus vat per day. At the T20 final however, hospitality in the Robin Smith, Shaun Udal and Shane Warne suites vertually sold out. Cost in the Robin Smith was £599 plus vat per person with minimum table of 10. Very little Corporate is sold for county games/pro40 or T20. Clubs round the counties report similar fall off. Money is being saved for the big events

If Pardew agreed it would fit in with his plans and was happy to go along with the signing then fine. If not then it is a dangerous game for Cortese to be playing. He must trust the judgement of his Manager or dismiss him. Posters know I am not a fan of Pardew to get us back to the Premiership but whilst he is here he needs to be given 100% support from the club management and players. Anything less will poison the club. We have seen this before. Unless I hear different I am going to assume Pardew supports the signing 100%. I have a sneeky feeling this might be the quality midfield signing we have been looking for.

Interesting he mentioned Les Reid who is heading Scounting & Development. That suggests the "committee" on player recruitment is as I suspected - Nicola Cortese, Alan Pardew, Les Reid and David Burke. As long as the Manager is not marginalised this appears a sound set up.

I wonder if this is dad http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/8271328.Bankruptcy_for_councillor_leaves_art_firm_out_of_pocket/

Like we did with Fonte, I agree but they are few and far apart. It is difficult getting someone to drop leagues who have the recognised skill and class.

When I saw Apline Saints initial post I was suprised and agreed with S-Clarke's response. However, I see what Apline means now. We need to sign players we know will make a difference not gamble on them doing so. This suggests weak Management and a lack of certainty. On this one though I am making an exception. I think the loan part is good business. Brazilians often find it difficult to settle in our climate and tha pace of our football is totally different. I am sure the club think he will make a difference but why gamble on a relative unknown. I suspect this was not Pardews decision alone. Of couse it might have been the player who insisted on it being a loan with an option. He might have been able to go to Roma if information in the media is correct. He wanted to try English football We all wish him well and a success. At least coming to Southampton he will have access to the best part of England, especially looking Westwards.

A 21 year old whose father went bankrupt in July. Normal service is resumed

Sound advice Dave and something I am going to practice from now relating to Pardew.

Bern, The difference between Lowe & Cortese, is as you say, very little. The BIG difference last time was that Lowe was part of a plc. If he went someone else would come in. Cortese was Marcus Liebherr's only choice to run his business and the family look set to continue that support. If, as looks likely, there is a difference between Cortese & Pardew, something has to give. Without Cortese & the Liebherr families private wealth (not the Mali Company) we will be going no where. Anyway, for me this is not about Cortese but a Manager who is clearly not good enough. Not just Cortese's opinion, a rising number of supporters are expressing the same view. Other Chairmen/CEO/Supporters of other clubs have expressed the same opinion. I fear your aguments with Alpine are clouding your judgement as to the real issues

He will aspire to becoming a top Manager, he will have that ambition. He cannot make it with Bournemouth, they just do not have the money or infrastructure. He could wait and become a Premier Manager but that route is littered with good managers taking on too much too soon. Southampton FC would be a perfect vehicle for him. His success will be our success. The two perfectly fit for me. I hate calling for someone's head. Pardew seems to be a good chap but if we do not progress our new owners are likely to restrict money flowing from their personal wealth and we may end up with a lesser owner or nothing. Just surviving football wise and financially. I want more than that for the price of my season ticket and the support I give for cup games.

I have no problem with Pardew's after match interviews. He is not good at it but he is sincere and honest within the restraints I feel he is under - talk about the performance but nothing else by way of speculation. That seems to be Nicola Cortese's way. What I do have a problem with is his management of the team. Posters go on about the fact it is only 2 games in and he needs to be given a little longer but what if he does not improve! It may be too late for his successor to get us the promised promotion. Pardew was given the time last year and he failed. I think he did well from a -10 point situation but given he was provided with transfer money in January on the basis he told Cortese he could get us into the playoffs he failed with his main target. This season we have seen a disjointed pre season, two league games where he has only demonstrated last years failings and a cup game where he admitted Bournemouth's system and players were confusing him. I want to see a decision now. Eddie Howe is an up and coming Manager who could go all the way with us as he develops his undoubted talent. Look at what he achieved last season. Look at what he is starting to achieve this season. He is the ideal man to continue his development in Div 1 with us, take us to the Championship and beyond. This is a risk worth taking. Pardew may be a decent Div 1 Manager but can he hack it higher? West Ham and Charlton had their doubts. He had limited success but now it the time for change Eddie Howe for me is just what is required at our progressive club. I think if he was offered the chance he might just see this as his ideal to develop his talents by moving up the leagues without jumping straight into the Premier mire.

I heard Chanria wants to sell for £30.5m (overheard telephone conversation from someone in the process) although someone else with an interest told me it was £40.5m It seems both figures are putting off the buyers already expressing an interest. Chanria unlikely to waste any more of his money. They will limp on with the emphasise on LIMP