Weston Saint

You surprise me! Last nights team Carberry - England Test Player Alsop - England Lions Vince - England Test Bailey - Dawson - England Test Ervine - England qualified due to period playing in England McManus -England Under 19's Berg Abbott Crane - England Under 19's Topley - England IOD & T20 Only complaint......none were born in Hampshire.

All set for the season with a strong line up Openers Michael Carberry (Left) Jimmy Adams (Left) Tom Alsop (Left) Upper Order Batsmen James Vince (Right) Rilee Rossouw (Left) Will Smith (Right) George Bailey (Right) Sean Ervine (Left) All Rounders Liam Dawson (Right bat – Slow left arm) Asher Hart (Right bat – right medium) Gareth Berg (Right bat – right medium fast) Wicket Keepers Lewis McManus (Right) (Alsop is a Wicket Keeper to cover) Bowlers Fidel Edwards (Right Hand Fast) Kyle Abbott (Right Fast Medium) Reece Topley (Left Medium Fast) Brad Wheal (Right Fast Medium) Ryan Stevenson (Right Fast Medium) Mason Crane (Leg Break) Brad Taylor (Right off-break) Chris Wood (Left medium) Injured shoulder at present All with the squad except Fidel Edward who is returning tomorrow and George Bailey who will arrive after his wedding and misses the first 3 Championship games. My only concern is our three openers are all left handed. Good middle order and bowling mix. Opening game against Yorkshire next week! Adams Carberry (Alsop has not been in form so I would give him time to get his form back) Vince Rossouw Dawson Ervine McManus Berg Abbott Topley Edwards Do not think we need a spinner at Leeds and Topley will give us left hand bowling alternative. What do others think?

Looks like Gabbiadini suffered a mild groin strain when his shot hit the side netting. Might just be a 2-4 weeks out, probably maximum of 6

Important time for Ward-Prowse coming up. Now we are going to be able to train all week it will be interesting to see how much of an influence Puel's reported skills of developing players pans out. If JWP does not continue to improve and be a be a big influence in midfield by the end of the season, I don't think he ever will! I likewise think he has improved in the last few games but the Jury is still out as far as I am concerned. I so wish he does make the grade.

Strange because I met Jim twice last season in Corporate and his ticket was allocated free by Saints. Last season 3 ex per game used the tickets in the Presidential Suite. This year it seems to be two. Jim was happy then and restricted his alcohol content. Was entertaining and able to handle the p..s take I gave him when he took a ball from someone who had just won it and I said out loud that it was the first time he had got the ball off of someone. Think the article must have been slanted a little because LeT was not invited yesterday, he was working for Sky.

If you knew who Charlie was you would answer your own question

There are many ways this deal may have been constructed. Likely a mixture of a significant sign on fee with options, basic low weekly wage, bonus for appearances, bonus for win/draw, bonus for clean sheets, bonus for position in league table etc. Adding to £100,000 a week is, however, doubtful. The club do have experience of this type of deal in Charlie Austin

I hope the club are not panicking as much as most seem to be on here. We are struggling but we are not relegation material.

I am sure the club are as disappointed as us that we did not sign a Centre Back in the Window. There was plenty of time to sort this out after it was clear Fonte was going. Even more so when Van-Dijk suffered his injury (I think it is a bruised bone at the top of the foot and can take up to 3 months). However, our club have reached this level in football because they do not panic and they continue to rely on the “Southampton Way” We do have a list of names in the “Black Box”, probably 6 to 8 but some will be for the future and not now. I am sure the club actively pursued those players behind the scenes. If none were available in the window then there might have been a widening and “outside the box” considerations but it would have been half hearted and probably underwhelming. We have what we have. Our club have the habit of finding rich talent and if we cannot keep them, move them upwards banking a good profit. If we had signed the Sakho that is not our way. OK on loan for reported £2m fee plus his wages of £100,000 per week might look cheap but we are not in a relegation scrap and to do so would break all the principles that have guided us to where we are since our Administration. However, we must get this right in the summer. And let's hope my pessimism about Van-Dijk is unfounded!

Just had a personal email from Kat

My take on the injury as it looked like a bruised bone on the top of the foot near the ankle. The scan will likely confirm it. When VVD went down he was clearly in pain hitting the ground with his hands. He knew it as not good. Long treatment and then he carried on but I watched him and he was not moving well avoiding the injured side. Each time he jumped it was not so high as usual and his headers were weaker. He took off on his non injured leg and avoided landing on his injured one. When he did land on it he immediately went down and hit the grass in frustration. He knew it was bad. With this type of injury it can take up to 3 months to get to the point of full recovery. I suspect the club will not say much but do not expect him back too soon. Hope I am wrong but the fact Puel simply said he was going for a scan and gave none of the reassurance he did straight after the game I think he and the club realise it is not good news. I hope I am wrong.

Forgot Tom Alsop who is also a wicket keeper as well as opening bat.

they have Ed Ellis Oxford MCCU and Hants 2nd XI but look a little light in that department. On a different note The Times today reports that Michael Carberry has returned from his media work abroad and is due to meet up with the other home-based Hampshire players this week to resume training – getting fit for the new season.

This is my last post under the SaintsWeb quota system!! He has told the Hampshire coaches he wants to come back for the up and coming season. Do not know how his cancer is now but he looks fit and well. If his strength returns there is no reason why he cannot come back. He is still under contract. Will be a fantastic competition for places. Batsmen - Carberry, Adams, Alsop, Weatherley, Rossouw, Vince, Bailey, Smith, McManus All Rounders - Ervine, Dawson, Berg, Hart Bowling - Abbott, Edwards, Crane, Topley, Wheal, Taylor, Wood, Stevenson. Good mix of experience and youth in each category. And I will continue to have a great view from the Robin Smith Balcony and access to Players, Coaches and Directors for all domestic games. What is not to like about the 2017 season

One of the problems with South Africa Cricket has been their Quota system which restricts the number of "white" players that can be in SA Test, IOD & T20. Abbott was dropped from the World Cup Semi last year despite him having the best bowling figures because of this system. He has got back in but only because of Steyn and Morkel injuries. Also the Rand is dropping in value against the £ & $ so SA Contract is losing its value. Hampshire offered him a 4 year contract believed to be £100,000 per season with additional free medical cover. As he is 29 that will about see out his career as a top bowler. SA could not offer him that stability. Same applies to Rossouw. It is not all about overseas players though. We have also signed Asher Harta promising English All rounder who will be 20 in March. He is in the main squad and Durham have been quoted in Cricinfo "The club also lost one of their brightest young talents - Asher Hart - to Hampshire at the end of last season. "They offered him a lot more money," Lewis admitted phlegmatically. "What can you do? We didn't want to lose him at all, but you can't blame him." I am quite positive for the season. We have strengthened the batting and bowling and great competition for places. I will not be surprised if Hamshire are not one of the favourites for 2017 Championship.

At the beginning of the season with players we had lost and pressure of the Europa League I would have settled for 10-14 in the league. I thought it would be difficult to qualify in Europa League for knockout stage. I had no real aspirations in the Domestic Cups. As at now I still expect us to reach 10-14 but I am concerned over our negative set up and lack of goals. I do not expect a relegation battle but I do want to be entertained. Was bitterly disappointed we did not progress in Europa after early performances despite my pre- season thoughts. Happy we have reached the semis in the League Cup but I think Liverpool are strong favourites over the two legs. Shame as this would appear our best chance of Europa next season. Hope we do well in FA Cup now. Expect us to qualify for next round now we are at home. The team we put out were much better that Norwich. Quite rightly our expectations of success have increased in the last few years. We have had very good Managers, we have bought fairly well when we have lost good players. I have no problem with Saints being seen as a club who develop players for Champions League Clubs. We have the delight in seeing their skills and success and that can only be good for the team. It will encourage other players to look at us rather than see us as a small provincial club. Likewise, our exposure will help develop our overseas corporate revenue leading to higher turnover and ability to compete with the top six on more level terms. I am sure that is the long term plan. I likewise have no problem with the way the club go about signings in the Transfer window. Of course, I would prefer early good signings but it has to be the right player and they tend not to come around in the January window. I am prepared to give Puel a little more time. I can see what Reed is saying about him not having the time to implement his strategy/development on the training pitch. The change to 1 game per week coming up in the near future will be a pivotal. If he can start to pick a settled side and get them back to attractive attacking football with goals in them, I may have more confidence in him and our next season progress.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04ng8fn Here is Reed's side of the announcement. He has been a great servant to Saints and best of luck to him. Hope he gets what he wants from this request

Abbott has quit SA and is Hampshire bound for what is expected to be a 3 year deal. Massive signing.

Any developments LeG?

Topley now has to have a shoulder operation!!!

That would fit in with what Rod Bransgrove said to me at the end of last season.....top class bowler but not likely to be announced yet as lot of issues involved.

Ok it is Daniel Nilsen. 20 year old. No club, plays football "freestyle" in Norway. Did play for Rosenberg but bought out his contract. Clearly one for the development team, not first team.

Daniel Neilson age 20? I know nothing about him but have it on good authority he will sign in January Anyone know who he is?

Liam Dawson gets his first cap for England Test. Well done to him.

Someone I know well with good connections has today posted on his blog