Weston Saint

We have Brad Taylor as another spin option. Lets not forget Ervins as well:)

That should spur the team on

Think he is staying. I am sure review completed. He is under contract so no need to announce anything unless he is going. I believe those who say we will be relegated with him are being a bit of a "drama queen" He did not get us relegated this year so why should he next. Unless he changes then we will be bored ..itless at home games but he and the team have enough about them to stay above the dross points wise.

Ian Holland playing for 2nds Last game 192 for 2nds against Kent Few weeks ago in 2nds against Essex 5/46, 109, 4/90, 89 and at the beginning of the season 4/29 He was in the squad of 13 but they seem to have bottled it.

You were right, I was wrong.

First, we were without one of our strike bowlers when Fidel went off with a shoulder injury and unlikely bowl again this match. Secondly the ball went soft and slightly out of shape so less effective. Much better today so far. All out having only added 117 for 8 wickets. Now we have to back it up with our batting!

Initially was not going as I was staying at cricket, then with rain decided to go as no one was going to use my season ticket. A few minutes ago had an invite from a friend to be there at 5.15 to join him in a corporate box with all that goes with it:) No brainer! Hope we play better than we have been at home. Put out the team that started the cup final!

I am going to join this debate late. When the season started with our new Manager I thought I would be happy with 10-14 in the league providing we had a decent run in Europe. We failed to some extent in the European adventure but made up for it in the League Cup by reaching the final. We had a loss of players in the transfer window last summer that could have made a difference and some bad injuries during the campaign. However, that has supplemented, in part, by the emergence of other fringe/young players. Last season we finished 6th and that was said to be partly due to the poor form of some other clubs at the top end of the table. We are likely to finish between 8th and 11th and some are arguing that our points tally suggests we are in a false position and due to teams below us having poor form. Both are correct so we are where we are on merit. I would have been happy with our finish but one thing is clear and that is we are boring at home most of the time. I do not go to away games but reports suggest we are more effective away from home that at home, entertainment wise. Speaking to many of my friends they think Puel has done a decent job with the players at his disposal but do not like his brand of football and that is turning people off. I am prepared to give Puel another year but only just.

Ha HaHa...if they really knew who you were

Berg had a slight ankle problem so they rested him.

that is how DL works

It is all about wickets taken. If Hamshire had scored the 146 runs for 2 wickets they would have won by 3 runs. That is what was annoying us at the ground. There was no need to take risks. 4.78 runs per over to that time! However they played as if no weather interruption which was correct but poor batting was our downfall

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.