Early Team news

Early team news for Saints is that we are still without four or five creative midfielders for tomorrows game against QPR. Idiakez, Dyer, Belmadi and Surman are all sidelined, with Skacel expected to be absent, although he may be given a fitness test. The defense will probably remain unchanged (Bale, Lundekvam, Powell, Baird) while there is a question about who will partner Rasiak up-front, with both Wright-Phillips and Jones available.

I thought that it was a mistake playing McGoldrick in midfield last week. If you are going to play one of the strikers there, I would have played W-P. If Skacel isn't fit then I'd like to see Burley return to the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation he played in december. Pele, Wright and Viafara in the centre of midfield, with Wright-Phillips and Jones playing wide, with Rasiak through the middle.



I also hope that Dexter Blackstock doesn't come back to haunt us again. There seems to be a curse on saints that when we sell a striker, he suddenly starts playing well and scoring; Blackstock (QPR), Ormerod (Preston) and Fuller (Stoke) recently.

In transfer news: there are more conflicting reports about Bale, more of the same really. Some papers report today that Man U have launched a £9 million bid with loan-back til the end of the season. But then other reports say Burley has laughed off any talk of a transfer and is adament he is going nowhere. Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens.

Loan-wise saints don't appear to be having much luck. Apparently they have been talking to clubs and trying to work on a few deals, but nothing is coming good.

That's probably fair!!

Saints have now (according to the Daily Echo) slapped a £12 million asking price on Gareth Bale. In my opinion this is probably the right sort of valuation. He has all the qualities of a world class left back at the age of 17 and takes some of the best free kicks anywhere. If a club came in with an offer that size (or at least close) then I would sadly have to say take the money. Saints could really use it right now.

Bale's equalising free-kick against Derby from earlier in the season.


Kyle Critchell is leaving Saints for Chesterfield. The defender/midfielder signs for the League One side on a permanent deal until the end of the season. He spent a long period of last season out with a ligament injury and spent the beginning of this term on loan at Torquay. Good luck to Kyle for the future.

In other Saints news, it has emerged that the club spent more on agents' fees than any other club outside the premiership in the six months to xmas 2006. They spent £842,533 on 52 transactions (average of £16,202), the next biggest spenders were Sunderland who spent £594,500. I think that the amount of money going to agents is ridiculous nowadays, and it is more of a problem outside the premiership, where clubs generally feel the pinch more. Something needs to be done! Hopefully the new FA regulations on agents will help.

Youngsters bow out

Sadly the U18s couldn't produce a giantkilling in the youth cup tonight, going down 2-0 at man utd. Two first half strikes were enough for the home side to go through. Despite a battling second half display, the young saints couldn't find a way back. Lets hope some of these young players come through strongly to the first team, it was only last season that gareth bale was taking part in the very same competition.

If you need something to take your mind off that. I'd like to point you to the Black Panther blog. Whilst mainly about US soccer, it has a strong saints feel:-) Check it out.

Will he won't he?

Today's guardian says that it is Gareth Bale is "90% certain" to be leaving Saints for Man Utd before the end of the month. It says that the probable deal would include a loan-back arrangement until the end of the season. With a fee somewhere between the £5.5 million initial bid and the nearer £10 million saints would be after. To me this would be a real shame for both Saints and Bale. If he and his parents are as happy with Saints as we keep hearing then I don't understand why he won't sign a contract extension, with a minimum fee release clause if we fail to get promoted. That way he can stay at Saints and help with the promotion push. If we fail he can leave, if we succeed everyone can rethink, and it would guarentee Saints a just financial reward.

In other more positive news, I'd like to wish good luck to Georges Prost and his Under 18 side for their FA Youth Cup fourth round tie this evening against Manchester Utd. The game is sadly not being hosted at Old Trafford, but at Hyde park. This is a shame for all concerned as it would have been an amazing experience for the youngsters. Nevertheless it is still a big game!! Good luck and lets hope we can improve on last years performance as beaten semi-finalists (on penalties to eventual champions liverpool). The only major injury doubt for the U18s is captain Oliver Lancashire who is waiting to see if he will be allowed to play in a lightweight cast after breaking his wrist.

If you need some cheering up here's a tune to sooth you.

FA Cup update

Saints will now play Man City in the fourth round of the FA Cup after they came through a tough match against Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at the city of manchester stadium. Goals from Stephen Ireland and Darius Vassell gave city victory, despite a good battling display by wednesday, who had Mark Crossley keeping them in the game (at least we won't have to face him again).

The match will take place at the City of Manchester stadium on Sunday 28th January at 3pm, in order to avoid a clash with the Man Utd v Portsmouth tie the day before. Plus it means we can all watch Pompey get trounced live on BBC television :-)

Le God remembered

No major transfer news. Although, according to George Burley, David Prutton's going nowhere. He quashed talk of a second transfer bid for Prutts being accepted, and said that there had been no further contact between the clubs and he is still part of the managers plans.

Another youtube delight for today. Watching this brought many fond memories of Le God. They were great times, probably enhanced by the endless battles against relegation (made it more exciting at least). My favourite memory from that period was the 6-3 tonking of man utd, and that chip by le tis over schmeichel was special!!

Monday morning rolls around again!
Transfer news: Again Burley has stated Gareth Bale is not for sale!! Do we really believe this? If the board can't get him tied down to a longer contract and someone offers £7 million then will they be able to resist? I really hope so, otherwise our faint hopes of automatic promotion are surely gone.

David Prutton does appear to be on his way to Hull after Saints have apparently accepted an 'improved' bid. Last week they reportedly rejected a £400k offer for the midfielder. Hull are his home town club and if he is not in Burley's immediate plans now (with 3 right-midfielders out injured), then its probably best to cash in now, before losing him for free in the summer. He's done ok for saints. But I don't feel he ever fulfilled his potential, coming to saints from being forest captain and an england u-21 star. Injuries haven't helped of late, and I was glad to see him score the other week. But its probably time for him to get a fresh start.

The promise of a £2 million investment from Michael Wilde was interesting. I heard a quote saying that it wasn't for transfer fees. If it wasn't that then what is it for? Wages hopefully! If they can use that money to keep Bale for a while longer and bring in two or three handy loan signings, we've still got a chance.

Finally, if any of you missed them, I found the FA cup 3rd round highlights of Torquay v Saints on youtube. Enjoy!