Media update

On the BBC sport website there is a nice head-to-head article about Bale v Micah Richards for the title of Best Young Defender in Britain, in preparation for their clash on Sunday. Whilst the scores are probably fair for most of the categories, with Richards winning most defensive ones narrowly and well ahead in the attacking ones, I thought that overall this would mean Bale should be the better player. He is good in defence and exceptional venturing forward. Take a look and see what you think.

The Daily Echo has a story of Simon Clifford recalling his memories of working with Bale. Seemed to imply that Bale was arrogant, but from what I've seen and heard, I'd say he was self-confident more than arrogant.

Balewatch: the suggestion was that Arsenal had entered the race for the young welshman. But Wenger said today on ArsenalTV, that he felt his squad was strong enough and he would not be dipping into the transfer market during January, even for Bale. So no new progress, but the countdown is on. We only have to last for 6 more days, then he's ours til the summer:-)

All barren on the tranfer front!!

So all quiet on the transfer front. Still no added investment from the new board!! They promised lots of investment in the team, and whilst Saints did spend well in the summer, there has been nothing to back it up since! Why is this? Did they promise more than they could provide, were there other investors who haven't come through with the money? I know they have got us into the position we are in now, with a decent chance of promotion, but we need something to help follow it through. Even if it was wage money to back Burley with loan deals.

Saints have a lot of injury problems and when we start to get our creative midfielders back that should help. But we are in danger of drawing too many games, we should be winning. And that'll be the difference between play-offs and automatic promotion. Come on Mr Wilde, money and quick!!! If its not already too late!

Loan season

It's been confirmed today that Saganowski is on trial, with the possibilty of a loan move being considered. Leon Best who has been shining during his loan period at league one side Yeovil, scoring 7 times in 9 starts, and there is a possibility of his loan being extended til the end of the season with Burley encouraged by his progress. Saints veteran keeper Kevin Miller has gone on loan to struggling torquay. On Balewatch today, the daily echo reported that apparently the bookmakers thought it more likely that Wycombe would beat Chelsea, than Bale starting next season with Saints. Sadly, this probably isn't far wrong!! Lets just hope we keep him til then at least.

The reserves returned to competitive action tonight for the first time in two months. The game marked the return to action of Nathan Dyer, who successfully came through 45 minutes, and gave useful run-outs to squad players (Bialkowski, Cranie, Makin, Lallana and Prutton). But it was two goals from the younger players which provided the saints second string with the 2-1 victory over Brighton. An early header fron Cedric Baseya and a fine individual goal from Jamie White. The win continued the reserves 100% season.

FA Cup build-up begins

Finally some possible inward transfer news, Saints have taken Marek Saganowski on a 2-day trial from french club Troyes. The 28 year old Polish international striker has failed to make the impact hoped since a move '05 summer and has been told he is surplus to requirements.

Looking forward to next weekend, the FA cup returns with Saints fourth round visit to Man City on sunday afternoon. The red and white will be looking for a cup upset. Will have more facts and previews later in the week. But just to whet your appetite here is a slideshow of my photos from the Cup final in cardiff a few years back. Sadly no in game pics, but captured the spirit of the day nicely. What a great day out.

Bale rumours rumble on.......zzzzz.....

This Bale thing really is getting a bit boring (and nerve-wracking!!). Lets hope its sorted once and for all, so we can get back to worrying about the promotion push (and maybe FA cup run). Rumours were widespread in the tabloids today as the "race for bale" hotted up. The Mirror reported that Spurs were in talks with Bale after having a £10 million bid accepted, but the Sun reports that the youngster still has his heart set on a move to Man Utd. Whilst the Mail reports that the Arsenal are still interested. Maybe arsenal would be a favourable option for Gareth, giving him the chance to link up again with one of his old friends from the Saints academy, Theo Walcott.

There was a piece in the guardian today about Bale, taking over two-thirds of page 3 of the sport section. There was a short story about the battle to sign him, and a nice article about why he's just so damn good!! See below, click on it to enlarge it (should be big enough to read).

In other news, Nathan Dyer is hoping to make his return tomorrow night for the reserves. The match against Brighton will be his first since the end of december, after damaging ligaments in the 2-0 home win over leicester.

Other news

In other news from the weekend. Marcelo Sarmiento has been released by Saints. Sarmiento has been on loan at Saints from Club Atlético Racing de Córdoba since the beginning of the season, but has been unable to break into the first team on a regular basis. The midfielder was surplus to George Burley's needs and has been released early.

This morning Radio Solent has reported that Saints have received a £10 million bid for Gareth Bale from an unnamed club, thought not to be Man Utd or Spurs who have both had bids in the region of £8 million rejected. The mystery bidder could possibly be liverpool, as they seem to be allowing Stephen Warnock to depart, and have been pipped for the signature of Lucas Neill. Should Saints even consider this new bid for the young welshman?? If the deal was money now, plus a loan back, it should be considered, if the money can come in time to allow us to strengthen the squad for a concerted push for the premiership!!!

I just found a nice site, Sporting Heroes, which has lots of photos of past sports people. It has lots of current and old saints players on there, take a look for a little bit of nostalgia.

QPR 0 Saints 2

Saints took three vital points on saturday at Loftus road with two late strikes from Rasiak and Bradley Wright-Phillips. The first was a slightly controversial one, with Ras prodding home from all of an inch, after the Rangers goalkeeper had spilled a Bale corner under the influence of Wright-Phillips. Saints were then lucky not to concede a quick equaliser when former Saint Dexter Blackstock had a goal disallowed in almost identical circumstances to the opener. The game was sealed for saints in injury time by Wright-Phillips who slotted home cooly from a nice McGoldrick throughball.

The three points were vital for the Saints as all the other major promotion contenders also took maximum points, with Derby, Preston and West Brom all winning. Birmingham's match was postponed for the second week in a row, meaning they slip to second but with two games in hand.


Sorry for the extreme latestness of this. Busy weekend.