Looking back and to the future

Ok, so I've been lazy at updating, sorry. Now the apologies are out the way, the reflection and hoping can begin.

So Saints' excellent end to the season was so disappointingly ended by the worst footballing team in the championship!! A real pity that Derby made it to the premiership by beating the two most attractive footballing teams in the division, Saints and West Brom. Saints' problem this season was that we were too weak as a team. We didn't really have any tough players, haven't for years!

Despite the penalty shoot-out defeat to Derby I came away really proud of the team and the way they played. Now we have to take all the positives from this season and look to build on them. We have a young team and some great players. Bale has gone, which is a real shame (especially as its to Spurs), but good luck to him and we still produced some great performances without him last season (like the playoff 2nd leg). It doesn't look like we should lose too many more players (for non-financial reasons) in the summer. I hope Baird can be persuaded to stay and we can get young Best on a new contract.

I did say non-financial reasons though. The club obviously lose the parachute payments next season and will need some new financing or a major reduction in costs (bye-bye players). So if there is to be a takeover who might it be? Well, in the last few months there's been mention of a consortium fronted by Graeme Souness and a possible bid by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. No news has been coming out of the club recently, as it is in an offer period, and so cannot legally release information. I guess it is a case of wait and see, and HOPE!! New investment into the club would be fantastic. I don't want an Abramovich to come in and spend £300 million, but to secure the clubs future and develop the squad for a strong title push next year.

To succeed next year Saints need to bring in at least one big, strong centre back, a midfield bully and a creative spark. If we can keep Best, Rasiak, Jones and maybe even Saganowski (unlikely!) we have a pretty good strike force.

2007/08 'should' be a great year for Saints, new investment (hopefully), a real push for automatic promotion and watching Derby struggle miserably in the Premiership:)

Saints 0 Derby 1

What a disappointment!!!! Convinced saints were going to win and begin a concerted promotion push. The game started well enough, with Saints creating some good opportunities. New signing Marek Saganowski, looked bright and went close twice within the first 3 minutes. The first drew a good save from the derby keeper and the second flew just over from a difficult position. He obviously couldn't keep it up but turned in a promising performance, and it was a little disappointing that he was substituted when he was. Saints should indeed have been 4-0 up by the end of the first half after creating several good chances, but each time the keeper would make a save or the luck wasn't with us. In particular Rasiak had a glorious opportunity with space inside the area, but his placed effort crept millimetres past the far post.

The second half was less dominated by the Saints, but Derby still offered little in the way of attacking. They turned in a solid, physical display, lacking in skill and flair, i'd say they were the Bolton of the championship! Then as time was getting on, predictably Howard got in to score an undeserved winner. A frustrating match, with some improved attacking play from the home side, providing evidence that the return of the more creative midfield players will strengthen our challenge. But we really need to start putting away our chances when we get them. The result leaves us looking back over our shoulder now, trying to make sure of at least a play-off place.

There were injury worries over gareth bale, who spent the end of the first half limping badly, recovering a little for the second half (although still lacking some zip) and Rudi skacel, who seemed to have a back problem and briefly left the field, before later having some treatment.

Man of the Match: Chris Baird for another superb defensive performance. Although he was run close by Jhon Viafara.

Saints best day in the last two years!!!!

Yesterday turned out to be the best day for the Saints in a long while. A 2-1 victory over sheffield wednesday moved saints to within one point of second place in the championship. But possibly more importantly, the transfer window came to a close with Gareth Bale still a Saints player:-)

Last nights match was a good one for saints in more than just the result. There were plus points all round. Baird was again brilliant putting in a man of the match performance. Rasiak's trickery with flicks and back-heels galore in the first half, idiakez looked good and hungry coming back and the pressure of more competition up front seemed to work as kenny put away a couple of beautifully taken goals, taking him to 11 for the season. The only apparent downside was that he later picked up a thigh injury which makes him doubtful for saturdays huge game at home to Derby. If you missed the match, check out the goals and reaction below, notice rasiak's backheel and kenny's dancing:-)

On the Bale front, it appears that he snubbed a £10 million + 18 month loan-back deal with spurs (despite saints allowing him talks) in favour of a possible move to man utd in the summer. I'd be sad to see him leave any time. But maybe when we're in the premiership we can tempt him to stay a little longer with a big money deal.

Bring on Derby!!!!

In the balance

Saints' season is in the balance over the next week or so. They need to pick themselves up after the disappointment of being dumped out of the fa cup, and concentrate of the far more pressing concern of promotion. The next three days are crucial as Saints battle to keep the services of Gareth Bale, with reports that Man Utd are readying a new bid. Then comes a string of important matches, with the saints hosting in-form Sheffield Wednesday (on wednesday night) and top of the table Derby on saturday, followed by a trip to West Brom. If Saints could win all three or manage 7 points, it would leave them in an excellent position for a concerted automatic promotion push. Do badly on the other hand, and we could be resigned to a play-off slot (at best).

FA Cup preview

As the Saints roll into Manchester tomorrow for their FA cup fourth round tie, they must fancy their chances against a Man City side who have hardly been setting the premiership alight. Despite the difference in division, only 12 places separate the two sides and I think Saints have a good chance to keep their cup run going. The FA cup history between the two sides and Saints away form this season both suggest there could be plenty of goals in this one. The two previous cup meetings between the teams supplied 5 and 6 goals and Saints away matches have seen goals flying in left-right and centre. I would personally fancy a 3-1 Saints win, with a couple from Rasiak and a Bale freekick.

Saints will likely have the same squad available as in the previous game, with the addition of Makin and possibly Dyer, who might make the substitutes bench after coming through 45 minutes for the reserves midweek. Bradley Wright-Phillips will be vying for a starting spot against his old side, after he scored from the bench in the last game. I would personally stick with Jones in a 442, with Bradley being a very handy sub. I think Dyer shouldn't be rushed back, but if fit enough should be on the bench incase saints need to change something.

Todays other fourth round ties didn't provide many surprises. It was lovely to see Pompey dumped out by the other half of manchester. Lovely second goal by Rooney, they really won 4-1 but had two goals shockingly disallowed. Well done to Bristol City and Blackpool for holding higher division sides, good luck in the replays.

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:-)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!