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!!!!

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.

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!!