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!

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.

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!!