Bailey

Amazing what one win does to people's confidence on here . . . Not having a pop at you either nickh, as I know you are one of the few to remain positive about our chances! Lets hope we can keep the momentum going and get another 3 points against Blackpool.

Lallana is a class act and has the ability to turn the game in our favour. His vision, trickery and passing ability really is top draw and he is a very exciting player to have in the side. I just hope we can tie him down to a long term contract soon. His current deal runs out at the end of the season so fingers crossed Rupert is in the process of putting a new deal together. I don't think I could take it if we lost him for nothing come the end of the season.

Top draw performance today, sounds as though we played Derby off the park for the majority of the game. This result will do wonders for the confidence too, lets hope we can take this through to the Blackpool game. Makes it even better that we've added to the negative hype surrounding Derby. I think we owed them that one after the playoff defeat. Get in! COYR!

BWP has hardly set the world alight since joining us and I wouldn't be upset should we allow him to leave. Not only that, but he is one of our 'big earners' and so it makes sense financially to let him go. We've got plenty of competition in the wide roles too, with the likes of Holmes, Surman, Thomson, Dyer and even McGoldrick all proving to be more than capable. If any bid is forthcoming, then we should accept it and move on IMO.

Would be fantastic if we manage to hold onto Surman, although I fear if any club comes in with a £2.5m bid then he'll still be off.

I'd rather we didn't sell Davis as Bialkowski doesn't fill me with confidence and Forecast is totally untried at this level. However, if selling Davis meant we were in a position to keep Surman then I think that would soften the blow somewhat.

Great news. Having seen the guy play on numerous occasions, I can say he is a good prospect and should prove to be a useful player for us.

Would be great to sign Cork IMO. Have seen him play on numerous occasions and the lad is a real prospect.

Be a good move IMO. We really need a natural LB and Harte fits the bill based on the fact he's available on a free. Would be a good signing if it happens although I feel wages could be a stumbling block.

Turns out Palace are looking at John after all . . . http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4018605,00.html

Oh god. I suppose he'll make for OK backup. If Schneiderlin or Gillett get injured then we only really have Wotton as cover, assuming that Euell leaves before the window shuts.

I'm not a big fan of Thomas to be honest but I think his game would improve if he were to play alongside Svensson.

I highly doubt he'll just select him straight away. It would be down to Rudi to get his head sorted and start playing the sort of football that merits a place in our starting 11. Just because he's on high wages, doesn't mean he should be an automatic choice in the team.

Skacel dragged off after half an hour after having a shocker. Clearly his head and his heart aren't in it at Saints anymore, and with all the goings on it's hard to blame him. Fingers crossed some club comes in with a decent bid for him so we can move him on and get him off the wage bill.

I fear that things have to get alot worse before they get any better just yet. Selling Davies and possibly Surman is just the start of it IMO.

Very true. For all Lowe's wrong doings, you can't fault him on his transfer dealings when it comes to selling players. Generally speaking, he does tend to get as good a deal as possible.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_4004893,00.html Potentially good news for the fans, but not good if you're the board or Barclays.

To criticse Lloyd James after yesterday is a tad harsh IMO. He was up against a very quick player in Quincy and in truth I doubt he'll face much better this season. I actually think he had a good game, reading the game well and pushing on brilliantly to support McGoldrick. It's easy to forget he's not actually a natural RB, but he's fast making that spot in the side his own. From what I've seen so far, I believe James has the potential to become a very useful player for us.

At least we are getting a replacement if true, assuming he's a CB that is! No idea what he's like mind, but I'm guessing that his wages are just a fraction of what we are paying Davies.

I was feeling reasonably confident during pre-season with the squad we have and with the prospect of Davies returning to fitness. However, if we were to lose Davies AND Surman, then I think we will be struggling. Our squad is hardly huge as it is and we're in a difficult situation. I just hope we can offload the likes of Skacel and Euell to avoid us having to lose more important first team players.

With the impending departure of Davies to Stoke, it looks like Saints are not only relying on Svensson to stay fit for the majority of the season, but that they're putting alot of faith in Olly Lancashire too. Was wondering what people's thoughts were of him? Do those that have seen him play believe he is ready? Having seen him play on numerous occasions for both the reserves and the youth team respectively, I am cautiously optimistic that he'll make the step up confidently and do a good job for the team. Thoughts?

A win at Derby would do wonders for the confidence, but in the long run it isn't too essential. I think we've been very unfortunate with our opening 3 fixtures this season, and I can't think of a much tougher start in truth. I'm positive that points will come if we keep going as we are and play with no fear. Remember, the league table means nothing at this stage of the season either, with one win putting us in 9th. There's still a VERY long way to go so lets not press the panic button just yet, although it will be a big relief to get our first win under our belts. Fingers crossed we can get one over Derby, I'm sure we owe them for that playoff game still . . .

Good post, and agree entirely. I'd much rather see a side full of young, hungry players who are willing to give their all to the cause. If we continue to play like we have done in our opening 2 games, then the points will come. It's just a shame we've had to play 3 promotion contenders in our opening 3 matches. Keep the faith guys and support the team, we will come good. Don't expect miracles, but if we play as we have done to date, then there is no reason why we can't secure a mid-table spot come the end of the season.

Gutted we didn't get anything from today's game. First half we were by far the better team, playing some top draw one-touch football, with lots of movement too. Fully deserved our lead at half-time. Second half though, Birmingham came out the blocks flying, clearly on the end of a half-time rollocking from McLeish. We struggled to deal with their strikers as the game went on and as our boys tired, but when a team in this division are able to bring on Jerome, Phillips and Bent, then you know you're in for a tough afternoon. Their squad depth and the quality thoroughout the side will be the reason why they go up automatically IMO. All in all, very dissappointed to come away with nothing, and very frustrating that we are yet to get a point this season. I can't really think of a tougher start to the season in truth but so long as the players keep going as they are, the first points won't be too far away. I just hope that the team can take the positives from today, and there were plenty. With a bit of luck, we may just be able to go to Derby and sneak the 3 points. Now that would be sweet! Keep the faith guys.

Exactly what I thought when I watched it too. Had he not had a parting shot at us when he left, then I doubt that Saints fans would resent him as much as they do now.