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6:47am Tuesday 2nd September 2008
Jan Poortvliet has declared himself "very pleased" with his squad after a quiet transfer deadline day saw just one player arrive at St Mary's.
The Saints head coach was as surprised as anybody at the lack of movement with several players such as Rudi Skacel having been expected to leave.
However, with money in short supply for most clubs outside of the top flight, the only business done at St Mary's was the signing of French attacking midfielder Romain Gasmi from RC Strasborug.
That was the club from which Saints bought Morgan Schneiderlin for £1.2m following a recommendation from former coach Georges Prost.
The 21-year-old - Saints' 10th summer transfer window signing - has moved on loan for the rest of the season with an option for Saints to buy him next summer.
However, Gasmi, who hasn't started a match for Strasbourg this season in the French second division, is not expected in Southampton for another four to six weeks as he has a broken fifth metatarsal in his foot.
Strasbourg will continue to finance his recovery and he will join his new teammates at St Mary's after that.
Poortvliet said: "He is a multi-functional player in the midfield and the front and can play on both wings or the number ten position.
"He is a player who can dribble, he's a good passing man and can score goals - that's what he did in Strasbourg.
"I have been told by people in France he's a very good player.
"At 17 or 18 he was a big talent and played in the first team. Now he's injured but he wants to come here.
"He is multi-functional and you need some players who can play in various position so we are happy with that."
After weeks of uncertainty over who would stay and who would go, Poortvliet now knows exactly what he has to work with until the transfer window reopens in January.
"I am very pleased with what I've got," he said.
"I couldn't wish for better at the moment with where we are and the players we have - I'm content.
"From now on everyone can train and we will see what happens.
"I'm am very happy because we have everything we want.
"Now it's up to us to work and hopefully produce."
Full story: see today's Daily Echo.
david warner, gosport says...
7:18am Tue 2 Sep 08
Gar, bursledon says...
7:24am Tue 2 Sep 08
Shazza, says...
7:51am Tue 2 Sep 08
Gar wrote:Not Nigel Quashie, if we sign him we are dommed for certain. He's been relegated with everyone hasn't he!!
i have heard strong rumours that we are signing nigel quashie on loan (he was at st marys last night) and Ian Harte on a free. these can both still go through as loan signings can be completed until next week
Question, says...
8:14am Tue 2 Sep 08
Disgruntled Saints fan, says...
8:21am Tue 2 Sep 08
Sensible football, Southampton says...
8:26am Tue 2 Sep 08
SaintMike, http://ohwhenthesain
ts.forumotion.net/fo
rum.htm says...
8:36am Tue 2 Sep 08
Artful Dodger, Millbrook says...
8:44am Tue 2 Sep 08
Sensible football wrote:Your post certainly makes more sense than Shazza's.
Quashie would be the sort of player we need to help the youngsters. It\'s not that they are no good, it\'s just that they need decent experience around them to help bring them along. It\'s the one massive chink in our armour.
True Blue, Fareham says...
8:53am Tue 2 Sep 08
david warner wrote:It would have been an even bigger surprise if Saints had flogged a few more senior players.
its a suprise that saints havent flogged a few more senior players on deadline day and i'm suprised to see us bring in another midfielder when maybe a full back might have been an area of concern. but with a few of the senior players like skacel and eull still at the club with 4 months till the window opens again, i hope they push on in trainig and want to play rather than just sit on the bench and hope for the best in january! with skacel still at the club we have cover at left back/midfield and if he can motivate himself we'll have a gifted player pushing for a starting place. it hasnt quite happened for him since he joined saints, maybe a fresh start in this new set up might be a good thing for him!!
Insider, says...
9:11am Tue 2 Sep 08
Artful Dodger wrote:Guess you weren't aware that Saints got shot of Quashie last time mostly due to his attitude and alleged bullying of some of the younger players.
Sensible football wrote: Quashie would be the sort of player we need to help the youngsters. It\'s not that they are no good, it\'s just that they need decent experience around them to help bring them along. It\'s the one massive chink in our armour.Your post certainly makes more sense than Shazza's. Quashie did not see relegation with the club he joined us from, and he would add the bite and quality to the midfield that is lacking at present. The only problem would be his fitness, as he does not appear to have played for more than a season.
ossiesaint, at the bar says...
9:19am Tue 2 Sep 08
saintsjordan, southampton says...
9:44am Tue 2 Sep 08
Kate, Andover says...
9:48am Tue 2 Sep 08
saintsfantasist, southampton says...
10:00am Tue 2 Sep 08
Insider, says...
10:20am Tue 2 Sep 08
saints fan, southampton says...
10:31am Tue 2 Sep 08
mike, Soton says...
11:00am Tue 2 Sep 08
saints fan wrote:Totally Agree !
Why are you all on skacel back for? his the one being forced out by lowe cause of his wages, im sure he would love to stay and play but jans been put under orders not to play him and probably unsettle him!! i'd rather see rudi back playing left back then surman can play where he is most dangerous in the midfield!! I think jans gone midfield crazy i have heard his new formation will be :- davis in goal perry and svensson at the back with gasmi, Schneiderlin, gillet, lallana, l james, surman, holmes in midfield and mcGoldrick up front!! so new formation is 1-2-7-1 cant wait to see it work a team full of midfielders great!!
kebab man, in your heqad says...
11:06am Tue 2 Sep 08
SFC4EVA, Soton says...
11:16am Tue 2 Sep 08
Shazza wrote:Quashie is outstanding in the Championship but out of depth in the Premier League. Would be a good signing 'Leader' type player that would help the youngsters develop further.
Gar wrote: i have heard strong rumours that we are signing nigel quashie on loan (he was at st marys last night) and Ian Harte on a free. these can both still go through as loan signings can be completed until next weekNot Nigel Quashie, if we sign him we are dommed for certain. He's been relegated with everyone hasn't he!!
Artful Dodger, Millbrook says...
11:24am Tue 2 Sep 08
Insider wrote:Are you sure that was the reason? When other quality players were being sold because the club needed cash, I find it strange that Quashie, who was sold to a Premier League club, was only unloaded because of attitude and 'alleged' bullying.
Artful Dodger wrote:Guess you weren\'t aware that Saints got shot of Quashie last time mostly due to his attitude and alleged bullying of some of the younger players.Sensible football wrote: Quashie would be the sort of player we need to help the youngsters. It\\\'s not that they are no good, it\\\'s just that they need decent experience around them to help bring them along. It\\\'s the one massive chink in our armour.Your post certainly makes more sense than Shazza\'s. Quashie did not see relegation with the club he joined us from, and he would add the bite and quality to the midfield that is lacking at present. The only problem would be his fitness, as he does not appear to have played for more than a season.
Paul O'D, United Arab Emirates says...
11:34am Tue 2 Sep 08
kebab man wrote:....What is Gawd's name is this rubbish all about !!?? It is not even english!!
how come there so rubbish not so long ago you top team with tope van factory, now nothing
Scott, Telford says...
11:55am Tue 2 Sep 08
realist, says...
11:58am Tue 2 Sep 08
oh no, please no, says...
12:01pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Gar wrote:so that's 2 bl**dy disasters, then. Quashie is an albatross with more relegations to his name than i've had hot bimbos (and believe me, that's a hard act to match), while Harte is way too old and clapped out, even for this division - and he'll never keep up with the pace of thses youngsters.
i have heard strong rumours that we are signing nigel quashie on loan (he was at st marys last night) and Ian Harte on a free. these can both still go through as loan signings can be completed until next week
DevonSaint, says...
12:02pm Tue 2 Sep 08
the vengeful cabbage, says...
12:21pm Tue 2 Sep 08
DevonSaint wrote:Number 1 job idea for skatchel...
Top 10 Job ideas for Rudi Skacel:- 1) Boot cleaner 2) Mascot (Dog Suit) 3) Food delivery to stands 4) Kit man 5) Steward 6) Groundsman 7) Toilet cleaner 8) Rupes B-iatch 9) Hospitality catering 10) Team coach driver Alternatively he could offer a free home cleaning service to all saints fans, booking to be taken via the website. We really need to get our money's worth out of him, anyone else got any ideas?
threestands, Bournemouth says...
12:29pm Tue 2 Sep 08
vegasaint, work says...
12:44pm Tue 2 Sep 08
threestands wrote:well said i am getting fcuked off reading such negative comments about a player and a club that they allegedly support
Any SFC supporters around? Or are you all doom, gloom, negative, glass half empty, moaning minnies. Perhaps its the weather, overcast,grey and miserable just like you negative to$$ers. COYR
Threestandsisgod, says...
12:59pm Tue 2 Sep 08
threestands wrote:There speaks Saints greatest ever supporter!!
Any SFC supporters around? Or are you all doom, gloom, negative, glass half empty, moaning minnies. Perhaps its the weather, overcast,grey and miserable just like you negative to$$ers. COYR
Obvious, says...
1:05pm Tue 2 Sep 08
vegasaint wrote:Don't read them then. Only read a happy clappy forum where all you "real supporters" can talk about how wonderful everything is.
threestands wrote: Any SFC supporters around? Or are you all doom, gloom, negative, glass half empty, moaning minnies. Perhaps its the weather, overcast,grey and miserable just like you negative to$$ers. COYRwell said i am getting fcuked off reading such negative comments about a player and a club that they allegedly support
the vengeful cabbage, says...
1:09pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Martin Betts, Suffolk says...
1:14pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Captain Swing, Marlands says...
1:28pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Martin Betts wrote:If Rupert is trying to bring the club to its knees, he's not doing a very good job of it.
Jan is just the front to the management team at Saints, he neither buys nor picks the Players, the real power behind our fantastic start to the Season is Rupert Lowe, since his return he has put up people to take all the flak whilst he does all the wheeling and dealing. He is a power crazy MF'r who is not going to be happy until this club is on its knee's. Still on this weekends showing that won't be far off!!
Iain, Lordshill says...
1:36pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Internet, says...
1:38pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Arthur, Soton says...
1:55pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Iain wrote:Well said.
Blimey, what a cheerful lot we are today. Watched the match on Saturday with an assortment of Brentford and Rotherham fans, and for the first half hour they agreed with my pre-match prediction that Saints would win by three or four. Lallana and McGoldrick especially looked good, Lee Holmes looked dangerous, and the generally accepted wisdom was that as soon as Saints scored, they\'d mellow out and not leave so many holes at the back. As it turned out, the Blackpool kepper made a very good save, a couple of shots were kicked off the line, and then Taylor-Fletcher took advantage of White\'s naivety to win a penalty (and yes, he was clearly playing for it). Cue heads dropping, and the poor performance that we got in the second half. However, if just one of those Saints chances at 0-0 had gone in, then I feel sure that they\'d have gone on to cruise it. Youngsters, typically, are confidence players, and you have to expect that sometimes this season matches like Saturday are going to happen. And, given that they\'re confidence players, how on earth is booing them off going to help? How is slagging the team off on the internet, and forecasting relegation going to help? By all means debate the future, and suggest solutions, but when one of your most coherent and positive posters is a fan of your rivals, and the other lives in Hertfordshire and doesn\'t get to go to many games, then it is a worry.
milton road, alicante says...
1:59pm Tue 2 Sep 08
threestands, Bournemouth says...
2:26pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Threestandsisgod wrote:ooooops methinks I hit a nerve. Get help old son, you need medication.
threestands wrote: Any SFC supporters around? Or are you all doom, gloom, negative, glass half empty, moaning minnies. Perhaps its the weather, overcast,grey and miserable just like you negative to$$ers. COYRThere speaks Saints greatest ever supporter!! Oh Threestands, please tell me how I can be more like you. You are a god in my eyes. No, you are bigger than god. I love you threestands, please have my babies. Glory be to Threestands, the greatest ever person in the history of persons. With threestands supporting Saints, we will never be defeated........ or he's just a tósspot. Whatever.
threestands, Bournemouth says...
2:35pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Threestandsisgod wrote:Just had a thought. You need something to cheer you up. Man City are the club for you oh fickle to$$er. They now have trillions of ££££££££ if things start to go pear shaped just get out the wad and sort it, easy. You wont be able to moan and groan and winge cos there can only be good times when you got £££££££££££££££££.
threestands wrote: Any SFC supporters around? Or are you all doom, gloom, negative, glass half empty, moaning minnies. Perhaps its the weather, overcast,grey and miserable just like you negative to$$ers. COYRThere speaks Saints greatest ever supporter!! Oh Threestands, please tell me how I can be more like you. You are a god in my eyes. No, you are bigger than god. I love you threestands, please have my babies. Glory be to Threestands, the greatest ever person in the history of persons. With threestands supporting Saints, we will never be defeated........ or he's just a tósspot. Whatever.
diretimes, southampton says...
2:42pm Tue 2 Sep 08
milton road wrote:good post except you missed off "into div 1" at the end
Going back to saturday, I was impressed with the way we moved the ball first half. We looked good at times yet seemed to have thjis sense of not quite believing in ourselves. Their arial dominance throughout the game was a problem and the penalty was sheer panic.
The second half we lost our way stopped playing football and had a fear factor that made us vulnerable and we resorted to championship football. Once we did that we were never going to win. Blackpool worthy winners. Another learning curve, stay up this season and watch us go next.
positive wave, luxembourg says...
3:00pm Tue 2 Sep 08
the vengeful cabbage, says...
4:18pm Tue 2 Sep 08
positive wave wrote:So anybody that questions the world and dosen't see things through a haze of positive PR garbage is a moron? In that case i guess half of the worlds most renound pollitical commentators are morons. Congratulations on a truely monumentally stupid comment :) there's a smiley face to commomorate the achievement. It would be nice if everybody saw thing the same way but they dont and anyway it would be boring. Not everybody who posts a negative comment is attacking the club some are just venting frustration at the way things have gone since we were in the prem, can't blame them for that i was really hoping that the Dubai consortium would get fed up waiting for other clubs and invest in our little mess but i guess not;)
Dont be put pown threestands,great to read positive stuff from someone obviously educated,I find that generally the negative cr*p comes from morons who know constantly pride themselves in displaying a distinct lack of football knowledge,nothing wrong with constructive comments we all welcome them,keep it up threestands !!!!!!COYR
J, London says...
4:29pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Kate, Andover says...
4:35pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Phil, Downton says...
4:36pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Is lowe, ever wrong for some? says...
4:37pm Tue 2 Sep 08
positive wave wrote:Congratulations on your not-necessarily-the-
Dont be put pown threestands,great to read positive stuff from someone obviously educated,I find that generally the negative cr*p comes from morons who know constantly pride themselves in displaying a distinct lack of football knowledge,nothing wrong with constructive comments we all welcome them,keep it up threestands !!!!!!COYR
threestands, Bournemouth says...
4:42pm Tue 2 Sep 08
the vengeful cabbage wrote:The PR is of no interest to me. I look at what happens on the pitch. I can see light at the end of the tunnel. I see a team that can entertain. Yeah yeah, I can hear you now "if you want entertainment go to the movies" Typical.
positive wave wrote: Dont be put pown threestands,great to read positive stuff from someone obviously educated,I find that generally the negative cr*p comes from morons who know constantly pride themselves in displaying a distinct lack of football knowledge,nothing wrong with constructive comments we all welcome them,keep it up threestands !!!!!!COYRSo anybody that questions the world and dosen't see things through a haze of positive PR garbage is a moron? In that case i guess half of the worlds most renound pollitical commentators are morons. Congratulations on a truely monumentally stupid comment :) there's a smiley face to commomorate the achievement. It would be nice if everybody saw thing the same way but they dont and anyway it would be boring. Not everybody who posts a negative comment is attacking the club some are just venting frustration at the way things have gone since we were in the prem, can't blame them for that i was really hoping that the Dubai consortium would get fed up waiting for other clubs and invest in our little mess but i guess not;)
Costa Baz, says...
4:51pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Iain wrote:Iain, I admire your belief in the team, I understand where you are coming from and I genuinely wish the team well
Blimey, what a cheerful lot we are today. Watched the match on Saturday with an assortment of Brentford and Rotherham fans, and for the first half hour they agreed with my pre-match prediction that Saints would win by three or four. Lallana and McGoldrick especially looked good, Lee Holmes looked dangerous, and the generally accepted wisdom was that as soon as Saints scored, they\'d mellow out and not leave so many holes at the back. As it turned out, the Blackpool kepper made a very good save, a couple of shots were kicked off the line, and then Taylor-Fletcher took advantage of White\'s naivety to win a penalty (and yes, he was clearly playing for it). Cue heads dropping, and the poor performance that we got in the second half. However, if just one of those Saints chances at 0-0 had gone in, then I feel sure that they\'d have gone on to cruise it. Youngsters, typically, are confidence players, and you have to expect that sometimes this season matches like Saturday are going to happen. And, given that they\'re confidence players, how on earth is booing them off going to help? How is slagging the team off on the internet, and forecasting relegation going to help? By all means debate the future, and suggest solutions, but when one of your most coherent and positive posters is a fan of your rivals, and the other lives in Hertfordshire and doesn\'t get to go to many games, then it is a worry.
Hauling Hippy, says...
4:54pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Sherborne_Saint, Sherborne says...
5:33pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Kevin, Maybush says...
5:56pm Tue 2 Sep 08
alan, eastleigh says...
6:54pm Tue 2 Sep 08
david, says...
7:37pm Tue 2 Sep 08
Kevin, Maybush says...
9:05pm Tue 2 Sep 08
david wrote:Perhaps it was because there were no players that any other club wanted.
what happened to all the bed-wetting whingers that predicted Lowe would sell all our players and not sign anyone ?
aaron, says...
9:25pm Tue 2 Sep 08
spakey, Sholing says...
9:46pm Tue 2 Sep 08
saintsfantasist wrote:Your having a laugh right? We aint that lucky
ive just heard that Michael Owen has passed a medical and will be unvailed later today
Disgruntled Saints fan, says...
10:31pm Tue 2 Sep 08
david wrote:Well according to Lowe and his cronies we where in desperate trouble and he did a PR spin story on the predicting £5m debt for the financial year.
what happened to all the bed-wetting whingers that predicted Lowe would sell all our players and not sign anyone ?
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mike, Soton says...
7:02am Tue 2 Sep 08
BUT HEY JAN'S HAPPY because we have everything we or is it he wants!
THATS A WORRY because we are in the messy stuff if we dont change our style plus find some full backs pretty **** quick.
After the Birmingham game I thought Wayne Thomas & Cork had a great game but then you see both dropped for Blackpool & then just Cork for the reserves last night so in not really sure what Jan wants thinks hes got or where he is going?
I will support the team for ever more but im starting to get worried because I think we are losing direction and clearly Jan is a good caoch and perhaps picks the team but with regard to comings and goings well that obviously not within his job description and thats where we are in the messy stuff.