Jumat, 31 Agustus 2012

Sharp makes Forest loan move

Sharp: Looking for first-team football

Sharp joined Saints from Doncaster in the January transfer window and scored nine goals in 15 matches to help Nigel Adkins' side secure promotion to the Premier League.

The 26-year-old also found the net in the Capital One Cup win over Stevenage in midweek.

But following the arrival of Zambia international Emmanuel Mayuka at St Mary's and the return to fitness of Tadanari Lee, Adkins has decided to allow Sharp to join Forest.

Saints on verge of Yoshida deal

Adkins: Looks set to bolster squad further

Saints boss Nigel Adkins completely dismissed the prospect of landing the VVV-Venlo player after Saturday's Premier League defeat to Wigan.

But it is understood Southampton were poised to complete the deal inside the next 24 hours.

The Championship runners-up are also eyeing three more signings before he transfer window closes on Friday night, on top of putting the finishing touches to a move for Bologna star Gaston Ramirez.

Prospective new team-mate Kelvin Davis has claimed the Ramirez raid proves the south-coast club mean business this season.

Saints returned to the Premier League this summer after a seven-year absence, but their campaign has yet to gather any momentum following back-to-back defeat.

Adkins has so far added Steve Davis, Nathaniel Clyne, Paulo Gazzaniga, Jay Rodriguez and Emmanuel Mayuka to his squad, but he hopes to do more business in the next 48 hours.

Top of his wish list is Bologna forward Ramirez. The Ur uguay international has been in talks with Saints for some time and despite negotiations faltering at one point last week, an 11million deal is now understood to be close to completion.

Kamis, 30 Agustus 2012

Holders at WBA, United host Toon

Liverpool: Travel to West Brom

Baggies boss Steve Clarke was assistant manager to Kenny Dalgish as the Reds lifted the cup in Wembley in February with victory over Cardiff.

The Red Devils also face top-flight opposition in their bid for silverware, with Alan Pardew's Magpies set to visit Old Trafford - the first game out of the hat in Thursday night's draw.

Manchester City host Aston Villa while Coventry are faced with a daunting trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on 2011 runners-up Arsenal.

European champions Chelsea host recently-relegated opposition in the form of Wolves, who were the last side to book their place in the third round with victory over Northampton tonight.

Andre Villas-Boas' Tottenham make the long trip to Brunton Park and Carlisle, while Everton cross the Pennines to take on Leeds.

QPR and Reading face off at Loftus Road and West Ham welcome Wigan in the two remaining all Premier League encounters.

Martin O'Neill's Sunderland head to MK Dons with Southampton hosting their former manager Dave Jones as he returns to St Mary's with new club Sheffield Wednesday.

Norwich are at home to Doncaster while Swansea travel to Crawley, and Swindon's reward for ousting Stoke is a home tie against Burnley.

Middlesbrough venture to Deepdale to face Preston with Bradford taking on Burton in the only match involving two League Two clubs.

Capital One Cup third round draw:

Man Utd v Newcastle, Man City v Aston Villa, MK Dons v Sunderland, West Brom v Liverpool, Crawley v Swansea, QPR v Reading, Norwich v Doncaster, Bradford v Burton, Preston v Middlesbrough, Arsenal v Coventry, Southampton v Sheff Wed, Chelsea v Wolves, Carlisle v Tottenham, Swindon v Burnley, West Ham v Wigan, Leeds v Everton.

Ties to be played week commencing September 24

Yoshida completes Saints switch

Yoshida: Signed despite Adkins' dismissal

Despite boss Nigel Adkins recently denying a move for the 24-year-old becomes the club's sixth summer signing.

Yoshida, who captained his country at the London Olympics this summer, has played over 50 games during two years with Venlo and netted five goals.

Saints have already bolstered their squad with the arrival of Steven Davis, Nathaniel Clyne, Jay Rodriguez, Emmanuel Mayuka and Paulo Gazzanigato.

Rabu, 29 Agustus 2012

Coyle admits Spearing battle

Spearing: Liverpool midfielder a target for many clubs

It was revealed on Tuesday that Bolton are one of five clubs keen on signing Spearing, who is considering his future at Liverpool following the recent captures of Joe Allen and Nuri Sahin.

A loan move or 3million permanent exit for Spearing has been mooted, with Premier League trio Aston Villa, Queens Park Rangers and Southampton also thought to be considering a bid for the 23-year-old.

Coyle remains hopeful of bringing the midfielder to the Reebok Stadium and is waiting to see if the Trotters will win the race before Friday's transfer deadline.

"It's more complicated than people think," said Coyle after Bolton's Capital One Cup defeat at Crawley. "It isn't just a case of going out and bringing him in.

"Jay Spearing is a very good player and there's a lot of competition for that lad's signature.

"All we can do is our very best, and we'll continue to do that.

"I can't say right now that he's going to sign tomorrow morning becau se there is huge interest in him from clubs much bigger than ourselves. We'll see what transpires."

Selasa, 28 Agustus 2012

Saints take Stevenage seriously

Hooiveld: Relishing cup clash

The south coast side began their first top-flight campaign in seven years with a trip to champions Manchester City and, following Saturday's defeat to Wigan, welcome United to St Mary's before facing the Gunners..

Before that, though, Saints have a slightly less glamorous Capital One Cup second round tie at Stevenage to contend with.

Nigel Adkins has pledged to make changes to his side but Hooiveld, like his manager, will take their third tier opponents seriously, especially as Saints were in the same division not so long ago.

"That is somewhere we were two years ago so that is nothing to make jokes about," the Dutchman said.

"That is English football, you know? They can go and play and we have to do well. We need to pick it up again.

"It doesn't matter who it is. It's 0-0 when you start."

It is yet to be seen whether Hooiveld will be risked for the match at Broadhall Way given Saints' lack of central defensive options heading into their set of tough league games.

Adkins plans to make a number of changes for the match, with a number of academy graduates and squad players expected to start.

Tadanari Lee is one of those as the Japan international continues his rehabilitation after suffering a foot injury at the end of last season.

"It will be similar to what we did last year," Adkins said of his Capital One Cup plans.

"Obviously the objective is to get the youth players through the system as well as players that have been in the squad that have not had the games.

"We have Tadanari Lee and he has been out after an operation on his foot at the end of last season.

"He played 70 minutes in a development game and has the perfect opportunity now in his rehabilitation.

"He is getting closer to full fitness and could actually start the game against Stevenage so that is what we will be looking to do for Chung (Lee)."

Guly faces drink-drive charge

Do Prado: Stopped by police

Do Prado was detained after his Porsche was allegedly seen to be driving "erratically" in the Hampshire city centre at 4.35am on Monday.

The 30-year-old, whose full name is Guilherme Do Prado Raymundo, was subsequently charged with drink-driving.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "The arrest followed after police officers noticed a vehicle being driven erratically in the High Street, Southampton, at approximately 4.35am, Monday August 27."

The Brazilian-born player has been bailed to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court on September 12.

Senin, 27 Agustus 2012

Stevenage v Southampton preview

Tadanari Lee: Set to play for Saints

Stevenage have no new injury worries for the visit of Saints in the cup.

Defender Lee Hills is still building up his fitness after his summer move from Crystal Palace but boss Gary Smith has no other injury absentees.

USA winger Robbie Rogers made his debut as a substitute in Saturday's 1-0 win at Oldham after joining from Leeds and could be involved again.

Lucas Akins has scored twice in two starts, including the winner at the weekend, since his summer switch from Tranmere and he should keep his place in attack.

Greg Tansey, Robin Shroot, Michael Thalassitis and Bondz N'Gala will push for recalls if Smith opts to rotate his squad.

Tadanari Lee is set to start for Saints at Stevenage.

The Japan international has been out since suffering a foot injury at the end of last season, but is getting close to full fitness and manager Nigel Adkins plans to start him at Broadhall Way as part of his rehabilitation.

Jack Cork contin ues to miss out with an ankle complaint, while Adkins plans to field a number of academy graduates and squad players against the League One side.

Minggu, 26 Agustus 2012

Caldwell delighted with win

Caldwell: Pleased to get the three points

The highly-rated winger ended a two-and-a-half year spell at the Latics last week by completing his much mooted move to Chelsea.

Less than 24 hours later, Wigan travelled to the south coast to face the newly-promoted Saints and came away from St Mary's with all three points.

Franco Di Santo's classy strike and a late Arouna Kone effort helped the visitors secure a 2-0 victory and Caldwell was impressed with the way Roberto Martinez's side responded to Moses' departure.

"Vic has moved on after a great few seasons at the club," he said. "He is a young player with fantastic potential and we wish him all the best and we hope he does really well at Chelsea.

"But as a club ourselves, we have to move on and this is an opportunity for other players to come in and keep the club moving forward.

"We are delighted with the win. We came here with a game plan and real desire to win the match.

"I thought after the first half an hour where So uthampton played well and threw a lot at us, we really dominated the game. We got a goal at a good time and controlled the rest of the match.

Wigan's performance was a far cry from their display last weekend against Chelsea - the club Moses now calls home.

The Nigerian started against his future employers but could do nothing to stop the European champions winning 2-0, thanks to early goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard.

"I think we tried to learn from last week," Caldwell said. "Last week we played a match which was over within seven minutes.

"We wanted to focus on being competitive and staying in the game. I thought we did that great.

"For Southampton, it was their first Premier League game at home and they threw a lot at us.

"We saw that period out and once we got the ball I think we dominated the game."

The result was far from ideal for Southampton in what was their first home Premier League game in seven years .

Much had been expected from the hosts after their impressive display at champions Manchester City.

However, after a promising opening half hour Nigel Adkins' side eventually tapered off and failed to find a way past in-form Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi - much to defender Jos Hooiveld's frustration.

"In a physical way we felt we deserved to get something from that, but in a tactical way and in a way of winning games we didn't do enough," he said.

"We were sloppy in ball possession sometimes and I think we lost the ball a lot in ways we shouldn't have.

"I think that cost us the game. We should have done better in some moments.

"You think you are in control of the game and with one break there is a goal. That is something we have to be careful of and concentrate as a unit."

However, while disappointed with the defeat to Wigan, Hooiveld is remaining philosophical about the result and Saints' prospects.

"This is the kind of club that does not really panic easily," the Dutch defender said. "It is a process.

"We came from League One two years ago and now we're in the top flight.

"There is a lot of things we need to learn and we need to be more intelligent in."

Jumat, 24 Agustus 2012

Southampton v Wigan preview

Cork: A doubt for Saints

Jack Cork remains Southampton's only injury concern.

The 23-year-old, who represented Great Britain at the Olympics, is still recovering from an ankle knock picked up in pre-season and will miss the first home match this season.

Tadanari Lee played 70 minutes for the development team this week after a foot injury and could be involved, although manager Nigel Adkins was coy when asked whether any players would join in time to feature.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is monitoring the fitness of three players ahead of his side's trip to St Mary's, while it remains to be seen whether or not forward Victor Moses has already made his last appearance for the Latics.

Wideman Jean Beausejour missed last Sunday's 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea due to a soft tissue problem and will be assessed, along with fellow midfielders James McArthur (back) and Shaun Maloney (dead leg), who both had to be substituted during the contest.

One of the hosts' stand-ou t performers against the Blues was Moses and he could be a Chelsea player by the weekend, with Wigan confirming they had accepted a bid for him from the London club.

Southampton (from): Davis, Gazzaniga, Richardson, Butterfield, Clyne, Fox, Shaw, Hooiveld, Fonte, Seaborne, Stephens, Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Do Prado, Cork, Chaplow, De Ridder, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Hammond, Davis, Lambert, Lee, Rodriguez, Sharp.

Wigan (from): Al Habsi, Kone, Alcaraz, McCarthy, Caldwell, Jones, Crusat, Watson, Di Santo, Maloney, Moses, Pollitt, Gomez, McManaman, McArthur, Boyce, Boselli, Fyvie, Ramis, Beausejour, Stam, Lopez, Figueroa, Miyaichi.

Kamis, 23 Agustus 2012

Adkins expects busy week

Adkins: Expects to be busy

The south coast club are back in the Premier League after a seven-year absence and have brought in four new faces so far this summer, including Jay Rodriguez, Steven Davis and Nathaniel Clyne.

Saints are hoping to make more additions before the transfer window closes and it is believed Saints are currently in negotiations with Blackpool and Bologna over wingers Matt Phillips and Gaston Ramirez respectively.

The latter transfer has become rather farcical with claim and counter claim from different parties - something Adkins was keen to stay away from on Thursday.

"The way the summer period has gone, we've been linked with several players," he said when asked about the Uruguay international ahead of Southampton's clash with Wigan.

"I think it is fair to say if and when somebody signs then we'll announce it. Until then, everything is all speculation.

"He said, she said, they said - all that sort of stuff. I think if we can just concentr ate on what we're doing with players, obviously this week is going to be a busy week for everybody."

Asked whether there was any update on Phillips or reported interest in Blackburn's Martin Olsson, Adkins added: "We'll concentrate on the Wigan game.

"It is going to be an intense week next week, I would have thought.

"I'd like to think we are going to be very active in the window because I know how hard people working behind the scenes here at Southampton.

"We want to improve and it is fair to say that now the transfer window is coming a bit of closer [to ending], more decisions are made.

"I have gone public saying we need to bring in another centre-half, if not two, so we'll see what the week brings."

Adkins would not give anything away in terms of the immediacy of any arrivals, smiling and saying "who knows?" when asked whether any would arrive in time for Saturday's clash with his former club Wigan.

The Saints boss played f or the club as a goalkeeper and faces the Latics fresh from his side's spirited performance at champions Manchester City, where on Sunday they lost 3-2 after going ahead.

"We can take confidence and belief from that," Adkins said.

"We're back at St Mary's now and we do well here. We have done very well over the past two seasons.

"But like Sun Tzu in the Art of War, you never ever, ever underestimate your opposition.

"Wigan have done magnificently over the years.

"Roberto Martinez is a very intelligent manager, they play a very good way and they have survived in the Premier League against all the odds.

"It is a club I was at myself as a player so to see them in the Premier League consistently over the last several years is amazing and great credit should go to them.

"We're under no illusions. It will be a tough, tough game for us.

"Probably the Manchester City game you're not expecting us to get anything from.

"Th e game against Wigan Athletic, we've got to look to get the three points from."

Rabu, 22 Agustus 2012

Saints still waiting on Ramirez

Ramirez: Bologna exit looks likely

It is understood a fee and payment plan has been negotiated for the 21-year-old winger, who has won nine caps for Uruguay.

Former club Penarol, who own 30% of his registration, are also satisfied by the terms of the agreement.

However, it is understood cash-strapped Bologna are stalling as they seek to secure a loan against the repayments.

Southampton are determined for the transfer to proceed having beaten off competition from Liverpool and Tottenham for Ramirez, but are looking at other options in case the deal collapses.

Ramirez last week outlined his desire to swap Serie A for St Mary's.

"The English club has reached an agreement with me, it is the classic offer that you cannot refuse for my life as a whole and my family," he told Corriere dello Sport.

"But they believe in me in every way, I will be essential and above all they are going to grow.

"Southampton are a newly promoted team in the English top flight but t hey will become a big team in years to come."

Blackpool v Leeds reaction

Holloway: Hoping to keep match-winner Phillips

Phillips hit the winner in Blackpool's 2-1 victory on Tuesday night while Leeds United boss Neil Warnock is unsure if he will be able to make any extra signings.

Phillips came off the bench to score the decisive goal in Tuesday night's 2-1 Championship win over Leeds at Bloomfield Road, three days after Holloway revealed the player had handed in a transfer request amid interest from Premier League newcomers Southampton.

He was dropped from Saturday's win at Millwall as a result but was reintroduced to the squad against Leeds to devastating effect, tapping in the winner after fellow substitute Nouha Dicko had cancelled out Tom Lees' opener.

And Holloway was quick to congratulate the former Wycombe man on his performance, while adding if Southampton or any other side do want to sign the latter before 31st August, they will have to change the mind of chairman Karl Oyston.

"I watched him in training and knew he could play," Holloway said. "I wa tched him on Friday and he didn't look right. Interest is interest and an opportunity is when a deal is agreed and that's the only time you (as a player) should know about it.

"Hopefully he'll settle back down and he'll get what he deserves one day with a really good team. I'm not saying Southampton aren't, because they are, but we can be too.

"We own him, my chairman owns him, but I have to say what a magnificent man he is to handle it the way he has."

Asked whether he expects Southampton to return with a bid, he said: "How do I know that? At the moment I have the most immovable object in Karl Oyston who doesn't want to talk to them, take the money or negotiate.

"Southampton might not care anymore. Who knows? He's my player who played really well."

For Leeds, the result quickly burst the bubble they had blown up with Saturday's season-opening win over Wolves, as Neil Warnock's side threw away the chance to move to the top of the table.

"Blackpool are a good side. They're better than us. If we finish one place below them, I'll be very happy," said Warnock.

"Even then, after soaking up all their pressure, basic errors cost us the game and that's disappointing. We didn't hold the ball up. The front four were poor at that and it meant Blackpool could sustain pressure."

Warnock is known to want to add to the 11 new signings he has already drafted in over the summer but is currently being held up by the ongoing financial uncertainty at Elland Road.

Current owner Ken Bates has been in negotiations with potential investors over a takeover since 26th June, and representatives of a major private equity firm in the Middle East were at the Wolves games.

Concrete news remains thin on the ground, though, as Warnock explained: "We have to work on the assumption we're not bringing anyone in and go on with that.

"Every manager wants more players and we don't have options off the bench and that takes time. We have to muck on do what we can."