please log in to view this image Okay guys I know my previous reputation isn't great, but here is what I am hearing this evening... Reading's Brian Howard has agreed terms with Saints, however we are waiting on another option of a player - ultimately just waiting for Mr. Cortese to finalise Howard's deal. ( All fine by The FA and Reading, just waiting on Saints ) He is a Southampton fan and started out in the Saints Academy, born in Winchester into a family of Saints fans, most of whom still live in the area. Howard has an apartment in Southampton and can be seen around occasionally. Appears all of us including Brian are awaiting an announcement as to whether it is him or the back up, depending on who the back-up is. Part of the deal is a potential ã300k signing fee to make any deal permanent in the summer, which I would consider good value. Also on Twitter this afternoon a football agent tweeted: Surely Cortese isn't THAT bad? He has been out of the mix a bit at Reading and so is lacking a bit in fitness, he has played in L1 before and was part of the Barnsley team that beat Chelsea and Liverpool in the Cup (Which one?!) a few years back, he was actually the captain and scored the winner against Liverpool, earning him the interest of Sheffield United, but times change and Howard is now out of favour at Reading! As captain of a Barnsley side consistently in the top half he is a ball playing midfielder, similar to Schneiderlin and would compliment Hammond/Chaplow well, and bring Lallana and Chamberlain into the game. He is also left footed and capable of playing on the left or in behind the strikers. He is 28 years old, and has a wealth of experience, representing Swindon, Barnsley, Sheffield United and then Reading. Hope this helped, don't start shooting me down if Nicola goes for Option B / Cheaper Option. DTLW
Seen him at the Mad Stad a few times this season and it isn't an exaggeration to say that I can run faster then he can.
DTLW, firstly if this was your own genuine post I would have blasted you for it based on your history... However, whilst randomly browsing BBC 606 earlier, I saw that SaintOlly off 606 was the original article creator that brought the news to the fans. I have never heard Olly give a transfer rumour before so will be interesting to see what happens
Yeah that's how I know. Olly told me about BH last year, and this has now surfaced. He isn't on here so to share with those no longer on 606 I posted, yes I know this is not my own original thread, however anything with my name on it gets blasted nowadays. He doesn't normally come out with rumours so let's keep waiting, a Reading Post journo has said he believes this deal is for real aswell. Could the 2nd option be in contention due to doubts over Howard's fitness and physical capabilities? (raised by Saint_Lambden)
Cortese must be in doubt if Howard's slower than Lambden - Lambden's one and only game for Saints was a disaster....
We need whoever comes in to be fit already, we haven't got the luxury of time to get them fit after they arrive. Howard does not really look like an ideal candidate to be honest however if he does come, I hope he proves me wrong. We're being linked with Frimpong again according to TalkSport, although he injured a knee in the summer and probably won't be match sharp if he is match fit. I guess we'll find out this week who's coming, and probably later rather than sooner.
Yeah I expect before Saturday. Club Spokesman Jordan Sibley has been very quiet on Twitter this week.
Probably is considering this has popped up for him, the way things our at Saints atm can you blame him?!
Maybe it was his lack of pace that saw us let him go in the first place. Could he be a young version of Wotton?
That leaves me out then unless you have a remarkably strong magnifying glass. LOL Though knowing the way our club now works we will probably have someone completely different who we didn't even consider.
Well at least it gives us an insight! Seems we almost operate an application process, getting targets to agree before making a final decision on who to bring in. Well done Cortese if it all works out, there is still a possibility that Player X will be coming in though, as stated - Saints Yet To Confirm To Howard
