Southampton sign Lee Barnard, Paterson arrives for Shrimpers

Last updated : 24 January 2010 By exiledessexboy
File:Lee_Barnard_Meet_the_blues_day_2009.jpg

Farewell to the good Lord then, and good luck

In fact www.saintsfc.co.uk has him already on the training ground in a Saints bib, lovely!

Having hit 17 goals for Southend in an amazing injury-free season, (good luck there Pardew, I'd look after him in training), Barney is off to the south coast on a two-and-a-half year contract, due to Southampton matching Leeds cash offer, though officially it's 'undisclosed', but threw in their academy graduate striker Matt Paterson.

Chairman Ron Martin insisted all was done to keep Barney at the club but once the former Tottenham man decided not to sign a new contract with the present one ending in the summer, and with the financial problems of the club well documented, the writing was truly on the wall.

Blues boss Steve Tilson told www.southendunited.co.uk: "Lee leaving is disappointing because his goals will be missed. But you can understand that a player wants to better himself and the teams interested are big draws. He's done well for us in the two and a half years he has been here and we wish him all the best."

Except maybe on May 8, when we visit St. Mary's!

All at S24 obviously also wish Lee best wishes for the future and I will miss singing that song, 'Oh Lord' indeed.

Meanwhile, as also reported on S24 this very morning, young Matt Paterson, on who there has been a mixed feedback from the Saints faithful but that's to be expected, (he scored against Millwall on the opening Saturday of the season so he can't be all bad), has also put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half year deal with a further year's option.

Only 20 years of age but 6ft 2ins, he's made 5 appearances this season for Southampton, scoring twice. Who knows, a forward line of Laurent, Spencer, Paterson and Scannell could make the rest of the season interesting, if leaving a bit more room in midfield!

The Paterson Files

Matt Paterson

Personal information
Full nameMatthew Paterson
Date of birth18 October 1989 (1989-10-18) (age 20)
Place of birthDunfermline, Scotland
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current clubSouthend United
Number9
Youth career
200?-2007Bournemouth
2007-2008Southampton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008-2010Southampton18(2)
National team
2008-Scotland U192(0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:44, 12 December 2009 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).


(Player information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Paterson)