Pre Season Friendlies 2025/26

[coalman]

Sesay on for Fernandes.

[BARCELONASAINT]

top drawer save from Baz who is having a very decent game so far

[coalman]

Of the front four. BBD looks like a good outlet down the line. Armstrong and Archer working hard but not much else. Fraser anonymous.

[Doctoroncall]

Has Baz turned the corner and started to develop into a decent keeper?

[obelisk]

Ref's a joke. 

[coalman]

2 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

Has Baz turned the corner and started to develop into a decent keeper?

He's been our best player this half. Followed by Charles, Wellington and BBD

[santolijador]

New GK coach making a difference already

[benali-shorts]

7 minutes ago, coalman said:

Of the front four. BBD looks like a good outlet down the line. Armstrong and Archer working hard but not much else. Fraser anonymous.

It'll be interesting to see how Edozie and Robinson (i.e. wingers) compare and contrast to BBD and AA playing the wide front roles. 

[coalman]

Worth noting. We _still_ haven't had a shot at goal despite being 1-0 up.

[obelisk]

If Saints can play this poorly and still grab 1-0 leads then there'll be some hope for the season ahead. 😇

Baz takes player of the half award. Without his saves this would look embarrassing.

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

Has Baz turned the corner and started to develop into a decent keeper?

Not sure we can read much into half a preseason game against a second division Spanish side. 

[macca155]

In fairness a rejuvenated Baz would be an absolute bonus for the club.  I refuse to make judgements on one game but anything like this is good for us.

 

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Not sure we can read much into half a preseason game against a second division Spanish side. 

A good save is a good save regardless who the player that kicked the ball plays for.

[CSA96]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Not sure we can read much into half a preseason game against a second division Spanish side. 

Ball's the same size, goal's the same size... etc etc (tend to agree, though)

[HarvSFC]

Build-up play has been nice. Shea Charles definitely been my favourite player to watch so far this pre-season, just looks so comfortable in the middle. Add Downes next to him and Fernandes in the Fraser position today and it's looking exciting. Bazunu's also had a good half, pulling off three or four good saves.

The front four is just where it's lacking for me. They're all quite similar in that they all have the same weaknesses which stops them from causing consistent problems to the opposition. They're lacking in pace and technical ability. This has meant that Bazunu has worked a lot harder than their goalkeeper has. Hopefully Robinson and Edozie can add a bit more dynamism to our attacks in the second half and Stewart can provide the hold up play that Archer just can't.

One other positive is that we're also mixing it up from goal kicks. Should have always been the case. The overly predictable, and every team knowing we were going to play it short every time has gone.

[gio1saints]

GB and Shea best players for us. Best I’ve seen of GB! 
 

AA and CA largely anonymous.
We’ve conceded far too many chances. MF too porous. 

Play like that away in Championship  could easily be 3-1 4-1 down at half time. 
 

 

[SaintBobby]

Pretty poor first half. Baz has been great though.

[BARCELONASAINT]

This Castellon side have beaten Real Zaragoza, Valencia and QPR 6-0 in the last couple of weeks, they are no mugs and definately the sort of workout i'm sure Saints would have wanted. Without Baz we would already be looking like another scalp for Castellon.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

 

Castellón’s first 2 pre-season games.

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

A good save is a good save regardless who the player that kicked the ball plays for.

I've seen plenty of players perform well in preseason and score goals and then be shite in the real games. The logic is the same here. 

[gio1saints]

14 minutes ago, coalman said:

Worth noting. We _still_ haven't had a shot at goal despite being 1-0 up.

Definitely this is a big problem. They’ve had I think 6 shots on target first half. We’ve been shockingly bad final third. Woeful. 

[coalman]

1 minute ago, gio1saints said:

Definitely this is a big problem. They’ve had I think 6 shots on target first half. We’ve been shockingly bad final third. Woeful. 

It's what we already knew about BBD, Archer and Armstrong up front. Having Fraser anonymous behind them isn't making it any easier too.

[Nordic Saint]

5 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

The front four is just where it's lacking for me.

Princewill Ehibhatiomhan scored a good solo goal in the Saints' XI's win against Crawley yesterday. He averages a goal every 2 games and should be given some time on the pitch for the first team this pre-season. He may turn out to be the pick of the strikers in our squad.

[coalman]

McCarthy is already giving me the heebie jeebies with that rushed clearance.

[Nordic Saint]

Just now, coalman said:

McCarthy is already giving me the heebie jeebies with that rushed clearance.

It's so depressing seeing him still apppearing on the pitch for us. I know no other club would take him, but he should have been released a long time ago.

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Nordic Saint said:

It's so depressing seeing him still apppearing on the pitch for us. I know no other club would take him, but he should have been released a long time ago.

Speaking of depressing. Smallbone is strolling around with his trademark intensity. We're getting overrun in midfield.

[CSA96]

Second half Saints: McCarthy; Bree, Wood, Taylor, Manning; Sesay, Aribo; Edozie, Smallbone, Robinson; Stewart

Subs: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Kayi Sanda, Downs

[for_heaven's_Saint]

We’ve looked pretty bad tbh. 

[Nordic Saint]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

Speaking of depressing. Smallbone is strolling around with his trademark intensity. We're getting overrun in midfield.

Yes, he's another one who should have been released by now. Smallbone appearing on the pitch usually means goals for the opposition.

[Doctoroncall]

23 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Not sure we can read much into half a preseason game against a second division Spanish side. 

I wasn’t. 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Doctoroncall said:

I wasn’t. 

Well then the answer to your question is in all likelihood no. 

[coalman]

2 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

Yes, he's another one who should have been released by now. Smallbone appearing on the pitch usually means goals for the opposition.

He's just jogging in a little patch of space all on his own, pausing now and then to half heartedly point at a player he isn't bothered to track.

Edited Wednesday at 10:18 by coalman

[CSA96]

2 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

Yes, he's another one who should have been released by now. Smallbone appearing on the pitch usually means goals for the opposition.

Released is mental

[Sevvy]

52 minutes ago, obelisk said:

I nip to the loo and it's suddenly 1-0 to Saints.

Any chance you staying in there for the season😉

[coalman]

Robinson's looking lively.

[CSA96]

Castellon 1-1 Saints

[coalman]

1-1. Some truly uninspiring defending there.

[CSA96]

McCarthy near post klaxon

[goodymatt]

We’ve been comfortably second best. Not really had a phase of play where we have controlled the game. Not very encouraging.

[revolution saint]

To be fair to Saints, they're probably still knackered from that 9k run last week.

[Harry_SFC]

As much as I can't believe I'm saying this but if we do the unthinkable and sell Ramsdale without replacing him then it's got to be Bazunu as number 1, McCarthy is way past his sell by date. 

Edited Wednesday at 10:31 by Harry_SFC

[CSA96]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

As much as I can't believe I'm saying this but if we do the unthinkable and sell Ramsdale without replacing him then it's got to be Bazunu as number 1, McCarthy is way past his sell by date. 

He looks like we've just rolled him out of the freezer at the morgue in this half

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

As much as I can't believe I'm saying this but if we do the unthinkable and sell Ramsdale without replacing him then it's got to be Bazunu as number 1, McCarthy is way past his sell by date. 

Bazunu needs to show he can make top drawer saves on a regular basis. He seems to have done so today and maybe the change of goalkeeping coach is benefitting him. It's too early to make a firm judgement but his saves today give some encouragement. 

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

Player just been bought on in goal for them is called Juan Key.

 

Sums up how we are playing really... pretty Juan Key

[CSA96]

Can hear Blackmore being really careful (and trying not to laugh) when he says the name 'Juanki'  

[saintant]

1 minute ago, CSA96 said:

Can hear Blackmore being really careful (and trying not to laugh) when he says the name 'Juanki'  

The way we seem to be playing he won't have to mention his name that often 🙂

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

Blackmore is loving being able to get away with saying Wanky as much as possible. He is milking it

[CSA96]

Just now, Crouchie's Lawyer said:

Blackmore is loving being able to get away with saying Wanky as much as possible. He is milking it

'I'm glad there's not one of those in the Championship, or I'd get myself into trouble'

[coalman]

Saints hit the post. We've carried a lot more threat this half. We've had shots. Edozie off injured though.

Edited Wednesday at 10:47 by coalman

[obelisk]

Bree hits post from FK. Saints actually getting in attacking areas for a few moments.