Pre Season Friendlies 2025/26

[CSA96]

FT: Castellon 1-1 Saints

[CSA96]

Given our serious lack of any sort of options/depth out wide, Sam Edozie had a big chance this pre-season, especially being in from day one. He has not taken it at all, for me

Still no end product and lets himself just drift out of games

Edited Wednesday at 10:54 by CSA96

[RedArmy]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

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

We’re a second division English side. 

[SaintBobby]

Pretty poor fare. Definitely the second best team. Seemed second to the ball a lot and struggling to link up passes. Robinson looked good again though.

[obelisk]

1-1 then. Strong opponents for Saints that'll give the manager plenty to think about. Not exactly a lot of encouragement in attack though.

[coalman]

Based on this game I'd say our best 11 (from the people who played) is

                                        Bazunu

Bree                 Wood                  Quarshie                Wellington

                           Charles               Sesay
                                   
                                     Fernandes
Edozie                                                                Robinson

                                        Stewart

 

Castellon really went for it and we were lucky to walk away with a draw. Things we already knew
- McCarthy can't start in goal
- Armstrong isn't going to stretch the play out wide
- Fraser isn't a central attacking midfielder
- BBD is largely anonymous
- Archer can't play alone through the middle
- Smallbone doesn't compete in the middle of the park

No threat at all first half. Couldn't get a grip on the midfield either half. Gav to the rescue.

Edited Wednesday at 11:03 by coalman

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

We’re a second division English side. 

What's your point? 

[coalman]

4 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Given our serious lack of any sort of options/depth out wide, Sam Edozie had a big chance this pre-season, especially being in from day one. He has not taken it at all, for me

Still no end product and lets himself just drift out of games

We still looked better with him on the pitch than Armstrong though. Hope his injury isn't anything too serious. 

[CSA96]

I thought we looked great. Very energetic, lots of attacking endeavour and our new sky blue third kit looks great too

Wait... Castellon were playing in blue? We're that other team? Oh fuck 

[CSA96]

Just now, coalman said:

We still looked better with him on the pitch than Armstrong though. Hope his injury isn't anything too serious. 

We should be signing new wide players so that we do not have to rely on him whatsoever, he's just not good enough

[BARCELONASAINT]

Well we didn't deserve a draw, Castellon were by far the better side. They totally bossed the game, squeezed our play and made our players rush their passes often straight to a Castellon player. Really difficult to judge many Saints players on that performance but Baz was easily our best player which in itself is very worrying. We could not hold onto the ball, we offered nothing as an attacking unit and our strikers had nothing but scraps to feed off. I was hoping to start to see the impact of our new manager but all i saw was the same shit from the same players as last season.

 

[gio1saints]

Well that was awful. 
Only bright spots were GB and Shea. 

Negatives? So many but our entire forward line is basically weak. JR was the only player took someone on tried to make something happen. 

I can see Bree made case for himself in the starting 11 but frankly our attacking intent-and ability to attack - was absolutely rubbish. The best players were those who didn’t play! No cohesive approach to our play in either half. Just looked hotchpotch and there were many times we were totally dominated. They were by far the better team and the draw was a real fluke for us should have been 5-1 or similar and would not have been unfair. 15th in Spanish 2nd division last year. Got to be a big wake up call. 😵‍💫

Edited Wednesday at 11:03 by gio1saints

[HarvSFC]

Not the most encouraging display. Saw a lot of what we saw last season, many passengers in the team when we don't have the ball. Castellon worked hard the full 90 minutes and when we had the ball our players had no time with it, were being swarmed and being forced into making errors and misplaced passes. When they had the ball, our players would stand off, gave them time to do what they wanted to do and dictate and they also attacked direct and with pace, which we didn't really do.

Can't play like today against Wrexham.

[SouSaint]

Still plenty of work to do in the transfer window to avoid a season of mediocrity this season imo. 

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Well that was awful. 
Only bright spots were GB and Shea. 

Negatives? So many but our entire forward line is basically weak. JR was the only player took someone on tried to make something happen. 

I can see Bree made case for himself in the starting 11 but frankly our attacking intent-and ability to attack - was absolutely rubbish. The best players were those who didn’t play! No cohesive approach to our play in either half. Just looked hotchpotch and there were many times we were totally dominated. They were by far the better team and the draw was a real fluke for us should have been 5-1 or similar and would not have been unfair. 15th in Spanish 2nd division last year. Got to be a big wake up call. 😵‍💫

Only positive is :

Fernandes in proper position 

Downes 

Dibling maybe 

Downs 

 

Are all players potentially to come back 

Charles Downes 

Dibling Fernandes Robinson 

Downs 

Is a very different setup to the one we have seen so far. 

[Verbal]

8 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

What's your point? 

His point is he made your point - though I think unintentionally

[gio1saints]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Only positive is :

Fernandes in proper position 

Downes 

Dibling maybe 

Downs 

 

Are all players potentially to come back 

Charles Downes 

Dibling Fernandes Robinson 

Downs 

Is a very different setup to the one we have seen so far. 

We are desperate for a player to be able to HOLD the ball final third- and that’s probably why we don’t pass to our forwards. None of them can hold the damn thing. 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

We are desperate for a player to be able to HOLD the ball final third- and that’s probably why we don’t pass to our forwards. None of them can hold the damn thing. 

Isn't Downs meant to be quite good at that? Maybe he will play alongside Archer. 

[hypochondriac]

I'll be honest though I'm starting to get a bit concerned about our attack. It looks very ineffective and we aren't controlling games. Still time but like other shave said we need to shift some players and get replacements. Probably too late for the start of the season now though sadly. 

[LoyalSaintSO50]

Castellon looked a decent side throughout.

Some positives for us first half. Thought we pressed well at times, Quashie adds some physicality, Ronnie a good option at rb, better when we shortened it up a touch and Fernandes and Charles good combination.

The second half worrying but at least highlights who we need to move on if any takers! 

Very disappointed in Edozie, still lightweight and frustrating. Aribo looks like times up. McCarthy, no more please. 

Sesay not ready, Sanda & Taylor we have better. Sugawara didn’t get long but never convinced. Really want Ross to do well but looks rusty. Manning and Smallbone frustrate as well. Wood and Robinson the positives. 

[hypochondriac]

Would it be fair to say that based on friendlies so far and our remaining players that our best eleven would currently be:

Ramsdale 

Edwards Woods THB Wellington 

Downes Charles 

Dibling Fernandes Robinson 

Archer/Downs? 

[Nolan]

 

Well, our result against Castellon was better than QPR's

 

[coalman]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Would it be fair to say that based on friendlies so far and our remaining players that our best eleven would currently be:

Ramsdale 

Edwards Woods THB Wellington 

Downes Charles 

Dibling Fernandes Robinson 

Archer/Downs? 

I'd put Stewart ahead of Archer. He at least caused their defence some problems today.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

I'd put Stewart ahead of Archer. He at least caused their defence some problems today.

TBF I was trying to base it on pre season performance and what we know historically. Archer seems like he's done quite well in preseason even if he wasn't great today. 

[coalman]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

TBF I was trying to base it on pre season performance and what we know historically. Archer seems like he's done quite well in preseason even if he wasn't great today. 

Fair though I think he needs someone to play off. He worked hard today but wasn't ever an out ball.

[SWLondon Saint]

Haven't seen highlights yet, but if Archer was playing ahead of:

AA - Fraser - BBD

That pretty much looks like the problem right there.

[revolution saint]

Was at work so couldn't watch the game but on the subject of Archer he strikes me as a player who will score a decent amount of goals if he's given chances.  If we don't create any chances then he may as well not be on the pitch.  I don't have much of a problem with that but we need to sort out creativity.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

Fair though I think he needs someone to play off. He worked hard today but wasn't ever an out ball.

When/if Dibling leaves then maybe just play Stewart or downs alongside Archer instead. 

[hypochondriac]

I know we have to be sensible with our funds but I'm amazed that creativity hasn't been our priority for signings this summer. I really thought we would have got in some for the wings or through the middle. 

[LoyalSaintSO50]

11 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Would it be fair to say that based on friendlies so far and our remaining players that our best eleven would currently be:

Ramsdale 

Edwards Woods THB Wellington 

Downes Charles 

Dibling Fernandes Robinson 

Archer/Downs? 

Got to be pretty close. Few options for the centre back pair. Still expect we’d cash in on THB if decent offer comes in given the numbers we have. Probably unpopular but thought Jack and Quashie partnership wasn’t bad first half today 

[gio1saints]

Our players looked half a yard slower everywhere on the pitch -again - so all I can assume - desperately trying to find positives - is he is still beasting them in training and all this will come good latter part of the season. It’s obvious physical conditioning is being prioritised much much more than we’ve seen, certainly in last two preseasons. Friendly Results in that case will be affected for sure. Without fitness all the other football stuff won’t work so I guess he is resolving the big problem first- triage style. 

 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

Given our serious lack of any sort of options/depth out wide, Sam Edozie had a big chance this pre-season, especially being in from day one. He has not taken it at all, for me

Still no end product and lets himself just drift out of games

Not convinced he is good enough for what we need. Time to move him on.

[saintant]

19 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Would it be fair to say that based on friendlies so far and our remaining players that our best eleven would currently be:

Ramsdale 

Edwards Woods THB Wellington 

Downes Charles 

Dibling Fernandes Robinson 

Archer/Downs? 

No Captain Jack?

[saintant]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I know we have to be sensible with our funds but I'm amazed that creativity hasn't been our priority for signings this summer. I really thought we would have got in some for the wings or through the middle. 

Still plenty of time. Will Still and the management team will be assessing what they are seeing in preseason. No point in making panic buys at this stage. Also need to know the plans of Fernandes, Dibling, Ramsdale and THB. Decisions need to be made on who we keep out of the likes of Smallbone, Aribo, Manning, Armstrong, Archer, Bereton-Diaz, Edozie, Taylor and Fraser. There is a lot to be decided and, for once, the right choices need to be made. This is a crucial reset and rebuild after last season's debacle. 

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Still plenty of time. Will Still and the management team will be assessing what they are seeing in preseason. No point in making panic buys at this stage. Also need to know the plans of Fernandes, Dibling, Ramsdale and THB. Decisions need to be made on who we keep out of the likes of Smallbone, Aribo, Manning, Armstrong, Archer, Bereton-Diaz, Edozie, Taylor and Fraser. There is a lot to be decided and, for once, the right choices need to be made. This is a crucial reset and rebuild after last season's debacle. 

That sounds like it has been written for Linked-in

[SWLondon Saint]

47 minutes ago, LoyalSaintSO50 said:

Castellon looked a decent side throughout.

Some positives for us first half. Thought we pressed well at times, Quashie adds some physicality, Ronnie a good option at rb, better when we shortened it up a touch and Fernandes and Charles good combination.

The second half worrying but at least highlights who we need to move on if any takers! 

Very disappointed in Edozie, still lightweight and frustrating. Aribo looks like times up. McCarthy, no more please. 

Sesay not ready, Sanda & Taylor we have better. Sugawara didn’t get long but never convinced. Really want Ross to do well but looks rusty. Manning and Smallbone frustrate as well. Wood and Robinson the positives. 

Looking at the team sheets, if the 2nd half central mid was Smallbone, Sesay, Aribo ahead that's going to put a huge amount of pressure on our team as it's simply not good enough in terms of ball winning or retention. While first half the 3 behind the striker look the weakest possible combo. Maybe it's an active attempt to put out weak combos to see how the rest of the team performs under pressure?

[Chez]

43 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I know we have to be sensible with our funds but I'm amazed that creativity hasn't been our priority for signings this summer. I really thought we would have got in some for the wings or through the middle. 

Likewise. That attacking midfielder/winger that we could apparently acquire without needing to sell would have solved that, but perhaps that is in the works. Beyond that, there is little we can do until players depart.

[Brumsaint]

It seems to me that these matches are definitely not about winning games at the moment. He's using them to discover various things about the squad. I will be disappointed if we are left in a situation where this is a starting front 4 in a league game

                                    Fraser

Adarma.                   Archer                BBD

Or if he plays CBs out of position when there are two specialist RBs available who could play there.

Or if we play Smallbone and Aribo together in midfield!

It's frustrating that there's still so much to sort out in terms of getting to the squad we will see come 2nd September, but I hope he's going to have a clear vision ahead of that, which will mean he is left with the right players to carry it out.

[hypochondriac]

32 minutes ago, saintant said:

Still plenty of time. Will Still and the management team will be assessing what they are seeing in preseason. No point in making panic buys at this stage. Also need to know the plans of Fernandes, Dibling, Ramsdale and THB. Decisions need to be made on who we keep out of the likes of Smallbone, Aribo, Manning, Armstrong, Archer, Bereton-Diaz, Edozie, Taylor and Fraser. There is a lot to be decided and, for once, the right choices need to be made. This is a crucial reset and rebuild after last season's debacle. 

There is plenty of time but not much time until the season starts. Someone made a good point the other day that Leicester stole a march on everyone last time because they were already miles clear after ten games. We should be aiming for similar even if it doesn't work out that way. 

[leesaint88]

49 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Our players looked half a yard slower everywhere on the pitch -again - so all I can assume - desperately trying to find positives - is he is still beasting them in training and all this will come good latter part of the season. It’s obvious physical conditioning is being prioritised much much more than we’ve seen, certainly in last two preseasons. Friendly Results in that case will be affected for sure. Without fitness all the other football stuff won’t work so I guess he is resolving the big problem first- triage style. 

 

Fair assessment. I think it's all about fitness and making sure they are physically ready for the start of the season, that being said, I think the game against Espanyol might be the one in which we get a glimpse of his preferred starting XI.

[SWLondon Saint]

6 minutes ago, Brumsaint said:

It seems to me that these matches are definitely not about winning games at the moment. He's using them to discover various things about the squad. I will be disappointed if we are left in a situation where this is a starting front 4 in a league game

                                    Fraser

Adarma.                   Archer                BBD

Or if he plays CBs out of position when there are two specialist RBs available who could play there.

Or if we play Smallbone and Aribo together in midfield!

It's frustrating that there's still so much to sort out in terms of getting to the squad we will see come 2nd September, but I hope he's going to have a clear vision ahead of that, which will mean he is left with the right players to carry it out.

I said the same, it 100% looks like he's putting 'weak zones' or weak groups onto the pitch to see who else can still do a job, maybe even still make something happen and influence the game when other players are having a bad game or not available. Not even our revolving carousel of managers last season would have put AA-Fraser-BBD on behind a front man.

[Miltonaggro]

3 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

I said the same, it 100% looks like he's putting 'weak zones' or weak groups onto the pitch to see who else can still do a job, maybe even still make something happen and influence the game when other players are having a bad game or not available. Not even our revolving carousel of managers last season would have put AA-Fraser-BBD on behind a front man.

My view too.  He's evaluating not competing currently. 

[gio1saints]

JR has shown more attacking intent in his minutes so far than anything I’ve seen of BBDAACARSSE.

Our current forwards are not attacking or entertaining. At all. They are boring negative predictable and disappointing. And on bloody high wages too which makes it worse. All seem frightened to do anything  effective or unable - to do anything effective - with or without the ball. 

The best players make it look like time has stood still for them. It’s effortless. MLT would drift past players without pace just skill god knows how but he did it. We seen glimpses of that with JR recently and TD last year. Occasionally KS did it. Never two games in a row though or even two halves. But rest of them? Pedestrian ball passer -backers frightened to lose possession. They Cannot run cannot time a run  make space for anyone or anything cannot fight hard cannot bloody shoot are rubbish in the air and completely silent all match ….wtf are they doing up front then go and get a job window cleaning or something else useful.?!?

Not one player looks like he’s loving it and bringing his game to the table. Not one. Maybe Gav- just.,Quarshie is giving it some but the rest, really?? Wake up Saints! 

Yeah - I’m getting Into posting  froth form for the season ahead nicely. 😁😇

Edited Wednesday at 13:14 by gio1saints

[Chez]

26 minutes ago, Brumsaint said:

Or if he plays CBs out of position when there are two specialist RBs available who could play there.

Why did he do that? Are Bree or Sugawara injured?

[macca155]

10 minutes ago, Chez said:

Why did he do that? Are Bree or Sugawara injured?

Looks like Still is trying out various options. As others have said seems to be putting weaker units out. Maybe the idea is put pressure on someone like Smallbone. Shape up or ship out maybe.

We all know pre season is never a good guide. However there are positives. Bazunu, Quarshie, Wood, and Robinson all seem to be pushing for a place.

All starts for real in less than 3 weeks.

 

[for_heaven's_Saint]

19 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Looks like Still is trying out various options. As others have said seems to be putting weaker units out. Maybe the idea is put pressure on someone like Smallbone. Shape up or ship out maybe.

We all know pre season is never a good guide. However there are positives. Bazunu, Quarshie, Wood, and Robinson all seem to be pushing for a place.

All starts for real in less than 3 weeks.

 

Could add Welington to that list too I’d say. 

[saintant]

48 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

JR has shown more attacking intent in his minutes so far than anything I’ve seen of BBDAACARSSE.

Our current forwards are not attacking or entertaining. At all. They are boring negative predictable and disappointing. And on bloody high wages too which makes it worse. All seem frightened to do anything  effective or unable - to do anything effective - with or without the ball. 

The best players make it look like time has stood still for them. It’s effortless. MLT would drift past players without pace just skill god knows how but he did it. We seen glimpses of that with JR recently and TD last year. Occasionally KS did it. Never two games in a row though or even two halves. But rest of them? Pedestrian ball passer -backers frightened to lose possession. They Cannot run cannot time a run  make space for anyone or anything cannot fight hard cannot bloody shoot are rubbish in the air and completely silent all match ….wtf are they doing up front then go and get a job window cleaning or something else useful.?!?

Not one player looks like he’s loving it and bringing his game to the table. Not one. Maybe Gav- just.,Quarshie is giving it some but the rest, really?? Wake up Saints! 

Yeah - I’m getting Into posting  froth form for the season ahead nicely. 😁😇

Are you ok? If someone else had posted that you might well have been one of the first to have a pop.  Having said that I agree with much of what you say.

[LoyalSaintSO50]

1 hour ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Looking at the team sheets, if the 2nd half central mid was Smallbone, Sesay, Aribo ahead that's going to put a huge amount of pressure on our team as it's simply not good enough in terms of ball winning or retention. While first half the 3 behind the striker look the weakest possible combo. Maybe it's an active attempt to put out weak combos to see how the rest of the team performs under pressure?

It was more Aribo with Sesay and Smallbone further forward. Yeah possibly. We seemed to have very few options playing out through midfield resulting in a lot of going back to Mcarthy who’d smash it long and then we’d chase the ball for next 5 minutes against a good side. 
 

The midfield worries me. Downes misses a fair few with injuries and suspensions and if Fernandes goes, Charles is going to need some help! 

[saintant]

Just watched the highlights and not many positives although accept friendlies this early are more about fitness and assessing individuals. Bazunu did himself a lot of favours with some very decent saves so that is a bonus. Other than that nobody stood out but I'm sure Will Still and the coaches will have learned plenty.

[AlexLaw76]

lots of talk about fitness and minutes....surely the last 2 friendlies will lean to more of playing to win, ready for Wrexham?