Pre Season Friendlies 2025/26

[Saint Fan CaM]

Not looking too promising is it? This equates to mid-table mediocrity with the players at Still’s disposal. In AA, BBD and Fraser we have players that are too slow, with no footballing brain - they’re poachers…opportunists. Having all three on the pitch at one time means we’re missing at least two creative, skilful players. The squad is still a dogs dinner.

[Hatch]

Did any of their players look decent,   maybe we could bring one or two home ?

[Chez]

1 hour 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.

 

You don't mention Charles. Any thoughts on him so far? There have been a lot of posters on here excited at his return. Personally, I am a little sceptical of him being able to galvanise our midfield, but obviously its an area of the pitch we need to improve, big style, so will take whatever positives are on offer...

[davefizzy14]

1 hour ago, leesaint88 said:

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.

Exactly this. It is definitely about the fitness at this stage in pre season. I think the game on Saturday we will start to see Will Still's preferred starting eleven. 

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Not looking too promising is it? This equates to mid-table mediocrity with the players at Still’s disposal. In AA, BBD and Fraser we have players that are too slow, with no footballing brain - they’re poachers…opportunists. Having all three on the pitch at one time means we’re missing at least two creative, skilful players. The squad is still a dogs dinner.

I can't get my head around Fraser playing in the middle. He has spent his whole career going up and down the line, making runs on the shoulder of the full back and then went found, doing it simple, i.e. getting it, dribbling in straight lines and crossing it. 

[coalman]

7 minutes ago, Chez said:

You don't mention Charles. Any thoughts on him so far? There have been a lot of posters on here excited at his return. Personally, I am a little sceptical of him being able to galvanise our midfield, but obviously its an area of the pitch we need to improve, big style, so will take whatever positives are on offer...

He was the best player after Baz today. Looked really composed in the middle.

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, coalman said:

He was the best player after Baz today. Looked really composed in the middle.

Good to know.

[Chez]

Just now, coalman said:

He was the best player after Baz today. Looked really composed in the middle.

Good to hear...but it sounds like our midfield did not control this particular game (it seems an age since we last did), which is a concern. He's only one part of the midfield, but I'd like to hear someone say "Charles ran the game" at some point in the near future.

[macca155]

10 minutes ago, Chez said:

You don't mention Charles. Any thoughts on him so far? There have been a lot of posters on here excited at his return. Personally, I am a little sceptical of him being able to galvanise our midfield, but obviously its an area of the pitch we need to improve, big style, so will take whatever positives are on offer...

Only because I think he has his place cemented. He doesn't need to prove himself, he did that last year.

In contrast Bazunu and Wood definitely need to do a persuasion job, newbies need to impress whatever their reputation .

[coalman]

3 minutes ago, Chez said:

Good to hear...but it sounds like our midfield did not control this particular game (it seems an age since we last did), which is a concern. He's only one part of the midfield, but I'd like to hear someone say "Charles ran the game" at some point in the near future.

Our central midfield in both halves was patchy today. In the first half - a rusty Fernandes (Sesay 26'), Charles, Fraser (WTF?). In the second half - Aribo, Smallbone (at his walking worst) and Sesay. On the million to one chance Fernandes stays then a central three of Charles, Downes and Fernandes will be pretty exciting.

Also has to be said Castellon pressed like a side way above their league. They really came after us as a unit and exposed the unbalanced lineups we put out.

[SWLondon Saint]

36 minutes ago, Chez said:

I can't get my head around Fraser playing in the middle. He has spent his whole career going up and down the line, making runs on the shoulder of the full back and then went found, doing it simple, i.e. getting it, dribbling in straight lines and crossing it. 

He's getting on a bit so maybe he doesn't have the pace to play wide anymore and Still is just seeing if he can get anything at all useful out of him?

[ally_uk]

Our midfield and winger options are lacking.... 

Ship out the deadwood and get some quality in ASAP 

 

[Convict Colony]

To be fair dragan did say the order after quarshie was striker and then creative midfielder. We wait on.

[musesaint]

Can’t remember the last time we had an exciting and positive pre season. Early days but I’m not sure that the current one is very inspiring so far 

[Challenger]

41 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Not looking too promising is it? This equates to mid-table mediocrity with the players at Still’s disposal. In AA, BBD and Fraser we have players that are too slow, with no footballing brain - they’re poachers…opportunists. Having all three on the pitch at one time means we’re missing at least two creative, skilful players. The squad is still a dogs dinner.

The squad has been a dogs dinner for a while now, not seeing any indication anything is happening to address that.

Carry on and hope something improves with largely the same group ( with the odd exception ) of perennial chancers.

[leesaint88]

15 minutes ago, musesaint said:

Can’t remember the last time we had an exciting and positive pre season. Early days but I’m not sure that the current one is very inspiring so far 

Vaguely remember one game when we put 8 past a part time Spanish side, but they've mostly been rather drab like it is for most clubs. 

[chivvy]

I think the next two friendlies will give a much better indication of where we are.. and will be more like warm ups for the start of the season.   

[Matthew Le God]

 

 

[Saint Billy]

Hopefully that performance was a typical warmup display because from what I saw it was dead ropey to say the least. 

[SNSUN]

5 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Only positive is :

Fernandes in proper position 

Downes 

Dibling maybe 

Downs 

 

Mat, Downes, Dibling and Downs sounds like Status Quo lyrics...

[LGTL]

Major reinforcements needed based on pre season so far. Although we knew that already. 

[Whitey Grandad]

23 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Mat, Downes, Dibling and Downs sounds like Status Quo lyrics...

Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb.

[Smirking_Saint]

2 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Not looking too promising is it? This equates to mid-table mediocrity with the players at Still’s disposal. In AA, BBD and Fraser we have players that are too slow, with no footballing brain - they’re poachers…opportunists. Having all three on the pitch at one time means we’re missing at least two creative, skilful players. The squad is still a dogs dinner.

Im not massively worried yet… pre season friendlies, especially on camps are purely for conditioning abd assessing the condition of the squad

 

2 hours ago, Chez said:

I can't get my head around Fraser playing in the middle. He has spent his whole career going up and down the line, making runs on the shoulder of the full back and then went found, doing it simple, i.e. getting it, dribbling in straight lines and crossing it. 

My thoughts are that we just don’t have anyone to play there outside of Fernandes

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

To be fair dragan did say the order after quarshie was striker and then creative midfielder. We wait on.

Isn't Downes the striker? i.e. focus on a creative midfielder now

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

 

Cheers. Quarshie looks a little clueless positionally in those clips.

[Long Shot]

2 hours ago, ally_uk said:

Our midfield and winger options are lacking.... 

Ship out the deadwood and get some quality in ASAP 

 

“Ship out the dead wood” is such a glib phrase and a lot easier to say than actually achieve. 

[Chez]

29 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

My thoughts are that we just don’t have anyone to play there outside of Fernandes

We badly need some creativity and goals from that position...and others.

[Matthew Le God]

33 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

My thoughts are that we just don’t have anyone to play there outside of Fernandes

Dibling could and Matsuki perhaps.

[Smirking_Saint]

4 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Dibling could and Matsuki perhaps.

Dibling has never played there and Matsuki is injured 

[Gloucester Saint]

45 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im not massively worried yet… pre season friendlies, especially on camps are purely for conditioning abd assessing the condition of the squad

 

My thoughts are that we just don’t have anyone to play there outside of Fernandes

That’s why last night at Ibrox was so frustrating - not because I’ve got anything against RM, well done on the result - but seeing Gassama do actually what we sorely need. Player we were linked with as well.

[Matthew Le God]

8 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Dibling has never played there and Matsuki is injured 

He has played there throughout his youth career. From the man himself...

“I’ve been the exact same since I was about five years old playing Sunday league. I’ve always played one position – right wing or central attacking midfielder."

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/tyler-dibling-the-shy-outsider-who-became-the-face-of-staplewood

Plus under Russell Martin Dibling played as a false 9, which has crossovers with a number 10 role.

The injuries to Dibling and Matsuki are only minor, they aren't going to stop them being able to play as a CAM in future games, only the two for the Spanish training camp.

Edited Wednesday at 17:48 by Matthew Le God

[Chez]

16 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

That’s why last night at Ibrox was so frustrating - not because I’ve got anything against RM, well done on the result - but seeing Gassama do actually what we sorely need. Player we were linked with as well.

I thought Gassama was someone we should have bene after. He looked Sheff Wed's best player in the games I watched. I asked this earlier, on this thread I think, is Rangers a bigger draw than us right now? Can they match our wages? I wondered if we were both in for him and he chose them.

Edited Wednesday at 18:03 by Chez

[SaintBobby]

34 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

He has played there throughout his youth career. From the man himself...

“I’ve been the exact same since I was about five years old playing Sunday league. I’ve always played one position – right wing or central attacking midfielder."

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/tyler-dibling-the-shy-outsider-who-became-the-face-of-staplewood

Plus under Russell Martin Dibling played as a false 9, which has crossovers with a number 10 role.

The injuries to Dibling and Matsuki are only minor, they aren't going to stop them being able to play as a CAM in future games, only the two for the Spanish training camp.

He’s always played two positions then? 🤷

[Dusic]

1 hour ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im not massively worried yet… pre season friendlies, especially on camps are purely for conditioning abd assessing the condition of the squad

 

My thoughts are that we just don’t have anyone to play there outside of Fernandes

Per Still post match, he likes Fernandes in one of the two deeper positions where he can "see the game". Besides, he is too good to still be here in September.

Clear that #10 type role needs a very good player brought in to play it because they need to be creative and a goal threat and we just don't have anyone of that profile.

[Challenger]

2 hours ago, Long Shot said:

“Ship out the dead wood” is such a glib phrase and a lot easier to say than actually achieve. 

Not buying in the deadwood in the first place would be a positive start. Having a bloated squad of also- rans seems to be a recurring theme with these owners.

Edited Wednesday at 20:10 by Challenger

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

I thought Gassama was someone we should have bene after. He looked Sheff Wed's best player in the games I watched. I asked this earlier, on this thread I think, is Rangers a bigger draw than us right now? Can they match our wages? I wondered if we were both in for him and he chose them.

I got the impression that he was one we’d go for had Rohl come in. 
 

I doubt we were still after him as he doesn’t seem to fit the priorities set out by Solak. Probably on the ‘after we’ve shipped out some of the other useless cunts’ list of possibles. 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

3 hours ago, musesaint said:

Can’t remember the last time we had an exciting and positive pre season. Early days but I’m not sure that the current one is very inspiring so far 

I don't think we take pre-season seriously enough. If you go back over the years and analyse our first 10 league games, I'm sure more often than not we're slow out of the starting blocks and then playing catch-up.

Get the lads match fit, make them challenge every ball.

[qwertyell]

1 hour ago, Dusic said:

Per Still post match, he likes Fernandes in one of the two deeper positions where he can "see the game". Besides, he is too good to still be here in September.

Fernandes played a deeper role in Portugal, and does for their national team U21s too. 

He's a 6 or and 8. Which in Southampton maths adds up to 10, apparently. 

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Dibling has never played there and Matsuki is injured 

Seen nothing especially creative from Matsuki yet. Dibling could do it.

[Saint Fan CaM]

5 hours ago, Chez said:

I can't get my head around Fraser playing in the middle. He has spent his whole career going up and down the line, making runs on the shoulder of the full back and then went found, doing it simple, i.e. getting it, dribbling in straight lines and crossing it. 

I was got by auto-correct 😉 - meant to say Archer rather than Fraser actually. AA - BBD - Archer…one has to be shipped out and the other two never being on the pitch at the same time. I actually don’t think it matters a jot which one goes.

Don’t disagree with your point on Fraser, but I think Still might be panicking a bit with the lack of genuine creativity on offer in the squad and Fraser is one of not many that can get around defenders, shoot or pass. Basically he’s looking for options which are quickly diminishing.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, Chez said:

Cheers. Quarshie looks a little clueless positionally in those clips.

Bednarek with more pace and less experience, basically. 

[gio1saints]

15 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Bednarek with more pace and less experience, basically. 

More pace more height less experience more talk and, importantly, more higher ceiling on his potential. Can you imagine trying to get the ball off him once he’s reached speed???? If he is allowed to smash through the centre of the park with the ball ( which he won’t) it would be like a battering ram from Game of Thrones!

He seems to have self belief about himself and what I’ve most liked is his propensity to open his mouth and play enforcer if needs be. About time we had another player willing and able to bully other teams instead of other way around. He likes a challenge for sure. V happy with him so far 

[saintant]

22 hours ago, Hatch said:

Did any of their players look decent,   maybe we could bring one or two home ?

Most of them when compared to ours.

[trousers]

 

 

[CSA96]

 

[trousers]

Caption competition....? 

 

[sockeye]

6 minutes ago, trousers said:

Caption competition....? 

 

Stephens: I just sort of space out for about an hour

[saintant]

15 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Stephens: I just sort of space out for about an hour

Is that Jack Stephens? Alfie describes him as the Club Captain and he looks more like Charlie Taylor.

[Matthew Le God]

 

 

[die Mannyschaft]

Apart from the Eastleigh game has anyone seen the rest of the pre season games online and can say what type of football we are playing? 

Possession,  attacking, high pressure, etc or can't tell.