Pre Season Friendlies 2025/26

[Scoobysaint]

I’m struggling with the two kits clashing. Why didn’t wear the away kit?!

[santolijador]

5 minutes ago, santolijador said:

Should add, this is their first pre season outing of the summer


And they just signed Thyrys Dolan (who I'm not sure if we were linked with at some point over the last few seasons? He isn't playing today tho. 

 

1 minute ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

Commentator just said they kick off a week after us, so we should be a week further ahead in our preparation. 

Yep I was wrong - they have played 2 pre-season games so far. 4-1 against a much lower league team, and 0-0 with Girona

[Lighthouse]

2 minutes ago, Scoobysaint said:

I’m struggling with the two kits clashing. Why didn’t wear the away kit?!

Glad it's not just me. When they're stood side-on with the white socks and shoulders and the sun behind them, this is a hard watch.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

We love a high pass down the channel. My first impressions of the system is that we struggle to build down the middle of the pitch and concentrate our attacks down the wings. 

[Lighthouse]

Great ball from Q and a decent run from BBD. Well blocked in the end.

[Matthew Le God]

14 minutes ago, Scoobysaint said:

I’m struggling with the two kits clashing. Why didn’t wear the away kit?!

Our away kit of blue stripes also clashes with Espanyol's blue stripes. Would need them to wear another kit.

[obelisk]

Espanyol finding plenty of space down the flanks.

[CSA96]

 

[die Mannyschaft]

Has anyone managed to get the £5 discount applied to Brighton tickets. It doesn't for me and when choosing under 16 for £5 just keeps saying £15. Booking line is closed so no good for people who can't use the system. Seat view doesn't show row so guess then click bug wrong seat cant change unless start again.

[Scoobysaint]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Our away kit of blue stripes also clashes with Espanyol's blue stripes. Would need them to wear another kit.

Even different socks would help!

[obelisk]

Plenty of room for Espanyol striker to pick his spot. Ramsdale saves.

[Lone ranger]

To my view the Spaniards are all over us. We seem just as toothless as ever but worryingly seem to have reverted to pointless sideways and backward passing in our own half. Come on Saints. 

[Jack]

Yeah I don’t like the plain white back on the kit, plain red or stripes would be far less likely to cause random clashes. 
 

I’ve never rated Archer based on how little he does off the ball and not seeing any different here. Though aware that nobody has done much at the business end of the pitch 

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Charles looking great. 

[EBS1980]

16 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Has anyone managed to get the £5 discount applied to Brighton tickets. It doesn't for me and when choosing under 16 for £5 just keeps saying £15. Booking line is closed so no good for people who can't use the system. Seat view doesn't show row so guess then click bug wrong seat cant change unless start again.

I had that problem too, way round it that worked for me what use the link for discount tickets then do auto select seats when when allocated you change them to the ones you want. I found if I tried to select my own they would be full price but auto select applied the discount.

[SouSaint]

Zero attacking threat thus far. 

[obelisk]

Saints lacking in ideas in the final third but that's nothing new.

[Monk]

It's a bit passive so far... very interested to see what Downs adds to the front line. 

They look a bit crap at playing through the thirds from goalkeeper - frustrating seeing how relaxed we are when there's clearly an error in the back 4/GK from goal kicks.  

 

I also fear I'm gonna fall in love with Quarshie. 

Edited 9 hours ago by Monk

[Saint Matty 76]

Downes/Dibling in for Fraser/BBD and that's probably the Wrexham team if nobody leaves before that date?

This current lineup is very dull without Fernandes further up and Dibling able to beat a man out wide.

[Jack]

Fernandas and Charles pretty decent, front 4 absolute garbage. Not a whole lot of movement or ideas 

[hypochondriac]

We've done OK that half. Worth remembering this is a decent team we are playing. Lacking I bthe final third but at least we showed a bit of attacking intent. Excited to see Downs to see if he can offer us something different. 

[SouSaint]

HT. Very poor. None of the attacking players want to take on their man and the full backs aren't overlapping. 

[EBS1980]

I get that they might have had to say it was behind closed doors as looks like it’s being played at a training complex, but then why are Espanyol fans allowed to be there.

also, why charge saints fans £5 to watch it?? The club might make a grand or two from people paying but is that really worth it? Let fans watch for free it’s only a friendly, poor PR from the club too, especially as Espanyol are showing it for free (wonder who told them mid first half to turn off access to uk watches too!)

[Lallana's Left Peg]

When you play two strikers on the wings you accept the risk of that is leaving lots of space out wide for the opposition to attack, which is what Espanyol are doing.

You usually accept that risk because you will pose an attacking threat yourself, but we are showing absolutely nothing.  I can only assume that Still is giving some senior pros their chance to impress so that when he dumps them they can have no excuses.

Quarshie is looking to pass forwards all the time and he clearly has no options.  Too many of this lot are showing a hangover from playing in a team that doesn't score goals.

[beatlesaint]

Really hoping Downs makes the same kind of immediate impact Quarshie has at the back.......otherwise its not looking great, there's so little cohesion up front, it should be showing better signs of coming together by now.

[SWLondon Saint]

6 minutes ago, Monk said:

I also fear I'm gonna fall in love with Quarshie. 

Only watched 10 mins or so but he looks like he could be the business, he was quick and strong beating a striker to a dangerous flick on.

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, EBS1980 said:

especially as Espanyol are showing it for free (wonder who told them mid first half to turn off access to uk watches too!)

It hasn't been turned off to the UK

[gio1saints]

 Ladies and Gentlemen, We have ourselves a new star CB. I give you, Joshua Quarsie. The outstanding player on the park. 

[Scoobysaint]

At times we have looked quite sharp, a few slick passes and we are almost through. Not been hugely impressed with Archer who seems to also receive the ball in the centre but his first touch takes him further left, meaning no real angle for shot. BBD has shown more enthusiasm and output than I’ve seen before. Not sure the “wee man” has a role starting in this team. 

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, Scoobysaint said:

Not sure the “wee man” has a role starting in this team. 

He can only be playing becuase Downes and more importantly Dibling are back at home surely?

[HarvSFC]

Still waiting for these high pressing, high intensity tactics. But, I've been waiting for them since Juric promised them, so who knows. 

I know a lot is said of the records of our forwards in the Championship, but Adam Armstrong also struggled and we struggled when Che Adams wasn't up top as the hold up player. I think it's showing again, as none of the forwards at the moment can hold the ball up and are just running down blind alleys continuously. Bring Downs on at half time, I want to see what he can do.

Onto the positives, Quarshie is looking good. Charles looks good. Add Downes and by some miracle we keep THB and Ramsdale, and our defence is looking fine for next season. Just going forward. We need that attacking midfielder Solak promised before the window and before the sale of Sulemana.

[Daft Kerplunk]

Final third play continues to be a shocker.  

Watching the Espanyol feed with views of their impressive stadium makes you realise just how crap St. Mary's is and that it desperately needs an upgrade.  Just like the attackers in the squad.  

[Dusic]

5 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

He can only be playing becuase Downes and more importantly Dibling are back at home surely?

I don't think we will see much (any) of Dibling.

If we play 4-2-3-1 primarily as seems to be the plan then the '3' needs a lot of work between now and end of Sept.

Not really any other majorly glaring areas so at least full focus can be on this.

[CSA96]

2 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Still waiting for these high pressing, high intensity tactics. But, I've been waiting for them since Juric promised them, so who knows. 

I know a lot is said of the records of our forwards in the Championship, but Adam Armstrong also struggled and we struggled when Che Adams wasn't up top as the hold up player. I think it's showing again, as none of the forwards at the moment can hold the ball up and are just running down blind alleys continuously. Bring Downs on at half time, I want to see what he can do.

Onto the positives, Quarshie is looking good. Charles looks good. Add Downes and by some miracle we keep THB and Ramsdale, and our defence is looking fine for next season. Just going forward. We need that attacking midfielder Solak promised before the window and before the sale of Sulemana.

Think there's a point in this. We've got too many people who want to finish an attacking move (Archer, Arma, BBD...) and not people who can actually create the openings, getting themselves into the final third and opening up space (Dibling, Fernandes with movement, running, passing... Downs with link up play)

[for_heaven's_Saint]

For me, the glaringly obvious weakness going forward is Fraser in the number 10 role- nowhere near good enough at playing on the half-turn. 
 

Archer is also picking up the ball too far from goal to have any impact as he can’t beat a man with pace or skill. We either need to get the ball up the wings and cross it for him or play someone who can do more on their own. 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

For me, the glaringly obvious weakness going forward is Fraser in the number 10 role- nowhere near good enough at playing on the half-turn. 

Add Flynn Downs to the starting XI and you can move Fernandes into the number 10 role. Would be a lot better.

Edited 8 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[CSA96]

No HT changes today, first time Still has done that. Pushing up the minutes for the starters

[SWLondon Saint]

Think it's obvious the '10' spot or middle of the 3 behind the striker is the big miss right now. Obviously Fernandes can play there but in terms of getting someone in, I bet there's a 'chain' as in people will be waiting to see if they can get a move to a team in Europe, then the prem or a top league, then whoever's left will fall down to us. Bit like the Celtic lad last year who went to Brighton and we ended up with MF.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

Add Flynn Downs to the starting XI and you can move Fernandes into the number 10 role. Would be a lot better.

I agree, but hasn’t Still been talking about Fernandes being good when playing deep?

[CSA96]

2 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

No HT changes today, first time Still has done that. Pushing up the minutes for the starters

Tell a lie:

Quarshie and BBD replaced by Bree and Robinson

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

I agree, but hasn’t Still been talking about Fernandes being good when playing deep?

He did, but if he wants to play 4231 like he has throughout pre season then to get Fernandes,  Downs and Charles all playing the former would be in the number 10 role.

[Badger]

36 minutes ago, Jack said:
 

I’ve never rated Archer based on how little he does off the ball and not seeing any different here. Though aware that nobody has done much at the business end of the pitch 

Shocking waste of money. Again.

Out of his depth last season, admittedly in a piss poor team, but not expecting too much from him this season. 

[Jack]

Clumsy from Bree, should be a penalty for them 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

Shocking waste of money. Again.

Out of his depth last season, admittedly in a piss poor team, but not expecting too much from him this season. 

18 goals in 40 Championship games shows he is effective at the level we find ourselves. 

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Some much better attacking play. Having Bree at RB making a big difference and good from Robinson so far. 

[Badger]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

18 goals in 40 Championship games shows he is effective at the level we find ourselves. 

Not necessarily. It shows he previously managed to score 18 goals in 40 games. 
 

Let’s revisit this at the end of the season. 
 

(I seem to remember similar claims of past performance for both Holgate and Maitland-Niles being made. Apparently both had a good game once).

[CSA96]

6 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

18 goals in 40 Championship games shows he is effective at the level we find ourselves. 

Exactly, I don't know why people keep expecting him to do anything other than run off the shoulder and shoot, plus a bit of sniffing out chances in the box when there's a scramble. That's his entire game

He can't link the play and create for other people, it's not who he is. Speaking of which, have Saints ever had a small striker up front on their own and had success with it? I don't recall anyone making it work

[CSA96]

Subs on 62 mins

On: Wood, Manning, Sesay, Downs
Off: Edwards, Welington, Fernandes, Archer

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Our goal kicks are terrible. 

[AlexLaw76]

2 weeks and 1 friendly until the opener

how are we looking?