Pre Season Friendlies 2025/26

[lambtiss]

4 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

If Bazunu or McCarthy start ahead of Rambo - season over.

If Manning starts ahead of Welington - season over.

If Edward’s is started at RB ahead of Bree or Sugawara - season over.

If Stephens is started over Any of our other CB’s - season over.

If Spors doesn’t get a quality, starting attacking CM in - season over.

If Still continues to play the same front 3 (AA/Archer/BBD/Fraser) over starting Downs - season over.

I’ve maintained for some time that the majority of the shite from last season needed to be cleared out or we’d be looking at a mid-table finish.  Looks like lessons have not been learned…maybe. Perhaps Still is now realising he’s going to have a very mediocre season if he isn’t very judicious in his team selections, including dropping his club Captain. The concern also is that we’re lower than mid-table come October-November and the club feel pressured to sack Still which will set us back even further.

One of those things is likely to happen. Will the season be over?

... No, of course it won't. 

 

[Mixedkebab]

Not going to panic after a couple of friendlies, but we will see in the first couple of line ups if the too clever by half, floppy haired hierarchy of the club has really learned anything.

The Stephens extension is by far the most depressing thing that could’ve happened (maybe equal with another McCarthy one)

Any funky shoehorning or square pegs in round holes etc like Edwards out of position and they can fuck their quirky selves  

Edited 12 hours ago by Mixedkebab

[Harry_SFC]

25 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I don't particularly rate Stephens, even at this level, but I can't in all honesty slate him for those two goals. That penalty was soft for starters. It probably was a foul but it wasn't exactly some reckless lunge (or even another hair pull). The first goal was somewhat fortunate on their part as it bounced of Stephens' heel, right into the gap between him and Manning, which wrong footed both of them and also fell extremely fortunately for the attacker.

Not a great game for Jack but he looked pretty decent two years ago, before he got injured, then played his part when he game back. There's plenty of competition at CB and Still is no mug. If Jack doesn't deliver, we've still got the likes of THB, JQ, RE and in an emergency NW to choose from.

You're being as kind to Stephens there as you were to Russell Martin. 

[Charlie Wayman]

Jack the lad at it again. What a prat. Bloody hell if this is anything like the team we will put out against Wrexham we might as well shut up shop now. Take out Ramsdale and it's going to be a struggle to stay in the division.

Stevens, Bree, Manning, Fraser…. you're having a laugh Will, they should be out the effing door not on the pitch wearing red & white. What's the word that rhymes with Red & White?

[Charlie Wayman]

5 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

If Bazunu or McCarthy start ahead of Rambo - season over.

If Manning starts ahead of Welington - season over.

If Edward’s is started at RB ahead of Bree or Sugawara - season over.

If Stephens is started over Any of our other CB’s - season over.

If Spors doesn’t get a quality, starting attacking CM in - season over.

If Still continues to play the same front 3 (AA/Archer/BBD/Fraser) over starting Downs - season over.

I’ve maintained for some time that the majority of the shite from last season needed to be cleared out or we’d be looking at a mid-table finish.  Looks like lessons have not been learned…maybe. Perhaps Still is now realising he’s going to have a very mediocre season if he isn’t very judicious in his team selections, including dropping his club Captain. The concern also is that we’re lower than mid-table come October-November and the club feel pressured to sack Still which will set us back even further.

Isn't that the truth with emphasis on Jack sPrat.

[tttdcs]

1 hour ago, Andrew Watson said:

Very,very worrying to read that the new manager is defending Stephens after another pathetic performance from him.

 what do you expect him to say?

[CSA96]

12 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Jack the lad at it again. What a prat. Bloody hell if this is anything like the team we will put out against Wrexham we might as well shut up shop now. Take out Ramsdale and it's going to be a struggle to stay in the division.

Stevens, Bree, Manning, Fraser…. you're having a laugh Will, they should be out the effing door not on the pitch wearing red & white. What's the word that rhymes with Red & White?

[Lighthouse]

46 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

You're being as kind to Stephens there as you were to Russell Martin. 

Clearly I'm not as upset as some people about an unfortunate deflection by our (most likely) third choice CB in a pre-season friendly. If he ends up starting every game despite making regulary howlers, then I'll start to get more concerned about him and Still.

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Clearly I'm not as upset as some people about an unfortunate deflection by our (most likely) third choice CB in a pre-season friendly. If he ends up starting every game despite making regulary howlers, then I'll start to get more concerned about him and Still.

He’ll be starting.

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

I don't particularly rate Stephens, even at this level, but I can't in all honesty slate him for those two goals. That penalty was soft for starters. It probably was a foul but it wasn't exactly some reckless lunge (or even another hair pull). The first goal was somewhat fortunate on their part as it bounced of Stephens' heel, right into the gap between him and Manning, which wrong footed both of them and also fell extremely fortunately for the attacker.

Not a great game for Jack but he looked pretty decent two years ago, before he got injured, then played his part when he game back. There's plenty of competition at CB and Still is no mug. If Jack doesn't deliver, we've still got the likes of THB, JQ, RE and in an emergency NW to choose from.

The first goal was Jack's fault. The ball didn't bounce off his heel, his foot moves towards the ball. What he was attempting only Jack will know.

Edited 11 hours ago by lambtiss

[SNSUN]

2 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

It seemed that for most of the first hour our tactics seemed to be 'lumping it up to Lilliput' Fraser, Archer and Arma are not beating any centre backs when stood still looking at a missile coming down from obit. 

What I was impressed by was that when they inevitably lost it and Espanyol got it rapidly forward 3 out of 4 of those players are pretty quick, and they were able to get back on the right side of the ball before it reached our penalty area. 

Clearly this is clutching at straws!

 

                              Ramsdale

Bree          THB/Edwards      Quarshie       Welington

                      Downes           Charles

 Dibling/Arma        Fernandes               Robinson

                                 Downs

 

If somehow we can get that team on the pitch there is the potential for them not to embarrass us

Sugawara to play instead of Bree if our opponents are in the bottom 5 of the league

Or...

McCarthy

Sugawara Stephens Wood Manning

Smallbone Aribo

Edozie Fraser

Stewart BBD

I think our first choice first XI is almost there without anyone leaving*. It's the squad players that are worrying. Too many of them, not enough quality. And I didn't even add Bazunu, ABK, Bednarek, Taylor, Archer, Matsuki and Kayi Sanda to either of those squads above.

 

*I still expect SR to change this.

[Lighthouse]

53 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

The first goal was Jack's fault. The ball didn't bounce off his heel, his foot moves towards the ball. What he was attempting only Jack will know.

Fairly obviously to intercept the through ball and if he'd got his foot out another two inches to the side he'd have done it very well. Fine margins but this wasn't some sort of howler.

[die Mannyschaft]

9 hours ago, EBS1980 said:

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.

Thanks,  done same. 

[Matthew Le God]

Post match interview with BBC

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lsj6xn

[lambtiss]

25 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Fairly obviously to intercept the through ball and if he'd got his foot out another two inches to the side he'd have done it very well. Fine margins but this wasn't some sort of howler.

I think your interpretation is generous. To my mind this is just another in the long list of Stephen's howlers. 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

24 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

I think your interpretation is generous. To my mind this is just another in the long list of Stephen's howlers. 

Should have been sidelined last year after his sending offs and actually quite irritated that management think he has something to offer the club.

Similarly, think SR believe they have delivered in providing a striker with Downes and he took his opportunity well which is promising. Robinson continues to impress, predicting Shea will be one of our best players this year. Fraser and BBD need to be consigned to the scrapheap.

[St. Ciervo]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

Fairly obviously to intercept the through ball and if he'd got his foot out another two inches to the side he'd have done it very well. Fine margins but this wasn't some sort of howler.

A bad touch can happen. But after the error he makes zero attempt to win the ball back. He sits up and takes 3 lazy strides towards the net (not the ball). Afterwards, our fearless captain simply puts his chin to his chest... 

I give zero fault to Manning, and this was not a lack of communication, Still. 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

“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”

Derek Reeves, on his own or with George O’Brien.

(I should know; “I” was there.)

[Wade Garrett]

9 hours ago, saint michael said:

Every manager we’ve had seems to have to go through the same learnings about skills and capability of this group. The fans already know and we see the rehash of the same performances 

It’s infuriating.  Still could have watched the videos of our games last season to see who is absolute shite.  Lallana could have told him.  
Some prick gave Jack Stephens a 3 year contract.  Solak talks a good game, but it seems like same old same old.  Absolute fucking joke.

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

It’s infuriating.  Still could have watched the videos of our games last season to see who is absolute shite.  Lallana could have told him.  
Some prick gave Jack Stephens a 3 year contract.  Solak talks a good game, but it seems like same old same old.  Absolute fucking joke.

TBF I think a manager has to make their own assessments including the bits we don't see off the pitch. I'm happy for Still to work out for himself who can best play his style of football. 

[Wade Garrett]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

TBF I think a manager has to make their own assessments including the bits we don't see off the pitch. I'm happy for Still to work out for himself who can best play his style of football. 

Some of it is so clear he shouldn’t need to waste valuable preseason confirming the absolute obvious.

[Farmer Saint]

I thought all the howlers were due to Martin's tactics?

[SouSaint]

The 3 of BBD/Fraser/Armstrong behind the striker was absolutely honking in the first half. We need to improve the wide options because none of that lot will take on their man. 

Still a lot of work to be done for Sport Republic to avoid failing at yet another transfer window. 

[Farmer Saint]

45 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

It’s infuriating.  Still could have watched the videos of our games last season to see who is absolute shite.  Lallana could have told him.  
Some prick gave Jack Stephens a 3 year contract.  Solak talks a good game, but it seems like same old same old.  Absolute fucking joke.

Calm yourself, it's pre-season FFS.

[hypochondriac]

28 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Some of it is so clear he shouldn’t need to waste valuable preseason confirming the absolute obvious.

If he persists with undrrpercorming players in games that matter then maybe I'll agree. Until then, I'm happy for him to go through whatever process he thinks is necessary in order to arrive at a team in two weeks that can beat Wrexham. 

[St. Ciervo]

47 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I thought all the howlers were due to Martin's tactics?

Martin's tactics simply magnified the shithousery.

[chiknsmack]

My notes from throughout the game as I saw it.

 

Stephens’ passing is shit.

Negativity from Fraser in possession.

Welington could have had two yellow cards in the first seven minutes.

Long balls down the line to Archer look like the plan. It’s a shit plan when Archer is the target in particular, but a good use of Quarshie and Edwards (and THB) if they play on the outside of a 3 in a 3-4-3.

Armstrong is wasted outside of a front 3. His workrate is arguably his best asset so a more fluid role across the front suits him better than having to stay in a zone on the right.

Espanyol have their first chance on 14 minutes; Welington leaves a foot in and could’ve conceded a penalty against a more cynical attacker. I like him but that’s three notable bad moments already.

Armstrong is also completely lost defensively in wide midfield.

Fernandes has been quiet but good when he’s been involved. Charles has been getting forward more of the two and looking good doing it. He’s not Wanyama to Fernandes’ Schneiderlin; they’re both Schneiderlins.

There hasn’t been enough in attack; mostly long balls down the line and misplaced passes in behind in the final third. Probably a symptom of not having a creative CAM.

Some accidental one-touch football through the middle – courtesy of not-the-first poor pass from Ramsdale – sets Fraser free to run into the final third. Unfortunately a shot from 24yds is the only option he can find.

BBDs workrate has actually looked good, but a few times in possession we’ve seen the problem with a right-footed player playing wide left.

Archer leads a 3v3, BBD makes the wrong run (outside to in, as he wants to be on his right foot) to lead Archer into a 1v2. Armstrong makes no run at all.

Saints having some luck from turnovers from an improved press. Armstrong has also dropped deep a couple of times to play some tappy shit and let Fernandes move up, where he looks potent (as he should, being by far the best player on the pitch for Saints).

Quarshie has dealt with everything defensively quite well. He’s also been vocal and directing those around him. Wood has had a good preseason, Bednarek and THB are still here, Edwards is coming off a good season at this level, but Quarshie doesn’t look like a 5^th choice CB.

 

Half time, 0-0. Quarshie off, Bree on, Edwards from RB to LCB. BBD off, Robinson on, straight swap.

 

Bree and Stephens immediately combine to let a man run in behind them from the kickoff and win a corner.

Bree has since gone on a completely pointless overlap when the underlap was on, hammered a pass directly to an opponent while under no pressure (in his defence he was trying to bypass the entire midfield and play in Archer), and given up what should’ve probably been a stonewall pen.

There’s a bit of venom in this second half. Just before the non-penalty Armstrong picked up a yellow for barging straight through a guy for no reason. Just afterwards an RCD player was lucky to avoid the same for going into the back of Fraser.

Robinson looks good, controlling the ball well and looking to be positive with it.

 

Bulk changes for RCD on 58 minutes.

 

Bree and Stephens decide to play backwards and short from a wide-midfield free kick. It leads to them giving Fernandes the ball in a 1v3 situation not far from where the free kick was. After the turnover RCD cycle the ball across the backline from left to right and left again, then a long ball down the line sees Bree let his man get in behind him again and put in a cross. When the cross is cleared back in his direction, Bree then mishits a kung-fu clearance. I’ve been a proponent of the 4-2-1-3 becoming a 2-3-5 in attack, with one attacking fullback getting forward (Welington or Sugawara) and one defensive fullback sitting in in midfield (Bree or Taylor). On the evidence of the past 20 minutes it’s hard to want Bree anywhere near the team.

 

Bulk changes for Saints on 62 minutes. Wood for Edwards, Manning for Welington, Downs for Archer, Fernandes for Sesay. All straight swaps.

 

A mistake between Wood and Charles sees RCD away in a 3v2 which becomes a 4v2. Miscontrol from the attacker spares blushes.

 

Another five changes for RCD on 68 minutes.

 

GOAL RCD, 69 minutes, 1-0. A decent little move from the back, LFB to DM to striker straight up the middle who lays off for AM, whose throughball to the striker is deflected by Stephens into space where he and Manning watch the AM beat them to it and slot home.

Downs is a big unit but he has a turn of foot.

Others aren’t finding Sesay for whatever reason (preferring to go back or wide), and when he does get it he’s a bit quick/panicky. Not unsurprising for a kid playing up a couple of levels, but he looks like he’ll be getting a season with the U21s unless quite a few players leave.

 

A Saints sub (and a second drinks break) on 73 minutes. Stewart for Armstrong, Robinson to wide right midfield, Stewart to right attack, Fraser to left attack.

 

GOAL RCD, 76 minutes, 2-0. A very soft penalty (dive) against Stephens from a bouncing cross. He was penalised for a trailing arm to the head of the striker getting in behind him, but it’s never a pen. Still, they were probably owed one from earlier.

Bree pushes up to press the opposition fullback, gets beaten all ends up and drags him back.

Robinson picks up a loose ball near midfield and immediately looks to run at his man and then play in Downs. From what we’ve seen today he’s third name on the teamsheet behind Ramsdale and Fernandes.

Stephens’ passing is still shit.

Robinson drops back to pick up a pass from a pressured Ramsdale, then plays a nice ball forward to Fraser on the left wing whose contribution is poor chest control and a pass backwards.

A few good touches from Sesay, starting from a phase where the ball was rolled to his feet by Ramsdale and he carried forward before some interplay with Stewart. Also a couple of moments where he’s been on his heels (or a pass to him has been poor and he’s had to adjust) and a couple of RCD straight balls through midfield where he may have been in the wrong position, but he’s warming into things. At least until the ball gets smashed into the side of his head on 90 minutes.

GOAL Saints, 90+1, 2-1. RCD playing more conservatively has allowed Saints to press. The press has allowed Saints to turn defence into attack, at least until someone who doesn’t want to attack (eg. Fraser) gets the ball. On this occasion Robinson forces his man back near the touchline in midfield, Stewart pounces to take possession, he plays it to Robinson who takes one touch before playing it in behind to the near post for Downs who shoots first time across the keeper and just inside the far post from a couple of yards outside the corner of the six yard box.

 

Full time 2-1.

 

Great: Robinson, Quarshie.

Good: Fernandes, Charles (first half), BBD, at a stretch Stewart (in the wrong position but working hard and getting involved positively) and Downs (great finish, looked quick and fast, not heavily involved).

Bad: Stephens, Bree, Fraser, Welington.