Pre Season Friendlies 2025/26

[Badger]

Just now, trousers said:

Well deserved goal for Archer there, and nice assist from Robinson 

Can we sell him now as he’s clearly on a run of form - one goal in his last one game - and has probably peaked for the season ? 

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, trousers said:

So, can we conclude our lethargic performance in the first half wasn't down to the weather after all, but more to do with starting with a bunch of players that are simply mentally, physically weak and not wanting to be at Southampton Football Club.

Added the missing bit on the end.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Let's not gp misrepresenting me. At no point was I blaming the person who suffers some incident. 

In fact, you even pointed out that as long as it wouldn't impede treatment. My point was that it either always would, you couldn't afford the time to work that out, and getting to a person fraught with problems in the middle of a game.

[goodymatt]

He’s not really being tested but Quarshie looks absolutely huge.

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

Can we sell him now as he’s clearly on a run of form - one goal in his last one game - and has probably peaked for the season ? 

I think he might do alright this year but not a lone striker, either needs to be paired with Downs or if the club must (more likely can’t sell him) BBD.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

In fact, you even pointed out that as long as it wouldn't impede treatment. My point was that it either always would, you couldn't afford the time to work that out, and getting to a person fraught with problems in the middle of a game.

I never remember games being stopped for these things ten years ago. 

[hypochondriac]

How is Matsuki doing? 

[bpsaint]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I never remember games being stopped for these things ten years ago. 

They weren’t, it’s only been since Covid and the clot shot when footy restarted and it seemed to happen on a weekly basis that they’ve been stopping matches.

[trousers]

5 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

He’s not really being tested but Quarshie looks absolutely huge.

Aye, and seems much more composed than Stephens 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

How is Matsuki doing? 

Nothing spectacular but having a decent game IMO

[beatlesaint]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Aye, and seems much more composed than Stephens 

Low bar, but good to hear all the same

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I never remember games being stopped for these things ten years ago. 

Probably a good thing to have moved on from "Sure, he'd have lived. But at least he died hearing the crowd chant 'Stephens! You !*#£', one last time."

 

[trousers]

Downes looking good too. Outside of the premier league he oozes class.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Probably a good thing to have moved on from "Sure, he'd have lived. But at least he died hearing the crowd chant 'Stephens! You !*#£', one last time."

 

So people weren't bothered about people dying at the football just a decade ago? Not sure I believe that. 

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

They weren’t, it’s only been since Covid and the clot shot when footy restarted and it seemed to happen on a weekly basis that they’ve been stopping matches.

Yeah that's obviously bollocks. 

[trousers]

Game over

I know "it's only a friendly" but clear as day which players shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11

Edited 8 hours ago by trousers

[sockeye]

We’re going to walk this league.

[NewYorkSaint]

Robinson!    Exciting player.

[VectisSaint]

44 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Weird trend that started a few years ago. 

It's primarily to do with diverting medical staff away from the activities on the pitch. In the good old days St Johns Ambulance would have dealt with the situation in the crowd.

[Zorba]

crap

[Give it to Ron]

New centre back is massive and a shithouse
Wellington Playing well

Robinson ok needs to get head up more but very gifted
Matsuki ok needs to bulk up

Some messages from my son at game he said second half light years better than first

[sockeye]

I am looking forward to seeing more from the kids this season, Robinson in particular I think will be a breakout star

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Game over

I know "it's only a friendly" but clear as day which players shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11

So we can probably expect most of them to start the season. We are the club that never learns.

[Verbal]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Game over

I thought we were winning

[santolijador]

Sat through all of that.

First half was pretty dire and shades of last season. Hopefully the contrast between 1st and 2nd halves points Still and Spors in the right direction with squad planning. 

Quarshie looks imposing, and showed off his speed at some point, easily catching up and out muscling the Eastleigh striker. 

Robinson best player on the pitch over both halves. 

Matsuki looked tidy and grew into it, a couple of well blocked shots, but on another day might have had a goal (seemed to always pop up on the edge of the box). 

Dibling quiet, Edozie played as I think most of us expect him to play, Archer wasn't great aside from the finish for his goal. 

That all said, none of it matters as its the first match of pre-season on a sweltering day for players just to get some sort of match fitness up

[BARCELONASAINT]

well i know it was just a training game but my god that was awful to watch

[Midfield_General]

FT. 2-1 Saints. 

Only really saw the second half. Summary:

- Kit looks alright if you don't mind the plain white back

- Basically just a training game generally played at about 50% pace with not a lot of intensity, as you’d expect

- Set up as a 4-3-3

- Dominated second half

- Robinson MOM. Looked dangerous every time he got the ball – running at people and beating them. Lovely pass for the second goal. Linked up well with Welington down the left

- Dibling playing in the 10 role floating about. Was quiet, didn’t really stamp his authority on it. Didn't look as effective as he has done when he plays on the right

- Dibling and Welington taking corners

- Matsuki put himself about and showed for the ball. Should have scored but put it too close to the keeper

- Edozie got into some decent positions but didn’t do a lot with it. Should have scored, but missed the ball completely. Got free later but misplaced his pass 

- Archer looked a bit awkward. Touch was generally quite poor, nothing really stuck to him. Took his goal well enough though when put through 

- Didn’t learn much defensively. Bazunu could have got a deckchair out. Not a single shot to deal with. Quarshie got in one foot race and looked strong enough and very quick

Nothing else of any note really. Standard first pre-season kickabout. Not sure it was the wisest £5 I've ever spent but I was bored. 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Midfield_General

[VectisSaint]

6 minutes ago, Zorba said:

crap

Useful comment.

[Zorba]

Just now, VectisSaint said:

Useful comment.

Useful retort.

[tttdcs]

Surprised how comfortable Quarshie was on the ball, on first 45mins very impressed. It will interesting to see him against tougher opposition.

[Harry_SFC]

9 minutes ago, trousers said:

Game over

I know "it's only a friendly" but clear as day which players shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11

Yep, as has already been mentioned that first half was just shades of last season. Too many lethargic players out there.

You can certainly see why Spors is targeting more athletic players.

[SWLondon Saint]

Wonder if the 1st half / 2nd half was a shot across the bows to the older squad members basically saying you lot need to shape up.

[steve green]

First Bazunu clean sheet ?

[Brumsaint]

The two teams in the two halves were like night and day. All 11 in the second half have made a case to be involved this season.

Jay Robinson stole the show

Quarshie looks a unit and can play

Wood looks a level above the defenders played in the first half

Wellington & Sugawara offered a lot more going forward than Taylor & Bree

Downes was solid

Matsuki impressed me, busy and getting involved positively - could have scored a couple and was far better than anyone in the first half

Dibling wasn't at his best, but we know what he can do. I hope he knuckles down and stays with us.

Edozie was a bit disappointing, but could easily have had an assist or two if there was better finishing

Archer was good at times and bad at times, but took his goal well and put in a lot of effort.

Bazunu had nothing to do.

Of the first half team, I wish I could never see BBD, McCarthy or Fraser in a Saints shirt again. Smallbone was way off & partly to blame for the goal, Taylor & Bree showed very little, Stephens not good enough, Sanda's young & needs a loan IMO, Armstrong offered little, but grabbed an undeserved pen, Charles was solid and needs to stay. Ross Stewart needs to sharpen up a lot. Hoping the competition with Downs will help.

 

[Harry_SFC]

Bazunu, Sugawara, Quarshie, Edwards, Wellington, Downes, Charles, Fernandes/Dibling, Robinson, Armstrong, Downs.

Team I'd currently pick based on THB, Bednarek, Ramsdale and one of Dibling or Fernandes leaving. Not a fan of AA but our other wide options are poor. 

The clear upgrade there is the keeper. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Harry_SFC

[Lighthouse]

16 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Probably a good thing to have moved on from "Sure, he'd have lived. But at least he died hearing the crowd chant 'Stephens! You !*#£', one last time."

I’m not sure why you’d think a fan living or dying would hinge on the game being stopped. Why it’s so hard for a steward to radio the first responders and say, “someone’s collapsed in block 36, row Y,” I don’t understand. As for having their route impeded by excitable fans, I’m not buying it either. If half our fans can head down for a pint ten minutes before half time and come back ten minutes after, I fail to see what’s stopping a paramedic.

Anyway, sounds like a decent run out for most of the squad and hopefully no injuries picked up, which is all it’s really about at this stage of the summer.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

7 minutes ago, Brumsaint said:

Of the first half team, I wish I could never see BBD, McCarthy or Fraser in a Saints shirt again. Smallbone was way off & partly to blame for the goal, Taylor & Bree showed very little, Stephens not good enough, Sanda's young & needs a loan IMO, Armstrong offered little,

We often hear people say these pre-season friendlies don't count for much, but I think it's great to build up a pre-season winning mentality. Didn't watch the game and only reading the comments on this website but it sounds like BBD, Fraser, Smallbone, AA had predictable mares and if you can't make an impact against Eastleigh surely this shows these players have had enough chances and more opportunities should be given to the likes of Robinson.

[CamSaint]

Who was the on-field captain in the 2nd half?

[Midfield_General]

1 minute ago, CamSaint said:

Who was the on-field captain in the 2nd half?

Not sure. Probably Downes? 

[bugenhagen]

Just now, Midfield_General said:

Not sure. Probably Downes? 

Pretty sure he had the armband, yes.

[Secret Site Agent]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

Still haven’t got a clue why football started stopping the game because of medical situations in the crowd. Seems completely unnecessary and open to tactical abuse.

I dunno.

Something to do with this big green thing that will allow an ambulance or at a push Air Ambulance to land and take away really sick people.

 

Let them die is what I say, football and money are more important.

Still what do I know? Only what my daughter tells me and all she does is arrange St John's Volenteers and stuff. Nothing important like 

[Football Special]

It wasn't great,  no dressing it up , Edozie swing and miss summed it up, but friendlies are often a waste of time as a spectacle 

Nice to put a bit of money into Eastleighs budget , thought they played quite well. 

No game in "official" fixture list for next two weeks so we might not get to see the lads in action for a while 

[Pamplemousse]

Very little we can read into this. It's so hot that it was always going to be a slow going game. 4 weeks to go until Wrexham so plenty of time to ramp things up and get everyone fully prepared.

[Forester]

35 minutes ago, Secret Site Agent said:

I dunno.

Something to do with this big green thing that will allow an ambulance or at a push Air Ambulance to land and take away really sick people.

 

Let them die is what I say, football and money are more important.

Still what do I know? Only what my daughter tells me and all she does is arrange St John's Volenteers and stuff. Nothing important like 

Well said but I fear falls on deaf ears for morons like Lighthouse.  Hopefully he or she never experience the need for urgent support for them or their family.  Well done to your daughter for doing great work

[Lighthouse]

7 minutes ago, Forester said:

Well said but I fear falls on deaf ears for morons like Lighthouse.  Hopefully he or she never experience the need for urgent support for them or their family.  Well done to your daughter for doing great work

Yeah, twice actually. Plus I've been directly responsible for the life of someone suffering cardiac arrest and been involved with the air ambulance, so perhaps go easy on the 'moron'.

IF an air ambulance is requested, it takes 10 seconds to radio the other stewards and have someone near the dugouts tell the fourth official, so they can then call the players off. As far as I'm aware that wasn't the case today, never has been at St Mary's and isn't for the overwhelming majority of medical incidents in the stand.

[Matthew Le God]

 

 

[SambaMaverick]

40 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Yeah, twice actually. Plus I've been directly responsible for the life of someone suffering cardiac arrest and been involved with the air ambulance, so perhaps go easy on the 'moron'.

IF an air ambulance is requested, it takes 10 seconds to radio the other stewards and have someone near the dugouts tell the fourth official, so they can then call the players off. As far as I'm aware that wasn't the case today, never has been at St Mary's and isn't for the overwhelming majority of medical incidents in the stand.

I think you may be underestimating the selfishness/ignorance/obliviousness of some people. If a game is going on while emergency services try and get to someone, you'll have people all over the stairs, blocking rows trying to watch the game, milling about down to the concourse etc etc.

If the game stops and fans are made aware, I guess the thought is to have nothing distracting from the relevant people doing their job and make people aware of what's happening.

Health and safety gone sensible.

[BarberSaint]

Well, 

As everyone's said our first half team were crap. Missed the Eastleigh goal as too many standing in my way.

I'll rate everyone as crap and say maybe Charles might have been ok out of that lot.  Armstrong still looked shit from out wide on the right and Smallbone is still the king of get the ball and do nothing with it.  It was hot.

Second half better but  actually much more of the same except we played higher up and hit the wings earlier. Got crosses in early as expected. Didn't score. As expected. Sounds like Still's style.  Mostly we were busy but not especially effective against an opponent who managed three passes in a row against us a couple of times but were almost there for the attack v defence 'game' it was.

Dibling looked bored. The number 14 busy but I can't see him doing much: he's like Steven Davis but without the talent. Robinson is one-footed, not especially fast, doesn't have a great touch, vision or dribbling skill. So I'll disagree with all of you and say I thought he was very limited. Welington looked ok. I think the handbags between Quarshie and their defender(s) - as a second came along after a bit - was put on for entertainment as the two didn't carry on having a go at each other after that incident and he did get booked later. He might end up getting a few cards.  Sugawara looked ok at crossing, but didn't have to defend. I suspect when he does it'll be more of the same as last year.  Wood looked ok when he had nothing to do. 

I have to say for a team at that level Eastleigh were crap - couldn't support in numbers, couldn't get distances right, limited skill, limited application. I used to watch Stockport when they were in that league and they were far better.  Actually the last time I saw them play they were in the National League North.

Be interested to see how we do against Brighton.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Congratulations on your victory today, my friends!

[Kenilworthy59]

Referee was very poor. Failed to add 6/7 minutes on to the first half for the medical emergency - it looked like he was using the stadium clock for timing.