25/26 - Non Saints Games

[Patrick Bateman]

"Jersey" .. fk off.

 

[Saint Pete]

I think Tuchel's done a very decent job as manager so far, but don't really get the selection tonight. I know it's a friendly so experimental, but Spence, Solanke, Henderson, Calvert-Lewin? Surely it's obvious these guys will/should be nowhere near selection for the WC finals squad so why pick them? 

[skintsaint]

Calvin Lewin showing why he was released by Everton and ended up at Leeds.

[Turkish]

50 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

My son is at Wembley tonight with his school football team, feel sorry for them, that is utter trash, bar Rashford. NEVER let Foden take another corner/free kick. Awful, playing too close, balls bouncing off the players rather than being controlled, misplaced passes, being out-muscled, not shouting, ugh, fkn ugh.

We’re in London this weekend and was tempted to go, glad we didn’t! 

[skintsaint]

How can you VAR that and not the Foden challenge 😅

[SWLondon Saint]

Games gone, ludicrous pen. Just another reason not to bother watching this summer 👍🏼

[obelisk]

Glad I'm boycotting the world cup. Shambles all round.

[Turkish]

29 minutes ago, Saint Pete said:

I think Tuchel's done a very decent job as manager so far, but don't really get the selection tonight. I know it's a friendly so experimental, but Spence, Solanke, Henderson, Calvert-Lewin? Surely it's obvious these guys will/should be nowhere near selection for the WC finals squad so why pick them? 

To give them a chance to show why they should be?

People used to criticise the England squad for being a bit of a closed shop now people are criticising for giving fringe players a chance 😂

I suspect the knows 90% of the squad but maybe unsure about a few others. 
 

whats happened to Phil Foden looks a shadow of the player he was 3 years ago

[Saint Pete]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

To give them a chance to show why they should be?

People used to criticise the England squad for being a bit of a closed shop now people are criticising for giving fringe players a chance 😂

I suspect the knows 90% of the squad but maybe unsure about a few others. 
 

whats happened to Phil Foden looks a shadow of the player he was 3 years ago

I'm all for trying players but the ones I mentioned have been around for some time and we know enough about them to know they aren't players who will challenge to be in a World Cup winning side. In my opinion of course! Happy to see the likes of Trafford and Livramento getting a chance. 

[BarberSaint]

On 27/03/2026 at 12:13, Football Special said:

That's us fucked then. 

I remember a terrible Watford team coming to St Mary's a few years ago on their way to relegation and beating us with a geriatric Roy celebrating on the touchline . We have to play Bristol City at home still 

Fair play to him still having the drive at 78. 

Unfortunately he is a canny manager and organises his teams well. He'll have them very hard to beat, at least.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Arsenal recalling nine players from international duty early because they’ve got the super Saints next 😉

[Sarnia Cherie]

On 27/03/2026 at 21:55, Turkish said:

To give them a chance to show why they should be?

People used to criticise the England squad for being a bit of a closed shop now people are criticising for giving fringe players a chance 😂

I suspect the knows 90% of the squad but maybe unsure about a few others. 
 

whats happened to Phil Foden looks a shadow of the player he was 3 years ago

Goodness knows what's wrong with him. He won PFL Player of the Season 23/24 then went to the Euros where he had a poor tournament and hasn't really recovered. 

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

Goodness knows what's wrong with him. He won PFL Player of the Season 23/24 then went to the Euros where he had a poor tournament and hasn't really recovered. 

Same as Grealish he was an absolute rolls Royce at Villa lost something soon as he went to City. Guardiola for all his success does tend to stifle certain players 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Arsenal recalling nine players from international duty early because they’ve got the super Saints next 😉

That's fear, that is. 🙂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

The Damned Hotspur, coming to a cinema near you...

as Tudor leaves, after 44 days. Very tough for him personally too, with a bereavement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz0g57p8512o

[ChrisPY]

32 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

The Damned Hotspur, coming to a cinema near you...

as Tudor leaves, after 44 days. Very tough for him personally too, with a bereavement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz0g57p8512o

And a bloke called Adolf one of the favourites to take over.

[beatlesaint]

18 minutes ago, ChrisPY said:

And a bloke called Adolf one of the favourites to take over.

These bloody idiots calling for Redknapp to come in and save them is hilarious.

He won’t take it for the simple reason all he’s worried about is his image. If he took them down he wouldn’t find it so easy to air brush that out of his history as he has with Saints, QPR and Birmingham.

[BarberSaint]

16 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

These bloody idiots calling for Redknapp to come in and save them is hilarious.

He won’t take it for the simple reason all he’s worried about is his image. If he took them down he wouldn’t find it so easy to air brush that out of his history as he has with Saints, QPR and Birmingham.

I dunno, 7 games to go, impossible task, only took it for the love of the club, love to stay there next season and take them up, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, never had a problem with Levy, apples and pears, it's in my DNA, etc.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, beatlesaint said:

These bloody idiots calling for Redknapp to come in and save them is hilarious.

He won’t take it for the simple reason all he’s worried about is his image. If he took them down he wouldn’t find it so easy to air brush that out of his history as he has with Saints, QPR and Birmingham.

I'm hoping the bloody idiots get exactly what they ask for. Extra fun if they give him a transfer window, to get them back up.

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, beatlesaint said:

These bloody idiots calling for Redknapp to come in and save them is hilarious.

He won’t take it for the simple reason all he’s worried about is his image. If he took them down he wouldn’t find it so easy to air brush that out of his history as he has with Saints, QPR and Birmingham.

As ridiculous as it sounds and it is ridiculous given he’s not managed for years, he’s in a no lose situation. He’ll get a few million quid for a months work if he keeps them up he’s the hero if they go down even the media who worship him will spin it that not evem good old ‘arty could save them. 

[Badger]

23 minutes ago, Turkish said:

As ridiculous as it sounds and it is ridiculous given he’s not managed for years, he’s in a no lose situation. He’ll get a few million quid for a months work if he keeps them up he’s the hero if they go down even the media who worship him will spin it that not evem good old ‘arty could save them. 

Yes, the 'arry interviews will soon turn to 'they, them...' rather than anything to do with " I , or we.." 

 

[Badger]

2 hours ago, ChrisPY said:

And a bloke called Adolf one of the favourites to take over.

That'll go down well with some of their traditional fanbase 

[Badger]

4 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Arsenal recalling nine players from international duty early because they’ve got the super Saints next 😉

Since when has making players available been optional ? Apart from when it's a 'Big 6 ' club of course.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

Continuing his unstoppable upward trajectory, Russell Martin is surely the obvious choice to confirm Spurs’ relegation in the coming few weeks and achieve the subsequent promotion from the Championship.  He has impeccable form, albeit the promotion came last time before the relegation of his team after he was sacked.

Come on Spurs; you know it makes sense.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

58 minutes ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

Continuing his unstoppable upward trajectory, Russell Martin is surely the obvious choice to confirm Spurs’ relegation in the coming few weeks and achieve the subsequent promotion from the Championship.  He has impeccable form, albeit the promotion came last time before the relegation of his team after he was sacked.

Come on Spurs; you know it makes sense.

Sadly, I fear that now is not the time, and that there isn't the time to put Russ' philosophy into place. 

He needs the core of a settled squad, and the majority of a pre season, with recruits added, to work his magic.

It just wouldn't be fair on him to meet petty things like PL survival, when that would mean sullying his footballing purity.

[HKsaint]

6 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

The Damned Hotspur, coming to a cinema near you...

as Tudor leaves, after 44 days. Very tough for him personally too, with a bereavement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz0g57p8512o

Comparing with Tudor, the fact that Sport Republic allowing Will Still to stay here for 4 months (Aug to Nov 2025) and 13 games is criminal, dragging us to relegation battle. 

[Saint86]

9 hours ago, HKsaint said:

Comparing with Tudor, the fact that Sport Republic allowing Will Still to stay here for 4 months (Aug to Nov 2025) and 13 games is criminal, dragging us to relegation battle. 

And yet they stuck with Eckert when the vast majority of the fanbase wanted him out, his substitutions were getting booed, and there were chants of "you don't know what you're doing" 🧐🤷

Edited yesterday at 09:26 by Saint86

[Willo of Whiteley]

Alternatively, what if a provision was made that “Any player withdrawing early with no evidence of injury is immediately not considered for the next round of international games?”

(Aka the World Cup in this instance)

[Turkish]

Spurs appoint De Zerbi, dissappointing they got a decent manager

[badgerx16]

15 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Spurs appoint De Zerbi, dissappointing they got a decent manager

Their fans seem underwhelmed.

[Football Special]

Its a good appointment, he'll keep them up 

[The Wyvern]

30 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Their fans seem underwhelmed.

Aren’t they always? Decent appointment unfortunately, he’ll get them enough points to stay up.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Its a good appointment, he'll keep them up 

 

46 minutes ago, The Wyvern said:

Aren’t they always? Decent appointment unfortunately, he’ll get them enough points to stay up.

The Monday Night Football "experts" were saying that it can take a little time for Di Zerbi's approach/system/philosophy to be picked up.

They felt Spurs wouldn't have the time to successfully change.

 

A quick peek on first 7 games-

Marseille: 14 points

Brighton: 8 points

Shakhtar: 16 points

Sassuolo: 13 points

Benevento: 1 point

Palermo: 5 points

With Spurs on 30, and Opta predicting 37-38 will make it, all 4 of De Zerbi's last appointments show he would get enough points. Easily for 3 of the 4.

[Lighthouse]

They won’t go down, even with the absolute disaster they’ve had, I don’t think they’ve actually been in the drop zone at any point. De Zerbi will keep them up, then get one heck of a payout when they sack him at Christmas.

[Give it to Ron]

Do England know it’s not April Fools day until tomorrow? 
Shambles Foden who hardly gets a game at City picked to play as false 9 joke

[johnnyboy]

Why are Scotland playing a home fixture at Everton ? Does money come into it possibly ?!!

[Turkish]

Japan are a very good side, they’ll do well in the World Cup. England got nothing going forward tonight 

[egg]

19 minutes ago, johnnyboy said:

Why are Scotland playing a home fixture at Everton ? Does money come into it possibly ?!!

It's an away fixture - Ivory Coast are the home side. I can't explain why it's being played at Everton tho.

[johnnyboy]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Japan are a very good side, they’ll do well in the World Cup. England got nothing going forward tonight 

I know this is a friendly but Japan look so so much better than us ,purposeful, quick, we look so jaded 

[bpsaint]

9 minutes ago, egg said:

It's an away fixture - Ivory Coast are the home side. I can't explain why it's being played at Everton tho.

All bar one of the Ivory Coast squad play in Europe so they’ve opted for a neutral location.

Everton put themselves forward as a venue as they want to have an international held there in preparation for Euro 28.

[egg]

2 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

All bar one of the Ivory Coast squad play in Europe so they’ve opted for a neutral location.

Everton put themselves forward as a venue as they want to have an international held there in preparation for Euro 28.

Makes sense, Cheers. 

The poor sods have to go to Everton though. They should have been given a 2 goal head start as compensation. 

[Weston Super Saint]

26 minutes ago, egg said:

It's an away fixture - Ivory Coast are the home side. I can't explain why it's being played at Everton tho.

Dugouts

[Weston Super Saint]

54 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Do England know it’s not April Fools day until tomorrow? 
Shambles Foden who hardly gets a game at City picked to play as false 9 joke

It's already tomorrow in Japan

[Saint Pete]

41 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Japan are a very good side, they’ll do well in the World Cup. England got nothing going forward tonight 

Yep, shame Watkins not available as we needed another proper striker if Kane not there, but I think Tuchel probably thought Calvert-Lewin and Solanke were not up to it at this level (rightly) so he tried something different with the false 9 thing. Didn't work out so reckon we will rely on Kane and Watkins in the final squad assuming they are both fit. It's only a friendly so not too bothered, we will be a lot better with Kane, Rice, etc back in the team.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Sugawara with that off the line clearance.

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Sugawara with that off the line clearance.

He’s have hand balled that giving away a penalty if he was playing for saints 

[Turkish]

5 minutes ago, Saint Pete said:

Yep, shame Watkins not available as we needed another proper striker if Kane not there, but I think Tuchel probably thought Calvert-Lewin and Solanke were not up to it at this level (rightly) so he tried something different with the false 9 thing. Didn't work out so reckon we will rely on Kane and Watkins in the final squad assuming they are both fit. It's only a friendly so not too bothered, we will be a lot better with Kane, Rice, etc back in the team.

Yep I think so too. Shame we don’t have anyone else but as you say Solanke and Calvert Lewin look miles off it. 
 

I see there is the usual meltdown starting about how terrible we are 😂 I was impressed with Japan though really well organised, quick incisive going toward a very well drilled team 

[Saint Pete]

9 minutes ago, Turkish said:

 

I see there is the usual meltdown starting about how terrible we are 😂 I was impressed with Japan though really well organised, quick incisive going toward a very well drilled team 

Yes, agree they looked good. Asian teams have done very well in World Cups previously (Japan, Korea) so not sure why people think we should roll them over easily when we are missing probably our 3 best players in Kane, Rice, Saka? 

[Football Special]

Tuchel Out 

[Saint Pete]

Italy struggling in playoffs v Bosnia. Down to 10 men, heading for penalties.