Saints Vs Brighton friendly 2/8/25 3:30pm

[Mr X]

We will no doubt see the huge gulf in class between a team that got comfortably relegated and one that finished comfortably in the top 10 of the premier league, hopefully we can see what potential some of the new signings have and it's not too embarrassing 

[Saint Fan CaM]

12 minutes ago, Mr X said:

We will no doubt see the huge gulf in class between a team that got comfortably relegated and one that finished comfortably in the top 10 of the premier league, hopefully we can see what potential some of the new signings have and it's not too embarrassing 

It’s going to be embarrassing I think, perhaps less so if they take pity and play a few of their kids.

[trousers]

Predicted starting line up...?

Bazunu, Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington, Charles, Downes, Fraser, Robinson, Archer, Downs 

 

 

 

[danjosaint]

23 minutes ago, trousers said:

Predicted starting line up...?

Bazunu, Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington, Charles, Downes, Fraser, Robinson, Archer, Downs 

 

 

 

So depressing 

[coalman]

34 minutes ago, trousers said:

Predicted starting line up...?

Bazunu, Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington, Charles, Downes, Fraser, Robinson, Archer, Downs 

 

 

 

Don't worry we'll find a way to get Armstrong in the side.

[tdmickey3]

4 hours ago, trousers said:

Predicted starting line up...?

 Crisps,Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington, Charles, Downes, Fraser, Robinson, Archer, Downs 

 

 

 

Fixed it for you

[chivvy]

Bazunu

Bree Stephens quarshie wellington

Downs Charles

Christ knows

Armstrong Stewart Robinson

 

 

 

[gio1saints]

17 hours ago, trousers said:

Predicted starting line up...?

Bazunu, Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington, Charles, Downes, Fraser, Robinson, Archer, Downs 

 

 

 

Think that’s very close. Have a feeling Still will NOT drop Armstrong for this “ prestige” home friendly however, and he will start, instead of Downs. Robinson will be the fans main interest in which case. 
 

I personally would prefer Ronnie and Quarshie as a combo CB pairing as we’ve not seen that yet. And it might spare us the crowd groans when Jacks name is announced. 

Final score : 0-3. Or 1-3 if forwards get enough service. Which I don’t think they will given our lack of an AM - unless Ryan realises it’s last chance saloon and scores from edge of the box or something mental. Don’t be fooled though. We saw BBD do that last year. It’s an old pros trick - the “once a year highlight reel goal”. 

[Charlie Wayman]

It'll be Still's first appearance in front of the Saints fans so judgement day for him as well. Huge defeat and and he will get his first taste of this crowd's derision.

Edited 6 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[LGTL]

17 hours ago, trousers said:

Predicted starting line up...?

Bazunu, Bree, Stephens, Quarshie, Welington, Charles, Downes, Fraser, Robinson, Archer, Downs 

 

 

 

Shudder. A week before the season starts 😂 

[gio1saints]

The absences will be the most painful.
 

Supposedly THB is scheduled to play, you’d hope Flynn also. But if neither are there due to “niggles” and both Mateus and Tyler don’t make it either the portents are not good. 

Means entertainment value is pinned on young Jay Robinson and maybe Damian Downs to score. I do have hopes/ confidence in one other player though : think Joshua Quarshie will become an instant fan favourite with a few “committed”challenges today and he will go on to win our “Player of the Season”. 

[Midfield_General]

Why are people going on as though Still obviously already has some misplaced loyalty to Armstrong? Where’s that perception come from, have I missed something? 

Edited 4 hours ago by Midfield_General

[coalman]

While I have reservations about some of the players we have I reserve judgement until they step on the pitch for real against Wrexham. I don't think we've seen Still put out his first 11 yet nor have we seen them in a competitive fixture. There are obvious concerns about our ability to create chances from the last couple of friendlies. But we're also going to be fitter and more organised at the back than last season. Today is another chance to build teamwork and fitness against quality opposition before shit gets real.

[chiknsmack]

I wasn't impressed with Bree and Welington in the last friendly (though I still like them overall), so maybe a chance of Sugawara/Edwards at RB and Manning/Taylor at LB.

I also wasn't impressed with the lack of creativity in the first half, though I'm less confident Will Still agrees with me here. So we might see more BBD and Fraser (though I hope not). Armstrong on the right, Robinson on the left, Stewart or Downs up the middle, and NFI who plays behind them.

I still hold out hope we might see a 3-4-3, which would get three CBs (one position where we have depth) on the field and eliminate the need to find someone to play as a 10. It'd also be evidence that Still isn't happy with what he's seen thus far. In that case something like

 

    Edwards - Stephens/THB - Quarshie

Sugawara - Charles - Whoever - Manning

       Armstrong - Downs - Robinson

 

Still likes to attack with a 2-3-5 or 3-2-5 so, while I don't know how much attacking we'll be doing against Brighton, the above allows two of the midfield four to push forward. You could go with a more defensive option on one of the flanks (eg. Bree or Taylor) with that man always dropping into midfield and the more attacking wideman pushing into attack along with one of the two midfielders, or you can go with two holding midfielders and let the wide players do all the attacking. I personally like Sugawara (with his average ball control but quality crossing meaning he's better out wide) on the overlap forcing Armstrong (whose shooting is much better than his crossing) to play more centrally.

[benjii]

1 hour ago, LGTL said:

Shudder. A week before the season starts 😂 

Yeah, but not a season the Premier League....

[beatlesaint]

45 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Why are people going on as though Still already obviously has some misplaced loyalty to Armstrong? Where’s that come from, have I missed something? 

If anything the mis-placed loyalty to Capt Jack is more of a concern.

[egg]

44 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

If anything the mis-placed loyalty to Capt Jack is more of a concern.

The focus by some on him is ridiculous. Yep, he ain't the best, but he's fine at this level.  A decent GK, creative AM to replace Fernandes, a CM to cover Downes and Charles, a wide player who'll create/score, are far more pressing issues. 

[die Mannyschaft]

New team, new food menu at St Mary's. One of those should be an improvement from last season.

I just don't want to be watching boring football again. Not many seats sold in block 43, wake me up if I fall asleep.

 

[CSA96]

 

[CSA96]

Saints team in this morning’s training game with Brighton: 3-4-3

McCarthy; Kayi Sanda, Edwards, Wood; Sugawara, Matsuki (Akachukwu 47’), Bragg, Welington; Dibling, Stewart, Robinson

Edited 3 hours ago by CSA96

[HarvSFC]

I wonder what the Brighton team looked like. If it was their Under-21s, again not impressive from an attacking sense. Edwards, Wellington and Robinson the surprising inclusions for me. Especially Robinson who has looked so much more threatening than our other attackers this pre-season. With Edwards and Wellington you can at least argue that we have an abundance of centre-backs and left-backs (although Wellington is our best one).

[CSA96]

4 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

I wonder what the Brighton team looked like. If it was their Under-21s, again not impressive from an attacking sense. Edwards, Wellington and Robinson the surprising inclusions for me. Especially Robinson who has looked so much more threatening than our other attackers this pre-season. With Edwards and Wellington you can at least argue that we have an abundance of centre-backs and left-backs (although Wellington is our best one).

Fron the Brighton OS

Albion: McGill; Veltman, Coppola, Simmonds, Kadioglu (Slater 47); Milner ©, Yalcouye; Buonanotte, Gruda, Sarmiento; Welbeck

Subs not used: Ramming, Oriola, Moran, Tasker, Nti.

[hypochondriac]

16 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Saints team in this morning’s training game with Brighton: 3-4-3

McCarthy; Kayi Sanda, Edwards, Wood; Sugawara, Matsuki (Akachukwu 47’), Bragg, Welington; Dibling, Stewart, Robinson

So from that can we assume saints starting 11 will be 

Bazunu 

Bree Quarshie Stephens Manning 

Downes/smallbone Charles 

Armstrong BBD

Fernandes/Fraser 

Downs/Archer

 

[redkeith]

  That B team leaves us with 

 

   Baz 

Bree Stephens Qaurshie Manning

      Downes Charles

            Fernandes

AA Downs Archer

With BBD, Fraser Taylor and the French nipper on the bench ...

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Stiill not fancying Edwards then? Bree at right back is horrific.

[die Mannyschaft]

Lost 0-1 I'm not on the train yet!!

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Sugawara, Kayi Sanda, Wood, Edwards, Welington, Matsuki (Akachukwu 47), Bragg, Dibling, Robinson, Stewart.

Brighton XI: McGill, Veltman, Coppola, Simmonds, Kadioglu (Slater 47), Milner, Yalcouye, Buonannotte, Gruda, Sarmiento, Welbeck.

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, die Mannyschaft said:

Lost 0-1 I'm not on the train yet!!

Southampton XI: McCarthy, Sugawara, Kayi Sanda, Wood, Edwards, Welington, Matsuki (Akachukwu 47), Bragg, Dibling, Robinson, Stewart.

Brighton XI: McGill, Veltman, Coppola, Simmonds, Kadioglu (Slater 47), Milner, Yalcouye, Buonannotte, Gruda, Sarmiento, Welbeck.

Tbf that's not a bad Brighton side 

[washsaint]

What a throughly depressing side Still is going to put out.  Bree, Manning,Archer, Armstrong, Fraser, BBD, Taylor, Stephens - awful.

So Robinson is the stand out player in pre-season but obviously is not getting a look in.

Thoroughly underwhelmed with Still so far.

[coalman]

Just now, washsaint said:

What a throughly depressing side Still is going to put out.  Bree, Manning,Archer, Armstrong, Fraser, BBD, Taylor, Stephens - awful.

So Robinson is the stand out player in pre-season but obviously is not getting a look in.

Thoroughly underwhelmed with Still so far.

He's worked them hard in training which is a nice change. And we potentially get to see a Charles/Downes/Fernandes central midfield which could be amazing even if unlikely to be what we can field this season. It's not all bad news but a little part of me will die when Stephens lines up in defence with Armstrong/BBD out wide.

Let's see how they do after some actual fitness preparation.

[hypochondriac]

12 minutes ago, coalman said:

He's worked them hard in training which is a nice change. And we potentially get to see a Charles/Downes/Fernandes central midfield which could be amazing even if unlikely to be what we can field this season. It's not all bad news but a little part of me will die when Stephens lines up in defence with Armstrong/BBD out wide.

Let's see how they do after some actual fitness preparation.

If we start against Wrexham with Fernandes, Charles and Downes then I'll be confident for that game at least even if we are unlikely to see it again. 

Edited 2 hours ago by hypochondriac

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

If we start at home to Wrexham with Fernandes, Charles and Downes then I'll be confident for that game at least even if we are unlikely to see it again. 

*MLG mode deactivated 

[Dusic]

Judging by the behind closed doors game and assuming the team that plays the game later is the 'preferred' team then its Bree over Sugawara, Manning over Welington and Quarshie as the partner for Stephens.

Midfield interesting as no Smallbone, Sesay or Aribo earlier so assume Downes still injured and perhaps Fernandes unlikely to feature. Will be interesting to see who partners Charles and centre mid becoming an area that requires attention along with the 3 behind a striker.

[Andy Hill]

Impossible to predict until we see the lineup. Bazuna will obviously be in goal. If THB is back then I wonder where JS will be shoe horned in ?!

[egg]

36 minutes ago, washsaint said:

What a throughly depressing side Still is going to put out.  Bree, Manning,Archer, Armstrong, Fraser, BBD, Taylor, Stephens - awful.

So Robinson is the stand out player in pre-season but obviously is not getting a look in.

Thoroughly underwhelmed with Still so far.

"Thoroughly depressing". Just a tad dramatic. 

Anyone who thinks that we don't have a squad of championship level players needs to give their heads a wobble. 

Sure, we need a bit here and there, but thoroughly depressing it is not. 

 

[Badger]

56 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Stiill not fancying Edwards then? Bree at right back is horrific.

Edwards was a player I was hoping we’d see start the season after the reports from QPR. 

[Badger]

Have to hope Bazunu has one his ‘moments’ today and brings it home to Still what a liability he is. 

[egg]

10 minutes ago, Badger said:

Edwards was a player I was hoping we’d see start the season after the reports from QPR. 

Ditto. Seems very decent. I wonder if it's his height that's Still's issue, and why he played him in a 3 today. 

[CSA96]

[beatlesaint]

Just now, CSA96 said:

Aribo obviously departing soon, Smallbone missing is interesting and Fernandes “ill” obviously 🙄 

[Harry_SFC]

Obviously we are waiting for players to leave first but it's a bit depressing we are going into the first game next week with such a poor team.

Edited 1 hour ago by Harry_SFC

[SambaMaverick]

What a shower of dog shit that first XI is

[Colinjb]

Fuck. Off. Shoehorn.

[trousers]

That's far better than our previous championship squad. Saints 2 Brighton 2. COYR!!

[Lee On Solent Saint]

That's a horrific line up, even for Championship standards. 

[egg]

3 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Aribo obviously departing soon, Smallbone missing is interesting and Fernandes “ill” obviously 🙄 

Yep. That's left us with a properly crap midfield. 

[CSA96]

Missing from both of today's games:

• Ben Brereton-Diaz (no reason yet given)
• Joe Aribo (no reason yet given)
• Will Smallbone (injured)
• Charlie Taylor (injured)
• Mateus Fernandes (illness)
• Flynn Downes (recovering from injury)
• Taylor Harwood-Bellis (recovering from injury)

Edited 55 minutes ago by CSA96

[SWLondon Saint]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

That's a horrific line up, even for Championship standards. 

Come on, for the championship it's perfectly fine, just not what we would want, which is dominant / great.

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

That's a horrific line up, even for Championship standards. 

Get ya money on Wrexham for a win next week if that’s what we’re looking at. 
Even if we make signings during the week they won’t be starting next Saturday.

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

Fuck. Off. Shoehorn.

I'm not sure why you see that lineup and bench and that's your first thought. Far bigger issues than that. 

[ErwinK1961]

I feel like the team that played this morning would beat this team.