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

[Nordic Saint]

Very good second half performance. Jay Robinson made a big difference when he came on, but Quarshie was a concerning defensive weak link. 

 Our players looked sharper and fitter than Brighton at the end. Bazunu had a good game and is now clearly much better than McCarthy. Jay Robinson should be an automatic first choice up front as he is, by far, our best attacking player.

Overall, I feel a lot more optimistic about the season after seeing that. Will Still seems to be turning things around.

[Saint_clark]

16 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Wellington is absolutely miles better than Manning.

Not really sure why he's not an automatic first choice?

Maybe he is. It's pre-season.

[Convict Colony]

If still doesnt use the word "interesting" to describe that 1st half i will be extremely disappointed.

Looked bang average for most of that game then suddenly had attacking full backs and a direct winger made a difference.

Liked that Still gave lots of younger players mins and in some cases debuts, good job.

Should give the team confidence for next week's demolishing of Netflix FC.

[Smirking_Saint]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I wonder which but of that Will will find interesting? Probably the first half. 

I think Wellington looks a much brighter player than Manning, Sesay looked ok but raw, Robinson looks a must start.

We desperately need back up to Charles (who looks twice the player we had last Champ outing) and Downes and a No.10

[SW11_Saint]

17 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Not been watching today, how have we actually played?

Pedestrian until the late subs. Switched from 4-2-3-1 which just doesn’t work with our personnel. Looked much better with 5-3-2 and with Robinson’s energy on the pitch. He’s a must start. 

Bazunu made a couple of decent saves, Charles looks composed and authoritative. Would much prefer Edwards in a 3 with JS & Quarshie too.  

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I think Wellington looks a much brighter player than Manning, Sesay looked ok but raw, Robinson looks a must start.

We desperately need back up to Charles (who looks twice the player we had last Champ outing) and Downes and a No.10

Fraser can’t seriously be ahead of Robinson for Wrexham. Ipswich away could understand Fraser featuring as more tracking back required. 

[Badger]

9 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

If we roll Wrexham 3-0 and get at least a point at Ipswich, the cigars can maybe make an appearance then. Certainly more prospect of doing so with the players on the pitch at the end today than the start. 

That gif sums the club up 2017-25 and drive, determination and ambition need to replace it. Earn the cigars and nice things.

Bollocks to the cigars, nothing less than scantily clad nuns if we get off to a good start. 

[Harry_SFC]

Charles is clearly more of a box to box midfielder than he is a DM. In theory he should thrive next to Downes. 

[Smirking_Saint]

5 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Fraser can’t seriously be ahead of Robinson for Wrexham. Ipswich away could understand Fraser featuring as more tracking back required. 

Yeah I can’t imagine he is… only really as an emergency No.10

His legs have gone imo

[SWLondon Saint]

Charles looked class, a huge difference from 2 years ago. He did give the ball away a couple of times, but overall he was good in possession and offered something going forward, good runs and very unlucky with the header.

[Baird of the land]

6 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Charles is clearly more of a box to box midfielder than he is a DM. In theory he should thrive next to Downes. 

Yep 100% this.

[HarvSFC]

For a good 60 minutes I was bemoaning the lack of intensity and energy from the side. A lot of players just ambling about and not stepping up to the ball, or getting into the Brighton players faces while also not creating anything. We were easy to play against and it showed in the second goal, as much like last season, we kept backing off and let Minteh pick his spot.

Then the subs came on and it all changed and I must say we had the better of the play for the final 20 minutes, could've won it, whereas I don't think Brighton threatened to score a winner.

Props to Jay Robinson. I've previously thought he's a player who's a nuisance for the opposition, but lacks that final ball, but today he stood up and like said changed the flow of the game, as he was attacking with directness and pace while also pressing the Brighton backline, when they had had an easy afternoon up to his introduction.

Must comment on the full-backs too. Sugawara and Wellington also had very decent performances. Much better than Bree and Manning were managing. I think the former two have a lot more about their game than the latter two. Bree and Manning are limited full-backs, who struggle defensively while also offering very little in attack. Now, we all know Sugawara also has big limitations regarding his defending, but he does at least give us something going forward. I think a promotion chasing team could carry a Sugawara in theirs. While, I don't think I've ever actually seen Wellington have a bad game for us. He got nutmegged once, but for whatever reason a manager hasn't made him the number one left back when Manning and Taylor are quite poor. Our attack was also aided with the Brighton defence having to think about Sugawara and Wellignton also, as when it was Manning and Bree, they only had to think about the front three, and they easily coped with that.

Bazunu's also had a good pre-season. The club are probably confident with him at the moment, and we do have more glaring issues if this is Bazunu's performance level now. However, he did have a good pre-season two years ago also, so please can he carry this form into the season when it matters.

Charles looks very good too.

The team I'd like to see start next week against Wrexham is:

Bazunu

Sugawara - Edwards - Quarshie - Wellington

Sesay - Charles

Armstrong (Right wing) - Robinson (Left wing)

Downs - Archer

Of course Stephens will be in there instead of Edwards, but hopefully Still's team doesn't look too different. I know we improved with the wing-back formation today, but you can't start three centre-backs at home against Wrexham.

 

Edited Saturday at 16:48 by HarvSFC

[tdmickey3]

41 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Literally looks no different to how he always does.

He usually looks happy after he scores 

[Osvaldorama]

Very happy that we improved towards the end of a game, instead of fading. 
 

That alone is a huge positive compared to last season

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I think Wellington looks a much brighter player than Manning, Sesay looked ok but raw, Robinson looks a must start.

We desperately need back up to Charles (who looks twice the player we had last Champ outing) and Downes and a No.10

I really want to see Downes and the new Charles playing together. That's my hope for the season because that central midfield will be up there with the best in the division. 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

For a good 60 minutes I was bemoaning the lack of intensity and energy from the side. A lot of players just ambling about and not stepping up to the ball, or getting into the Brighton players faces while also not creating anything. We were easy to play against and it showed in the second goal, as much like last season, we kept backing off and let Minteh pick his spot.

Then the subs came on and it all changed and I must say we had the better of the play for the final 20 minutes, could've won it, whereas I don't think Brighton threatened to score a winner.

Props to Jay Robinson. I've previously thought he's a player who's a nuisance for the opposition, but lacks that final ball, but today he stood up and like said changed the flow of the game, as he was attacking with directness and pace while also pressing the Brighton backline, when they had had an easy afternoon up to his introduction.

Must comment on the full-backs too. Sugawara and Wellington also had very decent performances. Much better than Bree and Manning were managing. I think the former two have a lot more about their game than the latter two. Bree and Manning are limited full-backs, who struggle defensively while also offering very little in attack. Now, we all know Sugawara also has big limitations regarding his defending, but he does at least give us something going forward. I think a promotion chasing team could carry a Sugawara in theirs. While, I don't think I've ever actually seen Wellington have a bad game for us. He got nutmegged once, but for whatever reason a manager hasn't made him the number one left back when Manning and Taylor are quite poor. Our attack was also aided with the Brighton defence having to think about Sugawara and Wellignton also, as when it was Manning and Bree, they only had to think about the front three, and they easily coped with that.

Bazunu's also had a good pre-season. The club are probably confident with him at the moment, and we do have more glaring issues if this is Bazunu's performance level now. However, he did have a good pre-season two years ago also, so please can he carry this form into the season when it matters.

Charles looks very good too.

The team I'd like to see start next week against Wrexham is:

Bazunu

Sugawara - Edwards - Quarshie - Wellington

Sesay - Charles

Armstrong (Right wing) - Robinson (Left wing)

Downs - Archer

Of course Stephens will be in there instead of Edwards, but hopefully Still's team doesn't look too different. I know we improved with the wing-back formation today, but you can't start three centre-backs at home against Wrexham.

 

I think that's the team I'd play. Good call. 

[Charlie Wayman]

Surely Bree, Manning and Fraser should be binned for good, Archer too for my money. Robinson looks a class act, after all the hype surrounding Dibling it looks like we may have an even better gem fom the Academy. Good to see B ragg back in contention.

Fernandes ill my arse!

[gio1saints]

30 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

Very good second half performance. Jay Robinson made a big difference when he came on, but Quarshie was a concerning defensive weak link. 

 Our players looked sharper and fitter than Brighton at the end. Bazunu had a good game and is now clearly much better than McCarthy. Jay Robinson should be an automatic first choice up front as he is, by far, our best attacking player.

Overall, I feel a lot more optimistic about the season after seeing that. Will Still seems to be turning things around.

Quarshie who made the equalising penalty happen by winning that header from a corner? Who headed away countless crosses? What match were you watching? He was an awesome presence especially staying on when most players would have limped off several times. 

[gio1saints]

Before anyone gets too happy - Brighton took foot off the gas for sure after second goal and if it was 0-2 at HT would not have been totally unfair. Got a hunch our subs were better than theirs. And we were fitter than them also. 

[hypochondriac]

Such a shame we're never going to see 

Downes Charles 

Dibling Robinson 

Fernandes 

Downs 

That attack would cook. 

[Charlie Wayman]

15 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Before anyone gets too happy - Brighton took foot off the gas for sure after second goal and if it was 0-2 at HT would not have been totally unfair. Got a hunch our subs were better than theirs. And we were fitter than them also. 

Not sure where that pearl of wisdom came from, it was the change of formation and personnel that improved Saints. We were much more threatening and cohesive playing with wing backs.

Edited Saturday at 17:23 by Charlie Wayman

[Harry_SFC]

My take on Quarshie is that whilst both goals were probably his fault, he does have some very good attributes. Great in the air, quick, powerful, loud. He's a bit raw in his actual defending though. 

He was a bit unlucky with the second one because he blocked off the left side of the goal but the ball went just past/through his leg. The first was totally on him, he showed Minteh way too much of the goal and gave him too much time. 

Edited Saturday at 17:30 by Harry_SFC

[Lighthouse]

A few decent performances in there, decent pre-season game overall. Really like the look of Robinson, Edwards, Charles and Quarshie, although the latter seemed to stand off a bit too far at times IMO. Suga might be alright in a five, against weaker oposition. Baz had a solid game, as did Stephens for the most part. I think we looked more threatening with Archer central and AA in behind.

[Willo of Whiteley]

How are we all feeling now then ahead of next week? 🤣

[redkeith]

47 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

For a good 60 minutes I was bemoaning the lack of intensity and energy from the side. A lot of players just ambling about and not stepping up to the ball, or getting into the Brighton players faces while also not creating anything. We were easy to play against and it showed in the second goal, as much like last season, we kept backing off and let Minteh pick his spot.

Then the subs came on and it all changed and I must say we had the better of the play for the final 20 minutes, could've won it, whereas I don't think Brighton threatened to score a winner.

Props to Jay Robinson. I've previously thought he's a player who's a nuisance for the opposition, but lacks that final ball, but today he stood up and like said changed the flow of the game, as he was attacking with directness and pace while also pressing the Brighton backline, when they had had an easy afternoon up to his introduction.

Must comment on the full-backs too. Sugawara and Wellington also had very decent performances. Much better than Bree and Manning were managing. I think the former two have a lot more about their game than the latter two. Bree and Manning are limited full-backs, who struggle defensively while also offering very little in attack. Now, we all know Sugawara also has big limitations regarding his defending, but he does at least give us something going forward. I think a promotion chasing team could carry a Sugawara in theirs. While, I don't think I've ever actually seen Wellington have a bad game for us. He got nutmegged once, but for whatever reason a manager hasn't made him the number one left back when Manning and Taylor are quite poor. Our attack was also aided with the Brighton defence having to think about Sugawara and Wellignton also, as when it was Manning and Bree, they only had to think about the front three, and they easily coped with that.

Bazunu's also had a good pre-season. The club are probably confident with him at the moment, and we do have more glaring issues if this is Bazunu's performance level now. However, he did have a good pre-season two years ago also, so please can he carry this form into the season when it matters.

Charles looks very good too.

The team I'd like to see start next week against Wrexham is:

Bazunu

Sugawara - Edwards - Quarshie - Wellington

Sesay - Charles

Armstrong (Right wing) - Robinson (Left wing)

Downs - Archer

Of course Stephens will be in there instead of Edwards, but hopefully Still's team doesn't look too different. I know we improved with the wing-back formation today, but you can't start three centre-backs at home against Wrexham.

 

I am amazed that people have just watched the improvement in our performance after we switched to a back 3, and then want to play a back 4 next week .  I realise that not everyone likes playing 3 cbs, but with our current squad, it is the best fit . 

Positives today were Wellington, Suga ,  Edwards , Charles and Robinson.  Baz, Stephens,  and the French nipper were OK. Quarshie needs to work on shutting down , Fraser is useful if he is not trying to be a no 10. 

Hard to pick our best forward, because the service was so bad until Robinson came on. 

Nice to see Bragg and Aka get some minutes. 

 

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling now then ahead of next week? 🤣

Much better after the last half an hour. Some shoots there of something better. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

If still doesnt use the word "interesting" to describe that 1st half i will be extremely disappointed.

Looked bang average for most of that game then suddenly had attacking full backs and a direct winger made a difference.

Liked that Still gave lots of younger players mins and in some cases debuts, good job.

Should give the team confidence for next week's demolishing of Netflix FC.

MLG has asked me to tell you that Wrexham have nothing to do with Netflix.

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, Saint_clark said:

Maybe he is. It's pre-season.

To be fair, I thought he looked better than Manning in his few cameos last season before he was inexplicably dropped.

[Convict Colony]

11 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

MLG has asked me to tell you that Wrexham have nothing to do with Netflix.

thank you amigo, i meant Disney FC

Edited Saturday at 18:00 by Convict Colony

[Sheaf Saint]

I didn't watch today, so let me get this straight...

Having spent the back end of last season desperately wanting Juric to ditch the 3 CBs because it clearly didn't work with the players we had available, we're now saying that playing 3 CBs is the best option for us right now with the players we have available?

I'm confused.

Edited Saturday at 18:02 by Sheaf Saint

[die Mannyschaft]

Entertaining game and Saints much better 2nd half. Can't believe actually watched some football.  

Stephens played well, decent amount of blocks.

Baz 3 good saves.

Wellington, Suga ,  Edwards , Charles did a good performance 

Robinson played very well MOTM

Armstrong, can't afford to leave him out. 

So apart from Brighton passing through us too often at least we kept going and plenty of crosses.

The food 

Pizza to small,  not actually a pizza and too expensive. 

Burger was very good but at £14 for burger and chips it's a Red card.

The ordering system just created large queues at half time and you have to collect pizza at one end of concourse and burger at other so ones cold by time fight through people back to seat.

3 points for South West Trains as both trains were on time for first time in a year.

 

[die Mannyschaft]

29 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

How are we all feeling now then ahead of next week? 🤣

After last season much more positive on the basis that we created more chances than 6 games in Prem. We still take too long on edge box to put cross in and shoot. Too many touches. But at least it looks like football now. Saints 1-1 Wrexham. 

[bugenhagen]

14 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I didn't watch today, so let me get this straight...

Having spent the back end of last season desperately wanting Juric to ditch the 3 CBs because it clearly didn't work with the players we had available, we're now saying that playing 3 CBs is the best option for us right now with the players we have available?

I'm confused.

I prefer 4 at the back, but if we are without Downes, Fernades and Dibling next week, the 3-4-3 we played at the end might suit our remaining players better?

Watching the game, it was a combination of things that led to the good spell last 30 min. We got dominated and overrun by Brighton before the subs and change of formation. Was it the players or the change of formation that made the difference? Or a combination? I do not think we would have changed the game simply by changing formation and not personell.

Edited Saturday at 18:17 by bugenhagen
Typo

[die Mannyschaft]

37 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

MLG has asked me to tell you that Wrexham have nothing to do with Netflix.

Wrexham Amazon FC.

[spyinthesky]

First half it was men against boys. We were totally outplayed and if Brighton had kept their first 11 on for the second half it could have been more.
That said, Baz had a faultless game and did enough, hopefully, to mollify the criticism many people have placed upon him.
Stephens was solid too.
The change to a back three was down to Still and a big up to him for this.
However playing Fraser as a false nine was a mistake first half and something that Still needs to forget.
Jay Robinson put in another impressive performance when he came on.
Quarshie is a work in progress but has a decent amount of raw material to work on.
I thought Moses Sesay did Ok for a 18 year old making his first appearance at SMS.
We appear to be fitter as a squad than last season.

My team for Wrexham is:
                                          Bazunu
                     Edwards       Stephens      Quarshie
Sugawara **       Charles       Downes             Wellington         
     Armstrong                   Downs                    Robinson 
** I think we need an upgrade at right back            

[lambtiss]

2 hours ago, whelk said:

Ok mate, yeah sure today’s starting lineup will be the start next Saturday. Guaranteed 

Nobody thinks that, obviously.

But, it would have bbeen more useful to see young promising players such as Robinson, Wellington and Edwards starting the last warm up match, ahead of the likes of Fraser, Manning and Bree.

[ErwinK1961]

2 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

Nobody thinks that, obviously.

But, it would have bbeen more useful to see young promising players such as Robinson, Wellington and Edwards starting the last warm up match, ahead of the likes of Fraser, Manning and Bree.

They did, they started against Brighton a few hours earlier.

[CSA96]

 

[gio1saints]

We finished strongly but they should have been out of sight. 
It might have been the formation change- if so kudos Will - it was way more aggressive having two full backs actually getting over half way line and both Wellington and Sugawara looked the part - or it could have been personnel - Jay was great - or, as I also suspect, Brighton ran out of gas a bit and after 0-2 kind of relented. 
Just happy to come away from SMS seeing we got a team that’s got heart enough to come back from 0-2 after all we went through last year. 

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I didn't watch today, so let me get this straight...

Having spent the back end of last season desperately wanting Juric to ditch the 3 CBs because it clearly didn't work with the players we had available, we're now saying that playing 3 CBs is the best option for us right now with the players we have available?

I'm confused.

Personally, I still prefer the back four. I think looking better with a five today was something of a fluke in that it coincided with us bringing Robinson on, playing Archer more central and Brighton taking a few of their better players off. Whichever system we play, I still feel we're missing a bit of creativity and can't just rely on one of the kids to be our spark.

If THB, Downes and Fernandes (or his replacement) were available, we're a different team.

[Smirking_Saint]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I didn't watch today, so let me get this straight...

Having spent the back end of last season desperately wanting Juric to ditch the 3 CBs because it clearly didn't work with the players we had available, we're now saying that playing 3 CBs is the best option for us right now with the players we have available?

I'm confused.

Different league, different manager

[egg]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I didn't watch today, so let me get this straight...

Having spent the back end of last season desperately wanting Juric to ditch the 3 CBs because it clearly didn't work with the players we had available, we're now saying that playing 3 CBs is the best option for us right now with the players we have available?

I'm confused.

Different coaches play a back 3 differently. We don't have creative wingers so playing wingers seems pointless, but we have reasonably creative wing backs. To get them high up the pitch, we need to play a 3. We also need, I think, 2 up top through the middle. I also don't think Still fancies Edwards in a 2 but he looks our best CB assuming THB leaves. 

352 for me as I posted above before me made the change. 

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

6 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Personally, I still prefer the back four. I think looking better with a five today was something of a fluke in that it coincided with us bringing Robinson on, playing Archer more central and Brighton taking a few of their better players off. Whichever system we play, I still feel we're missing a bit of creativity and can't just rely on one of the kids to be our spark.

If THB, Downes and Fernandes (or his replacement) were available, we're a different team.

How are we a different team? THB and Downes are hardly inspiring to say the least

[Chez]

28 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

 

Do the highlights do the game justice as it looks like we created almost nothing...which has long been a concern.

[CSA96]

Just now, Chez said:

Do the highlights do the game justice as it looks like we created almost nothing...which has long been a concern.

Yep, but hardly surprising. Other than the defenders we just had Charles, Sesay, Fraser (out of position) and a bunch of strikers. Wingers and a creative midfielder sorely needed before the window closes 

[Harry_SFC]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

Do the highlights do the game justice as it looks like we created almost nothing...which has long been a concern.

First half was dire. After we scored we created a few chances and decent situations. A mixture of us bringing on more forward thinking players, a change of system and Brighton tiring. 

[Badger]

2 hours ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Charles looked class, a huge difference from 2 years ago. He did give the ball away a couple of times, but overall he was good in possession and offered something going forward, good runs and very unlucky with the header.

I’ve got high hopes of Charles this season. A year older, or a year away from the strangulation of Legohead’s tactics, or a year under Rohl’s influence, whatever , he’ll be a more mature and stronger version of the 2023 player we signed. 
 

Ideally I’d like to see him with a bit of a ballbreaker MF alongside him as a DM. 

[skintsaint]

18 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

A mixture of us bringing on more forward thinking players, a change of system and us being fitter. 

 

[Verwood Saint]

3 hours ago, CSA96 said:

I get the impression that WS sees Sugawara and Welington as wing backs, who offer more offensively but less defensively, compared to Bree and Manning, who he seems to see much more as RB/LB types. I get the feeling he doesn't trust Sugawara and Welington when it comes to working back towards their own goal

Just basing that off how he has used those four players during pre-season and the change of formation since Yuki and Welington came on in this one

Absolutely this and it made us much more positive as an attacking force.  Edwards fitted in well as the right sided CB.

In the second half he also switched Archer to the centre playing a little deeper off Downs and he looked so much more dangerous.  Wee man went to the wing and he was much more effective in that role too.  

TBF the wee man put a real shift in over the 90mins, playing as a 10, a winger and then centre mid for a bit.  His energy round the pitch rubbed off on some of the other too.  Think he just might be a real utility option for WS.

 

 

[Lighthouse]

43 minutes ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

How are we a different team? THB and Downes are hardly inspiring to say the least

You're asking how we're a different team, if we have our best CB and two best CM available?