Saints 2-1 Wrexham - Match Thread

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

8 minutes ago, Appy said:

Fernandes tomorrow 

Looks like JWP. He'd probably be wearing this season's kit too, not that one.

[Baird of the land]

29 minutes ago, iansums said:

Bazunu
Edwards, Stephens, Quarshire, Welington
Charles, Sesay
Armstrong, Fernandes, Archer
Downs

I know this for a fact.

I can't say i'm a fan of the notion of edwards at rb and archer at lw

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

I get the feeling he doesn't enjoy this part of the job plus, it's his first one for us. The guy is a football nut so I'm certain he's buzzing to get the season underway. Depending how we progress in the season he may relax into these press interviews or, if it goes pear shaped, he's probably going to find them very tough. Let's hope it's the former.

This part of his job is vitally important, it is one of the few 'face to face' contacts that fans will have with him.

A lack of energy and enthusiasm on the public platform will reflect in fans moods and expectations. 

[Sheaf Saint]

15 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

This part of his job is vitally important, it is one of the few 'face to face' contacts that fans will have with him.

A lack of energy and enthusiasm on the public platform will reflect in fans moods and expectations. 

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. He could be as miserable and robotic as Marvin the android as far as I'm concerned, as long as the team is playing well and and winning regularly I don't give a shit.

[Harry_SFC]

1 hour ago, iansums said:

Bazunu
Edwards, Stephens, Quarshire, Welington
Charles, Sesay
Armstrong, Fernandes, Archer
Downs

I know this for a fact.

Really not a fan of Archer on the left. Got to be Robinson for me. 

[Turkish]

41 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/08/southamptons-will-still-ive-always-stuck-out-footballs-helped-me-integrate

Another interesting interview with Will Still.

 

“But it didn’t form my perspective or make me understand tactics better because, you know what Football Manager is like, you can play any system in the world and tweak it slightly and win the Champions League with Rochdale.“

ouch there gonna hurt some on here 😙😙😙

[SW11_Saint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Thought Still sounded a bit down in that conference, don't know what his personal issues were yesterday but maybe he's a bit stressed. 

Great to hear Fernandes is in the squad, we seem a bit short in midfield 

I think that’s just who he is. Laid back and steady - not too excitable either way (when things are good or bad). Not a bad thing to have a cool, focussed head. 

[SW11_Saint]

20 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. He could be as miserable and robotic as Marvin the android as far as I'm concerned, as long as the team is playing well and and winning regularly I don't give a shit.

He’s the James Acaster of football…

[Challenger]

It looks like square pegs in round holes from the off then. Still as long as Jack,s there what the hell.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

I have a feeling Fernandes might be on the bench, though, so perhaps Sesay starts instead.

It's a tough call. Both Downes and Fernandes have missed training sessions whilst Sesay is an inexperienced, untried youngster. In those circumstance I think I'd start with Fernandes and, depending on how the game goes, swap him out for Downes on 65-70 minutes. I don't think this is a game for an untried youngster.

[Midfield_General]

On 07/08/2025 at 09:53, Football Special said:

Any news on if the Hollywood boys will be there in the directors box? We'll need to pull out our own A listers , Rishi Sunak? Is Pinder still a Saints fan after the Martin sacking? 

Time to bring out the big guns 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, suewhistle said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/08/southamptons-will-still-ive-always-stuck-out-footballs-helped-me-integrate

Another interesting interview with Will Still.

 

Good read, thanks for sharing.

[bpsaint]

2 hours ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor and Smallbone all out through injury.

Dibling, Edozie and Aribo out through transfer speculation.

Fernandes and Downes both in the squad, maybe not ready to start.

At least there’s some good news at last.

Edited Friday at 15:06 by bpsaint

[Costa del Solent]

Whilst remaining (necessarily) optimistic that we’ll do some business moving forward, I am gonna just say it. In my humble opinion, it’s a shit show of a team, whatever he puts out. Hopefully we get by with Wrexham being worse 

[LGTL]

1 minute ago, Costa del Solent said:

Whilst remaining (necessarily) optimistic that we’ll do some business moving forward, I am gonna just say it. In my humble opinion, it’s a shit show of a team, whatever he puts out. Hopefully we get by with Wrexham being worse 

Exactly how I feel to be honest. We might be ok because it is Wrexham after all, but fuck me the potential starting 11 is utterly horrific. 

[gio1saints]

1 hour ago, Baird of the land said:

I can't say i'm a fan of the notion of edwards at rb and archer at lw

In that line up he is a right sided centre back.  His right wingback is meant to work his nuts off up and down field - which means we probably use up four wingbacks every game such is the load. As for Archer at LW I’m guessing we may see him being the decoy for sugawara/wellington steaming down the wings…same as Adam on the other side..the wingbacks either cause damage helped by archer and Adam or indeed they are a decoy up front so Archer and Adam get close enough to shoot. They are forwards supposedly good at scoring so makes sense! 

Edited Friday at 15:23 by gio1saints

[Jack]

1 hour ago, Suhari said:

That's okay. Not sure about Edwards at RB though.....he was there for some of pre-season: thought it was just for fitness.

If it means that the manager isn’t convinced that Bree is the answer at RB, and Suga is only trusted at RWB in a 5, then I’m on board with the decision. Hopefully we’re in the market for a better RB who’s comfortable in a 4.

 

KWP will prove very hard to replace. 

[LGTL]

Just now, Jack said:

If it means that the manager isn’t convinced that Bree is the answer at RB, and Suga is only trusted at RWB in a 5, then I’m on board with the decision. Hopefully we’re in the market for a better RB who’s comfortable in a 4.

 

KWP will prove very hard to replace. 

Bree is injured I think. 

[Jack]

Just now, LGTL said:

Bree is injured I think. 

Oh right, that’d do it. Anyway, I still think we need an upgrade. 

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, Jack said:

If it means that the manager isn’t convinced that Bree is the answer at RB, 

He was fucking shite against Brighton. 

[gio1saints]

5 minutes ago, LGTL said:

Exactly how I feel to be honest. We might be ok because it is Wrexham after all, but fuck me the potential starting 11 is utterly horrific. 

Did you not like the second half v Brighton? It’s basically that team. 

[Matthew Le God]

37 minutes ago, LGTL said:

fuck me the potential starting 11 is utterly horrific. 

In the Premier League it would be, but not in the Championship 

[Football Special]

39 minutes ago, Costa del Solent said:

Whilst remaining (necessarily) optimistic that we’ll do some business moving forward, I am gonna just say it. In my humble opinion, it’s a shit show of a team, whatever he puts out. Hopefully we get by with Wrexham being worse 

Agreed. 

I'll be there, get behind the team etc , need full positive support, but really not impressed with that side at all and tempted to do the old insurance bet on a Wrexham win with generous odds 

[SWLondon Saint]

29 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Agreed. 

I'll be there, get behind the team etc , need full positive support, but really not impressed with that side at all and tempted to do the old insurance bet on a Wrexham win with generous odds 

You can get Wrexham to win at better than 4:1 if you're that sure! I'm looking at Ipswich at 2:1 to win though, can't believe Birmingham are favoured to win that 🤔

[Forester]

3 hours ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Yeah you might be right. I was just a bit hesitant due to his chat regarding him missing days last week etc.

Either way, my final go at predicting the zero creativity XI -

Bazunu;
Edwards, Stephens, Quarshire, Welington
Charles, Fernandes
Armstrong, Fraser, Archer
Downs

 

I like that but have Sugawara for Quarshie (Edwards centre back) and Downes (hopefully) for Fraser.

 

Most teams would say that is a very talented championship team irrespective of our pessimism as fans

[Sheaf Saint]

33 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Agreed. 

I'll be there, get behind the team etc , need full positive support, but really not impressed with that side at all and tempted to do the old insurance bet on a Wrexham win with generous odds 

Well if Disney are gonna make a shit load of $$$ from it, you might as well profit too.

[Football Special]

12 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

You can get Wrexham to win at better than 4:1 if you're that sure! I'm looking at Ipswich at 2:1 to win though, can't believe Birmingham are favoured to win that 🤔

Tempting,  I actually think both games will be a draw 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Time to bring out the big guns 

Perfect,  can I get a re re rewind back to the Premier League 

[Suhari]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

In the Premier League it would be, but not in the Championship 

Exactly.

I wonder who of the Wrexham squad would be guaranteed starters for us?

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

In the Premier League it would be, but not in the Championship 

I reckon you and many others are seriously underestimating the strength of this season’s championship and how dreadful we have been. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Toussaint said:

I reckon you and many others are seriously underestimating the strength of this season’s championship and how dreadful we have been. 

What players in the Wrexham team would start for us?

[SNSUN]

Starting to feel the murmurings of something resembling excitement. 

Prob'ly last until 12:32hrs tomorrow. 

[Doctoroncall]

Parky’s presser. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

4 hours ago, Appy said:

Wonder if we might start with a back three with wing backs with us lacking midfield options. 

In fairness we lack defensive and attacking options too

[Matthew Le God]

24 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

I reckon you and many others are seriously underestimating the strength of this season’s championship and how dreadful we have been. 

Dreadful in a league that is along way above Championship level. That doesn't mean we'd be dreadful in a league lots of our players have excelled in.

[Appy]

12 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

In fairness we lack defensive and attacking options too

We have absolutely loads of options, the quality of those options is another thing. 

[maysie]

 

[miltonroad]

Come on you Red & White machine. 

[St.Jeweller]

we will walk this league 🤪

[Patches O Houlihan]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

Perfect,  can I get a re re rewind back to the Premier League 

When the crowd says...

 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

9 minutes ago, St.Jeweller said:

we will walk this league 🤪

In case you didn’t know, Russell Martin is no longer our manager.  😀
 

Will Still is: we shall run and run and run this league.  😊

[Soggy Bottom]

Taking the wife and 2 lads both over twenty, we used to go to the angel but that's closed, do u recommend saints pubs 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

8 hours ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Taylor and Smallbone all out through injury.

Dibling, Edozie and Aribo out through transfer speculation.

Fernandes and Downes both in the squad, maybe not ready to start.

Two seasons ago, the likes of JWP and Tella were still played in the opening games even though they were leaving the club. Pleased that this three are left out. Build a team and player rapport with the players that are going to stay.

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, Soggy Bottom said:

Taking the wife and 2 lads both over twenty, we used to go to the angel but that's closed, do u recommend saints pubs 

Give The Painted Wagon a try 

[OttawaSaint]

4 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

In the Premier League it would be, but not in the Championship 

We'll see, but I have to say this is the least excited I've ever been about the start of a Saints season. 45 years a fan. Thanks a bunch Sports Republic...

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, OttawaSaint said:

We'll see, but I have to say this is the least excited I've ever been about the start of a Saints season. 45 years a fan. Thanks a bunch Sports Republic...

Not excited about a season where we are likely to win more than we lose? Isn't that a big positive compared to other recent seasons?

[OttawaSaint]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

Not excited about a season where we are likely to win more than we lose? Isn't that a big positive compared to other recent seasons?

Nope. I think we're going to struggle for goals and with it wins. 

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Nope. I think we're going to struggle for goals and with it wins. 

If we were in the Premier League I'd agree, but we are not. We have a squad packed full of goalscorers at Championship level and Spors confirmed intention to further strengthen attacking options.

Edited Friday at 20:51 by Matthew Le God

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

We have a squad packed full of goalscorers at Championship level and Spors confirmed intention to further strengthen attacking options.

Oh fantastic! Great. There was me all worried over nothing!

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, OttawaSaint said:

Oh fantastic! Great. There was me all worried over nothing!

Correct, you were. Which of those two things isn't true and why?

Edited Friday at 20:54 by Matthew Le God