Saints vs Wrexham - Saturday 1230

[CSA96]

Downes returning to training this week and THB is about 10 days away from playing, according to WS 

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, CSA96 said:

Downes returning to training this week and THB is about 10 days away from playing, according to WS 

Interesting, I think THB will need to play a couple of couple of u21 type games to get back to match fitness, it was a bad injury and he's been out 3 months 

[S-Clarke]

12 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Interesting, I think THB will need to play a couple of couple of u21 type games to get back to match fitness, it was a bad injury and he's been out 3 months 

In a weird way it's kinda worked in our favour in the transfer front, he'll get no takers this window due to his injury. So at least we can count on THB this season, which will be less Stephens all being well.

[Football Special]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

In a weird way it's kinda worked in our favour in the transfer front, he'll get no takers this window due to his injury. So at least we can count on THB this season, which will be less Stephens all being well.

Agree, when you think our "first choice" defence  probably included  KWP, Bednarek and THB having all three sold would have been a bit much I think 

[Smirking_Saint]

23 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

In a weird way it's kinda worked in our favour in the transfer front, he'll get no takers this window due to his injury. So at least we can count on THB this season, which will be less Stephens all being well.

THB, Edwards and Quarshie or even Stephens (If we have too) is a very solid back 3 for this level, I really hope we keep him

[S-Clarke]

2 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

THB, Edwards and Quarshie or even Stephens (If we have too) is a very solid back 3 for this level, I really hope we keep him

Wood seems to be the odd one out in all of this - maybe he'll get a move before the end of the window?

We've also got Sanda who the club rate (fits the profile of Still/Spors). Sanda would make sense as the floating 5th squad CB, moving between U21's to first team as required. Cheaper too.

[Smirking_Saint]

14 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Wood seems to be the odd one out in all of this - maybe he'll get a move before the end of the window?

We've also got Sanda who the club rate (fits the profile of Still/Spors). Sanda would make sense as the floating 5th squad CB, moving between U21's to first team as required. Cheaper too.

I genuinely always forget about Wood, which I guess tell you everything we need to know, god knows

Again a good CB at this level, my guess is he’ll be off because we surely cannot carry this many CBs, and surely he makes the most sense to release, technically Nico Lawrence is a CB too

[benjii]

I feel a bit sorry for Wood. 

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I genuinely always forget about Wood, which I guess tell you everything we need to know, god knows

Again a good CB at this level, my guess is he’ll be off because we surely cannot carry this many CBs, and surely he makes the most sense to release, technically Nico Lawrence is a CB too

I hope something happens with Wood soonish to be honest, as whilst we are overloaded at CB it makes me uneasy that we may look to cash in one one of the better ones - and see it as bonus income.

Edited Sunday at 11:45 by S-Clarke

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I hope something happens with Wood soonish to be honest, as whilst we are overloaded at CB it makes me uneasy that we may look to cash in one one of the better ones - and see it as bonus income.

By better ones presumably you mean THB? 

[sockeye]

THB is an interesting one, he always felt a little bit lethargic to me, but maybe a tough preseason will have made him a bit sharper

[Smirking_Saint]

14 minutes ago, sockeye said:

THB is an interesting one, he always felt a little bit lethargic to me, but maybe a tough preseason will have made him a bit sharper

Was comfortably one of the better CBs in the league at that level, thats all that really matters now

[S-Clarke]

19 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

By better ones presumably you mean THB? 

Or Edwards, he showed up well last season and could represent a profit if sold.

[Smirking_Saint]

24 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Or Edwards, he showed up well last season and could represent a profit if sold.

I dunno, Im not sure we are going to sell for the sake of it, Im not sure what the figures are we need to cover but 90m seems about right, I doubt we’ll be far from that with a sale of Dibling OR Fernandes, and Id imagine the club have prepared for the loss of one or both

Outside that its obvious that ABK will go, at some value point, then it’ll be up to Still to decide on the CBs he wants and Id find it hard to argue that Edwards isn’t part of that which leaves a toss up between Sanda and Wood  but Id hedge my bet that Wood is sold on a permanent, hopefully to Rangers

[S-Clarke]

12 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I dunno, Im not sure we are going to sell for the sake of it, Im not sure what the figures are we need to cover but 90m seems about right, I doubt we’ll be far from that with a sale of Dibling OR Fernandes, and Id imagine the club have prepared for the loss of one or both

Outside that its obvious that ABK will go, at some value point, then it’ll be up to Still to decide on the CBs he wants and Id find it hard to argue that Edwards isn’t part of that which leaves a toss up between Sanda and Wood  but Id hedge my bet that Wood is sold on a permanent, hopefully to Rangers

Oh christ, yeah - I forgot about ABK - so we have stacks of CB's on the books! Defo need to shift 2 IMO.

I think Sanda would be the easier player to accommodate that 5th floating CB role, it's probably a bit unfair to stick Wood in that role as he's at an age where he really needs to play - so he's probably best to find a club as a starter.

[Gloucester Saint]

48 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I dunno, Im not sure we are going to sell for the sake of it, Im not sure what the figures are we need to cover but 90m seems about right, I doubt we’ll be far from that with a sale of Dibling OR Fernandes, and Id imagine the club have prepared for the loss of one or both

Outside that its obvious that ABK will go, at some value point, then it’ll be up to Still to decide on the CBs he wants and Id find it hard to argue that Edwards isn’t part of that which leaves a toss up between Sanda and Wood  but Id hedge my bet that Wood is sold on a permanent, hopefully to Rangers

Wood is English not RoI which helps, as it rules out Martin wanting Smallbone, Baz or Manning. Wood has a high ceiling and quick for a centre back but he ball-watches and as we’ve seen with Jack it is not an easy fault to address.

[gio1saints]

Wrexham play a fairly regular 4-4-2. 

Brighton played 4 at the back but was something like 4-2-2-2 with double sixes (holding/defensive MF’s) ahead of the back four. First half they stumped us but second half Saturday a reversion to 3CB’s plus two wingbacks worked.
 

Perhaps we will start with that v Wrexham as our starting Brighton set up seemed too passive. We looked much more aggressive with the flying wingbacks both sides. And Ronnie, Stephens and Quarshie should be able to hold that back line even with balls played into the wide spaces - neither Ronnie nor Joshua are slow! 

[AlexLaw76]

I thought they played with a back 3..?

[Smirking_Saint]

433 all pre season

[Zorba]

15 hours ago, benjii said:

Your family shag sheep, lol!

Stop bleating on about sheep shagging! How would ewe like it? It’s not like they haven’t herd it all before!! 

[AlexLaw76]

8 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

433 all pre season

Lets see if they stick by it...they have been poor defensively in pre-season either way (apparently)

https://www.thewrexhaminsider.com/opinion/phil-parkinson-can-unleash-new-wrexham-formation-thanks-to-ryan-reynolds-and-rob-mac-backing/

[Toadhall Saint]

After the shit show of last season we need a good positive start to this one. God only knows what we will actually get tho.

[Turkish]

Match week 1 - let’s cook!

[gsweet87]

On 02/08/2025 at 23:35, SNSUN said:

Only the best people are born at Wexham Park Hospital. 

My wife and son were both born there, so I partially agree.

[Dman]

Based on pre-season, I have no confidence that'll we'll win this one. 

However, Wrexham aren't anything to fear. They're a side of exeperienced journymen. 

[Dr Who?]

The last time we played them in the league at home was November 1959 and we won 3-0. 

The last time we played them at home was August 1979 in the league cup, and we won 5-0 as part of an aggregate score of 8-0. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

…and I was there to see us lose 0-1 at home in the FA Cup, 73/74ish

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 hour ago, Dr Who? said:

The last time we played them in the league at home was November 1959 and we won 3-0. 

The last time we played them at home was August 1979 in the league cup, and we won 5-0 as part of an aggregate score of 8-0. 

 

1 hour ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

…and I was there to see us lose 0-1 at home in the FA Cup, 73/74ish

Things have moved on significantly since then, particularly for them. There are huge expectations for them to get promotion this season and however unlikely that might seem, there are some astute individuals involved in the club that will utterly believe it’s possible because they’re used to being winners. While on paper we’ve got a better squad, it’s a squad used to losing, particularly under pressure. The footballing World will be willing them onto a ‘shock’ win and of course an away win in their first Championship game will make for great headlines.

Difficult game to call, but I hope that for my first game attending for months Saints will provide a convincing home win. 2-1.

[spyinthesky]

15 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

 

Things have moved on significantly since then, particularly for them. There are huge expectations for them to get promotion this season and however unlikely that might seem, there are some astute individuals involved in the club that will utterly believe it’s possible because they’re used to being winners. While on paper we’ve got a better squad, it’s a squad used to losing, particularly under pressure. The footballing World will be willing them onto a ‘shock’ win and of course an away win in their first Championship game will make for great headlines.

Difficult game to call, but I hope that for my first game attending for months Saints will provide a convincing home win. 2-1.

I think Wrexham will look for consolidation this season and maybe a crack at the play offs if things go well.
Birmingham seem to be well fired up for a second promotion.
It certainly is going to be an interesting season.

[benjii]

Wrexham's recent record is LLLWLWLDD, which is actually Welsh for "sheep shagger".

 

[BarryVenisonsHair]

Well, my 4 year old who will be attending his first game on Saturday believes Saints will score 10 goals. Unsure whether thats a victory or a 10-11 loss...

[AlexLaw76]

I have 2x adult tickets for sale (non-season tickets) as we cannot make it

I have them downloaded to our apps (no QR code yet)...

Edit - Possibly only 1 ticket and I have already transferred one of them  to the person I was going with and I believe that is that....???

Edited 16 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Yorkshire Saint]

3-1  Saints

Would prefer a 4-3-3 but don't think we have the players yet. So 3-5-2.

Bazuna

Sugawara

Wellington

Stephens 

Quashie 

Edwards

Downes

Charles 

Robinson 

Armstrong 

LND (More likely Downes) 

Subs:

McCarthy 

Bree

Wee man 

Smallbone 

BBD

Archer

Downes 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

7 hours ago, Dman said:

Based on pre-season, I have no confidence that'll we'll win this one. 

However, Wrexham aren't anything to fear. They're a side of exeperienced journymen. 

My prediction is based on whether Flynn is fit and can give us at least an hour.

If he can, we will win (which will feel weird after the void season of 24/25). Him and Charles combined should dominate midfield.

If not, a nervy 1-1.

[Wilf]

6 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

…and I was there to see us lose 0-1 at home in the FA Cup, 73/74ish

I was there too, clearly visible on MOTD video as a drenched and miserable 13 year old at the front when a corner was being taken,

Happy days!

[Badger]

5 hours ago, BarryVenisonsHair said:

Well, my 4 year old who will be attending his first game on Saturday believes Saints will score 10 goals. Unsure whether thats a victory or a 10-11 loss...

Are you sure he didn’t mean for the season? 

[Verbal]

3 hours ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

3-1  Saints

Would prefer a 4-3-3 but don't think we have the players yet. So 3-5-2.

Bazuna

Sugawara

Wellington

Stephens 

Quashie 

Edwards

Downes

Charles 

Robinson 

Armstrong 

LND (More likely Downes) 

Subs:

McCarthy 

Bree

Wee man 

Smallbone 

BBD

Archer

Downes 

 

Why have you got two keepers in that 11?

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/squad/_/id/376/eng.southampton

[HnycS]

4 hours ago, Verbal said:

Why have you got two keepers in that 11?

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/squad/_/id/376/eng.southampton

He doesn't, one is on the bench. But he does have Downes in two positions. Remove an e from midfild, job done.

[Hengistbury Header]

Interesting that we're 4 days out from the start of the season and there's no agreement on what formation we'll be playing.

 

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Hengistbury Header said:

Interesting that we're 4 days out from the start of the season and there's no agreement on what formation we'll be playing.

 

Lets hope WS knows

[Dman]

38 minutes ago, Hengistbury Header said:

Interesting that we're 4 days out from the start of the season and there's no agreement on what formation we'll be playing.

 

For me it has to be a back 3/5. 

We have a ton of CB's and something like Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie strikes a nice balance of experience, class and power. 

We have some pretty decent wing-backs in Sugawara and Manning, but both are suspect defensivley. 

If downes isn't fit, I think we struggle for stability defensively in the middle

We have no genuine wingers (Robinson aside)

If we want to get the best out of Archer (who'll be the top goal scorer in the champ if we do), we need to play a front 2. 

Bazunu

Suga, Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie, Manning 

Charles, Downes?? Sesey

Fernandes?? Dibbling?? Smallbone or Fraser

Downs Archer

[austsaint]

11 minutes ago, Dman said:

For me it has to be a back 3/5. 

We have a ton of CB's and something like Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie strikes a nice balance of experience, class and power. 

We have some pretty decent wing-backs in Sugawara and Manning, but both are suspect defensivley. 

If downes isn't fit, I think we struggle for stability defensively in the middle

We have no genuine wingers (Robinson aside)

If we want to get the best out of Archer (who'll be the top goal scorer in the champ if we do), we need to play a front 2. 

Bazunu

Suga, Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie, Manning 

Charles, Downes?? Sesey

Fernandes?? Dibbling?? Smallbone or Fraser

Downs Archer

Good call on formation and  CB personnel, and also the idea of Archer up front with Downs.   Downes alongside Charles is a crucial need for the midfield.  Has to be Wellington though for Manning; an all round better player and superior wing back - needed if we play the 3 CBs and with the current shortage of wide attacking players.    Please, not Smallbone - in the absence of Dibling and Fernandes, hoping for Armstrong and Robinson.   Fraser off the bench on the wing.

[Verbal]

5 hours ago, HnycS said:

He doesn't, one is on the bench. But he does have Downes in two positions. Remove an e from midfild, job done.

I gave you a link and everything

Edited 2 hours ago by Verbal
Spell out joke. Therefore no longer joke

[BotleySaint]

21 hours ago, Dman said:

However, Wrexham aren't anything to fear. They're a side of exeperienced journymen. 

If ever there was a comment to come back and haunt! However I sure hope you are right. 

[Challenger]

0-1 , lump on now.

[Dman]

8 minutes ago, BotleySaint said:

If ever there was a comment to come back and haunt! However I sure hope you are right. 

It sure looks bad when you crop out the part that I say I have no confidence that we'll win...

[BotleySaint]

4 minutes ago, Dman said:

It sure looks bad when you crop out the part that I say I have no confidence that we'll win...

Fair 😇

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

For me it has to be a back 3/5. 

We have a ton of CB's and something like Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie strikes a nice balance of experience, class and power. 

We have some pretty decent wing-backs in Sugawara and Manning, but both are suspect defensivley. 

If downes isn't fit, I think we struggle for stability defensively in the middle

We have no genuine wingers (Robinson aside)

If we want to get the best out of Archer (who'll be the top goal scorer in the champ if we do), we need to play a front 2. 

Bazunu

Suga, Edwards, Stephens, Quarshie, Manning 

Charles, Downes?? Sesey

Fernandes?? Dibbling?? Smallbone or Fraser

Downs Archer

Yes, using 3 may be a good opportunity to extract the most out of the options we have. I've never felt comfortable with Stephens in a 3 though, he's even more confused about his role in that sort of setup. 

There is part of me that just wants to return to a normal back 4 though.

[Fabrice29]

2 hours ago, Hengistbury Header said:

Interesting that we're 4 days out from the start of the season and there's no agreement on what formation we'll be playing.

 

I think it’s more interesting that people still think formations are interesting. Not least because our manager was consistently telling everyone how adaptable he is before and when he got the job. That’s one of his qualities that everyone wanted. 

Then there’s the reality that like most modern football team we will attack and defend in different shapes and patterns depending on the game, opponents and nuances of individual qualities on both sides that really renders ‘formations’ as obsolete. 

[CamSaint]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Yes, using 3 may be a good opportunity to extract the most out of the options we have. I've never felt comfortable with Stephens in a 3 though, he's even more confused about his role in that sort of setup. 

There is part of me that just wants to return to a normal back 4 though.

I thought though that one of Still's attributes was that he wasn't irrevocably wedded to one system? I'm sure he said in one or more interviews (no, can't remember which, so can't provide a link) that he was prepared to change systems during a match or from match to match depending on what he thought would give his team the best chance of winning. That's exactly what he did on Saturday with his substitutions, and it made a big difference.

Having said that, he will obviously want to evolve a basic style of play, but until the squad takes its final shape at the end of the window and we hopefully acquire some creative options, I suspect that we might see quite a variation in personnel and formations that many won't be particularly happy with!