Saints vs Stoke - Saturday 3pm

[Lighthouse]

Proper kick off time at St Mary’s, got to make the most of them.

[trousers]

Jamie Donley will inevitably score for them given I've been saying all summer that I hope we sign him on loan... 😁

[AlexLaw76]

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

[sockeye]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

Not loading for me. But I certainly wouldn't be patting myself on the back for beating a pathetic Derby, half-dead Wednesday and eeking past Walsall on pens.

[AlexLaw76]

revert to 4 at the back for me. We do not look particularly good/fluid in, what I think to be an awful formation, of 3/5 defenders.

We need to start better than any of the games so far.

[Football Special]

30 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

We are not very good. 

[Football Special]

51 minutes ago, trousers said:

Jamie Donley will inevitably score for them given I've been saying all summer that I hope we sign him on loan... 😁

Yes textbook, also been hoping we'll sign their goalkeeper, Johansson very good player, he's bound to have a blinder. 

Will be an interesting game. We don't tend to do very well at home to Stoke in the league 

Edited Sunday at 18:42 by Football Special

[Pamplemousse]

They've played two relegation candidate teams.

We will beat them quite easily. We definitely had improved this week from Wrexham; a full week of training, maybe a new signing or two, we're only going to get better. 2-0 routine home win.

[saintant]

38 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

They've played two relegation candidate teams.

We will beat them quite easily. We definitely had improved this week from Wrexham; a full week of training, maybe a new signing or two, we're only going to get better. 2-0 routine home win.

Didn't see any noticeable improvement - thought it was much the same in terms of our quality on the ball, movement and shape. We are struggling with this 5 at the back formation and I don't think our fluency will improve until we ditch it and play 433 or 4231. It's tough to play 5 at the back unless you have the players to make it work. I think we need to simplify things with a back 4 so that everyone knows their job.

[SotonianWill]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

Couldn’t give a sh*t what Stoke fans think. They wouldn’t know a good team if it smacked them in the face. Their keeper is excellent, however. 

 

We were seen as gods by the footballing world under Martin just because we passed it round and sang kumbaya around our own penalty area. Yet now we play like crap but still get results. Let’s stay “not very good” if it keeps going our way. 

 

Saints just need to play their game. Be patient and get a big man up front - preferably Ross. 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 19:42 by SotonianWill

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, SotonianWill said:

Couldn’t give a sh*t what Stoke fans think. They wouldn’t know a good team if it smacked them in the face. Their keeper is excellent, however. 

 

We were seen as gods by the footballing world under Martin just because we passed it round and sang kumbaya around our own penalty area. Yet now we play like crap but still get results. Let’s stay “not very good” if it keeps going our way. 

 

Saints just need to play their game. Be patient and get a big man up front - preferably Ross. 

 

 

Ross Stewart who looks like a gust of wind will blow him over

[RedWillie]

Surprisingly good ticket sales again, approaching another 30K crowd.  

[Nolan]

Interesting that a few Stoke fans don't see that Wrexham (H) and Ipswich (A) compared to Derby (H) and Sheffield Wed (A) are two very different starts to the season.

Ipswich found a good way of nullifying Shea Charles against us, but Stoke are not Ipswich. If they come in trying to do the same thing they will open up more space for us to play through. 

[Pamplemousse]

11 hours ago, saintant said:

Didn't see any noticeable improvement - thought it was much the same in terms of our quality on the ball, movement and shape. We are struggling with this 5 at the back formation and I don't think our fluency will improve until we ditch it and play 433 or 4231. It's tough to play 5 at the back unless you have the players to make it work. I think we need to simplify things with a back 4 so that everyone knows their job.

Our pressing off the ball yesterday, particularly in the first half, was the best I've seen us do that since the Ralph days. Still things to work on for sure but we'll definitely get better.

[benjii]

2 things.

1) Stoke fans are notoriously tremendous idiots.

2) Let's do this:

------------Bazza-----------

Capn---THB---Quarshie--Manning

-------Downes--Charles------

Dibbling----Fernanj-----Robbo

----(Stewart / Downs if poss)---

[gio1saints]

Players who will probably start :

Bazunu, Stephens, THB, WeeMan, Charles, Downes, Fernandes, Robinson, Armstrong. 
 

Decisions for Still : Drop Quarshie for Edwards/Wood? Drop Welington for Manning? 

Unlikely to start either of two CF’s who have been sick even if they are recovered - but I would. 
 

My 3CB team : 

                        Bazunu

      THB          Stephens        Quarshie 

                Downes      Charles 

Fernandes.                                Wee Man    
                                

Armstrong          Downs.           Robinson 

[macca155]

18 minutes ago, benjii said:

2 things.

1) Stoke fans are notoriously tremendous idiots.

2) Let's do this:

------------Bazza-----------

Capn---THB---Quarshie--Manning

-------Downes--Charles------

Dibbling----Fernanj-----Robbo

----(Stewart / Downs if poss)---

I like that team, but I can't see SR allowing all the family silver to be used. How wonderful if they did.

I'd bring in Wood for Quarshie, or possibly THB. He's experienced and takes no shit, and Stoke will throw plenty of that at Saints.  I like him as a player we don't seem to have given him much of a chance.

I thought Armstrong harassed the life out of Ipswich, probably worth starting with and bring on Dibs when they are tired.

Edited 21 hours ago by macca155

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, RedWillie said:

Surprisingly good ticket sales again, approaching another 30K crowd.  

Still loads left in blocks next to away fans, (Chapel block 20 and Kingsland block 29) ,  interesting Stoke have taken the smaller allocation of 2400 (which they won't sell out) , 600 less than the full allocation, in theory would be nice if Saints can reopen block 28 for home fans but doubt we'll find out if that's possible if home end isn't sold out anyway. 

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/august/13/ticket-information-southampton/

[S-Clarke]

Stoke seem to be getting excited because they've won 2 games against league fodder.

Let's just remember our collective fears - we don't want to become the next Stoke. They're just a bog standard outfit.

 

[saintant]

12 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Stoke seem to be getting excited because they've won 2 games against league fodder.

Let's just remember our collective fears - we don't want to become the next Stoke. They're just a bog standard outfit.

 

We shouldn't take Stoke lightly because Mark Robins is a decent manager. As we know, their keeper is very good and Thomas is a useful creator. Not expecting an easy 3 points but we should win.

[Willo of Whiteley]

We don’t have the best record against Stoke at home, lots of tickets left - trying to sway wifey into coming to her first game in a few years 👀

Negotiations are on hold

[Dman]

14 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

To be fair, they're right. They're nothing to shout about though. 

1-1 another masterclass at SMS by Johansson 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

2 things.

1) Stoke fans are notoriously tremendous idiots.

2) Let's do this:

------------Bazza-----------

Capn---THB---Quarshie--Manning

-------Downes--Charles------

Dibbling----Fernanj-----Robbo

----(Stewart / Downs if poss)---

If Stewart plays that midfield and forward line is just ridiculously good at this level. 

Even with our car crash of a defence we should win if we can put those six out. 

I hope we can start like that, even if it's just for one game before the crown jewels get sold. 

We won't though. It will be three at the back again and having to sacrifice one of the attacking players. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Turkish]

26 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

We don’t have the best record against Stoke at home, lots of tickets left - trying to sway wifey into coming to her first game in a few years 👀

Negotiations are on hold

why would you want to do that? She should be at home waiting for you to get back with your tea ready when you walk through the door.

[coalman]

14 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

There's also someone asking where Will Smallbone is.

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

There's also someone asking where Will Smallbone is.

They quite rated him when he was on loan up there a few years back i believe. 

[suewhistle]

1 hour ago, coalman said:

There's also someone asking where Will Smallbone is.

Yep, they thought he was quite good..

 

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

We don’t have the best record against Stoke at home, lots of tickets left - trying to sway wifey into coming to her first game in a few years 👀

Negotiations are on hold

Threaten her with Stoke away on a cold wet January Tuesday evening.. (it's actually on a January Saturday..).

[Toussaint]

4 hours ago, gio1saints said:

Players who will probably start :

Bazunu, Stephens, THB, WeeMan, Charles, Downes, Fernandes, Robinson, Armstrong. 
 

Decisions for Still : Drop Quarshie for Edwards/Wood? Drop Welington for Manning? 

Unlikely to start either of two CF’s who have been sick even if they are recovered - but I would. 
 

My 3CB team : 

                        Bazunu

      THB          Stephens        Quarshie 

                Downes      Charles 

Fernandes.                                Wee Man    
                                

Armstrong          Downs.           Robinson 

Quarshie and D Downs would not start in any team I selected. Are you suggesting playing Fernandes as a wing back? 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

4 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

We don’t have the best record against Stoke at home, lots of tickets left - trying to sway wifey into coming to her first game in a few years 👀

Negotiations are on hold

Only around 1500 left, as usual, most either side of the aways. Should sell out to home fans by the weekend.

Confident of 3 points here if we sort it out up front - but still got their handy keeper to overcome.

[Charlie Wayman]

18 hours ago, sockeye said:

Not loading for me. But I certainly wouldn't be patting myself on the back for beating a pathetic Derby, half-dead Wednesday and eeking past Walsall on pens.

Top of the league though so must be doing something right?

I've no wish to pre-empt Wade's in depth forecast but this will be so one sided it will be embarrassing. We'll beat the cracked pots 3-0

[sockeye]

8 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Top of the league though so must be doing something right?

I've no wish to pre-empt Wade's in depth forecast but this will be so one sided it will be embarrassing. We'll beat the cracked pots 3-0

We certainly have the talent to dumpster them, it just depends if we continue getting in our own way. 

[Football Special]

Apparently it's the PRIDE parade and festival in town on Saturday,  no doubt several cruise ships in port as well, worth allowing a bit more time if driving in 

Edited 12 hours ago by Football Special

[Jack]

Their tails will be up and our record against them is pretty shit, often when we’ve expected to beat them it’s not gone our way. Will be interesting to see who’s available for us, hard to pick an XI at the moment. 

Would love a front 3 of J-Rob, Arma and one of the big lads leading the line but don’t think we’re going to see it based on having to play a back 3/5 at the moment. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Saints are so unpredictable by playing 5 minutes of decent football in parts of the game it will catch Stoke out. We could be lucky again.... 6 lives left.

[Pamplemousse]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

Apparently it's the PRIDE parade and festival in town on Saturday,  no doubt several cruise ships in port as well, worth allowing a bit more time if driving in 

Just the 4 cruise ships in town on Saturday, all of them scheduled to depart in the afternoon/late evening so yes it will be packed.

Pride festival is based in Guildhall Square Saturday and Sunday., it's usually well attended. The march is at 11am, starts from the bottom of the high street heading up to the Guildhall. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

11 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

We don’t have the best record against Stoke at home, lots of tickets left - trying to sway wifey into coming to her first game in a few years 👀

Negotiations are on hold

BREAKING: Deal has been agreed

Two tickets secured for myself and wifey on Saturday. First match of the season.

HERE WE GO!

[Pamplemousse]

Referee is Josh Smith, who has a bit of Prem experience as he was in the middle when we lost at Brentford last season.

He was also the ref who was kind enough to add on enough stoppage time when Flynn Downes scored against Watford a couple of seasons ago.

He can't be any worse than the three duds we've had so far this season

[Badger]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

Apparently it's the PRIDE parade and festival in town on Saturday,  

 

3 hours ago, Jack said:

Their tails will be up …. 

Perhaps we should go on their Oatcake site and warn them that might not be a good idea on Saturday..

[Badger]

12 hours ago, saintant said:

We shouldn't take Stoke lightly because Mark Robins is a decent manager. As we know, their keeper is very good and Thomas is a useful creator. 

They made a couple of decent signings in the summer. The CB from Plymouth, Maxi was a player I’d have been happy for us to go for. Bit of a brick shithouse CB.

 

[Saint_lambden]

Should be shifting to 4-2-3-1 for this. Quarshie will come good but making too many mistakes at the moment so most likely to be sacrificed if Still does change shape:

——————————Bazunu———————

—Sugawara——THB—-Stephens—Manning

———————Charles—Downes————

—Fraser————-Fernandes——Robinson—

—————————Armstrong———————

[leeham_69]

On 18/08/2025 at 04:09, AlexLaw76 said:

a couple of comment here suggesting we are not very good

https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/313819/todays-games?page=307

Is this referring to our Ginger Bollocks? Did he do anything MJ like?

They are very critical of both teams, but it is possible it was scrappy because we were equal in quality to each other. We will see if that shared quality is higher than most of the league pretty soon. I think Stoke may find the game against us a significant step up from the shite they have faced so far.