Hull vs Saints - Saturday 3pm

[Lighthouse]

Feels like this fixture has been played on a Tuesday night since the dawn of time, so feels a bit weird having it come up on a weekend. I’d make two changes to the personnel and hopefully one gigantic change to the tactics.

Bazunu

Mads Stephens THB Jelly

Jander Charles

Fellows Azaz Fraser

Archer

 

[benjii]

If we don't win this, Still need to go.

[S-Clarke]

6 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Feels like this fixture has been played on a Tuesday night since the dawn of time, so feels a bit weird having it come up on a weekend. I’d make two changes to the personnel and hopefully one gigantic change to the tactics.

Bazunu

Mads Stephens THB Jelly

Jander Charles

Fellows Azaz Fraser

Archer

 

Definitely agree with that central midfield - not 100% sure on Fraser though, Robinson has to come in for me - or Leo.

Fraser works hard, but he's so limited and it's painful trying to watch him play football these days. 

Archer up top on his own only works if the wide players get close, and feed his spins in behind. If we resort to lumping it up to him then we might as well shut up and go home.

It doesn't feel as if the season has started yet, much in the same way that last season never really started, so this needs to be a 'bookmark' game for us I feel.

Edited yesterday at 16:16 by S-Clarke

[Saint Fan CaM]

I’d get as many of the new signings in as possible plus Robinson, with Downes, Manning and Fraser on the bench. I’d also consider starting Stewart.  Training this week needs to concentrate on getting that team playing proper dynamic, forward thinking football. Hull are looking good value at the moment - it’s going to be another tough day - play like today and I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose to be honest.

[Gloucester Saint]

8 minutes ago, benjii said:

If we don't win this, Still need to go.

I think he will be under a lot more pressure if he doesn’t. This and Boro are six pointers for him and must-win. 

[benjii]

If Aribo is available, I'd rather him than Azaz.

[Harry_SFC]

Bazunu; Roerslev, THB, Stephens, Jelert; Charles, Jander; Fellows, Azaz, Scienza; Archer.

Need to get the new signings up to speed and playing together asap. 

Jelert is supposedly pretty quick and we really lacked any attacking intent from our full backs today. So I'd give him a go over Manning (his crossing was diabolical today). 

Still might be tempted to go with Stewart but he just doesn't do it for me. Not too sure what it is but he just doesn't seem a threat what so ever. 

[hypochondriac]

Nothing wrong with the defence today. I know it won't happen but if I were in charge my team would probably be:

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Jander Charles 

Fellows Aribo Scienza 

Stewart

[Challenger]

Crab football or hoof up to a midget followed by a half team change on 75 mins.

[saintant]

42 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I’d get as many of the new signings in as possible plus Robinson, with Downes, Manning and Fraser on the bench. I’d also consider starting Stewart.  Training this week needs to concentrate on getting that team playing proper dynamic, forward thinking football. Hull are looking good value at the moment - it’s going to be another tough day - play like today and I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose to be honest.

Play like today and most teams will beat us.

[die Mannyschaft]

After today's object performance and tactics Hull 2-0 Saints. Doesn't matter who we have in team the tactics and subs stop us having any aggressive momentum. Hull are another difficult team playing proper football which we will find difficult to cope with. 

[sockeye]

Something’s wrong with the mentality of the team. They come across as far too cautious, unwilling to just go for it. Sadly for Still, he has to sort it now. We need the free flowing attacking football to begin immediately. This is a massive game. If we don’t start building momentum now, say goodbye to going up this season, I think. 

[die Mannyschaft]

17 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Nothing wrong with the defence today. I know it won't happen but if I were in charge my team would probably be:

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Jander Charles 

Fellows Aribo Scienza 

Stewart

I wouldn't have Baz or Stewart. 

[saintant]

Need a convincing performance in this. The players we have should be very capable of playing good football - a big week of training for Will Still and he must get selection, formation and tactics right - have heard too many excuses already.

[hypochondriac]

31 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

I wouldn't have Baz or Stewart. 

Bazunu did nothing wrong today and Archer up front just isn't working with the formation we are playing. I think if we want to lay the way we are we simply have to have a big man up front .

[die Mannyschaft]

30 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Something’s wrong with the mentality of the team. They come across as far too cautious, unwilling to just go for it. Sadly for Still, he has to sort it now. We need the free flowing attacking football to begin immediately. This is a massive game. If we don’t start building momentum now, say goodbye to going up this season, I think. 

I don't think we can change as negative mindset is so automatic from playing negative football its second nature. Instead of instant decision anywhere are players, stop, look left, right, behind then who is there as option, no one, kick side ways, oh hold on be safe I cant think for myself let's go back and side, you have it, no you have it, who's in space no one.

The longer Saints carry on with negative football the longer it will take to change. Each game will be the same, we cant risk playing football so let's carry on and sort next game.

[LGTL]

We need something, anything, to kick start the season. All seems a bit pointless and mid-table at the moment, which is not a good place to be. 

[SNSUN]

I'd rather go to Nottingham on Saturday, pose as a student and queue up for Bonnie Blue's bus than watch another Saints performance like todays, but I still think that we'll gel soon. Clean sheet was a plus even if the Skates attack was quite blunt and it shows we don't need 3CBs. Get the rest of the blend right and we'll be fine. Archer isn't a lone striker but I do like him and feel he needs support. Right now I'd play Stewart as a lone striker seeing as we have Fellows, Fraser, Jay and Leo whipping crosses in. 

[AlexLaw76]

Let’s try and actually play a bit of football, rather than hoof it to Archer or Armstrong

 

[VectisSaint]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Nothing wrong with the defence today. I know it won't happen but if I were in charge my team would probably be:

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Jander Charles 

Fellows Aribo Scienza 

Stewart

Nothing wrong with the defence? Apart from the way they played of course. 

[hypochondriac]

9 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Nothing wrong with the defence? Apart from the way they played of course. 

Not for me. Didn't concede and restricted pompey to very little. Our main issue today was how little we offered up front.

[CSA96]

3 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I’d get as many of the new signings in as possible plus Robinson, with Downes, Manning and Fraser on the bench. I’d also consider starting Stewart.  Training this week needs to concentrate on getting that team playing proper dynamic, forward thinking football. Hull are looking good value at the moment - it’s going to be another tough day - play like today and I wouldn’t be surprised if we lose to be honest.

Hull are looking good value? They’ve let in 14 goals in their last five games and have only won once. I’m aware we’ve only won once too but I wouldn’t exactly suggest they look good value 

[Turkish]

I got a feeling Damion Downs is going to score in this one 

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, sockeye said:

Something’s wrong with the mentality of the team. They come across as far too cautious, unwilling to just go for it. Sadly for Still, he has to sort it now. We need the free flowing attacking football to begin immediately. This is a massive game. If we don’t start building momentum now, say goodbye to going up this season, I think. 

The players are anxious, there is a lot of anxiety when they play. They don’t do the in training and if they followed the tactics results would be a lot better. We should be proud of that second half today because they showed a lot of bravery. We’re changing a lot in a short space of time so just got to trust the process. 

[saintant]

9 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I got a feeling Damion Downs is going to score in this one 

That'll be two in two by your reckoning 🙂

[Harry_SFC]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Bazunu did nothing wrong today and Archer up front just isn't working with the formation we are playing. I think if we want to lay the way we are we simply have to have a big man up front .

If anything Bazunu surprised me with how well he commanded his box. He definitely seems a bit more confident this season. 

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

If anything Bazunu surprised me with how well he commanded his box. He definitely seems a bit more confident this season. 

Yep, some decent punches today 👍🏻

[UpweySaint]

5 hours ago, benjii said:

If we don't win this, Still need to go.

Been on the beers or is this a serious take? Sacking a manager six games into a season after changing almost an entire squad… we’re not Sheffield Utd for fuck sake, we’re mid table and have looked patchy. We need to improve for sure but throwing the pieces up in the air and starting again by sacking the manager this early in a season if a bizarre suggestion in my book.

[egg]

1 hour ago, VectisSaint said:

Nothing wrong with the defence? Apart from the way they played of course. 

Yep. We defended well enough, but they constantly bypassed midfield which was a big part of the issue today. The full backs didn't help either by barely getting forward. I think the issue is in the instructions though, not the players. 

[Morse]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Not for me. Didn't concede and restricted pompey to very little. Our main issue today was how little we offered up front.

Our main issue today !!!! Where have you been the last 3 years ? 

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Hull are looking good value? They’ve let in 14 goals in their last five games and have only won once. I’m aware we’ve only won once too but I wouldn’t exactly suggest they look good value 

They’re one point behind us and the last game I saw they can pass the ball forward and score goals. We don’t against even supposedly ‘worse’ teams. There are some on here that are going to have a few nasty shocks this season - we’re not all that.

[Saint Paul C]

I'd make a couple of minor changes from the derby team

 

---------------- Baz ------------------

Mads -- Edwards -- Stevens -- Jellert

   -------------  Shea ------------

------ Azaz ----------- Jander --------

Fellows ------ Archer ------- Fraser or Scienza

 

Thought that THB and Manning were poor yesterday, and Flynn needs to be dropped. 

[IFHP]

9 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Hull are looking good value? They’ve let in 14 goals in their last five games and have only won once. I’m aware we’ve only won once too but I wouldn’t exactly suggest they look good value 

Bet they are glad to be playing us then - will no doubt get a clean sheet .

[Football Special]

Hard game to predict, don't know a great deal about this Hull team. They've had a mixed start to the season like us and sit one point below us. 

Lundstram is a good midfielder and you can guarantee McBurnie will be a handful for the defence , we should have more quality but no indication yet that we translate that into a team. 

Hull have conceded quite a few so gives us hope 

[Turkish]

13 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

Feels like this fixture has been played on a Tuesday night since the dawn of time, so feels a bit weird having it come up on a weekend. I’d make two changes to the personnel and hopefully one gigantic change to the tactics.

Bazunu

Mads Stephens THB Jelly

Jander Charles

Fellows Azaz Fraser

Archer

 

What’s Manning done wrong?

also no point starting Archer if we’re going to pump it long should be Stewart 

[Turkish]

6 hours ago, Saint Paul C said:

I'd make a couple of minor changes from the derby team

 

---------------- Baz ------------------

Mads -- Edwards -- Stevens -- Jellert

   -------------  Shea ------------

------ Azaz ----------- Jander --------

Fellows ------ Archer ------- Fraser or Scienza

 

Thought that THB and Manning were poor yesterday, and Flynn needs to be dropped. 

I thought Manning was fine, it was Mads who was getting skinned all day by Murphy. Fans have had it in for him all the time he’s been here for some reason but he’s better than he’s given credit for and has got a lovely delivery 

Edited 16 hours ago by Turkish

[Pamplemousse]

Don't want to call it a must win but if we are going to be challenging at the top end we need to go on a decent run.

This season though has got 2005-06 vibes where we draw every bloody game.

[Osvaldorama]

Agree with most of the above, this is a pretty big game for us now. 
 

This is the only full week Still will have with them on the training ground. After that it will be a game every few days. So we really need to see him working out his best team and getting them into shape. 
 

Need a good performance here. 

[macca155]

41 games left, no need to start panicking just yet. The level of anxiety in that team is all too easy to see. I reckon all of us have underestimated the impact of the last couple of years.

As always build on the positives. Defence looked way more solid. Good, but now play a higher line to connect with the midfield.

Archer looks up for it now, play to his strengths. Similarly let Robinson play without pressure.

I'd go with

Baz

Mads THB Stephens Manning

Charles Janger

Fellows Azaz  Robinson

Archer

Have them buzzing around like flies, with Azaz dictating the game at a bit more.

Downes, Armstrong Frazer and Scienza the most most obvious subs when players tire. Aribo also needs to be brought back into the fold. Need as many options as possible.

One problem now is that every team has seen Saints can't cope when playing an opposition in their faces. Expect that every match now 

[egg]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

I thought Manning was fine, it was Mads who was getting skinned all day by Murphy. Fans have had it in for him all the time he’s been here for some reason but he’s better than he’s given credit for and has got a lovely delivery 

Yep. Mads also dropped far too deep, dragging Fellows back, and inviting their left back forward. That didn't help an already overrun midfield. 

Manning did well. Positionally sound and solid. 

[AlexLaw76]

Pretty much a must win regarding a top 2 finish, if other results don’t go our way 

remarkable to say that in September 

[IFHP]

45 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Pretty much a must win regarding a top 2 finish, if other results don’t go our way 

remarkable to say that in September 

Top 2? I’d say automatic promotion was always a stretch to far for us this season.

We probably do need to win to get our play off chances back on track however. But to do so we need to show a lot lot more than we have this season.

 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Yep. Mads also dropped far too deep, dragging Fellows back, and inviting their left back forward. That didn't help an already overrun midfield. 

Manning did well. Positionally sound and solid. 

Thought Mads actually dealt fairly well with one of the best wingers in the Championship. His life was made more difficult by the fact that we did not set up to attack enough so Murphy was comfortable to play high up the pitch - we should have been making sure he was needed further back to stem the flow of our forward play but we didn't do that.

[egg]

33 minutes ago, saintant said:

Thought Mads actually dealt fairly well with one of the best wingers in the Championship. His life was made more difficult by the fact that we did not set up to attack enough so Murphy was comfortable to play high up the pitch - we should have been making sure he was needed further back to stem the flow of our forward play but we didn't do that.

One on one defending he was fine. Positionally he wasn't. When the keeper went down first time, Downes came over and spoke to Still, then went back and spoke to Mads. After that the defence pushed up for a while and we were more compact, but it didn't last long. 

[Saint86]

Need to get 3 points here and get the season moving.

It's also the start of an awkward run - I think it's 6 of the next 8 games  away from home? And a lot of trips up north in that time as well... Sheffield, derby, hull, liverpool, Blackburn. That's not a kind fixture list on the travel front. The blades will have a new manager bounce as well.

Edited 11 hours ago by Saint86

[bangkoksaint]

Are the team staying at the Forest Pines golf complex does anyone know? I’ve played golf there and in the clubhouse there are loads of signed shirts from teams that used it before playing Hull - including a Saints one.

[Saint Matty 76]

Harsh on Fraser but I’d go with the following -

Bazunu
Roerslev - THB - Stephens - Manning
Jander - Charles
Fellows - Azaz - Robinson
Archer

[UpweySaint]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Need to get 3 points here and get the season moving.

It's also the start of an awkward run - I think it's 6 of the next 8 games  away from home? And a lot of trips up north in that time as well... Sheffield, derby, hull, liverpool, Blackburn. That's not a kind fixture list on the travel front. The blades will have a new manager bounce as well.

Fair point on the awkward run. Another way of looking at it (if you feel positive) is that we arguably have one of the better squad depths in the league and the fixture pile up may impact others more than us. We need to build relationships and consistency so I can’t see us wanting to rotate at will but I feel fairly confident that many of the players we swap in as needed would be starting for other top end championship clubs.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

We just need a statement win like Ipswich did last Friday and things could gel very quickly.

Two years ago, we played very average  at the start of the season and got away with it, then lost a couple and suddenly it changed and went on a winning streak. Can't exactly remember but think the catalyst might have been Jack Stephens getting injured 🤔.

The players could gel this game. I'd like to see Archer and Stewart both start but other than that agree with most of the other pundits on this thread.

[Jack]

10 hours ago, Turkish said:

I thought Manning was fine, it was Mads who was getting skinned all day by Murphy. Fans have had it in for him all the time he’s been here for some reason but he’s better than he’s given credit for and has got a lovely delivery 

Thought he was pretty poor. Sloppy in possession and his delivery wasn’t up to much yesterday. So many safe sideways passes and even they were underhit at times. Him and Downes were the most guilty of slowing us down I thought. Lucky for us Murphy was on the other side, he’d have had Manning on toast