Liverpool 2-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Baz Fl]

3 hours ago, sandwichsaint said:

Downs? He couldn't, could he?

NO

[Saint_clark]

2 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

McCarthy has made regular clangers throughout his career. Every manager who has been able to choose between him and Baz has chosen the latter and rightly so. If Baz had put in the EXACT same performance as McC tonight, there is no way in hell anybody on this forum is saying it’s a much improved performance and he should keep his spot for Saturday.

I don’t care if people don’t rate either of our keepers, if you think we should’ve signed a first choice in summer then fine, but if the two we’ve got Baz is better.

Nope.

[Osvaldorama]

2 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

McCarthy has made regular clangers throughout his career. Every manager who has been able to choose between him and Baz has chosen the latter and rightly so. If Baz had put in the EXACT same performance as McC tonight, there is no way in hell anybody on this forum is saying it’s a much improved performance and he should keep his spot for Saturday.

I don’t care if people don’t rate either of our keepers, if you think we should’ve signed a first choice in summer then fine, but if the two we’ve got Baz is better.

Baz wouldn’t have saved the one McCarthy saved at the start, or a couple of others 

[St. Ciervo]

I would be fine with McC this weekend. If nothing less, there should be a contest between them for first team (God help us). But no one should expect McCarthy to do anything but boot it for a 50/50. Watching him do anything else makes my heart skip...probably his too.

[Stud mark of doom]

7 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

McCarthy has made regular clangers throughout his career. Every manager who has been able to choose between him and Baz has chosen the latter and rightly so. If Baz had put in the EXACT same performance as McC tonight, there is no way in hell anybody on this forum is saying it’s a much improved performance and he should keep his spot for Saturday.

I don’t care if people don’t rate either of our keepers, if you think we should’ve signed a first choice in summer then fine, but if the two we’ve got Baz is better.

Welcome to the Forum Baz. Good to have your take on things. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 20/09/2025 at 21:14, Patches O Houlihan said:

Realistically I think a battling 2:1 loss, where the players show they are playing for the manager and do actually have an agreed plan is about as good as we can hope for.

That'll do pig, that'll do

[Football Special]

7 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

McCarthy has made regular clangers throughout his career. Every manager who has been able to choose between him and Baz has chosen the latter and rightly so. If Baz had put in the EXACT same performance as McC tonight, there is no way in hell anybody on this forum is saying it’s a much improved performance and he should keep his spot for Saturday.

I don’t care if people don’t rate either of our keepers, if you think we should’ve signed a first choice in summer then fine, but if the two we’ve got Baz is better.

Lol, good one,if Baz had made one of those saves I think we'd all have been in shock and unable to post , he's terrible as any Saints fan who attended in 2022/23 or 2023/24 can attest 

 

[Football Special]

7 hours ago, RedArmy said:

Watching Still post game interview on sky. Fucking hell he looks like he hasn’t slept for weeks. 

He just doesn't seem quite right to me, doesn't seem comfortable in front of the camera which is surprising 

[Midfield_General]

So our most effective forward line looks like it's Scienza (5 foot 7), Armstrong (5 foot 6) and Archer (5 foot 7).

UNLEASH THE DWARF ARMY

[Wade Garrett]

8 hours ago, egg said:

I'm not sure that McCarthy earned a league recall from that performance. 

If only one of THB or Stephens gets the chop, it must be THB. 

The mere fact that he wasn’t playing Bazunu Dodgeball is enough for me for him to keep his place.

[Football Special]

4 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

The mere fact that he wasn’t playing Bazunu Dodgeball is enough for me for him to keep his place.

That is correct.

Just for the avoidance of any doubt, this is the order of the situation: 

Saints should have strengthened the goalkeeper position once Ramsdale departure was confirmed,  Sports Republic neglected this and left us with inadequate options

Of those remaining options McCarthy is the better goalkeeper but has no resale value so the club persist with handicapping us by playing a keeper who doesn't actually save any shots in the hope that one day they'll be able to recover some of the crazy fee they paid for a league one GK 

[Patches O Houlihan]

42 minutes ago, Football Special said:

He just doesn't seem quite right to me, doesn't seem comfortable in front of the camera which is surprising 

You're a young manager from a foreign league - people have heard of you but don't really know what you are about. 

You are ambitious and very aware of what people are saying about you and your team because your missus is very well connected.

You have virtually the strongest squad in the league but all the experienced players are downtrodden and have had Russball beaten into them. 

Your new players are exiting, but raw and don't yet have the familiarity required to get the team charging.

Every single competitive game since you started has seen at least one, usually two or three absolute clangers dropped by the players which means that any good stuff they have done is forgotten. [and the Pompey game couldn't have come at a worse time]

The owners of the club have a poor reputation with the fans, and the club has been through 97 managers in the last 4 years.

Also the fans have put a poll up one the principal forum calling for your head already.

You don't want your young career to be fucked by Saints before it's started. 

I think I'd be having some sleepless nights and feel under pressure in front of the cameras too. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

Going Home with Adam & Jo

Jo Tessem is suggesting that against Middlesborough we play:

                      McCarthy

Jelert    Stephens   Wood      Manning

               Jander (if fit) Downes

Fellows             Azaz                 Fraser

                        Archer

with recognition that Scienza & Arma ought to feel aggrieved and should come off the bench fired up for Fraser & Fellows

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

You're a young manager from a foreign league - people have heard of you but don't really know what you are about. 

You are ambitious and very aware of what people are saying about you and your team because your missus is very well connected.

You have virtually the strongest squad in the league but all the experienced players are downtrodden and have had Russball beaten into them. 

Your new players are exiting, but raw and don't yet have the familiarity required to get the team charging.

Every single competitive game since you started has seen at least one, usually two or three absolute clangers dropped by the players which means that any good stuff they have done is forgotten. [and the Pompey game couldn't have come at a worse time]

The owners of the club have a poor reputation with the fans, and the club has been through 97 managers in the last 4 years.

Also the fans have put a poll up one the principal forum calling for your head already.

You don't want your young career to be fucked by Saints before it's started. 

I think I'd be having some sleepless nights and feel under pressure in front of the cameras too. 

Plus he was very honest when he joined and said he doesn’t enjoy the aspect of being in front of the cameras, doesn’t think he’s naturally very good at it, and feels awkward doing it. He’s a training ground guy rather than a polished spin merchant. 

I personally find his honesty and unwillingness to bullshit an absolute breath of fresh air after the gaslighting and bollocks of you know who after every defeat where he’d tell you black was white and come out with shit like how winning isn’t everything. I’m glad he hates to lose. 

Edited yesterday at 07:29 by Midfield_General

[egg]

26 minutes ago, Football Special said:

That is correct.

Just for the avoidance of any doubt, this is the order of the situation: 

Saints should have strengthened the goalkeeper position once Ramsdale departure was confirmed,  Sports Republic neglected this and left us with inadequate options

Of those remaining options McCarthy is the better goalkeeper but has no resale value so the club persist with handicapping us by playing a keeper who doesn't actually save any shots in the hope that one day they'll be able to recover some of the crazy fee they paid for a league one GK 

The club were never going to have Baz, McCarthy, and an upgrade, all under contract, all while having Ramsdale coming back after his loan. 

The error they made was letting Ramsdale go. That's a decision that hasn't worked for him or us, but once he'd gone, there was never a chance of having a new number one with Ramsdale due back. 

 

[Football Special]

21 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

You're a young manager from a foreign league - people have heard of you but don't really know what you are about. 

You are ambitious and very aware of what people are saying about you and your team because your missus is very well connected.

You have virtually the strongest squad in the league but all the experienced players are downtrodden and have had Russball beaten into them. 

Your new players are exiting, but raw and don't yet have the familiarity required to get the team charging.

Every single competitive game since you started has seen at least one, usually two or three absolute clangers dropped by the players which means that any good stuff they have done is forgotten. [and the Pompey game couldn't have come at a worse time]

The owners of the club have a poor reputation with the fans, and the club has been through 97 managers in the last 4 years.

Also the fans have put a poll up one the principal forum calling for your head already.

You don't want your young career to be fucked by Saints before it's started. 

I think I'd be having some sleepless nights and feel under pressure in front of the cameras too. 

Yes I meant as his Mrs does that particular job for sky i thought he'd be more comfortable, they can practice the interviews over dinner every night 

He seems like a sound bloke to be fair, hope it works out with him 

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Plus he was very honest when he joined and said he doesn’t enjoy the aspect of being in front of the cameras, doesn’t think he’s naturally very good at it, and feels awkward doing it. He’s a training ground guy rather than a polished spin merchant. 

I personally find his honesty and unwillingness to bullshit an absolute breath of fresh air after the gaslighting and bollocks if you know who after every defeat where he’d tell you black was white. I’m glad he hates to lose.

I don't mind how he comes across to the cameras, but you have to wonder how positive he is with the players. For me, our biggest issue is confidence, and decent managers transmit and give that to the players. Last night showed that he can coach a team, but how he is with the management of the players I don't know. 

[Hawkswood]

15 minutes ago, egg said:

The club were never going to have Baz, McCarthy, and an upgrade, all under contract, all while having Ramsdale coming back after his loan. 

The error they made was letting Ramsdale go. That's a decision that hasn't worked for him or us, but once he'd gone, there was never a chance of having a new number one with Ramsdale due back. 

 

Was thinking this last night. How does it work with cutting short a loan ? Could he come back ? Is he even on the bench for them ? I haven't really looked.

[tdmickey3]

9 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

You know that how? 

If you don't, then it is no point explaining it to you

[Convict Colony]

44 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Going Home with Adam & Jo

Jo Tessem is suggesting that against Middlesborough we play:

                      McCarthy

Jelert    Stephens   Wood      Manning

               Jander (if fit) Downes

Fellows             Azaz                 Fraser

                        Archer

with recognition that Scienza & Arma ought to feel aggrieved and should come off the bench fired up for Fraser & Fellows

didnt watch the game but didnt charles score ?

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Convict Colony said:

didnt watch the game but didnt charles score ?

Yes

 

[egg]

10 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Was thinking this last night. How does it work with cutting short a loan ? Could he come back ? Is he even on the bench for them ? I haven't really looked.

I don't think we can recall him. It's a season long loan with an option to buy. It's the last bit that makes it even more annoying for me - they may buy him, but may not, making it difficult for us to plan. If it was an obligation it would have been easier to go out and replace him with a new number one. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

4 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

didnt watch the game but didnt charles score ?

Yes he did. But Downes played his best game for a year - carrying the ball forward, playing forward passes. Jander nicked balls off the scousers for fun and is clearly a clever player. 

Their whole discussion was based around 'isn't it nice to be discussing a positive Saints performance' and 'what a challenge for Will Still' Do you play 4 or 5 at the back and there isn't an easy selection choice right now anywhere in the team perhaps with the exception of Manning at LB.

Jelert played really well at RB but did lose Chielsa for their winner; but in fairness you could see why he wouldn't track a run like that when playing a back 5.

I think there is something in the Downes & Charles are too similar and don't work well together theory. Classic Gerard & Lampard syndrome but of course at a lower level.

[Charlie Wayman]

10 hours ago, madge said:

Manning was booked because he got so frustrated as downs couldn’t control a football.. he’s really poor. What was spors thinking.. he’d struggle to look decent at AFC Totton.

fine margins but saints never the right side of them. 

Don't think so, it ws because the throw-in was given to Liverpool when it should have been ours

[Toadhall Saint]

10 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Will be incredibly disappointing if we go back to Stephens and THB after their horror show on Sat.

Wood was very good tonight (and has been most of the season). Edwards no drama, Quarshie decent. 

So we start with a back 5 against Boro then?

[saint michael]

Seems like madness Ramsdale sat on bench and he is our player who we really need. Surely playing and not sat on bench for prem side gives him more chance for WC

[Midfield_General]

42 minutes ago, egg said:

I don't mind how he comes across to the cameras, but you have to wonder how positive he is with the players. For me, our biggest issue is confidence, and decent managers transmit and give that to the players. Last night showed that he can coach a team, but how he is with the management of the players I don't know. 

I know what you mean but I hope it indicates that he won’t tolerate second best and is showing the players that in no uncertain terms. For way too long there has been a losing mentality at the club and mediocrity has been accepted at every level. If he is going to be the one that says ‘no, I don’t care who we’re playing, that’s not good enough’ and shakes things up so that every player feels like they have to be at the top of their game to stay in the side, then that’s fine with me. No more acceptance of the basic errors and sloppiness that have plagued us for seasons now. Shape up or you’re out of the team, whether it’s against Northampton reserves or Liverpool at Anfield. 

[malcolm waldron]

16 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Don't think so, it ws because the throw-in was given to Liverpool when it should have been ours

Wasn't there a fairly obvious corner (at least to me, sat at home watching on TV) given as a goalkick to Liverpool towards the end of the match??

[obelisk]

9 minutes ago, malcolm waldron said:

Wasn't there a fairly obvious corner (at least to me, sat at home watching on TV) given as a goalkick to Liverpool towards the end of the match??

Yeah. The ref had obviously decided by then that he didn't want to hang around for a penalty shoot-out.

[Osvaldorama]

Last night was a step forward for me. 
 

I know it was only a reserve Liverpool team, so it is probably another false dawn, but I thought we looked a lot more like an actual football team instead of a rabble. Some nice passing and aggression compared to the fucking shambles at the weekend. 

Edited yesterday at 08:06 by Osvaldorama

[Toadhall Saint]

9 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

But we’ll never know that will we? It’s just what you *think* might have happened. 

Of course you are right but that “think” is evidence (albeit past) based and there is a lot of it.

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

That is correct.

Just for the avoidance of any doubt, this is the order of the situation: 

Saints should have strengthened the goalkeeper position once Ramsdale departure was confirmed,  Sports Republic neglected this and left us with inadequate options

Of those remaining options McCarthy is the better goalkeeper but has no resale value so the club persist with handicapping us by playing a keeper who doesn't actually save any shots in the hope that one day they'll be able to recover some of the crazy fee they paid for a league one GK 

Surely they've twigged by now that his value reduces every time he plays.

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

So our most effective forward line looks like it's Scienza (5 foot 7), Armstrong (5 foot 6) and Archer (5 foot 7).

UNLEASH THE DWARF ARMY

Hi ho!

[macca155]

If as expected Saints had lost that game badly, we'd have been back to square one. Thankfully there were a lot of decent performances last night and the usual abject moments. Hopefully a step forward though.

Wood and Jelart definitely need to play Saturday. I will lose my shit if I see THB selected and Wood ignored. I'm open minded about Stephens but that's because I prefer incremental changes. Having said that there is a strong case for the same 5 to in keep their place.

At least Still has a positive selection problem.

 

[macca155]

9 minutes ago, saintant said:

Surely they've twigged by now that his value reduces every time he plays.

Nothing sums up SR more than the gamble they have taken with Bazunu this year. 

Decent owners would have made Ramsdale play out his contract, shipped out Baz and McCarthy, and signed a goalie who could compete with Ramsdale.

We are left just hoping it pays off..... which it isn't so far.

[ecuk268]

21 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Last night was a step forward for me. 
 

I know it was only a reserve Liverpool team, so it is probably another false dawn, but I thought we looked a lot more like an actual football team instead of a rabble. Some nice passing and aggression compared to the fucking shambles at the weekend. 

Not many reserve teams can play a £125m striker in the first half and replace him with a £70m striker for the second half.

 

[saintant]

16 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Last night was a step forward for me. 
 

I know it was only a reserve Liverpool team, so it is probably another false dawn, but I thought we looked a lot more like an actual football team instead of a rabble. Some nice passing and aggression compared to the fucking shambles at the weekend. 

Only a reserve Liverpool team! They started with the most expensive transfer in Prem League history up front who is a goal scoring machine, an international goalkeeper, Robertson, Frimpong, Gomez, Jones and Enzo who have a lot of PL experience, Chiesa an Italian international plus a 16 year old wonderkid all of who are far too good for any Championship side - but yeah, it was only a Liverpool reserve side 🙂 I think we need to give our boys a bit more credit than backhanded compliments because the opposition wasn't full blown Liverpool.

[sadoldgit]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

The mere fact that he wasn’t playing Bazunu Dodgeball is enough for me for him to keep his place.

But he cost us a cheap goal with an unenforced error playing Russball?

Anyway, the two times I have seen Quarshie and Wood play together they looked decent and solid. I thought that Quarshie looked particularly good last night. I would start them both on Saturday. Flynn Downes my MotM.

[pimpin4rizeal]

11 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

McCarthy has made regular clangers throughout his career. Every manager who has been able to choose between him and Baz has chosen the latter and rightly so. If Baz had put in the EXACT same performance as McC tonight, there is no way in hell anybody on this forum is saying it’s a much improved performance and he should keep his spot for Saturday.

I don’t care if people don’t rate either of our keepers, if you think we should’ve signed a first choice in summer then fine, but if the two we’ve got Baz is better.

Bazunu isn’t better then anyone including Tommy forecast and Dexter blackstock when he had to go in goal . At least McCarthy makes saves 

[Lord Duckhunter]

29 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Decent owners would have made Ramsdale play out his contract, shipped out Baz and McCarthy, and signed a goalie who could compete with Ramsdale.

AM is perfectly adequate to be a number 2 in this league, we’re not getting a number 2 who is good enough to compete with Ramsdale at this level. The issue isn’t AM ability as a number 2, it’s the fact the number 1, is fucking pony. Ramsdsle & AM would be 2 of the better options in this league. Hell, Baz could even be number 3 in that set up. 
 

You’re not getting a much better 1,2 & 3 at this level. Annoyingly we had that option, but didn’t keep it. 

Edited yesterday at 08:58 by Lord Duckhunter

[Saint Billy]

Not too bothered about losing but encouraged by the performance. That back line was so much better but suspect it'll be the usual suspects on Saturday unfortunately. 

[malcolm waldron]

29 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

AM is perfectly adequate to be a number 2 in this league, we’re not getting a number 2 who is good enough to compete with Ramsdale at this level. The issue isn’t AM ability as a number 2, it’s the fact the number 1, is fucking pony. Ramsdsle & AM would be 2 of the better options in this league. Hell, Baz could even be number 3 in that set up. 
 

You’re not getting a much better 1,2 & 3 at this level. Annoyingly we had that option, but didn’t keep it. 

But doesn't that assume Ramsdale was happy to stay?  The summer feels a long time ago now but it was hardly a surprise he went back to the Premier League was it?  The problem was that it was on loan and then we decided to do nothing about the position, I suspect, because we'd paid a fortune for Bazunu and were hoping he could play a lot and at least hold that value.  Who knows, he might come good in his 4th season with us......

[redkeith]

A few positives last night , although it is easier to look good when you aren't up against a defensive block of 4 with 5  sat in front of them like we will be most weeks in the Championship. 

Flyn Downes looked more like his old self, apart from the silly tug on Chiesa at the end that helped them kill the game. The Charles and Jasper also played well . 

Armtong and Sceiza looked very lively.

Both full backs played well, and the Central Defemce looked much better without Stephens and THB in it. Would like to see them rested. 

I would like to see us start with this formation for the next few weeks to hopefully get some form going and use Azaz as a sub. 

[wild-saint]

3 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

You're a young manager from a foreign league - people have heard of you but don't really know what you are about. 

You are ambitious and very aware of what people are saying about you and your team because your missus is very well connected.

You have virtually the strongest squad in the league but all the experienced players are downtrodden and have had Russball beaten into them. 

Your new players are exiting, but raw and don't yet have the familiarity required to get the team charging.

Every single competitive game since you started has seen at least one, usually two or three absolute clangers dropped by the players which means that any good stuff they have done is forgotten. [and the Pompey game couldn't have come at a worse time]

The owners of the club have a poor reputation with the fans, and the club has been through 97 managers in the last 4 years.

Also the fans have put a poll up one the principal forum calling for your head already.

You don't want your young career to be fucked by Saints before it's started. 

I think I'd be having some sleepless nights and feel under pressure in front of the cameras too. 

any other answer than this is total bollox in my opinion

[eurosaint]

1 hour ago, macca155 said:

Nothing sums up SR more than the gamble they have taken with Bazunu this year. 

Decent owners would have made Ramsdale play out his contract, shipped out Baz and McCarthy, and signed a goalie who could compete with Ramsdale.

We are left just hoping it pays off..... which it isn't so far.

I seem to remember reading that he had a relegation clause in his contract enabling him to move. If this is the case then SR were helpless !!

[Patches O Houlihan]

 

[steve green]

1 hour ago, Osvaldorama said:

Last night was a step forward for me. 
 

I know it was only a reserve Liverpool team, so it is probably another false dawn, but I thought we looked a lot more like an actual football team instead of a rabble. Some nice passing and aggression compared to the fucking shambles at the weekend. 

With a striker costing 125m starting. 

But yes, 'pool looked a little disjointed though Saints put them under good pressure for parts of the game. Not that the BBC seem to know, more coverage of the tricky shirt removal issues than the footy.

[sockeye]

Didn’t watch the game, and don’t want to scroll through the thread.

 

How was it?

[Patches O Houlihan]

2 minutes ago, steve green said:

With a striker costing 125m starting. 

But yes, 'pool looked a little disjointed though Saints put them under good pressure for parts of the game. Not that the BBC seem to know, more coverage of the tricky shirt removal issues than the footy.

Crazy one-sided that BBC match report. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

12 hours ago, trousers said:

There were quite a few people bigging him up in the Smallbone thread to be fair

I’ll set ‘em up - you knock ‘em down! 😉😂