Sheff Utd v Saints - Tuesday 1945

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

They got their first win yesterday away at Oxford so could now spark a bit of a revival under Wilder. Sounds like they're OK-ish at the back but a bit lightweight up front. Cue Danny Ings returns from...surprise, surprise...injury (was said to be close for Saturday's match) on Tuesday night.

Looks like a lot travelling up, we took the full allocation of 2,700, assume it's now sold out as tickets have been unavailable for a few days unless we sent some back. Was mostly sold a week ago so guess it's a sell-out.

Team has got to be same again so no repeat of Hull away, time to start putting away our chances.

[CB Fry]

Doubt the team will be exactly the same as I can't see Ross Stewart doing two games in four days.

We needed to play this lot when Selles was there. 

[Harry_SFC]

I'd rather see Jelert playing than Manning. I feel he's a real weakness defensively (just doesn't get close enough to his man, probably due to a lack of pace) and he's very slow on the ball. 

Edited Sunday at 08:14 by Harry_SFC

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

When I said the team should be the same again I was thinking more of a mix of the recent changes that have improved us at Liverpool and yesterday. No doubt one or two will be switched out to rest some if needed there's Jelert, Downes, Robinson, Fraser that can step straight in.

Is sold out btw, confirmed on the OS - just under 2,800. Will be interesting to see if there's another batch of empty, what were clearly, 'staff' seats as there was at Hull and other aways this season despite selling out.

 

[AlexLaw76]

Got to start winning soon.

reckon Archer and Jelert will come in, possibly downes also.

[IFHP]

Crucial 6 pointer ( the 1st of 2 this week) 

win and we can pull way from the bottom 3 lose and we will be right in the relegation mix . 
 

Very glad they won yesterday otherwise it would have been banker they’d have got it Tuesday. 
 

Tough game I’d probably keep the same side, hopefully get at least a draw. 

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, IFHP said:

Crucial 6 pointer ( the 1st of 2 this week) 

win and we can pull way from the bottom 3 lose and we will be right in the relegation mix . 
 

Very glad they won yesterday otherwise it would have been banker they’d have got it Tuesday. 
 

Tough game I’d probably keep the same side, hopefully get at least a draw. 

It's a game we need to win if we want to get back in touch with the top six.

But it is not a six pointer. We are not in a relegation battle at this stage of the season.

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

When I said the team should be the same again I was thinking more of a mix of the recent changes that have improved us at Liverpool and yesterday. No doubt one or two will be switched out to rest some if needed there's Jelert, Downes, Robinson, Fraser that can step straight in.

Is sold out btw, confirmed on the OS - just under 2,800. Will be interesting to see if there's another batch of empty, what were clearly, 'staff' seats as there was at Hull and other aways this season despite selling out.

 

I saw that but I don't think it's correct, they never put one of the end blocks on sale, there was about 400 left in block furthest to the left facing the pitch the other morning and by afternoon changed to unavailable, not sure why they'd take them off sale but no way we sold them all in a couple of hours 

Most likely 2000 up there which is still exceptionally good with costs involved 

Edited Sunday at 12:06 by Football Special

[Football Special]

Funny side Sheffield United,  came very very close to promotion in the play off final just a few months ago, Selles experiment was a disaster,  I only watched on of their games where they were a bit unlucky to lose to Middlesbrough and didn't look bad but they must have been worse in other games. 

Got a few good players, O'Hare, Hamer and Campbell particularly 

[egg]

3 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'd rather see Jelert playing than Manning. I feel he's a real weakness defensively (just doesn't get close enough to his man, probably due to a lack of pace) and he's very slow on the ball. 

Manning was hung out to dry a bit yesterday. 3 on 2 for large periods. In that situation you find yourself closing down spaces rather than getting tight to a man. Jelert couldn't have done any better imo. 

[Harry_SFC]

4 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Got to start winning soon.

reckon Archer and Jelert will come in, possibly downes also.

Yep Archer and Jelert in for Stewart and Manning for me. No need to make any other changes unless there are injuries. 

[Convict Colony]

just seen we have lost as many games as stoke in 3rd !!!! 

need either Azaz to show what he's about or start giving Leo some time in the side.

 

[benjii]

5 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

just seen we have lost as many games as stoke in 3rd !!!! 

need either Azaz to show what he's about or start giving Leo some time in the side.

 

Or even Robinson. 

[IFHP]

4 hours ago, CB Fry said:

It's a game we need to win if we want to get back in touch with the top six.

But it is not a six pointer. We are not in a relegation battle at this stage of the season.

We maybe in one if we lose both.

However,  if we did manage to win them both that would give us 13 points after 9 games, virtually the same as Martin got after 10 games. 
 

Personally after 7 games we look like we won’t be in a relegation scrap but neither are we going to be challenging for the play offs. 
 

 

[Toadhall Saint]

I’m expecting 3 points from this.

[musesaint]

Solid win coming up. Bed wetters cease wetting. Panic over. 

[Convict Colony]

1 hour ago, Toadhall Saint said:

I’m expecting 3 points from this.

Please bro make it happen, sacrifice a goat, make a vodoo doll of chris wilder, just make 3 pts happen.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

13 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Please bro make it happen, sacrifice a goat, make a vodoo doll of chris wilder, just make 3 pts happen.

"No, I don't think it achieves anything either, Mr Gretzky. But if you'd just step up to the altar, we'll get on with the GOAT sacrifice for Convict Colony. Yes, the convict part of the name, is making more sense now, Mr Gretzky."

[Convict Colony]

Sheffield do like ice hockey so maybe it could work.

Thank you for your attention in this matter.

[Pamplemousse]

Last two performances have been encouraging, we'll get a win eventually.

Think we'll draw this one and then win at Derby.

[Charlie Wayman]

12 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Got to start winning soon.

reckon Archer and Jelert will come in, possibly downes also.

He can't keep chopping and changing for every match on a whim from training or we'll not progress at all. Surely it's about time he had some idea of his best XI +/- and stick with them for a few weeks. Players don't want to be messed around either or they'll just become disenchanted and disinterested.

Get on with it Will the clock is ticking and the brown stuff will soon be up to our knees.

[Charlie Wayman]

13 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'd rather see Jelert playing than Manning. I feel he's a real weakness defensively (just doesn't get close enough to his man, probably due to a lack of pace) and he's very slow on the ball. 

Manning is slow between the ears if you ask me, you can almost hear the cogs whirring

[AlexLaw76]

9 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

He can't keep chopping and changing for every match on a whim from training or we'll not progress at all. Surely it's about time he had some idea of his best XI +/- and stick with them for a few weeks. Players don't want to be messed around either or they'll just become disenchanted and disinterested.

Get on with it Will the clock is ticking and the brown stuff will soon be up to our knees.

Sticking to an 11 for a few weeks last happened when?

 

as for the game, they (like us) are in a false position, so no idea how this will go. Wilder will probably school Still, and the poor start will likely continue.

1-0 to Sheffield united

Edited yesterday at 06:42 by AlexLaw76

[tisspahars]

Interesting watching the forum prepare for this clash with Schrodinger's Sheffield United.....simultaneously a decent Championship side with an experienced manager who will have too much for us and the bottom of the table shambles that it will be a DISGRACE if we don't beat.

[Matty's Caddy]

On 28/09/2025 at 09:13, Harry_SFC said:

I'd rather see Jelert playing than Manning. I feel he's a real weakness defensively (just doesn't get close enough to his man, probably due to a lack of pace) and he's very slow on the ball. 

If he was too slow he’d be right up his arse

[Dr Who?]

Another tough one with tough timing. I think we could pick up another point, but a win a Derby is a must, but I’m going so doubt it 😂 

[Greedyfly]

Oh no, he's started talking about being "brave".

[RedArmy]

On 28/09/2025 at 13:04, Football Special said:

Funny side Sheffield United,  came very very close to promotion in the play off final just a few months ago, Selles experiment was a disaster,  I only watched on of their games where they were a bit unlucky to lose to Middlesbrough and didn't look bad but they must have been worse in other games. 

Got a few good players, O'Hare, Hamer and Campbell particularly 

Without VAR in the final they’d be in the premier league now. 
 

Crazy that Sunderland are flying in the prem when they got outplayed in all 3 playoff games. Shows just how pathetic we were last season. 

[Toadhall Saint]

1 minute ago, Greedyfly said:

Oh no, he's started talking about being "brave".

I’m sure some of our players hear foolhardy when brave is mentioned 

[AlexLaw76]

Still presser…

 

Recover, stay positive, stay brave and go again on Tuesday

It is another opportunity to do it. We know how big the game is

They are a good team with a good manager

It is up to us to turn these performances into wins

I think Fellows has done well, we wanted to unbalance it, with a winger on one side, and a LB the other

We are working on it

If we had 5-6 pre season games with this team we would be there now but we didn’t

There is no difference between my vision and the team. Even in the shit moments we have not lost sight

It is all down to us, no one is going to help us

If we keep at it, the luck will go our way

The Wilder and Selles situation is modern football

They had a great season and he would have been surprised to be sacked. He did not deserve it

He is a hugely experienced manager who knows what he is doing

We have to go there and do it

But the manager situation is ridiculous but that is modern football

I know people are questioning me, but I know I am not a bad manager

It takes time. I am no stats man but if you look at them we are close

If you trust and have a bit of faith it can work, but that is not the world we are in

 

Edited yesterday at 12:39 by AlexLaw76

[OneMrsWallace]

19 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Still presser…

 

Recover, stay positive, stay brave and go again on Tuesday

It is another opportunity to do it. We know how big the game is

They are a good team with a good manager

It is up to us to turn these performances into wins

I think Fellows has done well, we wanted to unbalance it, with a winger on one side, and a LB the other

We are working on it

If we had 5-6 pre season games with this team we would be there now but we didn’t

There is no difference between my vision and the team. Even in the shit moments we have not lost sight

It is all down to us, no one is going to help us

If we keep at it, the luck will go our way

The Wilder and Selles situation is modern football

They had a great season and he would have been surprised to be sacked. He did not deserve it

He is a hugely experienced manager who knows what he is doing

We have to go there and do it

But the manager situation is ridiculous but that is modern football

I know people are questioning me, but I know I am not a bad manager

It takes time. I am no stats man but if you look at them we are close

If you trust and have a bit of faith it can work, but that is not the world we are in

 

He's right, they didn't get pre-season with some of the new signings to prepare them but that's why you have to find a winning formula more quickly, and so far that hasn't worked. Maybe it will tomorrow but I'm still not hopeful. Also not sure about a winger on one side. Too obvious to defend against and doesn't pull the defence around enough. Feels like a long season ahead in mid-table. 

[Osvaldorama]

One thing I would say;

Saying we didn’t have this squad doesn’t sit well with me. 

He could have played Quarshie, Edward’s, wood & macca from the start. 

We have had a completely unsettled side & formation since last season. Nothing was even attempted to solve this in pre-season. I know he had to learn the players etc. so maybe he does deserve some slack here, but I do think we were extremely unprepared for this season. 

One of our biggest issues is a lack of chemistry. I would really like to stick to a formation and squad and let them build relationships on the pitch. 
 

The rest of it, fair enough. I am happy to see the improvement recently and hope it continues. Really want him to be a success. 

[saintant]

40 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

One thing I would say;

Saying we didn’t have this squad doesn’t sit well with me. 

He could have played Quarshie, Edward’s, wood & macca from the start. 

We have had a completely unsettled side & formation since last season. Nothing was even attempted to solve this in pre-season. I know he had to learn the players etc. so maybe he does deserve some slack here, but I do think we were extremely unprepared for this season. 

One of our biggest issues is a lack of chemistry. I would really like to stick to a formation and squad and let them build relationships on the pitch. 
 

The rest of it, fair enough. I am happy to see the improvement recently and hope it continues. Really want him to be a success. 

That would have been a very brave thing to do but, in hindsight, probably the right call. What I would say is that it has taken far too many managers far too long before someone works out that we will play better without clunky Jack Stephens dithering and slowing everything down. Good lad he may be but decent footballer he's not. It's now almost like we're starting our season all over again and hopefully we'll build on the positives from the last two games without the handicap of JS, THB and Bazunu now that it's been worked out that you can actually drop those who have previously been viewed by some misguided souls as the mainstays of the team.

[sockeye]

They've scored 2 (two) goals this season, with 1 of them coming from a scrappy 1-0 win against the 22nd-placed side. It's never a dead cert but we should have too much for them even with Wilder back. We need to keep the same 11 as last week though, except with potentially Archer and Jelert starting, so we can start building relationships across the pitch.

[sockeye]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

What I would say is that it has taken far too many managers far too long before someone works out that we will play better without clunky Jack Stephens dithering and slowing everything down.

It could be a positive feedback loop. New manager comes in, sees Stephens has started under the last two or three (as captain no less), decides they should work backwards from him. Being a top guy in the dressing room probably contributes to that.

[Football Special]

Danny Ings to score , put your house on it 

[Danwulfe]

If we don't get 3 points this game, Still has to be gone surely. 

[SuperSAINT]

18 minutes ago, Danwulfe said:

If we don't get 3 points this game, Still has to be gone surely. 

I’d take a point and win against Derby, TBF.

Sheff Utd with Wilder, after a win, aren’t going to be like a bottom of the table team.

Edited yesterday at 14:58 by SuperSAINT

[UpweySaint]

2 minutes ago, Danwulfe said:

If we don't get 3 points this game, Still has to be gone surely. 

Nope. I don’t get this reactionary attitude at all. We’ve not been good enough, no question - but it’s far too early to bin off the manager and start from scratch. If we get fuck all from Sheff Utd and Derby circle back to me.

[Sheaf Saint]

53 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

I’d take a point and win against Derby, TBF.

Sheff Utd with Wilder, after a win, aren’t going to be like a bottom of the table team.

True, but conversely that might play into our hands a little bit. They will be the home team playing against a team struggling for form, so they're not going to sit back and defend in a low block. That should make it easier for us to find a bit more space in their half. As long as we continue to get the basics of defending right, like we have for the last two games since Stephen and THB were dropped, then we've got every chance of sneaking a win I reckon.

I realise that this optimism isn't consistent with what we've seen on the pitch so far. But I haven't been drinking this afternoon, honest!

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

He could have played Quarshie, Edward’s, wood & macca from the start. 

 

He played Quarshie at the start and he was shit.

[Matthew Le God]

4 hours ago, Danwulfe said:

If we don't get 3 points this game, Still has to be gone surely. 

 

[die Mannyschaft]

4 hours ago, Football Special said:

 

 

[die Mannyschaft]

At some stage this season Saints will get a win.

• Since the start of last season, Southampton have won just one of their 22 away league games (D5 L16), a 2-1 victory at Ipswich in February.

[Hawkswood]

Obviously I'd like us to win the next two games but even if we dont Im still quite relaxed. For me I've seen a few important moments from Still that I really like. It takes time to mold a team into what you want. Not always, but normally. I think at some point soon we're going to go on a run and win a lot of games, so even if we don't win tomorrow or at the weekend I feel quite relaxed about it and I wish people would stop mentioning about Still being sacked. Its just  a bit silly.

[LiberalCommunist]

28 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

At some stage this season Saints will get a win.

• Since the start of last season, Southampton have won just one of their 22 away league games (D5 L16), a 2-1 victory at Ipswich in February.

So many ruined matchdays. Oh my. 

[Football Special]

33 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

At some stage this season Saints will get a win.

• Since the start of last season, Southampton have won just one of their 22 away league games (D5 L16), a 2-1 victory at Ipswich in February.

Unbelievably bad, and possibly the craziest thing is we've probably sold out for every one of those away days , remarkable 

[LGTL]

11 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Unbelievably bad, and possibly the craziest thing is we've probably sold out for every one of those away days , remarkable 

Our away support is absolutely incredible really, numbers wise. Considering the distance we have to travel compared to most others, but mostly considering that simply shocking statistic. 

[Dr Who?]

52 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

At some stage this season Saints will get a win.

• Since the start of last season, Southampton have won just one of their 22 away league games (D5 L16), a 2-1 victory at Ipswich in February.

That’s crazy. Keep going and we will win in the end. 

[Osvaldorama]

4 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

He played Quarshie at the start and he was shit.

 

Yeah fair point.
 

But considering we had months to prepare, and Still was in place for a while, I still maintain that we are ridiculously underprepared for the season. It’s like it’s all come as a massive surprise to the club that the championship is a physical, fast paced league. 

I’m just fucking bored of new managers coming in and making the exact same mistakes over and over again. I think it’s fucking poor that the fans all see the main issues and the club doesn’t. 
 

Athletes. A Striker. A Goalkeeper. A vocal leader in the spine of the team. 99% of us have called these issues and we go and spend a fortune on a load of wingers. 

It’s such a fucking chore supporting this club at the moment. 

Edited 20 hours ago by Osvaldorama