Derby 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[VectisSaint]

1 hour ago, Roo1976 said:

Hope not too many changes if any,but there has to be a spot for JS and THB?..............or should they be considered as squad back up players? THB has just dropped off a cliff with his performances . I think last years lesson in the prem had a big affect on mental fragility for a lot who were picked week after week only to slump and get battered. But then an awful manager with zero plans when things don't go right weren't exactly an ideal or practical solution. Well at least there are shots of recovery beginning to show, just cut out a few too many negative passes for the sake of passing and were be OK i think.

Not for THB, he has been awful so far this season, can't see how he can be justified as a starter. Stephens, not so sure, he really has not done too much wrong so far, but hasn't excelled either. Quarshie looks better than he did at the beginning of the season (not hard), but still made some big errors on Tuesday.  think the players that won on Tuesday deserve a chance to start again, but whether that is the team that started the match, or the one that started the 2nd half is questionable. Personally I think Fellows should get the nod. 

[SuperSAINT]

Going to be a hard nut to crack.

Currently the Rams have only lost three of their first eight games and they are picking up points after going behind. They have done that four times now and could easily have won at Stoke on the opening day and at Ipswich.

[Toadhall Saint]

4 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

Going to be a hard nut to crack.

Currently the Rams have only lost three of their first eight games and they are picking up points after going behind. They have done that four times now and could easily have won at Stoke on the opening day and at Ipswich.

The next challenge then. I like that they go behind (oooeerr). Let’s score first and don’t let them come back.

[Saint_clark]

42 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

Going to be a hard nut to crack.

Currently the Rams have only lost three of their first eight games and they are picking up points after going behind. They have done that four times now and could easily have won at Stoke on the opening day and at Ipswich.

That's over a third of their games. They've also only won a single game. 

It's too early to draw any conclusions from results. 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

56 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

It's too early to draw any conclusions from results. 

Unless it's Saints.

[Graffito]

On 01/10/2025 at 08:19, LGTL said:

Still waiting for ours. The last batch were posted on Monday so should come today hopefully. No idea why they leave it so late, especially with the £1.50 per ticket joke of a booking fee.

Ticket office is blaming Royal Mail. Service can be poor but that’s all the more reason to send out the tickets in good time. I’ve had to arrange a duplicate. Seems I’m not the only one. They’ve had a lot of calls about tickets not having been delivered.

[benjii]

1 hour ago, Graffito said:

Ticket office is blaming Royal Mail. Service can be poor but that’s all the more reason to send out the tickets in good time. I’ve had to arrange a duplicate. Seems I’m not the only one. They’ve had a lot of calls about tickets not having been delivered.

Pathetic really.

[Secret Site Agent]

On 01/10/2025 at 07:28, AlexLaw76 said:

Any chance we can score from our first shot on target???

What? In the 67th Minute?

It's possible I suppose 

[Football Special]

I noticed Saints have put some more seats back on sale, could be player Comps not taken up, bit short notice though 

[Patches O Houlihan]

11 hours ago, austsaint said:

Why not Downes and Shea at CM;  Jander replaces Azaz as the 10 , with Scienza as a back up. Arma, Stewart and Fellows.?

10 hours ago, austsaint said:

I know that’s a point of view on sections of the forum; but I question it.   Downes at this level is in the top bracket of midfielders.   Charles likewise.  There’s no reason to think they can’t combine in CM.     I don’t know whether Jander has played the attacking mid role before, but everything I see of him suggests he can.   Thus far, Azaz has been a dud; no denying his record at this level is good, but he just doesn’t look to be the player we need. I suspect he was third choice, at best, attacking 10 recruit.   Still has shown the capacity to make changes and act on what he sees on the pitch.  This might be another opportunity to fine tune the starting 11 for the better.

Azaz was bought as a first choice specialist 10 surely.

Scienza can play both wings, but for me he would also be the next best option to fill the 10 spot: The nature of his Futsal background will mean that he can work the ball on the floor around the D in the tight spaces that Championship low block teams enforce. 

Jander is an all action interception & tackling midfielder, not just a passer. Would be a shame to have him right up the top where he won't get the opportunity to anticipate passes and nick it as often as he is right now.

I did quite like that 4-1-4-1 formation though with Downes sitting.

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Azaz was bought as a first choice specialist 10 surely.

Scienza can play both wings, but for me he would also be the next best option to fill the 10 spot: The nature of his Futsal background will mean that he can work the ball on the floor around the D in the tight spaces that Championship low block teams enforce. 

Jander is an all action interception & tackling midfielder, not just a passer. Would be a shame to have him right up the top where he won't get the opportunity to anticipate passes and nick it as often as he is right now.

I did quite like that 4-1-4-1 formation though with Downes sitting.

Agree. Jander is clearly not a number 10. 

[Dr Who?]

41 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I noticed Saints have put some more seats back on sale, could be player Comps not taken up, bit short notice though 

They did the same at Hull the other week, a slightly bigger section went on sale, but no one knew so did not get rid of any!

[Football Special]

7 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

They did the same at Hull the other week, a slightly bigger section went on sale, but no one knew so did not get rid of any!

Yeah thought I'd mention on here, club should be able to arrange collection in Derby like they are doing for duplicates 

[Verwood Saint]

57 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I noticed Saints have put some more seats back on sale, could be player Comps not taken up, bit short notice though 

Thanks for this post - got a ticket for my first away game for ages!  

Had to give up my season ticket this year after 40+ years due to relocating for family reasons - new grandson - and found myself consistently missing out on away games due to lack of purchasing history.  Now some would say it's a blessing to no longer have a season ticket given all the dross we have witnessed, especially lately but once a Saint - always a Saint!

COYRs

[Saint Fan CaM]

I’m abroad 5 hours behind with my Saintsplayer service ending, so I’ll be hoping for a good stream link from someone pleeeez!

[Cumbria Saint]

7 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I’m abroad 5 hours behind with my Saintsplayer service ending, so I’ll be hoping for a good stream link from someone pleeeez!

If you're happy to pay a tenner you can watch on Southampton FC main website. I'm in Indonesia and that's what I'll be doing.

[Sheaf Saint]

10 hours ago, Football Special said:

I noticed Saints have put some more seats back on sale, could be player Comps not taken up, bit short notice though 

Cheers. Got myself one last night after missing out previously ☺️

[Dr Who?]

10 hours ago, Verwood Saint said:

Thanks for this post - got a ticket for my first away game for ages!  

Had to give up my season ticket this year after 40+ years due to relocating for family reasons - new grandson - and found myself consistently missing out on away games due to lack of purchasing history.  Now some would say it's a blessing to no longer have a season ticket given all the dross we have witnessed, especially lately but once a Saint - always a Saint!

COYRs

Can’t send you a message as you do not subscribe, but email me. kevinsim@hotmail.co.uk 

[Pamplemousse]

Going to be a very windy one. Having flashbacks of that Villa game last season. One of the coldest away ends I've ever been in.

[derry]

10 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I’m abroad 5 hours behind with my Saintsplayer service ending, so I’ll be hoping for a good stream link from someone pleeeez!

Extreme Media. Same as Saintsplayer. Very helpful with setup. Smarters just a log in, need to install to use Firestick. 

[Sheaf Saint]

48 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

Going to be a very windy one. Having flashbacks of that Villa game last season. One of the coldest away ends I've ever been in.

Gonna be a bit rainy as well. That gives me flashbacks to the playoff semi final there in 2007, and getting thoroughly soaked walking back to the station having just seen us lose on penalties 😔

[saintant]

Time for us to put in a performance when the weather is bad - we don't seem to cope with the elements too well with the most recent example being Hull away. For me our passing is still not up to scratch and we continually give the ball away under no pressure so that needs to improve. A good victory in the rain will demonstrate we are ready for the fight so let's give it our all and take that into the international break. COYR!

[benjii]

I'd stick with a very similar team. The switching between 442 on the ball and 352 off it seems to be something the players can do, although it does demand quite a lot of the team and has also left us pretty predictable in attack.

As Azaz has not impressed me at all, I'd actually move Armstrong into a more central role and put a "proper" winger on the left so we are more balanced and less predictable in build up. 

 

Macca 

Eddie, Wood, Quarshie, Manning

Charles, Jander

Fellows, Armstrong, Robinson

Stewart

Subs: Baz, Jelert, Stephens, THB, Fraser, Downes, Azaz, Scienza, Archer

 

P.s. anyone know where Aribo amd Edozie are?

 

P.p.s we should have kept Smallbone.

Edited yesterday at 11:16 by benjii

[Football Special]

5 minutes ago, benjii said:

I'd stick with a very similar team. The switching between 442 on the ball and 352 off it seems to be something the players can do, although it does demand quite a lot of the team and has also left us pretty predictable in attack.

As Azaz has not impressed me at all, I'd actually move Armstrong into a more central role and put a "proper" winger on the left so we are more balanced and less predictable in build up. 

 

Macca 

Eddie, Wood, Quarshie, Manning

Charles, Jander

Fellows, Armstrong, Robinson

Stewart

Subs: Baz, Jelert, Stephens, THB, Fraser, Downes, Azaz, Scienza, Archer

 

P.s. anyone know where Aribo amd Edozie are?

 

P.p.s we should have kept Smallbone.

Apparently Will Still has given Aribo and Edozie a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle to keep them busy until the January transfer window opens 

[Totton Saint]

13 minutes ago, benjii said:

I'd stick with a very similar team. The switching between 442 on the ball and 352 off it seems to be something the players can do, although it does demand quite a lot of the team and has also left us pretty predictable in attack.

As Azaz has not impressed me at all, I'd actually move Armstrong into a more central role and put a "proper" winger on the left so we are more balanced and less predictable in build up. 

 

Macca 

Eddie, Wood, Quarshie, Manning

Charles, Jander

Fellows, Armstrong, Robinson

Stewart

Subs: Baz, Jelert, Stephens, THB, Fraser, Downes, Azaz, Scienza, Archer

 

P.s. anyone know where Aribo amd Edozie are?

 

P.p.s we should have kept Smallbone.

Where has Smallbone gone please?

[Toadhall Saint]

15 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

Where has Smallbone gone please?

Milwall 

[Totton Saint]

3 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Milwall 

thanks

[Toadhall Saint]

Press conference today?

[beatlesaint]

12 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Press conference today?

There isnt one cos they've stayed ooop North I believe.

[Toadhall Saint]

8 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

There isnt one cos they've stayed ooop North I believe.

Cheers

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

16 hours ago, Verwood Saint said:

once a Saint - always a Saint!

COYRs

My sentiments entirely, Verwood 😀

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

I'd stick with a very similar team. The switching between 442 on the ball and 352 off it seems to be something the players can do, although it does demand quite a lot of the team and has also left us pretty predictable in attack.

As Azaz has not impressed me at all, I'd actually move Armstrong into a more central role and put a "proper" winger on the left so we are more balanced and less predictable in build up. 

 

Macca 

Eddie, Wood, Quarshie, Manning

Charles, Jander

Fellows, Armstrong, Robinson

Stewart

Subs: Baz, Jelert, Stephens, THB, Fraser, Downes, Azaz, Scienza, Archer

 

P.s. anyone know where Aribo amd Edozie are?

 

P.p.s we should have kept Smallbone.

I'm not sure Arma will be particularly effective in a central role, given that he never has been in all the years he's been with us. 

What's happened to Matsuki? He looked pretty good in that AM role early in the season but seems to have fallen completely out of favour.

[Charlie Wayman]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

Apparently Will Still has given Aribo and Edozie a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle to keep them busy until the January transfer window opens 

Hope you have an interesting day job

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, beatlesaint said:

There isnt one cos they've stayed ooop North I believe.

Don't they have micriphones and cameras up North then? Bloody lame excuse if that's what they're saying.

Anyway Will Still, be brave and stick to your winning team, they should have enough about them to blunt these Rams. 0-2 for me

Edited yesterday at 13:57 by Charlie Wayman

[benjii]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I'm not sure Arma will be particularly effective in a central role, given that he never has been in all the years he's been with us. 

What's happened to Matsuki? He looked pretty good in that AM role early in the season but seems to have fallen completely out of favour.

Forgot about him!

 

The one team Armstrong played in a deeper central role was Plymouth away under Martin and he smashed it right up the granny.

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Hope you have an interesting day job

I do! Steve Grant pays me to post on here to boost engagement and generate more advertising revenue 

[bugenhagen]

16 minutes ago, Football Special said:

I do! Steve Grant pays me to post on here to boost engagement and generate more advertising revenue 

I'd rather do the jigsaw puzzle with Edozie and Aribo 😉

[Forester]

8 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Gonna be a bit rainy as well. That gives me flashbacks to the playoff semi final there in 2007, and getting thoroughly soaked walking back to the station having just seen us lose on penalties 😔

That’s brought back PTSD!  

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Forester said:

That’s brought back PTSD!  

Same for me, but top notch away end that was 

Funny that Derby side went on to be the laughing stock record low points total that we spent much of last season trying to avoid 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by Football Special

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Same for me, but top notch away end that was 

Wasn't it just. I remember turning to my mate and saying we had no hope of scoring and rescuing the game, and then up popped Rasiak and absolute carnage broke loose in the stand. One of those very special moments that make following Saints totally worth all the pain.

[Charlie Wayman]

Bittersweet memories of that play-off semi-final. Looking back it is hard to remember many of our players from that team.

Shouts of "Yellow" still ringing in my ears and getting soaked on the way back to the car park and having to drive home half naked with the heater on full blast still vivid.

[SW11_Saint]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

Same for me, but top notch away end that was 

Funny that Derby side went on to be the laughing stock record low points total that we spent much of last season trying to avoid 

 

I still hate that dwarf Billy Davies…

[Andrew Watson]

Should be a definite 3 points, but who knows with Saints.

[Sheaf Saint]

7 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

I still hate that dwarf Billy Davies…

I remember at the time someone on here described him as 'an odious little man', and it's stuck with me ever since.

[Dr Who?]

8 hours ago, Andrew Watson said:

Should be a definite 3 points, but who knows with Saints.

Not sure anyone thinks this. We are hardy playing that well and the conditions will be terrible. Now on paper we should be, but we are not on form! 

Edited 9 hours ago by Dr Who?

[CB Fry]

6 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

Not sure anyone thinks this. We are hardy playing that well and the conditions will be terrible. Now on paper we should be, but not on form! 

Well on form Derby are terrible and haven't won at home in the league all season.

Why on form are Derby better than us?

[Dr Who?]

13 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Well on form Derby are terrible and haven't won at home in the league all season.

Why on form are Derby better than us?

Sorry CB our form. Smash Norwich then look woeful. Hopefully the win midweek will be a springboard, but you know this lot just as well as me. We did not play that well, but found a win! Derby are not great, but again draw a few, like us. 

[Dr Who?]

Right here goes anyways. Jumping in the car, Carlisle to Derby. Should be fun in this weather! 🌦️ 

[bangkoksaint]

In Singapore for the F1. I’m ditching the qualifying tonight to watch Saints. History tells me this will be bad decision!!

[CB Fry]

9 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

Sorry CB our form. Smash Norwich then look woeful. Hopefully the win midweek will be a springboard, but you know this lot just as well as me. We did not play that well, but found a win! Derby are not great, but again draw a few, like us. 

There's only two teams on the pitch and our form is better than theirs. 

But I get it. This is a pivotal game ahead of the break. Win it and we are respectably in the mix for top six or better especially as no one is absolutely running away with it yet. Will feel a lot better.

Lose or draw and meh, it could be a long disappointing autumn.