Saints 0-0 Swansea - Match Thread

[HarvSFC]

It would be nice to see us move the ball up the pitch faster and create more clear cut opportunities. We aren't drawing matches because our strikers are missing loads. We're drawing matches because we aren't creating enough. Think how much harder McCarthy had to work than the Derby keeper last match and they're 20th in the league. Get the centre-backs off the ball and let Scienza, Fellows, Azaz create up the pitch.

[die Mannyschaft]

On 16/10/2025 at 15:30, DT said:

So uninspiring. Can't think how he doesn't motivate the players...

Manager should stop al these pre match, post match stuff and concentrate on football.  Makes no difference whats said, its what happens on the pitch during the game that important. These press nonsense are made worse by managers with a 100 different options of line up, subs, formation and injury updates. 

[Challenger]

It will probably be yet another sloth ball/ crab ways/ bore fest as per usual. Not expecting ANYTHING else, get used to it, it's how SR roll.

[Eric The Red]

4 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

It would be nice to see us move the ball up the pitch faster and create more clear cut opportunities. We aren't drawing matches because our strikers are missing loads. We're drawing matches because we aren't creating enough. Think how much harder McCarthy had to work than the Derby keeper last match and they're 20th in the league. Get the centre-backs off the ball and let Scienza, Fellows, Azaz create up the pitch.

I'm afraid you (and a few others on here) are wrong . We have the 3rd highest xG in the league . Our problem is our actual goals are nearly 0.4 goals a game below what we should have scored compounded by us conceding 0.2 goals a game more than we should.

So not attacking enough isn't our problem. Not converting chances and not defending well enough is our problem

[die Mannyschaft]

38 minutes ago, Challenger said:

It will probably be yet another sloth ball/ crab ways/ bore fest as per usual. Not expecting ANYTHING else, get used to it, it's how SR roll.

Can we chuck some paper planes on pitch if its boring. Mexican wave is out of the question as I can see 19k having the energy to get up from seat. I've noticed fans don't get to seat until 10 mins before KO. Its like we are all taking our seat for O level maths.

[Pamplemousse]

Does anyone really care about the press conferences? Look at Ange in his pressers and compare with how Forest are doing. There is literally zero correlation from how someone acts with the press and how the team plays. Can't believe how deluded some people are.

[SWLondon Saint]

7 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Getting back on track ignoring the wrist slitters above, think we will win this in a classic Saints 3-1 home win.

Armstrong hatrick (one pen).

Another way to look at it is if we win and QPR beat Millwall, we'll go from 17th to 7th before the 3pm games. That's how tight the league is.

[woodsaint1]

We need a win and I think we'll get it. 2-0

Yes theres been a lot of player turnover and a change in our playing style - but its nearly the end of October. No more excuses, lets kick on and start moving up the table. Need to win to stay within 7 points of the leaders.

I'd go with....

                     McCarthy

Jelert        THB       Wood     Manning

              Jander    Charles

Fellows           Azaz         Armstrong

                      Archer

Edited 21 hours ago by woodsaint1

[benjii]

I had a dream last night....

We were losing 3-0 after 25 minutes and there was a mass walk-out.

But then it was hard to leave and there were safety issues with some stairs.

Then I went to a pub and had a few.

Then I went home and the wife had some friends round. One of them was winding me up and I called her a cunt and told her to leave. She was fuming.

 

Fin

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

13 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

It would be nice to see us move the ball up the pitch faster and create more clear cut opportunities. We aren't drawing matches because our strikers are missing loads. We're drawing matches because we aren't creating enough. Think how much harder McCarthy had to work than the Derby keeper last match and they're 20th in the league. Get the centre-backs off the ball and let Scienza, Fellows, Azaz create up the pitch.

I've thought the same. Saints are slow in transitioning from defence or midfield to attack. Its so frustrating as it just allows the other team to reset and get back into position.

[AlexLaw76]

Not that I would go anywhere near this…

McCarthy

Edwards Stephens Wood

Fellows Manning

Charles Jander

Armstrong Scienza

Archer

 

3 at the back with Fellows at RWB, unbalanced shite that still seems to talk about, long passes pumped into Archer from 40+ yards and we scrape a win, largely due to having better players

[SaintStinger]

Just about to leave for the game. First time I'll be going in years. It's my birthday tomorrow and I believe the last time we played on a Saturday before it was in 2014 and that 8-0 vs Sunderland... I'll be happy with any win today though! Cheers

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

I might be wrong, but I've got a feeling we won't win 8-0 today.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

2 hours ago, benjii said:

I had a dream last night....

We were losing 3-0 after 25 minutes and there was a mass walk-out.

But then it was hard to leave and there were safety issues with some stairs.

Then I went to a pub and had a few.

Then I went home and the wife had some friends round. One of them was winding me up and I called her a cunt and told her to leave. She was fuming.

 

Fin

Benjii Luther King.

[benjii]

13 minutes ago, SaintStinger said:

Just about to leave for the game. First time I'll be going in years. It's my birthday tomorrow and I believe the last time we played on a Saturday before it was in 2014 and that 8-0 vs Sunderland... I'll be happy with any win today though! Cheers

Happy birthday.

[benjii]

If I was the gaffer, I'd pick:

Macca

Mads-Wood-Quarshie-Jelert

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

Fellows---Scienza--Armstrong

--------Archer-------

Harsh on Jander but good to have options.

Baz, Manning, Stephens, Edwards, Jander, Azaz, Matsuki, Fraser, Robinson 

I'd also pick Aribo before Azaz but it seems like that's out of the question for some reason.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I got a text last saying “Tickets are still available and we’re happy to offer you £5 off”, and I wanted to respond “great, that’s still £25 more than I’m willing to pay”. 🤣

Swansea will defend deep, I think if we get a couple of wins in a row it’ll come together, but it’s just not happened yet. Being unbeaten is a start, just need to put teams away.

Armstrong, Archer and Scienza have to be the front three after Derby, play through the channels and not balls into the box and we’ll score.

I must be still a little hungover, but I’m going to say 2-1 to us today. Armstrong will score and Fellows will get one ten minutes from the end.

[egg]

14 minutes ago, benjii said:

If I was the gaffer, I'd pick:

Macca

Mads-Wood-Quarshie-Jelert

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

Fellows---Scienza--Armstrong

--------Archer-------

Harsh on Jander but good to have options.

Baz, Manning, Stephens, Edwards, Jander, Azaz, Matsuki, Fraser, Robinson 

I'd also pick Aribo before Azaz but it seems like that's out of the question for some reason.

That's a decent shout. I can't easily decide on a permutation that I think works with what we've got. I'm mostly at 433, with Aribo one of the 3 in the middle carrying the ball and breaking, and Fellows and AA or Scienza either side of Archer up top. That way we have the option of width either side, or the players cutting  in and playing close to Archer. 

That boils to me preferring another man in midfield getting on the ball and using it, rather than having Azaz waiting for it, and the wide lads being a bit narrower and getting involved more. 

I wouldn't go with your back 4 personally, but you could roll a dice and there'd be issues with whatever 4 you came up with. 

Edited 11 hours ago by egg

[Willo of Whiteley]

33 minutes ago, SaintStinger said:

Just about to leave for the game. First time I'll be going in years. It's my birthday tomorrow and I believe the last time we played on a Saturday before it was in 2014 and that 8-0 vs Sunderland... I'll be happy with any win today though! Cheers

Sorry to hear you’ll be going, I hope you have a word with whoever bought you the tickets!

Jokes aside, happy birthday, fingers crossed for three points.

[die Mannyschaft]

42 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

I might be wrong, but I've got a feeling we won't win 8-0 today.

Let's just start with 8 shots and not 888 passes

[AlexLaw76]

45 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

I might be wrong, but I've got a feeling we won't win 8-0 today.

Dell Sized mentality!!!

[die Mannyschaft]

Getting train soon and for some reason none of the trains are delayed or cancelled. So let's go with Saints 3-0. Each team has a big win each season and SWT are on for big timetable win. 

[benjii]

27 minutes ago, egg said:

That's a decent shout. I can't easily decide on a permutation that I think works with what we've got. I'm mostly at 433, with Aribo one of the 3 in the middle carrying the ball and breaking, and Fellows and AA or Scienza either side of Archer up top. That way we have the option of width either side, or the players cutting  in and playing close to Archer. 

That boils to me preferring another man in midfield getting on the ball and using it, rather than having Azaz waiting for it, and the wide lads being a bit narrower and getting involved more. 

I wouldn't go with your back 4 personally, but you could roll a dice and there'd be issues with whatever 4 you came up with. 

I agree on the midfield point. There's an argument for ditching the "10" and playing more of a Russel Martin 433 formation, but I think that needs Aribo (or Smallbone, but for some reason we got rid). Perhaps Azaz could do that role for now - he was ok at Watford in a deeper role.

I'm not sure the back 4 is necessarily our "best" but I think we need at least 1 of Quarshie and Wood for physicality and aerial power. THB gets in our best XI but on form doesn't even make my bench. When one of the CBs screws up regularly, I'd bring THB back and hope he's bucked his ideas up.

Manning has been great on the ball, but weak defensively, so I'm putting Jelert in. Mads has so much PL experience it seems mad (lol) not to give him more chance. When Wellington is back, Mads and Jelert can compete for RB.

Edited 10 hours ago by benjii

[macca155]

It does feel like Still has started to settle on his preferred side. Looks like he has two enforced changes today. 

Archer for Stewart is pretty obvious, and there isn't exactly an alternative is there.

Replacing Quarshie is more problematic. The best player is THB, and it is a good opportunity to get him back in the side. However his form has really dropped off, but there is a player there. I'm sure he'll be a permanent fixture next to Wood towards the end of the season. I guess we need a bit of patience, something that is understandably in short supply with Saints fans.

Stephens has been playing in Quarshie's position, so if he is injury free it will probably be him. He has been reasonably ok so far this season, however I really don't like him next to Manning. I think that's a weakness other teams look to expose.

I'm left wondering why on earth the club bought all these players. Azaz is going to struggle to make the bench, where on earth does Robinson fit into all this. Jelart can't get near the team and Aribo is tending to his garden.

We've all been saying it for years but quality not quantity. Jander was a good buy, he has fitted straight into the team and has put immediate pressure on Charles and Downes. They have to maintain good performances to stay in the team, that's where competition is effective. 

The good thing is we have a little unbeaten run starting to develop, that will help build momentum. Secondly there are players grabbing places and keeping them. McCarthy, Wood, Charles, Jander, Armstrong, and maybe Fellows. This is where success comes from, we have been here before.

A boring win today please, no drama

[LiberalCommunist]

After a two week break, we'll all be rather excited for this mid day fixture. But, a word of warning. Lower your expectations. Losing the Drog is a blow, expecting Will to have a complete rewiring is fanciful. This will be a very frustrating 1-1 where we absolutely dominate, but miss countless opportunities to score more than one goal.  

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 hours ago, benjii said:

I had a dream last night....

We were losing 3-0 after 25 minutes and there was a mass walk-out.

But then it was hard to leave and there were safety issues with some stairs.

Then I went to a pub and had a few.

Then I went home and the wife had some friends round. One of them was winding me up and I called her a cunt and told her to leave. She was fuming.

 

Fin

Can't wait for tomorrow's new thread: Benji's psychic hotline, as all of that seems plausible.

Of course, you knew I was looking forward to your new thread because of your powers.

[Charlie Wayman]

I am dreading it simply because nothing will have improved or changed for the better despite the break. It seems as if it is as it is and will be.

Edited 9 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Ken Tone]

1 hour ago, macca155 said:

It does feel like Still has started to settle on his preferred side. Looks like he has two enforced changes today. 

Archer for Stewart is pretty obvious, and there isn't exactly an alternative is there.

Replacing Quarshie is more problematic. The best player is THB, and it is a good opportunity to get him back in the side. However his form has really dropped off, but there is a player there. I'm sure he'll be a permanent fixture next to Wood towards the end of the season. I guess we need a bit of patience, something that is understandably in short supply with Saints fans.

Stephens has been playing in Quarshie's position, so if he is injury free it will probably be him. He has been reasonably ok so far this season, however I really don't like him next to Manning. I think that's a weakness other teams look to expose.

I'm left wondering why on earth the club bought all these players. Azaz is going to struggle to make the bench, where on earth does Robinson fit into all this. Jelart can't get near the team and Aribo is tending to his garden.

We've all been saying it for years but quality not quantity. Jander was a good buy, he has fitted straight into the team and has put immediate pressure on Charles and Downes. They have to maintain good performances to stay in the team, that's where competition is effective. 

The good thing is we have a little unbeaten run starting to develop, that will help build momentum. Secondly there are players grabbing places and keeping them. McCarthy, Wood, Charles, Jander, Armstrong, and maybe Fellows. This is where success comes from, we have been here before.

A boring win today please, no drama

There's also the option of moving Edwards into the middle and playing an actual right back. (Personally I'd go for Jelert.) Then we could use Fellows in his proper position. 

But I doubt Still will agree.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

I think it’s as much about style of play as personnel. If our only style of play is long balls to the striker or getting it wide and crossing in the air, it doesn’t really matter who we play there. 

[sfc4prem]

Today is the day we play well and win. I know it hasn't happened all season, but it will today.

[vectraman]

1 hour ago, LiberalCommunist said:

After a two week break, we'll all be rather excited for this mid day fixture. But, a word of warning. Lower your expectations. Losing the Drog is a blow, expecting Will to have a complete rewiring is fanciful. This will be a very frustrating 1-1 where we absolutely dominate, but miss countless opportunities to score more than one goal.  

I admire your realistic, sensible, balanced prediction.  I’m way to optimistic for my own good and I’m going for a relatively straightforward 3-1 win for Saints 🤞🤞

[coalman]

If we play defenders who can defend (eg. Jelert for Manning) and get the ball quickly forward to our wide men and attackers we should be good. Hasn't clicked yet and we still look fragile. Luckily Swansea are also still trying to rid themselves of the curse of Russball and the cultural heritage contained therein.

3-1 Saints. 

Need to start seeing a settled team sooner rather than later though.

[davefizzy14]

I would like to think we will go back to a back four today so we can get an extra attacking player into the side. Hoping Will will put Jelert in at right back and Welington at left back. The real dilemma will be who starts uptop today, really hope Ross has a quick recovery as he was really looking top for us. 2-0 to us today, Adam Armstrong and Scienza to score, COYR 😊

[richardc]

I'm going for 4:3 after the dream I had last night - we were 3 nil down after 25 mins and Still substituted Arma and brought on Downs who scored 4, 2nd half goals. Went to pub for a load of bevvies after and when I got home my wife had a load of her fit friends around and they invited me upstairs for a bit of fun

Edited 8 hours ago by richardc

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, richardc said:

I'm going for 4:3 after the dream I had last night - we were 3 nil down after 25 mins and Still substituted Arma and brought on Downs who scored 4, 2nd half goals. Went to pub for a load of bevvies after and when I got home my wife had a load of her fit friends around and they invited upstairs for a bit of fun

Downs scoring 4 is the least probable thing here...

[SouSaint]

We shouldn't be playing 5 defenders at home against any team in this league. 🙄

Edited 8 hours ago by SouSaint

[macca155]

Where did Wellington come from

[macca155]

[skintsaint]

Just now, macca155 said:

Where did Wellington come from

Sao Paulo

[skintsaint]

Just now, macca155 said:

Looks like the wing backs we all wanted.

[LocationRemot3]

Call me irrational or fickle I don’t care. A back 5 at home to Swansea with our squad is pathetic. 
Seriously hope this works out otherwise Still has lost me and a lot of other fans.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Thats a very strong bench on paper for the Championship!

 

[Saint_clark]

Glad to see he's seemingly realised quite quickly that Stephens is the worst of our options at CB. Also glad to see Welington back in. 

[bpsaint]

If the wing backs are given the freedom to get up top I’m happy with that and glad to see Manning dropped. If however the defence aren’t to pass the halfway line then it’s an utter shambles and Still needs to get tae fuck as the rangers fans would say.

[Osvaldorama]

Glad we signed those new attacking players. 
 

Should make all the difference from the bench 

[macca155]

2 minutes ago, LocationRemot3 said:

Call me irrational or fickle I don’t care. A back 5 at home to Swansea with our squad is pathetic. 
Seriously hope this works out otherwise Still has lost me and a lot of other fans.

I reckon Still sees it as a back 3 predominantly. 

Three new defenders to recent games let's hope they gel quickly.

[capitalsaint]

I’m predicting 3-3 today. One for the neutrals.

[LGTL]

I don’t mind the personnel although very harsh on Fellows.

Having said that, if you can’t find a way of not playing 5 at the back at home to Swansea, then it’s fucking on you. Still needs to sort it out.

[hypochondriac]

Well that's certainly a team. Glad Manning has been dropped but a back five is very irritating. If we fail to win then 5 at the back is also pointless. Azaz not playing is a damming indictment of our transfer business, arguably fellows also.

[coalman]

I sincerely hope he's managed to coach the Russball no look suicidal passes out of THB in the last couple of weeks. Great to see Wellington back. Though WTAF with a back five. Harsh on Fellows who has looked good since he joined.