Southampton v Preston - Saturday 3pm

[Convict Colony]

3 minutes ago, Jack said:

People calling for Downs - have you actually watched the games he’s played in this season? 
 

Yes he’s big, but that’s literally the only useful attribute he has and he doesn’t do anything useful with it. He can’t even stand in the right place and make the runs to make himself a nuisance. He can’t time a jump, he can’t control a pass, he’s weak, he can’t finish. God help us if he’s starting. We’re better off with Azaz playing behind Arma with Leo and Fellows wide IMO. I’d rather have Stephens up top than Downs. 

people not calling for downs, have you actually watched a game this season 🤣

[Jack]

36 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

people not calling for downs, have you actually watched a game this season 🤣

Not playing Downs is definitely not the reason we’re not winning games. 

[Convict Colony]

you are correct its archer

[LeG]

442 please 

 

Don't care

Mads

THB

Wood

Manning

Downes

Jander

Matsuki

Scienza

Archer

Armstrong

[Wade Garrett]

                    McCarthy

Mads Edwards Wood Manning

            Jander  Downes

     Fellows  Azaz   Scienza

           Archer/Armstrong

[die Mannyschaft]

Great last minute header ar corner by Bazunu,  keeper great save and Saints equalised v Real Madrid. Maybe put Bazunu up front v Preston as our best header of ball.

[chivvy]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

                    McCarthy

Mads Edwards Wood Manning

            Jander  Downes

     Fellows  Azaz   Scienza

           Archer/Armstrong

You could swop Edwards for either Stephens or THB.  Quarshie is one for the future currently. Not the time for inexperienced.

[Saint_clark]

56 minutes ago, chivvy said:

You could swop Edwards for either Stephens or THB.  Quarshie is one for the future currently. Not the time for inexperienced.

Not Stephens FFS, surely the last game has reminded everyone why he shouldn't even be an option off the bench.

[Saint NL]

7 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Great last minute header ar corner by Bazunu,  keeper great save and Saints equalised v Real Madrid. Maybe put Bazunu up front v Preston as our best header of ball.

That header was genuinely better than any of our strikers have managed all season 🤦

 

 

[chivvy]

6 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Not Stephens FFS, surely the last game has reminded everyone why he shouldn't even be an option off the bench.

I think Stephens central defence is better than Stephens as a sub central midfielder and wasn't a fair reflection on him.. but I know it's terrible he is one of our options at all at centre back!!!  Harwood bellis drop off has been astonishing. It should be him and wood. I'm only going with Stephens for his experience and I know he has never really been good enough ever .. lol

Edited 14 hours ago by chivvy

[AlexLaw76]

Reckon he will ditch the stupid formation, we will come out swinging and we will win 3-1

Be a bit ropey at the back at times, hanging on at the end etc.

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Reckon he will ditch the stupid formation, we will come out swinging and we will win 3-1

Be a bit ropey at the back at times, hanging on at the end etc.

Nah, he will stick with it as he believes it will come good...

[pingpong]

So bazunu is probably our best passer of the ball, definitely our best header of the ball.

Can he run? I think he probably can't tackle.  I'd be quite happy to see him as a central attacking midfielder, he can stroll around le tissier style, stay onside, and just score from all of our set pieces?

[Saint NL]

2 minutes ago, pingpong said:

So bazunu is probably our best passer of the ball, definitely our best header of the ball.

Can he run? I think he probably can't tackle.  I'd be quite happy to see him as a central attacking midfielder, he can stroll around le tissier style, stay onside, and just score from all of our set pieces?

Finn Azaz is quite tall, he'd probably make a good goalkeeper. Just swap them around. 

[skintsaint]

Pretty sure Bazunu used to play out on field before swapping over to becoming a GK.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I’ve snagged a ticket for this one so hoping for a great performance and a win. 

Oh wait…it’s to watch Saints at home…never mind, I can enjoy the carnage outside the ground in the fan zone. 😏

[Patches O Houlihan]

There's our Stewart replacement.

                     McCarthy

Mads       Wood       Quarshie       Manning

               Jander        Downes

Fellows            Scienza              Armstrong

                          Bazunu

[Patches O Houlihan]

We haven't seen movement like this to make a header this season

 

 

 

 

[Patches O Houlihan]

 

 

[Suhari]

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

There's our Stewart replacement.

                     McCarthy

Mads       Wood       Quarshie       Manning

               Jander        Downes

Fellows            Scienza              Armstrong

                          Bazunu

Can you imagine the absolute melt-down if this happened?!

 

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, Suhari said:

Can you imagine the absolute melt-down if this happened?!

 

On the PNE Forum, bearing in mind that’d be twice he’s done it to them. It’d be a talking point more broadly over the football weekend. He couldn’t be any worse than Downs was.

[Saint Fan CaM]

So - Charles out for several weeks with a hammy injury.😳

Fellows is a hybrid wing-back apparently and yet football is a simple game! 😂

Still loves 4-2-3-1, but has not been able to use it. If he can on Saturday then he will. 5 at the back it is then. 😉

[ant]

Given the ridiculous number of crosses we put into the box with nobody willing/able to attack them, I fancy Gav to get about a goal a game with the suggested tactics. A 34 goal season will easily make him top scorer.

As for Saints, we'll draw every remaining match 1-1 or 2-2, scraping to 46 points and surviving on the final day.

Bazunu will get a big-money move to a top division continental side and Sports Republic will congratulate themselves on a another job well done.

Sadly, Solak's funds will be frozen shortly after and we'll fall into administration over the summer. Starting 2026-27 on -10 in League One.

Our saviour? Rasmus Ankersen as a private investor.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

12 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

So - Charles out for several weeks with a hammy injury.😳

Fellows is a hybrid wing-back apparently and yet football is a simple game! 😂

Still loves 4-2-3-1, but has not been able to use it. If he can on Saturday then he will. 5 at the back it is then. 😉

I hope someone asked him why he is reluctant to use it 

[hypochondriac]

Good on Adam pushing Still a bit on formation. I didn't really understand his answer. 4231 is his favourite formation that he would love to play? There's nothing stopping you. We concede multiple goals in most games whatever formation we play. We aren't winning either way so play the formation you want to play at home. The worst thing that could happen is that we lose which is what we've been doing with five at the back anyway.

Edited 9 hours ago by hypochondriac

[BranfootsLoveChild]

Just looked at the seat map. Surprised so many general sale tickets have been sold. 

[davefizzy14]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Good on Adam pushing Still a bit on formation. I didn't really understand his answer. 4231 is his favourite formation that he would love to play? There's nothing stopping you. We concede multiple goals in most games whatever formation we play. We aren't winning either way so play the formation you want to play at home.

Yeah it was good on Adam to push Will on this. Surely with the players we have available and his preferred formation we have to go back to a 4-2-3-1. 

[hypochondriac]

17 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Yeah it was good on Adam to push Will on this. Surely with the players we have available and his preferred formation we have to go back to a 4-2-3-1. 

If this week is to keep himself in a job then surely he has to go into this doing what he wants to do? We've lost the last two anyway playing five at the back and most of the Blackburn game was awful. Play players in the positions they are meant to play. That means Fellows not as a hybrid fullback but as a winger and assist maker. It means probably having to play Downs or the young guy from the start.

[AlexLaw76]

Presser...

He is clearly aware of the pressure he is under. If his favoured system is 4231, why not fucking build the team into that, rather that parts of a game, or the odd game now and then....

 

• We have to fight back, time for the club to fight back
• This scenario is not new, this happened last season. Been here for a while
• We must stop feeling sorry for ourselves, stand up, show personality and character
• We need to stop moaning about everything, stop finding excuses
• We are here every day, we need to do better, manage games better
• Now it is time to turn the corner, I cannot stand it how people are feeling sorry for themselves
• No point blaming individuals for this situation, everyone needs to shut up and get on with it
• It is time as club we turn the corner, I think the team has
• Everyone needs to be part of that, but that is easily said
• I understand the supporters pay so much to be part of it, but we need them
• Things are difficult, we are conceding too many, but there are good things
• Literally a week or so ago we played brilliantly against Swansea but just could not score
• Some luck is against us, but we have to make the luck go for us
• We have a strong and good relationship with everyone, we are honest
• This week, a few honest truths, ugly things have been said
• we now need to show character and stand up
• I have been questioned about the subs at Blackburn
• On paper we are bringing on vastly experienced players, this was to get a grip
• But I take responsibility for that, but we also need to protect the minutes the players have played
• Many have played a lot with internationals also
• It is all of our faults, the club as a whole. This club is a big club, but we cant keep finding excuses
• Time to be positive as it is easy to be negative, which has gone too far now
• I feel the players have my back, just watch training
• if we played like we trained, we would be unbelievable
• We have had meetings, conversation, watched videos
• We now have a few out of the squad, but we have a big squad
• this big squad is being used, so no excuses and time for ownership
• I cannot coach every single moment of the game, like the CBs running into each other
• Players have to problem solve in the game also. I encourage them to take more initiative
• Even if it goes wrong, I will take that, rather than the moaning
• I do not believe age is an excuse. Every player has played this season apart from Joe and Sam
• So no one has an excuse really. All have had a chance
• Personality is what matters, you can be 28 or 17, it does not matter
• It needs to matter, they need to be important. We have spoken about it
• It is time to stand up and fight
• Charles is out for a significant amount of time, 6-7 weeks
• Edozie rolled his ankle on Tuesday, out for 4-5 weeks. He was coming back as he was doing well
• Rosco, and Jelert are out, Welly is suspending. Archer has not trained all week
• Flynn has had a knock on his knee but hope he can be ready
• The squad has been stretched, but we have a big squad
• the illness last week was really frustrating, industrial cleaners have been in
• We already had 2 extra bodies in Blackburn and 2 became unavailable.
• Jay was ill also, but everyone else is better. He played 60 mins last night which was important
• PNE have been really good, really pragmatic, Clear Identity
• They have a lot of champ experience
• I do not think we are paying the price for not having lots of Champ experience
• Casper and Leo have done exceptionally well
• We need to help Finn and Tom get better, but these are not excuses
• This league is unique, with many teams playing a particular style and we need to be a bit more like that
• Not lost clarity on what we are doing with the shape. Look at the numbers we are conceding too many 
• We need to be more pragmatic in both boxes. This is not rocket science
• I could talk about systems and tactics days on end
• Tom is playing a hybrid wing back, but we must take the team in consideration
• We must help the defence more
• Look at Swansea, everyone said we were great, then a few days later everyone is negative
• I would love to play 4231, it is my favourite system, but we have to consider the team
• We are trying to do that, we have never lost clarity

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

If this week is to keep himself in a job then surely he has to go into this doing what he wants to do? We've lost the last two anyway playing five at the back and most of the Blackburn game was awful. Play players in the positions they are meant to play. That means Fellows not as a hybrid fullback but as a winger and assist maker. It means probably having to play Downs or the young guy from the start.

He seems to be in a doom loop. Cant play his favoured system as we let in too many. Changes system with players out of position, and we let in too many.

He made a point of the 'hybrid wingback' .....how's that working out!

[Dman]

12 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Presser...

He is clearly aware of the pressure he is under. If his favoured system is 4231, why not fucking build the team into that, rather that parts of a game, or the odd game now and then....

 

• Flynn has had a knock on his knee but hope he can be ready

This geezers head and heart haven't been in it since his mate got the boot. 

Move on in Jan (if we can) and look to replace. 

[ally_uk]

Feeling optimistic I'm going to go 2-0 Saints this is going to be the turning point for us, have faith. 

[StrangelyBrown]

Reading between the lines; he can't play 4231 because our defense isn't good enough the suggestion being that our centre backs are crap - we could have all told him that!

However, this is pretty damning on Spors and underlines what has been said a lot on here. He's brought in a very young CB and given one of our crappiest players a 3 year extension because he's a good bloke. No where near good enough.

Seems like Still has been set up to fail to me by someone who is another charlatan.

[AlexLaw76]

11 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Reading between the lines; he can't play 4231 because our defense isn't good enough the suggestion being that our centre backs are crap - we could have all told him that!

However, this is pretty damning on Spors and underlines what has been said a lot on here. He's brought in a very young CB and given one of our crappiest players a 3 year extension because he's a good bloke. No where near good enough.

Seems like Still has been set up to fail to me by someone who is another charlatan.

Set up to fail. Give over

[pingpong]

The other advantage of having two goalkeepers on the pitch is that it gives us an extra space on the bench for outfield players and more options - if McCarthy gets sent off, baz can move back into goal.

I hope at least we're considering bringing him on in the 85th min when we are 1-1 and need to score - if we're going to insist on passing it to the keeper for the final minutes of every game we may as well make it a keeper in the final third of the pitch.

[StrangelyBrown]

15 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Set up to fail. Give over

I'm not saying deliberately, just through sheer incompetence.

[StrangelyBrown]

52 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

He seems to be in a doom loop. Cant play his favoured system as we let in too many. Changes system with players out of position, and we let in too many.

He made a point of the 'hybrid wingback' .....how's that working out!

Doom loop? You do understand what that actually means?

[Pamplemousse]

5 at the back is shit. Just play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, the fans want it, you want it, just fucking do it. It can't be any worse than the last two games.

Edited 7 hours ago by Pamplemousse

[Dman]

51 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Reading between the lines; he can't play 4231 because our defense isn't good enough the suggestion being that our centre backs are crap - we could have all told him that!

However, this is pretty damning on Spors and underlines what has been said a lot on here. He's brought in a very young CB and given one of our crappiest players a 3 year extension because he's a good bloke. No where near good enough.

Seems like Still has been set up to fail to me by someone who is another charlatan.

Bollox. THB has been a key figure in 2 promoted sides. Stephens, for all his faults, has carved out a relatively sucssful career in the PL. Wood vastly experienced at this level. Edwards QPR player of the season last year. 

They're not the best, I agree with that, but get on the front foot and attack teams.  Let them worry about our forward line and their defence.. not the other way round. 

20 other sides in this leauge would die for our options at CB. 

[saintant]

4 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

We haven't seen movement like this to make a header this season

 

 

 

 

He'd be a better option than Downs that's for sure. Anyone imaging Downs powering in a header like that?

[skintsaint]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Anyone imaging Downs powering in a header like that?

Yep straight at the keeper.

[Pamplemousse]

Downs would miss the ball in the first place

[for_heaven's_Saint]

So with Charles and potentially Downes out and Aribo AWOL, we might be left with a recently-ill Jander as our only senior CM. Wasn’t impressed with Azaz there the other day and sure as hell don’t want Stephens in there. Time to stick a youngster in there?

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

So with Charles and potentially Downes out and Aribo AWOL, we might be left with a recently-ill Jander as our only senior CM. Wasn’t impressed with Azaz there the other day and sure as hell don’t want Stephens in there. Time to stick a youngster in there?

Probably why Sesay didn't play last night. Be good to see him again as looked good in preseason.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, davefizzy14 said:

Yeah it was good on Adam to push Will on this. Surely with the players we have available and his preferred formation we have to go back to a 4-2-3-1. 

He seems to be overthinking it to me and finding small reasons why we can't play 4231 rather than insisting we do it. The 3 at the back seems like a comfort blanket he clings to as though he's afraid we'll get cut open and lose big. Time to man up and play the system you clearly prefer even though the exact 11 players that suit it best may not all be available. Try something different Will because the 3 at the back is leading to confused centre backs, wing backs who aren't good enough to do the job and a weak midfield with not the number of bodies needed. The longer he leaves it the more game time is being wasted when it might be better used bedding in the 4231 system.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

22 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Probably why Sesay didn't play last night. Be good to see him again as looked good in preseason.

Imagine he's going to be on the bench at least

[saintant]

1 hour ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Reading between the lines; he can't play 4231 because our defense isn't good enough the suggestion being that our centre backs are crap - we could have all told him that!

However, this is pretty damning on Spors and underlines what has been said a lot on here. He's brought in a very young CB and given one of our crappiest players a 3 year extension because he's a good bloke. No where near good enough.

Seems like Still has been set up to fail to me by someone who is another charlatan.

Yeah so maybe better to play only 2 crap centre backs rather than 3 - possibly less cock-ups with less crap centre backs on the pitch. As he says, it's not rocket science but he doesn't half make it sound as though it is. Keep it simple Will and there's less that can go wrong.

[saintant]

51 minutes ago, Dman said:

Bollox. THB has been a key figure in 2 promoted sides. Stephens, for all his faults, has carved out a relatively sucssful career in the PL. Wood vastly experienced at this level. Edwards QPR player of the season last year. 

They're not the best, I agree with that, but get on the front foot and attack teams.  Let them worry about our forward line and their defence.. not the other way round. 

20 other sides in this leauge would die for our options at CB. 

This keeps being quoted but he was actually their Young Player of the Season which is quite different.

[saintant]

34 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Yep straight at the keeper.

Come on, it was a good header and led to us equalising. Credit where it's due cos there's precious little of it being earned when he plays in goal.

[saintant]

30 minutes ago, for_heaven's_Saint said:

So with Charles and potentially Downes out and Aribo AWOL, we might be left with a recently-ill Jander as our only senior CM. Wasn’t impressed with Azaz there the other day and sure as hell don’t want Stephens in there. Time to stick a youngster in there?

Pretty sure Downes is playing silly buggers - swinging the lead springs to mind.