Charlton 1-5 Saints - Match Thread

[sledger]

32 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

If we’re being real, it wasn’t the players, he was just outsmarted by better managers with better tactics. It wasn’t clear from his first game, a league cup tie against Lincoln, that the PL was a step too far for him. He was basically playing knock it over the top for Walcott/Edozie/Armstrong to run on to.

His last two games against Brentford and Wolves were utterly abysmal. He had to go.

and what do bournemouth do,work there socks off and get the ball forward and in the penalty area as soon as they can,i wish we were so backward in our thinking.Football is all about the players and there character,weve had to many with none.

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, sledger said:

and what do bournemouth do,work there socks off and get the ball forward and in the penalty area as soon as they can,i wish we were so backward in our thinking.Football is all about the players and there character,weve had to many with none.

You’ve got to be able to play it forward effectively, through another team’s defence, which is a lot easier said than done. I can stand in midfield on a Sunday morning with a hangover and knock it over the opposing CB’s head for our least chubby and hungover player to run on to. PL managers have sussed that out, hence it didn’t work with Jones and nobody has been back for him in the last three years.

[lambtiss]

21 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Anyone else really excited for yet another 3 at the back masterclass?

Cant wait to see Azaz stuck out wide, with balls pumped up to Arma and being wide open in the middle of the park.

Someone make it make sense.

I like the bit where that has failed consistently for 75 minutes, so we bring on Downs to lazily jog around the pitch whilst we swing crosses into the box which he doesn't compete for. Hilarious 

[ally_uk]

2-0 Saints 

[Harry_SFC]

McCarthy, Roerslev, THB, Wood, Manning, Jander, Downes, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Armstrong.

Probably a bit too early for a Romeu start.

Will obviously be Baz in goal though and 3 at the back with Fellows as wing back again. 

Edited Thursday at 18:37 by Harry_SFC

[AlexLaw76]

Fellows is going to COOK playing in a hybrid right wing back role

[Football Special]

Handful of tickets have become available in case anyone still after one 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

McCarthy, Roerslev, THB, Wood, Manning, Jander, Downes, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Armstrong.

Probably a bit too early for a Romeu start.

Will obviously be Baz in goal though and 3 at the back with Fellows as wing back again. 

Romeu will surely be in the squad and hopefully play at some point, will be good to see him back , something to look forward to at least 

[Green]

On 18/11/2025 at 17:58, Football Special said:

 

Am I right in thinking he was married into a Saints supporting family? 

Yes, I seem to remember something about the in-laws.

And we had someone on here, a Luton fan from Southampton (or something like that), who gave us great detail about Jones , how good he was, how tech savvy he was that he used a PowerPoint to woo players into signing.

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, Green said:

Yes, I seem to remember something about the in-laws.

His father in law works at Sunseeker & they are, or were,  Saints supporters 

[rooney]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

His father in law works at Sunseeker & they are, or were,  Saints supporters 

Sunseeker sponsored the dug out seats a few years ago.

[Saint Scott]

 

[coalman]

23 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

 

Is Romeu the new Lallana?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

29 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

 

First training session? What's he been doing all week? Honestly, this fuckin club

[Scummer]

17 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

First training session? What's he been doing all week? Honestly, this fuckin club

I guess he might have been on an individual training plan up to now, getting him up to full fitness

[UpweySaint]

16 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

First training session? What's he been doing all week? Honestly, this fuckin club

Individual work. I’m all for legitimate criticism of the club but I anticipate this will have been managed by sport science staff. Romeu has not had a preseason or played any competitive football since before the summer so will need to build up accordingly.

[saintant]

29 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

Individual work. I’m all for legitimate criticism of the club but I anticipate this will have been managed by sport science staff. Romeu has not had a preseason or played any competitive football since before the summer so will need to build up accordingly.

Half fit he'd be more use than most of the rest of the clowns.

[UpweySaint]

12 minutes ago, saintant said:

Half fit he'd be more use than most of the rest of the clowns.

Perhaps but I would rather we get him in the right physical shape before putting him in. If we can keep him fit for the season he could be a key part of the team. 

[ant]

Bad feeling about this one. Mad Nate has them well-organised, and other than a narrow loss to Wrexham they've been in very good form.

Can absolutely envisage him doing something akin to a 'Ralph v Liverpool' come full time.

[Harry_SFC]

5 at the back guaranteed then given we don't have a right back fit.

Shame Romeu isn't up to speed yet.

[Toadhall Saint]

55 minutes ago, saintant said:

Half fit he'd be more use than most of the rest of the clowns.

With one leg he’d be better than most that get put out each week.

[Saint Matty 76]

Makes it quite straight forward for tomorrow then if we don't have a fit RB, I imagine.

Bazunu
THB - Wood - Stephens
Fellows - Jander - Downes - Manning
Azaz - Scienza
Armstrong

[Chez]

1 hour ago, UpweySaint said:

Individual work. I’m all for legitimate criticism of the club but I anticipate this will have been managed by sport science staff. Romeu has not had a preseason or played any competitive football since before the summer so will need to build up accordingly.

Surprised he hasn't train with the players, which will be largely ball work, and then done extra fitness work in the afternoons. I guess he has also had to move back from Spain to England, which takes a bit of time if they don't have a player relocation liaison/service these days (not sure).

[Badger]

1 hour ago, ant said:

Bad feeling about this one. Mad Nate… 

Can absolutely envisage him doing something akin to a 'Ralph v Liverpool' come full time.

Is it on tv for the 12.30 kick off ? 

[Lighthouse]

21 minutes ago, Badger said:

Is it on tv for the 12.30 kick off ? 

One of the Sky channels.

[Whitey Grandad]

58 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

One of the Sky channels.

Sky Sports Plus allegedly. 

[Charlie Wayman]

What a change to have a thoughtful and articulate manager take the weekly press conferences again. After Still's nonsensical drivel week after week it is quite refreshing to listen to Eckert field the questions. The guy is giving me some good vibes. For the first time in ages I am feeling confident about tomorrow's trip to The Valley. We might sneak this 2-1

[Charlie Wayman]

3 hours ago, Badger said:

Is it on tv for the 12.30 kick off ? 

Charlton and Leicester matches are on Sky (and Now TV) so a monthly sub will be cheaper than the two paid for separately but remember to cancel the sub at the end of the month.

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

What a change to have a thoughtful and articulate manager take the weekly press conferences again. After Still's nonsensical drivel week after week it is quite refreshing to listen to Eckert field the questions. The guy is giving me some good vibes. For the first time in ages I am feeling confident about tomorrow's trip to The Valley. We might sneak this 2-1

Yeah, the old 'toe the party line' and say something while really saying nothing is quite refreshing if you like that sort of drivel.

[bugenhagen]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

What a change to have a thoughtful and articulate manager take the weekly press conferences again. After Still's nonsensical drivel week after week it is quite refreshing to listen to Eckert field the questions. The guy is giving me some good vibes. For the first time in ages I am feeling confident about tomorrow's trip to The Valley. We might sneak this 2-1

When he loses a couple of games he will start with the same drivel as Still. Just have to wait for a bit of pressure. Most managers sound good early on. 

He talked about clarity, and was anything but. The most important thing was understanding the club, and he had great leaders in the team that helped get that across? Something like that?

Fair enough that he doesn’t want to talk about his tactics and what we have been working on, I actually applaud him for that, but the presser didn’t really give me anything…

[StrangelyBrown]

1 hour ago, bugenhagen said:

When he loses a couple of games he will start with the same drivel as Still. Just have to wait for a bit of pressure. Most managers sound good early on. 

He talked about clarity, and was anything but. The most important thing was understanding the club, and he had great leaders in the team that helped get that across? Something like that?

Fair enough that he doesn’t want to talk about his tactics and what we have been working on, I actually applaud him for that, but the presser didn’t really give me anything…

It was a load of non-specific waffle from a very dull man. It's been a long time since we had anyone remotely interesting in charge.

[sandwichsaint]

#Tondawatch Hoping for a few insights into Tonda’s pitchside manner tomorrow, I’m in the home end, two rows back and two seats across from the right hand side of the Saints dug out. Seen Saints at Charlton a few times and can’t ever remember it being a particularly exciting game. My fact-free hunch is we often draw there in modern times (?) Can get a good racket going in that tin clad away end so hopefully the team give you lot a good reason to make a bit of noise tomorrow.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

8 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

5 at the back guaranteed then given we don't have a right back fit.

Shame Romeu isn't up to speed yet.

FFS, if it is a back 5....why!

[Greenridge]

1 minute ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

FFS, if it is a back 5....why!

We have no fit RB’s and don’t have two decent CB’s so we go for quantity over quality. 

[Pamplemousse]

1 hour ago, StrangelyBrown said:

It was a load of non-specific waffle from a very dull man. It's been a long time since we had anyone remotely interesting in charge.

I just want someone who wins games. Which Eckert, statistically our greatest ever manager, has done in every game.

[aintforever]

Tonda has had the whole international break to work with the squad so there are no excuses, we need three points from this.

[Lighthouse]

Just now, aintforever said:

Tonda has had the whole international break to work with the squad so there are no excuses, we need three points from this.

Hasn’t Nathan Jones also had the exact same international break to work with his squad?

[saintant]

1 minute ago, aintforever said:

Tonda has had the whole international break to work with the squad so there are no excuses, we need three points from this.

Not quite the whole break - as usual the poor little waifs were rewarded for sub standard performances by lots more days off - I guess they don't need to practice or work on drills and partnerships.

[Badger]

6 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

What a change to have a thoughtful and articulate manager take the weekly press conferences again. After Still's nonsensical drivel week after week it is quite refreshing to listen to Eckert field the questions. The guy is giving me some good vibes. For the first time in ages I am feeling confident about tomorrow's trip to The Valley. We might sneak this 2-1

Despite doubts about elevating him to a post ahead of his experience you can’t really take issue with him as an individual.
Comes across well, and just hope this experience doesn’t see him sink. 

He might find the media thing a bit more challenging if results take a downturn. 

 

4 hours ago, saintant said:

Yeah, the old 'toe the party line' and say something while really saying nothing is quite refreshing if you like that sort of drivel.

But at least he’s not an egotistical bellend like a previous one in the post. 

[Badger]

20 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Hasn’t Nathan Jones also had the exact same international break to work with his squad?

Well if it’s as effective as the six weeks  he had with us once… 

[aintforever]

42 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Hasn’t Nathan Jones also had the exact same international break to work with his squad?

Yes of course. I would expect a good manager with our squad to get a result at Charlton though.

[StrangelyBrown]

1 hour ago, Pamplemousse said:

I just want someone who wins games. Which Eckert, statistically our greatest ever manager, has done in every game.

Let's not get carried away. He hasn't been tested yet.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, aintforever said:

Yes of course. I would expect a good manager with our squad to get a result at Charlton though.

Considering Charlton came up via league one play offs and have a squad that reflects that they are definitely "overachieving" at the moment in the championship, looking at the table it's a massive week really, 3 wins would put us right back in contention, shame we're an absolute shambles behind the scenes and won't get them 

[ally_uk]

Feeling optimistic wiling to give Tonda a chance. He could surprise a few or us or it could all go tits up.....

That's the beauty of being a Saints fan, we are always on the rollercoaster full of twists and turns 🤣

[SW11_Saint]

9 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Feeling optimistic wiling to give Tonda a chance. He could surprise a few or us or it could all go tits up.....

That's the beauty of being a Saints fan, we are always on the rollercoaster full of twists and turns 🤣

“beauty” isn’t the word that leaps to mind for me…

Eckert is another bizarre and unnecessary gamble by SR. And like all of their other gambles, I suspect it’ll blow up in their faces. 

Edited 10 hours ago by SW11_Saint

[Totton Saint]

12 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

Hasn’t Nathan Jones also had the exact same international break to work with his squad?

Two weeks in which to loose the winning momentum.

[BarberSaint]

I don't like him.

[Dr Who?]

3-1 to Charlton.

[benjii]

We'll smash these chumps.

 

 

1-1

[die Mannyschaft]

At least the coach is only 9 mins away from Charlton Athletic.  1-3 Saints.