Saints v WBA 19.45pm 9.12.2025

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Oisin said:

I don’t think I’m getting carried away to be fair - we have one of the best squads in this division, finally playing to somewhere near their potential, full of confidence, at home to a well organised and competent side with players at a good but on average lesser standard than ours, who just got smacked 4-0 (at an average Sheffield United) so are presumably not full of confidence.

It should be a routine comfortable home win. Of course, with well over 40 years of saints’ very special “scar tissue” I am very aware we are capable of cocking it up. But it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be 3 points comfortably won.

I totally get your point and confidence,  other than Millwall just a week ago was an example of where we still have weaknesses. 

WBA just lost to QPR (it was Stoke who got beat 4-0 at Sheff Utd) 

[Chez]

5 hours ago, Oisin said:

Should be a routine comfortable win. No need to change anything in the starting 11, just swap Aribo for Wellington on the bench and I’ll be happy.

I think "routine comfortable win" predictions are reserved for league 1 promotion winning sides containing the likes of Fonte, Lambert et al. It's literally one game ago that we we putting in a woeful display at Millwall and even Saturdays terrific display didn't lead to a "comfortable" win. 

[Chez]

2 hours ago, saintoaks said:

Want to see a bit more in the second half of games (including the subs), don't know if it's the managers tactics are to sit in and hit teams on the break, he keeps on about clean sheets so maybe thats why. Millwall found us out, Birmingham didnt, so will be interesting to see what West Brom do. I'm sure they will have a plan for Fellows but they will still have to work Leo out as well. Going to be an open game again. It's been great to watch some of our play recently, long may this continue. UTS 

I hope they don't have video of Saturdays game, which I felt was different to a lot of previous games in the way Fellow got the ball with his back to goal and look to immediately come inside, leaving the full back for dead and causing havoc as he opened up the entire pitch. Time after time he relieved pressure AND got us on the attack. Hopefully they haven't seen this and he can continue to do it. It made a huge difference to our game.

[Midfield_General]

4 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Tonda, Presser

• I did my last coaching badges in Italy. The first thing they talk about is the result, then development and then entertaining
• I prefer to win than be entertaining. Winning is most important
• I would prefer to win ugly than lose beautifully

"Pffft, you'll never get anywhere with a philosophy like that"

[tdmickey3]

4 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

 

Tonda, Presser

 

• Arma is good, all is fine after a knock
• Players are fine and ready to go again
• Quarshie was brought in against Leicester for tactical reasons, not to rest players
• If you look at the table, we are a little far away from top 6
• We need to take 1 game at a time, sounds boring but that is the reality
• Still many many points to play for
• It is important that we declare our ambition for promotion, but we need to back it up on the pitch
• Mason as had an unbelievable journey as a manager
• They have high outputs; it will be an intense game as we must match that
• They are a better team than the table tells us
• They are very physical, and it will not be easy
• I know some of their players, they are very strong
• Their main striker is excellent, very good holding the ball up, very strong
• He likes to attack certain areas in the box, we must defend those areas well
• We are on a 3-goal average now and credit to the boys
• We must improve; we must defend and put it all on the line
• We will need to tweak a few things still
• The desire not to concede on Sat was very pleasing
• I did my last coaching badges in Italy. The first thing they talk about is the result, then development and then entertaining
• I prefer to win than be entertaining, but we want our supporters to enjoy themselves. Winning is most important
• I would prefer to win ugly than lose beautifully
• I talk with Spors daily, and we have a good connection between all levels of the set up
• We have very good conversations; we are happy with the squad for the moment
• Not being the assistant my opinion counts for more. We are looking how to improve and will continue that

So no goalkeeper then.... oh dear

[Chez]

1 hour ago, tdmickey3 said:

So no goalkeeper then.... oh dear

You seriously thought we might sign a keeper in January? I'd be amazed if we did.

Put bluntly, we have already got 3 keepers and we ain't adding another to the considerable keeper wage bill. If one was injured for the rest of the season, then they'd act, but as much as you and a lot of Saints fans want it, the club isn't going to bring in a fourth keeper in January. Come the summer, McCarthy will be out of contract, Long's loan will end and Ramsdale will return, allbeit probably temporarily. This is when the club can and will consider its keeping options. Right now, their hands are pretty tied. We might want better, but we have what we have and we have to make do.

[St Louis]

19 minutes ago, Chez said:

Right now, their hands are pretty tied.

The keepers'? That explains it!

[LGTL]

Looking at Eckert’s comments I wouldn’t be surprised to see Quarshie back in for this. 

[saintant]

32 minutes ago, LGTL said:

Looking at Eckert’s comments I wouldn’t be surprised to see Quarshie back in for this. 

Didn't pick up that vibe to be honest. He was asked about dropping Stephens for Quarshie against Leicester but explained it was to combat the pace of their front three - not sure WBA are as quick up front.

[egg]

1 hour ago, LGTL said:

Looking at Eckert’s comments I wouldn’t be surprised to see Quarshie back in for this. 

I got a sense of that - a big but mobile lump up top possibly leans towards Quarshie.