Doncaster vs Saints - Saturday 10th 3pm

[Fabrice29]

10 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

He said something like now he's a bit fitter and can play more they have options for the formation. If he does go to 4 now that will be the excuse rather than admitting he's buckled to fan and pundit pressure. Weak

Having someone available to play at right back isn’t an excuse is it? It’s an explanation. If you want to miraculously come up with a fit right back we’ve had available then we’re all ears.

Also if he’s weak now suddenly changing the formation, if he does, then does that mean you’d rather he didn’t? 

[Appy]

2 hours ago, Chez said:

Do you mean he is likely to be sold  because we have loaned a keeper?

In fairness, I’d want him sold even if all our other goalkeepers were injured. 

[Football Special]

Any updates on the weather in Doncaster? 

[Gloucester Saint]

9 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Any updates on the weather in Doncaster? 

See 08.36

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c70le643x50t

[die Mannyschaft]

5 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

See 08.36

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c70le643x50t

Anything between -1c to 2c with clear sky it maybe are 25% of pitch which was frozen v Luton could be the same issue. BBC weather is always put by 5c its completely unreliable. Saints coach leaves Eastleigh 8.15am so by the time inspection done at midday we will already be halfway. 

[die Mannyschaft]

[Sheaf Saint]

Snow overnight last night in South Yorks. Rain forecast for today and freezing temperatures overnight tonight meaning black ice everywhere tomorrow morning.

Very little chance this goes ahead I reckon.

Edited 22 hours ago by Sheaf Saint

[Football Special]

25 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

See 08.36

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c70le643x50t

Thanks, sounds promising 

The snowman statue outside Doncaster railway station is smiling this morning - and so are many travellers here - and that could be because the town seems to have missed the worst of the weather from Storm Goretti so far.

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Snow overnight last night in South Yorks. Rain forecast for today and freezing temperatures overnight tonight meaning black ice everywhere tomorrow morning.

Very little chance this goes ahead I reckon.

Not so promising 

Team usually fly up late afternoon,  they'll probably have to do that regardless unless there's a very early pitch inspection 

[die Mannyschaft]

Doncaster doesn’t have under soil heating and rely on covers so its a parklife pitch like local park. 

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

Having someone available to play at right back isn’t an excuse is it? It’s an explanation. If you want to miraculously come up with a fit right back we’ve had available then we’re all ears.

Also if he’s weak now suddenly changing the formation, if he does, then does that mean you’d rather he didn’t? 

He should have changed the formation ages ago. Edwards has played effectively at right back in the past and jellert has been back for a number of games when we could have played him at rb and Fellows in midfield where he should be. 

I want Tonda to play 4 at the back but my suspicion that he might consider doing it now because he's felt a bit of pressure is pathetic. 

[Sir Ralph]

If we lose does he get the sack? I think not

If he plays 4,2,3,1 I think at least the fans will see he has shown flexibility. If he sticks with 5 at the back and we lose he is going to get pelters.

Edited 19 hours ago by Sir Ralph

[Pamplemousse]

10 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

If we lose does he get the sack? I think not

If he plays 4,2,3,1 I think at least the fans will see he has shown flexibility. If he sticks with 5 at the back and we lose he is going to get pelters.

I think we'd only sack him mid-season if we were in genuine relegation danger. 

If we do end up where we are at the moment, lower mid-table, we should sack him at the end of the season without a doubt.

[Sir Ralph]

21 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

I think we'd only sack him mid-season if we were in genuine relegation danger. 

If we do end up where we are at the moment, lower mid-table, we should sack him at the end of the season without a doubt.

Surely board ambition has to be to stay in touch with the play off places. If this goes on till February I can see them pulling the trigger as they will want every chance of making the play offs. Those parachute payments mean everything to them

[die Mannyschaft]

14 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

Surely board ambition has to be to stay in touch with the play off places. If this goes on till February I can see them pulling the trigger as they will want every chance of making the play offs. Those parachute payments mean everything to them

We are doing the same as Pompey and Barnsley. Just hoping that the setup at the club is at thd standard to get promoted. Its a wait and see what happens policy. The season hasn't ended so no one can say we won't get promoted as on paper plus games to go its possible. The only difference with Pompey and Barnsley is that they have substantially more funds at disposal should they want to buy promotion. Or like Wrexham just get the players in each season to get promotion simples.

[saintant]

5 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

We are doing the same as Pompey and Barnsley. Just hoping that the setup at the club is at thd standard to get promoted. Its a wait and see what happens policy. The season hasn't ended so no one can say we won't get promoted as on paper plus games to go its possible. The only difference with Pompey and Barnsley is that they have substantially more funds at disposal should they want to buy promotion. Or like Wrexham just get the players in each season to get promotion simples.

Not sure of the relevance of League One club Barnsley but am probably missing something.

[EssEffCee]

14 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

We are doing the same as Pompey and Barnsley. Just hoping that the setup at the club is at thd standard to get promoted. Its a wait and see what happens policy. The season hasn't ended so no one can say we won't get promoted as on paper plus games to go its possible. The only difference with Pompey and Barnsley is that they have substantially more funds at disposal should they want to buy promotion. Or like Wrexham just get the players in each season to get promotion simples.

How exactly have the skates and Barnsley got more funds at their disposal?

[CB Fry]

15 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

We are doing the same as Pompey and Barnsley. Just hoping that the setup at the club is at thd standard to get promoted. Its a wait and see what happens policy. The season hasn't ended so no one can say we won't get promoted as on paper plus games to go its possible. The only difference with Pompey and Barnsley is that they have substantially more funds at disposal should they want to buy promotion. Or like Wrexham just get the players in each season to get promotion simples.

Obvious troll is obvious.

[coalman]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

He should have changed the formation ages ago. Edwards has played effectively at right back in the past and jellert has been back for a number of games when we could have played him at rb and Fellows in midfield where he should be. 

I want Tonda to play 4 at the back but my suspicion that he might consider doing it now because he's felt a bit of pressure is pathetic. 

I want the team to play with some intensity instead of being passive and playing at walking pace. A formation change won't matter if we aren't able to compete.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

I want the team to play with some intensity instead of being passive and playing at walking pace. A formation change won't matter if we aren't able to compete.

I don't disagree. The formation is by no means entirely to blame, it's just one factor that can be changed.

[Pamplemousse]

Didn't realise Doncaster beat Middlesbrough 4-0 earlier this season...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4g6r4zgd4gt

 

[bangkoksaint]

2 hours ago, Sir Ralph said:

Surely board ambition has to be to stay in touch with the play off places. If this goes on till February I can see them pulling the trigger as they will want every chance of making the play offs. Those parachute payments mean everything to them

Yes……….unlike the fans, many of whom will be sacrificing their time and money again tomorrow - especially when the game maybe in doubt.

[S-Clarke]

37 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

Didn't realise Doncaster beat Middlesbrough 4-0 earlier this season...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c4g6r4zgd4gt

 

Christ, can you imagine if they do us 4-0. The Hull game would just become a 90min protest!

It's not beyond the realms of possibility that they turn us over, we're crap away from home. But they've really, really struggled all season - but cup games don't really go to form. It's a really obvious banana skin and they can't just throw the 'B' team out here, we've got to go fairly strong I think.

[Appy]

 

[Fabrice29]

5 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

He should have changed the formation ages ago. Edwards has played effectively at right back in the past and jellert has been back for a number of games when we could have played him at rb and Fellows in midfield where he should be. 

I want Tonda to play 4 at the back but my suspicion that he might consider doing it now because he's felt a bit of pressure is pathetic. 

Oooh so like a 3 cb on the pitch kind of situation? With a player playing slightly out of position but also one he knows well enough, like for example…fellows? 

btw number of games Jelert has been back for has included a cameo off the bench where he directly replaced the attacking genius who we’re completely mis using in Fellows and managed to get an assist and one where he played RWB and we got a clean sheet. The final game he’s been available for was Boro which if said attacking genius who we’re completely misusing could shoot, we’d have faired a lot better.

Edited 16 hours ago by Fabrice29

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Oooh so like a 3 cb on the pitch kind of situation? With a player playing slightly out of position but also one he knows well enough, like for example…fellows? 

btw number of games Jelert has been back for has included a cameo off the bench where he directly replaced the attacking genius who we’re completely mis using in Fellows and managed to get an assist and one where he played RWB and we got a clean sheet. The final game he’s been available for was Boro which if said attacking genius who we’re completely misusing could shoot, we’d have faired a lot better.

Edwards is a defender and has played at right back a number of times throughout his career. Playing Edwards at right back doesn't weaken another area of the team in the same way it does by not playing Fellows on the wing alongside Scienza. No one is claiming Fellows is a genius that's your disingenuous hyperbole but he is highly effective on the wing and particularly with Scienza on the other side. It also means we don't have to play three centre backs which is another one of our problems. 

[Totton Saint]

On 08/01/2026 at 13:03, Lighthouse said:

I'm not actually making it up though, am I.

 

 

Considering they play at walking pace they can't be so tired as to need a few day's break. However as it has been so cold lately, maybe I should not begrudge their break albeit my postie gets out in all weathers

[Sheaf Saint]

Gonna be wearing the 50th anniversary commemorative kit tomorrow then.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25750483.southampton-fc-announce-limited-edition-1976-kit-wear-fa-cup/

Those that get picked to play had better put in a performance worthy of wearing that shirt. 

[Noodles34]

2 hours ago, Appy said:

 

Looks promising. I’m on the 9.18 out of KX. Had visions of getting there  and then staying on for the return straight back. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Have we sold our 3,000 allocation now?

[davefizzy14]

Peretz has travelled with the squad 😊

[Football Special]

31 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Have we sold our 3,000 allocation now?

No , roughly 2500 sold when they went off sale, think we'll still have a fair % of total crowd 

[die Mannyschaft]

8 minutes ago, Football Special said:

No , roughly 2500 sold when they went off sale, think we'll still have a fair % of total crowd 

That's very good and will have about 1/3 of the attendance. 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, davefizzy14 said:

Peretz has travelled with the squad 😊

Looks like most of the first team squad from what I can see? 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

No , roughly 2500 sold when they went off sale, think we'll still have a fair % of total crowd 

Even as the football clubs do their best to devalue the competition it still holds a strong appeal to the fans, we've always travelled well in the cup, hopefully see a few cardboard cut out FA Cups covered in foil with yellow and blue ribbons on tomorrow 

[Harry_SFC]

31 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Looks like most of the first team squad from what I can see? 

Thought it would be an ideal match for Romeu to get some minutes but doesn't look like he's travelled. Also looks like no Bazunu, Manning, Jander or Azaz. 

Edited 9 hours ago by Harry_SFC

[Football Special]

43 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Thought it would be an ideal match for Romeu to get some minutes but doesn't look like he's travelled. Also looks like no Bazunu, Manning, Jander or Azaz. 

I think players who didn't get a break in international breaks have been given extended leave this week, would follow some logic 

[VectisSaint]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Looks like most of the first team squad from what I can see? 

I've watched it twice and fucked if I can see Bazunu, McCarthy is there. Also didn't spot Manning (yay), perhaps he is flying direct from Dubai. 

[Andy Hill]

Play the “1st team” - surely they can’t need a rest after strolling through the last match ?!

[die Mannyschaft]

9 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

Play the “1st team” - surely they can’t need a rest after strolling through the last match ?!

Got to be 1st as if lose then biggest embarrassment in years.

[Sheaf Saint]

11 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Got to be 1st as if lose then biggest embarrassment in years.

Grimsby fans might have something to say about that.

[Sheaf Saint]

26 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

I've watched it twice and fucked if I can see Bazunu, McCarthy is there. Also didn't spot Manning (yay), perhaps he is flying direct from Dubai. 

TBH, whether he's on the pitch or still sunning himself in Dubai, it wouldn't make much difference to the opposition wingers chances of getting crosses into our box. 

[Andy Hill]

Crosses that our 3 CBs can’t defend ?!

[pingpong]

26 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Got to be 1st as if lose then biggest embarrassment in years.

We've had a ton of bigger embarrassments in the last year alone, the whole club has been an embarrassment, losing to Doncaster in a cup noone cares about anymore would be a tiny footnote in the continued utter shit mess we've become.

[Verbal]

1 hour ago, Andy Hill said:

Crosses that our 3 CBs can’t defend ?!

There is absolutely not a chance in Sodom or Gomorrah that we'll play 3/5 at the back. I bet my reputation on it. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Verbal
Removed "You've no idea how small a bet that is"