Birmingham 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[saintant]

10 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

You can’t seriously be blaming him for that melee? Shouldn't Stephens, the Captain no less, have that responsibility? 

Bazunu needs to learn to open his mouth because that is part of a goalkeeper's job.

[SW11_Saint]

29 minutes ago, saintant said:

Bazunu needs to learn to open his mouth because that is part of a goalkeeper's job.

No argument there. But it still doesn’t absolve Stephens & Co. Talking of, Arma too - our silent (deputy) Captain. 

[rallyboy]

Let's just hope that 2026 sees the return of that old fashioned idea that served us well for 135 years - a centre forward.

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

No argument there. But it still doesn’t absolve Stephens & Co. Talking of, Arma too - our silent (deputy) Captain. 

You were a huge supporter of the decision to renew Stephens contract in the summer, siting it as good due to his leadership and experience.

As we all said at the time it was flawed, and it was a decision which pretty much nailed our trajectory this season.

[tdmickey3]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

That’s not actually true. What I don’t do is wet the bed about managers all the time, despite being on our 4th one this year (and only this one is actually having any sign of actually improving anything). 

It is true, the only manager you have spoken out about was Juric but that was because he replaced your hero .

[derry]

Yet again another garbage display with the back three passing sideways ably abetted by nearly everybody else who passed it back to them. Birmingham just got their whole team into defence which meant when, more often if the ball got into the final third we were outnumbered and blocked snatching at shots. I don't think Wood made anything other than sideways ten yard passes all game.

The first five games were entirely different with less possession which is purely a count of passes, most of ours in our final third. I don't buy this possession crap. We have the players to destroy teams but are neutering them. Coventry v Ipswich last night was as different as chalk from cheese. We are saddled with a defensively non existent left back, three ball watching centre backs and a midget up front. 

We need a physical centre forward for the others to play off and trade it off by playing four at the back. I quite like Armstrong from Bristol City for dynamism and putting defenders under pressure. That creates space and panic for the others to exploit. also allows the ball to be played forward.

Edited yesterday at 11:53 by derry

[saint michael]

Eckhart says he is playing to win but I think he is playing not to lose in the hope we win. Keep possession as the main defence tactic and hope we create enough chances to put a couple away. What has happened recently is we haven’t taken the chances the same and our shit defence can’t defend other than pass the ball along the back and between them and the midfield. 

[Fabrice29]

55 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

It is true, the only manager you have spoken out about was Juric but that was because he replaced your hero .

So did I speak out about him or do I never criticise the managers however bad they do? Make your mind up you wally. 

If someone can point me in the direction of how having 4 managers in 2025 and still pretty much having the same spine of the team is going to bring about drastic change, I’ll happily start jumping on board a manager change train, but given I think our problems lie elsewhere and the only manager who has actually got some results is the one who has the benefit of new players settled into the side, I’ll probably continue to leave it for now if that’s okay with you? 

Edited yesterday at 12:27 by Fabrice29

[West Dean FC Legend]

The way things are going, the play, the players, the different managers, I think we can see that within the club and the majority of senior players we have absolutely live by the 'tippy-tappy passing back and forth game'. Russ Martin installed it, hugged everyone, told them it was the best way to play, the team got promoted playing it and now it is entrenched in the very fabric of the club because of that 'instant' success, doesn't matter about losing two games 5-0 or the embarassing relegation, it WORKS!

The players definitely want to play it and I think the senior managment are tied to it.

It is boring and crap but I feel SFC are stuck with it until some major changes happen, so it doesn't really matter who the manager is, doesn't really matter who we sign on - we will tippy-tappy our supporters and opponents into comas.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

So did I speak out about him or do I never criticise the managers however bad they do? Make your mind up you wally. 

If someone can point me in the direction of how having 4 managers in 2025 and still pretty much having the same spine of the team is going to bring about drastic change, I’ll happily start jumping on board a manager change train, but given I think our problems lie elsewhere and the only manager who has actually got some results is the one who has the benefit of new players settled into the side, I’ll probably continue to leave it for now if that’s okay with you? 

I don't fully disagree with you on this one, I believe the problems go far deeper than any manager here today. The makeup of the squad is all wrong to start with. But...that does all boil down to the ownership making bad decision after bad decision with the managers since Ralph, which has created us such a confused and odd looking squad caught between a few playing styles. (add the constant cycle of DoF's to that as well)

For this season in particular I believe the club have needlessly gambled and thrown away a season to try and be clever and seen as 'revolutionary' by appointing a left field choice, when in many ways it's like throwing a lamb to the slaughter with the mishmash of a squad we have. 

[LGTL]

2 hours ago, tdmickey3 said:

It really isn’t worth asking him questions that suggest manager/coach criticism because he supports everything they do however bad it is.

And we all know why. 

[LGTL]

28 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't fully disagree with you on this one, I believe the problems go far deeper than any manager here today. The makeup of the squad is all wrong to start with. But...that does all boil down to the ownership making bad decision after bad decision with the managers since Ralph, which has created us such a confused and odd looking squad caught between a few playing styles. (add the constant cycle of DoF's to that as well)

For this season in particular I believe the club have needlessly gambled and thrown away a season to try and be clever and seen as 'revolutionary' by appointing a left field choice, when in many ways it's like throwing a lamb to the slaughter with the mishmash of a squad we have. 

Spot on.

The bit that defies belief for me though is that they appointed a massively young, inexperienced gamble and when that inevitably went tits up, they fucking well doubled down and appointed ANOTHER massively young, inexperienced gamble. 

They've managed to throw away the season not once, but twice 😂

Just complete and utter bellends.

[Gloucester Saint]

31 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

The way things are going, the play, the players, the different managers, I think we can see that within the club and the majority of senior players we have absolutely live by the 'tippy-tappy passing back and forth game'. Russ Martin installed it, hugged everyone, told them it was the best way to play, the team got promoted playing it and now it is entrenched in the very fabric of the club because of that 'instant' success, doesn't matter about losing two games 5-0 or the embarassing relegation, it WORKS!

The players definitely want to play it and I think the senior managment are tied to it.

It is boring and crap but I feel SFC are stuck with it until some major changes happen, so it doesn't really matter who the manager is, doesn't really matter who we sign on - we will tippy-tappy our supporters and opponents into comas.

Relegations and administration is the only escape.

[Roo1976]

23 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Hopefully it will apply to Manning, Bazunu and Stephens too, permanently 

nearly every time Manning received the ball in space he passed it straight back to the player who gave it him. No point in trying to keep recycling the ball for possessions sake,and as for defending hes really IMO not upto it. What i saw last night is a continuing panicked defence that are so not very well coached in defending.This is just not aimed at last nights performance but ongoing still from at least 2 seasons of

[trousers]

15 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Relegations and administration is the only escape.

This, sadly. Didn't do us any harm last time, mind you.... as long as we get another Liebherr / Cortese esque combo when we hit the bottom...

Edited yesterday at 13:19 by trousers

[VectisSaint]

15 hours ago, saintant said:

I was taking the last 4 games.

then you should have referenced that in your post. <disables MLG mode> 😉

[lambtiss]

4 hours ago, saintant said:

Bazunu needs to learn to open his mouth because that is part of a goalkeeper's job.

I think we can all safely assume by now that Bazunu doesn't seem to learn anything. He just needs to be replaced by a better keeper.

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, LGTL said:

And we all know why. 

Why?

[davefizzy14]

The pass from Bragg to Jelert and Jelert's cross to Archer to finish was brilliant 😊 just frustrating we couldn't go onto win last night.

[lambtiss]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't fully disagree with you on this one, I believe the problems go far deeper than any manager here today. The makeup of the squad is all wrong to start with. But...that does all boil down to the ownership making bad decision after bad decision with the managers since Ralph, which has created us such a confused and odd looking squad caught between a few playing styles. (add the constant cycle of DoF's to that as well)

For this season in particular I believe the club have needlessly gambled and thrown away a season to try and be clever and seen as 'revolutionary' by appointing a left field choice, when in many ways it's like throwing a lamb to the slaughter with the mishmash of a squad we have. 

The one common factor uniting the management choice under SR is that they were relatively unknown and all with either no experience at a higher level and/or no management experience in this country. Two of them given their first management job.

Almost as though the football strategy was more important than the manager. With Martin, the two (strategy and manager) coincided.

A strongwilled manager, respected at the level we are appointing for does not seem to be a recruitment factor 

 

[CB Fry]

12 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

The one common factor uniting the management choice under SR is that they were relatively unknown and all with either no experience at a higher level and/or no management experience in this country. Two of them given their first management job.

Almost as though the football strategy was more important than the manager. With Martin, the two (strategy and manager) coincided.

A strongwilled manager, respected at the level we are appointing for does not seem to be a recruitment factor 

 

The idea that Juric and Nathan Jones (for example) aren't "strong willed" is ridiculous. Russell Martin was /is very stubborn.

They are just appointing the wrong candidates for the role.

I know it is a favourite topic on this forum but I think the idea that there is some overarching dominant vision that is driving everything is being massively overplayed.

Jones then Martin then Juric then Still don't even play the same way. 

It's all far more scattergun than some are making out.

[Greedyfly]

1 minute ago, CB Fry said:

The idea that Juric and Nathan Jones (for example) aren't "strong willed" is ridiculous. Russell Martin was /is very stubborn.

They are just appointing the wrong candidates for the role.

I know it is a favourite topic on this forum but I think the idea that there is some overarching dominant vision that is driving everything is being massively overplayed.

Jones then Martin then Juric then Still don't even play the same way. 

It's all far more scattergun than some are making out.

Couldn't agree more, we seem to be looking for any other answer than "we have shit players, an inexperienced manager and as a result are playing average football".  Fuck me I can't believe how different we suddenly look again from 3 weeks ago - which was world's away from how we were playing 3 weeks prior to that.  Can we just start doing that again please but with a plan B when it doesn't work - which might well involve an actual 'hold up' CF.

[LaptopSaint]

Players who are 24 or under - Bazunu, Bellis, Wood, Quarshie, Edwards, Wellington, Jelert, Bragg, Charles, Jander, Fellows, Matsuki, Robinson, Archer, Downs (yup). Azaz is only 25. Mads 26. Leo 27. Tonda 32 🤣
 

I’m resigned to a mid table season, but I think there could be a proper promotion push next year when some (but not all) of the above are one season smarter and one season better. 
 

Haters gonna hate. 

[West Dean FC Legend]

If there isn't a dominant vision and a way of approaching football in this club then explain why it has publicly been stated the players like our current manager and the way he plays the game, they stated they were happy.....guess what? He plays tippy tappy pointless passing. Still didn't, players didn't back him - sacked, Juric didn't players didn't peform - sacked.

Maybe is it a coincidence except we all know what egomanics players are, and people on here have said some players looked like the couldn't be arsed in some games. I wonder why that was then?....

[inspectorfrost]

In Tonda's early games the midfield were picking the ball up and driving at the opposing team like their life depended on it, it put the opposition under all sorts of pressure.

Now they seem to have gone back to the pointless short passes at the back which puts us under all sorts of self-inflicted pressure. The worst thing is what happens as a result of it so utterly predictable, because it is so easy to play against.

Edited yesterday at 16:36 by inspectorfrost

[tdmickey3]

4 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

So did I speak out about him or do I never criticise the managers however bad they do? Make your mind up you wally. 

If someone can point me in the direction of how having 4 managers in 2025 and still pretty much having the same spine of the team is going to bring about drastic change, I’ll happily start jumping on board a manager change train, but given I think our problems lie elsewhere and the only manager who has actually got some results is the one who has the benefit of new players settled into the side, I’ll probably continue to leave it for now if that’s okay with you? 

Only one wally here and it isn’t me.

 

[CB Fry]

57 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

If there isn't a dominant vision and a way of approaching football in this club then explain why it has publicly been stated the players like our current manager and the way he plays the game, they stated they were happy.....guess what? He plays tippy tappy pointless passing. Still didn't, players didn't back him - sacked, Juric didn't players didn't peform - sacked.

Maybe is it a coincidence except we all know what egomanics players are, and people on here have said some players looked like the couldn't be arsed in some games. I wonder why that was then?....

You know the same people hired Juric and Still, right? They don't get drafted into Southampton out of nowhere.

It's just people deciding on a conspiracy theory and disregarding anything that doesn't fit it.

Edited yesterday at 16:50 by CB Fry

[saintant]

4 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

then you should have referenced that in your post. <disables MLG mode> 😉

Very easy maths.4÷4=1. Thought you'd be able to work it out 🙂

Edited yesterday at 18:59 by saintant

[saintant]

2 hours ago, davefizzy14 said:

The pass from Bragg to Jelert and Jelert's cross to Archer to finish was brilliant 😊 just frustrating we couldn't go onto win last night.

Yeah, more of that please.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

7 hours ago, saintant said:

Bazunu needs to learn to open his mouth because that is part of a goalkeeper's job.

And there's more chance of him catching it between his teeth than with his hands, if it's hit low and to the left. 🙂

[DT]

5 hours ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

The way things are going, the play, the players, the different managers, I think we can see that within the club and the majority of senior players we have absolutely live by the 'tippy-tappy passing back and forth game'. Russ Martin installed it, hugged everyone, told them it was the best way to play, the team got promoted playing it and now it is entrenched in the very fabric of the club because of that 'instant' success, doesn't matter about losing two games 5-0 or the embarassing relegation, it WORKS!

The players definitely want to play it and I think the senior managment are tied to it.

It is boring and crap but I feel SFC are stuck with it until some major changes happen, so it doesn't really matter who the manager is, doesn't really matter who we sign on - we will tippy-tappy our supporters and opponents into comas.

I think they want to play it because they are a lazy bunch - not one of them seems to want to roll their sleeves up and put in a real shift. Which is why we keep putting out these insipid performances. The only game where we came out and played with pace, gutso and abandon was Charlton away. And look what happened there.

Tme to allow Eckert to play as he wants to, not how Rassmus Twattersen is dictating between caressing his own hair and licking his frayed photo of Thomas Frank, get rid of Bazunu, avctually buy a decent replacement and not say 'ooh, we have Ramsdale and he is definitiely coming back' because he isn't, and actually buy a decent muscular striker with pace, power and a bit of height, not say 'ooh we have our crock back in training and he's definitely coming back' because he isn't. Finally, get SR out of the club completely, and try to rid the Russball virus from the place completely. Which probably means Stephens and Downes going too. And Armstrong. God, what an unlikeable team we appear to be lumbered with.

Slow, dull, boring. And always going for the cheapo option.

[skintsaint]

After that performance this is all you needed...

 

 

[SW11_Saint]

6 hours ago, skintsaint said:

After that performance this is all you needed...

 

 

It’s bollocks. It’s an old BBC story from nearly 2 years ago. 
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-68004690

 

Edited 20 hours ago by SW11_Saint

[SW11_Saint]

13 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

You were a huge supporter of the decision to renew Stephens contract in the summer, siting it as good due to his leadership and experience.

As we all said at the time it was flawed, and it was a decision which pretty much nailed our trajectory this season.

Not sure I’d term myself a ‘huge supporter’ of it, but I did say I  understood what their reasoning might be - consistency under new management, wider club influence esp. supporting younger players, leadership off the pitch etc. I also said I wouldn’t have him in my starting XI. 

To suggest that one decision has ‘nailed our trajectory’ is, with respect, total nonsense. 

[DT]

19 hours ago, skintsaint said:

After that performance this is all you needed...

 

 

Stationary and without direction even if it had the correct tools for the job, as well as now being light up front. If only there was a metaphor for Saints we could leap on

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

15 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

It’s bollocks. It’s an old BBC story from nearly 2 years ago. 
 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-68004690

 

Maybe not - regular thing in the area apparently

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25731157.southampton-fc-fans-cars-stripped-thieves-near-st-andrews/

[Lone ranger]

On 30/12/2025 at 12:32, West Dean FC Legend said:

The way things are going, the play, the players, the different managers, I think we can see that within the club and the majority of senior players we have absolutely live by the 'tippy-tappy passing back and forth game'. Russ Martin installed it, hugged everyone, told them it was the best way to play, the team got promoted playing it and now it is entrenched in the very fabric of the club because of that 'instant' success, doesn't matter about losing two games 5-0 or the embarassing relegation, it WORKS!

The players definitely want to play it and I think the senior managment are tied to it.

It is boring and crap but I feel SFC are stuck with it until some major changes happen, so it doesn't really matter who the manager is, doesn't really matter who we sign on - we will tippy-tappy our supporters and opponents into comas.

Exactly this. In plain sight for all to see. I watched bits of all last night’s prem matches and no team plays walking pace sideways and backwards football any more. It is uber boring to watch and doesn’t work. Even the likes of West Ham and Burnley and Wolves played entertaining football and were in with a chance in their respective games. Good teams pass the ball to arrive just in front of an advancing player to create momentum. Apart from Leo (and Bragg) we rarely see that. Most clubs use throw-ins to generate momentum. Ours invariably take for ever, no one comes looking to receive the ball and meanwhile the opponents can regroup and defend.  There is a complete lack of urgency and that is what will get us fans excited and the opposition rattled.