Saints vs Millwall - Thursday 3pm

[Lighthouse]

Games coming thick and fast. I'd like to think and hope that Leo not starting against Brum means he'll be in the team for this one. 

[Mattio]

Is there any hope for 4 at the back?

[Toadhall Saint]

Home win

[AlexLaw76]

1-1 Draw

Fully expect us to play 3 at the back, come out lightening fast, take the lead and look good. Then the 2nd half will happen, their manager will switch it up, push us back and we let is a soft equaliser as Tonda does nothing with his subs but change like for like.

 

[Forester]

McCarthy

Jelert, THB, Wood, Welington

Bragg, Jander

Fellows, Robinson, Scienza

Armstrong

 

 

[bangkoksaint]

43 minutes ago, Forester said:

McCarthy

Jelert, THB, Wood, Welington

Bragg, Jander

Fellows, Robinson, Scienza

Armstrong

 

 

Not a hope sadly that McCarthy is starting. Tonder was positevely purring about Bazunu last night

[Harry_SFC]

1 hour ago, Mattio said:

Is there any hope for 4 at the back?

No

[whelk]

3-1 Saints 

[Toussaint]

Millwall will outfight and outmuscle us, as per.

[S-Clarke]

Does anyone know what's happened to Smallbone? I thought he was doing fairly well there at the start of the season, but he doesn't even make the squads nowadays.

I assume he's injured, he does seem very injury prone tbh. Another one worth scrapping off long term I think.

[Toussaint]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Does anyone know what's happened to Smallbone? I thought he was doing fairly well there at the start of the season, but he doesn't even make the squads nowadays.

I assume he's injured, he does seem very injury prone tbh. Another one worth scrapping off long term I think.

https://southwarknews.co.uk/sport/football/millwall/millwall-boss-reveals-timeline-for-when-will-smallbone-might-be-back/

“Will’s not good,” Neil said. “Will’s certainly going to be months rather than weeks. Unfortunately, it’s not good news.”

Asked if it will be a similar timeline to Josh Coburn, who has been ruled out for months with a quad injury, Neil said: “Potentially, yeah.”

[Turkish]

5 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Does anyone know what's happened to Smallbone? I thought he was doing fairly well there at the start of the season, but he doesn't even make the squads nowadays.

I assume he's injured, he does seem very injury prone tbh. Another one worth scrapping off long term I think.

been out for a couple of months with a hamstring injury, not that he'd be able to play NYD anyway

[Barton Saint]

We owe them one after that jammy last minute winner and the earlier goal 

[Convict Colony]

fucking millwall again !!!

Hopefully they have used their cb thunderbolt screamer tokens last time against us.

[Chris cooper]

The rot stopped !! 4-2 saints 

[Harry_SFC]

They had us figured out at their place a few weeks ago and no doubt we will play the exact same way. Also expecting the same outcome. 

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, bangkoksaint said:

Not a hope sadly that McCarthy is starting. Tonder was positevely purring about Bazunu last night

Obviously missed their goal then.  Fucking liability.  

[Wade Garrett]

If we play 3 centre-backs with crisp packet hands behind them we won’t win.

For fucks sake, play 4-2–3-1.  

[Mboto Gorge]

The SR blueprint is to play Baz at all costs, so now they’ve got their own little project in as manager, don’t expect that to change regardless of the results, or his performances 

Edited yesterday at 17:15 by Mboto Gorge

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

More dross no doubt.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 hours ago, Forester said:

McCarthy

Jelert, THB, Wood, Welington

Bragg, Jander

Fellows, Robinson, Scienza

Armstrong

 

 

This is the team and formation which logically should be playing subject to fitness but we all know won’t be. 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

6 hours ago, Mattio said:

Is there any hope for 4 at the back?

In 2 weeks. 

[Gloucester Saint]

26 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

More dross no doubt.

Fucking boring to boot.

[whelk]

1 hour ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

More dross no doubt.

Fuck me our fans. Have you watched the last few home games? Oh I forgot we didn’t demolish the league leaders but hey forget all the games before that

Edited yesterday at 20:10 by whelk

[Pamplemousse]

They seem to be far better at home than away. Hopefully back to normal service, at home we'll be too good for them.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Three CBs, no improvement from the last few games, borefest of a match.

Somehow a 1-1 draw with the classic Tonda post-match line of “We go into every game aiming for three points”.

He’s almost as cliche as Russell Martin and “brave” or “courageous”.

[die Mannyschaft]

Saints 1-1.

We just cant defend and keep letting in easy goals like the head tennis one at Birmingham. I still cant work out what stye or formation we either should be playing or are playing. If the same subs come on as in away game then 1-4.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

2 hours ago, whelk said:

Fuck me our fans. Have you watched the last few home games? Oh I forgot we didn’t demolish the league leaders but hey forget all the games before that

Watched plenty of home and away games.

I'm just tired of the extremes of the season and I cant raise myself of being confident considering Saints have only beaten 3 of the teams above them in the table as it currently stands.

If Saints win, then great!

[Osvaldorama]

2 hours ago, whelk said:

Fuck me our fans. Have you watched the last few home games? Oh I forgot we didn’t demolish the league leaders but hey forget all the games before that

Yes how dare we be annoyed that a premier league team is bottom half of the championship. 
 

Why don’t you try complaining about the ridiculously shit performances instead of the fanbase?

[InvictaSaint]

5 hours ago, Mboto Gorge said:

The SR blueprint is to play Baz at all costs, so now they’ve got their own little project in as manager, don’t expect that to change regardless of the results, or his performances 

The problem is there is zero logic to this. Ask yourself why. Why would SR ensure Baz plays at all costs? He is statistically and demonstrably the worst keeper in the league. We know that, opposition teams know that, Opta know that. What do SR gain by insisting he plays? Who benefits? The team? No. The club? No. Nobody will buy him. He’s not exactly putting himself in the shop window. So why? I don’t know why people are so desperate to see conspiracies when clearly none exists. It’s totally illogical. Baz may be the lesser of two evils given how TE wants to play, but to suggest he’s being made to play him is just nuts. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Same side as usual, with similar approach.

Baz

THB - Wood - Stephens/ Quarshie

Fellows- Downes - Jander - Manning

Azaz - Scienza

AA

Scienza makes the difference. Hopefully with Azaz getting more central and supporting.

Subs on merit: Jelert, Matsuki, Robinson, Archer, Bragg

A win for us!

 

[Fabrice29]

6 hours ago, Mboto Gorge said:

The SR blueprint is to play Baz at all costs, so now they’ve got their own little project in as manager, don’t expect that to change regardless of the results, or his performances 

All costs except the actual cost it took to buy Ramsdale. Are conspiracy theories really this dumb now?

[trousers]

22 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

All costs except the actual cost it took to buy Ramsdale. Are conspiracy theories really this dumb now?

One would venture there was an implied "whilst we're not in the Premier League" in his statement, which non-dumb people would probably have been able to deduce...

[Nolan]

We have 13 points out of 15 in our last 5 home games, only dropping points to Cov.

Jelert, Matsuki and Bragg look like they could be pushing for regular squad places and threatening the regular starters, so i believe our levels will go up.

Forum miserys will one day look at the differences between our home form and away form, until then, they'll just have to put up with another home win.

[whelk]

9 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Yes how dare we be annoyed that a premier league team is bottom half of the championship. 
 

Why don’t you try complaining about the ridiculously shit performances instead of the fanbase?

Oh fuck off you feeble twat. Do you moan about everything in your life as being unfair and something you can’t cope with?
Boo fucking hoo we won our last 4 home games and then drew one, our worst home form in living memory. Millwall will beat us 4-0 nailed on.

[Mboto Gorge]

9 hours ago, InvictaSaint said:

The problem is there is zero logic to this. Ask yourself why. Why would SR ensure Baz plays at all costs? He is statistically and demonstrably the worst keeper in the league. We know that, opposition teams know that, Opta know that. What do SR gain by insisting he plays? Who benefits? The team? No. The club? No. Nobody will buy him. He’s not exactly putting himself in the shop window. So why? I don’t know why people are so desperate to see conspiracies when clearly none exists. It’s totally illogical. Baz may be the lesser of two evils given how TE wants to play, but to suggest he’s being made to play him is just nuts. 

You’re right, it defies all logic. To continually play a keeper who’s statistically and visually the worst in the clubs history to have played the number of games he has, it is bonkers but I’m all out of alternative reasons as to why you’d keep picking a clown like this who’s relentlessly costing us points. It’s merely coincidence that everyone - fans, pundits, other teams coaches, think he’s a poor keeper and the weak link of the team - yet remarkably the only ones who apparently don’t are the managers we’ve had lately under this ownership. Wonder what the connection is? Let me dumb it down a bit - I wouldn’t say managers are being “forced” to play him, but there’s almost certainly something going on where there’s some encouragement from within to persist with him. Hence buying a waste of time 3rd choice keeper who won’t ever get near to challenging him. 

[Hawkswood]

Probably just me but without a target man I'd like to see a 4 4 2 but I know ( like any formation with a back 4) it has no chance of happening

[InvictaSaint]

51 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

You’re right, it defies all logic. To continually play a keeper who’s statistically and visually the worst in the clubs history to have played the number of games he has, it is bonkers but I’m all out of alternative reasons as to why you’d keep picking a clown like this who’s relentlessly costing us points. It’s merely coincidence that everyone - fans, pundits, other teams coaches, think he’s a poor keeper and the weak link of the team - yet remarkably the only ones who apparently don’t are the managers we’ve had lately under this ownership. Wonder what the connection is? Let me dumb it down a bit - I wouldn’t say managers are being “forced” to play him, but there’s almost certainly something going on where there’s some encouragement from within to persist with him. Hence buying a waste of time 3rd choice keeper who won’t ever get near to challenging him. 

No need to “dumb it down”, certainly not for my benefit. The issue is the central tenet of your posts - that “there’s some encouragement from within to persist with him” - doesn’t stand up to even the slightest scrutiny. Why therefore would SR - who are publicly on record as stating that they want/need us to get promoted - insist that a manager plays a keeper who is objectively and undeniably the worst in the league and who almost certainly won’t help them achieve their stated aim? What possible benefit is their to SR in forcing / encouraging TE to play GB? None at all. The argument over why managers under SR always pick GB is a non starter too. What has the choice always been? AM or GB - with the exception of when SR thought “shit, we need a competent keeper” and bought AR. Oh and when WS dropped GB too. There is no conspiracy or Machiavellian shenanigans. TE sees what’s on offer and decides GB is marginally the less shit of two mediocre options for how he wants to play. That’s it. 

[hypochondriac]

21 hours ago, Forester said:

McCarthy

Jelert, THB, Wood, Welington

Bragg, Jander

Fellows, Robinson, Scienza

Armstrong

 

 

Worth continuong to post this before every game until someone gets the message. 

[Scummer]

If have thought we'd be very unlikely to change the formation in the middle of such a busy run of games, even if Tonda wanted to. First chance to try anything different would likely be the FA Cup match. 

[Saint NL]

We'll win but it won't be convincing.

 

[coalman]

Millwall worked out how to neutralise us pretty comfortably last time. Will be a good test of whether Eckert can adapt.

[Lone ranger]

23 hours ago, Forester said:

McCarthy

Jelert, THB, Wood, Welington

Bragg, Jander

Fellows, Robinson, Scienza

Armstrong

 

 

That is a great shout. I noticed how Bragg has a play forward mindset while all aground him walk around and instinctively pass backwards or sideways. Our style of play last game was unbearably boring and pointless until late in the game. Would like to see THB up front to give height and heading skill. He also has a decent shot on him and can get in among the defenders with a bit of aggression. 

[trousers]

43 minutes ago, Lone ranger said:

I noticed how Bragg has a play forward mindset while all aground him walk around and instinctively pass backwards or sideways.

He's only played a handful of games.... give it another few months and we'll knock that natural instinct out of him....

(Said in jest, but with an element of truth, sadly....)

Edited 9 hours ago by trousers

[Morse]

Bazuna will play it out to THB, THB  will square it to Jack Stephens, Millwall will push up hard, Jack Stephens cant find an out in midfield, shits himself and plays it back to Bazuna who will restart the exercise until either JS, THB, or Bazuna drops a clanger and Millwall go one up. 

[Obstacle1]

Maybe someone can correct me if im wrong but my recollection of the year we went up under Martin is that Bazunu got injured and we switched to Mccarthy and that coincided with an increase in form?

I dont care for Mccarthy much either but I think its time to switch again

[markr27]

Suspect it'll be three at the back, with Manning in that position at half way where he plays it backwards and sideways but the occasional hard hit pass forward.

Baz

THB Wood Quarshie

Jelert Bragg Jander Manning

AA Scienza

Archer

 

TE may even spring a surprise and play Fellows inside of Archer, or keep Azaz in if he doesn't fancy playing him at Boro on Sunday?

Edited 6 hours ago by markr27

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Obstacle1 said:

Maybe someone can correct me if im wrong but my recollection of the year we went up under Martin is that Bazunu got injured and we switched to Mccarthy and that coincided with an increase in form?

I dont care for Mccarthy much either but I think its time to switch again

My recollection of this season is that switching to Bazunu coincided with an increase in form.

[coalman]

1 hour ago, Obstacle1 said:

Maybe someone can correct me if im wrong but my recollection of the year we went up under Martin is that Bazunu got injured and we switched to Mccarthy and that coincided with an increase in form?

I dont care for Mccarthy much either but I think its time to switch again

He played 8 times all season. Admittedly that did include the playoffs.

The thing which really coincided with our form increasing was Stephens getting injured. That was at the start of our record unbeaten run. The Stephens came back and we nearly blew our shot at the playoffs.

[Obstacle1]

15 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

My recollection of this season is that switching to Bazunu coincided with an increase in form.

It did but do you think he was the determining factor?