Middlesbrough 4-0 Saints - Match Thread

[Miltonaggro]

8 minutes ago, saintant said:

Take a bow Baz - Boro have had 5 shots on target and 4 of them went into his net. What a fucking 'keeper!

If he actually took a bow more often he might actually fucking save one now and again. 

[stfrancisofbenali]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Probably really regretting his move. If he was staying he'd have a better chance at reaching the prem, not that he's good enough to play there. Awful mentality from the player.

He’s powderpuff and horribly inconsistent and would be found out in an instant in the Prem. Nowhere near that level. 

[hypochondriac]

Manning - awful championship defender 

Bazunu -non league keeper 

Wood -very average 

Jander-young and inconsistent 

Downes- crap mentally and not progressive 

Armstrong-good when he's on it and shite the rest of the time 

Azaz-losers mentality and soft as shite. The complete wrong player we needed to sign in that position given our team of losers. 

I've probably missed some out but what we needed in the summer was experience to change around our mentality and the best players playing in their best positions. That includes an experienced manager and players to complement the likes of Fellows and Scienza. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

2 minutes ago, Sergei Gotsmanov said:

I don't blame Sport Republic, they have spent the money. Who the hell is advising them?

Hmmmm.

I’m sure Rasmus is on the transfer committee.

[Miltonaggro]

9 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

The silver lining is, he will be fine for league one soon. We will find his level by hook or crook don’t worry

It’s way below league one. 

[CylonKing]

So glad I decided to spend the afternoon playing darts in the garage with my wife than watching this tergid dross. Time better spent I think!

Edited Sunday at 17:08 by CylonKing

[Baird of the land]

Guessing we can all look forward to captain Jack back in the starting line up after that.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Sergei Gotsmanov said:

I don't blame Sport Republic, they have spent the money. Who the hell is advising them?

 

4 minutes ago, Sergei Gotsmanov said:

I don't blame Sport Republic, they have spent the money. Who the hell is advising them?

https://www.rasmusankersen.com

[davefizzy14]

Why is there a refusal to change shape when it's required? It should have been done when it was 0-0 at half time.

[Fabrice29]

  

On 23/11/2025 at 12:24, Fabrice29 said:

Defenders who aren't very good at defending their box and keepers who aren't very good at saving shots.

  

On 14/11/2025 at 15:02, Fabrice29 said:

Rather than big long winded conspiracies analysing every action and non action of one man have we considered that our strikers weren’t very good for quite large chunks of the season, neither was our keeper or goalkeeper and suddenly against QPR and Sheff Wednesday we were a bit more efficient at both ends of the pitch and absolutely none of it is some finite confirmation that either Will Still or TE are brilliant or terrible? 

  

On 02/11/2025 at 11:16, Fabrice29 said:

Have we considered the conspiracy theory that when we play 4 at the back we also aren't very good? 

  

On 26/10/2025 at 12:46, Fabrice29 said:

Out of interest, what is it about the 4  managers we’ve had this year that makes you think a 5th one is going to suddenly get an improvement? 

Just a troll who has been making the same point for a while now. You wet yourselves over things that dont fundamentally change anything on the pitch if you like though.

[ant]

This result was coming, it was just a matter of when. Our purple patch of scoring papered over the true extent of our defensive frailties. 

Now we're seemingly incapable of scoring more than a goal a game, it makes anything beyond a draw essentially impossible.

Baffling decision after baffling decision has got us here. Unfortunately there's many more depths yet to plumb.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, davefizzy14 said:

Why is there a refusal to change shape when it's required? It should have been done when it was 0-0 at half time.

https://www.rasmusankersen.com

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Don’t like Azaz much, fair weather player. Although not his best game today, much prefer Tom Fellows’s attitude.

New gk 

Jelert THB new cb new lb 

Bragg Jander 

Fellows Matsuki Scienza 

New striker 

And get rid of all the other players. I know we can't afford that nut they are really the only players along with maybe Charles and Stewart who should be anywhere near the team. 

[Big M]

And here we are.Ive said for a long time now the club is toxic and it is. The owners have failed in every step of the way. Manager's who refuse to budge in the way they set up, players turning up for the wage only, really poor recruitment and unfortunately relegation form,the only way this club turns it round is a mass clear out, from players to the people upstairs, and the fans need to vote with their feet and their money. There is a real chance this club could end up in L1 and maybe it needs to, just to start again.... I see absolutely nothing positive about saints at the moment, it's a very sorry state. 

[Osvaldorama]

2 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

  

  

  

  

Just a troll who has been making the same point for a while now. You wet yourselves over things that dont fundamentally change anything on the pitch if you like though.

Everyone is ignoring your points because you’re wrong. 
 

These players can play a lot better than this. We’ve all seen it. 
 

Yes, there is a lot of work we need to do. But we are better than we have seen this season so far. 

[S-Clarke]

10 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Azaz like a spoilt brat straight down the tunnel after a few boos from the boro fans. 

Wish the players would take some ownership of that performance

 

Doesn't that sum the group up though?

They are all weak as absolute piss. Scared of their own shadows, get floored by any single piece of adversity. 

These are not the guys you'd want anywhere near the trenches when the going really does get tough. Hopefully Romeu lumps them all in the changing room.

[Baird of the land]

1 minute ago, davefizzy14 said:

Why is there a refusal to change shape when it's required? It should have been done when it was 0-0 at half time.

While I’d prefer us playing a 4 much of the time, given we had several gilt edged chances and they hadn’t had a shot on target changing shape at ht hardly seems a requirement. Once we went behind certainly though.

[West Dean FC Legend]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Manning - awful championship defender 

Bazunu -non league keeper 

Wood -very average 

Jander-young and inconsistent 

Downes- crap mentally and not progressive 

Armstrong-good when he's on it and shite the rest of the time 

Azaz-losers mentality and soft as shite. The complete wrong player we needed to sign in that position given our team of losers. 

I've probably missed some out but what we needed in the summer was experience to change around our mentality and the best players playing in their best positions. That includes an experienced manager and players to complement the likes of Fellows and Scienza. 

To be fair I was Southampton Junior League, Salisbury and District and Commercial Houses goalie - played a tiny bit of Hants football and I honestly - in my standard - looked better than Bazuna - I thought I was crap or average at best too.

I have said this about ten times on here, so this is the last time, forget his mistakes, forget his good saves, or not coming off his line, I just look at his positioning when the opposition are attacking. I have never, ever in 56 years or watching and playing football seen an adult, regular, goalie start off in such weird, poistions and places when a team is attacking, I say every time 'Why's he standing there?' 

So what the f are professional goalie coaches and just coaches doing when they watch him?

It doesn't make any sense at all.

That's my last post about him - and my last post for a while to be honest.

Edited Sunday at 17:14 by West Dean FC Legend

[23rdSaint]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

New gk 

Jelert THB new cb new lb 

Bragg Jander 

Fellows Matsuki Scienza 

New striker 

And get rid of all the other players. I know we can't afford that nut they are really the only players along with maybe Charles and Stewart who should be anywhere near the team. 

Matsuki ain't the answer.

[Fabrice29]

2 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Everyone is ignoring your points because you’re wrong. 
 

These players can play a lot better than this. We’ve all seen it. 
 

Yes, there is a lot of work we need to do. But we are better than we have seen this season so far. 

When did they play better? Was it when they took their chances?

[davefizzy14]

Just now, Baird of the land said:

While I’d prefer us playing a 4 much of the time, given we had several gilt edged chances and they hadn’t had a shot on target changing shape at ht hardly seems a requirement. Once we went behind certainly though.

I agree. We finished the first half well. We could have been two up at half time. But we needed to change the shape earlier in the second half but nope it happens when we are four down!

[Football Special]

29 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

To be fair to SR, he had to be appointed after the run he had. However, he also needed to be on a very short leash.

He didn't, there needed to be long term strategy, if you award him with the job after the short run of good results then same standards dictate he loses the job after a short run of poor results 

[rooney]

I think I counted 7  Saints players in the box for the 3 rd goal!

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Osvaldorama said:

Everyone is ignoring your points because you’re wrong. 
 

These players can play a lot better than this. We’ve all seen it. 
 

Yes, there is a lot of work we need to do. But we are better than we have seen this season so far. 

Also we played well for a few games against teams that weren't great and who played in a way that allowed us to play the way we wanted to. Continually pointing to those few games as justification for continuing to play that exact way with no deviation when your form falls off a cliff means you're either a troll or know nothing about football. Under an experienced manager we would make tactical and formation changes in different games that would give us added flexibility and allow us to gain more points. We still wouldn't be where we should be given our resources but we'd be doing better.

[Vancouver Saint]

No leadership. No heart. Either on or off the pitch. 
I said it at half-time, our players look disinterested...they're at walking pace for throw-ins, corners...there's no sense of love of the game and wanting to play football.

56 years I've been following the Saints and never have I been so disinterested and detached myself. Honestly, I wanted 'boro to add a fifth and sixth (which they should have) to dispel any myth that this game was anything but an utter embarrassment that shows just what we are - a shambles of a collection of players.
We are not close to being a team.

How can this be the same team and manager that beat Charlton 5-1 away?

[lambtiss]

14 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Back to the good first half, hopeless 2nd. 
Tonda sacking off the millwall game in favour of this one, always felt a stupid move.

hopefully that’s bazanu’s final saints contribution.

I thought Tonda did the same with the Oxford match.

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Doesn't that sum the group up though?

They are all weak as absolute piss. Scared of their own shadows, get floored by any single piece of adversity. 

These are not the guys you'd want anywhere near the trenches when the going really does get tough. Hopefully Romeu lumps them all in the changing room.

I thought we looked into the personality of players before we bought them? I reckon we panicked after we couldn't get Spertsyan or Rudoni and got whoever else was on the list because we needed someone.

[Mboto Gorge]

17 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Azaz like a spoilt brat straight down the tunnel after a few boos from the boro fans. 

Wish the players would take some ownership of that performance

 

Shocking but not surprising. Majority are a truly odious bunch of players with nothing in their locker mentally at all.

[Forester]

Shocking and really worrying capitulation.  Looked like a proper throw the towel in second half, nobody tracking runners, huge gaps behind wing backs, no desire to close players down.

Those of us that have watched Saints for many years will remember when Burley left midway the season having been in charge two years and we would never have been looking down the table.   Dodd and Gorman had a horrific spell in interim charge and it needed Pearson to come in and keep us up on last day.

Given we are no wins in six and now looking like we lack desire, you look at the Pompey game coming up, and Norwich are greatly improved under Clements.  We need to average a point per game from here on to stay up and right now that looks a big ask.

Cannot believe I am typing this but have a look at the table and remind yourself that we have to play all the teams chasing us a second time.

[tdmickey3]

18 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Today I had that familiar detached feeling from last year. I checked out earlier in the match abd just didn't really care either way. I've checked the table once this entire season so far so no idea where we are or anything like that other than the fact we are miles off where we should be. I don't want us toose but if we do continue to lose I'd rather it was heavily so that change comes more quickly. Ideally a new owner.

15th.  50 million pounds spent

[bangkoksaint]

Just now, Mboto Gorge said:

Shocking but not surprising. Majority are a truly odious bunch of players with nothing in their locker mentally at all.

But fans keep backing them and paying out good money. I won’t anymore. If the team are putting in a shift and really trying but we lose then fair enough but they aren’t. I honestly believe the players don’t give a monkeys whether we go up, stay or get relegated. There’s simply no professionalism 

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

I thought we looked into the personality of players before we bought them? I reckon we panicked after we couldn't get Spertsyan or Rudoni and got whoever else was on the list because we needed someone.

I was more looking towards Manning, Wood, Downes, THB, Stephens, Bazunu, Armstrong - that cohort have been here for many years and have always shown this way, it's in their blood. They're weak as piss.

I can't speak for Leo, Fellows, Azaz etc yet as they've only been here 5 mins. The general vibe of the room before they came has always been like this.

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, 23rdSaint said:

Matsuki ain't the answer.

Well we dont currently have an alternative to Azaz. 

[SNSUN]

Never been happier to be working by the looks of it.

Relegation is a very real concern right now. SR get your fingers out of your arse and do something.

[Gary R76]

13 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Why is there a refusal to change shape whes required? It should have been done when it was 0-0 at half time.

Who does that remind of us , we have learnt from our previous mistakes .  They want to perfect team which we are far from 

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

I was more looking towards Manning, Wood, Downes, THB, Stephens, Bazunu, Armstrong - that cohort have been here for many years and have always shown this way, it's in their blood. They're weak as piss.

I can't speak for Leo, Fellows, Azaz etc yet as they've only been here 5 mins. The general vibe of the room before they came has always been like this.

Yeah but we didn't have the money or resources to change everyone. I certainly would have binned Stephens, Bazunu and Manning though.

[Football Special]

27 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Yay, a memento of this great match that you can treasure ♥️

Should have lobbed all the free programmes towards the Players at the end 

[Sir Ralph]

Just now, SNSUN said:

Never been happier to be working by the looks of it.

Relegation is a very real concern right now. SR get your fingers out of your arse and do something.

I think SR doing something is possibly the worst thing. Other than signing scienza and Lavia what other decision have they made that hasn’t been crap. The more decisions they make the worse it gets

[ally_uk]

Fuck me lads what happened? Last time I checked the score it was 0-0 at half time 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[S-Clarke]

Do you know what this game reminded me of in terms of a marker/moment - 5-0 loss to Hull back in 2008. We were vile, it was when we were floating a side with Wayne Thomas, Vignal, Powell, Poke etc. We didn't get relegated that year amazingly, we came close though. Obviously the following year we did as we imploded financially.

It all feels rather samey to me.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Yeah but we didn't have the money or resources to change everyone. I certainly would have binned Stephens, Bazunu and Manning though.

The moment we gave Stephens a new contract was the moment I knew were were staring into the abyss. The hope I had was all gone.

[Teamsaint1]

I think we could sort out this terrible shambles by appointing an even younger, even less experienced manager. 
 

Jan 25th has been looking worrying for a while, and looks like a date with destiny now.

Edited Sunday at 17:27 by Teamsaint1

[AlexLaw76]

We had 52 points at this point of the season 2 years ago...that would have us top now (or 2nd on goal difference)

[SaintsfanSwindon]

Absolutely appalling -Sport Republic have to go. They have presided over the worst period of our history, every decision they have made has been a shambles. The Branfoot era was bad but at least the players were limited but put in a shift and actually showed a bit of passion for the club. 

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

The moment we gave Stephens a new contract was the moment I knew were were staring into the abyss. The hope I had was all gone.

The club never had the balls to do what needed doing. They have very low standards which is typified by the current manager. I haven't heard his comments after this one but it will be something like Boro being a tough place to come and they are near the top for a reason and we will learn from this performance. Just shite.

[Lord Duckhunter]

These cunts got Will Still the sack & they’re getting this bloke the sack as well. I know it’s the norm to blame SR, The manager, the formation & Spors but that lets the rest of them off the hook. This has to be the most unlikeable bunch of wankers I can remember. To capitulate like that, I’d quite frankly disgraceful and is taking the piss out of all of us who love the club. It wouldn’t bother me if there wasn’t a single one of them at the club next season. Even Leo, we keep being told how good he is, but he’s been bang average since other clubs have sussed him out. 
 

We had fucking easy chances but Downes, Armstrong & Fellowes fucked it up. Armstrong is supposed to be captain and this great goal scorer at this level, but he’s shows zero fucking leadership  and misses far too many chances. 
 

As for the goals, Downes gives the ball away, yet again he fails to make an easy pass. We then go to sleep and the Baz opens his legs as wide as Bonnie Blue’s,which makes it an easy finish. Second one, pathetic from Manning & then another “should Baz of done better” moment, the bloke didn’t exactly smash it in, it looked like Barnes Wallace had designed the ball as it went past The Ghost. Third one, awful from Downes & Manning, good dive from Baz, unfortunately it was in the opposite direction to the ball. Fourth one Baz again. 
 

Pathetic display second half, flat track bullies that have no heart, no backbone and no shame. 
 

 

 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Do you know what this game reminded me of in terms of a marker/moment - 5-0 loss to Hull back in 2008. We were vile, it was when we were floating a side with Wayne Thomas, Vignal, Powell, Poke etc. We didn't get relegated that year amazingly, we came close though. Obviously the following year we did as we imploded financially.

It all feels rather samey to me.

Imagine trying to get promoted up against West ham or Forest, Burnley, Wolves, Leicester. We've got no chance.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Imagine trying to get promoted up against West ham or Forest, Burnley, Wolves, Leicester. We've got no chance.

Oh absolutely not, it's not about promotion next year - it's survival, 100%.

We will not be in the promotion picture ever again with SR in charge.

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, SaintsfanSwindon said:

Absolutely appalling -Sport Republic have to go. They have presided over the worst period of our history, every decision they have made has been a shambles. The Branfoot era was bad but at least the players were limited but put in a shift and actually showed a bit of passion for the club. 

I'd say relegation to league one was the lowest point but this is certainly the most boring and frustrating period. At least then our lack of resources was a bit of an excuse.

[Winnersaint]

Downes, Harwood Bellis, Bazunu, Manning, Arma, Wood, Stephens they're all part of the rotten core from last season and just need to do one. No sooner was RM out the door they threw their football toys out the pram. Did for Juric and Still and now seemingly for Eckert. This is on the players.