Stoke v Saints Saturday 31 Jan 12:30 Kick Off

[Willo of Whiteley]

A day to go and it’s not even stickied.

Guessing we’ve all given up on this season. 😂

[coalman]

12 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

A day to go and it’s not even stickied.

Guessing we’ve all given up on this season. 😂

Let's face it - do we really want to be reminded that we're playing football again in a day's time? Far better to turn on Sky tomorrow morning and be pleasantly surprised.

[Turkish]

On 28/01/2026 at 21:04, AlexLaw76 said:

I bet they have a few players out, I bet we will look mightily average, I Bet we wont win and we let in at least 1 goal

Edit - It is not even s sticky....even the mods care as little as the majority of the fan base

there have been more posts on the Fan Advisory Board thread in the last 24 hours than this match thread 😂

[east-stand-nic]

Sorba Thomas has been directly involved in 44% of Stoke's goals in the Championship this season (15/34 – 9 goals, 6 assists); the highest percentage by a player for any team in 2025/26.

So who will be marking him?

Edited 5 hours ago by east-stand-nic

[tdmickey3]

6 minutes ago, east-stand-nic said:

Sorba Thomas has been directly involved in 44% of Stoke's goals in the Championship this season (15/34 – 9 goals, 6 assists); the highest percentage by a player for any team in 2025/26.

So will be marking him?

Will you?     🤡

[JohnS]

Sadly, yet again, going into another game where I can’t see us getting anything at all from this game. They have a much better manager who gets so much more out of his players. 

In our next 3 games my gut feeling is 1 point at best 😞 

Truly hate having zero hope & being constantly negative about our manager/team, but God it’s total shite everywhere you look 👀 

 

 

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

8 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Sadly, yet again, going into another game where I can’t see us getting anything at all from this game. They have a much better manager who gets so much more out of his players. 

In our next 3 games my gut feeling is 1 point at best 😞 

Truly hate having zero hope & being constantly negative about our manager/team, but God it’s total shite everywhere you look 👀
 

 

Hopefully you're wrong for the third game in a row.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Scrappy 1-1 where we fail to pump shots at their underage and inexperienced keeper.

[coalman]

37 minutes ago, east-stand-nic said:

Sorba Thomas has been directly involved in 44% of Stoke's goals in the Championship this season (15/34 – 9 goals, 6 assists); the highest percentage by a player for any team in 2025/26.

So will be marking him?

It's why we've given Manning so much rest since the busy Christmas period so that he'll be fresh to nullify this part of Boro's game and have our most positionally astute defender in the best shape for this key fixture.

[Verbal]

2 hours ago, coalman said:

It's why we've given Manning so much rest since the busy Christmas period so that he'll be fresh to nullify this part of Boro's game and have our most positionally astute defender in the best shape for this key fixture.

Well at least he won't be in the team for the Stoke game.

[Suhari]

3 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

A day to go and it’s not even stickied.

Guessing we’ve all given up on this season. 😂

I haven't been stickied about Saints for many months. Early promise, increasingly dull and tedious. Feels more like a duty than a pleasure. Struggle to get up and interested about it.

[Owen The Saints]

On 28/01/2026 at 20:55, spyinthesky said:

I guess it will be an early start for those leaving Southampton for the 12.30hrs KO, especially as the M3 is closed at the junction with the A34 all day.

If you are to the west, get to A34 at BullingtonX via Romsey, Stockbridge & Sutton Scotney. It's 30 - 35 mins from Totton

[Charlie Wayman]

Yes but will they fancy it down south on a bright, warm and sunny Saturday afternoon!

 

[my old joke resurrected from two years ago}

[Appy]

10 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Yes but will they fancy it down south on a bright, warm and sunny Saturday afternoon!

 

[my old joke resurrected from two years ago}

Doesn’t really work for the away game pal 

[Whitey Grandad]

17 hours ago, Breeny said:

Love the lunchtime KOs 8.30pm for me in Perth Australia instead of the usual 11pm . Imagine trying to  going to sleep after watching some of the crap we’ve been dished up in recent times ! 

I'm surprised you even stay awake.

[Whitey Grandad]

17 hours ago, Breeny said:

Love the lunchtime KOs 8.30pm for me in Perth Australia instead of the usual 11pm . Imagine trying to  going to sleep after watching some of the crap we’ve been dished up in 

...

Here's one for the forum developers. I had a warning that I was posting too quickly and that I should try again in 12 seconds. 

Then 12 seconds. 

Then 12 seconds.

...

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Whitey Grandad
Multiple posts

[Whitey Grandad]

17 hours ago, Breeny said:

Love the lunchtime KOs 8.30pm for me in Perth Australia instead of the usual 11pm . Imagine trying to  going to sleep after watching some of the crap we’ve been dished up in recent times 

...

Edited 18 hours ago by Whitey Grandad
Multiple posts

[Whitey Grandad]

17 hours ago, Breeny said:

Love the lunchtime KOs 8.30pm for me in Perth Australia instead of the usual 11pm . Imagine trying to  going to sleep after watching some of the crap we’ve been dished up in recent times ! 

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Whitey Grandad
Multiple posts

[Whitey Grandad]

17 hours ago, Breeny said:

Love the lunchtime KOs 8.30pm for me in Perth Australia instead of the usual 11pm . Imagine trying to  going to sleep after watching some of the crap we’ve been dished up in recent times ! 

...

Edited 18 hours ago by Whitey Grandad
Multiple posts

[die Mannyschaft]

8 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

A day to go and it’s not even stickied.

Guessing we’ve all given up on this season. 😂

Now the Pompey away game is done there won't any games more exciting. Its just a stats season for fans as we ease up winding down with how many goals will we score, clean sheets. Its like a murder mystery who was in midfield with the ball, is our stiker in the box or in the kitchen who knows 

[die Mannyschaft]

20 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

...

Here's one for the forum developers. I had a warning that I was posting too quickly and that I should try again in 12 seconds. 

Then 12 seconds. 

Then 12 seconds.

...

 

Saints strikers get the same message, wait 12 seconds then shoot

Wait another 12 seconds then shoot 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Imagine our players winding down now on January 30th.

They haven’t even started the season yet. 😂

[pimpin4rizeal]

Possibly our best eleven ?

                Peretz

bree.        Thb.       Stephens.  Wellin

              Downes.   Charles 

                       Azaz

    Armstrong.   Stewart.    Scienza 

little bit harsh to leave out fellows but as said in the transfer thread arma can give you goals and assists from wide whilst fellows doesn’t score .. you could put in fellows still but feels like we actually getting close to full strength now in a formation that suits 

[Appy]

13 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Possibly our best eleven ?

                Peretz

bree.        Thb.       Stephens.  Wellin

              Downes.   Charles 

                       Azaz

    Armstrong.   Stewart.    Scienza 

little bit harsh to leave out fellows but as said in the transfer thread arma can give you goals and assists from wide whilst fellows doesn’t score .. you could put in fellows still but feels like we actually getting close to full strength now in a formation that suits 

Even harsher to leave out Jander

[Convict Colony]

full respect to anyone going, I don't even want to turn on my TV to watch this.

[pimpin4rizeal]

4 minutes ago, Appy said:

Even harsher to leave out Jander

I get you but downes is probably the best defensive mid we have and Charles very good carrying the ball and probably our best midfielder by a mile when fit ..who would you leave out ?

[saintstowin]

The Wayne Thomas trophy could go either way. Who wants it more? 

Probably Stoke do.

[Charlie Wayman]

4 hours ago, Appy said:

Doesn’t really work for the away game pal 

Oops! I can't believe it! I thought we were at home.😩

Shows how far down my list of priorities Sains have become these day

[Wade Garrett]

We won’t win.

Hungry eyes will try and be too fucking clever again.

At least it’s away and I don’t feel compelled to go. 

[saintant]

2 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Possibly our best eleven ?

                Peretz

bree.        Thb.       Stephens.  Wellin

              Downes.   Charles 

                       Azaz

    Armstrong.   Stewart.    Scienza 

little bit harsh to leave out fellows but as said in the transfer thread arma can give you goals and assists from wide whilst fellows doesn’t score .. you could put in fellows still but feels like we actually getting close to full strength now in a formation that suits 

Don't think Leo will be fit for this one.

[Badger]

Line up will be interesting, especially seeing who isn’t available for selection, head isn’t in it etc (thinking AA and THB…) 

[Dr Who?]

I’m not sure it is going to be pretty. 1-1? 

[bugenhagen]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Don't think Leo will be fit for this one.

No problem! Put Fellows on the left so he can cut in and shoot 😄

[Willo of Whiteley]

I can see him reverting to a back five with our CBs being Wood, Stephens and Quarshie - always dreamt of this day.

(Take THB out of the firing line).

Imagine Cameron Archer starts too for Adam Armstrong.

At least it’ll make good for “reason we lost today” from Tonda’s tombola of post-match bollocks.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Don't think Leo will be fit for this one.

That's a 0-0 draw then oh hold on Stoke will score from corner 1-0.

Whats our record of wins, draws and loss when Leo plays or out of team?

[die Mannyschaft]

5 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Imagine our players winding down now on January 30th.

They haven’t even started the season yet. 😂

Yes its dead games now, players want to leave for better footballing teams and others in retirement mode. 

[Andy Hill]

Two teams effectively with nothing to play for. 

[Gloucester Saint]

3-0 Stoke. 

8 minutes ago, Andy Hill said:

Two teams effectively with nothing to play for. 

Stoke 3 points off play offs. And Saints have a bit to do yet for safety. Echoes of 07/08 when Pearson had to come in to keep them up after a huge slide in form and hidings at Hull etc.

[Mr Saints]

Hopefully Sky will stick to form and show a match from the third division amputee league, rather than this tripe.

Edited 6 hours ago by Mr Saints

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

7 hours ago, Andy Hill said:

Two teams effectively with nothing to play for. 

Nope, a win here and momentum is regained. I'm not shlepping up to Stoke to see a mid-table borefest. I'm expecting us to pepper their goal because if they've got Baz's understudy in goal, it'll be like shooting in to an empty net. 

Betting on another Charlton. 1-4 to us.

[St. Ciervo]

Idk. Maybe 4 at the back. Still passing sideways. Why do I watch?

[Convict Colony]

ok woken up, so fuck this noise we are gonna win.

Tonda flukes a 2-0 while drafting in teletubbies to run the wings and Lilliputians to be our cbs.

somehow it works 

 

[St. Ciervo]

2 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

ok woken up, so fuck this noise we are gonna win.

Tonda flukes a 2-0 while drafting in teletubbies to run the wings and Lilliputians to be our cbs.

somehow it works 

 

How do you still have optimism? I am asking for a friend. 

[AlexLaw76]

on a scale of 1 to 10, how average do you think we will look (again) against a side with loads of players missing (again)...?

[Willo of Whiteley]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

on a scale of 1 to 10, how average do you think we will look (again) against a side with loads of players missing (again)...?

Azaz, Woods, Jander, Archer and Scienza to be anonymous.

[coalman]

Just woke up. Fucking hell, it's Saturday already?

[CB Fry]

Off to Stoke in an hour or so. 

How many of our new signings will be in the squad today 🤔🤞🙏✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️✍️

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

I hear Saints have been practicing defending set pieces this week...

[Gloucester Saint]

22 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

on a scale of 1 to 10, how average do you think we will look (again) against a side with loads of players missing (again)...?

I’ll go for a 4 (1 being worst, 10 being best and Charlton away).

[coalman]

2 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

I hear Saints have been practicing defending set pieces this week...

Armstrong didn't score a single header from a cross in training this week. Our defence is nailed on for a clean sheet.