Saints v Leicester - Match Thread

[Verbal]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Valentine's day, how can we not score.

5-0

Not sure you've grasped the concept of Valentine's Day. It categorically does not mean you can score five times in 90 mins. 

Someone should do a whip-round though, so Leicester can have some flowers and a box of chocolates. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Verbal

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Verbal said:

Not sure you've grasped the concept of Valentine's Day. It categorically does not mean you can score five times in 90 mins. 

It means agonising over the gift you're going to give your partner. In our case it may well be playing George Long in goal and Archer up top. Followed by your partner saying "it's fine" and you living in fear for the rest of the day.

[Toadhall Saint]

3 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Interesting wonder if it was fitness or getting back into english football speed that meant he was off it intially.

Will be nice to see Romeu doing the charles role of tempo setting and quarterbacking us.

Would love that to be the case but I fear that will not be the case.

[Convict Colony]

11 minutes ago, Verbal said:

Not sure you've grasped the concept of Valentine's Day. It categorically does not mean you can score five times in 90 mins. 

Someone should do a whip-round though, so Leicester can have some flowers and a box of chocolates. 

some of us have stamina and recovery powers

[Midfield_General]

20 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Valentine's day, how can we not score.

5-0

Valentine's Day so I booked a table for me and the wife. 

She was shit, didn't pot a single ball. 

[Chez]

41 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

It'll be more than a couple of changes. He named at least 4 in the press conference itself. I'm going for 11.

Long, Jelert, Wood, Quashie, Manning, Charles, Romeu, Robinson, Matsuki, Edozie, Larin.

i agree and think that will be the side. unfortunately, when you chuck 11 players together like this for the first time, they tend to look like they have never played together before. leicester will probably be the same. it could be a really poor quality game. 

[coalman]

11 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

some of us have stamina and recovery powers

Based on the apparent fitness over the last few seasons that doesn't include the Saints squad 😉 

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

i agree and think that will be the side. unfortunately, when you chuck 11 players together like this for the first time, they tend to look like they have never played together before. leicester will probably be the same. it could be a really poor quality game. 

It's Saints - we already do a great line in players looking like they haven't played together before. Throw 11 together for the first time and they may well look like they've never played football before.

[trousers]

What makes people think there'll be wholesale changes when this is what Tonda said in yesterday's press conference?

 

[Matthew Le God]

8 minutes ago, trousers said:

What makes people think there'll be wholesale changes when this is what Tonda said in yesterday's press conference?

 

He said Stephens and Welington won't play, so that is already couple of changes. Eckert said Larin will start, so that is already more than a couple of changes. So he contradicted himself. 

[Fabrice29]

2 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

He said Stephens and Welington won't play, so that is already couple of changes. Eckert said Larin will start, so that is already more than a couple of changes. So he contradicted himself. 

And Downes he said won’t play. So at least 4. Ideal time to start Charles and Edozie now too. He was evidently speaking casually when he said ‘a couple of changes’ rather than speaking specifically. 

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

He said Stephens and Welington won't play, so that is already couple of changes. Eckert said Larin will start, so that is already more than a couple of changes. So he contradicted himself. 

Sign him up to Saintsweb... He'd fit in well on here...

[davefizzy14]

Hoping we can progress to the fifth round today. 3-0 to us - Larin, Scienza and Bragg to score - COYR 😊

[Harry_SFC]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

And Downes he said won’t play. So at least 4. Ideal time to start Charles and Edozie now too. He was evidently speaking casually when he said ‘a couple of changes’ rather than speaking specifically. 

Yeah, probably keeping Leicester guessing a bit. He isn't going to come out and say "we are changing the whole side". 

[Ted Bates Statue]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

What makes people think there'll be wholesale changes when this is what Tonda said in yesterday's press conference?

 

Bit of understatement. More likely that only a couple of starters from Tuesday's match will also start this game.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

He said Stephens and Welington won't play, so that is already couple of changes. Eckert said Larin will start, so that is already more than a couple of changes. So he contradicted himself. 

You should totally start an endless squabble with him on X for that.

[Chris cooper]

We on Espn today anyone know ? 

[Pancake]

https://x.com/southamptonfc/status/2022665231462207854?s=46

 

some numbers in there

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

Is that for real? No 19 Archer is there

6 minutes ago, Pancake said:

https://x.com/southamptonfc/status/2022665231462207854?s=46

 

some numbers in there

Is that for real. No 19 Archer is there!!

[egg]

2 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Is that for real? No 19 Archer is there

Is that for real. No 19 Archer is there!!

Stewart was only fit for half an hour in the week but played a half, and if Cyle isn't fit, it's Archer. 

[tdmickey3]

4 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Is that for real? No 19 Archer is there

Is that for real. No 19 Archer is there!!

Sadly yes

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, egg said:

Stewart was only fit for half an hour in the week but played a half, and if Cyle isn't fit, it's Archer. 

Well then I sincerely hope Tonda took notes from Tuesday and doesn't try to play him in the same role again. He can be effective, but not in the system that was deployed in the first half at the King Power.

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Sheaf Saint said:

Well then I sincerely hope Tonda took notes from Tuesday and doesn't try to play him in the same role again. He can be effective, but not in the system that was deployed in the first half at the King Power.

I doubt he did

[egg]

Just now, Sheaf Saint said:

Well then I sincerely hope Tonda took notes from Tuesday and doesn't try to play him in the same role again. He can be effective, but not in the system that was deployed in the first half at the King Power.

If he's our only player fit enough to start through the middle, he starts through the middle. Tonda can only use what he's got. 

[SNSUN]

Just now, egg said:

If he's our only player fit enough to start through the middle, he starts through the middle. Tonda can only use what he's got. 

I'm hoping he's a bit of a confidence player. Run of games, nick a goal and maybe keeps going. But he doesn't suit the formation we've been playing unless Tonda does something different today. 

I've been watching League One Burton vs Premier League West Ham. Awful game, lack of quality. Come on Burton! Our former youngster Kegs Chauke is on.

[trousers]

😂

[trousers]

[SNSUN]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

Thought Mukasa was cup tied but apparently a new rule says you can play for two clubs in the competition. He was their bright spark on Tuesday. No Fatawu there. 

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, egg said:

If he's our only player fit enough to start through the middle, he starts through the middle. Tonda can only use what he's got. 

According to Tonda, we absolutely had to persist with the back 3/5 as long as we did because injuries forced his hand. 

By his own logic, not having a striker fit enough to start in the physical no.9 role in our current 4231 should dictate a change of system entirely. To try and play that again with Archer up front would be beyond stupid.

[Matthew Le God]

2 hours ago, trousers said:

What makes people think there'll be wholesale changes when this is what Tonda said in yesterday's press conference?

 

10 changes made 😂 

[Saint NL]

Two up front, to more of a 4-2-2-2?

[trousers]

14 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

10 changes made 😂 

Good to see Norwich's much derided 3rd choice keeper making a first team appearance...

#nevergonnahappen

Edited 2 hours ago by trousers

[CB Fry]

That's the team i would have picked 

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Looks like a good old 442 to me, with Edozie and Matsuki on the wings with a little and large partnership up front. 

[egg]

Not sure what the shape of that will be. 

Nice to see a few kids on the bench.

Special mention to Tommy Dobson - Ventura for having an amazing name. If his nickname isn't Ace, something is wrong. 

[tdmickey3]

Just now, trousers said:

Good to see ex-Norwich's much derided 3rd choice keeper making a first team appearance...

#nevergonnahappen

Cant be, we were told by the forum pedant it would never happen 

He is wrong again

[SNSUN]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Completely changed bar Archer. Bit of a surprise as I thought we'd have gone stronger but I guess we're keeping the first XI fit for the League. Youngsters on the bench too. Not sure what to think of that really. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

See we are joining in the disrespect for the competition. 

[Toadhall Saint]

2 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

That's the team i would have picked 

And the bench I would have picked.

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

Completely changed bar Archer. Bit of a surprise as I thought we'd have gone stronger but I guess we're keeping the first XI fit for the League. Youngsters on the bench too. Not sure what to think of that really. 

Happy to see both Sesay and Williams involved. Sesay looked good in pre-season, and Williams didn't disgrace himself at all in his one half that he's played this season (can't remember what game that was now).

[saint michael]

Two second 11 teams it is then. Lucky we have such depth in our squad. Just hoping Long has been trained in dribbling around his box 

[Willo of Whiteley]

9 minutes ago, trousers said:

Never heard of some of that bench

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

And the bench I would have picked.

If you're going to give players a run out, I'm not sure this bench has the quality to turn things around if things go wrong.

Good to see Edozie having a start. Reckon he could still play a big part in our season.

[whelk]

FFS no respect.  

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, Willo of Whiteley said:

Never heard of some of that bench

You would if you played FM26 

[egg]

4 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

See we are joining in the disrespect for the competition. 

Hmm. Not sure about that. 

We've got players playing with injections, and 4 games in a fortnight. 

We ain't winning the FA cup, but we've now got an outside chance of the play offs. 

The league is the priority. I'd rather respect that than a cup we won't win. 

[saintant]

Yeah Tonda, that's a couple of changes 🙂

[SNSUN]

On 11/02/2026 at 11:30, St Chalet said:

Following on from the great high of last night. Looking forward to the chants to Leicester fans having given them a further 3 point deduction in the second half.

Although it is anniversary year, focus has to be on the league. For me:

McCarthy / Long

Jelert

Manning

Quarshie

Wood

Bragg

Romeu

Matsuki

Robinson

Edozie

Archer

 

Also don't let Ross Stewart anywhere the stadium let alone the pitch/bench

 

 

On 11/02/2026 at 16:16, SNSUN said:

There are so many varied line up choices on here i bet it's a headache for Tonda to decide what to do. Go strong and win, he gets plaudits.  Go strong and lose, at least he put a strong side out. Rest loads and win, he's a genius. Rest loads and lose, he's a knob and didn't take the cup seriously. 😜

Anyone getting the line up bang on gets a cheap bottle of Sainsbury's Vodka. 🤪

You were the closest Chalet. That's close, but no cigar! 

*quaffs cheap Vodka*

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, egg said:

Hmm. Not sure about that. 

We've got players playing with injections, and 4 games in a fortnight. 

We ain't winning the FA cup, but we've now got an outside chance of the play offs. 

The league is the priority. I'd rather respect that than a cup we won't win. 

We don't have a midweek game, so not really buying that argument. Am sure if we win through to the next round and draw Chelsea or City we won't be starting with that team or bench. 

[benjii]

Couple of changes.