Saints v Charlton, Sat 3PM

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

Winnable game and really a must win game. Addicks unbeaten in last 3 and have the skates on Tuesday.

play like we did 2nd half v Leics and we will win.

 

[SNSUN]

Line up is almost a no-brainer.

Peretz, Bree, THB, Stephens,  Welington, Downes, Charles, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Ross.

I suppose arguments could be made for Jander, Bragg, Matsuki, Edozie and Larin but that would be my XI if everyone is fit.

No game is easy but if we want to keep challenging for the play-offs, we need to win this, especially with play-off rivals QPR and in form Norwich closely following.

[coalman]

Am always nervous when former players or managers come back. Will be interesting to see what Jones has left in the tank after a truly magnificent box-of-frogsing last week at the final whistle. As possibly the fittest man in Europe I expect him to bounce back though.

There's actual competition for places at Saints for the first time in a long time. And not the who can be the most frustrating player on the pitch kind.

Is this what it feels like to begin to look forward to football matches again?

[Football Special]

6 hours ago, coalman said:

Am always nervous when former players or managers come back. Will be interesting to see what Jones has left in the tank after a truly magnificent box-of-frogsing last week at the final whistle. As possibly the fittest man in Europe I expect him to bounce back though.

There's actual competition for places at Saints for the first time in a long time. And not the who can be the most frustrating player on the pitch kind.

Is this what it feels like to begin to look forward to football matches again?

I certainly don't think we'll see a repeat of the away game first half, Charlton have looked well organised in recent weeks, Jones doing a good job. 

I don't think he'll act up on the touchline at St Mary's though, he'll be too distracted watching the love of his life James Bree 

Tonda might try to be clever with the line up considering we play QPR a few days later , it's a massive week really, Charlton (H), QPR (H) , Sheffield Wednesday (A) got to keep the run going aim for 7 points at a minimum 

Edited yesterday at 05:18 by Football Special

[Doctoroncall]

Doubts around Stephens and Welington fitness wise, so could be at least a couple of changes. Fellows could be rested with Matsuki showing good form. 

[benjii]

Bearing in mind what happened up there, I'm pretty sure they will be keen to make it tight and restrict the space. 

Crowd needs to stay lively if we are being frustrated. With the talent we have on the bench, we've always got a chance of unlocking them late on.

[Pamplemousse]

Have to be wary about them. They beat Ipswich 3-0 away, and there's absolutely no way they will be as open as they were in November.

We should win but they seemed to have turned things around after a dodgy spell, much like we have.

[Harry_SFC]

14 hours ago, SNSUN said:

Line up is almost a no-brainer.

Peretz, Bree, THB, Stephens,  Welington, Downes, Charles, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Ross.

I suppose arguments could be made for Jander, Bragg, Matsuki, Edozie and Larin but that would be my XI if everyone is fit.

No game is easy but if we want to keep challenging for the play-offs, we need to win this, especially with play-off rivals QPR and in form Norwich closely following.

Yeah this team for me. Quarshie in for Stephens and Manning in for Welington if neither are fit enough.

Form wise there's a case for Matsuki to come in for Fellows but I'd stick with the latter for now. 

[captainchris]

39 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Yeah this team for me. Quarshie in for Stephens and Manning in for Welington if neither are fit enough.

Form wise there's a case for Matsuki to come in for Fellows but I'd stick with the latter for now. 

Yes Fellows has been slightly off lately. Matsuki is slightly different and offers more involvement generally and a different threat. Bragg is better than Charles in my view but it’s opinions after all.

[Chez]

Matsuki lacks a yard of pace, so he is never going to go outside of the fullback, but he retains the ball well and makes good runs without the ball. So you win and lose with him. I'd go Fellows every time, but having someone you can trust to come off the bench and continue the momentum is no bad thing. I say 'continue', as I am not sure Matsuki brings an injection of anything. I think on the other wing, Edozie also brings more of the same attacking intent that we expect from Scienza, so we maybe have got some depth on the wing at last.

I'd take Charles over Bragg. I was so impressed with him in the last league game.

We have some good competition for places. Everything looks rosey in the garden when you are winning games. I hope the wheels don't fall off. potentially losing a keeper and two defenders to injury is a little concerning.

[saintant]

They'll be nervy after what we did to them at their place. Tear into them from the first whistle, get an early goal and they'll collapse like an England batting order in Australia.

[BARCELONASAINT]

If we really want to reach the playoffs there is little wiggle room for error now, we simply have to win our home games and get the odd point here and there away from home. Should make for an exciting but very nervous run in!

[SylvianSylvian]

                    PERETZ

BREE    THB  STEPHENS WELINGTON

            DOWNES   CHARLES

MATSUKI      AZAZ        SCIENZA

                       LND

Larin, Fellows & Edozie on at 60mins

Absolutely vital match for our playoffs push… COYR! 

[Toadhall Saint]

Home win

[trousers]

If I'm not mistaken, its around about now that our purple patches tend to stutter to an end, ergo and alas, my money's on a home defeat 😟

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Absolutely no excuse for not winning this one. We need maximum points from the next three games 

[coalman]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

If I'm not mistaken, its around about now that our purple patches tend to stutter to an end, ergo and alas, my money's on a home defeat 😟

That was the 2025 edition Saints. This is the new 2026 edition where we have multiple players in almost every position and a settled formation and tactics. Not that formation or tactics make any difference mind you. 

[sockeye]

I’m going to go with a frustrating 1-1 draw.

[whelk]

Got to question if Charlton players will be up for this after still being on a high after playing the league giants midweek. Nice that they have less of a break than us.

[Gloucester Saint]

8 minutes ago, whelk said:

Got to question if Charlton players will be up for this after still being on a high after playing the league giants midweek. Nice that they have less of a break than us.

Wonder if Nathan Jones will get a ‘scumming’ off their visiting inbreds?

Hopefully the toothless army can behave themselves this time at the Valley.

[Saint NL]

16 hours ago, whelk said:

Got to question if Charlton players will be up for this after still being on a high after playing the league giants midweek. Nice that they have less of a break than us.

Not sure Pompeys youth team are going to tire them out too much tbf

 

[suewhistle]

Dunno, our youth team players didn't do so badly.. Mind you, Pompey went years without an academy so no idea what it's like now..

[coalman]

Just now, suewhistle said:

Dunno, our youth team players didn't do so badly.. Mind you, Pompey went years without an academy so no idea what it's like now..

I'm pretty sure Portsmouth is still a rat infested hell hole where 6 fingered freaks do unspeakable things to fish.

[trousers]

42 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Not sure Pompeys youth team are going to tire them out too much tbf

 

Only 3 of those were in the starting line-up versus us last month, and they gave us a good run for our money...

[Lee On Solent Saint]

49 minutes ago, trousers said:

Only 3 of those were in the starting line-up versus us last month, and they gave us a good run for our money...

Exactly. They aren't down to the bare bones as they like to push out. 

[Gloucester Saint]

26 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Exactly. They aren't down to the bare bones as they like to push out. 

They learned from Harry.

[Oh no Mick Mills]

I'm guessing we'll need about 75 points to take 6th spot going by the previous 5 seasons.

We'll need to win either 10 of our last 14 games or 9 and 3 draws .

This means we can afford to only lose 2 or 3 more games .

Here's hoping the lads can keep going and stay on a great run. 

[die Mannyschaft]

2 hours ago, Saint NL said:

Not sure Pompeys youth team are going to tire them out too much tbf

 

Makes no difference. Its about the players they have available and one come in. Teams that are physical and fire the ball in box or launch it high to bundle in will score goals. We witnessed that at Fratton.  The pitch will be almost waterlogged and no real football will be played. Didn't we lose to a team with 9 out!

[die Mannyschaft]

Saints 2-2 Charlton.  We are playing much better attended times but I think there is still too much passing to keeper and very dodgy passing out from 6 yard box, especially by keeper. We just cant get rid of the habit to pass back the Leicester away game where just a tap out for throw in would do. But no have to pass allwsy back to give ball away.

We have been 70% terrible and 30% playing football,  now 30% terrible and 70% playing football. 

Can we now score more than let in with our 30/70 ratio. Its possible but don't think anyone can predict how Saints play now or what the score will be.

 

[stfrancisofbenali]

19 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Saints 2-2 Charlton.  We are playing much better attended times but I think there is still too much passing to keeper and very dodgy passing out from 6 yard box, especially by keeper. We just cant get rid of the habit to pass back the Leicester away game where just a tap out for throw in would do. But no have to pass allwsy back to give ball away.

We have been 70% terrible and 30% playing football,  now 30% terrible and 70% playing football. 

Can we now score more than let in with our 30/70 ratio. Its possible but don't think anyone can predict how Saints play now or what the score will be.

 

You literally just predicted what the score will be! 

[goodymatt]

Can’t see Stephens or Welington.