Saints v Oxford (Saturday 21st March @ 3pm)

[skintsaint]

Didn't actually realise they are on decent form at the moment.

[Lighthouse]

Remember in 2011/12 when Bristol City beat us home and away and those six points, plus Pompey's deduction, sent the latter down? Be a shame if that happened again.

[Tamesaint]

If we win we will be mathematically safe from relegation. Something to play for. 😁😁 

[skintsaint]

13 minutes ago, Tamesaint said:

If we win we will be mathematically safe from relegation. Something to play for. 😁😁 

Considering some were thinking we were going down a few months back thats decent going.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

Stating the obvious a bit, but really want to see us come out the blocks quickly today with players running at them. Passing around the half way line and down the wing and back again looking for people to make runs won't hack it. There again, Tonda will have worked it all out.

And while I don't agree with time wasting, I do think we don't make enough of penalty claims. Like on corners, feel a tap and go down and scream and shout at the referee. Then, when something a little more serious comes up, like when Edozie had his takedown against Norwich, a scream and shout will be a penalty all day long.

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 19/03/2026 at 18:49, SouthWalesSaints said:

We need to trust Azaz to unlock them, but he will look like he’s being cheap on ball as he’ll try and take risks. Important we stay with him in the stands. Scienza hopefully to help later. 

Agree with this. Azaz’s interview with Adam Blackmore after the game against Norwich is worth a listen. Mentally he is in the zone - but today will be about threading the eye of a needle rather than a physical beasting. 
 

There will be times when it doesn’t look pretty and we need to stay on his side.

I would play Matsuki (not Fellows) because he is good in tight spaces and turns up in unexpected places at set pieces.

 

[LGTL]

Early goal changes everything today. Regardless of anything else, it’s nice to be looking forward to going to St Mary’s again as it was hard graft for a long time. 

[Cabrone]

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

12 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

You've clearly not read above! A couple of us feel that Saints should mentally freak them out AND let them have all the possession and hit them on the break!

 

[sfc4prem]

30 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

You've clearly not read above! A couple of us feel that Saints should mentally freak them out AND let them have all the possession and hit them on the break!

 

It's the perfect fucking plan. Let's be having them.

[Nordic Saint]

1 hour ago, Cabrone said:

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

You're right, and as others have noted above, typically, they only have about 25% possession in the games they get results from. A very frustrating team to play against.

Edited 2 hours ago by Nordic Saint

[sfc4prem]

35 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

You're right, and as others have noted above, typically, they only have about 25% possession in the games they get results from. A very frustrating team to play against.

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

[Saint NL]

This is a game for Stewart rather than Larin. 

[trousers]

24 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

trousers just makes sense.

Words you never thought you'd see together on Saintsweb... The world has officially gone mad!

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

25 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

 

[trousers]

27 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

But, in all seriousness, *could* this tactic work against teams that deliberately come to frustrate like this? 🙂

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[sfc4prem]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

But, in all seriousness, *could* this tactic work against teams that deliberately come to frustrate like this? 🙂

It completely defeats their main tactic so yeah, in all seriousness I think it could work

[Obstacle1]

8 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

It completely defeats their main tactic so yeah, in all seriousness I think it could work

I think what youre more likely to see is us trying to draw them in when our defenders have the ball. Id be surprised if we sat off them.

I agree with others that have said Matsuki will be better than Fellows against a team sitting deep. Would be nice if our players really ran at them and try to force fouls in and around their box

[Nordic Saint]

42 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

They recently conceded a goal set up by a long ball from the Norwich goalkeeper. I wouldn't be surprised if they've let in a few like that.

"The Canaries took the lead in the first minute after some poor defending by Oxford.

Norwich goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw sent a long ball over the top which Toure was able to sprint onto and slip past the onrushing Jamie Cumming before slotting into an empty net."

They also concede a lot of penalties.

[Football Special]

4 hours ago, LGTL said:

Early goal changes everything today. Regardless of anything else, it’s nice to be looking forward to going to St Mary’s again as it was hard graft for a long time. 

Proper end of season home win weather this as well 🌞 cold beers stood outside a pub, perfect 

[Football Special]

Still plenty of tickets available,  get on down there 👍 

[coalman]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Words you never thought you'd see together on Saintsweb... The world has officially gone mad!

You do make sense, just.