Pre Season Friendlies 2026/27

[obelisk]

Dobbin's a cool dude. Nice finish.

[bugenhagen]

I personally don’t think there is any conclusion to be drawn. We all like to speculate, and think there is more going on behind the scenes, but I think it’s just as likely they are trying out how it could work if he gets a touchline ban.

[egg]

23 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Not a friendly which is nothing to do with the FA it wouldn't.

All football activities is exactly that. If you're right and there'd be a technical bypass, I think Saints would be wise not to look for one - we just need to play with a straight bat. 

[EssEffCee]

15 minutes ago, egg said:

All football activities is exactly that. If you're right and there'd be a technical bypass, I think Saints would be wise not to look for one - we just need to play with a straight bat. 

Yes but the FA can only legislate for England and Wales and would have no authority over a pre season match abroad.

Unless working with us still counts. All guesswork anyway and we'll know early next week I reckon.

Edited 6 hours ago by EssEffCee

[Charlie Wayman]

Apart from Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder. Shouldn't get too many offers for THB on this showing.

Edited 6 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Charlie Wayman]

5 hours ago, SylvianSylvian said:

Any streams about?

They've all dried up in the heatwave.

[Toussaint]

2 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Apart for Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder

I don’t think you can call him a one season wonder, he came to Saints with a good reputation, didn’t look too bad in the premier league or any time he’s turned out for us, he just had to lose the baggage of association with Nathan Jones. 

[VectisSaint]

24 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Yes but the FA can only legislate for England and Wales and would have no authority over a pre season match abroad.

Unless working with us still counts. All guesswork anyway and we'll know early next week I reckon.

That's not true, the FA has direct authority over teams wanting to play friendlies in Europe (or anywhere else) requiring prior application and sanctioning under FA Rule B.

And, by the way the FA are not the authority for Wales either, but that's neither here nor there.

Edited 6 hours ago by VectisSaint

[Cuddles]

1 minute ago, VectisSaint said:

That's not true, the FA has direct authority over teams wanting to play friendlies in Europe (or anywhere else) requiring prior application and sanctioning under FA Rule B.

[Saintsfan79]

42 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Apart from Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder. Shouldn't get too many offers for THB on this showing.

It's a friendly? We played awful in them when Still started the season still should of got promoted under Tonda .

 

Relax old boy.

[Turkish]

54 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Apart from Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder. Shouldn't get too many offers for THB on this showing.

VERY worrying isn’t it. A narrow win against a city whose biggest achievement is a the song Munster Mash. Going to be another long season

[John B]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Apart from Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder. Shouldn't get too many offers for THB on this showing.

Unfortunately no one knows what Championship winning side looks like this year with Wolves and West Ham in the mix but like you I have my doubts that it will be Southampton 

The squad played really well before the playoffs but it is not guaranteed that it will do so this season without a top class striker

[Convict Colony]

why does the back of shirt look like they are wearing half a red training bib 

[skintsaint]

22 minutes ago, Turkish said:

VERY worrying isn’t it. A narrow win against a city whose biggest achievement is a the song Munster Mash. Going to be another long season

Birmingham beat Barcelona so title already wrapped up for them.

[Convict Colony]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Apart from Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder. Shouldn't get too many offers for THB on this showing.

[hypochondriac]

People never learn and always read too much into preseason results and performances. I've seen saints play terribly in preseason and look quite good at the start of the season and vice versa. I really don't think it means much. We do need an alternative to Larin though.

[suewhistle]

2 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

Want Brereton-Diaz to come good and show his Blackburn/Sheffield United form, but he's just so clumsy looking on the ball. Can't fault his effort, it's just his technical ability which is lacking.

I was thinking very similarly. Seems a little less extra weight round the belly but no pace or decent touch.

Dobbin seems willing and a good finish although a little ambitious at times, as were some of our passes forward, O'Brien-Whitmarsh seems to go about his business quietly, always being available and keeping it simple. He didn't look out of place and will be handy to have available. 

Generally everybody looked a little off the pace, so I hope treating the Colchester game as somewhat of a pre-season friendly won't backfire.

[StrangelyBrown]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Apart from Downes, Scienza & Matsuki, there isn't the look of a Championship winning side there. Bree was awful, hope he wasn't a one season wonder. Shouldn't get too many offers for THB on this showing.

I only watched the 2nd half but I don't disagree although I thought Matsuki looked a shadow of the player from last year.

Worst performance has to go to BBD who still looks like a pub player whose won a competition to play for saints - so slow, poor decision making and dreadful touch.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I only watched the 2nd half but I don't disagree although I thought Matsuki looked a shadow of the player from last year.

Worst performance has to go to BBD who still looks like a pub player whose won a competition to play for saints - so slow, poor decision making and dreadful touch.

We all see things differently and personally I thought Matsuki was decent today.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I only watched the 2nd half but I don't disagree although I thought Matsuki looked a shadow of the player from last year.

Worst performance has to go to BBD who still looks like a pub player whose won a competition to play for saints - so slow, poor decision making and dreadful touch.

he played a the CF right? Now that having a tall big bloke up top is the rage at SFC, he is no where near suited to that.

He isn to suited to much at this level, granted, but as our CF - no chance

[CSA96]

 

[Saint Neil]

Have we signed a new Polish/Japanese player Matski?

[Doctoroncall]

6 minutes ago, Saint Neil said:

Have we signed a new Polish/Japanese player Matski?

That’s the correct pronunciation for Matsuki.