Colchester vs Saints - Aug 8th 1730

[AlexLaw76]

8 hours ago, suewhistle said:

I'd always assumed you were a bloke, sorry.

Blokes can have babies too. Don’t be a bigot

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 16/07/2026 at 22:59, suewhistle said:

I'd always assumed you were a bloke, sorry.

19 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Blokes can have babies too. Don’t be a bigot

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

For those driving there, I found booking a place at the carpark by the stadium (the Jobserve Community carpark) for £7.50 really easy. Never been there before but it seems a large car park though they recommend booking early.

[EssEffCee]

I was thinking about that but looks like it'd be a nightmare to get out of.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

24 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

I was thinking about that but looks like it'd be a nightmare to get out of.

I haven't been there before but on the website it said expected getting out waiting times (max was 30 minutes) and the earlier you get there the closer you can park to the exit - which sounded much better than the park n'ride option or on someone's driveway through the Yourparkingspace website which is what I normally do.

[SNSUN]

Just over a week. We're far from the finished product but we have continuity with Tonda (that we know of presently).

Biggest question at the moment is who starts up front. Larin is late back from the WC, Archer may be sold by then. That leaves us currently with Downs, BBD or Oyekunle.  (Or the option of Dobbin up front). I suspect Downs has been getting Friendly minutes because he'll be our option at the start of the season though I'd almost rather have Downs.

It's a competitive fixture but I suspect the team will look a lot different than our opening Championship fixture. Put some players in the shop window i say!

[Tommy Mulgrew]

 

8 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

I suspect Downs has been getting Friendly minutes because he'll be our option at the start of the season though I'd almost rather have Downs.

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[SNSUN]

7 minutes ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

 

🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

Trying to type whilst distracted. I meant BBD of the two. I think he can be a bit of a battering ram though neither are options I'd like to see for us long term..

[SouthWalesSaints]

I’d imagine we’d line up something like this based on injuries / knocks. 
 

Peretz 

Bree THB Stephens/Wood Manning 

Bragg Downs 

Matsuki Dobbin Scienza 

Downs 

Subs - Long, Stephens/Wood, Archer, Larin, Fellows, Jander, Azaz. 

That’s what I’d put my money on anyway. 

[Wilf]

On 27/06/2026 at 12:21, sandwichsaint said:

Do they still have park and ride, and will it be foggy? 

I was at that game !

 

"We can't see you creeping out"

[EssexSaint]

Hi, Essex Saint here. Looking to buy 4 tickets?!

[benjii]

8 hours ago, EssexSaint said:

Hi, Essex Saint here. Looking to buy 4 tickets?!

I'm not sure.

[Pamplemousse]

Loads available in the home ends

[EssexSaint]

Thanks. I see loads in home end but rather sit with our fans as more enjoyable! 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Got a funny feeling we’ll lose this. We tend to start seasons slowly and this’ll be their cup final.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

Got a funny feeling we’ll lose this. We tend to start seasons slowly and this’ll be their cup final.

you make it sound like they have never played a team from the lofty championship, or even Saints, before!

[benjii]

I assume we'll play a mixture of starters for the first league game and bench players. Depending on any departures beforehand, I would guess something like:

Long

Bree THB Wood Welington

Bragg Charles/Matski 

Fellows Dobbin Archer

Downs

Can't see the point in having Downes out there unless we need him. Pointless yellow card.

Hopefully Larin and Azaz are available for 30 minutes off the bench.

 

[Mrswoody63]

12 hours ago, EssexSaint said:

Hi, Essex Saint here. Looking to buy 4 tickets?!

We have one spare adult ticket now if interested 

 

[Lighthouse]

5 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Got a funny feeling we’ll lose this. We tend to start seasons slowly and this’ll be their cup final.

No chance. Only Liverpool are allowed to knock us out of this competition.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

7 hours ago, benjii said:

Can't see the point in having Downes out there unless we need him. Pointless yellow card.

Good point. So yellow cards aren't competition specific? Downes should be an integral player to our team this year.

[Patches O Houlihan]

4 hours ago, Mrswoody63 said:

We have one spare adult ticket now if interested 

 

Yes Please!

[spyinthesky]

Presume our ex Centre Half, Richard Hall, is still at Colchester as U23 coach?

[Appy]

1 hour ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Good point. So yellow cards aren't competition specific? Downes should be an integral player to our team this year.

Pretty sure it’s competition specific for yellows. 

[Harry_SFC]

I'd certainly play a full strength side 

 

[die Mannyschaft]

3 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'd certainly play a full strength side 

 

Need a result even if its a pens win. Need momentum to get that early part of season with points. 

[Matthew Le God]

11 hours ago, benjii said:

I assume we'll play a mixture of starters for the first league game and bench players.

 

21 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'd certainly play a full strength side 

 

Saints have a behind closed doors friendly on Sunday 9th August. So makes sense for the first choice XI to play the Colchester game on 8th August and the others to play in the friendly.

Edited Sunday at 19:15 by Matthew Le God

[Obstacle1]

Anyone know if brooks is still cuptied?

[Saint Garrett]

Cmon then...

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Manning

Jander Downes

Fellows Dobbin Scienza

Downs..

[James]

20 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

Cmon then...

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Manning

Jander Downes

Fellows Dobbin Scienza

Downs..

Suspect that’s about right. Can see Bragg over Jander (injury), Matsuki over Fellows and BBD over Downs.

[LiberalCommunist]

Kinda want to show this comp a lack of respect and stick out the fringe.

Doesn't really help us, but it gives the efl the finger. Petty, right? Guilty as charged. 

[CB Fry]

3 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Kinda want to show this comp a lack of respect and stick out the fringe.

Doesn't really help us, but it gives the efl the finger. Petty, right? Guilty as charged. 

Hate to break it to you but the EFL really won't give a flying fuck if we put kids out and lose.

 

[Miltonaggro]

0-6 - piece of piss, Downs and BBD hat-tricks to derail the transfer window. 

[saintant]

Tonda said we'll be going strong in terms of starting eleven.

[SNSUN]

4 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

0-6 - piece of piss, Downs and BBD hat-tricks to derail the transfer window. 

Downs and Diaz. The country has had the SAS (Shearer and Sutton), and the RAF (Rush and Fowler) - 30 years later we give the country DAD's Army.

[Patches O Houlihan]

5 hours ago, SNSUN said:

Downs and Diaz. The country has had the SAS (Shearer and Sutton), and the RAF (Rush and Fowler) - 30 years later we give the country DAD's Army.

DAD's Army is surely a front three that also includes Azaz 😉

[Pamplemousse]

I want to get to Wembley so I can boo their chief executive. That'll show them

[Harry_SFC]

Peretz, Bree, THB, Stephens, Manning, Downes, Bragg, Matsuki, Dobbin, Scienza, BBD.

Glaring weakness is upfront and having to pick from BBD and Downs is laughable. 

Thankfully there's still a week left until the first league game for Larin to get up to speed. 

[CB Fry]

dOnt wE nEeD t0 ResT pLaYERs fOR tHis

[saintant]

4 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Peretz, Bree, THB, Stephens, Manning, Downes, Bragg, Matsuki, Dobbin, Scienza, BBD.

Glaring weakness is upfront and having to pick from BBD and Downs is laughable. 

Thankfully there's still a week left until the first league game for Larin to get up to speed. 

Tonda said Larin is in far better condition now than he was when we first signed him so would assume from that he'll be ready for the Watford game.

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, CB Fry said:

dOnt wE nEeD t0 ResT pLaYERs fOR tHis

I notice Bristol City managed to get themselves knocked out at home to Walsall last night, we need to make it to at least the 3rd round for our annual game vs Liverpool 

[moonraker]

Not going so I am going to watch The Gas v The Posh.  Great Pies at The Mem

[Whitey Grandad]

13 minutes ago, moonraker said:

Not going so I am going to watch The Gas v The Posh.  Great Pies at The Mem

Ours kicks off at 17:30. Feasible to watch both. 

[moonraker]

3 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Ours kicks off at 17:30. Feasible to watch both. 

I will watch both but might be tad difficult to get from The Mem to Colchester in 30 minutes

[Cabrone]

Lets get a thumping win to prep ourselves for what is going to be a long tough season.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

21 hours ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Kinda want to show this comp a lack of respect and stick out the fringe.

Doesn't really help us, but it gives the efl the finger. Petty, right? Guilty as charged. 

Best way to give the EFL the finger is to beat every team we play this season...and we can start with this lot.

 

[Saint Fan CaM]

14 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Best way to give the EFL the finger is to beat every team we play this season...and we can start with this lot.

 

Mmm….no spy, no win? 🤔😉

[Challenger]

48 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Lets get a thumping win to prep ourselves for what is going to be a long tough season.

We're supposedly pissing this season, aren't we ?

[LiberalCommunist]

37 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Best way to give the EFL the finger is to beat every team we play this season...and we can start with this lot.

 

More like lose to Liverpool midweek in the QF then have Boro away at the weekend. Nah, fringe can have this shit. Bigger fish to fry. 

[Football Special]

13 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

More like lose to Liverpool midweek in the QF then have Boro away at the weekend. Nah, fringe can have this shit. Bigger fish to fry. 

I think we go strong tomorrow as squad preparation, but will then do our best to lose in the 2nd round with a team of u21s like the Leicester fa cup game last year 

[egg]

13 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Peretz, Bree, THB, Stephens, Manning, Downes, Bragg, Matsuki, Dobbin, Scienza, BBD.

Glaring weakness is upfront and having to pick from BBD and Downs is laughable. 

Thankfully there's still a week left until the first league game for Larin to get up to speed. 

BBD through the middle isn't as bad as BBD out wide. I'd like to see how he does playing there after a Tonda pre season.