Watford vs Saints - Sunday 1330

[Lighthouse]

On to the league then. Hopefully the Colchester game blew away any lingering cobwebs and a couple more players, namely Azaz and Larin, are fit to start. Azaz or Dobbin looks to be the only real selection headache at the moment, so that'll be interesting.

[Convict Colony]

Undefeated season starts here.

 

[trousers]

Peretz

Bree - Stephens - THB - Manning

Downes - Bragg 

Matsuki - Azaz - Scienza

Larin

Bench: Long, Welington, Wood, Jander (if close to full fitness), Fellows, Dobbin, Archer, Akachukwu, Oyekunle

In a car somewhere on the M1 enroute to join a loan club: Brereton-Diaz

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

On to the league then. Hopefully the Colchester game blew away any lingering cobwebs and a couple more players, namely Azaz and Larin, are fit to start. Azaz or Dobbin looks to be the only real selection headache at the moment, so that'll be interesting.

Azaz, if fit, over Dobbin is a no brainer for me.

[Harry_SFC]

4 hours ago, trousers said:

Peretz

Bree - Stephens - THB - Manning

Downes - Bragg 

Matsuki - Azaz - Scienza

Larin

Bench: Long, Welington, Wood, Jander (if close to full fitness), Fellows, Dobbin, Archer, Akachukwu, Oyekunle

In a car somewhere on the M1 enroute to join a loan club: Brereton-Diaz

I know it's not the end of the window but it's pretty much the side that finished last season.

Given how it all ended I wasn't expecting that. 

[SuperSAINT]

11 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Undefeated season starts here.

With a defeat, most likely

[coalman]

Tricky away fixture to start but unlike last year we have momentum and a settled side. COYR

[Verbal]

22 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

With a defeat, most likely

Excellent potential for a chant. Tune?

[LiberalCommunist]

1-1. Think I'd take that right now.

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

1-1. Think I'd take that right now.

I wouldn't. If automatic promotion is the aim then we need a win.

[austsaint]

20 hours ago, trousers said:

Peretz

Bree - Stephens - THB - Manning

Downes - Bragg 

Matsuki - Azaz - Scienza

Larin

Bench: Long, Welington, Wood, Jander (if close to full fitness), Fellows, Dobbin, Archer, Akachukwu, Oyekunle

In a car somewhere on the M1 enroute to join a loan club: Brereton-Diaz

May not be an option if Jander is injured and Charles gone, but Bragg doesn't convince me as a first choice midfielder.....just yet.     He may prove his worth as the season goes on, but a Charles replacement will be needed, even if Jander stays.

Edited 18 hours ago by austsaint

[CSA96]

I'd imagine it's going to be Azaz from the bench for another game or so, given he's coming back off an injury whereas Larin is just catching up on minutes. I'd expect an hour out of Larin and then he gets benched at the weekend

Starting XI: Peretz; Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning; Bragg, Downes; Fellows, Dobbin, Scienza; Larin

Bench: Long, Roerslev, Wood, Welington, Matsuki, Azaz, Brereton Diaz, Mubama

BBD on the bench instead of Archer because I get the impression he might have more irons in the fire and might be allowed to go after Mubama's arrival

[Football Special]

8 hours ago, LiberalCommunist said:

1-1. Think I'd take that right now.

I agree. Dont know much about current Watford side but they had some dangerous young players last season, that Australia International particularly (Irankunda) , they have another new manager i think so hard to know if much has changed. 

Looking at our first 7 fixtures we didnt win any of those equivalent games last season so as much as a winning start is important need to be realistic 

Last season

Watford (a) draw

Stoke (h) defeat 

Millwall (h) draw

Birmingham (a) draw 

Lincoln (a) didn't play but similar to Oxford defeat 

Swansea (h) draw

Bristol City (h) draw 

Edited 17 hours ago by Football Special

[LiberalCommunist]

8 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I wouldn't. If automatic promotion is the aim then we need a win.

I think there's a little wake up call coming for some. 

[hypochondriac]

1 hour ago, LiberalCommunist said:

I think there's a little wake up call coming for some. 

Taking a draw is a loser mentality. First game of the season on a very long unbeaten run we should be going for a win.

[goodymatt]

First outing for the away monstrosity.

[Convict Colony]

11 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

With a defeat, most likely

[saintoaks]

11 hours ago, SuperSAINT said:

With a defeat, most likely

How many are we undefeated now ? Lost count 😁

[CSA96]

 

[coalman]

1 hour ago, goodymatt said:

First outing for the away monstrosity.

I'd like to think we've chosen a pattern that's going to mess with people trying to mark our players. More genius from Saints. It'll be banned by Christmas, mark my words.

[Verbal]

On 09/08/2026 at 09:40, trousers said:

In a car somewhere on the M1 enroute to join a loan club: Brereton-Diaz

After which the M1 southbound is unaccountably closed permanently. 

[SuperSAINT]

3 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

It would be peak saints to attempt an unbeaten season after a long undefeated run with a defeat 😇

pPoor attempt at ironic humour which upset a couple 🤣

[Football Special]

25 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

It would be peak saints to attempt an unbeaten season after a long undefeated run with a defeat 😇

pPoor attempt at ironic humour which upset a couple 🤣

Mate anyone who has been a Saints fan as long as I have knows how these things work, not lost in the league for 7 months is mental , bound to go and have a blip 

We often seem to draw at Watford so seems likely scenario to me 

[Challenger]

Another game live on Sky, they really are going to milk spygate for all they possibly can .

[The Kraken]

If Larin doesn’t start we could be a bit fucked.

[Toadhall Saint]

16 minutes ago, Challenger said:

Another game live on Sky, they really are going to milk spygate for all they possibly can .

Thanks  - I’m in France at the moment so can watch on my phone. 

[VectisSaint]

9 hours ago, saintoaks said:

How many are we undefeated now ? Lost count 😁

19

Lost 1 in 26 (all competitions), and that was of course Man City in the SF, where we went behind in the 87'

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

15 hours ago, Football Special said:

I agree. Dont know much about current Watford side but they had some dangerous young players last season, that Australia International particularly (Irankunda) , they have another new manager i think so hard to know if much has changed. 

Looking at our first 7 fixtures we didnt win any of those equivalent games last season so as much as a winning start is important need to be realistic 

Last season

Watford (a) draw

Stoke (h) defeat 

Millwall (h) draw

Birmingham (a) draw 

Lincoln (a) didn't play but similar to Oxford defeat 

Swansea (h) draw

Bristol City (h) draw 

Think that's a pretty kind start to the season. No Wolves, W. Ham, Burnley, Wrexham, so a chance to wipe out that negative points start early on.

That stated, we do seem to draw with these guys. 1 - 1 incoming.

[Fabrice29]

1 minute ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Think that's a pretty kind start to the season. No Wolves, W. Ham, Burnley, Wrexham, so a chance to wipe out that negative points start early on.

That stated, we do seem to draw with these guys. 1 - 1 incoming.

Wrexham doing well to get a mention in that group 😂

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

Wrexham doing well to get a mention in that group 😂

why's that?

[Fabrice29]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

why's that?

Because they are not comparable to the three teams that came down from the PL and also shouldn’t be a team we are thinking of avoiding before a ball is kicked. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Fabrice29 said:

Because they are not comparable to the three teams that came down from the PL and also shouldn’t be a team we are thinking of avoiding before a ball is kicked. 

They will be in and around where we finish, that I am pretty sure. They only finished 3 places below us last season and will be very strong again.

[Fabrice29]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

They will be in and around where we finish, that I am pretty sure. They only finished 3 places below us last season and will be very strong again.

I’ll happily bet with you they won’t. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Fabrice29 said:

I’ll happily bet with you they won’t. 

we'll see. I think they will be top 6 (with us). 

[Fabrice29]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

we'll see. I think they will be top 6 (with us). 

I’ll go out on a limb and say they start poorly and have a new manager by January. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Fabrice29 said:

I’ll go out on a limb and say they start poorly and have a new manager by January. 

That is a fair shout. Despite the "story", I suspect the pressure to succeed (promotion) at Wrexham is as big as any other club in the league.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

17 hours ago, Football Special said:

I agree. Dont know much about current Watford side but they had some dangerous young players last season, that Australia International particularly (Irankunda) , they have another new manager i think so hard to know if much has changed. 

 

He’s supposedly off to Sporting (according to Fabrizio Romano) so hopefully he won’t be involved.