Lincoln vs Saints - Saturday 1230

[SouthWalesSaints]

1 hour ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

It’s a risk but this is the best chance to (a) give Larin a rest and (b) provide a good opportunity to Mabuma and Dobbin to put in a successful performance. Larin and Azaz can be utilised from the bench if we need to go large from 50-60 minutes onwards. Would also start Downes alongside JWP to run midfield. Also consider giving our new lad CB a start alongside Keven, but this is perhaps too risky and consistency at CB pairing is important.

I’m thinking a tough 1-2.

There is ZERO chance that Azaz will be rested. If he is, Tonda has lost the plot.  Play all the big attacking guns in every game until the international break.  We need to close the gap, not increase it. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

18 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

There is ZERO chance that Azaz will be rested. If he is, Tonda has lost the plot.  Play all the big attacking guns in every game until the international break.  We need to close the gap, not increase it. 

You’re likely right about Azaz, however Tonda has indicated that he likes a small squad and will trust the players at his disposal. Both Mubama and Dobbin need minutes to find their place in the team - what better way to do this against one of the weaker teams in the league (with all respect to Lincoln)? In a long season in a tough league we need to pace certain players - careful squad management is part of the reason why we were so successful last season. Dobbin could replace Scienza, however he’s not a natural winger - his strengths are playing off the main striker.

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

8 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

You’re likely right about Azaz, however Tonda has indicated that he likes a small squad and will trust the players at his disposal. Both Mubama and Dobbin need minutes to find their place in the team - what better way to do this against one of the weaker teams in the league (with all respect to Lincoln)? In a long season in a tough league we need to pace certain players - careful squad management is part of the reason why we were so successful last season. Dobbin could replace Scienza, however he’s not a natural winger - his strengths are playing off the main striker.

 

It's this level of arrogance that routinely sees us fall flat on our collective faces. Lincoln may well be a weaker side on paper but we should show them the same level of respect we would show Wolves or West Ham. They've brought a fair few players in and they will be at home against one of the big boys on the division. Their fans will expect a blood and thunder performance, the kind of game we have a tendency to struggle in. We absolutely have to start with the strongest starting 11 as possible. We absolutely cannot afford this to turn into another game like Oxford last season. 

[LiberalCommunist]

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

Who replaces Leo?

[Bobsmith]

55 minutes ago, saintant said:

Who replaces Leo?

I'm guessing Edozie will be back this week or next. He's our only natural replacement on the wing and better in that position than Dobbin

[saintant]

11 minutes ago, Bobsmith said:

I'm guessing Edozie will be back this week or next. He's our only natural replacement on the wing and better in that position than Dobbin

Would be a huge mistake imo. Leo was well marshalled by the Brum full back but he tends to get the better of most opponents and also provided the assist for our goal. 

[BARCELONASAINT]

1 hour ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

Absolute madness to bench Leo, he is the one player apart from Azaz that offers us true creativity and is very direct, which defenders hate. Yes he had one of his quieter games Tuesday night but so did a lot of players.

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

It's this level of arrogance that routinely sees us fall flat on our collective faces. Lincoln may well be a weaker side on paper but we should show them the same level of respect we would show Wolves or West Ham. They've brought a fair few players in and they will be at home against one of the big boys on the division. Their fans will expect a blood and thunder performance, the kind of game we have a tendency to struggle in. We absolutely have to start with the strongest starting 11 as possible. We absolutely cannot afford this to turn into another game like Oxford last season. 

Pot calling the kettle black right here. Suggest you calm down fella…it’s a forum discussing opinions.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Pot calling the kettle black right here. Suggest you calm down fella…it’s a forum discussing opinions.

Am pretty calm thanks. As you mentioned, just expressing an opinion. 

[sad saints fan]

Don't usually bother about guessing team selection but I think that Larin could do with a break and so could Leo. So how about a change of formation that will give Mubama and Dobbin a chance to get some minutes .

                                           Peretz

Bree                     Wood                Schlott        Manning 

                 JWP                 Downes             Matsuki

                                          Azaz

                            Mubama        Dobbin

Subs: Stephens/Wellington/Bragg/Larin/Szienza/Fellows /Princewill

 

If all goes well then Princewill could be given a run out for 20minutes if it is not so good we have a strong bench to turn to

[Bobsmith]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Would be a huge mistake imo. Leo was well marshalled by the Brum full back but he tends to get the better of most opponents and also provided the assist for our goal. 

I meant on the bench 😅 but would still prefer him as an option off the left than Dobbin

[SNSUN]

31 minutes ago, sad saints fan said:

Don't usually bother about guessing team selection but I think that Larin could do with a break and so could Leo. So how about a change of formation that will give Mubama and Dobbin a chance to get some minutes .

                                           Peretz

Bree                     Wood                Schlott        Manning 

                 JWP                 Downes             Matsuki

                                          Azaz

                            Mubama        Dobbin

Subs: Stephens/Wellington/Bragg/Larin/Szienza/Fellows /Princewill

 

If all goes well then Princewill could be given a run out for 20minutes if it is not so good we have a strong bench to turn to

I don't understand where this "players need a rest" thing has come from... we've only played 4 League games and 2 Cup games, one of which Larin didn't even start in.

Rotation against a weaker opponent or saving a player for a tougher fixture, maybe, but not because they need a rest a few games into a 46 game season (+ Cup games + potentially play-offs). If they're knackered now then we are fucked later on in the season. Thankfully we don't even have the Carabao to worry about now, which IMO isn't a bad thing. 

Get the points on the board now, then rest a few later in the calendar year (like December) when the fixtures really pile up.

Same team for me vs Lincoln, with perhaps only JWP over Bragg and Matsuki over Fellows.

[benjii]

Larin looked knackered for some reason on Tuesday and at times we take a lazy ball up to him as he is so good at holding it up but it can play into the hands of physical teams.

I can see logic to giving Mubama a start in this one.

 

[Wade Garrett]

Let’s get it right, we got an away point against a side that’s going to be up there this season and we were well off it.

We’re going to smash the fucking gimps or whatever they’re called.  No question.  Fucking smash them.

Start with our best team, including JWP.  It’s going to be fucking embarrassing.  Total gulf in class.  4-0 away win and that’s taking it easy in the last half hour while we rest players for Swansea on Tuesday.

Lincoln City, we shouldn’t even be on the same pitch.  They’re shite.

[Oisin]

I may not be quite as confident as Wade but I agree about going strong.

Really don’t understand this “let’s rest so-and-so” business. They should all be fresh this early in the season,and in 9 days time most of them have got a fortnight without a game.

Lincoln will be up for this - we need to be disciplined, professional and bang on it to get the 3 points we want. The points are not a god-given right and it’s not a meaningless friendly.

We’re not at the targeted 4 points a game even without the deduction. We’re just above the relegation zone and need to get in amongst the higher reaches of the table as soon as possible. Full throttle with team selection for the next 3 games before the break in my opinion 

Edited 20 hours ago by Oisin

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Oisin said:

I may not be quite as confident as Wade but I agree about going strong.

Really don’t understand this “let’s rest so-and-so” business. They should all be fresh this early in the season,and in 9 days time most of them have got a fortnight without a game.

Lincoln will be up for this - we need to be disciplined, professional and bang on it to get the 3 points we want. The points are not a god-given right and it’s not a meaningless friendly.

We’re not at the targeted 4 points a game even without the deduction. We’re just above the relegation zone and need to get in amongst as soon as possible. Full throttle with team selection for the next 3 games before the break in my opinion 

4 points a game would be some going 🙂

[Disco Stu]

The 6ft 8 giant they've signed to play upfront, Ladefoged, looks dangerous judging solely from his career stats and height. Signed for around £4m. One that passed our scouting team by?

Edited 20 hours ago by Disco Stu

[OneMrsWallace]

4 hours ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

We seem to regularly get bullied first 20 minutes away from home and we then struggle to find a rhythm. Plus Brum had three around Azaz when the ball was played to him which meant we lost possession too often. Tonda needs to find solutions for these challenges. Still think we'll win it. 

[saintant]

15 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

The 6ft 8 giant they've signed to play upfront, Ladefoged, looks dangerous judging solely from his career stats and height. Signed for around £4m. One that passed our scouting team by?

Yeah agree, he's one we'll need to keep an eye on for sure.

[tdmickey3]

34 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yeah agree, he's one we'll need to keep an eye on for sure.

Stop the crosses is the way to go, Manning take note

[SouthWalesSaints]

Have we sold this out yet?

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

49 minutes ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Have we sold this out yet?

It looked like there were 50 or so left when they took them off sale. Crazy as fans were turned away trying to buy as you still had to have 11 aways against your name for these additional 400 tickets that they had to sell in a few days.

Another one for FAB.

[Pamplemousse]

Presumably these were "friends and family" tickets who didn't fancy the lunchtime trip to Lincoln.

[SouthWalesSaints]

22 minutes ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

It looked like there were 50 or so left when they took them off sale. Crazy as fans were turned away trying to buy as you still had to have 11 aways against your name for these additional 400 tickets that they had to sell in a few days.

Another one for FAB.

Are they off sale? 

[Matthew Le God]

 

 

[Disco Stu]

4 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Let’s get it right, we got an away point against a side that’s going to be up there this season and we were well off it.

We’re going to smash the fucking gimps or whatever they’re called.  No question.  Fucking smash them.

Start with our best team, including JWP.  It’s going to be fucking embarrassing.  Total gulf in class.  4-0 away win and that’s taking it easy in the last half hour while we rest players for Swansea on Tuesday.

Lincoln City, we shouldn’t even be on the same pitch.  They’re shite.

They took the bait!

[qwertyell]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

 

No Jander still.

Edozie apparently not banished to the shadow realm. 

Abbott looks small for a centre back. 

[Gloucester Saint]

On 02/09/2026 at 15:03, CSA96 said:

Wearing our third kit for this one

By far the nicest of the three this season.

Mind you, anything is nicer than the first away kit. I’d rather they played in skins than that monstrosity. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[SNSUN]

2 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

They took the bait!

Yeah you can tell a new Championship club aren't used to the traditional Wade Garrett pre-match summaries! 😁

[CB Fry]

7 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Let’s get it right, we got an away point against a side that’s going to be up there this season and we were well off it.

We’re going to smash the fucking gimps or whatever they’re called.  No question.  Fucking smash them.

Start with our best team, including JWP.  It’s going to be fucking embarrassing.  Total gulf in class.  4-0 away win and that’s taking it easy in the last half hour while we rest players for Swansea on Tuesday.

Lincoln City, we shouldn’t even be on the same pitch.  They’re shite.

piN iT uP iN tHe dReEsSiNg RoOm

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

Presumably these were "friends and family" tickets who didn't fancy the lunchtime trip to Lincoln.

Not this time, was an extra block in stand behind goal that had been used as segregation earlier this season , prime spot behind the goal 

3 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Are they off sale? 

Yes unfortunately yesterday lunchtime, why club didnt make them available to fans with less than 11 aways only they know. Makes no sense. 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, qwertyell said:

No Jander still.

Edozie apparently not banished to the shadow realm. 

Abbott looks small for a centre back. 

Seeming increasingly likely Jander wont really feature before the international break , shame to be missing so many games really could do with him 

[suewhistle]

8 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Let’s get it right, we got an away point against a side that’s going to be up there this season and we were well off it.

We’re going to smash the fucking gimps or whatever they’re called.  No question.  Fucking smash them.

Start with our best team, including JWP.  It’s going to be fucking embarrassing.  Total gulf in class.  4-0 away win and that’s taking it easy in the last half hour while we rest players for Swansea on Tuesday.

Lincoln City, we shouldn’t even be on the same pitch.  They’re shite.

Wade, do you get paid for these motivational speeches that get pinned on the opposition changing room wall? 😉

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

21 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

There is ZERO chance that Azaz will be rested. If he is, Tonda has lost the plot.  Play all the big attacking guns in every game until the international break.  We need to close the gap, not increase it. 

Exactly. We've got Lincoln, Swansea, Bristol City and Wrexham before the international break and three of them (at least) will be eyeing the play-offs so we need to give ourselves every chance of beating them. And then the players can be rested for a couple of weeks.

[Turkish]

Can anyone remember the last time we played Lincoln? I went to see them at the Dell once around 1986/87 it was the second leg of what was then called the Littlewoods Cup Saints won 3-1 I remember little else about it other than the Lincoln goalkeeper said thank you to the fans every time they threw the ball back onto the pitch when it went behind. 
 

Just checked it was 1988/89 season I went to every home game in the league cup that season. We beat Scarborough 1-0 in the next then Spurs at home 2-1 before losing 2-1 in a reply v luton in extra time. A controversial refereeing decision robbing us of a goal in normal time which would have put us though. Rod Wallace supposedly fouling a Luton defender in the build up, a terrible decision 

Edited 12 hours ago by Turkish

[CSA96]

47 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Seeming increasingly likely Jander wont really feature before the international break , shame to be missing so many games really could do with him 

Let's see. Eckert was adamant he would play before the break. If he was close to being involved I wouldn't have expected away on Lincoln's pitch to be the return game anyway. Probably targeting a home game, so perhaps Bristol City at St Mary's

[jamesfp1]

13 hours ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Think I'd bench Leo & Bragg, and give JWP a starting birth for this one. Lincoln love a set piece. They are going to be all up in our grill from minute one. Need to show fight here, not just flashes of skill. This will not be easy. 

Like someone else said. They are fucking shit and we will batter them. 

[Sheaf Saint]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

Can anyone remember the last time we played Lincoln? I went to see them at the Dell once around 1986/87 it was the second leg of what was then called the Littlewoods Cup Saints won 3-1 I remember little else about it other than the Lincoln goalkeeper said thank you to the fans every time they threw the ball back onto the pitch when it went behind. 
 

Just checked it was 1988/89 season I went to every home game in the league cup that season. We beat Scarborough 1-0 in the next then Spurs at home 2-1 before losing 2-1 in a reply v luton in extra time. A controversial refereeing decision robbing us of a goal in normal time which would have put us though. Rod Wallace supposedly fouling a Luton defender in the build up, a terrible decision 

We played them at SMS in the Carabou cup in December 2022. It was Mad Nate's first game in charge and we won 2-1, after they took the lead within two minutes when Baz punched the ball into his own net from a sliced clearance.

https://youtu.be/cgSajaFHuZY?is=Sn-r3Jv4hfjx8As5

[Saint Fan CaM]

What’s the betting they target Manning’s side knowing full well that eventually he’ll switch off and they’ll get a cross or six onto the head of their 6’8” striker. Our CB pairing will be busy I reckon.

[Toadhall Saint]

Any press conference for this?

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Any press conference for this?

Not that i can see so far.

[Scummer]

4 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Not that i can see so far.

It was at 8 this morning, there's stuff in the OS. Jander has had another setback, the new CB has travelled but sounds like he'll be on the bench.

[Football Special]

3 minutes ago, Scummer said:

It was at 8 this morning, there's stuff in the OS. Jander has had another setback, the new CB has travelled but sounds like he'll be on the bench.

 

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, Football Special said:

 

What actually is wrong with Jander? Seems like he's constantly having set back, this is what the 3rd time now he's been close but then had another set back. Is it transferitus?

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

What actually is wrong with Jander? Seems like he's constantly having set back, this is what the 3rd time now he's been close but then had another set back. Is it transferitus?

Seems to be a genuine injury to be fair, but agree its odd as he keeps being close then having set backs. No proper pre season for him, going to take some time, we play Wrexham on 19th Sept then no more games until 11th Oct vs Pompey so that has to be the aim now realistically 

[saintant]

21 minutes ago, Turkish said:

What actually is wrong with Jander? Seems like he's constantly having set back, this is what the 3rd time now he's been close but then had another set back. Is it transferitus?

Smells like it to me. Anyone know if there's been a bust up behind the scenes perhaps because he was refused a transfer? That is what often leads to these ongoing 'injuries' that never seem to heal.

Edited 17 minutes ago by saintant

[saintant]

Couldn't spot Leo or Larin in the training photos and videos.

[CSA96]

Playback of the press conference is here

 

[hypochondriac]

Getting pretty annoyed about Jander to be honest. He's arguably our best player and losing him for multiple games at the start of the season is going to have an impact on our results. It's so important that we get him back as soon as possible.