West Ham 2-3 Saints - Match Thread

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Pamplemousse said:

Plenty of headlosses inside the ground as well. Very very funny, added to the whole spectacle. 

Some of them were.comedy gold, I was in upper tier for the first time there, view wasn't too bad, one Hammer in blue jumper, beard, flat cap totally lost it towards the end . 

 

Surprised how many West Ham had left by the 85th minute, always felt like they had a chance to get back into it and they very nearly did, we somehow went from 92nd min controlling at 3-1 to last ditch saves in 95th min to hold on. 

 

All in all top day out despite the train problems and heavy rain , onwards and upwards , think Dobbin deserves a run of games 

[jrobsbigshorts]

Where did Wellington play when he came on for Matsuki?

[Give it to Ron]

4 minutes ago, jrobsbigshorts said:

Where did Wellington play when he came on for Matsuki?

In front or covering Manning on left side to try and stop Bowen although needed a great save from Peretz at end from his cross to forwards header

Edited yesterday at 08:59 by Give it to Ron

[PerthshireSaint]

9 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I think with Leo we have to accept that, as with with any player, we can only ever choose two out of three:

• He’s that good
• He consistently plays at his best
• He’s willing to play for Southampton in the Championship 

Leo is 1 and 3. I’d rather have him that not because on the days when it goes right for him he wins us games and no defence in this division can cope with him.

MLT was like that as well. A luxury player I think they used to call it 

[PerthshireSaint]

JWP is looking an absolute bargain 

[suewhistle]

On 24/10/2026 at 09:12, suewhistle said:

Not sure what I feel about today, though the ideal scenario would be a late winning free kick by JWP. I didn't think those things happened to Saints, but then Le Tissier popped up with that fantasy script in the last game at The Dell, so there's always a little hope.

I sort of predicted the right score! OK, maybe not, but at least I didn't join in with the 3-0 defeat depressives. 🙂

[Turkish]

12 minutes ago, PerthshireSaint said:

JWP is looking an absolute bargain 

The fact that we’ve signed Peretz, JWP, Larin and Schlotterbeck for less than we paid for Baz makes the obsession with signing YHGTIers for the first few years SR were here look even more ridiculous 

Edited yesterday at 09:15 by Turkish

[sfc4prem]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

The fact that we’ve signed Peretz, JWP, Larin and Schlotterbeck for less than we paid for Baz makes the obsession with signing YHGTIers for the first few years SR we’re here look even more ridiculous 

Yeah, but Lankshear.

[UpweySaint]

21 minutes ago, Turkish said:

The fact that we’ve signed Peretz, JWP, Larin and Schlotterbeck for less than we paid for Baz makes the obsession with signing YHGTIers for the first few years SR were here look even more ridiculous 

It was not a wholly bad idea but poorly executed. We did our best work developing young talent when they came into a settled side with experience and quality. SR clearly overdid it. Either way we’ve got incredible value in the summer window, Dobbin’s price currently the only outlier but performances like yesterday do help underline that there is a lot of talent there.

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

It was not a wholly bad idea but poorly executed. We did our best work developing young talent when they came into a settled side with experience and quality. SR clearly overdid it. Either way we’ve got incredible value in the summer window, Dobbin’s price currently the only outlier but performances like yesterday do help underline that there is a lot of talent there.

It’s not an idea you can’t have a team full of 18 year olds with no experience thrown them into the premier league and expect them to thrive, it’s ridiculous to even suggest it. Like you say you can bring a few into the squad and blend them in but not rely on them to be key players. You might get a one off like Livermento who already had a man’s physique but the rest looked exactly what they were, boys playing men’s football. 

[Dman]

43 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Yeah, but Lankshear.

To be fair, had we signed Lankshear as well, we’d be all but celebrating promotion right now. 

[pingpong]

19 minutes ago, Turkish said:

It’s not an idea you can’t have a team full of 18 year olds with no experience thrown them into the premier league and expect them to thrive, it’s ridiculous to even suggest it. Like you say you can bring a few into the squad and blend them in but not rely on them to be key players. You might get a one off like Livermento who already had a man’s physique but the rest looked exactly what they were, boys playing men’s football. 

You can't win anything with kids.

[gio1saints]

14 hours ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

Nice interview with Prowsey and Tonda. 

 

The JWP part of the clip is yet another compelling example of why JWP will be a future Club Manager.
He very rarely misspeaks, listens intelligently to questions, has good control of his facial/body language on camera, has a impish SOH, unusually for a footballer is articulate (and coherent), is photogenically camera friendly and has just enough credibility in the game for most pros to listen to what he has to say.
If he ever beats Beckhams record he will automatically be a bona fide legend if not that already due to that issue which sone still hold against him but pragmatists do not- especially after performances like he is now delivering every week for us.
Hopefully he will manage one day at Saints and hopefully that’s in the EPL. Would not be surprised if his first chance at nanagement were lower league and down the road either - 🐟but I’d hope not! 
Oh, in case anybody wondering “what about Adam Lallana “ -he is also a predestined Club Manager, IMO, and way ahead of JWP on the fast track to management scheme - obviously. Both will be good I reckon but my gut says James is gonna be better. 

[Mr X]

My god Tonda broke character and actually laughed! 😂 😜 

[Patrick Bateman]

5 minutes ago, Mr X said:

My god Tonda broke character and actually laughed! 😂 😜 

I noticed that, made me smile - actually nice to see the more human side occasionally that the players see - they obviously love working for with him. Feels like a very close knit group, it has that Adkins vibe to it for me. 

[saintant]

12 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

There's some absolutely beautiful videos on YouTube of angry cockneys going nuts and saying we were shit. Suffah cockneys!

Must be tough to admit you couldn't even beat a shit side at home but there they are admitting to it 🙂

[LaptopSaint]

1 hour ago, sfc4prem said:

Yeah, but Lankshear.

It was interesting to see Spors quoted in the Echo saying they bought Dobbin because they thought  he was the best U23 player in the championship last year. 
 

He was really good yesterday and will score a fair few this season. Great ability to turn defenders and create space.
 

But best in the league - did they not notice Lankshear at Oxford last year? We spied on them FFS so someone must have checked the iPhone footage! 

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, saintant said:

Must be tough to admit you couldn't even beat a shit side at home but there they are admitting to it 🙂

Their argument seems to be 'southampton are shit so we are even worse.' 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

To be fair, had we signed Lankshear as well, we’d be all but celebrating promotion right now. 

But would he have settled for being Larin's understudy when other top EFL clubs wanted him as their main striker? It was a hard sell to get him.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

But would he have settled for being Larin's understudy when other top EFL clubs wanted him as their main striker? It was a hard sell to get him.

why would he be Larin's understudy?

Larin struggles to complete a full game at full pelt, let alone 2 or 3 in a week...

[Hawkswood]

2 hours ago, PerthshireSaint said:

JWP is looking an absolute bargain 

Yeah, I was one of the people who didnt want him back but very happy to be proved wrong.

[Badger]

3 hours ago, Colinjb said:

I think Claret due to Booze might be a more apt name.

It does come across as a voice piece and outlet for a collection of wife beaters.
Bet they went ‘ome and there was trouble if ‘er indoors didn’t have the pie and mash on the table. 

[saintant]

12 hours ago, Micky said:

Some of the commentators on Claret and Booze are losing their minds over today's result.  I thought that the numpties on Arsenal TV were away with the fairies but this lot give them a run for their money.

 

According to this guy, every single team in the championship is shyte and west spam should be beating everybody 6 nil.  Comedy gold. 

 

Not very bitter are they 🙂

[Badger]

13 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Yeah, I was one of the people who didnt want him back but very happy to be proved wrong.

I think a lot depends on who he is paired with in midfield as to how effective he is and the team performs. Is JWP and Bragg too defensive? I’m still concerned he and Downes are too similar.
But the good thing is JWP seems adaptable and Tonda rotates the team well 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Mr X said:

My god Tonda broke character and actually laughed! 😂 😜 

Yes, he seemed quite relaxed. Good to see.

[Badger]

28 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

why would he be Larin's understudy?

Larin struggles to complete a full game at full pelt, let alone 2 or 3 in a week...

This is a point I’ve made a few times but people keep trotting out the same bollocks about only being back up.

Larin is great when fit but looking at last season it seemed if anything he was the backup to Stewart, although a more accurate description might be sharing the role. 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

The JWP part of the clip is yet another compelling example of why JWP will be a future Club Manager.
He very rarely misspeaks, listens intelligently to questions, has good control of his facial/body language on camera, has a impish SOH, unusually for a footballer is articulate (and coherent), is photogenically camera friendly and has just enough credibility in the game for most pros to listen to what he has to say.
If he ever beats Beckhams record he will automatically be a bona fide legend if not that already due to that issue which sone still hold against him but pragmatists do not- especially after performances like he is now delivering every week for us.
Hopefully he will manage one day at Saints and hopefully that’s in the EPL. Would not be surprised if his first chance at nanagement were lower league and down the road either - 🐟but I’d hope not! 
Oh, in case anybody wondering “what about Adam Lallana “ -he is also a predestined Club Manager, IMO, and way ahead of JWP on the fast track to management scheme - obviously. Both will be good I reckon but my gut says James is gonna be better. 

Totally agree with what you say about JWP but it’s very difficult to predict how or if he’ll progress as a manager.
 

For all the reasons you give for him I always thought David Armstrong would go on to be a successful coach or manager, but not the case. (Stuart Armstrong also fits the bill).

Not so sure about Lallana. Perhaps like many I still hold a bit of a grievance as to his leaving etc but he doesn’t seem to have the same air of confidence/authority. 

 

[Cuddles]

23 hours ago, Cuddles said:

Come on, we surprised a few by beating Coventry last season...

Similar sort of game actually, with Coventry getting that penalty at the end to reduce the deficit last season.

#blowingmyowntrumpet

[Jimmy_D]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

Yes, he seemed quite relaxed. Good to see.

I guess that technically, this is the first game that Spygate is truly settled, outside of the period that the FA could theoretically have appealed his punishment.

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

It does come across as a voice piece and outlet for a collection of wife beaters.
Bet they went ‘ome and there was trouble if ‘er indoors didn’t have the pie and mash on the table. 

Funny you should mention that. We have a really obnoxious West Ham supporting neighbour who clearly has anger management issues. He can often be heard shouting at his wife in the back garden and the latest news is that they are getting a divorce.

[Badger]

6 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Funny you should mention that. We have a really obnoxious West Ham supporting neighbour who clearly has anger management issues. He can often be heard shouting at his wife in the back garden and the latest news is that they are getting a divorce.

“You f’kin stupid cah….”

It seems “silly old moo” from the 1960’s Alf Garnett was quite endearing by comparison. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

41 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Funny you should mention that. We have a really obnoxious West Ham supporting neighbour who clearly has anger management issues. He can often be heard shouting at his wife in the back garden and the latest news is that they are getting a divorce.

Cool story, appreciate the insight…

[Midfield_General]

19 hours ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

Nice interview with Prowsey and Tonda. 

 

Deeney sucking up to Tonda there as soon as he has to speak to his face, after spending months relentlessly slagging him off in the media.

Coward. 

[maysie]

42 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Cool story, appreciate the insight…

Yep please keep me updated on their ongoing relationship. I'm really nervous about who will get the kids.

[Toadhall Saint]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Deeney sucking up to Tonda there as soon as he has to speak to his face, after spending months relentlessly slagging him off in the media.

Coward. 

Yep, thought the same. 

[Badger]

 

[Winnersaint]

Some of the West Ham stuff on YouTube is beyond funny. Angry wankers getting to coronary level basically saying we’re shit. 

[sadoldgit]

2 hours ago, Badger said:

“You f’kin stupid cah….”

It seems “silly old moo” from the 1960’s Alf Garnett was quite endearing by comparison. 

Incredible to think that certain words that were totally taboo back then are all over the TV now. Mind you, there are still plenty of Alf Garnetts walking amongst us today, so perhaps the world still needs to move on in certain areas!

Didn’t see yesterday’s game so can’t comment on the performance but I can imagine that MLG will be more than happy with the 3 goals after some earlier comments on the thread!

[East Kent Saint]

The point about Alf Garnett was that he always came off worse !

Incredibly now Farage is doing the same comic turn there are lunatics that vote for him thinking somehow what he says would actually happen ffs .

[sadoldgit]

1 hour ago, maysie said:

Yep please keep me updated on their ongoing relationship. I'm really nervous about who will get the kids.

No danger of children mate! I wouldn’t choose a partner who picks his holiday destinations depending on their appalling history of apartheid.
😉 

[BarberSaint]

4 hours ago, Badger said:

Totally agree with what you say about JWP but it’s very difficult to predict how or if he’ll progress as a manager.
 

For all the reasons you give for him I always thought David Armstrong would go on to be a successful coach or manager, but not the case. (Stuart Armstrong also fits the bill).

Not so sure about Lallana. Perhaps like many I still hold a bit of a grievance as to his leaving etc but he doesn’t seem to have the same air of confidence/authority. 

 

Re: Lallana, the only thing I'd say is the game against Juve showed a damn good Saints team.

[Osvaldorama]

10 hours ago, PerthshireSaint said:

MLT was like that as well. A luxury player I think they used to call it 

I don’t even think he’s that luxury, I think fans just have ridiculous expectations 

His productive output is still crazy high in a tough league. 
 

 

[Badger]

View on a West Ham forum:

https://www.hammers.news/match-report/no-surprise-west-ham-fans-all-say-the-same-thing-about-james-ward-prowse/
 

I’m not sure that’s correct about not scoring from a dead ball for them. From a free kick perhaps, but I thought he scored direct from a corner at Wolves for them. 

 

[Toussaint]

6 hours ago, East Kent Saint said:

The point about Alf Garnett was that he always came off worse !

Incredibly now Farage is doing the same comic turn there are lunatics that vote for him thinking somehow what he says would actually happen ffs .

Do shut up. 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

15 hours ago, gio1saints said:

a impish SOH

Sine equals Opposite over Hypotenuse; very impish, gio.

[Hawkswood]

20 hours ago, Badger said:

I think a lot depends on who he is paired with in midfield as to how effective he is and the team performs. Is JWP and Bragg too defensive? I’m still concerned he and Downes are too similar.
But the good thing is JWP seems adaptable and Tonda rotates the team well 

Yeah thats a far point......I still think when everyone is fit though, I think Id still prefer Downes and Jander as my midfield pairing but its a good problem to have.

[DT]

Wow. How good was Peretz! Just shows the importance of having an exceptional keeper, after years of having dross. Baz would have let in seven against West Ham.

So good to have balance to the side, and a good manager who they clearly like and respect. We're having a good moment.

[Toussaint]

2 hours ago, Hawkswood said:

Yeah thats a far point......I still think when everyone is fit though, I think Id still prefer Downes and Jander as my midfield pairing but its a good problem to have.

I can’t see anyone shifting JWP now, it will be him plus whoever. 

[chownie20]

On 25/10/2026 at 09:58, Dman said:

To be fair, had we signed Lankshear as well, we’d be all but celebrating promotion right now. 

One thing to remember is that we will probably strengthen again in Jan, just like we did last year.  Others with thinner squads and lesser budgets will pick up injuries and fade hopefully.  We'll just double down.

[swedish dave]

Think most of you have mentioned the most salient points, but on a personal level I thought 

the following were things to really feel good about.

Peretz made 10 saves (according to BBC stats) and one or two can be called real class.

(IMO ...he's perhaps the best keeper we've had since .....Antti Niemi ? ).

Prowsey really hasn't changed -and it looks like he hasn't been away for 3 years, and he

made a couple of good defensive interceptions as well. 

Schotterbeck and Captain Jack make a fine couple of CBs -always there when it mattered.

Looking back it hasn't been so easy for Jack, as he was thrown into the team after Fonte left

and VvD was out for 6 months (after getting crocked by Jamie Vardy). He cobbled together 

a CB pairing with Yoshida (who wasn't a regular first choice either) and not everything went 

according to plan. Jack would probably be first to admit that he's lacked consistency at times, 

(and I wasn't alone when surprised he got a 3 year extension a while back), but I'm also sure 

he would number the WHam game as one of his best-ever performances. A real captains effort.

How can anyone not appreciate Matsuki's input , the word " Kamikase " comes to mind and

Bree proved he is more than just a good RB, with a goal many strikers would be proud of.  

At last, Dobbin got off the mark, albeit with a tap-in,  that proved to be the winning goal. 

 

Ironically we recently lapsed back into the old routine of playing well against good sides;

5-1 v Millwall, 3-1 v Swansea, and 4 goals v. Bristol City and now the win over WHam, yet 

dropped points against struggling sides, after leading Birmingham and Lincoln, and the 

almost pathetic showing against Bolton last weekend it cost us dearly.

Somehow, every time I look at the League table, it's easy to forget that in reality we should

actually be 4 points "better-off" than our position shows.

Automatic promotion would be more than just a success, more like some sort of a miracle. 

Edited 5 hours ago by swedish dave