2005 vs 2023. Both of our first championship starting lineups.

[Colinjb]

Been thinking about how we lined up after relegation in 2005 to now. (Also about how our first three points gained back then was against Sheffield Wednesday, hope that's an omen....)

From our first game in 2005:

Niemi, Hajto, Lundekvam, Powell, Higginbotham, Belmadi (Wise 50), Oakley, Quashie, Prutton, Fuller (Delap 90), Jones (Walcott 73).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Cranie.

 

And our likely (Obviously open to a little debate) side for Friday:

Bazunu, Tino, Stephens, Charles, Manning, Smallbone, JWP, Alcaraz, Tella, A Armstrong, Amo-Ameyaw

Honestly, Clearly put in Niemi. Maybe put Claus and Jones in, much happier with our current lot. Quite amazed that Theo nearly featured in both sides, just a sign of how young he was. That said though, a very clear slant towards experience was there in 2005. Dennis Wise for heaven's sake....

Edited 31 July, 2023 by Colinjb

[gio1saints]

Think you got ten out of eleven of the starting line up Friday. Edozie starting my only change for Amo.

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

Think you got ten out of eleven of the starting line up Friday. Edozie starting my only change for Amo.

I do wonder if Martin will buckle to the temptation of starting a 'safe pair of hands' with Stu Armstrong?  We've seen this before with three previous managers.

[SotonianWill]

1 hour ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I do wonder if Martin will buckle to the temptation of starting a 'safe pair of hands' with Stu Armstrong?  We've seen this before with three previous managers.

Bloody hell, things haven’t got that bad in goal have they?

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 hours ago, SotonianWill said:

Bloody hell, things haven’t got that bad in goal have they?

Errr, actually…🤣

[Bad Wolf]

Though I don't think we'll go straight back up, I've been saying for a long time that the chances of us doing so are far greater now than in 2005. The two relegations had very different feels to them.

[Saint_clark]

2005 Jones wasn't that great. Wasn't until the following season under Burley he discovered he could leap 10 feet in the air and dominate the opponents 18 yard box.