Saints 2-1 Plymouth - Match Thread

[bubblyone]

Could anyone enlighten me to the reason for the 18.00 kick-off?

TV?

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, bubblyone said:

Could anyone enlighten me to the reason for the 18.00 kick-off?

TV?

Yup...

 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

24 minutes ago, bubblyone said:

Could anyone enlighten me to the reason for the 18.00 kick-off?

TV?

Not putting many off, mostly just single seats remaining scattered around the stadium - Boxing Day* (*Trousers to the front desk please) also close to a sell-out, would have been already if Swansea hadn't sent back so many tickets, Blocks 43 and 44 now on sale to home fans.

[Andrew Watson]

My neighbour a Plymouth season ticket holder thinks they might get Warnock in for the rest of the season. NW  only lives 40 minutes away from Home Park.

[SaintBobby]

Why was attendance so low for the Blackburn match then (27-28K?). Was that largely away attendance being thin?

[JRM]

8 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

Why was attendance so low for the Blackburn match then (27-28K?). Was that largely away attendance being thin?

Yeah pretty much, only just over 1k Blackburn fans when most teams bring nearly 3k. Few empty in the home end but not surprising just before Christmas. 

Festive week home games are always popular, Swansea game has been close to a sell out for a while, they're not bringing many fans at all despite subsidised coaches, it's good we've now got blocks 43 and 44 for home fans and I'm sure we'll sell out before match day, just a shame they wait to put them on sale last so end up with a mix of fans who buy last minute rather than a concentration of fans who want to stand like the rest of the Northam. Will be good to see two full home "ends" though. Will be most Saints fans at a game for several years. 

Plymouth at 6pm on a "working day" does feel odd and might be inconvenient for those who have to work but virtually sold out already, so many people off pubs will be busy all afternoon, they are bringing full 2825 allocation sold out before general sale, big game for them being the Mayflower derby. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

Plymouth and Swansea sold out a couple of days ago but the ticket exchange is open if anyone needs to offload tickets.

Swansea away went on sale and lasted a couple of days, sold out to season ticket holders. Norwich away also close to selling out for NYD.

[SW5 SAINT]

In reply to the OP, so as not to clash with other match that Sky are showing that day at 8pm…..

Edited 22 December, 2023 by SW5 SAINT

[SaintBobby]

V weird kick off time. Has a league match in England ever kicked off at 6pm before?

[CB Fry]

9 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

V weird kick off time. Has a league match in England ever kicked off at 6pm before?

A few years back when the BBC had the FA Cup they tried a couple of years with Sunday 6pm kick offs, it is quite a good slot from a TV perspective.

Really it is there to maximise the number of games back to back on Sky, which as everyone knows is the true meaning of that period between Christmas and New Year.

[east-stand-nic]

Plymouth have a really bad record away from home so far. No wins at all. Do I not hate games like that.

Plymouth

11

0

4

7

7

19

-12

4

Two homes games this week, six points a must as it will put us right up there with Ipswich as I reckon they will lose against Leicester, and maybe only get a point with QPR as after a couple of defeats in a row they may be a bit fragile. Anyway, we cannot control their form, but with six points we go to 51...and if they fail to get more than say two points from their two games, we would be just three points behind them.

Question is, can we get those six points from two games that on paper, look very winnable. Or, will we do the usual win one and draw one and drop two crucial points? Come on RM, get them points this week!

 

[JRM]

3 hours ago, east-stand-nic said:

Plymouth have a really bad record away from home so far. No wins at all. Do I not hate games like that.

Plymouth

11

0

4

7

7

19

-12

4

Two homes games this week, six points a must as it will put us right up there with Ipswich as I reckon they will lose against Leicester, and maybe only get a point with QPR as after a couple of defeats in a row they may be a bit fragile. Anyway, we cannot control their form, but with six points we go to 51...and if they fail to get more than say two points from their two games, we would be just three points behind them.

Question is, can we get those six points from two games that on paper, look very winnable. Or, will we do the usual win one and draw one and drop two crucial points? Come on RM, get them points this week!

 

Both Swansea and Plymouth are currently managerless, I think that makes them quite unpredictable, Swansea will also have the extra motivation of wanting to get one over Russell Martin. Games will be tough. 

Edited 24 December, 2023 by JRM

[SaintBobby]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

A few years back when the BBC had the FA Cup they tried a couple of years with Sunday 6pm kick offs, it is quite a good slot from a TV perspective.

Really it is there to maximise the number of games back to back on Sky, which as everyone knows is the true meaning of that period between Christmas and New Year.

Have to confess I quite enjoy a ton of football on TV over this period. Selfishly, I don't want a mid-season break.

[Block 5]

6pm kick off on a Friday is utter bollocks. 

This is a normal working day for me, with a 5pm finish. 

That would give me an hour to drive from Andover to my car parking spot, and then walk to the ground. 

Thanks Sky, you twats. 

I shall have to spend Wednesday and Thursday coercing and convincing work colleagues into helping facilitate an early finish. 

 

[Pamplemousse]

14 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

V weird kick off time. Has a league match in England ever kicked off at 6pm before?

They did the same last season in the Championship as well, there were a round of matches on the Thursday after the Christmas and they had two games in the evening, one at 6 and one at 8.15

[RedWillie]

33 minutes ago, Block 5 said:

6pm kick off on a Friday is utter bollocks. 

This is a normal working day for me, with a 5pm finish. 

That would give me an hour to drive from Andover to my car parking spot, and then walk to the ground. 

Thanks Sky, you twats. 

I shall have to spend Wednesday and Thursday coercing and convincing work colleagues into helping facilitate an early finish. 

 

Just get an 'iffy stomach' about 3 ish....

[beatlesaint]

3 hours ago, Block 5 said:

6pm kick off on a Friday is utter bollocks. 

This is a normal working day for me, with a 5pm finish. 

That would give me an hour to drive from Andover to my car parking spot, and then walk to the ground. 

Thanks Sky, you twats. 

I shall have to spend Wednesday and Thursday coercing and convincing work colleagues into helping facilitate an early finish. 

 

You would hope during the festive period your colleagues would be obliging unless you are a “challenging” person to work with 🤣

[Bad Wolf]

23 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

You would hope during the festive period your colleagues would be obliging unless you are a “challenging” person to work with 🤣

Tbf I'd do it even if the person was challenging. I mean, stopping someone seeing their football team is just inhuman.

[Whitey Grandad]

5 hours ago, Bad Wolf said:

Tbf I'd do it even if the person was challenging. I mean, stopping someone seeing their football team is just inhuman.

This is where the ECHR comes in.

[saintant]

More of the same please!

[Sheaf Saint]

They drew 2-2 with Cardiff today. Whittaker scored both. 

We, however, have only conceded twice in our last 6 home games.

If Leicester keep up their form and beat Ipswich this evening then a win will see us close to a single point behind Ipswich with a better GD before they KO at home to QPR, which they *should* win, but the pressure will be on.

[ChudSaint]

Travelling up with the whole family from Cornwall for this, 4 of us Saints, middle son in with Janners.

Coincides with youngest son’s 13th birthday too and he wants to meet the players arriving.  Last time we did it a few seasons ago they arrive about 4 hours beforehand (11am for 3pm ko).  Anyone know if this still the case? Planning on getting there about 2 but would hate to miss them if anyone knows different….

[AlexLaw76]

Whittaker (who is very good), Hardie (who has been injured) and Azaz are their goal threats. They fight for everything, despite their manager jumping to Stoke. 

Their success this season is largely due to their home form, as they have been (generally) poor away. They have pace on the break and will likely use it against us...They are having a fine season (relatively).

Just hope complacency does not set in.

2-0 to Saints.

Edited 26 December, 2023 by AlexLaw76

[CSA96]

Should be a belting atmosphere 

[The Cat]

There's been a lot of goals in their recent games and they are pretty quick on the break. It may not be as straightforward as some may think. Hopefully an entertaining game and a win.

[SaintBobby]

Confident (again) for this one.

[Suhari]

Today we had five before 5. Is it too greedy to ask for six after 6?

Probably. I'll settle for a 2-0.

[whelk]

6-0. There’s a pattern

[Harry_SFC]

Got a feeling we might concede in this one. They are decent upfront but look pretty appalling at the back. 3-1 win. 

[SaintsFan86]

Crazy to think that Aribo seems to be undroppable. Love it that he is doing the business. 

Proving me wrong big time these last 4 games.

[Chewy]

Difficult to know what to do with the team after that showing; Argument for leaving alone but I’d prefer KWP at full back instead of Stephens or (preferably) Manning. Shea back available so expect Dibbling to drop out of the match-day squad. 
I guess there might be some rotation to save legs for Norwich but no idea on who will need the rest. Wouldn’t be averse to something like

Baz

Stephens THB Bednarek KWP

Smallbone Downes Aribo

ArmA Charlie Edozie

Bit of a rest for Stu, Shea in reserve for midfield changes. 
But we’re in such a good place right now I’d happily see the same 11.

[Harry_SFC]

13 minutes ago, Chewy said:

Difficult to know what to do with the team after that showing; Argument for leaving alone but I’d prefer KWP at full back instead of Stephens or (preferably) Manning. Shea back available so expect Dibbling to drop out of the match-day squad. 
I guess there might be some rotation to save legs for Norwich but no idea on who will need the rest. Wouldn’t be averse to something like

Baz

Stephens THB Bednarek KWP

Smallbone Downes Aribo

ArmA Charlie Edozie

Bit of a rest for Stu, Shea in reserve for midfield changes. 
But we’re in such a good place right now I’d happily see the same 11.

I agree, I'd rest Stu for this game. We know he struggles with multiple games in quick succession and he's played 3 in 10 days now. Although Stephens did ok today I still don't think he should be starting in our best team so I'd put KWP back into defence for this one. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

I'm going to open a can of worms and mention xG now in the hope that the feel good factor post Swansea will keep me out of trouble!

This xG table is entertaining reading

It will adjust according to the various headings if you click them. 

We are bossing it, and yet we are still 'relatively' under scoring the number of chances we are creating - which means there is still room for improvement even after 16 games unbeaten (11 wins, 5 draws I think?)

Plymouth yet to win away, must be fearful of a visit to Fortress St Marys - however we ended their impressive run of home wins, so let's hope they don't return the favour. 

Saints 3-1

COYRs

Edited 26 December, 2023 by Patches O Houlihan
fucking up the stats on a post about stats

[JRM]

On 19/12/2023 at 21:34, trousers said:

Yup...

 

I expect Ipswich to beat QPR so we've got to win to keep the pressure on them, we've managed to claw back the goal difference which will help if we get level on points. 

I've watched Plymouth a few times this season, we'll need to be prepared for their pace up front , hard working side but limited squad, being the 3rd game in 7 days its when having strength in depth needs to make a difference, legs will tire as the game goes on. 

Expecting a good atmosphere for this one, Plymouth sold out full away allocation, home end complete sell out , unfortunately Southampton Central Station is closed though so bus replacements a real pain for those travelling that way. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Plymouth may well be a hard working side, but they’re going to need that with our passing/possession game. Providing there’s no panic and no complacency, we should win although not by a large margin…they will limit our chances. Saints 2-1.

[Yorkshire Saint]

1-5 to the green army

Ei Ei Ei oh...

[Sevvy]

I just wish we would stop mucking about at the back with the ball,

[sfc4prem]

Got rinsed by their attack in the first half of the game at Plymouth earlier this season, they just didn't have their shooting boots on.

I reckon it'll be different on Friday.

 

2-0 to Saints.

[trousers]

Saints 4 Plymouth 1 

Onwards and upwards!

[AlexLaw76]

They will probably come to pack the defence (3/5 at the back) and look to hit us on the break wit Mumba and Whittaker....

[Mr Nimbus]

3-1 Saints I reckon. I was impressed with them in the reverse fixture, whilst acknowledging they've been pretty poor away.

Edozie and 2 for AA is my bet.

[Stud mark of doom]

6 o’bloody clock!

Is this fixture sponsored by SCC traffic wardens department? They are going to have a field day with parking tickets on places you can normally always park for a match.

looking forward to having to use up annual leave to attend a home game. 

[Pamplemousse]

The only thing that stops us winning this game is complacency. Hopefully the fact we've closed the gap so quickly to Ipswich will be motivation to keep going, especially as they have QPR on Friday and will very likely get back to winning ways themselves.

Think it will be tougher than Blackburn or Swansea games but we'll still win comfortably. 3-0

[Toadhall Saint]

Draw

[SNSUN]

2 nil Saints to continue the pressure at the top. The Norwich game will be the toughie.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

16 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

I'm going to open a can of worms and mention xG now in the hope that the feel good factor post Swansea will keep me out of trouble!

This xG table is entertaining reading

It will adjust according to the various headings if you click them. 

We are bossing it, and yet we are still 'relatively' under scoring the number of chances we are creating - which means there is still room for improvement even after 16 games unbeaten (11 wins, 5 draws I think?)

Plymouth yet to win away, must be fearful of a visit to Fortress St Marys - however we ended their impressive run of home wins, so let's hope they don't return the favour. 

Saints 3-1

COYRs

Interesting figures. Doesn't it say that we are actually almost exactly hitting our xg? Which surprises me as I thought we were lacking a clinical striker and not taking our chances. Turns out we're converting averagely well

[Bad Wolf]

Team yet to win away and in relegation battle Vs team who haven't lost since September and demolishing teams at home.

We know where this one's going...

[Badger]

4 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

Team yet to win away and in relegation battle Vs team who haven't lost since September and demolishing teams at home.

We know where this one's going...

Just hope they don’t make their new manager appointment later today or tomorrow giving them the  inevitable ‘bounce’ for the fixture as well 

Edited 27 December, 2023 by Badger

[Bad Wolf]

12 minutes ago, Badger said:

Just hope they don’t make their new manager appointment later today or tomorrow giving them the  inevitable ‘bounce’ for the fixture as well 

Already confirmed the caretaker is in charge for the next two games at least.

[benjii]

I'd be tempted to make a few changes with the long away trip a few days later and, at least on paper, being a more challenging fixture.

KWP must have played virtually every minute so far? Also, Downes seems to be struggling a little for full fitness and Stuey has been running all over the place. Probably best not to start Stephens again soon after an injury.

I'd go something like:

-----------Bazzer----------

Holgate--THB--Bedz---Manning

----------Smallbone---------

---Charles---------Alcaraz----

Adam Arm---Adams---Edozie 

Aiming to give Adam Arm and Edozie a good subbing around the 55 or 60 mins.