Newcastle 1-0 Saints - Match Thread

[Midfield_General]

As it stands, with the players we currently have I’d go 3-5-2:

GK: Macca

CBs: Bednarek, THB, Edwards

LWB: Taylor

RWB: Sugawara

Mids: Downes, Aribo, Smallbone

LF: BBD

RF: Armstrong

Ideally you’d have KWP at LWB but it seems pretty clear the club need him sold so won’t risk injuring him. 

[Pamplemousse]

Interesting the KWP featured quite heavily in the media day behind the scenes thing on the club website. I wonder if we will play him in the friendly today with a view to playing him next Saturday, assuming he is still here.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

  On 10/08/2024 at 09:46, Pamplemousse said:

Interesting the KWP featured quite heavily in the media day behind the scenes thing on the club website. I wonder if we will play him in the friendly today with a view to playing him next Saturday, assuming he is still here.

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We did start last season with JWP, Tella and Lavia all involved up until they were sold, unfortunately I don't think playing KWP will make too much difference to the outcome next Saturday.

[Andy Hill]

Where are our goals going to come from ?? Not looking good for next week.

[Disco Stu]

  On 10/08/2024 at 09:22, Midfield_General said:

As it stands, with the players we currently have I’d go 3-5-2:

GK: Macca

CBs: Bednarek, THB, Edwards

LWB: Taylor

RWB: Sugawara

Mids: Downes, Aribo, Smallbone

LF: BBD

RF: Armstrong

Ideally you’d have KWP at LWB but it seems pretty clear the club need him sold so won’t risk injuring him. 

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It seemed, based on today, that BBD and Armstrong were almost playing as wingers and we had nobody in the middle as a focal point. Occassionally, Stephens would leave defense and be the player furthest forward for us. Strange role for him. Whatever we were doing, it wasn't working.

[East Kent Saint]

  On 10/08/2024 at 15:45, Disco Stu said:

It seemed, based on today, that BBD and Armstrong were almost playing as wingers and we had nobody in the middle as a focal point. Occassionally, Stephens would leave defense and be the player furthest forward for us. Strange role for him. Whatever we were doing, it wasn't working.

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When I suggested Stephens would be wedged in up front it was supposed to be a joke ie so unlikely it would amusing 🙂

[Dark Munster]

  On 10/08/2024 at 15:45, Disco Stu said:

It seemed, based on today, that BBD and Armstrong were almost playing as wingers and we had nobody in the middle as a focal point. Occassionally, Stephens would leave defense and be the player furthest forward for us. Strange role for him. Whatever we were doing, it wasn't working.

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If only we had a tall CF in our squad who play that role.  

[hypochondriac]

If I were picking the team it would be something like 

McCarthy 

Sugawara THB bednarek  Stephens kwp 

Downes Smallbone 

Aribo 

Armstrong BBD 

Which may well be the starting 11 but I'd also be tempted to get Dibling involved and maybe even Onuachu. If we played that team with o'riley for Aribo and Onuachu or a new striker instead of Stephens, I think we would stay up. 

[Pamplemousse]

Ah we're fucked aren't we? Narrow defeat up there but big wins against Forest and Brentford. Mark my words.

[AlexLaw76]

Bound to concede by giving away the ball fannying around at the back.

Edited 11 August, 2024 by AlexLaw76

[SNSUN]

We've had seasons in the Prem where we fail to get many points for ages, the Souness season springs to mind, and it's possible that could happen to us again, but bar Newcastle the first 6 games are largely favourable - coming out of them with 6-8 points would be ideal but I'm not holding my breath. Already the Forest game looks like a 6 pointer. I think the squad is in a reasonable place to start the season - it's not near the finished article but we should have enough about us to compete. 

Newcastle away though - that's not a nice start! I think the starting line up is the one we saw start yesterday. I don't want to predict a defeat in our first game so I'm going for a cagey 1-1. I do think we'll win the possession stats though. 

[david in sweden]

Not expecting Tyler Dibling to start, but he's worth a place on the bench at St. James Park as it is 

a lucky ground for him.     It was there that he scored his " identical hat-trick " for the U21s a season ago. 

there is a Video clip somewhere in You Tube....or "X". 

He certainly looks to be a more mature player now. 

[SaintsFan86]

We never win at SJP, so anything other than a loss is a big bonus.

I'm provably more optimistic than most fans, blindly or not.. Our 1st 11 if you include Kyle isn't amazing but it is solid.

Who knows, anything can happen in football.

[InvictaSaint]

Have a spare adult ticket as can no longer go. Block L7K Row P. Text me on 07515008001 if interested. Face value - £30. 

Edited 11 August, 2024 by InvictaSaint

[JRM]

  On 11/08/2024 at 06:11, AlexLaw76 said:

Bound to concede by giving away the ball fannying around at the back.

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I'd that an option on a bet builder ? It's a banker 

[Badger]

  On 11/08/2024 at 11:27, SaintsFan86 said:

We never win at SJP, so anything other than a loss is a big bonus.

I'm provably more optimistic than most fans, blindly or not.. Our 1st 11 if you include Kyle isn't amazing but it is solid.

Who knows, anything can happen in football.

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There are usually a few surprises on the opening day, can only hope we can overturn the formbook and expectations to be one of them to sneak something. 

Winning at St James' P[ark, and then losing at home to Forest (or for the next five for that matter) probably isn't beyond us.

[Baird of the land]

  On 10/08/2024 at 21:35, hypochondriac said:

If I were picking the team it would be something like 

McCarthy 

Sugawara THB bednarek  Stephens kwp 

Downes Smallbone 

Aribo 

Armstrong BBD 

Which may well be the starting 11 but I'd also be tempted to get Dibling involved and maybe even Onuachu. If we played that team with o'riley for Aribo and Onuachu or a new striker instead of Stephens, I think we would stay up. 

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Think that’ll be the lineup. I’d prefer to see Alcaraz for airborne personally.

[Saint Fan CaM]

  On 10/08/2024 at 21:35, hypochondriac said:

If I were picking the team it would be something like 

McCarthy 

Sugawara THB bednarek  Stephens kwp 

Downes Smallbone 

Aribo 

Armstrong BBD 

Which may well be the starting 11 but I'd also be tempted to get Dibling involved and maybe even Onuachu. If we played that team with o'riley for Aribo and Onuachu or a new striker instead of Stephens, I think we would stay up. 

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That’s likely, but I’d rather it was Tyler D instead of Aribo - much more chance of feeding AA or BBD.

[Pamplemousse]

Keep Dibling as an impact player. We saw it last season with SAA, when he started he just wasn't involved at all. 

It's a lot of pressure for him as well. Yes he's a very talented player but still young.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

I can’t read the DE article as not subscribed but the headline is

MANAGER Russell Martin said Saints have not "wanted to show all our cards in pre-season" and insisted he has a plan in mind for Newcastle United.

So I guess something only tried on the training ground in pre-season, this will be interesting….

[VectisSaint]

  On 12/08/2024 at 08:48, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I can’t read the DE article as not subscribed but the headline is

MANAGER Russell Martin said Saints have not "wanted to show all our cards in pre-season" and insisted he has a plan in mind for Newcastle United.

So I guess something only tried on the training ground in pre-season, this will be interesting….

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So that's Stephens up front then. 😉

[hypochondriac]

  On 12/08/2024 at 08:30, Pamplemousse said:

Keep Dibling as an impact player. We saw it last season with SAA, when he started he just wasn't involved at all. 

It's a lot of pressure for him as well. Yes he's a very talented player but still young.

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Yep he definitely isn't going to start unless there is an injury. 

[Toadhall Saint]

Draw

[saintoaks]

  On 11/08/2024 at 06:11, AlexLaw76 said:

Bound to concede by giving away the ball fannying around at the back.

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This needs to be bookmarked. Problem is it's so unnecessary, bloody hard enough as it is !!

[saintant]

  On 12/08/2024 at 08:48, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I can’t read the DE article as not subscribed but the headline is

MANAGER Russell Martin said Saints have not "wanted to show all our cards in pre-season" and insisted he has a plan in mind for Newcastle United.

So I guess something only tried on the training ground in pre-season, this will be interesting….

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Tall Paul up front and get it in the mixer from every part of the field 🙂

[SaintsFan86]

  On 12/08/2024 at 14:02, saintant said:

Tall Paul up front and get it in the mixer from every part of the field 🙂

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Let's just reappoint Nathan Jones too. 

[CB Fry]

  On 12/08/2024 at 08:48, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I can’t read the DE article as not subscribed but the headline is

MANAGER Russell Martin said Saints have not "wanted to show all our cards in pre-season" and insisted he has a plan in mind for Newcastle United.

So I guess something only tried on the training ground in pre-season, this will be interesting….

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We have got Newcastle United right where we want them. Brilliant Russell 👏 👏 👏 

[JRM]

  On 12/08/2024 at 14:14, CB Fry said:

We have got Newcastle United right where we want them. Brilliant Russell 👏 👏 👏 

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That's a very cunning plan Baldrick 

[James]

  On 12/08/2024 at 08:48, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I can’t read the DE article as not subscribed but the headline is

MANAGER Russell Martin said Saints have not "wanted to show all our cards in pre-season" and insisted he has a plan in mind for Newcastle United.

So I guess something only tried on the training ground in pre-season, this will be interesting….

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That’s Ross Stewart starting up top then I assume 🤣

[hypochondriac]

  On 12/08/2024 at 15:33, James said:

That’s Ross Stewart starting up top then I assume 🤣

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Lallana to play a full 90, Larios back from the dead and Dom Ballard to partner Stewart. Newcastle won't know what hit them

Edited 12 August, 2024 by hypochondriac

[Whitey Grandad]

  On 12/08/2024 at 16:04, hypochondriac said:

Lallana to play a full 90, Larios back from the dead and Dom Ballard to partner Stewart. Newcastle won't know what hit them

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That's the spirit!

[Viking Saint]

  On 12/08/2024 at 09:15, VectisSaint said:

So that's Stephens up front then. 😉

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Or in goal.....

[steveo]

Lets face it, we have far too many players not of premier league standard. This game is done, and unless we sign some players for the "spine" of the tm the same may may be said for this season. I Hope I`m wrong, but take a look, GK, someone to play alongside FD in def mid, an attack mid, and another striker....maybe another CD, all in all not looking too good, as it stands.

[Pamplemousse]

Craig Pawson is the referee.

Chris Kavanagh is the VAR

[saintant]

  On 13/08/2024 at 08:26, steveo said:

Lets face it, we have far too many players not of premier league standard. This game is done, and unless we sign some players for the "spine" of the tm the same may may be said for this season. I Hope I`m wrong, but take a look, GK, someone to play alongside FD in def mid, an attack mid, and another striker....maybe another CD, all in all not looking too good, as it stands.

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You make good points about the spine of the team - ours is extremely weak and that can only spell problems unless it is fixed pretty quickly.

[Midfield_General]

  On 12/08/2024 at 08:48, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I can’t read the DE article as not subscribed but the headline is

MANAGER Russell Martin said Saints have not "wanted to show all our cards in pre-season" and insisted he has a plan in mind for Newcastle United.

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That plan in full: 

                                                       Stephens

Taylor - Manning - Bednarek - Edwards - Woods - THB - KWP - Sugawara 

                                                 Lumley - McCarthy

[ErwinK1961]

  On 13/08/2024 at 12:25, Midfield_General said:

That plan in full: 

                                                       Stephens

Taylor - Manning - Bednarek - Edwards - Woods - THB - KWP - Sugawara 

                                                 Lumley - McCarthy

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Would be about as much attacking threat as we had when we lost to their 9 men. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 13/08/2024 at 12:25, Midfield_General said:

That plan in full: 

                                                       Stephens

Taylor - Manning - Bednarek - Edwards - Woods - THB - KWP - Sugawara 

                                                 Lumley - McCarthy

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Martin plays a much more fluid system than this though. Stephens will move through all positions, during the game. It would be madness to just keep him in goal and deprive us of his striking ability.

[Midfield_General]

  On 13/08/2024 at 17:47, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Martin plays a much more fluid system than this though. Stephens will move through all positions, during the game. It would be madness to just keep him in goal and deprive us of his striking ability.

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I had the formation the other way up actually, keeping it tight with two keepers, eight at the back and Stephens as the false nine, but this way works too 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 13/08/2024 at 17:58, Midfield_General said:

I had the formation the other way up actually, keeping it tight with two keepers, eight at the back and Stephens as the false nine, but this way works too 

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I thought after Baz's striker exploits, a Lumley McCarthy front 2, was the way forward. The true evolution of total football.

[bpsaint]

Scares me how under prepared we are for the start of the season. I feel poor Russ is about to get a harsh lesson in being too friendly and loyal with certain members of the squad.

[SNSUN]

  On 14/08/2024 at 09:03, bpsaint said:

Scares me how under prepared we are for the start of the season. I feel poor Russ is about to get a harsh lesson in being too friendly and loyal with certain members of the squad.

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I don't think the squad is that bad, the first team just lacks some quality here and there. And put it this way, if we get spanked to Newcastle, it might make the owners act a bit quicker in bringing players in. 

[saintant]

  On 14/08/2024 at 09:13, SNSUN said:

I don't think the squad is that bad, the first team just lacks some quality here and there. And put it this way, if we get spanked to Newcastle, it might make the owners act a bit quicker in bringing players in. 

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The current squad is not even close to being strong enough to survive the Premier league. We'll be leaking lots of goals at one end and not creating chances or scoring many goals at the other end. We are weak all over the pitch and need a minimum of 4 quality signings/loans which must include a goalkeeper and a striker. plus two midfielders

[AlexLaw76]

  On 14/08/2024 at 09:13, SNSUN said:

I don't think the squad is that bad, the first team just lacks some quality here and there. And put it this way, if we get spanked to Newcastle, it might make the owners act a bit quicker in bringing players in. 

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Probably the worst in the league

[Midfield_General]

  On 14/08/2024 at 09:49, saintant said:

The current squad is not even close to being strong enough to survive the Premier league. We'll be leaking lots of goals at one end and not creating chances or scoring many goals at the other end. We are weak all over the pitch and need a minimum of 4 quality signings/loans which must include a goalkeeper and a striker. plus two midfielders

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Still, good news about the chocolate oranges

[Saint Fan CaM]

  On 14/08/2024 at 09:13, SNSUN said:

I don't think the squad is that bad, the first team just lacks some quality here and there. And put it this way, if we get spanked to Newcastle, it might make the owners act a bit quicker in bringing players in. 

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It is relatively weak, however is it right to almost completely change out the team that earnt promotion? Team spirit is very important part of the overall dynamic and it seems that’s the one area that Russ has improved over the tired dross of a team we went down with. It could be argued that more money would have bought better quality in key positions, however if the big moneys not there…well it’s not there and that’s the end of it.

SR are gambling that there’s enough there to get us through - team spirit could make all the difference and with that in mind my view is if we sign one more player it has to be O’Riley (if that’s still possible) as he loves Russ and should prove decisive in getting and assisting goals. I’m not however holding my breath and anyway, whoever comes in this week will not make the Newcastle team sheet.

[saintant]

  On 14/08/2024 at 10:17, Saint Fan CaM said:

It is relatively weak, however is it right to almost completely change out the team that earnt promotion? Team spirit is very important part of the overall dynamic and it seems that’s the one area that Russ has improved over the tired dross of a team we went down with. It could be argued that more money would have bought better quality in key positions, however if the big moneys not there…well it’s not there and that’s the end of it.

SR are gambling that there’s enough there to get us through - team spirit could make all the difference and with that in mind my view is if we sign one more player it has to be O’Riley (if that’s still possible) as he loves Russ and should prove decisive in getting and assisting goals. I’m not however holding my breath and anyway, whoever comes in this week will not make the Newcastle team sheet.

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Team spirit certainly builds when the side is winning most weeks but can soon fade if the opposite happens.

[Saint Fan CaM]

  On 14/08/2024 at 10:22, saintant said:

Team spirit certainly builds when the side is winning most weeks but can soon fade if the opposite happens.

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Yeah true - I’ve been wondering what the seemingly inevitable defeat on Saturday will do to squad mentality and if that continues for the majority of EPL matches, will it be to the detriment also of cup games and even next season in the Championship if we’re relegated.

[SNSUN]

  On 14/08/2024 at 09:49, saintant said:

The current squad is not even close to being strong enough to survive the Premier league. We'll be leaking lots of goals at one end and not creating chances or scoring many goals at the other end. We are weak all over the pitch and need a minimum of 4 quality signings/loans which must include a goalkeeper and a striker. plus two midfielders

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I'm talking about the squad - the first team does need more quality and remember: With, say, 4 more first team signings (GK, DM, AM and Striker are what we need) that makes the squad stronger too as current first teamers drop down the pecking order (if we get them). Add in SAA and Dibling which I really hope we keep (certainly Dibling) and I really don't think we're in bad shape squad wise. The first team quality is my issue, not the squad - but anyway we'll see in the next two and a half weeks.

We probably have the weakest first team on paper (bar perhaps Ipswich) but I do think we plan to be loyal to players that got us up. I think Smallbone plays the majority of League games, whether that's a good thing or not.

[saintstowin]

I can see a loss on Saturday, and like many of us feel we're a bit off being totally prepared for the season ahead. 

I'm going to (attempt to) see Saints this season similar to perhaps how Luton saw their team last season, or I imagine Ipswich will see theirs this season. These two came to mind anyway. 

By that I mean, we've had so much time in the top flight and our deterioration was one the club should have avoided, it's hard not to feel we should be better than those types of teams. And that can affect levels of patience, such as how long before there is a collective upset at possibly regular defeats.

But that is where we are really. 

We will need that kind of underdog spirit,  not accepting or expecting a bad season, but shifting the levels of those two things compared to our most recent premier league experience. And most importantly retaining the feeling from last season, not forgetting how great it was.

And then we'll qualify for Europe and it'll all be lovely.