Brentford 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Mr X]

Football is a game of fine margins, why do we take such unnecessary risks in front of our own goal? 

[AlexLaw76]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:28, Toussaint said:

Some of that is the way we set up 

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Very true

The set up Lego is hanging his hat on is terrible

[Lighthouse]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:24, egg said:

But, but, but, it's Stephens who must be dropped. Or something. 

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Yes, that’s correct. Stephens has been here years and has shown himself to be a substandard Premier League player. THB is playing his third PL game for us and clearly needs a bit of time to adjust.

[BotleySaint]

3-4 chances Brentford have had now that should have been goals.

[Saint Matty 76]

Smallbone and Aribo really don't offer anything do they? Attacking, defending... anonymous.

[Patches O Houlihan]

Yuri with some great defending so far

[Saint NL]

Refs a bit eager with his cards

[GDog07]

We’re on for another 0 in the goals column.

Thanks Russ.

[obelisk]

Walking football going backwards, Brentford nick the ball and miss again.

[Mr X]

Smallbone not up to it at this level 

[Saint NL]

THB is having another 'mare

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:29, BotleySaint said:

3-4 chances Brentford have had now that should have been goals.

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I wouldn't say any of them were sitters.

Aribo's header off the bar was a clearer chance than anything they have created so far.

[Challenger]

Following an all too familiar pattern so far.

[Lighthouse]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:29, Saint Matty 76 said:

Smallbone and Aribo really don't offer anything do they? Attacking, defending... anonymous.

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I’m amazed they both started, personally. Especially after Les and Fred were taken off after 60 minutes against Cardiff.

[Disco Stu]

Frankly, this is utter crap.

[The Kraken]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:29, Saint Matty 76 said:

Smallbone and Aribo really don't offer anything do they? Attacking, defending... anonymous.

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Both utter shite so far.

[Saint Fan CaM]

We’re all over the place. Stupid.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Not offering any out balls in the midfield.
Defence therefore a bit brittle under any press, which happens when we see no passes on and drop back.
Long passes defeat MartinBall, yet we are playing them, and just giving Brentford control.
Brentfort look stronger and pacier at this level.
There was one lovely pick up and through ball splitting the midfield. Shame it was for Brentford.

 

[OttawaSaint]

Formation change please RM! It's clear they will score soon.

[Hopper]

This game is crying out for Big Les and Fernandes to give a bit more bite and creativity.

[Toussaint]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:29, Saint Matty 76 said:

Smallbone and Aribo really don't offer anything do they? Attacking, defending... anonymous.

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They are not of the required standard, I don’t think they’ll retain their places as the new players bed in.

[OttawaSaint]

Would love a chance on goal, maybe a shot on target. Am I being greedy?

[madge]

Feck me… we shouldn’t be playing out from the back because at this level we are not good enough.. smallbone is a passenger thus far.

[Saint Matty 76]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:33, Toussaint said:

They are not of the required standard, I don’t think they’ll retain their places as the new players bed in.

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They bedded in enough on Wednesday for me, showed levels these two aren't capable of.

[Saint NL]

BBD can only be described as "industrial"

[Harry_SFC]

Jesus Smallbone is horrendous, isn't he?

[Farmer Saint]

There may have been a reason Burnley didn't want to purchase THB for the Prem League...

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Nice pressure from us there. They;ve also picked up a silly yellow.
That was Downes running through. We can only hope Les and Fernandes are bought as starters. Having 3 versatile midfielders will make such a difference to us.
 

 

[Mr X]

We've been ok at times that's the annoying thing but then we shoot ourselves in the foot by insisting on dilly dalying in or own area!

[saintant]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:32, Hopper said:

This game is crying out for Big Les and Fernandes to give a bit more bite and creativity.

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Nah,they have to learn Russball-you know,giving the ball away constantly, being off the pace,playing very slowly etc etc. Once they've mastered that they mat get a chance.

[OttawaSaint]

I'm bored...

[The Kraken]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:33, Saint NL said:

BBD can only be described as "industrial"

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And he’s still hugging the left touchline. Ridiculous.

[Harry_SFC]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:35, saintant said:

Nah,they have to learn Russball-you know,giving the ball away constantly, being off the pace,playing very slowly etc etc. Once they've mastered that they mat get a chance.

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Yeah they only looked good against Cardiff because they were playing their natural game. Won't be long until that's coached out of them though.

[Saint_clark]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:34, Farmer Saint said:

There may have been a reason Burnley didn't want to purchase THB for the Prem League...

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🙄🤦🏼‍♂️

[SNSUN]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:27, Saint Fan CaM said:

Smallbone out of his depth  - game is passing him by.

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Yep I've previously said he's deserved his chance after his performances last season but he's clearly Championship standard. His speed of thought isn't quick enough. He needs to be a squad player with Les, Fernandes, Dibling and even Lallana all waiting in the wings.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:35, saintant said:

Nah,they have to learn Russball-you know,giving the ball away constantly, being off the pace,playing very slowly etc etc. Once they've mastered that they mat get a chance.

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We have put players straight in though. I remember Holgate...ah...bad example...

Edited 31 August, 2024 by Holmes_and_Watson

[Micky]

Well from what I've seen so far, this is pretty bad, we can barely get over the half way line.  Let's not forget, this is not City, United, Arsenal or Chelsea, this is Brentford...!

[stknowle]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:30, GDog07 said:

We’re on for another 0 in the goals column.

Thanks Russ.

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Fuxsakes carry on with this level of attacking threat and we struggle to hit 20 goals this season.

Edited 31 August, 2024 by stknowle

[OttawaSaint]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:35, saintant said:

Nah,they have to learn Russball-you know,giving the ball away constantly, being off the pace,playing very slowly etc etc. Once they've mastered that they mat get a chance.

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RM would sit De Brunye, Haaland, and Van Dijk until he'd taught them how to play properly.

[Saint NL]

I think it's only 0-0 because mbeumo is having a nightmare so far

[SNSUN]

Kami Doyle scores for Exeter. Ex-Academy prospect we lost to Brighton.

[Farmer Saint]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:36, Saint_clark said:

🙄🤦🏼‍♂️

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They did have one of the best CB's of his generation as Manager as well 😬

[Saint Fan CaM]

There’s no forward play skill - just same old same old and that’s because we’re too wide and no skill to get past an opponent. Midfield poor.

[Saint Billy]

How for the life of me is Aribo and Smallbone on the pitch when there is much more quality sat on the bench, defies logic.

[Sheaf Saint]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:34, Harry_SFC said:

Jesus Smallbone is horrendous, isn't he?

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He's just too limp and casual. He got away with it at times in the Chsp, but he can't at this level.

[obelisk]

Poor header? Was it Stephens?

[Saint NL]

Decent corner and Stephens heads over

[Saint Matty 76]

  On 31/08/2024 at 14:38, Saint Fan CaM said:

There’s no forward play skill - just same old same old and that’s because we’re too wide and no skill to get past an opponent. Midfield poor.

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Yep. 

We're remarkably predictable. KWP is our only player who has that skill to beat a man.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Much better from Aribo there.

[saintant]

Another Russ masterclass in picking a side and setting them up to dominate a game.. The newbies must be sat on the bench wondering how they'll ever be good enough to get in this superb side.