Saints 3-2 Stoke - Match Thread

[Saint NL]

Sounds like Stoke have won the cup, their fans are going bananas

[Mr X]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

Who said 3-2 loss incoming?

Outrageous finish TBF.

Guilty.... Surely that couldn't happen 

Edited 29 October, 2024 by Mr X

[Farmer Saint]

Cornet has looked rubbish so far as a Saints player as well.

[Saint NL]

Just now, Farmer Saint said:

Cornet has looked rubbish so far as a Saints player as well.

Nah, that was a lovely air shot

[Disco Stu]

1 minute ago, Farmer Saint said:

I'm sorry, you can train and train as much as you like, go through tactical briefings etc but our defenders are fucking jank and are not good enough. 

Against Stokes B team? Not a valid excuse.

[LiberalCommunist]

Tuesday night against Stoke is about to get typical. 

[Saint NL]

Miniature Scorpion kick 

[obelisk]

Cornet looks like he's playing in clown shoes.

[Farmer Saint]

Just now, Disco Stu said:

Against Stokes B team? Not a valid excuse.

These are not children - they're supposed to be Premier League players. They should be able to defend a set piece without specific set piece training. It's pathetic.

[Saint86]

Big les and cornet both look like awful options. Can we cancel both those deals and roll the dice again? 

What one earth sugawara thought he was doing for their goal I have no idea. Had a bit of a mare there. 

[Lighthouse]

Decent half overall, shame about Fraser’s injury. Hopefully it’s not too bad.

[SouSaint]

It should be game over but it's just Saintsy as fuck to hand them a goal when we're comfortable as fuck. Absolutely shocking from Sugawara who has looked crap defensively most of the season tbh. 

[Edmonton Saint]

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Cornet has looked rubbish so far as a Saints player as well.

Waste of a loan spot. Stealing wages.

[pingpong]

What's the score? (Possession, obviously, I know the goals)

[Saint Fan CaM]

Just now, obelisk said:

Cornet looks like he's playing in clown shoes.

Amazing eh? What has happened to the lad - at one time he looked a quality, exciting player. Now, not so much.

[Disco Stu]

3 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

These are not children - they're supposed to be Premier League players. They should be able to defend a set piece without specific set piece training. It's pathetic.

Yes they should be capable. So why aren't they? They're not that bad compared to Stoke City reserve players.

Edited 29 October, 2024 by Disco Stu

[Farmer Saint]

We've had years of shit defending, and the only time it has been anything but shit Bednarek has not been in the team. That is not a coincidence.

[obelisk]

Saints showing that their level is probably top half Championship.

[Farmer Saint]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

Amazing eh? What has happened to the lad - at one time he looked a quality, exciting player. Now, not so much.

He's been shit since leaving Burnley TBF.

[Farmer Saint]

Just now, obelisk said:

Saints showing that their level is probably top half Championship.

Makes sense with the players and Manager we have.

[Micky]

2 minutes ago, obelisk said:

Cornet looks like he's playing in clown shoes.

Send him over here and I'll give him the wig and red nose to go with the shoes, at least we'll get some entertainment or of him...!

[SWLondon Saint]

Literally no idea what is going on with our set piece defending. Why is the first header totally free and unchallenged? What the $@#£ was Suga trying to do? Or was he pushed in which case he has to go down to get the foul, no point in staying on your feet there lad.

[Sunglasses Ron]

2 minutes ago, pingpong said:

What's the score? (Possession, obviously, I know the goals)

Glad someone has their eyes on the proper prize. We’re smashing them!

 

[FarehamSaintJames]

Imagine we do something drastic in the second half, like shoot from outside the box

[whelk]

Suguwara ‘s bravery to be commended. To have the courage to chest the ball aiming for back off the post takes some balls

[Saint_clark]

Just now, SWLondon Saint said:

Literally no idea what is going on with our set piece defending. Why is the first header totally free and unchallenged? What the $@#£ was Suga trying to do? Or was he pushed in which case he has to go down to get the foul, no point in staying on your feet there lad.

On the Overlap podcast they mentioned that we're one of the only teams in the league without a set piece coach, could be we're just not working on them enough.

[Midfield_General]

Hard to articulate just how bad it is to concede against a side as poor as this tbh. Breathtaking. 

Edited 29 October, 2024 by Midfield_General

[HnycS]

10 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Yeah I thought that too, weird wasn't it?

Probably not Potter, but might work, give him a temporary advisor role, if it works Russel keeps his job, if not replacement in the building.

[Harry_SFC]

Does anyone else think that Sugawara is terrible at defending? Decent going forwards but looks a mess in our box.

[Saint_clark]

13 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Yeah I thought that too, weird wasn't it?

Its clearly not potter. Apart from anything else the commentators would have, well, commented on it.

[obelisk]

Saints needing a free header and a soft penalty. They look pretty blunt again otherwise.

Stupid free kick to give away. It was the only way that Stoke were going to score but even then it needed a defensive shambles.

[SWLondon Saint]

7 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

My word this set piece defending just gets worse and worse. Martin has to be held accountable as it seems he doesn't want to hire a set piece coach. 

Is this a fact? Because i can't honestly believe anyone associated with the club thinks our set piece defending is working as it should. Something is just completely wrong with the number of free headers / shots.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Nearly total control, yet we still gift a goal. Not the best defending from a clumsy free kick, and Suga gets an assist for them.

Apart from that, our strong team are too much for Stoke with RussBall passing it around their compact centre. Them being central is giving AA plenty of space.

He clearly wanted a goal. He could have brought Archer in at least once for a tap in, but thumped it.

We had a good set pieces resulting in THB's header. Their defender struggled to clear giving us a pen for the second.

Aribo has been the stand out this evening. Linking things up, mobile and getting forward too.

Les' made some raw touches early on. With the space he's getting, he's settled in a bit. Cornet trying to be involved, having come on for Fraser, but rusty.

75% possession, but 6 efforts and only a goal ahead.

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, SWLondon Saint said:

Is this a fact? Because i can't honestly believe anyone associated with the club thinks our set piece defending is working as it should. Something is just completely wrong with the number of free headers / shots.

He said after the Leicester game that they have hired a "consultant" but aren't looking at hiring a training ground coach. 

[Disco Stu]

Get Brereten-Diaz on. Hopefully he can get a goal and build some confidence. Far more likely to find form in the Prem than Armstrong is if he's properly utilised.

Edited 29 October, 2024 by Disco Stu

[Mr X]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Does anyone else think that Sugawara is terrible at defending? Decent going forwards but looks a mess in our box.

Aren't most attacking players pretty useless at defending? 

[Farmer Saint]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Is this a fact? Because i can't honestly believe anyone associated with the club thinks our set piece defending is working as it should. Something is just completely wrong with the number of free headers / shots.

The issue is we don't seem to get near the ball, and when we do it deflects oddly off our players - like they're not expecting to get it.

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

On the Overlap podcast they mentioned that we're one of the only teams in the league without a set piece coach, could be we're just not working on them enough.

I thought I read we’d taken one on recently on a consultancy basis? Or have I made that up?

[tdmickey3]

Utterly tedious Russell Martin ball.

A million passes coming to nothing….

The THB goal, looks like Martin has been coaching there defence 

Guess the meaningless possession stats will be making Martin excited

Lets be honest Stoke aren’t really interested

Edited 29 October, 2024 by tdmickey3

[Mr X]

Just now, Disco Stu said:

Get Brereten-Diaz. Hopefully he can get a goal and build some confidence. Far more likely to find form in the Premier than Armstrong is as long as he's properly utilised.

BBD has done nothing to warrant being on the pitch in any match so far 

[danjosaint]

Me me me all about Martin

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

5 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Big les and cornet both look like awful options. Can we cancel both those deals and roll the dice again? 

What one earth sugawara thought he was doing for their goal I have no idea. Had a bit of a mare there. 

Big Les certainly isn't our next Lavia and oh my God, Cornet is truly awful. I thought he came with a bit of a good reputation him when he joined us.

Stoke are dreadful. We should have had 10+ shots on goal that half. Instead we've had what three...four

[Toussaint]

2 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Is this a fact? Because i can't honestly believe anyone associated with the club thinks our set piece defending is working as it should. Something is just completely wrong with the number of free headers / shots.

According to TSP, Alfie, we have hired one but work permit issues have prevented him getting involved. I think this is now resolved 

[Disco Stu]

Just now, Mr X said:

BBD has done nothing to warrant being on the pitch in any match so far 

Tbf he's only been utilised as a winger.

[Farmer Saint]

2 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Get Brereten-Diaz on. Hopefully he can get a goal and build some confidence. Far more likely to find form in the Prem than Armstrong is as long as he's properly utilised.

Not sure I agree with that.

[SWLondon Saint]

3 minutes ago, whelk said:

Suguwara ‘s bravery to be commended. To have the courage to chest the ball aiming for back off the post takes some balls

That was my first thought too, is he trying to chest it to the keeper or out of play? Bonkers. Only mitigating fact is that it is hard when you're going back towards your own goal with the ball pin balling around which is why most teams don't allow uncontested first headers back into the danger zone 😑

[Elmore Saint]

The only thing weaker than our defending is the coherence of Nigel Reo Coker on the CBS’ Golazo network. Poor lad can barely string 2 words together alongside the female equivalent of USA soccer guy. It’s excruciating to listen to. 

[SaintsBarry74]

RussBall is actually pretty effective against weaker opposition, but an absolute disaster against stronger sides.

The problem we’re facing with it in the Premier League is that there is no inferior opposition.

[Farmer Saint]

Just now, Elmore Saint said:

The only thing weaker than our defending is the coherence of Nigel Reo Coker on the CBS’ Golazo network. Poor lad can barely string 2 words together alongside the female equivalent of USA soccer guy. It’s excruciating to listen to. 

The Sky coverage is more boring than the football.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

4 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

Get Brereten-Diaz on. Hopefully he can get a goal and build some confidence. Far more likely to find form in the Prem than Armstrong is if he's properly utilised.

Not sure I agree with that either but we need a focal point in the centre.