Saints 1-5 Chelsea - Match Thread

[goodymatt]

I feel like we have given the current top 2 a good go the last two games. This is going to be a big ask given the players unavailable:

Ramsdale - injured

McCarthy - doubt

Bednarek - injured 

THB - suspended 

Downes - suspended

Lallana - injured 

Dibling - suspended

Lesley - can’t play parent club

Onuachu - doubt

Smallbone - injured 

Do we need to bring ABK and C.Taylor back from the cold? No idea who plays this one at CB and CDM/CM. Going to be a tough watch I’d imagine.

Edited 29 November, 2024 by goodymatt

[Football Special]

As Harry woukd say "Down to the bare bones". Dibling booking right at the end was a shame 

Lumley did well I thought, considering he's basically a 4th choice keeper so he keeps that spot even if McCarthy is available. 

Chelsea look handy at the moment, hopefully they rest some players but hard to give us any chance with all those players out. 

Edited 30 November, 2024 by Football Special

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

8 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Do we need to bring ABK and C.Taylor back from the cold? No idea who plays this one at CB and CDM/CM. Going to be a tough watch I’d imagine.

I can certainly see this happening now as the transfer window opens shortly. The club will want to show ABK is fit and willing to potential suitors much as they unexpectedly chucked him in against Cardiff in the cup as the window was about to close.

He should be in because he's a better player than anything else available for this match, and probably before too.

[chownie20]

--------------------------------Lumley

KWP-------ABK/Edwards-------Stephens-------Taylor---------Manning

-------------------Aribo---------------Fernandes

Arma---------------------Paul-----------Archer
 

Use Sulemana and Samo Amo if poss.

No Ramdsale, Macca, THB, Bednarek, Lesley, Downes, Dibling, Lallana, Stewart, Smallbone.

 

[Lighthouse]

I wonder if that might have been a tactical booking from Dibling at the end there, in order to be suspended for a game we'd have rested him for anyway. Probably not but stranger things have happened. I'm guessing Wood may be called upon for this one, which is going to be fun against Chelsea, behind a makeshift midfield and in front of our fourth choice keeper.

[obelisk]

Maybe time to think positively that this game offers a chance for those on the fringes of the first team to step up and show us what they can do.

Or not.  😁

[Harry_SFC]

19 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I wonder if that might have been a tactical booking from Dibling at the end there, in order to be suspended for a game we'd have rested him for anyway. Probably not but stranger things have happened. I'm guessing Wood may be called upon for this one, which is going to be fun against Chelsea, behind a makeshift midfield and in front of our fourth choice keeper.

I'd rather play Taylor or Bree at CB ahead of Wood. He is atrocious. 

[OldNick]

10 hours ago, goodymatt said:

I feel like we have given the current top 2 a good go the last two games. This is going to be a big ask given the players unavailable:

Ramsdale - injured

McCarthy - doubt

Bednarek - injured 

THB - suspended 

Downes - suspended

Lallana - injured 

Dibling - suspended

Lesley - can’t play parent club

Onuachu - doubt

Smallbone - injured 

Do we need to bring ABK and C.Taylor back from the cold? No idea who plays this one at CB and CDM/CM. Going to be a tough watch I’d imagine.

There would be Breaking News on Sky if this list was about Liverpool or Man Utd, reporters at the ground and hour long programmes on Five Live

Edited 30 November, 2024 by OldNick

[LaptopSaint]

Russ has asked me if I can step in at centre mid. If anyone else fancies lining up alongside the Cornish Maldini to shore up the defence, please bring your boots. 

[benjii]

Time to load up on full backs.

-----------Joanna-----------

---Bree--Shoehorn--Taylor---

Suga--KWP---Fernandes-Manning

--------------Aribo-------------

‐-------Tall Paul----Archer------

8 behind the ball and go big man/little man kick and flick. Grind out a nil all.

[LiberalCommunist]

The not available list is incredible. I imagine the bbc will Instead focus a one minutes silence to the unavailability of perhaps one Chelsea player.  Good times. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Well this will be fun. 4-0 Chelsea.

[badgerx16]

5 hours ago, benjii said:

Time to load up on full backs.

-----------Joanna-----------

---Bree--Shoehorn--Taylor---

Suga--KWP---Fernandes-Manning

--------------Aribo-------------

‐-------Tall Paul----Archer------

8 behind the ball and go big man/little man kick and flick. Grind out a nil all.

Who is left to go on the bench ?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

                 Lumley

      Wood Taylor KWP

Suga                          Manning

  Aribo Stephens Fernandes

              AA

                      Archer

1 nil to us, as their analysts never thought they'd see a line up like that, and are unprepared.

[Harry_SFC]

Lumley; KWP, Edwards, Stephens, Taylor/Manning, Sugawara; Aribo, Fernandes; AA, Archer, Onuachu (if fit). 

[ErwinK1961]

A return to the super successful Adam Armstrong centre midfield  tactic. We’ve got this in the bag.

[Andy Hill]

Need to focus on next Saturday to try and bounce back with a stronger team that has been rested. 

[Jack]

Maybe not a bad thing that all these suspensions are coming for the same game. Damage limitation with the B team and go again at the weekend 

[egg]

22 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

I'd rather play Taylor or Bree at CB ahead of Wood. He is atrocious. 

Yep. Bree RCB, Taylor LCB, Stephens in the middle picks itself for me. That all assumes ABK isn't in the frame. Edwards coming in for this would be a bold move, and Wood shouldn't be anywhere near a Premier league team. 

[benjii]

Frazer Richardson front sweeper on a pay as you play deal?

[Sarnia Cherie]

No mention of BBD on these posts? Surely Dobbin will be our saviour in this match with his silky skills, tactical nous and goalscoring ability. What are we worrying about? 

[tdmickey3]

Brave brave brave followed by lots of nauseous cuddles 

And 5 points from 14

[macca155]

On 30/11/2024 at 08:51, Lighthouse said:

I wonder if that might have been a tactical booking from Dibling at the end there, in order to be suspended for a game we'd have rested him for anyway. Probably not but stranger things have happened. I'm guessing Wood may be called upon for this one, which is going to be fun against Chelsea, behind a makeshift midfield and in front of our fourth choice keeper.

I think it almost certainly was. He is getting far too much media attention atm and needs that inevitable suspension off the books. A rest will do him good, he is very important to us.

Hopefully Onuachu will be available which will give Martin options.

No way should we be relying on an 18 yo anyway, no matter how good.

[saintant]

Lumley

Bree Edwards Stevens Taylor

KWP Fernandes Aribo Fraser

AA Archer

 

[ant]

Take Walker-Peters & Fernandes out of these predicted lineups and you're looking at a bang-average Championship side.

Yet another Summer of rebuilding. Yet another Summer trying (and failing) to clear the dead wood...

Fun, this.

[Chris cooper]

Abk shop window game along with Cardiff in the cup ..

If he has a worldy & shores up our defence keep him in & let his price tag go up.

Rusty can’t ignore a German international out in the cold any longer surley ! If he’s fit he has to play him with the injury & suspension list we have .. 

Time to get ya head out of Lucy’s tits & swallow ya pride & bring Abk back in ! 

if he plays wood with Edwards or Stephens … score will be north of 4-0

[egg]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

Lumley

Bree Edwards Stevens Taylor

KWP Fernandes Aribo Fraser

AA Archer

 

Jeez. That back 4 is a disaster waiting to happen. 

[Pamplemousse]

Whilst the performances against Liverpool and Brighton have been better, given the players unavailable this seems like a tough ask.

 

Having said that, I remember there have been games previously where it was makeshift and we ended up winning, so who knows, maybe by accident we stumble across a winning formula.

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, saintant said:

Lumley

Bree Edwards Stevens Taylor

KWP Fernandes Aribo Fraser

AA Archer

 

Everyone assuming Lumley will play, he didn't look comfortable after treatment on Friday night. There must be some doubt. We are possibly in a bit of a pickle with goalkeepers.

[Sarnia Cherie]

Is Cornet injured? I haven't seen much of him.

[Chris cooper]

Watching Chelsea pick a part Villa !!

Stick 5 atb saints with wing backs .. try & keep it to 3/4 nothing !

[OneMrsWallace]

5 hours ago, ant said:

Take Walker-Peters & Fernandes out of these predicted lineups and you're looking at a bang-average Championship side.

Yet another Summer of rebuilding. Yet another Summer trying (and failing) to clear the dead wood...

Fun, this.

I know Wood is bad but I don't think he's dead. 

[Wade Garrett]

Cole Palmer is some player.  Fantastic goal.

[Chris cooper]

3 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Cole Palmer is some player.  Fantastic goal.

🥶

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

Everyone assuming Lumley will play, he didn't look comfortable after treatment on Friday night. There must be some doubt. We are possibly in a bit of a pickle with goalkeepers.

Stephens in goal?

[LGTL]

Yeah we‘re getting absolutely pumped. 

[SaintsBarry74]

We could cause these problems if we take a more pragmatic approach, for that we need to abandon our suicidal tactics.

[Harry_SFC]

Ramsdale

THB Downes Bednarek

Lallana Lesley Smallbone Larios

Dibling

Stewart Onuachu 

A whole 11 missing! Probably 7 starters in that side as well. 

 

Edited 1 December, 2024 by Harry_SFC

[tdmickey3]

Maresca has schooled Martin before and will do so again whatever side we have available 

5 points in 15

Edited 1 December, 2024 by tdmickey3

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

Stephens in goal?

It's the big issue, not just for football, but ethically too.

Do the 10 Stephens clones that RM has been growing in vats have to be registered individually, or do they all just count as one?

[die Mannyschaft]

ABK has left, wasn't he sold ages ago? I don't remember him being on any of the team sheets do far this season.  CFC will walk it 4-0 or rather we will walk it in our own 6 yard box and Xmas wrap the goals. Can we still get players after the Jan window on loan deals? 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

10 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

ABK has left, wasn't he sold ages ago? I don't remember him being on any of the team sheets do far this season.  CFC will walk it 4-0 or rather we will walk it in our own 6 yard box and Xmas wrap the goals. Can we still get players after the Jan window on loan deals? 

He's still here. He appeared in a League Cup game, where he delivered some very nice passes from defence through the middle, which gets us looking forward, rather than back and across our defence.

Other than that appearance, he's not featured.

[Farmer Saint]

Free hit here - a whole team missing so not much we can do about this game. We'll get pumped and that's fine.

[Football Special]

23 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

ABK has left, wasn't he sold ages ago? I don't remember him being on any of the team sheets do far this season.  CFC will walk it 4-0 or rather we will walk it in our own 6 yard box and Xmas wrap the goals. Can we still get players after the Jan window on loan deals? 

ABK was "sold" in August but failed his medical then we had the leaks claiming he had a heart problem, who knows the truth, I know the club were trying hard to find a buyer and failed,  ABK hasnt even been training with first team so it's all a bit awkward. Feels like a waste of a career for him and a waste of a salary for us. 

[die Mannyschaft]

On 09/11/2024 at 15:50, Osvaldorama said:

Anyone else bored? 
 

Dunno if it’s just me or if this style of football. Feels like we create no excitement 

 

8 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

He's still here. He appeared in a League Cup game, where he delivered some very nice passes from defence through the middle, which gets us looking forward, rather than back and across our defence.

Other than that appearance, he's not featured.

Thanks the Cardiff game. In that case he won't be playing for Saints, God forbid a player at the back passing sensibly. 

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Free hit here - a whole team missing so not much we can do about this game. We'll get pumped and that's fine.

Most likely heavy defeat, just hoping Chelsea are entirely complacent with one eye on other fixtures coming up, they'll want to preserve energy for Spurs at the weekend followed by a trip to Kazakhstan 

[tdmickey3]

23 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Free hit here - a whole team missing so not much we can do about this game. We'll get pumped and that's fine.

How is getting “ pumped “ fine?

[sandwichsaint]

1 hour ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

It's the big issue, not just for football, but ethically too.

Do the 10 Stephens clones that RM has been growing in vats have to be registered individually, or do they all just count as one?

Home grown, we should be fine.

[Saint Billy]

7 hours ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

Is Cornet injured? I haven't seen much of him.

Broken cone.

[egg]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

ABK was "sold" in August but failed his medical then we had the leaks claiming he had a heart problem, who knows the truth, I know the club were trying hard to find a buyer and failed,  ABK hasnt even been training with first team so it's all a bit awkward. Feels like a waste of a career for him and a waste of a salary for us. 

His choice or the clubs? If it's the latter, the club need to explain why. He's the best CB we have.