Saints 1-5 Chelsea - Match Thread

[Football Special]

A mate of mine on the way to the game has just turned around and started heading home 

[Sheaf Saint]

3 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Does anyone remember an episode of Red Dwarf where Rimmer finds a three million year old letter informing him his father was dead. He said something like, "obviously I've always known it would be true, but seeing it actually written like that just hits you."

That, basically.

He died peacefully in his jeep.

[trousers]

16 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Onuachu

Could've sworn it was reported he came off with cramp the game before last... Yet another one of those 'Saintsy' injuries that starts off innocuous then mysteriously evolves into a season curtailing injury...? 

Talking of which... Has anyone actually worked out yet what injury(s) Stewart and Larios currently have....?

Edited 4 December, 2024 by trousers

[Sheaf Saint]

6 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Sugawara on the bench but Wood playing……ok…..

At least it shows how fkin bad Kamaldeen is if he can’t get into that side !

We've already got two RBs starting. 3 would just be silly.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

Am I massively out of touch with the squad? Who on earth is O'Brien-Whitmarsh?

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Could've sworn it was reported he came off with cramp the game before last... Yet another one of those 'Saintsy' injuries that starts off innocuous then mysteriously evolves into a season curtailing injury...? 

Talking of which... Has anyone actually worked out yet what injury(s) Stewart and Larios currently have....?

Think it was clear to anyone at the game that wasn't cramp 

[beatlesaint]

Just now, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Am I massively out of touch with the squad? Who on earth is O'Brien-Whitmarsh?

Youth team…..isn’t he the lad we signed from Ireland ?

[CB Fry]

The magic of the FA Cup.

Let's show these Premier League big boys what we can do in our back yard.

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Think it was clear to anyone at the game that wasn't cramp 

I wasn't at the game so I can only go on what I read. A tad odd that someone said it was cramp if it obviously wasn't... (Sure I read that, unless I'm going senile... #distinctpossibility)

[trousers]

21 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We've already got two RBs starting. 3 would just be silly.

Indeed. Russ has never made any 'silly' team selections this season and I don't expect a manager of his calibre to start doing so now...

Edited 4 December, 2024 by trousers

[saintant]

Wood to be sent off for continually grappling with Jackson.

[LGTL]

If there’s a worse starting 11 in PL history, I’d love to see it 😂😂

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Wood to be sent off for continually grappling with Jackson.

Jackson’s on the bench

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

Jackson’s on the bench

Wood's positioning is fairly bad, in fairness.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

Jackson’s on the bench

Probably not for 90 minutes especially when we go 2 nil up 🙂

[trousers]

Just realised the match is live on Amazon Prime... I'm now beginning to regret signing up for Amazon Prime... 😱

[saintant]

Not sure how Wood gets in ahead of Edwards other than he's another of Russell's mates from a previous club.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Just realised the match is live on Amazon Prime... I'm now beginning to regret signing up for Amazon Prime... 😱

You must have an on/off switch surely?

[OttawaSaint]

Omg that lineup!

[Harry_SFC]

That is possibly the worst starting 11 the premier league has ever seen. 

[beatlesaint]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Not sure how Wood gets in ahead of Edwards other than he's another of Russell's mates from a previous club.

You’ve answered your own question 

[stknowle]

34 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Yeah, that’s officially terrifying. 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

You’ve answered your own question 

Been regularly assured on here that Russell doesn't pick his mates.

[sfc4prem]

Gallows fucking humour tonight then, boys?

Edited 4 December, 2024 by sfc4prem

[Saint NL]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

That is possibly the worst starting 11 the premier league has ever seen. 

The bench isn't going to win any awards either, might as well just say it's the worst 20 man squad the league has ever seen 😂

[AlexLaw76]

Maresca had Martin's number last year. 

Going to get smashed

[saintwbu]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

Not sure how Wood gets in ahead of Edwards other than he's another of Russell's mates from a previous club.

I personally would be a massive fan of chucking a 21 year old defender with no games for 6 months, in for his debut in a game we’re most likely to get slaughtered. A huge confidence boost opportunity missed ffs. 

[Football Special]

The fucking half and half scarf sellers are out again, no doubt will be worn by some Chelsea in the home end, cannot wait for August and be back in the championship 

[trousers]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

You must have an on/off switch surely?

Yeah... But I'm also a masochist with no willpower.... #gluttonforpunishment

Edited 4 December, 2024 by trousers

[Disco Stu]

That line up is so bad 😂

[Harry_SFC]

2 minutes ago, saintwbu said:

I personally would be a massive fan of chucking a 21 year old defender with no games for 6 months, in for his debut in a game we’re most likely to get slaughtered. A huge confidence boost opportunity missed ffs. 

Taylor would make much more sense but Martin clearly doesn't like him. 

[hypochondriac]

That's a better first 11 than I was expecting tbf. We will ge thrashed whatever happens so let's hope some of the fringe players have a good game. 

[Toussaint]

What was everyone expecting? We knew half our first choice team was missing? The lineup is about as good as can be.

[Toussaint]

Just now, Harry_SFC said:

Taylor would make much more sense but Martin clearly doesn't like him. 

He would but he must be rusty 

[saintant]

Tonight is Russell's chance to demonstrate what a brilliant coach he is by masterminding a victory with a much weakened team 🙂

[saintwbu]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Taylor would make much more sense but Martin clearly doesn't like him. 

Some theories that he was the one who cocked up for the Leicester winner, as hasn’t made a squad since until tonight - guess he lost a lot of trust if true, was poor against Bournemouth also so not sure he’s the messiah people on here portray him as.

[aintforever]

41 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

If that team tries to pat it about at the back like City it’s going to be embarrassing.

[suewhistle]

I'm in a pub just having seen the team and cackling somewhat hysterically. Part of that is due to the absence of any decent alternatives..

Is Wood quicker than Edwards as I reckon we'll need a mobile defence tonight. Lavia on their bench when he'd be a starter for us. Can't imagine why he ever left..

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, saintwbu said:

Some theories that he was the one who cocked up for the Leicester winner, as hasn’t made a squad since until tonight - guess he lost a lot of trust if true, was poor against Bournemouth also so not sure he’s the messiah people on here portray him as.

Yes but that's one mistake. Fraser made two monumental cock ups against Leicester and went straight back in?? Also I don't think anyone is saying he's the messiah, just a relatively solid player that hasn't been given a fair crack of the whip here. 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, saintwbu said:

Some theories that he was the one who cocked up for the Leicester winner, as hasn’t made a squad since until tonight - guess he lost a lot of trust if true, was poor against Bournemouth also so not sure he’s the messiah people on here portray him as.

He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!

[Farmer Saint]

I thought it was gonna be worse tbh. That's a sad indictment of what I expect.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Well before we knew the line-up it was clear to most we’d have a somewhat tough evening. Now - it’s likely going to be an utter embarrassment. The left and right hand sides are completely unbalanced, players playing next to each other for the first time, Wood central in a seriously weakened defence - actually Wood, Stephens and Manning starting is a joke. Obviously ABK and Taylor are out of the picture, but really???

Apart from another loss, I can see a red card and a penalty coming our way. Just can’t see anything positive about this one. Hope I’m wrong.

[Lighthouse]

7 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

The bench isn't going to win any awards either, might as well just say it's the worst 20 man squad the league has ever seen 😂

The Man Utd 9-0 bench was:

Fraser Forster

Harry Lewis

Kegs Chaulke

Will Ferry

Ryan Finnegan

Nathan Redmond

Allan Tchaptchet

Caleb Watts

Dan N’Lundulu

 

Gueh!

[Disco Stu]

3 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I'm in a pub just having seen the team and cackling somewhat hysterically. Part of that is due to the absence of any decent alternatives..

Is Wood quicker than Edwards as I reckon we'll need a mobile defence tonight. Lavia on their bench when he'd be a starter for us. Can't imagine why he ever left..

From what I've seen, Edwards is both faster and better at passing than Wood is. I'm sensing a level of favouritism in choosing Wood over Edwards.

[Farmer Saint]

Just now, Saint Fan CaM said:

Well before we knew the line-up it was clear to most we’d have a somewhat tough evening. Now - it’s likely going to be an utter embarrassment. The left and right hand sides are completely unbalanced, players playing next to each other for the first time, Wood central in a seriously weakened defence - actually Wood, Stephens and Manning starting is a joke. Obviously ABK and Taylor are out of the picture, but really???

Apart from another loss, I can see a red card and a penalty coming our way. Just can’t see anything positive about this one. Hope I’m wrong.

TBF, if ABK and Taylor were playing they'd be playing next to each other for the first time as well.

ABK is refusing to get game time in the reserves, so he doesn't deserve to get a chance anyway. Taylor has clearly had a run in, or maybe he's not great playing in a Martin system.

[Mixedkebab]

2 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

The Man Utd 9-0 bench was:

Fraser Forster

Harry Lewis

Kegs Chaulke

Will Ferry

Ryan Finnegan

Nathan Redmond

Allan Tchaptchet

Caleb Watts

Dan N’Lundulu

 

Gueh!

Was thinking about 9-0’s after seeing the line up, I reckon only 2 of our XI tonight would get in the team that lost 0-9 to Leicester.

 

[WGC Saint]

That team selection has got another 9-0 defeat written all over it. Though can’t see what else we could do in the circumstances. It will be very Saintsy though to get something out of tonight’s game against the odds!

[Suhari]

51 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Well. That's a thing then.

[Saint Fan CaM]

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

TBF, if ABK and Taylor were playing they'd be playing next to each other for the first time as well.

ABK is refusing to get game time in the reserves, so he doesn't deserve to get a chance anyway. Taylor has clearly had a run in, or maybe he's not great playing in a Martin system.

In my view ABK has been backed into a corner and RM is being typically dogmatic not finding a route for him back into the team. Poor management masterclass.

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

The Man Utd 9-0 bench was:

Fraser Forster

Harry Lewis

Kegs Chaulke

Will Ferry

Ryan Finnegan

Nathan Redmond

Allan Tchaptchet

Caleb Watts

Dan N’Lundulu

 

Gueh!

A minor miracle that Ralph managed to finish 2 points off 12th with that shallow depth of squad at his disposal...