Saints vs Brighton - Saturday 3pm

[Harry_SFC]

14 minutes ago, trousers said:

So, with Downes and Stephens back in the frame, could this be the line-up that Juric has a punt on this time around...?

 

Ramsdale (GK)

KWP (RWB)

Stephens (CB)

Bednarek (CB)

Wood (CB)

Wellington (LWB)

Downes (DM)

Ugochukwu (DM)

Fernades (AM)

Kamaldeen (AM)

Dibling (AM)

 

(Note: I'm aware that I've not included an out-and-out striker, but it wouldn't be the first time he's started without one....)

 

Judging by the presser, Stephens will be on the bench and Aribo could well start LCB.

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

Judging by the presser, Stephens will be on the bench and Aribo could well start LCB.

If only we had an actual CB (who's been fit enough to be selected on the bench week in, week out) rather than having to shoe-horn a midfielder into the defence....

Edited yesterday at 16:20 by trousers

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

If given the room, we need to replicate what we did in at Old Trafford, which was having lots of players on the half turn, passing the ball very quickly between the lines

The problem with that though is that United did give us room, because they’re sh*t. Everyone is winning at OT apart from them and Saints and it’s easy to see why. You can’t really bank on a strategy which is dependent on the opponent playing very badly. It’d be like saying we need to replicate what we did at Portman Road, if the keeper spills a couple of easy shots.

[suewhistle]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

(Note: I'm aware that I've not included an out-and-out striker, but it wouldn't be the first time he's started without one....)

Had you a particular one in mind? Please justify your alternative choice and show your workings in the margin.. 😉

 

As for CBs on the bench resolutely unplayed, we'd definitely like to know the rationale there too, and whilst we're about it how is our long term injured striker? Why am I paying to see this ****? So many questions and not all rhetorical ones either!

 

[Midfield_General]

Not seeing Gronbaek in many people’s starting line-ups.

Only Saints could bring someone in because of a stated need to ‘strengthen’, and then recruit someone who’s apparently not good enough to get into one of the worst premier league sides of all time. 

[Teamsaint1]

Whatever else happens on Saturday, the crowd need to give  Will Smallbone a good reception . 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, Teamsaint1 said:

Whatever else happens on Saturday, the crowd need to give  Will Smallbone a good reception . 

As long as the club makes us aware which hospitality box he'll be watching the game from

 

Edited yesterday at 16:28 by trousers

[disconnect]

2 minutes ago, Teamsaint1 said:

Whatever else happens on Saturday, the crowd need to give  Will Smallbone a good reception . 

Why? I dont think he's going to get a bad reception, but is there something I've missed here?

[Maggie May]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Not seeing Gronbaek in many people’s starting line-ups.

Only Saints could bring someone in because of a stated need to ‘strengthen’, and then recruit someone who’s apparently not good enough to get into one of the worst premier league sides of all time. 

Has he Gronbaek to Rennes?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, disconnect said:

Why? I dont think he's going to get a bad reception, but is there something I've missed here?

Think he's alluding to the fact that when he was subbed off on Saturday there were loud cheers from some parts of the ground.

[Nordic Saint]

1 hour ago, Teamsaint1 said:

Whatever else happens on Saturday, the crowd need to give  Will Smallbone a good reception . 

Hopefully, there won't be a need for any sort of reception.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

26 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

Hopefully, there won't be a need for any sort of reception.

Have to agree.

I can't remember a season when I haven't looked forward to a forthcoming game. Agreed, seasons often been a relegation battle where the thinking has been "if we get three points, there's still a chance" etc etc, but now we're out the FA Cup and our position in the league is hopeless, there's not a lot to get enthused about. I'm still interested to see which players make an impact though players like Will Smallbone really do need to be left out the side. It's not that he's hopeless - a lot of our players are hopeless - it's just he seems to run about the pitch everywhere the ball isn't, which for as midfielder is quite an art.

[Football Special]

4 hours ago, Teamsaint1 said:

Whatever else happens on Saturday, the crowd need to give  Will Smallbone a good reception . 

Let's hope so , I remember last season he got abuse on social media that was out of order, think next game was Birmingham City away and he got a great response from our travelling fans 

[sandwichsaint]

 

2016, how the mighty have fallen. Forget the Derby points record, my thoughts are already on finishing above 'them' next season. I think I can safely say we have 'never' finished below BHA, Boscombe and Them all in the same season. Tick tock. 

[Dr Who?]

Nothing to see here, move along please. 0-3.

[Chez]

5 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

The problem with that though is that United did give us room, because they’re sh*t. Everyone is winning at OT apart from them and Saints and it’s easy to see why. You can’t really bank on a strategy which is dependent on the opponent playing very badly. It’d be like saying we need to replicate what we did at Portman Road, if the keeper spills a couple of easy shots.

I'm not banking on the opponent playing badly (although I certainly hope so), but Brighton are up and down, so could play poorly. We murdered them at their place in the second half and if you watched their game against Forest recently, you will know they didn't just give them room, they gave them the whole of the midfield, without any contest. 
If you are asking me what we should do if they don't give us room, it will be the same: have lots of players on the half turn, passing the ball very quickly between the lines, but obviously it will be harder.

[austsaint]

7 hours ago, Chez said:

The solution to our leaky defence is to remove a center back and have Fernandes as the only other CM? I'm all for going to a flat back four, but a 4-2-3-1 with Fernandes as part of the 2 sure is attacking. I'd get Downes back in and leave Gronbaek on the bench. Aribo provides fresh legs for Downes

I base that idea on the evidence of the last month or so where playing 3 CBs hasn’t worked, particularly when non-CBs like Bree, Manning and Aribo have played.    The other factor in our leaky defence has been a weak midfield, culminating last week with the pairing of Smallbone and Aribo.   I’d be happy enough with Downes and Les Ugo - I posted before the press conference , so wasn’t aware of the Downes/Juric “reconciliation”.   Having Aribo as the fresh legs replacement is the right way to go.

Clearly having Fernandes play that central attacking midfielders role is his best position, but in the absence of Downes, Fernandes has the ability to play that  box-to-box role while sacrificing some of his attacking game.   I’m wondering what has happened to Gronbaek?  Looked ok in a couple of appearances but seemingly not fancied by Juric.

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, austsaint said:

I base that idea on the evidence of the last month or so where playing 3 CBs hasn’t worked, particularly when non-CBs like Bree, Manning and Aribo have played.    The other factor in our leaky defence has been a weak midfield, culminating last week with the pairing of Smallbone and Aribo.   I’d be happy enough with Downes and Les Ugo - I posted before the press conference , so wasn’t aware of the Downes/Juric “reconciliation”.   Having Aribo as the fresh legs replacement is the right way to go.

Clearly having Fernandes play that central attacking midfielders role is his best position, but in the absence of Downes, Fernandes has the ability to play that  box-to-box role while sacrificing some of his attacking game.   I’m wondering what has happened to Gronbaek?  Looked ok in a couple of appearances but seemingly not fancied by Juric.

Perhaps he’s on an appearance bonus/payment too? 😉

[St. Ciervo]

10 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Not seeing Gronbaek in many people’s starting line-ups.

Only Saints could bring someone in because of a stated need to ‘strengthen’, and then recruit someone who’s apparently not good enough to get into one of the worst premier league sides of all time. 

I thought Gronbaek was really positive in his debut. In fact, he was also in position to slot home Aribo's goal. He had to stop his own follow through. Who knows, maybe he would have Che'd it wide... maybe not, and he wouldn't have seen the bench. 

[chivvy]

We are at home ..we stand a chance we need to win. Back four for me.

Ramsdale

Kwp

Thb

Bednarek

Wellington

Downes. 

Lesley

Fernandes

Archer off left or dibling off right

Sulemana

Ounacho

 

Won't happen though.

Harsh on aribo who I think has performed well even at LCB. But downes has a bit more midfield bite somehow . Although aribo has the stature he doesn't have the defensive tenacity of downes.  But downes does need to keep his head. Ugochukwo needs more consistency again has the physical presence.

 

 

Edited 16 hours ago by chivvy

[coalman]

3 points from safety. 3 points from safety. 3 points from safety.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

10 hours ago, sandwichsaint said:

 

2016, how the mighty have fallen. Forget the Derby points record, my thoughts are already on finishing above 'them' next season. I think I can safely say we have 'never' finished below BHA, Boscombe and Them all in the same season. Tick tock. 

A classic Saints fan thing there, cramming a word with too many syllables into a chant.

Quick look on their forum, understandably most predicting an away win, the popular predictions have them scoring between 3 and 5. Probably not a lot different to what ours are expecting but I'm going for an unlikely point apiece. Crazy, I know.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Stephens as third cb now he is fit?

[Whitey Grandad]

21 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Stephens as third cb now he is fit?

No

[Lee On Solent Saint]

30 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

No

Many a manager has been fooled by his attempts to be a PL level player. I somehow doubt Juric will be any different.

[trousers]

56 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Stephens as third cb now he is fit?

 

34 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

No

 

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Many a manager has been fooled by his attempts to be a PL level player. I somehow doubt Juric will be any different.

Juric has already stated in a previous press conference that he likes Stephens (indeed, I think he still referred to him as "the captain"), so wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him involved tomorrow.

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

 

 

Juric has already stated in a previous press conference that he likes Stephens (indeed, I think he still referred to him as "the captain"), so wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to see him involved tomorrow.

Although he did also say that Capt’n Jack was rushed back too soon last injury, with the assumption being that would not happen this time. He’ll almost certainly be on the bench, but let’s hope thats as close to playing as he gets.

[Midfield_General]

8 hours ago, St. Ciervo said:

I thought Gronbaek was really positive in his debut. In fact, he was also in position to slot home Aribo's goal. He had to stop his own follow through. Who knows, maybe he would have Che'd it wide... maybe not, and he wouldn't have seen the bench. 

I thought he looked alright on his debut as well, but if the manager again puts him on the bench tomorrow, then considering he’s now had a chance to have a good look at him and the player appears to be fit, you’d have to assume that that indicates that the manager doesn’t think he’d improve the team by starting him. 

Considering that we need to improve in pretty much every position on the pitch, to have spent our time, effort and money recruiting someone who isn’t actually better than anyone in the current starting XI is quite an achievement. 

It would seem to suggest yet another pointless, non-descript, quantity over quality, squad-filler signing, which is even more absurd when we’ve already got such a bloated squad and we’ve been clear that we need to make it smaller and clear out the dross we’ve previously accumulated. 

[SNSUN]

4 wins in a row starting tomorrow and we are right back in this survival race. 😬

[Ken Tone]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

I thought he looked alright on his debut as well, but if the manager again puts him on the bench tomorrow, then considering he’s now had a chance to have a good look at him and the player appears to be fit, you’d have to assume that that indicates that the manager doesn’t think he’d improve the team by starting him. 

Considering that we need to improve in pretty much every position on the pitch, to have spent our time, effort and money recruiting someone who isn’t actually better than anyone in the current starting XI is quite an achievement. 

It would seem to suggest yet another pointless, non-descript, quantity over quality, squad-filler signing, which is even more absurd when we’ve already got such a bloated squad and we’ve been clear that we need to make it smaller and clear out the dross we’ve previously accumulated. 

When we signed him, Juric said his best position is the one Fernandes plays in --- which is just weird , given that Fernandes is one of our best players. So unless Fernandes gets injured, groenboek will have to be really good to get in the side. 

What we needed and still need is a striker. 

[Chez]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

I thought he looked alright on his debut as well, but if the manager again puts him on the bench tomorrow, then considering he’s now had a chance to have a good look at him and the player appears to be fit, you’d have to assume that that indicates that the manager doesn’t think he’d improve the team by starting him. 

Considering that we need to improve in pretty much every position on the pitch, to have spent our time, effort and money recruiting someone who isn’t actually better than anyone in the current starting XI is quite an achievement. 

It would seem to suggest yet another pointless, non-descript, quantity over quality, squad-filler signing, which is even more absurd when we’ve already got such a bloated squad and we’ve been clear that we need to make it smaller and clear out the dross we’ve previously accumulated. 

It's early days. Gronbaek is another attacking midfielder, so is up against Dibling, Fernandes and Sulemena. Would you drop any of those three at the moment? Not immediately replacing them doesn't mean he's a squad filler. Behind those three mentioned there was nothing else really, so there was a need to add another option. He'll get his chance and if he shines then we will be very keen to sign him.

[WALK DMC]

1 hour ago, Ken Tone said:

When we signed him, Juric said his best position is the one Fernandes plays in --- which is just weird , given that Fernandes is one of our best players. So unless Fernandes gets injured, groenboek will have to be really good to get in the side. 

What we needed and still need is a striker. 

Against Bournemouth, I seem to recall that Fernandes dropped into a more defensive role in the 2nd half. He played the same position in Portugal last year. If Aribo continues at LCB (which he excelled in the 2nd half v both Bournemouth and Ipswich), Fernandes could continue in the more defensive role and allow someone like Groenboek to step into the more forward role. 

I think that Fernandes is a player of great potential and remains my player of the year, however I'd still like to see more goals or assists for a player of his talent, although playing for an awful team probably doesn't help .....  

[Sarnia Cherie]

1 hour ago, Ken Tone said:

When we signed him, Juric said his best position is the one Fernandes plays in --- which is just weird , given that Fernandes is one of our best players. So unless Fernandes gets injured, groenboek will have to be really good to get in the side. 

What we needed and still need is a striker. 

We have been crying out for a decent striker since Ings left. It seems everyone else, supporters, commentators, pundits, can all see it, but those who can do something about it, can't. Boggles my brain!

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Ken Tone said:

When we signed him, Juric said his best position is the one Fernandes plays in --- which is just weird , given that Fernandes is one of our best players. So unless Fernandes gets injured, groenboek will have to be really good to get in the side. 

What we needed and still need is a striker. 

Exactly. All those positions we desperately needed to improve, and instead we sign cover for one of the few where we’ve actually got someone half decent. Meanwhile the central defence, defensive midfield and striking positions are left as a shitshow. Brilliant. 

[Totton Saint]

Will we ever win a game this season? 

[Saint Mikey]

31 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

Will we ever win a game this season? 

We've won two already. FFS. The entitlement of fans these days!

In my day, you were grateful for defeats week after week. You just got on with it, kept your head down, and didn’t complain. No fancy expectations, just the privilege of watching your team get battered every Saturday afternoon.

Winning? That was for clubs with ambition - not for us! We took pride in our noble mediocrity, clinging to the hope that one day, we might get world-class catering or, if we really dreamed big - our very own radio station.

Now? People expect a team that wins! Unbelievable.

[Pamplemousse]

It would be nice to at least not lose at home. 1 win and 1 draw is utterly pathetic.

[Cabrone]

Saints 1 Brighton 3.

 

[Viking Saint]

9 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Stephens as third cb now he is fit?

Let's hope not

[Harry_SFC]

Me and the wife are expecting our first child this weekend. Not too much to ask for a win to mark the occasion, surely? 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

Me and the wife are expecting our first child this weekend. Not too much to ask for a win to mark the occasion, surely? 

If we win you'll have to name the nipper Ivan 

[Totton Saint]

3 hours ago, Saint Mikey said:

We've won two already. FFS. The entitlement of fans these days!

In my day, you were grateful for defeats week after week. You just got on with it, kept your head down, and didn’t complain. No fancy expectations, just the privilege of watching your team get battered every Saturday afternoon.

Winning? That was for clubs with ambition - not for us! We took pride in our noble mediocrity, clinging to the hope that one day, we might get world-class catering or, if we really dreamed big - our very own radio station.

Now? People expect a team that wins! Unbelievable.

I tried to edit my post to read " for the rest of the season" but it would not be accepted by the system

[Gloucester Saint]

10 minutes ago, Football Special said:

If we win you'll have to name the nipper Ivan 

Saints are certainly terrible.