Chelsea 4-0 Saints - Match Thread

[Chez]

59 minutes ago, derry said:

With due respect to the different opinions regarding the continuous debacle we are witnessing on a weekly basis. This manager is an idiot. Anybody who thinks sticking square pegs in round holes every week is competent is deluded. The mere fact that Juric like Martin is wedded to a one trick pony system and is shoehorning unsuitable players into vital positions says it all. 

We have a decent enough goalkeeper but the vital back line is totally disorganised. The recent three with only one centre back is a disaster. We need to go to a back four with two centre backs. We have two reasonable full backs that should be made to primarily defend instead of playing like kamikaze wingers.  We lack discipline and organisation in defence and that needs to be sorted.

Personally after watching all the different formation I can't see anything better or more natural for our players than a simple 4-4-2. The set up recently has been a total clusterfuck. Bree and Aribo with one centreback in a back three and Smallbone in midfield. Smallbone has no conception of workrate, won't tackle and doesn't know how to defend, example last night abysmally wrongsided for the headed goal. In the circumstances Fernandes with Downes in the middle would be better with Dibling and Sulemana wide and Onuachu and Archer up front. 

The players are unable to play naturally as both Juric and Martin insist on playing their way. Watching ABK following Neto and leaving a bloody great hole at the back was stupidity beyond belief. Man marking at set pieces certainly but not the way we are doing it.

 

I can understand him playing a full back in one of the CB roles, but only having one natural CB seems like madness to me. Just the basic requirement to win headers at set pieces creates a need for a couple of big guys - goal conceded from a corner last night is a good example. When Koeman used five, we had Bertrand and that extra pace was very useful, but you also need guys that understand the position and the different movement opponents make. Aribo, bless him, tries hard, but he gets dragged all over the place and then the ball behind him is easy. Forwards feint to go short then actually go long and he is immediately done. One of the biggest issues is the amount of space opponents have. Three CBs should fill gaps, but ours seem bigger than ever. It wasn't exposed as much last night - Palmer made a few runs through the middle that were a massive problem. Was the man to man knocked on the head last night? It's hard to tell, we are that bad at it.

I can't stand 5 at the back, so would welcome a change, but your 4-4-2 could easily be 4-2-4 with those players - which seems bold for such as shit defensive side. Fernandes as one of the two CMs wont work as he drives forward and leaves huge holes behind him. Dibling and Sulemena defensively are a concern. I worry about us getting out if we are playing a short game. For me you need extra men in CM to enabke you to beat a high press. Having no one to recev the ball in midfield was a massive problem against Brighton. The question I would also have is how are we getting the ball to Onuachu. Are we going more direct and will he and Archer work as a pair? The big man small man used to work, but does it now?

I'd perhaps look to flood the central area. Maybe Aribo in there too as Dibling is struggling to see enouhg ball to make an impact.

Ramsdale
KWP THB ABK Wellington
Les Fernandes Downes
Dibling Sulemena
Onuachu

[Chez]

41 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

Serious question..............The Player of the Season awards.................assume they arent having one?

If we hand out the award now can announce the season to be over? #stopthecount

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

If we hand out the award now can announce the season to be over? #stopthecunts

Fixed the hashtag for you

Edited Wednesday at 13:34 by Gloucester Saint

[Jack]

State of this. Aribo and Sulemana not even trying to get back onside, let alone track back. Both should be dropped and fined for such a lack of effort 

 

 

 

[Roo1976]

2 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Did anyone watch Sky Sports afterwards? Paul Merson was the most scathing I've ever heard a pundit about how utterly terrible the Saints team are as footballers. He was saying something like "I've seen Saints results and heard about the performances, but I hadn't seen it first hand this season but god they are terrible, really terrible, probably the worst Premier League team I have ever watched" and this went on for quite some rant. 

Some might not like Merson, but regardless, that is an ex-pro sat there destroying fellow pros, a damning indication of just how bad this team is, how bad the recruitment has been, how bad the management are, how half-arsed the players are and generally just how shoddily run this club has been.

The owners were lucky to see promotion and get the extra income, but manager after manager has been utter trash and player hire after player hire has been beyond trash and frankly it's like they're letting a 9 year old pick players from Football Manager. 

Is it any wonder Jesse Marsch turned the job down after meeting them? (I'm sure he wouldn't have kept Saints up, but would've been better the following season). No wonder Moyes, Potter and co were nowhere near the job either. 

Absolute shit fest all round.  I was calm last night as it was inevitable, but the more I read, the more I watch from people saying how bad it was, the more angry I get.

I was going to get my son and I season tickets in the Championship next season, but I think that unless drastic changes are made NOW, we won't bother. 

The club are down. Strip out the management right now, top to bottom, recruit well now, well ahead of the summer break to allow a fast start to a championship season with players that give a fk with a competent management team. 

Who is responsible for recruiting our club management?........and whats their credentials to be trusted in doing so?,next season has the hallmarks of going the way of Luton  ATM,why do we assume that were going to be anywhere near capable of going straight back up?,on the other hand what i see is below halfway struggles followed by a few dodgy seasons flirting with a possible relegation /mid table finish.

[Charlie Wayman]

We keep getting spanked, isn't it about time the FA banned corporal punishment?

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, Jack said:

State of this. Aribo and Sulemana not even trying to get back onside, let alone track back. Both should be dropped and fined for such a lack of effort 

 

 

ScreenRecording_02-26-2025 13-36-24_1.mov 61.57 MB · 2 downloads  

 

Absolutely shocking, looked like a load of middle aged men on a park run

[spyinthesky]

3 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Did anyone watch Sky Sports afterwards? Paul Merson was the most scathing I've ever heard a pundit about how utterly terrible the Saints team are as footballers. He was saying something like "I've seen Saints results and heard about the performances, but I hadn't seen it first hand this season but god they are terrible, really terrible, probably the worst Premier League team I have ever watched" and this went on for quite some rant. 

Some might not like Merson, but regardless, that is an ex-pro sat there destroying fellow pros, a damning indication of just how bad this team is, how bad the recruitment has been, how bad the management are, how half-arsed the players are and generally just how shoddily run this club has been.

The owners were lucky to see promotion and get the extra income, but manager after manager has been utter trash and player hire after player hire has been beyond trash and frankly it's like they're letting a 9 year old pick players from Football Manager. 

Is it any wonder Jesse Marsch turned the job down after meeting them? (I'm sure he wouldn't have kept Saints up, but would've been better the following season). No wonder Moyes, Potter and co were nowhere near the job either. 

Absolute shit fest all round.  I was calm last night as it was inevitable, but the more I read, the more I watch from people saying how bad it was, the more angry I get.

I was going to get my son and I season tickets in the Championship next season, but I think that unless drastic changes are made NOW, we won't bother. 

The club are down. Strip out the management right now, top to bottom, recruit well now, well ahead of the summer break to allow a fast start to a championship season with players that give a fk with a competent management team. 

After a really poor start to the season under Russell Martin, I thought a change of Manager and style of play, whilst not saving us from the drop would, at least, see a steadying of the ship and perhaps the occasional improved display.
As it is we have regressed to an even lower level of performance which would be even worse without the heroics of Ramsdale.
Juric doesnt seem to have a clue how to set a team up and apart from Ramsdale and Fernandes each player has got worse.
It is a punishment for most of us to go along to watch a Saints game nowadays and I dread to think what the score would be if the team went down to 10 men early on.
The writing was on the wall, in my opinion, when we lost poorly at Oxford Utd in pre season but we were OK'ish until being beaten quite easily at Bournemouth.
The 5-1 home defeat by Chelsea in December, followed by another 5 goal defeat, by Spurs, heralded the introduction of Juric who has basically made a bad situation even worse.
It is telling that whenever I look at reports of Saints games in the media or on opponents web sites, opinions are broadly in line with Paul Merson's comments.
The Chelsea fan's opinions that we were actually worse than Morecombe, a team that may be demoted to the National League next season, is testament to where we are.
In all my years supporting Saints, there have been poor teams representing the club and a number of bad performances along the way. That said, never have I seen my team humiliated and outclassed over such a long period.
I hung onto a thread that back in the Championship we should win more games than suffer losses. However we put out relatively strong teams v weakened Cardiff City, Stoke and Swansea team and a more or less first choice side against Burnley, who made a number of changes, but were beaten more significantly than the 1-0 result shows.
The comparative feeling is comparable to finding out that you have been left a £1 million but a few months later the Tax Man sends a letter advising that there are £2m in back taxes outstanding.
Going to St Marys is a akin to a punishment nowadays and all the euphoria from Wembley is nothing but a distant memory.

[leesaint88]

42 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

After a really poor start to the season under Russell Martin, I thought a change of Manager and style of play, whilst not saving us from the drop would, at least, see a steadying of the ship and perhaps the occasional improved display.
As it is we have regressed to an even lower level of performance which would be even worse without the heroics of Ramsdale.
Juric doesnt seem to have a clue how to set a team up and apart from Ramsdale and Fernandes each player has got worse.
It is a punishment for most of us to go along to watch a Saints game nowadays and I dread to think what the score would be if the team went down to 10 men early on.
The writing was on the wall, in my opinion, when we lost poorly at Oxford Utd in pre season but we were OK'ish until being beaten quite easily at Bournemouth.
The 5-1 home defeat by Chelsea in December, followed by another 5 goal defeat, by Spurs, heralded the introduction of Juric who has basically made a bad situation even worse.
It is telling that whenever I look at reports of Saints games in the media or on opponents web sites, opinions are broadly in line with Paul Merson's comments.
The Chelsea fan's opinions that we were actually worse than Morecombe, a team that may be demoted to the National League next season, is testament to where we are.
In all my years supporting Saints, there have been poor teams representing the club and a number of bad performances along the way. That said, never have I seen my team humiliated and outclassed over such a long period.
I hung onto a thread that back in the Championship we should win more games than suffer losses. However we put out relatively strong teams v weakened Cardiff City, Stoke and Swansea team and a more or less first choice side against Burnley, who made a number of changes, but were beaten more significantly than the 1-0 result shows.
The comparative feeling is comparable to finding out that you have been left a £1 million but a few months later the Tax Man sends a letter advising that there are £2m in back taxes outstanding.
Going to St Marys is a akin to a punishment nowadays and all the euphoria from Wembley is nothing but a distant memory.

For years the worst Saints team I've ever seen was the one that played (and lost) to Swindon at the start of the 09/10 season, with the likes of Lloyd James, Lancashire, Paterson, Mellis etc I don't think we really had a shot on target that day and should of been beaten five or six nil. But, watching the last few performances I think this side has finally overtaken that one. I've never witnessed a team who look so disorganized, disinterested and totally uncompetitive, those Chelsea fans are right and I think Morecombe are probably better than us.

My biggest concern was a comment I saw from a Sunderland fan recently, when you suffer such an embarrassing season which saps every little bit of hope from the club the rot can really set in and become terminal. There is a strong possibility that in 12 months time this club could be sat at the bottom of the Championship staring at another relegation..

[S-Clarke]

4 hours ago, bangkoksaint said:

Serious question..............The Player of the Season awards.................assume they arent having one?

Surely that needs to be cancelled, as well as any 'lap of appreciation' at the final home game.

'Read the room Saints' comes to mind. 

[S-Clarke]

3 hours ago, Jack said:

State of this. Aribo and Sulemana not even trying to get back onside, let alone track back. Both should be dropped and fined for such a lack of effort 

 

 

ScreenRecording_02-26-2025 13-36-24_1.mov 61.57 MB · 18 downloads  

 

That goal was like a non-league goal, I've never seen anything quite as bad as that.

It was 6 on 2 at one point, it was ridiculous. No one was busting a gut to get back, and that video emphasises that.

I know Sulemana has won some fans in recent weeks, but that clip there is exactly why he's never going to win me over.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Surely that needs to be cancelled, as well as any 'lap of appreciation' at the final home game.

'Read the room Saints' comes to mind. 

Player of the Season can go ahead but limit votes to just the two players - Mateus Fernandes and Aaron Ramsdale.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

Player of the Season can go ahead but limit votes to just the two players - Mateus Fernandes and Aaron Ramsdale.

As a player, I'd feel pretty embarrassed to pickup any sort of award on the back of this season tbh, even if the player has been relatively 'ok' in comparison with the rest. It's a pretty low bar.

[Gloucester Saint]

11 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

That goal was like a non-league goal, I've never seen anything quite as bad as that.

It was 6 on 2 at one point, it was ridiculous. No one was busting a gut to get back, and that video emphasises that.

I know Sulemana has won some fans in recent weeks, but that clip there is exactly why he's never going to win me over.

If that was conceded at Plainmoor, Paul Wotton would invade the pitch and clout the players around the head who were jogging back Brian Clough-style. And they’re top end of Conference South. I don’t think anyone at Southern Premier or above would have been anything other than disgusted by conceding like that. 

Edited Wednesday at 17:29 by Gloucester Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, leesaint88 said:

For years the worst Saints team I've ever seen was the one that played (and lost) to Swindon at the start of the 09/10 season, with the likes of Lloyd James, Lancashire, Paterson, Mellis etc I don't think we really had a shot on target that day and should of been beaten five or six nil. But, watching the last few performances I think this side has finally overtaken that one. I've never witnessed a team who look so disorganized, disinterested and totally uncompetitive, those Chelsea fans are right and I think Morecombe are probably better than us.

My biggest concern was a comment I saw from a Sunderland fan recently, when you suffer such an embarrassing season which saps every little bit of hope from the club the rot can really set in and become terminal. There is a strong possibility that in 12 months time this club could be sat at the bottom of the Championship staring at another relegation..

It’s more than a risk, it’s a reality if the club are stupid enough to assume the core with Bazanu back in goal will do anything other than be relegated again. New keeper, new spine through the team of pace and physical power essential to avoid that fate let alone consider the top 6 a chance. 

 

 

 

 

[die Mannyschaft]

Premier leaque should award us a trophy if we end up with 9 points end of season. This won't happen again unless stupid foot tactics gets introduced into coaching courses. Oh hold on it has!

1/1000 on for relegation at this early stage, the FA need to use the highlights of Saints games to demonstrate how negative football can be very successful if you want to lose and get relegated.  Plus spend astronomical amounts of money for 19 goals . Lap of possession honour also. Pitch invasion anyone, may be 50 fans left after whistle.

[SaintsBarry74]

11 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Premier leaque should award us a trophy if we end up with 9 points end of season. This won't happen again unless stupid foot tactics gets introduced into coaching courses. Oh hold on it has!

1/1000 on for relegation at this early stage, the FA need to use the highlights of Saints games to demonstrate how negative football can be very successful if you want to lose and get relegated.  Plus spend astronomical amounts of money for 19 goals . Lap of possession honour also. Pitch invasion anyone, may be 50 fans left after whistle.

Two 0-9 defeats in recent years, most goals conceded in a season, most home defeats in a season and surpassing Derby's horrendous record should qualify us for at least a five-year ban from top-flight football. Call it a mercy ruling.

[trousers]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

That goal was like a non-league goal, I've never seen anything quite as bad as that.

It was 6 on 2 at one point, it was ridiculous. No one was busting a gut to get back, and that video emphasises that.

 

Indeed. That clip dispels the mantra from some that our downfall is predominantly down to the quality of the players. Yes, of course quality is a factor, but so is the total lack of esprit de corps shown by most of the players game after game. 

Edited Wednesday at 20:02 by trousers

[Dark Munster]

58 minutes ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Two 0-9 defeats in recent years, most goals conceded in a season, most home defeats in a season and surpassing Derby's horrendous record should qualify us for at least a five-year ban from top-flight football. Call it a mercy ruling.

A 50 year ban for Sports Republic from being involved in any football from PL down to non league. 

[Saint86]

22 hours ago, Jimmy_D said:

Feels like we played better during both 9-0 games than we have the last two.

The most damning thing about this chelsea result is that i watched every minute of both 9-0 losses... I turned the chelsea game off when the 2nd went in.

[SW11_Saint]

8 hours ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

If they do I hope Ramsdale wins it. That poor sod stuck behind what is laughingly described as a defence week in, week out, must wonder what the hell is going on. Without him we would have shipped even more goals so with the absence of anyone who can score, I hope the ball stopper wins Player of the Season. 

Let’s make it a hat-trick - according to TSP he won it for Bournemouth & Sheff Utd in their relegation seasons. 

[SaintBobby]

The greatest failing - amongst many - is the complete lack of leaders on the pitch.

[Charlie Wayman]

6 hours ago, SaintBobby said:

The greatest failing - amongst many - is the complete lack of leaders on the pitch.

Not really the greatest, just one of the many things. It seems to me that the players have given up - given up on their manager and given up on the club.

The whole lot of them seem to want to walk out and away from this collective shambles. The im pression is they no longer care about results or outcomes, just fulfilling their contractural duties to play when asked.

Going through the (bowel) motions?

Edited Thursday at 07:41 by Charlie Wayman