Saints 1-2 Fulham - Match Thread

[Miltonaggro]

Some brief perspective from my seat today. Sulemana, the footballing equivalent of the scarecrow from the wizard of Oz, thick as fucking mince. Thought Ross Stewart did well and was tussling with their defenders, holding the ball up and battling throughout. Off he goes and it went to shit. His replacement,  Archer bottled every 50/50 ball and looked like he was half heartedly running training shuttles. Dibling’s bottom lip was out so far I doubt he could see his feet, totally non committed and stumbled around at walking pace. We all know a mass clearout is needed, but it needs to be root and branch. 

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, HKsaint said:

Dibling is just a kid. We lost because he came out

I didn’t even know he was gay. 

[Saint NL]

10 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

to add to Brereton Diaz/Armstrong/Stewart/Carillo/Tall Paul/Mara

Christ, I'd forgotten he existed. Such a nothing player.

[HarvSFC]

Not too much to get excited about aside from the goal. Fulham completely dominated the match, they had 13 corners to our 0, 64% of the ball, damning stats for a home team.

Been saying it all season, if the team lacks quality, make up for it in effort and this team lacks both. Football shouldn't be this predictable, upsets exist, a lot of this team lost to Grimsby two years ago because they were more fired up for it than our "Premier League players" and this side are incapable of pulling off an upset and getting a shock result. Every time we had the ball Fulham swarmed us. Every time Fulham had the ball, our players backed off and gave them space. Only Flynn Downes is capable of putting in a challenge in this team. Watching the first goal back. Iwobi is able to scoop the ball into the box at ease. Emile Smith-Rowe is then able to bring the ball down in the box, he's then allowed to turn in the box and then get a shot off that deflects off Bednarek some yards away. The second goal, Dibling loses the ball too easily, which is become a common occurrence with him, Manning once again is nowhere near Traore, who puts in the cross and then it finds a Fulham player, of course and goes in.

Our players are just too slow to everything, jog around and can't compete in the Premier League. 

Dibling can't get a start for the worst top flight Southampton team of all time, nobody's paying more than £30m for him as when he does play he just goes through the motions. Far more talented players have seen their careers fall off a cliff as there comes a point where they can't just rely on their talent, just putting the warning out there...

Stephens and Bednarek need to go. If the next manager keeps Stephens as captain it will be a joke. He isn't good enough to warrant playing every week and his leadership skills are lacking if this season is anything to go by. Didn't have the difficult conversation with his mate Martin to say that his tactics weren't working and the players weren't capable of playing them. Didn't ensure the team maintained standards under Juric and has let us down time and time again while on the pitch. While, many say Bednarek is at least good in the Championship, but we've never had a good defence with Bednarek in the side, even in the Championship our defence was poor. The club tried getting rid of the pair of two years ago and they're starting every week. As for the forwards... Well, Sulemana doesn't have any end product and the others can't cause any problems for a Premier League defence.

KWP and Fernandes once again the only positives.

[Saint Fan CaM]

On 25/04/2025 at 13:31, malcolm waldron said:

Have you not watched the league games he's overseen so far this season....?!  

Yeah, it was a thing…sat back for a 1-1 and then some, playing 6 defenders! What a complete idiot.

Fernandes and Ramsdale were outstanding today.

Manning was poor and Dibling worse, although Dibling should never have been brought on if the intention was to defend a 1-1 draw….he's just too fucking lazy and can’t defend for toffee. Would have been better using Welington or even Smallbone ahead of Manning.

The rest of the team did OK. Fulham were fast and physical going forwards - once again were were not.

Rusk and Lallana are definitely not the answer based on todays last 10-15 minutes and then some, playing the subs chosen.

Edited 2 hours ago by Saint Fan CaM

[Whitey Grandad]

3 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Yeah, it was a thing…sat back for a 1-1 and then some playing 6 defenders! What a complete idiot.

Fernandes and Ramsdale were outstanding today.

Manning was poor and Dibling worse, although Dibling should never have been brought on if the intention was to defend a 1-1 draw….he's just too fucking lazy and can’t defend for toffee. Would have been better using Welington or even Smallbone ahead of Manning.

The rest of the team did OK. Fulham were fast and physical going forwards - once again were were not.

Musk and Lallana are definitely not the answer based on todays last 10-15 minutes and then some, playing the subs chosen.

Aribo was on the bench and he brings on Bree and Dibling. 

[Monk]

You should’ve heard the noise that came out of me in Morrisons when I saw they scored the second. 
 

We all must of done something awful in a past life to deserve this. 
 

Whole thing is utter wank.
 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Monk
Typo

[SaintsBarry74]

Ramsdale’s been key to keeping our scores respectable all season. I dread to think how it would've looked with McCarthy or Baz in goal.

[die Mannyschaft]

29 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Some brief perspective from my seat today. Sulemana, the footballing equivalent of the scarecrow from the wizard of Oz, thick as fucking mince. Thought Ross Stewart did well and was tussling with their defenders, holding the ball up and battling throughout. Off he goes and it went to shit. His replacement,  Archer bottled every 50/50 ball and looked like he was half heartedly running training shuttles. Dibling’s bottom lip was out so far I doubt he could see his feet, totally non committed and stumbled around at walking pace. We all know a mass clearout is needed, but it needs to be root and branch. 

Apart from MF and AR I really don't think any club will be after anyone else. I suspect the £100m was a PR stunt as no bids have actually come jn gor tge player. Would any player apart from AR have a clause to leave if relegated? Very unlikely.  

[lambtiss]

36 minutes ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

With Onuachu seemingly injured,  Rusk tried a like for like in Stewart but he was absolutely hopeless

I thought Stewart competed well,  kept their centre halves occupied, defended corners well and had a good run into their penalty area when he seemed to be pushed. 

 

The difference when Archer (definitely not a target man) replaced him, was huge.

[bangkoksaint]

Fulham are not a great team and are pretty much just making up the numbers in the PL, but like many sides they’ve made us look bang average today. That said though I worry for the state of the PL and football in general with the way things are going. 
 

if you add the bottom 3’s points total together there are 9 teams who have a better total than the bottom three put together - that’s nearly half the league. Out of a possible 54 points available to the bottom three over the last 6 games they have totalled just 7 points and one win between them. It was probably pretty much the same last season and dare I say will be the same next. Things have to change because it’s not making for a competitive league. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, lambtiss said:

I thought Stewart competed well,  kept their centre halves occupied, defended corners well and had a good run into their penalty area when he seemed to be pushed. 

 

The difference when Archer (definitely not a target man) replaced him, was huge.

I was pleasantly surprised. I thought after 3 years out all of his conditioning would’ve vanished but looked alright. Not brilliant but offered more than Jeffrey Archer as I call him. 

[Micky]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

I would only want to keep Ramsdale, KWP and Fernandes.  The rest are both shite and fucking lazy.

Brace yourself.  The three you want will be first out of the door after this clusterfuck of a season ends, the shitty lazy fucks will be the squad for next season, obviously. 

[Saint_Jonny]

I know it's easier to call the players fat, lazy, hateful, cunts etc etc. but just to add some semblance of balance to this thread; I didn't see a lack of effort from the Saints team on the pitch today. Until Stewart went off we at least had some balance and threat while we were able to get out and hold the ball up, and the team gave it everything throughout. Today was just another example of the huge gulf in quality from our squad to almost every other squad in the league.

Can't wait for this season to end. 

[Roo1976]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Aribo was on the bench and he brings on Bree and Dibling. 

Aribos not the answer, he just flaps his arms around and goes through the motions much like the rest.............................still another week of not watching match of the day to hear the pundits stick it to us.

[the colonel]

6 minutes ago, Saint_Jonny said:

I know it's easier to call the players fat, lazy, hateful, cunts etc etc. but just to add some semblance of balance to this thread; I didn't see a lack of effort from the Saints team on the pitch today. Until Stewart went off we at least had some balance and threat while we were able to get out and hold the ball up, and the team gave it everything throughout. Today was just another example of the huge gulf in quality from our squad to almost every other squad in the league.

Can't wait for this season to end. 

What he said.

No point to keep pointing the finger. we all know there is a massive gulf. Need to spend a couple seasons in the championship to rebuild and produce a team ready for the premier. Unfortunately, I think we will be down for a few seasons sorting this mess out.

[Appy]

Stewart was decent, gave Bassey and Andersen a few issues before he inevitably tired. 
 

Sulemana is god awful, hopefully we can get some sort of fee for him in the summer but if scouts take notice of his footballing intelligence he’ll be going nowhere. 

[trousers]

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

Jeez, it’s almost as if sacking two managers has gotten us absolutely nowhere.

House!

[Pip]

Were people expecting us to suddenly morph into Liverpool today?  I thought Stewart gave us more of an outlet, the (most) players gave it their all and heads didn't go down and I was more entertained than I have been for quite a while.  But hey ho, let's keep slagging them off.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, Monk said:

We all must of done something awful in a past life to deserve this.

Did Hoddle have his views on past lives, before he joined us? Or did he just spend time here, and reach the obvious conclusion. 🙂

[obelisk]

I read that today's result makes it 28 points lost from winning positions this season. That's nuts. Can't believe we've taken the lead that often.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

37 minutes ago, obelisk said:

I read that today's result makes it 28 points lost from winning positions this season. That's nuts. Can't believe we've taken the lead that often.

I know. I can't believe we've scored that often, either.
🙂

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Micky said:

Brace yourself.  The three you want will be first out of the door after this clusterfuck of a season ends, the shitty lazy fucks will be the squad for next season, obviously. 

I’m under no illusions that there is even the slightest chance those 3 will stay.  I would firesale the other useless c*nts though.

 

[Monk]

3 hours ago, Monk said:

You should’ve heard the noise that came out of me in Morrisons when I saw they scored the second. 
 

We all must of done something awful in a past life to deserve this. 
 

Whole thing is utter wank.
 

 

 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, obelisk said:

I read that today's result makes it 28 points lost from winning positions this season. That's nuts. Can't believe we've taken the lead that often.

That just proves that being in the lead at some stage is not a winning position.

[macca155]

Business as usual really, Fulham are a tidy outfit and are well managed. Way too good for Saints.

I thought Sessegnon was outstanding today. No way Fulham keep him next year. Berge was a big bully who just owned the midfield. We had a bigger lump in Les but he hardly featured.

I thought Stewart did well, bodes well for next year. THB yet again was constantly out of position, reckless, and easily bypassed. Playing 5 at the back just invites trouble.

Fernades was marked out of the game. He'll have to learn to live with that.

Da Silva could see Saints were tiring so brought on 3 subs. Nothing special but they put our fading team under even more pressure. Time and time Fulham attacked Manning. He struggled to contain Traore and the crosses were firing in. He had zero support in front of him, and Stephens should have been pushed out to support him. Or maybe even play Dibling on the right where he can actually make a difference.

I'd have brought Wellington on to support Manning, and gamed that match out for the point.

13 corners to 0 tells you all you need to know really.

 

 

[Andrew Watson]

Smith Rowe must have thought he had hygiene issues,you should not get that much room in junior football. Spineless, useless losers, who will struggle in the championship unless we get rid of virtually every player on the pitch today, The better ones go of their own accord,the others are masquerading as professional footballers and are totally worthless.

[Oh no Mick Mills]

Lots of people were impressed with Stewart. 

Personally I thought he was poor. 

Pleased for him to come from his injury issues and he gave his all but from where I was sat in the Itchen centre, every long high ball he was jumping up 2 yards too forwards and the ball sailed over his head. 

He had an opportunity in the first half where he was through on goal but was easily caught by Fulham defender.  

Zero shots or headers if memory serves me correct.

Rather have Onuachu...they're all poor though. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

53 minutes ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Lots of people were impressed with Stewart. 

Personally I thought he was poor. 

Pleased for him to come from his injury issues and he gave his all but from where I was sat in the Itchen centre, every long high ball he was jumping up 2 yards too forwards and the ball sailed over his head. 

He had an opportunity in the first half where he was through on goal but was easily caught by Fulham defender.  

Zero shots or headers if memory serves me correct.

Rather have Onuachu...they're all poor though. 

Looked better than Archer which is pretty damning given it’s Rod’s first start in many months. Unfortunately I doubt we’ll get to see if there’s any semblance of a Prem player in there before the season ends, but he’ll be more useful in the Championship than Archer.

[OttawaSaint]

4 hours ago, Pip said:

Were people expecting us to suddenly morph into Liverpool today?  

No but a blind squirrel sometimes finds a nut. Even Luton managed a great 4-0 win in the EPL. Could we not hope for one emphatic result this season?