Championship season 2025/26

[Football Special]

Focus starting to turn to next season and some interesting games to look forward to , 

- South Coast Derby,  seems such a long time since we were in the same division 

- another localish game, A34 derby with Oxford United, last time we were in the same division late 80s ? 

- Wrexham, aka Hollywood FC, we've hardly ever played them in our history, last time in same league 1959/60 , played then in league Cup 1979 , can't be many Saints fans who were at that. 

Who knows what will happen at Leicester financially, also Sheffield Wednesday (have they paid players yet?) 

few places still to be decided in relegation battle and league one play offs, some good potential trips with one of Wycombe, Stockport, Charlton, Orient or Reading to come up. 

Promoted Birmingham and Wrexham are expected to invest in playing squad, will be strong I think. 

No obvious clear favourites, I'd probably say Ipswich if they keep players and manager. 

 

Edited Sunday at 12:39 by Football Special

[Saint Fan CaM]

It will be nice to be one of the bigger fishes in the pond next season, but will we be more Man Utd than Man City - full of promise but ultimately still shit.

[Willo of Whiteley]

It would be nice for us to actually target the title rather than simple promotion. 

Wouldn’t it be refreshing for us to be the team that stormed away with it.

[sfc4prem]

A lot will depend on the managerial appointment. Our squad is great for the Championship, even without KWP or Fernandes. 

We would, however, need to replace Ugochukwu (if we don't manage to pry him away from Chelsea on a permanent or loan basis) Ramsdale and Dibling should they leave.

We really could use a strong start to the season as the confidence of the fanbase is completely shot.

Some exciting games to look forward to, right?

[Winnersaint]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

 

- Wrexham, aka Hollywood FC, we've hardly ever played them in our history, last time in same league 1959/60 , played then in league Cup 1979 , can't be many Saints fans who were at that. 

 

 

FA Cup 5th Round 1974. They were in Division 3, but had some good players like Joey Jones and Arfon Griffiths along with a young Mickey Thomas on the bench. A young unheard striker called David Smallman scored the winner. I was there and easily as bad as anything served up by the current team.

[Barton Saint]

I was there too and it was incredibly disappointing as we had a great chance to get into the Quarterfinals at a time when the competition meant a lot more than today 

[woodsaint1]

4 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

A lot will depend on the managerial appointment. Our squad is great for the Championship, even without KWP or Fernandes. 

We would, however, need to replace Ugochukwu (if we don't manage to pry him away from Chelsea on a permanent or loan basis) Ramsdale and Dibling should they leave.

We really could use a strong start to the season as the confidence of the fanbase is completely shot.

Some exciting games to look forward to, right?

We already have a replacement for Big Les in Shea Charles. Him and Downes under the right coach could be a formidable partnership in the Championship (in a 4-2-3-1 especially)

[sfc4prem]

22 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

We already have a replacement for Big Les in Shea Charles. Him and Downes under the right coach could be a formidable partnership in the Championship (in a 4-2-3-1 especially)

Good point, I'd forgotten about Shea. Seems to have done well for Wednesday by all accounts.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Am I the only one who thinks Saints struggle to stay up next season?

I've got an awful feeling the the season isn't going to go the way many hope it will. 😕

[trousers]

17 minutes ago, Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd said:

Am I the only one who thinks Saints struggle to stay up next season?

I've got an awful feeling the the season isn't going to go the way many hope it will. 😕

Yes, you are the only one; But at least you'll get to play your "told you so" card if the unlikely was to happen, and fingers crossed nobody quotes this post back at you when it doesn't...

[Saint86]

26 minutes ago, Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd said:

Am I the only one who thinks Saints struggle to stay up next season?

I've got an awful feeling the the season isn't going to go the way many hope it will. 😕

But would you take 17th place if offered it right now? 🤔

Edited Sunday at 22:37 by Saint86

[Pamplemousse]

Luton look like staying up which is good news.

Hopefully Hull go down, long way to go. And one of Sunderland/Middlesbrough going up would be appreciated for the same reasons.

And likewise I hope the League 1 play off winners are not Stockport as the other three are all southern.

It does look like there aren't as many northern teams as last time in any case. There were a lot of lengthy journeys last time around!

[leesaint88]

I really can't predict what will happen next year, as mentioned I think we'll have a better idea once we have a new manager and know what the team will look like. I do however think Birmingham will win the league with Ipswich going up in second, which leaves us in the playoffs picture with a dozen or so other teams. 

[revolution saint]

2 hours ago, leesaint88 said:

I really can't predict what will happen next year, as mentioned I think we'll have a better idea once we have a new manager and know what the team will look like. I do however think Birmingham will win the league with Ipswich going up in second, which leaves us in the playoffs picture with a dozen or so other teams. 

That's one hell of a non-prediction, I'd love to see what happens when you're certain of something.

[leesaint88]

1 hour ago, revolution saint said:

That's one hell of a non-prediction, I'd love to see what happens when you're certain of something.

I've had a shocker there...

[sadoldgit]

22 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

It would be nice for us to actually target the title rather than simple promotion. 

Wouldn’t it be refreshing for us to be the team that stormed away with it.

It would be, but it hasn’t happened in the 60 years I have been supporting the club so I’m not holding my breath. My guess is another play off or a shaky second place.

[Badger]

13 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

Luton look like staying up which is good news.

Hopefully Hull go down, long way to go. And one of Sunderland/Middlesbrough going up would be appreciated for the same reasons.

And likewise I hope the League 1 play off winners are not Stockport as the other three are all southern.

It does look like there aren't as many northern teams as last time in any case. There were a lot of lengthy journeys last time around!

How many tickets do we get for Luton ? Horrible place from my visit in the 80’s so was hoping for them and Derby to go down.

Hull was a decent away day last time. I’m hoping they stay up, although have my doubts they’ll achieve it.

Coming up, shame about Wrexham, and all the bollocks that surround them. Am hoping for Wycombe, but it appears they’ve blown it. Charlton (nice work Nathan), or Orient are the possible of course.

Perhaps we can secure a third promotion to the top flight at Brisbane Road (or whatever they call it now). 

[Badger]

22 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

Good point, I'd forgotten about Shea. Seems to have done well for Wednesday by all accounts.

Was their Player of the Season.

 

[Badger]

On 27/04/2025 at 17:25, Winnersaint said:

FA Cup 5th Round 1974. They were in Division 3, but had some good players like Joey Jones and Arfon Griffiths along with a young Mickey Thomas on the bench. A young unheard striker called David Smallman scored the winner. I was there and easily as bad as anything served up by the current team.

 

23 hours ago, Barton Saint said:

I was there too and it was incredibly disappointing as we had a great chance to get into the Quarterfinals at a time when the competition meant a lot more than today 

Remember that match. Even after that though no one saw relegation around the corner, most thought we were mid table.

Think we signed Osgood about a month after the Wrexham match as well. 

[SW5 SAINT]

On 27/04/2025 at 17:25, Winnersaint said:

FA Cup 5th Round 1974. They were in Division 3, but had some good players like Joey Jones and Arfon Griffiths along with a young Mickey Thomas on the bench. A young unheard striker called David Smallman scored the winner. I was there and easily as bad as anything served up by the current team.

Following that defeat our form completely collapsed, and we were relegated…

[Teamsaint1]

1 hour ago, SW5 SAINT said:

Following that defeat our form completely collapsed, and we were relegated…

We could do with replicating the result from the final day of that season.