Match Day Thread Saints vs Stoke City - Saturday, August 23 - 15:00 KO

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Interesting preview of this game on TSP. Who thought that Stoke would be the leagues early pace setters (I know, I know, it's 2 games). But they've also scored 6 and conceded 1 in those 2 games...but also they were against Derby and Sheffield Wednesday, both of whom are likely be down there in the relegation battle this season. You'd hope that our strikers will be over the stomach bug by then. But we are also getting towards the business end of the transfer window when things might start happening in both directions. All of which makes this hard to predict!
I can't actually remember the last time we played well at home against Stoke. It feels like it's always 0-0 or 0-1 (last years cup game aside which was still a poor performance from us despite the score line).

I'd probably plump for a narrow win with our superior quality off the bench making the difference again. Interesting that the Stoke fan on TSP called midfield their weak area, whereas that's easily our strongest area and we're struggling a bit at both ends.
 
I really don't understand people slagging off new players, particularly youngsters that come from different countries; let them settle in you cretins (no offence)!

Saints are picking up points, slowly but surely our performances will become more convincing - wounds take time to heal and all that. We're doing well.

I'm just pleased we have a manager who is confident enough to change formation and style of play when required, even if it doesn't work all the time; it's better than what we've had the last few years.
 
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All_Southampton_FC said:
I really don't understand people slagging off new players, particularly youngsters that come from different countries; let them settle in you cretins (no offence)!
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I think it's a bit of both to be honest. They aren't beyond critcism. Criticise them by all means - both Downs & Quarshie have had moments, already; but certainly don't deserve to be written off as bad buys & write-offs, just yet.
 
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As I mentioned on the Ipswich thread we tend to play **** against them at SMS, so that is the first hurdle Still needs to get the team over.
Good to see that Quarshie has acknowledged that he played badly on Sunday, so he knows he has to step up because of the competition in his position.
 
Quarshie may also be far more comfortable in a back 4, most CBs are. I don't think a back 3 suits THB either (and maybe Edwards too). The sooner we can move to a back 4 as our primary formation the better imo. 3 CBs and 2 more defensive midfielders isn't making us more solid defensively but is probably affecting our forward play.
 
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Saints Fan4Life said:
I think it's a bit of both to be honest. They aren't beyond critcism. Criticise them by all means - both Downs & Quarshie have had moments, already; but certainly don't deserve to be written off as bad buys & write-offs, just yet.
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Pressure makes diamonds, I suppose. I just don't want it to go the other way where they don't enjoy playing because of the atmosphere and become scapegoats.
 
Brizzletiss said:
Would love to see us more positive and go for 4 at the back at home this Sat. Fraser did a job at RB I thought so I’d go for:
Baz
Fraser, THB, Stephens, Manning
Downes, Charles
Fernandes,
Armstrong, Stewart, Robinson
Hopefully Ross back from illness and able to bag a brace on his full return!! COYS 3-1 win
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Fraser was at RWB, not RB although I guess he did move to RB against Wrexham when Still changed the formation. I don't think I trust Fraser enough to start at RB. I would like to see us go to a back 4, ideally in a 4-2-3-1 but we haven't got the wide players to do that yet, unless Dibling starts which I doubt.
 
tomw24 said:
Fraser was at RWB, not RB although I guess he did move to RB against Wrexham when Still changed the formation. I don't think I trust Fraser enough to start at RB. I would like to see us go to a back 4, ideally in a 4-2-3-1 but we haven't got the wide players to do that yet, unless Dibling starts which I doubt.
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Even without having the wide players to do it really effectively. I'd still like to see it given a go in this game tbh. Robinson left, Fernandes through the middle, Fraser or Armstrong right (we don't know the extent of Frasers knock yet) with Stewart up front should be plenty good enough to get something going for now.
 
1 more week closer to the transfer window closing.
Will be a tough game as their confidence will be high, especially after scoring 6 in 2 league games, though they failed to score at home to Walsall in the cup last week.
3 points for us will be massive for confidence, then just one more league game before everything can calm down after window closes.
 
RSS said:
Even without having the wide players to do it really effectively. I'd still like to see it given a go in this game tbh. Robinson left, Fernandes through the middle, Fraser or Armstrong right (we don't know the extent of Frasers knock yet) with Stewart up front should be plenty good enough to get something going for now.
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My thinking exactly, we do technically have the players. Armstrong scored 20 goals from RW, Robinson looks unreal at LW & got 3 central strikers in Archer, Stewart & Downs. All with Dibling to come off the bench still. Think it’s time to give a more attacking system a go. If Fraser not at RB then he can offer cover on wings too.

This doesn’t stop me from thinking we need to sign 2 wingers and at least one creative AM too though. Need competition for places with quality if gonna challenge for top 2.
 
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tomw24 said:
Fraser was at RWB, not RB although I guess he did move to RB against Wrexham when Still changed the formation. I don't think I trust Fraser enough to start at RB. I would like to see us go to a back 4, ideally in a 4-2-3-1 but we haven't got the wide players to do that yet, unless Dibling starts which I doubt.
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I think we do have wide players that could play in that system, albeit not highest quality.

RW = Armstrong or Dibling
LW = Robinson or Fraser
 
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Brizzletiss said:
My thinking exactly, we do technically have the players. Armstrong scored 20 goals from RW, Robinson looks unreal at LW & got 3 central strikers in Archer, Stewart & Downs. All with Dibling to come off the bench still. Think it’s time to give a more attacking system a go. If Fraser not at RB then he can offer cover on wings too.

This doesn’t stop me from thinking we need to sign 2 wingers and at least one creative AM too though. Need competition for places with quality if gonna challenge for top 2.
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Unless something changes, surely Dibling would be starting. He has been in full training and got a run out yesterday, so after another week of training he should be able to do at least an hour.
 
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Ronnie Hotdog (MLsfc) said:
Unless something changes, surely Dibling would be starting. He has been in full training and got a run out yesterday, so after another week of training he should be able to do at least an hour.
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100% that’s the dream scenario really, but he does look a bit off the boil having not trained with the team for a while and I liked Armstrong work rate yesterday. Think Tyler just behind him atm really and if he can come on 60th minute and impact a game effectively then that puts him in line for a start
 
I must admit I know very little about Stoke’s current team.
Are they anything like the Stoke of 10 years ago?


If so I wouldn’t be putting Fraser ss as a RB in a back 4.


As I said in match thread last week, 4231 is the only way to get Fernandes on his best position.


Bazunu
Sugawara Stephens Quarshie Manning
Downes Charles
Armstrong Fernandes Fraser
Stewart / Downs (/Archer)

Subs: McCarthy, THB, Edward’s, Wellington, Matsuki, Dibling, Robinson, Archer, Downs/Stewart,
 
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