The pre-season thread - 2024/25

3-1 Mara

 

3-1 Mara

 

Dibling and SAA with a nice bit of interchange, ball across the box to Mara to tap in.

 

Mara winning the battle of the big ‘fros!

 

I think Dibling is giving RM a big decision to make. His finding space, running the ball, vision and passing could be forcing himself into the team.

 

Charly doing his best “young, fit Stu Armstrong” impression. We have to keep him here.

 

Very similar things were said about our young players last season during the friendlies!

 

I want to see Dibling and SAA in the XI to play Lazio in August. See what they can do against very good opposition. With all due respect to Bordeaux, if they can impress against a side like Lazio then that will really give Martin a selection headache.

 

Charly and Dibling show some nice variation from our other midfielders, I'd try and keep them both in the fold

 

Mara's goal

 

He looked decent in the few bits of time he had last season and showed all of the traits you have just highlighted then too, seems like he might have a bit of consistency.

 

Saints lineup is now: Lis, Sugawara, Boot, Taylor, O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Smallbone, Downes, Aribo, Kamaldeen, Armstrong, Edozi

 

Defo need to give Dibling a new contract as a priority. Only a year left, we cannot let him slip through the net again after he decided to come back.

 

Two years left.

 

Wasn't Mara previously at Bordeaux.

 

Yes.

 

Montpelier on Saturday will be another step up

 

3-2

Are the more experienced players going to lose their part of the game?

 

Lis is ****.