Southampton At Bristol City The Preview Tuesday, 21st Oct 2025 10:18 Will Still thought that the 0-0 draw with Swansea was our best game of the season, so you would expect him to keep faith with the starting line up for that game for the trip to Ashton Gate, we will see.
I am not going to harp on too much about the game on Saturday, suffice to say I did not see it as our best performance of the season and that I saw a good team struggling to find rythmn and that stemmed from the tactics.
So what will Will Still do for this game, will he change the line up yet again or keep faith with those who made him proud against the Swans.
You would think that Alex McCarthy will start in goal, he had nothing to do on Saturday so no issues there, likewise Nathan Wood & Ronnie Edwards, they performed their defensive tasks well, but then we come to 3 players who could find themselves out of the side, not perhaps for their performance on Saturday, but other reasons, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Elia Jelert & Welington.

The first big question is whether Still will stick with the formation from Saturday with 3 central defenders and wing backs, or whether he will revert to a back 4.
If he sticks with Saturdays formation I would think that THB will keep his place, but there will be questions over the wingbacks, Welington has just returned from injury after two months on the side lines, so he might not be risked with a 2nd game coming so quickly after his first after return, likewise Jelert, who had played just 2 brief sub appearances before his surprise inclusion against Swansea.
But he could revert to a back four as in games previous to the Swansea game, if so you would expect THB to go back to the bench, but i would think that he could actually partner Wood, with Edwards at right back and either Manning or Fraser coming in on the left.

So at the back, it is anyone's guess, but the central midfield area might be not be much easier, Shea Charles & Caspar Jandar will hold their places, but then its a case of who plays in front, Leo Scienza has been shoehorned in their, but I would rather see Finn Azaz given the chance to show he can recapture his form at Middlesbrough, likewise Tom Fellows.
Up front Adam Armstrong is nailed on (Or perhaps not with Will Still) but will he partner him with Cameron Archer or try something else.

So if it is 4-4-2 or such like my formation would be
McCarthy Edwards, Wood, THB, Fraser/Manning
Charles, Jander Azaz Scienza Archer Armstrong.
If it something different I would go for.
McCarthy
Scienza, Edwards, Wood, THB, Fraser
Charles, Jander Azaz Archer Armstrong
The one thing that is certain is that there will be changes from Saturday's starting line up, we have yet to play the same side twice.
This is an important game for Will Still, he needs to start winning games, two straight wins, starting with this one would see the pressure off him and would perhaps start to show the doubters that he is the man to take Saints forward.
A draw and a win from this and the trip to Blackburn would not be the end of the World.
But two straight draws would see the pressure mount, even more so if there is a defeat in there somewhere.
I would reiterate, I want Will Still to succeed, I want him to win the next two games and continue winning the following ones, I want to see him lead us into the Premier League.
But the fact remains that he is learning his trade on the job, I need him to show faith in certain players and indeed himself, he needs to show he has learned lessons and learnt them well, if he does that then we can march up the table, if he follows one of his predecessors and demonstrates that he is not interested in learning and adapting, then I fear for his future.
All Photos Via Reuters
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andywelsh added 11:26 - Oct 21
It is a long season and players such as Azaz and Fellows will inevitably get their chance and hopefully come good, but I don’t see much reason to change the Swansea team other than to rest Wellington and possibly Jelert if he has picked up a knock. Still tends to set the team up in order to counter/expose the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition, which is why his team selection is difficult to predict sometimes. This should be a good thing once the squad has clicked but may seem a bit clunky while they are still getting used to each other. |  | |
Centurion added 11:28 - Oct 21
We are making progress. Some people want the team to go up straight away, but like last time this would be a disaster. If you see the project over 2 or 3 seasons, then all we need this season is progress and a mid table finish. I remember watching Bournemouth 50 years ago when they where in the 4th Division. Now look at them. Saints should take inspiration. |  | |
highfield49 added 12:27 - Oct 21
What a conundrum for the manager. The more vociferous doubters will call Still a clown just to prove themselves correct because they can never be wrong. My view is that the team and tactics were very much progress against Swansea and the outcome probably hinged on Stewart being unavailable. Certainly the team is not yet a fixed line up simply because no team can play with eleven players and one substitute these days. Lots of us remember the days when managers were stuck with playing individuals who were, at best, below average. Fellows and Azaz, for example, haven't yet become starting picks but will be very soon I think. Scienza, Robinson and Fraser will also push for starts. So, does the manager persist with Armstrong and Archer this week, and show belief, or switch the combination and get Azaz firing? In the days of Paine, Sydenham, Channon, O'Brien etc the manager's choice was easy because most teams played similar formations and relied on the star performers and work horses every week. Will Still has the task of gelling a squad of talented players into a winning combination without the luxury of too much time to do so. Work in progress, yes, lost cause, absolutely not. |  | |
SaintPaulVW added 12:27 - Oct 21
I think this is a tough game. Certainly playing 5 at the back seems sensible to start off with. Possibly the fullbacks might change if there are injuries or recoveries to factor in. I'll be happy with a point tonight. |  | |
Bowlercow added 15:18 - Oct 21
I think Jelert has a knock so one change is inevitable.It maybe wise not to overstretch Wellington so reverting to a back 4 with Edwards playing RB would appear to be a viable option Scienza was most peoples MotM on Saturday and with Jander,Wood,Edwards,THB and Alex in goal should be nailed on starters I would be happy this year with a top ten finish and Let Will finish the job next season |  | |
Bowlercow added 15:19 - Oct 21
I think Jelert has a knock so one change is inevitable.It maybe wise not to overstretch Wellington so reverting to a back 4 with Edwards playing RB would appear to be a viable option Scienza was most peoples MotM on Saturday and with Charles, Jander,Wood,Edwards,THB and Alex in goal should be nailed on starters I would be happy this year with a top ten finish and Let Will finish the job next season |  | |
Colburn added 15:56 - Oct 21
I’m expecting 7 at the back and 3 in midfield as this manager has bottled playing an attacking formation with his 60 million of new assets sat on the bench while persisting with someone up top who wasn’t good enough to get in West Brom’s team earlier this year. So disappointed with how he keeps setting us up. He is the one shackling us and perpetuating the so called trauma. Utterly ridiculous, getting paid 50k a week to play football and he calls it trauma! This is a weak minded outlook and it’s November next week, no more excuses, he must play an attacking formation with one of if not the strongest squad in the league. Time is up. |  | |
Colburn added 15:57 - Oct 21
Next season will be tougher than this to get promoted |  | |
underweststand added 16:18 - Oct 21
Not a lot to argue. Just keep playing the same start side as on Saturday and just move the goalposts a bit to the right. It was the best attacking formation I've seen in quite a while. |  | |
Jesus_02 added 19:12 - Oct 21
I think we will get a result away from home. Manning will come in for Wellington and score a feee kick and maybe we will get another on the break 0-2. I personaly though Swansea was our best game, McCarthy looked a lot more comfortble and I think he needs 3 in front of him as he doesnt come for much. Defensivly we didnt look at all troubled and we created enough chancesbe just need a wind change and some momentum. xG 3.2! |  | |
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