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Episode 301: Mathcday Review: FRUSTRATION in draw against Swansea
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Southampton – We look back
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Milestone
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always today, joined by good friend, the wonderful co-host, for our 301st episode, Zach and Go Finch.
00:00:28
Zak
yeah we We did not acknowledge that last episode.
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
How doing, mate?
Game Frustrations and Analysis
00:00:32
Zak
Look, we were just excited the international break was over. I'll sum it up with the same way that I summed up to my wife, which is... a Which is how I feel about the entirety of that game.
00:00:46
Zak
Just... have never, never been so frustrated... watching a game of football with my life. And for it to end nil-nil, and like, I know we we joke about how sometimes the, you know, can't remember what were talking about we during one of the championship roundups. You're like, yeah, but you know, although it was like 2-0, the actual game was like West Brom were battering them and then they managed to score two sneaky games at the goals at the end of the game.
00:01:09
Zak
Like people on paper are going to look at this nil-nil, right? It'll go down to history as a nil-nil game. It's absolutely ridiculous it was nil-nil.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, if you were going to summarize my messages to you in like a word map, it would just be like size 50 font how.
00:01:16
Zak
I cannot fathom it.
00:01:26
Zak
Size 50 font how? And then just loads of small microscopic words around it.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lots of expletives. Yeah.
00:01:34
Zak
Because, you know, I think I don't know how count are going. I think you at least hit eight or nine. I got too distracted actually watching the game afterwards to bother to tweet anymore.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But how, I mean, genuinely, how have none of the opportunities that we have had in that game gone in? Like, Sienza hit the post.
00:01:53
Zak
We've never been like twice.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Armour somehow didn't bury it. Archer narrowly missed. Yanda hit both posts with one shot. Like, how?
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
How have we scored there?
00:02:03
Zak
We had 21 shots, mate.
00:02:06
Zak
Eight on target. Hit the woodwork twice. We forced that goalkeeper into, like, five saves. But one of those saves were but really soft. That's the other problem. is All the times the goalkeeper actually had to do anything, it was like Armour kicked it directly at him.
00:02:21
Zak
Shea Charles correct kicked it directly at him. It's... I don't know.
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that was obviously too much work for him as well, because he you know the amount of time he spent on the floor pretending he was injured.
00:02:24
Zak
three
00:02:27
Zak
Do we just... Do we...
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:02:30
Zak
Oh, yeah. But for the... Every time we get cross about that, and it's it's an understandable thing to get cross about. I'm just reminded of us playing against Man City, where we frustrated them and brought them to a 0-0 draw. And at the end, they said, oh, they didn't come to play football.
00:02:44
Zak
I reckon it i at some point, Swansea made the tactical decision to basically just withstand the pressure, right?
Team Performance and Tactical Debates
00:02:51
Zak
Put all of the men behind the ball and just withstand the pressure. Because after 10 or 11 of those chances aren't going in, they're pretty confident the other 10 aren't, right?
00:03:00
Zak
And it worked for them. And they get a a valuable point out of this. And the pressure isn't on their manager. You know, Swansea are expected to finish mid-table. We're supposed to be, I think at this point, we were talking about winning the league or coming second. Realistically, you're looking probably now at playoffs if as a pipe dream.
00:03:19
Zak
And I know I've said this before to you. Yeah, I know. I'm over.
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that I think that that is an absolutely wild statement to make this early into the season.
00:03:27
Zak
No, but like this is this is this is where people are at. And the problem is, Greg, is that I would believe you if it was like game five or six, whatever. But the the problem is is we keep saying, oh, we need to so get get into the season. We need to get into the season. We're like a quarter of the way into the season now.
00:03:41
Zak
And things haven't really changed that much. There is progression. I will give you that. If any of those chances went in, this would be a slightly different story. But it needed to be and needed yeah but it needed to be three or four of those chances that went in.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
be much different story, right?
00:03:54
Zak
And they're not going in. And it it doesn't really... There's so many things about this game that just might pass into.
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, I said to you, i think I said to you in as well in the game,
00:04:00
Zak
Yeah,
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
that it was a floodgate scenario. Once one went in, it felt like we were going to get a handful because we were just, but we were just absolutely all over him.
00:04:09
Zak
because at that point they would have to do something to try and get something back from the game.
00:04:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sienza had them absolutely on toast. Just, they had no answer for him whatsoever.
00:04:19
Zak
And then we still moved in. Why?
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Charles was, you know, making these runs forward from midfield and going through them like a knife through butter.
00:04:24
Zak
boy
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, what it just, I don't know what else we could have done apart from score, right? Like, I think it was such a good performance. And really hate that it's been tainted because at the end of the day, the score's still nil-nil and it is frustrating.
00:04:45
Zak
i think suck It was it wasn't a good performance, Greg, but ultimately a good performance is one that results in a win. like i don't I could not care less if we put in a spirited performance and lost.
00:04:55
Zak
That was the whole last season.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just disagree because we spent all of last season asking for a spirited performance.
00:05:02
Zak
Yeah.
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
like And we got it. we they you know They took 21 shots.
00:05:04
Zak
I can explain, look.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
like I think that's more shots than we had last season in its entirety.
00:05:11
Zak
No disrespect, it's against Swansea. Last season, we
Expectations vs. Results
00:05:14
Zak
beat them 3-0. Like, what are you talking about?
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we were were literally millimetres away.
00:05:17
Zak
I'm sorry. went into this game.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no, right, this is it. Because we were literally millimetres away from also beating them 3-0. I know you hate it as a stat, but 3XG...
00:05:27
Zak
yeah okay.
00:05:30
Zak
cu It's nothing. We we created three goals. No, we didn't. They didn't go in the net. If they went in the net, there would be three goals. XG is pointless. I hate it. I hate it so much.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just... Look. i I understand because I'm equally frustrated by the result and I get it.
00:05:43
Zak
o
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, that's exactly the type of performance we were asking for. And sure, we didn't get the goal or get the points, but also we didn't concede a stupid goal, which in games like this for the rest of the season we have...
00:06:00
Zak
We almost did! Alex McCarthy kicked it directly at the Swansea player!
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
la
00:06:05
Zak
got saved from that!
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But we didn't. You can't take from me that we almost scored and didn't and then give to me that we almost conceded but didn't, right?
00:06:15
Zak
No, no, exactly.
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
They counteract.
00:06:16
Zak
It's... Yeah, but this is true. But like, as you said, if one of those goals goes in, we're a bit happier, but we're still not settled because it's like, okay, we managed to finally get a win. and what And their goal goes in. it's the whole The problem is, Greg, is that like I can't have this conversation with you in 10 games' time.
00:06:31
Zak
That's what I'm at. If we're having this comput conversation now, this is fine. If we are still having this conversation in 10 games' time with 10 points,
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just don't think we will be. I just think it's one of those games. And I was saying to you before we recorded, like, these games happen in football. but And if this happens at any other point in the season, or that you know, without this big question mark about, oh, what we're going to do without Ross Stewart and and all of this, and the sort of pressure starting to mild.
00:06:54
Zak
That's a new problem anyway.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if it happens at any point other than this in the season, it's just, that was unlucky. That should have been three points. but But also... We're four games unbeaten now, and I know that it's been frustrating draws, but the fact that the draws are frustrating say to me that we're... something's starting to click into gear.
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're getting there, we're putting the performances in, and it's just it just so much closer than it has been at any point
Player Evaluations and Strategies
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
before. And I get that that's frustrating. That is frustrating. I am frustrated by it.
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... but it's not like last season and frustration where it's like, well, are players actually going to like, remember how to play football this week? Like it's, oh, just it's, it's so close. It's really close.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, it's, it's, it's hard on it. It's hard to stay positive with that frustration, but like,
00:07:58
Zak
I'm not at like meltdown levels mate I'm not at let's fire Will still I'm seeing quite a lot of that
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
we're also still only like one good three game game week away from the top of the table. Right? Like, like,
00:08:10
Zak
Yeah, it's also relying on all of the other teams around us to do shit, mate. This is the problem.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like also, if we you know we've got two more games this week to deal with, right if we come out at the end of that and we're at seven points out of the three games, we're probably going, yeah, that's pretty good.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Take that. Decent. you know At that point, we'll be six games unbeaten with starting to win, starting to click into place. The season looks and it like completely flipped on its head.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll up further up the table and it's all sort of starting to come into play. But it's just... I just... it I get it's frustrated. I don't think it justifies the reaction that it got.
00:08:53
Zak
i I tend to understand and and agree to you to an extent. I think that if you... One of my friends texted me yesterday being like, I'm watching Saints for the first time.
00:09:07
Zak
What happened to like St. Mary's atmosphere? and I'm like, well, when you win twice in 24 games, mate, that'll do it. And like, this is the problem, mate, is that people are beyond, they just want to see the team win.
00:09:18
Zak
you You and me, we've we've talked about this. We talked about this the last episode. We will sit here and analyse Saints and you know, oh, it's so close. It's so close. It's so cut it's so close. That means nothing to the average Joe that comes to watch it. Like, you know, week in, week out.
00:09:32
Zak
Turns up, and oh, it's another nil-nil performance. for God's sake.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:09:36
Zak
Turns up, one-oh, God's sake, goes home, forgets about football until the weekend. You know, That means nothing to them. and those are the people that are going to shout and scream out at me.
Fan Engagement and Management Critique
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I've got some interest interesting like additional thoughts about exactly that, and let's get to them after a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate, and we are back. And you are 100% right, which personally is why I feel as the engaged, it's so important to to emphasize those points of of positivity and that it's getting there.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But you're right, and there are other statistics or or numbers that show it, right? And 27,000 an attendance. That's the big obvious one there, right? boo Some boos at full time.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, I think more out of frustration the result than anything else.
00:11:06
Zak
Yeah, like it's not individual performances you look at, if a split second decisions have been changed, it could have gone away. It would be a different it be a different conversation.
00:11:17
Zak
the problem is it's not. but that's the big issue.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:20
Zak
And like, I get it. Like I'm not, I'm not calling for Will Steele's head. I think it's insane if we think that we are going to get rid of a manager this far into a new season with a, who had a whole preseason that's had players kind of not pick necessarily for him.
00:11:35
Zak
They're clearly designed to, to, and we'll get to that as well. But, but yeah, like it's, it's absolutely ridiculous. Like, oh, who's got the most pressure on them? And I'm seeing that. And I do think that feeds into it. I think that like,
00:11:48
Zak
big podcasts like the Seconds Here podcast tweeting out who's under the most pressure and putting Boone still in that bracket means automatically people that just aren't paying that much attention thinks he's under pressure, which is is nuts.
00:12:00
Zak
Like, I don't see that being the case. And it's level up.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I don't. But you know who you know who's shown that they know that, Zach?
00:12:07
Zak
Go still.
00:12:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
know the club. Well, I mean, we'll still, yes, with his comments after the game. His comments, I think that I feel like
00:12:13
Zak
Did I squash a cat?
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like if you'd have took me aside after the game and made me do a post-match press conference, I might have almost word for word come out with what he said. I couldn't i physically couldn't agree with a man more. like the frustration of the game was so clear that it came through.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, like I just don't see what else there was. But also the club, right? there They're trying, for better or for worse, they're trying new things.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like charting out surnames as the team lineups.
00:12:51
Zak
You better talk about the ridiculous
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which, I mean, they didn't have a good plan for when Wellington came around who doesn't have a first name. That was a real spanner in the works. Yeah.
00:13:05
Zak
Every single bit of feedback I've seen about it has been negative. I think that when you try and force fan engagement, for example, like when they had the little clappers,
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:13
Zak
it's not it's not going to work uh in any tier of the football like the idea of people sitting around boardrooms going how can we make the fans louder i don't know give everyone a free beer that that that will help you significantly more than trying to announce players in like some sort of american football that's way like
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'll do it.
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nah, it's more like European, right? It's like very like European match night where they, that's what they do with their goal scorers, right? The goal scorer was Robert Lewandowski!
00:13:44
Zak
like we're like we're not for the problem this is this isn't german football this isn't like we're not we're not like dortmund we're not yeah i understand them wanting to try new things try new things that people care about like this again give everyone a free beer apologize for how it's been so far like
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
No? Wait, do you know what my answer know my answer would be of the best way to engage the crowd at higher level, Zach?
00:14:06
Zak
what's what's that greg
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Score a goal.
00:14:08
Zak
but Oh, no way! But this is the problem. It's obviously they're trying to control the controllables. But speaking of controlling the controllables, we're actually losing Ross Stewart at the end of our season because he was the only striker that's managed to score like two or three times in a row. It's great in that. Alma scored three.
00:14:24
Zak
um'm like I think but some my bigger problems, what we're talking about, is everyone kind of painfully knew he needed a striker. Will still said he didn't because clearly he was told he wasn't getting one, so what was the point of saying it? I think that their plan all along was that they, you know, they've they've had some players pay off, right? They've taken list risks on a guy who was playing like fifth-year Swedish football in Leo Siena two or three seasons ago.
00:14:44
Zak
And now everyone's like, this guy is the baller. He's going to take over the championship new goal, right? Kasper Yander came in. No one really knew relatively much about him. He's doing really, really well. He's kind of like this completely displaced Finn Downs.
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had a great game.
00:14:57
Zak
Had a really game. Almost scored, if only if he used his other foot. I know that you said he did the right thing, but again, like, fine margins, right?
00:15:06
Zak
Fine margins. there's no point There's no point being around the bush. it It didn't happen. It should have happened. We wish it did.
00:15:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've triggered something else that annoyed me in the game with that, actually.
00:15:15
Zak
Right.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was a chance that Armour had where he came through and he hit it with his left foot and it wast but ended up being an awful shot. And nothing frustrates me more. like If you're being paid the amount of money you're being paid to kick a ball around, like maybe just put the work in and learn to kick with both feet.
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like... like like It's really frustrating. I get that there's going to be a strong foot and a weak foot,
00:15:44
Zak
activate week foot training for all of the players for one week mate yeah see if it improves
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
up
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah It's just something that really like winds me up. like i I am absolutely useless with my right foot, and I know that, but I don't get paid thousands of pounds a week to kick a ball.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:16:04
Zak
work on that aspect of your game right So back back to my point on like this squad building stuff, right?
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
sorry
00:16:13
Zak
And so you've had two two gambles, not even really gambles, like based off a data payoff really well, right? then Then you look into, so let's look at one that's slightly down that tier list, right? So you've got Azaz, who clearly they targeted for a long time.
00:16:27
Zak
Championship quality has scored this season, just not for us in in the Middlesbrough team. Came into us and has kind of fallen just a bit flat and and not really had the strongest of games. I don't really, I can't really blame him much for yesterday because people were talking toilet and i'm like, you're on the pitch for like 13 minutes.
00:16:43
Zak
Which again...
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
don' I think any substitution, after the even after the 65-minute mark, you can't judge performance based off of that. You can't get into a game.
00:16:53
Zak
Unless they score, mate. That's a bit different. If they get in and then they they become super subs, so this is the problem, right? Is Carpenter couple of times?
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
she just Sure. i mean, yeah, sometimes you catch lightning in a bottle when that happens, but I still...
00:17:01
Zak
And that's the issue.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that it's as good to accidentally be good for 15 minutes as it is to accidentally be bad for 15 minutes. You know?
00:17:16
Zak
Yeah, I get you.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right?
00:17:17
Zak
Yeah.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think that you can judge an entire player on their scope by what they managed to add to the game coming on that late. It's just... is to The picture is much bigger than that.
00:17:30
Zak
But yeah, so we but we've had, Hazard hasn't quite, we haven't seen what we'd expect from him from yet. And you've got some other pieces of the puzzle. So you've got Corsha's come in. He's done okay. A couple of rough bits around the edges at the beginning of the season.
00:17:46
Zak
Got out injured now, but, you know, was kind of, building into the game. You know, the right-back situation, i think that obviously Gillette's done all right.
00:17:57
Zak
Okay. And then you've had Roryslev, who seemed very last-minute targeted.
Scouting and Acquisition Challenges
00:18:04
Zak
And it kind of feels like that and it shows as well. And then you've got you've got fellows that, okay, that he's been doing all right. But again, he still hasn't scored the goal you want him to score.
00:18:13
Zak
He's crossed in as best he possibly can. He's played well in the positions that he's been asked to play in, sure. but then And then we fall to Damien Downs, right? Where he, he again, was a was one of their gambles and he hasn't quite paid off.
00:18:25
Zak
Also, don't really think he's had a huge amount of time, but that's because the time he's demonstrated on the pitch has not been... been good enough and again I think that it's because you point out quite well you keep pointing out I can't wait for someone else to say it and then all of a sudden everybody thinks it's correct whereas I i will 100% say Greg you said it here first they kept all like commentary i was watching yesterday kept talking about how they need to bring him on because he's got he's got the physical dominance of like a Ross Stewart but you're right he's he's not that kind of player he's much more of an archer at Armstrong so what's the point of bringing him on
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. like It's easy to look at him and think that because he's tall and he's physically quite imposing, but in the same way that that wasn't Paul Wahanachi's game, like it's it's not what he's good at, and so you can' you can't trade him in like that.
00:19:01
Zak
Yeah, but it's a relief of Paul's thoughts apparently because he's scoring. People think he's doing well. i'm like, yeah, but he scored loads in the Turkish League and massively struggled in the Premier League, right?
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:13
Zak
And it's the other thing. like So the problem is now is that if Damien Downs was to be brought on for a full 90 minutes, I could see, as we talked about in our our conversation about team sheets the other day, mate, I could see people kicking off before the game even starts.
00:19:25
Zak
People kicking off at the player as well and being like, oh, people getting riled up before the game's even kicked off. And that is awful. It's awful that he's in that position. It's awful that they've, I guess, put that much pressure on him.
00:19:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:37
Zak
Because again, you can scout all the statistics. You can scout all of the... You don't know a person until they're around you. And again, like the fact he deleted all of his social media speaks volumes for how he's feeling at the club at the moment, right?
00:19:50
Zak
that's just unless he was told to to concentrate on his game you know there's been talks about putting in the under 23s putting him into PL2 getting some confidence up this and the other I also think that you know that's probably what they should do but also that's going to be upsetting for him to know that he was signed from
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That isn't, you know, mentally that's another challenging one to have.
00:20:07
Zak
that's That's another, you know, like we've seen that some people are able to overcome that, some people are. And we had a couple of players that last season were playing the under-21s. We had a couple that refused, Belakotchap, as an example. And now Belakotchap's gone on to, you know, probably never be here again.
00:20:21
Zak
So the problem is, is like this squad building is an art thing. And now, and then, so then really a lot of the blame that's put on to steel should be put onto sports because it's a gamble and a risk. And that's the problem is that with the down situation, was a gamble and a risk. And considering how Azaz has paid off, maybe it would have been more prudent to put money into another striker rather than another sort of player in that position, considering we've also got like Matsuki that's, despite scoring, has not featured at all pretty much since then.
00:20:50
Zak
We've got other players, you know, we've got the the lad in the under-21s who's doing, I feel awful for not knowing his name, but doing really, really well, scoring for fun. you know, maybe we switch him out because the idea of us getting a free agent before January isn't going to happen.
00:21:03
Zak
Like people talk about Antonio, like I just don't see it happening. but Like, and also then you end up in a situation where technically we're employing five strikers. So what do you need to do? And and then the other issue you've got is that, okay, so imagine Adam Armstrong wasn't with us. Adam Armstrong was playing for another team.
00:21:19
Zak
Adam Armstrong has the most goals in a championship season. And then he struggles a little bit the season afterwards, right? Maybe he came up with Ipswich or whatever instead. came back down, played a bit West Brom. We get opportunity to buy Adam Armstrong, right, and the beginning of this season.
00:21:33
Zak
Proven championship goalscorer. We bite the hand off of anybody, right? We get Adam of Armstrong. We're like, we're going to absolutely boss the league. And then it ends up being what it's been like this time round. so So who is a, I guess the problem is, is it's who is a proven championship goalscorer.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just doesn't exist, mate.
00:21:49
Zak
But that's, no, no.
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not as simple as that, right? Like, football is... We joke about how football is a simple game and that you just kick the ball at the the other plays got team's goal. and keep it out of yours. But also, like, if it were as routinely simple as that, it would be really dull.
00:22:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, you have to get in the positions to do that. And yesterday, we got in the positions to do that loads. And I don't know Swansea had employed the abilities of some kind of witch doctor to curse, to put, like, a protective barrier
00:22:25
Zak
mean They just shoved 11 players behind the ball and then then they they decided to roll with that.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was just...
00:22:30
Zak
Like...
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, like, any other day, any other day, we're 4 or fighting you up by half-time because of, you know, the chances we've created. And I just... Like, I get the frustration, but it's...
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's... It's there. You can see the sparks there that there haven't been for a long time. And sure, the finishing touch and like the final product and that goal didn't come, but like we did literally everything but score. i I'm feeling, in hindsight, so positive about the game and what it means and what we can kick on to for the rest of the week.
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh I just...
00:23:11
Zak
Yes and no, it's because if you look at the opposition that we played against, mate, they didn't play football where they came out of the came out of know came back at us in a way that was aggressive, that were because we were collapsing.
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but that's that's the exactly the sort of team that we struggled against to break down previously.
00:23:23
Zak
Yeah.
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we didn't struggle to break down and create those chances. We just didn't manage to bundle it into the net. and like But we didn't struggle. We created, and that up until this point has been our biggest problem.
00:23:40
Zak
But this is this is rolling back to my point on me.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I get that the output's the same, but it's it's getting there.
00:23:42
Zak
All right.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
There are so many positives to take.
00:23:47
Zak
but get Getting back to point, mate, the problem is that I think maybe we didn't get rid of enough players during the summer. I think that having a bunch of strikers that were naff and not really feeling for goal, we got rid of one of the strikers that did have a bit of an eye for goal but clearly didn't want to be here.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:24:02
Zak
Because I think Alfie Haas pointed out about Paul Noaciu, like, oh, well, you know, as I think I pointed out earlier, right? Like, he's scoring again in
Strategic Decisions and Player Highlights
00:24:08
Zak
the Turkish League. I'm like, yeah, but he didn't here anymore. Like, you didn't want to be in the whole of the last season, realistically. because we kept turning down offers for him from, you know, the the club that never pays us money for our players.
00:24:18
Zak
so So the problem is, is like, you could see there were rumours about Archer going, and then that never paid off, and clearly they decided to take a punt on him. and And this is the thing. It's like, so Archer, they decided to keep. Armstrong, they kind of he decided to keep because it was a no-brainer, realistically.
00:24:32
Zak
Ross Stewart was probably, you know, finally, finally starting to show that there was investment put in there. and is now on the treatment table again until like January. So again, like another miscalculated risk that they need to stop doing.
00:24:45
Zak
And then Downs was because they've put all of the footballing decisions into Spores' hands and Spores is the one that should put his hands up and go, okay, yeah, maybe probably have tried to get a striker from like the second tier of German football who wasn't that prolific. And yeah, you're right. There's there's no guarantees.
00:25:01
Zak
And yeah, you're right. Even one of the championship quality proven players that we brought in in Azaz isn't quite started to kick off yet. And same with the rest of them.
00:25:12
Zak
It's just, it's very, a lot of that blame is going to be put into that basket. I think what I'm trying to point out is that there's a lot of blame on Will Still's shoulders. don't really think it's anything to do with him.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
lord I agree completely.
00:25:23
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think it's him at all. And it's tough. He's been put in tough st positions because of the size of the squad. You're right. but But it's, you know, that it is what it is. We're stuck with that. We can't change that at this point.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've got to deal with what we've got.
00:25:36
Zak
Right. and And so this this is where it comes into him having to make better decisions.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we have. Yeah.
00:25:41
Zak
And like we can criticise these decisions because we on the sidelines, right? And you're not going criticise.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:45
Zak
And I know that you're getting annoyed because you're like, the there's nothing really more he can adopt.
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll get annoyed. Yeah, I am. You're right. Look, I want to point out on our final segment, Zach.
00:25:52
Zak
But...
00:25:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want to highlight some of the positive performances from the game.
00:25:58
Zak
I will let you. Just give me give me two seconds. Right. Just give me that give that little team. So the other thing is, again, like you pointed out, the late subs, there's absolutely no point bringing anyone on the 85th minute. And that was dumb.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, agreed.
00:26:09
Zak
And he's admitted why Adozi and Eribo aren't in the squad. And I kind of understand it. And especially after performance. But do you reckon Adozi or Eribo would have put any of those chances away yesterday? Or do you reckon that it was just voodoo?
00:26:23
Zak
Genuine, genuine question.
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, honestly and truly, no i don't think so. Because know last time we saw a dozy in our squad, he was dynamic and exciting, much like Leosienza, but you know lacked that final touch, couldn't put the ball away.
00:26:29
Zak
They came on at the 60th minute.
00:26:36
Zak
But not able to put them away, right?
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Joe Aribo, despite being our top goal scorer for a period last season, is not... That's not what I would naturally like equate him with right as like a prolific goalscorer.
00:26:51
Zak
Hmm.
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So no I don't think either of them do that. But you're right, the size of the squad is definitely an issue because you're right, it leads to these positions of like well who misses out to go in. but But, I mean, yeah, it's it's a tricky one to navigate, but it's... Oh, no, we've got too many good players that we can't piece XI together to actually score a goal. its like I hear what you're saying, but also it's...
00:27:18
Zak
they they they They should. I guess, like again, like again in my opinion, what it is is this squad building thing. There's been some gambles that have paid off and there's gambles that haven't. That is just always how it's going to be. The problem is is that at the moment, it feels like the gambles have paid off in some good places, i.e.
00:27:34
Zak
like Sienza, but then in the places that are winning us games, hasn't.
00:27:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
even with i like i hear what you're saying and the point you're trying to make, but also like when you listed it all out and those players out of those gambles, it sounds like more are coming good than haven't.
00:27:49
Zak
Yeah, I agree. I agree with you.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, we're getting there.
00:27:51
Zak
Look, I've got some other positives as well, mate. I promise. We'll get back to...
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Let's talk about the positives from the game, but let's have a little break and have a word from our partners at Zencastr.
00:27:55
Zak
don't want to... front
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone, and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:28:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster. Right, mate. Let's bring it back the game. Let's hone in on what good things there are to take from it.
00:28:34
Zak
Do we start with some good things to make you feel a bit better so you don't think I just hate our squad?
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got go away. let's Let's see if our our main point is the same, because I think it might be.
00:28:45
Zak
Of course, he went out. Taylor Harbour-Bellis came back. Taylor Harbour-Bellis played really well. That was a really positive.
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:28:49
Zak
He had he you also had played right offensively, had some forefront at the attack.
00:28:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he was really good.
00:28:55
Zak
Would have loved a few more of his headers to be on target, but that meant that he was making headers at the goal.
00:29:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looked closer to the player that we were happy we signed for 20 million, didn't he? he was
00:29:05
Zak
Yes, 100%.
00:29:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looked a lot more composed. There was a lot less throwing his arms about and complaining. He seems to have given his head a wobble and got it back in the game.
00:29:17
Zak
Yeah, an example an example of a player that was dropped and has wanted to get back in and prove that he should be back in. Nathan Wood, also outstanding.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:29:26
Zak
Don't have a bad word about him.
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is an absolute beast. Just incredible. Yeah.
00:29:28
Zak
Can't believe how good he is.
00:29:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:34
Zak
You know, made made I remember at one point making an absolutely so the key tackle.
00:29:37
Zak
The Swansea player it went down, tried to make a meal of it.
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:29:41
Zak
Nothing came of it because it
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was It was the perfectly timed challenge. And it was it I think it was right in front of me, if it's the tackle you're thinking about, where he he deliberately dummied the striker into going the way he knew the striker wanted to go and moved his body in a way to get across, make that tackle and block the shot.
00:29:57
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was just It was like like a masterclass in defending. It was unbelievable.
00:30:05
Zak
yeah Agreed.
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:08
Zak
Jellert played really well, considering they were about us not buying him, which is weird.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:12
Zak
70-odd minutes are really good. And Wellington coming back from injury and also playing really well, you know, considering he could have, you know they didn't have a huge amount of work to do, but there was at least, like, a couple of goalkeeper saves in quarters stuff.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really solid.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, both full-backs didn't really put foot wrong.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
think that's doing them a misjustice. I think they both put a lot of big shift in and and were key in moving the ball about as quickly as we are. You know, the way that we want to play when we shift it out wide, it's...
00:30:33
Zak
Yeah, I think what meant was... more defensively but then in the defensive positions again like the as you pointed out like the only person that really worked against us the defense probably mccarthy
00:30:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm...
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah butby i actually
00:30:46
Zak
yeah at point
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also disagree with that to a to a degree as well, because actually there was a player, the only Swansea player who seemed interested in attacking. And notably when they had corners, was stood on the halfway line and was the only Swansea player not in the box.
00:31:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he was like the only target man. I can't remember his name because I just don't pay that much attention to opposing teams.
00:31:10
Zak
Hmm.
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was the only like he was the the player that the goalkeeper was targeting every single time.
00:31:16
Zak
run
00:31:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And between Edwards and Gillette, they were just on him immediately every single time. they didn't get the opportunity to... create anything and that was because of their work at that point to to rustle it away which is you know it's sort of sometimes it's the invisible part of the game in a lot of cases when you when you're keeping someone quiet like that it can go under the radar but I saw it and I spotted it so i'm going show it out it was good enjoyed it
00:31:44
Zak
yes like
Standout Performances and Chemistry
00:31:46
Zak
There There's some moments.
00:31:48
Zak
Obviously, Leo Sienza.
00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's the obvious one right?
00:31:50
Zak
I mean, like this we we did a whole profile on the guy and this was the kind of things that we were excited to actually see.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
oof
00:31:58
Zak
It's just out out of nowhere, just like absolutely explosive entertaining and He's like, right, let me let me show why I'm here now.
00:32:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just clicked. Yeah.
00:32:06
Zak
And everyone's already...
00:32:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:07
Zak
you know when you've When you've already got like songs coming out of woodwork for you, that means that you know that you know you've done the right things.
00:32:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:13
Zak
I think that it's really good.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I will still comment that Southampton fans are educated and that they see it, so they must see what's coming together. And so by that logic, you can attest the fact that the only player really who had his name sung other than Jay Robinson when he came on was Sienza because it's just some of the stuff he does is great. It's unbelievable. The work he puts in and just he's he's everywhere up the front. He's just absolutely... And Matt was... you know He was helped to do that and freed up to do that by the solid, gritty performance that Yanda put in.
00:32:49
Zak
Yes.
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Yanda wasn't like in these high-pressing areas that come across as impressive. because he was behind sweeping up, which is another part of the game that sort of can go unnoticed. Like I think my sister-in-law was like, oh, I forgot Yander was on the pitch. I'm like, actually, that's because he's just covering and doing the dirty work and making sure that there's coverage and freeing up Siena to go and make these, create this space and freeing up Shea Charles to go and make these darting runs where he needs to release the ball and shoot three steps earlier every single time.
00:33:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
lot But like it's it's great. It's good to see it come good. And most excitingly, to to absolutely go against something that I said earlier in the show, where you can't judge a performance by a short period of time coming on, what I did see was some link-up between Fellows and Sienza that...
00:33:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It excites me beyond belief. It feels like a partnership that's just going to be electric. like They already just seem to have a chemistry together that I just feel like if they're on the pitch together for an extended period of time, we're not going to be worried about this not scoring goals nonsense for much longer. like They just seem electric and I'm excited. there was There was enough there for me to get excited in an otherwise very frustrating day.
00:34:14
Zak
Yeah, I agree.
00:34:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh.
00:34:17
Zak
This is the thing, mate. It was like, I don't want to take away from the fact that it was good performance. And as you pointed out, it was a really good performance. And get too caught up in the doom and gloom of it all, right? Like, I'm i'm aware that that is how I am perceived due to my own actions.
00:34:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:34:36
Zak
like it was It was a fantastic performance. I think I'm just trying to echo the fact that it is absolutely infuriating. And I still think that the key word that you pointed out and the key takeaway from that game is how do we not win?
00:34:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:50
Zak
Like, how? Because you're talking millimetres and seconds and stuff.
00:34:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But in football, mate, sometimes that's just the way it goes, right? like That is but is the name nature
Looking Ahead to Bristol City Game
00:34:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
of the game and why we love it.
00:34:59
Zak
that's And that's why we're overanalyzing everything.
00:35:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:02
Zak
That's all it is. like The thing is, I'm sitting there, like talking I'm talking about but the ins and outs of intricate squad planning.
00:35:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:10
Zak
if If we won three of games in a row, it would be a very, very different story.
00:35:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But do you know what the best way to get over a frustrating nil-nil like that is, mate?
00:35:13
Zak
I know that. Wow,
00:35:18
Zak
Crystal City. That'd be really nice, wouldn't
00:35:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, seven or eight goals on a Tuesday night would really make make the week, wouldn't it
00:35:24
Zak
it? It really, really would. Do you know to know what?
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
it?
00:35:26
Zak
I'm sorry.
00:35:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, take out the frustration of not being able to score past Swansea and just absolutely hammer it away against Bristol in a way that they don't see coming is...
00:35:39
Zak
What I really worry about, mate, and this is where I am going to be me, is that that is the opportunity we have at our feet. And the end result is going to be 1-0 draw.
00:35:51
Zak
yeah Where they score, we end up going behind so that we really turn on, we score against them, and we get to the end of that episode and we're like, well, isn't that frustrating draw?
00:36:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I'll tell you what, mate. We are going to have ample opportunity to talk about that and talk ourselves into how that's going to go. But that is an episode for tomorrow.
00:36:10
Zak
is
00:36:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all we've got time for today and then some.
00:36:14
Zak
yeah love that i definitely dragged that out for more 10 minutes than you wanted it to be but there we are
00:36:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zach. yeah yeah
00:36:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zach, thank you so much for joining me.
00:36:21
Zak
and you
00:36:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
like I love that we have differing opinions because it's good. There's no right answer, right? There's everything to take from the game.
00:36:29
Zak
if If you hear apparently the most popular right answer is you sack the entire board and you sack the manager that resolves all your problems.
00:36:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:36
Zak
And then I will point Rangers and Nottingham Forest. That's an example of when that doesn't go well.
00:36:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Sheffield Wednesday, you know, potentially get him wrapping up orders this week, and Norton and Forest owner Marion Ackes just...
00:36:44
Zak
no, no.
00:36:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, the report I read just before we came on air was that there was actually like a physical punch-up between him and Ange, which, I mean, i was unverified as a source, but I can definitely see it, so
00:37:05
Zak
there's so many thoughts going through my head and all of them will get me cancelled, so ain't going to say them. Thank
00:37:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, that's it. Listen, thank you so much, Zach, for joining me. Thank you, everyone, for listening.
00:37:14
Zak
you, mate.
00:37:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know in the comments or on social media, are you feeling frustrated or do you see the light at the end of the tunnel that this performance brings? What side of the fence do you sit?
00:37:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'd love to hear from you. We are on all the socials. We are on X, Blue Sky, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, everywhere. Give us comment. Let us know. we love hearing from you.
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
As alluded to earlier, we will be back tomorrow as we preview our Tuesday night game. Who doesn't love these three game weeks? We never run out of things to talk about. If anything, we run out of time to talk about the things we want to talk about.
00:37:52
Zak
Yes, I artificially said it.
00:37:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's fine. We just go long. It's all good. a We'll be back then. but until then, everyone, have a wonderful day and we'll see you then.