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Episode 336: Matchday Review: 5 wins in 6!
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Southampton – Tonda is at the wheel indeed! What a game it was, we talk all about it.
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Challenges
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott, as you can hear, suffering a little bit with ah some post-game voice issues.
Technical Woes and Match Predictions
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Joining me today, as always, my good friend, a wonderful co-host, Zach Inger Finch. How doing, mate?
00:00:38
Zak
um I'm upset, Greg, and I'm upset because our our preview, as some of you may have noticed, was not around and lost to the void due to complex IT issues that are completely out of our control and are, thanks Cloudflare, ah really useful.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You alright?
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thanks, Cloudflare. LAUGHTER
00:00:56
Zak
Don't don't worry, um it's this's not like I had a big impact elsewhere, like like probably one of the main reasons that Edinburgh had a problem in their airport the other day. um But the the reason I'm upset by that, Greg, is the fact that I predicted 3-1.
00:01:08
Zak
ah However, part of that prediction was slightly wrong because I predicted Sienza would score, although arguably Arna's second goal was Sienza's.
Game Analysis and Key Moments
00:01:15
Zak
And I also predicted Flynn Downs to get booked, who somehow avoided a booking.
00:01:22
Zak
And obviously, Aribo did book up a booking, which was was probably lucky to be a yellow, if I'm honest.
00:01:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
e Yeah, I agree.
00:01:29
Zak
If I'm telling you, yeah, if I'm being honest. So that was, yeah, that's how I'm doing. I'm all right. We've had a win, another win. We have a permanent manager now.
00:01:41
Zak
Like, oh, what time to be alive.
00:01:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Not just a win either, right? likeka I hesitate to say comfortable, but I didn't feel huge amounts of concern at any point in the game, even when they when they scored, ah kind of looked, I'm like, oh, I do fancy us to go and get another one here. And then we did just that.
00:02:05
Zak
About the 80th minute, I felt a little bit, I don't know how how it was in the ground, but but watching it in my bunker in front meant that I watched the Birmingham side of things, which was incredibly interesting because the back their commentary team doesn't seem to contain anybody with a Brum accent.
00:02:24
Zak
That says everything you need to know about the type of people they're trying to appeal to however like they they they really kept thinking they were going go for it and you know you've got a you've got feel for for hashi who definitely missed what would have been an open goal that was che adams level-esque of wow i can't believe you missed that type of thing um but
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I couldn't believe it. And I mean, to be fair, when you look at the stats of the game, ah they make it look a lot closer than it than I would say my feeling coming out of the game suggests it was.
00:03:00
Zak
I feel like they reacted well to to pretty much all of all of the goals. um And then obviously they came out in the second half kind of on top at the beginning.
00:03:11
Zak
Damari Gay scored.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:12
Zak
And that that's almost similar to how we would have been, right? Where we we've like absolutely we we go 2-0 down at halftime. We come out. We get back a goal. And then we just immediately peg back. And that's it. But like the sort of last-minute...
00:03:26
Zak
nervy defending, nervy just just a little, and you said it was comfortable, and you're right, like, you know, the fact that I'm getting predictions right shows you how like, shows you how far we've come in the last couple of weeks, and you you did, to be fair.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
look it Look, it might be lost to time, but we definitely said ah of pretty much the exact starting lineup we got. And we definitely said that around the 80th minute to lift the stadium, we'd get Romelu on.
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
We didn't predict that we'd get Joe Ariba on, but ah that happened.
00:03:58
Zak
We can we could discuss all of that when we properly get into it, but heading back to the start, you're right.
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
00:04:03
Zak
The lineup was pretty much bang on. I didn't know...
00:04:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:06
Zak
you know it seems like he's now kind of settled on on what his starting XI which is it is better for us overall. I don't know how...
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:16
Zak
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Flynn Downs when Shea Charles comes back fit, whether or not he'll he'll be able to dis dispose him.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
o Yeah.
00:04:25
Zak
Because like today... did pretty well. As I said, that was definitely a challenge that he made that, in my opinion, should have picked up a yellow, but hey-ho is what it is.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I actually turned round to my sister-in-law, who I tend to match with, and went, that's the flink hard yellow for the day then. And then the referee pulled out his spray and sprayed the floor.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I went, oh, well, okay then.
00:04:45
Zak
Oh. yeah yeah Exactly that.
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the clearest booking I've seen in in in a while. so And then, yeah, a rebose challenge as well.
00:04:52
Zak
But like... ah
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I looked around went, oh, he was lucky to stay on here. And then, yeah, don't know. Yeah.
00:05:00
Zak
And that's that's the thing, obviously, having Sienza back on, like it's just ah just a joy to watch that man play football. He plays football with just like passion and ah just a desire to win the ball in any way he can.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just loves the game, mate. He just loves it. I don't know if you picked up on it on on the TV feed, but there was a particular moment where Birmingham had a free kick in the first half in front of the
Strategy, Enthusiasm, and Missed Opportunities
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Northern Wall.
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... Leo was was hand-picked to play the role of draft excluder, lying down on the wall.
00:05:38
Zak
Yeah, so I saw the free kick.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was just pulling poses for the Northern End, waved on command when they asked for a wave. which just like Just living his best life, enjoying being on the pitch.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:05:53
Zak
it's it's It's night and day.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
His enthusiasm is infectious, right?
00:05:57
Zak
It's night and day to like
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because that's why people love him so much.
00:06:00
Zak
Do you remember, when was it most recently? where There was, um who was it? Did you see the interview that Theo Walcott gave where he was talking about how on like half time, right? In our demotion season where his last sort of year hit half time, you've got, like, people pull out their phones.
00:06:19
Zak
And it was just, again, like, there because, again, you're at work, but, like, still, like, just the, it's completely night and day, as I think he just understands and graphs, but also, they just have no answer to it.
00:06:31
Zak
And, like, they were complaining, the commentary team would complain at one point that, oh, he goes down a lot.
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:36
Zak
And I'm like, yeah, my because the only way that you're able to stop him is by hacking him down. Like, he's kind like, he he basically had a green shirt by the time he was, like, you know, the time he came off.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:45
Zak
Like the entirety of the back of his shirt was green because if you if they didn't take him out, they wouldn't get him.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:50
Zak
And, you know, a couple of he almost pulled off some absolute wonder goals.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:54
Zak
and You know, the fact that we've got a player that's willing to and confident enough to take those shots is is, you know, really, really positive in itself. And, okay, they didn't come off.
00:07:04
Zak
And same with Fellowes, who seems to be doing everything in his power to stop your prediction Fellowes scoring every single game.
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
all co I can't...
00:07:15
Zak
Bye.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can't tell... He had, I think, four opportunities today where I was jumping. i'm like, this is it. He scored. Oh, how's he missed? But, you know, you're saying about Leo, you know, taking shots and you're not always paying off. But, I mean...
00:07:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
how many times on this show in the last 330 plus episodes have we had to utter the phrase, just kick the ball at the goal?
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, and you don't yeah have to worry about that.
00:07:43
Zak
Mate, an upsetting, an upsetting amount of times we have had to talk about how little they'll shoot.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's just, it's just like, like, you know, you, you'd look at the way it is and it's like, Oh, Azaz just found like, Half a yard of space. Bang. Oh, he scored. Like, he shot he scored.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Armoured. Now that he's firing and confident, picks up the ball outside the box, sits a defender down, puts him the other way, puts him on his wrong foot, scores a goal. Like, it's just easy, isn't it?
00:08:09
Zak
Yeah. 100%, And again, when we were talking 100%. about score predictions and in our now what is essentially lost media. I literally said, like, it just feels like any one of the front three could score. And I said that a goal from Azaz, a goal from Armstrong and a goal from Sienza.
00:08:28
Zak
And that is basically what happened because Armour's second goal was definitely heavily assisted by Sienza because, um you know, but again, it's that difference in confidence, that difference in where we're at now in the journey of, i don't know, whatever the heck this season has been, where...
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:08:46
Zak
that wasn't missed, right? You know, it's, it's, it's harrowing to look at the other side and look at like for a hashy make his miss. Cause you're like, ah, we've been there. We've had strikers that were like 30 goal a season strikers that spent an entire season, not being able to hit anything in front of them.
00:09:03
Zak
um But flip side, I'm really glad that we're kind of out of that now. what I mean?
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's great. It's fantastic. ah It was was just a joy to be at St. Mary's. It was wonderful football to watch. ah It was just exciting. It was fun. It was fast-paced.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know I think that the key difference, I was talking about it ah at the ground, like I can't understand what the difference is that's changed the quality between Will Steele and Tonda record when it's basically the same shape and basically the same 11. But I actually think it's just the willingness to let them have the ball.
00:09:47
Zak
yeah
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like that makes such a difference. Like we're not, we're we're still pressing, but at the right times, like there's times where we're happy to just sit off and let them come at us knowing that we're going to just mark them out and be comfortable defending them
Player Highlights and Substitution Impact
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
away.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Yeah, it was just this just great.
00:10:05
Zak
the Their commentary team summed up quite well, mate, which is that the the we were willing to put up with the chaos and they just weren't.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That's a a nice way of putting it. Yeah. We thrived under the chaos and it was it was fantastic. ah Right, mate. let's ah Let's have a little break and come back and talk more about the game once we hear from our partners at Bionique.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. ah Someone I want to highlight who had, for me, an exceptional game ah is Taylor Harwood-Bellis, which...
00:11:23
Zak
Yeah, I agree.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah he His ability to just scan the pitch in front of him and find a pass to... I mean, it's helpful that the players in front of him now, when they receive the ball...
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
tend to do so incredible things. You know, for example, Tom Fellows, you know, taking on just about the entire Birmingham team at one point. ladyship
00:11:50
Zak
But it obviously ends up eight, to be fair.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Like, it's just, oh, but yeah, his ability to like pick up the ball and, and find that forward pass. I mean, that's a game changer in itself as well, because it's no longer like knocking it backwards and forwards.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like knocking it backwards and finding him who's finding the forward ball or Baz who's finding the ball forward. It's just...
00:12:13
Zak
He is also somebody that has managed to connect with nearly every single one of our set pieces. So all all of our set pieces pretty much.
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:23
Zak
came from, you know, how had at least him get ahead to it. It might it wasn't you know didn't wasn't pulled off as funny he as well as when he scored the brace, but he was able to get his head to it, which is, again, like better than it just rocketing over our team and no one getting in touch to it at all.
00:12:40
Zak
And it's not like you know they were essential for us to... to to like win today. But as you said, it's just just really nice for it to be a very, very comfortable game.
00:12:52
Zak
And I think all the defence sort of put a good shift in.
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:57
Zak
And I think Damari Gray's goal was just kind of like came out of nowhere and was just a good piece of football.
00:13:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quality strike, wasn't it?
00:13:04
Zak
Yeah, like the guy used to play for Leicester.
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Unbelievable.
00:13:06
Zak
So, you know, we knew obviously during their PL season as well.
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:11
Zak
So it's not like he's, you know,
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's not, it's not really any different to either of the times that Sienza did exactly the same thing where he just sold the defender one way, cut inside, passed it out to give him enough space and just curled it in the far corner.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only difference was that their keeper had an unbelievable game. If it wasn't for him, ah it could have been five or six, to be honest. There was one chance later on in the game, um, with Cam Archer through one on one where he made an unbelievable save, uh,
00:13:40
Zak
Yeah. The goalkeeper did really well, like much better than I expected them to do. um And like pulled off some, you know, Baz also pulled off some saves as well.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:52
Zak
It annoys me because everyone's so happy to bash him. but not understand that pulling off a save so late in the game is important. Because if they'd scored in the 88th or 89th minute, and then all of a sudden that could give them the confidence to go on and score a bit more. And especially looking at the Premier League today, I don't know if you saw the Liverpool score, mate, but Liverpool were 2-0 down to Leeds, managed to make it to and then managed to score 3-2, and then pretty much one of the last kicks of the game, Leeds managed to be equalised, right?
00:14:26
Zak
So, and then end with a draw. And like I think my point is the same with what happened with Millwall is we know that games can really go down to the wire if there's the energy. When when it's the 92nd minute and you're down 3-1 and all we're doing is, you know, punting the ball away until we manage to sweep it up on that Clam Archer attack and then kind of just ferry it right to the end of the game at that point.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:14:49
Zak
is it's just It's just wonderful to see because there's such a such a stark contrast to a couple of weeks ago. and even better is like, what, thats five five wins out six games? That's insane.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, five from six.
00:15:00
Zak
Brass.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's that like? Azaz's 43rd goal in three games or something stupid?
00:15:06
Zak
but I want to say or to say sixth.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:08
Zak
I think it's Armour's ninth.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
just It's crazy.
00:15:10
Zak
we've We've scored like... we've we've just It's just been fun to watch. Like, we kind of previously used to make these sort of predictions off the basis of...
00:15:24
Zak
just what we really hoped for. And now it kind of feels like, ah, actually scoring three goals in a game is extremely feasible. And it it's, it solves those problems.
00:15:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:33
Zak
Like, and we're not going to be able to defend every single ball. And sometimes goals will go against us, but like, it's just, man, it's, it's so weird to be in such a differing position now as to when, you know, a couple of weeks back, like ah again, I remember being at the Preston game, just man, I've never felt like,
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:53
Zak
The vote's so low as a Saints fan, right? And now we're we're looking at the fact that when we say we should be beating this team, there's good chance we will now, which is a a big difference, mate.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:06
Zak
But um another another thing wanted to speak about, I don't know if you want to go for a break beforehand, it's obviously the substitutions.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, I want to get into that for sure.
00:16:14
Zak
You mentioned one of them.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's ah Let's, you're right, let's have a little break here from our partners at Zencaster and then let's get to it. a 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 a podcast. It sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story,
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster. Right, mate, and we are back. Yeah, substitutions. ah Right, after being, i mean, we discussed him, I think, last week about is he just out of the picture now and is he gone in January and resigned to it?
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't know if Cameron Archer listens to the podcast, but boy, did he come on with a belly full of fire trying to prove something.
00:17:11
Zak
Yeah. so did Honestly, like him the the way that that he played was exceptional. And like I think he did add sort of an extra quality to what Armour had had so far.
00:17:24
Zak
Because obviously the pace of the game had changed quite a bit. They were coming in across us, so the counter-attacking really suited him. But like at one point when he got through all of them, and then unfortunately just you know the last hurdle, still, the he just played he played really, really great.
00:17:38
Zak
It was...
00:17:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
You want to talk about XG like 86 times out of 100, that's a goal. It was just an unbelievable save. I don't even think it's a problem.
00:17:47
Zak
like
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't even think it's a problem with the attempt at the finish. just Just a brilliant save with his hand behind him.
00:17:54
Zak
Yep.
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But But I mean, the moment that exemplified it for me was when Beadle miscontrolled it and had to run towards the corner flag. And Cameron Archer was like a bullet train, got there, made the tackle.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let me tell you, Boyd was that appreciated as a lift for the fans, you know, like, which is unbelievable.
00:18:12
Zak
Yeah. That'll... Obviously, Jay Robertson came on as well. And I think he struggled a bit against Millwall. And I think you can still sort of see the did the the inexperience come through a little bit still, right?
00:18:26
Zak
Where he he just... you you've You've summed it up pretty well. And have that same problem that Dibbling has a little bit, which is just ah one touch too many, one thought too many.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:34
Zak
You know, like, you know, a couple of times, like... if he just released the ball quicker rather than keeping onto it, we could have maybe had a goal or more, but like, he's still young, still learning his trade, still, still progressing.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or just in case. Yeah.
00:18:47
Zak
And still it's a, it's a great option to have. But I think the problem is at the moment is that when you swap anybody for Sienza, it just, it's always going to be a bit like, no.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
brother But I don't think it was a bad change. i thought Robinson still bought that creativity.
00:19:00
Zak
No.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like there wasn't any end product.
00:19:05
Zak
did some he did some things, you know, they just didn't play off.
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:08
Zak
It's not like
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
na that There wasn't any end product from him today, but he was doing the right things and you know causing them problems in the right way. And at the end of the day, at the the point in the game that he was brought on,
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know Obviously, we always want to go and see us score 10 goals and have him come on and finish every single one. But he did the job that he was brought on to do and you know gave them a different kind of problem to deal with and you know dragged the game forward you know a bit. And yeah, he needs to release the ball a bit earlier sometimes. But I mean,
00:19:45
Zak
To be clear, the fact that we can make these criticisms now is...
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:49
Zak
And by criticisms, I'm not even really criticisms, just observations. Because we're we're at stage now where, like, we that is the a huge problem for us.
00:19:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:59
Zak
Like, it's it's not the end of the world.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
but he
00:20:01
Zak
Whereas this was a problem.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
he still yeah But he still came on, was happy to take players on, ah was happy to beat players, did it plenty of times, stood strong a few times, which is something that he's been accused of not doing very well in the past as well.
00:20:07
Zak
Mm-hmm.
Player Performances and Team Dynamics
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, just did the job. And, you know, it's important that you know, he's he's a young lad who's going to be, you know, learning brilliantly from the team around him. And, you know, it was unfortunate, really, that he was such a key part so early on in the season, because that's a lot of pressure for someone of his age.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's a brilliant piece of quality to have off of the bench, especially in games where, you know, we've got two more games in the next six days. So it's it's It's important.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's going to get those minutes and he is just quality. He's unbelievable. And he was so close to scoring as well.
00:20:53
Zak
proven that he can score.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was so close.
00:20:56
Zak
He's done it this season.
00:20:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:59
Zak
It's not like he's not had any end product.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:01
Zak
That's a bit of a difference as well.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:03
Zak
And it will be it'll be interesting because he might have a little bit more competition with a dozy on his way back as well. But obviously, coming to the the later um um substitutions as well, you've already alluded to to the return of the king, right?
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:17
Zak
um Orirameu made his re-debut at St Mary's, much to the delight of...
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:22
Zak
Well, you will know that it was much to the delight of Northern, but much to the delight of all Saints fans, I think.
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yep
00:21:26
Zak
Yeah.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, it was brilliant.
00:21:28
Zak
And he sure, yeah, he played but right. He did what he' was expected to do, which is to see out the last sort fifty minutes of 15 minutes the game. Got a couple of balls at like, you know.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, we said it or we said it before the game, that he is a competent enough football player to see out ten fifteen minutes, regardless his level of fitness, and And frankly, his his the job of bringing him on was not necessarily to solidify anything.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was to lift the energy, right?
00:21:54
Zak
is a is a pr move.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly.
00:21:58
Zak
It is fantastic marketing for the end of the game that we are probably going to win, and that's fine.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and you know, and you know yeah um um it was great. I enjoyed it. He got a great reception. Yeah. yeah It was good. It was fine. Ariba still looks a bit sluggish.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Did, I mean...
00:22:20
Zak
He didn't didn't have a great 15 minutes, mate. I'm not going to lie. he So he managed to pick up a yellow card, almost crunched the player.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:22:26
Zak
He is so lucky that wasn't a red. And I understand he was trying to make up for his mistake, but it's frustrating because when you're watching players like Robinson and Fellows and Sienza get around every single one of their men, whenever you see a Rebo, it doesn't look like he's ever going to get around anyone anymore.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just...
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:22:42
Zak
And it's harrowing.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just looks he looks at least a step off the pace at the moment. But, I mean...
00:22:47
Zak
Yeah, which is probably why he's getting all these substitution appearances. But I feel like I don't know what's going on behind the scenes because if you've got a player that's probably going leave after six months, I don't understand why you're not starting somebody else.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:58
Zak
like um i don't that There must be reasoning to it.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:01
Zak
like There's got to be. And it might just be the case that in comparison to others in training, he does better. But like the idea of not playing pretty much anyone is a bit weird to me.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just... ah I think...
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's purely positional. I think the way that...
00:23:14
Zak
Yeah, yeah.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think the way that Tonda views him, and I think we see that because he came on for Azaz today, I think that he chucks Aribo in with that lineage of, like, number 10, with, like, he's the fourth choice number 10 behind Sienza, Robinson, and Azaz.
00:23:20
Zak
a
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... Whereas he sees the other midfielders, the young players that we could see coming up as more of these like holding players like Yander and Flynn. I think he chucked Bragg and Williams into that same category.
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i think it's it's a different position for him to play.
00:23:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i think that's why he's 10 minutes over it.
00:23:50
Zak
but I'd agree.
00:23:52
Zak
But considering what we saw of Matski so early on in the season, what we saw of him it playing for us and scoring a goal, considering he has a contract with us, had a season on loan, and this is supposed to be his first full season with Samson, I'm just a bit baffled that you're starting re-bow over him, considering he's probably leaving.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, did didn't even make the bench. Yeah, didn't even make the bench.
00:24:14
Zak
Yeah, didn't even make the bench today.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're...
00:24:16
Zak
Managed to make it last week, but like... Yeah, again, I know, to be clear, i'm aware that I have a bias. yeah I'm going to put my hands up now and be like, I really like him as a player.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yo here
00:24:29
Zak
i really want to see more of him. Again, like when I did a player profile on him, I kind of expected to see him more, especially where it is also coming from the fact that he lit up preseason a little bit and his cameo appearances have been solid.
00:24:45
Zak
But the thing is, at the moment, is that like I think everyone's kind of in a bit... Everyone kind of looked, oh, yeah, okay. And then everyone went, oh, I'm Joe Eribo. And it sucks that he's in a stage now where that is what it is, right? Like, we're still singing the song, but...
00:25:02
Zak
he's so off pace, so off, so out sorts, so not really integrated.
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:25:08
Zak
And maybe he is putting 110% into training. And the problem is, is that all of the people around him, because they've had a full preseason and a full half season are better. Maybe it's just that, I don't know.
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean I mean, we've seen the difference in in all of our squad that just a bit of confidence can instil when maybe he's just not feeling that yet.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, I mean, look, maybe he can still come good. Maybe he's not off in January, but i don't know.
00:25:26
Zak
No, probably not, but it's just a risk.
00:25:32
Zak
It's just a risk, mate, is the problem that I have.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:34
Zak
is that I am nervous when he gets the ball or the ball is passed to him because of what he has shown in the last...
00:25:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:41
Zak
fifth like If you are more damaging over a 15-minute period than encouraging, that's ah that's a problem. But at the same time, it's such a minute problem because it's not caused an issue properly yet.
00:25:54
Zak
you know I guess...
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
what What was interesting as well after that was Edwards came on for Fellows. Now, I don't know. i mean, that was clearly just trying to shore up a bit to see how it came, but...
00:26:06
Zak
Yeah, this this was, you know, we we that this is where they were getting they were getting more attacks down that side, right? Because of the fact that, you know, you've got
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:16
Zak
is you've got sort of grey coming up against... um against
00:26:23
Zak
Fellows. And obviously, Fellows isn't the most defensively minded player, and we're aware of that. And where they kind of, where at that point we decided to see out the game.
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:33
Zak
And, you know, at that point as well, they just swapped out Gray for somebody a bit quicker. And it just makes sense to then swap him out with somebody that's meant to be playing properly in that right back position because we didn't really get any chances between sort of the 88th and the 96th apart from that the you know, ah Cam Archer's breakaway, right?
00:26:55
Zak
Like, I think, a tell lie, I think there were at least two counterattacks in that time. One was the Jay Robinson should have passed it but didn't and the other one being Cameron Archer's absolute incredible shot just unfortunately saved.
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:06
Zak
So,
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:08
Zak
I'm not really too surprised. I guess it's good for Oli Edwards, but it's got to be difficult for both him and Kwasi in the sense that they've gone from sort of 90-minute players and and playing sort of, you know, undroppable to now they are playing, they
Team Improvement and Morale Boost
00:27:22
Zak
are bit players.
00:27:22
Zak
But the fact that we have now fostered that level of competition in the squad can only be a beneficial thing, right?
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Only good thing.
00:27:28
Zak
Because rather than anyone sort of, ah think I think I spoke about a previous show you that the problem we had with
00:27:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:35
Zak
Everyone kind of knew like where Will Steele was still figuring out who to put where and who should go in this position. I i don't think I should swap this person out. And he was constantly chopping and changing, chopping and changing. And we thought that might be good to light because we were, again, trying to trying of win games, right? And we've seen it only once from Tonda, which was specifically picking Kwasi over Stevens to put him in the game against Leicester, which was a tactical decision.
00:27:59
Zak
But it means that that whenever a player comes on, they need to really take their opportunity to do well or that's that's it. the The people that are playing in you know playing in the game are not going to get dislodged.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:14
Zak
So that that's really beneficial, but you know it's got I guess it must be slightly frustrating. But I guess it's, again, how you how you handle it. And I think that...
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think look look I think it's important that they're hungry and want it because like I say again two more games in a six day period people are going to get on the pitch so they're going to have points to prove so but I just think all round it was a ah brilliant performance today I just yeah I was just so pleased with everyone
00:28:32
Zak
Yeah, this is also true.
00:28:41
Zak
can ah Can I end this with a Saint statistic um same statistic from the Stat Saint on on X for you, mate? Is that right?
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go for it.
00:28:50
Zak
In the last 31 days, we have won more league games, five, than we did 520 prior, four
00:29:01
Zak
If you would understand why, why, why that mood change is so abuzz and why I know that couple of people have turned around and been like, you know, oh, it's on the record.
00:29:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, mate. Yeah.
00:29:10
Zak
What got the experience, et cetera. And you're just kind of like, what?
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Winning game.
00:29:14
Zak
I didn't care less at this point.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, look, look if you if you're going to sign a contract, what better way to quiet down any naysayers than immediately going and winning the next game?
00:29:16
Zak
Yeah.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
Podcast Closing and Audience Engagement
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
look, that that that's the elephant in the room that we've not really talked about in this episode, obviously, ah because we're going to talk about it at length ah tomorrow, i guess.
00:29:26
Zak
Yeah.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Have a nice bonus episode and and catch up and see how ton how our thoughts align on Tonda getting the job full time. ah However though, that is unfortunately all we've got time for today. So thank you everybody for joining
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
that is all we have got That is all we've got time for today.
00:29:59
Zak
Thank you.
00:30:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, everyone, for joining us. Thank you, Zach, for joining me. a huge shout out to every single one of you who has sent us comments on the social media or on Twitter, showing us in your Spotify wrapped.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah in In a week that up until Wonderful Win today has been, ah let's say, challenging ah for for personal reasons for both Zach and himself,
00:30:27
Zak
For the philip both of us, mate.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah if the
00:30:30
Zak
We have had what he described as a nightmare week.
00:30:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, ah but it has been a spark of joy to see that popping up in our needs. So you say thank you, everyone, and a huge shout-out to all of you. Like say, we will be back tomorrow to to talk about Tonda and his full-time appointment. ah But hit us up on socials on on or in the comments. Let us know your feelings about today's game. We're everywhere. We're on X, Blue Sky, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. Hit us up. We love hearing from you.
00:31:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But until tomorrow, everyone, have a wonderful day and we'll see you then.