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Episode 178: Southampton FC Therapy session
62 Plays4 days ago
Southampton – Zak and Greg hash out their opposing opinions on how the Villa game played out.
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Transcript
00:00:10
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 once again today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
are you doing, Zach?
00:00:23
Zak
Yeah, too bad, mate. I seem to have caught some sort of post-conference lurgy from a work thing I had to go for last week, which is slightly annoying because the weather's been beautiful. But to to be honest, it's still not as depressing as our loss at the weekend, which...
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, mate, I've got i've got a bone to pick with you and Oscar. I leave you alone for one day and it's all doom and gloom.
00:00:45
Zak
It's not stupid.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's no positivity.
00:00:45
Zak
i I ended with the positivity of that it could get better.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Your positivity of it could be worse is actually what you said, mate.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Look, I listened to your episodes when I'm not here and look...
00:00:59
Zak
What do you want from me? yeah you What do you want from me? you lost 3-0, and I know there was a good pillar side, but we managed to keep it 0-0 for 75 minutes, then we did a Classic Saints and just completely capitulated into the sun for the last 20.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:01:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that all things considered, there are positives to take from that performance.
00:01:11
Zak
What,
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
i know that we've been saying that all season, but you have to put the context in, right? Like, no, the but yes, yes, that we're bad, but like,
00:01:24
Zak
we're bad? So it's good that we managed to do, what, something?
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
we don't have the fitness to compete over 90 minutes. And like you said in the episode, when we bring on substitutes, we make it worse. Like, they brought Donnie Marlin like and Olly Watkins.
00:01:43
Zak
but
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, world-class players.
00:01:43
Zak
as we've As we've discussed, England International previous like Champions League finalist you know team member.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, but look, it was, it was a game that, uh,
00:01:49
Zak
Yeah, i get it.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
highlighted the goal indifference for sure but we looked bit more of a team when we played I thought so anyway I felt there were some positives I agreed there were still some dodgy moments there were still some mistakes we still gave away two penalties that didn't result in goals though
00:02:02
Zak
Did we?
00:02:11
Zak
We gave away two penalties. No. Well, one of them did because the rest of the team decided to just not clear it. They thought I'd wander over...
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, and that is maybe maybe part of the reason that I'm feeling so positive about the weekend, because the two goalkeepers that I have in my fantasy Premier League team, I don't know if you saw the screenshot over the weekend, Zach, are Emi Martinez and Aaron Ramsdale.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I made the, you know, the standard decision that i of all people, will make and backed my team and put Ramsdale on on the pitch over Emi Martinez.
00:02:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that paid off because he saved two penalties and it meant nothing.
00:02:45
Zak
Post-pod, me and Oscar had a discussion about our fantasy teams, and he said that he set at the beginning and hasn't touched it since. And he had one Saints player, which was Sugawara.
00:02:56
Zak
And I was talking about how I don't think I've had a Saints player in it since Paul Odo actually scored one and then another. And then since then, yeah, I think I probably... you know Whereas previous seasons, I would put Saints players across the shop, but nowadays...
00:03:11
Zak
but just not very good, mate. And I'm sorry, like I know that you you seem to... That might be why you're taking positives, but if you're taking positives from the Saints' performance by the fact that Ramsdale scored to like save two... Saved two penalties, we shouldn't have two penalties away.
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I agree.
00:03:24
Zak
you know You were talking about Yanni B on his birthday, on his 250th appearance.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look.
00:03:31
Zak
You felt he had a goal in him. That's what you felt. And what did he do? gave away a penalty.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I knew the second he gave that away what he'd done as well.
00:03:36
Zak
Which...
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
though i Never mind VAR. If you can tell the penalty by the look of a guilt on a player's face and his face went, oh, no.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:03:49
Zak
But like that's my point. We had a few hairy moments. Yeah, okay. Maybe we seemed slightly more defensively solid because they didn't turn us over in the first 75. Cool. But...
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's all it was.
00:03:58
Zak
cold
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
We looked more defensively solid.
00:04:01
Zak
a little bit more, but then we still we still played a little bit Martin Bull. Did you not see that Jack Stephens clearance that ended up for hitting Ramsdale and they went out for a corner? What are they?
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:11
Zak
like fifty to bitly They had about 50 corners.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:14
Zak
One of the good things is they didn't score off of every single set piece. but like
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:18
Zak
i just I struggle to take huge amount of positive in the sense that all it for me has done is as you said, pointed out the massive gulf we've got between the Premier League and the teams at the bottom of the Premier League, right?
00:04:32
Zak
And as Oscar rightly pointed out, like the sheer amount of attacking power that pretty much every team above us has, we are bringing on a injured, only just recovered Ross Stewart, who, you know, for a... a The guy who we didn't think Tallpool was going to be our top goalscorer this season, he has been.
00:04:53
Zak
But now, because of the fact he's playing so many more games than he's used to playing, he's just like, you know, you you can shatter his ankle with the slightest tap.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, even but even before that, mate, he struggled to to make 45 minutes, which goes back to the point we've been making all season about the levels fitness.
00:05:07
Zak
Well, fitness. just yeah I don't understand.
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And actually, Oscar made a fantastic point on, I think it was on Friday's episode, where it's like thats that in itself is partly Russell Martin's fault because because his style of play didn't lend itself to fitness being such a focus point.
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's, I guess, where it's become.
00:05:28
Zak
That's if you can keep the ball. Whereas the problem is, is that the Premier League this year has shown we cannot keep the ball for as long as we think we can. and And that there was a perfect example of it. Like that game, they they they were all over us the entire game.
00:05:39
Zak
Like you were talking about, well, I remember it being a bit better. And then you've looked back at the match stats now and realised that it might have been better in the stadium, but it it was shocking.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, going off of vibes, it felt better.
00:05:47
Zak
Yeah.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, yeah, you're right. I've looked at the the match momentum graph on the BBC website. Shout out to the BBC. And boy, that's a whole lot of villa, isn't it? But it...
00:05:58
Zak
Yeah, but it's is's the vibes just because Juric has gone and we don't need to worry about whatever football that was.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:06:03
Zak
But instead, we've fallen back on this weird... This this reminds me... and this is the The parallels between our last relegation now are just hilarious, except relegation has now already been confirmed. But it's very much like...
00:06:14
Zak
where we got rid of Hassanhootle, where we brought in Nathan Jones. Nathan Jones tried to do subbing, right? Then we got rid of Nathan Jones and we brought in Sellers to cover that period of time where we kind of played a little bit like Hassanhootle ball light.
00:06:29
Zak
It's just the same thing. We had Russell Martin. We got rid of Russell Martin. We tried playing whatever Jurich ball was supposed to be. Apparently, heavy metal football. Didn't see any of that. Barely saw the goals. And we leaked to, what was it, like 2.5 goals a game while he was in charge?
00:06:42
Zak
Something like that. And now we've come back with Rusk and Lallana, who are playing sort of Martin Ball-like to placate the players who have only learned how to play under Russell Martin. And that's how it will be until the next manager.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that that is think that's doing it a disservice I don't think it was quite as bad as that look at the end of the day we know that our players aren't great or we wouldn't be the team to be relegated earliest Premier League history right uh There are bits of hope to hold on but honestly, the fact that we held out against seventy for 75 minutes against Villa in itself is an impressive feat. you know We've not got a lot to look forward to the rest of this season, especially when you look at the running of fixtures towards the end of the season.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Some of these games going to be brutal, but it gives you some hope that you can hold on in for that period of time. Maybe we can even push and get 90 out of it at some point.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. but
00:07:39
Zak
That's just the biggest problem, mate. It's complete performances, mate. Holding out over 90 minutes. Like, good Lord, it's been a problem with Saints for as long as I can remember. even well Usually, let's tell a lie, previously we were able to hold out for 90 minutes.
00:07:52
Zak
We'd give away the goal in the 93rd was the problem, right?
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:55
Zak
And that has also happened this season once or twice. Like, the drawing exit switches example.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:08:00
Zak
But the thing is with that as well is that we held out for 75 minutes. but then saved the penalty. And that should have been like, i should have given you them the energy for the last 15 minutes of the game.
00:08:11
Zak
And what actually happened was it, it it made them go, oh man, Villa are too powerful.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:15
Zak
And then, and then they scored one.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I just don't think it did though. I think they did. They did pick themselves up.
00:08:20
Zak
Three, we lost three nil. Yeah.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yes, but it wasn't the penalty save that didn't give them energy, right? Like, the penalty save put some fire in the team and we went straight up and straight on the attack.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think we had a chance pretty soon afterwards. And and we there was belief, genuine belief in the crowd as well, that that we were going to fight on and get, not only get something out of this, but maybe get the first goal.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to Truth be told, the people around me still didn't think that that meant three points. But if we get a goal here first, we might get a point, is I think what was said, rather rather at volume.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah.
00:08:59
Zak
So here you So penalty saved, right?
00:09:02
Zak
And then there was a corner to Villa conceded by Jack Stephens.
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:05
Zak
The next match event, two minutes later, was a foul by Ryan Manning. then a And then Marlon wins a free kick on the right wing.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:13
Zak
And then they took that really quick. And that was what obviously resulted in the Olin Watkins goal. There is absolutely nothing in there about how we even had a strike or an attack. we We did what we usually do, which is we probably danced around the box with it, which is why it isn't even worthy of an event.
00:09:26
Zak
And like, and as I said, I don't want to be so negative. I don't want to be sitting here every week saying, right, but...
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
not hearing that Zach, all I'm hearing is your negativity. We've been a good shift and we shouldn't be ashamed to be losing 3-0 to that Villa team who are bringing in that international quality off of the bench.
00:09:37
Zak
No, no. And and to be to be clear, as I said yesterday, i always underestimate Villa and forget how good Villa are. But the problem is, is that a round of applause for a 3-0 loss because it isn't as bad as it could have been is pretty much what we've been doing most of the season.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Genuine top four contenders this season.
00:09:58
Zak
And it's just, it's harrowing that that is our bar because our bar now is, well, it could have been five. And like, that is like, blows my mind as to that's where we're at now and it's it's upsetting and my problem with yesterday and you know you're saying well I'm not hearing lot of positivity is I'm like I'm trying to look at where the solution is and we've discussed like is it a new manager is it new players there isn't
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
There isn't a solution this season. There isn't this season.
00:10:22
Zak
not that Yeah, but not even yeah but i worry I worry if it's going to be the same next.
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
There is no there is...
00:10:26
Zak
And mrs this is my concern, is it's getting a bit... Because you're like, it seems like so much of it is broken. And you seem to be like, well, no, it's not. So after the break, I want you to tell me what isn't broken and what you think is a solid foundation for us going into next season.
00:10:42
Zak
That is what I want to hear, because I am struggling to see it myself.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:10:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:10:46
Zak
Maybe I need someone who's happy.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
we We got this. oh We got this. We'll have a message from our partners and and i'll I'll talk you off the edge, right?
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. Okay, so hear me out. I had a wonderful conversation with Jamie, who sits in front of me at the football, has done for several seasons now.
00:11:41
Zak
Thank you.
00:11:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... he's quite used to my opinions and are his. But he had some very good points about going down to the championship and what we need to do, right? And the answer to me is not, believe it or not, completely build from scratch, which might be a lot of people's answers, right? Because we've not been good enough this season and there's no excuse in that.
00:12:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But instead of buying... 10 to 12 players doing that. We've tried that. That's what gets us to this level we're at now with this bloated squad where, you know, we've got maybe what, let's be generous and say as high as six Premier League quality players, if you're being generous and sticking the word potential in front of some of them, right?
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not good enough for a squad to come off the bench. But buying, spending however much we spent in the last window, we spent what about 100 million, right? Something like that, around that. If you so put all of the fees in, including Ramsdale, what we need to do is solidly invest in two good players, particularly in the attacking area, right?
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because what you have to realise is Jack Stevens is probably not going anywhere next season. That's fine. You know, he's been a bit of a scapegoat. He's been a bit of a scapegoat, perhaps off of his own making with some of his rash decisions and red cards this season.
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been a little bit unlucky with injury, but actually when he has been on the pitch, it's been quite difficult to criticise him. Uh, he's you know he still in that defence that's shipping all the goals, sure.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
it it's not very often that he does too much wrong. And at the Championship level, he will be that experienced head and leader that we're going to need. Yanni B is probably going to stick around. you know He's quite settled. But if he decides to move on, I don't think yeah there will be any negative feelings.
00:13:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, he's settled. I think he is our best centre-back at the moment. I think that he performs that best every game. And that's the the sort of solid line we're building with.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we might have Harwood-Bellis, he might go, that's fine, whatever. We've got options coming back that have had good, you know, solid time away, right? That's going to help us. We've got Shea Charles. We've got Sammy Adozi.
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got other options coming in. We've got the youth coming through. We saw Robinson debut on Saturday and you said you felt a bit sorry for him to debut in that match. But I just don't think at that age and at that level, i don't think the context of the game matters, right?
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
getting on the pitch for 10 minutes in a Premier League match, that's big, positive energy, regardless of the fact that it's in a 3-0 loss or whatever. And he came on and, you know, he put he put a boot in and, you know, tried to drive forward a bit, but it's more about the getting over that hurdle of the first time experience and the the stuff that comes with that as opposed to anything else.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we're going to have stuff coming through the rank youth ranks. We've got some players that are going to stick around. I think the key parts of the transfer window are very obvious. First of all, Matty Fernandez, Tyler Diblim.
00:15:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to keep... minimum one of those two players and use that as the focal point to build whatever strategy we end up leaning in on, right?
00:15:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I know that I'm a vocal opponent of philosophy-based football, but you need just a base point, right? You can't just...
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
play different football every week. You need a base philosophy, almost, that you pivot your tactics on. That doesn't mean i want to pass the ball about all the time to me. That means, like, do you know, you have a style.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
You still have a style. Even, you know, back in the days I've talked about with these other managers who'd played the tactical game,
00:15:52
Zak
it's It's not being so rigid that you will play it against every single team and not make enough adjustments, right? Like when we spoke about the fact that you thought he was a tactical genius against Arsenal, which we bring up quite a lot, and it turns out that no, he was just accident accidentally put two players.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't have another player, so we just put another left back on the pitch. a disease disease Turns out that's been, you know, the story of the season. But, you know, that that in itself is the base, right?
00:16:17
Zak
Yeah. I understand you.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Play players in their best positions and build that out to pivot off.
00:16:18
Zak
Yeah.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So keeping at least one of those two players and building the rest of the squad around that potential is where we need to pivot to. And then we need to heavily invest in a good st striker It doesn't have to be a proven Premier League striker. Not a lot of those exist. But we want to go out and spend more than we would normally spend.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because without that, we've got no chance.
00:17:03
Zak
So that raised, obviously, we can talk about Russell Martin's team and this, and the Cowboys come home. and like That was a big issue anyway, right? like they there was There was conversation that's come out now that they did go in massively for Liam Dallap, and he's, wouldn't say paid dividends for Ipswich, but put Ipswich in probably a better position than and then we are in. Not by a lot, but enough that it's not as humiliating as as we're in.
00:17:28
Zak
you you know I think that you're right. That's the problem is that when we came up, we had Adam a Armstrong. It was one of the top goal scorers in the championship. They just genuinely, I think, thought that it would be okay without him and Che Adams.
00:17:41
Zak
then thought, oh, well, we can bring bring friin Archer to kind of substitute for when he's not having his best game.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:48
Zak
I don't even think that realistically, Paul Onoachi was even in the plans at all. I think that is pretty much accidental and is still...
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, 100%.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be clear, both of those players, Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer, I think, will be very solid forward options in the Premier League. However, what we need is someone to play alongside them.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because we don't have...
00:18:08
Zak
So then, but that's that's the problem though, right?
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
that option. Like Adam Armstrong and arguably Archer are both players that like to run behind opponents. They're both going to be players that are suited to play off of someone who can actually hold the ball up.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now I don't think Paul can do that. I don't think maybe Ross Stewart can do that, but Ross Stewart is not that proven solid quality.
00:18:28
Zak
That's one of the issues. like
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to bring in someone who can, and who is someone who can score the goals and do that play. And, and, you know, if it's not someone that can hold the ball up fine, because you're you know you're moving away and stepping into not Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer strengths, but like Matty Fernandez and Tyler Dibbling strengths.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fine, right? I'm not saying that we need this exact DNA of a player, but we need to, you know, we need to put a stamp on it and make, prove a point that that's what we need, right?
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the, we talked earlier, or I talked to quite a lot at the beginning of season, right, about Ramsdale being like a proper, like, marquee statement signing. Like, this is a signing that means business, that shows that we, this is a name that shouldn't be coming to Southampton and has.
00:19:18
Zak
Agreed.
00:19:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've paid the money that's outside of our normal price range to bring in this player because we genuinely believe we need that quality to improve. And now, sure, right?
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ramsdale was a very risk-averse signing anyway, because we're always going to break even on him regardless. right some Another Premier League team will buy Aaron Ramsdale for the to release Claw to Warriors, you know, to break even at the end of the season. So it's good value.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's still a statement that needs to be made. Like, we need the proper investment and recruitment and someone that will get proper backing to... Because, also, when you sign that sort of player, that sort of player doesn't necessarily put themselves in a position to hit the ground running, right?
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
They need time to bed in. So we need to get that business done, done early enough that they get a proper pre-season and make that statement. Like, we cannot head... into the new season next year and still be faffing about, oh, who's going to be here? Who's not going to be here? Well, obviously, there's that's going to be the case to some degree.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we can't not know the key core of our squad because that's setting ourselves up for failure.
00:20:32
Zak
Yeah, i get you
00:20:38
Zak
But, yeah.
00:20:40
Zak
I agree with all your points, to be to be clear. I think the problem is finding a marquee statement signing when we're going down to the championship who is a striker who will be of Premier League quality is going to be difficult because if we want a Premier League quality striker who is of a marquee nature...
00:20:58
Zak
we want to stop any of the other Premier League teams, or specifically the teams coming up from the Championship, to pick that player up instead of Southampton. Because I think that's a fantastic strategy after the Championship.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and No one said it was going to be easy. I'm just saying it's what we need to do. I know it's difficult, but that's what we need, right?
00:21:13
Zak
Good. But...
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, if it was easy, everyone would be in the Premier League, wouldn't it?
00:21:17
Zak
We'd already done it.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's...
00:21:18
Zak
Yeah, I think i think it's...
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think...
00:21:20
Zak
but my my My thing is that I think those are great strategies for next time we come back up. I worry about what we're going to do next season because we need to get through the Championship and there will be a lot of pressure that we come straight back up again.
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:21:33
Zak
i don't know whether or not that will happen, I think is my honest assessment.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think... I think we'll be alright. I think whatever we're left with in the Championship...
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even approaching... Even with the poor recruitment we've had in the last couple of years... Even if we sort of recruit to that level again... Which would in itself be a disappointment and a failure, right?
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even at that level... we're at least comfortably going to be good enough to get into the playoffs. So I don't think it's...
00:22:05
Zak
So,
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Realistically speaking, what we need to do is recruit well enough to be good enough to comfortably win the league. So that's the test. I don't think we're at risk of doing a looting and being sort of down and struggling, but...
00:22:19
Zak
Hopefully not. But that's the thing. You you point out like we need one or two really good statement sign-ins and stuff. And i was like, we had Matias Fernandes that, again, flew under the radar early on the season. I don't know whether it was due to style of play or other bits and pieces that potentially reason why.
00:22:33
Zak
And then you've also got you know Tyler Dibling, who's broken through. And as you've seen and reported, those are two players, they basically hedged their bets on being worth a lot more than we paid for them and that we could potentially sell them on or develop them for the future.
00:22:45
Zak
In your head, do those two players not qualify as the two players that could have been that for our season this season? Or is it more of a, you reckon, that they have been targeted specifically for how much money they can make and the next time it should be for specifically keeping us in the league?
00:23:02
Zak
Because I still think that it's kind of having the coming into the season with relegation being a foregone conclusion is upsetting for the amount of money we, or the amount of time wasted on things like marquee signings of Aaron Ramsdale.
00:23:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think...
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I think that...
00:23:17
Zak
yeah
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Man, it's hard to think of appropriate terminology for this. I think that having two gambles pay off is not the same thing, right?
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right?
00:23:31
Zak
as that Having two Gabbo's playoff is not the same thing as having
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And has' no disrespect any right that's no disrespect to any of our signings. All right. Mike Fernandez has been our best player. So, you know, once once he got properly settled in, he has been our best player consistently this season.
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i heard it on the Total Saints podcast. They said it's going to be an interesting battle for player of the season between him and Ramsdale. But for me, it's Matty Fernandes, hands down. he He puts the entire team on his shoulders and drags them forward, kicking and screaming every week.
00:24:05
Zak
Yeah, there are there are times, there are games that he plays where he has the standout moments. He has the moments where he shoots.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:11
Zak
He is the one that probably has most of it. I'd love to see the breakdown of how many shots he's had this season and comparison to the rest of the team.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But... But when we signed Matty Fernandez, that was not a yeah statement signing.
00:24:20
Zak
We had no idea.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was, okay, that's got promise. I would argue that you put Matty Fernandez into the same grouping at the sort of point of signing.
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You put him in the same grouping as Cameron Archer and Sugawara, right? And Wellington. Because that's, yeah.
00:24:48
Zak
they they might They might do all right.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay, that's a player that's a player has got potential. I can see how that will play out. and and And to be clear, I think all three of those other players named next season still have that potential to come good, right?
00:25:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's not a game we can afford. to That's not gamble we can afford to take. I mean, you look at the numbers, you look at how many of those players we signed last season and let me, you know, talk about the loans, right?
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
We brought in on loan our two valuable Premier League loan spots. We brought in Uga Chugwu and Maxwell Corne. Now, at the start of the season, Uga Chugwu couldn't get a look in, but through the second half of the season has been revitalised into sort of a very essential part of the team.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Corne failed to impress in 70 minutes against a championship side stoke. So, it's... it's
00:25:42
Zak
And it sounds like nobody nobody wanted either of them.
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just because it because sometimes it sticks to the wall, that doesn't mean that it's what we need again. yeah And, that you know, there's a time and a place for it. Not all of our signings are going to be those statement signings, but but they need to be the focus of this window because we don't we lack that quality.
00:26:02
Zak
Yeah, I guess if it if it plays out like that and we we get some people in, where we we're like, wow, didn't expect us to get this person into the championship, right? i'll be I'll be really happy. What I am going to be slightly worried if is if we we play gambling a little bit more.
00:26:17
Zak
But I don't know how much now it's considered gambling with the likes of Spores behind us rather than the brother of the current West Brom manager.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, I've got some thoughts about that and we'll we'll move on to them, but we do need to take a break and have a message from our partners at Zencastr.
00:26:27
Zak
So...
00:26:34
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 automat automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:26:51
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. Okay, so we are back. And you're right, because...
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's very clear from, from the outset, from when sports Republic bought us that their vision for us and their mission was to, take advantage of the sort of reputation we had as a club where we sign reasonably cheap young players with lots of potential and have more of them hit than miss and then sell them on for profit.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, And so I have no doubt also that Spores will want to approach it that way. And that is probably the long-term vision and the reality that we need to get used to.
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think that changes my point. Like, I still think we need... we We have such a bloated squad at the moment. We need to ship out a lot of it, frankly.
00:27:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to to trim down...
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
you you of all people, Zach, know that I've been playing a lot of Balatro recently, right?
00:27:56
Zak
You're right, like half...
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to trim the deck and get it into the point where all we've got left are still king cards to get that high score.
00:28:06
Zak
Man, that's going to be a really, really niche reference for some of our listeners.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh,
00:28:09
Zak
But no, I agree. Like, to to be clear, so be clear, from my perspective, the reason that I've been so, i guess, glum about it all is I'm i'm genuinely trying to look at a a situation we get out of this.
00:28:23
Zak
And the problem is, is that Sports Republic also did this once before, but they they tried to make some statement signings in the January window when we went down. And that's how we ended up with quite a few of the people now that, you know, are not ideal, as in,
00:28:37
Zak
Suleymane and Oluwatu.
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just, I think that's so different though.
00:28:42
Zak
No, no i understand it's I understand it's very different.
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like I agree because I think the difference is that what you're saying there is that they were like statement signature signings where actually what I see them as was panic buys.
00:28:44
Zak
My problem is is that even when we were a Premier League team, we struggled.
00:28:54
Zak
Yeah, no, I get that too. But Suleymane broke the the amount of money. He was like the highest transfer until Ramsdale came in because we wanted to bring in this quick.
00:29:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:02
Zak
Somebody...
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Actually, think Sulemana stays as our record transfer player because Ramsdale being our record signing was dependent on us staying up.
00:29:02
Zak
yeah they
00:29:08
Zak
was sort dependent on us. Yeah, there there you go. So, and like, and I understand that you think that they're panic-wise and that's probably true. But at that time, we were an established Premier League team that were trying to stay in the Premier League.
00:29:21
Zak
We are now going down into the Championship where we are going to try and get players to play in the Championship
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you have to remember that... You have to remember, Zach, that...
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
that it was pure panic, right? We have seen that with their management and time to bed in, the board at that point, the best they had got to was, oh, we've got a fire Russell Martin after that performance because it's ridiculous and the fans have turned.
00:29:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, I guess we should write a list of managers we've got to get. That's the same minds in charge, right, as the those January signings.
00:29:52
Zak
Yeah, from from that season and also this is, so so why, so do you generally, is it spores that's the difference?
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... Because now we have... Yeah, I think it's not just spores, but just the the step back, acknowledge that we can't approach it that way. We have to have a plan. We have to think it through more. We can't just we can't just throw money at it and expect that to be the solution.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We need to make good decisions. football decisions that are football led. We've set up all know, we have a business, a CEO who is good at the business side of it The business side of the football continues to improve. And we've got all of these fan engagement events and carrot, you know, come and have breakfast with Sammy Saint and in our pub.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
have a mini tour of the stadium. And that's great. And there are, and if we had finished 16th and bought all of these initiatives in, Sports Republic would be the heroes of Southampton.
00:30:55
Zak
They'll be seen as good.
00:30:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They would be seen in such a good light, but it's the footballing decisions that have let them down, but they have acknowledged that. So now we have to hope is probably the only word I've got for it I don't think we can expect it to be
00:31:15
Zak
the hopes that kills you, man.
00:31:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think we can expect it to be where we think it should be, but we can hope that it will be better than it has been.
00:31:23
Zak
so So the TLDR is let them cook. And by let them, we we mean sports and not the people that did it last time because the people that did last time made dumb decisions.
00:31:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but like... And the... you know You and I work in a business where you have to read into the actions of things right to to get their true meaning.
00:31:43
Zak
Yes.
00:31:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's what the firing of Juric was. that was the The underlying message there is we know it's not been good enough. That decision itself wasn't good enough.
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
What we have now is time to prepare for next season. that is our That is our only advantage heading in.
00:32:00
Zak
So I'll keep going, let's see.
00:32:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have got time to prepare to make this right. So we need to back that up. by getting in yeahing in those signings before pre-season. and And, you know, one of those signings, critically, is going to be a manager.
00:32:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's be honest. And I don't... I think I discussed it with both of you guys last week, and I still don't have a single correct answer in my brain.
00:32:25
Zak
there There is no correct answer, but it did make me laugh when you said Big Sam.
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And you know what? I still wouldn't be mad if that's the case, right? It is what it is.
00:32:38
Zak
Interesting.
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know...
00:32:41
Zak
You've done you not a better job than I expected you to. I'll give you that, mate. As I said, for it's I think the problem is is that... My responses are less long-term and they have been quite emotive because it's again, like when we watch that Saturday, you're like, man, what if we learned?
00:32:55
Zak
I'm aware that it's a much longer game, realistically, and it is going to be a much longer game and it is hard to......fit
00:32:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but But what have we learned on Saturday is something that we knew before the game anyway. We've got a team that can be...
00:33:04
Zak
the filler a much better...
00:33:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry. But we're a team that can be good for an hour. The Villa are Champions League quarter finalist and we are the worst Premier League team in history.
00:33:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:33:18
Zak
Yeah, no, you're right.
00:33:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
me
00:33:20
Zak
It's just it just really it's really difficult to watch it every Saturday and it not kill me inside a little bit. i so
00:33:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's fine, mate.
00:33:27
Zak
But we'll get there.
00:33:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's enough that we're going to get something.
00:33:31
Zak
really hope so. really I really hope so. And if we don't, well, we'll see what happens next season. But I guess at least it's going to be interesting. It's not going to be a boring ride for sure.
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
like It's never boring as a Saints fan. We like to do things the most painful way possible. that's why we That's why we love it.
00:33:49
Zak
Swam out for Even that 5-2 at Huddersfield was still like...
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not joking, Zach, when I tell you that I've never comfortably watched a Saints game, right? like Like, you know, as you know i my wife, you know, I'm a big football family and my wife's a Liverpool fan and my brother-in-law's a West Brom fan. And so I've been to Anfield and watched Liverpool and I've been to the Hawthorns to go and watch West Brom.
00:34:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is a much more relaxed football experience than any time I've been to St Mary's because without that vested interest... It's like much more, you get to absorb the game and the atmosphere more, but that doesn't mean that I would change it for the world.
00:34:20
Zak
Yeah, no, I get you.
00:34:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't mean that Saints isn't a better experience for me. It just means that I can't be comfortable. Yeah.
00:34:35
Zak
Man. so So there you go. I i guess this has been more like our weird philosophy of where the club is with also kind of talking about the game of Villa being bad. Yeah.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:34:47
Zak
have no idea we're going to name this episode, but it'll be fun when we figure it
00:34:52
Zak
think it's only me. And it's sometimes it's glad say it's good to have different opinions on these kind of things. And I think it's interesting either way. And I think ultimately what we we both want at the end of the day is to to watch Southampton and not feel an extreme amount of pain to the level that we are now.
00:35:08
Zak
As you said, pain is part of it, but I don't want to go...
00:35:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. without but Without the suffering, right you don't want to be a team. You don't want to be one of these kids that my kids go to school with who are like eight and nine years old and are Man City fans who are now experiencing their first like bad season.
00:35:25
Zak
Yeah, but it's even funnier if they're Manchester United
00:35:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not football. The pain makes the... inn The pain makes the enjoyment even better. It's the years of sitting through the pain that makes those days out at Wembley last year so much better.
00:35:41
Zak
True.
00:35:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got suffer the bad stuff to get to the good.
00:35:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's just how it goes.
00:35:45
Zak
I just wish it wasn't as as bad, but hey-ho. Such is life.
00:35:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, well, we'll be back tomorrow or I believe we are going to have a little knockoff of Marvel's What If?
00:35:51
Zak
On to the next one.
00:35:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because if it it works for Marvel, why won't it work for Saints? Until then, thank you very much for listening. Hit us up on all the socials and we will see you then.