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Episode 195: Catching up...
0 Playsin 10 hours
Southampton – Zak and Greg take the opportunity to catch up and talk all things saints.
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host and carrier of the ship whilst I've been away sick, Zachy Gofinch.
00:00:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
How are doing, mate?
00:00:25
Zak
Yeah, too bad, mate. Tired, but that's just, I think, how it goes now, right? Getting towards the end of a season that, just for us, could have ended seven games ago and we probably would have been happier people.
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
in been pretty draining and and it's you know especially when you come into games like at the weekend where you have so much hope and then just immediately dissipates again but
00:00:44
Zak
Yeah, I'm going to lie. Very much so.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
Managerial Speculations and Challenges
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
You had some fantastic episodes covering some potential managers for us coming up over the days.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully Ralph isn't on that because one step forward, two steps back.
00:01:12
Zak
i don't I don't think he is. I've had a back and forth with, Matt, a guy called Matthew on Buscay. And i often have a back and forth with him and it's good for fun, but it's not, it was a fun, what if scenario, right? It's a, it's, it's fun to objectively look at. I just don't think with considering how he was treated on his way out.
00:01:34
Zak
I just cannot see a world where they go, you know what? We should have just kept him at the beginning and go back to there.
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:01:41
Zak
I just, uh, I don't see it happening. like it is ellen I think that, again, a lot of it's just nostalgia. it's It's people remembering the last time we actually were able to win more than a game or two in the Premier League, and that was unfortunately under him, because I don't know how much you listen to, Greg, but you know the the statistics of how many of the last sort of three or four managers we've had that actually won games in the Premier League is, oh boy, how old he is, Harrowind.
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we have lived it, mate. It's been... it been how now You've been doing the research for these episodes and they've been fantastic to listen to. I've thoroughly enjoyed them.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I have been listening back.
00:02:22
Zak
you.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where do you think we're at, manager-wise? Do you still think Danny Roll's the favourite to come in and take the job?
00:02:30
Zak
I think he he might well be the favourite. However, they are going to ah ah struggle because we are not the only team that are going in for him, I think. I think that you know there are definitely teams interested, like with Rosina, potentially Fulham and Crystal Palace have been linked with Roel as well, which is quite bizarre. And I think it might just be to do with...
00:02:55
Zak
Not them wanting to make a change, but gearing up in case their managers decide to make a change. You've got Bundesliga, would probably very much take him there.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
His family's in Germany as well, right?
00:03:06
Zak
it Yeah, so and that's the thing.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kids are there.
00:03:08
Zak
And and and like what i was saying in the Liam Rossini episode yesterday, allure of the Premier League is a stronger allure than a club going down into the Championship.
00:03:18
Zak
And that is just the reality of the situation.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:20
Zak
And that's not a bad thing. So it's one of those things where... he might well still be our favourite. Maybe we should figure out who we want sooner rather than later or potentially miss out on targets. Because as much as we talk about how it's important that we get this appointment right, we do also run the risk of, well, you know, we spend so long that all of the targets we actually want are gone.
00:03:43
Zak
And, you know, there are realistic possibilities that we end up with a Gary O'Neill or a Steven Gerrard who... I'm not best pleased or like the idea of, but unfortunately they are the ones that are catching up in the bookies odds now because of the fact that we are yet to sign somebody.
00:04:03
Zak
But I also equally think that it's just as likely that somebody who we have never heard of. And I think I made the joke from like the K league or the J league just appears out of nowhere that they've done a lot of statistical analysis over and, you know, but,
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a tricky one, right? Because, like, Wednesday season's over and presumably he and the press made it reasonably clear that he'd given his...
00:04:21
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
his conditions, whatever that meant to to the board, which, you know, a lot of people have read as to be that he's gone, but but obviously contracts don't end until the 1st of June because that's the way football works. So...
00:04:42
Zak
Yeah, and on top of that, it's it's the fact that has you know it's it's making decisions around what you'd want to do. If there are multiple offers on the table, just because we're one of the first
Club Rebuild Discussions
00:04:52
Zak
ones doesn't mean that it's going to be taken.
00:04:54
Zak
And we are going to be a lot of work, and we are I don't know how attractive a prospect we are for somebody that might be feeling that they have the they are ready to take the next level, right jump up to the next level. and Considering his background and where he's been previously and what he's been up to, I don't know.
00:05:17
Zak
you know and yeah it's hard to sound it like without being disrespectful to our own club, but we're not as big as we think we are is, I think, the biggest problem.
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
where Specifically, the point that we're at is we are in need of a project and a rebuild.
00:05:32
Zak
Hmm.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're very much at the point where we need to almost burn it down and start again. say
00:05:38
Zak
and I think even more so than last time, and it really is going to take someone of determined character to come in and do that. And i'm I'm struggling to see a want and will for most people to come and do that.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:54
Zak
And you know that's probably why I've said i'm I'm quite happy to back whoever comes in, because I feel like they are going to have to be aware of the challenge the you know It's not going to be like when Juric came in, where he was found within what feels like within the week, and it was somebody they already knew and clearly massively underestimated.
00:06:16
Zak
his ability to keep us up. I think that this is going to be somebody that will, you know, if before they take this job, understand as well, things, simple things as well. Like the atmosphere in St. Mary's can turn toxic quick.
00:06:30
Zak
And as I've also quite said quite a lot, rightly so, because of the ah ah fact that, you know, you are not going to get as much time as a manager, as you would like to turn things around in a positive way.
00:06:46
Zak
when fans have been paying, you know, thousands of pounds over the last year or two to like, you know, year or so to to watch what they've been watching. And it's so unfortunately, you know, it's going to have to be somewhat of a strong character to be able to deal with that.
00:07:01
Zak
And I've seen, you know, most people who are managers aren't exactly thin skinned apart from maybe Jose Mourinho, in my opinion, but maybe Ange wants to call glue in there too, just, just cause he likes to throw it back to the fans on occasion.
00:07:13
Zak
But yeah, I just,
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
know what though, mate? I'd take both of them in a heartbeat.
00:07:18
Zak
Well, Jose Mourinho is 50-1, so who knows? But yeah, it's a very...
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is... That's like a tenth of the odds of Gemma Collins being the next James Bond. Like, that's like very small possibilities.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:07:34
Zak
yeah Yes, when you compare Jose Mourinho to be next Southampton manager to Gemma Collins being the next ba James Bond mate, you're right.
00:07:41
Zak
That is a far more likely outcome. I will agree with you there.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, well, on that based-in-reality comparison, let's let's take a break and have a message from our partners at Bionic.
Season Ticket Speculations
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. I want to talk briefly about something that I've noticed has been conspicuous by its absence, right? I would have expected to see season ticket renewal information out and about by now.
00:08:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think they're, like, do you think they're holding out for hope of, like, a half-decent result as a to, like, to release this as, like, the best possible time? Like... It's really interesting interesting to me that they haven't bought any information out at all.
00:09:01
Zak
i
00:09:05
Zak
i wonder if that yeah they're trying to hope that maybe we finish on a high or or maybe they're still trying to figure out I wouldn't be surprised if they planning to maybe...
00:09:17
Zak
change them from what they were. like If they decided to about pretty much keep them the same price, considering what people have done, would be uproar. I wonder if they've had to go away and change what their strategy is going to be regarding getting people to to pay to go next year.
00:09:33
Zak
So I think there'll probably be an uptick in tickets just because but the championship is always better to watch and it hopefully won't be as painful this year. I also feel like from a commercial standpoint, they don't want to do too much to risk their position But I think trying to charge people you know the same sort of much price for the Premier League in the chap as the Championship...
00:09:52
Zak
Yeah, i just there's you're right, there's got to be something going on. I don't think that...
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
a lack of preparation. It shouldn't be a surprise to them at this point. like We've known since maybe January the that we're going to be playing championship.
00:10:05
Zak
i don't think it's I don't think it's a so a lack of preparation. it's ah It's a lack of expectations. And I think that they've started to realise... for how poor it's been, how are you able to justify people spending the kind of money that they want them to spend?
00:10:21
Zak
in a year, right?
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:22
Zak
And I think that they, whether it's the the change of marketing, whether it's, you know, maybe they haven't finalized what they're going to do about bolt-ons and add-ons for next year, the commercial side of things, you know, maybe because they have ah ah renegotiating kits and all that kind of stuff, they could also be trying to figure out, you know, what they want to go with it.
00:10:45
Zak
You're right. This is all speculation, but it is weird that they've not kind of announced anything yet because they've had more time than others to know that they're going down, right?
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:53
Zak
Like we've we've had since seven games before the end that saw it out. So it's bit weird.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I heard someone speculating that they were sort of hanging their hat on hoping for a good result from Leicester where they could sort of sneak the email out this week as part of the celebrations of the win and
00:11:09
Zak
Well, that's entirely their own fault because so apparently they they decided to completely jettison that into the sky, didn't they? with still I'm still mad about the Leicester result, man. like
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, rightly so.
00:11:20
Zak
Such a poor game.
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was just awful. Just, I mean, just so disheartening. And we should have expected it because it's the same story as we've had all season.
00:11:28
Zak
Hmm.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's at this point just disappointing in myself for getting my hopes up as high as I did. Because well what were we actually expecting from this group of players?
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because they've shown what they are.
00:11:42
Zak
Don't worry, mate. Only City and Everton and Arsenal left. Oh, dear. Yeah, no, you're right. It But I wouldn't be surprised if it's if it's a marketing strategy to figure out a good time to actually put it out and I don't think there's going to be a good time maybe they'll just wait till the slap bang end of the season before they want them before because if not you could you could come across as like money grabbing right
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
it.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here's the release list of our 35 players that we're letting go at the end of this season. Also, here's the buy one get one free season ticket offer. We're chucking out in the hope of getting some out of the door.
00:12:22
Zak
i think I think, though, like it would seem quite tone-deaf to sort of be like, well, we've been relegated. like They already got criticised for their whole, like, we've confirmed our place in the Championship next season, right? So to come out immediately and be like, and here's all the information as to how you can give us more money to see more of this...
00:12:39
Zak
Yeah, like I wouldn't be surprised that maybe maybe they're leaving it until like we have a new manager announcement, something something to bring a level of positivity around the club to so make people want to come back. There's probably lots of things at play. Or it's just it's just as dumb as like they've had the date on the calendar as like the 24th of May since the beginning end of last season, and they're not changing it.
00:12:58
Zak
So who knows?
Letizia's Charity Controversy
00:13:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Just a baffling one. I remember when the fixtures came out the sort start of the season, we're looking at and going, oh, we better make sure we're safe before that last run of games.
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
which
00:13:16
Zak
Whereas now it's like we better make sure we aren't the worst team of all time
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
well Who'd have thought of that point? Well, we're only one point away from for beating Derby's record. Honestly,
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
what a horrible, horrible season it's been.
00:13:33
Zak
Truly has been Yeah
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then capped off by one of the other things I wanted briefly mention to you, mate. Did you see Matt Letizia in a Pompey shirt this weekend?
00:13:39
Zak
yeah
00:13:41
Zak
i I did. And charity or not, that's a bit... I understand, right? I get it. i i was I was trolled on my wedding day. I had to... The car, I was driven into to my wedding. I had a Pompey shirt on it because a lot of my wife's family are Pompey supporters, unfortunately.
00:14:01
Zak
So, you know, like that itself hurt me. But yeah, it must have been...
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Apparently I had a tank shirt on underneath.
00:14:07
Zak
All I'm hoping is that made a lot of money. I'm hoping it made a lot of money for charity for it to be worth it, right? Like, that's where I'm at.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Just... Honestly, just I couldn't believe what I saw. Like...
00:14:20
Zak
Because I remember seeing first, i was like, oh, is this some sort of AI deepfake thing before actually, oh, no, this is actually just real. Okay, cool. Cool. But, you know, I guess i guess needs must for charity, but it's a sad state of a first.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
so o I thought Matt Letizia's opinions were controversial, but i still respected him as a Saints hero. This is crossing a line. I thought but maybe that line had been crossed previously. Just throwing that out there.
00:14:51
Zak
but Look, again, it entirely depends on your your, you know, whatever your political opinions are. You know, I'm not here to judge, but he's definitely said some interesting things, let's put it that way, in the last five years.
00:15:04
Zak
But you're right, it depends where you hold your line, right? so Some people, it's rejection of science, for others, it's but the colours of shirt they wear, like...
00:15:15
Zak
It's what is. what is Everyone's got half their own moral compass. We can't be responsible. And I think, you know, for a lot of people, seeing their childhood hero from their football club club in their rival's colours is a bit of a a bit of a kick in the teeth.
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
and it
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get it because i it I found it really triggering. I got really like, and it's one of those things where like, I knew that it was ridiculous to be as upset about it as I was, but that didn't, that didn't change the emotion.
00:15:41
Zak
Hmm. Doesn't stop you. Doesn't stop you from like, logically, I know this is ridiculous.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:48
Zak
That doesn't stop me from being really, really mad about the fact that he did it. Yeah, I get you, man.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I've been to South Sea. I walk along the, you know, the beach there and go to the fun fair. Great. That's fine. But yeah. Yeah.
00:16:01
Zak
If you ask me what I think of Portsmouth, and I'm like, I know Southampton's terrible, but that's the worst city.
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:05
Zak
like they They literally have a walled-off posh area that is Gunworth, and arguably you could say that West Quay is, but you know yeah outlets are cheaper.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:15
Zak
Oh,
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. We're going to move us on to to talk a little bit about ah Man City and the weekend coming up.
00:16:23
Zak
good.
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, a message from our partners at Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
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. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay,
Upcoming Match Against Man City
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
so yeah, look, we're building up towards the weekend, Zach, and we'll have a proper match preview tomorrow after the press conference and we'll We'll talk about how things might be different and then they'll go and be exactly the same.
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Russ will just prove that he's just the same as all of the other managers we've had this season. But that said,
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mad City have got one Herfe Cup final next week. Is this their rotation phase? Do we...
00:17:19
Zak
Do you genuinely think at this point we could beat a rotated side anyway? Leicester had a rotated side. They had loads of players missing that were vitally important. that Everyone went, it's going to be a breeze, going be a walkover. We still managed bundle both of those two. They managed to get two goals against us that we fluffed completely. It's just, no, is my answer to your question. If you genuinely think, oh, okay, wellre we're coming to up City who who might rotate.
00:17:46
Zak
So, I think that you know just because that's their... best chance of a trophy this season, or only chance, I think, Lau at this point, doesn't mean to me that they will treat this game any different because I think Champions League qualifications significantly more important than Cup, which is a sad state of affairs, but true.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:05
Zak
And yeah, I don't think that that's... that's Pep's mentality. And even if he does swap them out, like I probably would take most of the City subs bench at this point over us, right?
00:18:16
Zak
like ah we We already stripped their youth team clean about two years ago and that didn't really help us much either. So...
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, with the way it's playing out and something, you know, it's looking like England are going to have eight European spots next year. So it looks like City basically have Champions League football wrapped up one way or another.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe it's it. Maybe they just take their foot off the gas. yeah Historically, they do struggle against us.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe Pep Menti, and he's learnt all of those things from Russell Martin. And what that means is that we'll play through them and win, right?
00:18:47
Zak
it
00:18:57
Zak
Although he learned from Russell Martin how to lose and and then went on a massive losing streak. And now, again, like the problem is is that that the narrative of, oh, well, maybe there'll be like a sleeper cell.
00:19:09
Zak
I understand why why it's a narrative that constantly crops up, Greg. But it's not work for this season. like It's like Taylor Harwell-Bell is saying... you know we we perform better against bigger teams. You're right.
00:19:22
Zak
we The game is more interesting to watch for 80 minutes than against Fulham, usually. The outcome is still the same, accepts except usually, actually like instead of what he thinks is a good result, it's like that game against Arsenal where Archer scored and we still were lost 3-1 or whatever.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's always a change.
00:19:41
Zak
else or Or the game Manx-Man United where Diallo scored... three goals, a hat-trick in game that we were leading 80 minutes. Like, you're right, we do perform better, but we don't perform for the full length of the match. And unfortunately, that means that the other team will usually beat us.
00:20:00
Zak
And I, you know, can't see... if we're not able to get anything past Leicester, I can't see us getting with anything past City.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:09
Zak
And I don't think that Pep Guardiola is the kind of manager that assumes a walkover of any team. Because bear in mind, can't remember if it was the FA Cup, I think, where at one point City were like down to Leighton Orient.
00:20:23
Zak
That also happened.
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:20:24
Zak
I was watching that game when it was on. and like that it does But then if they just brought on like one player. LAUGHTER All of a sudden, the entire game changes. Like, oh, let's bring on De Bruyne.
00:20:35
Zak
Like, who do we have to bring on? We've got Ross Stewart and Odoatu on a rotation. And at moment, neither of them can hit the back of the net. So, yeah, i can't say i see our chances going well.
00:20:50
Zak
like And I worry about what the atmosphere is going like Saturday because, you know...
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was what I was going to say. It's interesting to see what the atmosphere is going to be like. I don't know if... don't know if there's... I think that there's so much apathy that it won't be toxic.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just beyond the point.
00:21:09
Zak
Yeah, it's but it's because we know it it doesn't mean anything, but it it's it's like it's like the Leicester game was similar, right? Like, where our expectations are low, but boy, howdy do you keep managing to smash that bar?
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:22
Zak
And I think that's that's what it was. Like, you expected something... for the travelling fans. And then, like, well, at least we've not got, like, a manager that gives out ridiculous excuses like jet lags the reason that he brought a player off after 50 minutes.
00:21:35
Zak
And then now that's happened as well. So it's like, it took everyone, what, three or four games to turn on Rusk. You know, I was quite happy. I've not turned on the guys. There's nothing to turn on. He's an interim manager.
00:21:47
Zak
I would be happy if he got the job, if he managed to get some results from the next couple of games. And clearly he's proven that that isn't the case. So, you know, good luck to him. But, Yeah, I think you're right.
00:21:57
Zak
like The apathy is... but But there is going to be an element of... you know If we get absolutely drubbed by City, it will turn. Because how do they expect everyone to turn up week in, week out, pay all this money?
00:22:08
Zak
Let's just get absolutely battered and be like...
00:22:13
Zak
March on.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:14
Zak
You know? and that's that's coming like i know I'm the pessimist, mate, but I've never wanted a season to end.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether it's...
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know whether it is' it's... It's going to be painful. I don't know whether it's going to be... People are going to try and be lively and make the best of it. To start with...
00:22:28
Zak
Probably. It depends.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if it's going to be half empty.
00:22:31
Zak
gen Genuinely don't know. Like, you know, I will try and watch some of the games Saturday in my undisclosed location abroad. um um But I obviously had i had an opportunity to go, but I can't due to but commitments around the time.
00:22:47
Zak
but Trying to get home from St Mary's is an absolute nightmare. ah But also, it was like part of me was like, ooh, of all the games that I could have gone to, this even one I'd really want to go to as well? Because...
00:22:59
Zak
I don't know how you're feeling for Saturday, mate. like You're a season ticket holder. You're going taking your kids down. You're going to hope it's a nice, sad sunny day. How do you feel? Do you feel we might pip it? I'm
Season Reflections and Future Outlook
00:23:08
Zak
sure by to tomorrow you will, no matter what. But yeah, I guess i guess after the performance against Leicester, I just don't see this group of players being able to function as a solid unit but between now and the end of the season.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if it's... I don't know if it's that I'm still recovering from this illness, or if it's if I'm still recovering from watching the Leicester game. But I'm not feeling it at all, mate, if I'm honest.
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm just...
00:23:34
Zak
Oh, man. That's how you know. it's trump They finally caught up with you. Only three games left and added two and two wins the entirety of the Premier League season. and And you finally realise that maybe, just maybe, we're not actually that good.
00:23:50
Zak
yeah
00:23:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just one of those days where like Harlan's coming back from injury so he'll probably score like a double hat-trick.
00:23:56
Zak
yeah
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:23:58
Zak
but just Just put them in your fantasy team, mate, and make you feel better.
00:24:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. but If I do that he probably won't score. ah That's how the world works.
00:24:07
Zak
Well, you So what I'm hearing is you all you need to do, Greg, is change your fancy league to be all of the City players that you think will be posing the greatest threat to us.
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we might accidentally get a nil-nil.
00:24:20
Zak
Yeah, and we might accidentally get a nil-nil, but that it's sad to me that the optimism that you have is a nil-nil because on top of that, mate, you know we're not scoring, but it's more ludicrous to be the idea that we're keeping a clean sheet.
00:24:33
Zak
LAUGHTER
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the accidental part. That wouldn't be like from our doing. That would be, i mean, there'd be six, six crossbars in that mix, right?
00:24:39
Zak
but yeah
00:24:43
Zak
on top of that, though that you it's going to if remember, it would be a 1-1. It would be an accidental goal from Tallpool that would end up causing a draw like that. Not intentional at all.
00:24:53
Zak
like Comes off the back of his heel because it's rolled to him. and somehow you know Because let's face it, before he even joined us, those who those were the kind of goals he was scoring when he was at Genk, right?
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or even his head. but
00:25:05
Zak
That was when we were a bit like, ooh, but...
00:25:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's Genuinely, it's just got like, as someone who, in our last relegation season, by the time we got round to the game where it was Man City at home, was like, we generally give Man City a good game. And we sort of, in the quarterfinals and all that, yeah, we got a chance. And then,
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
like, just stood and watched in silence and in awe as Erling Haaland scored a bicycle kick. And i'm just like, yeah, all right, this is just a different league, isn't it?
00:25:30
Zak
I'm sorry.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, there's nothing... what but what am I expecting here? What can I say that isn't, like... Like, Man City are... Even this Man City, who have struggled this season in the fourth, are leaps and bounds ahead of us.
00:25:50
Zak
We'll get it more into it tomorrow, but i will I will point out to you again, mate, that like their idea of a struggle means that they can go out and spend £200-300 million pounds on like three players to change it.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:02
Zak
We brought in a guy on loan from a team that was bottom of the French League who has played all of five minutes, and I had it confirmed from George from the Daily Echo that it was mainly due to injury that he's been out and he's been seen training again.
00:26:16
Zak
But... that's the difference and that will always be the difference. And again, like it's not coincidental that since the introduction of like proper stringent financial fair play rules, that the teams that have gone up have often straight away gone back down.
00:26:31
Zak
So, and i you know, you can just kind of put, put together the, the, you can, you can join the dots there yourselves if you, if you need to, but that's kind of my opinion on it, but we'll get more into it and tomorrow I'm sure, but it's, it's not the end of the world, mate.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:45
Zak
Like,
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe I'll be feeling optimistic by then.
00:26:46
Zak
Remember, you've already pointed out, it's pre-pre-season. At this point, you just give, just again, give the youth a run in. Stop playing players that are going to be leaving at the end of the season.
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, let them get up.
00:26:56
Zak
Because cause now, we're not even fighting for the record.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I see. Yeah.
00:26:58
Zak
We're fighting to not have the worst goal difference. As long as we don't ship 12 goals in the next three games, which is something that usually I'd be like, nah, but looking at the fact that it's Arsenal and City could very much well happen.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh,
00:27:12
Zak
Look, put it this way, Greg. The season will be over soon.
Season Fatigue and Hopes for the Next
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
here we go.
00:27:16
Zak
That's your optimism for today.
00:27:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
When I look, when my Facebook memories from this time last year come, come back and like,
00:27:18
Zak
This Premier League campaign for Southampton will end.
00:27:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I it was like right around today where we we lost to Stoke in the miserable day to like qualified playoffs. but But that hype was building for the playoff semifinals.
00:27:41
Zak
Oh, credible day.
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
The electricity around the city and around Eastleigh and all of the surrounding Southampton areas, you could feel the buzz in the air. And now it's just like, oh.
00:27:55
Zak
we
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please just put an end to it.
00:27:56
Zak
we drove past that car near the Swayveling McDonald's that shouted out of the window up the baggies at us. And I still remember that. And I if you do before we went to that incredible semi-final game.
00:28:10
Zak
And yeah, that that was that was like, from there, I have almost like a a whole solid memory to the end of that game and how incredible it was that kind of got us into Wembley and, you know, got got finally back into the Premier League. And yeah, it's just been...
00:28:26
Zak
just an absolute punishment, whereas I could grab probably about half of these episodes and we'd probably say about 50% of the same things because it's the same thing every week in, week out.
00:28:39
Zak
But again, mate, the optimism here is that there is... three more matches until the end of this season, and then something new will happen. Whether it's a Phoenix rising for the ashes or horrible slog through the championship, I feel like it's got to be more exciting and got to be better to watch than what we've seen this season.
00:28:59
Zak
Surely, surely, surely it can't be.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It can't be worse, can it?
00:29:03
Zak
like i don't know if I'm gearing myself up here for punishment in the next year, but I just can't.
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, someone queue up the Mick McCarthy gif of... It can.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get that on loop for the end of next
Closing Remarks and Next Episode Preview
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
season. and Alright, well, that's that gist about is all we've got time for today.
00:29:20
Zak
Oh,
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back tomorrow with a proper match preview for City as we look at lineups and all that fun stuff. Until then, thank you very much for joining us. Zach, thank you very much for all your hard work carrying the show this week with your profiles.
00:29:36
Zak
it's very appreciated.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
were some fantastic episodes. If you haven't listened, go back and give them a listen. Some fantastic insight into who might be our next manager. I'll say we'll be back tomorrow with our match preview, but until then,
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
by