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Episode 252: Matchday Review: Another win!
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Southampton – We battle with some technical difficulties to bring you the review of the EFL Cup gamea gainst Northampton. Which was another win! At least there was that....
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Transcript
00:00:08
Zak
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening Saints fans. We are the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. I am your host, Zach Ingo Finch, and as always, joined by my wonderful co-host, Gregory Elliott.
00:00:26
Zak
How are you doing, mate?
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, I'm hot, I'm tired, I've played all of the sports under the sun, and lots of sun, and and you know we're on attempt two of this, because technology is such a beautiful thing.
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:00:42
Zak
well When the energy is low after what I currently describe as a lackluster game, and you're trying to talk about it, you're in kind of a good flow, you're towards the end, and then it just dies. ah ah And the funny anecdote here, and I know you you can skip past if you want, is that during the recording, and I'm talking, as far as I could see, Greg stood up, checked his phone,
00:01:09
Zak
walked away, came back, closed down the recording software and disappeared. I text him and had no reply.
00:01:16
Zak
So I suddenly thought, oh no, something's wrong with his kids. I'm panicking. And then he just pops back like, oh, there you are. And I'm like, sorry. So apologies if the ener energy is a bit weird, but like that's kind of brought me back to life a little bit.
00:01:31
Zak
Cause let me tell you, Greg, this game did not.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look,
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
look it was... It was short 90 minutes of football, I think.
00:01:37
Zak
yeah
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:01:42
Zak
Some football took place.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:44
Zak
Right. Well, let's start at the logical place with the lineups, Greg. So, obviously, we had a bit of a change lineup from Wrexham, which is a good thing because, you know, we we always know it's going to be a strong so he's going to be the strongest side, but that's never true because everyone's going to be tired.
00:02:01
Zak
But we did see a return of Matias Fernandes to the starting lineup. let's start Let's have a look through
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Always exciting.
00:02:09
Zak
the Let's have a look through the whole team sheet one by one. We we were we were very disjointed on our first attempt. you know We did the classic me thing where we started in defence, talked about Ben Burrits and Diaz for some reason.
00:02:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's so unlike us.
00:02:21
Zak
let's start with McCarthy, Greg. Were you surprised by McCarthy being in goal? Are you happy that McCarthy was in goal?
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, we talk every single day on this podcast that about how much we need another goalkeeper. And I mean, hope now that after seeing McCarthy in action tonight, that the board will agree because it wasn't, or I mean that none of the game was awe-inspiring, let's be honest.
00:02:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, you know, I think I said in the lost recording that it was at least comfortable and didn't really feel like at any point we were going to concede apart from that one point when Alex McCarthy decided to
00:03:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
to, you know, gift the ball to the opposing team's striker, and if it wasn't for, know, Taylor Harwood-Bennis, we would have conceded. So, but other than that, wasn't a lot.
00:03:14
Zak
Yeah, he made a couple of saves. They weren't anything that should really be troubling him. But it's I think, yeah, if anything, it's a bit more of a It's a bit more of a...
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:26
Zak
reason as to why we need another goalkeeper. Like, I'm already worried we only have two.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:32
Zak
I'm already worried about the fitness around a Baz. And i ah ah that doesn't again, like that doesn't mean I don't think he's a good goalkeeper.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:38
Zak
Like, we've kind of been defenders of Pizzunu here. But I question the fitness of both of our goalkeepers because both of them were injured in one season.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:47
Zak
You know, we ended up with Joe Lumley at one point. And that didn't really end too well for us, if you remember rightly. So, yeah, I think just ba getting a third in would be logical because they did have Dylan Moody as a backup goalkeeper. But how old is he? Like 17?
00:04:01
Zak
That's a lot of pressure to put on a young a young lad.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah That's basically a newborn goalkeeper. That's like basically him crawling out the womb.
00:04:06
Zak
yeah That's the age they come out.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:04:09
Zak
So, like, so, yeah, it was it was interesting to see see him. I hope that it makes people understand. Like, i I don't doubt his presence in the dressing room, all that jazz, but, like, just be somebody that's not in five figures to be our backup goalkeeper, please, right?
00:04:25
Zak
You know.
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:26
Zak
So, at the defence, obviously, the only person that, you know, Manning manning got a start after well-deserved start.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
We calling that defence? OK.
00:04:37
Zak
Okay. Manning got an attacking start as a week back.
00:04:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I really feel like Manning and Sugawara both kind of were right and left midfield if we're being if we're being true to average formations.
00:04:49
Zak
yeah
00:04:52
Zak
Yes. yeah The supposedly defenders by trade. if you want to be a a Puritan, Greg, and talk about just the defence. Taylor Harwood-Bellis came back.
00:05:02
Zak
That was nice. It's a really good thing he was back, because if he didn't clear that goal line clearance, that supposedly comfortable win, that I don't...
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good see you back.
00:05:10
Zak
I think I slightly disagree with you on how comfortable I was watching that. You know, it would have been... It probably would have gone to penalties, let's face it. So...
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:05:19
Zak
Yeah, Nathan Wood, who I don't really have a huge amount to say about, took me a long time to realise he was playing, which I can't work out if it's a good or a bad thing. ah ah feel like if he didn't make any really clear and obvious mistakes, but I didn't notice his presence, that's kind of what you want from a defender, right?
00:05:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, ah ah I guess so.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean...
00:05:38
Zak
i I don't know.
00:05:38
Zak
which I just kind of kept forgetting he was there. I don't mean that in a and malicious way. yeah we had a lot of the ball up front and he wasn't doing any of the...
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:48
Zak
He wasn't really doing any of that. So...
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He didn't give the ball away in any noticeable ways and he didn't do anything wrong.
00:05:55
Zak
Exactly.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
the
00:05:56
Zak
say
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's call it a win.
00:05:59
Zak
Right, Edwards got another start and got another card and for probably another silly little challenge. I think it wasn't exactly a penalty this time around. so ah he just need to settle Does he just need to settle a little bit more?
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it was silly though.
00:06:14
Zak
Is it just that he's really worried or like what?
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
think so. He's
00:06:16
Zak
Because he played solidly for QPR, so I'm just wondering if it's just gelling in the team.
00:06:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
still quite young.
00:06:21
Zak
Yeah, exactly.
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's still quite young. don't know what is but what sort of formation he played in at QPR, but... we saw previously that some centre-backs struggle with playing in a back three.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe that's just sort of adjusting to that. You know, that makes sense as to why he would potentially be out of position enough that he feels the need to sort of dive in and make these silly tackles.
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, a couple of mistakes. but I think he was still pretty solid, to be honest.
00:06:49
Zak
Yeah, he was all right.
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's still...
00:06:50
Zak
Again, it was probably just a bit fatigue as well. like He came back pre-season slightly later. you know He played a whole tournament in a team that won.
00:07:01
Zak
I don't think he appeared much in it, but he's still part of that squad. And that's going to be you know it's gonna sort of have it have its repercussions over time, right?
00:07:12
Zak
So I'm not really... It's not nothing like hitting panic stations. But yeah, Sigmar was all right. Crossed the ball it a few times. Got there a little bit. i just wish he was a bit...
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Almost scored goal of the season, mate. Let's be honest.
00:07:24
Zak
Yeah, but...
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
That bouncing out from the corner, he listened to the fans who audibly said, shoot, and then nobody was as shocked as he was that it was close enough to the target that hit the post. So...
00:07:34
Zak
and that That's one of the things that worries me, mate. Shea Charles, solid game. It's going to be a bit of an
00:07:39
Zak
know, just going to be a bit of a unit for for the season.
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:43
Zak
And obviously, we were really, really happy that Matias Fernandes came back.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:47
Zak
So, great to see.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great to see. good Good news for all Saints fans.
00:07:50
Zak
Really, really needed for us. And...
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a beautiful piece of magic for the goal.
00:07:54
Zak
Yeah, yeah even even if the only outcome and purpose of that was to to to provide Saints fans with extra banter for West Ham fans because it's increased his value by either 5, 10, 15 or 30 million, depending on which Saints fans you ask.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:11
Zak
I don't think it was a 30 million pound goal. Maybe a 15 at stretch.
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, did you see how many defenders he sat down with that touch?
00:08:17
Zak
More...
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Were you really watching? I was. let's be let's Let's have the full sake of transparency here. I missed the goal. I missed the notification that the second half had started.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
was still playing with the kids.
00:08:33
Zak
I wonder, are you telling me that you weren't absolutely enthralled by this this wonderful Tuesday night TV offering, mate?
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
look Look, there are a few reasons that I wasn't completely engrossed, but ah we'll get back to that, I'm sure, ah once we finish the team line-up.
00:08:48
Zak
Are you sure that at 30 degrees Tuesday night, you're tired, you're watching your team play? I feel more sorry for all the fans that went out, when I say out, up to Northampton and probably expected like just just a bit more energy. Like we saw it the beginning of the second half, right?
00:09:06
Zak
But not much else.
00:09:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:09:07
Zak
So I'll finish off talking about the attacking line after a word from our partners at Bionique.
00:09:55
Zak
Right. So when we left off, we said we'd talk about the attacking lineup. Obviously, Stuart was out due to illness. I wish him well. I really hope that that illness isn't I've broken my cruciate ligament or something like that.
00:10:09
Zak
I hope it's just I've eaten something dodgy.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's a real concern, isn't it? Yeah. I mean, maybe he's using the same personal chef as Flynn Downs, so
00:10:16
Zak
Don't eat raw chicken liver, mate. It's just no one ever said that was a good idea. Yeah. So he was replaced by Ben Bereton-Diaz, which is why I was a bit shocked that he was on the pitch when it started. I missed that that line-up announcement, or I missed the fact that he was switched out last minute.
00:10:33
Zak
we We've discussed him before, and other than him scoring a really good goal in the open training we watched, I want to say last summer, Greg, which might which which might be because we'd had like a beer or two, so we thought it looked better than it did.
00:10:51
Zak
I don't really know where he fits in in our squad. And I think you sum it up beautifully, mate, by saying that you didn't really see a lot of him from him. you' You've not seen a lot from him.
00:11:04
Zak
You don't know where it's going.
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, he...
00:11:06
Zak
He put some crosses in. They were fine.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:08
Zak
He was offside once or twice. That wasn't ideal.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
just, I don't... Look, we've talked about redemption arcs and we talked last season about his, you know, what he didn't or did or didn't bring. and I just, I don't see it.
00:11:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't see it working out. Like all of the other attackers, including the ones we're going to move on and talk about, I've got positive things to say as well.
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:11:38
Zak
Yeah.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just, I don't know if I've got that for him. and and I don't have negative things to say particularly about the performance, but it's kind of the opposite of the centre-backs, right?
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, if you don't see a centre-back all game, but you keep a clean sheet, great, that's their job. if you you know If you do see a striker be offside three times and that is all you see from him and him falling over at half-time, that's that's just...
00:12:06
Zak
Yeah, it's not, it's not ideal.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
but the I don't know, man. I don't...
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Where I'm at with it is think that if you look at our squad at the moment, even though, you know, striker is a position that a lot the fanboys, I think, would be crying out to sign, arguably in the formation we play with sort of narrow, wide strikers, I think Ben Barrett-Diaz is my fifth choice.
00:12:38
Zak
Yeah.
00:12:40
Zak
heck? I don't really have much else to add to that, mate.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:44
Zak
I agree with you.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe even... I might not even have counted right. Maybe it's six. Hang on. We've got Adam Armstrong, Damian Downs, Cameron Archer, Ross Stewart.
00:12:52
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd put Jay Robinson in there. I mean, based off of last season, I'd put Joe Eribo in there before. Let's be honest. It's...
00:13:06
Zak
Yeah, and that's the problem. But again, if we a redemption...
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And i look, I mean... I'm open to this redemption arc. I don't see it.
00:13:16
Zak
Just need it to like kick into gear a little bit more.
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:19
Zak
Right, Cameron Archer. let's Let's move on to something a little bit more positive. Runs a lot.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He put himself a bit... Yeah. Great.
00:13:25
Zak
It's annoying for him, pretty much.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what the store you want, right? Yeah.
00:13:29
Zak
Damien Downs as well.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Got in...
00:13:31
Zak
Did he...
00:13:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, he also puts himself about a lot, but...
00:13:35
Zak
Miss of the season.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, when you... When you take into account the... What I guess has been generously called an assist against Wrexham. And then you see that tonight. And I mean, how we didn't score there.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's unfathomable. Like...
00:13:55
Zak
it it It looked like it was harder to miss than school. It was in the middle of the goal.
00:14:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, like, I know that we... I know that we have ruled like XG as a useless stat, but I'm pretty sure if you were looking at like the crux of the game and the calculation of how often a player scores from that position, it's about 1.3, surely.
00:14:23
Zak
it's one of those things where like we've talked about before and you know maybe he just needs to get a goal, right? Like that maybe that is just it.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Oh, he definitely needs to get a goal.
00:14:31
Zak
It is also one of those things where, like, during pre-season, they talked about how he's like, oh, if you leave him with the ball, he's lethal. No matter what, he'll just put it in the goal. You know, you give it to once and that's it.
00:14:43
Zak
That's all he needs. And I just want to see that.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:48
Zak
Like, I know it's been two games, but please, that's what we want.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
he was just he was just channeling his inner tool pool
00:14:52
Zak
That's what we want.
00:14:56
Zak
it's Yeah. Well, actually, I think a lot of people I saw were comparing him to Che Adams, where it's like, good, we have another striker that will miss absolute sitters for the foreseeable future. Perfect. um Let's rewind a little bit.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're right. i think he just I think he just needs that confidence building goal to to just kick things off.
00:15:08
Zak
Yes.
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then I think he's his movement, from what I saw at St. Mary's and from what I watched when I was paying attention tonight, was was good. like
00:15:24
Zak
Yes.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't ask more than that.
00:15:26
Zak
he like like Again, we just hope he gets that goal. only reason I said less rewind a bit, Greg, is I feel like I jumped over and skipped over Archer a little bit. And it looks like you actually had more to say. So anything else you want add about Archer?
00:15:38
Zak
Because like, as you said, bit of a nuisance.
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh Look, he got he got involved in the game. He runs a lot. he He made himself a nuisance for the centre-backs. He had a couple of attempts I can remember, which, you know, that's something.
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
i feel like he's another one that needs a proper goal, like a competitive goal. He put them away for fun in pre-season. but he just feel like I feel like we said this a lot last season as well.
00:15:59
Zak
for a minute.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
like He's a player that needs consistent minutes. He's a player that needs that confidence. But, like, you put him and Downs on the pitch together, ah ah those defenders are going to be tired.
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like... Yeah.
00:16:17
Zak
Especially where Downs is like quite a good target man as well, because he's like you know massive. In fact, I think I think the i could hear the the Northampton commentary where they were talking about what just happened.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:28
Zak
They just described him as a gangly man.
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:33
Zak
gangly man who kind of fell over himself a little bit. But yeah, anything
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's probably pretty reasonable. But look, I mean, it is what it is.
00:16:39
Zak
and he didn see
00:16:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was clearly a tough game out there. Like, it wasn't anything clear-cut, really, apart from, you know, I'd say one clear-cut chance missed a piece and a moment of magic from Matty Fernandes. But I know that there was a bit of pressure at the end from them. But honestly, did anything go within a 15-yard radius of the goal? Not really.
00:17:07
Zak
No, not particularly.
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was very tame.
00:17:08
Zak
wasn't...
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it was... think the commentator on Sky, who I'm sure we'll get to after the break, described it as feeling very pre-season.
00:17:17
Zak
We will get to this after the break.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
00:17:22
Zak
That is I mean, that's not wrong, be fair.
00:17:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
The most accurate thing he said all night. So...
00:17:28
Zak
up the Before we go into the break, Greg, anything server substitutes? Because there wasn't really huge, like, Charlie Taylor got some minutes, cool. Ryan Fraser came cool.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah he also came on and put himself out about a bit, you know, gets all over the place and and causes chaos.
00:17:38
Zak
a
00:17:42
Zak
Yep.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was nice to see Matsuki come on and get some minutes.
00:17:49
Zak
Don't you mean Flynn Downs?
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that, I think the only reason Matsuki didn't get booked for dissent is the referee didn't speak Japanese, but that's fine. Like, there were lower lots of moments there where he had his arms in the air.
00:18:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, yeah.
00:18:04
Zak
Adam Alstor came on for Ben Brereton-Diaz. Yeah, he did right.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, fine.
00:18:08
Zak
It would have been nice for him to score.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had a shot.
00:18:10
Zak
And other than that, Flynn Downs getting booked. Classic Flynn Downs. What could you say?
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, last time the bet of the season, right?
00:18:15
Zak
Bit silly, but...
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you bet that pound for pound every week, you are quids in by the end of the season. I can assure you that is it' the safest bet in football. Right?
00:18:27
Zak
Right.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:18:28
Zak
Right. Agreed. That's ah ah Just silly. Again, silly, silly cards. We'll talk about we're going to talk about the commentary because I know that I was annoyed last week, but I was even more annoyed this week.
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
o
00:18:43
Zak
ah Say last week. I was annoyed Saturday. i was even more annoyed today. And of course, Greg has always got a word to say about referees. But that is once we hear from our partners.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I don't know if that word's repeatable on the podcast, but I'll try and paraphrase.
00:18:58
Zak
Once we hear from our partners Zincaster.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:19:23
Zak
And we are back. And, as promised, I to talk about the commentary, Greg, because that was... Now, I understand is a Tuesday night.
00:19:34
Zak
It was Sky Sports Plus red button, whatever you want to call it, match. They're not exactly going to have their A-team out. I'd expect them to have at least a base knowledge of...
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And boy, did I have to scroll through matches on the app to find that as well. Let's be honest, that was but was deep.
00:19:50
Zak
Yeah, bet.
00:19:53
Zak
it's It's still one of those things where like, you know, I understand people have off days. oh I would say that we're having off days today. I keep trying to finish points before you finish talking.
00:20:04
Zak
And I keep trying to end points after you finish talking about, with a bit of a gap, right? We're not on we on And I feel like the commentator wasn't on his A game tonight. However, at one point, describing Mati Fernandes as a Premier League player and saying that none of all of us think that, and we're like, yeah, we're in a agreement, but, you know, probably wants to join him. Maybe he'll do it next season with Salamdon. But again...
00:20:26
Zak
Just a lot. Just a bit weird. Talking about Shea Charles and saying about how he went to go and see Wednesday play.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:20:32
Zak
Not mentioning the reason that he went is because his brother's there. Not because he's just showing support for Wednesday. His literal brother, is it playing in goal? Right, I get that. The joke that I made before the break, Greg, was the fact that at one point he started talking about how Flynn Downs had obviously come in quite late, which was worrying Because obviously I was like, well, that doesn't look like Flint Downs.
00:20:51
Zak
Because obviously Flint Downs was on a yellow card. So if he'd come in quite late, that might be... Oh, wait, no, sorry. It was Matsuki.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to didn't look like Flynn Downs because no, Flynn Downs is an Asian.
00:20:59
Zak
It wasn't not even slightly.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's not even the close.
00:21:02
Zak
and Like, it's just... It's just, it's it's a very, it was just sort of, you could tell he didn't want to be there. he said it had the vibes of preseason, so he started commentating it like it was preseason.
00:21:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:15
Zak
just kind of like, there were just some sort of casual mistakes.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I feel like, no, I feel like though have to mitigate it somewhat in the
00:21:18
Zak
No one really cared about
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Commentating on your own for 90 minutes on a match that you blatantly don't care about cannot be an easy task. Like...
00:21:35
Zak
This is also true. Having no back and forth is is like going to be annoying.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:41
Zak
But it it was just
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, we are Saints fans and we struggled to watch that match in its entirety.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe... maybe
00:21:49
Zak
sort of... It was just sort of the random interventions with what is clearly just a list of rumours printed off. I'd rather have just not had them. Like, I'd have rather have not...
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
f
00:21:57
Zak
no Oh, yeah, Shea Charles is one of the players that West Ham are coming in for. Like, that was rumour in, like, but end of tune
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got to be honest, I was was watching on my phone for most of the game and my family had a film on in the background and there was a point where I removed my bud and was listening to the film and watching the football instead of listening to the commentary, to be honest.
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a bit.
00:22:21
Zak
that's just it was was what it was but i was just i was
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
crowd ambience option on on the Sky Sports app.
00:22:25
Zak
i will
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what i want.
00:22:29
Zak
And I was just slightly wound up by it. And, and you know, again, it might be that I'm hot and tired and the football was also so terrible. So what I was watching, like I was listening to it a bit more than I probably usually would have.
00:22:43
Zak
Either way, i was just a little bit upset with it uh no disrespect to the guy as you pointed out what it probably was was trying to commentate on that match on your own for 90 minutes was as boring as we found watching it so do you know what i actually retract the fact that feel quite bad about it now but moving on referees greg your favorite did you think that that game needed that many cards really
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, look, let's let's get it out of the way. From, I think, both sides' perspective, awful. Just awful. The standard of refereeing that we have seen this season is...
00:23:21
Zak
yeah We are two games in.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's in the bin. Like... And, like, yeah, both ways. Like, there were fouls given that were not fouls. There were fouls not given that were clear fouls. I mean, yeah yellow cards galore. know you, when we were texting back and forth in the game, had a little comment about how can Harwood Benes get booked for Decentral? He is a captain. It's his job to go and moan at the referee. not But, like, it really does depend on how heated that situation has got because...
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like I would be getting heated at some of the decisions being made, uh, both, both ways, like not just against us, like also for us, like just bad refereeing.
00:24:00
Zak
Yeah.
00:24:05
Zak
You did also point out to me that that like you know we had a we had a captain sent off last season for saying lot of maybe rude words to to the referee.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent.
00:24:15
Zak
so So maybe I shouldn't have been as annoyed, but it just seemed like there was a lot of sort of weird...
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, it was frustrating, but like there was, there were two, op
00:24:20
Zak
just a great
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
times I remember that, well, there was one in particular where one of the, uh, Northampton attacking players spun, I think it was Flynn downs and was about to run through. Like he was back one-on-one against, uh, I think it was Howard Bennett with an attacker on his right. He could pass it to you.
00:24:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the ref brought it back for a foul for Northampton further back on the pitch. And I'm like, why are you stopping the promising attack? Like, It's just just poor.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
You just want to see better.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's just sad.
00:24:58
Zak
yeah
00:25:01
Zak
I don't think VAR fixes that though. I've seen that argument as well. I feel like if it's the same referees in the VAR room, it doesn't make much of a difference.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it does not. nice yeah it and shit I don't know what... I think the only thing that we've talked about that feels like a successful solution is is to have student swap.
00:25:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just bring over a bunch of Australian referees... and send all of our referees over to Australia.
00:25:27
Zak
Yeah, we've talked about that before. It would be an interesting solution.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe Australia would feel hard done by. Is the only problem with that?
00:25:34
Zak
i feel i felt I feel like that we already did that once before with our criminals. I think it's not fair to send our referees there. it's like This is ah this is um um unshackled, unhinged, late night rambling in the heat.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, football's so back. Who hasn't missed half 10pm recordings after one of the most boring games of football we've been forced to enjoy?
00:25:51
Zak
It's so funny.
00:26:00
Zak
I think you described it as utterly forgettable, and that is that is unfortunately where I'm at.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:07
Zak
The sad thing is, it was a win. Like, we still won the game.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, that's it. Look, a win's a win.
00:26:12
Zak
We lost to Chillingham two years ago in the same fixture, so like,
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. yeah Look, think about how many games last season that we would have taken 100 versions of this game over some of what we saw, right?
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, we won.
00:26:27
Zak
that's the that's the thing. I think it was just the, the energy and the vibes are so off.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're 2-0.
00:26:33
Zak
And, and no, you know all I can say, shout out to the support, uh, who went to the ground.
00:26:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:39
Zak
We heard you. Thank you. Pretty sure you outnumbered the Northampton fans. see Seems like they just decided to skip the game.
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I enjoyed... I enjoyed Northampton getting a free kick and the immediate champ being your just a not very good r Ryan Manning.
00:26:53
Zak
not
00:26:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perfect.
00:26:55
Zak
Perfect.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:26:55
Zak
No notes.
00:26:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:56
Zak
No notes.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:57
Zak
So shout out to all the traveling fans. Thank you to all our wonderful listeners for listening to what I can describe ah as unstructured, very...
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
How ready are you feeling for Ipswich this weekend?
00:27:13
Zak
Yeah, no, that's going to be slightly... To be fair, mate, more ready than I am for this game.
00:27:22
Zak
And it's over.
00:27:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
three yeah
00:27:26
Zak
it' So thank you for sticking with us. well We'll try and make sure that, you know, the next podcast is slightly more... less but slightly less unhinged, right?
00:27:36
Zak
Like the right level of of us being asked for. So...
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean tomorrow's episode we're taking a wonderful look back at to the weekend's action from the championship so it's going to be great
00:27:45
Zak
We are, exactly that. Maybe it's because we're both severely dehydrated. who knows, Greg? But either way, we thank you for sticking with us. We are here Monday to Friday every day.
00:27:57
Zak
we We always have some sort of Saints content out there. We are on all of the social medias. We are on Facebook. We are on X, the Everything app. We are on Blue Sky. We are on YouTube.
00:28:08
Zak
You can watch us if you really feel like doing that.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
watch our slow spiral into insanity.
00:28:13
Zak
There's a lot of
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:15
Zak
There's lot of us sort of staring into the ceiling going, what what is happening? there i We are on Instagram. We are also on TikTok. We put all little bits of clips from the funny bits of our show up there.
00:28:26
Zak
Yeah, all over the social medias. So come and check us out if you fancy doing that. Once again, shout out to all of our travelling fans. Shout out all of our fans all over the world that support Southampton at ridiculous times in the morning.
00:28:39
Zak
Sometimes for games like this that are probably not worth it.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're talking about, this is one of the best competitions around. This is top notch.
00:28:47
Zak
LAUGHTER
00:28:50
Zak
But know...
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, mate, I'm just saying, at least we won 1-0 because our friends down the road don't have to worry about another South Coast derby this season. They lost to Reading, so it could be worse, couldn't it?
00:29:01
Zak
Oh, no, you're right. It could be worse. And I guess all I'm trying to say is thank you for listening to whatever we have done tonight. If you got this far...
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll see you tomorrow.
00:29:16
Zak
That's great.