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Episode 204: Managers and Finances... SPORTS REPUBLIC IN!
0 Playsin 10 hours
Southampton – We talk Will Still, we talk Finances, and Greg tells us why he is keeping faith..
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Southampton Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
How doing mate? You alright?
00:00:24
Zak
Yeah, not too bad. Spent the morning in the hospital. Don't worry. Nothing major. Just a routine appointment for an ongoing health thing I've got. But that was
Europa League Final vs Premier League Relegation Playoffs
00:00:33
Zak
was fun. it was you know but I'm so glad I got to spend all of my Wonderful for me, Tuesday morning, sitting in a hot, stuffy room and not being miserable, and opening up BBC Sport and looking at the build-up to the wonderful Europa League final.
00:00:50
Zak
That is going to be comedy gold for everybody isn't either a Spurs or Manchester United fan.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. it It's almost like the relegation playoffs for the Premier League this year, right?
00:00:59
Zak
It's so weird, like, how you've
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like it's...
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:01:05
Zak
It's just a very, very strange like situation where, again, like people called us versus Leicester El Crapio, and you have like two of the teams closest to the relegation spots.
00:01:17
Zak
If it wasn't for the fact that the bottom three have been so bad, could genuinely be like, what's the point marker? Like 40, right?
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everyone says that it's 40 to be safe and Man United are on 39.
00:01:25
Zak
It's 40 for safety.
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Those are
00:01:29
Zak
Right. yeah With, with like well i don't like, a game to go, or maybe two for them, I don't But, yeah, it's it's very it's a very weird thing. And, obviously, like both of the managers...
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
on 38. it's literally 17th.
00:01:43
Zak
Both of their managers are on, like, the you know probably...
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, the verse seventeen like
00:01:50
Zak
ah don't know about Amarin. They might stick with him a little bit longer. But both of them have surely got a feel...
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was reading this morning that they like basically agree terms with Amarin for next season. So.
00:01:58
Zak
Yeah, so but for like Posto Conclu, it's got to be the chopping block, if not. Because like to be able to to fall out of European places completely and also like co ola all all competitions and be in like the significantly bottom half of the Premier League, that's got to be ah's got to be like times over.
00:02:17
Zak
so So we'll see. It's it's it's going to be interesting either way because it's like Manchester United can't afford to lose this. i'm like I don't think that that's how football works, though. I don't know, who knows nowadays? Yeah. Indeed.
Will Still's Potential Move to England
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indeed. ah ah Crazy times. Alright, well, let's have a little chat about Will Still. I think we've talked about a bit, the the market has moved.
00:02:37
Zak
yeah
00:02:40
Zak
ah date
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And definitely a lot more than our very good listenership could have affected, I'm pretty sure. Like, it has moved in such a way where somebody knows something.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:02:53
Zak
Yeah, 100%.
00:02:54
Zak
hundred percent Well, not only that, like you've got you've got a bunch of stuff that's happened, right? that you know hit Him basically resigning, quote-unquote, I think he's still technically under contract, but him resigning, saying he wants to go to England, basically saying he was... Because when he initially came over, he was basically saying, oh, who's choosing it? Like, oh, it's going to be the training camp for Lenz in the summer. And everyone's like, o okay, buddy. And then then straight away, he's like, yeah, I want to be back to England.
00:03:21
Zak
And I've heard it's for like... relationship reasons or whatever i don't know what to believe that goes out the in the media nowadays right because anyone can say anything and it's it could be you know
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
For some reasons, yeah.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, his missus is a Sky Sports presenter, right? And her her illness has been pretty well documented from what I understand. So he's yeah he wants to to be around to be there and be support for her.
00:03:40
Zak
yeah which which makes which makes complete sense so So, you know, it might all be smoke and daggers and it's absolutely nothing. So, who who knows? But at the same time, there's a lot of things that are falling into place that means that I reckon he's a far more likely candidate. I know that Roel was the big...
00:03:59
Zak
the big sort of the the big one that everyone was after, but at the same time, if he if he's now playing the waiting game of just like, let me see which ones will take me before I go and offer my services to Southampton, I'd rather not have that anyway, because that just means that next summer the same thing could happen again.
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Same thing. ah Yeah, oh you did a a wonderful profile on Will Still a couple of weeks back.
00:04:21
Zak
Thank you.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Episode 190. Big shout out.
00:04:24
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go and give it a listen. And I left that episode feeling like really positive. That like that is like such a good, promising signing.
00:04:31
Zak
Yes.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone that, although ambitious and has ambition, is still more likely to stick around for a few years and make a go of a project. Someone who is dynamic in his play style and has the ability to adjust.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dare we draw comparisons to Johan Sporz saying that maybe a little bit cloppy, right?
00:05:00
Zak
yeah i think it's some I think for me, the the biggest thing and one of the reasons that like obviously when I did the profile is is dismissing this myth that he is like the football manager-manager.
00:05:13
Zak
like If I went in to manage a football team, I would be the football manager-manager, right?
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:19
Zak
Like I have not a huge amount of experience on the football field, Greg. Like again, a lot when I was younger, used to play on the field a lot. I was never good enough to even be picked for teams or anything like that. My love for football has come later and has come a lot through data because that is the kind of nerd that I am.
00:05:36
Zak
But to to say that about him is ultimately dismissive just because like there was this little period of time where he's having to pay like every match he had because he didn't have a license, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00:05:48
Zak
blah That was resolved pretty quick anyway.
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:50
Zak
So I feel like it's does a disservice. It was great clickbaity headline titles at the same like at the time. But the fact that that's kind of what people's impressions were, and you've seen people go away sort of immediately react with, oh, this is a bit ridiculous.
00:06:06
Zak
Have a bit of research, whether it's the Daily Echo, I know Alfie Houspout, look an article about it. You know, I know the Saints statistics put a whole thing out about it recently and why Sports Republic find him attractive. And, you know, just saying we were potentially the first people to do anything.
00:06:21
Zak
Again, that's because we went entirely based off of the odds and just, you know, guessed really. But... He was one of the more exciting ones to look at, in my opinion, than half of the other people on the list, which is, you know, where we're at now.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and
00:06:34
Zak
So so for me, it's I think it's dismissing that myth.
Character and Charisma in Football Management
00:06:38
Zak
and And again, like, that they have they clearly have this profile of they want someone young, someone that's going to stick around, someone that wants to, like, build something with the club. They've done that once before.
00:06:50
Zak
It didn't work out just because of how stubborn he was in the Premier League. I think they really wished...
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's a bit of a gamble because he is, you know, unknown at these levels.
00:06:58
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cause let's be honest, you know, the leagues that he has managed in are not the same quality, but he's shown that he's got good knowledge of the game. He's tactically capable. He is multilingual, which is going to be incredibly helpful. You know, we talked a bit about why Russell Martin, some players might've done better under Juric than Russell Martin and vice versa. And,
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, it's like a risk, but almost a calculated one. Like, it it should be a good thing. It's an exciting risk, as opposed to, like, Oh, risk.
00:07:32
Zak
Well, we were kind of... If you think back to when Juric came in and we started looking and you did some research you know that we we all really enjoyed and you started talking about this the style of heavy metal football and and the the problem was if any of that actually came out and transpired to...
00:07:46
Zak
We never saw it. And part of that problem as well was like, obviously the information came out that one, when Hasenhutl went, they wanted to replace him with Juric immediately.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:55
Zak
But Juric was in another position at that point. know And two, the fact that they basically sort of rang up the managers they knew and picked the first one that was willing to pick up the gauntlet.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:07
Zak
And that's how we ended up with him.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:08:08
Zak
It wasn't an extensive process where they'd selected, you know, because after his first game, I think it was about a week or so later was the first time Spores was in the stands, right? So you're right.
00:08:20
Zak
that It's a different type of risk because at least it feels like it's a risk with information
Southampton's Financial Strategies
00:08:27
Zak
backing it, right?
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It feels calculated. And look, he is an exciting prospect. He finished five points off of euroqui the European qualification with Lenz.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they sold three of their best players that year and made £70 million pound profit. Which, you know, that's the sort of thing the Sports Republic are going want to see because the end of the day, money still going to be an important part.
00:08:53
Zak
Yeah, unfortunately, that is going to be a big focus. I say, unfortunately, it's not a bad thing to be economically sound. But at the same time, it's, you know, the alternatives are what what did people think we were going to get? There are people out there that sort of saying, oh, Gary O'Neill, Steve Cooper, this and the other. Well, we end up in a merry-go-round cycle where we select the same managers that can only do so much.
00:09:14
Zak
And, you know, or alternatively, we get on to your idea of Big Sam and, and you know,
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd still take it.
00:09:21
Zak
I know that you'd still take him. I know Oscar would still take him. It pains me. know, why don't you just but you get all of them again? Why don't we just bring old Hodgson out of retirement? I'm sure you'll take Warnock.
00:09:32
Zak
We joked around that we'd probably do that.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would love Warnock.
00:09:34
Zak
But...
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I mean, you have to respect anyone who is a character enough to come out in an interview and say, I don't want a minute's silence when I die, it wouldn't be fitting.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a minute straight of Warnock is a wanker. That's...
00:09:49
Zak
ah
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
exactly
00:09:53
Zak
Oh, dear.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
does we need info yes That's the sort of character who's going to give the team a backbone.
00:09:55
Zak
But...
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know? sort of character who, in a recorded like locker room video, looked at one of his players who were in the start of XI and went, you're not going wear them boots, are you?
00:10:00
Zak
Yeah, but...
00:10:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to be good to pull them off. Like...
00:10:14
Zak
This is true, but one of the other things we talked about, um didn't really touch it much on it yesterday with like you know City losing to Palace and stuff, is that with with characters, what you don't want is it through to be all about them. Guardiola, unfortunately, made himself the focal point of attention by going up and having an argument with a goalkeeper who had absolutely nothing to do with the decision that was made on the field by the referees.
00:10:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:36
Zak
And also, it's basically like any other goalkeeper in the world.
00:10:39
Zak
Whenever you're trying to run down the clock, it's going to time waste a little bit. That's unfortunately part of the game.
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's about the balance though, mate, because you want someone who can be that centre of attention when they need to deflect away from from bad performances.
00:10:44
Zak
so
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
like They need to be able to take that and take that hit you know, it's... You need a bit of something about you.
00:10:56
Zak
Yeah, this you need to be a character, yeah, for sure.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that's part of the reason that Juric wasn't popular, because he he didn't have any charisma at all. And sure, his football was also not great, right? But also, so his press conferences were, yes, yes, no, yes, maybe, by like, six and a half minutes, job done, bish bash bosh.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alfie Howe's staring at a blank piece of paper, like, how am I going to make an article out of that?
00:11:18
Zak
the yeah right yeah yeah yeah you're You're right.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:11:23
Zak
Is the is the issue with Ryan Fraser an injury? No. So is it that you're just picking other players? Yes. I still remember that little bit because that made me laugh. cause i was just like So we're no closer to understand what the heck's going to go on there.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:34
Zak
We're still going be ever closer to know what's going on.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Like, you need you need a bit of character.
00:11:37
Zak
so
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You need a bit charisma. You need to be tactically astute and adjustable. But also, without that charisma and bit of character, the there's always going to be critics of your job.
00:11:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because, you know, we
Sports Republic's Controversial Decisions
00:11:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
sit in a stadium where there are 32,000 people who know how to manage the team better.
00:11:56
Zak
Obviously.
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right? So, you're always going to come under stick, and without that character and that charisma to be able to take that and deflect that, you just you're just going crumble. So, know, it's...
00:12:07
Zak
but What do you mean?
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get what you mean, though.
00:12:08
Zak
we've that We have always had mentally sound managers that definitely don't have have meltdowns at the first sight of a bit of a struggle in the last couple of years.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:17
Zak
Yeah, no, you're right. It's it's finding that that balance, and I think that they have to... Character is as important as ability to manage, and that's because it is it has a massive impact on the ability to manage. And, you know, it's not a that isn't a football thing. That's a life thing.
00:12:33
Zak
You know, if you are having if you have a team of people underneath you, you have to be able to both inspire and also berate in equal levels to be able to get the best out of a team.
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:42
Zak
And I think that they've obviously looked at him and they think that he's got enough. Maybe. Again, we still haven't had any official confirmation, but maybe we'll have it by Sunday.
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:52
Zak
who knows?
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
but i wouldn't I wouldn't be surprised.
00:12:53
Zak
Hence why it's not a manager's profile today.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh I would not be surprised in the slightest to see Will still in stand on Sunday and some form of announcement because if they're going to go into the game thinking that they might sneak a cheeky win or a cheeky crazy draw and that that's going to be the big push of positivity that is going to be a sales push for season tickets...
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
then they're as delusional as me. Like, it's just...
00:13:22
Zak
you're You're right. they They're going to have to have something because they're also, from a business perspective, going to want to try and push season ticket sales. because i don't know how they're doing, but like you know you can all you can already see...
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:33
Zak
don't don't know. I'm wondering if some of the fans that kind of abandoned it halfway through the season will pick back up now we're back down to the championship because you know hopefully they're they're on to something better.
00:13:44
Zak
there are a But I guess we'll have to see...
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's interesting, right?
00:13:47
Zak
Proof will be in the numbers, right?
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that actually what they've said is if you were one of those people that abandoned your payments halfway through, you don't get the option of the payment plan this year. You just pay up front or don't bother.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:14:00
Zak
But this is the other thing where I want to know if the data that they released for the best-selling season tickets we ever have include the people that paid for a month. and then Because me and you work with DataMate, and we know how easy that is to manipulate.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't know.
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. Yeah, than I don't know.
00:14:12
Zak
it'll be interesting.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It will be interesting. I'm sure we'll get a clearer picture you know when the financials and stuff come out. And I guess that segues us nicely into what I want to talk about next.
00:14:19
Zak
For sure.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:15:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. Okay, I want to... I want to start with the controversial statement that I believe in and then justify it with, you know, some evidence and some thoughts from other stuff going on today.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And look, but up until this point, I think it's safe to say, Zach, that we we try and be pretty balanced and see both sides of a fence when we present arguments, right?
00:15:31
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We did it with Russell Martin. Like, it's probably his time to go. but probably not going to fire him We kind of rode the line and stuck the fence. And the same with Sports Republic, right? We've said, well, yeah, they've made mistakes. They've been poor.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Now, I want to... make my controversial statement. ah ah Sports Republic have my full backing and full complicit support because when you look at the news that come out today that Leicester have been hit with another four charges for financial instability after the having An appeal overturned, but not enough to overturn the actual ruling, I think I read.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, I don't know enough legalese to understand what that means, but I think that means that the appeal committee agreed that it was an incorrect decision, but didn't have enough weight of evidence to overturn the decision to actually put a punishment into play.
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know.
00:16:35
Zak
Sure.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the the the TLDR is they're probably getting a points deduction at the start of next season off the back of, you know, financial chaos. We've seen teams this season ride the line with these PSR rules and points deductions. We saw it earlier in the season where it came right down to the wire for, I believe, Everton and Forrest and Leicester that they, you know, they were,
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
at risk of getting more deductions for further breaches. Chelsea have to get creative with their accounting and sell themselves hotels or some nonsense to, sort stay within these financial rules.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, We made a profit this year. We are in a place of relative financial comfort.
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
After yo-yoing back and forward from the championship, you know, back-to-back relegations and promotions, up and down, boing, boing, boing, we have maintained the ability to financially stabilize ourselves and, you know, put ourselves in a position to potentially build up the football side of it that has...
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
admittedly been lacking, right? That is important because you could come into this season going, oh yeah, we're going to build up the football all you like. But if we start next season on minus 10 points, we've seen how that ends before, right?
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very recently in our club's history, we know we know the effect that that can have. And so I think it's really important the that they've done that.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... I think it needs to be shown more appreciation than it then it's given.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. I've info dumped all of my brain out for you, Zach. Come on. Let's see your response.
00:18:30
Zak
the problem The problem is that going forward, that's fine. you are going to struggle to get people to forgive what the last couple of seasons have been.
00:18:41
Zak
Because like the moments at Wembley are because we crashed out of the Premier League. We crashed out of the Premier League by from a company that came in, taking over from Gab, supposedly were going to invest, did invest, didn't really realise what they're investing into, in ah in a a sense, bought a bunch of City's youth players because they managed to bring in a a City recruiter, essentially,
00:19:02
Zak
I don't know how much of that conversation was had with Hassan Hool for how they were going to do all of those transfers. And then you got to January. They panicked. They brought in the, again, unflashy but statistically panffor pound for pound brush manager in England, Nathan Jones.
00:19:18
Zak
That went horribly wrong. They replaced him with a slightly more popular pick, right? And we ended up with Sellis in charge and he got two two wins.
00:19:31
Zak
And then we crushed out of the Premier League after being in the Premier League for so but so long, right? and Whereas, you know, because they made, I don't know if i don't know if you want to call it a rash decision when Routh went or a really poor decision in who they replaced him with.
00:19:46
Zak
They didn't really, I guess, understand the the impact that was going to have. We had it then had a bunch of players we brought in on top of a bunch of players we'd already brought in. So we ended up with, you know, Onoachu and, you know, Bella Kochap, all those kind of team in that season.
00:20:00
Zak
And then we dropped that Premier League the first time.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think, though, that the context of on part the past beyond that is important, though, right?
00:20:03
Zak
And...
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because they only came in are the start of that season or, like, two or three games into the season.
00:20:17
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, the you know, the season was underway. Ralph was the manager. And so they, you know, they had to deal with the cards they were dealt. They were dealing with an already damaged issue, right?
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they threw money at it to try and fix it. And sure... they They didn't do a good job of that, right? that Undisputedly. that Objectively, it didn't work.
00:20:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they came in and tried, which is better than the previous owner was doing. but though Those January signings were awful, and there's no disputing that or getting around it.
00:20:46
Zak
yeah
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if they hadn't have come in and invested and tried that, the outcome's the same. We're still going down.
00:21:00
Zak
Probably true. we we don't know things We don't know what was going on behind the scenes. We don't know where the state of the club was. We don't know. Realistically, we're not going to know that information be privy to it. So you're you're right. the The problem is, and the thing that's a little bit more criminal, is to do it twice.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. hello
00:21:19
Zak
That is a problem because what you've just said is like, oh yeah, the transfers were awful. Obviously, we saw the transfer window. we were kind of indifferent to it. There were some exciting prospects. the The big thing we picked up on is other than Ramsdale, everything was sort of a filler signing, right?
00:21:32
Zak
And this is all because of the fact that they didn't replace this person, didn't replace that person. And again, their focus has been so far away from the football in an industry about football.
00:21:44
Zak
So this is the problem is that you need fans and football to generate the revenue long-term that they want. Again, you can you could build shopping malls all around St. Mary's full of restaurants.
00:21:56
Zak
If no one's going to St. Mary's, mate, it doesn't really matter. And that will is what will require...
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but I agree, but they've put us in, they've secured us into a position where that's an achievable goal.
Rebuilding Trust with Fans
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whereas the alternative could have been, we could be in the same boat as Leicester.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And I mean, to be fair, lots has happened behind the scenes at Leicester to get them to this point, not excluding, and you know, devastatingly tragic death of their main owner.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, and and all of the sort fallout from that. and But needless to say, we could be in a similar position if they hadn't stabilised that side of the club.
00:22:35
Zak
or Or, now I know that it's significantly more risky, and i understand why not, but you could have taken the Nottingham Forest approach and overspend to the point where you're now in European places.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's the worst position.
00:22:47
Zak
Because again, i think that the rules themselves are the thing that are restrictive. and And that's caused the issue, and it's all well and good being trying to be smart about it. But it's also like we did not spend money, we just spent it in the dumbest places.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:59
Zak
And it's like, the worry is that How do we know? So so so so best case scenario, right? Will still roll, whoever name whichever manager you want to come in, comes in.
00:23:09
Zak
Okay? Half of the squad go. We keep the ones that we actually care about. In an ideal world, we keep Fernandes, get off for the rest. We do what we did in the championship last time. This new manager comes in, rebuilds the team.
00:23:21
Zak
We start to play well. Okay? I don't know if we're going to absolutely storm the championship. Again, there is Leicester and Ipswich to contend with. And...
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
and breaks them.
00:23:30
Zak
And Wrexham, who are going to, you know, their own own financial behemoth, which, you know, I think it's going to be a lot tougher for them in the Championship, but we'll have to see. And what happens if all of a sudden we're not running away with the league again and we get in sort of second, third spots? What if we end up in the playoffs again? We will be so hyped at Wembley.
00:23:48
Zak
And it's just, it will be it will feel like a never-ending cycle. What is it, you say you support them and back them 100% because of the finances. What is it about Sports Republic that gives you the hope that the next time around won't just be the same?
00:24:05
Zak
that's That's my big thing because that's my big worry.
00:24:08
Zak
but Because I just feel like, okay, so we'll come back next year and then it will be the same thing all over again.
00:24:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I think they are learning from their mistakes, right? Like, they made different mistakes each time. And, you know, yeah I write code for a living. You know, when you hit a different error, that's still progress.
00:24:26
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, they're still learning. Like, they ah ah threw money at players in the January of our relegation season, and that flopped, and it put us in dire straits, and it made it harder to spend money when we went down.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they built a team in the Championship, and... managed it and got some sensible loans here and there and you know made it up through the playoffs and we've discussed whether maybe that was a season earlier than we needed to for the proper rebuilding ability or whatever and and that is what is and then they came up and they went a slightly different approach they didn't throw money at the wall thinking they can improve they spent they spent money on what they thought were
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
shrewd, intelligent decisions, right? They bought in but brought in two strikers, which is what the big call-out was for, and they bought in you know some experience. They bought in a marquee signing in Aaron Ramsdale, which was really risk-averse as well. Like, this a player that's going to drastically improve our squad, and if we get relegated, probably isn't going to cost us that much money anyway. We might even turn a profit.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was... And, you know, bought in Ben Brito Diaz, he's a striker. He scored goals. That's what we need. We need goals. And, you know, they weren't good, right? We know that with the benefit of hindsight, we can look back and say that it wasn't successful, but it was a more balanced transfer window with an approach that and the fact that they didn't work doesn't negate the fact that it was a an improved approach right
00:26:07
Zak
and An improved approach is is fine, but there's there's there has to be something that is disastrously wrong for us to have got to the point where we are. That's where I'm at. like i can't i can't but I can't just put it down to just a bad season for us to just be this poor.
00:26:25
Zak
And I don't know if that's because they fully backed Martin to the point where we became Russell Martin FC, but
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but mean, but it was... Yeah, it is exactly that. they They backed him for too long and they gave him too much time.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, but also, yeah, 100%.
00:26:37
Zak
And too much of, I think, freedom to to shape that how he wanted.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
We didn't replace the director of football when our last one went last season. So, you know, we were all left scratching our heads, like, who's making these decisions if we haven't replaced that role?
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, you know, and and yeah, that's another mistake. It's another different mistake. But, you know, they've brought in a director of football to try and learn from that mistake and rectify it. Like, but it's objectively, it's been a horrible season and it didn't work.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think, I think that they have shown signs that they are, learn shown enough signs to me that they're learning from their mistakes that I...
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
believe they can continue to learn and eventually they might get it right and hopefully it'll be soon.
00:27:25
Zak
it's It's a very, to be clear, like it's a very pragmatic approach to it, right? like And I can understand completely where your head's at. And it would be wonderful if we all used the same type of logic.
00:27:37
Zak
But this is also the same type of logic that they are trying to essentially get away with having essentially ruined. and i would consider some of you as season ticket hold holders, mate, to have been robbed.
00:27:48
Zak
outwardly for the last season.
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:50
Zak
So it's like the cost of these mistakes are are more than just, you know, it's like, oh, yeah, we made some mistakes. We're learning. I feel like this is this is a very cutthroat business to try and make those mistakes.
00:28:02
Zak
They are lucky that they have got the financial resources to make these mistakes and it not kill the club, kill the city.
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:28:09
Zak
Like, you know, like, and that's the thing is it's, it's It's essentially gambling with with a with a football club. And so far, they've they've lost far more bets than they've succeeded with, which is difficult for you to go you know Because what you're saying is that...
00:28:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah but I mean, it's not easy though.
00:28:24
Zak
No, it course it's not easy, but the problem is...
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because if it was easy, Man United would still be winning the league every year, you know? Instead, they're in the worst Europa League final of all time in a relegation place playoff against Spurs.
00:28:29
Zak
Yeah, this is true.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:28:35
Zak
No, as I said, like I understand the pragmatism of it.
00:28:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's...
00:28:38
Zak
The the issue they they're going to have... is that like there are going to be people that do not think about it on the level that we are thinking about it, who from a surface level are going to look at what's going on.
00:28:49
Zak
People that don't spend every minute of every day analysing like we do. you know We talk about Saints every single day. right and if it's And I can tell you now, I promise you guys, even if it's not that if it's the two days there aren't a podcast, it is all me Greg are talking about.
00:29:05
Zak
Is it sad that our lives are completely football? Probably little bit. Hey-ho, it's what we enjoy. But we talk about this kind of, if you are talking about sort of like my dad, my granddad, any sort of, any any people that I know that are like on the outskirts Saints fans will look at what's going on, see we've lost again, see that we've made several of us mistakes.
00:29:25
Zak
and They will say, we're rotten from the inside out. We were rotten down to the core. What is going on in that club? And it's like, they are going to have to be the ones who rebuild that reputation. And in three seasons, two like relegations is not a good look.
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree.
00:29:41
Zak
And I think that...
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
i agree. But you also have to remember that what they invested into and inherited was already in trouble, right?
00:29:48
Zak
It was atrocious.
00:29:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like it had been suffering from lack of investment for a couple of years minimum.
00:29:50
Zak
Yeah.
00:29:57
Zak
It's like when any government takes over though, mate, right? And this is this is across the board, left, right, whatever you want to call it.
00:30:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:03
Zak
Whenever a government takes over from a previous government, you can blame that previous government for a couple of years. But after a while, it's your government, right? Even better than it is like at work, right?
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:15
Zak
when it gu When somebody leaves, you can blame that person for about six months for all the mistakes that happened.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But the main main difference between Sports Republic and government, though, Zach, without trying to be too political, is that Sports Republic have come out and owned their mistakes and admitted that they made them.
00:30:20
Zak
Oh, this person did this.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:32
Zak
But that's the that's the thing. like We've had an interview from the sort of director of, know sorry, the like, you know, Dragon Solik and actual conversations around the multi-club bottle and stuff like that.
00:30:43
Zak
But the problem I've got as well is that some of these mistakes you are talking about are also incredibly recent. like January it was when we replaced Russell Martin with, you know, December, we replaced Russell Martin with Ivan Juric after they came out actively and said, we just had no plan B.
00:30:57
Zak
And you're like, so your entire plan was no matter what to stick with Russell Martin until you realized it was untenable.
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
and and and And I agree. That's really like recent history. But you look at the actions since then, in that short period of time, they changed the board.
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, by hook or by crook. They brought in a director of football and pointed to the right direction. They, you know, maybe deliberately, maybe otherwise, who's to say, threw Juric under the bus as a scapegoat for, for the you know, to hang out to dry for the rest of the season. That's fine.
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And it feels...
00:31:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It feels like they're learning from the mistakes and trying to put the focus on the football. look I'm not saying the Sports Republic are a perfect entity, right?
00:31:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is not the the crux of my argument. I'm just saying, like, we're not Leicester.
00:31:52
Zak
It could be significantly worse, right?
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're not in Leicester's position.
00:31:55
Zak
And...
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
we're going to be starting next season on zero points instead of with an uphill battle, right?
00:32:01
Zak
Yeah, and and and those to be clear, all of those things are positive as well. And like my my opinion sits somewhere in the middle where like I am happy that we have owners that have money that are willing to invest into the club.
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:32:13
Zak
a The feeling has been horrific. That isn't entirely down to them, but it's a lot down to the fact that the you know you can't do the same thing two seasons in a row in the Premier League and it be...
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
There'll be studies and dissertations into how and why we were so awful this season.
00:32:29
Zak
oh yeah, 100%. and And like...
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And even so, i still think and hold true that a lot of it possibly comes down to luck and bad VAR decisions. Because if, you know, we we were, what, five games into the season and saying that we'd been robbed of nine points at that point.
00:32:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, if if we pick up those points, mentality and momentum changes completely and we're in a completely different, you know, multiverse at that point.
00:32:58
Zak
I think that it say it's difficult for a lot of people to accept that we are not as good as we used to be.
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:04
Zak
and Myself included. you know to see to Even when like sort of the dark days under Hasenhuul losing 9-0 feels like a lifetime ago in comparison to whatever's going on right now. And I think this season has been battering and bruising.
00:33:20
Zak
And the problem is, Greg, is that if you cannot name the players that are responsible and you cannot name the manager that is responsible... and the underlying problem is going to be seen as the ownership, then that is why people are going to feel that way. And as far as, you know, it's all right to put one radio statement out and start to make all these actions, but me and you are paying attention to all of these appointments they're making in the back.
00:33:42
Zak
They're trying to, i don't think it's me and you that this club, they they need to convince is going to be, them themselves and their actions. And for me, whilst I kind of agree with you on a fundamental level, I feel like I don't want to put out
00:33:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:58
Zak
I don't want to spin PR for them. it is up to them to prove that they give, you know, give a, about the, both the people, the city and the club. And they are in some ways, but also like a gesture, just a gesture for home fans, away fans or anything this season could go miles, but they won't do that because again, you're, you're right.
00:34:22
Zak
They're so economically hard line and it's all of these things is it's, it's understanding,
00:34:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:29
Zak
the feeling behind it. And I don't know if they get that yet. And maybe that is something they also need to learn. But because until until that they...
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:34:39
Zak
Until they try and, you know, again, like it's like it's like the ridiculous rules in the FA about, like, you can't use you can't use smoke. Please don't bring smoke. Yet they... You know, all of the photos are us invading the pitch and smoke being out, like, in the playoff finals.
00:34:52
Zak
And I understand that that's not all to do with them. It's just... difficult for people to trust them and I think that we can fully back them but if the same thing happens and in two years time we're sat talking about our third relegation and they've still made mistakes that's that's great but it's do you want to be in a club that
00:35:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:13
Zak
is alive, but essentially just living off of life support forever, or a club that succeeds. And the problem is, is because we've had so much success in recent times, especially where the last time we came back up, we we we became a bit of a, you know, middle middle ground horse straight away. But then it was a very, very different time. i think it's just...
00:35:32
Zak
A huge combination of factors. I think you put forth very, very good arguments and very sound arguments. The problem is, is they are too logical for the emotion that people feel for how bad this season has been.
00:35:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're right. yeah and
00:35:46
Zak
And I don't...
00:35:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't want to take away from that because I've been here suffering. you' You've been here with me. we' you know We've suffered together and it's been horrible and I never want to relive it.
00:35:53
Zak
Man, it's been...
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
just I'm just trying trying to vibe the positivity in before next season. Trying to get that way.
00:36:03
Zak
Yeah, but i think that they I think that they will achieve that when they when they assign a new manager.
00:36:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be...
00:36:08
Zak
And I think that the summer is going to be hectic.
00:36:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:36:10
Zak
And when we know what squad is going into the championship and when we build up to the first year of the championship, the last season will be forgotten because memories are incredibly long.
00:36:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Reflection on Southampton's Journey
00:36:19
Zak
like we still As much as we were loving lovingly talking about Palace yesterday, i still am not a fan of Zaha just because of that one game with James Waprowse when he played right back like a couple of seasons ago.
00:36:31
Zak
there There are still things that I'm irrationally angry about. Watford, at one point, handballing in like the penalty area to stop a goal going in means that I have an irrational hatred for Watford. I can't put that down to usually the exact moments, or like I can in that instance, but that's that's the problem, is that memories will be short.
00:36:51
Zak
The season will be in the distant past because we're going to have at least three derbies to look forward to if Charlton get promoted next season.
00:36:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. That's it.
00:36:58
Zak
So...
00:36:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bring it on. I can't wait.
00:37:00
Zak
Yeah, that that's what I mean, is so that we will be able to look forward to that.
00:37:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Look, that is, that's all we got time for today. I want to, want to leave you with this mental image that I've conjured up while we've been talking, mate, because we've had a lot of talk about managers and, you know, I think that we're both in the position that Will still is probably at this point the best appointment we can make.
00:37:06
Zak
yeah
00:37:12
Zak
Oh, goodness.
00:37:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, hear me out. Right. Neil Warnock mouthing off at Ryan Reynolds wrecks him away. Who doesn't want to see that?
00:37:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is Football Heritage.
00:37:35
Zak
Mate, for all we know, Neil Warnock could be managing Wrexham.
00:37:42
Zak
Mouthing off Ryan Reynolds at Wrexham away.
00:37:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll tell you what, that is a Disney Plus series that I would pay extra to watch. I'm there for it.
00:37:53
Zak
Perfect, mate.
00:37:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
make it happen.
00:37:54
Zak
Perfect.
00:37:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Football gods make it so. Alright, well that is that is the best possible image I can send us away on. Zach, thank you very much for joining me today and putting up all my controversial and logical opinions.
00:38:02
Zak
Perfect. Thank you, mate.
00:38:07
Zak
Too logical.
00:38:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back tomorrow
00:38:08
Zak
Too logical, mate. It's in the wind.
00:38:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
as we turn our eyes towards the weekend and our final day of the season and maybe start thinking about some post-season reviews and maybe I'll gently throw in a reminder that the position I finished, I predicted we'd finished, is still the amount of points we have.
00:38:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, we'll see you then.