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Episode 284: Wll Will Still impose his will?
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Southampton – We talk about Will Still, and how it's going so far this season. Lots of fun dicussion points today!
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Energy Check
00:00:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back once again to the Daily Southampton part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach Ngofinch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing bud, you alright?
00:00:29
Zak
Yeah, not too bad. Don't have probably the same energy levels as late night recording after fairly sort of okay game. mean, we scored and it was only two goals.
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
and the the eternal imp empire The adrenaline pushes us through. It's fine.
00:00:45
Zak
For sure, for sure.
00:00:46
Zak
So yeah, I'm already feeling that tonight, but there we are.
00:00:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all right, mate. That's right. Look, let's let's get
Liverpool Game and Season Review
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
straight into it. Will Steele described the Liverpool game as the story of our season. and And I thought that was a good turning point to have a look back at our season so far and how we think Will Steele's doing and how we think Will Steele might do.
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And maybe ask some questions that... are
Will Steele's Performance and Style
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
uncomfortable later you on because you know I like to like to ruffle some feathers obviously let's so let's start the start mate what do you make of us still so far
00:01:30
Zak
He's been okay. Like, I think that in comparison to managers starting, in the last couple of years, cause it's happened quite a lot. I think he's done relatively all right.
00:01:41
Zak
We've had a win, had a couple of draws, had some poor losses. Uh, that's better than taking like 10 games to get your first win, not getting a win at all, uh, getting a win, but being really arrogant about it.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:01:56
Zak
You know, those are what we've dealt with so far. Um, I think that he is stoic in conversation and interviews. And I think that that has seemingly rubbed people up the wrong way.
00:02:10
Zak
I don't think that's entirely how he is behind the scenes. I don't think that he would have been given the job if that was the case. But yeah, like I think he's doing right. I
Managerial Style: Steele vs. Martin
00:02:20
Zak
just, and I understand the fan frustration that they want to see more of They want to see more, right?
00:02:27
Zak
But I think there's a lot of caveats around that, but I don't think are Will Stills' fault necessarily.
00:02:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think I think we agree with all of those things, mate. like He seems like a really personable person, but not like pally-pally like Russell Martin.
00:02:41
Zak
a
00:02:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
His job is to be a manager. He's still personable, and I'm sure that he still has a reasonably good relationship with the players, but it's like... manager first approach. Like, my job is to be a manager and manage these players, not to be their best buds and be all pally-pally.
00:03:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think you'll
Southampton's Evolving Style of Play
00:03:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
see, I know one of the things we've talked about before, we've talked on the show about before, was I think you said the handwritten letters before the player final from Russell Martin.
00:03:11
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think that's the sort of thing you would ever expect to see from Will Steele, but don't think that makes him any less of a a manager. I think that that's like the more person and personal touch, whereas Will still seems sort of real focused on manager and football first. And I kind of like that.
00:03:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
One of the big criticisms I see thrown at him a lot is that we don't have a style. And I just want... I think we make it pretty clear, our opinions on this on the show, mate. But I just want to get right out in front of it and say, thank God.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right? Like...
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Imagine playing a game where your job is to play football, and that is the style, that there's football, right? Like, it's not...
00:03:58
Zak
Yeah, I i i hope i i agree. it's I think it's difficult because people are, you know, before even before Russell Martin came in and like stamped his philosophy and the way he wanted to play and the live by the sword, die by the sword thing, we had whatever we could describe the Southampton way being, right?
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
the old Ralph Hassenhuttle playbook, right?
00:04:19
Zak
Yeah, and that was and that was in play for it was in play for a very, very long time.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where it was from the Academy up.
00:04:23
Zak
and And that is one of the things that I think Nathan Jones puts his downfall because the players basically refused to kind of play that way. And then, you know, it's realistically other than that, the Southampton way was sort of like high pressing, high intensity, stories of Pochettino making them run on the training ground for hours on end, which again, like it's almost over ah over over a decade ago now.
00:04:46
Zak
But yet we still kind of think that that is kind of how we're supposed to be. and And that was maybe Puel's downfall because he had this really sort of defensive negative style that that that people don't like. And I think that it's it's a double-edged sword because in one sense of the word, it's it's very good at hopefully, you know,
00:05:05
Zak
meaning that we have games like the Liverpool game, which we all wrote off and we actually gave it a relatively good go. Things changed to suit that situation. All the personnel changed. That was probably more Carabao Cup than anything else.
00:05:18
Zak
But then the flip side of that is that when we feel a bit lost, like we did at Hull
Player Mistakes and Managerial Challenges
00:05:24
Zak
and emotions rise, like myself included, like anyone that's listened to this show long terms knows that i am i can get very wound up, especially directly after a game that's been dire.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
What? Wait, that's shocking news to me. I've got to say.
00:05:39
Zak
and it And it very much does feel like there there is a a sort of lack of identity. And I think there is a worry that from some people that we've gone from having a really, really rigid identity having having none.
00:05:50
Zak
And I think ultimately the identity that I would like is to start winning football games again.
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:56
Zak
And I think that's ultimately where where he's going with it. But the modern day and everybody's an armchair analyst, like, good Lord, we do a podcast daily, right? I keep saying that, like, by my my level is probably tacticnic tactically inept.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:10
Zak
However, that doesn't stop us all having opinions. And those are pis opinions are... considerably louder and it's like oh they should do this and this is how the formation that he should play and this is how he should do this and when there's not anything that you can kind of like match to that I think that that kind of causes a lot of people to sort of be like oh well it's because there's no there's no style there's no there's no reason why we lost when in actuality a lot of the games we've played it has been down to you foolish mistakes, but it's it's really down to him to start drilling them out of the players because you can't keep saying, yeah, we really keep shooting ourselves in the foot every single game, right?
00:06:50
Zak
And that's...
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
that really nicely leads me to my next question. But it sounds like the perfect time to take a break and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate, and we are back. And the next question that I have written down to talk about is going to make you laugh, because it is, can you train players to stop making stupid mistakes?
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because, look, if there's one thing that's been consistent across our last three, four managers, right, it's these...
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
individual errors and individual errors that lead to goals. And and this is no different so far under Will Steele. I would say less so, sure.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But is it is it actually possible to get rid of that from a player's game? and What can you do? Is it just a case of like changing your style to play to their strengths, which I guess is you know another vote for the...
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
dynamism or sort of mixed ability, right? The changeability of the team. Or how do you do it?
00:08:39
Zak
I think it's it's it's very difficult.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because it's...
00:08:41
Zak
And I think that the part of the problem, and we all kind of know it, is a lot of the players that caused the individual mistakes at such a high level that caused us to have such a bad campaign last time around.
00:08:54
Zak
are still here. And I've given this some thought. And the problem is, is a lot of people were just like, oh, we've got to sell the entire team. And like I kept talking about this during our transfer episodes. Who wants to buy them? You can't just put the entire club up for sale. You need to be practical. You know, some of these players have signed long-term deals.
00:09:11
Zak
Some of them, you know, maybe as they mature, I think a lot of it potentially comes down to nerves. But, you know, there's been talk before. Do you bring in football psychologists? do you bring in therapists? What do you do?
00:09:25
Zak
What is the actual, you know, do you do you throw the book at them? You know, if you make a mistake, if I make the mistake that was huge in my job and I drop the ball on a project, I'm not getting put on the next project that's important.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:38
Zak
right? so So if you've got players that that have caused, have done big, big mistakes, then it's strange that they're not dropped for the next game.
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's tricky, right? Like, long gone are the days of proper hairdryer treatment. That's just a thing of the past. An age gone by, right? Times are different now.
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
can't get away with that.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:09:57
Zak
No, course not.
00:09:58
Zak
But it's practical to say, you made this huge mistake.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:10:02
Zak
This is literally the reason we've lost the game by by the margin of one goal. So I'm not going to put you in the next game. And I think that, you know...
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess I do have to caveat one exception to that hairdryer treatment comment, and that is probably Ekotike after his red card. It has to be said. Some fairly scathing remarks about him in all of the press.
00:10:21
Zak
but
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:10:23
Zak
gee What do you mean Slott wasn't mad at all? It was because he wanted to give Will Steele his shirt, right? Because he played for him a long time ago. and e Beside the point, like I don't want to bully young players for doing young player things, right? But but it is...
00:10:38
Zak
it is those kind of, you know, I feel like those conversations are happening. But also, if they've happened from the last five managers, if you keep saying, oh, you can't keep making these mistakes, we're going to drop you.
00:10:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:10:47
Zak
And then you also look at the evidence of what's happened to a lot of the players who, you know, have left us. I think the only one that's really... stepped down, in my opinion, um um is probably Ben Barrett and Diaz to Derby.
00:11:00
Zak
If you look at like his trajectory, where he was going, people he was going to do amazing things. Went to Sheffield United, scored the most for them before they got dropped down into the Championship, came to join us because we were in the Premier League. And then you know you look at kind of how his performance, it's almost like ah watching watching a completely...
00:11:19
Zak
alien player, but then you've you've got other players, you know, like, Sulevano, who had a, had a all-white season, but didn't do anything crazy, like, celebrated a goal at Swansea, like he'd won the World Cup, has now moved to a Champions League side.
00:11:32
Zak
You know, even, even a couple of, you know, like even the fact that Russell Martin, the coaching style, so it's, it's almost like it doesn't really matter if these mistakes, ah singular mistakes are made.
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's not enough consequences that we we're saying it's not.
00:11:45
Zak
i think I think that's what I'm saying, but like I don't know what the right answer is. Again, like any other sane person in any other job, if you did something that was catastrophic, you know so I understand that that's part of sport. you know Sometimes there is going to be mistake happening, but if it's a consistent pattern
Team Selection and Fan Perception
00:12:00
Zak
and it's happening the same day in, day out, week in, week out, which in some cases it has been, okay, well then drop that player.
00:12:09
Zak
swap them out with somebody else. And i I think part of that is that we weren't able to replace the entire squad because that's not feasible.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, I mean, don't want to don't want to take your argument to the logical extreme, mate, but am I hearing that McCarthy shouldn't play in goal for us for the rest of the season? Because...
00:12:24
Zak
it's thought It's not necessarily the next deceivers, but like,
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
just Because that's a debate. That is a debate amongst the debate we had yesterday and a debate in the fans, right? Maka versus Baz is a debate.
00:12:33
Zak
then And then part of this is the fact that, you know, ah ah okay, well, should we have got somebody that was better in goal during the transfer window when we picked up a bunch of other players that were better at doing other things?
00:12:45
Zak
It's the same thing with the striker debate. The striker debate is because I know that we've you've discussed this with me and you said, well, it's due to the creativity, but ultimately strikers are there to score goals. And lot a lot of our strikers are scoring goals at all.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:12:58
Zak
And that is causing a problem. So should we have gone out and thrown the kitchen sink at buying a bigger striker? Well, we could have, but then the club would be in debt and not be able to board self-sustain. And then also, if we would we would have to get rid of players that would just be in sixth in the running, and then it the yeah the issue rises of who wants to buy them,
00:13:15
Zak
So it's it's a merry-go-rounders. I don't think you can ever rule out individual mistakes. I do think that player power is now trumping manager power. And I think that that can cause problems in dealing with these issues because I wonder, you know, is it because they are picking the team that they genuinely think is the best team?
00:13:36
Zak
But there's also a huge part of that that's also going to be managing relationships with people.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Politics.
00:13:41
Zak
Of course there is.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. i mean I mean, this has been a conversation for years, right? I mean, how many times did we question the sanity of picking Elian Nussi every week? Like, it's just...
00:13:50
Zak
Yeah, but then then but then again, he he went to another country and went back to coppa i went to Copenhagen. And he's been a Champions League goal scorer pretty much ever since. Solidly in their side week in, week out. So then could it be the change of scenery? Could it be cultural differences? There are tons of reasons as to why. But again, like what i can't deal with is if if ah ah if a player makes the same mistake three games in a row and we lose three games in a row,
00:14:14
Zak
We keep picking them. And it might just be because, like, well, in Stephen's case, it's because he's our captain. Or, like, you know, oh, this is clearly our best centre-back. Or this is clearly our best winger. Or this is clearly our best striker.
00:14:25
Zak
You know, is your argument for Cameron Archer is because he's scored the most goals. And I'm like, well, that's out a tally of not lot. You know, Armour's looked really, really sharp.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:34
Zak
Armour was the best of the Championship previously.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
think I think Armour's done enough at this point to supersede that, right? Like, his goal last week and how sharp he looked against Liverpool, I think it would almost be criminal to not have him in the starting line-up against Middlesbrough.
00:14:47
Zak
and i And I agree with you that the part of that problem, though, is like you is building confidence.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:14:51
Zak
If you're getting dropped from the team, you're not going to build confidence. So if somebody is making silly, silly mistakes over and over and over, do you drop them down to the Premier League too and get just more match minutes, more match fitness in an environment that's probably to allow them?
00:15:07
Zak
And then again, that will raise the question of, oh, well, that's going to be punishment. And that's seen as... So I think it's i think it's really difficult for managers to try and... deal with silly mistakes like that. because also But also, it's not like the player's job that's on the line. You don't see a player fired for making nine mistakes in a row that lead to nine losses in
Team Identity and Managerial Impact
00:15:25
Zak
a row.
00:15:26
Zak
You see a manager fired because he was unable to convince that player all or in the...
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
To not do that.
00:15:32
Zak
Yeah, and but then also it's not as simple as not doing that. It's understanding why does this keep happening? How can we get rid of that?
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:39
Zak
What is it that's the problem? Is it part of your game? Maybe I shouldn't make you or trust you to do that part of the game. There are so many factors.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've just... I've just had a thought.
00:15:50
Zak
I don't think, though, a manager's fault, mind you.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've just had a... I've just had a thought, mate. Uh... We talk a lot about like the perception to the fans and, you know like you say, about everyone has an idea about formations and what we should and shouldn't be doing.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bearing in mind how well we played against Liverpool and how many changes were made, and this the bri it's going to be a proper selection headache. like I'm not looking forward to our match preview tomorrow and trying to work out what the starting XI is going to look like because haven't got a clue how many of those live up from that Liverpool game stay in and how many don't. I don't know what combination we're going to end up going with.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... does that make it a more important team selection than any other, right? We talked to before the start of the season about like looking at that team lineup when it comes out before the game and that being like the moment where a lot of fans judge Will still.
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've sort of come full circle to another one of those sort of key points, right? Where if he just reverts and does the same thing that's not gone well, we're starting to think, what what's going on? What we
Optimism for Will Steele's Adaptability
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
doing?
00:17:00
Zak
but reverting to a thing that doesn't do well because he wanted to change to a different style because he had different players. And then he had some of those players play in that previous style against Liverpool at
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, i I mean hypothetically if we look at the team sheet against Middlesbrough and he's you know gone back to a four-back formation and brought in six or seven of the players who didn't play on Tuesday night.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:17:29
Zak
i think I think, yeah. And I think that if he if if that's the problem, is a lot of it is down to perception. And a lot of it will be be one and lost through the results because it's a results-driven game.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:17:41
Zak
I don't think any manager is is beyond that. But then again, some some apparently have the survival power of... don't know how Russell Martin stood at Rangers. like This isn't even disrespect to him.
00:17:53
Zak
like i just I'm just baffled that you can have that start and that loss and it be... it'd be acceptable because again, like, oh, it's because we're having to do X, Y, Z and you could offer all the explanations under the sun, but you're right. I think that when people look at team sheet and they go, you know, there's going to be a lot of people that go, oh, well, Makar had that howler.
00:18:11
Zak
Why is he, why is he back in goal? But then also there'll be flip side is that there'll be a lot of people. and And I think ultimately, It's not down to us, it's down to the owners that make that decision anyway.
00:18:23
Zak
i think once you've lost the fan base properly, and we are quick to turn at the moment, for good reason, I just don't know i don't know if you can put it entirely down to like the perception and the team sheets every week.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:35
Zak
But I do think that
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's going to be a really interesting point. I think that that is a really like interesting potential pressure point this week. That that's going to be...
00:18:44
Zak
this This week specifically, yeah. But like I think longer term, it's one of those things where we're not in training every week. we not we we
Sponsorship Message
00:18:53
Zak
you know Could it have been the fact that these players wanted to do really well at Anfield, the occasion being at Liverpool?
00:18:59
Zak
they've always you know A couple players, you've got Leo Sienta from...
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
French players who are trying to put a show on to get into the first team, right?
00:19:05
Zak
Because we've seen that before too, where a player puts an absolute amazing performance in and then gets into the actual squad for a cup like ah ah a league game and then just sort of disappears out nowhere.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, oh, oh, oh. Hmm.
00:19:15
Zak
And then it's not up to us to make it.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:19:19
Zak
I just don't. I understand the frustrations. I'm trying to get to my point. And I'm sure you're all exhausted because it doesn't sound like i'm getting to it. But think what I'm ultimately saying, Greg, is that, yeah, it's a pressure point.
00:19:33
Zak
I don't think it really has much of a difference either way, long term.
00:19:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that does lead me nicely into my last two questions. But first, we will take a break and have a word from our partners at Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
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.
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more ah ah about Zencaster. all Alright mate, I've got
Future Scenarios for Will Steele
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
two questions to wrap us up.
00:20:12
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
One is throwing a cat amongst pigeons. but I'll start with but with the one that's not that. ah you know Compared to how it's going, how's it going to go for Will Steel do we think? we still feeling positive? Are still feeling the the good news and the good gravy? we still all optimistic?
00:20:30
Zak
I don't know if it's going to be easy as we think it will be. And I think that that's more due to the championship quality. And like, you know, there are teams that are doing significantly better than anyone originally predicted.
00:20:42
Zak
Whether that's just because it's a bright start at the beginning. Sure. Like we don't know what's going to fall down over time. You know, there are teams that are doing significantly worse than we expected. Sheffield United being one of them. Right.
00:20:53
Zak
Again, like predicted to be like.
00:20:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah. Still early days in a very long season. It's hard to tell, isn't it? right like When there's 46 games, it's a lot, isn't it?
00:20:58
Zak
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:02
Zak
I just think that there's a lot of baggage. There's so much baggage to deal with. And I think that what a lot of people think is that he doesn't have the the character or the experience to deal with it, right?
00:21:16
Zak
And I can understand why. You know, i think that they would have, a lot of people, you know, you were even, you weren't joking when you said you would take Big Sam, right? And I think there's a lot of people that kind of, from a level-heavage perspective, are just like, oh, it's the the football manager, manager.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:32
Zak
Oh, he's too young. Oh, he's quite stoic. Oh, I think everyone's tune will change if we suddenly start st stringing a few wins together.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hm.
00:21:39
Zak
And I think if, you know, i think that we should just kind of trust in the process and understand that, we're not as good as we think we are.
00:21:48
Zak
i think that's my biggest thing, is we're not as good as we think we are.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that I'm feeling much more optimistic than you, which which I'm sure will shock a long-time listeners. But look I'm feeling like we're going to turn it around at some point and really hit the ground running. Will Steele is going to...
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
bring it all together and get the players playing the way he wants. And we're going to work out. He's not scared to adapt and try new things. And that's a good thing. Right. but But it does mean that there's a bit of trial and error involved at the start. And that's the sort of stage we're in.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, and even when we get something that works, we still need to evolve from that because if we stop and do that same thing that works, then we're back to where we were at. Right. So, some Sometimes it's going to work, sometimes it's not, but I i like that.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's going to be good. I think he's going to turn it around, do some good stuff. Like you say, string together a few wins, and then, you know, who knows where we're going to be at. Hmm.
00:22:45
Zak
I think that's the problem. if you if you do If you go with what you say, which is the end of the transfer window is the beginning of the season, right?
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
eight
00:22:54
Zak
Because of how unset everything were was. And I don't know how much I agree with that, because I feel like you have to accept that there are a couple of games before the transfer window closes, and you will have to deal with that chaos and uncertainty.
00:23:05
Zak
And your job at that point is to get as many wins as you possibly can and get as many points on the door. So if we're realistically judging him so far, it's it's not gone great. And then I think that the Carabao Cup game, which no one expected to go that well, went super well.
00:23:19
Zak
And, you know, I think that they would probably I would probably have a different answer to the question had we not put such a good performance in yesterday. So no it's not that I'm not as optimistic as you.
00:23:31
Zak
I'm just significantly more cautious. I don't want to start thinking, you know, I know we joke, we've made our predictions of like first and second or whatever. And I think it's just, i know
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not a joke. That's my genuine definition.
00:23:44
Zak
i know that's your genuine, but it's like, from my perspective, I'm like, I don't know if we go up straight away. And if we don't, that's not the end of the world. But I think that the way that people are going to treat it is that it is.
00:23:57
Zak
Because again, people are convinced we should and be better than we are. But the reality of the situation is 12 points the whole of last season. Yeah, we've spent money. Yeah, we've come down. Yeah, we've put new players.
00:24:11
Zak
That's so much to deal with in the timeframe we've had so far. And I wonder, is it too much?
00:24:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
it in It's interesting mate I'm hearing what you're saying and it feels like the answer to my next question is now something that we're going to be in agreement from despite coming at it from different angles
00:24:20
Zak
Who knows?
00:24:30
Zak
Interesting.
00:24:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I want to
Debating Managerial Changes
00:24:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
make it very clear before I ask this question that I am purely playing devil's advocate and I in no way hold an opinion that but would ask this question in this way.
00:24:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, last year we were all pretty adamant and pretty clear about the fact that... we should have got rid of Russell Martin sooner than we did because the writing was on the wall.
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And by the time he was gone, it was too late. And so my devil's advocate question is if we see a poor string of results, how late is too late this year?
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is there too late? are we Should we be sticking out with the whole season regardless? Because that's how long it takes to bed in and properly make this project and turn things around.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or, you know, if if we don't win another game before, say, the next international break in four weeks' time, is is enough enough at that point?
00:25:31
Zak
Do they have a replacement in mind? Is it just going to be Danny Roe, which is what a lot of people are saying is one of those questions.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:25:39
Zak
and So that that's a big thing because, again, like they don't have a really good track record of replacing managers halfway through a season with anyone better. They've spent a lot of money. like The players that we've brought in have been brought in to for spores. It doesn't feel like for Stilt.
00:25:57
Zak
I don't think Stilt's had at half as much.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:26:00
Zak
I don't think he's really had any input into into transfers. And I say that because of the fact that You know, him saying, oh, well, I never wanted a striker is because, like, they basically said, you're not getting a new striker, right? You've got Damien Downs, that's your new striker.
00:26:15
Zak
He's the one that's been willing to adapt. So unless they, you know, if they've got anybody that they would want to bring him in, i just feel like a lot of managers out there would have their, this sort of, I want to do this. They've done a lot of the coaching has all been, you get rid of Will Steele, you're to then get rid of the entire coaching team as well, because they interviewed separately and brought in Trolls.
00:26:35
Zak
They brought in Lallana, Kyle Martin's still there. you know You've got the Rube Martin.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:26:40
Zak
They're all separate individuals. This is the coaching staff that has been picked and designed. So, OK, you fire the manager. I think it would take something catastrophic. It would be us being like close to being relegated to the League One, I think.
00:26:52
Zak
Because although game is for promotion, I also think that at this point, Sports Republic need to be realistic about the fact that it is probably going to be a big rebuild.
00:27:01
Zak
If we get promotion and
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Fan Expectations vs. Team Performance
00:27:02
Zak
we do really well and the Spring Drops is up together and Will still does it, I think that it's going to be ah ah credit that he's been able to do that.
00:27:12
Zak
but i was But the the other devil's advocate side of me, Greg, is that a lot of this puzzle has been made around not the manager.
00:27:23
Zak
the manager is just another piece of the puzzle.
00:27:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
For the sporting director.
00:27:25
Zak
So if the manager goes and another manager comes in, It's not going to be as catastrophic as when Martin left and basically everybody turned around and went, so what now?
00:27:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I'm saying
00:27:36
Zak
And then some sort of like some Italian bloke came in and with 90 packs of cigarettes and was like, right guys, this is what we're doing. It's going to be heavy metal football. And then it was like, so what are we going No idea.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think from how heavily caveated the question at the start, it's pretty clear to everyone that my opinion is that it's it's irrelevant. We should be sticking with Will Steele at the very least until the end of the season.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and sort of take that as an assessment point, I think that the championship is it's as good as it is because it's a hard league. And that means that some of the results are going to look crazy and going to look skew-whiff, but that's why we love it and that's why it's so good.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I still think that over the course of the season, I think we're going to get there and be good enough. And I don't don't don't like hearing the chatter this early and I don't really like feeding the fire by asking the questions like this, but it would be remiss of us to ignore it.
00:28:22
Zak
Yeah.
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:28:31
Zak
it It's more of an, to be honest, a lot of the, it's more of an upstream problem. It's so more of an uphill problem, upstream problem anyway. You can't, you can replace, wo like, Wilstil, as I said, but if you've still got spores and you've still got the entirety of the Sports Republic board, and then they they they kind of still don't really you know know what they're doing football-wise and they continue to kind of wander aimlessly around, then that is where the problem will lie. You can't just fire the manager every year, unless you're Watford, I guess. They've managed to
Closing Remarks and Fan Engagement
00:29:01
Zak
stick in the Championship doing that every six months or so.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:04
Zak
But...
00:29:05
Zak
And I understand that, you know, our opinion on Sports Republic is, could be worse.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not where we want to be though, is it?
00:29:09
Zak
but But again, I also think that as much as I love this club, Greg, I just think we're not as good as everyone thinks we are or where we should be. And yes, that is due to significantly large reasons, but no none of those can be unpicked overnight.
00:29:23
Zak
Again, if you want to blame anyone for the downfall, blame Gowl.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, you're right. Look, mate, I look forward to clipping up that we're not as good as we think we are when we win the league at the end of the season.
00:29:35
Zak
That's fine.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, love it.
00:29:38
Zak
I just, like for the time being mate, it's how I feel.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wait, this like But that's that' why right that's why we love it. We love our difference of opinions. They're great. It's good. That's why we love football, mate. There's no right answer.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only right answer is kick the ball at the goal. And if we get better at that, maybe we've got a chance. So, look, that's all we got time for today.
00:29:57
Zak
a
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, Zach, for joining me on this journey, ah talking about Will Still.
00:30:00
Zak
Thank Thank you, mate.
00:30:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And let's hope that, you know, I think it's a nice to have these check-ins and and see how we feel like it's going. And it'll be good to do this as the season progresses. Thank you, everyone, for joining us. We will be back tomorrow to talk about the Middlesbrough game and the excitement. And do not envy us with the choice of trying to predict that starting XI. That is going to be something else.
00:30:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know. Let us know what you think starting 11 is going to be or let us know your thoughts on Will Steel. We are on all of the social medias. We are on Facebook, TikTok, Blue Sky, X, Twitter, no Instagram. That's the one I meant.
00:30:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
All of them. Let us know or in the comments. We are everywhere. We love hearing from you. Thank you very much. Like I say, we'll be back tomorrow. But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day.