Transcript
DailySaintsPod: Hello! and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg, joined once again, as always, for episode 486 by my good friend a wonderful cohoacck and uh...
DailySaintsPod: Wow. Ciao. Sure was a game of football, wasn't it, mate?
Zak: Happy birthday to me! What?
Zak: It's my birthday today, hence the new away shirt that my mum bought me. And, you know, I've got the lovely third kit as well. And I was like, man, I'm really hyped to watch some football tonight. And I didn't want to go down. Similar reasons to Greg. I don't want to pay 25 quid. I know I defended it. all of last episode and that was mainly just because we're having a chat about it to be honest And I decided to play a bit of Devil's Advocate. But I was like, I don't really want to. Really glad I didn't.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: I'm also, as everyone knows, you can tell from the background, to be perfectly honest, miss I'm a bit of a nerd. For the first time in my life ever, my two hobbies have clashed. There was Gamescom's opening night. was being so broadcast at the same time as this game. I wish I just sat and watched that. Because quite frankly...
Zak: you know Clearly, nobody else wanted to turn up tonight, or at least the the entirety of the our ability to defend didn't turn up tonight.
DailySaintsPod: Mmm.
Zak: So yeah, let's just, let's get into it, shall we?
DailySaintsPod: Yeah well look, let's start at the start. We got the team news and... I mean despite... I mean, with hindsight of the result, it's almost...
DailySaintsPod: a joke to say this but it was a stronger side than we were expecting Named.
Zak: Oh, I was I was two off in my finalesis predictions.
DailySaintsPod: Right.
Zak: I know that we, I think when we did the show. I said maybe Roryslev. I kind of changed my mind on that and thought Brie. Allied Inspect. uh akachukuru to come in right i kind of assumed it would maybe be Flynn Downs and Bragg, I thought maybe they'd start with a stronger midfield. And obviously what ended up actually happening was...
Zak: not that and quite frankly so yeah other than that i was pretty much spot on
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: But... It was a stronger starting 11 than we expected. And that starting... Eleven didn't really...
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: Work out.
DailySaintsPod: No, I mean, look, a start for Cienza, who, you know, we know has been carrying a knock and I thought might.
Zak: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: might be rested to try and catch up on that. and you know just A start for Fellows, I guess it kind of makes sense. whether i Still hard to tell whether him...
DailySaintsPod: or Matsky or someone else is preferable out on that right -hand side.
Zak: I think... I think it's currently Matski and that's i I'm saying that because towards the end of last season it was. And I think that, you know, these are opportunities for fellows to go in.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: you know being Completely. You know. just constantly being like, I love fellows. He's going to score and that a voodoo doll, right?
Zak: That is just.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: somewhere cursed him.
DailySaintsPod: I need poop. Put a curse on him, yeah.
Zak: I like you. Amen. The reality of the situation when it comes to Tom Fellows is that he has been good at delivering the ball, but like you'd love to see that part of his game there as well. And we we would need that.
Zak: I don't think he was the only one that fought tonight. I think that it was just a general performance of... We... it's a classic Saints thing if we go 1 -0 up and then we we continue to pepper them but we don't take our chances and then for some reason the foot comes off the gas and even us bringing on senior players by that point they just started putting us to the sword a stupid goal from a set piece, a defensive error, another defensive error.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: and then eventually it's just like you know Jared Bowen scores goals like that. that's That's fine. But again, it just...
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, I mean, that's...
Zak: every single
DailySaintsPod: the only goal of the four. The... you know, you can kind of hold your hands up and go, yeah, okay, well, Jared Bowen running at our quite tired fullback who is struggling against him and doesn't play 90 minutes normally.
DailySaintsPod: you know,
Zak: But...
DailySaintsPod: does a big piece of skill and scores a jar of bone coal. But the the other three, I mean... like sure maybe on the corner there's a foul in there somewhere but I mean, the referee forgot his whistle, right?
DailySaintsPod: I don't think he actually gave anything to either team throughout the entire night.
Zak: Cool.
DailySaintsPod: So at least he was consistent. uh
Zak: yeah Yeah, but also, you know, we managed to pick up cards and and they didn't.
DailySaintsPod: is
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: You know, Cienza got carded after being brought down, but you know, he was brought down and then almost stopped from getting back up. And then when he kicked out, he gets carded. And I understand the ref didn't see it. The ref can only see what he saw.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: What he did see was, you know, Cienza fouled the guy. But it's like it's understanding understandable why it's frustrating. But again, it's's we're going to talk about the things like we used to talk about when we were on that horrific losing streak during the Premier League, where, again, it's just if we'd actually taken our chances, it wouldn't have been a problem.
Zak: You pointed out that at one point, fellows put it on a 10 -piece...
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: the pen pence piece for mumbaba to score and he didn't and you know that might just be new strikers settling in jitters whatever carl aaron's there probably scores that
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: But at the same time, we didn't really want to waste Kyle Lahren on the pitch. Clearly, we decided.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: I'm a bit baffled that we kind of like put out a team to win, but also put out a team that was quite strong, made really, really strong substitutions for them to lose 4 -1, be demoralized and, you know, have Cienza play far more of a game than I expected him to after carrying injury on the weekend.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: clearly we we spoke about this he's clearly had some knock on with the shoulder talking about painkillers and stuff and I'm like I understand he wants to play every minute, but like they had to do that last season to manage his minutes a bit. So I was surprised, but...
Zak: You know, he showed he just did see ends of things. He scored a really good goal. That was a positive.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: It just...
DailySaintsPod: That positive just gets lost in in what happened after though, right?
Zak: it's It's the same with, I would say, that Odozie, when he came on, had a really good game.
DailySaintsPod: Good.
Zak: He you know kept breaking away. And the amount of times he put you know balls in and there's just nobody there. And you're watching how frustrated he's getting because he's managing to get in the right positions. And you know he's clearly... fighting to get into the side.
Zak: So that is a positive I'll put forward today. you know I think that Prague and Akachuk, we did a much better job than I expected them to do together in the midfield for the majority of the first half.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: But again, a lot of these errors are silly defensive ones. and I think that, you know, we've seen that, oh, well, Jack Stephens has been scapegoated quite a lot. And I'm like, well, yeah, the problem is if he's like a very obvious player that's in frame when that goal takes place and everyone expects him to do better, like that first goal, the one the one with him not clearing it properly, right?
DailySaintsPod: yeah
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: you just all you had to do was clear it properly that was the second one right they put my head all you had to do was get rid of that ball and i understand he's tried to kind of knock it on and i don't know maybe if it's you know
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: He clearly is just trying to keep the ball in or whatever.
DailySaintsPod: He, he, he... We've talked before how you you don't know what Jack Stevens you're going to get, and you either get a Jack Stevens who is like, bang on it. or Jack Stevens is prone to a mistake. And even before...
DailySaintsPod: that particular mistake for the goal. you know a moment of the game that otherwise maybe fades to nothing without the like these other bits adding on to it to the context but i think back to in the I think it was right at the start of the second half or maybe late in the first half where...
DailySaintsPod: you know they put a quite harmless cross in really there wasn't really anyone attacking it and stevens swung a leg at it It could have gone anywhere. It went... Up and into the... crowding behind for a corner.
DailySaintsPod: But that's not the direction he was trying to kick it. He could have just as easily flown in the top corner of the goal. It could have really gone... It just seemed... He wasn't composed.
DailySaintsPod: Which is normally something you kind of associate with him.
Zak: Sharp, isn't it? No, no.
DailySaintsPod: It was...
Zak: A lack of sharpness. And is that just because he's played at the weekend and they're not properly match fit to do?
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: you know, the the level of games we're going to be playing. And obviously we're going to have a slightly few less, but... you know I think I spoke about before the game started, right? Whether or not... you know I think i I put it together in and a tweet, basically saying the weight of expectations. Who who has the like higher expectation to win here?
Zak: who is expected to win. And I thought it was probably West Ham. And then they put out pretty a pretty weak squad. And then we went 1 -0 up and we were kind of all over them. And then realistically, then it became our game to lose. Then we we did it in in such old -fashioned saints where we just kind of like went went out with a whimper. And then the the defense like the subs didn't really make much of a difference. But the big the big problem you've got, as you pointed out, with like you don't know what Stevens you get on the night, is that, yeah, I think it's probably just tiredness, a lack of sharpness. We haven't been playing games a lot recently.
Zak: But it's not going to stop any of the noise about everybody's worry that realistically, if Taylor Harbour Bellis goes, which we don't know what's going to happen with that. You know, a lot of people, a lot of pundits saying it's basically over the line.
Zak: But also, if we're holding fast to our valuation, if they don't meet it, they're not getting the player.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, I mean that that's the most recent coming out right Saints have been clear on their valuation and Villa are not willing to reach it So at the end of the day
Zak: And now there's been rumours that he's going elsewhere, right?
DailySaintsPod: You know, unless... lack of other options forces their hand to make them pay. above what they want to pay, it's kind of where the conversation ends, right?
Zak: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: If they're not going up anymore and we're not going down anymore.
Zak: And then you've got...
DailySaintsPod: It doesn't happen.
Zak: You've got apparently, you know, there's rumours knocking around that they they want to go to they want to go for a player at Crump. Club Bruges instead, which I don't know, unless Remus, we don't really know the reality of that situation. But then you potentially have a player that I don't think would down tools, but I think he's going to be it's going to be harder to integrate him back into the side straight away after such a big...
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: potentially missed opportunity for somebody that could play Champions League football. You've then also got this rumour that like West Ham might just put £35 million quid in and potentially just buy him outright. and I don't know, maybe that's a slightly...
Zak: better, more in prospect if he's if he's disgruntled. I don't really see that being the case. I also don't Those are just kind of like.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: again it's soft rumors from what i think is more fan theories than anything else But if he does go...
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. Uh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Zak: We are left with him, Wood and Kwasi. Kwasi we just haven't seen. And it I thought I kind of expected to see him tonight, if I'm totally honest.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: But I thought, you know, they want to build this partnership up between the two of them. But it's not going to stop any of the noise and the worry that him and Wood are the, you know, our two centre -backs. And I think there's going to be a lot...
Zak: more worry around him. than words. And I don't like that because I think that he's, you know, proven to be a good captain and is trying his best and stuff.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: But when you allow a mistake like that and another of mistake, you know. in the Watford game as well. You're not going to stop that noise. That's two pretty large mistakes in... in you know,
Zak: two games in quite quick succession That. have resulted in a lot of people, you know, paying attention. Right. And... you're going to have to see now, are they going to pull out the checkbook and get somebody else?
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: Or are they going to try and just, you know, but again, none of this is put to bed until the window closes shut and we know whether or not Taylor Harwood -Bellis is a Saints player.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: And that's that's the reality. It's just, it's such it's such a... pain to have to have a conversation about that. in this game. rather than us attacking a quite weak West Ham side, where instead we gave a debut and two goals, right?
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: It's like, you know, number 66, like come on.
DailySaintsPod: it Oh, yeah, mate. I mean, just, yeah, you're right. Just the squad numbers of the west like the entire West Ham line -up really speaks volumes to to how much better we should have been doing.
DailySaintsPod: It. despite that. And I mean... you and maybe others might write this off as just copium or some nonsense but like
DailySaintsPod: i' been rather vocal. or my thoughts about the Carabao Cup. Right? and And... Nothing else quite speaks volumes like shutting a stand. and still not selling out. Right?
DailySaintsPod: Psychologically speaking. Is it just... potentially a case of you know we don't need to rush to panic stations because we lost for one it's just that the players didn't care because nobody else cares because it's a rubbish competition that's just going to add more fixtures into the schedule.
Zak: do Do you think that that is how major teams... become successful.
Zak: Do you think that Manchester City, you know, I understand that they can put out a youth squad that are probably higher calibre than some of the squads they come up in the early rounds, which is why they're able to do that.
Zak: But. I think the... you know I know that it's it's quite cynical to say that everything's important, but if you have a manager come out actively and say to everybody in this press conference, we need to we want to win this game, we're going to try and win.
Zak: and then behind andc closed doors be like doesn't really matter that much lads
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: No, I don't even think that that... I think that... I think that Tonda believed. that he wanted to win. And I think that the... the side that he picked. shows to me that that Is his mentality going into the game? And I'm not talking about the messaging that's been given to the players, but we talked.
DailySaintsPod: you know extensively last season about how mentality and mental edge means so much more at this level because those margins are so fine.
DailySaintsPod: Is it? Is it just... That much harder to get yourself fired up to care to reach those you know, sensational levels that you need to get to, to, to be a decent team in this league when you're in a half state, half empty stadium.
Zak: So, thank you all for watching this video.
DailySaintsPod: and it's it's pretty apparent that... Does... Does anyone really? you know, it's it's not. the same atmosphere that we got at St. Mary's.
DailySaintsPod: This past Saturday, it's not going to be the same atmosphere that we get at St Mary's. This Saturday coming, in it's is notably different. Is that... you know, going to make enough of a psychological mental impact to not excuse this by any stretch of the imagination but you know go some way to explain him why maybe some of the players just switched off more.
Zak: I... I guess, but in the same sense of, you know, yeah we're playing against a, what for a lot of that game was a West Ham youth squad with quite strong players.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, but that just means that they're that just means that they're hungrier. Right.
Zak: but then i should yeah But then I would expect that from from Wellington. I would expect that from Tom Fellows. Tom Fellows wants to cement his place. Play like it.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: but Obama is trying to... you know is We know basically an understudy to Carl Aaron. And he wants to get in front. So you know he needs to put away those chances. you know akatsuki has broken through and has got now a full you know a full start alongside Bragg who is breaking through who I would expect more basically is where I'm at and I'd expect more from the senior players because if you've got
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: a group of players that's like, I can't be bothered. Well, what's the point of wasting Leo Sienza? What is the point of wasting all of those minutes on like Finnezas and Flynn Downs coming on? if we're then just like kind of like not bother and again a lot of that and defensively
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, I mean I don't disagree with that I'll just think.
Zak: defensively i get it but like i think that If you are being told one thing and you are being kind of like pushed towards one thing and you decide that oh I can't really be bothered because it's the Carabao Cup and you're not treating it as seriously, then that means, in my opinion, there's already a disconnect between what you're being told and informed by management and what you actually think and what you agree, which isn't going to help with the whole idea of the noise of like, you know.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: the trumpets get louder for Tondra every loss we have.
DailySaintsPod: might I mean...
Zak: Which is ridiculous, mastermind.
DailySaintsPod: I kind of thought of it as more subconscious than that. I'm not saying that players are... are actively coming into this game thinking doesn't matter i just think that you know maybe in those moments
Zak: You can't get the psychological edge, right?
DailySaintsPod: in the game Yeah.
Zak: like you know there's that At one point we're singing, you you you know... You sit down away. like how crap must you be we you sit down away and And then we're having to kind of like try and rile the crowd up. You're right.
Zak: having partly an empty stadium. And you know, putting the prices at 25 quid, closing a whole stand, having actively noticeable empty seats, probably does have to an extent.
Zak: slight but bit of an impact. But at the same time, when you're in like the midst of playing the game, do you think that like the defensive error is caused by you looking up and being like, well I wish there was more people watching me?
DailySaintsPod: No, i don't I don't think it's as clear cut as that.
Zak: No.
DailySaintsPod: I just think like... I just think psychologically speaking. Like... Just the way you you're mentally switched on is probably different in a game full of Aurora and St. Mary's than...
DailySaintsPod: than in a game in half empties and marys right like Jack Stephens probably, or I don't know, maybe he doesn't, but potentially finds just that extra bit of oomph and absolutely clouts that clearance out of the stadium instead of straight to one of their players.
DailySaintsPod: Right? Just...
Zak: Totally. But then he for that he did that at Watford and we had a whole away stand that was screaming his name.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: and you know it so so i actually i Again, if you're if you're putting it down into basic human terms, I think that we have a tiredness from the weekend. I think we don't have...
Zak: full rotation options. at centre -back apparently because we're never apparently going to play quasi again and we seem to need to bring more people in. Until this Taylor Harwood -Bellis situation is sorted out, you know this is this is the piece of the puzzle, right? People are saying, well, get out your checkbook and buy a centre -back.
Zak: But... they won't They won't necessarily want to do that. until they've resolved whatever's going on with Howard Bellis because if he then stays and they've bought an additional centre -back then they need to try and maybe find a home for Kwasi and it's like oh we'll just find him alone but it's not as easy as that if it was that easy we would have already done it with Ramsdale for example right where like so I think that, yeah, it may...
Zak: I think maybe you think it's a psychological thing. I maybe think it's just a hangover from the fact that they're all tired. uh from the weekend and maybe you shouldn't have started two players that probably were up for it And maybe, like you said, subconsciously were a bit tired, whether or not it's because the atmosphere was a bit flatter, whether it's the fact they've played at the weekend and they're not quite back into the groove.
Zak: Maybe it's the fact that they know that what's, you know, as you pointed out from a psychological perspective in the background, what's at stake. This isn't we're at minus one points and you're going to get absolutely crucified by the fans for losing.
Zak: What actually happened was there wasn't enough fans by the 95th minute in the stadium to moan at you because the vast majority of them saw the scoreline after Bowen's fourth goal. and went, I'm going to go home.
Zak: So, you know, this is you you haven't had the same reception you'd get if you'd lost 4 -1 at home to West Ham on a league game that would have maybe pulled us out of the relegation zone, right?
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: So I guess what's actually happened, Greg, is I've come round to your methodology and agreed.
DailySaintsPod: is I'll take it. Uh... but I mean...
DailySaintsPod: I can't sit here and defend that performance anyway, right? And I'm not going to write i not goingnna weight it off as as just Carabao Cup and it's done.
Zak: Well, like okay, so where where do we go?
DailySaintsPod: Although part of me wants to because it is just Carabao Cup. it's still a performance that's going to cause concerns.
Zak: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: or you know, the only way we can really... Shut up. It's gone and decisively built and beat a Millwall team who historically we struggle against.
DailySaintsPod: currently are on you know, an incredible run of form and sit at the top of the table. And... And I'm going to have watched us play West Ham tonight and be... well up for it, right? So...
DailySaintsPod: I don't know Might make for a potentially difficult weekend. This was is the real concern.
Zak: Yeah, we'll be... We won against Stoke, but I think a lot of people had a lot of questions about the performance, right? Like, even one of my friends who's non -football related were like, hey, did Saints lose at the weekend?
DailySaintsPod: you know
Zak: It was a bit sort of quiet on the way out from the, you know, when they were walking through Woolston. I'm like... No, like we we won. We won 3 -1. I don't know, maybe... maybe it kind of wore off by that point but I know that you were buzzing I was buzzing so you know it was a it was a good thing it's just a bit of a dose of reality And I just think it's also the manner in which we lost was just a bit... Rubbish.
Zak: Like, I think that it's the it's the it's the things that people already had concerns about, right? And they are exacerbated by the fact that that is the areas where mistakes were made.
Zak: And I don't just think it's, you know, entirely down to Stephens. And I don't think it's entirely, you know, per perhaps had a bit of and like a mistake, but that was after, you know, pulling off an absolute world at the beginning of the game.
DailySaintsPod: Hmm.
Zak: He managed to save a decent shot at that point. and you know We weren't able to finish our chances because we had players that were a little bit rusty. who haven't you know been you know firing goals, like you know scoring at World Cups like Kyle Aaron.
Zak: So yeah, do we... Do we just put it down to a one -off because it's the Carabao Cup? hopefully, but... I think the problem is is that if it wasn't... if it wasn't laying bare concerns people already had.
Zak: I think that it would have be it would be easier to just move on, right? If it was just kind of like the kids got battered and we downed tools a little bit and, you know...
DailySaintsPod: and
Zak: this we we tried out a centre -back pairing with Kaya Sander and Wood and it just didn't work. The fact that it's like, if Taylor Harbour -Pellis goes, our two starting centre -backs that...
Zak: kind of missed many opportunities you know a set piece a thing we used to struggle with quite a lot that came back to haunt on us and then a mistake a thing that individual mistakes was the reason for our downfall in the premier league
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: It's all of those factors combined that will cause concern for people. And it's going to be entirely up to them to resolve that problem. You know, if you want to, if you want not to be moaned at for, you know.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: Score a goal. like It's just... It's just a bit crap, isn't it, for a Tuesday night?
DailySaintsPod: yeah
Zak: And if you've paid 25 quid to go and see that... You got to see it like, you know, pretty nice Cienza goal. that That's one of the positives, right? Everyone's talking about how, you know, Cienza's off. He's not really in it. He's not the same Cienza. And then he does the Cienza thing.
Zak: on a Carabao Cup game. that that isn't really that important he shows the kind of player he still is so there are positives there as i said i thought a dozy looked really sprightly I think it that was a good demonstration of how good a mac player Manning is. that We maybe missed him a little bit tonight.
DailySaintsPod: yeah
Zak: know the midfield wasn't the end of the world. I think it's going to be nice when we have Yanda back. but it's it's I understand why people are like, hey, whip out the checkbook and buy some players. But also the reality of the situation is what they don't want is the window to slam shut and have a bunch of extra players they don't know what to do with on top of new signings, right?
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: that's going to be the worst case scenario because financially...
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. It's going to be a really tricky week, man. all All the way through until our literal game in the middle of...
Zak: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: the deadline.
Zak: we're going to have a transfer We're going to have a transfer episode that by the end of the recording of the episode, it might be null and void, right?
DailySaintsPod: a bathmin
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. Crazy.
Zak: We already had that once because we left it, checks notes, a day after weeks of nothing.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: But now, like even if we leave it a couple hours, like it's not really going to matter because so much can change in this small period of time.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, it's crazy.
Zak: Maybe we do an emergency one. Who knows? but
DailySaintsPod: But look, I think... on the whole. my My opinion that I'm taking from this evening is not... Not quite at panic stations yet.
DailySaintsPod: And look, we said...
Zak: No, I just kind of wish I didn't watch it.
DailySaintsPod: We said. I said after the after the Watford game, right? Yeah, they were off the pace, but everyone gets one.
DailySaintsPod: And then we judge. And I think by... By the grace of this not - being a one, this being at a generous 0 .4.
DailySaintsPod: Uh... you know We go again on Saturday and see where we're at. but it doesn't take you into that game with any level of confidence, which is I guess the problem.
Zak: Well, that's that's that's the issue, right?
DailySaintsPod: the the momentum, right? say
Zak: If it was all the kids and it was the kids that lost, that would be that that would be it. It wasn't. that's That's part of what the concern is.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: Pop! There are people that had worse nights than us. Brentford beat Birmingham 6 -1. And Peter, bruh, Pete Watford, 5 '1". So... you know. Swings and roundabouts.
Zak: Stoke were knocked out on penalties against Hull. like but We could have had a much worse night, as I said, from a personal perspective.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: Obviously I do a daily Saints podcast with you. We try and catch. as much of the football as we can. Just kind of wish I just didn't bother.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. All right.
Zak: I'm not.
DailySaintsPod: Right there with you, man.
Zak: That's how it is.
Zak: And.
DailySaintsPod: as to As a closing thought to leave you on before we we wrap up the episode, Zach.
Zak: Mm -hmm
DailySaintsPod: we would talk. briefly in the preview and i think I said to you, this could be like the Gillingham game and you said it won't be as bad as that.
DailySaintsPod: uh i'm just reflecting on that and that we only conceded three that night so
Zak: Yeah, but the difference is this is previous we you know this is this is West Ham Premier League.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: Regardless, their youth squad is still going to be quite strong.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. Squad numbers 66, 61, 58.
Zak: Okay, no, you're right. But... But i guess a lot I guess the other thing with the Gillingham game is like, we never saw Gineppo again. we never saw Lianco again.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: I think with this game, Stephens isn't going to go, we're not just going to ship him off after this, you know, a mistake or two in a couple of games.
DailySaintsPod: Not heard.
Zak: We're not going to see, you know, a Dozie shipped out or Matski. Maybe Akachukwu gets a loan. Maybe Bragg gets a loan before the window closes. Who knows? But I also think that they probably have a chance to to be around the squad.
DailySaintsPod: who knows what's going to happen
Zak: And, you know, Akachukwu rightly got had a decent pre -season.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: played now. Maybe he gets... ago, but
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: I guess also a thought that might have been more pertinent. had we not you know conceded two more goals after that point. but quite the recovery from their goalkeeper, right?
Zak: i Well, that was the five minutes added on time that allowed everybody that extra bit of time to get home from St Mary's.
DailySaintsPod: yeah
Zak: So I guess thanks for that to all of them.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: But, like, looking at him, i I do probably think it was genuine cramp and, you know, managed to sort himself out. Because.
DailySaintsPod: I've watched enough pro wrestling to know what selling looks like. Just because he started selling it early doesn't make it any less fake.
Zak: Yeah, but also then then you've got the West Ham...
DailySaintsPod: like that's like That's like sitting in the office the day before. You know you need the day off to where I'm going. I've got a real scratch in my throat, like laying the foundations.
Zak: just makes me It just reminds me of Rob Green being like, I've never known a goalkeeper to get cramp in literally my entire life.
DailySaintsPod: the
Zak: by might be It might be the case, but either way, it was funny to watch them protest when they had to take another player off and be like, why isn't he back on there? and It's like this amount of time that he spent fanning around on the floor, mate.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: That's the reality.
DailySaintsPod: that's how it works
Zak: but Yeah, i'm not I'm not going to lie, Greg. I'm not devastated about us going out from the Cup. I am.
DailySaintsPod: na
Zak: concerned about. Momentum. hopefully. and And what that means is that we hopefully need to go into Millwall and just...
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Zak: win.
DailySaintsPod: i'll say we go We go and we smash Millwall. No one remembers this game next week.
Zak: No.
DailySaintsPod: Is there a map? So...
Zak: No, you're right. you're right But that that means that there's a lot of extra pressure on Millwall. When I said the weight of expectation is West Ham need to win this game more.
DailySaintsPod: yeah
Zak: that is accurate and maybe some of their youth get a start now But. you know it was I think the frustrating thing is the manner in which we lost has exacerbated things that people were already concerned about.
Zak: And that's frustrating.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. I mean, that said also. Right, the third and fourth goals are are almost directly related to... throwing the kitchen sink at it and and not really having many other defensive players on the pitch right so like for one
Zak: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Scoreline that flatters them because we were trying to open up and push for it at the end more than anything. but but still too many mistakes not not good enough going forward still no urgency at the back
Zak: Yeah. It was settled after 2 -1 realistically.
DailySaintsPod: plenty of reasons to be concerned, but... All the way. Ugh. We've got plenty of time to to ruminate on it now. and uh head towards the weekend but look that is all we have got time for this evening so thank you everyone for joining to us in this uh group therapy session uh let us know your thoughts and your opinions on the game in the comments and on the socials we are daily saints pod
DailySaintsPod: Absolutely everywhere. X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok. Everywhere. Hit us up. and let us know. We'll be back tomorrow to talk about transfers.
DailySaintsPod: But until then, everyone, have as good of a day as you can after that nonsense and we will see you then.
