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Episode 281: Matchday Review: Disappointment at Hull!
134 Plays4 days ago
Southampton – In a disappointing loss to Hull, there is lots to talk about!
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Transcript
Introduction & Podcast Focus
00:00:14
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 today, joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch. And how are you doing, my friend? I mean, I always dread to ask.
00:00:33
Zak
Watching the game yesterday was a complete waste of my time. but but That's where I'm at. i I had some family over the weekend. They knew I had to stop to try and you know catch up with what's going on.
00:00:45
Zak
Hence, you know we do a daily podcast about it. And quite frankly, I wish I'd just skipped it.
Game Analysis & Fan Expectations
00:00:50
Zak
It's infuriating.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I've seen such a range of emotions about the game, and I'm sure that we're going to get into it at length in this episode, but I kind of feel like it wasn't as bad as everyone's making it out to be.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that that's going to upset you.
00:01:11
Zak
um I can't with you, mate. Like, we lost three one to Hull.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but we scored a goal.
00:01:17
Zak
Yeah, but... Yeah, Armour scored a goal right at the end. Excellent. Happy days after we were 3-0 down. Brilliant. I just... I can't.
00:01:28
Zak
I need you to... I need you to explain to me how it's a positive and how that's good and how Wilson is the man because so far, I just don't...
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
look alright let's get this let's get it clear ah don't think it's a positive right I am trying to hunt the positives from a very disappointing thing
00:01:45
Zak
Yeah, but okay, that's what want you to do. I want you to find the positives because like the way our our back and forth has been...
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
game 14 shots 4 shots on target that is an improvement I know that we were leaky at the back, but I mean, ah but here's the thing, like Hull had also only had four shots on target.
00:01:57
Zak
But none of them go in! They never go in, Greg!
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just so happens that three of them went in and, you know, two of them were soft.
00:02:10
Zak
Why? Because we've got...
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two of them were really soft offensively.
00:02:12
Zak
75% defence is the same we had last year.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, hundred percent.
00:02:19
Zak
with a twelve twelve point season
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree. That's,
00:02:21
Zak
like
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
that is That is the problem. But like unlike last season when we had a manager who was stuck in his ways and like unwilling to change anything, we're still finding the formula, right?
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are changing things. We've seen changes throughout. And sure, at this point, none of them have... really been as effective as we like but it's going to come, it's going to fall into place it's like, we talked before about how once that window slams shut that's basically like the end of pre-season so at this point we're two games in, realistically
00:02:57
Zak
3-1 to Hull.
Team Performance Issues & Tactical Changes
00:02:58
Zak
they don't they they they They concede. They barely score.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
but the but the that score is not a fair representation of the game though like and even watching that game
00:03:02
Zak
we play It's a striker that's never scored against us in six games.
00:03:10
Zak
But it is because that was the score. That's the score.
00:03:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. however But that's not...
00:03:16
Zak
That is the score.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:03:17
Zak
That is the reality.
00:03:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but...
00:03:18
Zak
Football is played on grass, mate, not paper. Your words to me, constantly...
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree. no I fully agree with that, but 3.1 does them more credit than then the actual game does.
00:03:32
Zak
Yes, because we're that bad. That's how that works.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, man.
00:03:35
Zak
yeah
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know.
00:03:36
Zak
That was the whole of last season. We made every team look great. We broke all the records for every team. Any team was on a bad streak. Any strike was on a bad streak. I remember Wolves, with their striker they finally paid for, got a goal against us.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I think...
00:03:50
Zak
And Stan Larson, they were really worried. What are we going to do when Kuna's gone? And then we play against them. And Stan Larson ends up scoring against us. Therefore, was like, maybe can be a good striker.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But last that's the problem, mate. It's just scar tissue from last season. this You forget that exactly this is how it started at the start of our promotion campaign last championship season.
00:04:09
Zak
I don't think it was that bad.
00:04:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because because having a championship... having the transfer window shut this late into the championship means that we we're only two games in. He's only had a week with his players. It's just so... I mean, ah get it because we lost 3-1 and that sucks.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's not good, right? I'm not ah not excusing it. I'm just saying, like, you can't just snap to the judgment of, nah, we're still rubbish. Look, it's just the same nonsense. Like, it's literally two games and a week.
00:04:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, he's tried...
00:04:39
Zak
I understand, ma i really do. But the problem is is that people pay. This is supposed to be entertainment. People have gone up to Hull.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:04:47
Zak
We feel like we lost the South Coast derby. Let's not pretend. like It was a nil-nil draw, but for us, it may as well have been loss. okay, it's point of the board. That's the only positive we can really take from that game. Everyone wanted to see a reaction.
00:04:59
Zak
And then you've got a bunch of these new players that still can't manage to click. And then we're still playing the same players that are bad at the back. There's a combination of things. Like, I'm not a tactical genius and I'm not, of course, I'm barely tactically an inept, mate.
00:05:14
Zak
But, like, my point is is that you are you cannot expect to galvanise a fan base when this is our start to this campaign. And also, likewise, I hear your point, you cannot expect miracles overnight.
00:05:27
Zak
Both stances are ridiculous.
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:28
Zak
We can't have an absolute head loss, but at the same time, it was a 3-1 loss to Hull. Like...
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, like... Right, look. like let's Let's take the emotion out of it, Zach. Honestly. And tell me, what was our biggest criticism of the Portsmouth game? We didn't create enough chances.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right? That was our biggest criticism. isn't Right? We kept a clean sheet because they didn't create anything either. We didn't create enough chances. So we've gone to put that right. Yeah? And we've we know we've changed... a bit, and we, we you know, we had the team as it was.
00:05:58
Zak
how How much did we change? Because I still remember seeing a lot.
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had 14 shots.
00:06:02
Zak
seeing a lot Yeah, but...
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's 13 more shots than we had last week. like Like, we have tried to correct, and in doing so, you have to agree that, sure, we let in three soft goals from arguably their three only chances in the game, right?
00:06:17
Zak
more
00:06:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
or Not quite true. They had another chance afterwards that we were almost lucky not to concede from. But, But, you know, we can correct again.
00:06:26
Zak
what solid chances do you What solid chances do you remember us having, genuinely? Other than obviously we scored a goal, but um well other than that, what were the chances you remember? Because you're going, oh, 14 shots, 14 shots. What are the ones that actually look like they're ever going to go anywhere in the goal?
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Damien Downs had ah an unbelievable piece of movement where he actually got past the ball off that movement and narrowly missed it at the far post.
00:06:46
Zak
Yeah. So that that's the one that's the one part of the game that realistically I can remember.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:06:56
Zak
That's the truth of it. And that is how a lot of people are going to feel as time goes on. What do you remember that game? Yeah, Damien Downs missed sitter. Oh, we also got battered by Hull.
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
mode right
00:07:05
Zak
That was weird.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think it was a sitter and I don't think it was that bad of a miss. I think, especially compared to some of the ones he's missed before, I think missing by that margin is acceptable for a striker. I just, I get it because it it's a rubbish result.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think the head loss is I mean, ah just everyone just needs to settle down. Like, literally, it's been a week since the end of the transfer window. you can't expect these players to gel overnight.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, defensively, we were sloppy. But like you say, it's the same defence we had last season. We've got options this year. We're going to be tinkering with things. We've got Nathan Wood, who looked really good and somehow was dropped out of the first team, despite looking really good.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I look forward to him coming back in.
00:07:48
Zak
Matsuki, who's been doing really well and dropped out.
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, run Ronnie Edwards.
00:07:51
Zak
Jay Robinson that didn't really appear. Like, this is this is the thing, is I understand that you're going to be tinkering with things and changing things. But like, you know, I just, we seem to, if we go five at the back, we can't score.
00:08:03
Zak
And if we go four at the back, we might score, but we'll concede loads. I just, I don't understand what manager, what formation can fix it. The problem is, Greg, is it's not a head loss because of just this game. It's not a head loss because of just these six games in isolation.
00:08:17
Zak
is a collectively over the space of the last year and a half, it's just been awful. And I know that there's no magic switch.
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But none of that is Will Steele's fault.
00:08:25
Zak
No, but and that's what I mean.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not Will Steele's fault, and yet he's coming under such heavy criticism, but he's still fought like he's still finding it out.
00:08:32
Zak
Because people...
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's literally had the players on the training ground for a week.
00:08:35
Zak
People want a miracle, mate.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:08:36
Zak
And that's the problem. You're right. But the thing is, at the same time, it's kind of unacceptable to lose the whole 3-1.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, the reason... But but then also, ah say every week with full chest and fully believe it that this is the best league in the world.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the reason that it's the best league in the world, Zach, is that realistically anyone can beat anyone. So is it really that? I mean, look, I just... Everyone just needs to settle down.
00:09:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just... Some of the talk I've heard is just insane is where I'm at. And I just... Look, I'm not... I'm not trying to excuse the loss, right?
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, we lose games of football sometimes. It's just, I know that things need to change, but I still think that they are going to, right? is' We've got so
Team Management Challenges & Strategic Planning
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
much other the potential in the squad.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to come together at some point, and we're just going to fly. That's fully my belief.
00:09:34
Zak
So in like three months, if it hasn't, you're going to still toe the party line? Because I understand you need to be... you you say you need to be...
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
da No, look, there's only...
00:09:42
Zak
I understand you want to be the face of optimism, but I don't know if I can do another season, mate, where we sit there and we go, well, maybe, maybe something will happen. We did it with Juric. We did it with Rask. Like, oh, yeah, that ah draw was great.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, look.
00:09:55
Zak
I think it's just people aren't seeing anything.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree there's a...
00:09:58
Zak
That's the issue.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:09:59
Zak
No one's seeing anything.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
if
00:10:00
Zak
No one's seeing pro progression yet. I understand that you need to...
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been a week. He's had a week with the players.
00:10:05
Zak
He's had six weeks with half of the players.
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
that sweet He's three days on the training ground with the team that he wanted. If that, Damien Downs didn't even get back from America until like the day of the Derby.
00:10:14
Zak
But it's it's not just that. There's our strikers. We've got the same strikers that we haven't replaced that Can't hit a barn door, mate, and haven't been able to for the whole last season.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they haven't had any service.
00:10:25
Zak
You're oh, well, we just...
00:10:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:10:27
Zak
Okay, so then we've got to put these new players in for so long.
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's Let's simmer down and have a break. I've got counterpoints to you, but let's let's take a break and have a message from our partners at Bionic.
00:10:34
Zak
I want to hear them all, to be clear.
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
all Alright mate, let's tackle it one point at a time. You raised before the break strikers. okay So there's two points to strikers. or Maybe even three.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You say they can't hit bundle a banjo. Right, fine. Adam Armstrong scored in this game and arguably should have been brought into play earlier based off of how sprightly he looked against Portsmouth.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cameron Archer has scored this season a couple of times, and when he gets the ball in a way that plays his strengths, looks very dangerous. Damien Downs is settling into the league and came close, and you've got to work off of law of averages here, right? Because you can't expect strikers to have a 100% hit rate.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yes, I would still agree, right?
00:12:06
Zak
i
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's still nothing to show from that near miss, but it shows that he's getting into positions and taking chances. And eventually, through law of averages, some of them are going to go in. But also, ah don't think, especially in this game, that the strikers, and in fact, arguably Portsmouth as well, that the strikers have been the problem. The problem is the creative force that's supposed to be around them has just been non-existent.
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you know, we we we heard in the press conference before the game, we'll still say, we can't play that type of ball to Cameron Archer. Instead, he puts on Damien Downs and plays a similar kind of ball. And, you know, a couple of times it comes off and gets close.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's just... There didn't seem to be any... um it's just not clicking yet between... the the sort of attacking midfield and the wingers. And I don't know what it is.
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't have the answers. I've not paid a championship manager's wage to try and solve it. but But look, Azaz has been quiet both of these games. And I don't know if he needs to find his feet to be more involved or what.
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just, I feel like I, at the moment, would be putting Ryan Fraser
Fan Reactions & Media Criticism
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
in that Azaz position because he is... one of the more creative sparks that we've got and be playing Jay Robinson out wide instead of Fraser because I don't see anything from Azaz yet.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:13:41
Zak
Yeah, I know. To be clear, mate, I agree all of those points, right? And I understand. But like when you the problem that i have a lot is that you're like, oh, he's only had three days with these. Right. you've you've had the entire Most of these strikers, most of the strike force had a full preseason with with Will Steele.
00:13:58
Zak
They've had a full preseason to get into a headspace. Right. They've only just started to play this specific way. Sure. But top goals for us, Ryan Manning, with two fri direct like two direct free kicks in six games.
00:14:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah. yeah But they've had all this time where we still haven't worked out how to pass them the ball properly. Like, it's the force...
00:14:16
Zak
but that But that's what people are annoyed about because it's six games.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
base the fourth But that's not their fault. That's the players that are supposed to be passing the ball to them's fault.
00:14:25
Zak
So then, yeah.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, that's... The fact of the matter is... We only remember that one near miss from Damien Downs because that was the one time he got the ball. But if you watch the game, he is making movement or similar movements like that to get into that space behind dozens of times throughout the game. And that's the only one time that the ball got passed forward to him.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're so slow in the buildup from the back and through the middle that And when we try and speed it up, we make mistakes and give the ball away softly.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we revert to just knocking it backwards and sideways because we went too quick and gave it away. And then it's just so, think the word I used to describe it in the text chat with you when we were watching the game was sluggish.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
is's just It's just really like really painfully slow with very little payoff.
00:15:18
Zak
it's boring mate and that's and that also is a contributing factor to why i think that you're seeing people lose their head a little bit myself included because i'm bored i look forward to this event once a week right and i watch it and i'm like oh this is awful
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you can, but also like, but also not to like harp on, on like the manager to be like the godsend. I don't know if we'll still is the answer to all of our questions or if he's going to be a successful Saints manager. or I hope so.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
but you can see on the touchline, if you watch him, that he gets frustrated at the same things. um you know I don't know but don't know what it is then that he needs to do in training or otherwise to um so properly get that message across and make them start actually playing football.
00:15:55
Zak
Agreed.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... But...
00:16:08
Zak
Droppable is where I'm at at this point. but just Just change the whole back line. See, give it another go. so Yeah, I think what
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But... Right? Because he's got that option this year. like Last year, it was... We were talking at this point about maybe Bella Kochap's going to be the answer to all of our prayers, and look how that played out. But this year, I feel like we've got solid options. I'm surprised that we haven't seen more of Nathan Wood. I'm surprised we haven't seen more of Ronnie Edwards.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not even to mention Quasi, who sure looked slightly Bambi-ish, but really was starting to settle in and you know has potential to push on. So...
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's just, it's gonna be tough to find the right parts to fit into this puzzle. And is the formation right and good at the moment?
00:16:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. ah
00:16:59
Zak
ah I just think there are, you've got a lot of people that watch the games, mate, and I don't think that they have the same footballing acumen as you. Because you, I talked about before, you have significantly higher footballing IQ and acumen than me.
00:17:15
Zak
And again, part of the reason that I like sports is across the board is like the entertainment value. And I think that you need to understand that as logic is logically all your arguments make sense, that doesn't fly with like 50% of the people who are watching it.
00:17:28
Zak
So the problem is, is you can't sit there and go, but here's my two hour explanation. If you actually understand that they do move into the right channel, but then we've rossed through one to Hull. People have been on the train.
00:17:39
Zak
They're half cut. They've gone up to Hull. They've watched us play record. And then obviously that falls back on them.
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
In the horrible weather as well, like fair
00:17:44
Zak
And you're, Horrid weather. Like, you Blackburn literally cooled off of it.
00:17:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
athlete ah play to all of our travelling fans, it has to be said.
00:17:52
Zak
And then you get...
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:17:52
Zak
And then they get a lot of abuse on social media because it's like, wow, we've got to stop booing the players. I'm like, you've driven, you've you've driven, or you've gone the train all the way up to Hull.
Reality Check: Expectations vs. Performance
00:18:00
Zak
And then you've watched us get spanked when you get consolation call at the 95th minute.
00:18:06
Zak
And the thing is, is like taking... And I think the problem you've got is like taking the emotion out of it. Yeah, the actual tactical battle, the what's happening on the pitch, the transition, that the... the change is really important and is going to take time. And like, he will get his day. I don't think that Sports Republic are going to go well, unfortunately we'll still like John from Shirley has really lost his head at you.
00:18:28
Zak
And like Zach, who originally from Totten is just so annoyed with how bad that loss felt that we're just going to have to fire you. I am under absolutely no impression, mate, that that is what's going to happen.
00:18:42
Zak
But like the problem is, is the vibes and the feeling
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I get
00:18:45
Zak
is going to be there until we start to see breakthroughs. And he should he would have known and been told this when he took this job, that people are going to expect rules soon.
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah get it. And the problem of is...
00:18:55
Zak
Like, we're going expect results. And you said you love a manager that wants to do anything to try and win a game. And we've won one against Wrexham. And it was in the last minute, and it wasn't a substitute. It was Jack Stephens. Like...
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, and look um I understand. And it's going to get even harder, right? Because, i mean, ignoring our midweek trip to Liverpool, where I assume we're going to see heavy rotation, um we we've got really tough game next week.
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I watched Middlesbrough against West Brom on Friday night, and, well, I'm scared.
00:19:22
Zak
Yeah.
00:19:29
Zak
The most Saints thing to do now would be go and beat them 2-0 and then everything that I've said is null and void, but it...
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, yeah.
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. but Well, we'll go and absolutely batter Middlesbrough who look like at the moment they're comfortably the best team in the league. And then we'll give Sheffield United their first win, mate. That's just how all Saints work.
00:19:43
Zak
Yeah, and...
00:19:46
Zak
You're right. And sometimes, Greg, it's just hard. It's hard supporting that.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:51
Zak
And, like, i i kick
Squad Dynamics & Transfer Window Impact
00:19:53
Zak
I get it. And ah the problem is, like, you know, a lot of people, and where I will give Will Steele credit, is that, you know, a lot of people are like, oh, he's got his sign-ins that he wanted now.
00:20:03
Zak
Judging by the fact that pretty much all of them came from the Bundesliga, don't think a single one of the sign-ins his.
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:20:08
Zak
The fact he said he didn't want another striker... probably the fact that they've not managed to get another striker in and let's face it i think they probably would have loved to but you pointed out well and truly that to get a striker in that scores goals in any league you require a significantly large amount of money and they're not willing to do that you know they don't want to put us in a financially you know financially sort of precarious situation it So sure, but the problem is, is the other the other side of that, which is what we've talked about before, which is like, it's fantastic that, you know, the club has made a profit this year.
00:20:42
Zak
Football's still terrible though, isn't it?
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, right.
00:20:45
Zak
And that's ultimately what people care about. So there's there's there's a lot of factors at play and I completely, like wholeheartedly, mate, I agree with all of your points and your logic because that it makes sense.
00:20:57
Zak
You're right. Our strikers can't be expected to score if they don't get the right service. They are trying to get into the right areas. Some of them have made absolutely shocking. Like, how Ross Stewart and Damien Downs have made a couple of the misses this season is, in my opinion, statistically so much harder than scoring in that goal.
00:21:14
Zak
Like, it is nuts. ah So you're right. Like, that is they there are going to be some anomalies. But... The temperature check is, mate, we're six games in. We're floating above the relegation zone.
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:21:25
Zak
People were scared we were doing a looting. There's a lot of people who still don't know who Will still is. There's a lot of people who only know that he's the football manager manager.
Podcast Production & Platform Promotion
00:21:34
Zak
There's a lot of people that don't sit there and and consume as much footballing content as us that are fans that go week in, week out, but they might not consume all of that.
00:21:44
Zak
And they are going all the way up to Hull to see that. And that's why I think you're seeing this head loss. It's like, what do you mean we lost to Hull? that's That's just the vibe.
00:21:54
Zak
like You're like, oh, but there's so many reasons.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate.
00:21:56
Zak
I get it. get it.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want to turn the table on you. But first, I think we better have a break and hear a message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:22:00
Zak
Perfect.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
Proposed Solutions for Team Improvement
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Alright, mate. We are back. What have we got to do then? What's the answer, Zach?
00:22:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
how do we How do we fix it? What do we do?
00:22:36
Zak
I'll tell you what it isn't, right? It isn't fire the manager bringing Danny Ronald Shawn-Nych. Right?
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
100% agree.
00:22:43
Zak
Because because people seem to think that it's ah it's a motivating factor. there it's ah And I'm like, i don't think that, you know, i don't think that Russell Martin wasn't a good man motivator, right?
00:22:54
Zak
You told me the story this weekend that he took the Rangers squad up a mountain to, like, his team bonding.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
and right No, no.
00:23:00
Zak
Like...
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, no, they went swimming in Loch Lomond for team Yeah.
00:23:02
Zak
Oh, okay. Whatever. No, you're right. The follow-up was they should do Ben Nevis. And there is criticism of like, oh, Steele's a bit stunted in at his press conferences. i don't think that that's the problem either.
00:23:17
Zak
I don't 100% know what the what this solution is, mate. I don't think anyone does. If anyone if still Will still knew what the solution was, they would have he would have fixed it If the the director of football knew what the solution was, he probably would have brought in a manager that he thought could fix it.
00:23:35
Zak
I don't know if it's a chemistry thing. I don't know if you need to take them all out and spend a week with them, wind them and dine them, get them to know each other. Because again, you've got a bunch of players, as you pointed out, that have come in that one of the biggest solutions for, I think the entirety of the championship is to close the window like three weeks before the chair, like a week before the championship starts.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
him It's horrible, isn't it?
00:23:53
Zak
Cause it's like, cause having, having this upset again, like the matter the fact that we had like three debuts in the Portsmouth game nuts. Um, Yeah, I don genuinely don't know. But like it's one of those things where, okay, do we drop back to five at the back? Because four the back isn't working either.
00:24:10
Zak
Defensively, I would maybe change up personal a little bit. I understand that they don't want to drop the captain. I get that. But like you know as you pointed out, Nathan Wood was really solid and then kind of can't get a look in at the moment.
00:24:21
Zak
I don't think Taylor Harwood-Bellis had the greatest game. I'm not going to lie. You know, he dropped ah drop the, dropped stinker. I think it was a bit weird people talking about Baz having a lot to like a lot of blame for that, which I don't really agree with.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's one thing I want to talk about because I've seen Bads take a huge amount of criticism for the goal.
00:24:35
Zak
Okay.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I remember distinctively a game last season, I don't remember was against, but a really similar goal we conceded where the same thing happened to Ramsdale.
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Ramsdale took no criticism whatsoever for It was like, ah, he knocked the ball out. The defender should have done better. Now, for me, watched the goal and I went why Stevens a yard behind his man and not chasing the snicking ball?
00:25:01
Zak
yeah
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Baz, make the save. And sure, it bounced off of him and two a striker, but I'd be...
00:25:08
Zak
why is that why Why are there like three whole players there and not any Saints players?
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Make the save. Yeah.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:13
Zak
Yeah, like this, again, we know this is a problem. And it does that people are talking about just turid a ah terminating the loans, right? Just bring back Ramsdale. And I'm like, to be fair, he hasn't on the bench for five games for Newcastle, but that was his decision, ah you know, because he's going to get to the World Cup sitting on the bench at Newcastle.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:25:30
Zak
That's how that works.
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
If that was that was financially or personably viable, we wouldn't have sent him out on loan in the first place. It's just not going to happen. ah
00:25:41
Zak
i
00:25:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is... is
00:25:42
Zak
But yeah, I genuinely think that, you know, i think, okay, give Gillette a bit of a run out. I was surprised to see him replace Manning. I think Rorist ever struggled in his first few games, but I think that that is one of the one of the one of the problems we've got.
00:25:54
Zak
But again, I just don't know what, I don't understand. I don't understand how we talk about Taylor Hull as being one of our best assets, and best like England international, miss any other and then he has a bad game and everyone says he's terrible.
00:26:07
Zak
And his partnership sees that Stephen sometimes works out. But I think that, okay, what's what's what's gone wrong here? Well, if it's that if if what you're saying is, okay, if we just keep knocking on the door, eventually they're going to go in. and The attacking is going to click. So we keep the attacking the same as it is. What do you do?
00:26:22
Zak
The midfield had to change because Finn Downs has got some sort of illness. I'm starting to think at this point that he's got something more serious. And I don't really want to keep making jokes about it because I feel like you don't constantly be in and out.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
but it It was mentioned. it was mentioned that his he's had issues with his immune system since that first time he was ill when he
Player Performance & Coaching Needs
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
got E. coli. so
00:26:38
Zak
Yeah, like, wouldn't be surprised if, you know, like I've had friends that have had glandular fever and stuff like that, and it it affects you for a lot longer than than you want it to. So, like, okay, maybe we should stop harping on about that. And maybe that is actually one of the reasons why he struggled so much this season, is because he's playing ill.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely. If you're not well, it's... Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:54
Zak
Yeah, like anything and anyone in the job. So, okay, so Kasper Yander and Charles are going to need a bit more time. So then what would you do? Well, they they don't want to lose Stevens because they don't really have a senior voice on the field. So they keep kind of Stevens in alongside Taylor Harbares. So,
00:27:08
Zak
ah In my opinion, okay, maybe maybe change that out. maybe Maybe put wood in, maybe put quasi.
00:27:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:12
Zak
And then if we get batted again, out again.
00:27:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
wondering I wonder if they're just too similar to be a partnership. Like, they both try and do too much of the same sort of thing and end up sort of tripping over each other.
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Harwood Bellis is notorious for making a mistake and then throwing his arms in the air blaming someone else, which is not ideal from from someone who's supposed to be a ah sort of leader as well, but...
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just don't think that it works particularly well. I think that perhaps on paper, I feel like maybe perhaps on paper they are our best two centre-backs, but it just doesn't click.
00:27:41
Zak
It doesn't seem to, does it?
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It doesn't gel. and we you know We saw that plenty last season. We don't need to keep reminding ourselves of it. Hmm.
00:27:54
Zak
and ah You know, if you're if we're struggling, okay, so we're trying to bet some of the players in a little bit more. And, frank you know, I think that you're you're right in moving Fraser to that middle role and potentially dropping Azaz for a game. Like, okay, you've been in for three games. You've not really shown us a lot.
00:28:11
Zak
you've had a lot of stick and criticism. Let's just put phrase on. Let's bring you on later. Let's see if you make more of an impact off the bench in 70 minutes, right? and And that's the other thing is that utilising that a bit more.
00:28:22
Zak
Some of the substitutions come have come a bit too late. I think, to make a huge impact. We already discussed that. so So, yeah, it's going to be tweaks and bits and pieces like that. The problem is, is that, okay, well, what game we going to do in? Because we're now against Middlesbrough.
00:28:35
Zak
So we wanted to really have our best team by this point, but we're going to probably struggle. because they're i mean And the other thing that I think bothered me and probably bothers other people is I know that we said that, you know, we had a style under Russell Martin, whether we liked it or not.
00:28:47
Zak
We had a problem with that, whether we liked it or not, right?
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:51
Zak
And that's...
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is another thing that annoys me because I've seen a lot of this.
00:28:55
Zak
The lack of style, right?
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
we don't even We don't even have a style. That's the problem. There's too much of it football. Pep Guardiola ruined everything. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of hearing it. And if I see it on social media one more time, I'm going to lose my head. We don't need to have a distinctive style of football. The only style of football we need to implement is to kick the ball at the goal more.
Leadership & Fan Patience
00:29:17
Zak
Yeah, but also, it's like you want eat him to go into each game and set up around that. And so that's what we expected. We expected formation changes. We expected that kind of stuff to happen.
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've had formation changes. We've had five in the back, three at the back, four at the back, two in the middle, Diamond in the middle.
00:29:27
Zak
Yeah, but... But it doesn't feel like it's for each individual game. It feels like it's just trying stuff out randomly. And that's one of the problems. Because it's like, does it feel like that that formation, your opinion, was set up specifically to beat Hull?
00:29:43
Zak
Because that's the argument that you're making, is we shouldn't have a style. We shouldn't have a best XI.
00:29:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean... yeah i mean
00:29:47
Zak
Or do you think it was just, oh, okay, well, that's the that's the two formations we've tried? Because, again, like it just felt like we did the same thing the week but from the week before, but we tried it with different personnel.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, we've tried different stuff. We had a Diamond and we've tried the two holding midfielders. And ah don't ah you know i don't sit and analyse the opposition that we're playing ahead of time to know enough it if the formation we play is going to be um but directly suited to it. But I mean, i feel like putting your four best attackers on the pitch...
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
against a team that shipped 14 goals is probably the right idea and to play. I don't think that... I mean, I can hear an argument for Jay Robinson suddenly disappearing and after being such a creative spark.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And I can hear you know other don't know. Yeah.
00:30:45
Zak
And there might always be reasons for that.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah don know
00:30:46
Zak
we don't We don't sit behind the scenes. But I think that the problem is is sometimes, like, Will still has been quite open and honest, and I think that's like ah a good thing.
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:30:54
Zak
Sometimes maybe a bit too much. But... the problem is, is the reality of the situation, mate, and the position we find ourselves in, regardless of the fact that you're right, we've only had, what, like, a a proper week with all these players.
00:31:06
Zak
we're We're six games in. We had a a scrappy win against Wrexham. between that, we have won two League Cup games, one of which was very good against Norwich, right?
00:31:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:16
Zak
so So there is that as well, but, like, there is very and I think you've talked about even more so. It's the trauma of last season, both in the squad and in the fan base. I don't think that you could we could blame or get mad at people just coming up and plucking ideas out thin air because we just want something else.
00:31:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah Look, these losses happen. And these losses happen to us in our last championship season.
00:31:38
Zak
Yeah, 100%.
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
it is ah I it ah to understand it, but I just think we just know we don't need to get to panic stations. We don't need to be... ah losing our heads. We just need to settle down and and trust the process. And do you know what?
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
If in four weeks' time we're in the same position, then I will eat my hat and say, fair enough, maybe we need to reassess where we're at. But I just think it's it's in real terms, in real terms with a settled squad, because even the players who are still here that he has had
00:32:10
Zak
with wait
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
didn't necessarily know they were still going to be here. They could have been going, right?
00:32:23
Zak
Yes.
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've had like three, maybe four training days with a full squad, not away on international duty, and two games in that time and travel up to Hull and, you know, God knows what else. Just...
00:32:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not going to happen overnight. And yes, it's a disappointing result. And yes, heading into a week where we're playing, check notes, Liverpool and Middlesbrough are absolutely flying.
00:32:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is a bit scary, but it's just... It's got to take as it comes. ah like Let's face it, in a week's time, if we... doesn't i don't think the Liverpool result is relevant to this thought at all, actually.
00:33:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But if we beat Middlesbrough... decisively, the the tables have turned completely again, like on the head, like there's no, you can't odds it.
00:33:16
Zak
I think it will be i think it'll offer respite, but i think that people people are worried, mate. And I think that we we're also part of the problem. like We're sat there predicting us to be second or first. I think that maybe the reality of the situation is that we're not going it's not going to be as comfortable as people want it to be.
00:33:33
Zak
And that shouldn't surprise anybody after the back of a 12-point season. And it is upsetting.
00:33:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, that's why but if it was going to be easy, it wouldn't be the best league in the world. This is why we love the game and why we love the league, mate. It's just...
00:33:47
Zak
I know.
00:33:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's all part and parcel.
00:33:48
Zak
and As it was stressful.
00:33:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what makes this league so great. Genuinely.
00:33:52
Zak
It was stressful. And from a personal perspective, I think, you know yeah, okay, it probably it was frustrating because it felt like a waste of my time because it annoyed me. I know that's probably how a lot of other people felt on top of that. You've got this game on a Saturday that you would build up all week for. You're like, arc okay, it should be whole, should be decent.
00:34:09
Zak
We do our previews, we get excited, especially with us because we spend so much time talking about it. And then the reality of the situation is just like a... And it falls flat completely. And it's like, right, got a consolation goal.
00:34:21
Zak
And you say, oh, take the emotion out of it. But that's part of it.
00:34:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, i i and I understand that and I agree, but I just, I think, and in overall terms, it was an improved performance, even though the result wasn't there.
00:34:25
Zak
It's not as easy to take the emotion out.
Reflecting on Past Games & Future Expectations
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
At risk of starting to sound like Russell Martin and being proud of the performance, I just, it was an improvement. It was, it was... really unfortunate that played out the way it went because, I mean, the stats of that game tell a completely different story of the scoreline and my take on the watch of the game, there were still concerns and, but but we we shouldn't have lost. The scoreline, I don't feel, reflects how the game played out in real time at all.
00:35:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, it is properly unfortunate.
00:35:11
Zak
please
00:35:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah But,
00:35:13
Zak
perception of reality, grass on paper, you can we can we can use all the plaudits. I think it's just, let's put it down to the fact that, yeah, it was disappointing.
00:35:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:35:21
Zak
We wound up. so I wound up more than you. You are far more practical and logical when it comes to why.
00:35:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:35:27
Zak
ah Maybe I'm a voice of all the people that just get mad and don't really know how to articulate why. And it's because you just ultimately, part of it is that you'd love to see a team win every so often. And it's just been a long time and it's really hard
00:35:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it, mate.
00:35:39
Zak
Again, it's been a long time since we've really felt that in a way that feels tangible and comfortable and happy. so But it is what it Disappointing loss.
00:35:50
Zak
On the next one. You got the result right, mate.
00:35:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
they
00:35:52
Zak
It's the wrong way around.
00:35:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there we
Conclusion & Listener Engagement
00:35:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
go. Look, that's that's some some level of improvement. But look, that is all we've got time for today. We will be back tomorrow when we preview a game that three times in this episode I've brushed off as unimportant.
00:36:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it'll be important tomorrow, I promise.
00:36:11
Zak
Oh, yeah, only one of the best teams in the world. I haven't lost so far in their league this season. Let's go!
00:36:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
this Just try not to think about it too hard. But look, we will be back tomorrow to preview that.
00:36:19
Zak
la
00:36:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, thank you very much, everyone, for listening. ah Let us know your thoughts on the game in in the comments and on all the socials. We are about on Facebook, Twitter, re YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, all of them.
00:36:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Thank you very much for joining me today, Zach. We will see you tomorrow. Until then, have a wonderful day, everyone.
00:36:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.