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Episode 408: Return to St Mary's, Return to the show! image

Episode 408: Return to St Mary's, Return to the show!

S2526 E408 · Daily Saints Pod
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Southampton - We're back! And refreshed, revitalised and ready to handle the rest of this season, whatever it may bring. Today we talk, Legends matches, Open training and good vibes all round!

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Transcript

Return and Refresh

00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach and how you doing mate? Back after a bit of a break, feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to tackle this running
00:00:30
Zak
Yeah, it's been a bit of a hot minute, mate, hasn't it? It's

International Break Discussion

00:00:33
Zak
just kind of... When it comes to football, there's just not been, like, a huge amount going on. And I know there's been an international break, and I know that though we've definitely had some some Saints players play in that international break. But I've kind of, like...
00:00:47
Zak
It's kind of bit weird to be so out of the loop. I think the only thing that me and you have really in-depth discussed, and by in-depth I mean laugh that, was the the announcement that Tom have departed with another manager in in the time period of the last week and a bit, right?
00:01:04
Zak
But yeah, it's just it' kind of been it's been so odd to not have like three matches a week to talk about.
00:01:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:01:11
DailySaintsPod
It's been really bizarre.
00:01:12
Zak
Yeah.
00:01:12
DailySaintsPod
Like, I completely forgot England were playing on Friday. woke up and had a notification like England's draw and what it means.
00:01:18
Zak
say it's just like
00:01:23
DailySaintsPod
I'm like, England were playing? all right, well, that's me done.
00:01:26
Zak
it's It's so weird because again, like I think i pay attention more to international football than you do. But even so, like i i I don't really pay as much attention.
00:01:33
DailySaintsPod
not It's not a high bar, though, is it? That's the thing, mate.
00:01:38
Zak
I like to basically look at X or current... obscure Saints players across the board and what they're and like if they're still playing internationally or not and what they're up to and that's kind of like it But yeah, I've kind of kept up to date.
00:01:53
Zak
I'm sure we'll do an episode on like in those away on international duty e and as it is
00:01:57
DailySaintsPod
Oh, we definitely will Yeah, i think that I think I've got that scheduled in for Thursday.

Legends Match Recap

00:02:02
DailySaintsPod
so
00:02:03
Zak
Nice, so but yeah, so it's just it's just more so that you know, it's kind of strange to be without football for so long, right?
00:02:10
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it is. There was, of course, the Legends match on Saturday at St. Mary's. i don't know if you caught any of that.
00:02:15
Zak
That was.
00:02:17
DailySaintsPod
But Saints lost to Man United, which was a fine. Look, Ricky Lambert got on the score sheet, which was nice. And it seems like a good time was had by all.
00:02:30
DailySaintsPod
I didn't manage to get down there, but...
00:02:30
Zak
I just think that, like, I thought Victor Wanyama was still playing. And that's what really has thrown me off because it's just, like, my understanding of the ages of footballers now. Just not there. Like, 100% some players that I still think are playing that retired. Like, because you say, you because, you know, I thought, you know, well, how long do we have Wanyama? And then I'm thinking, well, i got like, 12 ago about that.
00:02:54
Zak
And then I'm like, but Nathan Redmond's just signed for his third or fourth club in like the last two years.
00:02:59
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:03:00
Zak
Because I know if you just heard me, he signed for Blackburn on a short-term deal. So yeah, that was like a weird thing that's cropped up news-wise over over the last week that I did see. but yeah, no, you're right. is don't know.
00:03:12
Zak
Maybe we can't even make the jokes about the Legends team of being like, oh, maybe we could stick him up front because we're actually like in a spell of doing all right.
00:03:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, great.
00:03:22
DailySaintsPod
Look, I mean, the vibes are are immaculate, right? the The feeling is good.
00:03:22
Zak
yeah
00:03:27
Zak
Hmm. Hmm.

Open Training Session Vibes

00:03:29
DailySaintsPod
And then, of course, on today of recording and and yesterday at time of release, we had a nice open training session, which I managed to get myself down to.
00:03:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:03:41
Zak
because I went with you to the last one, didn't I? Which was russell Russell Martin times, right?
00:03:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:03:46
Zak
Well, we got to kind of watch and then I i don't know if I decided I'd have go again because the absolute chaos of of players signing stuff is a sight to behold. Everyone storms down the rafters to get stuff signed by their favorite players.
00:04:00
Zak
But yeah, it so so how was it today, mate?
00:04:03
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, was good, mate.
00:04:03
Zak
Was it much different?
00:04:04
DailySaintsPod
Well, look look, I mean, let's the start. It to the start it was
00:04:08
Zak
Yeah.
00:04:09
DailySaintsPod
It was really nice that this was free, first of all, and and not just for the benefit to season ticket holders, right?
00:04:15
Zak
Yeah, agreed.
00:04:19
DailySaintsPod
Like we got our exclusive window, but it also went to members and i think as far as to just fans who have purchased history, which is nice.
00:04:28
DailySaintsPod
a nice thing for the club to do There was no like shoving merchandise in your face, make you buy this. There was food available, but not like definitely go and get some food. You got to get some food. It was just really nice, chilled, good vibes, allocated seats.
00:04:51
DailySaintsPod
It was nice. It was a really nice day. It was a good thing and a great thing for the club to put on. Obviously, much easier when the vibes are high and the performances are good, right? To bring this sort of thing.
00:05:02
DailySaintsPod
But you feel like, you know, we talk a lot about the owners and what they do or or don't do for the club, right? So it's it's got I've got to shout it out. where This was a fantastic thing for them to do that presumably cost them some money and at least cost them some inconvenience, right?

Fan Engagement Activities

00:05:21
DailySaintsPod
There was steward and staffs to pay and... and retail staff to pay. And they had the host, whose name I cannot remember, out there before doing some like games with kids where they gave away some away kits and some sweets and some some bits.
00:05:38
DailySaintsPod
And they did like a matchday quiz. And great. That's exactly what you want from the club, right? It's exactly the sort of thing that we've been...
00:05:44
Zak
Yeah.
00:05:47
DailySaintsPod
sort of calling out for just some good energy, good positivity. Great to get down and see the players train, do a short training session. And then, uh, like say, a cascade of, of signing. Uh, but yeah, it was good. We'll got down some Mary's, uh, got there quite early. I don't know how i managed to do it, mate. I don't know if I was just like the first person to, to log into the ticket website when they went on sale on Thursday or what, but i ended up in, uh,
00:06:16
DailySaintsPod
Row A on the very front at pretty much bang on the halfway line. Sensational.
00:06:23
Zak
Peace.
00:06:23
DailySaintsPod
Nice padded seats, which impressed the kids. They were blown away. I wish our season ticket seats were as comfortable as this, which... you know, led to a conversation like, well, if, you know, finance wasn't an issue and we could pick and choose wherever we wanted to sit, would you want to move your season tickets down here? So it was comfortable. And they're like, no.
00:06:49
DailySaintsPod
is
00:06:49
Zak
How much of a game would you spend sitting anyway? What's the point?
00:06:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's a valid point. Uh, But yeah, no, it was good. they They did all of the, like say, the quiz, the little don't call it tipping point for copyright reasons with the with fans.
00:07:10
DailySaintsPod
And yeah, about 5,000 people there, which was pretty good.
00:07:14
Zak
it's a good turn-up.
00:07:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah, they they came out at 11. They did some warming up. Notable by his absence, I guess, the main talking point to take from me, Leo Sienza not on the pitch, not about at all.
00:07:30
DailySaintsPod
No sign of him.
00:07:30
Zak
Not James Bree, no, mate. You...
00:07:33
DailySaintsPod
he was there. I am just really bad identifying players. I needed you or, or my sister-in-law there to help me out. Mealy was trying her best, but I'm like, is that, I don't know. I think that one might be Archer. Oh, I don't know. you're Like, it's,
00:07:49
DailySaintsPod
who
00:07:49
Zak
Even worse if he can't spot the numbers, mate.
00:07:52
DailySaintsPod
if they didn't have not yeah they didn't have numbers on their trading kits. So it was always was it took me until about a quarter of the way through the trading session to go, oh that's Bree!
00:07:52
Zak
Good Lord.
00:08:02
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:08:05
Zak
Oh, baby.
00:08:05
DailySaintsPod
panic averted, he was there.
00:08:05
Zak
they
00:08:07
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, Leo missing from action. So I don't know, what do we think?

Player Recognition and Speculation

00:08:12
DailySaintsPod
Is this, you know, it was kind of alluded to before the last game, right?
00:08:17
DailySaintsPod
Tonda tried to play some mind games in the press conference with Stuart and Sienza and the answer was one of them will be involved tomorrow. and and it was Stuart.
00:08:30
Zak
Well, you said they've both been back on the pitch, and that's what I think I'm most surprised by, is you'd expect a very sort of calm, sort of, not even full session of training in front of fans.
00:08:34
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:08:43
Zak
You'd expect him to be there. Now, it could just be that he's got some time, you know, off, and he's gone to visit family, and, you know, he's in Brazil, or whatever.
00:08:55
Zak
But it's it's notable, right? And I think it's more of we've still...
00:08:58
DailySaintsPod
Specifically as well, because i don't know if you follow much of it, mate, but he's also doing a an appearance at the West Quay tomorrow at time of recording today, if at time of release.
00:09:14
Zak
Well, I guess he's not abroad then. then, yeah.
00:09:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, right?
00:09:17
Zak
Hmm.
00:09:18
DailySaintsPod
So that's the thing, because I was also a bit surprised to see Peretz there, because I knew he was away with Israel, and I didn't realise that they had kind of wrapped up their games and that he was already back.
00:09:20
Zak
so then yeah
00:09:30
DailySaintsPod
So he came out and i was like, that's a bit odd. I wasn't expecting to see him here today. i thought he would be away for like the whole break. But yeah, Leo can speak to us by his absence. But yeah, do you think that it is...
00:09:43
DailySaintsPod
that his injury is pretty bad? Hmm.
00:09:48
Zak
the We never got results of the scan. I think that's telling. And I think it's because they don't want people to know.
00:09:52
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:09:55
Zak
Because if all of a sudden... if if if we were to have said straight away, like, he's ruled out for the rest of the season, right?
00:10:02
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:10:03
Zak
And he comes out and he's ruled out for the rest of the season. The psychological impact, I think, on fans, because we are a paper mache...
00:10:15
Zak
wall at the moment, right? Like, we're still, we really enjoyed it.
00:10:16
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:10:18
Zak
Me and you keep predicting wins. There is a lot of positive vibes. But because of how the last couple of seasons have gone, it is not something that, for say, a two or three game losing streak could not completely overturn.
00:10:35
Zak
And I think that, by you know, they don't want to put people in a space of negativity to then also put that negativity onto the players.
00:10:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:45
Zak
Now, I could just be overthinking it.
00:10:45
DailySaintsPod
No, I get that, mate. No, get that, mate, because you're right. Because to, I guess, to your point, you know, was was talking about the quiz and the the don't call it tipping point games at the stadium.
00:10:59
DailySaintsPod
And the host does the standard spiel with the kids. So far, who's your favourite Saints player? And you four of those six kids' answer was Leo Sienza. So if all of a sudden he's ruled out for the rest of the season, I don't even necessarily know if it's as deep as like psychological or like negative damage.
00:11:17
DailySaintsPod
like Maybe even just commercially, that's a problem. right like If Leo is not about...
00:11:23
Zak
Yeah, like and and it and it could be that he's he's training hard behind the scenes and they just don't want to risk him.
00:11:23
DailySaintsPod
It's...
00:11:29
Zak
And like the other the other talking point that you've not mentioned, that I've seen mentioned, is that Jack Stephens took a knock with wood, right? And went straight down the tunnel. I don't know you're aware of that or you were it was something...
00:11:40
DailySaintsPod
i didn't I didn't see that.
00:11:41
Zak
So yeah, apparently they had they had a collision during this open training session and he's gone down. So it's probably, my opinion, just abundance of caution. like You don't want to end up like injuring the skipper just before the Arsenal game.
00:11:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And not in front of 5,000 fans.
00:11:55
Zak
Yeah, so so it's probably just like, oh, we take her off.
00:11:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:58
Zak
Or it is, as unfortunately a knock, and it could be worse.
00:11:58
DailySaintsPod
you're right yeah
00:12:02
Zak
But like..................
00:12:02
DailySaintsPod
Well, mate, here's the other theory that i on partially... partially It might be the hopeless optimism. Maybe this is Tonda's 4D chess, right?
00:12:15
DailySaintsPod
we've seen We've seen the mind games that he likes to play with this sort of thing and with the press conferences. He loves to be one step ahead the competition. But what if Arsenal don't prepare for Leo Sienza and then out of the blue he starts?
00:12:29
DailySaintsPod
Because their last... like training package was this open trainer session like.
00:12:35
Zak
and so youre So you're willing to believe that they would have removed him from open training to to stop the spies and the game? You genuinely believe we're we're playing that level of D-Chess, like outwitting Arteta?
00:12:50
DailySaintsPod
then Yeah, i believe I believe that's the sort of nonsense that would absolutely come out and that our social media team in particular would have an absolute field day with.
00:12:52
Zak
I can't.
00:13:03
DailySaintsPod
like I wouldn't be surprised if if we beat Arsenal and Leo does start that we don't get like social media clips of him like sat in the stands at open training like behind people they've identified as Arsenal scouts.
00:13:17
Zak
With like glasses on.
00:13:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah. yeah Yeah. eight
00:13:24
Zak
So your running theory is that Leo is perfectly fine.
00:13:28
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:28
Zak
The reason he didn't attempt open training is that this is all an elaborate vibe. So you don't think he would want to cite stuff for the fans be involved in open training? And they're like, no, you have
00:13:38
DailySaintsPod
That's why he's doing the public appearance to our

Session Turnout and Morale Boost

00:13:40
Zak
to take the sacrifice for the greater good and not participate.
00:13:40
DailySaintsPod
mate, to make up. that's why he's doing the public appearance to ourate to make up for it you know and
00:13:51
Zak
Okay. Fine. Whatever. Sure, mate. Okay. Yes.
00:13:54
DailySaintsPod
a urban Look, you it sounds crazy, but you just never know.
00:13:56
Zak
sure they
00:14:00
DailySaintsPod
You never know what's going to happen. but But no, he was it was a good session. Like I say, the vibes were good. The place was good. Loads of kids out on, obviously, Easter half term, which is you know exactly the point of why they're doing it, right?
00:14:15
DailySaintsPod
Just to to bring the families in and and get them more connected to the players and the club.
00:14:15
Zak
yes
00:14:20
DailySaintsPod
and And you could see when the players came out, like... You've to imagine that, yeah, all right, we'll do an open training session, sure. We'll train at St. Mary's. I'm sure some people will come out. And then, they like, come out and see the entire Kingsland stand basically full of people must be... Like, that's got to be a boost, right, for an open training session. Like, not not like a match or anything. You've got to think that. But, no, it's good. They did...
00:14:46
DailySaintsPod
They did some jogging and some warm-ups. Then they did... Right, look, let's let's preface this section where I explain to you what they did and say that I am not in any way, shape or form a qualified football coach.
00:15:00
DailySaintsPod
Right? like i I play football to a not great level and as Zach will attest, even at that I managed to hurt myself last week.
00:15:01
Zak
Yeah.
00:15:10
DailySaintsPod
Like... he did if is So so i will i have analysed to the best of my ability of how I try to explain it to my kids.
00:15:15
Zak
yeah
00:15:22
DailySaintsPod
But that is not to say that this is expert at any level. right They did a drill where they were just passing the ball in a square and then following the pass.
00:15:32
DailySaintsPod
So like pass and move, which is like basic. I've seen the kids do that at their training sessions.
00:15:38
DailySaintsPod
That one... yeah That one i was I was able to follow and see the whole point of it.
00:15:38
Zak
See, my mother-in-law there has.
00:15:40
Zak
yeah
00:15:45
DailySaintsPod
Then they kind of did a big... It was like a big group... I guess like a rondo, but not quite a rondo. They had it in two separate groups of bibs with one player who was the green bib, who was Wellington, seemingly being available for both teams to pass the ball to if they were on the ball. And they were just like working on transition, basically, and working on getting as many passes between the players in their bibs as possible.
00:16:15
DailySaintsPod
One of the sets of teams got up to like 33 passes. And then i don't i don't know, right? I don't know watching this training when you assess that, if you see that as a good thing or a bad thing. Because on one thing, great, that's really good ball keeping. But on the other hand, that's 33 failed attempts at interceptions also from our team. So I don't know. I find the whole thing very... don't know what to root for. I found it very confusing in my soul. Yeah.
00:16:42
Zak
but This is the riveting journalism that all of our wonderful fans tune in for, innit? Maybe it was alright, maybe it wasn't!
00:16:51
DailySaintsPod
yeah yeah Yeah.
00:16:53
Zak
Yeah.
00:16:54
DailySaintsPod
There was a level of intensity to it and you could see some good passes and some some good movement and some other bits. So it was good. and yeah It served its purpose, right?
00:17:04
DailySaintsPod
Like it was never going to be like an intense tactical focused or split into five

Training Drills and Player Performance

00:17:10
DailySaintsPod
a side session. They just came out, did a couple of drills, kept everyone happy, signed some credit cards and Tic Tac packets apparently, are then and then moved on. So then they they went on to their final drill where they split into three separate teams and the pitch was split in half and they had to complete a certain amount of passes between their own
00:17:34
DailySaintsPod
colored bibs and then pass it off to the other team in the other half of the pitch whilst the third team was trying to steal the ball and score.
00:17:44
DailySaintsPod
And every time the team scored, it rotated and someone else was defending. And the losers of that drill had to do press-ups was the point that I noticed, which is like, great, this is just PE for them. don't know.
00:18:03
DailySaintsPod
It was Yander, Robinson and Bragg were the three players that I could see on the losing Bib team who were doing the press-ups. But yeah, it was good.
00:18:15
Zak
By the way, nice used to see Wellington and Roberson back on the pitch, right?
00:18:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it was great. And, you know, Romelu was there as well, training with the boys. Yeah, it was good. The goalkeepers came out and then just proceeded for the whole hour to just do Goalkeeper warrants just like kick the ball. at I guess what other sorts of goalkeeper training do you do you do other than like someone's kicking the ball at the goal and you save it? It's not a lot to to report on from that. Again, not a goalkeeper, not a goalkeeping coach.
00:18:47
DailySaintsPod
So I'm sure there was some.
00:18:49
Zak
Where's all the drills of kicking onto a 10-piece, you know, 10-piece, mate?
00:18:53
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:54
Zak
That's what we need to start seeing.
00:18:57
DailySaintsPod
saved for Staples, I think. But yeah, in the that final drill, there was one particular moment I've written down where Sammy Adozi had a ridiculous touch where he literally just chipped it over one of the players coming to press him at the ball.
00:19:15
DailySaintsPod
took it down with an unbelievable finesse, and then just, like, ball-rolled it to the side of the other player to come in to tackle him and, like, turned out and ran away. And i was like, well, that looked a bit impressive.
00:19:27
DailySaintsPod
And then I immediately heard Taylor Hall of Bella shout, oh, Sammy, that's ridiculous! So...
00:19:34
Zak
Nice.
00:19:34
DailySaintsPod
So I'm glad that my analysis was backed up with a player's opinion in that moment. It's like when you say something watching the football, the commentator says the same thing immediately afterwards. as I felt validated.
00:19:44
Zak
Always makes you feel a little bit smart, right? but Or like me and you will discuss things that then end up happening and we're like, oh, look at us. Look at us being pretend pundits. We, we add after analysing every single game this season and talking about have managed to predict a line-up that barely changes that often.
00:19:57
DailySaintsPod
if
00:20:00
Zak
But boy, howdy, the fact that we get all of those 11 players right gives us a buzz of dopamine that is his extremely warranted. Same with score prediction, right?
00:20:09
DailySaintsPod
That's good.
00:20:12
Zak
like That's always nice.
00:20:12
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:20:13
Zak
That's always nice when think we've i think we've I think I've guess guessed the score correct a few times. I don't know if I've got all of the goal scorers right. And this is another reason I just never gamble because I'm never going to win.
00:20:22
DailySaintsPod
I've never... don I don't think on the show I've got a correct score once, if I'm on a spade.
00:20:29
Zak
No, but you you have cursed Tom Fellows to never score a goal.
00:20:29
DailySaintsPod
So, it's good.
00:20:33
Zak
So, you know, your power is stronger than you think, mate.
00:20:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, so that... That's it. And then, and then that was it.
00:20:37
Zak
Just in the wrong way.
00:20:38
DailySaintsPod
That was it from like the active training part, right? There was, that was like 45 to 50 minutes. Then they sort of came over and clapped the fans. Uh, and then there was the inevitable surge forwards when they came over to sign stuff at which point my kids turned to me and went, should we go then? Uh,
00:20:57
DailySaintsPod
think which is fine i mean to be fair they've got shirts they've had signed this season which I suspect was the the main driving and force of that it's like maybe we'll just show up early to another game this season and and be less crowded and do it I think was the the outcome but
00:21:13
Zak
Yeah, you can tell they're your kids, mate. That's
00:21:21
Zak
what it is.
00:21:22
DailySaintsPod
Like say, good vibes. Lots of talk about building up to a now sold-out Arsenal fixture at the weekend. So, yeah.
00:21:32
Zak
It's not said it sold out. It's going to be... wow it's know we're going to talk about in a later date, but it's it's kind of weird to think that that's our that that's our next game, right?
00:21:42
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:42
Zak
We're probably coming in at a good time to play them, to be honest.
00:21:45
DailySaintsPod
a Great time. A good good time from our perspective and I guess probably a good time for us from their perspective, right? They've just lost a cup final.
00:21:55
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:21:55
DailySaintsPod
They've got Atletico Madrid three days after the fixture. It's eight o'clock on a Saturday. The vibes are good.

Positive Atmosphere Before Arsenal

00:22:03
DailySaintsPod
We've just had a break and in that break the club has done stuff to also try and increase...
00:22:09
DailySaintsPod
you know, the vibes and the good feel and the, you know, the good stuff around the club, they've been pushing it and, you know, doing good stuff like getting fans in the tunnel when the legends match and just, know, just getting people involved. It's, it's a complete free hit and you've got to think that we'll, we'll fancy it.
00:22:28
DailySaintsPod
So anything can happen in the cup, can't it? Like, right.
00:22:33
Zak
Yeah, it's just got to be...
00:22:33
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:36
Zak
hope it it goes our way. is Is the loss of the Cup Final means are they going to try and get something out of this Cup Final again? Or have they realised that they need to win the league now for anyone to take them seriously?
00:22:50
Zak
And that's one of the big things, in my opinion, that is probably beneficial for us.
00:22:53
DailySaintsPod
but Yeah, that that's the thing, right? Because... the run they're on and the the opinion their fans going to hold, if Arteta bottles the league but wins an f FA Cup, is that actually going to be enough? Or is that still the joke of same old Arsenal, which is not what anyone wants from from their club, right? like it's i'll just I think that we're going to fancy it more, which is not something I think...
00:23:26
DailySaintsPod
Earlier in the season, we said about our team in any game. But I just think we're properly up.
00:23:31
Zak
No, I also distinctly remember you talking about who cares about the cup anyway.
00:23:35
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, but I mean, it's different now. You're only one game from Wembley, isn't it? Right? Like...
00:23:40
Zak
Yeah, this is true.
00:23:42
DailySaintsPod
Because whether whether her opinions on the Cup, in especially the early rounds of the Cup, matter or not, once it starts to get that close and you're only three wins away from actual silverware,
00:23:58
DailySaintsPod
s it's close enough, isn't it, that people start to take it seriously. Fans, club executives, managers, right? Like... You see the the opportunity of even just a semi-final at Wembley.
00:24:08
Zak
True.
00:24:12
DailySaintsPod
And you just like, yeah, it's it's got to be taken seriously. And like I say, it's a free hit because there's nowhere nobody in football, even Saints fans, are expecting us to beat Arsenal,

Excitement for Arsenal Match

00:24:24
DailySaintsPod
right?
00:24:24
DailySaintsPod
Like it's not.
00:24:25
Zak
right
00:24:27
DailySaintsPod
it it It would not be a foreseen result. And, you know, we we go out and put a good performance in and get beat 2-0. No one bats an eyelid. Not even Saints fans bat an eyelid at that. That is the expected outcome of that fixture.
00:24:43
DailySaintsPod
But... I know, mate. You do something crazy and hold down and shut down their attack and steal a goal and sneak a 1-0 win out of nowhere.
00:24:59
DailySaintsPod
And all of a sudden, while it's taking a hit, we're booking a trip to Wembley, you know? Like, it's that close. It's that close.
00:25:07
Zak
True, we'll be able to talk about it, I'm sure, this week in far more depth than we,
00:25:10
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Oh, for sure. Like, I just think, like I say, the the work from the club to build the vibes is something that I have noticed. And I don't think that's going to go away.
00:25:20
DailySaintsPod
I think that that's going to continue as the week goes on to try and build it up.
00:25:24
Zak
I hope so.
00:25:25
DailySaintsPod
And it's going to be good. It's going be a good game. It's shame that it's eight o'clock on a Saturday. That's a bit horrible, but it's or isn't it? Yeah.
00:25:36
Zak
Yeah. Thanks, TV.
00:25:40
DailySaintsPod
ist Just good stuff around the club, mate. Good to be back, ready to and fresh for for the rest of the run-in for the season. Regardless of how many trips to Wembley it entails, right?

Podcast Wrap-Up

00:25:53
DailySaintsPod
because Because at the moment we're looking at as many as three, which which would mean a real busy period of time for us between now and May, you know?
00:26:03
DailySaintsPod
LAUGHTER
00:26:04
Zak
Yeah, you're right.
00:26:06
Zak
Potentially expensive. I guess we'll have to figure it Oh, dear.
00:26:11
DailySaintsPod
It's great. But look, what time. What time. I'm glad that it the vibes were good. I'm glad that the players went and signed all the stuff and everyone seemed to leave.
00:26:21
DailySaintsPod
Very happy. enjoyed it. Had a good day out. Nice to be back to Mary's, ready for for Saturday.
00:26:26
Zak
Good.
00:26:28
DailySaintsPod
So, yeah. Good times all round, man.
00:26:31
Zak
Happy days, mate.
00:26:32
DailySaintsPod
It's good to be back talking about football.
00:26:35
Zak
Bye.
00:26:36
DailySaintsPod
Right, well, look, that is all we have got time for today, but we will be back to talk more Saints goodness tomorrow. but until then, why don't you drop us a message or a a comment on the socials or...
00:26:52
DailySaintsPod
or on any of the platforms that you listen on, let us know. Did you go to the Open training? What are your thoughts? Is Tonda just playing 4D chess with Leo, or or are we looking at a more serious injury than we would hope for?
00:27:06
DailySaintsPod
Let us know your thoughts, opinions. We love to hear it. We are Daily Saints Pod absolutely everywhere. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Blue Sky, YouTube, everywhere. Hit us up and let us know. Like I say, we'll be back tomorrow. But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day and we will see you then.