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Episode 307: Matchday Review: RIDICULOUS defeat against Blackburn
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Southampton – Well it wasn't good but we have plenty to talk about after this weekends performance.
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Transcript
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome 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, wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
How doing, bud? You alright? You recovered after yesterday's, uh, yesterday's little rant?
00:00:29
Zak
so
00:00:32
Zak
That's well too much energy coming into this. to to this yeah Yes and no. Obviously, there's been more information that's come out. i didn't even i side record hit I hit record before like the post-match press conference took place because I didn't want watch it, quite frankly.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think any of that information makes me feel better.
00:00:47
Zak
Yeah.
00:00:53
Zak
It does make me feel better. But what i will point out is that, like, yeah, illness is a problem. But they pointed he pointed out in the press conference on Friday that there had been illness around the camp already.
00:01:04
Zak
And, like like, I just... I can't get the image out of my head, Greg, of Cam Bragg coming on with a shirt with no number, no name on the back, and just being like, yeah, it's just the shambles that we're at at the moment, right?
00:01:17
Zak
and then And then we'll still be like, well, I had to invite him up because, you know, I'm sorry, like, you've got the resources to fly somebody up.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean...
00:01:24
Zak
You've got the resources to check in the morning.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's the...
00:01:26
Zak
Like, I just... oh
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, listen, right? Here's here's a continuation of that point to me, right? If the kit man doesn't have enough time to prepare for the game, how can what, 17-year-old...
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
have time to mentally prepare for a game.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just throw it, like, it's just, how could you expect that of someone? Like, it's just so unreasonable.
00:01:58
Zak
it's But it's it's not only that, right? It's like the whole the fact that he still seems to just be running out of ideas. And I don't think... I'll take off the back. like I think that there's a high possibility he could be got rid of at some point unless things start to change. like I genuinely wonder if it's a game or two at this point.
00:02:19
Zak
I like don't...
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is, I mean, this is the first time.
00:02:20
Zak
Who who else should bring in?
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:02:22
Zak
Because you're seeing people be like, we should bring it. So this is this is where I'm seeing, Greg. I'm seeing people go, we should bring in Michael Carrick. We should bring Steve Cooper. he should None of these names are going to turn it around.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
nay
00:02:33
Zak
We've done this. We've done this so many times. Again, like, it's... How do you motivate a group of players that almost reject motivation? Like, the only one that can really stand on, and on on you know...
00:02:45
Zak
But Stan with his head held high is Sienza. And like you could tell his frustration boiled over at the end. I thought he came over to sort of say, we'll turn it around. He came over to try and be like, stick with us, because it must be difficult when you've joined a new club and all you're getting is vitro thrown at you as a collective.
00:03:02
Zak
But also, like when... we have a striker that goes off injured and we replace him with, yeah, okay, a really versatile player in Fraser, but not one that's exactly known at the moment for having A and I for goal will be the height physicality to be in that position.
00:03:19
Zak
When we haven't,
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at least when we, you know, at least when he came on, we changed the game and hang on, sorry, checks notes, continued crossing the ball at height to Armstrong and Ryan Fraser, who combined height is...
00:03:30
Zak
which which I know is is not the game plan, but then if this is what happens when they scramble. So they start to just do whatever to get the ball up. and the But the thing is, is's like had you replaced, for example, Archer when he came off injured with a like-for-like change with, say, a new striker, one that is not tainted with...
00:03:47
Zak
the you know who who has the confidence you've put in the matchday squad and this again this was like a prepared thing because this was in the press conference on friday this isn't like ham brag he was like hey mate can you come in can you grab an uber and come up to the ground so you could be on the bench right like this this is a oh yeah no he's earned his chance right he's earned his chance and then you're you're starting pretty much any other player apart from him right And then again, a lot of it boils down to that was an issue for sure.
00:04:20
Zak
But like you know Blackburn, up to that point, had still had chances. right like After our goal, it was the standard. They they hit us pretty hard. mc McCarthy made couple of good saves. Roroswev had, for the first half and a bit of the second, probably his best game in a Saints shirt.
00:04:38
Zak
like I know that it's hard to look back at now because it's it's completely and utterly ta tainted. You then had what would be the cataclysmic individual mistake that Steele keeps talking about where Gorshi just missed it and Edwards went to follow up and also just missed it and that was almost a goal.
00:04:55
Zak
Any other side and he have a site that weren't lacking confidence playing home, that's a goal.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But thou are it which is this is the point I want to touch on, right?
00:05:01
Zak
No doubt about it.
00:05:01
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because this is what you're saying. This is a side lacking in confidence playing at home who... by all intents and purposes, if we're a team that are serious about getting promoted, this is a team we should be burying, right?
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not even just beating comfortably, but burying.
00:05:17
Zak
Yeah, agreed.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was an open game. They had so many chances. I mean, it was, I would say it was more them than us. But obviously Arsenal missed few that he should have done much better with.
00:05:31
Zak
Oh, agreed.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, and I mean, actually, i know that we always refer to this stuff, and I know you hate it, but they had three XG to our one, right? An XG is something that normally we're great at having loads of because we don't get real goals, just expected ones, right?
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they they had enough chances to generate three times as much of that as us.
00:05:59
Zak
Exactly. And bear in mind, our goal came from a mistake at the back from one of their players that we had a player that was smart enough to capitalise on it.
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you look at the stats, it's a game we probably deserve to lose, right?
00:06:10
Zak
right? it's It's, yeah, okay, you can say Siena deserves it after the last couple of games. Again, one of the few players that can probably hold his head a little bit higher. Again, like, he didn't really have much of a choice.
00:06:22
Zak
But I can understand why i still realise that something had to change because, you know, you had Ahasi also missed. You know this is a guy running around with a swimming cap on after a head injury and still, still, like, you know, striking better than than our players.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ridiculous
00:06:36
Zak
And then, And then there comes the entirety of the catalyst of this, of this problem, which which, you know, I've i've seen Alfie House point out, but I think he'll probably correct himself on the Total Saints podcast. I don't know if that'll be the case, but like he was pointing out the, oh, well, yeah, everyone booed like Jack Stevens when he came on.
00:06:57
Zak
And it's like, no kind of I've seen a few fans point out. wasn't booing him specifically. It booing the change. Like what on earth did you think?
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, because it's ridiculous, right?
00:07:04
Zak
Like,
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it is the single most ludicrous change didn' in living memory.
00:07:10
Zak
I think I've ever seen. It would it changed the game.
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, I mean, it just... It absolutely reminds me of, like, in a couple of games directly before Russell Martin was fired, right, where he just started doing the most silly things.
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just like... throwing stuff at a wall to see what sticks because you're so under pressure you just can't see the clear path to make the right decision but I'm just going to throw it out there now maybe our captain who's sure is being alright for us this season but let's face it is currently our fifth choice centre back is probably not a good replacement for one of the only you know promising attacking players we've had on the pitch
00:07:59
Zak
Yeah.
00:07:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
All game? All three games?
00:08:00
Zak
And i I understand that you've just taken off Archer for Fraser, but also you've got two other actual strikers on the bench.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I don't... Yeah.
00:08:08
Zak
So say you'd already made a like-for-like swap. So say you'd put on downs or you'd put on Nick... At that point, you've got a strike. So that means you could theoretically replace Sienza with Fraser.
00:08:20
Zak
And people aren't going to be as insane about it. But it's the fact that you were like, well, had to replace for Sienza because he was getting leggy. And i have you have a look and you're like, so rather than replace him with like another attacking player like Downs, why have you got Downs on the bench if you don't trust him then?
00:08:33
Zak
Because at this point, you could have had Matsuki or Aribo with you. but you decided to put Damien Downs in the matchday squad with, but but by the looks of things, no intention of ever playing him, right? Same say with this 18-year-old.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here are the... Here are the... Here are the... Here are looking at the bench, right? Looking at the bench. And there had been one substitution before that change, right? And that was Fraser on for Archer. We saw that.
00:08:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's look at the list of options on the bench and find out who is more suitable for this change than Jack Stephens. So you got...
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
the The young lad, whose name I look at and try to pronounce.
00:09:06
Zak
we I don't have to pronounce properly, but this is why I know that his first name is Nick.
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:11
Zak
So I'm going to keep calling him Nick until I pronounce his name properly because I don't want to you know, that's disrespectful.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And so, you know, you could have put him on as a striker and dropped Fraser into that sort of number 10 role that Sienzo had been picking up.
00:09:16
Zak
Yep.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a logical change. You can see that, right?
00:09:25
Zak
yep
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gavin Pizzunu, mean, I'd hear an argument that that might still be a more sensible change, if honest. Bragg, who is, you know, was called in at short notice, but is a midfielder by trade. So at least that is a position for position swap.
00:09:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah? Damien Downs, who's a striker, so again, you could put him on as a striker and drop Fraser back into a role that he has played confidently in this team before. And Jay Robinson, who is also a forward player slash midfielder.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that is four options that make more sense to literally everybody else.
00:09:58
Zak
And bear in mind as well, like I can understand that after last week, you don't want to bring Damien Downs on during another losing position. We were not in a losing position at this point, right?
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:08
Zak
we were We weren't exactly comfortable either, but we weren't in a losing position at this point. But I think it was absolutely criminal to try and defend the lead 68 minutes in. 59 minutes in, swap Archer for Fraser.
00:10:19
Zak
It was just...
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:10:21
Zak
you know archer for fraser like it was just I just can't. there's there's and That is down to him. And you're right. It probably is desperation. It is probably not trusting the players.
00:10:31
Zak
I understand why. like I talked about how Harwood-Bellis might get dropped. you said, oh, well, that would go out of consistency. I was like, no, I could see it because he was losing his head. And also, I'm just thinking at the moment, there are more players than not that have a stroppy mentality. And like...
00:10:47
Zak
I try not to throw flack on the players, but like something's got to give. When you get through six managers, but the core of the team remains the same, what you...
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:10:55
Zak
Who who else are you meant to blame? Because people are talking about Sports Republic being the problem and I can understand why people think that. I can understand... some arguments in agreement for it.
00:11:06
Zak
But the idea that they're going to sell us is ridiculous. We make money for them. It's as simple as that. Until we are not making but This isn't like Chancerian Sheffield Wednesday. We are not a loss-making entity.
00:11:17
Zak
We make money for them. And you can organise all the protests you want. And I'm sure that the the lack of attendance is going to start hitting their pockets. But if it's people that have season tickets that are already... you know, that have already paid and already still paying, it's not going to make a blind bit of difference.
00:11:32
Zak
It will be much bigger problem when they go down to league, we go down to league one. And yeah, at that point, maybe we'll get sold off and everyone will get their way. So that that's a problem in in it itself. And then you you go down to the, okay, well, we should have got a more experienced Premier League manager.
00:11:46
Zak
Okay. A more experienced championship manager. There's an argument for that. I can kind of agree with it. I understand why they kind of went for still. We we probably had him as one of our top candidates, to be perfectly honest.
00:11:57
Zak
Did the championship, lack of championship experience hurt him? No, because he's set up a lot of games to win. But it's it's ultimately the players on the pitch are deciding these things. And the problem is is, it's like, oh, well, we need to replace the manager because we need to get a guy that can get through to them.
00:12:10
Zak
How many more how many words do they need in their ear? Like, the fact that they all walked off, bar Sienza and Stevens, who attempted to go towards their fans, says it all.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's crazy.
00:12:20
Zak
and And still doesn't just look like out of ideas. He just looks dejected. And I can't help but go back to that clip, mate, of... him being like, yeah, I had to tell them it was okay to pass.
00:12:32
Zak
And I don't know what mental damage has been done, but I just don't think that you were going to undo it with the current cohort. And I think it's going to end up being sort of a situation where if we go down to League One, and I know that's insane. I know you don't want to think about it if we do and the entirety of the team go, there will be just a rebuild from the ground up, right?
00:12:51
Zak
Because at that point, we're going to have our youth and whatever sort of players are still about. But what baffles me is like, what do these players think their alternative is? Do they think, you know, The managers, some of them have got Champions League football. Russell Martin got Champions League football.
00:13:04
Zak
That worked out well. Juric did get Champions League football. That worked out okay for him, to be fair. it Seems to suit Italy a lot more. But like what do they think their future is?
00:13:16
Zak
Right? like This is the thing that baffles me. Like, you need to put... If you are part of a team that got 12 points in the Premier League, and then, you know, you're not going to end up being picked up by some of the best teams in the world, poop stop crying about it.
00:13:29
Zak
Like, this is where I'm at.
00:13:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:30
Zak
And, like, this lack of... You you summed that up perfectly, mate, which is, we don't even look like we want to win. and And I think that that's the the frustrating thing is is, you're right.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:13:38
Zak
Like, any of these changes any of those changes would have been more sensible. Yeah. the The turning point of this game was on Will Still, but also the players should have killed it off long before this change was made.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just back him.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, look, let's get back to the game and talk about that.
00:13:51
Zak
but the
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
but so Let's have a little breather and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright mate, and we're back. let's Let's talk about those chances.
00:14:38
Zak
i Yeah, let's...
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, how hasn't Armour buried at least one of those but least one of those opportunities? but they They were almost identical as well, right?
00:14:49
Zak
Mental.
00:14:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, just...
00:14:53
Zak
well Well, I found it really interesting stat for the game. They pointed out that five... Like, for his last five fixtures against Blackburn, he's been unable to score against them. And obviously, them being a former, his, like, former side, like, I wonder if there is just, like, i think, I don't think, to be clear, I don't think he fluffed it and missed on purpose.
00:15:11
Zak
I just think that he's overthinking it more because of the fact that he's very aware he's not scored in the last couple of games against them.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
my Yeah.
00:15:19
Zak
But, yeah, to be able to get to get one opportunity and just hit it the complete wrong direction... which I think was the second one, but then the first one of like trying to chip it over. And I'm like, if you're going to chip it over, you do actually need to leaf lift the football off the ground a little bit.
00:15:33
Zak
but like
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But mean, that was almost picture... Pitch was perfect, the goal he did score in the week, right? That was a little cheeky chip in in almost exactly the same position, right?
00:15:40
Zak
yeah
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Running off the shoulder, getting in on that side. It's just, it was it was there for the taking. If either of those chances make it 2-0, I think it's a completely different conversation.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's just so frustrating to once again... like, just be there or thereabouts, live but if it was just this, if it was just that, it's a different conversation. It's just, it's just like relentless frustration at all of the, all of this.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, on top of all of it, right, Charles now out for God knows how long with the hamstring as well. That's not good.
00:16:17
Zak
Well, you know, one of our best players so far this season, which means that now it's going to be down half and a step up. Or alternatively, you know, you do something with Matsuki and Eribo because they're there.
00:16:28
Zak
And again, you've got a player there that hasn't been tainted by this last season that's scored for us so far this season.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:33
Zak
And, you know, I know that I'm a little bit on the ho at Matsuki hype train. And I was really excited after I did my profile on him because that was, to be honest, the most most research done on a player that we brought in. But he also showed it a little bit and then he had that kind of like thrust away from him.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:48
Zak
You've got Eribo, who is our highest earner, that's just not playing football. And now, think again, that might be to do with him. It might be that he wants people that are more committed. If he was able to play in a bad Premier League team and still score goals, that's better than what any other team that are doing right now, right?
00:17:03
Zak
You've got Cameron Archer, who I just don't think it's going happen for him in a sense, mate.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:08
Zak
I'm really sorry. I know like for Ross Stewart, it was him just getting over his injury problems. For Cameron Archer, it's every single game we've seen him play. like A okay couple of times he's managed to score goals.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's crazy.
00:17:20
Zak
But and again, this is where people will point out Sports Republic are fault for not bringing in a striker. I do completely understand that that they thought they did in Damien Downs and that is experimental and that was stupid.
00:17:33
Zak
That was a completely complete under underestimation of how it tough the championship is despite having another season in the championship previously where they probably went, well, Adam Armstrong scored and we've already got him still.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:17:44
Zak
So maybe if we just get somebody else to back him up just in case and then we'll keep the other two. which then brings into the longer term problem, which you've talked about, which is fitness where, okay, three games in a week. Yeah, that's a problem.
00:17:56
Zak
But how are some of the best players in Europe able to do that without tearing their hamstrings every five minutes? How are they? What is it about our players and players that specifically about getting sick all the time?
00:18:08
Zak
Because I sent you an article because you didn't even realize when we beat Everton, like last year, 2024, There were seven players out, which was baffling. And because they'd had have food poisoning, like another bout of like some sort of sickness bug, where you're like, i don't know what's at Staplewood, but give it a deep clean, man.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, like, I read...
00:18:26
Zak
like When you've got a whole squad out due to sickness, is nuts.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if this is lacking the tonal context because I've i've read these words and not seen the post-match press conference from Will Steele. I've read it. But... he was asked, are they telling you they can't play?
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
are they... or is like a doctor telling you they can't play? and And his response was, well, I see Flynn and Casper this morning.
00:18:46
Zak
Hmm.
00:18:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
They tell me they've been ill all night and don't feel up to play, and I can't go and put them out on the pitch. So I don't know. is and I don't know The way I read that is like, well, just not up for it.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's...
00:19:04
Zak
i don't I don't necessarily believe that because like Yander has played every minute and every opportunity that's been given to him. And the thing is with Flint Downs is we already know that he's had an ongoing problem since he decided to eat raw chicken livers.
00:19:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:19:16
Zak
and which And quite frankly, there was that guy who was like the physio. i can't remember what team it was. so I was putting together some research. I don't know whether it will become a full episode or not. But on injuries and and like personal trainers and personal chefs and stuff and how it impacts football, right?
00:19:31
Zak
Because like arguably, that's had a massive damaging effect on his career. And also, like a of these these personal chefs and personal... I was about to say personal physicians, but that isn't what it is. like Personal trainers and stuff use all of the clout of footballers to promote their business.
00:19:46
Zak
But then if something they do where they overtrain a player or, don't know, make them eat raw chicken livers... causes them to be sick. They're not then paying compensation to the club. And I'm like, you can't stop what people do in their private life from ruin private.
00:20:00
Zak
But it's like genuinely, if if my performance in my job was as poor as theirs has been, I would have been fired by now.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:20:07
Zak
And they can't necessarily do that because of the way contracts work. But it's like, man, like what do you want from the fans? You want us to get behind you every week. We did that for the early Premier League. They're still going.
00:20:18
Zak
They're still singing for a vast majority of the game. But when you give them dross after dross after dross after dross and then they turn on you and you're mad about it, it is disgusting. Because, like, people...
00:20:30
Zak
not like At no point. I can't remember what it was. like the but I think the only time I remember in recent history was like Sunderland, right? when When they got battered 8-0 by us, they refunded all their away fans, right?
00:20:41
Zak
When was the last time any of the players did they need to play it any of that kind of stuff for the people that support them week in, week out?
00:20:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:47
Zak
It's just infuriating because then what you've got now is division amongst the fan base because they don't know whether to blame the hierarchy. They don't know, it in like, you know, as in Sports Republic, they don't know whether to blame the manager. They think he's out of his depth. Maybe he is.
00:21:01
Zak
But also, what can you do if the people underneath you are doing nothing? And then you've got the players where I don't want to speculate.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:08
Zak
Again, I don't want criticise too much. I'm not a football player. But also, if I'm paid 80,000 quid a week to do a job and I don't do it, that's on me. And that's you that leaves you ripe for criticism. It's just infuriating. How much more do we need to genuinely put up with his fans on a week-in, week-out basis?
00:21:25
Zak
I'm going to Preston next week, Greg. You're aware. I'm not looking forward to it at all. At this point, I'm going out of more of a sense of obligation than actually wanting to go and watch the game because like it's incredible how this three run of games you talked about, well, this could be really the making of the side.
00:21:41
Zak
We can finally get back on track.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we talked about how make or break.
00:21:43
Zak
one point
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's definitely feeling more break.
00:21:45
Zak
One point from nine.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, crazy.
00:21:48
Zak
One point from nine. There's no other word for it. What was she meant to do?
00:21:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, I want to... I want to...
00:21:53
Zak
Talk more about the game?
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, I don't think I do.
00:21:58
Zak
No?
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
think... No, but I do have...
00:22:02
Zak
we talk about Wellington's red card at one but any point as well?
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:22:05
Zak
On top of the fact that you've got Shea Charles out now.
00:22:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, know what? Yeah. let's Let's have a little break and then let's talk about Wellington and then let's try and put, I don't want to say a positive spin, but i thought a great let's put a Greg spin on it.
00:22:13
Zak
Yeah.
00:22:19
Zak
i'll I much prefer that terminology, mate.
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But let's let's have a little word from our partners at Zencaster first. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:22:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zencaster came out the clear winner With 4K video recorded from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast. It sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster. Alright, mate. Wellington. What was he thinking?
00:22:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, have you ever seen a clearer red card? but How could he possibly look surprised at that?
00:23:05
Zak
i I was angry at the fact that he was surprised by it. Like, that that is absolute in insanity.
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:12
Zak
You're like, to the scrambling decision-making a point where, like, you're already two one down at this point. You've got eight minutes of added time.
00:23:24
Zak
Calm yourselves down. Try and do what you can possibly...
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
is it just right is it just the fight mentality that we want and we've asked for but just a bit too heated and he just got a bit carried away
00:23:27
Zak
yeah
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
or Or what? Like, that's that that's the most positive way I can possibly think about because it is horrendous.
00:23:38
Zak
but potentially.
00:23:41
Zak
but That's the only way that I could spin it positively as well, because it's, it genuinely just felt like stupidity, right?
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:48
Zak
It's going into that, you know, it's, it's moments of madness. We saw it from Jack Stevens twice last year, right? it was It was a moment of madness.
00:23:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:23:56
Zak
It was a bit more of an obvious moment of madness, right? It's not a little bit of tussling in the hair, which again, dumb, or you know But it is a blatant red card and it was just foolish. And now you're putting more pressure on Manning, who is already tired and already needed to come off at that point.
00:24:13
Zak
But again, like that change... was silly anyway because how late in the game, 81st minute, cool. I'm sure that all of, I'm sure that the 17 year old was going to make, my I kind of understand why Bragg was brought on, right?
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:25
Zak
Originally, I thought the insane thing had happened because the way they were describing it was that Shea Charles was coming off and Wellington was coming on. And I, I almost lost my mind because I was like, you telling me that going have like seven defenders on the field, two one down? Like what on earth?
00:24:39
Zak
And obviously it happened to not be that way, but you know i get that they're all tired and there's suddenly other, but like i just I don't get it. I just don't quite understand what his thought process was.
00:24:52
Zak
Maybe you're right, it was just a mistake, but like you've only just come back from injury and now you've got yourself banned. So now our squad that kind of sucks is now extremely depleted. Yeah.
00:25:05
Zak
but You know, i can talk about most of the players on that pitch, Greg. I can't talk about Finnazaz. Don't know where he was. Didn't see him. Maybe had one nice pass through to armour.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I don't know.
00:25:15
Zak
Other than that, I don't understand what we've bought for 10 million quid. Middlesbrough fans must be laughing. And I don't blame them.
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just, I just, I don't know what, what that is. I just, I don't know.
00:25:27
Zak
I'm done because, like, what you do you Because...
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also this has been what four or five games now where we've had the same thing.
00:25:30
Zak
is it
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So is it? I don't know. just, I, I don't know.
00:25:35
Zak
Is it? You're supposed to, you know, you're scoring for the middle sprint beforehand. Are you saying you're walking into such a dejected dressing room that you just decide to also rubbish at football as well?
00:25:48
Zak
I just, I don't know what you do at this point.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:51
Zak
Like you can, you tear up the squad from the ground up.
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, like
00:25:53
Zak
We've tried to do that. We tear up the manager. You do that.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
like, the first couple of games, right, I can i can see in in a position like Azaz plays, I can see the chemistry's not quite right and he's not quite picked up the ball enough and when he's picked up the ball he's not quite managed to, like, gauge where everyone is and sort of figure out the system properly yet. The first couple of games you can forgive that, but we're So far in now, it's... And i just I don't think I've seen anything from him at all at any stage.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really strange.
00:26:26
Zak
It's depressing and upsetting because, again, look, i like I've tried to do my best to not like target individuals and be cross with the players. But like at the same time, like the buck ultimately stops with them. And like how many times can can we keep making the same mistakes, doing the same things and and you know firing the same... but May as well have just had like manager A, manager B, manager C at this point.
00:26:48
Zak
Because it doesn't matter.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:50
Zak
You know, we've but we've had managers with philosophies, managers with with weird, heavy metal football that isn't really anything. We've had Rusk trying to just defend a game for 90 minutes. We've now had Stil, who doesn't have a philosophy that wants to win.
00:27:03
Zak
doesn't matter what you ask them to do. Apparently, they don't know can't figure out. And then they... that is Again, like, I understand where Siena was coming from, being like, oh, we need the support from you. Like, what is it? 44 wins out of, like, 42, 48 games?
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:18
Zak
were you What are we supporting?
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Four wins out of 48 is ridiculous.
00:27:19
Zak
like
00:27:22
Zak
8% win rate, I think, we've had or something like that.
00:27:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:25
Zak
And then also now we've become the banter target for like the second tier podcast and people are being cross that they're making fun of us.
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:31
Zak
Well, why not? we're an easy we're we're At the so this point, we're easy content. And it's it's embarrassing because it seems to have sort of gone from...
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:40
Zak
you know and the My biggest problem is with how we've steered again. And you're right, it very much felt like Martin towards the end was the tone deafness of like, oh, we should have been 3-0 up. I was like, well... No, even we weren't though, were we?
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we won.
00:27:52
Zak
and this is And this is the biggest problem I have is that like, don't know what you do to turn it.
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Right.
00:27:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, look, mate. we're We're rapidly running out of time, and I want to put want to put the Greg spin on it. I don't want to call it a positive spin, because I just i don't have it in me to feel positive about it.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because as staunch defenders as we've been on the podcast, right, and it really feels indefensible that that
00:28:09
Zak
Yeah.
00:28:18
Zak
oh it is.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Those two capitulations in a row. But if I try and take the emotion out of it, because that is is very difficult. we We have talked for so long before Tuesday about how we were doing all the right things and not getting the goals. And now this is two games where we have taken the lead.
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So now if we can take the lead and put the next piece of the puzzle into place and keep a lead and maybe like score again. maybe just Maybe at some point we're going to get there?
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. That's as close as I can get. don't know.
00:29:01
Zak
Look, I...
00:29:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully a week on the training pitch with all of the players not on an international break is just enough to sort it out because it's getting ridiculous.
00:29:02
Zak
i
00:29:11
Zak
Or sort out whatever sickness bug's going on, right? Like, I understand that the illness has definitely played a part into this.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:18
Zak
You know, Tom Fellows is out, was out, Yander's out, Downs is out. Like, you know, he wasn't left with a hue. But again, it's the preparation in the week. It's the fact that there are...
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:31
Zak
There are so many more factors, and I think there's a lot of things where our training's ground looks really nice, so but you know you've got wonder what is going on behind the scenes and what needs to change. And it's like, we will be there to support the team when we see it in them that they are fighting back.
00:29:48
Zak
And you said, but Wellington, dumb decision. Was it off the basis of trying to fight back? Maybe. Leo Sienza played really well. you want to He was the only player, Greg, that but had a rating above five four for yesterday on BBC Sports Rating.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:04
Zak
I think pretty sure Wellington had like 1.38, which was less than Ryan Fraser when he had his red card against Leicester. But yeah, we just...
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just like, it's... it I don't understand of all of the things about the game, I don't understand. And there are so many. don't understand how we've gone, how we've suddenly capitulated defensively so badly. Because even before all of the nonsense and the changes, it's not like, it's not like Blackburn didn't have chances. They were, they were probably more dominant than us. And that, to me, is really the most concerning thing, right?
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, you know, like you say, the game turned and their mentality switched after that change and bringing Jack Stephens on and and that led to the the thing.
00:30:46
Zak
Because we we can't we can't necessarily play a high press because we can't get back.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But even before that, from the very get-go of the game, think Blackburn are on top. And it's just, I don't i get it. I don't understand how we've got to that point. That's not how that, you know, that's not on paper how that game should be playing out is where I'm at.
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just...
00:31:13
Zak
Yeah, you have to want to win. like they When they show the desire to want to win, that is when the fans will get behind them. i When that last sort of 10... We had, at that point, the 81st minute, we we brought on those changes and then they scored again. And that was you know problematic. They scored in the 86th minute. So at that point, it's 1-1. That's a bit of a disaster. He's made the changes to try and, I don't panic and and keep keep hold of whatever.
00:31:39
Zak
But when you had eight minutes at a time, there was enough there for us to be able to realistically get the ball back in and try and score an equaliser. right And realistically, what's happening is it kind of just...
00:31:50
Zak
You knew that didn't they could have given us 50, 60, 70 minutes at a time and Blackburn could have not done a single attack and probably wouldn't.
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would've just never recalled it. That's true.
00:31:57
Zak
Exactly.
00:31:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:31:58
Zak
and And like somebody put it on one of the YouTube videos, like 50% of sport is like physical, the other 50% is mental. And it's like that mental side is the thing that that needs sorting. If if we're we're still like, do we need a physical like a physical sports manager and like a spiritual manager? Because that is almost where I'm at is that like you need somebody to train this kind of stuff in them.
00:32:22
Zak
And like, I don't know what it is to, but hopefully, hopefully a week later,
00:32:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, mate. I don't know if I'm... I don't know if I'm emotionally ready enough yet to go into a conversation about spiritualism in football, mate. but but
00:32:34
Zak
Look, hopefully, as you pointed out, you've got, what, like six days on the training ground now to build up to a game at home, right?
00:32:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
you With no, like, international break or nonsense. then This is it.
00:32:45
Zak
And anyone that's sick, that doesn't want to play, that might be a bit dodgy, just just, okay, fine, you're dropped for this weekend.
00:32:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dinamoth. Yeah, Dinamoth.
00:32:53
Zak
That's what you've got to It might be a fault.
00:32:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh...
00:32:54
Zak
They might genuinely all have been ill. I kind of think they were because, again, like there's a couple of players amongst that group that I wouldn't have expected to just randomly go out on the day unless they were ill. And Tom Fellows was physically looked ill on the Tuesday, right?
00:33:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, he looked like death.
00:33:07
Zak
I wouldn't be surprised.
00:33:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:08
Zak
I wouldn't be surprised if... That is also a criticism I have is playing someone that's that ill, sweating around a bunch of other guys in a very small, enclosed space is how you spread disease, right? That's why war is a really bad thing for disease.
00:33:21
Zak
I'm not bore you with history stuff there, but like, I'm not really shocked that the guy that looked like he'd spent the entire night throwing up caused the rest of the team to look like they're going to spend all their night throwing up. However, you know, whoever's fit, whoever's ready, whoever's gutting for it, if it's a Dozie, if it's a Rebu, whoever wants to go into Preston and win that game is who you should be training and preparing for.
00:33:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:42
Zak
Anyone else, anyone that feels like they're not ready, anyone that feels like they're, oh, bid them off just for this weekend and then see how it goes because it will be on his head here.
00:33:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even if we end up with a team of under-21s, honestly, think a lot of fans would see that as a welcome relief, honestly.
00:33:55
Zak
It's going to be on his head, be it. And like we need to have a win that isn't either gifted from the referee or last-minute headers from Jack Stephens.
00:33:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
because Because it's got the potential to boil over and turn nasty, if that's not the case.
00:34:09
Zak
I think that this weekend will be the... Again, this is going to be the turning point, and I don't want it to be. And after a window that a vast majority of us thought was like a solid window to be in the position that we're in now and to have, as you pointed out, more good players than probably not. there's a there's There's a couple of duds, but that's unfortunately just how transfer windows go.
00:34:31
Zak
You know, look at... Ari, look at Liverpool. it Like...
00:34:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's
00:34:36
Zak
we we we need something. okay Or otherwise, you know it doesn't matter what Steele does at that point. He's lost everybody and then they will switch him out and then it will be whichever manager wants to take the horrible poison chalice next.
00:34:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
it. That's it.
00:34:49
Zak
Either way, guys, we're going be here to cover it though.
00:34:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bring in Big Sam. That's it. Look, that's it. We've got all week to work out what Saturday looks like. And it's going to be great. I can't wait.
00:34:58
Zak
let's see Let's see if I'm as depressed and miserable by then.
00:35:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Guarantee it.
00:35:02
Zak
Let's see let's see if any Greg's positivity can get through. About it.
00:35:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
seep through. We'll see. Listen, that is absolutely all we've got time for today. Zach, as ever, thank you so much for joining me and talking about this team that we suffer through together.
00:35:16
Zak
Thank you, mate. Sorry I ranted again like another three times than I did yesterday. Could have probably gone for a fourth.
00:35:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you everyone for listening.
00:35:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We will be back tomorrow to talk more about Saints, maybe in a more positive light. We'll see. i don't know. and We might still have more to get off our chest, if I'm honest, but we'll we'll cross that bridge.
00:35:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know. let's Let's all have group therapy. Let us know your thoughts and feelings about how awful this was on all the social medias or in the comments. We're on all of them. YouTube, X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, TikTok, TikTok, everywhere.
00:35:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hit us up. Let us know. we love hearing from you. Like I say, we'll be back tomorrow. But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day and we'll see you then.
00:36:13
Zak
Thank you.