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Episode 115: Matchday Review - An EXICTING finish vs Forest!
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Southampton – What a finish to the game! It's another loss on the road and as always there are positives and negatives and we touch on all of that and more!
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Transcript
Introducing Oscar & Team Dynamics
00:00:09
Zak
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, Southampton fans. Yeah. Well, skipping past that, I'd like to introduce you to a new member of the team. Oscar, how are you doing, bud?
00:00:25
Oscar
Yeah, all good. Thanks. Looking forward to it.
00:00:27
Zak
Wonderful! Obviously it's been me and Greg for the longest time. Sometimes it's just me and sometimes just Greg. So now we're going to be a three man team. This is exciting. Sometimes it'll be all of us.
00:00:38
Oscar
Yeah.
00:00:38
Zak
Sometimes it'll just be the two of us. Sometimes it might be one of us on our own depending on how bad it goes. I'm hoping our scheduling isn't that terrible. Managed to do...
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's face it, this might be the most exciting transfer we see this January.
00:00:46
Oscar
Yeah.
00:00:51
Oscar
I have seen the transfer link though. Exciting times.
00:00:54
Zak
We actually have to look at the name, it's bad!
00:00:54
Oscar
Five.
00:00:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whoa, whoa, let's not waste that.
00:00:58
Oscar
Yeah.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got a whole episode to squeeze out about tomorrow.
00:01:05
Zak
Right, yeah so I guess I'd like the present to get into it. It
Match Predictions & Lineup Changes
00:01:09
Zak
was a game that I predicted we would lose 3-0. Greg predicted weirdly we would win 3-1, which was insane. I never thought we would score two goals though, so that was nice. We had two pools, first ever goal for Southampton. It turns out that a big striker can actually score a goal, so that's a positive.
00:01:31
Zak
We turned it on for the last 20 minutes of the game also a positive shame about the rest of it Yeah, but look there's a lot right there's a lot to to unpack and obviously we'll try and try and pretend we're professionals once Greg and go go right to the beginning which is the team sheet which
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we played as well as we played for that 12 minutes of stoppage time, we had our chance.
00:01:54
Zak
You know, how obviously we we we knew Dibbling wasn't going to be in. Four to six weeks though is slightly slightly worrying. Les out for downs. And then obviously Archer and Armstrong in. Solomano on the bench. And Anthony Taylor as ref. which I feel like I worked in our favour for the first time ever today. i lost To be clear, I still feel bad that i still think he was ah ah he's a bad referee and I still think he did a poor job today. it was just It was coincidentally, he fell onto our side.
Lineup Consistency & Referee Decisions
00:02:25
Zak
So, Oscar, how do you feel about the line-up? What was your thoughts going into the game?
00:02:31
Oscar
I thought it was it was it was an interesting one. one. um I think consistency is probably important now if we can, but I appreciate it. There's only been a few days since the last game, so I suspect that might be a possibility as to why changes were made. I think it's it's a tricky one. I think he's looking for a balance to try and find goals from somewhere, but as we all well know, no easy feat at the moment, unfortunately.
00:02:58
Oscar
We're requiring other teams to score for us or a centre-back doing some sort of Rabona flick, which I'm not entirely sure was intentional, but if it was, fair play to the man.
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
The commentators on the source that I was watching also couldn't quite figure out how deliberate that was and it was somewhere between the luckiest or the best goal they've ever seen from a centre back.
00:03:16
Oscar
Yeah.
00:03:21
Zak
Ice the luckiest, come on!
00:03:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
say
00:03:24
Zak
ah ah I think the only intentional centre-back goes this season have been Taylor Harwood-Bellis getting his head on the end of it. And that's it. I 100% feel like if I don't just try to pass it hoping someone would run into the space then...
00:03:38
Zak
did ah ah and it went in. I bet he was happy about it. So, either way, it was it was a goal. It almost wasn't, but obviously it was then all on site, so happy days. I love having to stop for, well, what, 12 minutes of stoppage time today, which which felt like a lot.
00:03:51
Zak
I don't remember it being that much, but then we had a lot of...
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both of the stops were serenaded by both sets of fans with their opinions on VAR. Let's put it that way.
00:04:03
Zak
There were a lot of songs about Anthony Taylor.
00:04:03
Oscar
it was yes i can imagine It was nice for a VAR decision to go in our favour for once, it's just a shame it's one that didn't really, in the grand scheme of things, make a huge amount of difference.
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:13
Oscar
I don't think necessarily yeah it was offside or or was an impact from the player. but You know, take what you can get.
00:04:22
Zak
Yes, it's kind of where I'm at and I think that's that's what we need to take.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Team Struggles & Fan Expectations
00:04:26
Zak
I've mentioned it a couple of weeks ago like one of the comments we had on TikTok from a Sheffield United fan that feels sorry for us and to be quite frank I'll take the sympathy was that we just need to enjoy every single moment that goes our way because that's the only part of joy we're going to get out of this season.
00:04:35
Oscar
100%.
00:04:41
Zak
ah So if it means that a decision goes our way or a ridiculous goal happens, then I guess we'll take it. But yeah, obviously, archer Archer managed to get in.
00:04:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:48
Oscar
hundred percent
00:04:51
Zak
Greg, I know you've been a big fan. I know, Oscar, you shared some thoughts that you thought, how do you think he he did today? Because obviously, pairing up with Armstrong didn't really help. it It didn't seem to feel like the game sort of came alive, really, and until both of them got hooked off.
00:05:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I still think that both of those players start better or play better with
00:05:06
Zak
So do you think it was the right call them starting? Do you reckon they should have been in a different position or what?
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
someone to bounce off of. And that was severely lacking. We took Les out of the picture who who has fulfilled that role in the absence of Toolpool. But also we see him as the target man at other points. so but don't It seems to be the key feature of our team is that we play better when we've got someone to aim at up front to hold it up and and have some of these players run off.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It's baffling how we've been saying that since I think before Christmas. and i
00:05:49
Zak
You're never ever going to see Armstrong and Archer play together mate. That's like, sorry not Armstrong and Archer, Archer and Liverpool, you're just never going to see him play together.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
sure and
00:05:58
Zak
Like apart from that five minutes, it's that one time in a game that I can't even remember what it was. I just think that the vibes are not there and I don't understand why we can see things that that managers don't.
00:06:12
Zak
ah ah what it is about everyone screaming for it that's so wrong i genuinely.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:17
Zak
So it's so bizarre at this point because it did feel like we kind of put two of the same player up the top and hoped that something would come off whereas you know there are a couple of times where I remember seeing like sort of Armstrong just not be in position which is pretty as pair and other times where Archer just couldn't get on the end of it because that's not his strengths as you pointed out. So yeah, a bit strange. But obviously, I guess to be anything I can think of really is fitness. I'd say downs coming in for Les wasn't really great. He seems to lose his head as from what I could see.
00:06:49
Zak
he got very very stressed out in the first half and I'm not really surprised he was swapped out because I think he was lucky not to really get a red if I'm totally honest and I think that had he carried on I wouldn't have been surprised if he was then sent off and then we went on to lose 5-0 so it's it's sad but like it's really weird and I think Greg you know greggie know my opinions on Les and
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:10
Zak
i' I'm really sort of, I find it so mad how my opinion of his and his changed so rapidly. But I kind of guess I agree with him where he's like, well, now I have a manager that believes in me and I'm like, it's a bit sharp.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, it goes back to my opinions on philosophies in football and the damage it could have on players, right?
00:07:22
Zak
Do you think that criticism's?
00:07:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
like He's so busy worrying that he's going to get told off for making too much of a dribble or not releasing the ball soon enough that, you know, you've got to get out of your own head to play football naturally sometimes. And he's being given the freedom to do that. and And Downs is struggling without the system, it seems. So it's it's an interesting one for sure.
00:07:50
Zak
Do we think that it's the, obviously, my only, the only thing i the only thing that I can think that happened was rotation due to fitness, because obviously they came on later on.
00:08:04
Zak
But like also, do you think that we have players that should be able to play three games a week? Like Oscar, where where are you at? Because obviously coming into it, coming into the podcast kind of new, but as I can tell that you're a long-term Suffering
Impact of Missing Players
00:08:15
Zak
Saints fan like the rest of us.
00:08:17
Zak
So like, you know, you you said it was extremely important,
00:08:17
Oscar
Unfortunately.
00:08:20
Zak
like to have that level of consistency and like the same, you know, we almost had almost like for like for two games in a row and then it seems to have changed again today. And you can see the damage it did in the first half, three nil down by, you know, going into the break.
00:08:34
Oscar
100% and I think, again, like much like other games, admittedly, slightly stronger second half performance, but if the game's gotten 3-0 down, the game the game's done. So, you know, for me, if if they're if they're fit enough to come and do that, get them starting and then get yourself a foothold in the game and then see where you can go from there. Downes is an interesting one because obviously I think he was pivotal to us last year.
00:09:00
Oscar
I think when he was out, we completely we really missed him. Is that to do with the system? Is it to do with the level he's at at the moment? Could he play alongside Okachuk? Something I wouldn't mind seeing. Obviously I appreciate we want to we want to try and get some level of consistency, but maybe the two of them could work well together. I understand rotation and I think with certain players dibbling maybe, obviously,
00:09:23
Oscar
You don't really want to have to rely on him.
00:09:24
Zak
Mm hmm.
00:09:24
Oscar
We sort of have had to so far. Do these injuries happen? I know it was an impact injury, but do they happen if we we can give him a bit of a break? I understand the young players maybe need a little bit more. you know, Sulemana can't really class a young player anymore.
00:09:39
Oscar
Maybe the logic is tired legs. I couldn't possibly tell you, but you know yes, you'd like to think they'd be able to play a few games in a week. they Some of them could last year and they're going to have to again next year.
00:09:49
Oscar
so
00:09:51
Zak
i'm just just throw it out there they're also paid quite a
First Half Critique & VAR Controversies
00:09:53
Zak
lot of money to do it
00:09:54
Oscar
Well, 100%.
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's a hard balance to strike though, right?
00:09:56
Zak
but j
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Between they should definitely be able to play that many games and you look at players like Suleimana whose entire game is being legier and faster than the opponents.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he hasn't played 90 minutes in since I can't even remember when in like two or three games consistently. So to come in and try and do three games in a week can't be an easy task.
00:10:18
Zak
I'm just thrown out there, they're also paid quite a lot of money to do it. No, but it's I know that we've got to go to skip to a break at some point, but quickly, like you look at some of the the forest players' desire to stay on the pitch, regardless of the fact that they probably should have been taken off.
00:10:35
Zak
I haven't really seen, other than potentially Silibana, any of our players really kick up much of a fuss when they've been taken off at all, throughout the whole season.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And even then it was because it was only 15 minutes in.
00:10:44
Oscar
think
00:10:47
Oscar
Yeah, I think it comes down to character. And at the minute, my question would be how much character do we have in the squad? But the only one that shows a huge amount is Jack Stevens. And he obviously shows probably a bit too much at times. So maybe that's why Martin insisted on him being in all the time, because he shows that character desire something I would have hoped to see from Downs, but you know, or other players to step up and show it Ramsdale can. But yeah, where's the characters? What I'd be asking.
00:11:15
Zak
Right, so that brings us sort of as our usual pretty much waffle. We'll get on to the first half after a word from our partners at Zencaster.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so 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 a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:11:48
Zak
and We're back, so right straight into it then. ah ah Obviously we talked about all the teams ins and outs and obviously we've alluded to some of the events that have happened. But the first half, a half in my opinion, incredibly forgettable. but for not What if you're a Forest fan?
00:12:05
Zak
a Saints fan, it was like the greatest hits, right, of a goal from somebody, a first Premier League goal from somebody that hasn't scored a goal for Forrest, you know, so so we managed to do the whole break break the curse.
00:12:15
Zak
Some weird VAR decisions, decisions, ah just just just as some general bad refereeing. We had a classic Russell Martin individual mistake try to pass out from the back for some bizarre reason.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Once again just finishing off Saints Bingo, right?
00:12:28
Zak
And then just
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not really a Saints game if you don't give away a goal.
00:12:30
Zak
yeah Yeah, exactly. And then a solid goal from an informed striker that then, you know, put us into a position where, well, to be fair, I think most Saints fans at that point thought the game was dead and would be like, would be really lucky if not to get on a five. But, yeah, that that first half, I can't... One of the only things I could really pick up on but was, one, how miserable I was getting.
00:12:56
Zak
and like that was my my partner what my wife walked in and she started laughing because I didn't hear her because I was too busy shouting at my computer and so eventually it's tapping on the shoulder is like so you're having fun then and then I'm like don't stop sir because it's just yeah it's just another one of those games where I was like great I'm gonna get to the end of this recording with absolutely nothing exciting to talk about again. I'm what I'm prone for kicking off about very sort of post game as it is anyway, especially with just like how it's been recently. But like I think the overwhelming like feeling I had towards the end of that, ah ah but actually even about halfway through that half was just like apathy. Like I'm just so sad. And it genuinely looked like I just the that of the game
00:13:45
Zak
had entirely gone and we you know the only things that were really happening was occasionally Sugawara or Walker Peters would get the ball and get it forward but other than that it was just a lot of us being bad so Oscar I'll pivot to you like what's your opinion on the first half?
00:14:05
Oscar
Well,
Psychological Challenges & Leadership Needs
00:14:06
Oscar
again, I think think the question has got to be asked about their character at times, how we can keep coming out and and just being blown away. and you know Yes, there's a reaction in the second half again, but is that them taking their foot off the gas? Same as Tottenham. These teams, I think, just know as soon as they score against us, we're in trouble because the likelihood of us scoring one is slim, the likelihood of us scoring two. you know I know we have today, but I just...
00:14:35
Zak
on it though.
00:14:35
Oscar
No, 100%. And if we're if we're relying on Walker Peters to be our creative outlet, which let's be fair, a lot of the time last season we did as well, he's a right back. Like, look, he's a good right back, but he's a right back. Like, what are these what and these attacking players have got her at some point? I know we know that we need quality up there and we need some help, but, you know, we can't have a defender being our most creative player. But it's just, if a goal goes in and what's the reaction?
00:15:05
Oscar
Where'd you go? How'd you reset? That's always ah ah good a good way to, especially at the moment. And I know psychologically, we're obviously not in the best place. But i've heard i've I've heard stuff from a sports psychologist that says, look, you just got to reset when you make a mistake or something goes well, you just reset and re and go again. And we don't seem to be able to do that for one reason or another. And it just then builds and cascades.
00:15:29
Zak
Yeah, genuinely, like it it does feel that every time we can see the goal, not only their heads drop, but you can see the sort of the frustration and that everyone starts shouting each other and then they start getting a bit more reckless. And it's kind of like, yeah, we shouldnn we sometimes show a bit of reaction, but it's really, really frustrating that it always has to be us showing a reaction and never ever getting on the front foot.
00:15:56
Zak
like I just I can't remember when we you know arguably the Man United game when we were we were one they'll up but still managed to completely capitulate at the end of the game again we've already discussed how a lot of that is due to the change of personnel part of that I think is that the personnel that were brought on a lot of them started today and and showed why they're not being picked in my opinion and yes
00:16:18
Oscar
know that a lot of fans have spoken about the lack of a leader and that's where you need someone to step up and say, right, come on, goals gone in, we've got to reset, but I think teams lick their lips. As soon as the goal goes in, they know, right, two, three, four more to have here. Let's get going. And who's going to be that leader to step up and do it?
00:16:34
Zak
it's it's difficult because it's like you don't even know, don't really know where everyone's heads are and it does it does feel like so many of them at this point are just sort of not here and I think the problem is is like the so the the lack of signings which I understand why, don't get me wrong and the lack of sort of the fact that the club have even said that this season is a write-off And I know that the seasons are right off, and they probably know the seasons are right off, but that means that they're going into these games without anyone really sort of cheering them up. And sometimes, as I said to Greg last episode, I don't care if it's fear of the manager going ballistic, something just something to to give them an anchor to to go on. And today they seem to show a bit of it. They gave a little bit of consolation to traveling fans, but like
00:17:21
Zak
I don't know, like Greg, you've you've been there a lot more than me this season. ah You've been part of that group of people that have just been...
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got I've got a positive spin to put on it because if you look coming into these fixtures but do nobody expected us to get any points maybe against Man United especially at 1-0 up but if you think
00:17:31
Zak
Okay, go for gold.
Performance Evaluation & Future Outlook
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
realistically we we've played really well for 82 minutes against United
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we played really well for 20 minutes, half an hour at the end. And it feels like we're getting closer to a full performance and the bits are coming together. And yeah, the starting lineup probably wasn't there with some of those pieces today due to fitness or whatever the reason was, but it's something that we can hopefully take to build upon. We've got a full week until the next game now. And that might be the.
00:18:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, if if in a week's time we're back here saying, well, we were good for spells against Newcastle, that really is going to be the story of the season. But maybe we can take it this week and build upon it and actually look to get at least something out of that game.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It really needs to be the case.
00:18:33
Oscar
I think it would be nice that at the minute we seem to either get completely wiped away in the first half and destroyed and game done or we we put in a plucky performance and we still lose.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Otherwise you're right. It's on the beach.
00:18:49
Oscar
like It's really frustrating I think at times because I don't think we are miles off the quality of the hips which have got minus the lap. I don't think we're miles off the quality Leicester have got but it's those moments the Leicester game the Ipswich game plucky you know admirable plucky defeats but ultimately still defeats and I think it's yeah frustrating and and can we find that middle ground that's the I think that's the hope but a
00:19:15
Zak
ah That's where I'm this this this performance itself is is one of the classic Saints doing better against a better team. right yeah United eight the other day, admittedly United to this time at this point, in case the time is like a bottom of the league club.
00:19:32
Zak
however
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh, described by their own manager today, by the way, as the worst Premier League side in Manchester United history. Uh,
00:19:38
Zak
They're not wrong. And then on on top of that, you've got like, you know, when we played against Arsenal and when we played against City, and you know, which which was the start of their downfall if everyone remembers rightly. But you're it's exactly it's exactly that. It's these plucky little, we tried performances and everyone everyone gives them a big clap, but it's the same amount of points at the end of the day. But anyway, we're going to pivot quickly across to a word from our partners at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:20:09
Zak
Global Sports Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasting with daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcasted in five different languages. This is your one-stop shop for your daily football fix. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcasts.
00:20:26
Zak
And we're back. So let's talk about the more exciting part of the game. We
Scoring Breakthrough & Morale Boost
00:20:32
Zak
actually scored two goals and we finally had a goal. from Paul Novachi!
00:20:38
Zak
Greg, how are you feeling? It finally happened!
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's exciting, although I have to say that he's given up the goal and dedicated it purely to the fans that supported him. He came out in the post-match and said, look, i I hope more than anyone that this is the goal that fills him with confidence and he goes on to score 35 goals for us in the rest of the season. and Absolutely would love to see it. Do I think that's going to be the case? Probably not. But it was a really good header.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's the, what more can you say? It was a good goal. It wasn't like he tripped over and kicked in the net. It was a solid header from a good delivery. And we actually scored a goal from a corner on our own without manually bundling it in the net for us.
00:21:22
Zak
yeah
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:23
Zak
but i think We're still at the bottom of that league of squad from corners, but we're not zero anymore in two games.
00:21:23
Oscar
Hallelujah.
00:21:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:30
Zak
This is crazy.
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two in two games.
00:21:30
Zak
but
00:21:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is unbelievable improvement. What more can you say?
00:21:35
Zak
That is massive. Technically, two goals in a game. I did think that when we came on at half-time, it would be very, very much the same. Then, obviously, after 10 minutes of, very, very similar, except the fact that, obviously, Big Lead started to drive it a little bit more forward. Obviously, then, we had the triple substitution. Onuachi, Solomana, Manning, Ullon.
00:22:02
Zak
Archer, Armstrong and Siguarov, Kylo Capita has moved across. And then obviously things things started to start to happen. Obviously, Bedrock scored that that weird goal, but who knows if he intended it or not.
00:22:16
Zak
I'm sure he'll say it was.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
goal of the season, deliberate.
00:22:18
Zak
Sure, we had we had overwhelming negativity at VAR and Anthony Taylor as pair and obviously we will touch on the small negative and whether or not we believe this was a goal but the absolute howler that Ramsdale had of people looking like he basically chucked the ball back into the net that was luckily ruled out as disallowed because I feel like
00:22:19
Oscar
Kruskas.
00:22:43
Zak
ah ah I don't know. I feel like if we had scored that and it had been disallowed, we would have probably also been mad and we have had similar situations. But again, it's the curse of Anthony Taylor not being that great, right? I'm sure, as as Greg knows, he has lots of opinions on Anthony Taylor. How do you feel about the howler Greg
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah I mean I'm in two minds of it because in my opinion you can't give that as offside it's a joke but also I said exactly the same thing earlier in the season when it happened against us and was given offside and was a joke so It kind of feels like it's the the scales balancing, but also it's not a world I want to live in where things like that are given offside routinely because it's the most ridiculous thing.
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, the fact that it was preventing of all people or who at Hounachi getting to the ball first, I think says it all really.
00:23:35
Zak
hey
00:23:39
Zak
ah Your opinion's pretty much the same on the Oscar or anything different.
00:23:43
Oscar
Yeah, I think so. I mean, again, it's it's irritating that, you know, R1 costs us two points. This is but essentially an irrelevance. that It would have made it four, right? Maybe not as pleasant, but, you know, but I agree. I mean, it's it does get a little bit silly. I think to be fair to Ramsdale, like obviously we know he's had a good season and he's he's parachuted into into a pretty sticky situation. So,
00:24:08
Oscar
If you face enough shots, eventually it's going to happen. You're going to make a mistake. And he has been fairly bombarded and he's kept us in quite a few games this season. So it's just one of those, I think a momentary lapse in concentration. There's not much point in absolutely pelting him for it. And ultimately at the end of the day, he got away with it. So, you know, it is what it is.
00:24:26
Zak
yeah is what it is is unfortunately
00:24:29
Oscar
I think he'll be glad of thanking the linesman.
00:24:30
Zak
the attack but this
00:24:33
Oscar
Yeah, thanking the linesman.
00:24:34
Zak
veryy might not say sort
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
What is briefly worth touching on ro right is as we went into stoppage time ah ah for Maybe
Late Game Equalizing Opportunities
00:24:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's just the like hopeless optimism in me But it really felt like we might get an equalizer and it might be the first time I've genuinely felt that all season
00:24:54
Zak
It genuinely did. And to be fair mate, we we would have had, but but you know, Bedrocks had a not been cleared off of the line by a matter of inches. Like in my my NFL side of my life, I'm a Kansas City Chiefs fan as much as everybody hates me for that.
00:25:07
Zak
And, you know, there are a couple of games won by a toe and it feels like that was another game that was really won by literally a toe, right? You know, we could have potentially got something out of it.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah caught off the line but it's those five margins isn't it
00:25:19
Oscar
as as paul As poor as we've been this season, yeah those fine margins have killed us and andler ultimately is we haven't had the luck either. I know we've been poor, I know we've really not helped ourselves at times, but there are so many games. like I have friends saying, oh wow, you're like the worst team in Premier League history. I honestly don't think that's the case. you know i'd i'd love to see a match-up between us and that Derby team or even Sheffield last year, but it's just one thing's led to another and it's those little fine margins have absolutely killed us.
00:25:51
Zak
I feel like it's the instant that a Premier League badge is put on their their arms that suddenly they panic. And that's when we kind of just fall apart because we've been right in some of the cups this year. You know, Swansea, I kind of half expected us to go in and just lose. I'm not going to lie. and we We won quite, you know, it wasn't the the best game of all time, but we've had games leave at the beginning of the season, you know, would be quite, Cardiff quite comfortably. Yes, we conceded lots, but that's, that was unfortunately, Martin Bull. So yeah, I kind of,
00:26:17
Zak
is I think it's difficult to not feel that way, just with the way that it's been. And like the atmosphere around the club in general, is is it's hard to to be positive and maybe look at it as objectively as you are.
00:26:33
Zak
And I'm glad we have someone that can do that, because usually it's absolute blind delusion and optimism from Greg that we're going to somehow score three times. Or with me, it's predicting we're going to lose every single game, mainly to make myself feel better.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
we were pretty close yeah i mean it really felt that way when uh driving home the buzzing of the notifications came through it's like oh there's one
00:26:45
Oscar
To be fair. I think for the record, I think I I thought it was going to be another game similar to Tottenham and Brentford with their counter in fact, but hey, I'm happy to be proven wrong.
00:26:52
Zak
yeah in
Lineup Changes & Optimism
00:27:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh there's two three nil yeah there we go but
00:27:03
Zak
That's another. iy I got two more points that I really really want to cover off. off. ah but ah One of the thoughts I had written down was spare a moment for James Ward-Prowse that could have come on and definitely probably could have got a free kick against us that he could have scored and finally beat Beckham's record against his own club.
00:27:22
Zak
I just feel really sad that he is on loan from another Premier League club, sat on the bench and is one of the, you know, one of unused subs out of five subs that were used.
00:27:33
Zak
Just kind of
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, mate, would you rather bench warm for the team in second or be the mainstay of a team in 20th? Gonna probably break the record for the worst team in Premier League history.
00:27:44
Zak
what What if, though, Greg, that he was here and he'd scored some free kicks, we weren't bottom? Because that's... Nah, didn't really... Didn't work last relegation, did it? Don't know what to lose and I'm living it!
00:27:54
Oscar
We'd still be bottomed, but we might have eight points.
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:57
Zak
There you go, you're right, that's it. So obviously, um the other thing I wanted to cover was was we changed shape a little bit. Obviously, Brie got taken off and small boat got put on, which I kind of half expected us to to not be not be great. And it seemed to be like a kind of last roll of the dice that then kind of worked. Because off the back of that, Ono actually scored. And then we started, you know as as Greg pointed out, driving forward, it looked and there was a feeling, oh my goodness, we might actually get something. And then obviously,
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if you can read into the shape change too much because I did notice for the last seven minutes of stoppage time that Harwood Bellis was playing up front.
00:28:32
Zak
this is also true but i think that it's just the general like attacking intent which is something that me and you have talked about greg that under under martin would be like trust the process and it's like mate it's 93 minutes and you're passing it back like
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So.
00:28:47
Zak
you think you've got another three minutes to score a goal.
00:28:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:50
Zak
There seemed to be genuine and attempts and tries. and like We were chucking bulls in left, right and centre and they didn't really go anywhere. But the fact that, you know, obviously I think that once that bull was cleared off the line, there was then sort of a little bit of panic and then just keep chucking it in there, right?
00:29:05
Zak
And but could check we got carded because he had some sort of some scraps here and there.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that was a bit harsh.
00:29:11
Zak
and i
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it was a good tackle. We got the ball.
00:29:13
Zak
yeah exactly yeah but yeah what was anthony taylor i but but again like
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
but oh Yeah. thats
00:29:18
Zak
i think that Yeah, exactly. It was nice to see us go all out towards the end and almost get it off the line, but ultimately, ah so again, it's a plucky defeat,
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:32
Oscar
Is it sometimes, if you but if you've got someone like Onuachi, is that sometimes a way to start in an away game? yeah
Strategic Experiments & Future Lineups
00:29:41
Oscar
know Try and disrupt them a little bit, especially a team doing well like Forest. that you know Let's be honest, not not much has worked so far, so you know give it a go.
00:29:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
are still um crying out the tool pool to be the physical and tool presence and Cameron Archer to run at them and cause them issues that way. It just feels like such an obvious answer that we haven't seen yet.
00:30:01
Oscar
It does. So yeah, I do agree.
00:30:04
Zak
Are we ever going to see it, though? Maybe your next game. all Or do you think, well, yeah the ah ah your the alternative is, I reckon, you could you could see, instead of, you could end up seeing Sillamata and Onewatchu up top again.
00:30:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe.
00:30:17
Zak
And and that might be that might be a nuisance, because Sillamata charges it.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:18
Oscar
Yeah.
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
That might be explosive. Yeah.
00:30:21
Zak
I don't know where, suddenly, he's got this burst of energy again. Like, I'm really hoping that it remains after the transfer window slam shot, and he's not on loan or out of the cup. So that's my hope.
00:30:31
Oscar
It's not like one of the, the, the Che Adams runs of goal scoring form just in January.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:37
Zak
yeah Well, he finally got his move to his level, didn't he?
00:30:38
Oscar
Stimulus more vibes.
00:30:41
Zak
And he seems to be having a whale of a time over at Torino. So any final thoughts from you today, Oscar?
00:30:47
Oscar
I think it's again, but like for me, you might as well build on the positives because there's so many negatives as it is. Take the second half. We've won the second half 2-0.
00:30:58
Oscar
Come on, onto the next one.
00:30:58
Zak
Happy days.
00:30:59
Oscar
Build on it. Newcastle, Newcastle at home next. Let's give Ben Brereton Diaz one more game just to wind them up a little bit and then maybe see if we can get one more set off.
00:31:08
Zak
You write me shit.
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:10
Zak
Greg anything from you?
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
just I fully agree, you've got to take to the positives of that that final closeout and hope that that mentality and belief can stick with the team and and go on to something good and hope that the wounded dog of Newcastle next week don't come with a point to prove and absolutely demolish us.
00:31:24
Zak
Well look.
00:31:32
Zak
ah ah I'm not saying Captain Isaac now, but it might work out in your favour.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:31:39
Zak
Wow, it's been a pleasure. Look at the three of us having a good time. I've had i' had a weight of a time today, despite the fact that the result...
00:31:43
Oscar
Yeah.
00:31:47
Zak
In my opinion, my my obviously prediction was 3-0, I expected it to go significantly worse than it did. Whether but that you know whether the second half reaction means anything or not, we'll see, but at least we had that moment because who knows what the rest of the season will be like.
00:32:08
Zak
And with that said, fans, we will bid you farewell. We will be back tomorrow with more transfer news. We've got a whole one thing lined up. yeah and probably some potential outgoings so that'll be that'll be fun anyone that's listened knows that it somehow being Greg will drag that into a 45 minute conversation and that's everything so like us all on the social media we'll either twitter instagram youtube tick tock apologies american viewers and yeah that'll be it thanks very much everyone goodbye