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Episode 230: Match Review: Eastleigh Friendly!
132 Plays6 days ago
Southampton – Football is back, at least in some capacity. We talk about our win against Eastleigh, the surprising starting 11, the much more exciting second 11 and how the game played out.
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Transcript
Weekend Catch-up and Aging Humor
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Sir Kingo Finch.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing mate?
00:00:22
Zak
Yeah, I'm right. little worse for wear after I ah ah fantastic night out, day out, afternoon out with some old friends yesterday.
00:00:32
Zak
And it turns out, Greg, that shockingly, I cannot consume beverages the way I was able to at 21. This might be shocking news to anyone that is over the age of 21. But you can't keep doing that even well into your thirty s But I'm No, good.
Criticism of Friendly Match Fees
00:00:47
Zak
As you are aware from our back and forths, I was still keeping keeping track of what was happening ah yesterday afternoon.
00:00:55
Zak
Apologies to anyone we might have so pointed into the ray into the direction of the Saints player for £5 to watch that game is a complete joke. ah know we are I know that we we tread that line, Greg, don't we, when it comes to Sports Republic, right?
00:01:09
Zak
But £5 to watch a friendly on a Saturday afternoon is I don't even know how much the individual tickets to the game were. Usually Eastleigh Games in person are like
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're about 15 quid. I think they're about 15 for in-person tickets. lot
00:01:22
Zak
a
00:01:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't think it's a reasonable price. I've seen plenty of people stick it up for it in the comments saying that it's a fair price because it's all going to the club. oh yeah Yeah, I mean, didn't pay it.
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
say take it from that what you will.
00:01:37
Zak
like... Yeah, let's kind thats that's both where we're at, right? And that's that's part of part of if today seems a bit odd, it's because we've, we've done everything to look at what happened and
Miscommunication and Match Notifications
00:01:49
Zak
talk.
00:01:49
Zak
We will talk about everything that happened without being able to watch the full 90 minutes, because it was just bit silly.
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, like you, mate, I was otherwise occupied yesterday, so to to pay £5 to watch the sporadic parts of the game I could whilst the rest of my family went on rides at Legoland wasn't the most appealing factor, so...
00:02:10
Zak
understand the way Understandable, mate. Understandable.
00:02:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's...
00:02:12
Zak
But a game happens.
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It did. um we won.
00:02:16
Zak
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, not quite as decisively as the 7-1 we beat them at the start of last season.
00:02:23
Zak
Well, if you remember what I said, i think my prediction was 4-0. And I said I'd be slightly concerned if we managed to just like scrape past in, like say, a 2-1 win.
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:02:32
Zak
yeah As I think what I said as my prediction. And instead, we managed to scrape that 2-1 win after conceding goal. And like the way I found out after it kicked off, Greg, that we had conceded a goal almost immediately was you texting me.
00:02:47
Zak
And the reason that this is funny is's because all I saw... the beginning was I read the Saints Australian supporters as part of Facebook group you're part of and then just it can which is obviously a reference to the whole it can't continue like this can it it can and I was like what do you mean I looked down thinking we've scored and I realised it said Eastley and it said now and then right underneath that it said match started two minutes ago and I was like oh
00:02:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mick McCarthy.
Southampton vs. Eastleigh: First Half Analysis
00:03:16
Zak
good
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it was much worse than that for me. I got a flash scores notification and I got two notifications at exactly the same time. And it was EC versus Southampton, match start.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
EC versus Southampton, 1-0. I'm like, oh, no. What?
00:03:32
Zak
It's just the fact that I turned to my wife and was saying, like, already apparently the chants have started sort of 10 minutes in, which is how bad must you be? It's only 1-0. And it's like just the the instant trauma response to last season of like, well, I guess we're going to get bad basically.
00:03:47
Zak
Obviously, that isn't what happened. But, i mean yeah, so let's talk about it.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's let's talk about why that happened, right? So the starting 11 was interesting, wasn't it?
00:03:56
Zak
Yeah?
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was certainly some left field picks in there. Some players in there that we talked about maybe never seeing again in Charlie Taylor and Ryan Fraser starting the game.
00:04:08
Zak
Yeah,
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:09
Zak
What happened that first half, Greg? Was it a really fantastic her first half when the goal we scored was out and out and expected to be scored? Or was it a penalty? And I feel like it's hugely...
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Soft penalty as well. Got to be said, having watched the highlights back.
00:04:23
Zak
it's quite I think it's it's got to be it's got to be said, and like even it was recognised, Alfie Haute recognised it as well, like the difference between the energy and pace of the first and second team was stark.
00:04:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:04:35
Zak
And that's worrying, because it's like players like some of these players, you know sort of Armstrong, Berentier-Diaz is coming back, Fraser had a big impact in our championship season, Stewart's wanted nail his place down, Stephens is our captain now.
Player Potential and Team Dynamics
00:04:48
Zak
McCarthy is potentially one of the two goalkeepers we're going to keep over the whole of the championship season. And they they started with the energy of last season. And it's obviously this next team, the the second half team started with the energy of ah ah of a new team.
00:05:02
Zak
And partly that might be the fact that all of them, you know, bar sort of Charles, Kaya Sandro, wouldn't really count, but have all been really, really tainted by that really, really hard season, right?
00:05:14
Zak
Like, you know, so... Yeah, this was so I was surprised in the sense of basically it was almost the opposite of everything that we picked, right?
00:05:24
Zak
I think the only person I got right from the starting lineup was Jack Stephens.
00:05:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:29
Zak
You made a joke about starting Ryan Fraser.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:32
Zak
Maybe Stuart. Ross Stewart was one of the other ones, but
00:05:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah Look, the first half team I've got to be honest, I looked at it and my initial reaction was, that's a last chance saloon for a lot of those players. That is, this is this is Russell Martin's Gillingham game, is what that was.
00:05:51
Zak
Right, so that that was... I wanted to say that... I was thinking that, and i wanted to say that too, you but also the other thing to take into mind is that it's a pre-season friendly. okay this is This is there, realistically, to play games, build up fitness, and also make a bit of money for both clubs.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:05
Zak
So I don't to read too much into it, but...
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:08
Zak
You look at that lineup and you go, go, ah okay so he's trying to figure out of the people he wants to sell potentially who he might actually keep. And obviously some of the words that he had after the game were slightly interesting as to who he might decide to keep.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:23
Zak
So, you know, what were your thoughts properly on the lineup then, Greg, other than that?
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, was a surprise and, it's you know, it's nice to see Charles back in
Jack Stephens' Concerns and Pre-season Analysis
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
the mix.
00:06:36
Zak
Same.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was nice to see Kaysander sticking in the first team fold.
00:06:41
Zak
Agreed.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bree is presumably going to be our first choice right back this season. Yeah, it was a surprise to see Charlie Taylor, Ryan Fraser, Ben Broughton, Diaz in the starting line-up, to be honest, but yeah, i I looked at it and I was like, well, that's... Yeah, I mean, that's the team that struggled against Easton, isn't it? So...
00:07:05
Zak
ah ah this is overseas but I think some of some of Stills' comments about the fact that you are essentially teaching a team to play the opposite way that they have played is going to have an effect.
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:14
Zak
But some of these some of these players, Armstrong, Beriton Diaz, haven't been playing like that. but They haven't had the whole mix-up because instead of having in three different types of way that they need to play, last season they had two.
00:07:25
Zak
a lot of them went loan. But I think the problem you've got, especially with Beriton Diaz, is that there's you know the the jury is out and some people like yourself have very much made up their mind. Again, we're all up for redemption arcs. But it's like, one, didn't really shine any massive favours on themselves.
00:07:39
Zak
And two, like two who who else is going to want to take them?
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:43
Zak
This is the other problem.
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, they're in...
00:07:44
Zak
So they're going to have to be part of the squad.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're in... Burton Diaz, Adam Armstrong, and to some extent Cameron Archer, but I think less so. They're in a sort of tricky position, like a ah ah difficult one, where they're only going to be judged on how many goals they score.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, nothing else matters.
00:08:00
Zak
Yeah. Agreed.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, you can...
00:08:02
Zak
Agreed.
00:08:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
that that is the be-all and end-all. And, you know, whether it's a confidence goal they need to kick that into gear or what, I don't know. But, I mean, from what I saw of the highlights, it didn't cover anyone in glory, particularly.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, the goal we conceded, Will Smallbone and Jack Stephens were still on holiday. And, I mean, you know, two minutes into the first game of pre-season, maybe that is fair
Pre-season Strategies and Fitness Focus
00:08:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
enough. But,
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
for Jack Stephens to be that far out of position after all of the question marks over giving him a three-year contract is not going to help him at all because it's only going to amplify the concerns that have been spread before that, right? So...
00:08:49
Zak
but Again, this is the problem with, again, the the fact that when they announced that, it was just before new signing and almost a kind of... It does feel like it was to offset what would probably be some negative feedback to it. And then, yeah, you sort of had that first first half and it... Yeah, there were things that were concerning. It's the fact that some of the things I think were most surprising was, as we were still said in sort of the the aftermath of it, that Brereton Diaz and Armstrong both have features of the club if they want to stay.
00:09:17
Zak
which I think it's very, very telling because he also pointed out that he's had players or conversations with some of the players quite early on as to who wants to leave, who is looking for a move, which means we we kind of knew that was happening anyway.
00:09:28
Zak
And it very much feels like this first team, potentially people that kind of want to move on. This second team, people that don't want to move on. Saying that though, and like and that that could also mean that that includes Shea Charles and...
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I mean, look, you've still got, at the end of the day, i don't think it's going to be as clear-cut as, you know, fitting into those baskets. You've still got to make a team out of those players. so
00:09:48
Zak
Chris.
00:09:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it is certainly interesting. Well, we've we've talked a lot about the first half. and Let's come on to the second half.
00:09:53
Zak
and
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, a message from our partners by Anik.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. So, yeah, the second load
Second Half Highlights and Key Players
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
up was a bit cheery, right? and
00:10:42
Zak
yeah it did it did a lot it did but It did a lot better, and it was it was some of those ones I predicted.
00:10:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tell a bit better about that.
00:10:47
Zak
Obviously, I thought Taylor Harbour better super-back. Doesn't seem to be quite ready to be back set yet, same with Ronnie Edwards. So we got Korshi starting and Matsuki at the same time. And obviously Nathan Wood, which we didn't know if we'd see or not.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:00
Zak
Sugawara backing right back. Pizzuno, first time we've seen him at the club doing anything for a long time. Wellington in their left-back position that we thought... There's about two or three standouts that I'm happy with, really happy with.
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:14
Zak
Robinson, once again, b he's just basically becoming the Tyler Dibbling of this season, which is both a positive and a negative, because I hope that it doesn't end up affecting his game too much.
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:24
Zak
also, it shows you, you know, if Dibbling goes, we've got another player to ready to step into those places, which shows you... the fruits of our academy and he just seemed to want it more you know and the the arch archer goal was good for him hopefully that's a bit of confidence regardless of whether it's fruit friendly or not it showed that we can put yeah fantastic assist i thought it was robinson it was i thought it was robinson so so that that's why right because like he and obviously off the back of that was matsuki was playing really and i told you i think that was one of the things i text you while very half cut so i told you yesterday was like masuki's gonna be a baller
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great assist as well. Was it Sammy Adozi? I couldn't quite see it in the replay, but that makes sense.
00:11:59
Zak
it And I really hope he does well because bear mind, he was like the captain of FC Tokyo when he came over. Obviously, quite still quite young, but I think that he's going to do things for the club. and this is where we're so worried about all these extra new signings. We kind of forget we actually have what feels like a bunch.
00:12:16
Zak
But again, like some of the some of the other lone-like, lone-y returnees, like you're looking at Armstrong, you're looking at Meryton Diaz, you're like, But then also, you've had some good efforts from Adozi. Masuki's come back off loan as well. So you've got these other players that have come back off loan that look a bit sort of hungrier to play in get involved.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:32
Zak
And I think that that's, you know, only going to be a good thing for us. And as they get more minutes and pre-season goes on and we get into the actual season, it should be really good. And I think it will it think it was a much more positive half.
00:12:44
Zak
And I don't know... if that's just because of the types of players, the fact that maybe the overall squad at that point was a bit younger, you know, because Armstrong and Bereton Diaz and dia in that lot aren't exactly like sort of the early 20s, whereas you look at the rest of the sort of squad from the second one, you know, who's the oldest person there? What, like Archer at that point? Like, everyone else is like pre-25, you know...
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:09
Zak
yeah i i think I think, yeah. So I'm not really surprised. But, you know, that way we scored an actual goal from open play. We didn't get beaten.
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:15
Zak
We didn't draw. It was a win regardless if if it was a bit bad. It was the win that I would say I'm more worried about. But it just shows you... it shows you how much damage was done last season. Yeah.
00:13:27
Zak
And how it's much
Future Strategies and Transfer Decisions
00:13:28
Zak
harder to unpick than, at least with Hassan Hootel ball, Nathan Jones came in and then they tried to do his own thing and it failed miserably. And Sellers went with Hassan Hootel ball light.
00:13:39
Zak
Whatever happened with the Russell Martin ball, followed by whatever Juric did, followed by trying to return to basics, has just left these players a bit scarred because now they're being told to play the opposite way.
00:13:51
Zak
And you can see that is where I'm at.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think it came as a bit of a surprise to Stilt, based off of some of the things he said in the interviews? Do you think that he thought they were further along?
00:14:00
Zak
I don't think that's the case. I think he has to say that because if he comes out and goes, i think my team, I've chatted with the players, I've done training sessions, I think these glads are terrible and we're not going to win the league.
00:14:12
Zak
That's like the worst thing you could possibly say to an already low on confidence group of players.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:17
Zak
I do like the fact that he admitted and was realistic, like we are to have to fight really, really hard to get back to the basics of football. We are not just going to like walk over the league.
00:14:28
Zak
But there's also the camp of people that, remember, this is a preseason friendly. After the players have been back a day or two, you already said Stevens and Smallbone look like they were still on holiday, probably because they were like two days ago.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:40
Zak
two, three days ago. You know, they might have had pre-season training, but they might have been away for the weekend. It's there for fitness and it's there to make a bit of money at the end of the day. But it was just nice to, go I guess, see football back.
00:14:50
Zak
And it was a win, regardless of whether or not it was sevend one or not. And also, beating the EC 7-1 last time around didn't exactly help us do much in the Premier League, did it?
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that is that is true. maybe Maybe it's the the way we need it to be, just like a reminder. Look,
00:15:11
Zak
did you Did you have any standouts from that second team that you were happy with?
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
look I think that Matsuki put himself up about made himself dangerous, like you said. Jay Robertson seems to be getting lots of applaudits for his performance. The same with Udozi. From the highlights I've watched, there was lots of just moving the ball about quickly in the opponent's half, making moves. And some of them really came to nothing or like fell to someone who then like fluffed their shot.
00:15:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But just that in itself is so much more promising than anything we saw last season.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:15:48
Zak
We just need to need to need to make sure that that is that, again, like like it's been for the last, what, two, three seasons in a row, it's that end product.
00:15:56
Zak
It's the fluffing about at the end bit that really needs to be sorted out.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:59
Zak
They need to be so much more decisive and hopefully that will be drilled into them more than, okay, well, actually what you need to do now is worry about whether or not there is an opening there. So what you should do is pass it back to the goalkeeper. Like, hopefully that is just going to be drilled out of them and I'd rather take the risk than not, like...
00:16:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But, like you know, there were signs that it's come in, and like you say, it's still early doors, we still have players who are yet to come back, or are sort of i only just thereabouts in the mix, and it's the first game of three season.
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's still July, like plenty of time.
00:16:28
Zak
Yeah. Plenty of time.
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
No need to panic. No need to panic. Maybe, maybe this is where, you know, where we're supposed to be at in terms of expectations from people.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe we're a bit behind, but now they know that, you know, it is, it's fine. At least we won. Yeah.
00:16:47
Zak
wait Yeah, like still there was comments on it where we've still got plenty of time.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:51
Zak
We've still got plenty of time. It's just trying to make sure that we we work on the basics as a team and get to a point where, you know, we can grow into the season.
00:17:02
Zak
But ah ah you're you're kind of right that I do think it's a bit of a wake-up tool to how much work there needs to be done.
Zencaster Promotion
00:17:08
Zak
And I think that part of that is going to be sorting out transfers and sorting out players' futures sooner rather than later.
00:17:12
Zak
What you don't want to do is is get a solid sort of line-up and then have somebody leave two games into the Championship again, right?
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:18
Zak
I can't really deal with that. It does my opinion that the windows usually have been open and over that fuck over the start of the season anyway. So I'm hoping that a lot of you know... But for all of those players that want to move and don't get one because nobody's interested...
00:17:31
Zak
It really needs to be, in my opinion, time to pull up your socks you just crack on. And again, everyone is open to a redemption arc.
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Yeah.
00:17:37
Zak
I don't... If Brewer to Diaz goes on to score 30 goals this season, I'll hold my hands up and say I was wrong. But at the moment, there's quite a few players in that team, especially that first team that kind of, was like, do you even want play here anymore?
00:17:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:53
Zak
Are you open? You play so badly that we get you we ship you out. What is... What's going on?
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indeed.
00:17:59
Zak
But...
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, I want to move on and talk about absentees, but first a message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:18:07
Zak
Interesting.
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner, with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:18:28
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.
Aaron Ramsdale Speculation and Goalkeeper Choices
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. So, I don't want to say conspicuous by his absence, Zach, because, it's you know, Will's come out after the game and said that he's only been back in training for a week.
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
wouldn't have been reasonable to chuck him in. but conspicuous by his absence on the photos of the new goalkeeper kits that have been launched. Aaron Ramsdale?
00:18:57
Zak
Yeah, so obviously he was at the game, right? Which means that he was not there to play, but was still in attendance.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:05
Zak
And again, we said it could be a flip of the coin, whether he starts or not, because he's only back couple of days after we've seen the... I think it was originally leaks to the goalkeeper kits.
00:19:16
Zak
Now it's all been confirmed. It's all up on the Saints website. the fact you know that there's two camps, right? and The two things that you pointed out were, is is is it just that he was away getting married and on his honeymoon?
00:19:29
Zak
So when they took the photographs, he wasn't there. or is this a deliberate choice to go these are the two goalkeepers that you have this season. Start to get used to it and deal with it. It is going to be Buzuda and McCarthy.
00:19:40
Zak
Because again, like there's no they could have picked an under-21s goalkeeper. you know They could have done anything else.
00:19:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:45
Zak
But the fact that they didn't pick Rambo and the fact that he didn't start is...
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's one of those things where my initial gut reaction was, well, who they've picked speaks volumes. And then I thought about her a bit, and like the fact that he's literally only been back a week. And I'm thinking, maybe...
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is one of those things that we're overthinking.
00:20:04
Zak
Yeah, this is the problem.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:20:05
Zak
So it's like, is it a grand conspiracy where they're like, but kit is it a grand conspiracy where this is a statement photograph and that they are saying, these are who you're getting. Stop asking us about goalkeeping.
00:20:17
Zak
Because it reminds me very much of when we all had this same problem when we fell down to the championship the first time and we were like, we need a new keeper, we need a new keeper, we need a new keeper. And then Russell Martin in like the fan forum sat there and went, no, we don't, we've got Puzunush. Everybody's complaining, shut up. And everyone was like...
00:20:32
Zak
Okay, fine. And then most people were
Goalkeeper Debate and Transfer Impact
00:20:34
Zak
proven right. We were just able to outscore the the mistakes and the fumbles.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:20:38
Zak
And then obviously we got to the Premier League and went, we need a goalkeeper for that isn't Pissou. So, you know, maybe he's had a bit more experience, but, its ah you know, the injury but it was pretty brutal. And I feel like relying on two goalkeepers, one of which has spent a long time out injured and then they went out injured again and another goalkeeper that after an extended run ended up injured because obviously he's played a lot of games in a short period of time after not having to play for a long time leaves me wondering but then should come as no surprise because we were very much I think our last episode or transfer Tuesday we were talking about wow there's not been really any approaches for Aaron Ramstale and I think it was a day later it was like reported going
00:21:14
Zak
The club aren't going stand in his way. They've said that since day one and he might move to Sunderland to get relegated again. And we're like, well, that ruins the dream. but also, they he they they said, ah ah like even Sonic said like a month ago, it would be lovely to keep him, but we're very aware of who Aaron Ramsey is and why he was signed. So the conspiracy has legs is the problem.
00:21:34
Zak
Yeah.
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's it. And look, other players who are absent but accounted for supposedly by only being just about back into trading being Jan Bednarek, Ronnie Edwards and Ryan Manning.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So is interesting. Yeah.
00:21:51
Zak
Fernandez as well he's not like you know that's yeah another one but then again like that isn't anything other that yeah that's that's the thing he's still on a bit of a break so they want to get him into games when he's back properly yeah
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is he back yet? I haven't really seen
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because he was he was like quite late in the window of this international duty right.
00:22:07
Zak
Yeah, because of the...
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:22:08
Zak
so So it's not... You're right, it's not hugely surprising. So obviously Ronnie Edwards as well with with the young England under-21s. So i Yeah, again, I'm not hugely surprised, but it does...
00:22:21
Zak
Like with Jan, maybe there is something there. Maybe they are trying to get someone over the line somewhere. Again, like the relegation clause is cheap for a player that other teams have courted quite a long time.
00:22:34
Zak
is it Is it a whole nothing burger? Maybe. But so until we see some actual movement on that front, there's not really a lot to talk about, is there?
00:22:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that's it. What do you think of the kits?
00:22:47
Zak
I like them. I think they look a lot better in person and sort of a lot of a lot better in play than they is in the new home kit. Goalkeeper kits, if that's what you're asking about.
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
was asking about the Goldie's kits, yeah.
00:22:57
Zak
Right. lot I like all three of them.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:22:59
Zak
I think they're really nice. My wife doesn't like the purple, but I do. Reminds me very much sort a deep sort of Andalecte-style purple. Yeah.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. tell you that my daughter immediately eyed up for purple was the presumably the first choice of kids she's going to go for this season so sad yeah
00:23:13
Zak
Nice. and then And then, yeah, they they're like bold, nice. They're sort of nice coloured goalkeeper kits that I'd kind of expect. crazy No crazy, like 1970s summit sort of mismatch.
00:23:24
Zak
no No stained glass window like our championship season. It's like a homage to the St Mary's Church. Nothing absolutely wacky. Just some solid colours, which I'm like, yeah, it's fair enough.
00:23:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and Stands to reason. All right. Look, we've got a couple of behind-closed-doors friendlies this week. Have you seen this?
00:23:43
Zak
and but Yeah, it's our French card.
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
One against Gillingham and one against Valenciennes, which am I right in thinking that that's the French club of Sports Republic?
00:23:52
Zak
So so that's the one that Kaya Sander came from and the one that Derek Habu has recently signed for.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
owned
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
How much you think we'll hear about these or see them?
00:23:58
Zak
so
00:24:02
Zak
I would be surprised...
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm the Saints player for 15 quid.
00:24:03
Zak
but I'm really hoping, like because I think that were there are times, especially, i think it was Championship pre-season, you can just everything was free. So I'm very kind of annoyed that they've gone down this route of
Season Expectations and Readiness
00:24:15
Zak
trying to...
00:24:16
Zak
I know we might i don't know if we'd have differing opinions. I just kind of find it insane to to charge to watch a pre-season friendly like that.
00:24:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:22
Zak
like it' If it's behind closed doors as well, but...
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
la I can't. I mean, yeah I don't think I would pay for it, put it that
00:24:30
Zak
i think I think because of the fact that the today was yesterday was in front of fans and they tried to make it up almost to be like a matchday experience, it's a proper match. If if like the scorelines are wildly different, and we lose or whatever, do we think that people are going to have the same level of reaction because they've not been able to like see it personally?
00:24:48
Zak
Or do you think it's going to be like, oh, that doesn't matter. They're like behind closed doors. That's what think is going to be interesting. It's like if if the the results, like if we do get like a 9-0 or we get a 9-0 the other way and it it turns out that they were just practicing some weird stuff, I think that it would be interesting to see how everybody reacts. But again, the most important thing here is building up fitness. it's it's you could We've talked about this before.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:10
Zak
You know, I know that I used an American football analogy that maybe isn't The best analogy to use, but like the Chiefs had a really, really good season last season. They got to the Super Bowl final and then absolutely got destroyed.
00:25:23
Zak
But the entirety of their preseason, they lost every single game because they're changing players, changing formations. And we are once again doing the complete opposite to the way that most of these players have played football.
00:25:33
Zak
And it's it's not surprising that the team that did better was the team that basically played none of that.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:40
Zak
for the whole of last season.
00:25:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%.
00:25:42
Zak
so
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're right.
00:25:43
Zak
you know, i think that regardless of what the results are or whatever, what will it be important is that it will be a step in progression to towards us, hopefully not having a season anything like the last season.
00:25:55
Zak
We just got to hope that they catch on real quick And we get into the new season to hit the ground running. Because remember, a couple games
Season Opener Predictions Against Wrexham
00:26:05
Zak
in, we've got to do it real quick or otherwise Pompey's going to come up and we're going to be taken by surprise and it's going be...
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:10
Zak
Ain't going to be pretty for anyone involved.
00:26:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know I don't know if we're going to win 46 games this season. I might have to temper my expectations.
00:26:21
Zak
but don't Don't lose hope, Greg, because we we had a and ah mediocre win against Eastley.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think that maybe one team will hold us to a draw.
00:26:29
Zak
yeah're you're you're You're right, you're right. Birmingham City did beat Sevilla pretty good in there at their pre-season friendly yesterday.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly, yeah.
00:26:36
Zak
So they might just about... But no, we're going to beat Wrexham like 5-0, right? Completely ruin their promotion hopes and, you know, day one.
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope so, and I hope that it's not just a banana skin waiting to happen. my Opening game of the season, early on early kick-off on a Saturday, promoted club against relegated club.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just, it's really scary.
00:26:58
Zak
Yeah, again, worse comes to worst.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's really scary.
00:27:01
Zak
We get like a massive payout for being part of a documentary, probably enough money to buy a new player at that point. So you know i don't really I don't really mind. I just don't want them to do what they like did when we got beaten 9-0 by Leicester and start selling like DVDs in the club shop of the winner like their biggest win of all time.
00:27:16
Zak
That's the way it gets upsetting. Or mentioned every single start like every single every single like thing that would start with. Southampton, who were beaten by Wrexham at the beginning of the season.
Final Thoughts and Social Media Engagement
00:27:27
Zak
ask it to because I don't want that to be the tagline for the season.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:29
Zak
That's where it would annoy me. There
00:27:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're right. It's fine. 45 wins and one draw is still all right. We're right.
00:27:35
Zak
you go. Woo!
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right. Uh, that is just about all we've got time for today. We will be back tomorrow with everyone's favorite day of the week. Some transfer Tuesday goodness.
00:27:43
Zak
Woo!
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, until then, hope you have a wonderful day. Uh, Let us know on all the socials what you thought of the Easter game this weekend. We are on TikTok, Blue Sky, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube.
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Check out our full video episodes there or check out our audio on Spotify, Ferro on the Move or on Apple Podcasts. We're all over the place. Thank you very much for joining us and we will see you tomorrow.
00:28:13
Zak
Remember to drink water.