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Episode 399: Matchday Review - Blunted by the Baggies
110 Plays22 days ago
Southampton – "11 unbeaten from a performance that didnt deserve it" nicely summed up by my co-host there! Join Zak in his review of the game!
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Transcript
Episode Introduction and Match Expectations
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome to the Daily Saints pod with Zach and Greg, but today it is only me, Zach. I hope you're all having a wonderful day. Morning, evening, wherever whenever you're listening to this. is episode 399 and I'm recording this directly after our one-all draw with West Bromwich Albion, which...
00:00:37
DailySaintsPod
I'm not going to lie, I have been building up probably for about the last 45 minutes to me doing an episode where we have lost the game. And that is still kind of feel like we really didn't deserve that. But I guess this is the difference between...
Team Character and Lineup Predictions
00:00:54
DailySaintsPod
the team that we were and the team that we are now, and the fact that we're able to so kind of, I guess, show a bit of character to snatch a draw at the the last minute. I'm sure heartbreaking for Albion fans, to be perfectly honest. Absolutely fantastic for my co-host, who would probably be saying right now that some draws feel like a win, and I concur that draw definitely feels like a win.
00:01:21
DailySaintsPod
So as it's me on my own, there's going to be significantly more structure than usual. If I if i go off script completely, doesn't end well. And I don't want to record this like nine times. So let's have a chat about before the match. Obviously,
00:01:38
DailySaintsPod
Me and Greg have kept in contact, despite the fact that he's not here. And obviously, the lineups came through, and we were pretty much on the ball from our preview. Stephens came in for Wood.
00:01:50
DailySaintsPod
Full-back stayed the same. Greg kind of bummed and aahed about whether Gillette was coming in, but I assumed that we wouldn't. Middle of the park, my prediction was correct. Charles started with Downs, but obviously with Downs, we need to watch him due to that.
00:02:03
DailySaintsPod
potential like ban from the yellow cards. And pretty sure today we got close with that ref, but luckily never in the end. I said that since Yenza and Azaz are a given, and Matsuki got the nod over Fellows, but I expected to see him later.
00:02:21
DailySaintsPod
And we also thought that Stewart would start considering Lahren started at the weekend and was like rested a little bit before today. Expected the bench to be the same. it was always nice to see Romeo in the bench despite him not getting any game time today.
00:02:37
DailySaintsPod
No quasi, which was, you know, a little bit odd, but it is what it is.
Stadium Atmosphere and Social Media Reactions
00:02:42
DailySaintsPod
greg's Greg's prediction at this point, by the way, was good lineup. Hope we smash him. Boy, howdy, did he not realize the pain he was going to have to sit through. But, you know, it's Saints, isn't it? We don't make anything easy.
00:02:55
DailySaintsPod
he He was having such a good time there. He always feels bad. you know Everyone was so nice. He feels bad for the fact that they're to singing later on. They're singing.
00:03:06
DailySaintsPod
I don't know if I necessarily heard it on broadcast, but you know you know the one. I was having a look at some of the pre-build-up as well. Charlie Taylor is currently on loan to them, so obviously he was ineligible to play against us.
00:03:19
DailySaintsPod
I find it, kind of forgot that Charlie Taylor was on loan to West Brom. I'm not going to lie. ae Looking at sort of some of the social media are in the build-up to the game, there was a lot of worry from West Brom fans about the defence. And I don't really think they hard to, right? I think that they put in a very, very good performance.
00:03:40
DailySaintsPod
And I have some thoughts on some things that have happened that... Probably, you know, despite the fact that we had a big episode on how much we dislike VAR. Again, there are lots of points during
Match Analysis and First Half Challenges
00:03:53
DailySaintsPod
this game where I got angry texts from Craig St. Craig about the referee. Some of which I agree, some of which I don't know. Obviously, it's difficult when you're there to see what's going on.
00:04:04
DailySaintsPod
He said that it kind of looked empty and the stadium was quite quiet, but you know I think the that changed throughout the game. and But you know as always always, away fans are absolutely excellent form.
00:04:17
DailySaintsPod
So, after we started, start from the start. So, obviously, first half kicks off. We had sort of a good start with with Leo sort of running. in A wild throw from West Brom that led to a corner where luckily nothing came of it.
00:04:31
DailySaintsPod
But that kind of, obviously, the long throw is back in vogue. And that was kind of a bit of a worry of, oh, are we going to have to defend these all game? And there were a couple of times that we saw it to take place.
00:04:42
DailySaintsPod
Then it's kind of about 10 minutes you're kind of looking at how West Brom playing and and they're doing, i think, better than we expected them to do, right? that By this point, they've won their second quarter.
00:04:54
DailySaintsPod
And I think that the sort of prediction is that they would be doing a lot worse than they actually ended up playing.
00:05:03
DailySaintsPod
And we can see signs of it very, very sort of early on. We pick up file after Sienza's barged over, Uh, Grace, Greg asks, why is it not booking commentary that I listened to you kind of also agreed on the same thing and see all of our episodes on referees and consistency and all that kind of stuff. Right? Like we talk about all the time.
00:05:29
DailySaintsPod
It's something we don't want to talk about all the time. And it's one of those things where we've also talked about why we're not big advocates of VAR. just is what it is. Nothing comes off a free kick.
00:05:41
DailySaintsPod
And some stats popped up with sort of West Brom being winless in in all home games this year. And it just feels like we weren't being serious. It's probably the first. The note I got about Corbinary and it kind of, we keep being caught offside. It isn't the the walkover that was expected, nor the walkover that we wanted.
00:06:01
DailySaintsPod
And you could already see the fatigue in some of the players that had played from the weekend. e There was sort of talk about a really good record against Albion and how many times we've won against them.
00:06:13
DailySaintsPod
But as the game started going on, it was sort of, you know, i started noticing their players playing really well, like Jed Wallace. And then it started to get a bit back better. We had some some good balls in, good ball in from Bree.
00:06:26
DailySaintsPod
Matt Scheme has placed a pass, but they're starting to get in a little bit. And then... We have trouble down right-hand side a little bit. Matski concedes sort a corner. Luckily, we get rid.
00:06:38
DailySaintsPod
Tienz is knocked down, comes back up. And it just sort of carries on like that for a little bit, right? So at one point, we probably had what I would consider to be one of our best chances, where Stewart is in the box. he just can't quite get his feet right.
00:06:54
DailySaintsPod
doesn't hit it, goes to Charles, who takes it around too far. And we just don't kind of take the chances. And and those sort of missed chances, once again, will come back to bite us later on. and Look, i like like the back and forth for me at this point. It's just it's getting pretty pretty boring. It's it's becoming very ticker-tacker. It's becoming very possession, which is always going to be the case when we're breaking down a side of the loop block. But the way that I compared it both later on and at this point Craig as we chatted about it just reminds me of the Charlton game. Obviously, the difference with the Charlton game is that we had managed to get the goal.
00:07:26
DailySaintsPod
So although we eventually drew It's funny how that game had a lot of criticism, and rightly so, and felt like a loss. But this you know this point felt so much more because it felt so undeserved, if I'm totally honest.
00:07:39
DailySaintsPod
And it's just constantly we're constantly getting it close, and then we lose it. And then we get a couple throw-ins. Sienza manages to take a shot 30 minutes in, but that goes completely wide.
00:07:52
DailySaintsPod
There's again, like Matsuki pops it in, they go straight to the goalkeeper. So we've got a lot of possession. We're firmly in control of the game at this point, but nothing's really happening.
Injury Impact and Tactical Adjustments
00:08:02
DailySaintsPod
And then it's sort of a, for 35 minutes, there is a worrying attack from West Brom, but though gets to it, and that's the point that Sienza goes down and Sienza receives treatment.
00:08:13
DailySaintsPod
And you sort of see almost immediately the substitution sign from the physio, I don't know what's happened at this point. I haven't listened to the post-match conference. I've literally dived straight into recording.
00:08:23
DailySaintsPod
I'm hoping it's not as serious as it looks, but I think it probably is. It's going to be one of those things where the amount of football that's been played, the amount of managing... the players. And we we spoke about a couple of times over the last week, it does feel like we're one or two players away from an injury crisis. And that is, of course, the player that you really don't want, our most creative player, the the player that drags us up the pitch sometimes.
00:08:46
DailySaintsPod
And, yeah, I think it's just... We have a problem. So the Siense goes off, fellows comes on. Siense hobbles down the tunnel, which is nothing that you ever want to see. It's cast from the bonus fans you you clap on fellows.
00:09:00
DailySaintsPod
It's nice, but obviously straight after, they pip quite quickly and as an attack, and it kind of rolls into that. Then we have a a free kick after Taylor Harbour-Bellis is taken out, but it's then headed directly into the the gloves of the keeper.
00:09:14
DailySaintsPod
So again, it's... not taking our chances or alternatively the chances we're taking just straight out of the keeper. And they managed to get, you know, that they're starting to increase their chances at this point. The pace is picking up.
00:09:27
DailySaintsPod
And luckily they kick it, goes wide. And then, did you not, my 42nd minute note is we're giving them well too many chances while liking it at the end the And then 44 minutes, set piece, cleared off the line, follow scrappy goal that was coming.
00:09:42
DailySaintsPod
So... I don't want to predict things like that, right? but But I felt like everybody who was watching the game kind of felt it coming. And yeah, then obviously we had the the kickoff after the game, after the story, after the goal. We then got the clash of heads between Bree, an Albion player.
00:10:05
DailySaintsPod
Both players are down for quite a while.
Half-time Reflections and Second Half Struggles
00:10:08
DailySaintsPod
Luckily, it came to kind of nothing. They both get bandaged up. Obviously, it's it's stopped and it's a little bit drama for a while. We don't really know what's going on. But luckily, they both get back up and and Bree does continue on to play the second half. But me and Greg both noted that he was very...
00:10:24
DailySaintsPod
obviously struggling more than I think you, you know, more than usual until he was substituted in the second half. And then, yeah, so we get to half-time, and then I asked my illustrious co-host for his thoughts, and he said, we're too slow in the build-up, which I wholeheartedly agreed.
00:10:42
DailySaintsPod
We have not created enough from the possession that we've had, which I also wholeheartedly agreed. We don't deserve to be behind, which at this point I don't really agree with, because if we'd taken our chances and we'd we'd gone 1-0 up at that point, we wouldn't have to worry about them hitting on the counter as much as they were.
00:10:59
DailySaintsPod
And again, like, we're just... sloppy, like not getting rid of the ball from a set piece is just like a, it's just a haunting thing for us as a team, right? He said he hoped for some minor tweaks in the second half.
00:11:14
DailySaintsPod
And that that should be enough, hopefully. I was not as confident as Greg at this point. You also pointed out that the chances we did have were straight of the keeper.
00:11:25
DailySaintsPod
And I said, yeah, like that's why i am not as confident as him because of that that exact reason, right? When you're shooting it directly at the keeper, it's not going to be... Never going to be a good time. Big ass without Leo. Time for Fellows or Matsuki to step up.
00:11:39
DailySaintsPod
And I agree with him wholeheartedly. Yeah, I said, yeah, it's crunch time because it's left very exposed too often. i said, I agree, but i kind of expected Fellows to do more. And I found it weird that they weren't just switched quite quickly.
00:11:52
DailySaintsPod
why Why they'd left them on opposing sides, it's odd in my opinion. But there we are. And then he said, just know if we manage to equalize, West Orange Albion's head will drop and it will feel like it's happening again, which obviously it did. It just took a while.
00:12:09
DailySaintsPod
So there's then a bit of speculation where he doesn't see Laron jogging. So he just just assumes that Laron is coming for Stuart. And he said, well, you know, it's not like he's arresting him because his old bones. You've got Romeo out there, which did make me laugh.
00:12:24
DailySaintsPod
And then, obviously, the Fellows and Matsuki are then switched. And then it's a fast start with a ball in. We get a free kick. It's on target from Manning, but the keeper got to it.
00:12:36
DailySaintsPod
And then there's the yellow for Jack Stevens. And Greg is... annoyed i guess I'll put it that way, considering the the first half.
00:12:47
DailySaintsPod
and Luckily, the the free kick came to nothing, right? You just think at this point, he he thought that and you know they should have picked up a card for their foul in the first half. And I kind of agree.
00:12:59
DailySaintsPod
Crossing from fellows, but it hits the defender and goes out for a throw and just, just continued to be sort of, there would be a set piece at such as the corner. You're hoping for it to come to something.
00:13:12
DailySaintsPod
It comes to nothing. Goes out for a goal kick as HP misses it. And this, the mistake gives it to in our half. At this point, they're really, really putting the press on, right? And i think me and Greg both agree that their their press was impressive, but even more so towards the end of the game. it was only sort of when they thought it was won, the six minutes went up and we somehow pulled a goal out of nowhere.
00:13:37
DailySaintsPod
But, you know, at this point, I was very much feeling the pressure from their team. It wasn't quiet anymore at this point. You could hear the home crowd in full voice. But I could still be hero when the Saints in the background.
00:13:53
DailySaintsPod
So, for it from Manning, but it's still very, like, kicker-tacker possession style, and it just ends up going back. but There were a lot of, kind of, opportunities during this time where we're getting forward, getting forward, getting forward.
00:14:04
DailySaintsPod
decided we couldn't do anything with it, went back, went back, went back, went back, went back. And it's just kind of, we've we've seen this before and we know that what it's going to be like for this against to these types of teams. And they just need to find answers specifically against these sort of low block teams or teams that are going to,
00:14:19
DailySaintsPod
absorb all the pressure because, you know, we've now seen it from Charlton who managed to get a draw out of us. form of them i should get a drunk for a variety of It's almost like are we going to play better or against Coventry at the weekend because they're going to like bring a game to us? Maybe.
00:14:32
DailySaintsPod
I don't know how that's going to be without the end Yeah, another corner. Hopefully it's not wasted. That was the miss hit from Fellows or miles away. And, you know, I predicted a Fellows goal just for Greg. And I just think he's cursed that man. That poor boy is never going to get gold. Entirely because of the fact that Greg has just cursed him.
00:14:55
DailySaintsPod
So, yeah, the... We then had another sort of, it about 60 minutes in, this is when me and Greg both start to get kind of crossing the way. And again, this is thing we we talk about quite a lot.
00:15:09
DailySaintsPod
But at this point, Laren is pulled back and given advantage because he kind of like manages to get off of him. And then, know you know, eventually he gets pipped, comes up to our end. You're expecting afterwards something to happen. and And he just has a word. He's like, nah, sorry, mate. Calm it down. It's like, literally, because later on, the same thing is going to happen. There will be a professional file from Bragg.
00:15:35
DailySaintsPod
Can Bragg will get good, right? Because that's what you'd expect from that. It's just inconsistencies that bother this. It very much felt like, especially early on, it's like you didn't want to give too many cards out in the early end of the game to keep the flow of the game going. And we've talked about the role of referees doing that before and what our opinions are of it.
00:15:55
DailySaintsPod
But it's just really, really frustrating when you don't see consistency across the game. And it's very, very much felt like it, this game. And you can even see, because afterwards, you know, Larry kept talking to the ref. I'm surprised didn't get, at that point, told off for dissent.
Key Saves and Game Dynamics
00:16:11
DailySaintsPod
But hey-ho.
00:16:12
DailySaintsPod
And then it's just sort of frantic, what can I describe as midfield play? There's a lot of sort of sliding in tackles, sliding in tackle and sliding tackles, sliding in tackles. And then the ball almost gets behind Perak, who somehow keeps it in. This is the kind of ball that it it feels like it's going scrambled in. He somehow gets to it.
00:16:30
DailySaintsPod
I said that this is as important as a goal. I said it still doesn't feel like we're scoring at this point, but that is incredibly important. And if it wasn't for that save, I don't think, you know, if they'd scored, if they'd made it two, I don't think we'd have come back.
00:16:45
DailySaintsPod
just because of the nature of this game. So that was incredibly important save. You can argue to the Cows come home whether or not Zuni would have made that, you know or McCarthy would have made that, or even Ramsdale with what's going on with his potential return to us at the end of the season.
00:17:01
DailySaintsPod
But, you know, fair play to Pret. Again, we feel those very... hang on about it, but the Boric just might, but then those are some of the big differences and and you can see in very come on in his box. I just wish it was slightly better when it was 10 minutes.
00:17:19
DailySaintsPod
And so, but this point, as i said, greg Greg is screaming rough by us and getting mad, and I just wanted to keep you all updated, as i as I have throughout the entirety of this podcast. And then there's a silly foul given to Matski, which again, like, just seemed really soft, but at that point, he's brought off, and as his downs and those in Bragg have brought on.
00:17:40
DailySaintsPod
Adozi battles and there's a throw. Azaz tries his luck but doesn't really get anywhere. Again, this is one of those when we talk about Azaz having really hot and cold games, this is one of those cold games for him. He was kind of in in my opinion quite anonymous for most of the game and tried a shot here and there or tried something here or there. But one the only things that I genuinely remember is in backpassing it didn't go well and then they intercepted and then they had almost a very good attack off the back of it.
00:18:08
DailySaintsPod
So the quarter or nothing, that they give away from a free kick. Another good save from Corrects, still 1-0. And then at one point, this is where Greg's kicking off about them time-wasting already because one of their players go down with cramp. And so it was the only time one of their players went down from cramp. I genuinely really don't know if that's the case.
00:18:28
DailySaintsPod
And he'll be sorry to hear that I don't necessarily agree him there. And I also pointed out to him that, like,
Late-game Push and Equalizing Goal
00:18:33
DailySaintsPod
that's what you do. If you are relegation-threatened side who are trying to get their first win at home, you will pull out all of the dark cards. Why wouldn't you begrudge us to do it, right?
00:18:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Well, I don't know if that necessarily was at that point. And then we get to sort of 72, 73 minutes, and what I've got written down is that there's just no vibe here currently.
00:18:54
DailySaintsPod
It just didn't feel at that point that there was anything that was going to be salvageable It just didn't feel that way at all. The momentum was still very much with them. Their fans were really behind them.
00:19:06
DailySaintsPod
Their team were playing really well together. and was just a lot more, you know, we looked tired. We we looked pretty and very, very much on show. So, Odozie won a free kick and finally, was probably to help him pick up a card for several hours that we picked up throughout the game. the gu The ball came off of Gilchrist, who ended up being a goal kick, and then that's when they decided to make all of their changes. And he obviously got a lot of criticism for the game, because I think he's naturally a right-back that they've but he had a better game than I think they' they've been expecting.
00:19:42
DailySaintsPod
And Archer on and Bree off at this point. So we've got in the 83rd minute with instructions to brag that we don't know what they were.
00:19:53
DailySaintsPod
Obviously, before that, there was a shot from Charles that kind of just went wide. I think at that point, he was just to do anything. you know albion's press at this point was was ridiculous uh both me and greg agreed it was really good and we were really really struggling to cope with it i was really hoping that it would archer's time to sort make a difference and then were about another four five minutes it was just like no we literally not cannot get out of our box and then at one point larry is taken out we have a free kit literally comes to nothing
00:20:25
DailySaintsPod
And then we get to the point where it's sort of, you know, we're right at sort of the 90th minute. And I said, like, the wounded animal syndrome has really come into play.
00:20:38
DailySaintsPod
I was kind of right about that. And I was really, really frustrated. And then I mugged Greg off for his AI and over two and a half goals. and You know that predicts that every single game.
00:20:49
DailySaintsPod
and like And they said nothing to me at this point. And I realised why. It's because he let me enjoy the moment of the goal without ruining it. by spoiling it for me. And I got in trouble with my wife and my cat made sure I knew that I was in trouble too by screaming at me for absolutely celebrating. And I'm really, really happy and glad for Larin. I thought he had a much better half than Stuart. And I don't know why that is. I think the physicality from the West Brom players, I think Larin should deal with a little bit better and was able to get involved. But you know it was a really, really good ball.
00:21:25
DailySaintsPod
Robert Dozier to Lahren, that Lahren, you know, managed to score. it it kind of felt like it had just come out of nowhere, to be perfectly honest. And it probably did. And that is, again, the big mentality switch, is we were able to do something like that.
00:21:39
DailySaintsPod
We didn't just completely give up. But for a lot of that game, it did feel like it. Like, this like don't get me wrong, this was no comeback like we had against Leicester by any stretch of the imagination.
00:21:49
DailySaintsPod
It was very, very much a... sort of we we still believe we might be something. and then obviously after that, we pick up a corner and all of sudden it's like completely, we're at the races, we're running, we're charging balls down. It's sort of the real question, where has this been?
00:22:06
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. And then sort of three to six minutes had been played. It was almost like playing an entire other half of football. They get break and somehow it doesn't happen. We, you know, got the attack again a couple of times and then it just kind of ends.
Match Outcome and Post-game Thoughts
00:22:20
DailySaintsPod
And somehow we picked up a point. And that isn't a very disrespectful shade to our team that we put in the effort to get that point. I think, you know, they worked really, really hard towards the end.
00:22:32
DailySaintsPod
But it was only after that goal was scored and that goal kind of came from nothing. And that's, again, the impact of the substitutions and why the ability for us to have depth
00:22:41
DailySaintsPod
And, again, why it was a dosie is like a new signing. And I think that, yeah, Laren was an incredibly, I think, myself included and Greg, you know, never heard of this guy. Who is he?
00:22:53
DailySaintsPod
did our profile on him. Our opinion changed. He had his first top of the ball and it was a goal. And I think that it brings a lot of the quality that Stuart brings to the husband and obviously his presence.
00:23:04
DailySaintsPod
And because the way that we play now, think it's been really good. that Haring was option, which is where it comes the of the season. But, you know, I think the goals that he scored alone, at the point that was won alone, probably made that, you know, loan very successful, in my opinion.
00:23:23
DailySaintsPod
So then we're at the end of the game. And obviously, post-match summary from from Greg, as he was leaving the stadium, he'd love to have sent a voice message. But one, had no voice left.
00:23:35
DailySaintsPod
And two, stadiums are well too loud for that. So, 11 unbeaten from a performance that didn't deserve it. And as you can tell, by the end of that game, he had come round to my opinion that I don't think we were deserving really of anything from the game.
00:23:48
DailySaintsPod
Laren was excellent when he came on. We will struggle without Leo, but it was a very hard thought point. And that is a big part of the game that... There's a complete shadow over it, in my opinion.
00:24:01
DailySaintsPod
We don't know how bad it's going to be, but considering how quickly he went down, considering how quickly he came off, I don't think it's going to be a good one. And I think it's going to be a struggle without him. Wish we played for the same urgency the whole second half as we did after the goal. I'll hardly agree.
00:24:17
DailySaintsPod
We just didn't. And it was only sort of that sort of five to six minute period where we just burst into life. And it's a bit worrying that i some of the players didn't really step up, in my opinion.
00:24:30
DailySaintsPod
I don't know if it's just fatigue and tiredness with a lot of minutes, but I kind of expected a bit more from most of them, from from Matsky, from Hazaz, from Fenoz, all of them going forward.
Squad Depth and Transfer Concerns
00:24:41
DailySaintsPod
I understand that it's difficult to to break down, and I understand the price from West Ham is really good, but It wasn't great. He said Charles was very good too. There's been a lot of split opinion. I've seen people highly critical on social media of him. I thought he played quite well towards the end, especially where he was like getting the balls and moving ball forward. And Brie was struggling second half for sure, which again, considering, you know, it's not...
00:25:04
DailySaintsPod
the only game we've got this week, we've got another game coming up, big and fast. I don't know whether or not we'll see him Friday. It depends how severe that head injury is. Hopefully it's nothing but superficial.
00:25:16
DailySaintsPod
but you know, that was a while to be down. And, yeah, I guess if not, we might end up seeing July coming in at some point. But we've already talked about how we don't want to tinker and with Priet, like a new sign-in. But we didn't really feel that energy that second half of him. And it probably...
00:25:32
DailySaintsPod
because head injury. So I guess we'll have to see where we go. There's a lot of question marks off the back of this game. Again, it's a draw that kind of feels like a win, but it's completely overshadowed by potential injury.
00:25:45
DailySaintsPod
And for me, it was the the point I've made multiple times of we kind of feel like we're one or two injuries away like and from a proper injury crisis because... The transfer business, in my opinion, we did in January is good. I understand why we've got a lot with a lot of those players. A lot of them are not doing stuff. But the areas we've strengthened, I also understand. Goalkeeper was priority.
00:26:07
DailySaintsPod
Stryker was also a priority after Armalec. And again, think Aaron took the place because of the way we play now. But, you know, you'd you'd wonder maybe if we did an extra callback or two. And obviously with Wellington fill out, we, you know,
00:26:22
DailySaintsPod
Manning doesn't really have a natural backup of them to that. Rory's weather still out. We're going to be quite on the right. So it does that mean that we then end up having to go to a back three again just because of injuries and put fellows on the right? And I don't any of us really want to see that. It's not worked. So yeah, it's slightly worrying.
00:26:39
DailySaintsPod
And all of that is know it raises the question of was it worth going as strong in the FA Cup at the weekend?
00:26:46
DailySaintsPod
we'd lost, would there maybe have been a bigger of reaction this game to show that we're not like that? Maybe was also the momentum important to keep players playing at it? Yes.
00:26:58
DailySaintsPod
But I think the the fatigue was evident and Me and Greg have talked a lot about how mentality switch is a very, very important thing. And that is one of the key differences between teams that win and teams that don't. Ultimately, it's how much willingness the players are going to put in.
00:27:16
DailySaintsPod
You want them to win the game. like The rest of it is that they know how to play football.
Coaching Impact and Player Ambitions
00:27:21
DailySaintsPod
I think he actually summed up with it with that. the conversation we were having in the background was, don't know if we had it on, I don't know if we had on this daily podcast because we still talk so much about it. It was sort of, some of the big differences with Will Steele is that Will Steele is a fantastic coach at teaching players how to play football.
00:27:37
DailySaintsPod
A lot of our players were already, as most people point out, good players. They know how to play football. He didn't have the mentality and the confidence and he wasn't really able to instill that. Somehow, we don't know why, we don't know how, Honduras have been able to do that part because obviously when you are asking people who are professional footballers to play football, they will know how to do it.
00:27:57
DailySaintsPod
It's almost like that's been the more important transitional part of the the game. And... That's why I think it was so important to keep that going.
00:28:07
DailySaintsPod
In Greg's opinion, he said he would much rather see us win the FA Cup and stay in the Championship put this picture than make the p playoffs and essentially stumble. I don't know. his His answer to me was I was slightly surprised by the fact that he was so willing to the be all right with not getting promoted. And I don't know, I feel like some of the people kind of in agreement with that.
00:28:32
DailySaintsPod
But one of the issues you've got is that how do you keep on to the talent that we really like? the Do you think Leo will stay? I understand that he really loves the club. I don't know what's going the future. We don't know if somebody comes in for a giant bid for him. There's a lot of players we really hope would stay that wouldn't. Bear in mind, there's a lot of players that came to us this season but because they wanted to get promoted, right? That's just a perfect example.
00:28:55
DailySaintsPod
you know didn't shine for well tonight, but he came to us initially because he wanted to go in for a team that were fighting promotion. Now Middlesbrough are right up there ahead of us.
00:29:06
DailySaintsPod
And you've got to wonder whether or not for him, looking back and seeing if that move was a mistake. If you saw any of the conversations with any of our players interviewed at the beginning of the season, what their ambition was, it was to get to the Premier League and play in the Premier League.
00:29:21
DailySaintsPod
you've already seen again I'm going to say rumours because it it of it's just it's rumours at this point the stuff to do with Castellander and him potentially being worried about missing out on the Olympic football because that's ultimately what he wanted so that debate's there maybe me and Greg talk about it a little bit more next week I for one really glad for the win at the weekend if Leo didn't play that game does that mean that he doesn't pick up an injury today maybe
00:29:50
DailySaintsPod
Or is it an unfortunate accident due to a collision? would If he'd had that collision in a different game, could have picked up the same thing. It's really, really hard to predict all of these factors. I know that everyone will have opinions on it.
Episode Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:30:02
DailySaintsPod
But I think that I understand the mentality of going in to try and win as many games as possible. I also completely understand that I feel like our physio department have managed to work for miracles to keep us as injury-free as we've been this season, all things considered.
00:30:18
DailySaintsPod
And I don't think you can do that forever. And as we are now breaking into a really important part of the season where we know that playoffs are probably our only hope if we can even manage that, you know, we had a chance to go within a point.
00:30:34
DailySaintsPod
We're now not within a point. So... Hey-ho. Yeah, I guess that's today. Thank you to everybody that has joined me on my long rant about today's game and our thoughts and feelings.
00:30:50
DailySaintsPod
It's basically like Greg's been here. Bless him. I'm sure he'll be having a fantastic time on the drive back. and i'm I'm really glad that he got to at least see a goal in his away game.
00:31:03
DailySaintsPod
I'm sure his kids be really happy to be here too. Yeah, it's just not what we wanted, but we basically got a three point in my opinion because we didn't really deserve anything
00:31:15
DailySaintsPod
And it was only really towards the end of the game that we really for whatever reason. So we will be back tomorrow. We preview the game weekend.
00:31:24
DailySaintsPod
But until then, we are on all the social medias. We are on Facebook, the Everything app, Blue Sky, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, all of them.
00:31:37
DailySaintsPod
And let us know what your thoughts on the game are. Was it a a point? Did the point feel like a win? Are you worried that we are one injury away from a crisis?
00:31:48
DailySaintsPod
Are you worried that if this is a long-term injury for Leo, we are already at crisis? Maybe are you hoping that the mentality of the team will get us through? It managed to get us something out of today. So yeah, thank you all for joining me and I will see you in the next one.