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Episode 427: Matchday Review: Proud in defeat vs City: FA Cup Semi-Final
98 Plays3 days ago
Southampton – What an amazing performance put in by absolutely all involved. No shame in losing a game like that, lots of positives to take from making the most expensive team in the English game try and hold the ball in the corner and run scared. What a time to be a Saints fan still. Roll on Tuesday.
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Transcript
Pride in Performance vs. Man City
00:00:14
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend, wonderful co-host Zach.
00:00:27
DailySaintsPod
And mate, look, it was not the result we were hoping for, but how proud do you feeling of that performance that that team put in?
00:00:35
Zak
Oh, yeah, man. Like, okay, it wasn't what we hoped for. The fact that we genuinely believed we could go up against Man City and get something from over Wembley and for five minutes be truly in that mindset after an absolutely stunning goal and have to result to...
00:00:55
Zak
them literally pulling off all of their best players from a bench, them having to do a little bit of time wasting to be able to get that win. Probably in a game that a lot of people might have thought was a walkover, especially anyone that doesn't really hasn't really paid attention to us will probably have the same opinion Piers Morgan did when they drew us, which is, it's going to be easy, whatever.
00:01:15
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:01:17
Zak
And we've had conversations about the lack of fans and some of the fact that they've just definitely booked the final because they just assumed and knew they'd get to it. But that wasn't, yeah, that wasn't a performance that I think they expected. And it is one to be incredibly proud of. And as I keep saying, we've got like, what, two games left now to enjoy this set of players because come what may, it will be a different set of players after the summer.
Outstanding Performances and Future Changes
00:01:42
Zak
And it was incredible to see them put on a complete show.
00:01:42
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:01:46
Zak
Like that there were some of some of the best individual performances I've seen in a long, long time. Some of the best individual performances I've seen in a Saints shirt. It was just a fantastic game. And yeah.
00:01:56
DailySaintsPod
It was a... Look, it was a promotion-worthy performance against the team top of the Premier League, mate.
00:02:02
Zak
Oh, yeah. and we It doesn't feel...
00:02:04
DailySaintsPod
A team who are likely going to win the treble this year, and we... I mean, it was just unbelievable.
00:02:10
DailySaintsPod
Every single player stepped up.
00:02:10
Zak
it doesn't feel like if we got promoted, we would struggle the way that we did the year before, if if it's this team, right?
00:02:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:02:18
Zak
Like, that... That's been proven. Like, you know, we we beat Arsenal and Fulham on the way to that. We had an amazing game, you know, on Saturday.
00:02:29
Zak
i genuinely feel like if we managed to, you know, get promotion over the line again, i would feel so much more positive going into it than, you know, i think last time we were deluded.
00:02:40
Zak
Yeah. Like, let's not pretend, at least being you, are you know, your prediction was 11th of eleventh for the season, right? of So at one point, that was a good chance we'd finish with that many points.
00:02:47
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:02:52
Zak
But if we if we manage to succeed this year, I genuinely think that, you know, we we could give survival a good hope. just because of how good these players have been. And yeah, it was it was a performance. It was probably character building for a lot of young Saints fans out there, those that have been to Wembley and only seen a win.
00:03:12
Zak
But that's the life of a Saints fan, it's ups and downs. But come on, it's the first well first game in 20-odd that we've had to talk about a loss.
00:03:20
DailySaintsPod
It's fantastic.
00:03:20
DailySaintsPod
And and look, what it says it says everything to me because every single thing that I have seen on social media has just been incredibly proud, incredibly happy.
00:03:20
Zak
stu's just That's just so...
00:03:34
DailySaintsPod
and And I mean, at the end of the day, when you put that performance in and the only thing that actually separates you from the team that are likely to win the treble this year is a goal that I have seen neutral fans on social media describe as puss gas contender.
Game Reflection and Fan Atmosphere
00:03:53
Zak
Yeah, like, it was that, that was an absolutely unbelievable strike, right?
00:03:53
DailySaintsPod
It kind of is what is right. Yeah.
00:03:58
Zak
There's no doubt about it. As the goal beforehand, which Vince has got.
00:04:02
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:04:04
Zak
You know, and then obviously just like one shaky deflection, which could have, you know, I felt awful for Breeze.
00:04:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, could go anywhere.
00:04:09
Zak
It could have come off anyone, could have gone in off anywhere. And they had to put on, you know, clearly when they want went 1-0 down, you suddenly watch them or realise that, oh, mate, I don't want don't want to go into the dressing room and get shouted at by Pep Guardiola for like 35 minutes.
00:04:23
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:24
Zak
Let's just like, you know, but put on, you know, put on a bit what was kind of expected of them. But nah, it's not only that, like the fans, it's just incredible.
00:04:31
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:34
Zak
they they We could hear, I'm sorry, like, i butt you I don't want to get into the who's better than who better than who he said, she said.
00:04:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:41
Zak
yeah All I care about is that, like, did our fans make us proud of Southampton? Yes. Did the players vote us it?
00:04:48
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:04:49
Zak
Yes. Did you hear it on TV? Yes.
00:04:52
DailySaintsPod
Every single minute. I did not hear a single City charm.
00:04:53
Zak
Yeah.
00:04:55
DailySaintsPod
It was unbelievable.
00:04:55
Zak
Right.
00:04:57
Zak
And it's this this isn't me being like, ooh, let's... it No, it doesn't matter. Like, we we clearly showed we had the passion.
00:05:01
DailySaintsPod
did i mere
00:05:03
DailySaintsPod
Did I nearly throw an entire round of Pepsis in the air because I was on my way back to the table as we scored? Absolutely yes.
00:05:11
Zak
Oh, ba yeah yeah yeah
00:05:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. It's
00:05:14
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:05:15
Zak
mate. but but What's left of my voice least after, you know, a week of illness and then like a week and then obviously we went to the football last Tuesday and kind of messed up there. what what It's just kind of, as you can probably say out here, it's it's kind of going. I don' i don't know what my voice sounds like anymore. But yeah, it was just absolutely an incredible game. Yeah, I'm not...
00:05:39
Zak
devastated by the result I thought maybe it would be.
00:05:40
DailySaintsPod
No, because...
00:05:42
Zak
But it's because it's like they left everything out there. They did they did everything they possibly could have done. They were beaten by, you know, one of the best teams in the world. Like, I can't...
00:05:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, and... it beat But in a beaten also in a way that that really holds true how good the performance was.
00:05:58
Zak
yeah wasn it wasn't like they just went out and spanked us.
00:05:59
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:06:00
Zak
It wasn't like today's semi-final even. Like, no disrespect to Leeds, but, you know, when a manager as Chelsea scores one goal against you, that's not exactly a thrilling FA Cup semi-final, right? Like, we we really took it to them and, like, you know, scored a goal.
00:06:14
Zak
i way out We technically had the ball in the back of the net twice. Obviously, Leo's was offside, but, you know...
Team Spirit and Fan Impact
00:06:19
DailySaintsPod
A very valid point from my sister-in-law, who I was obviously watching the game with, as always, who was like, get away with that sometimes in the championship, don't
00:06:31
Zak
Also true. it's a thing that, you know, if we go back up, we'll have to contend with.
00:06:33
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:06:35
Zak
We're aware of this.
00:06:35
DailySaintsPod
the
00:06:36
Zak
I think it will probably be, you know, we've but we've managed to handle it in all of the other ties thus far. It was only this this tie that the sheer amount of offsides after a while were getting boring for both sides.
00:06:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. i was just
00:06:49
Zak
Not that a fan of that new weird rule that Wenger's putting that he's trying to get the Canadian League or whatever. But what could you say? like There were so many standout moments of of that game as well. I had friends out of the blue text me throughout the throughout the game, you know being like, you know what?
00:07:09
Zak
like the people not spoken to in years who are obviously acutely aware that I do a Southampton podcast were like, man, Saints played amazing. I didn't expect that. I'm like, yeah, we've had a great season. It's been a great time to be in this podcast.
00:07:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:07:21
Zak
It's been a great time to be a fan.
00:07:22
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:07:23
Zak
And it was a great, you know, and I think that it would be looked back on as, you're right, like a moment of magic is what it took City to win. They're serial winners for a reason, right? It's not like, you know, it's it's not like...
00:07:32
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:07:35
Zak
We, it's not like we just, we went there and got battered. We didn't go there and get battered.
00:07:39
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, and it's not like they're known for that kind of goal either, right? Like, that's not their textbook, that we we completely shut out their normal approach to games. They they didn't even didn didn't even really...
00:07:53
DailySaintsPod
apart from the couple of times it was offside and one save I can think of, didn't really get the chance to get close to their standard like goal from inside the box from close range because they've broken the line. we were just completely solid, and it was yeah it was it was amazing. I just couldn't be prouder. I think the entire team deserves a shout-out for the way they performed, the way they stepped up. but But for me...
00:08:36
DailySaintsPod
Cam Bragg, I think was excellent.
00:08:37
Zak
Yeah. I've been stepping for Downs very sort of last minute as well because he probably would have not started if that was the count case.
00:08:40
DailySaintsPod
Uh, Hmm.
00:08:45
Zak
Incredible.
00:08:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:08:46
Zak
Bear in mind, you know, starting this season, mate,
00:08:47
DailySaintsPod
what a future that boy has.
00:08:51
Zak
Started this season as like last-minute Will still brought on in a game that he wasn't expected to, brought on into a losing game to, you know, playing at Wembley in a semi-final and not looking really out of place.
00:09:04
Zak
And I think that's the incredible thing about it, you know.
00:09:04
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Meh. Just absolutely stuff. Yanda was phenomenal.
00:09:09
Zak
oh yeah, absolutely.
00:09:10
DailySaintsPod
Absolutely played out
00:09:11
Zak
If he does go in the summer, which you're predicting, I do genuinely think we can get a standout for him. But also think he might say if we get promoted, genuinely, that's going to be a name in the future years where you might look back at him and be like, oh, he played for London.
Player Potential and Future Hopes
00:09:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, he was just, yeah, he was is absolutely excellent.
00:09:26
Zak
But yeah.
00:09:29
Zak
Just got better and better, genuinely.
00:09:29
DailySaintsPod
just Just that midfield through the entire game. Taylor Howard Bellis, commanding the back line, mean, leading Saints out to a semi-final friendly.
00:09:35
Zak
Yeah.
00:09:38
Zak
That's a captain's performance as well against against the club that let him go, you know, like end of the day.
00:09:40
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:42
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. just Just excellent.
00:09:44
Zak
say let him go. We paid him, to be clear, but it's not like he was just released.
00:09:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:48
Zak
But...
00:09:49
DailySaintsPod
And of course, Finna Zas, what an unbelievable finish.
00:09:51
Zak
Finizaz?
00:09:52
DailySaintsPod
like just Just pure instinct as well.
00:09:56
Zak
Yeah.
00:09:56
DailySaintsPod
And this is the thing right about you know these players and and that goal in particular is that you don't get that much time in the championship.
00:10:06
DailySaintsPod
right
00:10:07
Zak
I...
00:10:07
DailySaintsPod
City were quite happy to sit off and go, yeah, go on, then have a shot. And so he was quite happy to just go, okay, see you later. Just pure instinct.
00:10:14
Zak
Well, it's not only that. It's like, you know, he probably took some of the the brunt of our annoyance at Bristol City, right? He didn't put in what we'd have expected.
00:10:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:24
Zak
But then to step up and do that, again, being one of the probably more highly criticised players throughout the season and, you know, score just an absolute wonder goal, there's no other word for it. And you sure you're right, just deciding to to have a pop and, yeah.
00:10:40
Zak
Absolutely incredible. Obviously, you know I'm going to shout at Batsky as well, but just because the fuzzy he set that goal up, he came onto that big stage without really being much surprised and managed to somehow do goal line clearance when Peretz was caught in midfield, which...
00:10:43
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:10:53
DailySaintsPod
Oh, that was so good.
00:10:54
Zak
yeah
00:10:55
DailySaintsPod
and That got the biggest cheer. I think that got a bigger cheer in level one than the goal.
00:10:59
Zak
That was absolutely wild. like That was probably one of about like the most mental moments. My wife saying, why is the goalie there? And I'm like, hang on.
00:11:09
Zak
No, no, he's not meant to be there.
00:11:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And then Wellington as well, right?
00:11:16
DailySaintsPod
Someone who we've not seen in months, like, is going to be able perform in this game.
00:11:20
Zak
Just rocks up, has the game of his life. Like, good Lord.
00:11:22
DailySaintsPod
Some of the tackles he made were, like, inch-perfect tackles and had to be. Just... just Yeah. Just, yeah. let look The entire team left everything on the pitch, gave it their all.
00:11:37
DailySaintsPod
Just couldn't be... You can come out of a loss feeling happier than I feel with how we performed, to be honest.
00:11:45
Zak
this This is the thing, right? And then obviously they're very aware, they're hyper-focused, they'll just roll onto Tuesday. And if we can put up against a performance like that, if we can put that in on Tuesday, we'll be an in Ipswich.
00:11:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:11:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And look, i said before the I said before the game, like it's a really tough thing to get over that mentally and then in three days go again.
00:11:57
Zak
There's no question about ifs or what about it.
00:12:07
DailySaintsPod
but i genuinely believe that actually... the mentality these players have is exactly that. I think that we'll just rock up and do the job. You were saying about you know their bench and the players they were able to bring on and then obviously still having to resort to time-wasting, which was frankly embarrassing and hilarious.
00:12:26
Zak
yeah but to To be fair, like you say embarrassing.
00:12:27
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:31
Zak
To an extent, you're right. Them playing it to the corner flag and stuff. But also, like you're wanting to win a game they're wanting to win a game by any means necessary.
00:12:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:39
DailySaintsPod
yeah. yeah.
00:12:40
Zak
Pep has made it abundantly clear that it's not really about how you do it. If it was it buts about how you do it, they wouldn't play the most boring football in the world. Because even my wife was like...
00:12:50
Zak
Man, it's like watching Russell Martin ball. but like And I'm like, yeah, these players are the ones with the millions millions of pound price tags as well. were past the center but In fact, one of the other other people was watching it with, our friend, she was watching it.
00:13:04
Zak
its just like It's like that Simpsons episode where they're like, we'll put one out for some soccer. And then
Promotion Possibilities and Team Focus
00:13:10
Zak
it's just like, back to the centre, back to the midfield. back to the center, back to midfield.
00:13:15
DailySaintsPod
yeah Oh God.
00:13:17
Zak
And was like, yeah, so so, you know, all of all of that stuff is is relevant, but obviously when it came down to it, they're going to do anything to win because that's the kind of team that they are.
00:13:18
DailySaintsPod
That's the perfect joke. Yeah.
00:13:28
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:28
Zak
So don't really begrudge them.
00:13:29
DailySaintsPod
but i
00:13:30
Zak
We would done it.
00:13:30
DailySaintsPod
oh We would have done it, but it's not embarrassing for us to do it against them you know the size of them.
00:13:32
Zak
Yeah, absolutely.
00:13:36
DailySaintsPod
and here's Here's the numbers make that that make it embarrassing for me because the players they brought off the bench, right the four players they brought off the bench, so obviously Erling Haaland,
00:13:46
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:13:48
DailySaintsPod
Doku, Savino, and Bernardo Silva. And in fact, I've missed O'Reilly, who came on as well.
00:13:59
DailySaintsPod
you know they're The amount of money they spent on those players totals £152 million. pound And, you know, if you base, if you listen to TransferMarket.co.uk,
00:14:17
DailySaintsPod
where, you know, where we tend to go to for all of our sort of numbers like that, our squad in its entirety is only worth 5 million more than that.
00:14:20
Zak
And
00:14:26
DailySaintsPod
So it's...
00:14:29
Zak
Well, it's one of those, like, I don't think I have much of a differing view, but it's one of those things that when we played against, like, Charlton, it was the same argument that that Nathan Jones and that lot have, right?
00:14:36
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:14:40
Zak
It's like, oh, Southampton's team will have millions of pounds more than us.
00:14:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:43
Zak
so it And it is, you know, an accurate argument, especially if they've managed to, like, come out and sort of batter us.
00:14:49
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:49
Zak
But what what it shows is that we've been able to go toe for toe, regardless of price tag, right?
00:14:53
DailySaintsPod
and step up.
00:14:54
Zak
And that's what's important.
00:14:55
DailySaintsPod
100%.
00:14:55
Zak
them
00:14:56
DailySaintsPod
And put in such a quality performance like that. Again, against a team that are more than likely going to win the treble this year. Like, you know, we watch Chelsea needs today.
00:15:07
Zak
You put money on them against Chelsea, right?
00:15:08
DailySaintsPod
if You watch Chelsea needs today, you you back to me every time.
00:15:11
Zak
Yeah, there you go.
00:15:13
DailySaintsPod
And, and you know, Arsenal are doing their best to gift City of the League, you know, pretty pretty conclusively. So... Yeah, it's...
00:15:23
DailySaintsPod
a But it it was brilliant. Such a good thing. The question I want to ask you...
00:15:30
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:15:31
DailySaintsPod
I was thinking about earlier is, do you think playing a massive game like this at Wembley in the semi-final, like arguably, you know, obviously promotion's important to the club for for so many different reasons, but arguably the most important trip to Wembley may be in, you know, the last 50 years, potentially, you know, because the other cup final was at Cardiff, to be clear.
00:15:57
DailySaintsPod
play to You think rocking up and showing up and performing in that way gives kind of a mental edge if slash when playoff finals come about on the back in that situation?
00:16:01
Zak
You I guess...
00:16:13
Zak
Yeah, like we we we've been there recently. It was against the best team in the world. We almost won it. because You know, we could have won it had it not been for, you know, them being a bringing on, as you pointed out, that much firepower.
00:16:26
Zak
And on top of that, an absolute just wonder strike, right? And that's...
00:16:30
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:32
Zak
that's the reality of the situation and that will have cemental edge because you know okay for players like tableau or bellis they went there and they they won promotion and they've recently went there and and lost an fa cup semi-final to man city but we will have like the most experience probably i imagine with whichever team we play there anytime soon at least recently and
00:16:54
DailySaintsPod
kind of takes the edge off of that, like, once-in-a-lifetime feel, even though, obviously, there's going to be pressure on the game because of the stakes that that are involved. But, you know, it's not really as much as once-in-a-lifetime if you did it two weeks ago.
00:17:08
Zak
Yeah, exactly.
00:17:09
DailySaintsPod
Like...
00:17:10
Zak
Like, it's the same thing with, like, you know, Tom Fellowes talking about when he was growing up. One of the things that he always wanted to do is be able to play Wembley in front of his family. And he's managed to do that now. so yeah, I think it kind of puts that to risk breast rest.
00:17:22
Zak
But, like, also, it's it's going to be sticking to the plan that Tom has had the entirety of the time, right? It's not looking past the next game. OK, we lost that one. Let's go on to the next one. And I don't think you want to be looking too far ahead and making sure we, you know, try and put ourselves in the best position. But you're right. Theoretically, if we win our next two games and everyone around us drops points, we we could end up second. That's like a genuine thing that can happen. So we can't discount that yet. But obviously, if if it does go to playoffs, then that's going to be, you know, first of all, it's going be getting through the semifinals. It's going to be getting through both legs of them before we even think.
00:17:54
Zak
about getting to Wembley. But I think at that point, you can then lean on the experience that, okay, we've been there recently. We know what we need to do to prepare. If they put a performance like they did today, you know, sorry, on Saturday for the playoff final, that I don't really think we have as much to worry about.
00:18:10
Zak
And, you know, don't want tempt fate.
00:18:11
DailySaintsPod
of
00:18:11
Zak
and so I'll talk you on the wood in this, that and the other But I just think that It was just an incredible performance. so It shows you and you how far this team's gone. And like it still even now feels like, oh, we're never going to lose another game.
00:18:25
Zak
Okay, we lost that one, but sure.
00:18:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:26
Zak
But like, it doesn't feel like the heads are going to drop.
00:18:27
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, we just about lost to City. Yeah, it was... You know, that was a concern, wasn't it? That going to Wembley and, you know, losing to City is enough to knock the confidence.
00:18:38
DailySaintsPod
But actually, because of the manner...
00:18:39
Zak
Yeah, but but it wasn't being batted 5-0, was it?
00:18:41
DailySaintsPod
Because of... Yeah, that's it. Just purely because of the manner in which we performed and and did it. It's just...
00:18:48
Zak
And the fact that all of the players are aware we back them.
00:18:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, not nothing but pride.
00:18:51
Zak
They're aware that we're proud of them.
00:18:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:52
Zak
They're aware that they're backed. It's not like they're going to come back to St.
00:18:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Even...
00:18:55
Zak
Mary's and get booed or whatever.
00:18:56
DailySaintsPod
a light No, like you you said about hearing in Saints fans pretty much exclusively throughout the game, but that stood even truer after the full-time whistle, right? Like the entire entire yellow ball was was beautiful.
00:19:13
DailySaintsPod
And the noise was electric. And it's just... Yeah, just brilliant. Brilliant all round. Brilliant from the fans. Brilliant from the players. Like I say, I was in level one with quite a few other Saints fans. Even the atmosphere in there was excellent.
00:19:33
DailySaintsPod
Just, yeah. there just I can't say any more positive things about it because it's... Man, what a long way this team has come to to get to this point.
00:19:46
Zak
We, that's what it was, right? When you were initially disappointed, I had to kind of remind you that there was a point, you know, post-Preston where we were like 21st on the table, we fired our manager, we were genuinely thinking about championship survival.
00:20:01
Zak
And we have looked at former Premier League champions Leicester go through and go down. Because at that point, they were like 10th or something, no one in a no one in their right mind would have predicted Leicester to down at that point.
00:20:07
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:20:13
Zak
Not least of all Leicester. I mean, And we sat there thinking, oh, God, where do we go?
00:20:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:20:19
Zak
We're looking at the team. We're looking at the players around us. You know, that we we have like a January window after we win a few games, we lose a few games. We bring back James Bree. It's like a new transfer. We bring in Correct to have a goalkeeper that finally it's not like a problem.
00:20:35
Zak
It's not a thing we worry about. And then, you know, we bring in Karl Lahren to then play with Ross Stewart and sort of... all of the different pieces that you were saying, oh, it just feels like it's not clicking.
00:20:46
Zak
where We decided to get a few extra pieces and then just like build the the mentality of people that want to consistently win.
00:20:49
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:20:54
Zak
And then you know we had an unbeaten streak that, as they pointed out, like even Doku pointed out that, like look, that unbeaten streak's there for a reason. You can't underestimate a team, regardless of the league that they're in, that goes to that.
00:21:08
Zak
And it's not like we are... yeah are complete underdogs. We've been rising our way up from the bottom of the leagues or whatever. Like we were Premier League and you always talked about how like the players know what to do. They know their jobs. They just needed the right, I guess, coaching, the right things to click into place to build what they've built.
Season's Journey and Strategic Success
00:21:28
Zak
And you can see that where there's been the turnaround of forming players like Taylor Harbour-Bennis where at the beginning of the season, we were both kind of like, you know what, if he goes, that's the and not the end of the world. And now it's like, man, I really hope they don't go. like I hope he doesn't go, you know?
00:21:40
DailySaintsPod
e
00:21:40
Zak
We brought in lots of players we didn't have a clue about. We took her a punt and a risk on this guy that had been playing fifth-tier Swedish football not too long ago, right who who was picking us over Paris FC.
00:21:49
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:53
Zak
That was genuinely what it came down to on the last day, if you remember that. Well, there was that, like, sort and it turns out it was never really much of a choice.
00:21:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:59
Zak
And we saw, like, potentially the ability to bring him in. And then Azaz, who, when we bought made everyone at Midlandsboro, we're like, ha, told you he was toilet. And now he's, like, our top scorer for the entirety of this year.
00:22:09
Zak
And yeah, okay, he has a cold game every so often, but you going to tell me that he didn't have a hot game at Wembley? Because that was one of the best goals we've ever seen! And it all go down at how incredible that strike was.
00:22:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:20
DailySaintsPod
Look, these are the things the that not only live long in the memory of Saints fans, but you know write names into legend, right? like we all we all remember
00:22:20
Zak
was like, like...
00:22:28
Zak
Exactly. It's what you talk about. it The question you said was how far have we come?
00:22:32
DailySaintsPod
We all remember Gaviadini's goal at Swansea. We all remember Adam Armstrong's goal at Wembley. all things that, that latch on and become the goal. And now forever etched in, you know, the annals of saints history finish as outs with that wonderful strike that made us think we could.
00:22:52
DailySaintsPod
And you're right. Yeah. Like after the game, it, it, it hurt a bit and I was disappointed because I feel all of the emotions of the game, as you all very well know, i very, very upfront about it.
00:23:00
Zak
Yeah, of course.
00:23:04
DailySaintsPod
But, but, immediately bounce back. it It wasn't full disappointment. It was... it was Yeah, we lost.
00:23:11
Zak
yeah you're allowed to be You're allowed to be annoyed by it, right?
00:23:11
DailySaintsPod
but
00:23:14
Zak
You're allowed to be to be disappointed.
00:23:15
DailySaintsPod
But...
00:23:17
Zak
but
00:23:17
DailySaintsPod
But... no not I'm not disappointed at all. i was I was a bit sad that we lost. But honestly, just so proud. They they really went out of their way to to make an entire city proud of them.
00:23:31
DailySaintsPod
And... you know he talked We talked so much last season in the Dark Times about heart and desire. and just like All we who we want from the team is for you to go out and play for the batch. and the you know That entire performance completely personifies that from from every single player.
00:23:56
DailySaintsPod
Kyle Lahren coming on off the bench and And like say, Matske coming on off the bench and making a ridiculous goal line clearance that he had absolutely...
00:24:05
Zak
Goal line clearance, assist and effort on target, right? Which, again, it was just tipped over by Trafford.
00:24:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:11
Zak
And then you've got like you've got players of of the calibre of Wayne Rooney coming out and being like, yeah, so I basically didn't put a foot wrong. And the one time they even had, like you know, the the one time they weren't able to block a shot was just a wonder goal, right?
00:24:24
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:26
Zak
When you've got things being said like that, you know, you can't can't be upset or sad about it.
00:24:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:30
Zak
And I think that's the point, right? There were so many performances last year where it was like, we they scored a goal against us. They were like, wow, it doesn't matter if it's five or six now.
00:24:39
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:39
Zak
And that was like the most infuriating thing about it. And yet, like this season, we've had a game where we were 3-0 down at half-time, Greg, and 1-4-3 for like the first time in history.
00:24:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:49
Zak
and We had the like longest winning streak for the first time in over 100 years in the league. Like this has been, it's just been a wild, wild season.
00:24:55
DailySaintsPod
Inside.
00:24:57
Zak
And yeah okay, it have been lovely. would have been incredible for us to genuinely plan a European squad and win the FA Cup. And you know what? I think if we'd won that game, I think that we probably would have played Chelsea in one.
00:25:08
DailySaintsPod
Oh, for sure.
00:25:08
Zak
But, like, that's just that's just how it is.
00:25:11
DailySaintsPod
City were always the tough hurdle.
00:25:11
Zak
And, yeah.
00:25:15
DailySaintsPod
You're purely based on momentum, right? If nothing else, because honestly, Leeds are more likely to beat us than Chelsea in the cup final if it goes that far.
00:25:25
DailySaintsPod
It's the difference, right? Like, that's the...
00:25:26
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:27
Zak
and We're also the cause of it by by causing after Arsenal lost in a final and then they lost to us, they got knocked out the FA Cup, we put them on the path of destruction that has put City on the path of ascendancy. So we have made our own opponent harder because that's how good of a year we've had, right?
00:25:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:46
Zak
Is that a little bit of a stretch? Yeah. Do I really need to even make that stretch? No, because again, there's nothing to be disappointed about in in this team and there's nothing to not be proud of.
00:25:53
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. 100%.
00:25:56
Zak
And we, again, yep.
00:25:56
DailySaintsPod
And you're right, mate. the the mentality The mentality now is go again. And we are, by the luxury of the run that we've gone in, even if we lose both games, you know, with the rest of the week, lose against the Ipswich and lose against Preston, we we're in the playoffs regardless. So then we, you know, we move on to that and and move our way up.
00:26:18
DailySaintsPod
and And I don't think that we will. but But, you know, even if that is the case, we're we're well on our way. Yeah. with the momentum to the playoffs up to the next thing to get to get back there.
00:26:32
DailySaintsPod
It's just all good stuff.
00:26:35
Zak
Yeah, man.
00:26:36
DailySaintsPod
It's all fantastic.
00:26:37
Zak
We won't want to, but we're not going to want to lose. It's not going to be what's acceptable.
00:26:41
DailySaintsPod
No.
00:26:42
Zak
It's not going to be what any of them want to do.
00:26:44
DailySaintsPod
No?
00:26:45
Zak
They just got to go and continue to do what we've done thus far, right?
00:26:48
DailySaintsPod
That's exactly it And look, you know, we've got Tuesday to look forward to with Ipswich, which will be, you know, i think the the atmosphere at St Mary's is going to be incredible.
00:27:01
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:27:02
DailySaintsPod
for you know last home game of the season, Tuesday night after that performance at Wembley. Yeah, it's just going to be electric and that hopefully will be enough to drive us on. And then it leads into you know what promises to be a final day of the championship, which really epitomises why we love the championship, right? Because realistically speaking, we're we're looking at going into the day with...
00:27:29
DailySaintsPod
Four teams confirmed to be at least the playoff, all four of which could still potentially finish second. And three teams not confirmed to the playoffs who could still grab that last playoff place, which is you you know, are still there are still seven teams vying for two promotion spots going into the last day of the season.
00:27:45
Zak
Yeah. Yeah, because if you look at if you look at first to eight, would probably be a league, mate. it's
00:27:57
Zak
Just, yeah, like comparisons to the Premier League, mate, you've got the top team, Arsenal, with 73, and then in seventh, you've got Bournemouth with 49.
00:28:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:28:05
Zak
And you look at the Championship and it's like, okay, Coventry have run away with that. But then second to seventh the moment is a 10-point gap.
00:28:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:28:12
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:28:12
Zak
And in between that, yeah, yeah it's going to be good. So it's going to be exciting. it's It's on to the next thing. And again, like it was a wonderful dream. We got significantly further than we thought.
00:28:23
Zak
You know, there are a lot of people that would have up when we saw Fulham, let alone Arsenal, you know.
00:28:27
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:28:27
Zak
and And again, we didn't expect it. We believed it. We really believed it for about five minutes.
Community Pride and Fan Experience
00:28:34
Zak
So, yeah.
00:28:34
DailySaintsPod
What a moment. What unbelievable moment.
00:28:35
Zak
yeah
00:28:36
DailySaintsPod
What a goal.
00:28:38
Zak
yeah
00:28:38
DailySaintsPod
Uh, yeah, just, just, yeah, incredibly proud. Uh, and enjoyed The only thing that can make this week any better than two wins would be a slew of instant contract extensions in the immediate future for Tonda, Leo, I don't know, Taylor, just just all of them.
00:29:02
Zak
But let's not be too greedy.
00:29:04
DailySaintsPod
Correct.
00:29:06
Zak
We need to see how this season pans out, mate.
00:29:08
DailySaintsPod
Correct.
00:29:08
Zak
Even they can't be sat there thinking about the contract situation until they know how it's going to pan out right. Whatever will be, will be.
00:29:14
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:29:16
Zak
We did go to Wembley and we still support the Saints. So it's going to be fine.
00:29:20
DailySaintsPod
yeah roll on Tuesday eight we do it all again
00:29:21
Zak
Or it won't We lived through that last season, mate. To be honest, at this point, we can probably live through a lot more. Yeah.
00:29:28
DailySaintsPod
That's it. Absolutely. But look, that is, uh, that is stuff for us to speculate on tomorrow, or at least for me to speculate on tomorrow.
00:29:37
Zak
Yes.
00:29:38
DailySaintsPod
Zach now abandons me to go on his holidays, uh, slacking off early or resting up for playoffs. We'll, we'll see.
00:29:46
Zak
Yeah, a combination ac combinationmod of those, right?
00:29:47
DailySaintsPod
Uh,
00:29:48
Zak
I should be back for for the press to match review, so...
00:29:51
DailySaintsPod
Exactly. It's exciting. It's good stuff. So, will be back tomorrow to talk and preview that game against Ipswich. But look, let us know on the socials, in the comments, how proud you are of that performance, any of your favourite moments of the game, any particular highlights of your day out, either to Wembley or wherever you chose to watch the game. Because, I mean,
00:30:21
DailySaintsPod
just easily or the day of and the day before were the, you know, the buildup was, I felt it in the air. walking around Southampton and Eastley on Saturday was like something out of 28 days later, just everybody clearly in London, uh,
00:30:35
Zak
laughter
00:30:38
DailySaintsPod
It was just fantastic. But yeah, let let us know your thoughts, your comments, your favourite moments of that that weekend. But until tomorrow, everyone, have a wonderful day.
00:30:50
DailySaintsPod
Enjoy the the buzz of what a weekend it was. And we will see you then.