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Episode 213: The seasons expectations..
64 Plays1 day ago
Southampton – We talk about what the reasonable expectations are for the season ahead..
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Banter
00:00:08
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 today joined by good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing mate, you alright?
00:00:22
Zak
Apart from being allergic to the literal outside. yeah pretty good, mate.
00:00:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is swelteringly hot and we're both suffering with, you know, the the hay fever allergies that get sent our way, but we're but battling on and...
00:00:36
Zak
I missed the crisps Norwegian mountain air, mate. That's why. Sorry, I'm out. I think I need to move.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pining for the fjords.
00:00:44
Zak
Literally.
Reflecting on Last Season's Challenges
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But speaking of battling, but we we're off the back of a of a tumultuous season, might be putting it generously. And I thought we'd take some time. you know We're going to go in before the season and have our proper predictions and how we see things playing out.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I wanted to talk about what's a reasonable target And what is the expectation on Saints heading into this championship season?
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, yeah, I guess i'll start by asking you, mate. What what do you think is reasonable?
00:01:23
Zak
Reasonable.
00:01:27
Zak
I think the expectation surely has to be promotion again. And I know that that's rich considering our season that we've just had. But I think that there is soon to be an article out, might already be out by the time this drops, we don't know, that Alfie House has had chatting to Dragon Solek about you know his ownership of the club and where he wants to bring the club going forward.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
see
00:01:47
Zak
But you don't bring in guy as an assistant who has supposedly helped mastermind two promotions. You don't invest money into rebuilding the entire squad and the entire team.
00:02:04
Zak
If you don't think that you're going to come straight back up or you should try and aim to come straight back up, as much as the playoffs are amazing as well, don't think we want to go through that again because there's well too much of an element of risk in the playoffs as seen with Sheffield United this year.
00:02:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:21
Zak
They would have walked into that thinking they were going beat Sunderland and Sunderland are now the team that have gone up. And also that puts us in hopefully a better position the next time around that we go back up to, you know, remain in the Premier League because for a good period of time, we were a stable Premier League club and then we had ridiculous ownership situations for a while.
00:02:41
Zak
We should have never been allowed to be bought by Gal because as much as people blame Sports Republic, it was the absolute gutting of the club by... by a businessman who's remember but let's not let's not forget his business ld sports turned out to just not be real like they they had to remove it as a shirt sponsor because they were like we can't find any evidence this is a real thing and like so so for me i think if that's the plan and the goal of the ownership then that should be the expectation obviously things can change
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what I'm hearing, mate, is a long way of saying we're going to win the league.
00:03:17
Zak
I said first or second. I don't really mind. That's why. I think that they they can't... but They probably won't want to roll the dice of promotion with ri the playoffs again, right? And realistically, they they planned for promotion with Russell Martin and still got playoffs and just about got promotion.
00:03:36
Zak
the proof should have been there that we probably weren't ready for the Premier League considering you had those like five or six games towards the end that were a bit... And, you know, the outcome was we we went back up and had our worst season, like, ever.
00:03:52
Zak
Maybe ever. I don't know. We've had seasons that have been bad in the past, but something about that last season just felt awful. Awful in every way.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, think you're right. It was getting to fall short last time and you know we hindsight has a short memory, right? like We remember the the atmosphere of the semi-final at St Mary's against West Brom. We remember the the day out at Wembley and the joy of winning, but you know We were on a pretty poor run leading up to that.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know We went those 25 games unbeaten, but a lot of those were draws as well. And then we you know sort of fell off a cliff.
00:04:33
Zak
Yeah.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
We couldn't find form at all. And that was the concern heading into the playoffs. And ah just hope that there's not that this season.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know No one's expecting it to be plain sailing. We're Saints fans. We're used to roller coasters and ups and downs.
00:04:51
Zak
Yeah, 100%. Yeah? hundred percent
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, if especially if we're talking about the two clubs coming down with us potentially looking at points deductions, you know, that you're right, top two is really where we need to be setting our sights.
00:05:01
Zak
yeah
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's no more to it than that, right? Like,
00:05:09
Zak
but like Yeah, exactly. And even even if they're getting points deductions and stuff, again, that that I guess from a financial perspective, it shows how well our club's been run as much as people get mad about it. you know that there were all There are lots of things that we can be mad about, but the fact that we aren't getting a massive PSR fine isn't one of them. So, yeah.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We turned a profit, right?
00:05:29
Zak
yeah
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know And I know the the PSR is slightly more complicated than that and it works across a three-year span, but turning a profit in one of those years can only be a good thing. And then you know you think about the fact that, if we're being honest, Tyler Diblin probably isn't going to be a Saints player come the start of the season, but all of the money we'll make from selling him goes,
Transfer Rumors and Speculations
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, that's pure profit.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's a homegrown player.
00:05:52
Zak
is that Is that surely based off the fact that one person specifically said that there are like 10 clubs looking at him? Because that seems to just be a rumour meal more than anything.
00:06:05
Zak
but Or is it more that the rumour meal spun day one?
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just started real early though, didn't it?
00:06:08
Zak
True.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it just... it It really spun early, right? There's no smoke without fire. Like...
00:06:17
Zak
True.
00:06:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, these things spin up in the rumour mill for one of a few reasons, but all of them point in the same direction, right? Like... Like, could just be the agent stirring up to make noise to get a better deal, but by doing that, it's the same effect, right?
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's still... not here at the start of the season to be a Saints player.
00:06:37
Zak
Yeah, so caught offside of the ones that are apparently reported it. Liverpool have joined Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle in the race for Southampton and England under-21s winger Tyler Dibbling 19. I
00:06:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And you know, that's not even the report I saw because the report I saw was about Porto putting in a bid. So, you know, just, you know, and it's it's that sort of thing, you know, financially we're in a good space, I think.
00:06:57
Zak
think I've seen that as well.
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
if we can use this transfer window well and get rid of a lot, you know, we've got such a bloated squad and we've talked about the importance of it.
00:07:04
Zak
Yeah, you go.
00:07:09
Zak
this This is the problem. is it's So far, it's the only person that's been linked for them either way. It's one of the people we would probably rather stay. And I think this might be the issue we have startcom come the start the season.
00:07:19
Zak
when When we're back after break, obviously, we talked about the training announcement. Do you put, you know, for when we come back, do you do you put much onus on the players they've put in the photographs for the training kit?
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:07:32
Zak
Because I don't see any of them really moving apart from maybe a re-bow.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I do.
00:07:35
Zak
saw re-
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've got yeah other backing towards that as well.
00:07:41
Zak
Interesting.
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're right. Let's let's have a message from our partners at Biongeek first.
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. Yeah, right, I do or do put a lot into... It might be the overthinking part of my brain, but put a lot of onus into who they pick, for particularly the the main banner pictures on the website. I don't think it should really come as a surprise that actually Ryan Manning was one of our most consistent players last season, which is, you know, if you think about Certainly how I felt about that heading into the start of the season, that feels like a baffling thing to have been said. But but he was. He was one of the most consistent players.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
know, Will Smallbone is... You know, he loves the club. He's come out multiple times and said that this is where he wants to play football. He's not going to go anywhere. And yeah, Wellington obviously was a new signing in January, so...
00:09:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
is going to be sticking about and and trying to make a name. I think it makes complete sense. And then you said that that's the only... were saying before the break that Tyler Dibbom was the only name you've seen linked away. But that's not true for me.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've seen...
00:09:28
Zak
No.
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I've seen links that the deal... Tallpool's already agreed personal terms with Transbond Spore and that we're just trying to agree a transfer fee.
00:09:35
Zak
Interesting.
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I saw links that Suleymane was off somewhere...
00:09:43
Zak
I saw links this morning that he was apparently back off to Atalanta because Juric really, really likes him.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. That was it, to rejoin Juric.
00:09:50
Zak
Juric might pick him up.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:09:52
Zak
what ah ah If that ends up being the case, that's a so bizarre outcome that i didn't see of that real weird part of the season last year. but hello, hey-o.
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, but I mean, look, I mean, arguably Juric got the best out of Sulemano that we've seen.
00:10:08
Zak
True.
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And frankly, as a Saints fan who watched that, what that proved is that Sulemano isn't going to ever be good enough to play in the Premier League. So... It's fine.
00:10:18
Zak
true
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know? Yeah.
00:10:21
Zak
But obviously, Eribo is linked away, but he was one of the people in those photographs as well.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:25
Zak
He's been linked with Rangers. He's been linked with not wanting to see out the last year of his contract. He's been linked to a lot of things.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:31
Zak
So, you you also pointed out something to me that did make me laugh, which is that the photo for the training camp, they've they've done like a running shot. And obviously, they've probably done that, so you can't try and recognise any of the people because they have no idea who's going to be here by the time the training camp keeps off.
00:10:46
Zak
Because again, of July is a month away, so
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's just fully blurred. Yeah, it's just fully blurred. I really enjoyed that. No specific players at the front.
00:10:53
Zak
We saw a, uh, saw a appearance from Ryan Fraser in that, uh, in that picture as well. And I think I pointed out to you that, uh, somebody replied with a comment, uh, of the, the gif of Ian Wright, seeing his teacher that you've not seen in years.
00:11:12
Zak
I don't know who that was, but by the way, it gave me a proper good laugh. But that that was a bit of an interesting one because I'd expected... don't know why I'd expect him to go. There's not really any links or any rhymes or reason. It just feels like he didn't play football at all last the and latter half of the end of last season.
00:11:28
Zak
He misses Russell Martin and he's Scottish, so probably would fit in playing for a Scottish club.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I don't know.
00:11:35
Zak
But I'm putting tenuous strings together there, to be fair.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's tricky, particularly with these players who who we didn't see a lot of at the back end of the season. It's hard to know their headspace and...
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know There's no reason that you know we've got this fresh start and this fresh manager I think we said it a lot at the end of last season. like Redemption arcs are there for the taking.
00:12:03
Zak
true
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right? Like, you know, the right attitude and getting yourself in the mix. We saw in the championship that Ryan Fraser was a was an excellent impact player to bring off the bench and not great elsewhere.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if that's the role that he ends up slotting into again in the championship, fine. If that's... If we've got the space in the squad for it. If not, I mean... It's tricky, isn't it?
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's...
00:12:31
Zak
It's...
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, you know, these players can only go if there's interest from elsewhere. That's the problem with it, right?
00:12:37
Zak
that's That's the thing. and it's It's one of those things where when you say what are realistic expectations, I worry what are the realistic realistic expectations if our team remains pretty much exactly the same.
00:12:50
Zak
Because I know that we were kind of talking about how everyone could go and it wouldn't really matter. But if if everyone doesn't go, and we end up with pretty much a barge percentage of the same squad that we've just had.
Squad Mentality and Mindset Issues
00:13:01
Zak
I think it's going to be difficult for anybody to try and re-instill a winning mentality to a group of players who, at this point, would just take a win.
00:13:13
Zak
And I'm worried that like you know having such high expectations is a lot of pressure to put on a squad who have just had probably one of the most demoralising parts of their career that hopefully they're ever going to experience.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:13:27
Zak
And I think that that that creates a lot of difficulty. in sort of going, you know, are we deluding ourselves that that needs to be the expectation when we watch the end of that last season?
00:13:39
Zak
You know, is it is it mad for us to think we should be first or second when we were we were struggling to predict a win? Well, I was struggling to predict a win the whole of the season.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, look, it's an interesting one. It is an interesting one because it's not is's not going to be the same squad. you've You know, we've also got all these players coming back off loan who have had successes elsewhere. it's a fresh It's a fresh start. It's a fresh mix. It won't be it won't be the same starting XI on...
00:13:50
Zak
And yes, championship football is very different, but let's not mug it off either.
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
on opening day of the season as it was at the last day of the Premier League, one way or another.
00:14:16
Zak
And I guess also
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got these returning loans. We've got some of the youth coming through. you know, Jay Robinson, even though it was a horrible and bleak season, you know, he for him, he got Premier League minutes and got you know broke through to a first team. So he'll be presumably riding high off the back of that and not not struggling with the negativity that others might be.
00:14:41
Zak
yeah ah ah some As you said, it it's interesting, but but obviously when we talk about players and transfers and stuff and it won't be the same season, and we don't really know how we're going to line up. We've got pre-season to understand that a little bit better.
00:14:56
Zak
They've obviously had to try and play almost in three different ways last season. This will now probably be learning a fourth way to play. and But I'm just hoping that this way is a way of adaptability and actually playing the basics of football and changing things when it needs to happen rather than a rigid philosophy that we've had that has resulted in mild success in the Championship previously, but not even slightly success in the Premier League. So...
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, it's going to be... It seems, from what I can see, it's not so much a philosophy on football as a ah ah style that Will still likes, or he likes to be you know on the front foot and attacking, but he's happy to adapt and change, and it's exactly what we were calling out for. and you know Between that and the experience we're bringing in for the the coaches, I think it's going to be all right. lu and I know we joke about it lot, but it feels like it's...
00:15:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
there for the taking at this early stage, right? The optimism's not been crushed out yet.
00:16:01
Zak
As I say, we it's just we're going to have tougher pro opposition than we expected. Obviously, Sheffield United still going to be in the championship. You're going to have, obviously, Leicester and Ipswich. Ipswich probably want to do you better as well.
00:16:14
Zak
Leicester will see what happens, especially if they need to make up, you know, for all of the sort of expenses.
00:16:22
Zak
but So looking you know looking at Leicester as well, they might have to try and recoup some of the money that they're potentially going to lose. And also, points deduction, as damaging as it is, doesn't mean a lot if we lose four games in a row and they win four
Navigating the Transfer Window
00:16:38
Zak
games in a row, right?
00:16:38
Zak
right like this is the other There are a lot of variables, and I don't want to necessarily...
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, makes up the gap.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's other bits as well, right? Like Birmingham and Wrexham both coming up, spending a lot of money is not it's not going to be non-concern, right? They should be probably not up there, but getting there or thereabouts, looking to cause trouble and just ruffle some feathers.
00:17:03
Zak
Yeah, you look at some of the losses we had the previous championship season as well and where they came from, you know, as so as as much as I don't joke about it anymore, like, you know, I'm pretty sure at one point we lost to Rotherham. And it's it's like like the with you like their only kick of the game as well. It's just there's a lot to tighten up and there's a lot to straighten up. And so far, obviously, we've only, our transfer window has been one player.
00:17:24
Zak
but yeah, I do worry they're going to struggle to get rid of some of these players that, you know,
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:17:29
Zak
one of the other points I wanted to bring up a couple of the, I've seen a couple of the players have gone on like training courses and stuff. Armabella Kochap's gone on like a, has joined like a coaching, his own sort of getting some minutes in to maybe, I don't know prove to himself. So think I was, I was quite harsh last season, but I think it was because I was so annoyed by the rest of the fan base.
00:17:49
Zak
I say a lot of the rest of the fan base, a lot of the fan base saying that he was going to be some sort of savior and obviously came in wasn't, wasn't that great. And,
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:57
Zak
But we have a lot of those players and really, really worry that we're only going to be able to ship them off by doing what we've done previous seasons, which is we'll send them out on a loan for a year until their contract expires. would actually be quite nice to watch us recoup some of that money back from some of the players.
00:18:11
Zak
But
00:18:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
know. I mean, this point, is that the problem, right? The money? like I don't know. like it seems financially we're in a reasonably good position. Obviously, you're not going to want to be like making huge losses on every player but you know if we can get three or four million for tall pool great you know
00:18:28
Zak
It's going to be difficult, I think.
00:18:34
Zak
I think it's going to be more difficult to trim down the squad than we think it is. And I think that's going to i mean there's going to be some struggle to move in the transfer market. But I guess we'll also see, because we still haven't had it really, really kick off yet. We've not had the sort of what we assumed would be Taylor Harbour, Bellis, Bednarek, all that kind of lot.
00:18:51
Zak
None of that's happened. Realistically, the retain list came out. Karl Walker, Peters went, which we we kind of expected. Lallana's officially retired, which we also expected. And was a third person, Lumley, oh, sorry, totally forgot.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:19:04
Zak
Yeah, ah ah where we'll probably strengthen ah with with a goalkeeper at some point. But yeah, it's just very, I don't know, I think that it's hard to know were we're talking about expectations very early on.
00:19:16
Zak
And that's a good thing. But i I wonder if by the time pre-season is over and by the time that we have the first kick of the ball, whether my expectations would have changed or not, whether I'll be like mid-table.
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but
00:19:27
Zak
Now, I'm obviously quite a pessimistic person as it is, and I would rather under-predict than over-predict. Because, you know, predicting already this high early on, just think that that's where the club needs to be. And that's what should... There should be the expectation.
Expectations for the Upcoming Season
00:19:40
Zak
And after...
00:19:42
Zak
the absolutely horrifying season that's just gone by, i think that they need to understand that that's what the fans' expectations will be as well, you know?
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I want to carry on along that frame of thought, but first a message from our partners at Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, what 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.
00:20:15
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.
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. And we're back. Zach, but I'm taking in what you're saying. And I just don't know i don't know if far
00:20:28
Zak
so so so you're all hms hms piss the hundreds 120 points you think it's gonna be amazing yeah
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh butt know if our expectations align. I'm already you know holding my spot for the open bus tour, mate.
00:20:43
Zak
break the points record, win every single game, predict a single win every single game. Because I don't know how you're going to cope if we end up 12th or something.
00:20:51
Zak
I mean, we'll be in the championship, so you'll probably be happier there, but it will be fascinating to see what happens regardless.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
What
00:20:57
Zak
And I think that... you know One of the other things wanted to point out on the basis of expectations is we had quite a lot of comments on our TikTok about the Saints versus Pompey. Now, know if you've seen them, Greg, yet.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
happened there?
00:21:10
Zak
So let let me let me read some them out to you because they're, for me... I think they're quite interesting for how people feel about it. So it's like, I would rather finish bottom of the playoffs and beat Pompey both games than not beat them both games and get autos.
00:21:24
Zak
I wouldn't want to go back up if we left to Pompey twice though. So there's very much sort of, we need to beat them twice and go up simple. So it's just like very, I think I underestimated how important, like I do, I know the South Coast Army is important.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's important, mate.
00:21:37
Zak
It's important to us as well, but it,
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is, honestly. you I wasn't messing around when I said it's the most important game of the season. And where it sits in the season when the fixtures come out is is important too.
00:21:48
Zak
But i just I just hope that that message goes out somewhere into the ether and the ownership and the management team that are taking over understand. Because as soon as that fictionalist drops, they're have to build their season around it.
00:22:02
Zak
And on top of that, we've got the expectations that we should win. But maybe if we beat Pompey twice and we don't go back up, we'll actually be happier.
00:22:12
Zak
don't know.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, i mean we wouldn't have to suffer another season Premier League football, so maybe it is.
00:22:13
Zak
It's a hard one.
00:22:17
Zak
Hey, hey, hey, hey, suffer. What do you mean? We had a great time last season. We got to do this podcast every day.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was the saving grace, you're right.
00:22:24
Zak
i got to smile. yeah So, yeah but yeah, I guess. So, obviously, I didn't mean to cut you off a little bit there, mate. so your expectations for the season. Open tour, tour, yeah?
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, it's got to be.
00:22:36
Zak
We're going win.
00:22:37
Zak
We're going win by a record amount, you reckon? How many points you reckon we see in us win?
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, look, let's face it. It's, we're still saints. weakness We're going to make it look as difficult as possible.
00:22:45
Zak
it
00:22:49
Zak
if
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think come the end of the day, we're going to crawl a loss across the line, probably with some sort of nil nil draw on the last day of the season to cinch, to clinch the title.
00:22:51
Zak
oh
00:22:58
Zak
Classic.
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Like it's not, it's not be an easy season. I mean, if it was going to be easy, the championship wouldn't be as good of a league as it is.
00:23:04
Zak
No.
00:23:07
Zak
Correct.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's be honest. Uh, It is the hazard of the league that makes it so wonderful and so joyful. yeah
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be a difficult... There are going to be difficult moments in the season. It's not going to be plain sailing. just hope that you know there are more ups and downs.
00:23:29
Zak
Yeah, that's all I'm kind of looking forward to at this point. I'm just looking forward to actually watching some good football. So you see some goals, maybe even a win. That'd be nice. That's what we've got to really hope for at this and this rate.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's it. like just I am looking forward to just enjoying the football again and going to games actively feeling like there's a chance we could win as opposed to kidding myself into believing there was a chance that we could win. And just, yeah, all of that. And I just hope we give it a good go.
00:24:05
Zak
Yeah.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if falling short means finishing second, that's still a win in my book. ah
00:24:12
Zak
I will worry about the playoffs if we get to them. There you go.
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, then enough i don't know if I can stomach that again. don't you know. We remember the atmosphere and the build-up, but I also remember how horribly gut-wrenchingly nervous I was, and I wasn't even playing.
00:24:29
Zak
Yes.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
like it There were mixed emotions going in, and
00:24:30
Zak
Correct.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:35
Zak
You're right.
00:24:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that my wallet's going to suffer as well.
00:24:35
Zak
And it doesn't always.
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, my wallet's not looking forward to the prospect of another trip to Wembley. So...
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe it was a cup run, right?
00:24:47
Zak
Right. We can't.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We haven't talked about the cups. We're going to do the triple.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right? League Cup, Championship, f FA Cup. It's got to be the year.
00:24:59
Zak
a I look forward to us getting knocked out by like Grimsby again or something like that.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the 25-26 season, so this is, what, 50 years since our FA Cup win?
00:25:09
Zak
Right.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's poetic enough, right? Football's a poetic sport.
00:25:11
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It comes in cycles.
00:25:14
Zak
It does. PSG won but won the Champions League like absolutely decimating Inter Milan after there were some lovely poetic storylines for the Inter Milan players.
00:25:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:23
Zak
So, yeah, you're right. We'll be where we'll be. Cup run, I'll take it. I'll leave it.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:30
Zak
If it means that we don't get automatics because we're concentrating on a cup, but we won't a cup. Cool. Yeah. If not, I don't know.
00:25:40
Zak
We'll have to see. that i just can't ever see us really doing that well in the Cups anymore. um um That's because of you know the history of the last couple of seasons we've had in the Cups. And I genuinely forget about them most of the time until they're there. And you're like, oh.
00:25:52
Zak
So I'd like to see us do well in them, though.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I the Carabao Cup draw is really soon.
00:25:57
Zak
There you
00:25:58
Zak
We haven't discussed that as well.
00:26:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
exactly. We'll be able to look forward to... They are such strange tournaments, right? they They group it by location first for the first couple of rounds.
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's like a north-south thing.
00:26:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, maybe it's drawn on the same day as fixture day. But, man...
00:26:20
Zak
Yeah, and then obviously, if if you want your football fixed now, remember that the Club World Cup is taking place. Depending on when this drops, going to have Paul Marius versus Al Ali.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:26:31
Zak
You're going have Inter Milan versus Porta and Seattle or Sounders versus Atletico Madrid at 11pm UK time.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Premier League fixtures also dropped today.
00:26:41
Zak
Interesting. but like Not that matters to us anymore.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:43
Zak
It's all good.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not even a little bit. Yeah. I caught it on a whim on a Facebook page going, oh, look at this opening day of the season. No. No.
00:26:52
Zak
I look forward to not having to try and force Saints players into my FPL while feeling bad about it. That's why I'm at next season.
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's right, because we've got fantasy champion fantasy EFL to to worry about.
00:27:03
Zak
I'm like...
00:27:07
Zak
Oh, goodness. Perfect. Perfect.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
whole other league. Right, well, like that is just about all we've got time for today. Thank you, everyone, for joining us. We'll be back tomorrow with some more football chat. Until then, we'll see you next time.