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Episode 337: Matchday Preview: Baggies at home!
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Southampton – We're back previewing our next game at home! Can we make it 6 in 7?!
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Transcript
Health and Technical Struggles
00:00:15
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 my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Inger Finch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing mate, you alright?
00:00:29
Zak
About as well as you, mate.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, it's...
00:00:33
Zak
I think our streak of bad luck from last week is just continuing into this week. Worry I'm coming down with someone.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:00:41
Zak
Hopefully not.
00:00:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's
00:00:41
Zak
Hopefully, i mean, that kind of like, I am too busy to get sick right now kind of mood. So hopefully that pushes it away. But unfortunately, my wife has struggled with illness over the last week.
00:00:52
Zak
So yeah, a bit of weight over a time, mate.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it.
00:00:54
Zak
How about you?
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, I'm alright. We've been struggling with technical difficulties. We've been struggling with health. But it's fine. We've got a game of football to look forward to to get us through.
00:01:06
Zak
Your formal is still keep it you keeping the house upright at this point?
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just it's just about. Just about.
Personal Stakes in Upcoming Game
00:01:14
Zak
But hey, we at least we can take solace in the fact that our team isn't being terrible, mate.
00:01:18
Zak
like that's That's really nice, isn't
00:01:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it, mate. Look, and we got we got another nice home game coming up, thick and fast, and it's one where it's one where personal pride is at stake, as we've discussed on the show.
00:01:25
Zak
We do.
00:01:31
Zak
Yeah, for you.
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
My wife's family all Baggies fans, so yeah, that's there's a lot on the line.
00:01:31
Zak
Yeah.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, I mean, we've had we've had a presser, which is nice, and we heard from Tonda. He is a man of select words. Let's put it that way. And it was, it was right. But we heard that all of the team is fit.
00:01:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's good news. Do you think, I mean, do you think we stick with the same? If ain't broke, don't fix it.
00:02:01
Zak
It's really hard, right? Because like usually we have a whole segment where we talk about team selection, but if the team is still fit, why would you...
00:02:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:02:11
Zak
What would you change? like maybe Maybe if Adam Armstrong, although yeah they said, obviously, he's all right after his knock, maybe that he gets swapped out for Cam Archer. If Archer can put in the performance he put in and as a cameo the other day, maybe if he comes in and actually you know puts that against West Brom, it'd be really good.
Team Fitness and Lineup Debate
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's bold though, isn't it?
00:02:30
Zak
So...
00:02:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
like even Even with a knock, the form that Armstrong is in, how could you possibly... like if he' If he says he's willing to go, even if it's only for the first 45 minutes, surely he's got to start.
00:02:44
Zak
Yeah, I guess that's also fair point. just I'm thinking, I guess, wider. And I wonder if Tonda will be thinking wider as well. is that we've we've had We've had a player, Greg, who said he was fit to go three games in a row.
00:02:59
Zak
And that player probably won't be seen again until next year if we see him at all, if I'm totally honest.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah if we have Even if we even sign him on, yeah.
00:03:06
Zak
So obviously where he did take a little bit of a knock and you okay, maybe he's fit, but you're right on form though.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're right.
00:03:12
Zak
Why would you remove him? Like the the problem is at the moment is as, as discussed in our preview loss to the ether and our post-match yesterday,
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:21
Zak
literally like the front three at the moment, well, you can't, you can't replace it because they're clicking really well together.
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just unstoppable.
00:03:28
Zak
Then the, then the one time we did replace them, uh, obviously for sickness reasons and other reasons, we did not get the win.
00:03:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:03:35
Zak
Uh, we lost last minute.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:03:36
Zak
So i where I'm at is you don't, you don't touch that front three at this point.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm. Before we we thought of think too much further into the team line-up and ruin segment two completely, we we were going to record sort of a whole podcast about the news about Tonda becoming full-time manager and because of various issues, we haven't been able to.
00:03:49
Zak
Yeah.
00:03:56
Zak
Good.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
how are you feeling about the appointment? what What are your thoughts and feelings?
00:04:06
Zak
From a personal perspective, Greg, I am so glad that I didn't bother to do a bunch of other manager profiles, which shows you maybe the level of confidence that I had that we would probably go down this road.
00:04:20
Zak
Probably would have changed if we'd lost two or three on the bounce, because at that point, you would start to have like maybe more odds and more chances going up of elsewhere, right? But yeah, for for me, I think it's...
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:04:33
Zak
sort of going into when we did his profile, I'm really sort of quite confident quietly confident that he's a right and a good man for the job just because of the fact that he's young and ironically shares a lot of qualities with Will Still, right? Like in the sense of, you know, sort of quietly come through, not really much of a playing career.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:04:55
Zak
I don't know what the huge difference is between him and elsewhere.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
very footballlinging Very footballing intelligent. It seems to be the main difference is that he is absolutely insane.
00:05:07
Zak
Yeah, and if if if it requires absolute insanity to be able to get out, you know, again, like, we could go back to the Hungry Eyes comment. We could get go back to instinctively kicking the ball away the other day. it really It's really frustrating because i think it's a lot of the things that people sort of dislike that Will Steele was saying from From day one, I don't think people were properly on board.
00:05:32
Zak
Do you know what I mean?
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:05:33
Zak
it doesn't It feels like very much because he was a bit stoic, I guess would be the word more than anything. He was very, very stoic. And there were moments that he really, really wasn't. But I think that it's difficult when people kind of write you off.
00:05:46
Zak
And he did his best to try and prove people wrong. But like those insane, when you like make a crazy decision, a lot of those decisions just never panned out for him. And as we got, as even you pointed out, right?
00:05:58
Zak
Like those decisions became worse. I don't don't want to turn this into a, why did we fire? We were still, because we did a whole episode of that already.
Manager Tonda and His Dedication
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm
00:06:06
Zak
But I think that, the qualities that Tonda has are very similar, hence the succession plan, but he's just, you know, looked at this opportunity, grasped it with both hands and has thrown everything into it. The only thing that i i worry about long-term is the sustainability of that. Like if you are sleeping at Staplewood,
00:06:27
Zak
five, six nights a week, right? Like, again, I don't know what his family or personal situation is like, so I don't know if he's got, like, a family to go hang out with and other bits and pieces, but if you're if you're doing that, trying to do that consistently over the space of two to three years gets real tough.
00:06:42
Zak
And yeah if those small details slip, it's likes like when we hear about when Hasenhutl first came in, right?
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah.
00:06:48
Zak
Do you remember the story about how he did training videos on everybody, right? He basically did individual compilations of every single player and sat down with them and went through all of their different moments in this and the other.
00:06:59
Zak
and And like, there'll be a lot of people now that question if it that was actually Danny Roe doing that job. but But on top of that, it's the fact that, you know, how long can you do that for? How long can you keep that level of, of you know, I guess, management acumen and passion?
00:07:17
Zak
And when it starts to drop, what do you do? I'm sure they'll get and fall back into a routine that makes a bit more sense and they can take a breath. But
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah well that's the name of the game is build that structure for you right like build it in a way where it it doesn't have to be that all of the time. You build in the succession plans, you build in the staff around you, build in the procedures that you want until, you know, hopefully it eases off a bit, but, but you've got to respect the dedication.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And I mean, frankly, with, with all of that, and then with the results as well, he effectively made it impossible hire anyone else.
00:07:50
Zak
Oh, 100%?
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Because how do you, how do you replace that?
00:08:01
Zak
You've pointed out was' like, our first time we've won four games in a row in what, like 15 years or something ridiculous, maybe in longer?
00:08:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:08
Zak
how How can you not? And and again, like people who scream championship experience, people who scream that. i don't know if it's even necessarily that, because we've talked about the other thing with championship experience before, right, Greg?
00:08:18
Zak
Where there's a lot of managers still in the championship with a lot of championship experience, and they're still in the championship.
00:08:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:26
Zak
Yeah. And that isn't necessarily what we want to do. And we've we've been quite lucky in the past, admittedly, with different ownership, bringing in unknown managers and them doing well. And I think people were kind of sick of that. But then you look at some of the times we've appointed, in recent memory, well-known entities, and I can only really think of, what, Sparky?
00:08:46
Zak
That went well. Like, we gave a long-term contract and lost, like, seven games of the first season afterwards.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:51
Zak
So, yeah, it's... I understand it's a risk. Again, like the only thing I'm, I'm really happy with it personally. I'm not bothered about a lot of the naysaying, et cetera.
00:09:04
Zak
My only worry is how sustainable, his dedication and it is, right? And like, you can promise things, but but I have done, i have overworked myself into the ground before and is sustainable.
00:09:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:09:19
Zak
So you're right. It's all about, I just really hope that now that he's got the job, what comes next is going to be sustainable and is going to be consistently and keep successful because my word, do we need just any level of stability? Because we can we could look at the last sort of month and a half and be really excited and really happy and be sort of, crazy how all of these wins have come out woodwork and I'm really proud of it. and And again, just actually enjoy football again. However, I think that there's the reason there's a lot of scepticism is because,
Lineup Predictions and Midfield Effectiveness
00:09:53
Zak
you know,
00:09:54
Zak
yeah we're
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:56
Zak
Do I need to say much else? That
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that's it.
00:09:59
Zak
but
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, uh, And look, 18-month contract. happy with that? I think it makes sense, right?
00:10:04
Zak
makes makes sense. Makes very sense. It means that if they do decide they want to go with somebody else, it's not going to cost them an arm and a leg.
00:10:12
Zak
We'll have to see. I don't know where we are in promotion contention now. I don't want to be too...
00:10:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he actively said in his press conference today, Zach, that promotion is the name of the game. He's like, look, the Tay...
00:10:26
Zak
Oh, yeah, because that's what... I
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, He's like, look, in the table, we might seem far off it, but actually in numbers, we're not. So...
00:10:36
Zak
just want it to not be playoffs, though.
00:10:41
Zak
I don't know if my heart can take that, mate. That's that's where I'm at.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know, mate. Look, my gut feeling is that we just get two trips to Wembley this year, one for the playoffs and one for the 50th anniversary of winning the FA Cup. It's just...
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. just feeling it. What can I say?
00:10:57
Zak
Oh, no. no. All of the success has put you back into the super delusional part of the the year. just We're going to win every game until Christmas again.
00:11:07
Zak
and then All I can think cut all i could think of is that Lost and Wolves immediately, straight after.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:11:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Oh, dear. Right, okay, let's let's have a little break and then come back and get back to our predicted lineups and see how we see it playing out.
00:11:13
Zak
Greg.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate, and we are back. So we you know we talked about the the front line and our thoughts on that a bit, but let's let's roll it back. Let's start at the back and work our way forward. Bazin goal.
00:12:14
Zak
Yes, move on. I can't. I can't.
00:12:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:12:16
Zak
I can't do this conversation every week in, week out. Blah, blah, blah. Goalkeepers. Blah, blah, blah. He's doing better than Alex McCarthy currently on four. Blah, blah, blah. Well, he's letting a few. No, let's just move on.
00:12:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Last time we had three games in a week, we saw a change in the defence on Tuesday night and we saw Kwasi come in for the Leicester game.
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
For Stephens, do we think we see some sort of mix-up in this or do you think sticking with the same at least three centre-backs, Stephens, Wood, Harwood-Bellis?
00:12:50
Zak
No, I kind of thought it was a bit weird they asked him that question today about Stephens being rested at Leicester, unless it was to try and be like asking that question without asking that question, to to which it was like, no, that was specifically for Leicester.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:08
Zak
So I'm not really too sure, mate, if I'm totally honest. But again, if it works, though if it's not broken, don't fix it. they Unless they want to bring out Quasi just because obviously they've got quite a physical front line, right?
00:13:23
Zak
Maybe they they target that person specifically and have a have a have a stronger centre-back than Stephens.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:30
Zak
But like they they're all playing well at the moment and we're not shipping half as many goals as we were. I'm kind of just not... I guess I'm not as bothered about who goes in the defence so long as they don't ship goals.
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean
00:13:43
Zak
Yeah.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
he He specifically mentioned like the work rate of West Brom and their numbers not being reflected in where they are in the league at the moment.
00:13:49
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... I wouldn't be entirely surprised if there's some sort of change. I don't know if it would be k quasi or if it would be Edwards who we saw come on off the bench at the weekend. Maybe, maybe because even because he might've just had like slightly longer on the training pitch to prepare for sort of playing in a specific way to, to man Mark or, or just, you know, do something different against them. It's,
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
hard to say, right? But you're right. any The nice position Zach, of the like five centre-backs we have in main rotation in the squad, I'd genuinely be happy with any three of them starting.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Isn't that crazy?
00:14:35
Zak
Yeah. What a time to be alive.
00:14:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Isn't that... Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:40
Zak
Man, when was the last time we were like, oh our backup centre-backs might, you know, but even even from a couple of weeks ago, really, because, you know, there was there was a time recently that we wouldn't have expected to see Stephens back in the side.
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:53
Zak
And obviously sea he was completely thrown under the bus when he went back into midfield of all places. That went about as well as expected, right?
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:00
Zak
So, but yeah, at the moment, I'm i'm kind of in a s stage where we've got quite a few good talents and I'm happy with any of them being in.
00:15:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:09
Zak
the side, right? Like I know that I think my big one of my bigger concerns at the beginning of the season was Taylor Harwood-Bellis who seems to have completely turned it around.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:18
Zak
And I guess the the trust and the faith in him and, you know, his, I guess, hunger to want to do well is being shown because he's getting into very, very good positions every game. Scored a couple of goals for us.
00:15:30
Zak
And so, yeah, I'm not really, I'm not really too bothered who goes in the defense as long as, long as they don't ship goals, mate.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:37
Zak
I don't know how else to put it.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
moving on up the pitch a little bit wing back slash wings slash sort backs don't know whatever you want to call them
00:15:48
Zak
but What do you what do you mean? to Tom Fellows playing whatever he wants on the right and Manning playing left wing back, but more of a wing. that's what you That's what you mean, right, at this point.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:58
Zak
I saw i saw somebody criticising the fact that you were talking about how we needed how we needed more fullbacks.
00:15:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:04
Zak
And they were kind of surprised by that. And I'm kind of like, well, yeah, but Fellows goes out. Our only current right back is Fraser.
00:16:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:12
Zak
like There's a reason that we think they'll probably target that area, but just to have someone a bit more versatile that can maybe play both both areas.
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
o
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:20
Zak
But yeah, again, I don't really see that shifting. Maybe Wellington comes in if he's a bit physically stronger, but
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. i don't think you could I don't think you can leave Fellows out based on the impact he has on games, and especially against you know his former club, it's going to be a different story, right?
00:16:33
Zak
no.
00:16:38
Zak
But that that's the thing. iss that gonna be Is that to be... is that The problem is is it goes one of two ways, right?
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:16:45
Zak
You get...
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
football Football loves poetry, and what's more poetic than scoring your first goal for your new club against your old club?
00:16:54
Zak
get not playing at all. or like they all like All I could think of is like last season is like that, is like Adam Armstrong still not being able to score against Blackburn for however many games.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:04
Zak
and now I don't know if it's just a voodoo thing. don't know if it's actually like a mental block there. But obviously, like that being his childhood club, it would be... don't know how he would feel. Like, I wouldn't expect him to really celebrate it.
00:17:17
Zak
But also... you know, don't know. I just, I guess I always tend to focus more on the negative side of the poetry than you, mate. Like I see him somehow accidentally scoring an own goal for the baggies rather than actually scoring for us. And i I think that shows you more about my mental framework than yours.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
alright And then and then moving up the pitch, I mean, Jander and Downes I mean, unless there's something physically affecting either of them, I think they both were excellent Saturday.
00:17:56
Zak
Yeah.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that... if I just don't think it should change, right? But then again, if we you know we're we're blessed with with some form of depth, if we need to start Bragg or Williams, I don't think Romelu's going to be in a position to start games yet, but we'll probably see him off the bench again, right?
00:18:00
Zak
No.
00:18:16
Zak
Maybe. don't know how I've... It's worked because of our goal difference, but do... I have... yeah I say that, it's worked because i'll got a difference. It didn't at Millwall. The sort of Romeo-Aribo at the end of the game, seeing it out kind of thing hasn't worked as well.
00:18:34
Zak
It did last game, but it does also feel like we got away with it because Birmingham missed a lot of chances.
00:18:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, don't know if I'd blame him that on Romeu on.
00:18:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
think he was fine when he came on.
00:18:44
Zak
No, no, I wouldn't blame it on Romeu coming on either.
00:18:52
Zak
But at the same time, like you can tell he's just still a little bit off, right? And he's not quite back to his prime. And if if you've got fitness to come on, you've got the ability to bring on sort of youngsters like Bragg, who you know would expect to start to see more in the first team after doing so well.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:11
Zak
But yeah, obviously, Shea Charles is still out injured. So when he works his way back, that will be that will be slightly different.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's when it becomes really interesting, right? And we see what that competition for that place really sort of means. And then, as we alluded to at the start of the show, you just don't change what what's working when they're creating that many goals, right?
00:19:30
Zak
its The scoring.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
If they're averaging three goals a game,
Need for a New Striker?
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe it's just fine. Yeah.
00:19:35
Zak
here's an even Here's an even more crazy thing, mate. It's obviously like the whole conversation about a striker has been going on for how long?
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:41
Zak
Like years, generations. And somebody... what but We talk about how potentially we need to look at that position again because of the fact that depth is terrible. Somebody literally commenting like, we don't need when it is striker, we're scoring goals. I'm like, wow, what a time to... What what a moment! What?
00:19:58
Zak
yeah yeah
00:19:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
but and And they're right. And and that's...
00:20:01
Zak
Yeah, that's the weird thing about it.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:20:03
Zak
It just shows you how much can change such a short period of time.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, if i mean that's the problem we were talking about, right? where Where does a new striker fit into this lineup? And the answer is behind the current front line.
00:20:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if one of those front line goes down, probably above the rest of the squad. So it's it's difficult, isn't it?
00:20:27
Zak
it's it's real it's real difficult, especially where like we finally thought we found something with Stuart that clicked. That was Will still's ticket to you know the Golden Goose or whatever.
00:20:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:38
Zak
He goes out injured, and I do you know i i do think you can draw like a Venn diagram with Will still getting fired, Ross Stuart going out injured, and him not really having as much of a plan B as we thought.
00:20:50
Zak
Hey-ho.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
indeed right and and that's it that's our predicted line up look that I think we did quite well Zach to salvage a segment there out of no changes
00:21:00
Zak
your You're right. You did throw me under the bus to get a segment out there, knowing full well that all you need to do say a couple of words, and I've probably got a rant in me somewhere.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's have another little break and then get into our score predictions and our a little spiel about statistics.
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platforms. 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 stop podcasts. It sounds great
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright mate, and we are back, just about struggling our way through coughs and all. Hopefully you won't see any of that because it will be wonderfully edited, but that that ad did almost kill me.
00:21:59
Zak
Mate, I feel like people people don't listen to us for incredible precision and probably the honesty plays into it, but I was about two seconds away from calling your wife.
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:09
Zak
Good, good.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's fine.
00:22:14
Zak
good kit
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
all good. Right, look, we
Past Victories Against West Brom
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
we skipped the sort of historical preview that we tended to at the beginning because talking about Tonda. But look, we line up pretty well against West Brom.
00:22:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Historically, as it as it turns out, in the last 19 matches, 11 wins, three draws, and West Brom have only won five. And, of course, the last time we played them was you know three one in the the playoff semifinal.
00:22:27
Zak
and
00:22:42
Zak
What game?
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you Remember that the score was 3-1 and not 3-0, Zach, that they did actually score a goal? LAUGHTER
00:22:49
Zak
Yeah, no. I do remember them scoring at the end of the game. Sort of.
00:22:54
Zak
Apparently, we looked up at the board and I was like, wait, but did they score? Because they knew it didn't matter and no one cared. And even even even my wife texts me to be like, did they just score? I can't tell.
00:23:06
Zak
Because there was just absolutely zero reaction. That probably...
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:11
Zak
I don't know. I still struggle to capture a day as good as that, a moment as good as that from start to finish. From the start of you driving to the St. Mary Stadium, mate, me in the car with you.
00:23:23
Zak
don't know if you remember, we drove past a car where a bunch of people shouted out the window, oh, the baggies! And it's really funny because it went well for them that day, right?
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember...
00:23:33
Zak
Like,
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember the, uh, just the rumble and just like the, the atmosphere, you could like feel the atmosphere in the air, but the rumble walking through the concourse, it was just, oh, it was electric. And, uh, I mean, hopefully some of this West Brom squad will, uh, have that fear running through them coming back to St. Mary's, right? Because that's, uh, that was some atmosphere to behold.
00:24:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, uh,
00:24:00
Zak
For sure.
00:24:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whether we match that on a random Tuesday night in the build-up to Christmas, I'm not sure, but it'll certainly yeah be lively with the the form we're in, hopefully. But, you know, the baggies in more recent memory, not in a particularly good runner form, particularly if you're looking specifically at their away form. They've lost six on the bounce. which, you know, They've sort of been up and down in form overall, but yeah, away from home, they are struggling properly. So it's it's going to be interesting because, you know, the predictions are all heavily at this point weighted towards us with...
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
the the spiel suggesting that over two and a half goals with a Saints win is the bet. Know both teams to score today, which is interesting.
00:24:52
Zak
Interesting.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if that is, you know, by omission, suggesting maybe a clean sheet, but...
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an interesting one. we'll We'll see. But, look, I mean, let's let's get to that part, mate. Let's get to the the thick of it and our thoughts.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
How are you feeling? What you thinking heading into this game? What's your prediction?
00:25:16
Zak
the AI or not, we don't keep a clean sheet. However, I am confident we can score three goals again. Leo Sienza gets another one.
00:25:25
Zak
Finna Zaz gets another one. Adam Armstrong gets another one. If I was being really cheeky, I'd say 4-1 Kasper Yander gets one, similar to the way that Smallbone got one last time out.
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:35
Zak
But that's just being a bit too arrogant. So yeah, going to go with 3-1 again and I'm going to go with one of each of the the upper line because it it worked out for me last time, sort of.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah Yeah. No one else will ever know, but I know that you predicted it.
00:25:48
Zak
I mean, yeah
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:52
Zak
thank you.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:52
Zak
I know I know that i predicted And the only thing I got wrong was it was somehow not Flint Downs that got booked, but definitely should have.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:02
Zak
And it was Adam Armstrong that scored twice instead of Sienza scoring one of those, which should have done. And it was Adam Armstrong's second goal that basically was a Leo Sienza goal.
00:26:14
Zak
But also, I can't take away the goal from Adam Armstrong because if he didn't knock it in the net, wouldn't have gone in. so
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly.
00:26:19
Zak
swings and roundabouts. There you go. Sorry. Ramble. Over.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice, mate. Do you know what?
00:26:23
Zak
What about you, mate?
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fancy a clean sheet. I think...
00:26:30
Zak
You're starting to believe this AI a little bit too much, mate. It's right, Matt. It's getting to you.
00:26:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, and I just... I think that Tonda will be really keen on keeping a clean sheet to prove that there's like that progression through the team. and And to be honest, apart from...
00:26:42
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which, to be honest, was a fairly wonderful goal from Damari Gray against Birmingham. It wasn't... They had chances, but they didn't none of them were...
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
like really clear cut and we didn't do anything like truly stupid, which is something that we've been known to do in the past in those positions. So I just think, I think that we'll,
Score Predictions for Upcoming Game
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
we'll probably give chances away to West Brom, but you know, seeing their form and their luck at the moment.
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I'm thinking three nil stick with the three goals.
00:27:18
Zak
Okay.
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cause that's working for us. Just bang, bang, bang. And, uh,
00:27:23
Zak
I think you need to... I don't know. When you say we didn't do anything silly, if it wasn't for some of the absolutely horrific missed kicks from Birmingham, it probably would have been a tighter affair.
00:27:36
Zak
just got to hope, realistically. What I much prefer to see us do is shut those chances out earlier rather than letting them get into the box and having a free hit and just hoping either Baz pulls off a wonder save or, alternatively, they somehow miss the goal.
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:53
Zak
when the statistical chances are that it's harder to miss than get in, which we all know, we know all about, to be fair, from the first, see the first 10 games of the season.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:03
Zak
but yeah, I don't know. This is why, I don't know if we're, considering we are making those mistakes with, with you know, against Birmingham, I just don't know if I'm quite ready to commit yet.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's the thing, mate, you see, is that West Brom come into this game with a striker that's actually been on good form and scoring goals, and so I feel like we're going to continue this habit of breaking streets, but just i like actually in our favour for a change instead of...
00:28:26
Zak
God, what time.
00:28:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
LAUGHTER
00:28:30
Zak
It's gone from the hope that it's the hope that kills you mate to what a time to be alive.
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, unbelievable. Five wins in six and soon to be, hopefully, six from seven. So, look, I'm looking forward to it. I'm absolutely buzzing. can't wait to get down to St. Mary's and watch it.
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, look, that is all we have got time for today. Thank you so much for joining us.
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And thank thank you, Zach, for joining me Thank you, everyone, for listening.
00:29:01
Zak
Thank you, mate, and for putting up with me in general.
00:29:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
wi he We will be back tomorrow with the insane, crazy ramblings of a late-night recording, probably fuelled by so much cough medicine. Honestly, you you don't want to miss it. Regardless of what happens, it is guaranteed to be unhinged. But I cannot wait for that. Let us know your score predictions, though. We love hearing from you. Let us know in the comments or on the socials. We are GSPN Southampton everywhere. We are on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X, Blue Sky. Hit us up. Let us know.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and let we love hearing from you. Can't wait to see your predictions. Until tomorrow, though, have a wonderful day, everyone. And come on, you saints.