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Episode 364: Matchday Preview - Home to the blades!
70 Plays8 days ago
Southampton – A game that feels easy to look past, but could be very important heading into the weekend... do we have what it takes to turn it around?
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Transcript
Introduction to Football Discussion
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach. How you doing mate? You alright? You all ready to talk about a football?
00:00:26
Zak
the fact that it's just another game it's just like oh you really really it's been it's been days since i've been that miserable uh you know we've just made it through quotequ quote unquote blue monday like do i do i really need to to make it blue wednesday like i don't know it i it'll interesting the the press conference was interesting there's a lot that's come out of it that Well, me and you have already had back words that we'll I'm sure we'll talk about. Will Stills come out of the statement.
Team Struggles and Press Conference Reactions
00:00:54
Zak
it's it's been a It's been a heavy day for Saints, right? People keep chucking the worst possible statistics at us on a daily basis of like, we've been like Adam Armstrong's missed the most goal opportunities in the whole championship. It's like we have the leakiest defence next to Sheffield Wednesday and it's like,
00:01:13
Zak
Mike, we just go like a day? i miss the time we were doing really, really well. But yeah, other than all of like the crazy busyness that's going on, I'm all right.
00:01:23
Zak
It's still January. Feels like that forever. But you can get you can go...
00:01:26
DailySaintsPod
It's crazy, right? There's still a whole transfer window going on.
00:01:28
Zak
thank you what transfer window?
00:01:28
DailySaintsPod
You wouldn't think it, but...
00:01:32
Zak
i It's like me clutching at straws being like, what? We've hired new kit, man.
00:01:38
DailySaintsPod
but but We, uh...
00:01:40
Zak
Comes with 12 years of experience of setting out shirts and shoes and shorts.
00:01:46
DailySaintsPod
Look, I mean, let's let's start at the start.
00:01:46
Zak
really
00:01:48
DailySaintsPod
Let's talk about the presser. Uh... I don't know i don't know if some of it gets like lost in in tone or translation.
00:02:00
DailySaintsPod
like i watched watched The Depressor and and like I get the need for Tonda to come out and be like, there's not a huge amount of point looking backwards.
00:02:11
DailySaintsPod
We can only look forwards at what we can do to fix it. But like, I mean, how many times have we had that conversation in the last year?
00:02:17
Zak
just
00:02:20
DailySaintsPod
Like,
00:02:21
Zak
but The problem I have is that the entirety of his previous question's answer was talking about the data from the whole game. So, like,
Head Coach's Role and Club Issues
00:02:31
Zak
the idea of, well, we don't have to look back, we don't look forward, is is kind of is kind of insane. And i I kind of get it, but it's it's... What is the expectation of the ability of a head coach to do that?
00:02:43
Zak
Right? I think think we need to... Try to emotionally separate for myself. i don't know if you... I'll ping it to you later, Greg, but but it was a really good iNews article that was basically talking about all of the problems that we have at the football club at the moment. and you know, like culture is a big thing. And the fact that like the blame game just goes around in circles, right? Like people blame Sports Republic. So then they change the manager. So then the manager's the one. And then the manager, we've now got this whole middle bit where like there's sports who supposedly said like the buck stops with him. Remember when we hired him, that is specifically what he said. And I think that the the conversations are good to have, but i just don't think that at any point,
00:03:26
Zak
a head coach is going to give an answer that people want. and And we talked about mainly like the the way that that football is becoming and how you hate football.
00:03:30
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:03:35
Zak
And you were sort of like, what is the point of of like having a head coach if he's not able to like lay down the law sort of thing if they have to lay down the law themselves.
00:03:46
Zak
I'm like, well, yeah, because he's he's he's like postpuchy put pushing somebody else's tactics. To which he responded, I hate football.
00:03:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:03:53
Zak
Which is a completely valid point.
00:03:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:56
Zak
But to to to actually answer your question, if it's lost in translation or what, I just think that He's having to learn the fly how to deal with all of these these things, right?
00:04:11
Zak
The press conferences and the the conversations that need to take place and struggling through with a team during a difficult period, especially as the head coach, first time he's about to do it. And that in itself, I think for most people is a problem.
00:04:25
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:25
Zak
But I also think that like the line of questioning, in my opinion, I like all of the questions that Alfie said, but i just don't know if any of the answers that he's ever going to be able to give is satisfactory. like Talking about the psychology of the squad, is that going to be a big thing for any manager here? And it's like, I don't know, man... Like, surely that's the job of HX Notes psychologists. Same with culture. Like, the the the the culture is toxic because we have been underperforming against our expectations for a very, very, very long time. The reinvestment has seemed poor. We've gone through all of these reasons a hundred times. I just don't really know what the point of asking the bloke that's, like, a couple weeks into the job.
00:05:07
Zak
the question but I feel like it's because it has to be asked somewhere so yeah I just I don't think it's lost in translation Greg I just think that he doesn't know how to answer that question in a way that would end up satisfactory for basically anybody so saying There's no point like you know crying over spilt milk.
00:05:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:23
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:26
Zak
can We just need to move on. We need to move on. We need to look at the next.
Team Selection and Player Performance
00:05:28
Zak
It's because arguably that is his job. His job is not going to be sit there and be like, so when did did you first get upset about the fact that we started playing a back four?
00:05:37
Zak
like
00:05:38
DailySaintsPod
sure Which is fine, right, if he backs it up with a win. Three-game week makes makes a convenient excuse to to shuffle it around a bit coming into this game.
00:05:53
DailySaintsPod
hes you know He actively said in the press that there'll be changes, and it's not because of accountability, but also...
00:05:57
Zak
He did.
00:06:01
DailySaintsPod
Some of it will be down to accountability. It's just a convenient hideaway for the fact that it's such a busy time.
00:06:08
Zak
It's... It's strange to not criticise.
00:06:10
DailySaintsPod
Who are you expecting to see changed?
00:06:12
Zak
that's That's why i not I don't know yet, but it's strange. That's really strange to me. Like, oh it's not up to me. Every man has to be accountable to himself. I'm like, yes, it yes it is.
00:06:24
Zak
Like, what do you mean it's not up to you?
00:06:27
DailySaintsPod
Well, that's that's kind of what that's kind of what I mean about Lost in Translation, a bit, right?
00:06:28
Zak
Maybe.
00:06:31
DailySaintsPod
Because I think i think what he means is that players have got a play and want to play, and they have to search for that motivation in themselves.
00:06:32
Zak
Maybe.
00:06:43
Zak
It's
00:06:45
DailySaintsPod
But i even then, you're you're right, it's still his job, in my opinion, to get you know to irk that motivation in.
00:06:49
Zak
it's
00:06:53
Zak
which which Which then begs the question, would it matter which manager we ever had in charge?
00:06:53
DailySaintsPod
And...
00:06:57
Zak
Which then begs the question, is there ever going to be a director of football that anybody's happy with? Which begs the question, there ever going to be an ownership that anyone's happy with? Which begins this merry-go-round cycle. So let's get back to team selection, because again, don't have hours to speak about it, but it's it's all it's all constantly spinning around in both of our minds, I think.
00:07:17
Zak
So, who wasn't that great last game? for Let's have a look at that, shall we?
00:07:21
DailySaintsPod
Manning.
00:07:22
Zak
Manning should probably be swapped out for Wellington this game. In a very...
00:07:25
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, well, i mean look let's I mean, look, let's start at the start, right? We're not swapping Perez out in goal yet, are we?
00:07:29
Zak
We're not putting McCarthy in.
00:07:31
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:07:31
Zak
No. I think that... It shows how fickle we are as football fans that we've...
00:07:37
DailySaintsPod
yes
00:07:38
Zak
You were talking to me about Glenn's point on CSP about how it's no environment for a young player to develop the chopping and changing. and My counterpoint to you was no environment for any player to learn and develop in. I think that there are some people that are taking it with their stride, right? So so Leo, as an example, he has had a lot of hardship in his life in various different points in his career and is able to traverse that. There are players who have been at Southampton their entire career, like Jack Stephens, bar his small loan trip to Bournemouth and his start of his career in Plymouth. And then you've you've got other players that you maybe don't understand the privileged position they're in or feel hard done by players.
00:08:20
Zak
And then you've got players like Pret that have been in five minutes and are all of a sudden like, well, I was supposed to come into this team. This was quite exciting. I thought they were quite good, ex-Premier League team, but I have shipped four goals in two games. Is it all his fault? No.
00:08:31
Zak
Is there any point to swap him out for McCarthy at this point? No. Is McCarthy at this point here to be a backup goalkeeper to a backup goalkeeper? Probably. So I wouldn't swap him out yet.
00:08:42
Zak
But it yeah it's very telling how... it's yeah, it's there. It's very telling to me that we are already starting to see people be like, well the goalkeeping was poor as well.
00:08:56
Zak
And I'm like, again, don't really know how, when he has two people marking a defender and, you know, back pass that was misplaced directly to a striker, he's supposed to do more.
00:09:03
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:08
Zak
And I think that that just happened to Baz a lot more than it should have done. And,
00:09:14
DailySaintsPod
Well, that's the whole thing I said about Baz, right? Like, he got a lot of the blame, but I look at a lot of the goals he conceded, and it's not like clear-cut, right? Like, there are a few where I'm like, maybe he can do better, but it's... Yeah, I don't know. And, i you know, like like we were saying in the match review, it's clear that he was a problem, but not the problem, right?
00:09:43
Zak
It's clear that he is he he was one all of the problems, right? And they've tried to work decisively to fit that. But once again, it's like he is not going to be the best goalkeeper in the world. We knew that. We knew what his statistics were like. So why are we allowing the ball to be played at him so often?
00:10:02
Zak
Like if you've got a goalkeeper who's standing in front of the goal, who you're worried about having the ball, keep the ball away from him. Right? we We seem to not be able to do that.
00:10:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:10
Zak
We didn't do it with any of the goalkeepers we had in charge. Like like Lumley, when he was playing, you know, every time it's it's not, I think that there's so much, there's so much on the lad's shoulders and and we are fickle to say the least, right? We have our, we have our favorites, we have our our club favorites, our fan favorites, we have our favorite era, but we are quick to turn at the moment.
00:10:33
Zak
And that isn't necessarily the fans fault. And I think people that kind of blame the fans for being annoyed about paying a ridiculously large amount money to watch absolutely dire straights on a week in week out basis of,
00:10:44
Zak
themselves need to have a think about why people are so angry. but But also, you know, that's a lot of pressure to put on somebody. And I think that he had a lot of pressure on him. And I don't think he's done himself any favours if he ever intends to come back with his press conference talking about how great Stoke are.
00:11:00
Zak
But I don't hugely blame him either. I guess we'll see how Paretz plays out.
00:11:03
DailySaintsPod
No, absolutely not.
00:11:06
Zak
But if it ends up pretty much the same... he will end up being
Midfield and Forward Strategies
00:11:10
Zak
vindicated, right? And we'll end up being like, wow, it turns out that the goalkeeper was never really the crux of the problem.
00:11:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:11:17
Zak
The defenders maybe are.
00:11:18
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. All right. So moving up onto those defenders. right Is this the change? Are we moving to a back four? We kind of, we sort of were lined up as a back four with, with Harwood Bellis as a right back at the start of Saturday.
00:11:31
Zak
Why? That's what baffled me because we have, we have like, I get Jalert can't play 90 minutes, but this, but now maybe we will because we have James Brewery. I think he slots straight back into the side.
00:11:42
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:11:43
Zak
He's fit.
00:11:43
DailySaintsPod
You think he starts?
00:11:43
Zak
He's been playing. Yeah, he's been playing. He's fit. Why would he not?
00:11:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, all right. I'll take it.
00:11:48
Zak
We've, yeah.
00:11:48
DailySaintsPod
I mean, something different, right, is is what everyone's asking for. You can't just do the same thing time and time again and expect results. So even if it's not quite what we're expecting, something different is going to be good enough.
00:12:02
Zak
yes
00:12:03
DailySaintsPod
How would Bellis do enough to not get rotated, do you think?
00:12:07
Zak
I think he does... You can tell the passion's there, the fire's there. He does take all the flack. He does work really, really hard. I don't know, but I think he did.
00:12:15
DailySaintsPod
think he had an alright game on Saturday, and I know that it's hard to take that out of the context of the the game as a whole, but...
00:12:22
Zak
just a shame that... it's just The problem is is that, I don't know, if we keep blaming defence... And we keep playing the same defenders. where're we're We're doing the same thing you talked about.
00:12:31
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:34
Zak
But ultimately, who are going swap Mount for?
00:12:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:36
Zak
you going swap Mount Stevens? Probably not. Maybe Wood, but I think that probably would do a better job than Wood.
00:12:42
DailySaintsPod
I think I would like to see a pair, a partnership in defense of Harwood, Bellis and Kwasi.
00:12:43
Zak
don't know.
00:12:46
Zak
Yeah.
00:12:50
Zak
Yeah.
00:12:50
DailySaintsPod
That's the two I want to see together. i think that that would be fine. think for that that would be solid. I don't think Wood had his best game the weekend.
00:13:00
Zak
Bye.
00:13:01
DailySaintsPod
And I don't know you know what parts of slowing down the game actually fall at his hands. But I'd like to see Kwasi. I'd like to see Harwa Bellis.
00:13:12
DailySaintsPod
And I'd like to see anyone at left back that isn't Ryan Manning. Literally anyone.
00:13:18
Zak
Man, if you stay you stay longer after me, the villain, right? Like, he got away with... He was he was solid. but As we talked about last season, probably one of our better players in the Premier League. Very solid early.
00:13:27
DailySaintsPod
e
00:13:28
Zak
And I think when it's going well and you're managing to score the goals to win the game, it's it's having the defensive problems aren't as much of an issue. But, like, now we are just so defensively frown and it just feels like he's not there at left-back.
00:13:41
DailySaintsPod
He's been exposed.
00:13:41
Zak
And he is...
00:13:42
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:42
Zak
Yeah, he he is, in my opinion, at fault that first goal.
00:13:42
DailySaintsPod
100%. There's 100% at fault.
00:13:44
Zak
like The fact that he was throwing his arms out, that everybody else was at fault. I'm like, were you're the one that passed it back, mate.
00:13:50
DailySaintsPod
it was a hundred percent for
00:13:50
Zak
You're the one that should have taken more like spent more than two seconds before you decided to pick out a pass that was clearly wrong, hoping that Kwasi was going to run into it for you. So, like, maybe it's just how much he's played.
00:14:03
Zak
Maybe it's the fact that he actually plays more as a left winger than left back. But, yeah, I guess we'll see, you know, what Wellington can offer. but I will also point out that Wellington got red carded this season.
00:14:14
Zak
and
00:14:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, he's definitely prone to a mistake.
00:14:15
Zak
He's not much better, realistically.
00:14:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:17
Zak
i don't know if the...
00:14:18
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:19
Zak
that's a problem area we want to cover off clearly they don't see it as a problem area
Upcoming Match Analysis and Predictions
00:14:23
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:14:23
Zak
or otherwise they would have had a look into it probably sooner rather than later and again i feel bad because like i like brian manning as a player like have to say as a player as a guy i think that he's managed to weather many storms considering he came in as a very fundamental russell martin-esque steining right but at the same time when you keep underperforming like the way that he has recently
00:14:46
Zak
That's when you drop people and use this gigantic squad we have. So yeah, I'd like to see Wellington, I think. Just see how it goes.
00:14:53
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, agreed. Right, moving forward up the pitch, the the middle of the park. I don't know Do we think Cam Bragg comes back in?
00:15:01
DailySaintsPod
or i mean, the potentially he's still out with concussion, right? That could be 10 days, so...
00:15:05
Zak
if If he's... Yeah, if if it's still concussion protocol, don't know if it was mentioned in the press conference at all, right? Because it was very...
00:15:10
DailySaintsPod
I didn't see it.
00:15:11
Zak
No, it was much more...
00:15:12
DailySaintsPod
Maybe it would come at the 10 o'clock one.
00:15:16
Zak
Yeah. If he's okay, like I would probably like to see him in over Downs. And I think maybe Downs probably gets a chance at the South Coast Derby, being one of our, at this point, slightly more veteran players.
00:15:23
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:15:32
Zak
But... Yeah, and then obviously I think Yander still starts. But like that medfield, I think that they were talking about maybe Shea Charles would be ready for today.
00:15:43
Zak
I don't think he'd be ready to start, but maybe Brad can do a little bit and he can come on later.
00:15:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that'd be good.
00:15:49
DailySaintsPod
It'd be good to see him back.
00:15:50
Zak
Yeah, i think I think that would be a big boost for the for the team.
00:15:53
Zak
And, you he's basically been gone since the Still era, right? Like he... When did he pick up the injury? Was it the Preston game or game after?
00:15:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I think it was... Yeah, it was it right before Will still went, or right around that time.
00:16:00
Zak
Literally...
00:16:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it was... Yeah.
00:16:07
Zak
But yeah, like I just think as well, yeah as as well like you want to you want to mix things up from Saturday because when you've picked the same team pretty much apart from the goalkeeper twice in a row and they lose in such a pretty crappy way, you don't really want to have to deal with that much more, right?
00:16:08
DailySaintsPod
It's been a while.
00:16:24
Zak
So yeah, I guess that's that's my midfield. If Can Bragg is fit, Can Bragg. If not, I guess Downs, Yander obviously, and then hopefully maybe we'll see an appearance from Seychelles if he's fit enough.
00:16:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. i And then and what about the front line? I mean, this is hard, right? Because it's just very difficult for me. feels like Sienza and Fellows need to start.
00:16:55
Zak
Yep.
00:16:56
DailySaintsPod
And I feel like I feel like I don't mind the other two. Ross Stewart, it would be nice to see him get a start and play as the striker.
00:17:06
Zak
Yep.
00:17:08
DailySaintsPod
And what, I don't know, maybe play Cam Archer in behind him? I'd think that would work well. Cameron Archer works best off of a sparing of a player that can hold up the ball and play him in behind.
00:17:19
Zak
Greg, every time you suggest us playing two strikers at the same time, they never do it.
00:17:19
DailySaintsPod
let's Let's play a mate, let's play... but doesn't it doesn't need to be as two strikers. He could even do that role as a number 10 and do this sort of Azaz sweepy-up thing.
00:17:32
DailySaintsPod
I think that would be all right. I mean, he would do... I feel like he would do more in that position than Azaz has done in recent memory.
00:17:39
Zak
g What do you think's gone wrong, though Because, like...
00:17:42
DailySaintsPod
i just I just think he's a confidence player, mate.
00:17:42
Zak
Yeah?
00:17:45
DailySaintsPod
When... Yeah, when we bought him from Middlesbrough, they said he was a hot and cold player who was prone to go missing on occasion.
00:17:47
Zak
you' put He was put away for fun, and now... And then obviously...
00:17:55
DailySaintsPod
And I just think he's a pure confidence player. And i think you know I think his confidence got knocked. I think it got knocked you know when he wasn't able to score against Middlesbrough.
00:18:07
DailySaintsPod
think it got knocked when... he will probably feel like he got booed coming on when actually it was more booing for Sienza coming off. Like, it's, yeah, it's that enough to knock it.
00:18:23
Zak
Yeah. I think us that's true, but like do you think that's enough for him to not get start then? Because you're basically saying anybody apart from him.
00:18:33
DailySaintsPod
I just feel like if if something needs to change, you can't just keep playing the same names and have them not perform. And I don't know what the answer to get his confidence back in, but clearly it's not been working currently.
00:18:47
DailySaintsPod
So, you know, take the opportunity.
00:18:48
Zak
Yeah.
00:18:50
DailySaintsPod
I'm not saying leave him out of the squad forever, but take the opportunity, the midweek game, rotate the options, work something else.
00:18:58
Zak
might be true. I think I kind of agree with you. I'd happily have Matt Skier there as well. But I think it would be interesting to see him and Ross Stewart play with each other, especially where he's just happy to lob balls into the box.
00:19:04
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:19:10
Zak
And that's kind of what Ross Stewart did. And like Ross Stewart got on the end of got at the end of you know leo to school the other day.
00:19:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:17
Zak
so yeah why not
00:19:17
DailySaintsPod
And Tom Fellows is the best crosser we've got. Let's put a player who can cross the ball and a player who can score from crosses on the pitch together. And maybe, just maybe, mate, magic will happen. Like, who who could think that that's playing to the strengths?
00:19:30
Zak
It's just just it's so frustrating because obviously we've got a big wider focus on all of the issues. And yet, like you know we started to before got injured, we started to run into like a little bit of Will Still form.
00:19:44
Zak
Then ultimately all of we collapsed, he got fired, Tonda came in And it just it feels like it's been about four seasons and we're technically just over the halfway point of this one season.
00:19:56
DailySaintsPod
It's crazy.
00:19:56
Zak
And I don't know i don't know why. like We're talking about this game and it just doesn't feel like it's another South Coast derby on Sunday. It's bizarre. I don't know how else to explain it.
00:20:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:20:05
Zak
I think the the the word weird has been thrown around quite a lot. And there is just a sense of general weirdness, like how to feel about it, who to blame, who's who's the problem, where's the problem.
00:20:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Because it's it's very hard not to look past this game completely and think about the importance of the weekend. But it is an important game.
00:20:27
DailySaintsPod
If we lose it, we go into the weekend with a honking amount of confidence. But if we win it, it might just be enough to turn it round enough. Right? it's
00:20:37
Zak
Plus, are we not skating with relegation zone at this point again?
00:20:37
DailySaintsPod
And that's why it's important.
00:20:42
Zak
Like, we we went through that period where we were, you know, jumping up the table. We were, like, halfway up. And I'm pretty sure now we're, like, far closer to the bottom.
00:20:48
DailySaintsPod
We're 15th.
00:20:50
Zak
Okay, but still...
00:20:50
DailySaintsPod
We're
00:20:50
Zak
still
00:20:52
DailySaintsPod
We are six points a away above Norwich, who are the you know top team of the relegation three, which is closer than we are to the playoffs because we are 10 points behind the playoffs.
00:21:05
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:21:05
Zak
Yeah, we we lose we lose, you know, Pompey win their next two games. They're above us again.
00:21:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:12
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:12
Zak
thats That's the worrying thing about it.
00:21:14
Zak
We should really be in a much better position than we are. And if you look at the form table, it's harrowing because we had the form table light up green for so long. then I don't know. I just hope there is another twist and another tale in this season, right? and There is another chance to turn it around. I don't know if it'll be tonight. You know, Sheffield United are on the ascendancy after starting off their season in an absolute shocking manner.
00:21:36
Zak
You know, they' they've got...
00:21:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:39
Zak
There's just a lot of things. like We alluded to the fact that we've had a transfer window that's basically been non-existent. We've just sent a load of players out, which means they're already preparing for the end of next season and Yeah, there's a lot of investment, but is any of the investment in the right places?
00:21:53
Zak
We could we could carry on those conversations till the cows come home. But in regards to the game, tomorrow night, or tonight if you're when you're listening to this, yeah, just hope that we have something slightly more positive, right?
00:22:06
DailySaintsPod
Let's talk a little bit briefly about Sheffield before we head into score predictions, right? Because you say they had their weird start, and you're right.
00:22:10
Zak
Sure.
00:22:12
DailySaintsPod
They brought Chris Wilder back for the 53rd time, and they they sort of picked up and were on the up, but looking at their form, they a lost to Wrexham They beat Stoke and beat Leicester. Good wins, good results.
00:22:31
DailySaintsPod
Then they lost to Mansfield Town in the Cup. And lost to...
00:22:34
Zak
Yeah, that's pretty bad. okay
00:22:36
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And then lost to Charlton at the weekend. it's not It's not all, you know, all gravy for them.
00:22:45
Zak
They seem to be very...
00:22:46
DailySaintsPod
They're struggling themselves.
00:22:47
Zak
all or nothing, right? It seems to, like, they don't really seem to pick up that many draws in comparison to, like, us, right? I think they've had, what, like, two the whole season?
00:22:53
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:22:55
Zak
Which is insane numbers, like, in comparison to the rest.
00:22:55
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:58
Zak
Yeah, like, two draws the entire, well very, very all or nothing. So I guess that that's a good thing if we if we we do go out there and and win and and try and play a team that's you know slightly bereft of confidence, but it's still it's still a scary prospect.
00:23:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:13
Zak
Remember, Greg, the AI said that Sheffield United were like 70% chance to win the league, so
00:23:13
DailySaintsPod
And like...
00:23:18
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. But I mean, historically speaking as well, the fixture favours us of nine matches in the the records that I can see. We've got five wins, two draws and two losses. Most recently, of course, the reverse fixture when, do you remember Ross Stewart's Worldie?
00:23:39
Zak
Yeah, that was the one that it it kind of came down to, in my opinion, refereeing, right?
00:23:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:47
Zak
Like, I will hold my hands up and say when when when something goes our way that I think was probably not meant to, we will just take it and vice versa.
00:23:59
Zak
Am I still going to be mad Norwich for the rest of the time? Yeah, yeah, I am. But, you know, you win some loose in the championship, still better than VAR. So, yeah, I don't know if we'll have that level of lady luck, but that was one of the few fixtures that we had it this season. So let's just hope it shines on us again, right?
00:24:18
DailySaintsPod
Now the AI specifically focused in on this match when asked is suggesting a double chance of Saints to win or draw with over two and a half goals and both teams definitely to score.
00:24:31
DailySaintsPod
So, i mean, it's predicting an exciting game.
00:24:31
Zak
I just don't... After the whole whole spiel, mate... I just don't believe it.
00:24:35
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:24:36
Zak
like Pretty sure it was the opposite of everything in the whole game.
00:24:37
DailySaintsPod
and
00:24:40
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:24:40
Zak
Like, it's what it is, isn't
00:24:41
DailySaintsPod
it will be interesting. All mate. So we've heard what the AI thinks. We've heard what we think about teams. Let's get to everyone's favorite bit.
00:24:50
Zak
it?
00:24:51
DailySaintsPod
How are you feeling? What do you think the score is going to be?
00:24:55
Zak
I don't know, because, like, just I just, I don't want to end up in... the delusional land that you live in as much as I'd love to, of just predicting a win every single time. Historically, we, fine, two nil.
00:25:11
Zak
You're happy. how Somehow win.
00:25:12
DailySaintsPod
Win or loss. Sorry. just
00:25:14
Zak
Somehow, somehow we we keep a clean sheet.
00:25:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah?
00:25:17
Zak
We win two nil. The noise quietens down before something that's really, really important.
00:25:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah?
00:25:22
DailySaintsPod
Where's the goals coming from?
00:25:24
Zak
let's Let's go let's go ros Stewart and Tom Fellows just for you, which means there definitely won't be this result.
00:25:28
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:25:31
Zak
Tom Fellows doesn't score for our club, mate. It's a proven fact at this point.
00:25:33
DailySaintsPod
No, he's just... Yeah. but But maybe he'll get an assist. You know? he can cross a ball. And Ross Duit can head a ball. I don't know. There's hope.
00:25:43
Zak
Who knows, bud?
00:25:43
DailySaintsPod
There's hope.
00:25:43
Zak
Who knows?
00:25:45
DailySaintsPod
What am I feeling? I'm thinking 2-1. Saints. Same as the reverse fixture.
00:25:50
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. rossol ru Ross Duit brace.
00:25:54
Zak
Interesting.
00:25:55
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:56
Zak
So that means we've we've we've both kind of put him ahead of Armour at this point then.
00:25:59
Zak
Or at least maybe Armour comes up later.
00:26:00
DailySaintsPod
I mean... Yeah, or do you know what? Even playing them both together would be nice, wouldn't it? Because Armour is also a player that plays better with a partner.
00:26:08
Zak
Stop pushing the vote out. We don't do this. And also it doesn't really it hasn't really historically worked out, even if they've only done it as a last resort without much thinking behind it.
00:26:20
DailySaintsPod
Crazy. Imagine like playing our best players in their best positions together in a structure that works instead of just sticking three defenders at the back and hoping for the best.
00:26:26
Zak
no
00:26:30
Zak
excuse me, you haven't sat in front of a tactics board as long as some of those executive assistants, right?
00:26:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:37
Zak
Oh, that's so disrespectful. i We don't know what we're doing either. But it be that's the problem, is that if it's you pointed out much more eloquently than I did after our loss, right?
00:26:48
Zak
Which is just like, if I can see it, if the fans can see it if all of us can see that maybe one thing isn't working, maybe it won't work. So maybe change it.
00:26:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:58
Zak
And I guess that's a...
00:26:58
DailySaintsPod
Right? Look, there's there's something to be said about you know armchair management and 30,000 people thinking they know better than a manager. But like sometimes the obvious thing's obvious, right?
00:27:12
DailySaintsPod
Like maybe taking the player who had been best and continued to be best at crossing the ball off the pitch at the same time that you bring on the player who's most likely to get on the end of crosses.
00:27:13
Zak
Yes.
00:27:24
DailySaintsPod
Maybe that's just dumb.
00:27:25
Zak
o All I can think of is that one game, I don't know if it was the Bournemouth game, whatever game it was, where where Ryan Fraser was really, really ill. And it was like, well, he really wanted to play those. so i wanted to And he said he was up for it, so I gave him the time. But then, yeah, ended up being really, really ill. And you're just like, yeah, he was really ill. It doesn't matter if he says, yeah, I think I can do it, Gafferb.
00:27:47
Zak
You put him on and then after 20 minutes he was dying. And if anything, you've just infected the rest of the squad. like Pretty sure after that we had a massive bout of injuries that were just everyone's sick.
00:27:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:57
Zak
So, yeah, sometimes just got hope common sense prevails and that maybe egos can be bit of a side and everyone can just crack on with it. But we'll have to see how it goes, isn't it?
00:28:05
DailySaintsPod
And hopefully we can crack on, get a win, and head into the weekend with at least a little bit of positivity, because that is in short demand at the moment.
00:28:14
Zak
just don't want to be recording in absolute misery at like 11pm again.
00:28:14
DailySaintsPod
But... It's
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:28:20
Zak
So here's hoping!
00:28:20
DailySaintsPod
what we... why we love what we do. Right.
00:28:23
Zak
Yeah, man.
00:28:25
DailySaintsPod
That is all we have got time for today. Thank you so much, everyone for listening. And thank you, Zach, for joining me.
00:28:33
Zak
Thank you, mate.
00:28:35
DailySaintsPod
We will be back tomorrow to talk about it, whatever happens. A nice, crazy late-night recording where we will either be going mad with fury or just delirious with joy.
00:28:49
DailySaintsPod
One of the two. Either way, we'll be here to talk about But let us know in the comments, on the socials, what you think the score's going to be, how you think it's going to play out.
00:28:58
DailySaintsPod
We love hearing from you. We are Daily Saints Pod everywhere. on all the socials, TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Blue Sky. hit us up, let us know.
00:29:09
DailySaintsPod
We love hearing from you. Give us a like, give us a subscribe.
00:29:12
Zak
doing
00:29:14
DailySaintsPod
We are a newly independent podcast now, so all of those things go such a long way to helping us out. And we love to see it. So once again, thank you, everyone.
00:29:24
DailySaintsPod
Enjoy the game. We'll see you tomorrow. And come on, you Saints.