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Crossover Thursday - Wolves x Saints
23 Plays1 month ago
Chris and Nathan host Saints fans Greg and Zak as we look ahead to the weekends fixture..
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Transcript
Introduction to Daily Wolves Crossover
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, hello everyone. Welcome back to Daily Wolves. Today is the crossover episode and we have a full house. My name's Nathan and I'm your host for
Meet the Guests and Team Challenges
00:00:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
today. And in the, I'll start with the home dugout. I know curtsies go to the away dugout, but times are tough at the bottom of the table at the minute. And in the home dugout with me, we have chris chris how are you doing this evening
00:00:27
Chris
............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Hey, Nathan. Hey, everyone. Yeah, happy.
00:00:29
Greg
Thank you.
00:00:29
Chris
Well, it'll be happy Thursday to everyone listening to it.
00:00:29
Zak
Thank
00:00:32
Chris
So happy Thursday.
Season Performance and High Spirits
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zach. Greg, I'll start with yourself. How have you found the season so far? How are you feeling
00:00:41
Greg
Yeah. Yeah, it's all right. Just, yeah, to follow the sentiments, happy Thursday. Everyone's favourite day of the week, crossover Thursday, right? So, yeah, the season, you know, we're in high spirits at the moment.
00:00:53
Greg
Big win at the weekend from us, beating Everton, sort of sneaking past them. And, yeah, hoping that that's going to kickstart the season slightly better than the rest of the start's been.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:06
Greg
But yeah, I think we're feeling
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
you feeling? Yeah. Yeah.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:09
Chris
Mm-hmm.
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's nice to hear it's nice to some of us are. And Zach, how about yourself? had found this user so far
00:01:19
Zak
I think the start of the season has been about how I expected, to be perfectly honest. I'd have liked to have seen another win or so, but like we're very much a team that, cause we had a quote unquote established premier league history.
00:01:29
Chris
Thank
00:01:32
Zak
A lot of our fan base have very much come back into the season being like, well, we can take points here, here, here and here. Greg, a hundred percent being one of those people. And I'm like, yeah, which is, which is bad.
00:01:41
Greg
us to finish twelve ah
00:01:45
Zak
Whereas I'm like, you can't say that. I'm kind of dreading playing you guys because you guys have been one of our bogey teams for a long time now.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
Reflecting on Early Struggles with Optimism
00:01:53
Zak
I think we've won against you in a long while in the Premier League at least.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:57
Zak
So less optimistic than Greg, but enjoying the ride, I guess.
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:02
Zak
I'm just really glad I got the podcast to do because if not, I think I probably would have turned off by now.
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Yeah. I Yeah.
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
think um there's ah there's a similar balance going on in the Wolves' dugouts as well. We've got Chris who started off the season. I say started off the season really positively because recently it's been taken a little bit of a hit, haven't we, with Chris on the whole energy front?
00:02:09
Greg
12th.
00:02:24
Chris
Yeah. Yeah. I've been here since the beginning and I was Mr. Positive. I was excited for the season. You know, we've got some, arguably some really strong players in our squad and the potential, even with a couple of departures in the summer, was we could kick on from last season and be pushing mid-table and up, you know, because with that last season, we were pushing for seventh or sixth at one point, and then all the injuries decimated that last run in.
00:02:29
Greg
Thank
00:02:47
Chris
And then it's just all gone tits up, quite frankly.
00:02:49
Zak
Thank
00:02:52
Chris
And so this is not, I mean, I would presume that you guys didn't expect us to be down there with you at this point in the season of when you, you know, so yeah, it's just been, it's been a nightmare and I am no longer Mr.
00:02:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:06
Chris
Optimism. Yeah.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. Yeah.
00:03:07
Greg
It looks like it's definitely been tough for you guys, but you've had quite a like ah a rough run of fixtures, right?
00:03:12
Greg
You've only had a couple of games that you would have really expected to push on and get something from, right? Because you've played a lot of the big boys already
00:03:21
Chris
I mean, yeah, you say that last season this over, I mean, cause it's getting quite pedantic now. Everyone's looking back through our history last season because it's been a long time without us a win. And we took, you know, a lot more points off those teams last season than we did this, even with the tough start.
00:03:36
Chris
We did have the toughest start in the league with the likes of we've played the top six in the first eight games or something. So we've played Arsenal on opening day. We've played Liverpool.
00:03:47
Chris
We've played Chelsea. We've
Facing Top Teams: Fixture Challenges
00:03:49
Chris
played Man City.
00:03:49
Greg
already.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:49
Zak
Thank
00:03:50
Chris
We've literally played all the big guns pretty much back to back. And so we're on the back foot to start. But last season, we beat Man City. We beat Tottenham at home.
00:04:01
Chris
We were getting points from these teams in seasons previous as well. And yet there's a feeling that we're very much treating ourselves as the underdog at the moment.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:04:09
Zak
you.
00:04:09
Greg
Thank you.
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there's a sinking feeling about us at the minute and it's not a good one.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we're...
00:04:16
Greg
What is it that's going wrong for you guys?
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:04:18
Greg
Is it is it just the injuries?
00:04:20
Greg
Is it the manager? It's going to be nice to have a controversial talk about a manager that's not ours
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
think...
00:04:25
Chris
and
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah ah think...
00:04:26
Chris
ah
00:04:27
Zak
Greed bait
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's a combination of a few things. It probably stems from the summer where there was a little bit of bad recruitment, or at least now we're finding out that there's bad recruitment. you know We're relying on only having four senior centre-backs ready to start Premier League games.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then one of them gets injured um right at the beginning of the season.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does his ACL and meniscus and that was mascara.
00:04:49
Chris
you
00:04:49
Greg
to have a controversial talk about a manager that's not ours.
00:04:49
Zak
fate.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um yeah, so that that restricts you from a ah formation perspective. And Gary O'Neill's mentioned that a few times. But then we're just conceding goals for fun. We are conceding goals, you know, 27 goals conceded in 10 games.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I've said it on every podcast now for the past a few days and it's it's just a, that's just a crazy, crazy stat and we, yeah, it just can't go on like that.
00:05:09
Greg
Thank
00:05:09
Zak
Thank
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We've spoken mainly about set pieces and our previous ones as being our big weakness defensively but obviously there's more than just that. um So, yeah.
00:05:26
Chris
Yeah. But the the weirdest thing is we, you know, we're scoring, but but we have to score like three to win a game because we've scored, is it 14 or 15 goals already this season? um And every goal we score is pretty much a beautiful goal.
00:05:39
Chris
Like they're not, you know, tap-ins. They are well-worked team goals that play through the entire pitch normally and then finish in a beautiful, you know, moment. And it's like, but it's all beautiful and going forward in that direction.
00:05:51
Chris
And then at the back, and in open play defensively, again, we're arguably not that bad. It is literally set pieces. Pretty much, I think probably half of the goals against us have been scored by central defenders ah from the second phase of a set piece.
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:03
Chris
That's pretty much how it's gone.
00:06:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:05
Chris
So um Crystal Palace.
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:05
Greg
Well, that sounds like it's going to play greatly to our strength because our strikers can't score for toffey so
00:06:09
Chris
Yeah.
00:06:09
Zak
so Yeah, that's very true, mate, isn't it?
00:06:10
Chris
yeah
00:06:16
Zak
We've had Sagawares score, Taylor Harwood-Bellis is like our top scorer, who is at one of our centre-backs, and that has been from dod pieces but like we're to be fair like we've been on the the end of really really bad set piece defending the entirety of the season like we've we've had you see after every sort of loss we've had so far it's been very much sort of like well if they just stuck a guy on the edge of the box maybe it wouldn't have rolled in but i think we have similar problems where the only way we're ever going to win is by usually outscoring people like I think it was really surprising to both of us how the Everton game played out Greg right because uh you know the City game you know was a was felt more narrow than it should have been but every other game like we were tuned up against Leicester that was just a simple fact of like oh right we're so open at the back we people we we We concede for fun as well.
00:06:29
Greg
our strengths because our strikers can't score for Toffee, so...
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:49
Greg
Thank
00:06:49
Chris
Thank
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:07:06
Zak
We very much are in a... It's going to be weird seeing like two teams go against each other, which which one's going to crack first.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:07:09
Chris
you.
00:07:09
Greg
you.
00:07:12
Zak
Maybe we'll end up with like five goals apiece. That would be lovely to see, but maybe maybe not.
Critical Match and Manager's Future
00:07:17
Zak
I don't know.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please no. Please no.
00:07:18
Chris
ah
00:07:20
Zak
yeah
00:07:21
Chris
No, I mean, and sorry, I was going to say, Nathan, because you were asked about what what's going else of what's going on in general, and and management is the thing.
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i want
00:07:29
Greg
I don't know.
00:07:29
Chris
That's the big talking point at the moment is the manager. And there is a big feeling that this result will decide his future.
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want... Yeah. Yeah, and just interestingly there, it is, it is, and it's going to be, um yeah, he's had he's had enough chances to change things and hopefully have some positive results.
00:07:38
Greg
that That important is is interesting
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it does feel like his last um yeah last chance to try and get something positive on the board.
00:07:49
Zak
Thank
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to ask whilst you guys were saying that you obviously you've had ah threats from attacking corners and that you know one one of your defensive players is your top scorer. Southampton, in my mind, the uneducated Saints watcher.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um You play this you know really stubborn, playing out from the back system that Russell Martin has ah really persevered with.
00:08:09
Chris
Thank you.
00:08:09
Greg
interesting.
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
How do you guys see do you see him ever adapting that now that it's going to be a potentially a more scrappy game with two teams really struggling for confidence?
00:08:29
Chris
you
00:08:29
Greg
Thank
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or will he just continue going that way? I'll start with you, Zach, on that one.
00:08:37
Zak
Yeah, so me and Greg have had a lot of discussions about it. Ultimately, he won't change his principles. We will definitely be playing out of the back, like we have changed the formation we've changed the personnel we've changed lots of things different games like we've had substitutes be massive impacts for us and in other games not so much right like the subs in the Leicester game me and Greg lamented horrifically because they they are the reason in our opinion that we lost that game but for me it's that he, very stubborn about the way he's played.
00:08:49
Chris
you
00:09:06
Zak
And he's made it abundantly clear he's not going to change up the style too much.
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:09:09
Chris
you
00:09:10
Zak
We might change the formation here and there, but the principles remain the same. And a vast majority of our summer recruitment was done off of the basis of them coming in to play his style of football.
00:09:22
Zak
Matisse Fernandes, who's been absolutely fantastic for us, was talking today, because obviously where he used to play is for sporting, and he was talking about how, like, one of the main reasons he came to the club is because Russell Martin told him the way that we play football and the way that he wants to play football.
00:09:29
Chris
you
00:09:29
Greg
Thank
00:09:37
Zak
It's not going to change. I think it's the whole, the players adapting to it at a much better league and whether or not we're able to actually get that over the line.
00:09:49
Zak
But I don't really see, I can't see a huge amount of tactical changes.
00:09:49
Chris
you
00:09:49
Greg
you.
00:09:53
Zak
I can't see a huge change in shape, if I'm totally honest. He seems to have kind of settled on a back three at the moment. But yeah, it's a bit, it's difficult, but I don't see him changing any of the principles, regardless of who we play against.
00:10:07
Zak
We've tried to play similar styles against Stoke to Man City at this rate.
00:10:09
Chris
you
00:10:09
Greg
you
00:10:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:10:11
Zak
Greg, are you the same?
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:13
Greg
Yeah, I think it's stubborn almost to a fault, right? And I guess in both of those examples you use, Stoke and Man City, it's what made it a lot more difficult for us.
00:10:24
Greg
But um yeah i don't think we'll see a much change like I say we'll probably see ah a slightly more aggressive shape.
00:10:29
Chris
you
00:10:31
Greg
to try and put you on the back foot a bit more but but the style will remain exactly the same i think it's yeah i think it's um a little bit that Like we've given away a few goals from mistakes from exactly that, but I think it's mostly mentality and focus that we struggled with.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And do do you guys see the style as the main issue that you've had defensively because you've been so stubborn at playing out from the back when you've made those mistakes that's when other teams are capitalising on them or have you had other weaknesses in sort of shape as well Greg I'll go with you there mate
00:10:49
Chris
you
00:10:49
Zak
Thank you.
00:11:09
Zak
so
00:11:09
Chris
you
00:11:11
Greg
like Because if it's not the the ability to recover from a mistake like that, then it's always a daft set piece or Bournemouth taking a quick free kick and tearing apart the entire defence with one through ball.
00:11:26
Greg
like It's <unk> always something silly.
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:11:29
Chris
you
00:11:29
Zak
Thank
00:11:30
Greg
Never never like seems to be completely outplayed
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, it's ah it's interesting to say that because, Chris, we've been having the same, um well, similar issues with regards to our lack of concentration on ah on set pieces right
00:11:46
Chris
Yeah. Yeah, Yeah. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. As we, yeah, we mentioned already, they are a downfall. It's our weakest point. I mean, we, we spoke ad nauseum about it this week. That is literally where all the goals come from.
00:11:58
Chris
So, and they'll know, I mean, you know, I'm sure the Southampton manager and coaches will know that if they can put bodies in the box for any, basically any set piece against us is like a direct free kick.
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
lack of concentration on set pieces.
00:12:09
Greg
Thank
00:12:11
Chris
It's that, you know, it's that much of a possibility of a goal. it's it's It's a great opportunity. And if they get an early goal as well, the way that Molyneux is at the moment, I mean, God, heaven forbid you guys score first.
00:12:22
Chris
Molyneux will honestly become rancid because the vibes at the moment for many people, for many people, they want ah the many people think Gary and Neil should have gone like three or four games ago.
00:12:29
Zak
Thank
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:12:29
Greg
you.
00:12:35
Chris
So the fact that the club have held on and he's still there, if it starts to go the wrong way this weekend, it'll be very easy for that stadium to become toxic. and like, you know, then then it's all going to fall apart.
00:12:48
Zak
you.
00:12:49
Chris
So the first goal of this game more than any other will decide very much, I think, the fate of how this game goes.
00:12:49
Greg
you
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:56
Greg
I know, Zach, you were holding out there for some sort of goal-scoring masterpiece in a 5-5, and do you know that I love the little AI-gener generated blurbs on this FootyStats website but um just to point out it does say that ah Wolves' home form is very poor and Southampton's away form is very poor so I'm not sure that that sells the classic that you're holding out for
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah
00:13:09
Zak
Dang.
00:13:17
Chris
yeah
00:13:23
Zak
No, it's not. it's um it's The problem is that we suck at scoring goals as much as you do defending them. And that's kind of how it was with Everton last game.
00:13:29
Chris
Yeah.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:13:31
Zak
like We got out of jail free due to an amazing save by Ramsdale. A goal being disallowed by being inches offside, which you know it is what it is. It was ruled offside. ah And in city the City game, if Haaland had actually been on target for about six or seven more of the strikes he'd had, we would have probably lost 7-0, right?
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:13:49
Zak
like That's no disrespect to the guys that that kept
00:13:49
Chris
Thank
00:13:49
Greg
classic that you're holding out for.
Comparing Current Struggles to Past
00:13:52
Zak
in there.
00:13:52
Zak
But it feels like, especially from the vibes we're getting from U2, almost like when we went down that season, like how important. And and I think it is wild because like obviously we've had the heights one year of being 6th, 7th and playing Europa League football football and then within a whatever flash we were back sort of fighting a ah relegation campaign which every single result though like once we'd kind of conceded to defeat me and Greg have talked about it before where everything became hoping that other people would lose points it was like rather than us ever seeing us actually win um it was hoping someone else would lose but it's I think the big difference is like sometimes I can understand why you want Gary O'Neill to go, but like with the season we went down was the season we had three managers.
00:14:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:14:09
Greg
Thank
00:14:09
Chris
you.
00:14:29
Chris
Mm-hm.
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:14:34
Zak
And I feel like as long as your recruitment does better than Nathan Jones, hopefully that would be a nice thing, right? But yeah, I didn't i didn't realize how, I guess, the pessimism, but then I suppose if you're an established team and it is really surprising to see you guys down where you are, um I guess it does suck because, you know, we've been there too.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:14:49
Chris
Thank
00:14:52
Zak
But I guess you had higher expectations, especially after last season.
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. And before we continue talking, and I actually want to touch on your match winner from previous game, I just wanted to let everyone know here listening that here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:15:09
Greg
Thank
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zencastr 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 a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:15:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more. So I wanted to ask a quick question on Adam Armstrong, who obviously got the winner in your previous game.
00:15:29
Greg
you.
00:15:29
Zak
Thank you.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um He's a player that I've always kind of looked at back when he was at Newcastle, someone who's got huge potential. is Sort of on on the lines of your your attacking force, who is a player that we should look out for?
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is he off the back of that match winner?
00:15:49
Greg
you
00:15:49
Zak
so
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think he will start and do you think he will have big effect on the game or who would you put your your money on being the biggest threat?
00:15:49
Chris
Thank
00:16:02
Zak
Greg, who do you reckon? Because I've got a... It's difficult to that's the only part of the lineup that i really struggle with now
00:16:06
Greg
I think the obvious answer is Tyler Diblin. But I think maybe the less obvious answer who I've been really impressed with is Cameron Archer, who's you know he's managed to get on the score sheet a couple of times in the past few games and really yeah has the positioning and willing to run at defences even if he's not getting the service which he really hasn't been so I think that if we can get a few more balls through to him that he's the man to look out for to be honest
00:16:29
Zak
to... That's the only part of the lineup that I really struggle with now.
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:16:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think maybe his his style of play is something that we, our defense defenders, Chris, sort of as their profile, we're not necessarily, we don't have the most athletic defence.
00:16:49
Zak
Thank
00:16:49
Chris
Thank you.
00:16:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Dawson, who's running out of wheels and the others, how do you think we'd sort of do defensively against a player like that who so while rapid
00:17:03
Chris
I mean, it partly depends on the formation, right? Because the fastest centre-back is Totty at the moment. Muscara would have been a different deal.
00:17:09
Greg
to be honest.
00:17:11
Chris
um So, yeah, because, there ah again, that's a big debate around Wolves at the moment is back four, back five. um I think, I mean, I thought last time he was going to go with a back four and he ended up sticking with the five and then shifting it again partway through.
00:17:28
Chris
I think i think he knows he's under pressure.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
who's so, well, rapid.
00:17:29
Greg
Thank
00:17:30
Chris
I think he knows that this is a big deal.
00:17:32
Chris
So um if he's if it's four at the back and yeah, if it's Dawson and Bueno, who are fantastic, but yeah, they they haven't got much speed, then then we can get, we've've seen it we can get opened up because they're not used to a back four system so if that happens if it's a back five i'm not worried because between the pace of eight nori samedo samedo is usually hanging back from a lot of situations too because he's got the legs um a right a right wing back to cover certain scenarios he makes up for some of that lack of speed in the middle.
00:17:49
Zak
Thank
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:18:06
Chris
But if it's a back then then it's ah
00:18:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:18:10
Chris
scary proposition
00:18:11
Greg
You talked a bit about the sort of negativity and mo in Would playing a back five at home against a team that you probably feel like you should be attacking against instantly be perceived as a negative move?
00:18:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:24
Greg
or or would do you think that would be seen as a step in the right direction
00:18:29
Chris
i'm curious on nathan's thoughts but I think it's an interesting one because um Gary O'Neill has wanted to play a back four since forever and did it all preseason and did it for most of the start of the season.
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:42
Chris
and its own and then But most of the fan base wanted a back five because under Nuno, when we had a success and most of our time established in the premiership, the team has played really well under a back five system.
00:18:49
Zak
Thank
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:18:49
Greg
Or do you think that would be seen as a step in the right direction?
00:18:52
Chris
And a lot of the players, even though a bunch have moved on, but it just seems like inherent in the DNA of the club that that's the way they play well. And then whenever any manager, several managers ah since Nuno have tried to shift into a back four and it's always not works.
00:19:08
Chris
Like something's always gone wrong.
00:19:09
Zak
you.
00:19:09
Greg
Thank
00:19:10
Chris
Gary Neal's tried to stick stubbornly to it and everyone's like, no, go who back five. And then, you know, he did it last season. That's when we beat Man City was when we shifted to a back five and then stuck with it. And we got loads of results this season.
00:19:23
Chris
He's finally started to do a back five. He did it for man city and we did play better even though we lost um but at home like you guys i think to be honest i think he does have to go and go i think he has to i think we have to be aggressive i think you know the fans the walls fans will expect to win this game will want to win this game arguably there's a small percentage of people that want them to lose.
00:19:29
Zak
so
00:19:45
Chris
So he goes. um I think genuinely that bad. and There's some bad blood there, but people will want to win this and want them to be aggressive and go all in from the attack.
00:19:49
Zak
Thank
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:19:56
Chris
I do. I want them to go and show that they're actually a better team than than the rest of the premiership at the moment is thinking they are, because there has been some bad luck. So I personally would like to see him do what he's been trying to do, go with the back four, put an extra
Debating Tactical Changes for Wolves
00:20:09
Chris
person up front and just go be aggressive.
00:20:09
Greg
Thank
00:20:12
Chris
but We had a ah success last season by being really high press all the time like and being really pushing people back and forcing the mistakes and knowing how you guys play out from the back and want to do that and have had flaws with that it seems like it whilst i think there's goals both ways because we can't defend for toffee i also think we've got the potential to to to if we if we are that aggressive with the press we could really do something that was a long
00:20:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, I completely agree with everything that but Chris said there. I think the difficulty that Gary O'Neill's had is kind of goes back to recruitment. We don't want to rewind too much, but he's got players that are best in a back five.
00:20:49
Zak
Thank you.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ultimately, I think Aitnori is still a little bit immature defensively, so he always works better as a wing back. Dawson, with a lack of pace, he he tends to do better in the centre of a back three when he can command the two centre-halves around him.
00:21:09
Chris
-winded answer.
00:21:09
Zak
so
00:21:09
Greg
Thank
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it'll be interesting to see what he goes for. But yeah, he should. As a Wolves fan, we want to see a front foot performance. um Yeah, so four at the back would be there.
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You guys mentioned that you're you're most likely to go over back three. um we've we Our striker, Stran Larsson, who's been a bit of a handful in the recent games, is ah we've been quite impressed with him so far this season.
00:21:29
Zak
Thank you.
00:21:29
Chris
Thank
00:21:29
Greg
you.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Who would you guys identify as a big threat from from the Wolves' side?
00:21:41
Greg
The obvious name that jumps out to me is Kunya, right? He seems to have been hitting the ground running with all sorts of assists and goals all over the place from what I see.
00:21:49
Chris
you.
00:21:51
Greg
Is that sort the vibe you get as well or is he a bit so spotty for you guys?
00:21:58
Chris
um i would Yeah, he's blatantly out. If he got injured, I think that would be a season like definitely over, to be be honest because I think pretty much everything runs through him right now ah Strand Larsson's creating stuff like he's scoring goals when he gets opportunities but he is very much a front man Kunja is the link the you know the the one that can drive from deep and really make things happen with his pace and his dribbling um so as well as scoring goals he creates opportunities So I think, yeah, Kunia is definitely, and yeah, he's ah he's a fan favorite for sure.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:22:29
Zak
so
00:22:29
Greg
Thank
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
you. Yeah. Yeah, he's been... a so When he's on form and he's one of those players, and we we spoke about it prior to the Palace game last week, is he's one of those players that can really lift the team when he's when he's running with the ball, drawing fouls, driving at defenders.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He he really lifts the sort of standard of play of the players around him.
00:22:49
Zak
Thank
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I also actually wanted to ask a question briefly to you Saints guys on them the sort of midfield battles going on that will be going on on Saturday afternoon. I think Wolves, that's one of the areas of the pitch that we have the most depth and so arguably quality as well.
00:23:09
Zak
you.
00:23:09
Chris
Thank
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it something that you think Russell Martin would want to maybe add an extra man into that midfield to kind of compensate for for that?
00:23:20
Zak
i I don't know you because we've so we had this we've've we've had this debate over over the last couple of weeks where he went through a little period of time where he's playing two defensive midfielders to deal with those sort of situations ah where he's playing downs and Uga Chukwu together and it just it just didn't work.
00:23:29
Greg
Thank you.
00:23:36
Zak
It didn't work at all. like They kept losing each other. They kept losing the ball. It was was bad. So essentially we had we ended up switching back to just having just downs at the back Ugaschuk, who came in for the Stoke game and did all right.
00:23:49
Zak
But I think that he would go to having downs at the back.
00:23:49
Greg
you
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:23:51
Zak
I don't really think that we we will move that much around. If I'm totally honest, they will be reliant on how solid Jan Bednarek and Taylor Harwood-Bellis have been at the back, I think.
00:24:01
Zak
And then hopefully, you know, hope fingers crossed, Stevens might be able to maybe mop some stuff up but yeah I think that your points around trying to attack us when we make those silly mistakes is the thing that scares me because we have made so many of them it is terrifying to watch it is not fun football to watch it's nice when we're scoring but yeah I kind of it's the midfield thing does worry me a little bit but I still think that he'll just persist with like I don't think the line will play I think you'll you'll have Joe Aribo who's a strong guy I think you'll probably continue to sort of back up where Downs is in the middle I don't know if you have any different opinions Greg we've not really done a we've not really talked about the match ahead of the weekend other than on here yet so quite sort of similar do you think it's gonna change much
00:24:09
Greg
you
00:24:09
Chris
Thank
00:24:29
Greg
you
00:24:44
Greg
Yeah, I think it's taken us a long time to find a midfield that we're comfortable with and I don't think he's going to mess with it too much.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:24:50
Greg
I think from what I'm hearing, Lallana's actually out with a groin injury and he's probably going to miss the game on Saturday either way. I was thinking, other than that, he would probably be our first choice, but Arrivo seems to be slotting in just as well and honestly, he probably been unlucky to miss out but I think that three of Aribo, Fernandes and Downs in the middle just seems to be the winning formula for us so I don't see it changing even with the threat of your strength in midfield I think that Russell Martin's probably
00:25:09
Zak
you think it's going to change much tracks
00:25:09
Chris
Thank
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:28
Zak
You're right
00:25:28
Chris
of you.
00:25:29
Zak
that is how exactly how that's going to play out
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chris, I actually wanted also to also get your thoughts on, um we've we've obviously weeded Tommy Doyle into the into the into the fold over the last few games.
00:25:42
Chris
Mm-hmm.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think Gary O'Neill will go with him? I don't know if, in my mind, he seems like a, sometimes it seems like a bold choice because he doesn't bring the physicality that the others bring, but sometimes it's a nice balance.
00:25:49
Zak
right. That is how exactly how that's going to play out.
00:25:49
Greg
headstrong enough to think that we'll just play around it.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
for What do you think?
00:25:55
Chris
I would create a formation to fit him in there. I don't think he will. I think he'll go back on the bench for this one if Lamina is fully fit. I think given Lamina's second half performance against Palace and being captain, I think he'll come back in in place of Doyle.
00:26:09
Zak
Thank
00:26:09
Greg
Thank
00:26:13
Chris
And even if we even if he goes with his three across the if he goes if he goes with three across the middle, then maybe he'll squeeze him in like Lamina, Doyle and Gomez.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah.
00:26:24
Chris
but if it's the holding two and then other people up front then no i think it'll just be like gomez and lamina so
00:26:29
Greg
you.
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think I agree. I think he would probably go maybe more defensive in the midfield and have Tommy Dorn on the bench as an option to come on if we if we are potentially a goal down.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't really want to think about that and or come on to predictions and
00:26:46
Greg
Of course, it seems like an age ago, but actually the last time we played, where Lamina got a red card and led to a famous soundbite from Nathan Jones after he then went on to beat us, saying that it was hard to play against 10 men anyway.
00:27:00
Greg
so
00:27:00
Zak
I was thinking about the same. I'm glad that Lomita found a place in the Premier League for him, put it that way, because it certainly wasn't with us.
00:27:06
Chris
Yeah, yeah
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:08
Zak
And he thought he was going to go and play ball at Manchester United immediately afterwards.
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
want to think about that. And we'll come on to predictions.
00:27:13
Zak
I will still never forget his montage of I can i know what I deserve and I shall get it and then went off and ended up playing for full um
00:27:19
Chris
Yeah. Oh, wow. Wow. Yeah. He's come full circle. Like now, like he, you know, and he talks himself about how the fact he was arrogant and stupid and that kind of stuff. And he seems to have been away yeah been away and and grown up a bit.
00:27:29
Greg
Anyway, so...
00:27:30
Zak
but short
00:27:32
Chris
And now, hence, hen he was made captain in the summer because ah he really, last season, he was fantastic. But some but yeah, I think Doyle will be back on the bench.
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:41
Chris
My poor, sad Sarabia will probably be back on the bench as well, which makes me very, very miserable.
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I'm not Sarabia's biggest fan, so um I'm on the other end of the spectrum there, Chris.
00:27:49
Zak
Fulham. It's matured.
00:27:49
Greg
Thank
00:27:51
Chris
I think he was hard done by.
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But before we yeah before we talk about Sarabia's woes, um I just wanted to let everyone know that this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fancy football
00:27:52
Chris
I think he was hard done by.
Global Sports Podcast Network Promotion
00:28:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah unique listening experience that puts fans first
00:28:09
Zak
Thank
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team subscribe wherever you get your podcast to make us your first listen every day global sports podcast network every club every day now um i guess this is this is crunch time.
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want to get some predictions and some feeling from everyone um on how we think the game is going to go come Saturday.
00:28:29
Chris
Thank
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to start with yourself, Greg. How do you see this one playing out? um And what would be your score prediction
00:28:43
Greg
Yeah, well, i I don't think that so far this season I've ah predicted Saints to lose, so I don't think we're going to start now. I like the optimism of it being a goal fest, up but I just don't see it happening. I think it's probably going to be a ah fairly scrappy two one win for all
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay
00:29:09
Zak
Thank
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
your score prediction?
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
you agree
00:29:14
Chris
um I don't agree. Do you want my full prediction now or am I just going whether I agree or not?
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Chris, do you agree? Yeah, yeah. Full prediction, the whole the whole chabang
00:29:20
Chris
Okay. I'll give you what I want and what I think will happen. What I want want is is obviously a nice clear proper performance with a 2-0 win or something for wolves um however i dread to say it but i fear it has the like criminality of a really horrible nasty watch of a 1-1 draw stuck to it like the most horrific annoying stressful anxious both sides anxious one one draw and wolves obviously that will make molyneux a horrible place and uh yeah and then who knows what'll happen oh as will be a step yeah yeah it'll be it well obviously it'll be a set piece against us that's how it's been pretty much all season.
00:29:29
Zak
you.
00:29:29
Greg
a a fairly scrappy 2-1 win for us
00:29:49
Zak
so
00:29:49
Greg
Thank you.
00:29:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
the whole shebang
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:56
Greg
Both tap-ins as well, presumably. Nothing like world-class or entertaining yet.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Own goals, maybe. Yeah.
00:30:04
Greg
ah
00:30:05
Chris
And as, who knows, who knows. As will be a beautiful team goal, actually. It'll be the one moment because we we play well for like 20 minutes and then that's it.
00:30:09
Zak
so
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Zach, what about yourself? Are you on the draw? 5-5 draw, was that the initial prediction?
00:30:20
Zak
Yeah, so that that's always optimistic. um mine Mine wildly change and then I usually have a heart and a head. But in for once, in I think as a Saints first, Greg, me and you actually have the same score prediction.
00:30:29
Greg
Yeah.
00:30:31
Zak
And I kind of think with going off of the back of how well we played last time round, hopefully they've got a bit of a sniffle goal.
00:30:32
Chris
like
00:30:37
Zak
I feel like you'll probably score first. And I think that it's about time that they showed that after going a goal down, we can actually come back and win. and I could easily see Archer potentially getting one and Fernandez is finally due a goal as well because he's played phenomenally for us so far this season and I think that yeah just judging judging by your mood around camp it's very much the mood of our relegation season now I really genuinely don't hope that happens to you guys I've always had like a weird soft spot for Wolves back from the FIFA days when you were sponsored by Doritos.
00:30:48
Chris
Oh.
00:30:49
Greg
Thank
00:30:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:31:07
Zak
For some reason, always a team I played, probably because you were orange and I was young.
00:31:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:31:11
Zak
um But yeah, that that's ever since those days. like so But I can just see that like we've got the confidence there, um but it also could easily play out as a one-all draw, which i don't think anyone wants right so i have to be optimistic for greg
00:31:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah went Yeah.
00:31:30
Chris
i mean we can't hold at eat right now so i can see that happening
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, look, I'm completely del delusional with all of my predictions anyway. So similar to Greg, I'm just going to keep going with it. I think it's going to be a 1-0 win to Wolves, to the Doritos.
00:31:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I don't know how much I believe it, but um it's it's in my hopes it's in my hopes and dreams, so that is my prediction.
00:31:49
Chris
I mean, we can't hold a lead right now, so I can see that happening.
00:31:49
Zak
don't think anyone wants right so I have to be optimistic for Greg
00:31:49
Greg
Thank you.
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Speaking it into reality. and So yeah, you've heard it here first. Those are our predictions. I think um it would be funny if it did end up in a 5-5.
00:32:05
Greg
Yeah.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not so much for our negative goal balance, but um hey, ah are there any more thoughts, guys, on on the game before before we wrap things up?
00:32:09
Chris
you
00:32:09
Zak
you
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any final um shouts?
00:32:15
Chris
ah For me, any need that somewhat I heard a few people saying recently that ah what's happening to us at the moment kind of reminded them of Southampton when they went down previously in terms of the um the way that because we're trying to be the self-sustaining club and like selling the big guns and bringing in younger players and then building them up and selling them on and but it's not working you know because they're not necessarily bringing in players that can go straight into the lineup and whilst there is experience in the squad you know you're selling some of the key assets and the club doesn't want to spend certain amounts of money on certain types of players and all this kind of vibes.
00:32:29
Zak
Thank you.
00:32:49
Zak
so
00:32:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:32:49
Greg
Thank
00:32:50
Chris
And so I've i've heard echoes of you know similarities and I don't know if that rings a bell. Zach's nodding. So for anyone listening, but yeah, just a thought.
00:32:59
Zak
Yeah, some from from my perspective, it's the the reason I say it it feels like it's very similar to our relegation seed is also is's the stuff you're talking about, how you've got a bunch of players that still haven't shifted from a manager they've had since way back when, except we tried to do that with three managers in a better space of about three months.
00:33:18
Zak
And like Nathan Jones, as as much as we're not big fans of him, his biggest criticism of the club and his time was that he tried to make them play a different way of football. They basically said no and he went, well, I give up then.
00:33:29
Chris
Thank
00:33:31
Zak
And then we had Ruben Sellison for the rest of that season trying to play Hassan Ball light and it didn't work out at all. And as much as we have a stubborn play style now, we actually have a play style.
00:33:45
Zak
And, you know, i just I just hope that for the rest of the season, you guys are able to figure it out, whether that's under a new manager or not.
00:33:49
Chris
you.
00:33:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:33:49
Greg
Thank
00:33:51
Zak
And I think hopefully the players can adapt or move on because I'm pretty sure since the last time we played you, we've got about three players left. And that says ah that says all you need to know.
00:34:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:01
Chris
yeah
00:34:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, fingers crossed that we, um yeah, but all my fingers are crossed, crossed toes are crossed everything's going on here
00:34:08
Greg
Look,
Wrap-up and Best Wishes
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
just to try and yeah absolutely absolutely absolutely to be honest like yeah that's probably the best way to leave it there today, guys.
00:34:09
Greg
you. I think that all four of us are unanimous, right? That we just hope that Everton and Man United take up the two relegation spots with Ipswich and we'll all laugh at the end of the season.
00:34:17
Chris
Yeah.
00:34:20
Chris
That right
00:34:22
Zak
It's
00:34:27
Greg
a
00:34:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's been an absolute pleasure having a yourselves on, Greg and Zach. So that will be it from us today. And best of luck for the game on Saturday. And we will catch you guys in the next episode.
00:34:41
Chris
bybye
00:34:48
Chris
be