Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 335: Transfer window looms!
125 Plays2 days ago
Southampton – We take a look ahead to January's window, which is right around the corner and look at where we need to improve, who we might say goodbye to and much much more!
Follow us on social media:
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/gspndailysouthampton
X - https://x.com/GSPNSouthampton/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@gspnsouthampton
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@gspnsouthampton
Instagram – https://www.instagtam.com/gspnsouthampton
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/gspnsouthampton.bsky.social
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572875812052
Our Sponsors
Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.
We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.
Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
d9f56bf0-d228-11f0-a6d4-1b545feaf63d
ken.davies@globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2025 | Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast
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 Ingo Finch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing mate, you alright? It's
00:00:29
Zak
Yeah, I'm not too bad, mate. i've had I've had a bit of a rough day. You'll be aware of that.
A Day in the Life: Zach's Driving Test Experience
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
all good mate, it's all good.
00:00:35
Zak
but i Don't know if anyone anyone has tried to take a driving test over like the age of 30 before. But man, it's so much harder than I want it to be. But yeah, such such is life, Cenevie. We go again.
00:00:46
Zak
All those words. But it does mean that you get a co-host back that isn't kind of off his head.
00:00:54
Zak
Well...
Transfer Window Uncertainty: Managerial Challenges
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's good mate. Well wait look I'm looking forward to it and we what what a topic we've got today because you know it's it's transfer window coming up real soon and we've not really had time to to think about it or settle in and and go and look for it and you know it's sort of crazy with with all the games coming thick and fast and the manager position at the time of recording still very much but up in the air. Yeah. Hmm.
00:01:25
Zak
not though, is it? That's not. It's up in the air about the fact that it's not been confirmed, but I'd genuinely be surprised if we don't see somebody other than Tonda at this point, regardless of whether or not
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
butena But look, mate, there's a lot to think about. And you were talking to me before the episode starts about like some of the concerns you have. Like, is there actually a plan? do we have a plan? Does that plan change if we bring a manager in So, i mean, what are your thoughts? How are feeling heading into the window? Let's start with that before we get into sort specific ins and outs.
00:02:00
Zak
It feels like it's been such a whirlwind couple of months, right? With probably more downs than ups and then a recent uptick of ups and players that we thought would be kind of gone potentially in January who have now started to open up. Players that we haven't even seen.
00:02:15
Zak
Players that are struggling and probably need some time elsewhere. There's a lot going on and I kind of, you know... I'm wondering what's going to happen.
Squad Planning and Player Concerns
00:02:27
Zak
It's a kind of it's more curiosity than than anything else because there doesn't seem to be really like a plan, as I pointed out before. I kind of understand it.
00:02:37
Zak
they they seem to it was it like he What was his quote that kept getting quoted? It's like, squad planning is an art that all comes...
00:02:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an art that becomes clear in hindsight or something. Yeah.
00:02:48
Zak
And I'm like, okay, well, maybe maybe like four out of your six transfers, 75% of that was true, right? And and we're seeing it with Sienza and other other other sort of players like that.
00:02:58
Zak
But we've also got a lot of sort of dead wood we struggled to shift last season. And and they're still here. And you know there are other, i think technically, isn't Bree supposed to be back in January?
00:03:09
Zak
That was for half a year, but i can guarantee that's probably going to go on.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is... Yeah, that's that was the original term, but, I mean, he's doing so well there. don't know if you know if that's a a factor that will come into it, but, I mean, I guess what I want to think about is...
Manager's Philosophy and Transfer Timing
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know So much of any modern day manager, we've talked about this a lot on the show, it's one of our favourite topics, comes in with their own philosophy of football, right for better or or for worse.
00:03:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, so you know, if
00:03:38
Zak
Uh-huh.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we're not going with Tondra and we're holding out for someone with experience and someone comes in, and are we leaving it too late to like make an actual plan for the window?
00:03:46
Zak
Uh-huh.
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
like They've got to assess what we've got and what's going on and and like if we need to bring anyone in. and i i mean I guess that's one question.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
is is Obviously, i I personally, and I'm sure that you also believe, there are holes in our squad that we need to fill in January. and i would expect to see some departures.
00:04:09
Zak
There
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But do you think that the club hold that same opinion? Or do you think they're thinking, now we're right, now we're set. We got our striker and our midfielder and our centre-back.
00:04:17
Zak
are... I... Isn't...
00:04:21
Zak
No, because surely they're not... surely Surely they've watched some of the games, right? Surely they've paid attention to the scores and and paid attention to where the gaps are. And and things like, you know, i wonder how much they regret sort not sorting out this sort goalkeeper situation
Goalkeeper Situation and Reinvestment Challenges
00:04:37
Zak
early on because you look at...
00:04:39
Zak
I think Ramsdale was talking about how he hopes had a good game. of think he must have played the other day. and he was talking about how, oh, hope to have many more career games at you know this wonderful club. So he clearly doesn't want to be here, you know come back to us or whatever, which, i don't know, kind of stings a little bit because I feel like at that point we should just sold him because we've we've entirely loved this on the idea of us getting back-to-back promotions again.
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:02
Zak
It's not gone well.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it was it was a alonene it was a loan with an option, right?
00:05:04
Zak
Still is gone.
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if he wants to go, the the money's pretty much guaranteed there for us.
00:05:11
Zak
Yeah, for sure.
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's not...
00:05:12
Zak
But the problem is is that they won't be able to reinvest that until that's happened. And it's not going to happen theoretically until the end of the season.
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:05:18
Zak
So that means we're stuck in this sort of goalkeeper... sort that I know that you're sick of talking about it, but we're stuck in this limbo situation where all of this is caused by the fact that they they they did what they thought was a shrewd bit of business that doesn't really look to be working out that way.
00:05:32
Zak
so So if you take that as one of their plans, like the other problem when it comes to what do we think they're going to do and do we think they've got a plan in place is like they still thought we still would be here. And also, Will Still kind of said he was happier with
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Striker Risks and Squad Fitness Issues
00:05:45
Zak
transfers, but I don't know how much truth there was to that.
00:05:47
Zak
I think he he still wanted another striker. I think there was always plans ne kind of to get another striker unless they just pinned all their hopes on Damien Downs, like they did creatively in Sienza.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think it was a combination of Damien Downs and Ross Stewart, right? And the unfortunate part is that Ross Stewart was never going to be able to stay fit realistically in any expectation that that was the case.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean I don't think it's unreasonable, especially based on how it's gone, to have called that silly at best.
00:06:14
Zak
Yeah, it was just a huge risk, wasn't it?
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:17
Zak
And it's still going to be a huge risk going forward. And, you know, you're looking at how much game time Archer's getting and he's not even knocking around in the under-21s.
00:06:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:29
Zak
And I don't know if he's still got a knock. I don't believe so.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, no, specifically not, right?
00:06:32
Zak
He's got to be looking at this point and going, he's going to be, he must be, you know, looking at his career and being like, nah, but if he goes, they're going to have to replace him with somebody.
00:06:43
Zak
And it probably needs to be somebody that, you know, has a bit more of an eye for goal. If I'm totally honest, you know, if we got, if we're supposedly the club that has the parachute payments and the spending power and this, and other,
00:06:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:55
Zak
I'd like it to us to prove it in the areas where it actually is needed and
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Midfield Overload and Fullback Needs
00:06:59
Zak
not just by another midfielder and another centre-back for the 200th time.
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
what
00:07:04
Zak
Because you know there are positions that we definitely need filling and and the striker's definitely one of them. I have no idea what's going on with right-back. I know we're kind of moving into this wing-back situation now, but we have technically James Bree who's out on loan.
00:07:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:20
Zak
We have... Roroslev, who hasn't really got a sniff, and I don't really know if that's to do it's probably a combination of his performances and the system.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he's still injured, right? He's still injured at the minute, so he's out with a knock.
00:07:29
Zak
Yeah. is that if that's If that's what it is, then for sure. But like I don't see him at the moment, if we're keeping with this Wimbach system, I don't see him getting in ahead of Fellows.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:38
Zak
like It's just not happening.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, absolutely not.
00:07:40
Zak
so And then on top of that, you've got Elias Jalert, where like even Alfie House was saying that he has no idea because the reports are constantly like, he's going back in for float. He's not...
00:07:52
Zak
No one actually knows the truth to this. So, and you know, from from the one or two times we saw him, he was actually really good.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:59
Zak
But if that's all he can manage, then, yeah, for sure, he's not coming. So, you know, it's it's a bit of a problem. Now we're going to almost be overloaded in the middle of the park. You've got a Dozie, which we don't know if he's coming back or wants to go.
00:08:13
Zak
You've got a Rebo, who's just there, taking up space as well. So there's there's such a weird...
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's an even more complicated situation, right? Because now he, in January, becomes six months left on his contract. So actually, instead of looking to go, presumably what he'll actually be looking for is a pre-contract, right?
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where they can sign in for free once, you know, once the six months is up. It's like pre-contract end talks.
00:08:39
Zak
sort of that, we take take a massive cut price, which we might end up doing, if I'm totally honest.
00:08:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:08:44
Zak
If the right if the right person comes along to pay his wages, that they might just let him go six months early. But then you've you've got others, you know, basically, like, you wanted you wanted him to do better this season, him to get a go, and, you know, he couldn't even get a substitute appearance for Love Nor Money, despite the fact, you know, pretty sure he scored one those fantastic goals.
00:08:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:09:05
Zak
I think it was either Norwich or Northampton, I can't remember, but like you know since then he's now just appeared in the under-20 Knights as time recording alongside Romeo a loss.
00:09:16
Zak
But yeah, there's just a lot going on and it it worries me that we have a situation where we're currently managerless, exactly like you pointed out.
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:28
Zak
We don't know how we're going to setting up. If we're setting up the way that we are, even if we're carrying on with this way, still going to require some changes, isn't it?
Team Structure and Youth Integration
00:09:36
Zak
So Yeah, it's a bit of a tough one.
00:09:39
Zak
But we've also never usually spent well in January, at least under Sports Republic.
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:09:45
Zak
It's either been throw the kitchen sink at it and it turned out to be terrible, or a couple of transfers that, you know, within six months, you're sort of... Well, that last VoIP window, who was it?
00:09:55
Zak
Kronbach? That was it during the Premier League.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
00:09:58
Zak
Exactly. that was the That was it, that January window, mate.
00:09:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:10:02
Zak
So...
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, mate, look, let's let's try and hone in on some specifics and and have a little think about it.
00:10:07
Zak
For sure.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But let's let's have a little break first and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:10:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate. We are back. Look, I... Lots to break down. Lots to break down. So let's start at the back.
00:11:02
Zak
to be To be fair, mate, I literally start... I don't exactly have like a... I just have a flow of consciousness as opposed to anything else. So the fact that you're one of the few people in this life that can can take away from that, you're you're right.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, let's...
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:16
Zak
Breaking it down maybe position by position might might be helpful.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah i I think you're right. I don't think we're going to sign a goalkeeper. I think that...
00:11:25
Zak
think I think people going to be mad, but I just don't see it happening.
00:11:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't see us bringing one in and it's going to be... i mean, that's...
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be a point of contention. Hmm.
00:11:35
Zak
That would be five goalkeepers on the guards on the books, if not, though, technically.
00:11:40
Zak
They bring in a new goalkeeper. You've then got, technically, Aaron Ramsdale, who is on loan, but technically still a Samaddon player. You've then got Baz and McCarthy.
00:11:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:50
Zak
And then you've got that George fella. LAUGHTER Whose surname escapes me.
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:11:57
Zak
LAUGHTER George Long?
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:12:00
Zak
Let's go with George Long. LAUGHTER
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That sounds right. The bloke we signed from Norwich, right?
00:12:06
Zak
That's the one.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So... yeah Yeah, so look i don't I don't see it happening. I feel like it is going to be a point of contention for the rest of the season, but something we're going to have to stomach. And you know what? Baz is getting better and better, in my opinion.
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And sure, we'll see how it goes. see if that opinion holds. Yeah.
00:12:25
Zak
Hmm. Clip that up, mate, and watch you watch the opinion of the internet tear you apart. But yeah, sure.
00:12:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm fine with that. And then, look, we've got loads of centre-backs, right? If we we could... We don't need
Transfer Strategy and Market Challenges
00:12:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
any more.
00:12:41
Zak
A metric ton of centre-backs at this point. Yeah, right.
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Like, we're spoiled for choice at the centre-back department, and it's it's fine. we're We're happy. We found three or four that we're happy with to rotate in and out, and that's good. Yeah.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's fine. And even with backups, right? Because Ronnie Edwards was really in the mix and now we haven't seen or heard from him in a while, but I still would be confident bringing him into any of these lineups.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So so i think we're good we're good there.
00:13:08
Zak
For sure.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fullbacks, we probably need one, right?
00:13:13
Zak
Yeah, probably probably need a little bit more right back cover. But the problem is, you're going to end up
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, maybe one that can play both sides, especially if what's true is we're sending Yeller away. now He's been you know predominantly injured anyway.
00:13:26
Zak
up... You're right. We should have kept Carl Walker-Peters by any means necessary.
00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
no, that's...
00:13:33
Zak
It's on him, I know. And I know that I've been salty about it.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's probably not the answer, right?
00:13:37
Zak
Mubson...
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, I mean...
00:13:38
Zak
But it would have been nice and it would have been a problem that we didn't have to resolve.
00:13:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unless...
00:13:42
Zak
And it's a bit of a weird one.
00:13:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
here's Here's the other like point of thought and line of thought as well, mate. It's that, you know, Tonda's come out in his time here and said about how...
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, that route from the youth team to the first team is so important to him and how that him and Adam Lallana have their office doors open and they're next to each other. And it's it's not really two separate teams. So, i mean, I don't pay anywhere near as much attention to the under-21s as maybe I should. But, I mean, have we got a good fullback there that could come up and cover if need to be?
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because if that is the case, probably we don't target that area.
00:14:23
Zak
Maybe. that that the Stranger things have happened, but I feel like we have seen a lot of who we'd expect, right? That's the thing.
00:14:35
Zak
The players that they have decided to bring through, we've already kind of started to see. So you've had Bragg, you've had Barnaby Williams, you've, you know, else have you had to see? You've...
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nick made it onto the bench.
00:14:52
Zak
Yeah, so you've got...
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh you ken lay Sorry, there we go. i got it back.
00:14:56
Zak
Right, do you want to say that whole bit again? Because you're going to cut this at this point, mate. So we've got like Barnaby Williams, Cissé, Cam Bragg...
00:15:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, you can lay. He made the bench big, big Nick.
00:15:08
Zak
so So, yeah, we've we've we've we've got
00:15:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. So yeah.
Attacking Depth and Role Solidification
00:15:11
Zak
players that we could you have kind of already started to come through and already have their debuts.
00:15:16
Zak
I think if anybody else was ready or was needed, they would have started to put them the bench already, right?
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So fallback is somewhere. We're probably almost definitely seeing a sign in right.
00:15:27
Zak
Yeah, for sure.
00:15:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Presumably that's the main target area. Then like moving forward up the pitch. So in the you know we play with blocks of midfielders, right? So we kind of have CDMs and CAMs or ACMs, depending on which game is your preference.
00:15:45
Zak
Yep. Yep. Or suspended. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're talking about number six roles, we're probably okay in that position because Shea Charles will be coming back at some point. Flynn Downs will be back when he's not ill.
00:16:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
as as often as possible.
00:16:02
Zak
or or or or suspended
00:16:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cam, yep, Cam Bragg has, you know, shown that he's more than capable of playing that position. We saw Williams trusted there for 45 minutes and, you know, wouldn't be surprised if we see more of him.
00:16:12
Zak
the
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've got Romayu coming back to fitness. Like, it's almost overload, right?
00:16:19
Zak
you're you're You're right. A metric ton alongside centre-back.
00:16:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:30
Zak
So yeah, maybe we're actually...
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but I mean, this also kind of makes sense because they all you know they all bring slightly different strengths and weaknesses, right? So there's tactical reasons you would play some over the others.
00:16:38
Zak
But they can also they're also playing in the youth as well. That's the other thing about it.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
move
00:16:42
Zak
likeve you've set You pointed out yourself, some of these players are youth players and and have been in and out of the team.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:48
Zak
So they can go out of the team when necessary.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But with that list of players in front of him and seeing how he's performed when he has been brought on, you know...
00:16:58
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
there's is' There's just no room for Joe Eribo at this point, surely. Like, it's just... is There are so many players that you would play above him, and sure, one of them's injured and one of them was suspended at the weekend, which puts us in the position where...
00:17:11
Zak
we
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I forgot to even mention Kasper Yander, who is actually the first choice for me. So, like, that's just such a list of, like...
00:17:22
Zak
How have we forgotten Caspiando who scored and two two
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because that's his that's the like that's the joy of his game, though, is that apart from popping up with the occasional goal, the work he does is like the dirty, invisible work that no one really notices.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the beauty of it. Yeah.
00:17:35
Zak
Yeah, the Shea Charles work, which is what we also love chat about Shea Charles.
00:17:40
Zak
But yeah, no,
00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Top Striker Acquisition Dilemma
00:17:41
Zak
you're you're right.
00:17:41
Zak
But I don't think they've been playing Joe Erivo there, though, right? Joe Erivo's replaced forward players mainly in this current system. He played here, there and everywhere the season before and did all right.
00:17:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:17:52
Zak
But this season, again, like...
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
centre-back and top goal-scorer, right? That was how it was for most of the season.
00:17:55
Zak
Right. yeah Well, and how well did centre-back go, mate? I don't remember that game.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:59
Zak
but I don't remember us winning it. It's a fair punt to say we didn't win most of those games last season. so But, yeah, so because of that, yeah I feel like as well, if you if you get a dozy fit and he wants to play, even on that sort of left-hand side, you're not really going to swap.
00:18:18
Zak
If you've got Sienza or Robinson and then you're really bringing on a re-bo at that point, probably not.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. so that So let's talk about that that next, but let's let's have a little break first before we move to our forward line and hear a message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:19:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate. let's Let's move from the defensive midfield. I think it's pretty solidly agreed. We're we're pretty stocked. We're pretty stacked. We're we're fine. So let's move into these attacking areas.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
i don't I don't know if you can really call our system wingers. we kind of have We kind of have a front group of players who sort of rotate positions.
00:19:17
Zak
Yeah, Who will run around and hopefully get the ball into an area that can be scored a goal from, yeah.
00:19:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah? oh Which is good, because that's what you need, right? You need to move around. If you stood in the same space the whole game, because that was your position, someone would just come and mark you. that is you know i know I know that we like to break football down to its simplest elements and say it's as easy as kicking the ball in the goal, but... There is a bit more to it than that. You need to you know create space and all that fun stuff.
00:19:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
so So let's not think about this as like left, right, middle. if we If we group them all together, right as a creative outlet, we've got Sienza, Azaz, Robinson, who play who play these roles regularly. And they link up with the wingbacks, which is fine.
00:20:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we've got Uribo who comes off the bench for this position sometimes. And...
00:20:22
Zak
sure it's there?
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I would say that that position suits Matsuki more.
00:20:28
Zak
Probably.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But we don't see anything of him.
00:20:29
Zak
You're right.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that...
00:20:31
Zak
Nope.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's not that's not a lot for a highly physical position that's going to need quite a bit of rotation. And as we saw at the weekend, Sienza goes out and all of a sudden we struggle because because what Jay Robinson brings to the table is just different thing, right?
00:20:38
Zak
no
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is he's a good player in his own right, but he's not Leo Sienza.
00:20:53
Zak
There you
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that's probably an area we need to shore up, right?
00:21:00
Zak
I agree with you because I said, like, you've got a dozy waiting in the winds to come back from injury, but without really a full pre-season.
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:06
Zak
Like, I think he he was involved in so summer pre-season. He was involved in more pre-season than than a rebo, for sure.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
is
00:21:12
Zak
But, like, we don't know where his headspace is at.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:21:14
Zak
He might come back from injury and just be like, i want to go and You know, I know very much that it was it was last minute that all of his sort Belgian moves fell through, right?
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:22
Zak
So...
00:21:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
move
00:21:23
Zak
It's got to be, you know, he might have already sort of made up his mind. But yeah, especially like going back a couple of weeks ago, maybe as well, people were talking about dropping Azaz for Joe Rebo because of how bad Azaz was playing and then was like four and four.
00:21:35
Zak
And, you know, some people still give him a lot of stick, but I'm like, to be honest, if he plays bad for half the game and then scores a goal, I couldn't care less.
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, he scored five goals in four games as a Saints player. Can I remind you that our top goal scorer last season scored five goals all season?
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:21:54
Zak
Drop the mic now, mate. I don't know what else to say.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:21:58
Zak
yeah
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think what anything else needs to be
Squad Development and Market Realities
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
said. But yeah, that's definitely a position where we're going to probably struggle for a bit of depth.
00:22:08
Zak
Yeah.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And to be fair, right, I think from what we've seen from Yander, he could probably step up into that position and play in front of Leica Shea Charles, probably.
00:22:09
Zak
Probably. probably
00:22:20
Zak
Was Fellows meant to sort of play there initially?
00:22:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Fellows is meant to play there.
00:22:23
Zak
Because that's where I sort of remember. But but now now he's our defensive wing back, but not really.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he... and Well, no, and he...
00:22:29
Zak
Because he's never really in the defence.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know so When you look at our shape, here we go. Tactical analysis time with Greg.
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here we go.
00:22:36
Zak
Crack on me.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
when you
00:22:37
Zak
Crack on. Let's go.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
When you look at our shape, I would group fellows more with that forward group of players than with our defenders. And what we actually do is we almost move... It tends to be Harwood-Bellis on that right-hand side of the back three. And he tends to sort of step out more into this sort of hybrid right-back, right-centre-back role. But he was also given the freedom to move forward into that midfield to give the overload. And then what tends to happen is Sienza starts on the left and then works his way over towards the right, giving...
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
the overload, and then pulls away back towards the left, giving fellows the sort of space to go one-on-one with the defender, which, as we know, i mean, I've seen him described this week by pundits and by players. I think it was Ryan Manning that said he's the the best one-on-one player in the league, right? Like... And, and you know, we pointed that out when we played against Leicester. like I don't think he lost a one-on-one all night.
00:23:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was insane. And so because he's naturally towards that attacking mentality and he's sort of naturally a part of that attacking pack, yeah, it's easy to throw him in there and he could easily do a job in that role without the defensive capabilities if you were going to chuck a more traditional right back behind him.
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
but it's still you know still like one injury away from a concern, right?
00:24:05
Zak
Yeah, no, I agree with you. You know, as Zazzle, Lord forbid, Sienza go out, that's a problem currently.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But That is the depth of our strikers at the moment, right? Like, we've seen him come off for Damien Downs, and not to discredit Damien Downs, because I think it's very unfair to judge him by the fact that when he has come on, the games have been dead.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not his fault if he does not get an opportunity to put away, or if he only gets one opportunity and doesn't put it away, because he yeah he has struggled to start, and he needs that confidence.
00:24:52
Zak
Yeah.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if you're only getting one chance a game, I mean, we of all people know that Adam Armstrong needs three to four normally to net. So, but, and and then, you know, we haven't heard hair nor tail from Cameron Archer, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him go.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and, and you know, I'd like to see Iakunle come off the bench because he bangs him for fun for the youth team. So that is some layer of depth, but, you know, you talk about your need for some experience and some youth.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
If, if heaven forbid, Armour, takes a knock and has, you know, three or four games out, we are, we're in a position where that's, we can struggle to fill that front, that front sort of false nine, I guess, like position.
00:25:41
Zak
Yeah, for i think you know it probably i think everyone's kind of in agreement that it's probably somewhere they should have targeted.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:49
Zak
And by the sounds of it, they they did, right? Originally, there's there's reports that they they kind of also tried to bring Danny Ings in and that obviously he went to Sheffield United and by the sounds he's having a great time there, not not scoring.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:26:01
Zak
So maybe it was, I don't know, bullet dodged at this point.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:03
Zak
But it's difficult.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
but like But, like, also, like even if Ross Stewart comes back from injury, which, I mean, I don't know. I haven't heard any reports whatsoever apart from that he's long-term out. But, you know, even if he does manage to come back from injury, he is not that profile of player. We talked before about profiles of strikers and big target men and not big target men. And...
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, of we said it while we still have Will Stewart in charge. Damian Downs is much closer to Cameron Archer and Adam Armstrong than he was to Ross Stewart. So to have three strikers of that profile is fine because that's almost like
00:26:35
Zak
Yeah.
Market Limits and Fan Expectations
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
for like.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when Cameron Archer's not even getting a look in, what you know, yeah.
00:26:46
Zak
what do you do? for who Where do you go? And and yeah.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:49
Zak
but And and it to be fair, like it's kind of baffling that everybody recognised this really early on.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:56
Zak
i feel i feel like it's it's one of those things where like a look when a lot of the fans are recognising something so key and not seeing it filled. like The only thing I can see is that they have recognised that and have just struggled to fill it.
00:27:09
Zak
And I know people are just saying they should pay over the odds, but
00:27:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, hiss here's the problem, mate, and here's the difficulty, right? Because you look at Adam Armstrong and his pedigree in this league, right? Last time we played in the championship, he was the top goal scorer in the league. Put some away for fun. We're starting to see more of that now and that he's enjoying this shape. So, realistically, whoever we bring in is unlikely to knock Adam Armstrong out of the team.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So unless you're bringing in a player who is capable or has the skill set to do both that role that we want Adam Armstrong to do and also that other sort of attacking creative role, which is slightly deeper, like your Sienza or your Azaz, you're not likely to be able to bring in anyone of quality because anyone who's got 10, 15 goals a season in them is a going to be highly sought after, and B... isn't going to want to play second choice.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's it's kind of like stuck between a rock and a hard place because it's just...
00:28:09
Zak
So then what do you do? You have to bring somebody who wants to step up and that means taking a risk. And that's, and that's the problem is that we, you know, with Damien Downs, it was a risk that was taken and and so far it's not paid off, but you know, if he, if what else did they, for the people want?
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:25
Zak
Yeah. I think it is genuinely a thing sometimes where it's like having to accept the reality of the situation that we are currently in the championship. Yes. We're fighting to try and get promotion, but if you look at the table, it doesn't look like it right now.
00:28:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:38
Zak
who is goingnna want to who is Who has a prolific striker that scores goals is going to want to join that? Apart from somebody else in the championship, where then we'll get massively criticised for buying a championship player if we go up the Premier League.
00:28:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:53
Zak
And also, if they if they've got a championship striker that's playing really well for a team, that team probably doesn't want to sell it.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's... It's...
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're not coming...
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they're not coming to us.
00:28:59
Zak
You look at Gellhart for Hull City.
00:29:01
Zak
I can car can already see...
00:29:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So then, so, you know, it that it already immediately limits your options and it, you know, it almost limits it to either player currently playing in the Premier League and struggling, but who, you know, should thrive on the championship,
00:29:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
you conditions a la Ben Brough and Diaz or you know like someone who's banging in goals for fun in League 1 and you hope can make the step up. and i't and then Again, in that case, why would they leave to come to you know even with the step up of the league, it's the could clip be second choice in a team that might not get promoted.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
like It's you know it's a tough sell and it's a tough position to fill.
00:29:46
Zak
Yeah.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like say, the only way you can sort of sort of leverage it to your advantage is to try and get one of these sort of utility players that can do both parts. But you know then you open up yourself the possibility of getting a jack of all trades that isn't as good at either of those things.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also, that's hard to come by, man. That's like like a rainbow unicorn, isn't it? like Yeah, we're just going to magic up this attacking player that can just play anywhere and score goals for fun and do all the creative stuff.
00:30:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Woo!
00:30:18
Zak
It's going to be really...
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, right? And I'm going to wake up in the morning with £3 million pound on my bedside table, which is not going to happen, is it? Like... yeah
00:30:30
Zak
Mate, it's just so... It's such a hard position for us to try and sort out. And I'd love to hear what people think is the solution.
00:30:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:40
Zak
Because obviously for a while it was Patrick Bamford and then he obviously went to Sheffield United and then got a lot of stick for that, for giving him a lot of stick when he went up with Leeds. then obviously got released by Leeds. And it's like, well, yeah, okay, we could have picked free agent.
00:30:52
Zak
And maybe looking back at it, maybe that was a good shout. But...
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's kind of doomed if you do, doomed if you don't, isn't it? Because you either sign a player of that level as backup or you bring in someone who's clearly quality, supposedly quality enough to knock armour out of the first team.
00:30:58
Zak
Hmm...
00:31:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the pressure's on them to hit the ground running or, you know, the same questions come, like, you know, we could sign Haaland and if he doesn't score in three games, people will be going, well, that was an awful signing.
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why have we done that?
00:31:21
Zak
Yeah, it's it says a lot.
00:31:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why we paid that much money?
00:31:25
Zak
I think it's for the longest time, we've always kind of felt that we want we've never replaced Danny Ings or we've never replaced Pella. And it's like, oh yeah, probably not. But it's hard to replace them.
00:31:36
Zak
If it was easy, it wouldn't be a thing that we complained about constantly. If it was having having a striker and sort of... capable as Haaland in every team would... Well, I guess it would make football more fun because there would be so many more goals, but the fences would cry and it would be awful.
00:31:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:31:51
Zak
And then everything, the game wouldn't entirely change. But yeah, if it was if it was so easy, we'd have resolved this problem a long time ago. and I think that under multitude, I don't think that... There's a misconception, I think, that it's like jit down to like mismanagement.
00:32:04
Zak
And, oh, they've just never really focused on the position. And, you know, i even I sometimes feel if theyre a little bit guilty of that. Whereas in actuality, the reality of it is it's just really hard to a striker that that scores non-stop and is good.
00:32:18
Zak
You know, Middlesbrough Morgan Whittaker, another example, right?
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:22
Zak
He played really well for Plymouth.
00:32:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:32:23
Zak
He came in and he struggled massively. He got a lot stick. Now he started to kind of come good, but that's a long long a lot longer than I think Middlesbrough would have liked, right?
00:32:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It's not easy, right? Because you know football is so such a vast array and you know you can succeed in one system or under one manager and not succeed under a different even manager, even if the style looks similar for so many different reasons. like it's It's not easy or everyone would get paid millions of pounds to do it. like it's It's everyone's first choice of job, so you've got to be good at it to do it. But I look...
00:32:57
Zak
Yeah.
00:32:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
but i mean look what What I'm hearing to sort summarise the whole episode, Zach, as we come towards the end of our time, is that what the fans think we're going to need is a top-quality striker, top-quality goalkeeper, and a full-back.
Conclusion and Audience Engagement
00:33:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what we're probably going to get is full-back and an attacking midfielder.
00:33:23
Zak
then I mean, that's if we even get a player, mate.
00:33:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:33:29
Zak
oh
00:33:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
it bring Grom back home? I don't
00:33:37
Zak
January.
00:33:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
know.
00:33:38
Zak
Ole, ole, ole, mate. We'll start to see will happen.
00:33:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be... At the risk of it becoming my cliche go-to response for every situation, it's gonna be proper interesting, isn't it? Like...
00:33:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
As things unfold, it's going to be fascinating to see what becomes. And I bet that even with all of our thoughts that we've put into it, something will come out of left field. Someone will leave who we're not expecting to leave and someone who will come in who we're not expecting to come in.
00:34:08
Zak
We never really expected Sugawara to leave, right? And then it was all of a sudden, he needs to play in one of the top five leagues.
00:34:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:16
Zak
And then it was sayonara, I'm off. So such is life, mate.
00:34:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:20
Zak
Either way, been interesting chatting about it.
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be good. look i'm I'm excited for it and I can't wait for the busyness of January to be absolutely chock-a-block of all of these games coming thick and fast and transfer news every day.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Basically what's going to happen is to cover it all we're just going to turn into a daily podcast that does an hour a day or something.
00:34:44
Zak
Well, mate, we've already run into 35 minutes today.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, exactly. It's not far off, is it?
00:34:51
Zak
I don't.
00:34:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, let us know in the comments on the socials, what are your thoughts? What do we need? Where do we need to strengthen... What should priority one in the window be for Saints? Thank you, everyone, for listening. and Thank you, Zach, very much for joining me. obviously Let us know in the comments on the socials what you think.
00:35:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're everywhere. We're on X, TikTok, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, everywhere. We're GSPN Southampton. Look us up, hit us up. We love hearing from you. And this topic in particular, I cannot wait to see the vast array of opinions of where we need to strengthen. We will be back tomorrow to preview our upcoming game of the weekend against Birmingham.
00:35:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, everyone, have wonderful day and we'll see you then.