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00:00:01
S1 E47 - Crossover with Southampton
21 Plays15 days ago
On today's episode Craig is joined by Zak from our friends at GSPN Southampton to talk about the Saints coming to Villa Park? Does Zak think the Saints will march in? Listen to see
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Setup
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to today's episode of the Daily Villa podcast as part of the global sports podcast network. My name is Craig Burksall and I'm delighted to be joined by Zach from our friends at the GSPN Southampton for a special crossover episode.
Aston Villa vs Southampton Preview
00:00:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Today we look forward to the Satdies game where 7th place Aston Villa take on Southampton who are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. How are you doing today Zach?
Football Match Experiences and Challenges
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:00:33
Zak
Yeah, I'm doing, I'm doing well.
00:00:34
Zak
Thanks Craig. Um, it's a day, it's a day after, um, what can you describe as probably the worst game of football I've seen in a long, long time. Um, my co-host unfortunately isn't joining me today because it was his birthday.
00:00:50
Zak
Um, yesterday he's gotten sick off of the back of being out there in the rain. Uh, and now he can barely talk. So I'm doing a lot better than him.
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:00:59
Zak
Put it that way. But. Yeah, still reeling a little bit after getting home so late last night and knocking out a post-match review and waking up and being miserable at the scores and social media and all the likes.
Seasonal Hopes and Match Recaps
00:01:11
Zak
Yeah, just living, getting through it.
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a pretty rough topic.
00:01:15
Zak
Yeah, it's been difficult, but I'm sure sure we'll survive in the sense of the football club will hopefully exist at the end of the season.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, fingers crossed that obviously it's the time of giving. So, fixtures are coming fast and furious now it's the Christmas period. On Wednesday, Aston Villa were able to put a bad run of results um to bed with a win against Brentford 3-1.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Southampton, as Zach just alluded to on the other side, played against a confident, high-flying Chelsea and lost 5-1 at home and had Steven sent off.
Southampton vs Chelsea Review
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Was it just a bad day at the office, Zach, or did you get any positives from it?
00:01:55
Zak
ha some it was and We went into this game not really knowing how to feel about it, because I think midweek kind of throws you off anyway, especially a midweek that's a Premier League game. um We ended up being about two or three minutes late to the stadium, so we got to miss the entirety of Amazon Prime's budget being blown on fireworks in the sky, which lit up the entirety of Southampton. um So he started you sort of get in, and as we got in, I watched the first goal roll in, and it was very much like, perfect. That's exactly what you want to set-piece goal.
00:02:25
Zak
And then obviously we equalize pretty quickly. And that was, that was really nice. He was like, Oh, great. This is, this isn't what we expect. And then, and then straight away, the second goal is another mistake. And it just kind of compounded from there at that point. But obviously the big turning point was, uh, Stevens getting sent off for a silly, silly challenge. I'd say challenge. It wasn't a challenge. You should pull, pull someone else's hair. Like it's playground. Mad. Never seen, never seen anything like that before, but.
00:02:50
Zak
That was probably one of the most upsetting parts of the evening. And then we had some weird interruptions. At one point, the ref disappeared down the tunnel. Everyone thought he was going for a whiz. Turns out, I think he just had a mic problem. And then about 5-10 minutes after that, we had a pitch invader who was just on the pitch for about 5-10 minutes. Stuart spent extremely long time. I think he ended up getting taken off the pitch by a member of coaching staff. And obviously, as soon as the game restarted, Cole Palmer scored.
00:03:17
Zak
And I think it must've just been, everyone was tired, wet, switched off, didn't really know what was going on. And then obviously the fifth goal was just the next one. So, um, there were some positives, uh, not a lot. Some players did put shift in, um, Kyle Walker Peters played amazing as usual. Uh, Nathan Wood had his first sort of proper game at home, proper Premier League sort of game. And, um, he played okay. Didn't play the best, but he played a lot better than the rest of them. Manning played pretty, pretty solid. Obviously Rebo.
00:03:46
Zak
Arribo scored. Archer had one of his best games. So like there were players and individual performances that that were great. It was just as soon as that sort of red card happened, everything everything had to be defensively shored up. And we actually probably repaid better for about 30 minutes. Not that we created anything. And then it kind of sort of fizzled out after that. So yeah, it could be could be so could have been worse. It could have been 9. And I think you know any most Southampton fans have sat at 9 mil at St Mary's.
00:04:14
Zak
at least once in the last couple of seasons. so It was all right with it being five in the end.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like you're due one of those 9-0 every year.
00:04:23
Zak
It is
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Kind of a quota, isn't it? I've seen them quite a few at Southampton. I do have one question based on what you said. and Does that mean the pitch invader was on the field more than Stevens?
00:04:36
Zak
no but he probably should have shot up our defense a little bit better than Stevens did. um ah ah No, i think I think he kind of He was just having a laugh. He obviously had a bit too much to drink and it made an entertaining second half for what was most, for most of us, a not very fun second half. But yeah, I think he probably, well, he certainly contributed more to the second half performance than Stevens did. I think that was probably tucked down in bed already, which is a shame.
00:05:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I think one of the positives that like we take away from that is the fact that, and I mentioned it on our own podcast recently, that I feel Chelsea are on the board lines of being title contenders.
Performance Analysis and Tactical Discussion
00:05:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they've really sussed out their team now. They've got a good dominant, say 22 players. If they can get rid of that deadwood that's past that, I think they've got a real good chance of pushing on for a city that's aging that needs to change their team.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
a Liverpool team that, like let's mad let's let's be honest, will probably suffer a blip at some time some point and it will depend on how slot deals with that. So i I see the fact that you came up, as I said, that against a very confident Chelsea. Villa no two while after being humbled by them right before your game as well. ah So Chelsea are a real good team. On the other hand, from a Villa point of view this past week, I was very pleased to see a bad run of results put to end ah with a good performance as well. um
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
My question for you, Zach, is what do you think about Villa in general? We're obviously not having as strong of season as we did last year, and we've struggled in recent weeks. Is this a game that Southampton feel that they could potentially get that upset?
00:06:22
Zak
I think that the way that our team play and the the sort of what the manager tries to instill, whether or not that's successful or not, is that every single game is individual and that there is no such thing as an upset. like We've tried to take the game to everybody, tried to take the game to City, to Arsenal. There's no weaker teams. there's no sort of The mentality is that we will try and win no matter what. It doesn't ever go that way at the moment, apart from that one cheeky win against Everton.
00:06:51
Zak
ah But, you know, it's it's one of those things where I think they'll be up for it. I think that he will need a reaction. I think we've got players that have come back off suspension that will want to maybe write a few wrongs from the midweek. um So I think that, you know, we'll try and try and put a good game in. However, I also do think that, you know, if we if if you hadn't have won this game.
00:07:12
Zak
the most Southampton thing to happen would be that you batter us 5-0 and we end up breaking that losing streak because we are very good at giving strikers. say you know Of all people yesterday, Jaden Sancho scored a goal. I completely forgot he even played in the UK. so So it's one of those situations where so if I think that we might end up maybe getting you know sort of a board draw off the back of it if if we're lucky. But but my opinion um on Villa is you know considering the rough kind of seasons you had and to be in the position you are now,
00:07:41
Zak
And, you know, as much as, you know, you're struggling with a little bit at the moment, some of the personnel and the quality that you have. And, you know, even, even a couple of years ago, losing sort of your key man and still managing to recover. I've got a few friends that have been better fans for years and go up and down and up and down to Birmingham stuff. But yeah, it's one of those things where I'm like, you are now an established Premier League team and you are now established and pushing and doing well in Europe. So.
00:08:07
Zak
you know, ultimately, regardless of whether or not you've had a rough few games and a rough start to the season, we we need to treat you with that level of respect. And you have some players that, you know, we would love some talent. I feel like I say that to a lot of clubs, but there's a lot of talent that a lot of the clubs have in the Premier League where we were just like, we we were killed for just one or two of the players that you've got because that will could make the difference of the way we play. Unfortunately, it's going to be real hard to recruit for Southampton at the moment. but So yeah, I've i've always i've always been um been big fans and I'm glad to see you guys doing well, especially as a sort of opponent to the big six that we don't like to see do too well.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's very true. And I'll i'll be perfectly honest, when I say an upset, it's based on current form more than anything, because I think one of the reasons we love the Premier League as much as we do is because anyone can win on any given day. And that's what makes like the Super Six prediction ah that we all play and everything like that extremely hard to win because there's always that one game.
Team Struggles and Management Issues
00:09:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
that can be the the dagger in your side if you're trying to win the pools or whatever that really stops you every single week and what the when we came back from the international break we were struggling going into the international break with Villa and we were convinced that on the podcast that the palace game was going to be the one to right the wrongs and I don't know if it's a sense of um an underwhelming game, if you will, that it's not like a game that we have to rise to our ultimate heights, like when we played the Bayern Munich, for example.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But we really limped into that game. And I'll be honest, we wish we were lucky to get the point out of Crystal Palace, and Crystal Palace have struggled this season as well.
00:09:53
Zak
Yeah.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I have fears going into, say, like a Southampton game, because we have some players that really rise to the occasion when it's there, but the quote-unquote about like the windy night in Stoke during the week and stuff like that those are the sort of games that worry me and we like not last season we didn't have much worries we really didn't and we turned up to every game expecting to win confidence was high and I know this win against Brentford has done a lot to help us
00:10:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do not think though it was the sole answer and we can go into Southampton expecting three points. We have to learn for it so 100% agree. So um my next question for you Zach is and this one's mainly for Villa fans because your own fans will have heard this up season but um going into the season how did Southampton feel the season was going to go? Did you expect this type of struggle?
00:10:51
Zak
I don't think we expected it to be this extreme. so son you know our ah Our podcast is is two people two people wide. It's me and Greg. I am the pessimist. He is the optimist. He came in sort of picking picking and choosing where he thought we'd get points and had us finish in 12th, which is insane. I expected us to be in in the relegation season. I personally think we came up a little bit too early.
00:11:13
Zak
Um, you know, ah ultimately we came up through, through the playoffs and we finished fourth. We didn't finish, you know, in the top, uh, if leads absolutely bottled it, they would have probably rightly have kept their squad and come up most likely stronger. The same with Lester, um, Ipswich are a bit of a surprise, but they're, they're, they're proving their merit. I don't think we expected it to be this, this bleak.
00:11:35
Zak
I think is where I'm at, like five points from available, what, 42 and just the way we've lost some stuff. And I know that the vase played a part in some of those games, specifically Brighton and things like that. But, but also, yeah, I just, I think maybe we thought the recruitment would have been slightly better. Um, so I think we run the no illusion. It was going to be really, really hard to stay up. But then like we did, you know, we got a statement signing in sort of Ramsdale. There was a little hope with the Lana coming back in. And there was, there was quite a few sort of,
00:12:05
Zak
moments where it gives you the hope. And that's the problem with being a Saints fan. It's ah a tagline me and Greg always say, which is, is the hope that kills you because, because we similar have those sorts of similar games to you that you were talking about with sort of like, you really hope that that they'll step up and and there's the amount of times that we have a game where we're like, this is do or die time.
00:12:22
Zak
And it feels like there's nothing at stake at the moment. um if It feels like it doesn't matter what the manager will do, he won't get fired. um It feels like a lot of the players whose contracts are ending know that they're going to move on to somewhere brighter. um And it feels like a lot of the players who are stuck here are probably going to hope to so kind of leave at the end of the season. And there are those that do try and fight, but the problem is is when it's three out of 11, it's not good enough. But I think a combination of things have meant that we kind of expected to be in a relegation battle.
00:12:50
Zak
But we're now resigned, unfortunately, to just being in a ah really hard place to to kind of deal with mentally as a fan. And even like, you know, um I'm not a season ticket holder, but Greg is, and you know, dragging his poor kid to on his birthday, reading his sort of little magazine with his birthday but wishes in the rain whilst we watch us get battered 5'1 at home to Chelsea.
00:13:11
Zak
And we're all singing, singing about how we've got the ball, because that seems to be the most important possession stat. But yeah, I think if you if you contrasted the scenes of, say, when we beat West Brom in the pla like semi-final of the playoffs and sort of go into Wembley and winning at Wembley to now, ah I think that we would have hoped it would have been at least somewhere in the middle. um And ah now it it does seem like it's about to turn very doom and gloomy less unless we we get
Ownership Changes and Rebuilding Efforts
00:13:39
Zak
a miracle. And I don't even think if we win,
00:13:41
Zak
at this weekend, that would be the end of it, um because it would feel like a ah sticky plaster, but the the chances of us winning are also, I don't know, I don't want to do the percentages, but quite low probably.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
One of the things that surprised me about Southampton is because you see it from say like a likes of a Leicester for example and other teams like a Leeds that have come up and everything. It's a case of that. Southampton's been here and done it before. It's not like a Luton for example. They came up, they tried their best and everything but it they got um engulfed by the situation. And in the beginning, it was like, amazing. Oh, we're going to Manchester City. Oh, wow. Liverpool's next and, and so on. It was like an experience. But as I say, Southampton have been here and done it before. Has there been like major turnover in the background staff where like the experience wouldn't be there?
00:14:36
Zak
Yeah, it's one of my favorite things, sort of stats to pull out usually is how many players in the last Premier League game we played against the club are still actually at the club.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:14:46
Zak
And I think that if you look at the season we last went down, um we had three managers in very, very quick succession. We had Hassan Houtal. He went off the, you know, some really bad run of results, which is looking at it now is farcical.
00:14:59
Zak
ah We ended up having, ah and looking to be new manager of Hull, Reuben Sellis for a little bit. And in between that sandwich, right in between was Nathan Jones, a championship manager who created more sound bites than I think results for us. um And the outpouring against him was kind of crazy. And then obviously we got relegated and then they they brought Martin in. But that season we got relegated. We also got new ownership um by a little team, a little bunch of guys called Sports Republic who who didn't really know what they were doing, put us into a load of debt, got us relegated, didn't hire a good enough manager and haven't really managed to get a good enough manager yet. And they sort of brought Russell Martin in from Swansea to try to get us through the championship and have completely doubled down on that decision, regardless of whether or not a lot of fans are trying to, you know, say, we should get a rude fan, this story, or to be honest, who's going to want to pick up the project at this point?
00:15:54
Zak
Um, and they seem to be far more focused from a, from a background perspective of relative running a multi-club project. So there's another club in Turkey that they run. And it seems like we are, we are a money making machine and I don't think they're that bothered. Um, it, well, at least it seems that way. They don't seem that bothered. And it's kind of, so from a fan's perspective, you're right. There is this expectation that we are a Premier League club and we should be a Premier League club.
00:16:17
Zak
But i just you look at the ownership and you're like, it doesn't seem to sort of match up with the fans. And maybe we should at this point be making more noise about that. um But it's it's very sort of it's weird how quick we've been, including myself, to be honest, of how we just accepted mediocrity. Because we have gone down and come straight back up. But it it feels like the squad, the the stadium, the background, everything is just completely, completely different, which is bizarre.
00:16:47
Zak
Um, so yeah, you're right. There is a, there's a history there, but there's always feel like I'm a support in a different club. So who I was supporting the three, four years ago. And, um, there's not a lot we can do.
Impact of Ownership on Club Performance
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And as a Villa fan, I know far too well about that.
00:17:00
Zak
um
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Before we had the current ownership, we had Dr. Tony, we had Randy Lerner, we had a bunch of people that came in that had their own ideas. Like Randy Lerner was one of the worst things that ever happened to Villa because as soon as his American football franchise started,
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Echoing money. He took all the money out of villa and threw it at that and and we suffered for years and then obviously we were saved by the current ownership that came in and Now with the exception of our argument over ticket prices It's all been on the up and up to be perfectly honest and speaking of villa um We've obviously just as I said, we just we just got a win this past weekend But that is one win now out of nine games um Is there a part of you that wished you played us last week when our confidence was absolutely shut?
00:17:55
Zak
Because again, from a Southampton perspective, the most Southampton thing to do would be to allow you to build that confidence up.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:02
Zak
The the the thing that I'm latching onto right now is the thing that you've also pointed out, which is um that kind of worry about not switching off just a little bit and people just assuming because of our position that we can't play good football, because on our day we can.
00:18:18
Zak
The problem is is it usually only lasts about 30 minutes and then something will happen and then everything will go wrong. um But if it can happen for longer than 90 minutes, you get a result like we got against Brighton, who were second when we played them.
00:18:30
Zak
They expected to batter us about 4-0, and it ended up being a draw, which arguably, if the off you know if the the goal that you knowass was supposedly interfered with and counted, could have been 2-1, probably would have ended 2-2.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
right.
Match Expectations and Squad Challenges
00:18:44
Zak
But that's one of those situations where, you know, ah that's That's when we're taken for granted. So I reckon, how yeah, had you played us the void of confidence, we'd have gone in with confidence and you'd end up just completely like destroying us. So I actually am glad we're playing you when we are. And also, if we play played you as our last game, it would be the same as when we played against Chelsea, where half of our players were missing. We're still going to have a few people missing, but we should you know hopefully have a bit more of a chance
00:19:17
Zak
he says, crossing his fingers and toes and everything inside.
00:19:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's Speaking of um the starting lineups, we will discuss those after a short break with Zencaster.
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back. Southampton will be without Stevens, Ramsdale, Lilana, Baznou, Bednarik, Onach, Stewart and Smallbone. This seems to be a long list of absentees. Due to this, how do you expect Southampton to line up this weekend's app?
00:20:18
Zak
ah It's going to be difficult because we've either got our third or fourth choice goalkeeper. It really depends on who who's deciding to step up on the day, um which the style of football we've played play already has shown that having our third or fourth choice goalkeeper and goal is a problem, and any goal we sort of give away is usually a gift. Pressure isn't until, I think, tomorrow, but we've got hope that maybe bed and rec will be back from injury. um Same with a lot of that, too.
00:20:48
Zak
The problem with that is that we were also told they would be available for the game on Wednesday. ah They won. So who knows at this point? I think, you know, there's likes to keep some information to his chest, maybe to get the opposition to waste time looking at players that aren't going to be there. um Injuries have, yeah, battered us a little bit. Like, I think losing Ramsdale has been bit awful because of the way we play. Bazouno's been out now. I think he he's been out since the championship. He had a really nasty ACL tear.
00:21:16
Zak
And Stuart's another long-term one where apparently he's not going to be back to next year. um So yes, I couldn't see it being who at all the suspendees from Wednesday will probably um come back in. So you'll probably end up having Flynn Downs back. We'll probably end up having Taylor Harvard-Bellis back. I don't imagine that like Toolpool might be on the bench, um but I think that, you know, I don't think he would start him. I think me and Greg would like to see him start.
00:21:43
Zak
um because we would really like to see what it is to put two strikers on the field at the same time. It's been a while since we've seen that. And if Bednarak has to swap out for Wood, I think Wood put a good shift in Wednesday and probably can step in. But yeah, we're probably not not anything too dramatically different to what our normal lineup would be. um But I think it's starting to show that our depth is not great. And I think that Wednesday, if anything,
00:22:13
Zak
prove that our recruitment has been patchy at best. um Dibbling will be back, which will be nice because he's been an absolute revelation for us this season, having an 18-year-old homegrown star who has essentially been like probably our best transfer and was just out of the academy, keeping that Saints tradition of us actually having homegrown talent.
Playing Style and Tactical Critique
00:22:36
Zak
So yeah, that's um yeah yeah but that's what I'd expect to see at the weekend. I don't expect to see anything too surprising, but there's also a day or two where people can get injured and considering no one really expected Ramsdale to be out for two months, it's it's kind of just a techy, whoa, let's hope that that doesn't happen, but it could do in the end.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I have to ask you because you you mentioned the way we p play, I think was the quote you you used. and One thing that I've noticed from say family it feels like at a week to week basis is the amount of mistakes that are happening when playing out from the back.
00:23:11
Zak
Yeah.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And one thing that I really don't understand as someone that coaches at a very much lower level, um, just with youth players and everything, I feel it's, it's getting to the point now where teams have to play this way because it's the in way to play. And I don't understand the need where teams and I'll include Villa in this as well. The amount of times.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've struggled, we're playing out from the back this season in costed sloppy goals. I don't understand this logic where we have to play this way. ah Do Saints fans feel the same sort of frustrations?
00:23:48
Zak
Yeah. Yeah. A hundred percent. If you, if you, if you sit at some Mary's and you, and you watch us put a pass back to our keeper and then our keeper fluffs it, and you can see that they didn't want to play like me and Greg were close enough yesterday to see Stevens have an argument with our goalkeeper at the time around what was going on because obviously he wanted to chip it out. Stevens is saying, you know, we have to play back from out from the back. That's how we've been, you know, he's getting shouted at every time he does that. Cause none of us want to see it because the problem is, is that I don't think we've got the quality to play the way that Russell Martin wants to play.
00:24:22
Zak
And his kind of philosophy seems to have been, well, this is what got us here. And I'm like, oh, it didn't. There was a couple of times where we lost quite heavily in the championship because of exactly the same reasons.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:24:33
Zak
And you give Premier League players an inch and they will take a mile. And you saw that yesterday with, you know, Lumley gave two or three clear goals straight to to Chelsea and Yeah, it's not something we really enjoy. And the problem is, is that it was it was okay when we would see a result from it. But we're not. And we can play well for 80 minutes. And it's it's exactly what I was saying earlier. The sound bits are where we're playing 30 minutes really good here. But then so three silly mistakes are what lost us the game. I'm like, but those silly mistakes are really consistent. So I don't understand why we wouldn't try and change it. And at this point, you can't work out if it's because
00:25:12
Zak
Russell Martin doesn't know how to coach any other way, which apparently he does, because that's been questioned to him before. Arrogance about how he wants to play. um Or also, he always said he'd live by the sword, die by the sword. and It's just a ah reluctance to kind of throw everything away and try again.
00:25:30
Zak
and that the only reason that I can see that he's not willing to change is that he can't see that his job's a threat because I feel like if you're getting to the point where it's desperation and something isn't working and every single week it's the same mistakes in week in week out surely at that point you'd go right well something needs to change that's just that's not even football that's just logic ah but it doesn't seem to be something we're we're willing to do and um'm um I'm thinking it's just like he's waiting for like a moment where all of a sudden it clicks into gear
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
No way.
00:25:57
Zak
and maybe he thought the personnel we brought in in September would help do that but they haven't and what is left is a championship side that were able to do it but still you know lost 1-0 to like Rotherham at one point last season so who who knows but it's very it's very upsetting and I don't think anyone really enjoys it and you know people consider it to just be death by stupidity because you just watch a pass go right past your goalkeeper And then and then it will and and it's it's been sort of, we've been bailed out, but yeah, I think we have the highest amount of like individual mistakes that have led to goals. And I just don't see that changing. And I don't think anyone's really happy watching it because it's hard to watch week in week out. I'm not going to lie.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
because I don't understand the logic because like it was the same with Vincent company when he was a Burnley the previous season. he He lived and you say, as you said, lived and died by the sword. He played the same way, he came up, you had a good time, now you're back in the championship. So I don't understand that logic of not bending. I'm not saying completely f throw away all your principles, but at least play to your strengths, at least play to understanding where it's going wrong. like Even though it's not exactly going exactly according to plan, I liken this to Mikolateta at the moment at Arsenal. He's got a strong quality team, but he's understanding that he can't necessarily play like City if he wants to beat City. Sometimes he's got to sit in deep, sometimes when there's a red card he's got to park the bus. like I didn't think a couple of years ago I'd be saying these things about Mikolateta, but I think he's growing in the game.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
of understanding he's not getting it right all the time at the moment he's still a pretty young coach but i feel like he's understanding where players and i'll even say unai emri at times has done this as well where there's only a plan a there's no plan b And um if that doesn't work, then well what's next?
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i I would feel that as a Southampton fan, because I look at these highlights, I'm like, I just don't understand why these keep
Lineup Predictions and Key Players
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
happening. It's not just Southampton, see it at the villa too.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it really does frustrate me. And i I imagine, obviously, if I'm frustrated as a neutral watching Southampton, I'm going to be brutal being a science fan.
00:28:11
Zak
Yeah.
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
On the contrast for Villa, um I'll talk about the starting in lineup. I feel we'll see Martinez in goal. we were He was in doubt before the Brentford game, was in pain. um We had potentially heard he broke his hand, but um it seems to be okay. He played very well against Brentford, so no problems there. I imagine back four will consist of Cash, Kanza and Dean.
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I wouldn't be surprised if Ming's is kept in the team ah for this this game because he played but extremely well against Brentford, picking up a man in the match support. It sounds a little harsh because Torres has played really well this season. ah With the exception of the Chelsea game, he had a rough game in the Chelsea game, but it wasn't enough to be dropped. But we've got such competitive first positions now. If you bring someone in and they do a good job, just like you were saying about a few of your players did a great shift,
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
um in the week, it's very hard to put them straight back on the bench, so I wouldn't be surprised to see Mings. I think because of the type of game it is, and I'm not saying we're looking down on Southampton, but I think he will give an opportunity to Philogene.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Bailey has had a good stretch of time. He hasn't performed as well as we know we can. And he's also, when I say a lot of stretch of time, he's a lot of stretch on those legs. So I think that could be a potential one as kind of that protection for a manager. Yes, you're not playing well, but I'm not dropping you. I'm giving you a little rest. So to give Philogene an opportunity to impress, I would imagine Tillamans and, um,
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kamara will start in the middle, but that's another one that's doubtful for me as well. Tealemans has not been performing as well in recent weeks. He's been one of those players on this podcast that we've highlighted greatly because of how much he's improved since he joined the club.
00:30:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
and has been a quote unquote starter since we since he's found that form but recent weeks he's struggled and I think his legs might be tired so I wouldn't be surprised to see Barkley jump in there as well. um Still too early to bring Ramsey back he's still injured so I would expect to see McGinn on the left. um The only other doubt that I would say is because of an interview that I heard with Emery the other day where he said he's ready to put Wendia in the starting lineup in exchange for Morgan Rogers over the Christmas season ah just to give him some breaks because Morgan Rogers has been ever present for the villa um since the start of the season and performed exceptionally well against Brentford this past week. um The only criticism I would have is that new haircut um that was absolutely atrocious but forgive him his young lad and then I would expect to see Watkins up front so
00:31:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Zach, based on the 11 that I've kind of predicted, is there any concerns that you have for Southampton, like who's going to cause some damage? Or on the flip side, is there any areas that you think Southampton could look to exploit?
00:31:27
Zak
At the moment, it's any opposition we play I'm terrified of. but Because the thing is, is that again, if you've got anyone anyone that's hungry for a goal and anyone that's upfront that is able to exploit a mistake, that is unfortunately where most of the goals have come from. We have seen some strange goal scorers against us in in recent sort of weeks. And and that's because, but you know, was see having player like Ollie Watkins, you know, you guys you guys do amazing tea lemons has always been a personal favorite of mine um i used to sign him up early on football manager i have a weird affiliations for andalict of all clubs um mainly because i went to go and see them play it like like 2013 up in belgium um so he's always a player that i've followed his career and obviously he plays really really well for you guys as well so those are sort of the main the main things that i i am scared of um because you're just able to
00:32:20
Zak
you will be able to find ways to get past us. And that is the problem. But ah if we can find enough space, we can get we get sort of people like Matty Fernandez up front and we can actually get some crosses in. We've been looking more dangerous. Our problem is is the final third. Once we get around a box, we give everyone far too much time and space to be able to come in and sort of, you know, with the sort of people like Mings and the sort of with the goalkeeper that you have, it's just where we ah struggle to see us doing anything other than maybe a goal, which and if if we do, it will have to be really well worked and well planned because vast majority of our goals have kind of come off almost accident or have been penalties.
00:32:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:33:02
Zak
So it's one of those things where I think it just shows the contrast and the differences.
Squad Depth and Defensive Concerns
00:33:08
Zak
You know, you have such a level of squad that the fact you're able to talk about swapping out really good players for other really good players is something that we just haven't been able to experience.
00:33:17
Zak
You know, like when when we're It's something about, I think, I summed it up in our podcast a while ago when we were talking about like the Arsenal bench and the players that they were able to bring up. And in comparison to like, you know, when you're bringing on, you know, if you've got like Gabriel Jesus and stuff like that, and you've got us bringing on Paul Onewatu, who most people don't know and have only known recently because of the game he had against Liverpool, where he seemed to turn into Prime Lionel Messi for five minutes. But other than that, the only like thing that you'll find on YouTube is a highlight reel of his
00:33:49
Zak
three goals at, I want to say, Gank he was at, which are probably one of the worst hat-tricks I've ever seen. But, you know, and somehow he's up for the Puckers this year, but like, yeah, I just think that my problem coming up against nearly any club at the moment is just that I think that you were able to exploit us from all places. um and that And that is the issue is that it is, but mainly it is going to be probably the fact that we are going to have a goalkeeper who is going to be primed to make a mistake. And you you pass a ball like that to Watkins and Watkins putting it in the goal, simple as that. So, yeah, it's a fun, terrifying prospect. I'll have to sort out my FPL for the weekend as well.
00:34:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, from a Villa point of view, um I feel a high press will do us well to try and force those errors that I mentioned out of the back. of Southampton so i think I think that would be the title of the type um when it comes to it if Southampton can bypass that initial press if you will. I think your guys will stand more of a shot. I do think that if we go into this expecting a win we could always be suffered and because like you mentioned about Southampton I feel Villa have been very generous with
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
with teams, oh, you need some points, here you go. You haven't scored away from home this season, congratulations.
00:35:11
Zak
ah
00:35:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've we've also showed this season as well, ah not in the Champions League surprisingly, but in the Premier League, our lack of ability to be able to keep that clean sheet.
Match Predictions and Conclusion
00:35:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So um at the moment, if we need to so tie up that back line, and that's again, we couldn't create keep the clean sheet against Brentford, despite it being comfortable for long periods of the game.
00:35:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
a very often off the run apply when they scored um so that's going to be really interesting. um We are going to take a short break right now Zach and when we come back we're going to talk about those dreaded predictions we're going to ask you to put your money where your mouth is.
00:36:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Welcome back. We've been talking about Villa and our upcoming match with Southampton. And as I say, now is the time for those dreaded predictions. So Zach, I'm going to put it on you first as our guest today. um How do you think the game is going to plan out and what's your prediction?
00:36:39
Zak
Oh, see, it's difficult. um Greg is usually the optimist. He probably say something ridiculous, like five nil. Pretty sure he thought we're going to win the other day as well. I'm pretty sure I actually said we might end up being Chelsea.
00:36:52
Zak
If we, if the, those fringe players wanted to put a shift in, but um alas, it went a completely other, completely different way. I reckon it'll be a one, I reckon it'll be a ball draw.
00:37:02
Zak
um I think we'll maybe the overconfidence for Brentford will show and we'll be able to score potentially early on.
00:37:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:37:09
Zak
or alternatively hit you directly after. We will concede because like you, we we've just not been able to keep a clean sheet. So that's why I think if they can shut up shop and actually try and keep out mistakes, we'll be so focused on that we won't score other than maybe the one. However, we will also concede because that is unfortunately just part and parcel of being a Saints fan at this point. um So that's where I'm at. That is a positive prediction for me.
00:37:37
Zak
which Waddo.
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's funny. It's funny because I'm along the same sort of lines because my heart is telling me we're going to go out and do that. One performance every Villa fan has been craving for that dominant three nil, four nil victory. Like my heart tells me that, but my brain isn't telling me that. So with faith I think we're going to narrowly get the win with a two one. um I wouldn't be surprised if it was a light goal that we ended up picking up um in order to get that win. I know every win counts and everything but we are looking for that one performance where we can say yes we're back at our best. um So fingers crossed from a villa point of view that's what I'm looking for. So
00:38:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's ah about it. All we've had in time for the Daily Villa podcast. Thank you very much, Zach, for joining us from GSP and Southampton. We wish you the best of luck, Zach, for the rest of the season, after Saturday, of course. Be sure to get in search across all our socials that you can find in our podcast description. This has been the Global Sports Podcast production. Thank you for listening and up the villa.