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Episode 176: Catching up and looking to Villa!
69 Plays8 days ago
Southampton – With the busy half term period of Easter, we didn't catch a crossover, but we've gone one better. With all his thoughts on Relegation, Juric, Villa and Rusk we catch up with Oscar!
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Delay
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. It has been a long week and with half-term commitments and other nonsense, we have not been able to schedule a crossover with Villa, but I do have a fresh set of opinions on what has been an eventful week. So my
Co-host Introduction and Current Sentiments
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
name is Greg and today I'm joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Oscar.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing bud?
00:00:33
Oscar
Yeah, not too bad. Not too bad. I think, I'm not sure relief is the word, but it's not far off. That
Southampton's Relegation Discussed
00:00:41
Oscar
it's just finally sort of over tomorrow.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, just the just the seven short games remaining of the season. And I guess that's stuck chronologically since the last time we spoke. So, officially relegated now.
00:00:57
Oscar
Yeah, I mean, not massively surprising. I think think it was just sort prolonging the inevitable, to be honest. So, you know, it's interesting, lots of stuff that's come out since in the last sort few days and since since it happened. And I think think in reality, it's what the club expected from the beginning. Again,
Juric's Temporary Managerial Role
00:01:18
Oscar
judging by some of the stuff that's come out recently, how much of it's actually accurate, I don't know. But it does seem to all reflect,
00:01:27
Oscar
like it Like it would be. i think the Juric thing, think was probably, as we sort said all along, I think he was just there to be a bit of patsy and take the fall ready for next season just so that they can get someone else in to have a fresh start.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think if he'd have got just like two or three wins under his belt, it would have, that he would have been the manager next season though?
00:01:49
Oscar
Maybe. i mean, I think if he'd have even, even if he hadn't, but he'd actually made a made a go at changing things in a positive way, I think he might have had
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
Future Management and Potential Candidates
00:02:00
Oscar
a chance.
00:02:00
Oscar
It doesn't seem like they are, that Sports Republic have always been the most forward-thinking group, but I suspect they were just buying themselves a bit of breathing time until sports had sort of had his time to get his feet under the table. And if it had worked, they would have said, yes, we're geniuses and, you know, we should be praised, but it didn't.
00:02:21
Oscar
So, you know, we're back to the drawing board again.
00:02:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but at least with a bit of time to spare and some to forward think and almost get ahead of it this time, right? So that's a positive.
00:02:31
Oscar
Yeah.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Assuming that that is what is going to be done and not like the January transfer window where it's like, well, I know it started a week ago, but we're going to sit down in a couple of weeks and figure that out.
00:02:42
Oscar
Yeah, it sounds like there's been a bit more planning behind the scenes recently.
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's...
00:02:46
Oscar
think we actually had a shortlist this time, which is which is a nice surprise.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:02:51
Oscar
And, you know, to be honest, a lot of the names that have been mentioned I'm not too mad about in terms of the managers.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:57
Oscar
I think, think you know, we know about Danny Roll. Yeah. I know a lot of people think it's just a it's just because he used to be with us fit, but I think it's it's a good fit in lots of different ways, to be honest.
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
Evaluation of Managerial Candidates
00:03:10
Oscar
Will Stills has been mentioned quite a few times today. He's another one that, you know, he's he's certainly pretty pretty prevalent in sort of,
00:03:23
Oscar
I know there's been a lot of memes about him not having his pro license or whatever and how much he costs Rhymes every time.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:30
Oscar
think it's Rhymes, isn't it? Every time that he manages a game and things like that.
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah.
00:03:35
Oscar
But yeah, I think it's a positive thing. It's interesting that the interview with Martin's come out recently as well and a few people saying, oh, maybe we shouldn't have got rid of him now.
00:03:45
Oscar
and Yeah, it's all a bit.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here's an interesting one. Two... out of the the sort of the main list of three or four people that we've seen floating about, who who do you think is most likely?
Critique of Managerial Choices
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
do you think that Roll is the the top choice?
00:04:00
Oscar
I think the that... Yeah, I think the Danny Roe thing makes sense to me. I mean, he's been at the club before. he's He's got good experience of the Championship, operating with pretty little budget. We should we should have a budget next season. I'm not saying we won't, but...
00:04:17
Oscar
And the sort of the fact that Spores knows him as well, and it's the sort of football they seem to be wanting to go back towards the Red Bull style of things. I know that Red Bull themselves have actually been expressed a bit of an interest recently, or certainly the rumours have been going with that. But it would be he would be the one that that I would look at and think that would make sense. And especially as there's there's a good chance that he he could contribute to Portsmouth being relegated as well in the meantime.
00:04:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
The lovely, yeah.
00:04:45
Oscar
He could already come in as hero.
00:04:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are there any names? Zach and I went through the the list quite early on and well were a bit surprised by some of the names on there. Are there any on the the sort of the list that you really don't want to see come in?
00:05:05
Oscar
Liam Ross Sr.
'Yo-Yo Clubs' Concept in Management
00:05:07
Oscar
seems to be so quite a fashionable choice. I don't know. I don't know enough about him. I think he did a reasonably good job at Hull.
00:05:15
Oscar
I don't know probably enough about him to really comment. Steve Cooper is another one that's been mentioned. Not exactly inspiring, but if that's going to be someone that's going to get us straight back up first time, maybe that's something.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:05:27
Oscar
He's got a good level in the Championship. Is that... You know, it might be one of those things that's not particularly inspiring, but to be fair, think Leicester probably may be thinking in hindsight, would they be in a better place now than if they'd gone with the fashionable new choice?
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
think Zach described it as the rotating door of yo-yo clubs on that sort manager selection list.
00:05:47
Oscar
Yeah, I mean, yeah, you always, I think you sort of, It's so is one of those, he's almost becoming going down the the sort of the Pulis and Allardyce and Steve Bruce route, isn't he? Where
Russell Martin's Departure and Fan Reactions
00:06:01
Oscar
it's goingnna be going to be one of those sort of the old guard almost now. It's just a change of the old guard there.
00:06:08
Oscar
But yeah, I don't know. I wouldn't be against it personally. But yeah, is it going to be something to build on but with long term? I don't know. He hasn't seemed to have had much joy in the Premier League.
00:06:20
Oscar
Yeah. you know He did a good, decent enough job with Forrest, to be fair. But there's a reason there's a reason that Forrest didn't really warm it warm to him. And I think Leicester, I know they're Forrest's rivals, so that probably contributed. But, you know.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
we are We had to have a laugh at Russell Martin making the list. And surely, surely that's too ridiculous even for us, right?
00:06:40
Oscar
Hmm.
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would not...
00:06:44
Oscar
I think so. and I know Leicester have been linked with him again. i could see i could see that being something that happens where, you know, a promotion rival get him and he ends up getting pro promoted ahead of us.
00:06:56
Oscar
Again, there's there's been some some interesting tidbits come out of the interview he's done with Gary Lineker.
00:07:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:04
Oscar
You know, it does it does seem like he's genuinely a really good guy and was was well-liked at the club. And I think everyone was sort of hoping he'd do well. But I think think everyone knew that that sort of his time, his race was run.
00:07:17
Oscar
And I think I'd be shocked if...
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a bit too stubborn for his own good, right?
00:07:21
Oscar
hu
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a bit too stubborn for his own good, I think, in the end.
00:07:24
Oscar
Yeah, i think I think to an extent. I think the dice didn't fall favour favourably for him. I think if had it been different, it could have. But I think realistically, I think the fans weren't going to tolerate him till the end of the season. like Once you lose the fans, that's pretty much it.
00:07:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:07:41
Oscar
And I think he he said himself he knew at half-time that he was done in that Tottenham game.
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:47
Oscar
So, you know, if he knows it himself.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
you physically felt the turn in the stadium. I can't describe how that is to, like, yeah unless you were there, you can't describe it.
00:07:52
Oscar
Yeah.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
You physically felt the turn on him. It was such a...
00:08:03
Oscar
Yeah.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:08:05
Oscar
I was there.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:06
Oscar
it was a bit like, I don't know if you were at the Nottingham Forest game when Nathan Jones was in charge.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes
00:08:12
Oscar
That felt like a bit of a turn on him as well. I mean, not that that was obviously bit quicker, but...
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:18
Oscar
Yeah.
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
That had been brewing as well. That wasn't such a rapid turn. Whereas like there'd been chatter about Martin before, but it was, it was really like the, the nail in the coffin at that point.
00:08:22
Oscar
and
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you're right. I think he did get unlucky. I think I've gone back to it before and I'm sure we'll touch upon it when we sort of get towards the end of the season and look back at the season as whole. But I think there are three or four games quite early on in the, in the season.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
where effectively bad VAR decisions cost us. And if I think any
00:08:49
Oscar
yeah
Early Season and Recruitment Issues
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
of those go the other way, I don't see why we couldn't have gone on and built a bit of momentum and actually done quite well.
00:08:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just...
00:08:56
Oscar
Yeah.
00:08:57
Oscar
I think it's interesting, and again, some of the stuff he's spoken about with him saying that he went into the Premier with a weaker squad than he was in the Championship with. I'm not so sure that I agree with that.
00:09:08
Oscar
I mean, the would Chardams have helped this year? Probably. I think he would have been better than what we've got, but that still doesn't mean he would have been good enough. I think not not getting a striker or not getting a striker that's good enough is probably ultimately what costly, whether we catch Adams or not.
00:09:26
Oscar
Yeah.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think it's so much about the outward players. The more I've sort of thought about that sentiment, as much as it is a comment on how bad the recruitment was. I mean, don't forget that our like marquee signings were...
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ben Brer and Diaz and Maxwell Corne. So it's, I don't know, it's an interesting one.
00:09:44
Oscar
Yeah.
00:09:47
Oscar
I've forgotten Maxwell Cornet even played for us this season.
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, crazy, right?
Rusk and Lallana's Temporary Roles
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is how long the season's been.
00:09:52
Oscar
Yeah.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we've got much more to touch upon as we sort of move forward and through the week. But first, a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back.
Sponsor Message Break
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah obviously a lot from, I think we've covered the first day of the week so far. And then what what do you make of Rusk and Lallana in charge for the rest of the season?
00:10:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's logical, right? You don't want to see anyone else come in before that, surely.
00:10:53
Oscar
Yeah, I think so. Yeah, i think I think we've spoken about it before. To be fair to Rusk, he did well in the games that he came in. He actually made us probably, of the three managers we've had this year, he's probably made us look the most defensively solid in all the games.
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think in the press conference today, it was Adam Blackmore that said that with one game and one point, he has the highest point percentage of any of the three managers this season.
00:11:22
Oscar
Yeah, well, exactly.
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:11:24
Oscar
Yeah, and but on top of that, the fact that he actually got a point, like I said, we looked like we were built on a more solid foundation. just do that in a few days is interesting.
00:11:37
Oscar
I'm not saying that I think... we end up keeping him or we end up with him and Lallana. but Don't get me wrong, i've heard I've heard quite a few people say that Lallana is really highly rated as a coach and his football knowledge is is good.
00:11:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can
00:11:52
Oscar
I think Rusk mentioned it today as well. So, you know...
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
see that when he plays as well. His football and intelligence and experience is clearly very high.
00:12:01
Oscar
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he came through our system at a time where our system was notorious for how good it was. And so he clearly has knowledge of those structures.
00:12:12
Oscar
Yeah, you'd like to you like to think he knows the club. You'd like to think, you know I know he's had up and down history.
00:12:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
So but don't hate it.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:22
Oscar
Well, only really because of one one incident, but he's, I think, a bit of a... polarising characters, should we say, amongst the fan base. But I am slightly of the opinion that if you do go for a Will still or if you do go for one of these fancy new names, they are coming in to put themselves on the map, you know, to try and and then eventually going to move on to a big club. That's why I'm against like a Frank Lampard or one of these managers that, you know, they're...
00:12:55
Oscar
I would much prefer someone, obviously everyone probably would, but if you can get someone that has some association with the club, they might actually have a bit more of a long-term desire if they do well to stay rather than manager that does well. And then in six months time, oh look, Lampard's gone and he's but gone back to Chelsea or, you know, various things. So yeah, it would be nice if, if it works out, why not consider them in the long term? If it, or consider Lallana as,
00:13:23
Oscar
you know, let's just see what happens really, I guess. But I think in the short term, it makes sense.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I 100% agree.
00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's familiarity, right? Like, these sever matches are... I mean, there's still something... Zach kept making the point, there's still something to fight for to get past that sort of record of being the worst team ever, but even at this point, we're the team that got relegated the earliest than ever, so that argument's almost moot anyway to me.
00:13:51
Oscar
Yeah.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's there, that's That's right there along with worst. so But it will be interesting to see what they bring through, what what the lines up. I'm not saying to Zach, it says a lot about the standards that we have come to believe in this season that really all I hope for is that he plays players in the positions that they play in.
00:14:16
Oscar
Yeah.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think to that point I'd be happy because because we haven't seen that.
00:14:21
Oscar
No.
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We did see that for a bit against Palace and then we just threw that out of the window again Saturday, on Sunday.
00:14:22
Oscar
Yeah.
00:14:27
Oscar
yeah No, I agree. i think And I think from what it sounds like, the players didn't massively buy into what Juric was doing anyway. So maybe it's a way of getting some of them back on board for next season. And you it sounds like sounds like maybe there was more to the Flynn Down situation that Juric didn't mention.
00:14:46
Oscar
So maybe a few players like him will... Yeah, it might help. Obviously, I don't think there's going to be people clamouring at the door to sign many of our players, but it might help us keep hold of someone. And and again, like Rusk said, I think build start building towards positivity for next season.
00:15:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. Because you'd like to think that Rusk and Lallana will be involved in some capacity anyway, right? Not even necessarily with the first team. I can definitely see a future for Lallana working with sort of the youngsters and the academy.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But you'd like to think that they can make a positive enough impression to stay involved whoever we we sort of end up going with.
00:15:25
Oscar
100%. I think it's important to have people involved. i know we've spoken about it before and Zach said not just chucking out roles for the sake of it and you know token gestures. But I do think it's important to, if it's the right person and if it's know if it's relevant to the sort of situation, to have people involved that are part of the club.
00:15:42
Oscar
I mean, most of the clubs do it. You just don't necessarily hear about it.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:47
Oscar
I think it's really important.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it's not like we're talking about like Man United paying Alex Ferguson two million a year just to show up. like like Like, his football wealth and knowledge of experience is something that's going to go a long way. And we've seen that Rusk is sort of brilliant with developing youth. So, it's...
00:16:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's going to be a big part of Sports Republic's plan going forward. They've never sort of made that a secret that getting our academy back to that level and bringing the youth through into the first team and having that path is iss part of what they want.
00:16:14
Oscar
no
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so having footballing brains who can sort of deal with that transition from youth to senior is iss going to be an important part of that. So, yeah, it'll be an interesting one.
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
like I'm going to cast our mind forward to to Saturday a bit and talk a bit about Villa. But first, a message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:16:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, we're back. So... with it being the first game since we were relegated and the poor home form we're in, is it a bit of a chance for a bounce playing Villa in between two games against PSG, knowing that they've got work to put in next week after the midweek game?
00:17:28
Oscar
Yeah,
Upcoming Match Against Villa
00:17:28
Oscar
I mean, I think it's it's difficult to say because I think they'll be a bit stung by that PSG result.
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:17:35
Oscar
There'll be people that will be keen to be involved in the next leg. So it could go one of two ways. I mean, I think we caught Palace on the back foot a little bit after the cut-up. So maybe, you'd like to hope. I think it might... I think it takes a bit of the tension out, probably, of the crowd.
00:17:53
Oscar
I know there's still the... there's still the the points record that we want to try and break. But again, like you said, I agree. I think it almost seems like that is is a back seat now.
00:18:04
Oscar
I think that we ultimately are down in that position anyway. So maybe there'll be a bit more freedom. Maybe there'll be a bit more... I think they've known they've been relegated for a while, probably since at least January. I think they've known that it's going to be a difficult situation. so But maybe it just gives a bit more freedom everywhere and and what is there to lose now, realistically.
00:18:27
Oscar
like We can't be much worse than we already have, to be honest. don't I don't think...
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:18:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We talked before about how like the tension at home adds to that sort of pressure cauldron and you'd like to think that that will be relieved a bit as well. i'm It might not be a positive particularly atmosphere or jovial but I certainly don't think it will be quite as biting or as sort of harsh as it has been.
00:18:50
Oscar
No, I think it's more positive than it would have been if Juric had still been in charge. So I think people will at least recognise the fact that they've realised that...
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:58
Oscar
Well, I think, to be honest, they've probably been planning on doing it for a while. I know it was that it was they were waiting... they They didn't wait for long until relegation was confirmed before pulling that trigger.
00:19:09
Oscar
And I know it's to do with the clause that they had that basically meant that they could get rid of him as soon as relegation was confirmed.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:16
Oscar
But... you know, either way, they could have they could have stretched it out for a bit longer if they'd have wanted to. So I think that will bring a bit of positivity and, you know, again, people like to see something different.
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:26
Oscar
So maybe it'll be a different shape. Maybe it'll be just something that that people can get their teeth into. And as you say, you know, obviously Villa are a very good team. Their eye must be off the ball a little bit. And that's the one nice thing about about us playing this season is that almost we are a banana skin for every team we play against because we're so hopeless. I think Most people think, oh, well, that should be a straw in the park.
00:19:50
Oscar
And we've caught a couple of teams out with it and, you know, Palace being one of them.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:54
Oscar
And maybe we can just get a third win. That would be nice.
00:19:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Crazy to think that we might. and And then at that point, right, the rest of the season is a complete free-for-all because we've beat that points record and it sort of is what is. And we'd almost have the monkey off our back because our home form is so atrocious that to get a win at home would be almost unthinkable at this point. So...
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it'll be interesting. It'll be interesting to see how we line up. Do you think,
00:20:21
Oscar
think
Defensive Strategies and Team Changes
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
knowing how Rusk lined up in that draw, where it was sort of very defensive, think you think he can get away with that home because we've been so bad at home?
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
no I don't think it's the sort of style that would normally sit well, but...
00:20:32
Oscar
think
00:20:35
Oscar
Yeah, I don't disagree. But a you know, Villa have got good attacking players. So let's make no bones about that. But also, I think just because we haven't seen, i think, a we I know we've seen a few plucky defeats and we've spoken about that in the past. But I think just a and narrow, even a narrow defeat where we look like we defend quite well, we actually look like we can throw bodies on the line, I think will be seen as a positive.
00:21:00
Oscar
You know, Villa are, let's look on the face of it. Villa are, where we probably aspire to be and where we've where we aspire to be. and And there's that interesting dynamic, I know, when Gerrard got sacked around the same time as we sat, I can't even remember who it was now, but we it was when we signed Sacked Hastutu, actually, wasn't it?
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:19
Oscar
And they went and got UNA Emery. I'm not saying we ever have that pull to be able to have done that. We got Nathan Jones and the rest is history. But, yeah, I think you have to be realistic and say Villa are where they are we have As long as there's a bit of fight, I think think the fans will be happy, to be honest, even if we lose, because we've we've lacked that.
00:21:41
Oscar
And I think they've think they've almost admitted that that's the case.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:45
Oscar
So, yeah, i don't think I don't think we can afford to be too picky, to be honest, with what was developed.
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think you're right. think it'll be a fascinating game for so many reasons. It's really hard to go in with a prediction because of that, because there are just so many unknown variables and moving parts, right? You don't know...
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Villa's squad depth is ridiculous. So even a rested Villa's team is going have the potential to do us tremendous amounts of harm. But also, we're going be set up completely differently.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to be... Who knows sort of what Rusk's... I know that Rusk came out in the press conference and said that if you get a clean sheet, you're always getting something and that's where you start.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I don't necessarily think that means that he wants to play 11 men at the back and play that style. So...
00:22:35
Oscar
No, i think it's I think it's what we've spoken about in the past. You build off a solid foundation. You can't you can't build off of a poor defence. It just doesn't work. Not in the Premier League. Not when you're inferior to the teams you're playing against.
00:22:48
Oscar
If you're better and you can outscore them, then maybe. But don't think we're good enough to be outscoring teams. So we have to start with that. And again, maybe we get a bit of a new... Well, it's not really a new manager bounce, is it? it's It's a second manager bounce.
00:23:04
Oscar
the second time he's had a bite at the cherry and he we he got one, he got more of one than Juric did.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:08
Oscar
So maybe, maybe we can see another bounce.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are there any players... Because there's an argument that to name a team similar to how we lined up at pal against Palace would be a sort of a reasonable pick.
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But do you see any of the sort of... players who have been out of favour coming back into the mix with Rusk in charge. Are there any names that you think you might be more of?
00:23:33
Oscar
Maybe, i mean, I'd like... I don't think there... I think there was probably something going on or certainly he didn't seem to know how to get the best out of Dibbling.
00:23:44
Oscar
So maybe that would be a way. And again, Martin alluded to it a little bit in the interview he did where he needs a certain type of encouragement or or a certain type of way to be treated. So maybe that might be something we can start to see a bit more of a return for him.
00:24:01
Oscar
you know, I don't know... I don't think we saw enough of of Rusk to say, you know, who he might favour or anything like that. I think it'd be a pretty strange thing to change too much from the Palace result.
00:24:16
Oscar
I didn't manage to catch much about much of the Tottenham thing. And to be honest, I didn't really want to catch up with it, given the the doom and gloom around it. So, yeah.
00:24:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
We changed the back four. It was baffling. yeah It was just... Men didn't show up for the first half and then did for the second, but it was too late.
00:24:29
Oscar
Yeah.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
so this is classic.
00:24:35
Oscar
Yeah, sounds about right.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's it's the story the same story that we've had all season. you could You could listen back to any one of our match reviews of the entire season so far, and it's exactly the same.
00:24:46
Oscar
yeah
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I heard Charlie Taylor's name banded around in the press conference today. If I'm honest, I'd forgotten that he was still kicking about with us.
00:24:54
Oscar
Yeah, I think king said he was carrying a knot, but maybe that's why.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:57
Oscar
he's maybe he's Maybe he's had that all year. Again, he's not really been spoken about too much, which is which is another interesting one because I would have thought he would have been someone that would have added.
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:07
Oscar
I know that the reason, well, we allege that the reason he was dropped was because of the situation in the Leicester game where he didn't get the ball quick enough.
00:25:18
Oscar
seems It seems harsh for that to have stuck for three managers since, though.
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
00:25:24
Oscar
So, you know, maybe. And did Ross Stewart get on on Saturday? i think he did for a bit, didn't
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he had a cameo, so it'll be interesting to see if we managed to get much more out of him this week.
00:25:35
Oscar
he? Did he manage to make it to the final whistle?
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did, he did. So, whether between them, Ross Stewart and Tallpool can manage 90 minutes, I don't know, but mean...
00:25:39
Oscar
Come on.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
butby
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I said to Zach yesterday, like, it's crazy to say this as a sentence, but almost at this point, if he's fit, how can you justify leaving our top goal scoring striker off the pitch in tall pool?
00:25:46
Oscar
yeah
00:26:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:26:02
Oscar
yeah No, I agree. I think that's probably the the logic is that it seems Tupul has a limit on how long he can be on the pitch before he just completely puffs out. So, you know, keep him on there.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it seems to be about 45 minutes, but we try for 60.
00:26:15
Oscar
Yeah, exactly. And then as soon as as soon as he's puffed out, then you chuck Ross Stewart on and see if he can last for the remaining 30.
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, collectively one player for 90 minutes is... Hopefully that's whoever comes in next season. and That's something we sort out because I've never known anything like it. i remember I hark back to the days of Pochettino where he had them doing sort of double training sessions in preseason. So that that wasn't a problem and we were one of the sort of fittest teams out there.
00:26:47
Oscar
Yeah.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
is to To see such a vast difference this season is... it's
00:26:50
Oscar
I think it's tricky. I think obviously because of the way Martin played, very possession heavy, very much the ball does the work, not the players. So fitness probably, understandably, wasn't a priority.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:03
Oscar
So you can probably see that. It would be interesting to see all the running stats and things like that, which is why flipping to a team, flipping to a way of playing which involves a lot of running was was an interesting way of looking at things if you're man the defending.
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:17
Oscar
But
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I saw an interview on TalkSport with Ricky Lambert that alluded to that being like the main problem.
00:27:19
Oscar
Hey ho, i think,
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
is that Not that not that we change styles as much as how drastic the change was an attempt to be in the middle of the season.
00:27:34
Oscar
I think it was like, that was a bit like the,
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like it was just doomed from the very get go.
00:27:41
Oscar
It's different situation, but the same sort of outcome. With the
Adaptability to Style Shifts
00:27:44
Oscar
Nathan Jones situation, you've gone from playing very aggressive, counter-pressing football to long ball to no one, but trying to play direct football with a squad that isn't built for it. like A squad is built for a certain thing.
00:27:59
Oscar
It's been built by a manager for certain reason. You can't just flip and change it without transfer window. Yeah.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, hopefully, like you say, at the very least this weekend, we'll see bit of fight, some players played in their correct positions and stringing some bits together to at least see some sort of progress and and unity.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you're right, it is it's a lot to ask for for a win against, a you frankly, a very informed don't think losing to PSG could be considered a knock to form, to be honest.
00:28:32
Oscar
not
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that's a fairly reasonable reasonable gauge. But before we go, score prediction? What feeling? are you feeling?
00:28:44
Oscar
That's a good question. I think I'll go for a 2-1 to Villa. i think, yeah, I just think they've got too much quality across the pitch that we can...
00:28:57
Oscar
that we can, I think we we can lay a glove on them. We can maybe catch them out, go one up, and then I think their quality will prove too much, and then they'll come back and score couple. But I think it'll be a bit tighter. I don't think it'll be a jobbing.
00:29:10
Oscar
Yeah, I'll go for that.
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:12
Oscar
What about you?
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, Zach picked a two one win, funnily enough.
00:29:16
Oscar
Okay.
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I went for a 1-0 win with the thought path of very similar to you that will go ahead reasonably early on because we'll catch them off guard and then suffer through the most painful 60 to 70 minutes of football you can experience, which will make the win even better.
00:29:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:40
Oscar
I'm not sure, yeah.
00:29:44
Oscar
We can hope.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
that I don't know. don't know.
00:29:46
Oscar
Yeah.
00:29:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe there's some sort of...
00:29:47
Oscar
I'm not sure I can cope with it, but...
00:29:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Maybe there's some sort of self-loathing tied into that mentality somewhere, but it really feels like the sort of story that this this season has sort of led to.
00:29:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It would be fitting for it to be a painful win.
00:30:03
Oscar
To be fair, it would be very Southampton for us to go and win every game for the rest of the season now and just miss out on staying up by like a point.
00:30:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That would be ill be brilliant, especially we've got Arsenal and City at the end of the season as well.
00:30:11
Oscar
Well,
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
it be
00:30:17
Oscar
but if we can do something to disrupt someone and annoy someone for the rest of the season, that would be nice as well. but I don't think we can actually even affect too much.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:23
Oscar
but
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leicester away coming up as well, which has already got people on social media dubbing as perhaps the worst lowest quality game of football in Premier League history.
00:30:33
Oscar
Yeah.
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
El Grappico for sure.
00:30:35
Oscar
Yes, 100%. And we'll be there for it.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
what we live for.
00:30:40
Oscar
wow
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, well, Oscar, thank you very much for joining me. It's been great catching up on your thoughts on the week. Hopefully we start next week with some form of positivity as we carry on through.
00:30:48
Oscar
Thank you.
00:30:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Either way, we'll be back on Monday, whatever happens. We will still stick with it and be here. Thank you very much for listening. and We will see then.