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Episode 373: DEADLINE DAY IS DONE!
133 Plays16 days ago
Southampton – Another window slams shut and this time, in a dissapointing puff of dust. Lots to talk about, but very little on the in front, lets hope that our new striker can hit the ground running!
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Transcript
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and
Podcast Introduction and Deadline Day Humor
00:00:14
DailySaintsPod
welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today, joined by my good friend, a wonderful co-host, Zach. What have you come out today, mate?
00:00:25
Zak
Well, I thought, you know, considering considering the day we've had today, thought I'd come dressed as the board. So as you can see, I've got my pretend fake suit and my tin pot.
00:00:37
DailySaintsPod
it's Yeah, I mean...
00:00:39
Zak
I am glad you managed to keep a straight face through the whole of that intro, buddy. Good job.
00:00:45
Zak
And if you don't mind, I'm going to take the tin part off and the horrible suit jacket. Was that entirely for a bit that only our watchers on YouTube will see? Yeah.
00:00:56
Zak
Was I thinking about waiting for at least half an hour before we started recording? Yeah. That shows you how exciting our transfer activity has been.
00:01:05
DailySaintsPod
That's it, mate. Well, look, if you did enjoy that and are watching on YouTube while you're there, give us a like and a subscribe.
00:01:08
Zak
oh
00:01:13
DailySaintsPod
We're a newly independent podcast, and that goes a long way to help us, especially as we suffer through...
Deadline Day Anticlimax and Unexpected Transfers
00:01:21
DailySaintsPod
i mean, it was deadline day, wasn't it?
00:01:25
DailySaintsPod
mean...
00:01:26
Zak
For starters, I feel like I don't know what the point of deadline day is anymore because like nothing basically happened until the end of the day.
00:01:32
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:01:33
Zak
it was It was just ridiculous.
00:01:33
DailySaintsPod
The last 10 minutes of Deadline Day, and then two hours after. Just...
00:01:38
Zak
So one of the weird things that I brought up just before we started recording was that when we were doing GSPN and we did crossovers, to anyone that's quite new to the podcast, we used to do crossovers with other teams. And when were the Premier League, we did crossovers with Premier League teams. One of the crossovers we did was with Wolves.
00:01:56
Zak
And I remember their guy talking about how like they were really worried about losing Kunja, and Kunja went out injured, and it was a time for Strand Larson to step up, because Strand Larson was going to have to fill that void.
00:02:10
Zak
And less than six months after he's had to fill that void, he's gone to the Crystal Palace, and somehow Arma's gone there? And it's just like the weird sort of...
00:02:21
Zak
events that go through football, like like a housing chain that's just awful, has seemingly somehow taken our top striker for less than double digits.
00:02:26
DailySaintsPod
Oh,
00:02:33
Zak
During the time that we're supposed to be getting promoted.
00:02:33
DailySaintsPod
yeah.
00:02:37
Zak
And it raises lots of questions. So many questions. I know that there's probably an element of personal. I think we we discussed that when we basically did a whole episode about it. But seeing it seeing it confirmed was still weird, right?
00:02:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:02:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it was it was weird. And, and you know, actually, the the statement on the website for it, like, sure, it was like two hours past the mark on deadline day, but we've known since Friday.
00:03:07
DailySaintsPod
So so people at the club have had haveve had time to, you know, people at the club have had time to prepare something.
00:03:07
Zak
Yeah. Well, he had a knock, mate. Sorry. Excuse me. He had a knock.
00:03:14
DailySaintsPod
And the statement on the site was Adam Armstrong has completed a permanent transfer to the Premier League outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers. The move brings an end to four and a half years stay at St. Mary's where Adam made 174 appearances scoring 43 goals.
00:03:27
DailySaintsPod
We'd like to thank Adam for his effort and commitment during his time in a Saints shirt and wish him well for the future. And I'm like, I hold...
00:03:33
Zak
He scored the winning goal for our promotion, mate. Like, come on.
00:03:37
DailySaintsPod
Yes. oh holdly
00:03:38
Zak
oh
00:03:39
DailySaintsPod
I hold no ill feeling towards Adam Armstrong whatsoever but for for making the move.
00:03:41
Zak
my but really not really. at all.
00:03:44
DailySaintsPod
And like we say, he wanted to move closer to family up north and whatever. And and whether he disagreed with the club and forced the move or whatever, it's it's completely irrelevant.
00:03:57
DailySaintsPod
Like you say, he scored the winning goal at Wembley to skill from him. Probably the most important goal in... like modern Saints history. Right?
00:04:08
Zak
Well, it's probably the most important goal for Sports Republic if, you know, it's Sports Republic bank balance, to be honest. Like, considering, you know, you're in...
00:04:14
DailySaintsPod
and is And it's just sad. And, of i mean, if if it's because he wanted to go because he wanted it to be close to his family, and then and the reason that it's a sort of cut price to what we think he's worth is, you know, kind of is what it is.
Transfer Strategy Concerns and Personal Player Reasons
00:04:34
DailySaintsPod
And I've heard someone out there, or some, saying that, like, well, he's got 18 months on his contract, so 7 million sounds about right. I'm like, but really? Because...
00:04:42
DailySaintsPod
Like, I've seen other players that I don't rate as a proof of championship goalscorer for considerably more. look, it's sad and it is what it is.
00:04:55
DailySaintsPod
And it's done. And like I say, I know we're wheeled towards Adam and hope him the best at Wolves. I hope that he doesn't score against us next season when we inevitably play them in the championship because that is what's going to happen.
00:05:07
Zak
Well, that's what they're doing. they're They're building for the championship, right? they They're 100% building a squad full you know it's to plan for next year, whereas we apparently can't plan two weeks in advance. So...
00:05:20
DailySaintsPod
That's just... And I mean, i guess if we're taking the whole picture into consideration, we said that it would be insane to to sell armor and let Archer go.
00:05:33
DailySaintsPod
And we we didn't do that. We kept hold of Archer. But but once again, like...
00:05:37
Zak
Is he going to be happy?
00:05:38
DailySaintsPod
the way that we've gone about it, like he was basically had one foot in the door at Rangers, and then suddenly it's like, oh, no, sorry, we actually want a permanent move, and seeing as you're not good enough to get one of those to Rangers, someone else is coming for the other guy, so you just don't get to move at all now, and it's like, well...
00:05:56
DailySaintsPod
I mean, there's no... We talk a lot about like mentality and mindset on the show, and there's just no...
00:06:03
Zak
Consideration goes both ways, right?
00:06:04
DailySaintsPod
feasible way, yeah, there's no way that that leaves a player in a positive headspace. A player who is already going to be struggling with confidence because, let's face it, he's not exactly shone in a Saints shirt.
00:06:11
Zak
it's both It's both ways. Oh,
00:06:19
DailySaintsPod
It's just... Yeah, it's it's a baffling. And then, yeah, and I guess we'll get on to to our
Loan Moves and Financial Concerns
00:06:27
DailySaintsPod
replacement a bit later. I guess let's let's wind the clock back a bit, Zach.
00:06:31
DailySaintsPod
let's My list is in chronological order.
00:06:34
Zak
oh God, sure.
00:06:34
DailySaintsPod
As you know, it's my favourite way to do it. So let's start the top. Because it was a busier deadline day than we were expecting, I suppose.
00:06:45
Zak
Yeah, surprised we've got any...
00:06:45
DailySaintsPod
But not really.
00:06:47
Zak
We talked about how we would be quite happy for a lot of the club to leave, don't get me wrong, but it just kind of seems...
00:06:52
DailySaintsPod
Not all at once.
00:06:53
Zak
Yeah, just kind of seems like it's... The planning behind it hasn't been smart, but I guess it is it is.
00:07:00
DailySaintsPod
No. Well, let's get into it. So, first news of the day, Juan Larios goes out on loan to Real Zaragoza, joining ex-manager Ruben Seles out there.
00:07:11
Zak
So we we pulled a player who was out on loan back and sent him on loan again. Is there at least an option to buy?
00:07:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean...
00:07:18
Zak
Or is it...
00:07:19
DailySaintsPod
believe I believe there's an option to buy, but realistically, right, like, Larios is on his way to recovery from fitness, from from a but horrific set of injuries.
00:07:21
Zak
Good.
00:07:30
DailySaintsPod
He was out for so long that that loan makes complete sense to me anyway.
00:07:35
Zak
But he was already on loan.
00:07:36
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, but if he's not getting the minutes out there and it's not working out, then and swapping up for the player, it kind of is is a non-event to us either way, right? But it kind of makes sense for him if it's better to go out there and you know out to Spain where that he's from, right?
00:07:53
DailySaintsPod
So it's probably a good thing.
00:07:53
Zak
Yeah. i I get it. It's fine. It's just symptom a symptom of
00:07:58
DailySaintsPod
but But yeah, like you say, not not a huge effect or news on us because player who was already out on loan is now out on loan somewhere else. Yeah.
00:08:05
Zak
It just very much feels like kick can down road forever and in a lot of these situations.
00:08:09
DailySaintsPod
Especially as if, realistically speaking, looking at especially our shape as we're expecting it to be at the moment and the profile of players we're after, Larios probably isn't the profile of fullback that we're looking for because he's very small and and we're working better with physical players.
00:08:17
Zak
Yeah.
00:08:26
Zak
Makes sense.
00:08:28
DailySaintsPod
So, so yeah fine Armel Belakotchap, remember him? He made his loan move at Helles Verona as a permanent transfer for the region of €5 million, euros which is a bit bizarre because there was like an obligation to buy €7.5 at the end of the year, so
00:08:33
Zak
Yeah.
00:08:50
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. don't know. Maybe we're a bit strapped for cash and they wanted to get a slightly better deal. Just confirm that he's off the wage.
00:08:58
Zak
feels a bit Feels a bit like that, mate, doesn't it?
00:09:01
DailySaintsPod
Confirm that he's off the wages and one less thing to worry about. I don't know. Just like cut ties.
00:09:05
Zak
i'm very I'm very worried.
00:09:06
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:06
Zak
they have they I know that you've done some digging because I noticed your tune has changed very much over the weekend because you did your super hyper focus into financials, which is something I could never do.
00:09:16
DailySaintsPod
Oh, yeah. Oh, we're going to talk about that this week, for sure.
00:09:17
Zak
And I... we We will.
00:09:20
DailySaintsPod
Not what today.
00:09:20
Zak
But like, no, to be clear, i don't want to I don't want to give everything away. But I think that it's quite telling, right? That there seems to be, it feels like they put all of their eggs in the basket of being promoted, completely blew their load in the summer.
00:09:28
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:09:34
Zak
And now we've hit sort of January and realized, oh, goodness gracious me, this is a big chance of not happening now. and there seems to be a little bit of panic setting in. And that seems to be the same with the transfers out, right? Like allowing people to go early. But I think that we said it last year, you know, for Belakot Jap, it's a complete restart of his career.
00:09:54
Zak
happy happy happy to Happy to him is what it is.
00:09:55
DailySaintsPod
Absolutely. Fair play, Tim.
00:09:58
Zak
I don't think he ever downed tools.
00:09:59
DailySaintsPod
I'm glad that he's gladti done enough out there to to make them want to buy him early.
00:09:59
Zak
I think it was more, no one picked him.
00:10:05
DailySaintsPod
That can only be a good thing for for everyone involved.
00:10:06
Zak
Yeah, exactly that.
00:10:11
DailySaintsPod
Rebo then moved out on loan to Leicester till the end of the season and with six months left on his contract, the the rest of his contract, which is...
00:10:20
Zak
are they paying him because what i'm baffled by is if he's supposedly our top earn earner aren't leicester in like financial trouble worse than us right they they're supposedly waiting on like points deductions and fines and yet they they're taking him on loan for the rest of the season so nothing's been said about the financials right
00:10:33
DailySaintsPod
nothing nothing was like solidified in any of the news that I've read but there was conjecture there was conjecture that we settled for something like 80% of his wages
00:10:41
Zak
You'd assume so.
00:10:49
Zak
right, okay.
00:10:49
DailySaintsPod
them them paying 80%. So, I mean, it's it's just it's at least a chunk of wages off the book for a player that, let's face it, isn't doing anything for us at any point, anytime soon. Runs down his contract, presumably, at a cut rate to us because of that.
00:11:06
DailySaintsPod
And so, I mean, again, i mean, a
Team Dynamics and Chemistry Improvements
00:11:10
DailySaintsPod
player that won't be in for such long time.
00:11:10
Zak
It's interesting that he's going to to a to championship rival, right? That's what I think is quite surprising.
00:11:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:11:18
Zak
It's like, what have Leicester seen him than we haven't? Is it the fact that they're also just desperate to get a transfer in and he's someone that's willing to play?
00:11:24
DailySaintsPod
I think very definitely that. I mean, i I looked at some of the comments on the Leicester announcement of Eribo joining the club and, well, there was some... Can he play at left-back?
00:11:42
DailySaintsPod
Can he play at right-back? Can he play...
00:11:44
Zak
I mean, he's played everywhere mate.
00:11:44
DailySaintsPod
i like
00:11:46
Zak
Left back, right back, centre back, forward, striker.
00:11:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, but the could like the the crazy thing about that is, right, is it's like 16 games left of the season at the point of the move. He hasn't played properly for the entirety of this season.
00:11:59
DailySaintsPod
and When he has come on, he's looked not match fit, right?
00:12:02
Zak
Leggy.
00:12:04
DailySaintsPod
So it's going to take, what, three, four games to build him up? Two of the games are against us, so he can't play anyway. this
00:12:12
Zak
So...
00:12:14
DailySaintsPod
It seems like a really strange one from a Leicester perspective. like but I'm not convinced I understand it, but i hope he does well, I guess. I don't know. He was he was such a hot and cold player for us. He went from like an important part of the squad to completely struggling for form, and a lot of that was potentially down to you know just how, because he was quite a versatile player, he would just get chucked anywhere on the pitch, and is Yeah.
00:12:43
Zak
i also i also think it's it's personal connections, right? He was really good friends with both Paul and also Suleymane. And I think with both of them leaving the club, i you know but people would kind of forget that those kind of relationships are important.
00:12:56
Zak
and and you know not to not to bring it to a to a football manager-esque style conversation, but like the reason that dynamics exists in the video game is because dynamics are a part of real life.
00:13:08
Zak
And you do wonder if the isolation has been like less than ideal.
00:13:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah. if you fight harder for being part of a team. Like it's not, not rocket science to know that that's like basic psychology.
00:13:16
Zak
You're right.
00:13:18
DailySaintsPod
Everyone, everyone learns that at a very young age. I mean, it's the most important thing you're taught when you learn to play football at a young age, that it's a team game.
00:13:28
DailySaintsPod
So yeah. Uh, you know, it's, it's a real sad end to a Rebo's career at Saints, to be honest.
00:13:39
Zak
Yeah, well, there's a couple today that have felt like that.
00:13:40
DailySaintsPod
Uh,
00:13:42
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:13:43
Zak
It's almost almost too much. And then if you've got like Ryan Fraser already in Australia scoring two two and two, and that kind of felt like he he disappeared.
00:13:49
DailySaintsPod
Hmm. Hmm.
00:13:51
Zak
And I understand that you know we talked earlier on of this season about you know clearing out the rot or clearing out the dead wood and this, and the other. But like it just kind of feels... If this is kind of like how people are treated with their departure from the club,
00:14:05
Zak
and and yeah we've had the stuff about Bree with like the lack of communication. You you do really wonder like who's saying what. like And this is where I talk about like if if if the current the current manager isn't actually a manager and is a head coach, you need to wonder that no wonder they kind of all feel feel a bit adrift.
00:14:22
Zak
And I think you were right that the reason did so well after Pompey was because there was such a level of team togetherness and we come out, played Stoke and won.
00:14:24
DailySaintsPod
It can't be good thing.
00:14:28
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, just it literally, literally built the chemistry that like like I literally pointed it out that of the players walk over to the fans together up until the Pompey game when it happened for the first time.
00:14:35
Zak
yes
00:14:41
DailySaintsPod
right They all kind of do their own thing or come over in in sort of
00:14:41
Zak
and
00:14:47
DailySaintsPod
not even in pairs a lot of the time. and But after the Pompey game, that you know, it's clear that that that put the fight in them and and brought them together. was like a shared experience. And then we, you know, kicked on at Stoke.
00:14:58
DailySaintsPod
And sure, Stoke weren't great, right? Let's not beat around the bush.
00:15:01
Zak
Only people's in front of you.
00:15:02
DailySaintsPod
But, yeah, exactly. And that's something that we've struggled with the entire rest of the season. So, and you know... it's It's interesting. like Obviously, of the names leaving today, Armour's the the big one and the sad one, but but was he really a part of that...
00:15:20
DailySaintsPod
group that have been coming together? up Probably not here. Probably had half an eye out the door anyway. Does it make sense if the players checked out to just cash in?
00:15:32
DailySaintsPod
Sadly, yes. I mean, the more I've thought about it, the the less annoyed I have been about it. But again, it's it's just the way that the whole thing has gone about and the whole thing of now Cam Archer.
00:15:42
Zak
the It's the fact there's a level of sadness, right?
00:15:43
DailySaintsPod
Like I said, I really, really feel for Cam Archer a who now has to sort of somehow mentally check himself back in and and potentially play a role, a more prominent role, in the rest of the season without coming under the same sort of fire that Damien Downs come under because it's...
00:16:03
DailySaintsPod
You know, it's a high-pressure situation caused by the anger towards the ownership who haven't helped themselves this window by only bringing in two loans and and nothing else. and And, you know, getting rid of our top goal scorer, which is just... Yeah, I mean, it's it's sad.
00:16:22
DailySaintsPod
but But speaking of the other loan we've bought in, let's let's have a little chat about our our newest sign-in from RCD Mallorca on loan with an option to buy in the summer.
00:16:35
DailySaintsPod
Kyle Lahren is how I'm attempting to pronounce it, and I may or may not have got that wrong.
00:16:37
Zak
Do you
00:16:41
DailySaintsPod
I haven't watched the video. I've just read all of the posts, so apologies in advance.
New Signing: Kyle Lahren Discussion
00:16:47
Zak
want me to try an American accent and read it out and see how I go? or Sorry, I know he's Canadian, but that's why put A at the end of it.
00:16:55
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, 30-year-old Canadian striker in very experienced in in different leagues, not in the best run of form this season for Feyenoord, but has a better goal per game average than...
00:17:00
Zak
Hmm.
00:17:18
DailySaintsPod
Ricky Lambert, apparently. So, a better record than Armstrong and Adams managed in a top five league. Sure.
00:17:28
DailySaintsPod
I mean, he scored 14 goals in 70 appearances for Mallorca. 100%.
00:17:36
Zak
As you always say, mate, whenever somebody joins the club, is a is a clean slate. And I am kind of already...
00:17:41
DailySaintsPod
percent
00:17:43
Zak
i am already wary that people are already very sort of mad about it. And some people are turning around and have turned around quite quickly. And it's nice to see. We're already looking to find the best gifts that we can.
00:17:54
Zak
there' definite There's one knocking around of of him eating undefined Mexican food whilst shooting up in an advert.
00:18:00
DailySaintsPod
I believe that it's, I believe that it's shawarma.
00:18:03
Zak
It's... Okay, Schwab us.
00:18:04
DailySaintsPod
Uh, because we the, the chanting question that has been proposed is that we got rid of Suleymana.
00:18:04
Zak
LAUGHTER
00:18:11
DailySaintsPod
Now we have a guy who can eat shawarma.
00:18:16
Zak
Hang on, mate.
00:18:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:17
Zak
Hang on. There it so
00:18:23
DailySaintsPod
the But, no, you're right. It's a clean slate.
00:18:26
Zak
it oh
00:18:29
DailySaintsPod
he His profile is a big st striker who is capable of hold-up play and being a target man. And, you know, maybe it's a a good fit, right?
00:18:42
DailySaintsPod
He needs to be the the other half of football that Ross Stewart isn't going to be fit enough to play, right?
00:18:48
Zak
Yeah, that's what it feels like, right?
00:18:48
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:18:50
Zak
It feels like they've realised now that if you're going to have a roster profile of player, you can't rely entirely on him. If they're keeping Archer to play the armour role, you know, sure.
00:18:56
DailySaintsPod
yeah yeah arch archer is the plan b right he is the the something different whereas whereas this signing is very much a supposed like for like for ross do it and and look maybe it is that that is his profile that's what he's good at we're gonna play that way maybe it'll play exactly to his strengths and he'll just bang load of goals in for fun and and i hope he does absolutely uh
00:19:20
Zak
I hope he proves us all wrong, basically, is where I'm at.
00:19:22
DailySaintsPod
I can't claim to be a huge watcher of the Eredivisie to have seen any of his games this season, if I'm honest.
00:19:23
Zak
And I'll do a profile on him.
00:19:31
DailySaintsPod
It's not something I've got time for. But, you know, now he's in a Saints shirt, we'll see see from there. And I'll say hopefully it goes well.
00:19:37
Zak
Yeah.
00:19:40
DailySaintsPod
Hopefully he'll come into the group and and match up well. And that's all we can hope for, really. And go from there.
00:19:45
Zak
Yeah, it's exactly exactly that, right? and Yeah, I just think that... Let's cut that out a bit where it was set off my bedtime timer. Yeah, I just hope that he he hits the ground running and we're all proven wrong and the you know ends up being seen as a shrewd bit of business, even if it feels like it's completely accidental.
00:20:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I'll take it. I mean, yeah, I mean, all the best. Let's hope it goes well. Let's finish the season strong and then see where we're at in the summer.
Youth Loans and Transfer Reflections
00:20:18
DailySaintsPod
A couple of bits from from non-first team players around the club.
00:20:22
DailySaintsPod
So Ak Chukwu has gone out on loan to Colchester and Chukwu
00:20:27
Zak
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:20:30
DailySaintsPod
Ihip Atiman has gone out on loan to Salford, both from the from the youth teams, going off to to get some some minutes in the lower leagues. And then I thought to put in perspective why we're feeling quite so glum, even after bringing in new striker you know,
00:20:51
DailySaintsPod
you know There's promise. We're hopeful. We're optimistic, as always. I thought I'd bring some of the other news from from deadline day that I've seen as I've been sat watching Sky Sports news all day in the background whilst was working and and refreshing Twitter after work. like Derby got Sammy Smodic on loan from Ipswich, who scored something like 26 goals last season in the championship.
00:21:22
DailySaintsPod
so So maybe that was a player that we we could have maybe got in for and tried to get in. It's bit of an odd one.
00:21:30
Zak
we had We had those collapsed loans or collapsed loan deals from, you know, like Finland or wherever it was.
00:21:32
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:37
DailySaintsPod
They also brought in a left-back today. You know also just, once again, putting our two across the entire window into question.
00:21:47
DailySaintsPod
Sheffield United had a busy day. They signed Joe Rothwell, obviously familiar to to Saints fans as part of the the promotion squad when he came on loan from us to us from Bournemouth.
00:21:50
Zak
Hmm. Hmm.
00:21:58
DailySaintsPod
And also Calvin Phillips on loan. So...
00:22:01
Zak
Yeah, well, there's a couple of mebs that have, you know, between that, Bamford and a couple of other players that have have gone to Sheffield United, there seems to still be in more of a pool there despite their pool form.
00:22:03
DailySaintsPod
maybe
00:22:06
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:14
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:22:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Pompey signed a striker unknown from Luton. Swansea signed a player from Greece. And even Sheffield Wednesday managed to sign two players today. Yeah.
00:22:30
Zak
like I get that we don't want to sign people for the sake of it, right? But like there's definitely areas that we have discussed and everyone is aware of that we needed to to sign. And at the beginning of the transfer window, we kind of thought, like, oh, we've done the smartest bit of business. We've got the goalkeeper done. There's a couple other places we probably need to strengthen.
00:22:47
Zak
And it seems like the only thing we've strengthened is because of something else. So all I kind of like...
00:22:52
DailySaintsPod
We haven't strengthened anything. What we have done is make a like-for-like swap as a replacement.
00:22:53
Zak
Well, yeah, you're right. We've replaced. We're not even allowed for like swap, is it, realistically?
00:22:56
DailySaintsPod
there's no There's no additional depth there.
00:22:58
Zak
Yeah.
00:22:59
DailySaintsPod
We have lost the top goal scorer in our top goal scorer in the league and replaced him with... you know, with an unknown entity. As as we just established, you could have brought in Erling Haaland and you don't know if he's going to gel with the squad. So it's it's it's unproven territory and it's we'll see how it goes. Wrexham signed a few couple today.
00:23:22
DailySaintsPod
Borough signed a couple. a Blackburn sacked their manager. So I guess it's me. it delay like
00:23:30
Zak
Well, you know, to to be fair, that's along with Watford. And what is that? Like more than 10, more than like 50%, about 10, 12 managers that have been fired over the course of the championship season so far?
00:23:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it's crazy.
00:23:42
Zak
they call it probably a Premier League brutal.
00:23:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:45
Zak
Yeah, it's just, like I think you're right. I think part of the malaise as well is just like, the it's it's like, you know, none of these sort of players that have played huge roles for us have gone with sort of rapturous applause and and felt like they were like, okay. It's like, Aribu, as you pointed out, is just a bit sad.
00:24:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:08
Zak
And then, yeah, like,
00:24:09
DailySaintsPod
I think it's more
Ownership Decisions and Performance Impact
00:24:10
DailySaintsPod
disappointing. Like...
00:24:11
Zak
yeah I guess you're right. That's probably a better word for it. And then you've got like other moves that, you know like Adozi was supposed to move on, but he might be reintegrated to the squad. So I guess that might be a boon. We don't know, but where's his headspace going to be at if he you know played a little bit in the preseason, then never got to go right up until the fact that they tried to move him on.
00:24:32
Zak
Nobody wanted him and now he's kind of stuck here.
00:24:35
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:35
Zak
It's going to take a while, isn't you know It's just... yeah it's just
00:24:38
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean, Wilds get up to fitness. I mean, presumably there's a reason that he wasn't included in the squad more. I think he was injured for a bit of it, so I don't want to be be too harsh on it.
00:24:49
Zak
It's true.
00:24:51
DailySaintsPod
But then, I mean, maybe it was one of those mysterious knocks, who's to say? Yeah. but But, like, yeah, it' it's not going to be easy to, like, get back, fit, get in the headspace, and again, reintegrate with a group that is only recently starting to actually come together and be a group, right? So it's not like it's going to be in a position to pull everyone in. It's...
00:25:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I don't know. It's it's tricky. and And, you know, I hope that he he does pull it out because I think if, you know, if we get the player that we've seen play for us before, then that is a nice option to have, you know, out on the wing as a backup for Leo who who gets kicked to to Kingdom Come.
00:25:36
DailySaintsPod
And just...
00:25:36
Zak
well My worry is we're going to start developing a reputation for a place that players don't want to come because they end up spending like two thirds of the time at the club just not playing.
00:25:44
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:50
Zak
Because they, you know, pretty much since Sports Republic have taken over, a bunch of dubious transfers have taken place. And then the transfers that have really paid off, like Mati Fernandes last year, right, have resulted in huge profits for them and not really much to be seen elsewhere.
00:26:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's it. what like One season, yeah, same with like Lavia, right? like I'll come in, one good season, offer a huge amount of profit. and That's not doing the club any favours. So...
00:26:15
Zak
but to to be fair, he's barely played a game since, but that's due to injuries that we weren't aware of. It's just... And again, I think that a key part of this that that you've summed up quite nicely is that a lot of players are paying for the mistakes of the ownership of the club.
00:26:30
Zak
And I think Baz is another example of that, where like the the kind of hate and vitriol that's been pointed towards him is due to the a lot of defensive failings and and management failings across the board that put a lot of pressure on him.
00:26:31
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:43
Zak
It's just, yeah, it's a bit of a weird one because usually sort of we're like, oh, we finally got this deal over the line. This happened. And admittedly, our last transfer window was is you know a relatively successful one.
00:26:54
Zak
it's It's just that sort of like they've decided to ship out everybody and everyone, but the people like shipping out armor specifically, just like the weirdest, that's not a puzzle piece you wanted to ship out.
00:27:06
Zak
I don't really understand.
00:27:06
DailySaintsPod
No, it's interesting.
00:27:07
Zak
Yeah.
00:27:09
DailySaintsPod
And you're right. maybe Maybe down the line, when we look back as as instead of a window as a sort of season as a whole, transfer-wise, you're right.
00:27:19
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:27:22
DailySaintsPod
Maybe the perspective that actually Leo's unbelievable, Azaz is coming good, Fellows is unbelievable. you know All of these players coming into play, so...
00:27:34
DailySaintsPod
you know Maybe we'll look back and and it will be a little bit easier to to handle. But at the moment, it's just feeling a bit like the win wasn't quite enough to to carry through what what feels like a so rubbish deadline day.
00:27:50
Zak
It's...
00:27:52
Zak
It seems extremely unambitious is what I think that it feels like.
00:27:55
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:56
Zak
It is because of the fact that we keep having to, you know, some of our best content when it comes to social media stuff, which I don't often talk about because this is part the podcast, but we do do socials on the side.
00:28:08
Zak
As you all know, we post clips all the time, but some of the most viewed stuff is whenever we post anything about sort of transfers, but also specifically one the other week where you were talking about whether or not we still have the ability to get promoted, Greg.
00:28:22
Zak
And I think it's because like, there's that hope there and we want to know what everyone's kind of thinking and we all kind of have it in the back of our minds.
00:28:22
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:28:30
Zak
And like, I feel like this window is very much confirming like, well, clearly the signings that, as you pointed out the beginning of the window, at the beginning of the season were really good in that window, but we need more to be able to like get it over the line because clearly we're struggling and we're, and we're flailing.
00:28:48
Zak
And what they've done, as you pointed out, isn't even really strengthened us. It is replace a goalkeeper who at no point should have had that much pressure put on him anyway and replace the top goal scorer in the league and our top goal scorer with...
00:28:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:29:03
Zak
somebody who is unknown, who is now also going to have a significantly large amount of pressure put on him. And if he doesn't perform very quickly, he's going to have people turn on him, which isn't necessarily going to be his fault either.
00:29:14
Zak
It's just, it's a, it's a, it's a vicious circle. You just have to wonder how it's going to, how it's going pan out. I'm just hoping it,
00:29:21
DailySaintsPod
And that's the funny thing, right? Because you you look at Arma and what player he has been and is for us. And i would never describe him as, I don't know, maybe maybe my definitions are wrong.
00:29:35
DailySaintsPod
He's not prolific, right? Like, he scores a lot of goals, but also he does lots of goals in quick succession and then goes missing for, like, a couple of months at a time.
00:29:39
Zak
It's the work of the ball, mate.
00:29:44
Zak
but does a lot of work off the ball.
00:29:44
DailySaintsPod
Right? Like, yeah.
00:29:45
Zak
You need to remember that. when you You always point out you spoil it more than the most people.
00:29:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:29:49
Zak
And and you know we talk about that kind of element as well. And that's going to be hard to instinctively train into somebody. And they might not have that. And that's, I think, sometimes the criticism you've had of of people like Downs, who's not really gelled quickly.
00:30:03
Zak
And then all of a sudden, well for starters, we already know that you know you you summed up pretty well that he was treated as a different profile of player to what he actually was, which is some of his issues. But yeah, it's it's yeah prolific, sure. But he still like is the top goal scorer without having to score for like 10 games. that That means something.
00:30:23
Zak
but I'm sorry.
00:30:23
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:30:24
Zak
It probably says more about the stand in the championship.
00:30:24
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:30:26
Zak
But either way, like you know we are where we are and he scored that many goals for us. He removed that many goals out of a team that was already struggling to score around that.
00:30:33
DailySaintsPod
This problem. scrolling
00:30:34
Zak
It's going to be a problem.
00:30:36
DailySaintsPod
no i agree I agree. It's going to be really interesting to see how it plays out. And you're right. The the the most interesting part of of the the way the championship is playing out this season is no position in the league is really entirely out of reach, realistically.
League Standings Summary and Podcast Closure
00:30:56
DailySaintsPod
like Crazier things have happened than than the potential run you can go on. you know Seven points from playoffs,
00:31:06
DailySaintsPod
12 points from automatics is not out of the question. it's It's a big question with lots of teams in front of us. But it's it's not, you know, it would be crazy, but it's you know mathematically possible.
00:31:20
DailySaintsPod
And also looking the other way, like 10 points, 10 points above the drop zone. is I mean, any any anyone can finish anywhere.
00:31:27
Zak
So it'll be interesting to see then where these investments like, right?
00:31:29
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:31:33
Zak
It will be if the players, if the teams that have invested, obviously you can't necessarily buy your way up leagues, but then also like Rex have have done it pretty well. And also because they're a club that have consistently done it, everybody kind of knows that their position is, you know, at risk if they don't perform.
00:31:49
Zak
And I guess that, you know, with us, it's, it's very much feels like we're at the whim of, uh, an ownership base at the moment that have very much spent the last week being exposed.
00:32:01
Zak
And well we'll talk about that a little bit more, but I think that that also has contributed to, you combine the, you combine the general attitude around the ownership at the moment with the fact that, you know, today has kind of fallen a little bit flat.
00:32:02
DailySaintsPod
in so many ways yeah
00:32:16
Zak
And if anything has felt more like we've lost more than we've gained. not in the sense of we've sent people out and loan who can't play. We've actually genuinely lost more than we've gained.
00:32:27
Zak
Yeah, i think it's going to be a spicy few months, I think, mate.
00:32:31
DailySaintsPod
I think think actually it's summed up quite nicely by a tweet I've just seen on my feed from TalkSaints a heartless farewell from Southampton to Adam Armstrong and they do say that culture comes from the top so
00:32:51
Zak
And just, I'm not going to put the tin hat back on, but you know where I'm at. Hmm. Does, doesn't it?
00:32:55
DailySaintsPod
yeah Yes, I think it's safe to say that that the research and the information that that we'll talk about later in the week has definitely swung some opinions on this show.
00:33:08
DailySaintsPod
But you know what, mate? That sounds like a talk for another day, because that is all we have got time for from our much later than anticipated deadline day.
00:33:12
Zak
does thoset it
00:33:19
DailySaintsPod
So much for seven o'clock.
00:33:19
Zak
Woo!
00:33:22
DailySaintsPod
Thanks, guys. Yeah.
00:33:23
Zak
Never is.
00:33:24
DailySaintsPod
i Listen, thank you so much, Zach, for joining me.
00:33:25
Zak
yeah Literally never is.
00:33:29
DailySaintsPod
And thank you, as always, everyone for listening.
00:33:29
Zak
Thank you, mate.
00:33:47
DailySaintsPod
Or was it just rubbish? Let us know. We love to hear from you. We are Daily Saints Pod absolutely everywhere. TikTok, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube.
00:33:59
DailySaintsPod
Hit us up and let us know. And whilst you're there, give us a rating or a like or a subscribe or a heart. All of it goes so far to helping us as a newly independent podcast. And we are so grateful for all of those that do. We will be back tomorrow to talk more about Saints and about Sports Republic and and about everything that you want to hear about. But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day and we'll see you then.