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Episode 349: Matchday Preview: Birmingham again!
45 Plays3 days ago
Southampton – With the games coming thick and fast in this Christmas period, we struggle to remember what day it is, but muster through and think about the game ahead.
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Transcript
Introduction and Co-host Welcome
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
thank
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always today, joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch. How you doing, mate? You alright?
00:00:29
Zak
Yeah, it's it's c Crimbo Limbo.
Post-Holiday Fatigue and Frustration
00:00:31
Zak
And as of this podcast, I'm back to work. And that's not great. And I'm real tired about it And something, something, complain, complain. And I'm still mad about Oxford Day, mate.
00:00:43
Zak
That's the problem, is I'm still i'm still cross that we lost at Oxford. I'm still, I thought I'd have managed to put myself into like a motivated mindset by this point. I'm just just not quite there.
00:00:57
Zak
You know, know about
Fixture Schedule Challenges
00:00:58
Zak
you, but...
00:00:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
na No, look, I mean, I'm struggling at the moment, mate, because I am i am pillar to post in Christmas and everything.
00:01:10
Zak
I don't even know what day it is, mate. Like...
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, it is frustrating, but I mean, i'm so far removed from heading to St Mary's New Year's Day and hopefully that we can, before then, pick up and a win on the road against a team that we'd be, oh, I wouldn't say comfortably, but I mean, you know, it was the
00:01:35
Zak
they had They had a lot more chances to win that game. It's it's mad that we're playing so quickly, considering it's like less than a month. So like, oh yeah, that game, that you know and I know that that's just like the way teams have to play each other twice.
00:01:47
Zak
It's just the way that these fixtures have fallen. There's literally been, what, like three games in between before we played them again?
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:55
Zak
It's kind of nuts. Yeah. But it was, you know, it was a very, very good performance previously. You say it wasn't comfortable. Yeah, they scored. But realistically, it was more comfortable than the last couple of games we've had.
00:02:08
Zak
probably Far more comfortable than the West Brom game as well.
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, it was... Yeah, and I mean, it's it's interesting, isn't it? It's hard to know how much playing an opposition, like twice that close in succession, who that benefits and for what reasons.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:27
Zak
they're also much better at home and we are playing them at home.
00:02:30
Zak
And that was a big, that was a big talking point. Then coming to us was that their away form was pretty dire. and And they proved that by being not great, right?
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:39
Zak
Like they did have plenty of chances. They just did a very, it was almost like a role reversal for the way that we played most of last season, where, you know, there were a couple of chances that they had that they just blatantly missed.
00:02:50
Zak
And had they taken them, it would have been, you know, evidently a much closer game.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:53
Zak
So yeah, I kind of, it's hard to take heart in the fact that it's like, oh yeah, we we go again because a loss, a draw and a
Team Dynamics and Manager Support
00:03:03
Zak
loss. And have you, considering you've not paid any attention to anything in the last couple of days, did you see any of this stuff from Taylor Harbour-Bellis about the last game?
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I saw some of it in parts where it was just very much like, we've got a get our heads back in it and go again, and we've got we know we've got to do better.
00:03:22
Zak
I think it was some of the stuff that was telling to me was obviously I i was quite critical of the fact that I didn't think that and we were set up well. Obviously, substitutes didn't make as much of an impact as, I guess, Eckert wanted.
00:03:37
Zak
And he even said that, like, Robinson's trying to work on part of his game to have more of an impact, which is great, but also kind of like...
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:47
Zak
It is whatever, but I think the bit that stuck out to me was they were very, very sort of defending Eckert, and he's like, the preparation was absolutely fine. It's us that let everybody down, which I think was quite interesting. So i don't know if we've had as much of a...
00:04:04
Zak
sort vermin defence when previous managers did wrong, right? Yeah, there were a couple of Russell Martin's favourites that would come out and be like, oh, Russell Martin's not the problem.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:11
Zak
It's actually just we're really bad at playing this style of football and then complete proven completely wrong at like Rangers. But I just found it very interesting that they they came out to bat for him
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:04:22
Zak
And, you know, i think, you know, hold my hands up that our last episode, like you know, I was quite harsh. I was quite questioning of how sustainable the amount of work that the coaching staff are needing to do at the moment is, you know,
00:04:40
Zak
is' possible. And, you know, it seems like they specifically have almost realised that that would be a point of criticism and have jumped to his defence. I guess that's nice.
00:04:51
Zak
But what i really want, rather than having to discuss, you know, talking points of what maybe one person said and what somebody else said, is that if they just shut us up by actually winning again, because that's what I really want to see.
Upcoming Birmingham Match Analysis
00:05:04
Zak
Because, yeah,
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, that's that is the thing, right? Football is, with the league as it is and how it comes so thick and fast, that is the the best way they can do their talking. And it will be interesting to see how we try and bounce back, like you say, against the Birmingham team who...
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, looking at their form, are much better at home. Their last five games at home, although their last two games at home have been a draw against Derby and a draw against Charlton. So maybe that form is on the slip. But prior to that, wins to was Watford, Norwich and Millwall.
00:05:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But overall, their form, you know, across the board, not great. Three losses away from home with those two home draws thrown in. One of those being when we beat them through one as recently as that. like
00:05:52
Zak
Yeah.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
They should be there for the taking, really. It's...
00:05:57
Zak
Yeah, but i felt I felt that way more against Oxford than anybody. And we had what we considered may mainly to be like our probably best 11.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:07
Zak
And we didn't it didn't pay off.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:08
Zak
And it's been two two days. It's not been like a long period of time for them to to rest and recover before they need to like you know go out on the road again. So yeah, it's just, i I don't know, like we should on paper and then we keep being taught otherwise. Like I can't, I just can't help but feel like the last three games being a loss or draw loss, if we won those three games, we'd be third. That's the difference it makes. And that's the, that's the worry I have is that if they stick into this sort of like downfall and negative mentality, I'm just so, I think I've become like so immune
00:06:43
Zak
to a lot of this sort of, yeah, we need to like go back out there and do it again after like two seasons of just every time we hear that. It's usually followed by like a one-all draw. It's the best they can muster. it I don't think that's the case with us at the moment. and Birmingham haven't been in great form and we should be looking to take advantage of it.
00:07:03
Zak
i just I just want to make sure that what we see tomorrow night isn't going to be the lethargy we saw on Boxing Day, right? I really hope that that was just, we're really, really tired.
00:07:15
Zak
Christmas has been busy. Like, we were still opening presents this morning. Maybe one or two of us is hungover. Like, I don't want to, yeah you know, I don't know. that's i think that's,
00:07:26
Zak
having a go at the integrity of the sportsman. i'm sure I'm sure none of them were in a state, but like you can tell that like having a little bit of a break in between how busy it's been sometimes is always detrimental, right?
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, mean, at this at this level, even the like little bit of mental sharpness you might lose by just feeling like disheartened that you have to travel to Oxford on Boxing Day.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And presumably they actually travelled on Christmas Day, right?
00:07:52
Zak
so
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
so you're sort of missing out.
00:07:56
Zak
Hmm.
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, that's not dig at Oxford. To travel anywhere is is sort of the point I'm getting at. But... you know that That is probably almost enough to to cause that. And you know like you say, it was really just a case of Oxford seemed to want it more.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you know it takes a bit of that seeping in over that period. So, i mean, hopefully, i mean, it's another trip away, which, I mean, we've really been dealt a shorthand, it has to be said, with two away games in three days, four days after Christmas.
00:08:26
Zak
Yeah, but then that even but even even so, like our last home game, yeah we would have taken that draw against Coventry any day of the week.
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:34
Zak
But I think it's just the nature of which and how it happened was not great, right? Like, I still think they probably would have gone on to beat us had had one of them you know had one of their one of their guys not decided to make a really, really dumb decision.
00:08:49
Zak
And it's frustrating. And I think the players were probably frustrated they didn't capitalise on it. But as as great as that was around it, having two losses to sides that are very low down the table, admittedly, sides that are in a state of flux, right?
00:09:03
Zak
Norwich have a new manager, are playing slightly different.
00:09:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
e
00:09:06
Zak
Oxford had no no manager. I don't know if that allowed them to play with a little bit more freedom. i can't say that, you know, we did a huge amount of research into Oxford gene United beforehand.
00:09:17
Zak
Because, again, falling around Christmas means that it's not... It's just not been like our priorities. We'll hold our hands up. And again, maybe we overestimated by saying, yeah, we're going to batter them 6-0 because we've been in a good spate of form.
00:09:32
Zak
But more than knocking the players' confidence, mate, I think what the loss did is knock my confidence, which is why maybe I should stop whinging about it and try and put myself into a positive mindset that maybe we're going to do something good this game, at least.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:09:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let's let's see if my little AI summary of the game agrees with you, either with the positivity or otherwise.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It says the home advantage is probably going to be key here because Birmingham's home win rate is around 55% with an average home XG of nearly two goals.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
whereas Southampton's away win rate is 25%. So not great. It says that over two and a half goals is a common outcome with 69% of the games in their historic data hitting that.
00:10:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that the safe bet to go with would be Birmingham City to win over two and a half goals and both teams to score.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, if you chuck Flynn Downs to get a yellow card into that bet builder, I'm sure that that's...
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
That seems viable, I suppose.
00:10:45
Zak
Yeah.
00:10:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
not not great reading, is it? that To be honest, that's I wasn't expecting it to be that poor. It's put a bit of a dampener on my mood.
00:10:55
Zak
Also, I was horrifically wrong.
00:10:57
Zak
i had a bit we on 39 points and been in third. Not 30, whatever I said, three. 33 points would pass 10th. No, sorry, 11th. So, and yeah we just did that weird part of part of the year. Sorry. I do want to make sure I correct myself. But...
00:11:13
Zak
Yeah, like the AI a spiel is kind of right. I think that home form will be key. I don't think that, you know, they they haven't had a good run of games since they played us, right, basically.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:11:25
Zak
It's just so we can take solace in that. It's just that we are also very well known for breaking streaks, right? So if they've had a bad run of games, they could come up against us and potentially get a good game. But it just depends how, I guess, how much the players are up for it.
00:11:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:11:44
Zak
is was where I'm at. Like, there's just no other there rather sentiment to it in my mind than that. Because I know that on our day, we've shown how how much positive we can be.
00:11:56
Zak
But we seem to have sort of fallen back into that, like, wo wobble, right? is it Is it a wobble? Are you worried it's going to be long-term? Because clearly I'm far more doom and gloom than you about everything in general.
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I don't know, mate. I feel like it's... It's really it's a hard one to read. I think that the the substitutions were a bit strange and oddly timed and didn't help.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
we you know Like say, we clearly weren't 100% up for it for for one reason or another, and there are so many ifs and buts as to what that could possibly have been.
00:12:35
Zak
I
00:12:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just a case of get through. I think if we could push through and get I mean, maybe even a point against the team as good at home as Birmingham and push on and...
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
beat Millwall at home, which, you know, is the team that, the first team we, that, that beat Tonda record's unit, right? That's, that should be enough to spur us on and to kick on into another, like, good run. It's just a case of, like, getting through this really, like, tough period of games because of how fast they come.
00:13:10
Zak
I just don't think a point cuts it. This is my problem is that we we talked about how crucial this this period of time was going to be as to separating the top of the table at the bottom. And like, they're clearly not happy as to where we are in the table.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:22
Zak
And I think already made a pretty, you know,
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:26
Zak
pretty aggressive point about the fact that the standards they're trying to live up to are their own standards, right? So anyway when it comes to whether or not like we should just be able to get a point, I just don't think that's enough with where we want to be.
00:13:39
Zak
If they're still genuinely like aiming for promotion, we shouldn't be happy with just a point, especially against a team that arguably is, as you know as again, not to mug anyone off, think but they came up from League One, man.
00:13:53
Zak
like like
00:13:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. yeah
00:13:56
Zak
I know that they've they've recruited pretty well, and I know that they're one of the teams that we expect to do better because of all the these sort of the building they've been able to do with the funds that they've had, et cetera, et cetera.
00:14:10
Zak
But I just feel like after the the drop points over the last couple of games... it needs to be a win to show we're back on track for this promotion drive. And that was just a wobble
Promotion Prospects and Team Predictions
00:14:20
Zak
because, you know, i i don't know. It's it's difficult.
00:14:24
Zak
do Do you genuinely, where do you, i know you know that i know that you've got a a persona, as like opinion of the, I always need to be positive. where Where do you think our chances for promotion are, at least from automatics?
00:14:38
Zak
Automatics, I think, do you think are out of the question at this point, genuinely?
00:14:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yep I don't think anything is out of the question. i think it's highly unlikely that we're going up in the automatics. I think that playoffs are still perfectly feasible.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perfectly achievable.
00:14:56
Zak
I don't know if I want that, Greg. Yeah, i I think this is this is the the problem. Even if we want to get to that point now, we we need to start showing more intent.
00:15:09
Zak
And I'm hoping Boxing Day was just a one-off, but... I also hope Norwich would be a one-off. And, you know, eight wins, seven draws, eight losses for a team that wanted to try and get promoted.
00:15:21
Zak
Like Coventry City may have won 15 games.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's crazy. That's a crazy comparison.
00:15:25
Zak
Do you see what I mean? Like the disparity wide and maybe I'm just being a bit too negative, but we'll have to...
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, mate. we are We are at risk of of making our show lopsided, so let's take a little break. here partner a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:16:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate. And we are back. Right. The last couple of weeks, this has been a pretty difficult segment to fill out. And I wanted to to change tact just a little bit, right? Because think you're right in what you say. That our first 11 that started on Boxing Day against Oxford is probably our first choice 11, right? that's That is what I would think is our strongest team.
00:16:51
Zak
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I would hear an argument for Quasi and Steven swapping around, and and that's fine. Other than that, one of those two 11s is what you want out.
00:17:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bearing in mind to the quick turnaround of games, who where are our points of concern fitness-wise from that 11? what Who's not starting against Birmingham because they're not going to be fit enough?
00:17:19
Zak
probably Probably Fellow still, because by whatever knock they said that Fellow's picked up and they tried to get him ready for a couple of games ago, and then he obviously it didn't go work out against Norwich, right?
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:40
Zak
So that's probably definitely one spot, right?
00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And who who would you bring in for him? Jay Robinson?
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ryan Fraser?
00:17:48
Zak
for For fellows? Probably not Robinson. I wouldn't really... like Maybe Fraser? like I was surprised at how well Wellington did in that position.
00:18:00
Zak
Obviously not long-term, but he did actually, better than I expected him to do, much better than I expected, a a a sort of left-back playing in that more, to be honest, right-winger role than anything else.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you did a good job. Yeah. yeah
00:18:13
Zak
But again, like it's a bit of a not-ideal solution, right? Yeah.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but I mean, if you if you're going to do it right, at least the the other side of that coin is if you know Fellows only has, you know, half an hour to 45 minutes in him because of fitness, doing it that way round, that is impact off the bench is what you're looking for. And you would hope that he'd be in a position to make it coming on, right?
00:18:39
Zak
Yeah. So I guess that's only like sort of my big area of concern. and We've not really heard about anybody else.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we've seen Quasi come in for Stevens basically every other midweek game.
00:18:48
Zak
I won't...
00:18:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think that's...
00:18:55
Zak
that makes That makes logical sense just from a fitness point of view.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:58
Zak
like I don't know if that's a fitness point of view. A lot of the times it's because of the type of opposition. wouldn't be surprised if we kind of do the same against Birmingham just because of what happened the other day.
00:19:11
Zak
So, yeah, I could see him coming in, and I wouldn't have a problem with either.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:13
Zak
I think a lot of people criticised Stephens, and though, to be honest, the vast majority of the criticism I've seen since Friday has been mainly aimed towards Baz. We've done the goalkeeper conversation, what, a thousand times?
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:27
Zak
It's become an ongoing joke, and I don't think it's i don't think that we're going to swap out for McCarthy, because I don't think McCarthy's a better keeper. So...
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:37
Zak
That's the only other conversation potentially to have. But yeah, like I wouldn't, I wouldn't be happy to see either, but I think the two day turnaround would be quite a lot.
00:19:47
Zak
So I'd expect to see Kwasi in that to honest.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah We heard after the match on Boxing Day from Tonda that this whole... The pace of the schedule is new to Sienza.
00:19:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is the reason that he was brought off so early in his struggling fitness. With these quick turnaround of games as well, are we concerned that he maybe doesn't start either? like we Are we looking to like flip the book maybe and have...
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, say Wellington on instead of Fellows and Robinson on instead of Sienza and then swap it round and have Sienza and Fellows coming off the bench, which sounds, i mean, on paper, that sounds pretty formidable as a
00:20:28
Zak
one
00:20:32
Zak
Yeah, but if if we're if we're struggling to see see off games as they go on, we're struggling to win games as we go on.
00:20:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:20:39
Zak
like the What seems to be the the echo playbook of wins so far has literally been we go out and demolish a team really early on and and then have to try and game manage the game.
00:20:50
Zak
Every time he's tried to win a game late, it's not paid off for him, right?
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:20:54
Zak
I also think that it was less it was less about the fact that he started and more about the fact as to why he's brought him off early.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:21:02
Zak
I don't think he wants him to be an impact player. So I can imagine him not being the first name on the team sheet still. Like, yeah, okay, he's he's accepted that like the the the pace of the you know league is different to what he's used to.
00:21:16
Zak
But also, like dust I don't really like that as an excuse for, we brought these players in knowing what the championship was going to be like. They brought these players in that they knew and expected to be in first-team positions. And, you know, I don't think they maybe quite predicted the level of impact that he was going to have. but
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:34
Zak
The idea of sort of, oh, well, you know, it's new to him. I'm like, it might be new to him, but clearly, yeah like i don't think he wants to come off as early every game.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:21:42
Zak
This is Kondo wanting to protect him to make sure that he's available for every game. So if what else would you brought him off so early?
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah, especially because he's...
00:21:50
Zak
And then if you were then not going to start him this game, that would be insane to me, personally. True.
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's also a player who gets kicked a lot, right? Like, it is just through the nature of how he plays.
00:22:00
Zak
sure you
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's it's much harder to be...
00:22:02
Zak
If he had chin pads like Diblin, at this point, he wouldn't have shins left or right. and And of course, but like again, he's he's not a player that that looks like he wants to really not be on the field just because they're kind of worried.
00:22:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:18
Zak
It's the duty of care versus the... like versus the desire of the player, right? We've seen this before with lots of players where they try and play for an injury and then they end up actually injuring themselves longer term.
00:22:29
Zak
Like I genuinely think a lot of Luke Shaw's problems at Man United are down to Mourinho criticising him for not playing injured, which is insane to me that probably then had a massive, you know, that's a whole question for a different podcast to be perfectly honest.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:43
Zak
But in, In regards specifically to to this situation, it's the fact that like they can't play 90 minutes apparently, no matter what, because of the pace and the the level.
00:22:53
Zak
Fine. Bringing him off 10-15 minutes earlier because we've got a big running of games... like, fine, I guess I get that if we were winning and also if they'd done that previously and this was all part of the plan.
00:23:08
Zak
like if they if Because it doesn't look like this is like something they've talked about, that you are only getting 60 minutes today every single time. So i did it did feel a little bit more of...
00:23:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:23:20
Zak
an excuse and an explanation than anything else. Not that there's any excuse or explanation to give us really. It's however they want to manage the players. But I, to actually answer your question, no, I don't see him not starting. I just think that, you know, okay, he might come off early little bit later because they need him for later.
00:23:38
Zak
But, you know, i just hope that it was a lesson that you actually need to, like, see off at sea out games. And if that meant that he wasn't able to start this game, but we'd actually beaten Oxford United, I'd probably be happier.
00:23:51
Zak
And I probably think most of the players would be happier. And then that 15, 10 minutes of fitness in the bag wouldn't, you know, really matter. It wouldn't be as much of a problem.
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:00
Zak
Again, it's it's the January is going to be important because as much as they say they don't need to recruit or replace, like...
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indeed.
00:24:08
Zak
we We need something in else there. Like, we can't just coach Jay Robinson into being the perfect 30-minute subs. Maybe we can. Maybe that is their plan long-term. But, like, you know, you've got a dozy supposedly coming back to fitness. But I genuinely think we just need, like, little bit.
00:24:22
Zak
what not You know, you don't need to revamp the entire squad again. I do think we need, you know, someone there that can make just a bit
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just need a bit of depth. A bit of promising depth.
00:24:33
Zak
Yeah, but depth depth that isn't just like a bunch of players that are still here that want to leave or players that have forgotten that they're even here.
00:24:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:40
Zak
like That's the problem. And I'm not mainly pointing out Joe Rieber.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:44
Zak
It's not really his fault. You know, he could have... not, you know, you clearly tried to get a move in the summer, it didn't work out. But like, it does mean we've still got a bunch of players on the books that we would have clearly wanted gone by the summer that didn't go.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:24:57
Zak
And that's meant that we don't have probably the strength of depth that we would have wanted. And as we've also discussed multiple times, people talk about how strong our bench is in terms of monetary value.
00:25:07
Zak
But it just doesn't feel like, you know, taking off Sienza, for example, putting on an Archer, doesn't mean...
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. No.
00:25:12
Zak
We do a lot. We just need to find someone, I guess, to offer something a bit different. Maybe it'll be different when Charles and Stewart and everybody's back fit. I'd still like to see potentially something from Matsuki at some point.
00:25:23
Zak
because Mainly because of the fact that Eckert pointed out he's working really hard and trying desperately to be in the team and just yet never puts him in it. But, you know, everyone...
00:25:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's baffling. I mean, he had that quality earlier in the season. He kind of just disappeared into obscurity. So, I know. I don't know. All right, mate. I think that we've done as good job as we can as dragging an entire segment out of, yes, start that same 11, please.
00:25:47
Zak
Yeah, well, there's also the whole, like, is there going to be a press conference?
00:25:51
Zak
Wouldn't be surprised if there's one tomorrow in the morning. Probably not. But I just don't like the whole...
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean... I mean, surely they've travelled by now and it's much harder to do a press conference after you've travelled, right? So...
00:26:03
Zak
Yeah, it's just, I just don't, I just, it'll be what it'll be. We'll have to figure it out. But just, I think I'm still like, I find the whole, oh, it's a new schedule for Leo, just a bit like, it's not like, you know, you be multiple tiers of different type of football.
00:26:19
Zak
The idea of lots of football to a player that wants play football all the time. For me saying that that's like a new schedule that's tough is a bit like, well, that's what they're paid to do.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh...
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Lots of very physically intense football for a player that is not scared of getting involved in the physical side of the game and gets kicked more than anyone I have seen recently, right? Like...
00:26:42
Zak
Yeah, but maybe you're right. I'm probably wrong. That's usually how this podcast goes. Apart from when it comes to score predictions, which you are horrifically out at this point.
00:26:53
Zak
If I'd started tallying the amount of goals you were off by, would be in the hundreds. But there we are.
00:26:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, it's upsetting, yeah. It's an upsetting behind them.
00:26:58
Zak
but yeah
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, speaking of score predictions, let's move on to that. But first, let's have a little break and a message from our partners at Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner.
00:27:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:27:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster. all right, mate. And we are back. So the AI spiel suggests a home win for Birmingham with, you know, at least three goals in it. How are feeling? What do you think it's going to be?
00:27:46
Zak
so So contrary to my extremely depressing opinion through the whole of it, going going through the various different, you know, stuff that I don't usually do, like probabilities or that kind of stuff, and considering they haven't won any of their, like, final league games of the year in the last seven calendar years, right, which means they...
00:28:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That matters.
00:28:08
Zak
and Yeah, and they've failed to score in each of their last five games
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's That's a stat that's relevant.
00:28:15
Zak
They conceded three plus goals against us every time we've played them in the last three games, the last three league games. Although they haven't ever won four lost lost four games in a row to us before.
00:28:27
Zak
I'm going to go, Greg. with 3-0 just because of mathematics and probability, which probably means that I am off my rocker considering all I've done this game is go, all I've done this today is stamp my feet, be annoyed at how the game was against Oxford United, ramble incoherently because I'm tired and then give you the most like out-of-pocket answer you probably didn't expect from you today based entirely off of like vibes and potentially some probability.
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was not not expecting that.
00:28:56
Zak
yeah, 3-0.
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, not expecting that at the weight. Fair enough.
00:28:59
Zak
but think I don't know, one from our third three. That'd be nice. So i think it'd be nice for a defender not to score. There you go.
00:29:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Alright, like it. I don't think we'll keep a clean sheet. I think that's far too optimistic. I think 3-1.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, yeah, look, the same same score as the reverse fixture. Same story. Azaz, Armour, and let's have a Fellows goal for good measure.
00:29:24
Zak
Oh, and of course, you can't not predict a game without fellow scoring.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:28
Zak
You're never going to see it, but it's nice that you still think of it.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, who's He's much better assists and that's fine, but his goals come in at some point. It's going to happen. And what's important is that when it happens, I will have predicted it through sheer law of averages.
00:29:37
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:29:46
Zak
Tom Fellows is going to score a goal because I said it was was going to happen. And then we can clip it up and everyone goes, well, I didn't expect a goal from Fellows. Well, this one guy it definitely did.
00:29:57
Zak
Man, I have totally...
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, as long as you don't long as you don't supercut the rest of the predictions before that, that's fine, right?
00:30:04
Zak
like Again, like I just don't think we can come back after the against Oxford United. I think that was peak. like We can't... we We both got so overconfident going into that game that and we got punished for it because severely.
00:30:17
Zak
and yeah, that it's resulted in me being this rambling, tired piece of mess that whatever today's podcast has been.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
that' it Well, that's how it works, mate, is that our score predictions have, in fact, a direct bearing on the result of the game, so we've got like but youve got to do our best not to affect it too negatively.
00:30:31
Zak
right.
00:30:33
Zak
you're you're right virginia the The universe... If that was the case, the whole of last season should have been slightly better.
00:30:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
dear.
00:30:44
Zak
Or we could start predicting wins for Wolves as well and to see if they finally happen for them. No, no, we're not that... Yeah, well, there you go. so off the this is what you get. midre At least, look, where I'm at is that you're getting some mid-season content. And much to the absolute dismay of my wife, mid-season...
00:31:06
Zak
Christmas Limbo is that she's now run out of all of her like podcasts, YouTube videos, and and content to consume during this Christmas like Limbo period of time.
00:31:16
Zak
We are still producing content for you wonderful people, even if, and I'll apologize for being as incoherent as I have been today, it has been off our rocker.
00:31:27
Zak
Because Greg doesn't know
00:31:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm pretty sure that's just that's just our trademark at the moment, mate. That's where we're at. That's our image. It's fine.
00:31:34
Zak
i'm really I'm really sorry.
00:31:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:31:35
Zak
so if I know, but sometimes, Greg, I feel a bit of guilt about we should we should carry ourselves with slightly more professionalism. Not a lot more. Just slightly more. And today, it's felt like my brain's leaked out of my ears a little bit.
00:31:48
Zak
And I'm just really hoping that, like, there's something fun to talk about after Birmingham tomorrow. That's where I'm at.
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
well I look forward to it. Well, that is all we have got time for today. Thank you, Zach, for joining me. And thank you, everyone, for listening.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know your score predictions in the comments or on the socials. We are GSPN Southampton, absolutely everywhere. We are on Facebook, TikTok, X, Instagram, YouTube, Blue Sky. You name it, we're on it. Look us up.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We love hearing from you. Zach will be back after the game tomorrow to to talk about whatever happens, be it good, be it bad, be it ugly. He will be here to talk about it. But until then, thank you very much for listening, everyone. We'll see you then.
00:32:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And come on, you Saints.