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Episode 160: Keep, Bench or Sell?! A harsh critique of our squad...
91 Plays12 days ago
Southampton – We take this period of International break to attempt to look forward to next season, and go through the squad bit by bit to try and work out what our retained list will look like....
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Transcript
Introduction: Daily Southampton Segment
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. I am your host today, Zach Ingo Finch, We
Southampton's Performance Issues
00:00:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
are here today to do a bench keep or sell.
00:00:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because we want to we want we want to kind of like, you know, are we going to do with the squad that has is on course to be possibly the worst Premier League team of all time.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've been back this week, but I'm back today. And obviously that means that I wasn't here to share my thoughts on Wolves. So i'll just quickly knock out of the way, guys. Shocking. Anyway, bye. So,
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice.
00:00:52
Oscar
Yeah, okay, thank you.
00:00:53
Greg
Yeah, doing all right.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, obviously, were we're in a bit of an international break. Might be you know a bit of a godsend for some of us just to not have to think about Southampton. But let's think about Southampton. Yeah.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And who should be playing here next season and who shouldn't be. So I've got the squad list in front of us. I guess we'll start with the the logical start, which is goalkeepers. So guys, Aaron Ramsdale.
Wage Restrictions and Transfers Discussion
00:01:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
we should we What are we go to do with Aaron Ramsdale? Bear in mind, £120,000 a week, apparently, according to Oscar. Big up for your research today, because that's going to be helpful for us. But yeah, I think that's then we have to break like our wage restrictions or whatever to get him, right?
00:01:36
Oscar
i I thought we had a restriction of 100,000, which is why we didn't sign Ward-Prowse on a new contract. Obviously, yeah he might have gone anyway. But I thought that was the reason. So, you know, obviously it was fairly last minute. They must have thought he was the the man they needed.
00:01:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, kind crazy.
00:01:53
Oscar
But it is an eye-watering amount. I suppose it's for an England international, is the argument. And I think, I guess they hoped it would be... for years to come, but it does not seem that will be the case.
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're just another relegation, probably. 100%.
00:02:12
Greg
it's It's got to be a sell, right? Just to get those wages off the books for no other reason.
00:02:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and on so
00:02:17
Greg
Probably make money on him.
00:02:18
Oscar
I... Yeah, I know for a fact he has a fairly hefty relegation release clause anyway. Yeah. So, yeah, I think it's already been touted. I think Chelsea have been touted, Newcastle.
00:02:33
Oscar
think there'll be enough teams looking for a goalkeeper. And he has, and not blaming him for it, but he has history of jumping ship and relegated. So I would sell. I'd say if we could get, you know, if we could be looking to get his value is about 15 million, if we could be looking around that to replace him, think that would probably be fair value and would be good for all parties, especially Bazzouna coming back.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's recoup. Get rid. I'm kind of so yeah um'm up on the bench of on the idea of like sell. So let's talk about some of our other goalkeepers. Alex McCarthy. a week apparently.
00:03:07
Greg
This is the last year of his contract, right?
00:03:08
Oscar
yeah
00:03:09
Greg
Because he he signed on for two years bafflingly.
00:03:13
Oscar
I believe so. Yeah. Yeah, I don't really get that.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:17
Oscar
I'll be honest. I thought i thought he would would have been signing at the time as certainly a backup, if not a third choice. So to give him a new two years on £40,000 a week was a bit eye-watering. I know Forster was on more than double that.
00:03:31
Oscar
So that's why that decision was made. I... Yeah, I don't think there is any sense in renewing his contract for me or...
00:03:42
Oscar
you know if you sell him, what are you going to get for him? So...
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
like I guess he's just going to live in the back until he's released and then that's it. like Thank you very much for all of your hard work, but we don't really need you anymore. That's kind of where I'm at.
00:03:56
Oscar
not Yeah, no, I
Defensive Lineup Critique
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great.
00:03:58
Oscar
would agree.
00:03:59
Oscar
I think he gets more of a har harsh rap than he deserves.
00:04:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
True.
00:04:02
Oscar
But at the same time, if Pizzunu is going to be the number one, I'd maybe look at bringing in another number two if we can get rid of McCarthy. Because again, he's on high wages. And then Lumley, you've got a backup there as a number three. He's not on very much.
00:04:16
Oscar
He's experienced enough. i'd I'd keep him in the building and and I'd get rid of McCarthy. He would be my option.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's on he's one of our supposedly one of our cheapest wage bills as well, right? Like 10,000 a week, which is still a hefty number, but by footballing standards, barely anything.
00:04:25
Oscar
Yeah.
00:04:30
Oscar
Yeah.
00:04:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you keep lovely, Greg?
00:04:30
Oscar
i think
00:04:32
Greg
yeah Yeah, he's a perfectly viable second or third choice, probably second choice championship, third choice Premier League keeper. I think it's fine.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anything else, Wadrowski? Sorry, didn't mean to cut you off there.
00:04:45
Oscar
No, no, I don't think so. I think, again, yeah, he's, he's I think he's perfectly made to be a number three. Doesn't seem to be particularly fussed when he's not involved. Could be wrong about that. Although I know, again, I i know someone that used to play of Alex McCarthy and when when he was really in his youth career and they said he's the exact same. He's apparently completely placid when he's on the bench. He's not worried about being left out.
00:05:06
Oscar
But no, I think Lumley, I think, you know, he he knows where he is and, yeah,
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, he had England ambitions, right?
00:05:10
Oscar
yeah
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was like one of the things he said is he wanted to play for England. I don't know if just just the way that he played so far...
00:05:15
Oscar
Well, so do I, to be fair, but...
00:05:18
Greg
it's just like It was like a very interview soundbite, right?
00:05:18
Oscar
Yeah.
00:05:22
Greg
Like, I'd quite happily sit on the bench for for ten k a week as well.
00:05:23
Oscar
Yeah.
00:05:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's one of those things...
00:05:28
Greg
So...
00:05:28
Oscar
Yeah.
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rightio, so moving on to the yeah outfield players, we've got obviously our, I guess he's not our club captain, but he's kind of a captain at the moment, Jan Bednarek, who's apparently on 70 grand a week. And obviously he had move touted to, you where was it? Was it Roma that tried to buy him?
00:05:46
Oscar
Yeah.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the beginning or like during the January season, so obviously that's quite that's quite a lot of money for for a man that's like pushing towards 30 now. But I think he's been a good servant. I don't know. It depends how if we decide to completely revamp the defense, does he stay? What are we thinking?
00:06:02
Oscar
if if it were me, this may be, I think, the first one that splits opinions. I would probably sell. I think he's he's worth enough that it would be worth recruiting.
00:06:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:06:11
Oscar
You know, again, all these values come from transfer marks, so I don't know how accurate they actually are, but, you know, it says £10 million.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:06:19
Oscar
pounds If you could get anything up to that, between £5 and £10, I would sell him. The fact he's on big wages as well, his value's only going to go down now realistically at £28, If it were me, I'd sell him.
00:06:31
Oscar
I think we've got enough cover there or could get other centre-backs in that I think, you know, again, he's he's done a good job.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:40
Oscar
But yeah, maybe now's time for a bit of a refresh if we can do it.
00:06:44
Greg
I think I agree with that completely I think that when you watch Bednarek play it feels like he's a very good defender and one of our better defenders in the team a key part of that back line but He was also part of the team both these times we've got relegated and one of the main defenders in the championship last year where we also leaked goals.
00:07:06
Greg
So, i mean, maybe it's
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
There it is. It's a bit harsh, but it's true.
00:07:11
Greg
easy to look good in a team that isn't, right?
00:07:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but again, like, you know, Polish national team, he's really good and please don't attack us. I but they...
00:07:23
Greg
Didn't he recently get like whipped off after 30 minutes from the Polish national team in disgrace?
00:07:27
Oscar
Yeah, I've got a friend who's Polish. I don't don't think they're that keen.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one of those things that the few times he has been sort of mugged off the international fan base jumped to his defence. I'm just keen for us not to get ourselves into a little bit of trouble there. i Just quickly, before we go on our break, one of the things I find mad is Taylor Harwood-Bennis is apparently down on 7.5k a week, which I don't know how accurate that is.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
However, if that is true, that's insane because it's one of our cheapest players... for probably doing some some the most work this season. But again, he is also about to be potentially a Premier, like in his first ever Premier League season proper, one of the worst, you know, part of the worst team of all time.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So maybe that's just our own biases.
00:08:11
Greg
yeah If that is the real wage amount, maybe that's the real reason he went and got himself a new agent, because clearly the last one didn't do a particularly good job of negotiating a wage.
00:08:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:20
Oscar
yeah Yeah, that's a very very valid point. yeah I can't believe that when I saw it.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nuts, isn't it?
00:08:26
Oscar
you know I would have understood that last season. He's just come through at Man City and and not played much. But when he signed for Saints, yeah, I agree. Adrian, what are you doing, mate? but He's an England international and he's on half the amount that Juan Larius was on.
00:08:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's nuts.
00:08:39
Oscar
I just, yeah. And that's why if...
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
So do we keep him for 7.5k a week?
00:08:43
Oscar
Huh?
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do we keep him?
00:08:46
Oscar
Oh, 100%.
00:08:46
Greg
Yeah, 100%.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good.
00:08:47
Greg
Yeah.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm glad we're in
00:08:48
Oscar
100%. There's
Contract and Performance Analysis
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
agreement there.
00:08:49
Oscar
no reason to sell him. And if we do, that's what I'd be saying. I'd want to keep him. If we get an offer of over his value, which is, again, apparently 20 million, I'd probably take it because I think he'd want to go.
00:09:00
Greg
Yeah.
00:09:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's a lot as well.
00:09:01
Oscar
and that's a lot of money. And again, do we have adequate cover at that position? Probably. Even without Benarek and Harwood Bellis, we've still got four or five centre-backs on the list and still got Joe Rebo as well.
00:09:13
Oscar
Yeah.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
For now.
00:09:16
Greg
I don't know.
00:09:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's take a little break and then we'll be back with the rest of the squad.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we are back and to carry on, we'll just dive straight back into it. So, Armel Bellacotcap, lads, are you keeping him? Are you selling him?
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or are you benching him?
00:10:14
Greg
It's a sell if anyone will have him, right? Haven't we been trying to sell him for as long as I can remember at this point?.....................
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pretty much. it's It's one of those kind of things where, well, I think that they they almost did sell him, but there was some disagreement around value, right, when it was to buy Munich. I think that was what it was. Because obviously one of them was to do with a failed medical, but the other one was literally to do with the fact that we were like, no you need to offer us more than the paltry sum you decided to.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know considering he was supposed to come in according to all of the people... on Twitter and save our season. It didn't really work out that well for him. But I don't think he's a terrible player. I just don't think that he has any interest in staying here.
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it makes no sense to me to just continually keep someone here that doesn't really want to be here anymore. So yeah, I would i would i would sell.
00:11:00
Oscar
Yeah, I'd agree.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're not really... Sorry, I was just going to say, we're nott really keeping a lot of people at this point.
00:11:03
Oscar
No.
00:11:04
Greg
yeah
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
go luck We got like Lumley and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
00:11:09
Greg
It's a pretty bleak outlook, but it's also pretty telling of the season we've had. And if we're being honest, even last season, defensively, it was not our strength.
00:11:19
Greg
So it's not surprise either.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wasn't even here, was he? He was out of loan the entire season, so...
00:11:23
Greg
Yeah.
00:11:24
Oscar
No, I'd be on the same page. I think, I think, It's not worked out. It's the sort of one I could imagine being a bit like a Kevin Danzo. He'll go away, start playing well for someone, then he'll end up back in the Premier League with someone else. But it's not working. He doesn't want to be here. I don't think the club particularly wants him anyway. Attitude seems a bit off. if you can get If you can get over a few million, I'll take it.
00:11:44
Oscar
Get him off the books.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm kind of agreement. Right, so straight on to the next one. Our club captain, a man who does show a lot of passion, sometimes a little bit too much. A person that me and Greg said we don't really want to see him play again, so it'll be interesting see if our opinions have changed.
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jack Stephens. do you reckon, boys? Yeah.
00:12:03
Greg
I'll jump in. I think keep. I think he'll be fine in the championship.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:08
Oscar
Yeah, I agree. I think £45,000 a week is a bit eye-watering.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:14
Oscar
But actually, in modern-day football, is it the grand a huge amount in the grand scheme of things? i'd I'd keep him. I think you're not going to replace him for what you'd get for him. So, you might as well keep him.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just depends how bad his injuries are, right? Because like at 31, it's not like he's getting any younger in the nicest possible way.
00:12:26
Greg
Thank you.
00:12:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And if he keeps getting you know out for big, long spells, I don't know if part of it is just that he's stretching out a little bit. i don't want to be put that on I don't want to put that rumour out there. or you know just it just you got makes you think a little bit considering how the season's been so far. But yeah, I don't see any reason to to really get rid of him at this point. And we're going to need at least some sort of level heads.
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
just not you know just one just hoping if he does stay as captain, and he he decides to show some experience that also shows in not trying to start a punch-up on the pitch going forward or swearing at a referee in an extremely expletive, ridden run.
00:13:06
Greg
Mm-hmm.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, there we go So, obviously, next one, Nathan Wood, supposedly on 15K a week, 22. Not really worth that much, was a Russell Martin signing. Hasn't really had a look-in since Juric has come in. Had a bit of here and there. He started to come good when he was playing, a little bit. But then again, we keep saying that, and we've said that about all our defenders, and we have literally, like, shipped the most goals whatever at this point. Like... it' so So, it's kind of difficult to judge, in my opinion.
00:13:36
Oscar
Yeah, true. I think I'd keep him.
00:13:38
Oscar
he's He's looked fairly tidy when he's when he's played in the Premier League so far. He's still young. As we say, he's not on much money. There's not it's not a high amount of risk. He's one of our more athletic players as well, which is something we lack in this squad. So I'd keep him.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:54
Greg
Yeah, I agree. Be a good championship player. Whether he stays beyond that, I don't know. That might be another question. I guess that's another question we'll answer in our follow-up episode to this next season. so
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Rightio, so next one on the list, still quite young lad, but not as young as the rest. Yuki Sugawara, he's had a bit an up and down, right? Early doors, very, very sort of very sort of popular, had a couple of games where he played really well.
00:14:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Very good attacking option. It's been shown that not that great at defending and keeps hand-pawing. 45k, wait, sorry, 40k a week, worth about 10 million. Spoke and and a kind of got misquoted that he was looking at the end of the season as to what to do.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
what I think he actually meant by that, and which kind of annoyed me about that level of journalism, was that he was actually talking about how he's not thinking about the end of the season. By the way, it's it's kind of it's a difficult one because it depends on where he would fit in, right?
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you know defensively, his game really needs to be upped to be in that position. but also, we're very likely to lose to Kyle Walker-Peters. So, do you reckon?
00:15:04
Greg
I'll just hear you all.
00:15:05
Oscar
I think I'd probably keep him.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah? Yeah.
00:15:07
Oscar
but he seemed He seems like a good... like He should... But i but i I like Japanese players as it is. I think they have a lot of the right... and We've spoken about it before, a lot of good characteristics and and and qualities.
00:15:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:18
Oscar
And he he seems to be like that. He's honest. He works hard. Yes, certain aspects game need improving. Maybe that might be the case in the Championship. And you can see, you know, we should, in theory, be less defensively taxed than we were in the Premier League, in theory at least.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:33
Oscar
So maybe a good run of games in the team because he hasn't really been able to get hit the ground running. maybe that will be what he needs. Still a lot of a lot of money in terms of wages, but again, who's going to offer anywhere near to what we paid for him at this point?
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. he was one of the cheaper ones, right? He was worth about five, wouldn't be surprised if someone comes in. But in my head, in my head it's I would keep him just for the utility, but I am very wary of that, which you know I know that I have a bit of a bias as well.
00:15:53
Greg
yeah
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Greg, what's your opinion?
00:16:03
Greg
I think I'd like to keep him but I think he'll probably go is the the honest outcome I think that we think we got him really quite cheap and so someone will probably snatch him up but yeah I think I'd like to keep him I think he'll be alright in the championship I think there's
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:16:19
Greg
showings of a good Premier League player in there. It's just some silly mistakes in his scout of his game and some defending lessons to take. But that could be said of all of our back lines.
00:16:30
Greg
So,
00:16:34
Oscar
Yeah.
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kyle Walker-Peters, who probably, in my head, is a null and void as to what we what our opinions are. Obviously, I'd like to keep him, because I think that he is 100% on his way out of the end of the season.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah but Unless something something miraculous comes in and changes his mind, which, you know, strange things have happened, but... Yeah.
00:16:56
Greg
He just signed the new contract by now, if he had any intention of staying.
00:16:57
Oscar
not
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:00
Oscar
I think there's that conversation about all the Liverpool players, like you don't go into the last season of contract without knowing or realising that you're in the last season of your contract. You know, even maybe that, I'm not saying he's good enough to go and play for Liverpool, but they're going to be short of right-back at the end of the season.
00:17:14
Oscar
There's plenty of clubs, I think, that would look at him. So I think he's definitely gone without doubt. As for him being on 20k a week, yeah, again, I can't believe that. These have all come from a SpotRAC website about salaries.
00:17:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it might just be the last time that he actually had like public contract stuff, right? It might just be the last time this information has actually come through.
00:17:34
Oscar
Maybe, but it seems to be fairly fairly up to date.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, so...
00:17:37
Oscar
it just It doesn't have the newer signings. but And I've double-checked a few of them across that Harbour Bellis and that across a few websites. So it does seem that that's the case. If that is the case, again, I'm not too surprised he wants to leave because that is – considering he's been our best player for the last three years, he was how he hasn't been offered more and he's got to be looking at someone like Alex McCarthy on double his wages and thinking –
00:17:49
Greg
No.
00:17:59
Greg
Yeah.
00:17:59
Oscar
unless Unless he's got like bonuses in his contract or something like that, which is also a possibility.
00:18:05
Greg
Yeah, I mean, that seems quite likely, right? It's just like,
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but...
00:18:09
Greg
depends what number this is, right?
00:18:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
What clean sheet bonuses?
00:18:10
Oscar
Yeah, well.
00:18:12
Greg
Or individual.
00:18:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Okay, even last season he had struggled!
00:18:13
Oscar
Yeah. Yeah.
00:18:15
Greg
No, but even like individual performance bonuses, right? Like there's, there's ways where that number isn't the magic number, right? So
Player Motivations and Dynamics
00:18:23
Greg
it's, I'd take that with a pinch of salt.
00:18:25
Greg
I don't, I don't think you'd have stayed here as long as he has, if that was the, the true number, to be honest.
00:18:26
Oscar
Yeah.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, right. So briefly, before we take another quick break, what are we thinking about James Bree? Obviously, 10k a week. He's been a really good utility player for us, supposedly of championship pedigree. Came to us to get an opportunity to play in the Premier League.
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the team that he left ended up getting a season of Premier League anyway. now has had a season of Premier League and he might be part of the worst Premier League team of all time. What do we do about James Bree? I would say bench him, right? I don't want to keep I don't think he should be in the start end if we can get a better option.
00:19:03
Greg
Thank you.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I also don't think we should sell him because where he has when he does come on as a sort of utility or substitute player, I think he does all right.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nothing outstanding apart from a couple of those really nice goals during cup competitions that he randomly pulls out the bag sometimes. That's mine. What about you guys?
00:19:18
Oscar
Yeah, I agree. I think he's he's a good technician. I'd probably have him in the same bracket as Ryan fraser sorry ryan Manning and maybe even Charlie Taylor, although he's a bit he's on a bit more.
00:19:29
Oscar
But where they'll both there'll be solid championship options, they're not on that much money. you'd You'd want them as squad players if they're happy to wear that, which I think probably both of them would be. Then you take him, again, with Walker-Peters going, Sugarwari, you're not sure.
00:19:43
Oscar
you know They're good options to have, in my opinion. So I'd keep them both. But yeah, bench them probably.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rightio. So we'll be back shortly after a quick break.
00:19:53
Greg
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencastr came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone, and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:20:11
Greg
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencastr.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we are back to continue talking about and finishing up on our defensive line. So we last left off on James Bree. One of our later signings, one of our newer signings, is Wellington, where we don't seem to have an accurate wage for him.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's 24. He's worth about 3 million. He's done okay since he's been in. Again, it's really it's really hard to judge how well players have played because it's like we've got to this point now and it's a funny back and forth that I often have with Greg where he goes, we're playing all right.
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I was like, by that, do you mean we're not 4-0 down? Because what we consider to be good and okay now has shifted from, say, what it would have been last season. so like if we If we get a 0-0 draw now, I think we're playing a top of the world where it's...
00:21:01
Greg
i think that I think it's reasonable to say that we the results don't always reflect the way we've played.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's very that's reasonable. But like I also think that there are a couple of games where you've told me we've played really, really well, and I've watched it pass us sideways to eat one another for 40-odd minutes, but because it's slightly more exciting than it going in the back of our own net...
00:21:25
Greg
Yeah, that's fair...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
you it to be good but either way that's besides the point on the actual player we're talking about in question I think for I don't really know what we've paid for him but I think it's alright he seems to be doing alright considering if he came in probably under the prospect of playing with a completely different manager and a completely different system randomly showed up for his January so like obviously pre-contract agreement rocks up new manager in the building nobody you know that's kind
00:21:49
Greg
up in a leg brace as well like
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I guess Chuck started sort of straight into it. was I think he was going to have an under-21s game and then he ended up being pulled because he was going to be in that matchday squad.
00:21:56
Greg
Yeah.
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, he played he's played a couple of games and he he didn't look out of place. He didn't look like he was really, really struggling. So, yeah, i would I would keep him maybe on the bench. Maybe Manning's a better option at left-back, which I did never ever thought I'd say at the beginning of the season, but here we are.
00:22:17
Greg
yeah
00:22:17
Oscar
Yeah, I think, i think again, to until he finds his footing, as well, maybe I'd get him playing as much as possible for the rest of this season.
00:22:24
Oscar
But Manning knows that league. That's his level, realistically. Yes, he's been okay in the Premier League. but So I'd agree you'd probably have him as the start with maybe Wellington to take over in the long run, depending on how he gets on. But yeah, I'd definitely keep him, not necessarily as a starter at this point, but keep him involved.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, so on to a forgotten man who is the one we all speculated is the reason he was kept out of the squad was he didn't mark somebody properly at Leicester.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Potentially cost us our place of being the worst or stop cost us not being the worst Premier League team of all time. Arguably, you could say that about every single player that's made individual mistakes. Charlie Taylor, who, again, sometimes I just forget he plays for us.
00:23:08
Greg
He really dropped off the face of the planet, right? that
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, man.
00:23:12
Greg
He hasn't been in or about squads in and forever. was
00:23:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was like rumors of him going elsewhere, right? And then it was it was sort of, he didn't want to play at that level. I can't remember who he was potentially being shipped out to.
00:23:24
Oscar
No, I think.
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so he was like, I don't really want to go there. i then And then it was like, okay, well, if you don't get your move...
00:23:29
Greg
That's fair. i I don't think anyone wants to go to Hull. LAUGHTER
00:23:34
Greg
but
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
no we We have a work colleague that works there.
00:23:34
Oscar
The coach was 50th of the year couple years ago, wasn't he?
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was, it got cultural city of the year. And we have a work friend that lives there, Greg, who talks about how how nice it is.
00:23:41
Greg
Okay. yeah
00:23:45
Greg
Yeah, I don't buy it.
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not going to rush to visit.
00:23:48
Greg
I'm not buying it.
00:23:48
Oscar
Okay.
00:23:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
but yeah, it's just, it's just a bit of a a bit of a weird one.
00:23:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's supposedly on 30 grand a week, which I think is high for somebody that isn't really and then about the squad. He was kind of brought in as one of the supposed better players from teams that went down. Right.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he was, you know, always known
00:24:05
Greg
of an experienced head as well, right, was the presumably the point.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but...
00:24:10
Oscar
Yeah, it is a bizarre one because it's something we've needed and he's still struggled to get in the team in a position where, you know, we've flattered the seed. But I guess maybe because he's not a left wing back, he's probably a bit more of an out-and-out left back, is maybe why he's not had the chance.
00:24:22
Greg
Thank you.
00:24:25
Oscar
that But then you'd have thought they would have thought of that before they signed him.
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, this is the thing. It's baffling. It's like it's like that they've done the the football manager thing of they've looked at a bunch of teams that are being relegated and decided to pick up some bargains. that is That is genuinely what it feels like. And previously, I thought, no, there must be more of a recruitment strategy like that in place. so And then looking at Russell Martin's interview, Spores genuinely talking about it...
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
our entire transfer strategy for like the Premier League seemed to literally be, well, let's just wing it and hope for the best. but bit And he seems like once somebody where they've, they've picked him up, maybe he could, you know, maybe we'll play at left back occasionally and then never, yeah, I'll not.
00:25:02
Oscar
I'm surprised as well with Juric's keenness to have a left-sider playing centre-back and rather than putting a rebo there. And he's also like he's not limited on the ball. He's quite good on the ball.
00:25:13
Oscar
So I'm really surprised, but maybe a tea one of the teams that's coming up will fall for the same trap or will, or maybe that's harsh way putting it, or we'll try and take him off us. Bear in mind we got him for free. If you can get anything back, then why not take it?
00:25:26
Greg
Mm-hmm.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean I'm in kind of agreement that like i think I personally think the reason that he's not played under Juric they must have had some sort of...
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know that it's not It's been known that he's fallen out of a couple of players. The fact that he's failed to get a move and now hasn't been seen under the sun and and like the down situation got apparently resolved amicably. I just think he doesn't have an interest in playing.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
for us or have an interest in playing there or whatever position, you know, it just seems a really odd one because it's one that's, in my opinion, talked about less, right? Like we've already, like, you know, we've alluded to talking about Ryan Fraser and like they've already talked about when Juric was asked about Fraser, it's like, oh yeah, tactical.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. But like it seems to just be like, there's that meme of that like person drowning in the pool, right? And then the person above, and then chained rock bottom to the bottom of the pool is Charlie Taylor, where everyone's just forgotten he exists.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, I think it's a bit of an odd one, but i I would potentially sell. But then I also wouldn't be surprised if we see him next year either. Maybe a good bench option. Greg?
00:26:30
Greg
Oh, yeah. I just get rid of self-release. whatever. Like, just no interest.
00:26:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
but but
00:26:39
Greg
but If he didn't want to go to hole to play at that level, he's not going to want to play for us at that level. He clearly doesn't want to play for us at this level. So, whatever.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:26:49
Greg
Deadwood, get rid.
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
but yeah
00:26:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not quite last yet, but Ryan Manning, who, again, we did not think would be one of the our best players of the season, but in my opinion, when he's played, he's been significantly better than he probably was in the championship, to be honest.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'd keep him.
00:27:05
Greg
Yeah, I agree with that.
00:27:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we're both in agreement.
00:27:07
Greg
Yeah, and in agreement with that. He surprised me this year. Gets some harsh critics a lot of the time, but actually being one of our more consistent players.
00:27:08
Oscar
Yeah.
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perfect.
00:27:20
Greg
Yeah, good championship option showed that last year. Be fine.
00:27:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
fifteen fifteen k a week, which isn't too bad.
00:27:27
Greg
Yeah.
00:27:28
Oscar
Yeah, exactly.
00:27:28
Oscar
I think on the wages he's on, he's got experience at the level. You'd keep him, whether he's the starter or whether whether he's there until Wellington comes to speed. or Yeah, if if we it sort of depends on Wellington, really. like I would have said that left-back was a priority position when we came up and we didn't really address it.
00:27:47
Oscar
Okay, we signed Wellington on the pre-contract and maybe Charlie Taylor was just there to be a make-weight until he came in. Yeah. But yeah, ahd I'd keep him. I think he seems like he's he's popular around the place and he's a good lad.
00:28:02
Oscar
The question might be if Russell Martin does get a job somewhere, he might come come back calling for some of them.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
What he would do you try and take him? Yeah, that's...
00:28:09
Oscar
Again, I think if the right if the right offer came in and he he was on a free, so any offer that comes in is a profit.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
sir
00:28:16
Oscar
So if the right offer came in, would you sell him maybe? But could you replace him for the money you'd get?
00:28:19
Greg
Yeah.
00:28:22
Oscar
I don't know. I wouldn't be averse to losing him, but I think keep him if... if in doubt.
00:28:27
Greg
Hmm.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
right And at last, and what I was going to say was not least, but also maybe least, which is slightly harsh, but also probably true, Juan Larios, who, you know...
00:28:36
Greg
and A man who I famously mistook for a mascot.
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that was about three, four years ago, Greg, when he was a sprite 18-year-old. He's now 21 and has had barely any games. I've seen that he's played like a couple of games for the Under-21s in the Premier too, which is good.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was a Man City prospect, so like good. 15k a week though, that's a lot of money for someone that hasn't played lot of football.
00:29:02
Greg
in the when in the games that he did play for us, but way back in the day, he, he had a lot of promise and a lot of prospects and he was one that put a shift in.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:12
Greg
obviously there's huge question marks about whether you can sort of get back to that after that amount of time out from presumably back to back injuries and not just one injury for that length of time.
00:29:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:26
Greg
but it's, yeah, uh, I don't see there's not enough proof in the pudding to sell.
00:29:36
Greg
He's young enough that there's good potential there. So i guess keep or probably bench. You probably come in and start easing in.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
three Three years though, man.
00:29:47
Oscar
yeah
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:29:49
Greg
A long time.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah That's where I'm kind of at. is like you know If we get a couple million for him, fine. it's not He's not played. this is that You could say that... i oh
00:29:57
Greg
But who's going to come and pay any money for a player who's not played for three years? like
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully some random Spanish team.
00:30:06
Oscar
I think he has been linked recently, hasn't he, with a couple of teams? So, yeah.
00:30:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's that's why I say that.
00:30:12
Oscar
I agree. now if and if an If an offer comes in, pounce on it.
00:30:15
Greg
Yeah.
00:30:16
Oscar
you know i think that's a lot of wages for for what he has contributed. I'd be interested to know how much he'd been paid per minute he's played, actually.
00:30:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh
Conclusion and Social Media Engagement
00:30:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
God, that's that's a...
00:30:26
Oscar
Because that would be an eye-watering amount, I suspect. like Again, seems like a talented player. Seems like a good lad. He seems to be popular around the place. He's actually seemingly been playing more attacking for the 23s.
00:30:37
Oscar
Maybe that's just because...
00:30:38
Greg
Yeah.
00:30:40
Oscar
the level he in theory should be at given that he was at City but yeah I think if anything comes in then you take it if not you try and build him back up but you'll look at it from his perspective as well is he getting 15k a week anywhere else that he goes probably not so are you going to be that keen to move on I think there were rumours he's quite keen to go back to Spain which I don't really blame him but
00:30:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably not. David,
00:31:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, it must be getting homesick and not even getting to do the job that you're kind of wanting to do must suck a little bit and and that and also just, you know, you know i don't know how long he's left on his contract, right?
00:31:01
Greg
yeah
00:31:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because he's been here now since our relegation season. but the first time round. So that's at least three years. So even if he was on a four-year, only probably about a year or so left after. So yeah, it'll be interesting to see what happens with him. But that brings us to an end of our goalkeepers defenders. And originally, we were naive enough to think this might be a one-parter. And then we realised how ridiculously large our squad is.
00:31:35
Greg
yeah lot of drinking When they say it's bloated and needs cutting back, that's for sure.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's sort of like, oh no, it's not that bad. You know, we've probably got a bad idea. As we've been going through, I'm like, oh yeah, no, I forgot about him. Oh no, I forgot about him. And believe me, there's some more that you'd have forgotten. So join us.
00:31:48
Oscar
Looking on here, Larios signed a five-year contract 2022. Yeah.
00:31:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, good. It's 2027. Looks like he's staying.
00:31:56
Oscar
yeah yeah
00:31:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rightio. Well, if that's the case, we'll we maybe talk about that some more in the next one. Obviously, we'll do a party where we'll cover all of the midfield, all the forwards. But yeah, see see who else we want to keep and get rid of. Because so far, it's looking pretty cutthroat from all of us.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah Thank you very much for joining us today. We'll be back with part two in the next one. Until then, catch us on all the socials. We're on Facebook, Twitter, Blue Sky, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, the GSPN Southampton YouTube.
00:32:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pretty sure that's covered all of them. so yeah Give us a like and a follow and a rate and all that jazz, and we will see you in the next one. Thank very much, everybody. Goodbye!
00:32:36
Greg
Bye.