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Episode 361: Matchday Preview - Home to Hull!
82 Plays13 days ago
Southampton - Back into league action after the cup, and a tough task against a high flying Hull side, who are admittedly dealing with a number of injury blows. Can we put them away and kick back on from a disappointing festive period?
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Transcript
Introduction and Game Excitement
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach. you doing mate, you alright?
00:00:26
Zak
I'm all right. it's <unk>re We're back at that that time where there's like another game that matters. and It's just been a long two weeks in our world, right?
Cautious Approach to Upcoming Matches
00:00:36
Zak
Hopefully also this episode won't be lost media.
00:00:40
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Oh yeah, there is there is that.
00:00:41
Zak
That would also be but transitioning background stuff.
00:00:42
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
That would be nice.
00:00:44
Zak
So apologies for the for the bits and pieces that have been going on. But yeah, I'm not too bad. I'm kind of... cautious about the weekend.
00:00:53
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah?
00:00:54
Zak
Cautious still, very, very cautious.
00:00:56
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Cautious or cautiously optimistic? Because it's different.
00:00:58
Zak
No, no, not cautiously optimistic. I mean, arguably the the cautiously optimistic part comes from the fact that we are playing a team that have a lot of injuries, right?
00:01:11
Zak
Like we haven't had the press conference yet because apparently Tom just doesn't like us and wants to do them on a Friday, which is less than ideal for us.
00:01:11
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:01:18
Zak
so yeah.
00:01:19
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
He's got to listen to our match preview, mate, to know what's going on.
00:01:23
Zak
If that was the case, he would have changed a lot of his plans and they would be wildly more inconsistent depending on how we feel on the day, right?
00:01:23
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
That's all it is. Hmm.
00:01:32
Zak
So, swings and roundabouts. But, yeah, no, I'm still i'm still very cautious. Like, I'm very aware that Doncaster was far more difficult than it needs to be.
00:01:43
Zak
I think you take it with the pinch of salt that it was a rotated squad. By the end of the game, it wasn't really much of a rotated squad and we didn't get to add a
Hull City Analysis
00:01:49
Zak
goal. And that last game against Middlesbrough was just terrible.
00:01:54
Zak
So, yeah, the idea that we're playing an injury-ravaged side is good.
00:01:54
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah. But like say, lots to...
00:01:59
Zak
However, the last time we played a side that were ravaged by injuries and we thought we would wipe the floor of them, we also didn't. So, yeah, that's how I'm feeling.
00:02:09
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, it's going to be an interesting game. Well, I mean, looking at Hull and their form, obviously they're sort of right up and amongst it this season, doing doing pretty good stuff.
00:02:16
Zak
Yep.
00:02:20
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
But, I mean, even up in seventh... I mean, the the stat that jumps out at me is obviously 25 games, 40 goals scored, goal difference plus two.
00:02:35
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
So that thus that's pretty leaky as well. Like...
00:02:39
Zak
Yeah, but we also played them quite recently and that didn't end too well for us either. And that's because we also came into that game being very sort of like, wow, it's whole city. We should be beating them. And I don't really feel that way anymore.
00:02:53
Zak
So we should.
00:02:53
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, they beat us 3-1, right, in that in that game. It was not great.
00:03:13
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Hmm.
Team Dynamics and Public Sentiment
00:03:14
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, I mean, but our our form at home is is reasonably good.
00:03:20
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Is that something to take optimism from? Like, i we we don't lose at home often, even if the feelings of games at home our frustration at the end of it.
00:03:20
Zak
Yeah.
00:03:35
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
It's...
00:03:35
Zak
Well, also what what you what you don't want, Greg, is the fact that this would be their first league double over us since 1950 to 51.
00:03:42
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Oh...
00:03:44
Zak
And once again, records are there to be broken.
00:03:44
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
oh nice
00:03:47
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah
00:03:48
Zak
So, yeah, it's it's but that is to be clear, though, that is a that is a good point. I just don't know how much I i put that behind... like I can see it turning toxic if it goes wrong, right?
00:04:01
Zak
That's the problem, is that we're very, very much on the... don't don't know, we were talking about this last episode on the precipice of like crisis point or whatever you want to call it. like Me and you are kind of like, I don't really think we're there, but a lot of other people feel like that. And you saw the charts at Doncaster about Sports Republic and And that is bound to have a mentality shift if people are turning up and being rowdy about it, which, you know, probably as is their right.
00:04:28
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, well, I mean...
00:04:29
Zak
But for me, that means that it kind of, it kind of turns the tide of what made it a fortress beforehand, which I guess was also still mugging off Sports Republic, but still.
00:04:36
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah,
00:04:39
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah I mean, I agree. And, i mean, especially off the field, you think about some... e let Let's go with the word interesting
Player Transfers and Fan Expectations
00:04:49
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
decisions, right? They're not going to be unilaterally popular, right? Like letting Ronnie Edwards go to QPR...
00:04:56
Zak
I still feel like that whole thing was a bit weird.
00:05:00
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, this whole Larios thing where he's supposedly off to a European club is just a bit... It's all just a bit weird, right?
00:05:09
Zak
That doesn't surprise me. That, I just don't think he's ever been back in the plans, right? They've loaned him out to get first-team football. It doesn't feel like, for me, there's ever really a plan to rehabilitate him and put him back in the squad. Like, it just hasn't felt like it. Like, you kind of forget he's here until the news story pops up. and that's no disrespect to the guy. Apparently, everyone said he's a really nice lad. It's just that it's not thing, is it, really?
00:05:41
Zak
Yes.
00:05:43
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
do you think... I guess i guess let's head it head into that part. Do you think we're sticking with this sort of back four thing?
00:05:53
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Or do you think he's sort of wed to this back three... that he kind of sort of switched back to at the end of the Doncaster game, but also sort of not really. It wasn't quite in the same way.
00:06:05
Zak
i i i don't I don't know. I i don't think he's still got enough excuses to play a back five. I still think that the the point of player power might have something to do with it, if I'm totally honest. you know the if If it's because we're shifting Ronnie Edwards to get in a centre-back who then can play in a back four without it being like a problem,
00:06:30
Zak
alongside Kwasi or whatever, sure, I guess we'll see what happens. But I just think that if the justification is we'll score and we did score three against Doncaster, to be fair, but then immediately League And the only way we feel okay is if we have a back three with you know with the two wingbacks. I just kind of feel like that's what they're going to carry on doing.
00:06:57
Zak
it's it's just It's just strange. like The problem is is when it was the good there was the right place to take the risk, but like almost within 10, 15 minutes.
00:07:03
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:07:05
Zak
and And the fact that they they blamed on that, well, he sort of tended to blame on that, right? Even though you you rightly pointed out that formation didn't make a blind bit of difference to how all those goals were conceded.
00:07:16
Zak
The fact that we can't seem to clear a set piece to save our lives.
00:07:16
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:07:19
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:07:20
Zak
So, like... It just depends on whether or not he can be bothered to put up with the the rage of the fans when people immediately realise. I'd like to see a
00:07:29
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, well, that's
Strategy Debate and Lineup Predictions
00:07:29
Zak
backpaw though, but...
00:07:29
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
the thing, right? You talk talk about like the importance of the atmosphere and how it might you know turn on on a dime, but yeahre you're off to a bad start naming a back... effect What will be seen as a back five against a a team like Hull who are going to play at us, sure, but are also, like like you alluded to, ravaged with injuries, right? Like, this is...
00:07:58
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
is not the game to do it I don't think it's just it feels like stick with the back four you know stick with Quasi and Harwood Benes and just you know see what what comes of it get some get some goals against like i say a defence that is not assured even when they you know don't have injuries on the cards so it just feels like it has the potential to be a high scoring affair
00:08:27
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
both ways.
00:08:47
Zak
However, like, however, the, the, the, the
00:08:48
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
oh I've got it i've got it ready.
00:08:52
Zak
The terminology and the wording around high-scoring affair means like, yeah, I just hope that it's going to be better in our favour. But I just don't really have the... oh i don't really have but the hope. You talked about it recently with the the hope that kills you. like We put out what consider to be our strongest XI against Middlesbrough.
00:09:10
Zak
Got absolutely mauled by them. And I'm cautious about how we're going to come up against... Hull. And regardless of injuries or not, they are doing better on the road. Yes, we haven't lost at home for a while.
00:09:24
Zak
So, yeah. and that's I know you're trying to, like, kind of infect me with, like, come on, it might be alright, mate. and I just, I feel like they are the ones to change my mind, not you.
00:09:34
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah. Well...
00:09:34
Zak
From what I've seen over the last couple of games, it's not...
00:09:38
Zak
It's not been great. And then we've also got all this, obviously, transfer window being open.
AI Analysis and Game Predictions
00:09:42
Zak
It means that we've got a lot of stuff just floating around it, right? So there's, you know, I don't know if you saw today, there talk about potentially Armour has been on Wolves' radar, which I think was quite surprising being an ex-baggy. But he's been on Wolves' radar, and apparently they they might have they've inquired about him at beginning of the window or whatever.
00:10:01
Zak
we're at the top of the fact that we've already got a team of people that aren't doing that haven't had a good recent form over Christmas, you've then got the unsailing aspect.
00:10:08
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
there's an additional layer of yeah that's not ideal
00:10:10
Zak
yes so So yeah, I guess we'll we'll have to see ultimately what happens. But yeah, I can't say that just because they've got injuries and just because our away our home form is all right, I can't say that I'm hugely confident as much as I'm sure you're going to be.
00:10:30
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Well, look, before we get into our predicted team lineups, let's go to the alluded to spiel, the little AI analysis of historic stats and current form.
00:10:40
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
It says the likely outcome suggests that Southampton have a better chance to keep a clean sheet than Hull, which might be the first time I've ever read that sentence. Yeah. The first half with both teams to score is about 25%.
00:10:55
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Don't expect a sprint. The mid-game momentum is more common than a second-half surge. The prediction being Southampton to win, both teams to score, and over two and a half goals.
00:11:05
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
The likely score line around 3-1 to Southampton. Expect a lively second half and a high corner count. It says, why this works, because the home XG advantage combined with holes, weaker clean sheet odds and a stronger tendency for higher corner games supports a Southampton win with goals for both sides.
00:11:27
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
A mid to high scoring affair with busy key moments at set pieces. It's not wrong, is it?
00:11:33
Zak
I like the idea that it seems to think we're going to win despite there's going to be loads of set pieces.
00:11:38
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah
00:11:38
Zak
I just, I find that very, and
00:11:41
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Well, some of those set pieces might be ours. Right?
00:11:45
Zak
and we're notoriously good at scoring loads recently, right?
00:11:49
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I'm following me better than last year. the
00:11:52
Zak
Slightly better.
00:11:52
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
but
00:11:52
Zak
Yeah, Ryan Manning scored two, and Siemens has come close, and Taylor Harbour-Bellis has had a couple from corners.
00:11:53
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
but
00:11:57
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
You had a couple from corners. Yeah.
00:12:01
Zak
You're right.
00:12:18
Zak
Oh, it's funny. It's even a question. Yeah, I guess, correct start.
00:12:20
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
but Yeah, Peretz, yeah.
00:12:22
Zak
I guess we'll see what happens there because I'm i'm very interested. Obviously, conceding two goals against Doncaster wasn't great, not really on him, but it will be interesting to see how he does and whether people's opinions on Baz will change off the back a bit.
00:12:34
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:12:40
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:12:40
Zak
or he will actually shore us up properly and if he does show us up properly and we actually you know start to save some of the sort of the goals that probably shouldn't have happened how much of an effect they'll actually have on where we are on the table over time
Player Performances and Formations
00:12:57
Zak
and whether or not it will vindicate all of the people at the beginning of the season and turned around and went, we need a new goalkeeper.
00:12:57
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah
00:13:02
Zak
at everyone And then Swartz probably going, nah. And then, oh yeah, no, it turns out we did need a new goalkeeper. But I guess fair play, once it was actually recognised as a problem, they've been very quick to do it and sort it out as much as, you know.
00:13:15
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
It's just is an element of the unknown about it, right? Like it's still a lot of eggs put in one basket for sure.
00:13:19
Zak
Yeah. I don't know how how good the guy is realistically. like you know
00:13:25
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
No.
00:13:26
Zak
we We're judging off one performance that isn't, so we'll have to go and see how it takes over time.
00:13:27
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I will see. Yeah.
00:13:30
Zak
It's always just worrying piece of the puzzle, right? I don't want it to be...
00:13:34
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:13:35
Zak
We we we take too long to bed in players. We've still got players that are new and haven't quote-unquote bedded in. How long does it take? I guess for a goalkeeper, it's... It's not like they need to learn ridiculous things. It's usually just, hey, keep the ball out of the goal.
00:13:50
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Indeed.
00:13:51
Zak
Unless you're a Pep goalkeeper, but that's a different thing, isn't
00:13:55
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Then, right, back four, back five, how fit what are we feeling?
00:13:59
Zak
it? How you feeling, mate?
00:14:00
Zak
Because can't predict it.
00:14:01
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
i'm thinking
00:14:02
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I'm thinking back four.
00:14:03
Zak
You think they'll stick with it, yeah?
00:14:05
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, I think Yeller, I think Kwasi, I think Harwood-Bellis, and I think Wellington.
00:14:13
Zak
don't think... but Why Harbour better save a word if just haven't I just think that he seems to be a player that that prefers that back-through system more so than the others.
00:14:17
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
just, I don't know, just a vibe. I just feel like, I feel like that that's, I don't know. I haven't really got reasoning behind it, mate. It's just what came out. Yeah.
00:14:33
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:14:35
Zak
But...
00:14:35
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Okay.
00:14:36
Zak
And interesting that we keep omitting our captain in pretty much most of the team shoots that we do.
00:14:37
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Interesting.
00:14:42
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Well, I think I made my opinions on that perfectly clear earlier in the week, to be fair.
00:14:47
Zak
Okay.
00:14:47
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
And then what about in the middle? Yander, for me, got to be first name on the on the sheet.
00:14:51
Zak
Yandabounds, is it?
00:14:55
Zak
It's going to be Yandabounds.
00:14:55
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Who alongside him?
00:14:57
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah. What about Bragg? Carried himself well.
00:14:57
Zak
It's going to be Yandabounds.
00:15:02
Zak
He did carry himself well. I still think that it's going to be Downs. I'd probably prefer to see Bragg, but it would be Downs.
00:15:07
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Okay.
00:15:11
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Okay.
00:15:11
Zak
needs to pick up his obligatory yellow card, right?
00:15:12
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:15:14
Zak
We've told you he gets a break when he overeats something weird, which, is to be fair, I've got to stop making jokes about because it's not his fault he got horrific food poisoning and then has had stomach issues ever since because that stuff is nasty still.
00:15:25
Zak
of Or his obligatory break that he gets after he's suspended, after he picks up red card, off the road after red card, after red card. He's already had one this season, right? So he's due his second one soon.
00:15:38
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
And then what I guess a guess front four, although you'd call one of them dropping into the midfield, I guess, as like a number 10.
00:15:47
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
What? Fellows, Arma, Sienza, Azaz?
00:15:52
Zak
I guess that makes the most sense. That's what we'd probably call our strongest at this point, right?
00:15:57
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah. Matzki got a goal last week. Did he get rewarded with a place in the team?
00:16:00
Zak
He did. I think he'll get a team. I think he'll be on the bench. I don't know if he'll start, if I'm totally honest. I think it will probably be Azaz over him, right?
00:16:10
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, it's interesting, right? Because as I but don't know if we talked about it on air or off air, actually, or if we didn't talk about it at all. But Sienza gets all of the praises and Azaz gets like mentioned as like such a hot and cold player when statistically speaking...
00:16:31
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Azaz much more goal contributions. So it's kind of interesting how perspective skews things, right? like Sometimes the endza we give a a free pass on certain aspects because of the sort of other personal elements he brings to the team.
00:16:38
Zak
Well, he, you know, he calls,
00:16:48
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Whereas Azaz kind of...
00:16:49
Zak
that's why thats That's why that stuff's important, isn't it? right this is why This is why there's a lot of arguments around who's the quote-unquote goat.
00:16:51
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:56
Zak
right The whole Messi-Ronaldo thing has gone on over a long time, mainly due to the personalities of the players. Obviously, they're accolades as well. But yeah, I'd probably argue that's true, but it's because I think you can see the fight in Sienza, whereas the how frustrated Azaz was after the Middlesbrough game can be like can be construed as, oh, he's annoyed about you know his old club and wants to kind of give it back to the other fans. It's not because he cares about us.
00:17:28
Zak
And I kind of feel bad for him because it was like when he came on for Sienza that one time, right? And everyone booed and got mad. And again, it's because I think that you see... He's a bit more stoic, I'd say, than Sienza, right?
00:17:42
Zak
You see it on Sienza's face. You see it in the conversations that he has. With Azaz, he's kind of joined. And I also think that like since Cienzo's been in the team, the difference and the and the vibe was powerful, right?
00:17:56
Zak
Same with when like he was missing from the Millwall game.
00:17:56
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:17:59
Zak
With Azaz, he was in the team a lot to begin with under still. Didn't really do a lot. Came out, came back in. And that since then has kind of had his like rise in popularity, but alongside everybody starting to really, really love Sienza.
00:18:17
Zak
And I, you you're right. I just think there's just some personality politics and like not intentionally just, just because of who they are as people. And I think that, yeah.
00:18:24
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, he's just he's clearly a much more reserved player who sort of tries to keep his head down and get on with it.
00:18:30
Zak
Which is, which is fine, but,
00:18:30
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Whereas actually going going about it even less successfully, but in a slightly more out-there manner, is at least it's
Player Personalities and Public Perception
00:18:37
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
visible, right? It all comes back to the same...
00:18:39
Zak
But this this is what people talk about with the manager issue all the time. me This is the issue that, you know, we've had people call out our managers for being sort of boring and this any other. And like, oh, well, it was the biggest problem that people had have still straight away was because he was quite softly spoken and quite sort of reserved and would think about what he said. But like, whereas, you know, you've you've exactly said like, oh, yeah, we should get like a Warnock or Allardyce in. It's like, why do they play the most incredible football?
00:19:04
Zak
No, they're just like angry, shouty blokes, right? It's like people that want Roy Keenan Manchester United. Do they genuinely think that you'd be an incredible manager? do you just think, oh, yeah, but it'd be great though, wouldn't it? It'd be great. It'd be great. It'd be entertaining. It'd be great. like You could tell they care. And it's the same thing where, you know, we we as a fan base did not get on with Nathan Jones, but he's really done well at places like Luton and Charlton because once people have warmed up to his like absolute office rocker insanity, like they're they're quite happy to be like my gaffer sort of thing.
00:19:33
Zak
And I think that does also translate to players on the pitch.
00:19:33
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:19:35
Zak
There are always going to be those that are reserved. And you've talked about it before with people like Shea Charles, right? He does all of the quiet off the ball work that that no one kind of notices and he's not being super loud and super vocal.
00:19:46
Zak
But he he was when he was playing under still very important to the way the team were trying to play.
00:19:46
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Mm.
00:19:51
Zak
but you know he's not gonna get all of the same level of the accolades as as people who are loud. And that is also, that's just how humans work as well, right? Sometimes people who are stoic will fall under the radar more than people that are loud.
00:20:01
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Mm.
00:20:06
Zak
complete slight tangent about human psychology more than anything else.
00:20:10
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Oh, I love it, mate.
00:20:11
Zak
But yeah, I think, I think it is, i think it is kind of unfair that Azaz kind of gets significantly more stick when it's actually contributed probably like more goals and stuff.
00:20:11
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
It's good.
00:20:24
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, definitely.
00:20:24
Zak
But again, it's it's just, it's like you can see it in Cien's eyes, right?
00:20:28
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:20:29
Zak
And that's, that's I think the biggest difference.
00:20:30
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
That Brazilian Pashame is unmatched. Everyone remembers Lianco for it. so
The Need for a Plan B in Gameplay
00:20:37
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Ross Stewart, we saw him make an appearance off the bench last week. We've talked a lot about profiles of strikers, right? Especially when it comes to like Damien Downs, who's now out on loan.
00:20:49
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
But Ross Stewart definitively offers something different. So does that mean that we actually have an opportunity to potentially see something of a plan B if needed?
00:21:00
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Something that that we've been called out for?
00:21:00
Zak
Yeah, but it would require us playing into that, right? This is the problem is that this is i worry this is where the the player power conversation comes into effect a little bit more from the other day, right? Where, yeah, okay, so there's a plan B. The manager relays the instructions for plan B and then they keep doing plan A.
00:21:17
Zak
we've We've seen that so so much this season. Right, what are we going to do?
00:21:21
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:21:21
Zak
We're going lob balls to Cam Archer. but But guys, you need to pass it like through the channels to Cam Archer. Nah, nah, we're just going to lob balls over to him. He's going to miss out. Okay, fine. I see what you're doing. We'll take Cam off.
00:21:35
Zak
We'll put Ruff Stewart What are going to do now? Feed balls through to him? What? like it it so So I don't think it's a lack of plan B. I think plan B is there. It's just executing it.
00:21:45
Zak
And I think it's it's a struggle to kind of ask some of these, everyone to kindly switch mentality, but they're going to have to figure out how to do it sooner or later.
00:21:46
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:21:53
Zak
Otherwise, know we're going to continue languishing where we are. So, yeah, I think that it's good to have other options. I feel really bad for him because when he got injured again, he went into his, you know, he he was just, he scored like two goals in that game.
00:22:09
Zak
don't think it was the game before whatever. But like, it's going to be difficult because they're going to want to manage his minutes.
00:22:11
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:22:14
Zak
So I don't think he'll play a lot if he does. But it does offer something different. It's just whether or not it it will be able to make a difference, right?
00:22:21
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Pays off.
00:22:23
Zak
That's the problem
00:22:24
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
mean i mean, there is some hope, at least. It won't need to. Hopefully, we'll just have the game put away by then. Be fi up and singing all the way through.
00:22:32
Zak
I'd be fine to have a Tonda Eckert classic if we go 3-0 up and then we maybe concede one and that was it. I'd happily reverse the score of the fixture from the other game. I just don't know if I'd necessarily see if we're back to that yet.
00:22:41
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, 100%.
Importance of Upcoming Games
00:22:45
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
In slightly wider context of the week, another three games in seven days. Two home games, though, this time.
00:22:54
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
You know, Saturday, Wednesday. and then a game on Sunday that might be the most important of the three.
00:23:03
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
how How much is should Tonda be bearing that in mind? Bearing mind, notoriously, we're not great on the third game of a three-game week.
00:23:21
Zak
Yeah, they're just going to need to, like, fuck it up.
00:23:25
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:23:26
Zak
I don't know what else to say.
00:23:26
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:23:27
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Mate, if you can't pull your breaches up and get yourself fired up for a third game in a week when that third game is the local derby and, you know, one of the more famous, more potent derbies that is a rarity, if you can't get yourself fired up to go and try and win at Fratton Park, what are you even doing wearing a Saints shirt, basically?
00:23:27
Zak
like what are they going to do?
00:23:51
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I swear it's got to land, right?
00:23:51
Zak
Right. And this is the thing. like my only My only worry is they overcomplicate it by like switching out the entirety of the side on on Wednesday to try and prepare for that Sunday game.
00:24:03
Zak
Man, it would be so nice to pick up points.
00:24:03
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:24:06
Zak
But I think if if we are not going to get promoted this season, if where you're at, which is you're not worried about us dropping down, we've already drawn one game against them. The only thing that people are going to have left at that point is that game against Portsmouth.
00:24:16
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:24:20
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:24:20
Zak
which means we need to win it probably more than anything else so far this season. And I think it would be... i know. yeah You wonder how much of an effect this would be for like Sports Republic if we lost that game.
00:24:34
Zak
It's hard to even find a of things there.
00:24:34
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
two homegate Two home games and an away South Coast derby. let's Let's ask you the hard question. Six points and a loss to Portsmouth, or three points from three games, but one of them is beating Pompey.
00:24:50
Zak
Well, like, as I said, we're not really in contention for anything this season, in my opinion. So it's beating Portsmouth. Like, not I'm going to be annoyed if we lose Sheffield United.
00:24:56
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah yeah
00:24:59
Zak
I'm going to be annoyed if we lose the hole. I'm not going to be as annoyed as if we lost to Portsmouth in, like, a really embarrassing way because we managed to win the two other games then we've got, like, injuries and stuff.
00:25:01
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah
00:25:09
Zak
Like, it's...
00:25:10
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
You're right.
00:25:10
Zak
It's what we're playing for.
00:25:10
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
It's magical option three, mate.
00:25:12
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:12
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Nine points. Let's do it. Come on. Right. We are rapidly running out of time. So let's get into the bit everyone wants, mate. The score predictions, as as is tradition, going to throw you under the bus.
00:25:27
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
How you feeling? What do you think?
00:25:29
Zak
I don't know, like, what's not a loss but would still annoy everyone? Like, at some sort of one-all draw, probably. it may be because it's a high-scoring affair to all.
00:25:41
Zak
Like, I just, I'm just, I'm sorry, until they can prove to me that we can win games again. Can't predict a loss. I've not don't quite had that in me yet. But i also can't... but just don't think we're going to win either because we seem just struggle to do, I don't know, run at the moment.
00:25:55
Zak
Yeah, maybe let's go with 2-1.
00:25:57
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Where are the goals coming from?
00:25:59
Zak
I'd like see to see Jalert get one. It's never going to be fellows. He's just never going to score. Like, the more you youve you have cursed the poor man, he's never going to score because you always predict him to score. And then... I don't maybe Arma. Arma's had a big, long run of not scoring.
00:26:16
Zak
It's about time he scores again.
00:26:18
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah, alright. I'll take that. I think I'd take a draw, to be honest. I think that'd that be alright.
00:26:23
Zak
Yeah.
00:26:24
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah.
00:26:24
Zak
Okay.
00:26:26
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I feel a bit more confident than that. It won't surprise you to hear.
00:26:28
Zak
I'm shocked.
00:26:30
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I'm thinking for too
00:26:31
Zak
Right.
00:26:33
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Yeah. High scoring.
00:26:34
Zak
Okay.
00:26:36
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
I reckon it's 4-0 up half-time. Yeah. And two awful goals in the second half, probably from corners. is You know, Hollis set-piece specialist, supposedly.
00:26:45
Zak
Okay.
00:26:46
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Lots of corners. It's just going to come back and bite us. but But not enough to, like, not be comfortable, but enough to be annoying. But yeah,
00:26:55
Zak
Okay. Interesting. them
00:26:57
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Armour, Archer, Azaz, Sienza.
00:27:02
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
No, Archer won't be on the pitch in the first half.
00:27:03
Zak
Interesting.
00:27:04
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
That's wrong.
00:27:05
Zak
Yeah, was a bit surprised by that.
00:27:06
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Filos.
00:27:06
Zak
It's going so well.
00:27:09
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
yeah
00:27:10
Zak
might have been right.
00:27:14
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
But yeah, let's i do it. Yeah, four goals.
00:27:17
Zak
Okay.
00:27:25
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
may may never see a goal there again.
00:27:26
Zak
Yeah.
00:27:29
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
Who knows? Right, mate. that's That's it.
Podcast Closing and Listener Engagement
00:27:32
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
That's all we've got time for today. Thank you very much, as always, always for joining me.
00:27:36
Zak
Okay, mate.
00:27:37
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
And thank you, everyone, for listening. Let us know. How do you think the game's going to Let us know your score predictions, your thoughts, in the comments, on the socials. We are Daily Saints Pod everywhere.
00:27:49
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
We are Daily Saints Pod everywhere. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, everywhere. Hit us up, let us know. we love hearing from you. Regardless of how it goes though, we will be back here to talk about it.
00:28:04
DailySaintsPod Ingoe-Finch
So until then, hope you'll have a wonderful weekend. Come on you saints.