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Episode 248: Championship Preview!
108 Plays3 days ago
Southampton – It;s time for us to put our predictions out on the wild ready for full scrutiny!
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts
00:00:09
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, joined today by i'm my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing, mate? You alright?
00:00:23
Zak
yeah I can't complain.
Football Enthusiasm and Expertise
00:00:26
Zak
Pretty happy to be Pretty happy to chat more about football.
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:30
Zak
It's like a couple of days away now, so happy days.
00:00:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's getting real close, and it is crunch day, mate. It's where we put our our pride on the line and our knowledge out there for criticism and predict the league.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:00:48
Zak
our Our knowledge being vibes, right?
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, right, look, let's let get this off with the caveat that we are two blokes who talk a lot about football, mostly about Southampton. but But that's it.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We enjoy the game. We are not experts and have never claimed to be.
00:01:10
Zak
if were like If it comes back and they're like, these lads know nothing in it like six months. Yeah, not really. like talking about Southampton.
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:18
Zak
I think I know some stuff. I'll do a lot. spend a lot time doing research, but realistically, I'm only human. I'll get stuff wrong. I don't think we've ever claimed to be experts.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah But i no understand look, I love playing and watching football and I go to the games every week and I like to think I've got, you know, through the years, a bit of experience analysing football.
00:01:28
Zak
Like...
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have played thousands of hours of Football Manager and watched thousands of hours of football. Like... Maybe that leads to knowing something, but we're not saying we're experts, right?
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's get that out of the way to start with. All right. I think knowing knowing whereabouts in the table i have put Saints, I think we should go in reverse order and start with the relegation places and work our way up.
00:02:07
Zak
Interesting.
League Predictions and Analysis
00:02:08
Zak
Let's go
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So who have you got at the bottom, mate?
00:02:14
Zak
with that. In 24th, I have Sheffield Wednesday. and I know, like according to you so one of the things I did after I wrote my prediction to make sure it didn't cloud it anyway was look at like the Opta championship supercomputer.
00:02:30
Zak
Have you had a look at their predictions, Greg? All right.
00:02:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I haven't. I would have been some interest interesting... I feel like that would have like unreasonably skewed my predictions as well.
00:02:38
Zak
Yeah, that that's that's why going to tell from this prediction how different it is to to the Opta run one, right?
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:02:46
Zak
Because Sheffield Wednesday on the Opta supercomputer is 14th, which is baffling, personally. I think considering...
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Opta's purely based off of stats, right? And I think that I've also put Sheffield Wednesday bottom. think that the reasoning that we've both got might be slightly less to do with stats and slightly more to do with the fact that the way that this summer has gone, that they might be lucky to still be a football club come the end of the season.
00:03:04
Zak
Good.
00:03:17
Zak
i i So i have I have three notes for this, Greg. They say, owner, turmoil, and then the last one is just everything.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:28
Zak
That is why. like It's no disrespect to them. Shea Charles had a good season there last time around. Daddy Roll was a good manager there. The problem is is that you know when you're filled in with 13 outfield players, for me, it's going the way of Bolton, and they'll probably just be in League One next year.
00:03:44
Zak
And it's sad because it's not like for any fault of their own. Right. And, you know, championship have been treated to the fact that you've had the Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday derby.
00:03:56
Zak
And then you're going have it again this year, as well as the South Coast derby, as well as Ipswich and Norwich again. Like there's lots and lots of fun in the championship. And so it would be sad. It was sad to see him go. But like, yeah, ultimately just the absolute,
00:04:09
Zak
State of the non-footballing side of that club has led to a footballing decline. If they stay up happy days, if they some sort of miracle, like do all right, fair play to them.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:21
Zak
But you're right. how How close are they to not being able to actually field a team, especially if their players go on strike? So that is my pick for 24th, mate.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, same. I have picked exactly the same for the same reasons. You know, it's just... It's getting real close to the league and they've still only got, what, 13 senior players to field. So...
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh Boy, howdy. are you way gun
00:04:50
Zak
see See, surprisingly for some people, I've put Hull, City. They barely scraped by last time. Sellers has gone. Obviously, Charlton Athletic are close to this, but I think that like they have the Nathan Jones scrappy element, whereas Hull, I just kind of see, might be... Luck has to run out eventually, right?
00:05:12
Zak
And I think that them getting rid of Liam LaSena a couple of years ago in the way that they did is where I sealed their fate. And maybe they need to go down to learn the lesson to come back up.
00:05:24
Zak
That's pretty, again, lot of this is vibes based, but that's kind of where I felt like when I started putting everything in order, it's just where they landed.
00:05:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's interesting.
00:05:32
Zak
So for you, interesting.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've put Oxford United. Yeah, look, they stayed up last season, but that was almost a shock, right? They're likely to be down and around it. Based off the preview I did yesterday, that's just vibes.
00:05:43
Zak
Yeah, for sure.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
its yeah That was just my gut feeling. 23rd, Oxford. oxford
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
20 seconds, mate. We're wrapping up the relegation places. Who have you gone for?
00:05:56
Zak
Charlton Athletic because I just think they're going massively struggle. I think that they're not going to come bottom. I think that Nathan Jones will get some sort support support some performances out of them. They might completely surprise me. This prediction will be completely null void and stay up.
00:06:09
Zak
But I just card and just can't see them being able to. And yeah, I just think they're going have a bit of a struggle coming up.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I've also put Charlton in 22nd for the same sort of reason.
00:06:21
Zak
Interesting.
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like, look, they've come up through the playoffs, which means that they weren't as good as the other two teams that have come up and are going to struggle. The other two teams have invested massively and to in an effort to not be down and around that dogfight, and...
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think they're going to struggle. you're right. I think with the the chaos Wednesday and you know the poor form of Oxford, I think they'll do just enough to not be bottomed.
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, I think it's going to be a tough season for them.
00:06:53
Zak
Yeah, not making it...
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
21st, who you going with, mate?
00:06:58
Zak
I've gone with Derby County because like they also sort of stuck. but sort of floating around there, just about kind of stayed up. I think they'll be around in that direction. I just think that they'll struggle.
00:07:11
Zak
But where I'm at is that they're one of the strugglers that will float around the bottom. but They just aren't as bad to me as the bottom three. So...
00:07:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah I've gone with Hull. So look we're we're on similar wavelength so far
00:07:22
Zak
we are We have not talked about this at all today. you You about an hour ago went, oh, better do my championship predictions, whereas I at this point already by that point made a spreadsheet and everything.
00:07:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:34
Zak
So...
00:07:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, right look, I put Hull for very similar reasons as you. They like narrowly escaped last year, I think, so it's going to be pretty close this year. They're going to be trying to improve, but it's a lot to ask.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're in, you know, transfer embargoes and all sorts of chaos. And then my 20th place, just to cap off the not talking to each other but coming out with similar results, I've put Derby County.
00:07:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:08:01
Zak
And that's where I thought Oxford United.
00:08:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's as interesting. like We've gone with the same bottom five, but in slightly different orders, which...
00:08:10
Zak
Yeah.
00:08:12
Zak
That's nuts.
00:08:14
Zak
Good.
Break and Sponsor Message
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, look, I mean, that either means that that's like a really logical conclusion to draw based off the results, or we both don't know anything and there'll be the playoffs, right?
00:08:28
Zak
Probably that, but what think is interesting is between the two of us, and neither of us put Pompey in that bottom five.
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:08:33
Zak
Right.
00:08:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Indeed.
00:08:37
Zak
right
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, look, that seems like a very sensible place to take our first break and hear a word from our partners at Bionique.
Team Performance and Playoff Predictions
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. Okay, Zach, carrying on. 19th place. I've put Blackburn Rovers, so still not Pompey.
00:09:37
Zak
Interesting. So this is where I put Pompey.
00:09:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:41
Zak
and I don't really have much of an explanation. My notes are yeah, yeah. And I think the yeah, yeah was in reference to the fact that they aren't in the bottom five.
00:09:51
Zak
can't entirely remember. Despite the fact that he did this like two hours ago, that that's why. so I don't know. I just feel like they're going to manage to stay up. I don't think they're going to anything special. I don't think it's going to be massively mid-table.
00:10:04
Zak
I think their entire season is going to be dedicated to trying to beat us. And that's where I'm at.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I've put Blackburn, and if I'm honest, I didn't write reasonings. I've just i've just gone off fives. I've just put numbers and teams. I did all of the research yesterday, and this is just what my brain spat out. i But in 18th, I have put Pompey for similar reasons, right?
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're going to push one, and get relegated, but also they're not going to be like good.
00:10:30
Zak
you can
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:10:37
Zak
Well, by my 18th beat is Stoke City, and my notes for that are just Stoke. So they're not, they're not like a solid championship team really at this point.
00:10:51
Zak
They're not going to do anything. I think majorly special. I also don't think they're going to go down. They could have probably slotted in anywhere from 18th to 8th realistically. But,
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Last year, or when we played them before the year before last, I thought that like like they have an unreasonable rep for being this like boring football team that were from way back in the day when you know it was old school and they tried to make it uncomfortable.
00:11:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then what happened was I sat through probably the most boring game of football I've ever seen. And yeah yeah, you're right. It's stoking it.
00:11:27
Zak
Stoke.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
What about What have you put?
00:11:32
Zak
Swansea, because they are getting investment now, so they aren't going to be as struggling as bad as they have been. However, that investment needs time, right? Like Birmingham had investment when they went down last time around.
00:11:45
Zak
I think that but they'll be right, but I think that that that that investment needs time to kind of pay off.
00:11:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:11:52
Zak
And I think they'll probably be do a bit better later. But again, we're in those like weird mid-table areas where it could literally be like three points in between all the different teams.
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:02
Zak
That's kind of where I'm
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
In that ilk, I've put QPR, who I think are doomed to this like lower mid-table limbo.
00:12:06
Zak
at.
00:12:12
Zak
Yeah, that's fair.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
but And you're right, like, for the next probably five, six teams, I think we're probably in a similar ilk where we're going to have put the same teams in different orders for the same reasons.
00:12:25
Zak
Interesting.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's if It's interesting that there's this sort of divide, certainly in my brain, of like, definite playoff contenders, definite mid-table limbo and definite sort of relegation battles. And I'm sure that there'll be one or two surprises as the season progresses, but I feel like they're not, I don't think they're unreasonable groupings as we kick off for sure.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, 16th, I've put Preston, uh, same, just that mid-table ilk in it.
00:12:53
Zak
Interesting.
00:12:56
Zak
Yeah, but there you go.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh,
00:12:58
Zak
i said I've got Preston in 14th, but my 16th is Bristol City because I said that, yeah, they managed to make playoffs last year. No one expected that of them. They lost Manning to Norwich and they're not as bad as the rest, but I don't think that they'll be able to replicate what they did last season.
00:13:15
Zak
No!
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Bristol I've put in 15th. Just to wrap off, putting the same teams in the same places.
00:13:18
Zak
but
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stoke I've put in 14th. So...
00:13:22
Zak
So my 15th is QPR because they lost their manager.
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:28
Zak
We could still do okay. And my 14th is Preston because, again, underestimated but lots of championship experience.
00:13:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:33
Zak
So this is upsetting. Thought we'd have different put different opinions.
00:13:40
Zak
but but We'll see what happens we get to the top. Yeah.
00:13:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i mean so I mean, so far, the same teams in slightly different orders.
00:13:44
Zak
but
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But like I say, we're in this grouping where that that's likely to be the case. I mean, in so I've put Swansea again.
00:13:54
Zak
Yeah.
00:13:56
Zak
Interesting.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Where have you gone?
00:13:59
Zak
but So my 13th is Middlesbrough, because again, underestimated, but lots of championship experience. Don't think they're gonna go down. Don't think they're going to anything crazy. you know, lost their manager not too long ago. So
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that makes sense.
00:14:12
Zak
mid-championship table, right?
00:14:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
it
00:14:14
Zak
That's almost like the middle of the middle.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. Okay. 12th gets to the point where I've put my first one that I think might vary from your some of your predictions.
00:14:26
Zak
i
00:14:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's start. Who have you put in 12th?
00:14:29
Zak
I've put Millwall because they're trying to push for promotion, but I think there is going to be a tougher mid table to promotion battle than they think is going to be.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Okay.
00:14:40
Zak
Right. So that's kind of why I put them there. I don't think they're going to be up and about it personally. I know that we've discussed that they're trying to push for that, but I don't, I don't see it Interesting.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
put Wrexham.
00:14:52
Zak
Interesting.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, right look, I think that it's no secret that they're trying to solidify and push.
00:15:00
Zak
Yeah.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And sure, there's the pretty easy-to-write Disney Plus story of back-to-back-to-back-to-back promotions to get to the Premier League.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just think that this this league is where it gets...
00:15:11
Zak
must not That's not real, is it? Come on. There's only so much you can do.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
This league is where it gets real. well This league is where it gets difficult. And I think that... I just think that that's as high as they get. I don't think they're going to struggle and be around relegation, but I don't think they're going to be pushing for playoffs.
00:15:30
Zak
we We'll see.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
so So that's where I've
00:15:31
Zak
like so I'll explain my potential counterpoint to that in a minute.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. 11th, I've put Watford.
00:15:40
Zak
I have also put Watford. of But the reason that I put Watford is because it's like trying to predict the weather. You have absolutely no idea because you could go off of a supercomputer.
00:15:51
Zak
The supercomputer has them, by the way, 23rd position. It has them relegated. It's nuts.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:15:57
Zak
Yeah. I'm wondering if that's, yeah because the thing is, it's like every this they've got so they go through so many managers, and like you thought, oh, they actually had a solid manager for like a whole season, and then they sacked in again.
00:16:10
Zak
So it's one of those things where, like I don't know, maybe they'll do it right. you know Realistically, if I wanted to be properly neutral, should have put them in 12th, but same as you, mate, 11th, apparently.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Brilliant. Okay. And I guess one more before we head into our second break. Tenth. I've put Middlesbrough again down with this middle of the bunch pack.
00:16:32
Zak
Interesting.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So pretty close to where you've put. Who have you gone for?
00:16:38
Zak
I've gone for Blackburn Rovers because um your you put them lower than I expect them to be. Again, they are also just a a solid mid-table team. And apparently the supercomputer also puts them at 10, which is just... They are a championship team that I always feel like are underestimated, that always kind of do slightly better than expected, but never quite as good as they wanted. I remember they had ah ah they had a rough season a few seasons back, but I think they've been relatively, like...
00:17:05
Zak
Mid. In fact, the the words that I've written down, Greg, are solid mid-team.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair enough.
00:17:15
Zak
you
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Right. That leads us nicely then before we get to the business end of the table from 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 Zencastr came out the clear winner.
00:17:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
With 4K video recording from your phone, and AI editing that automatically removes all those uns and ours, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencastr.
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Uh... Right, mate. Right up to the to the business end of the table, like I say. getting to the juicy ones now. Some big names that some people, you know, two promoted teams left for you to say.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
One left for me.
00:18:04
Zak
Yep.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we're getting to the interesting stuff. Ninth, I've put Norwich.
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
just Norwich, isn't it? I think the same reason in you put Blackburn is that I think they'll be close to it, but not not one of the names that are inspiring confidence for me this season.
00:18:27
Zak
Okay, okay. My ninth is Birmingham City. So as a as a promoted side that have also had a lot of investment, that have learned a lot of lessons, I think that they i think that these are there are going to be two promoted teams that are going to have a really big bounce into the championship and manage to stay up there, right? Like we we all thought Pompey were going to come up last year and immediately go back down.
00:18:46
Zak
They came up and actually put a bit of a game in. Same with Oxford United and stayed, yeah, okay, lower lower lower like lower down the table. But they also haven't had the level of investment that both Birmingham and Wrexham have had.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know
00:18:58
Zak
so So Birmingham are are my ninth.
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. ah Eighth, I've put West Brom, which might be higher than some people think. I don't know. Maybe there's a bias there, but eighth feels right.
00:19:15
Zak
what What did you have as your ninth again? Did I miss that entirely? Did I phase out of reality?
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Norwich.
00:19:19
Zak
Norwich, okay, was your ninth, okay.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, in Norwich for ninth. Yeah.
00:19:23
Zak
Yeah, so so ah ah that's fair. i I'm surprised that I think the baggies did better than you, but I guess that's that. Eighth is what is where I put Wrexham. So again, like you you talk about the fact that they're newly promoted, and yes, they've got lessons to learn, but you start to have a look at sort of the...
00:19:40
Zak
the amount of, not just the money they're spending with the players they're bringing in, the quality. And like, it's one of those things where it could be a roll of the dice. If all of those players click, they've got a really solid championship team. If they don't click and they they don't quite, you know, it will be a big, big, big thing for, I think, their...
00:20:00
Zak
their manager, right? Like, it'll be a very big test to see how they do. The supercomputer, by the way, has them in 21st, just about staying up.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh, interesting.
00:20:09
Zak
So, and interestingly enough for that as well, it has Charlton Athletic in 22nd, so we all picked Charlton Athletic in 22nd. Yeah, just that I think that if their new team clicks properly, I think they'll do really well. I think they'll definitely miss out on playoffs. I don't think that that's in the cards.
00:20:28
Zak
It'll be interesting to see what their fans will see as a success. I imagine the long-term fans will be think, oh my God, championship football, this is incredible. I think the newer fans, you know, the the sort of American supported have appeared out nowhere that only known success will be a bit bit surprised by how tough the championship is. Yeah.
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:20:49
Zak
Yeah, that's my eighth.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. Okay, in seventh, I've put Millwall. i They seem to be trying to mount a push for for those playoff spots this season. I think they're just going to narrowly miss out.
00:21:04
Zak
Yeah.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That's just the vibe I've got. What about you?
00:21:11
Zak
So my seventh is Norwich City. So I think Norwich City, you've you've got to take into account that Ipswich is back. They'll have a little derby again. They're probably going to try and beat them because they've come down from the Premier League. So they've got put little bit into that.
00:21:26
Zak
They brought in Liam Manning, who ran Bristol City's promotion charge last season when they got to the playoffs. As you pointed out, there was quite a big difference bit of a gap, but it's one of those things where they brought him in probably to get them to that position.
00:21:41
Zak
And I think they will, you know, just get to that almost there and miss out on the last hurdle.
00:21:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. Okay, so we are into the playoff positions, and if I've done my mental maths right, I think we've got five of the six teams the same.
00:21:56
Zak
Okay. That'd be interesting.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
so So hit Zach. Who you got in sixth place, just narrowly making the playoffs?
00:22:05
Zak
ah Yeah, I think in sixth place, I've got Leicester because I think they'll narrowly manage the playoffs. Just because even with points deduction and stuff, they're still a good squad.
00:22:16
Zak
They're still a good team. Yeah. I don't think they're going walk it if you've had that level of sort of... If you've had that sort of turmoil, right?
00:22:28
Zak
Especially financial turmoil. It was always a bit... Nice.
00:22:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
All great and interesting points. In sixth, Zach, I have also put Leicester.
00:22:37
Zak
Nice. nice nice
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, this is really, really interesting. Fifth, who have you got?
00:22:46
Zak
So that's where I had the baggies, because, you know, they always manage to make the playoffs. I said, baggies will go again so close yet so far, was my notes for that, because they always manage to make the playoffs usually, and just kind of fall bit flat.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's fair. ah Geographically, very close to my pick. I'd pick Birmingham in fifth to make the playoffs.
00:23:06
Zak
you Matt, so you think newly promoted team that's...
00:23:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I just think they're just going to push on. Look, they have invested and I just... Maybe. but this is Honestly, this is the wildcard pick that could cost me dearly when it comes down to the scores at the end of the day. but don't know.
00:23:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just the vibe I've got.
00:23:28
Zak
Okay. Okay. Okay. Fourth.
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
still Still neither of us sir back in Saints for this low on the table. This is great news. but
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fourth, who have you got?
00:23:42
Zak
Coventry City.
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Went close last year.
00:23:46
Zak
Well,
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
There and thereabouts again, yeah?
00:23:48
Zak
We'll want to grow and at least hit last year's heights, is what I've said. I think you know they might do right and then bake it to the playoffs.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:55
Zak
Who knows if they get promoted? But I guess we'll we guess we'll find out.
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
In fourth place, I have also put Coventry City. which meanss that Which means that we are at least agreed on the top three.
00:24:03
Zak
Nice.
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whether our order is the same or not, I don't know. but but Wrap up the playoffs places for us then, mate.
00:24:11
Zak
All right, mate. This is where it's getting important.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
who Who have you got finishing third?
00:24:19
Zak
I've got Sheffield United because I think they're a dark horse. They're still strong and will be mad after last year. But the Optus supercomputer, mate, has them winning the championship. It also has them like having a 41% chance to be promoted in comparison to the rest of us that are 15, 16.
00:24:38
Zak
If you want know where we sit on that list, it puts us in fifth, which I'm just like...
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:24:44
Zak
Right.
00:24:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do computers know, right?
00:24:45
Zak
but way that's That's kind of also, again, the fact it seems to think that Sheffield Wednesday is going to stay that far up is mad to me. So hey-ho. Which means, Greg, are you also at the same boat with Sheffield United at third?
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%.
00:25:01
Zak
Okay, good.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
As did you know, Ian.
00:25:02
Zak
Good, yeah. i thought I thought when you started laughing, that was why.
00:25:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, 100%. That is exactly who I've put in third, which means that we've got the the same top two teams. Before we move on to the big reveal, Zach, out of those four playoff teams who you put in as going up,
00:25:23
Zak
I think Sheffield United, I think, oh no, because they never win at Wembley. There may be Coventry. Let's go with Coventry.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh I was going to say either Leicester or Coventry, but that would make 11 times in the playoffs for the United without promotion would be...
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, what stat, right?
00:25:43
Zak
Oh, that's awful it's awful. I think you've got a break a streak at some point, right? we We did that last year. It was every negative streak we've ever had, but we still did it.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, right. Uh... Zach, two teams left. Saints and Ipswich. Who's winning the league for you?
00:26:01
Zak
So I've done swimming in the league. And that's pure optimism, Now, have we switched roles and you've said Ipswich?
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
course not, mate.
00:26:10
Zak
good
00:26:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
46 games and we're going to win them all. Of course I've passed top. There's nowhere else I could have passed. LAUGHTER
00:26:17
Zak
My note, mate, is just optimism.
00:26:22
Zak
Vibes.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but it's gonna happen. a
00:26:27
Zak
The only reason that I put i put it switch below us, mate, in actuality, call it call it insanity, call it what you want, is just I put lost the lap. feel like that's going to hurt him.
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:39
Zak
He scored a lot their goals last season. We didn't score enough goals for it to be a problem if we lost anyone, so...
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, yeah, just
00:26:47
Zak
it so The only way is up, baby. Yeah.
00:26:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. Look, it's got to be this. We've got start these optimistic levels high and you can watch them slowly drain as the season goes on probably.
00:27:00
Zak
yeah
00:27:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look.
00:27:01
Zak
Well, not the last reason with you, mate. 11th is where you predicted Sonata to finish in the Premier League. We got 11 points initially for a long time.
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Madness. Absolute madness. Okay, that's it. You heard it here first. Saints win in the league. Look, I can't wait to come back at the end of the season and react to how we did with these predictions because...
00:27:27
Zak
it's going to be It's going to be awful. It's going to be so wrong. It's going to be like Wrexham, Birmingham, Charlton getting relegated. It's going to be like somehow somehow like teams that we you know we put Stoke in 18th because Stoke and they're going to fourth.
00:27:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
hull kick on and get that playoff place. Like, yeah.
00:27:43
Zak
and
00:27:48
Zak
We'll be... will be
00:27:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But that's why love the championship, mate.
00:27:50
Zak
but yeah
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
That unpredictability. We've given it our best shot. That's it. Let us
Engagement and Season Excitement
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
know. but what What do you think of our predictions? What are your predictions? Where are Saints finishing this season? We want to know your thoughts. Let us know on all of the socials.
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram, Blue Sky. Let us know. Where are we finishing? What's the points total we're finishing on?
00:28:19
Zak
Greg, we're going to be back tomorrow. are we going to be back tomorrow with?
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are going to be back tomorrow with some match preview of the first opening day of the season. Can you believe that it's that close?
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm so excited to get back to St Mary's. I think I'm literally bouncing, ready to go. get it in the books. ah We look forward to seeing you then.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
but until then, hope you have a wonderful day. Bye, everyone.