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Episode 368: Matchday Review: SOUTH COAST DERBY DRAW!
89 Plays3 days ago
Southampton – A frustrating day at the office but somehow still proud of that performance. Quite a contrasting set of feelings to handle but we try our best!
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Transcript
Introduction and Game Overview
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by a good friend and wonderful co-host Zach. Mate, how are you feeling after a game with, although probably a fair result, probably one that the only people are happy with the Hampshire Constabulary, right? It's not...
00:00:36
Zak
yeah i mean like you're more accurate than not me right that's probably yeah i mean it wasn't quite the the five nil demolition that you'd hoped for although if if armor had actually bothered to put away his chances it could have uh and on top of that it it wasn't the nil nil either right as simple as that it's it was it sure was a derby it like glad that I'm glad that, you know, there wasn't VAR to really ruin it.
Referee and Team Performances
00:01:04
Zak
It was scrappy. It was more enjoyable to watch than the first top rounds.
00:01:07
DailySaintsPod
I mean, the referee lost his whistle, didn't he? That was, he just forgot how to blow it for most of the game.
00:01:13
Zak
Well, you know, we got our obligatory...
00:01:14
DailySaintsPod
He was just, he definitely let a lot slide. I mean, to be clear, in both directions, he he was just quite happy to let but let let the players kick each other and crack on.
00:01:25
DailySaintsPod
Like,
00:01:25
Zak
a we got the obligatory like, you know, Flynn Downs yellow card, even though it was probably a bit more dramatic this time around.
00:01:35
DailySaintsPod
i mean, that was probably one of the more entertaining parts, right? Just, I mean, to be fair, he was late and he absolutely clattered him.
00:01:39
Zak
Yeah.
00:01:43
DailySaintsPod
And, uh, I mean, no complaints, no notes, good stuff.
00:01:46
Zak
I don't know. It's, it's very, think because of how anticlimactic the first one was, we've kind of come into this one,
00:01:48
DailySaintsPod
10 out of 10.
00:01:55
Zak
not having what I i like the build up to this one. I think we even spoke about it in the preview, right? Just hasn't been, hasn't felt the same. i don't know if that's just us, but it doesn't seem to have had the same level of buzz.
00:02:03
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:02:06
Zak
And then kind of the the result was fair. were We're a team out of form. We picked up a win just about. They're a team that are in form. We're not half as good as we think we are and half as good as we used to be.
00:02:19
Zak
They're slightly better than they used to be when we were playing them, you know, when they were League One
Fan Experience and Predictions
00:02:23
Zak
and stuff. So, yeah, it's like a fair result by game.
00:02:25
DailySaintsPod
Well, I mean, it it played out it played out exactly like a game, I would argue, Zach, of 15th versus 17th. Like,
00:02:34
Zak
You're right! it's a And and like and like the things that, that you know, if if I wanted to sum it up, we we should have taken our chances. i think we say basically every week. If Armour had put them away, we'd have won the game. think we also say every single week.
00:02:50
Zak
We can't defend from set pieces, and apparently no matter what they do to teach them, we we just can't. And that's the thing we say a every week. The only real big difference was the opposition, right? Like, that that's basically it.
00:03:02
DailySaintsPod
Well, look, before we end up with our obligatory weekly episode of the Praise Leo shame
00:03:12
Zak
it.
00:03:14
DailySaintsPod
Uh, let's, let's go all the way back to the start and, uh, 10 45 this morning, ridiculously, just what everyone's expecting that early on a Sunday morning team sheets for the Derby.
00:03:15
Zak
yeah
00:03:29
DailySaintsPod
Uh, I mean the poor fans who from our side, who had already been at front park for two hours at that point, just an absolute joke. Uh,
00:03:40
Zak
Yeah, you're right. is Again, like I can understand the the policing side of it. I can understand a lot of things. it just it
00:03:47
DailySaintsPod
too heavy handed in it. Just silly. Yeah.
00:03:50
Zak
Yeah, but like they'll argue that was successful with No Trouble Prood, right? And that's the problem. is that that means that they do Again, it just app depends. I don't and you andd like from From a fan base to fan base, considering the level of hostility,
00:04:06
Zak
Like, do you think they're genuinely going to like, oh, well next year we just won't bother. I'm sure it'll be fine.
Defensive Analysis
00:04:12
Zak
It's just like they can't be trusted. But yeah, it's ridiculous. But we did get a really early team sheet and it wasn't probably what everybody expected, right?
00:04:20
Zak
I feel a little bit vindicated by the fact that I kind of predicted James Bree might be back in.
00:04:20
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:04:24
Zak
And because of the fact he's a bruiser...
00:04:25
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:27
Zak
And I don't know how much I trusted myself on that, but he was back in. And I'm not going to lie, the man put in a shift today. Like considering he's what, our cheapest player, probably out of all of them there, but maybe Stevens, because we've had Stevens for so long.
00:04:34
DailySaintsPod
Here's the next one.
00:04:40
Zak
He, you know, put a shift in. Because it doesn't help as well that you had Nathan Jones coming out and stirring the pot in the week.
00:04:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:46
Zak
So I was kind of surprised to see him starting.
00:04:47
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:04:49
Zak
But yeah, it was he was solid. Don't really know how else I feel.
00:04:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, but like he's been he's been a Saints player for for long enough. he He knows the crack. He's not he's an experienced player.
00:04:58
Zak
That's what I said, like, right?
00:04:59
DailySaintsPod
like he He was solid. And you're right, he's got that more physical edge to him than Yellert brings to the table. And yeah, I have no problems with I've always liked Brie.
00:05:12
Zak
And also, he he got to do it in 90 minutes.
00:05:12
DailySaintsPod
I thought it was a shame he let him go out.
00:05:14
Zak
They got to have a right-back play 90 minutes for like the first time in what feels like forever.
00:05:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:18
Zak
Obviously, Jack Stephens and Taylor Harbour-Bellis. Some people kind of say they'd prefer Quasi. I'm kind of like, he's our club captain. I know that we're not like the biggest Jack Stephens fans, but it makes sense to me that we have our club captain for the biggest game of the year.
00:05:29
DailySaintsPod
Steven...
00:05:33
Zak
Like,
00:05:35
DailySaintsPod
He stepped up to the plate in a big way today. I thought he was... thought he was excellent, to be honest.
00:05:40
Zak
It shows he's capable of it.
00:05:40
DailySaintsPod
on Honestly, if he didn't if he didn't make that excellent tackle from you know a mess we'd made of a set piece in the first half...
00:05:42
Zak
It's what's frustrating.
00:05:51
DailySaintsPod
i think there's a pretty good chance that Connor Chaplin puts Portsmouth 1-0 up and then we talk, we you know, this is a completely different episode, right? and And that wasn't the only, that was just the big example that jumps out.
00:05:58
Zak
True.
00:06:03
DailySaintsPod
But I think that he, and in fact, as on a back line in general from open play, Very, very convincing, very solid. yeah I mean, it speaks volumes that Pompey didn't really have a clear-cut chance.
00:06:18
DailySaintsPod
Not like we did, not like we should have been, you know, up. You know, they they were in the box more and they put the pressure on more, but we... We dealt with it.
00:06:29
DailySaintsPod
you know Their only chances literally came from our inability to clear set pieces, which is, I mean, copy and paste from every episode for the last, what, two years?
Missed Opportunities and Player Critiques
00:06:39
DailySaintsPod
I don't know.
00:06:40
Zak
I mean...
00:06:41
DailySaintsPod
But defensively, as a defensive line as a four, in open play where it's that shape that matters, I thought defensively we were very good.
00:06:49
Zak
Yeah, I agree. It's just annoying that we can't see it all year round. But even then, we still were unable to to to not concede, right? And that's that's the frustrating thing. and in But then that's never going to change, it feels like, at this point.
00:07:04
DailySaintsPod
we haven't we we haven't kept to clean We haven't kept a clean sheet away from home, Zach, this entire season, including in the game away to a team at the bottom of the league below us.
00:07:04
Zak
I don't know what we can do to sort the Zepi's thing.
00:07:12
Zak
Yeah, Yeah, no when you put it like that, it's you it's just...
00:07:16
DailySaintsPod
You know? but
00:07:23
Zak
And we should expect it, and that's why it was important that we see it out and actually... you know, see it off. And I think that's, that's for me, the biggest disappointment is like, it's a fair result at the end of the day, but it's like, for the love of God, I'm a anywhere. Well, your, your exact text to me was anywhere, but there in, in bold capital letters, which you have sent me the exact same text before. It's,
00:07:47
DailySaintsPod
Literally any part of the goal where the keeper isn't exactly stood. right And it's in. What was most frustrating about that that chance in particular when he got through one-on-one is it was almost like frame for frame.
00:08:03
DailySaintsPod
Like two goals he scored earlier in the season where he chipped it into the far corner both of those times. Like, it's literally just because it's you know it's been, what, six, seven games since scored now?
00:08:17
DailySaintsPod
and And clearly the comp clearly the confidence is is not as high as it was then, but...
00:08:17
Zak
it's still the top goal scorer, that's insane. but
00:08:24
DailySaintsPod
But literally, like, frame for frame, like, he's got himself into that position earlier in the season and just dinked it over the keeper into the far corner.
00:08:31
Zak
Amen.
00:08:31
DailySaintsPod
And, yeah, just hit it straight at the keeper this time. And the volley, I mean, it was on he he did well to get power on that and keep it on target, kind of, its what is what it When you're in that position, you know, you're kicking it and opening it goes at the goal and it didn't at least go out the goal with pace and, you know, the keeper made good saves.
00:08:51
DailySaintsPod
I think that that's the more, the more forgivable of the two, but, but yeah, it's, we should have been, we should have been well up and away at that point. And, and that's part of the problem.
00:09:03
DailySaintsPod
It's the same, right?
00:09:03
Zak
and so
00:09:04
DailySaintsPod
If we could defend set pieces and put away our chances, we'd be top of the league.
00:09:04
Zak
I think also the...
00:09:08
DailySaintsPod
So,
00:09:09
Zak
Yeah, it's the occasion as well is big, I think. and like you know It was not the same team it's been recently. It was probably bit unsettled.
00:09:19
Zak
A couple of changes we still haven't really discussed. So Wellington in for for Manning, who who didn't get you didn't get to play a part of this.
00:09:24
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:27
Zak
I expected him maybe to come on later, but obviously not.
00:09:29
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, we talked about we talked about before the show, right, about how you'd probably expect Manning, who's been trusted the rest of the season ahead of Wellington to come in. But like again, Wellington was was didn't put foot wrong.
00:09:41
DailySaintsPod
there Not very few complaints about him.
00:09:42
Zak
I
00:09:44
DailySaintsPod
A couple of times he got caught slightly out of position. But I mean, week in, week out, we said that about about Manning. So, but he looked solid. He also wasn't afraid to get involved in the physical part of the game. i mean, look...
00:09:57
Zak
think that might be i think that might be one of the reasons why, if I'm totally honest. and
00:10:01
DailySaintsPod
I mean,
Player Roles and Styles
00:10:01
DailySaintsPod
let's be honest. If the referee wasn't being as lenient as he was being, it could have been seven yellow cards apiece, right? Like, it was it was a tough, bitty, physical game.
00:10:11
Zak
Yeah, it you're right.
00:10:12
DailySaintsPod
it was great.
00:10:13
Zak
Three yellow cards are significantly less than the, like, 20-odd fouls that took place in one book.
00:10:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:20
Zak
So, yeah, so...
00:10:21
DailySaintsPod
But it was consistent, so you don't mind it, right? Like, if he's consistently happy to let that go across the pitch, it's a strange decision that in the derby of all games you would decide to, to you know, add to that bit of bite.
00:10:23
Zak
Yeah, exactly.
00:10:34
DailySaintsPod
But I didn't hate it. I enjoyed it. it was It was good. And then, yeah, I guess, keeping with the changes, we were both a bit surprised to see Azaz still in.
00:10:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:46
Zak
Yeah, that was, I mean, i mean arguably he set up Sienza, so I guess you can take that. But there's it's not, I just think you're you're right, and we've discussed it before, and I don't want to be too critical, because it is weird how we kind of pick on him.
00:10:59
Zak
But I think it's because, like, we've seen what he's able to do. We saw what he's able to do at Middlesbrough, and then he didn't bring it to the team for ages. then he went on this run of, like, scoring every other bloody game. And then now he's come he's sort of in a position where he's just not able to do that and not really providing a lot. Like he made a crunching tackle. I'm pretty sure you text me and said that's the best thing he's done on game.
00:11:18
Zak
Obviously later on went to assist, but...
00:11:19
DailySaintsPod
I actually said it was the best thing he'd done all week, in weeks. But yeah, it i actually, i think ironically, the thing that annoys me about Azaz is actually the the thing that he does well was the reason he was there to of assist Leo.
00:11:34
DailySaintsPod
Because instead of picking up the ball and driving into space, which is, i mean, specifically what I would like to see from our number 10, he is much more inclined to slow down and try and pick out a pass, which is fine, except he more often than not tries the pass that's just one step too complicated and tries something that nobody else is on the same wavelength on or or just slightly misplaces it and then it rolls through to the goalkeeper.
00:11:42
Zak
Yes.
00:12:03
DailySaintsPod
But because as soon as he picks up the ball, his first thought is who am I putting in here? that is That is his biggest problem so far because that's not always an option going forward with us at the moment. And that's also why he saw the run that Leo made and set him up for you know that magnificent goal. So so it's it's kind of, it is what it is, I suppose. I don't see anyone else. i don't see any other player in our team releasing the ball and seeing that, you know, being having a good enough vision of the pitch that quickly to make that pass to Leo.
00:12:40
DailySaintsPod
so So it's hard to criticise the times where it goes wrong when the time where it went right was so important.
00:12:48
Zak
That's a fair assessment, to be perfectly honest. this I don't really have any kind of disagreements with either. I think it's just like we'd like to see it more consistent, right? We'd like to be able to see him do do more consistently and not
00:12:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:00
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, and and maybe that's not entirely on him. if his if his If the problem is that he's always looking for that pass and that pass isn't on, then that's as much on potentially the players around him as him.
00:13:10
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:13:13
DailySaintsPod
But it's it's a balance that, I mean, when it works, it it was working fantastic with him and Arma, right? Like for that period of games, it was just flying. but unfortunately when it doesn't, it looks it looks not as impressive, right?
00:13:28
DailySaintsPod
Whereas Leo will always leo would never be making the pass that put Leo in, right? Because Leo picks up the ball and his first thought is, I'm going to run at this player with the ball and I'm either going to get past him or win a foul because he's going to kick me and I'm not stopping until one of those things happen.
00:13:49
DailySaintsPod
and And Fellows in a similar way, he's quite happy to take the ball to feet with his back to the opposition. His thought is normally, can i I turn this player or do I need to bring it inside? And then he will generally try and use his pace going inside and look for like a cross field ball. And that is successful in its own way.
00:14:10
DailySaintsPod
But because because of that, neither of those things are what Zaz is trying to pass to and making that run, apart from, you know, just Leo with a bit of brilliance today coming up and and arguably making the run and the composure of the finish. That's exactly where Adam Armstrong should have been and what he should have been doing, right?
00:14:30
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:31
Zak
Well, you said it, mate, and I'm sure a lot of people thought it. And, you know, it's one of those. And also, I think, you know, Leo was very happy to play out to the occasion, sort of enjoyed cupping his ears, throwing himself around, having a great time.
00:14:40
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:14:43
Zak
Like for him, it seemed like the game he was perfectly happy for. and And for Armour, he just seemed a bit more stoic about it all, to be honest.
00:14:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:50
DailySaintsPod
Leo is a man who clearly, in the way that he carries himself on and off the pitch, he loves football, right?
00:15:00
DailySaintsPod
You can't dispute that. He absolutely loves football and loves the occasion of football. Clearly loves it here, whether that's a long-term prospect or not, i guess, to
00:15:00
Zak
Hmm.
Strategic Decisions and Controversies
00:15:10
DailySaintsPod
be decided. but And because of loving football and loving it here, this is the the perfect opportunity for him. And you know If you don't think the second he gets through on goal, he's thinking, oh, this is a Tifo. like that's And fair play.
00:15:28
DailySaintsPod
like What finish as well. Just composed, waited for the right moment to slide it through.
00:15:30
Zak
try to go.
00:15:34
DailySaintsPod
Just an absolutely wonderful goal. Wonderful run. like So clearly onside. Found the space. And you just knew as soon as he was in...
00:15:45
DailySaintsPod
that he know even at the halfway line with one defender chasing back to him. As soon as he was in that space, I'm like, no one's getting to him here. Like, that's it. And just fantastic.
00:15:56
Zak
Yeah, wish we could have gone on and win it so to cement that in history, right?
00:15:57
DailySaintsPod
What moment.
00:16:02
Zak
Instead, it's going to be, oh, that was one of the ones we drew in that season where we drew both of them.
00:16:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:06
Zak
And that's, that's I think, one of the frustrating things about it. Mutsuki, Kareematsuki, what do we think? That was a bit of a weird one. That is the thing that threw me off the most. because right i was about to say, speaking of fellows, but to be honest, I let you just go because your your points were really, really valid and very, very good. But that that was probably like the biggest surprise me. me And obviously, this day there's no denying I'm a big fan of the guy.
00:16:28
Zak
But I was very surprised to see him be put into that position, trusted with that level of responsibility and dealing with that level of physicality. in his second league start of the game and like looking at Todder's like excuse me oh well he's played some big games in like Turkey and you're like yeah but like he did okay like I think that I think that it's part of the game plan of like having Bri in and not having fellows there meant that like
00:16:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:16:57
Zak
it it was it seemed like it was like, ha-ha, I bet you didn't expect that. and And that was right. they They didn't expect that. Like, they probably planned for Fellows the whole game, but also Fellows came on and it wasn't like he you know, managed to gu score or assist or anything.
00:17:10
Zak
So but how do you feel?
00:17:12
DailySaintsPod
Well, I mean,
00:17:12
Zak
Was it, like, good? Did he have good game? Was it wasted? Like...
00:17:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean, he he was all right. he put himself about plenty. He always just seemed to be like half a yard or half a touch away from like the perfect position.
00:17:31
DailySaintsPod
Never quite seemed to, but that was true of a lot of the team in the first half.
00:17:35
Zak
but Yeah, but that's the that's the occasion, right?
00:17:36
DailySaintsPod
So, yeah.
00:17:37
Zak
So the first the first half was very, very scrappy, but again, it was significantly more entertaining than the entirety of the game beforehand, as in like the 0-0, right?
00:17:39
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:17:44
DailySaintsPod
but some yeah But he he hurry he got himself stuck in and did what he could. and There were a couple of chances I wish that he'd just shot and he didn't, which is you know a bit disappointing because that's what he's supposedly famed for.
00:18:02
DailySaintsPod
I think the what you say about who they were preparing for and and sort throwing them off is one part of the equation. But I think that you know, we've talked about Fellows and managing his minutes and like he clearly tires after a certain period of the game.
00:18:18
DailySaintsPod
And I think that maybe Tonda just listens to the show because our biggest criticism was why take Tom Fellows, our best crosser of the ball off and put Ross Stewart on. And he's thinking, you know what? You're right.
00:18:29
DailySaintsPod
But neither of them quite have 60 minutes in them today. So let's do it at the end instead and put the player that can cross the ball the best onto the pitch with the player who can get on the end of crosses and see if they can work some magic between them.
00:18:41
DailySaintsPod
And I don't,
00:18:41
Zak
It's just a shame that...
00:18:42
DailySaintsPod
I don't hate it.
00:18:43
Zak
a shame that after they scored, it very much became sort of us trying to keep the ball out and make sure it remained 1-1. And this is this is where, you know, this is where you get the...
00:18:52
DailySaintsPod
It was frustrating, actually.
00:18:54
DailySaintsPod
There was such a lack of urgency. i don't know if it was... I mean...
00:18:54
Zak
yeah
00:18:59
Zak
Greg, this is the same conversation we have every week.
00:19:01
DailySaintsPod
It's the same. We're never good in the second half, and we tire...
00:19:03
Zak
Well, not not only that not only that, it's the fact it's the same conversation where like we concede in the second half like the way we have, and then for some reason we're on the back foot.
00:19:10
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:19:11
Zak
And it's like even even like that West Brom game, right? like It's like, oh, thank goodness we got that over the line. The problem is is that you know we scored in the second half, let's not forget that. But then, yeah, it's just once once they equalised the big occasion, do we want you know do we want to argue, we've already kind of alluded to it previously, about whether or not it's a handball, like whatever.
00:19:30
Zak
it's it was It was given at this point. like i
00:19:33
DailySaintsPod
I mean, I think if anything, it comes more off of his chest anyway, to be honest. Like, I'm not even entirely convinced that VAR overturns it. There was absolutely no shout for it from any of our team on the goalkeeper.
00:19:48
DailySaintsPod
And for me, bas that's the number one giveaway, right?
00:19:50
Zak
That's big indicator in it.
00:19:52
DailySaintsPod
Because, you know, a lot of the time, you know, of of I've seen referees say, if I'm not sure if it's gone out for a goal kick or a corner... I wait for a second and see which way the players move because they instinctively know.
00:20:04
DailySaintsPod
Right? So, and it's the same thing. If there's no shouts for it whatsoever, like, it kind
Team Unity and Reflection
00:20:11
DailySaintsPod
of is what it is. And I mean, to be honest, we should have done a better job of clearing the ball away in the first place and not have been in that situation.
00:20:17
Zak
Yeah. umm And at that point, you know, if Armour had buried his chances first half, we'd be technically 3-0 up at that point.
00:20:19
DailySaintsPod
So, i yeah, it wouldn't mattered.
00:20:23
Zak
it It shouldn't have been an issue. And it's why I don't really feel, you know, and I feel like it was a fair result in a game that was a big derby. But I think you've summed it up perfectly, Greg, by being like, yeah, it's what, 15th playing out against like 17th team with, you know, a 20th or whatever they're at now.
00:20:39
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:20:41
Zak
It's a lower half scrap, right? It's a lower half scrap and a lower half draw.
00:20:43
DailySaintsPod
and it is and it is in And it is incredibly frustrating. Let's not let's not move past it.
00:20:47
Zak
and
00:20:48
DailySaintsPod
like it it Objectively, trying to take a step back and view it, it's probably a fair result. But but from our perspective, it's it's incredibly frustrating to have not put them away and put away those chances and done it.
00:21:05
DailySaintsPod
But at the same time, as much as that frustration is hitting me, there's a huge sense of relief because part of me before the game thought, we're just going to bottle this. like the heads like The mental strength of the team just isn't up for the occasion. And do you know what?
00:21:23
DailySaintsPod
they They proved to me that they were up for the game. They didn't put it away and win, but they got physically stuck in. They didn't back down.
00:21:33
DailySaintsPod
And, I mean, what doesn't fire you up more than an entire team brawl?
00:21:36
Zak
Thank you.
00:21:39
DailySaintsPod
Like, honestly, it's just... We talked about it before, how, you know, mean, to be fair, the commentators at no point today said, whoa, this isn't what you want to see in football. They kind of rubbed their hands together and went... yeah, that's Darby day for you. Happy days. But the team fought together and I spoke briefly in the preview about not coming over to the fans as a unit together or showing togetherness. And very notably today, they did. They stood as a unit together and thanked the fans. And they put it
00:22:20
DailySaintsPod
in And it's, I don't know, it's such a strange blend of like frustration, but it could have been worse. And at least we put a performance in and didn't embarrass ourselves.
00:22:30
Zak
Yeah, frustration, it could have been worse.
00:22:36
DailySaintsPod
And i mean, four points from those three games really could have been a lot worse, right? Yeah.
00:22:45
Zak
Yeah, they could it could have been the two games prior where we lost right both games.
00:22:46
DailySaintsPod
it's
00:22:49
Zak
and yeah, like, in the wider context of the league, okay, it doesn't make a huge bit of difference, but, you know, for for both teams where we sit, take away the money, take away this or the other, like, a draw and a draw between the two teams that where they are on form, where we are mentally, where the club is at, kind of like, okay, like
Future Matches and Closing Thoughts
00:23:11
Zak
it is what it is.
00:23:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:11
Zak
It could have been worse, could have been a lot better. And again, the fact that we have just ended up repeating the same points we repeat most episodes, is the only difference is it was against Pompey this time.
00:23:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:21
Zak
is how It is telling of of where we are.
00:23:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:22
Zak
And, you know, it... it's interesting to see what it will do for Togler. I'm seeing a little bit more, you know, sort of support for him and that he showed, you know, kind of a bit more gumption today and, you know, sort mugging Messinao off.
00:23:36
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:23:38
Zak
And on top of that, you've got the people that are like, oh, Tonda out, we didn't win them, and this and the other. And it's just, it would be interesting to see when we next play what the atmosphere and what the vibe is, right?
00:23:54
Zak
Because I feel like no one's fuming, but no one's, you know, yeah.
00:23:54
DailySaintsPod
We've got quite a long break. We've got quite a long break until our next home game, specifically. Right? Like, we've got a couple of away games on the trot now, I think. And is there is there another international break or something? No, they can't a no there's an FA Cup, right? on that Is our next game at home the FA Cup?
00:24:15
DailySaintsPod
I just...
00:24:16
Zak
I genuinely don't remember. The next game we're playing is Stoke.
00:24:18
DailySaintsPod
So we got Stoke away and then we are away. on then we got Watford at home. So yeah, like that's a couple of weeks away.
00:24:29
DailySaintsPod
It's, you know, two, there's a long, lots to happen, right? There's a whole transfer window to, to wrap up and finish and close between now and our next home game.
00:24:42
DailySaintsPod
So it's,
00:24:43
Zak
And we have, at least we'll have stuff to talk to on on Tuesday. But it's it's interesting to me. Yeah, just it's just the outcome that no one really wanted, it right?
00:24:55
Zak
But also, I guess it's better than it being a loss.
00:24:55
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:58
Zak
And again, like I feel like Portsmouth fans are really proud of the the points they've gained from over the two games, which is like, considering the dire straits we're in, and probably like fair enough.
00:25:09
Zak
And for us, it's kind of frustrating we didn't batter them both times. And I think that's that's probably where the prevailing feeling lies across the board, right?
00:25:12
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:16
Zak
I just don't know... what this does if it actually means anything right because when we were talking about like oh this is so important for we'll stay with now it was like oh this is so important for hotonda where they didn't win it or really lose it it kind of just like almost removes the chess piece from the board right like now it just now just back to what we were talking about before yeah
00:25:32
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, just it kind of fizzles into it just kind of fizzles into a huge nothing burger, right? Like it didn't make the situation worse because we didn't embarrass ourselves and we put a solid performance in and we and although the lineup was bold, I would say, it was a back four, which everyone has been calling for for you know all the time and And the the players that you kind of pull a face at when you read on the team sheet put in you know enough of a performance to to justify their selection.
00:25:55
Zak
especially when we should be on the attack.
00:26:07
DailySaintsPod
like it it it doesn't In hindsight, it doesn't look crazy because it it kind of played out. and Yeah, just... Yeah, and and it's not like the emphatic relief of you know an absolute demolition and one for the history books. So you're right, it's just kind of... Yeah.
00:26:26
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:26:26
Zak
Do you know what would have been good, though?
00:26:28
Zak
Like a last-minute Brian Fraser winner?
00:26:33
Zak
LAUGHTER That definitely didn't take place at his new club in Australia, which...
00:26:38
DailySaintsPod
I mean, what nearly happened was a last-minute Taylor Harwood-Bellis winner as he nearly buried it in our own net. so well were it could have been worse, right?
00:26:44
Zak
There you go, swings and roundabouts. But no, I think that...
00:26:49
DailySaintsPod
but that's that That's the biggest frustration point, I think, for me, is that actually, like oh what i went to Quackers in Southampton and took advantage of their £1 beer if you buy a burger deal.
00:26:49
Zak
I think that...
00:26:59
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:27:05
DailySaintsPod
and watch the game there. And as soon as it went up at six minutes stoppage time, the place cheered and erupted, like, yeah, here we go. And then for that entire six minutes, we were just on the back foot. And it's like, well, this is not the way it should be going.
00:27:20
DailySaintsPod
And that is frustrating, and that is something that we need to work on. but But we know that. And it just kind of... And Ross Stewart needs to learn how to put his shorts on the right way around.
00:27:34
DailySaintsPod
We can't go the whole episode without mentioning that, can we?
00:27:38
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:40
Zak
Oh, man. what do i What do I even say?
00:27:42
DailySaintsPod
okay
00:27:43
Zak
What do you say to that? A coupleuff like thousand pounds a week card can't dress themselves properly in a hurry. It's like, yeah, whatever. but Yeah, well, this is the thing, right, though.
00:27:56
Zak
Like, we we're at the end of this episode. where both You can tell that the energy of both of us is just like, eh, on to the next game, I guess.
00:28:01
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:28:02
Zak
And I kind of like, it's both good and bad. we don't We don't get to pop off and be mad and and feel cathartic about about being you know about about a loss. We also don't get the absolute highs and joys of a South Coast derby.
00:28:12
DailySaintsPod
yeah.
00:28:15
Zak
And now, again, it'll be it'll be one of the history books where You're like, oh yeah, that was one of the draws, right? The ones that no one really talks about, unless it is like a last gasp winner. And because both of the goals happened within 20 minutes of each other and they weren't in the last minute and the extra kind kind of just felt like it was a bit of a waste, like it is what it is. And I guess rolling on to the next game. But part part of, I think both of us, you know, I'm i'm lucky we didn't do...
00:28:39
Zak
a super big amount of build-up because we did that for the first one and it fell flat. So we kind of took a step back with this game and I'm kind of glad we did because it ended up being, you know, the one thing we can say is at least there was a goal. like
00:28:52
DailySaintsPod
yeah sure
00:28:53
Zak
and And it's a goal from the the guy who will be remembered this season for for putting in a putting a shift in. I guess now it's yeah it's just going to be back back to normality, back to hoping we win every game and being frustrated when we don't and the season will end and we'll be in the middle of the championship and that's going to be our i'll fate for the next 10 plus years.
00:29:00
DailySaintsPod
that's it that's it yeah
00:29:14
DailySaintsPod
And I'll tell you what, mate, nothing nothing quite personifies the unenthusiastic fizzle of the result quite like our next game, which is an away trip to Stoke.
00:29:27
DailySaintsPod
So... Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:30
Zak
Oh, mate. Well, I think that's all, folks, for the wonderful South Coast derby.
00:29:34
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:29:37
Zak
You know, super big fixture, multiple news articles about why it's so important,
00:29:43
DailySaintsPod
I'll tell you what though, mate. I'll tell you one good thing that does come out of today from it, really. We'll probably get to do it again next year. if
00:29:52
Zak
yeah I genuinely watched a back and forth between between two fans, you know, Portsmouth and Saints fans on Twitter whatever you want to call it.
00:30:04
Zak
And it was really nice because it was proper like fiery. Then it got to the bottom. It's like, wow, it's nice to have this back though, isn't it? Just like two complete like personality switches from like, oh, well, you know, you were this anyway.
00:30:12
DailySaintsPod
I'm sorry.
00:30:17
Zak
you're proud of yourself because you're 100, your 500 billion pound squad could be us this the other. And it's like, oh, at least we get to enjoy this again. was just such a weird total shift that just threw me out of reality for a minute.
00:30:29
DailySaintsPod
and my
00:30:30
DailySaintsPod
We all love it. It's what football's all about. But you're right, look, that is all that we have got time for today. Thank you so much, Zach, for joining me.
00:30:30
Zak
So yeah, we do, we do.
00:30:40
Zak
Thank you mate.
00:30:41
DailySaintsPod
Thank you, everyone, for listening. Zach alluded to earlier, tomorrow is Transfer Tuesday, where we will find some transfer news to talk about.
00:30:52
Zak
let Let's hope that we actually get links with a player.
00:30:53
DailySaintsPod
to
00:30:55
Zak
That'd be nice.
00:30:56
DailySaintsPod
the But before then, let us know in the comments on the socials, how are you feeling after today's game? Are you you pleased with the performance? Are you angry that we didn't put it away? are you feeling?
00:31:11
DailySaintsPod
Let us know. We'll have a big group therapy session about it. We love hearing from you. We are Daily Saints pod everywhere on all the socials, TikTok, X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Facebook,
00:31:24
DailySaintsPod
If you've enjoyed listening to us today, give us a like, give us a subscribe. it really goes a long way to help us out as a newly independent podcast. The more the you click those buttons, the more it boosts us and gives us a hand. But until tomorrow, everyone, I hope you have a wonderful day and we'll see you then.