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Episode 371: Matchday Preview: AWAY TO STOKE!
106 Plays20 days ago
Southampton – A long trip for an early kick off! We talk about whether this is the start of our push to promotion and so much more!
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Transcript
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
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. Mate, looking forward to everyone's favourite fixture at the weekend. It's not going to be a cold rainy night but is going to be a cold and probably rainy Saturday in Stoke.
00:00:32
Zak
So after our last game at Stoke where it wasn't the the the ball fest that you expected it to be, how do you how do you feel this time? Because I can also expect you to go into the spiel of like, oh yeah, but every time we play Stoke, it's really boring. But last time it wasn't.
00:00:48
Zak
so So how do you feel, mate?
00:01:14
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. I think it's going to be it's a fascinating game for so many reasons because, you know, their so form at the moment is so spotty and ours isn't exactly great.
00:01:26
DailySaintsPod
Uh, But it's definitely an important game in the context of the season for us because, you know, if we don't start and kick on with this, you know, we spent all week talking about whether promotion is possible or not.
00:01:40
DailySaintsPod
And the fact of the matter is that it is if we win and start getting wins, right? And if if we don't,
00:01:49
Zak
somebody Somebody described today as a six-pointer in one of our comments. And I kind of like, yeah, I don't want to be too dramatic about it. But if we don't start putting points... on the table now, like, I already, I personally already think that that ship has sailed, especially considering that our striker is, you know, goal skipper in the league, is currently in a four-way tussle, and maybe not, who actually knows.
00:01:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:02:16
Zak
However, the idea that we we randomly try and desperately bring in a striker to hope fill his boots, It's not positive, is it?
00:02:28
Zak
But you're right. like if they If they want to get anything of the season, you've got to stop start putting wins on the board right now.
00:02:29
DailySaintsPod
me
00:02:37
Zak
Because it is if not...
00:02:38
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Especially in these geek games where it's against teams where, sure, Stoke has sort of dropped off recently, but who are well within that gap that we're going need to overtake and leapfrog to get there, right?
00:02:53
DailySaintsPod
Like, you're right in the sense of it being a six-point, and not just because it's three points for us, but it's it's it's another not three points for them.
00:02:53
Zak
Hmm.
00:03:02
DailySaintsPod
So it's it's someone else that we're progressing over and above in in our climb to that. But, yeah, you're right. it's It's going to be, from our perspective, interesting to see if...
00:03:17
DailySaintsPod
the boys can sort of pick themselves up, dust themselves off and come back with any kind of the same intensity that we had in the derby last week. And, you know i think we're all hoping that we can, but I think that also time and time again, last season and this season, it's a team that's shown us that that's not always something they can produce back to back.
00:03:39
DailySaintsPod
and And, you know, with all of this noise around Adam Armstrong, whether it when there's any sort of meat behind it or not, that can't do him any good. And, you know, we're probably, think we're safe to say before we get to team lineups, probably without Leo. So it doesn't, I don't know.
00:04:02
DailySaintsPod
it's It's a really tough one to to know how i feel about going into because of this sort of weird limbo position of the transfer window and season that we're in because of how we've done so far.
00:04:15
Zak
Yeah, I agree with you. And I think we're still in a bit of a weird limbo space. And I don't know, yeah unless we start doing something about it, it's, it'll be interesting to see what we think in like a month's time, regardless of what the results are, right?
00:04:30
Zak
just I'm just very interested to see what happens when we end, if we end up there in a month.
00:04:35
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, well, I mean, at that point, you'd like to think that the picture will be a lot clearer one way or the other. At least you won't have any of this transfer speculation nonsense to to get in people's heads or whatever. but But I think in a month's time, we'll either be well on our way...
00:04:55
DailySaintsPod
Or not, right? We'll either be well into the midst of that push or that push just isn't going to come. So we'll sort of be in a state of knowing.
00:05:09
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, I don't know. It's early kickoff as well. I don't know and how I feel about that.
00:05:13
Zak
Hmm.
00:05:16
DailySaintsPod
It tends to make things a bit more difficult, right?
00:05:19
Zak
I mean, like, we we talked about this before, like, oh, are we actually worse in midweek? we better in midweek? of one of our Most of our wins come, all that kind of stuff. i believe I don't really think that... I personally don't know if if the the time is going to make a huge difference on Saturday.
00:05:36
Zak
I think it's it is different when it's, like, late-night games, but, like, the difference between 12.30 and 3 is, you know, they're going to be probably, if it's an away game, they're probably staying in a hotel anyway.
00:05:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:46
Zak
So it's going to be... bythe by the by it's just more frustrating f for us i guess it completely froze my weekend plans off because you've talked about it before like right you finish it you finish watching it and you expect it to be sort of like five six o'clock then you're like hang on it's like two three o'clock what's going on it's about the time you usually sit down so yeah
00:06:04
DailySaintsPod
out on the sofa Yeah, sat on the sofa, falling asleep with my Saturday evening plans, and it's only like 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Like, what's going on? Why are there other notifications coming through to my phone about games kicking off? Surely it's nearly bedtime. I mean, Stoke themselves, though, in a bit of injury crisis.
00:06:23
DailySaintsPod
The goalkeeper situation, of course, we're quite familiar with, having brought Buzunu in on an emergency loan and also having him out injured.
00:06:33
DailySaintsPod
I mean, obviously, he wouldn't have been able to play against us anyway.
00:06:36
Zak
anyway okay what's what's my opinion on that weren't weren't pompey slightly injury ravaged i want to say what was it like middle spore the game millwall they were slightly injury ravaged so so we've we've played a couple of teams where supposedly injuries are going to make the difference uh and they don't the only time it makes difference to us is if leo's not the pitch
00:06:37
DailySaintsPod
but sir I mean...
00:06:44
DailySaintsPod
m Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
00:07:01
DailySaintsPod
yeah yeah
00:07:12
Zak
So what Tondas now decided to do is completely switch up and just have it like early early doors on like a Wednesday, which is kind of like, man, I don't know what's going to happen in those two days.
00:07:22
Zak
Like a lot could happen.
00:07:23
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:07:23
Zak
You know, quite liked Thursday afternoons.
00:07:24
DailySaintsPod
It's kind of...
00:07:25
Zak
It's kind of like by that point, you've kind of made up your mind. Wednesday morning is, I can still be a thing.
00:07:27
DailySaintsPod
Kind of like... Yeah, it's completely like the opposite end of the extreme, right? It's like, well, I've got this press conference, but I haven't really got any news for you because we haven't started training or preparing for the game yet because this is the first thing I've done.
00:07:54
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. that's the you Like you say, it's the sort of banana skin that makes it any saint fills a Saints fan with dread, right? Oh, the other team's in injury crisis. I'm sure they'll batter us 3-0 and prove that as not something as a point of concern.
00:08:10
DailySaintsPod
It's just, I guess, just to...
00:08:10
Zak
yeah again, it's it's up to them to prove us wrong and go out there and do that, right? Like, it's getting to a point where we can discuss this this week in, week out.
00:08:21
Zak
And we do discuss this week in, week out. We discuss it daily, pretty much, because that is what we are, daily podcasters. But, like, it is one of those things where, like, when when push comes to shove, you know, we can talk... you know, I agree with the guy that says, oh, it's a six-pointer.
00:08:37
Zak
but also, it's like... The players are going to be the ones that need to to make the difference themselves. right and
00:08:44
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:08:44
Zak
this This brings me back to your point from hopefully the positive from the south back of the South Coast derby is there is a level of to the governance. Jack Stephens, I think, really did show his captain credentials.
00:08:56
Zak
I don't think that the eve of having all of this upset about one of our like you know our star striker leaving is is helpful for anyone involved. But the only people that are going to make the decisive move to win this game are the players themselves. And it's, again, like how do they want to remember this season? How do they want to remember their first seasons in England for some of them, right? like Do they want to remember it finishing well below expectations?
00:09:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah,
00:09:20
Zak
Yeah. right? Do they want to be remembered by losing quite heavily to teams that are out playing like the kids? No. Okay, well then can you guys please make the decision to change it?
00:09:31
Zak
Because we know they're capable because they've shown it, right? And like maybe, you know,
00:09:35
DailySaintsPod
we saw it.
00:09:37
Zak
it takes a bit of of tweaking from Tonda to return to where they were at during our purple patch. Right. And we've already seen that he started to try and do that with a back four, you know, some of the decisions we still don't necessarily agree with, but also I'm not a football manager that's professional. Like,
00:09:54
Zak
played about 10 years worth of the video game simulation, but you know by that stretch of the imagination, we should also be able to sign Ronaldo.
00:09:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:02
Zak
So like not really it's not really relevant, but like it does does very much feel like, to for me, more so with like today's game and the next couple of fixtures going forward, it's like...
00:10:16
Zak
we talked about it a lot and we're going to talk about again. It's like the mental strength and the mental fragility of the team. And like, what do they want to get out of it as a unit? Because, you know, there's going to be a couple of standout performances, you know, Leo Sienza being one of them for this season. And we've had that a couple of times, right? We had like, you know, when Nathan Teller came back and then he obviously disappeared off to Leverkusen where he still remains. But I'm also thinking of, you know, while it ended up being a good deal at the time,
00:10:46
Zak
Romy Olavia had a really good season with us when we went down and then was sold on.
00:10:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:50
Zak
Matias Fernandes, really good season. But like it's not the the team that you're remembering, right? However, when I think of the championship season, we did get promoted. I didn't really think of like one standout person. I thought of the standout team. And like you can see that from from Ryan Fraser's post when he went to Australia, him standing up on, you know hear him posting that picture specifically of the day after a you know a thing at the club that you attended, Greg, right? like You remember what the atmosphere was like, how good it was.
00:11:19
Zak
you know they They celebrated it.
00:11:19
DailySaintsPod
It was amazing. Buzzing.
00:11:21
Zak
And, you know, Sienza has become that talisman and that person that we as fans rally behind. And you can see sort of some of the discontent with the other players. And, you know, it's got it's got to be annoying and suck sometimes. You know, some people are going to be happy for the guy. Some people are probably going to be a little bit envious because we're all human. But like...
00:11:41
Zak
If all of a sudden we went on a massive turnaround of form, right, we do make it to the playoffs by some miracle. They they put in the best best performances they can. They win game after game after game after the game after game. Instead of it being sort of like remembering the good parts of one season, even if we falter at the last bit, we'll like remember, at least that season, that's they everybody rallied around at the end, right, to get it over the line. it should have. And I think that's specifically where we're at.
00:12:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:09
Zak
No, I know.
00:12:10
DailySaintsPod
No,
00:12:10
Zak
That was big, long-winded explanation from the guy that talks lots, but that's kind of where I feel like we are in the season and why I think this is
00:12:13
DailySaintsPod
you're right, mate.
00:12:18
DailySaintsPod
No, you're right, mate. And I think we i think we saw some some of the starts of that starting to come back. You know, in the derby last week, i mean, if there's a time to to put it all out on the line and come together, that's it, right? And we saw that. We saw that in the the fracas, which everyone loves to see. And at the end, the players actually standing together, you know, to to thank the fans as opposed to all apart. Yeah.
00:12:47
DailySaintsPod
I think it's it's more important than then sort of from the outside looking in you would give credence to immediately because it's just such a big part of it.
00:12:55
Zak
I agree.
00:12:57
DailySaintsPod
So, I mean, hopefully that's that's what we see and we sort of see it coming together and we start seeing it it coming together as a unit and and we sort of get over that that line and and push on.
00:13:10
DailySaintsPod
But... right, mate, let's get into who we think is going to be on that team sheet come early doors tomorrow.
00:13:19
DailySaintsPod
So, I mean, pressing goal is is obvious.
00:13:24
Zak
Yep. Thank goodness we don't have to have that discussion anymore.
00:13:25
DailySaintsPod
Bree, yeah, Bree it right back for me.
00:13:26
Zak
Carry on.
00:13:29
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:30
Zak
Yeah, I agree. Why would we put him back off if we're not going to play him? He played 90 minutes at Portsmouth. Apparently, when when asked about it, Tonda was like, wow, I feel like that's all of the communication he needs.
00:13:40
Zak
He played 90 minutes. So I feel like dropping him now after being like giving it the big one about how you're communicating by playing him would be kind of nuts.
00:13:46
DailySaintsPod
That'd be crazy.
00:13:49
Zak
I don't know if Forrest lives back to it.
00:13:49
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:51
Zak
Angela is a good option later on.
00:13:51
DailySaintsPod
He is a raw slave. I believe playing for the under 21s on Friday mentioned in the presser.
00:13:56
Zak
That's good.
00:13:58
Zak
Yes.
00:14:04
DailySaintsPod
Sticking with the four back, Howard Bellis and Steven seem to be doing well with it.
00:14:06
Zak
Yeah, we should be.
00:14:09
DailySaintsPod
Right. It's, it's working.
00:14:09
Zak
Again, technically, and I put this in the big sort of like brackets, technically, with we're fighting a team with a with a goalkeeper crisis, right? So we should, you know, start trying to test that keeper more because if we test that keeper, we might actually like, you know, like go in, right?
00:14:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:22
DailySaintsPod
Shoot on sight.
00:14:27
Zak
Probably what we should have done for the first South Coast derby as well, but there we are, swings and roundabouts.
00:14:31
DailySaintsPod
Crazy thoughts.
00:14:32
Zak
So yeah back four.
00:14:34
DailySaintsPod
Wellington at left back?
00:14:36
Zak
Did really well in the South Coast Derby.
00:14:37
DailySaintsPod
Or Manning?
00:14:38
Zak
I wouldn't be sp surprised if Manning comes back in. I kind of feel like they're interchangeable. I was very surprised, honestly, not to see Manning in the South Coast Derby at all. But we've been critics of him. He's probably been critical of himself.
00:14:48
Zak
And clearly, Tonda had seen, you know, we can't keep making those mistakes. You're going to sit out because of it. But also, wouldn't surprised if, you know, Wellington's... He had a bit of time out.
00:14:59
Zak
I don't know what his fitness is like, but I wouldn't really be upset to see either, but I'd probably prefer Wellington.
00:15:01
DailySaintsPod
e
00:15:06
Zak
guess I just don't want too mean.
00:15:06
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, i think think I think he was solid defensively, which is not something that we regularly say about Manning, to be fair.
00:15:13
Zak
And that's what we need with the floor back as well, to be honest.
00:15:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. yes
00:15:16
Zak
We need somebody that can actually get back without it being a problem.
00:15:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And it's just a bit slightly bigger than Manning and a bit more physical, right? So it's kind of what we're trying to do with our profile in our game is sort of up that and he just brings a bit more of that to the table.
00:15:22
Zak
Hmm.
00:15:31
DailySaintsPod
the Moving up is where the maybe the first tough decision of the team sheet comes, right?
00:15:39
DailySaintsPod
Because you in my mind, you've got
00:15:40
Zak
That's interesting that you didn't mention centre-backs at all mate. You're just assuming it's Stephenson.
00:15:44
DailySaintsPod
I did. Yeah, just Stephens and Harwood-Bellis, mate. I said they they're working well together.
00:15:47
Zak
Okay.
00:15:49
DailySaintsPod
they seem to be They seem to be more comfortable in a back four from open play to my untrained eye. So...
00:15:57
Zak
that' That's my fault for entirely phasing out of reality for a couple of minutes there.
00:16:01
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:01
Zak
Yeah, no, okay, good.
00:16:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:03
Zak
Yeah, glad we're in agreement there. As I said, like, could bring in Quasi if we need him, but it's it's, I think you're right, the the synergy between the two works well at the moment, so why change it?
00:16:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:09
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:16:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. I mean, if we could just start clearing out corners, like I say, from open play last week, I thought they were excellent. So, I just wouldn't change it.
00:16:19
Zak
Hmm. It's... Yeah, that's the set piece as it's always go goes back to Charlie Taylor playing for Russell Mide, right?
00:16:25
DailySaintsPod
Question.
00:16:27
Zak
It's been mad it's gone on forever.
00:16:30
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. But yeah, so yeah, there's for for me, moving up middle of the park, there's sort of three names for two spots, right?
00:16:38
DailySaintsPod
Yander, Downs, Shea Charles.
00:16:41
Zak
Hmm.
00:16:41
DailySaintsPod
how how How do you think we're going in going in with it?
00:16:45
Zak
I think that so far, Tonders liked to bring Zaz off for Charles, right? And play him in that kind of role.
00:16:51
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:16:52
Zak
And I think that he's not going to want to change that. Did Downs pick up a yellow the other day?
00:16:55
DailySaintsPod
Well, I don't know. He did,
00:16:57
Zak
I'm surprised he's not suspended. Because he did pick up a yellow. Because he's the one that started of the brawl that we've been fined a ridiculously large amount of money for.
00:17:00
DailySaintsPod
yeah. Yeah.
00:17:05
Zak
Where everyone kind went, really? Really? You're going to think that's going stop it in the next one? and Good job. Like, pocket change to both clubs at least in time.
00:17:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I'm not sure on on that. I will check it out. But yeah, I mean, i think a lot in the South Coast derby, we saw Charles come on more in that holding position and he pushed Yander up into that 10, which didn't really work.
00:17:26
Zak
crew so if they're interchangeable yeah then that's what charles did better in that role so i wouldn't really be surprised if he didn't start him yet i don't know if he's ready for a start yet do you how do you feel
00:17:29
DailySaintsPod
But
00:17:38
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. I've not heard. He seems sharp. When he came on, he looked sharp, ready to go. He's always been a player with an absolute engine on him.
00:17:46
Zak
you had an engine right
00:17:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, so i just it doesn't andt strike me as something that would be a problem. Like, he's, he's you know, you sure, easing his way back in, but just feels like the sort of player that's going to do better with...
00:18:04
DailySaintsPod
just just to hit the ground running. So I don't know. It's it's a tough one.
00:18:08
Zak
and Then the problem is, who do you who do you swap out, right? Do you remove Flynn Downs or do you remove...
00:18:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:18
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. No, i yeah I don't know. he Flynn is...
00:18:23
Zak
Would we just be happy with a combination of either of the three? Is this finally a position we're actually settled where we we don't mind any of the players that play there?
00:18:27
DailySaintsPod
I think... Yeah, I think...
00:18:31
Zak
that what you're saying?
00:18:33
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I think genuinely that's probably the case because i think Flynn finnn loves to put himself about and embrace the physical side of the game, loves a challenge, isn't as comfortable with the progressing forward and and sometimes tries to slow the game down, sometimes just a bit too much, but...
00:18:54
DailySaintsPod
but But, you know, he's had an excellent game last week, I think. Yander is good at progressing the game forward. He also puts himself about, but he's not as big as either Downs or Charles.
00:19:09
DailySaintsPod
He's just a bit lacking in that in that area. So that's something that he doesn't bring to the table that they do.
00:19:13
Zak
Text is probably...
00:19:16
DailySaintsPod
But he's still also been very good in that role. And yeah, Shea Charles just was absolutely essential to our team before he was injured and in that position.
00:19:26
Zak
It's nuts in it really when you think about it.
00:19:28
DailySaintsPod
So yeah i genuinely think any combination of those three is is absolutely fine, which is, I guess, a nice position to be in, really.
00:19:35
Zak
Wow.
00:19:38
Zak
Nice position be in. Tough if you're Cam Bragg, even tougher if you're Romeo.
00:19:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:19:44
Zak
yeah
00:19:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:19:46
Zak
But again, we'll have that conversation later. We're part of the problem.
00:19:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Moving up then to the attacking side, Azaz, for me, probably still gets the look in. I mean, you can't come out in the week with a stat like creates the most chances that with the highest quality in the championship and and leave him out. Like I say, what he what it brings to the game isn't like openly visible all the time because he doesn't put as much running in as everybody else, and that's the thing that you're first to see. but
00:20:21
DailySaintsPod
But you only have to look at the assist for the goal on against Portsmouth and the what should have been assist to put Adam Armstrong through on goal to see where his strengths are.
00:20:33
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:20:34
Zak
Agreed. i think that's the problem is right is when they don't play off, it it kind of feels like he's not really done a lot because of the fact that there's not a lot of other stuff done. But it's it's a fascinating case, right? Because I still don't quite understand why everybody...
00:20:48
Zak
Seems to kind of like, and ourselves included, like, I think we've been we've been slightly biased towards him. And i don't I don't, I can't really put my finger on why. And you can see that with Borough fans.
00:20:57
DailySaintsPod
what
00:20:59
Zak
And, you know, I think it's, again, like the hot and cold he goes missing sometimes. But is it he goes missing or the rest of the team goes missing so they can't set him up?
00:21:06
DailySaintsPod
I think it's just me...
00:21:08
Zak
Confidence is a big pit as well. Yeah.
00:21:10
DailySaintsPod
I think it's genuinely, mate, just the visibility of it because if your core strength in the game is your passing game, but it's not coming off, whether it's your fault or the people around you's fault, what you see is someone giving the ball away consistently. Whereas if you're someone like Leo, whose game is to pick up the ball and run forwards at the opposition and make them uncomfortable...
00:21:39
DailySaintsPod
Some of the time, you so you probably give away the ball as many times, but it looks like you're trying harder, right? Like you're trying to progress the team forward and do more rather than passing it to the other team. So I think it's purely just the visibility of where his strengths lie. And it's just one of those things where when it comes good, it's exceptionally good.
00:22:04
DailySaintsPod
But when it's not good, it looks awful. Whereas, is you you know, Leo gets a bit of an easier ride because what he does, you know, it's...
00:22:17
Zak
oh delicious isn't it it's It's fascinating because because obviously, as you said, he's got what, like scored a lot goals, contributed to a lot during our purple patch.
00:22:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it's
00:22:26
Zak
And that has been kind of what everyone considers missing since then.
00:22:30
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:22:30
Zak
Leo has consistently been, you know, what we would consider to be involved and up against it and given it is all. And also in comparison, hasn't scored as much and hasn't assisted as much, but yet,
00:22:42
DailySaintsPod
but got But, you know, just chipped in with a couple of very important goals in the last week alone.
00:22:46
Zak
Yeah, to to to to be to be clear, this isn't, you know, you have to you have to chastise one to like the other. But I just think I find that the the approach to both of them as players, from both from fans and, I guess, the media outside, is is kind of fascinating and really says a lot.
00:23:01
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. But as well as like the the visibility of the football, it's also like personality, right?
00:23:09
Zak
lot trips through tea
00:23:09
DailySaintsPod
Finisad is clearly a sort of quiet...
00:23:11
Zak
We told you this. We spoke about this before. he's He's a lot more stoic, right?
00:23:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah...
00:23:14
Zak
he stick In comparison.
00:23:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, he's clearly a quietly confident player as opposed to sort of the biggest personality in the room. Whereas, I mean, you would immediately notice Leo in any room because that's just the type of of put bubble that he is. And that's fine. and And, you know, both of those things are fine. It's just that you put those two things together and that's kind of where the criticism, I think, comes from. But I think that... I think that he's a no-brainer to keep on the team sheet, especially for this game that's going to be, you know, trying to take more shots is really going to be the name of the game.
00:23:51
DailySaintsPod
And then up with him, Fellows on the right is is also a no-brainer to me. You start him. And then if Leo's available, he's on the left. But realistically, who we thinking on the left?
00:24:05
Zak
Oh, who've we got?
00:24:05
DailySaintsPod
Chuck Matzky out there for a go? Or Jay Robinson?
00:24:09
Zak
Yeah, i guess I guess so. Because obviously, Matzki played in the Tom Fellows role for a little bit last game.
00:24:13
DailySaintsPod
Do we... Do we... Hmm.
00:24:17
Zak
I don't know how confident everyone was about that. then I don't know if he'll be different against Stoke because it was the fact it was a derby. But like is i just don't we don't really have any other options bar Jay Robertson, right?
00:24:24
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:24:30
DailySaintsPod
Well, we could, mate, go for this inside forward role and maybe play two strikers together.
00:24:39
Zak
No, that's never happening, Greg. Sorry. Every time you bring it up, it's just not going happen. You might not even have two strikers, mate, that can play 90 minutes together. come Come Saturday.
00:24:47
DailySaintsPod
well didn't i didn't not I didn't say 90 minutes, but you start... For me, Ross Stewart and Adam Armstrong starting together, like it feels it feels like the obvious choice.
00:24:58
DailySaintsPod
Right?
00:24:59
Zak
from From time of recording, there is still a day and a half, and Adam Armstrong could be gone by that point, mate.
00:24:59
DailySaintsPod
like We talk about... Yeah.
00:25:04
Zak
In fact, he could be in the lineup against us, and if you believe all the rumors.
00:25:07
DailySaintsPod
Do you know what? i'd even I'd even take Archer and Stewart playing together, though, because... you know We've talked a lot about like the difference in profile and the ability to change the way we're playing towards someone, but how much more powerful is is is it if you have both of those options at the pitch at the same time? and you know The defenders have to try and decide which one in the moment they're going to defend against because it can't be both.
00:25:36
Zak
Hmm.
00:25:36
DailySaintsPod
It feels like... It just feels like a no-brainer, and i'm I'm baffled that no one's put it into play in the what feels like 43 years I've been saying it on this podcast.
00:25:49
DailySaintsPod
I just... this iss i know really All it is, mate, is just Tall Paul and Cam Archer, like, again.
00:25:56
Zak
Again, you're just you're just youre you're just you're just you're you're just calling for a out you're calling for it again and hoping that when it finally happens, it actually works.
00:25:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:05
Zak
And if it does, you are the footballing genius. And if not, what are you going to do at that point?
00:26:10
DailySaintsPod
Well, I mean, look, it's either that that or I'm just so like rooted in my ways that or I can't get my brain beyond playing in a 4-4-2. It's one of those two ways to look it. It's either incredibly progressive to play an inside forward with with a full-on striker and have them play off each other, or or we're just going back 10 years. I don't know.
00:26:35
DailySaintsPod
is' it just it feels like it should work, and if... If you're not going to have Leo on the pitch, that seems like the sensible way to do it. With all with all the sort of love and respect in the world for Jay Robinson, it's it's an impossible situation to put him in to be the player on the pitch that should be replacing Leo because that's not his game and he's not that good yet.
00:26:56
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:27:01
DailySaintsPod
He's definitely got the potential to be that good one day. But he's not there yet and it's not a reasonable position to put him in, I don't think. So... don't know, mate. What do you think? How do you think it'll go? Who do you think they'll play where?
00:27:16
Zak
i I think if Leo's fit, it'll be Leo. I think it'll be Zaz in the middle. I think it'll be Armour up front. I think it'll be Tom Fellows on the right if he's fully fit.
00:27:27
Zak
And I think if Leo's not fit, it'll be Jay Robinson. I don't think that they're going to do anything drastic. I'd like maybe to see... I like your idea. i just don't think it's going happen. That's all. I just think that they're going to stick to what they know.
00:27:38
Zak
i think changing to a back four is already as upsetting and and changes and, you know, of that to they've had to accommodate for that enough already. So I think trying to do too much up the front as well will will result in a little bit of an imbalance.
00:27:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:53
Zak
I think, you know, I wouldn't be ever opposed to seeing it, like you said.
00:27:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:57
Zak
But, you know, it's...
00:27:57
DailySaintsPod
what what what you What you really hope for is that having had almost a full week to sort of deal with and prepare and know that Leo is probably going to be hurt, that they've they sort of thought about it in training and done something about it. So we'll see, I guess, how how it goes, how it plays out.
00:28:19
DailySaintsPod
Right before we get into the bit, everyone loves to hear are our own thoughts, vibes, and score predictions. You know we've got to take a little look at at what the AI is saying, mate.
00:28:34
DailySaintsPod
It's notoriously not good at predicting this. it's It's almost as inaccurate as me, right? Has it actually had one right yet?
00:28:43
Zak
I don't genuinely remember.
00:28:43
DailySaintsPod
I don't think so. but the The prediction here this week is Stoke to avoid defeat, either by win or by draw. Both teams to score and over amounts of goals in play.
00:28:59
DailySaintsPod
The plausible outcome being a 2-1 win or a 1-1 draw. don't know. That's not really the news I wanted to hear, mate, if I'm honest, reading that out.
00:29:10
DailySaintsPod
hol wish I'd have forgotten about it. don't know. Does that cheer you up?
00:29:14
Zak
but the The problem is like I could just see it being a draw, mate. I'm not going to lie. I could see it being a one-all draw, which means that we don't progress, but it's not enough for us to be upset about it.
00:29:26
Zak
Nobody really wants to talk about it. Stoke probably feel like they're getting something out of it considering they've got a goalkeeper crisis. And then the the limbo of whether or not we're going to like go into another patch of form...
00:29:38
Zak
that starts up all over again. That's why i don't want that to happen, but I can see it.
00:29:41
DailySaintsPod
At that point, it would become three unbeaten, but five points from three games is not not really what we're after.
00:29:50
Zak
is This is like when you talk about the unbeaten run the first time, like the last were in the championship.
00:29:54
DailySaintsPod
is
00:29:54
Zak
You know, a lot of it was just drawing in between.
00:29:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, lots of draws. is Is that your prediction, mate? Is that what you're going for, or have you got a a different vibe?
00:30:02
Zak
Yeah, that's kind of how I'm feeling.
00:30:04
DailySaintsPod
Oof.
00:30:04
Zak
I'm hoping it's different.
00:30:05
DailySaintsPod
Oof.
00:30:05
Zak
I know you're 10, but it's also Stoke, isn't it? so So you would have viewed it a few years ago been like, oh yeah, that makes sense.
00:30:08
DailySaintsPod
Where... a
00:30:11
Zak
actually Actually, no, it would have been made more sense for you last fixture if it was 0-0 than anything else.
00:30:11
DailySaintsPod
who nil nil yeah yeah uh where where's that goal coming from
00:30:20
Zak
Hopefully Adam Armstrong, that'd be nice, wouldn't it?
00:30:23
DailySaintsPod
yeah yeah put it to bed or add three million to his price tag uh
00:30:24
Zak
put some keep Keeps himself in the run-in for the top, then he's back with us at that point. Or it's the last... yeah Yeah, or it's the last goal that you see, right? so
00:30:33
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Crazy. Well, look, mate. Obviously, I'm feeling more positive than you because that's just how we roll on the show, isn't it? I think i think
00:30:44
Zak
Yes.
00:30:44
DailySaintsPod
we're going to have enough to go and do it and put them away. don't think it's going to be a demolition job.
00:30:55
DailySaintsPod
calm can't bring myself to predict a 1-0. So it's probably going to have to be 2-1. I don't know. Yeah. 2-1. That sounds good. 2-1 Saints with Ross Stewart and Adam Armstrong both scoring.
00:31:15
Zak
Nice.
00:31:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. seems Seems doable, right? it Seems like a realistic out outcome.
00:31:21
Zak
yeah I don't know what's realistic with this team anymore, mate. Everyone was like, HMSP the league, and then we never did that, did we? So...
00:31:29
DailySaintsPod
No.
00:31:31
Zak
knows?
00:31:31
DailySaintsPod
There we go. we'll but I'll tell you what, we'll soon find out and we will know. that is...
00:31:37
Zak
Yep, there will be a football game to watch on Saturday, so that's going to be good.
00:31:37
DailySaintsPod
It's exciting. Look, that is all we've got time for today. Thank you so much, everyone for joining us.
00:31:48
DailySaintsPod
And thank you, Zach, for joining me to talk about it.
00:31:50
Zak
Thank you, mate.
00:31:52
DailySaintsPod
we Let us know your score predictions, your thoughts. We are Daily Saints Pod everywhere on all the socials, on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Blue Sky, x yeah sir Let us know how you're feeling heading into the game.
00:32:09
DailySaintsPod
Optimistic? Not so sure? We'd love to hear from you and we would love to see them all come in. We will be back to talk about it though however it plays out.
00:32:19
DailySaintsPod
Good, bad or ugly or all of the above. And we will do so after the game. So we'll see you then. But until then, have great weekend everyone.
00:32:29
DailySaintsPod
Come on you Saints!
00:32:31
Zak
We...