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Episode 327: Matchday Preview: Tonda's biggest test yet?! Leicester at home!
0 Playsin 18 hours
Southampton – Can we make it 4 in a row? We certainly hope so, we talk about the Leicester game, and if it can be the momentum continuing, or if we come to a crashing halt!
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Transcript
Press Conference Commentary
00:00:15
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 today, join me on my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zachy Giffin. How you doing bud, you alright?
00:00:29
Zak
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Yeah, we have just watched what I can only consider to be the dullest press conference I've ever seen. And that is saying something, considering we once had Ivan Juric as a manager, who yes, yes, The answers were yes and no, but like with extra steps, right?
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to say, going to say, do we call that press conference kind of Juric-esque? But it's not that there were like short answers. It's just that the answers really, I mean, yes, it takes two teams to play in football.
00:00:58
Zak
It was like so how do you deal with having a big squad and dealing with like momentum? It's like, wow, we've got a good squad with good players.
00:01:08
Zak
And sometimes I might need to swap them out. It's like, any injury concerns? Ryan Fraser's a bit sick. Anything else? Not really.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
look
00:01:17
Zak
Yeah, I don't
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
do do Do you cover more details on the training pitch? Yes, it's important for me that players know what to do. was
00:01:25
Zak
know. It's going to be a different game on saturday like get on Tuesday as it was to Saturday. and we're going to have to learn to pass it to different places. And they need to know that.
00:01:36
Zak
And it's like, man, are we just going to be like, did you is is water
Upcoming Leicester City Matchup
00:01:41
Zak
wet? question bar like And no disrespect to to like Adam and Alfie.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:46
Zak
What are you supposed to ask at this point? like
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:48
Zak
I guess it's 9.30 in the morning. Everyone's tired. You're asking the questions like, hey, how do we feel about tomorrow's game? There's nothing... super different or super excited. It's not like we've got an awful thing going on, right?
00:02:00
Zak
It's not like we're like, hey, so how are we going to out of this slump? We're on a three-game winning streak. So, yeah, i can't i can't I can't say anyone for it, to be honest.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:07
Zak
But it was just like, oh, yeah, let's let's wait for the presser and then we can just record. I'm like, wait, didn't need to watch that press conference at all.
00:02:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, look, it's safe to say that what we can take from it is that Ryan Fraser will not be in our predicted starting lineup.
00:02:22
Zak
Fraser will not be in our predicted lineups, no. I'm sure he was there for at least one of us.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
but i mean, look, how are you feeling heading into the game tonight? Like, it's...
00:02:33
Zak
big Bigger test, isn't it?
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:35
Zak
That's where I'm at. It's a much bigger test than what we've had so far. the good part about it is that I doubt they're going to sit in a low block for the entirety of the game and not try and go for us, which mood should play into...
00:02:51
Zak
our newly found confidence and flowing style of football. I just can't take away from the fact that Leicester are a good team that have shown that they are able to find ways that, you know, in previous games, we don't have to deal with Vardy anymore.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:07
Zak
So that's a bonus, I guess. and And they've so suffered a similar problem to us where they've tried to replace a striker and have struggled which...
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:17
Zak
which You know, weve we've been doing it for like seven or eight seasons, bar Adam Armstrong when he gets in prime championship form. But yeah, so like that makes me a little bit more confident. It just depends if we can keep up with them. But I think it's going be Eckert's first gritty, proper...
00:03:36
Zak
proper test, right? Because if Charlton are playing the way that Leicester are playing, but they are Charlton and have players from Charlton, we see what we saw Saturday, right?
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:48
Zak
Playing against Leicester, I think it's just a different kettle of fish. You know? And there's always that...
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It definitely makes for an interesting game, right?
00:03:53
Zak
thought
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like they're like you say, they're going to come at us, which in theory plays to our strengths, but are we going to be in another one of these positions where it's like,
00:04:05
Zak
No!
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
regretting missed chances or, or are we going to actually like put it away and just hammer
Leicester's Historical Edge and Speculations
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
it home? I mean, our, our historic, uh, form against Leicester is not great.
00:04:20
Zak
no
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, in the last 26 matches, we've only won six and they've won 14. So it's, and you know, I don't want to be that person that mentions it, but one of those six was by a large number of goals, right?
00:04:36
Zak
Yeah, but also, again, i don't understand how they they still have one of those defenders in that from that 9-0 loss. And it's baffling that like the idea that they'll hype themselves up by playing all of that, knowing that they're one of their central defenders is going to be in that montage of the other team. Yeah.
00:04:56
Zak
It's such a weird thing to me to buy two of the members of that defence.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Hmm. Hmm.
00:05:01
Zak
But again, I've mentioned that more than a few times the past. So yeah, of course, there's going to be a psychological edge to it. But we've talked about these kind of things before and how there's meaning to it if it continues, but also records are there to be broken. And I feel like we're probably heading into it with slightly more confidence.
00:05:24
Zak
than they are. Yeah, we also lost to Blackburn.
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although they're on a tiny run of good form. There's definitely an uptick from them as well, right? Two wins on the bounce for them. a draw prior to that, although previously to that they lost to Blackburn. So it's... is
00:05:42
Zak
Yeah, or...
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's got the shapings... It's shaping up to just be a really good, gritty game, right? Like, both teams coming into their good spell in the season.
00:05:51
Zak
yeah or
00:05:56
Zak
Because of that, it'll end up being terrible and nil-nil, and everyone will be like, well, no one wanted to watch that, and then we'll be annoyed, and we'll have a late-night recording where we're somehow having to try and talk about a nil-nil draw, which is always awful.
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. The irresistible force meeting the unmovable object, right?
00:06:06
Zak
Yeah.
00:06:07
Zak
hu
00:06:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just nothing budges and nothing comes to and it's just scrappy. And yeah, I could see it going one of those ways.
00:06:17
Zak
but Both teams would be expected currently to be doing better as well, like just on in taking theurb terms of like the table, and how the season's gone so far, you know, this isn't, this isn't how it it should be for either team, right? Like lower mid table and mid table, isn't it where you'd expect us to be? And like, where whereas you look at sort Middlesbrough and Coventry and they are where they are on on merit, quite frankly.
00:06:45
Zak
And I guess that, you know, it doesn't, it shows that it's it's not easy. And plus like, they've still got surely at some point a points deduction to come. Is that ever going to happen?
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, i was I was looking this up before the point of recording, and i think I've seen sources saying it could be as as early as this week that it actually gets put through. And i'm reading it could be 9 or 12 points deducted.
00:07:14
Zak
12 would be brutal.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah...
00:07:17
Zak
12 would put them into the relegation zone, which is insane. But at the same time, like as much as we criticise Sports Republic for the things that they've done, and our Mythbusters episode showed that they are not reinvesting half as much money into the playing squad as they probably should be,
00:07:36
Zak
they have at least been shrewd enough to not put us in a financial position where 50% of the points we've earned so far could be taken away for you know financial mismanagement.
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. I mean,
00:07:47
Zak
We just get to worry about what's actually happening on the football pitch, which has equally been crap.
00:07:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes and it's
00:07:51
Zak
But...
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's more interesting, right, because they were supposed to face some sort of points deduction or some sort of penalty last season, but dodged it because it was deemed like out of the Premier League's remit.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So think they've made the same sort of play here, where it's like, oh, it happened in our Premier League years, so it's out of the EFL's remit, and I just don't think that that's going to cut the mustard.
00:08:16
Zak
Yeah, you can't you can't keep...
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, if you're not in the Premier League's remit, you're in the EFL's. like
00:08:21
Zak
you can't keep playing that card or they play it successfully. In which case are the other, the problem is, is that, you know, when when you find a loophole like that, everyone else will start using it as well. And, and they need to try and crack
Team Lineup and Player Performance
00:08:33
Zak
down on that.
00:08:34
Zak
And like, you've already seen that they're trying to take, make changes to to PSR, right. Within the sense of you could no longer sell assets to yourself, which the fact that you need to say that out loud is insanity.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:45
Zak
It's like, Hey guys, we've realised this might actually be really bad that you can just sell things to yourself. like yeah that's almost based you know But besides the point, like that's not really what we're here to talk about and not really going to be a massive factor in the game.
00:09:01
Zak
I just hope that we could you know get a win out of them because I think from Eckert's point of view, it would show... growth It would show that he can and take on the tougher teams.
00:09:14
Zak
It would then put him four in a row. It would then you know keep his 100% record. I just think it would be a huge positive all around to get a win tonight, right?
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it would be. And like like you say, it's the first... is I don't know if it's the first real test, but it's definitely the toughest test yet. and But I mean, he's going to be helped with the results he's got coming into St.
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mary's. You've got to feel like that the atmosphere is going to be fantastic. It's going to be good. We're going to be up for it. Yeah.
00:09:49
Zak
It's not going to be a miserable Tuesday night, right? Like even if the weather's not great and it's dark, it's not going to be how it's been that we were talking about previous seasons where, you know, you go to Chelsea or Tottenham or like, you know, go to watch at St Mary's, batter us 5-0 on a Tuesday, right?
00:09:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:05
Zak
It's going to be, people are gonna go into the game, with positivity and heads held high and talking about all the different players and looking at the team sheet and being excited basically to see anybody because everyone recently has stepped up and proved themselves. So yeah, it should be, should be a really, really good game.
00:10:24
Zak
And I hope everyone that's going has a wonderful time and we get the result that we deserve.
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I hope so too. As someone's going, I hope I have the best time. And hopefully it's not too cold and too wet.
00:10:36
Zak
I hope you find.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, before we head into team predictions in the break, you know we love the little spiel from my stats website and their predictions. So, look, it reads well.
00:10:46
Zak
Okay.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
It says, coming into this game, Sampton have picked up nine points from their last five games.
00:10:53
Zak
a Hey.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we scored 11 times in the last five fixtures. So, you know, it's good.
00:11:03
Zak
Oh, that's... Is that more goals than we scored the whole of last season? It feels like it.
00:11:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh yeah Maybe. maybe the The predicted line it's going for here is a Southampton win with both teams to score and over two and a half goals with a probable score trajectory of 2-1, 3-1 or a potential two two with a late Leicester effort possible.
00:11:28
Zak
Interesting.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So, I mean, it backs us more than anything.
00:11:33
Zak
Didn't it also say we'd beat... What did it say we'd beat Charlton? Like 1-0? 1-0? Right, there you go.
00:11:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:11:39
Zak
Interesting.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fascinating. Right. Anyway, with that out of the way, let's have a little break and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.............
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate. And we are back. So as we tend to do let's start at the back and work our way forwards. It's got to be Vaz in goal, right? That the seems to be the solid the solid decision.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one change we've not really talked about, but, you know, Tonda clearly favours him where Will still didn't.
00:12:39
Zak
Yeah.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't think it's the thing that's made the difference, but it is a difference, right?
00:12:47
Zak
Yeah. Yeah. It
00:12:52
Zak
yeah it would have been nice for him to get a clean sheet in that five-goal game. I think you just cursed him, to be perfectly honest. Yeah.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:00
Zak
It's what it is. We we've been we we can have this goalkeeper debate until the end of time. We have two goalkeepers, but some people think one is better than the other. We all kind of wish it was Ramsdale. Ramsdale would want to come back. We haven't sold Ramsdale. We don't pay another goalkeeper wages. Who are we going to have? It's Bazengub.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:22
Zak
Anything else we need to cover there? or
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I think we've covered it, mate.
00:13:25
Zak
Good. No, thanks.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, do we see a change in the back line at all, or is it just solidly would Stevens, Harwood-Bellis at this point, if it ain't broke, don't fix it?
00:13:38
Zak
If it's not broke, don't fix it. Unless they're injured, why would you change it
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:43
Zak
They managed to be all right last game. It depends.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean...
00:13:46
Zak
if if if If they struggle massively and you get some one-on-ones that are bad, I wouldn't be exactly unhappy if somebody got swapped out. I think Wood needs to like but you have a bit more composure.
00:13:57
Zak
i think Alfie Hauser that lot were talking about. and I think it was Glenn on TSP who was talking about it, right? Where he just seems to be wanting to fight. And I really don't want him to do that in the 20th minute and get a red card.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:09
Zak
so So, yeah.
00:14:09
Zak
Yeah. other way like why would you why would you change it this point if it's working
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you're right. we've We've talked before about the importance of consistency and like the understanding you have as like the spine of a team and but that defensive line and the structure that goes with it is is important.
00:14:28
Zak
okay
00:14:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, I think those three have to stay the same. For me, I think it would be, like say, unless injury comes into play, I think of it would be bonkers to change it at this point.
00:14:39
Zak
even Even then, one of the good things about this, which we haven't discussed, is that like because we are now... basically having a tomelet solid team sheet, it will take a lot to displace those team members. And that when another player comes in, they have to prove a lot. Whereas previously it was like, well, we'll chop this person and change this person and see how this person does. And realistically it's then just like picking the best at the moment. Now it's like there is competition for places and that is,
00:15:11
Zak
so good and it can only be a positive because if you're right the unthinkable happens we get a really bad injury and somebody has to step up they know they have to step up it's not stepping in and that's what i think is really important currently especially with the form we've got so
00:15:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Moving out to the wing-back positions, although I would argue against Charlton, definitely more wingers than backs. but I mean, more of the same. Fellows having an unbelievable game.
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stick with that.
00:15:43
Zak
Yeah.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ryan Manning on the left.
00:15:45
Zak
Yeah.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or do we see Wellington come back in?
00:15:48
Zak
I don't know. I think that's probably more of a thing for Eckert to think about than on the right. It depends how tired Manning is, right? Like he played over the international break. He's played pretty much non-stop. We saw we thought he picked up an injury against, what, like Preston and then just didn't.
00:16:04
Zak
come off. So he's played a lot.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:06
Zak
So I wouldn't really be surprised, but also but I think if Wellington comes back at any point, he'll have a point to prove considering his last involvement with us was to just get red carded, which was just fun like just just awful.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Just silly. Yeah.
00:16:20
Zak
right Right, exactly. so yeah, kind of not I'm kind of not bothered if it's either raw, but I would probably say you know it's Manning to start with at least.
00:16:32
Zak
might haveff the
00:16:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then And then I guess we've got this, I don't know if you want to think of it as like a pack of four midfielders or like two number sixes and two number tens that sort of drift out slightly wider. But I guess Yander for me is one of the first names on the team sheet.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is so consistent and hardworking and good.
00:16:50
Zak
Yes.
00:16:54
Zak
It's not the first, like...
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, I think the first is probably Sienza, but Yander's right up there too.
00:17:00
Zak
Oh, of course. Sorry, sorry.
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
so be
00:17:01
Zak
Sorry, yeah, vote but for Sienza, it's like tenure, mate. like you don't You would never swap him out at this point.
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:07
Zak
But if you're having to pick the team sheet, then yeah, it goes on.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And then what? I mean, Bragg had a good performance on Saturday. Does he keep his place or does Flynn come back in?
00:17:17
Zak
Why would you swap him out for dance?
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:21
Zak
aye played fantastically. Played really, really well.
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:25
Zak
Obviously, other than the fact that he's quite young and it's going to be a lot of football over a very short period of time. But if he he made the step up in such a fantastic way, rather than being thrown into like the lion's den like he was by Will Steele, he had a full debut where he performed outstanding.
00:17:44
Zak
and didn't look out a place and was just a really man it was just nice to see and another another like academy prospect come through right like we talked about jay robinson quite a bit and obviously there dibbling last season but to just kind of have him come in not really no us kind of feel bad he was wandering on with no shirt like number and And to to then have that game as his proper first full debut instead.
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:10
Zak
Like, yeah, i'm i'm I don't see why. And that's no disrespect to Flynn. It's just like, if you've got somebody that's constantly battling with illness and has been out of form a little bit, then you've got a player that's come in and played incredibly. You're pretty mad to drop him, in my opinion.
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leicester are going to be slightly more physical in that centre of midfield than Charlton were, though. Is that something that might concern you about a player so young?
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or are we just going to you know see in this game whether he can sort of step up and take that physical challenge?
00:18:42
Zak
Well, yeah, we don't we don't have Rumeau and we don't have Shea Charles to to be there instead at the moment, right? So what do we do? Okay, well, if it gets really bad and if he does struggle, that's one of the reasons we have a strong bench and that's one of the reasons you could bring Flynn Downs on. But let the boys start, in my opinion.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, indeed. And then, i mean, Sienza, Azaz, Armstrong, like they again, they all have to start, right? like
00:19:11
Zak
Yeah, like...
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's working so effectively, just having those creative players on the pitch and and having what's behind them allow them the freedom to you know rotate around the pitch in their own ways and create the magic that's coming about. Why would you or change it?
00:19:26
Zak
Exactly. Like, as has becoming the player we all wanted him to become, Armstrong hitting a really good piece of form and Sienza being just absolutely incredible and starting to turn the heads of multiple people in the championship now, right? But also, it's like he's such a almost an unpredictable entity. That's just the way he moves, the things that he's willing to do, the things he's willing to try.
00:19:48
Zak
are not things that I would say are necessarily conventional. And because of that, you know, that that is a lot of problems to deal with. I don't really know why you'd swap it out at this point. Like, do I feel bad for some of the other players? they're going to have to like, you know, take, take, take that hit or phrases out sick anyway.
00:20:06
Zak
Maybe in the future we'll see Matsuki.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:08
Zak
If not, at this point, I'm very surprised they didn't send him out on loan because he's basically not featured at all. Aribo, who we all hoped would turn everything around, it turns out we didn't actually need.
00:20:19
Zak
And so far has come on more than anything to just fill the space when and we've brought players off and and seems to be quite happy in that role as well.
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:27
Zak
He's not... I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but I very much doubt that we're really going to see him much until he goes. So, yeah, why would you how would you swap him out? Who would you swap him out for, right?
00:20:37
Zak
Yeah.
00:20:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, look, I think that think there's an argument to be had about the dynamism, the explosiveness of Jay Robinson, but we can see that coming off the bench as as fresh legs and exciting.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think with them, with all of those players on the pitch, as Sienza, Yander, Armstrong, Fellows, just is it's It's five problems for the defense to think about, and that is you know three or four more problems than they want to deal with at any one time, and that in itself is is a strength. right it's just is yeah Who knows where it's going to come from, because it could be any of those places.
00:21:19
Zak
Yeah, exactly that. And I just... Isn't that nice? Isn't it nice? Doesn't it feel like... an eternity ago, but yet also yesterday that we were trying to figure out what what we could do to just get an attacking string of play together.
00:21:37
Zak
And then all of a sudden now it's just, you know, it's just happened. And, you know, I don't know if that's necessarily Will Steele. I do genuinely think that, and I know that it's at this point like an ongoing meme, but I do genuinely think the impact of Sienza has been massive just because, again,
00:21:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:55
Zak
We talked about the trauma of last season and having players that aren't willing to do anything. And and I think maybe, you know, we we we kind of expected a lot from Fernandes last season.
00:22:07
Zak
And I think with having that experience on his shoulders and also having such an unconventional path to where he is. Sienza's been able to kind of, you know, you can see this at the end of the games and that, I don't know if we discussed it, but like the beautiful moment of of him pushing Cam Bragg towards the away fans to to get the recognition and the congratulations and, you know, because he understands how important those moments are and how massive they are.
00:22:33
Zak
you know how hard he fought to get there. And you know you've got this young lad who's who's getting that opportunity that he probably would have never been able to get. And it's just like, man, I don't i don't care if it's like a sappy X-Factor story that is required for us to suddenly become the team we remember.
00:22:50
Zak
But if that's what it takes, then that's what it takes. And i'm I'm just happy to see it, mate, to be honest.
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Fantastic stuff. Right, let's move into the part of the show everyone loves, our score predictions, but let's have a little break first and hear a word from our partners at Zencaster.
Promotions and Predictions
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:23:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, we are back, and as is tradition, going to let you go first. are you feeling? What you you thinking from this game?
00:23:37
Zak
for Right. See, the problem is is, my last game, I was like, yeah, maybe we'll win one niil And then we won. feel which is just really optimistic for me. I don't know where the first two goals are coming. I don't know where Leicester's going to score, but I'm really, really, really desiring. The reason it's 3-1 is that towards the end of the game,
00:24:00
Zak
Armour's run out, we bring on Damien Downs and Damien Downs gets a goal to boost his confidence to to kind of fulfill this prophecy and to this weird rebuild.
00:24:14
Zak
And I know it's three games. I'm completely aware that the way that the language that we're using is like we've suddenly inherited Barcelona from 2008. know that's not necessarily the case.
00:24:27
Zak
But also, this entire podcast is based off of vibes and emotions, if you cannot tell.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:32
Zak
Yes!
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:24:34
Zak
So for me, the vibe and emotion is 3-1.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:24:38
Zak
And at some point, I'd love to see a Damien Downs goal in there, mate. So there you go.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:24:43
Zak
I look forward to my positivity being completely demolished. But if not, I'm a genius.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting. Interesting.
00:24:49
Zak
It's either that or not.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
i yeah
00:24:51
Zak
Interesting.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think it's going to be as easy as that. I'm feeling 2-1 a nervy... for a nervy
00:24:57
Zak
Interesting. thing
00:25:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
for a a characteristically nervy finish is is what I'm feeling. Like, I think we'll go to ni up. I think we'll concede a silly goal.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then I think that the last half an hour or so is going to be just horrendous to watch. Like, it's going to be Lem throwing the barn door at us.
00:25:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, it's going to be an interesting one to see how that plays out.
00:25:30
Zak
Cool. Yeah. nice not dust It's weird. It's a weird we're time to to for this podcast for me to be more optimistic than you. And and i'm I'm fine with that.
00:25:42
Zak
So, yeah. don't know, man.
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just I don't think I don't think we're going to be 5-0 up by half time right yeah
00:25:45
Zak
I just don't know what to say.
00:25:51
Zak
underestimating Leicester, don't get me wrong, but like, i don't know, at just the moment, but I just feel like we want it more. I feel like they all want it more, and they showed that they want it more.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:01
Zak
and but Maybe it's the fact that they want Eckert in charge, and they're just doing absolutely everything they can to make sure that they prove that he's the man for the job. I don't know. i just want to enjoy the ride while it lasts.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, look, we talked about it quite a bit yesterday, but you're right. I mean, we talked about five in a row and how ridiculous that would be and how, you know, almost it's daft not to give him the job at that point.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But realistically, four in a row pretty competitively makes that argument regardless of what happened Saturday, right? it's It puts a...
00:26:35
Zak
Mate, to be honest, your this three in a row is still the second most successful manager in the Sports Republic era.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:46
Zak
fuck It's like, yeah, but do you want to not put someone else with a bit more experience in charge?
00:26:50
Zak
And I'm like, what if they come and lose every game? What does it matter? What would you...
00:26:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, what will be particularly interesting to me tonight will be if there are...
Fan and Managerial Dynamics
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Any thoughts of that nature shared by the Northern Wall?
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure that we will get their opinion one way or the other. Because, you know, you read people's opinions online, but that doesn't necessarily match up with, you know, your your average football attendee and their opinions.
00:27:16
Zak
No.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
it will be fascinating to see what the opinion is that is shared and how that is received. Because...
00:27:26
Zak
it was It was very much... it you know got Gary O'Neill, as a candidate, was was very much... had had his opinion, has yeah, had his opinion, they had the Northern Wall had their opinion on that man being our manager and and proceeded to suddenly drop off of the odds list quite quickly.
00:27:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Shut down.
00:27:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:47
Zak
so yeah, I agree.
00:27:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so that that'll be interesting. But, man, what game to look forward to. Who doesn't love Tuesday night? We busted the myth that we don't win after international breaks.
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
We came out and proved that that wasn't the case on Saturday.
00:28:02
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:28:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now let's bust the myth that we are worse midweek. Let's... Look, i I may be feeling the 2-1, but I'd be so happy with the 5-0, you know?
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's just...
00:28:14
Zak
Oh, yeah, they
00:28:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
the just keep those vibes running onto the weekend and have a wonderful time.
00:28:19
Zak
no.
00:28:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But,
00:28:20
Zak
Let's keep the belief and then either you'll hear from us tonight with a very much sort of deflated attitude or you'll hear from us with a very, you know, buzzing, happy attitude.
00:28:32
Zak
It really depends.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. But either way, you can assure yourself that we are in for some late-night emotions one way or the other, which everyone loves for a midweek game.
00:28:41
Zak
Woo! Woo!
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But until then, let us know your score predictions and your thoughts in the comments or on the socials. We love hearing from you. and We're on all of them. We're on xblueskytiktokfacebookinstagram.com.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
YouTube, everywhere. hit us up. Let us know what you think is going to happen. And like say, we will be back to talk about it either way. But until then, have a wonderful day, everyone.
00:29:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And come on, you saints.