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Episode 352: Matchday Preview: Away again to Middlesbrough!
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Southampton – The games sure do come thick and fast! Away to a team that hasn't scored in 7 hours of play... what could possibly go wrong?
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Transcript
Introduction and Updates
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. I am your host, Greg Elliott, and as always today, joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach. How you doing, mate? You alright?
00:00:24
Zak
Yeah, not too bad. As you've probably heard, there's some differences going on behind the scenes here. This probably explains a lot of our chaotic upload schedule. But yeah, we've done a little name change, done some cheeky changes across the socials. You'll probably be able see.
00:00:40
Zak
but So yeah, that' I thought we may as well address it. Like me and Greg were talking before, like, do we address this? Do we just change it? Well, considering we changed the entirety of the intro, probably it probably
Independence and Listener Support
00:00:49
Zak
should. So yeah.
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, man. We're flying solo now and hoping to be better for it. And rolling with that.
00:00:59
Zak
So no disrespect to to GSPN. It was a wild time with those those guys. They've decided to go off in sort of... It didn't quite... Their project didn't quite go the direction they wanted to go And so they they're closing it down, which means that, you know, obviously...
00:01:15
Zak
We we want to carry it on because we've been doing this daily for, what, 350 episodes, 51 episodes this point.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:01:23
Zak
So, yeah, we're we're all solo and independent. So hopefully you'll you'll stick around. around and Thanks to everyone that's been listening thus far.
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah absolutely. What that does mean as independent creators is that if you are liking what you're hearing, giving us a like, giving us a rating, giving us a review, giving us a subscribe, wherever you are listening, goes a long way to help out the show.
Team's Busy Schedule and Middlesbrough Challenge
00:01:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that is enough of that. Zach, we have got more football coming up because it never ends. It comes thick and fast. And we might be in January now, but there's another game on a different day of the week, this time on a Sunday.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
are we...
00:02:05
Zak
I got nothing left.
00:02:06
Zak
That's how I do.
00:02:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
i would
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
hey I mean, i feel my concern is that if we're feeling like that, how are the players that have to spend 90 minutes running around the pitch in it feeling?
00:02:17
Zak
But but we've we've swapped out with some of them. That's the thing, right? We basically started starting four changes the other day. you know, there's there's some that always want to play and and will play.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:28
Zak
But at the same time, yeah it's probably tiring. But like you pointed out last show, Middlesbrough haven't scored in what, like seven hours?
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
seven hours of gameplay.
00:02:38
Zak
So if we can manage a goal and keep them out, we can win the game.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:44
Zak
Now, I know that we essentially talk about that every episode and somehow drag it out to be 30 minutes, but it's vitally important we get something because I swear I'm going to lose my mind with Tonda being like, yeah, it's really important we we put in a performance against Middlesbrough. And I'm like, it's been really important we put in performances every game. This is such...
00:03:06
Zak
a Look, I get that it's press play, but still.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
i thought about this I thought about this after we recorded our our match reviews, act but how much... talked a bit about like the fatigue of the fixtures and coming up, and we talk a lot about like the physical energy of being on the pitch, but what we haven't really given much airtime to is...
Travel Toll on Players
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
how dirty the fixtures have done us in this period, because in these five games in what feels like five days, right, we've been away for three of them.
00:03:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that's additional travel. Like, that is a lot considerably harder than playing at home for so many reasons, right? There's a personal toll that takes.
00:03:50
Zak
Southampton?
00:03:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but I...
00:03:53
Zak
Like, mate, I've been trapped in traffic on the M27 before when it's not moving. That's just as bad if you're trying get from Winchester to Southampton. To be clear, I get your point. I'm just being facetious. but you see Yeah, that there probably definitely is a toll. And yeah, it's definitely done us a little bit dirty. But at the same time, like there should be no surprise. Like that this is a career they choose to do. This is a career that that is part of it. Right. Like, you know, if you choose to do a job where you're on call over Christmas and then you'd be like, well, think about these people who are on call over Christmas. it's like Yeah, get that.
00:04:27
Zak
But also this is the career you've chosen. And that can unfortunately be part of it. and And that's kind of where i'm I'm at. That doesn't mean that I don't think that, yeah, it's probably been mentally tough for a few of them, especially where we have very much landed on a first sort of XI. And we're trying to figure out ways to play that first XI game.
00:04:47
Zak
that many times in five days, you know that the fatigue is going to kick in. so So, yeah, I think that that for sure is an added stress, but also other teams have managed
Team Mentality and Performance
00:04:56
Zak
to deal with it. And this is where I i have a point of contention and a bone to pick in the fact that, like, we seems to have been like, well, woe is us, woe is our ability to play these games. It's like, yeah, but there are we're not the only team in the championship which are which is dealing with this problem.
00:05:12
Zak
And other teams are managing to deal with the problem and win off the back of it. And like arguably, maybe we were a little bit harsh with a nil-nil draw against Millwall. They're a better side than we probably give credit to. they you know we managed a clean sheet.
00:05:28
Zak
Baz actually pulled off a really good save. It wasn't the worst game in the world. But the the thing is, is again, it's you're setting the standards of we should be winning, we should be trying to aim for promotion.
00:05:38
Zak
It's not where we want to be. So ultimately, we're all going to end up frustrated. Plus, mate, it was boring. The fact that he said that it wasn't boring was like, mate, come on.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, that doesn't...
00:05:51
Zak
What are you talking about? Sorry, Greg. Do you want to go on the edge of a...
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, no, you're right. Like, it' is's it's exactly that. But I just think that, like... it it's it's easy to be super critical, right? And we know that this, you know, the fixtures came out in August. It was no surprise that we were away across this period of time. I just think that, you know, the amount of travel we've had to do is particularly tough and and we should, you know, pay heedance to that. And and like you said, we're not the only team to suffer with it. Some teams have managed through and some haven't. And that, I guess, is the the blessing and the curse of the league. But,
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's...
Transfer Needs and Player Options
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just... The more I try and remove myself from the emotion of sitting through the game, the more that Millwall feels almost passable.
00:06:43
Zak
Ha, ha, ha.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, losing to Oxford, unacceptable. Drawing with Millwall, probably not the end of the world. So...
00:06:55
Zak
If it was winning against Birmingham, winning against Oxford, drawing against Millwall, I don't think that would be that much of a bother.
00:06:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
is
00:06:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:01
Zak
It's the fact that it came off the back of, you know, a okay performance at Birmingham, but nowhere near where we'd want to be.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:08
Zak
And a performance against Oxford to that, yeah, is unacceptable, but also fair play to Oxford, because clearly we're the ones that went in going, oh we're going to get, you know, we're going to absolutely trounce them.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ye
00:07:18
Zak
And then, They're the ones that beat us. So i think it definitely adds a bit more of a sting to the result than it probably should do. But the reality of this situation is we we're sat in the bottom half of the league heading... You know, we're past Christmas now. We're heading in... We're into the new year.
00:07:34
Zak
Like, it's not it's not really where we thought we'd be or where we'd want to be. And judging by the sounds of, like... the you know what we were told regarding transfers, I don't know how much of that's true.
00:07:47
Zak
you know They might end up going in a little bit harder than they've said they have. But they've they've tried to play down the prospect of many people coming in.
00:07:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:54
Zak
We have this potential goalkeeper coming in from Bayern, right? That seems to be pretty nailed on, far more than it was yesterday.
00:07:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Which is crazy. they Like, it's crazy to come out and in an interview and say, it's going to be a quiet January, lads. And then literally day one, be like, but we are bringing in this pretty exciting goalkeeper from Bayern.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like, sorry?
00:08:14
Zak
Well, that will also be be technically our fifth goalkeeper, right?
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:17
Zak
And technically sixth if you include Dylan Moody. Because at that point, you're going to have you have Ramsdale, who's out on loan, that isn't coming back. And they just need they should just activate the clause to follow him. Because, you know, if he does come back, I'll be baffled.
00:08:28
Zak
Because the the things that he posts, like his Instagram and how much he loves Newcastle and everything, it's very much like... Man does not want to come back here. You've got the, you know, the lonely who's there to make up numbers in, yeah, right.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
George Long, right?
00:08:42
Zak
And then you've got Baz and McCarthy.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he he, I mean, likelihood is that maybe he goes back, you don't know what other sort of parts are in motion.
00:08:50
Zak
Correct.
00:08:51
Zak
if he's If he's third choice and this guy's about to come on first, Baz is going to become our second and
Promotion Potential Doubts
00:08:55
Zak
McCarthy comes our third. You're right. That'll probably be like a result. I don't remember if it was to the end of the season or just six months.
00:09:01
Zak
If I remember rightly, it was end of season. So it's just there's just a lot of, yeah, coming out and saying it's going to be quiet and then everyone be going like, okay, but what are you going to do about this position, this position, this position? And then them just being like, hopefully it gets good. And you're like, it's not been thus far, is it? This is the problem. like we need more We need more options. We need better. Well, actually, we don't need more options. We need better options. And the problem is, is that if a lot of the current team aren't willing to move on, it's the moot point, really, isn't it?
00:09:31
Zak
That's probably why.
00:09:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, that's that's the thing, right? We talked yesterday about whether promotion or staying in the championship might be better just to give us that opportunity to to clear it out properly and and sort of go from there.
00:09:43
Zak
Yeah.
00:09:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's going to be... I mean, look, seeing how we come up against Middlesbrough, who at the moment are in... I mean, their form has dropped off a cliff, right? It's safe to say.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. lost draw, lost loss in the last four games. Like...
00:10:05
Zak
So is ours if but by that standard. But like I guess the question I'd want to ask you, Greg, before we get too much into the Middlesbrough stuff, like I know it is a match preview, is like with our current squad, would you want to be promoted?
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, no.
00:10:20
Zak
Nice simple answer.
00:10:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:10:21
Zak
Thanks. yeah
00:10:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, i mean, we're currently sat 14th in the championship and just lost to Oxford, mate. Like, it's not it's not in a solid enough position.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I don't know if we've got the ability to to build up in, you know, one window effectively in the summer.
00:10:32
Zak
Greg.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
to a Premier League standard team that can sort of fire from the hip in the Premier League because, you know, our top goal scorer is Adam Armstrong, who is a proven commodity in this league. And I don't think it's unfair to say has had his chance in the Premier League and the proof of the pudding there was not promising either, right? And at the moment we're seeing him, you know, be up and down on cold.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
here and it's just we need more consistency uh to make that step up i think and it's i just don't think we're there yet i think that we need almost need another season down and i'm sure that that in itself is an entirely fresh challenge right because i think we lose our parachute payments and then it becomes a whole potentially different issue completely financially but
00:11:23
Zak
Yeah.
Upcoming Middlesbrough Match Preview
00:11:38
Zak
Yeah.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
would we We're much further away you than I think any anyone would want to be.
00:11:45
Zak
Yeah, I agree with that. Yeah. Oh, that's upsetting. Anyway, let's talk about us potentially beating the second in the league, right? they still second at this point somehow?
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are down to third, Ipswich climbed up to second with their win...
00:11:58
Zak
Oh, dang. That's got hurt.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like I say, sort of dropping off as perhaps expected at this point in the season. Struggling, you mentioned earlier, seven hours in play without a goal.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
History also backs us in this feature. right In our last seven matches against Middlesbrough, we've got three wins. They've only got two with two draws. But the interesting stat that jumps off the page to me in these historic stats, Zach, is Middlesbrough clean sheets, 0%.
00:12:36
Zak
That's not great, especially considering how like not great we've been.
00:12:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, our last meeting with them, of course, at St. Mary's in September, one-all draw. Our previous meeting with them at St. Mary's, a one-all draw.
00:12:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
September 2023, they beat us 2-1 at their place. Other than that, yeah. Just like low scoring games, but no clean sheets for them is what this has written all over it, right?
00:13:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
of A quick snatch and grab.
00:13:11
Zak
does that just mean it's going to be another 1-0 draw? That's the other problem that I've got. Does that just mean... like I don't know if I can't know fucking can mentally handle watching another 1-0 draw. like Or even just a draw. like I know i know like at least when there's a 1-0, there's a goal. like The middle game was just painful for to watch, but...
00:13:29
Zak
Maybe I should just not be so miserable about it. Maybe we should... If the fixture historically favours us, maybe we should look it favourably and see hopefully we get something out of it.
00:13:42
Zak
But I just feel like win or lose or draw, the haul of points from this run has just been so disappointing that doesn't really give me the boost that want it to. like If we win, does it even put us up the table?
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:55
Zak
like, where would we end up sitting? So we win, we go up to, like, we're still we're still underneath 10th, right?
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it depends on the games around us.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:03
Zak
Depending on the games around us, at best, we would go up to 11th, which is where we sat at the end of this run, quickly grouping up the table.
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:11
Zak
I think the only good thing about it is the fact that, you know, Pompey lost last game and are very, very but likely to fit into that relegation zone. And that's pretty much all I can take from this like last couple of games, right? It's not really been it's not been great for us, but it'd be nice to get one over on Middlesbrough.
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Look, their form at home is markedly better than their away form, although losing in their most recent home fixture.
00:14:36
Zak
Hmm.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's going to be interesting to see if we can break that down. i mean... you know Having them not score in that long but still have a couple of draws in the mix implies that they're pretty solid defensively.
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So don't know if this is going to be another one of those games that comes down to us trying to break down a low block as opposed to sort of a team coming at us.
00:14:56
Zak
Yeah.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or if because they're at home and they haven't scored in this long, they're going to come out and be super aggressive. It's just it's hard to see which way it plays out. But, i mean, hopefully we can take advantage and and get some of this dynamic flow in football back and just try and recapture the the vibe and head into the new year with some positivity because...
00:15:26
Zak
we That's what we want. like Our game after that is Doncaster. and like i'm not i don't really even feel positive that we can go into that game and and win...
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:15:36
Zak
you know, by blowing them away. And I think that's that's a worrying indictment of kind of where we sit and that we went from this kind of like, well we're still sour football to, you know, like the absolute, what felt like a revelation to now kind of more of the same insert Sports Republic football, right?
00:15:57
Zak
and And it would really, i think, just help sort of revitalise the players, go into another game. And if they could get like two wins on the bounce, start to, kind of build back up as we go in back into the championship because obviously after that we're against hull and holler a team that we talked about expecting to beat but holler had a really good season this season and you know we shouldn't we can't really afford to underestimate them either but going into that game off the back of two wins significantly better than i think the last time we played them so yeah it's i really really hope we take something away from it
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well,
Critical Games for Promotion
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's it. Like you mentioned earlier, mate, as the time runs out and the clock runs down, games become more and more important because of our missed opportunities up until this point. right you know Regardless of our opinion on whether this squad's good enough for promotion or not, if the aim of the club is still to get promoted...
00:16:30
Zak
uh but guess
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're getting pretty close to a point where every game becomes a must win because otherwise that opportunity disappears because because team's above us there's there's enough teams above us that not all of them are losing every week.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
like That's just as simple as that. Right, let's let's get into some predicted lineups.
00:17:03
Zak
And that's yeah?
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think we're going to see a return to this sort of favoured XI after seeing, you know, for five changes against Millwall?
00:17:06
Zak
yeah
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although four from what I would say is like the expected XI, Cienzo being the fifth that came back in.
00:17:25
Zak
I think so. i'd expect... I think maybe Stephen's out for Kwasi might be potential, but I...
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah? That's interesting because I think Steven's had one of his better games against Moble.
00:17:35
Zak
Yeah, but isn't that literally because, as you pointed out, he was clearly the one driving the ball forward and he was the one that was given that role that Harbour-Belis usually has.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:43
Zak
like You made that point and I think that's probably why. It's because we just saw him do more. but Also, from just a fatigue perspective, like he's played pretty much most of them, right? I'm pretty sure he's played them the last two weeks.
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:54
Zak
That would be kind of mad to put him back in. and But yeah, I'd like to see a return to our favoured XI just because like I just want us to go away the first half and do what we've done all of those times previously. What I don't want to do is just like sit around, pass it about, get to 0-0, go 1-0 down, panic, manage to score and then end up finishing the game 1-0. And that's what really worried is going to happen. But to be able to do that, we're going to need everybody firing.
00:18:22
Zak
And if you put that those those but team out that has done, so well in previous fixtures and you put them all out together and you tell them, hey, go do the thing that you've done previously.
00:18:35
Zak
Like, hopefully that would give them a little bit of a boost, but, you know, I know that that's a wishful thinking, isn't it?
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i mean there's other considerations as well right like leo coming off after 45 minutes and supposedly just because of managing minutes i mean does that mean he might not be fit enough to even start this middlesbrough game and we might be looking at sort of dealing with that Yeah, like, what does the front line look like? It's...
00:19:04
Zak
I think that it's precaution. If they've talked about how he's... not used to the pace of this game. They've been bringing him on and off and on and off and on and off and on and off, right? I feel like they brought him off the 45 because they won him for the 45 on Saturday, right? that's That's what my personal perspective is. I think by the looks of it, it was always planned that a lot of the changes that were going to be made were made.
00:19:25
Zak
Maybe not exactly the times and stuff, but I feel like that half-time was he was going to get a half. He was going to get the first 45 minutes to try and score. Got two shots away. you know, we kind of hoped for better for him.
00:19:38
Zak
everyone. We didn't quite get that. So yeah, I have a feeling that if you you put out the best 11, they'll maybe do what they've done previously. It's just...
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:49
Zak
It's just on a...
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We can hope.
00:19:50
Zak
Yeah, that's pretty much where I'm at. Like, I don't know if you've got any other opinions on who should be changed around. But also the same thing you've talked about previously. You start changing stuff around too much and then you you upset the balance a little bit.
00:19:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:00
Zak
And I think that's potentially what's happened.
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:01
Zak
We've had to upset the balance because of injuries, etc. And then off the back of that, like, it's never really clicked back into place, right? I don't know why. I don't know if there's potentially like injuries behind the scenes.
00:20:14
Zak
I don't know if you know there's some big grand conspiracy that Tonda's being told to play a different different way. I don't really think that's the case. I think it's the same issue we've always had.
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe it's just become harder to play that sort of aggressive style of football because now there's more tape on it. Other teams have sort of worked it out and worked out the the pressure points and how to play against it.
00:20:28
Zak
Yep.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so it's it's become more difficult. And so you are able to see it less because it kind of gets marked out of the game. Like probably the real answer is it's going to be a combination of all of the above, right?
00:20:39
Zak
And then they are tired. It's probably...
00:20:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:20:44
Zak
vivid That's just how it is.
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:48
Zak
I don't think it's like we don't have the the sheer quality that so some of the teams that try to play like this have to see them through the fact that people know how to play against them, right?
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:00
Zak
and and that's And that's no disrespect to our players. It's just the reality of the situation is that we know we aren't... I think you summed that up perfectly yesterday, mate, where you don't understand why every team that isn't Manchester City tries to insist on playing sort of a really fast, high-paced level of football that they're unable to sustain.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:20
Zak
And, you know, if it was...
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because Pepper and Football Mate, we got a whole series of episodes on it. Go back and check that out in the backlog.
00:21:25
Zak
If it was sustainable, like it would be life would be significantly better.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Strategy and Expectations
00:21:33
Zak
And like again, it's up to Tonda to realistically try to figure out some ways to get around it. And I know that people are already kind of criticise and be like, oh, we should have hired an experienced manager.
00:21:43
Zak
which was And I just look at like who we had as potentially a manager we could have brought in. I don't really think there was anyone there that would be able to do anything better. If anything, we'd have ended up with a couple of draws.
00:21:53
Zak
maybe we'd have gone four at the back and forced a four at the back and conceded loads. And yeah, I just think there's a lot, there's so much, so much still to do. But I will say that the nice little period of time where we won like seven or seven games or whatever was, or six games out seven, was just like a really beautiful little bit time, you know, just, just had to, had to embrace the period of time this season where we were on top and we were like the team to beat and just lament the fact it's over.
00:22:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
It still could come again. It could still come again. We could go on and win the next six.
00:22:24
Zak
Yeah.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And one of those six is, you know, a trip to our friends down the road. So as long as we win that one, that's going to feel even better. Yeah.
00:22:33
Zak
Yeah, that would be that would be the big test, if I'm totally honest.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:36
Zak
That's what everyone cares about at this point.
00:22:38
Zak
like
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, mate, as we rapidly run out of time on this recording, what do you think the score's going to be? How are we going to feel going into this?
00:22:48
Zak
Every time i predict a win, we never win. Apart from that one time I did. Every time I predict a loss, it's usually right. Every time I predict a loss.
00:22:58
Zak
See, I said 1-1 initially. I don't want to go for 1-1. I want to go for like 2-1. Let's go with 2-1.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah?
00:23:04
Zak
I know it's not exciting, but I really want to just, I want something out of this week to not be just awful.
00:23:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah?
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we're kind of doing something saintsy in breaking Middlesbrough's streak of not being able to score a goal, but still getting over the line.
00:23:18
Zak
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Well, like that's more that we we struggle to keep a clean sheet unless apparently we're unable to score. We could keep a clean sheet if we don't score back.
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
who's get goals
00:23:29
Zak
Well, if we go back to the normal 11, I'd love to see one from Armstrong and one from Sienza. But that would probably mean that we have to be 2-0 up before we concede, whereas the reality of that situation isn't going to take place. So let's go with Arma and Archer. That'd be nice. Nice to get Archer get another goal and see that... Because I think the his biggest problem is he's far he was far far more impactful as a sub than starter, pretty much...
00:23:55
Zak
since we've had him in the few goals he's scored. Bless him. But yeah, that's where I'm at. Armour Archer, 2-1.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll take it. Nice win.
00:24:03
Zak
Unknown Middlesbrough player.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah i yeah I don't agree with you, mate. I think...
00:24:11
Zak
I'm not surprised. You never seem to.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, well, look. I mean, it wouldn't be interesting if we picked...
00:24:14
Zak
and Unless I'm like, unless I'm
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
the same score, would it? I've got always got to feel like I've got to go different to you, but perhaps surprisingly, I think 1-0 Saints.
00:24:25
Zak
1-0 Saints.
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:27
Zak
Oh, that's... Okay. I mean, it's a win. I can't really complain.
00:24:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:35
Zak
I'd like to see a win. If it's a win by one goal.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
When was the last time we won a game 1-0?
00:24:39
Zak
If we ever won a game 1-0...
00:24:42
Zak
Like, the idea of scoring only once and then keeping a clean sheet just feel like that's alien. We have to go a goal down to then score another one to be able to, like, feel the rush of blood, you know?
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:55
Zak
I don't know, like, Prem?
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just, like...
00:24:58
Zak
Is it literally, like, one of the two wins we got in the Premier League must have been
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, maybe. look
00:25:04
Zak
a 1-0? I'm feeling like...
00:25:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
phil genuinely can't remember. So it it's been a while.
00:25:08
Zak
When we beat Ipswich, it was Paul Oduachi.
00:25:14
Zak
By the way, playing in CONCAF, oh no, CONCAF, sorry, AFCON, and he scored for Nigeria the other day. And I sent it to Greg, and Greg was like, oh, I did not realise, was like, I did not realise he was still playing international football either.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, fair play.
00:25:29
Zak
Oh no, it was a 2-1. Oh right, it was Joe Rieber and Paul Oduachi that who actually scored those games. Yeah, see, we've just never won a 1-0.
00:25:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
The last time we won one Nilsack was in the Carabao Cup on the 12th of August against Northampton.
00:25:44
Zak
That doesn't feel real.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does that count?
00:25:46
Zak
No.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
No?
00:25:47
Zak
okay well it was like like the last League 1-0 win films like it must have million years ago.
00:25:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:53
Zak
Because the fact that that's the furthest you can find going back is nuts.
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Right? Like,
00:25:56
Zak
But... I don't even think it was last season.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
we're just... that's
00:26:02
Zak
Oh, man, we concede so much!
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
right like just
00:26:06
Zak
no! We're toilet! Oh...
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's it's sort of a harrowing way to come to that realisation but yeah just think nice tidy one niil game of football that is just just fine right like just
00:26:25
Zak
Yeah, like, i'm I'm fine with it. I think the problem is, Greg, is I just don't believe you. that's That's the issue that I have.
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
well maybe my goal scorer will change your opinion on that Taylor Harbour Bellis
00:26:33
Zak
it's a
00:26:36
Zak
Okay. that That's actually more realistic. You're right. that's That's far more realistic, to be perfectly honest, mate. You're right.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
like a snatch and grab uh yeah 1-0 win for the first time in like recorded history it feels like it's gotta be gotta be the way that's just how I'm feeling uh right, well, look, that is all that we've got time for today.
Conclusion and Social Media Engagement
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Answers on a postcard, if you do remember the last time we won 1-0, I'm sure that by the time get to our next episode, will have that information for you.
00:27:15
Zak
I think I found it, Greg. I think we beat Millwall 1-0 in the 4th of November 2023. Yeah,
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
crazy.
00:27:26
Zak
yeah they're like, I know. That's the last time that I can see winning a league game 1-0. I don't know.
00:27:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:36
Zak
That's it. That's it. Or, technically, technically, Greg, the championship playoff final. but that's not a league game either.
00:27:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. Yeah. All right.
00:27:45
Zak
So
00:27:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Who could, of course, forget that day out at Wembley? Oh, I don't count that either. That's... But yeah.
00:27:51
Zak
there you go. So yeah. Okay. Millwall in like 2023. God, that's... Thank you, mate.
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:56
Zak
oh that's yeah yeah
00:28:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh dear. Well, yeah, look, that is all we've got time for today. Thank you everyone for joining us. Thank you, Zach, for joining me.
00:28:09
Zak
like you ma
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We will be back after the game to talk about it though, whatever happens.
00:28:14
Zak
We will.
00:28:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know your score predictions in the comments on socials. We are now Daily Saints pod everywhere on TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Blue Sky. Hit us up.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
We love hearing from you and can't wait to see what you think. Until we talk about the game, though, have a wonderful a weekend.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think is it weekend now? Zach, can we back into the like real time?
00:28:40
Zak
this is This is coming from a guy, dear listeners, that turned up to work this morning, went, hello, everybody. And our manager went, why are you here? Because he'd forgotten that he wasn't meant to be here today. so to be honest, mate, I don't know if you even know what day of the week it is anymore.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
not lead We'll try and get back to some level of sanity if that even exists as we head into the new year. But have a wonderful time, everybody. and come on, you saints.