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Episode 376: Matchday Preview: Home to the Hornets!
115 Plays13 days ago
Southampton – Watford at home next as it feels like so long since the last game of football! No manager and no form, so this should be a cake walk, right? Well this side has shown us this season there is no such thing! How do we think it will play out?
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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, wonderful co-host, Zach. How you doing mate, you alright?
00:00:23
Zak
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Yeah, pretty well. Just almost forgot there actual football. We've been so tied up with everything else and transfers and other discussions around our club that, you know, so hey, we've actually got the actual game to watch at some point.
00:00:37
Zak
So that's kind of exciting.
00:00:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. That's the crazy thing, right? We were talking about it slightly before off-air, and with all of the distraction of deadline day and people leaving and one player coming in and all of the other stuff and connotations that have come off of it, it's almost hard to remember that. Actually, we're...
00:00:59
DailySaintsPod
we got seven points in three games. We're unbeaten in three and coming into a game now against, you know, perpetually managerless Watford, who are, what, without a striker, without a manager, on a poor run of form.
00:01:16
DailySaintsPod
I mean...
00:01:17
Zak
Perfect opportunity for them to beat us three now, innit?
00:01:22
DailySaintsPod
Look, it's just interesting, isn't it? I don't know. It's going to be an interesting game to see how it plays out. It's one of those ones that at any other point in the season, you're right. You would have said it feels like that sort of banana skin potentially to come and do us. But I just feel...
00:01:42
DailySaintsPod
I don't know, I feel like fresh sense of confidence that it's just not going to be the case. And I don't know whether that's just delusional optimism or if there's sort of something coming good with the team. I don't know, mate. you feeling heading into it?
00:02:00
Zak
I think that the balance is going to be slightly upset by transfers and this and other. But yeah, hopefully they've had a solid week of preparation and can just go into it with, you know...
00:02:11
Zak
better attitude like our last game from umbrae was it like 2-0 swear that we like went up and then they and they scored and then we went up again and we let them score again they kind of just ended a bit meh for everybody involved i'm hoping that yeah we can capitalize on the term will of other teams because we we keep failing to do that and in fact we seem to give them a leg up so Yeah, I don't know how I feel overall. Again, I think it's just been completely shadowed by everything that's been going on in my head personally, and I'm sure that'll change when I sit down to watch it the weekend. But yeah, it's just what it is, isn't it, really?
00:02:48
Zak
It'll be what it'll be.
00:02:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think it's going to be good. And it's an opportunity at home to put in the type of performance and the kind of teen, gutsy showing that we've had twice hour away from home and bring it back and...
00:03:09
DailySaintsPod
And try keep some sort of buzz and some sort of atmosphere around St. Mary's because, you know, much like us, as we're feeling, it's all kind of been the results have been shadowed by by the events and the connotations of deadline day. Like, yeah.
00:03:25
DailySaintsPod
That's going to be the vibe across at least portions of the fan base and portions of St. Mary's, right? Even in the recent away games, you've seen videos coming out of anti-Sports Republic chants, even when we're winning.
00:03:31
Zak
Yeah, for sure.
00:03:37
DailySaintsPod
So it's the kind of thing where that kind of atmosphere... is possible to have an impact on the game, right? But if they come out and come out the gates fast, score a goal and sort of keep it popping and keep it lively, maybe they can kind of subside that a bit and keep the energy flowing.
00:03:57
Zak
Yeah, I agree. It's been a hot minute since Watford have beaten us as well. The last time they beat was 2022. We've played a couple times since then. So, yeah, you're right about trying to make sure that the, you know, the atmosphere, think it's going to be difficult to predict the atmosphere because of the fact that you're right. Like as much as we've come off of a win, as much as there is a want to be positive, we have, you know, new transfer that may or may not be the team. We haven't seen the conference yet because obviously he's got back to Friday as well.
00:04:32
Zak
So we don't know. going to be a bit, shaky because obviously it's going to be off the back of all the Valencia stuff and all of the stuff when it comes to Sports Republic.
00:04:45
Zak
And I think it's always a difficult balance to protest that and also not affect what's going on on the field.
00:04:55
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:04:57
Zak
And, you know, they're probably going to hope from a board perspective a few wins will sweep under the rug. And it'll be interesting to know, like, you know, would we actually end up harming our own chances by, you know, protesting it specifically at games?
00:05:11
Zak
Who knows? I'm not an expert on that kind of things, but I don't know. I'm hoping for at least a slightly better atmosphere, especially when we've come off the back of a win as much as it feels like it was a million years ago this point.
00:05:24
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's it. And look, we've been speaking all season about building momentum or in fact, like for the last two years about the importance of momentum and keeping it. And, you know, the fact of the matter is that the position we're in at this point of the season means that every game is effectively a must win, right? Like if we're still hoping to push for promotion, which is still the line towed by the club, whether you believe it or not.
00:05:51
DailySaintsPod
this is every game, basically. At least for the next five, six, seven games, they're games that we're going to be needing to be looking to get three points from. it's...
00:06:06
DailySaintsPod
it'll be interesting to see if the sort of togetherness that the team seems to have created in the last couple of games and we've sort of enjoyed seeing is, you know, good enough and strong enough to hold through what I'm sure will be some moments of, of adversity amongst that sort of need to must win to get there.
00:06:28
DailySaintsPod
Right. Cause that's, that's what we've questioned all season is mental strength.
00:06:32
Zak
Yeah, I agree. And that's what guess we've got hope we see on the weekend. Because if not, we'll just go straight back to where we were before, where all the discussion is going to be about everything else that's going on around it.
00:06:45
Zak
And obviously, I think players probably going to be acutely aware that that's going to be something that's going in the background as well.
00:06:52
Zak
But ultimately, just got hope that they... give it their all, which I'm sure they will, and we actually see a positive result from the game. don't know.
00:07:02
Zak
It's just because it's Watford. I don't really know what to predict. Obviously, as said, managerless is like they're perpetually managerless.
00:07:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, exactly.
00:07:09
Zak
Sure, they've picked up an injury, but that is obviously always an opportunity for somebody else. Not an injury, sorry, more of a suspension. But it's always an opportunity for somebody else to step up and put a good performance, right?
00:07:23
Zak
And that sometimes can happen. So it's just, yeah, I don't know, man. As we're kind of alluding back to about five, ten minutes ago, just kind of surprising there's a game taking place more than anything to me at the moment.
00:07:30
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:07:37
DailySaintsPod
That's it. It's the part where you forget that football's actually about the football and that's the good stuff that we like and look forward to. Well, like you say, Watford leaving grounds with their manager on mutual terms, I believe, right earlier in the week. They're winless in their past five games. Only lost two of them. They've drawn three, lost two.
00:07:59
DailySaintsPod
But they scored just two goals in that Prior to that, they'd won their previous four in the championship. So, you know, they're still up in eighth. So we're still looking up at them, which, you know, that's what allude to with it being must win, right? We need to win these important games against the teams that we are hoping to leapfrog because that is how maths works. So... That is the easiest way to gain ground on them and sort of build places up
00:08:29
DailySaintsPod
in the league. An interesting stat that jumps out at me, Zach, from the BBC match pack for Southampton Watford is one that I know you're going hate. which maybe, to be honest, is the reason it's jumped out at me. But Southampton have scored 43 goals this season from an XG of 52, with only Blackburn underperforming their expected goals more than the Saints.
00:09:00
DailySaintsPod
So we're at minus nine goals compared to our XG. What do you make of that?
00:09:08
Zak
Who cares?
00:09:11
Zak
Whatever. It does find it so much.
00:09:12
DailySaintsPod
Oh,
00:09:14
Zak
It's such a...
00:09:16
Zak
You've had this argument with me many, many times before. I don't really care about the stat. I never really have. It's basically like, oh, we've missed the opportunities that many other strikers would have taken at these points. It's like, yeah, we know this because of formation, because of personnel, because Adam Armstrong missed couple of sitters.
00:09:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:38
Zak
We've had...
00:09:38
DailySaintsPod
Let's not forget Casper Yander hitting both posts with one shot.
00:09:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:52
Zak
It's just, sure, okay.
00:09:53
DailySaintsPod
Was it Azaz that managed to put one over the crossbar from about half a yard out? Yeah.
00:10:06
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:10:07
Zak
But, like, initially, I genuinely thought, like, okay, well, is he ever going to score a goal? Is this just going to go down as another, you know... not going to say Corello, that's really mean. But yeah, it's like it is what it is.
00:10:19
Zak
But obviously people take a huge interest in it. And I know that you're more of a stats buff than me, but from a personal perspective, it's like, oh, they're underperforming. It's like... I could have told you that without the fact that there's the XG bit, like where we are on the table in comparison to where most people think we should be, including ourselves, is underperforming. I don't need to see the bit where we didn't score the goals we should have scored. Like, you know?
00:10:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's completely fair. All right, mate. Moving on to team lineups. I've been struggling with this one a bit. Obviously, we haven't had a press conference. We don't know any of the injuries, but maybe not struggling in the way you think, but struggling because I don't really think that we've got a lot to talk about here because it's quickly becoming one of the taglines of our show, but if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? That team won against Stoke.
00:11:16
DailySaintsPod
comfortably, professionally, just play that same 11, yeah?
00:11:19
Zak
It did.
00:11:20
DailySaintsPod
Same formation, same 11.
00:11:38
Zak
That's always taking that kind of stuff for up-to-date news with pinch of salt, right?
00:11:38
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Well, I...
00:11:41
Zak
Because nine times out of ten, they don't even update the clubs after couple of days after they've actually moved. So,
00:11:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I was looking that and it popped up for me as well. But actually, I think he's played in their most recent game. can't remember if it was last weekend or just slightly before.
00:11:59
DailySaintsPod
So it's, yeah, think it's just, uh, sort of holdover from maybe earlier in the season.
00:11:59
Zak
Yeah, it's just nonsense.
00:12:07
DailySaintsPod
So, you know, he should be in at least some position to hit the ground running. You would hope, uh, uh,
00:12:16
Zak
Yeah. It's just a waste again, isn't it? This is the other problem I have with January loans like that. It's like, you know, I understand completely different circumstances, but... early, you know, Premier League, January last year, Karl Schmeinbach, when we had like Grom back, right?
00:12:33
Zak
And it kind of like appeared twice and it's just the rest of it just seemed a waste.
00:12:33
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:36
Zak
I just hope it doesn't become that.
00:12:37
Zak
It doesn't feel like it's going to become that. It has a lot, I think there's a lot more riding than this. So I'd expect to see him in some capacity, whether or not he'll be starting, who knows? Only because I think that...
00:12:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I doubt very much it'll be a start because, why would you unsettle the team that's won? And, B, you know, he only came in maybe Monday, Tuesday earliest, right?
00:12:53
Zak
True.
00:12:56
Zak
Monday, right?
00:12:58
DailySaintsPod
Because it was late night Monday. So, Tuesday earliest, one of those days is going to be a day off. So, he's had maybe, what, two, two and a half days training with the team and some of that would have just been media.
00:13:08
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:13:09
Zak
Okay.
00:13:10
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, but look, yeah, he played 74 minutes on the 29th of January. So, yeah, last week, Thursday.
00:13:18
DailySaintsPod
So, should be a fitness level to be kicking on at least, which is good to know.
00:13:25
Zak
Yeah, he was also making some appearances as well, right? So this is the other thing is that he will probably might not have the full fitness for the full 90 anyway, but either does Ross Stewart, and that's just because Ross Stewart.
00:13:28
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:36
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:37
Zak
So I expect maybe we'll see him, or if not, they'll do something different and throw Archer on. It really depends on how the game plays out, right?
00:13:44
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean, that in itself has the potential to be interesting, right? Like, you know, we expect a change up front and see if it is the case that Archer immediately gets thrown back in the mix.
00:13:56
DailySaintsPod
It'll be interesting to see if he is more fired up or completely demotivated by the sort of move to Rangers falling apart.
00:13:59
Zak
where he's ready for right?
00:14:08
DailySaintsPod
Kind of through no doing of his own.
00:14:09
Zak
Yeah, we've seen... We've seen the impact of that, right? Like the Dwight McNeil situation this week, probably the one that's had the most coverage, but there's more than a few cases of sort of people preparing to completely upheave their life. And as much as it's like, on with it the next day, need to understand that we can tell them to get on with the next day. doesn't necessarily mean people have the headspace to deal with it.
00:14:32
Zak
There's couple of lads around Chelsea that get moved around non-stop and chucked about between different teams and this and other. And the fact that he was left out last weekend shows you that he was very prepared for the move to happen.
00:14:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:46
Zak
But from a tactical standpoint, if you need something different to Ross Stewart, you would put in Archer, right? But I guess Ola Konyo might have to deputise like he did last week if that's the case.
00:14:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:58
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:58
Zak
But yeah, obviously, I expect to see our new sign-in.
00:15:01
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, to be honest, I wouldn't have a problem with getting more minutes for the youngster. He's been scoring for fun in the youth levels, right? So making that step up. It would be nice to see him I don't know. There's like a balance that you want to tread with a striker, right? You don't want to put the pressure on him to come on in a moment or as part of the game where it's so vitally important for him to score.
00:15:27
DailySaintsPod
We saw that with Damien Downs and we've talked about that a lot. But also... Like, bringing him on for the last, what, like 15 minutes against Stoke when we were not attacking is, like, it feels as painful, right? Like, if you're a striker, you want to get on the pitch, make an impact and score. And if that's not the point of the way the team is playing at that moment, that's going to have some effect on you as well, presumably. So...
00:15:55
Zak
True, but I would point out that you also made the point last season when Jay Robinson started getting minutes in the Premier League and I made a similar point to you that, you know, minutes are good regardless, right?
00:16:07
Zak
Minutes in a, you know, full, like, first team in the atmosphere around the stadium and stuff are going be vital to be able to expand your career.
00:16:18
Zak
So everything like that is good, I feel, you know.
00:16:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:21
DailySaintsPod
It's experience, isn't it?
00:16:23
DailySaintsPod
That's building yourself up to it. It's, you know, as much as we like to sit here and criticize, it's not the easiest thing to go out and do.
00:16:23
Zak
Yeah, that's the word looking for.
00:16:26
Zak
Less team experience, right?.....................
00:16:32
DailySaintsPod
That's part the reason it pays so much to go and do it that well, right? Yeah, it's interesting. But what about the rest of the team? Presuming full fitness, I don't remember anyone going off with any kind too heavy of a knock or anything last week. So all being well, obviously pre-press conference as we're here in.
00:16:52
DailySaintsPod
Wellington over Manning stays as the first choice. 100%.
00:16:55
Zak
Yeah. Again, the problem you've got, mate, is if it's not broke, don't fix it. So the only thing you can really talk about is the absentees.
00:17:01
Zak
And, like, we talk about, you know, what's going happen with Dozie now. Because Dozie was supposed to go potentially. Then there was conversation that he wasn't wanted. He was even linked to Feyenoord, actually.
00:17:14
Zak
I wonder if that's actually how the conversation around Vlaren started. And then they kind of backed off and actually tried to sell us a player. It reminds me of... Paul, when was it? can't remember where one of our players went to and we were looking at one of their centre-backs.
00:17:27
Zak
And then what happened they sold their to us. Sorry, we sold all their players to them. And then immediately they shut down negotiations on that centre-back.
00:17:39
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:40
Zak
Obviously, let's talk about potentially bringing him back into the team. I imagine that's going to take time. I think that he has been keeping up with fitness from I can tell. But I just think it would be useful to have a good option for Leo that isn't just Jay Robinson every time.
00:17:56
Zak
And I don't mean that in disrespect to Jay Robinson.
00:17:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:58
Zak
We've been through that before. Just that we need some more impact players that know the league better. Even if it's been a while since he's played in the league.
00:18:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, definitely.
00:18:06
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, well, we've talked a lot about Jay Robinson. I think that both of us are fans of Jay. you know, the realistic matter is that a winger is not really his natural position. He kind of prefers to be a number 10. Obviously, it's kind of a logical swap for Leo because Leo is the one who is going to need to come off because of, you know, he just runs to his detriment, right? Like, he doesn't stop.
00:18:34
DailySaintsPod
And, you know, in the same way that Leo's skills are carrying the ball, that is one of Jay Robinson's strengths is that he's happy to pick up the ball and dribble at players and carry the ball forward. But you're right. It's nice to have a different option and maybe having that option go out on the wing allows the option to play better to play Robinson in his more comfortable position in the middle at some, some stages as well. And, and, you know, sort of build that way.
00:19:02
DailySaintsPod
It's, it's depth is important squad. That's important. What we saw over Dozie, the last time we saw him was a confident player who was also happy to dribble at players. And at that time was lacking an end product. And I like, it's been so long now since we've seen him that it's, it's hard to tell what we'll get.
00:19:21
DailySaintsPod
Right. But, can't surely it's worth a try right I don't know I mean, it's been such a strange saga with him in particular, right? It's a really strange situation that we haven't seen more of him. And like said, think between the windows, he was out with a hamstring injury for a bit, if I'm not mistaken.
00:19:44
DailySaintsPod
Or at least that's what they were reporting. So maybe it's not strange and he just hasn't sort of quite found his way back in since then. And then it sort got sidelined because of transfer talk. But yeah, it's a particularly strange situation, isn't it?
00:20:00
Zak
I agree. I don't know if we're going to hear anything anytime soon or we'll even be informed on the whole situation, right? This is very similar to, in my mind, when Bella Kochap was just in the background. We never really heard anything. Eventually, he got into play and then eventually was moved on. But there was apparently interest from Derby and Millwall.
00:20:20
Zak
But I think it was either to do with transfer fees that fell apart or alternatively we didn't want to sell to a championship rival.
00:20:21
DailySaintsPod
Thank you.
00:20:27
Zak
And I feel like if the latter is the case, then surely we must rate him slightly more. So yeah, something definitely going on behind the scenes. But I do think would be nice to see him back in and amongst it.
00:20:38
Zak
But I will also caveat with the fact that the last time there were a bunch of like, I guess, you know, armchair fans, ourselves included, that were being like, oh, well, we just need to bring Joe Eribo back into the squad and he'll do amazing. And then he came on. And then for the next five weeks, everyone was kind of in agreement after that that should never play for Saints again. And unfortunately, he never did.
00:21:01
Zak
Same with, oh, we need to... Bella Kochap will save all of our defensive problems. He was amazing in the season we got relegated from the Premier League the time before. And then he came back into the side and didn't really do anything wrong, I think you'll agree.
00:21:13
Zak
But also wasn't incredible.
00:21:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:16
Zak
He didn't displace Taylor Harbour-Bellis at the time for any reason.
00:21:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:20
Zak
And I think that I worry that we're kind of doing it again. that's ourselves included. We're part of this. But again, it's because we pay so much... microscopic attention to what is going on around the club.
00:21:30
Zak
That like, you look at that kind of stuff like, that's weird. Why, why is this? Hopefully see this person, maybe they'll come back and like, if not, we're just paying them.
00:21:37
Zak
If we're just paying them, why won't they do anything? And then, you know, what you don't want to do, especially in this time where we're, currently on a technically good run of form, even if it doesn't hugely feel like it, as you've pointed out, is upset the momentum.
00:21:51
Zak
But the problem is that we do do a daily podcast. We could just go, changes, and end the podcast there. Or you could listen to us talk about...
00:22:00
Zak
the what ifs in these cases, right?
00:22:01
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:02
Zak
But that is always a good, that is always a good scenario to be in because it means that we've got a solid, a solid team sheet again and a solid 11 that we, we hope will do well and have confidence in because we wouldn't resist change it.
00:22:15
Zak
Again, the only change that I'd ever put around is that if I see either Flynn Downs, Shea Charles or Caspi Yander in that little middle area, don't mind all of them.
00:22:25
Zak
Will we ever see Romeo again? Probably not. It was nice while it lasted.
00:22:29
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's another strange one. But yeah, too much competition in that area at this point, really, to be considering him as a choice, I would have thought.
00:22:31
Zak
Wow, yeah.
00:22:40
Zak
Yeah, was canned bag as well.
00:22:41
DailySaintsPod
You mentioned that Bela Koczap was considered the answer to all of our defensive problems last season, and it turns out that this season, that answer was James Bree, right? He's been phenomenal since coming back, so...
00:22:51
Zak
Yeah, some extremely, not surprising to some. I know you've always been a big fan of James Bree. It did kind of feel a bit weird when we loaned him out, but it made sense that he would meet up with his old boss, who they got on well with. And clearly what we've realised is after he's scored and has been an absolutely fuller little player for them, maybe it's worth bringing back.
00:23:11
Zak
And we lived in
00:23:14
DailySaintsPod
clearly isn't a player that's suited to a wing-back system, but then it appears, based off of performances and results, neither are any of the rest of our team. So, I don't know, strange one, isn't it?
00:23:24
Zak
It's almost like playing the same position, playing the same tactics, tactical setup that we don't do that well in over and over again and hoping it will change.
00:23:34
Zak
It's not necessarily working out. And now that we've actually moved to what I think Wilstead originally wanted to but apparently didn't have the personnel for Well, now they've got the personnel for it.
00:23:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:23:44
Zak
I mean, we can kick on and...
00:23:45
DailySaintsPod
I wonder if that's why Wellington's looked so much better as well, because it is the traditional fullback role, which he's obviously got a lot of experience in. It just kind of makes a lot more sense that he'll be more comfortable rather than like trying to push too far forward because he's supposed to be a winger, but also back because it's Yeah.
00:24:06
DailySaintsPod
I mean, look.
00:24:07
Zak
I guess the worries come, mate, if they start not changing the system, but also if personnel get injured, right? Wellington picks up another ban or an injury and then we have to put Manning in there and Manning isn't comfortable playing in that way and we lose the ball a lot and then we concede bunch goals.
00:24:21
Zak
It's all of those individual puzzle pieces, right? And they do have to adapt to tactics.
00:24:23
DailySaintsPod
But, I mean, Manning's played in a back four as well, right? Like, just because he was the one that best adapted to the back three, he also is naturally a left back.
00:24:27
Zak
Yeah, no.
00:24:33
DailySaintsPod
So you would at least hope that he's able to do the job.
00:24:34
Zak
Correct, but it's why currently, you know, but currently the system showed that Wellington playing better. So let's keep it as is.
00:24:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, no, I agree. But, you know...
00:24:47
DailySaintsPod
Manning has come under criticism and has been one of the targets for some of the defensive faults in the team. And sometimes that's fair and sometimes not so much. But also, in the same ilk, that was in a system that is not this, right? It was another system where the decision-making becomes the main part of the problem, right? It's, oh, should I be further forward or further back at this moment? Whereas...
00:25:12
DailySaintsPod
the position seems a lot better defined in this system. And we know that Tonda's a man for detail. So by almost simplifying it, it makes even more sense, right?
00:25:24
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:25
DailySaintsPod
It makes sense in my brain.
00:25:26
Zak
And to be clear, it's only because Wellington's playing better and they have anything necessarily against Manny.
00:25:32
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:33
Zak
He's had a couple of rough games, but also beginning the season, he was really good. One of the better team players that we had in the Premier League, which was a bizarre statement in itself to make, especially when we went up and that wasn't what we expected to say.
00:25:46
Zak
yeah, I think that if we found something that's working, let's not necessarily change which has also become the tagline, as you pointed out, Greg.
00:25:53
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's it. Right, mate. I think that covers it. The fellows, Sienza, Stewart, if they're all fit, they're the first in the team. The middle the park, solid Azaz as well.
00:26:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, just go score loads of early goals and take the pressure off and do it well. Right, let's get on to score predictions.
00:26:17
DailySaintsPod
So, historically, we actually do quite well against Watford.
00:26:21
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:26:22
DailySaintsPod
Of the last 23 matches we've played against them, we've won 10, drawn 10, and they've only won three. And they haven't won at St. Mary's, like you say, since 2022. you know, it's...
00:26:39
DailySaintsPod
If you put any credence into the importance of those historical stats, then that makes good light reading for us. The pick of the AI is the home team to edge it over two and a half goals being the bet. So, I mean, yeah, that sounds right. 2-1 victory it's predicting.
00:27:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, maybe. It's perfectly viable.
00:27:07
Zak
I would like us to keep another team sheet, but I'll probably just go with 2-0, mate, before you ask me the question.
00:27:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:12
Zak
I'm all right with that.
00:27:12
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:13
Zak
I'd like to see Ross Stewart net one, and if Lahren's fit enough to play, I'd like to come in, see him hit the ground running, also net one.
00:27:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:19
Zak
That'd be two goals from two strikers. Yeah.
00:27:21
DailySaintsPod
One early, one late, right?
00:27:23
Zak
Yeah, sure, why not? Let's prove that we're not just a one half team, right? Because we managed to do that last time around. Let's do again. Let's keep this trend going.
00:27:29
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Great. I like it. I love that. Sounds perfect. Sounds ideal. Exactly what we need. Not to be outdone.
00:27:39
DailySaintsPod
I've obviously got to predict 3-0. That's just the hand you forced me into, I feel. You know exactly what you're doing.
00:27:47
Zak
No, at all, mate.
00:27:49
DailySaintsPod
Look, yeah, I think a clean sheet is... Not out of the question, right? For the first time in a long time. It really feels doable. So, yeah, 3-0...
00:28:00
DailySaintsPod
Let's have Ross Stewart, Leo, and you're right. Yeah, let's get a goal off the bench. Let's have it at halftime and then a goal off the bench for Laren. And like you say, just hit the ground running. Get that confidence early.
00:28:17
DailySaintsPod
Not worry about whether he's confidence player or not because he can just start banging them in for fun. And we'll just have a great time.
00:28:24
Zak
Yeah, sounds good. Do you agree?
00:28:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, perfect. Let's do it. Right, well that is all we have got time for today. So thank you as always, Zach, for joining me.
00:28:36
Zak
Thank you, mate.
00:28:36
DailySaintsPod
And thank you everyone for listening. Let us know your score predictions and how you're feeling about the game the comments on the socials. We DailySaintPod everywhere.
00:28:49
DailySaintsPod
X, Blue Sky, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. everywhere. Hit us up, let us know, while you're there, give us like, subscribe. We're a newly independent podcast trying to do this for the love of the game. So all of that stuff helps us so much, goes a long way. We see all your comments, all your likes, and they brighten up our day every single time.
00:29:14
DailySaintsPod
We will be back, or Zach will be back, to discuss the outcome of the game, regardless of how it goes, because I will be away this weekend. But until then, everyone, have a great weekend, and we'll see you then.
00:29:31
DailySaintsPod
Come on, Saints!