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Episode 311: Matchday Preview: VITAL home game vs Preston North End!
145 Plays27 days ago
Southampton – We are back at St Mary's this weekend for a crucial point of the season as we take home Preston North End!
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Transcript
Introduction of Hosts
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, joined by my good friend, a wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
How are you doing, my friend?
00:00:28
Zak
Yeah, I'm alright, mate.
Trip Preparation and Game Expectations
00:00:30
Zak
I'm starting to try and put myself in a better headspace for the game tomorrow. Despite...
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
is it your Is it your first trip to St Mary's this season? It's exciting, mate.
00:00:40
Zak
First trip this season, yeah. You know, which... Yeah, for sure. Like...
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, if we win you're going to have to buy a season ticket for the rest of the year, because clearly that's how it works.
00:00:49
Zak
I... If...
00:00:53
Zak
And also, to...
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is the change, so...
00:00:56
Zak
Yeah, no, you're right. Like... but just have to see how it goes. I'm really, I'm really hoping it's going to be, it's just anything more positive than what we saw last week.
Team Challenges: Injuries and Suspensions
00:01:05
Zak
I'm also very, very aware that obviously we have like half a squad, like if that, so obviously the press conference is done and it's just really, don't know.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was an...
00:01:20
Zak
It's, It's bad news, I guess, for all of the players that are out injured. Good news for anybody that's trying to get their spot. You know?
00:01:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so, I mean, it's a lot, right? Shea Char's out for a long time, which we kind of knew anyway. Yella's still out for a while, which we knew anyway. Wellington's suspended, which obviously we knew anyway, but Also, Cameron Archer not able to train all week because of a the ankle that he came off with the weekend.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sammy Dozie, who was looking to be back in the squad, supposedly, is now out with an injury. Flynn Downs with a knee injury. That's a big old list, isn't it?
00:01:59
Zak
Is Kaspi Yandere right now? do we know? Yandere right?
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It didn't say.
00:02:04
Zak
Maybe?
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
hope.
Unexpected Performances and Team Dynamics
00:02:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
let's say
00:02:08
Zak
Yeah, some it's a lot, right? That leaves Armstrong and Downs as what, like, our only first-team strikers that are technically available. Oh!
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
but That's not true, mate. You're missing out the obvious choice after the last after Wednesday night's performance.
00:02:23
Zak
What, you mean...
00:02:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gavin Munu up front, that's got to be the play, right?
00:02:26
Zak
I would like to put it to the record that that you you made this joke before.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:32
Zak
And also, you you literally spoke about it sometime this week. I don't remember what episode, but before that game took place, you joked about putting him up front and he almost scores from a set piece.
00:02:46
Zak
So...
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, genuinely, the best header I've seen from a corner from us all season.
00:02:51
Zak
Yeah.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a good save by the Real Madrid under-21s keeper and then you know someone alive at the back post to basically trip over and put it in. That's a proper like poachers finish. That's why he's scoring goals for fun in that under-21 league.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But yeah, Baz up front is definitely... Look, it wouldn't be the craziest thing we've seen, right? ha David James did it for Man City.
00:03:14
Zak
No,
00:03:17
Zak
yeah no we... No.
00:03:22
Zak
but but
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
will say that we talked a lot about like the the messages certain things give and how you wouldn't want to put certain players in certain positions. And if if we choose to start our second choice goalkeeper up front over Damien Downs, I feel like that's not something you recover from as a human.
00:03:43
Zak
No, i feel I feel like at that point, you you are just you just pack up shop, right? Because you're like, what do I need to do to get an opportunity?
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:52
Zak
It's like, well, you need to displace this second-choice goalkeeper who, unfortunately, is just a better striker than you right now, which...
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
That said, we all remember the last-minute equaliser at Preston, of all places, where Bazzuini scored. I think it technically did go down as an own goal, but we all know that Bazzuini scored from a corner,
00:04:14
Zak
yeah
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:04:15
Zak
So exactly. so
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's got He's got a track record against them. It wouldn't be the craziest thing if you're going on stats alone.
00:04:22
Zak
Yeah, but what i would really like is us not to be in a position that the end of the game, we're going to have to send our keeper up to try and score. What I'd really like is us to be in a position where we dominate and score, and this reaction that is supposed to take place takes place.
Press Conferences and Media Attention
00:04:39
Zak
So I guess we'll, before we even start talking about team selection, mate, like press conference, right? So what do you what do you make of Will Still's words
00:04:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that I agree with most of it. is We talked about how important it is. It's really time to to put up or shut up.
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if he's felt the way that to do that is to have some harsh truths amongst the team and put players in their place, then good, yeah.
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, we've had the debate all week and and but and before about whether it's really Will Steele's fault or if it's the player's fault or if it's the board's fault or where the fault lies.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And his message is right, is that it doesn't matter. We all need to deal with it and suck it up and be better. like it.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a good message. to I'll be interested to know who the players who he's had those harsh truths with, though, that's for sure.
00:05:41
Zak
is it not just all of them? Because like, you know, the defenders aren't defending, the goal scorers aren't scoring, the midfielders are not existent anymore.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:05:51
Zak
The midfielders will have hamstrings that are apparently made of the same thing, which, you know, it's funny because it's true.
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:58
Zak
But also like, I feel like it's quite telling that he points out that, you know, the Kwasi missed ball, uh, the, because that was bad. Like we pointed out that it was bad, right?
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:10
Zak
And yeah, it's it's frustrating. And I think that i I, too, kind of like agree with pretty much everything he said. I think that it was it was good.
00:06:20
Zak
It's all words until we see the actions. But like, I kind of
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it, right? Like, we've agreed with everything he said more or less since he came in, but it really needs to come through and and show you because that's the part that hasn't hit yet.
00:06:24
Zak
Yeah. Yeah.
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
00:06:36
Zak
it's just It's just a shame. We've talked about it a little bit, but it's like any other job, you just don't do your job properly. You get fired. And like managers, that happens. When you do their job properly, they get fired.
00:06:47
Zak
Kind of mad to me how players don't have to receive that, right? You could just play badly.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:52
Zak
yeah you might get dropped. Still get paid, though, until your contract ends. And I understand that there's an increase in playing power and in the modern day and that managers are going to have to sort of deal with the fact that they can't just hair dryer treatment players all the time. But it does, it is mightily frustrating that like, it's just the same group. It's like almost the same group, a different day, hearing in the same things. And then, you know, like what else do you need to do to motivate them? Other than at this point, some sort of personal pride.
00:07:24
Zak
But then I've said that about that. I said about that most of last season, it seems to not really, you know, the personal pride went out the window once they weren't the worst Premier League of all team of all time. So, yeah, i I agree wholeheartedly and I feel bad for him. And I think, you know, we both watched that YouTube video that was a was about like 10 minutes from, don't know, I think it was from the second tier podcast who seems at the moment absolutely love us.
00:07:47
Zak
Mainly, which shows you we're in our banter era, right? If if we're getting made fun of by that them. You know, it's no longer Sheffield United, despite the fact that they still aren't out of the relegation zone, right?
00:07:57
Zak
But hey-ho, what do I know?
00:07:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
think both. I think they just make a lot of content.
00:08:02
Zak
Maybe it's both, but like I see it a lot more and I'm seeing a lot of, not saying fans get rattled, but just be like very aware that we're getting talked about a lot. And it's kind of nuts because we weren't talked about much last season, but despite being significantly worse because of how much Man United and Tottenham underperformed, which was like the little saving grace from the fact that we were just toilet. like People didn't want to make fun of us because of how bad we are.
00:08:27
Zak
Whereas now it's just like, we should be doing better than we are. We're not. The players aren't putting in 100%, or if they are, they're not doing it in ways that like you need to...
00:08:39
Zak
you know guess what you pointed out, right? Football intelligence, football decision-making needs to just be better across the board.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:46
Zak
But yeah, like I would just find it... It's it's interesting that there's a lot of eyes on us at the moment for all of the wrong reasons. It's like... surely from a point of professional pride, you don't want that to be the case all the time, right? You want to go out there and prove wrong. And they they have an opportunity to do it at Preston.
00:09:02
Zak
It's just whether or not they take it. Because I don't know if this is last last chance saloon for still, but it very much kind of feels like it because it feels like something's going to have to give. And then what are you going to do Because you're not going to be able to change the entire squad.
00:09:16
Zak
So...
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But to caveat that, Zach, it's really important we don't look past Preston because they are they are, you know, as is often the case in this league, not going to be a walk in the park, right?
00:09:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are seventh in the league at the moment.
00:09:29
Zak
Bye.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Their away form is not fantastic, granted, but they, you know, have come off some some good results. They are there or thereabouts, and...
00:09:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, they're they're also going to be up for it. They're going to see our home form and think, man, this is where we can turn our tide.
Match Preview and Strategy Discussion
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's not, you know, as clear cut as just go out and walk over a team.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's going to be a game against the team.
00:09:59
Zak
Yeah, but that's what we want, though, right? That's what I mean is like a game.
00:10:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:10:02
Zak
What i don't want is we go up, we cry about it, we concede, and then from there we lose. Because the problem with that story is it's the story of last season as well. We were like the team with the most points dropped from winning positions, and I'm pretty sure we're close to that again.
00:10:18
Zak
And it's just... Something's going to have to give. and you're But you're right. We shouldn't look past Preston. They're doing well. It's just that we should be beating them on paper.
00:10:31
Zak
right This is the problem is that none of this has worked out.
00:10:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. Well, look,
00:10:35
Zak
I'd like to say they play it on grass, maybe. I don't even know if that's been the case either.
00:10:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
that said, that having a look at our historical head-to-head against Preston actually fares quite well for us in our last five meetings We've won four and drawn one.
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
The draw, of course, being that Gavin Bozzuino goal up at Preston. Last time at home in the and the championship, we beat them comfortably 3-0.
00:11:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's going to be an interesting in one for sure. Before we go to a break and talk about team news, mate, you know I want to give you my AI spiel. but It's...
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Southampton are poor home form and Preston North End are performing average away. The numbers suggest that this pairing leans to a tight affair.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
The data skews toward a low scoring game where under four and a half goals is essentially a given because it has happened 100% historically.
00:11:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Under three and a half goal sits around the high 90s. Southampton's home expected goals is a modest 0.96, where Preston's expected goals for away is around 1.4.
00:11:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the expected goal matchup leans towards 3.3, but Southampton favoured to keep a clean sheet. So that's interesting, right?
00:12:06
Zak
Well, the supercomputer predicted us to lose 1-0.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It says, yeah, it says, prediction Southampton to win, likely 1-0 or 2-0. With Southampton to win and under 3.5 goals as the premium bet.
00:12:21
Zak
Interesting.
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:12:22
Zak
Interesting. interesting I like the fact that all of these AI keep thinking we're going to win, despite the fact that we haven't done that a lot this season. But it's it's nice to know that the the computers are with us.
00:12:34
Zak
Well, specific yeah specific computers, right?
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
For now, at least. Yeah.
00:12:38
Zak
Because there are other computers that aren't.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Indeed. Right, mate, let's let's have a little pause, have a quick break, and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate, and we are back. So, look, the unenviable task of picking starting lineup.
Lineup Speculations and Defensive Strategies
00:13:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I sent you a lineup earlier in the week, and and having heard the team news of of all of these injuries and outages, it actually feels quite likely that's maybe what we're we're looking like, right? Like, we might have to be forced into this change to a back four,
00:13:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
go with some sort four, three, two, one, or four, two, three, one.
00:14:00
Zak
I would say the other way, surely, because we don't have the the outfield midfielder players to deal with this situation. So I wouldn't be surprised if we keep it as is, at least for the time being.
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, I think that, so I, let let me go through my lineup and then we'll go through and you can dispute it, uh, which I'm fine with.
00:14:17
Zak
quite
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So obviously McCarthy and goal, uh,
00:14:22
Zak
Yeah, well, with Baz playing against Real Madrid and being a new striker, he's got a lot of training to do off the pitch before he can get back on it in his new number 10 role.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
That seems to be the choice.
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:14:33
Zak
Number nine.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Centre-backs, Nathan Wood, Harwood-Bellis. The pairing for me, i think that that's a solid pairing with Manning and Rorschleff as full-backs.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Traditional full-backs. None of this hybrid wing-back nonsense. Then I've got Downs, Yander, and Azaz.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But obviously Downs with a question mark now because of that potential knee injury. They say they're hoping he's back, but I guess that that really is... i mean, either way, that's a position we're going to need covering with no Charles, right? So is that maybe we see a Rebo come back in?
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
there anyone else on the bench you could see slotting into that role?
00:15:15
Zak
may Maybe, because he hasn't said anything about a dozy. He spoke about Ariba and Matsuki both missing out. Both of them should be available in a round. And I've said before, like although Matsuki, I think, would rather play and has played more like where Azad would play, he is also able to play in midfield there.
00:15:36
Zak
So I wouldn't be surprised if you know we end up seeing somebody else to go with Yander. And that's if Yander's well enough as well, right? Because although it wasn't mentioned in the press conference, you know I'm hoping he's over over whatever food poisoning crap.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was able to Well, they he did he did he did mention that everyone else was back in training and feeling better, other than the ones he named.
00:15:54
Zak
yes
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, so fingers crossed. up I guess, actually, a left-field pick that I did mention earlier and forgot about until just this very second is Moses Cissé didn't play for the under-21s against Real Madrid. Could we have been saving him for for a start in this game, knowing that Downs and Charles are out?
00:16:12
Zak
I mean it would make sense he was involved in pre-season he would it's a position that he's played in I don't know if he was out sick but I don't really see any other reason why he'd have invested against Real Madrid right and not even being involved in the squad is a very strange decision unless you're planning to do something with that player or you're just giving them a night off which is like fine but surely they would realize that that would cause speculation or they don't think about that kind of stuff at all because i don't know like i guess some random blokes on the internet don't really don't really matter to the decision making of what's happening with the squad that's fine
00:16:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's strange. Yeah. with
00:16:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. but
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then I'd put a front three Othello, Sienza and Armstrong, which which i think... I think that that's the only way. I think that this, the with the unfortunate question mark of Downs taking the the sort of sting in this lineup, I feel like that's the way you play these players to get the best out of these players, right?
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is to put them in the the positions they want to play in. And Tom Fellows is a successful winger.
00:17:11
Zak
Are you sure putting the players players in the position that they want to play sounds sounds a bit thats a bit crazy there, Greg?
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
it just It sounds like something that we've asked for routinely as Saints fans, and it's really upsetting that this many managers in a row, it it's a point we're still having to make, right?
00:17:30
Zak
but What do you mean when you play players in the position that they naturally play in, they usually play better?
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:35
Zak
Is that the point you're trying to make?
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:37
Zak
But I also see where Mojo still comes from, though, because he did try to do that before and nothing really happened until we moved to a back five because I feel like everyone was too scared that they would score a goal.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:48
Zak
And then if we're in a back five, they score goals anyway. So it's baffling.
00:17:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't know.
00:17:52
Zak
But...
00:17:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know what the answer is.
00:17:54
Zak
No, having said your line-up out loud again, mate, I don't really have a lot of dispute in there. I don't know where it came from.
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's
00:18:02
Zak
Like, I guess, I guess I don't know what, I guess if, I would have maybe questioned Edwards and Quashim, right? But then also, like, that was, they were mentioned in this press conference as making mistakes.
00:18:19
Zak
Does Jack Stevens just never play again?
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I could definitely... Well,
00:18:24
Zak
not Not thus far. So, you know, apart from his little stint as midfielder for like 15 minutes.
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
look, i I'd be willing to hear the debate about whether it's Harwood, Bellis, or Ronnie Edwards in there at the centre-back pairing, right? think Wood is very clearly going to be the first choice.
00:18:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think... I think one of the harsh truths that has had to be had is that Stephens is the fifth-choice centre-back, right? Like, that's going to be the way it's going to be.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't
00:18:54
Zak
Well, at least we didn't give him a long-term contract at the beginning of the season.
00:18:59
Zak
yeah
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
know. Look, honestly, i equally, I wouldn't be surprised to see him brought back in on the team sheet, as in the press conference, Will said that it was experience that he thought he was bringing onto the pitch to sort of steady the game.
00:19:00
Zak
yes
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
and I mean, look.
00:19:18
Zak
Like, I agree with that to an extent, but the problem is is that like we've had now, what, four managers in the last year. They brought in Adam Alana for experience on the pitch, and when he came on the pitch, you pointed out, well, yeah, we look a bit more better because you've got someone commanding.
00:19:34
Zak
we didn't win. We didn't do any better realistically. Just because there's a level... Just because you've got like the managers shouting on the pitch, essentially, right, in those positions.
00:19:45
Zak
That's what you've got them for. Hasn't made these people not make mistakes thus far. So, like, I understand that. And, like, it's no disrespect to Steven. As I said, like, I wouldn't really... I'm not going say anything mean against him after Wrexham game. But also, you're right. If you're, like, fifth choice centre-back, it's just a bit...
00:20:03
Zak
It's kind of sucks. don't really like just, stuff I feel bad for it, but also, you know, what else you can
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, look, I mean, I look said, equally, I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with a back four of Stevens and Wood with Rorschle and Manning.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just, I think, I think based off of what we've seen so far, yeah, i feel like Harwood-Bellis or Ronnie Edwards is more likely to be one of those picks.
00:20:22
Zak
If you're going to have to change everything.
00:20:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I feel like, I don't know, Harwood-Bellis feels like the sensible option. I think he's been better since he sort of came back after his sort spell out.
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, we so i know you said he sort of saw aspects of him losing his head a bit and not quite showing that leadership that you'd want. but also that's because he actually cares, which is also something that we need.
00:20:54
Zak
Yeah.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:20:56
Zak
I think the think that the difficulty I have is, like, we what we should really...
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:02
Zak
Especially with, like, our defenders. It's almost like we should just get a list of, like, how many of them have made individual errors. And I think the problem is is it's quite similar.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:21:11
Zak
yeah Like, i I wouldn't be surprised if there's, like, one that's got to stand out much worse than the other, right? And I think that's where some of the problems, like, arise is that you... you don't really know and and you've got a trust in what we've got. And they they got in a new defender and it's like, unless we're go change the entirety of the defense, then is that really a problem?
00:21:30
Zak
Not really, because we're creating chances. We're not putting them away. So then is the strike and necessarily a problem? Or is it just the fact that all of them like, oh my God, we're going to win and then panic and decide not to win, right? Like brains of brains are weird.
00:21:43
Zak
People's decision-making ability is weird. And again, like the pressure of we really need to get this win, whether it's good or bad. it's don't know, man. But yeah, like I just wanted to put the Stevens question out there, right?
Role of Experienced Players
00:21:56
Zak
Is that like, it so it feels like it's kind of like what I'm a bit perplexed by is that, okay, so have you now paid a lot of money to keep this guy on contract for the next couple of years just to be a voice in the ear of the players?
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's a perfectly reasonable question, 100%.
00:22:12
Zak
Is it replacing that Adam Lallana role because Adam Lallana is now a coach? Who knows? Like, he's the club captain.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
then I don't know, mate, but I mean, Joe Aribo, if you're going by that, Joe Aribo's our top earner and he's been paid so far this season to what?
00:22:19
Zak
And again, he cares about the club, but...
00:22:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, sit and scratch his balls on the bench. Like, there's nothing...
00:22:30
Zak
Don't excuse me. He got offered a couple of moves to Turkey. just didn't want to go
00:22:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing. Allegedly, right.
00:22:36
Zak
Allegedly. Allegedly.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, mate, look, let's move on to the fun bit and the bit that everybody's here for and get some score predictions. But first, let's have a break and hear a word from our partners at Zencaster.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to check tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencastr.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright mate, as is traditional, I'm going to throw you under bus first. What are you thinking? What are you feeling?
00:23:22
Zak
It depends. What do I think or what do I want?
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Both.
00:23:26
Zak
What i want is a 2-0 win because I want us to score by more than two goals, keep a clean sheet, and then actually have something to grow and build on. what i worry about is that that supercomputer is 100% correct and it goes nil-nil for a really long time they score 1-0.
00:23:43
Zak
And then it just like, because that, that would be the turning point. So I think it's an incredibly important game, however you want to put it. Not just for us, probably for Will still more so. I don't know he'll just get like,
00:23:55
Zak
directly fired after. I think that a lot of this has come from us. like it's the We are riled up after every game. we get annoyed. Everyone riles up on social media. I don't know if he's that close to getting the sack or what, right?
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think so.
00:24:08
Zak
But yeah, so then...
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
think he's got... I mean, if he loses all three of the games in the next seven, eight days, that's an additional discussion to have, for sure. Like, there's pressure, undoubtedly, but two or three results, we're in a different boat.
00:24:24
Zak
Yeah. So so that's that's where that's where I'm at, right? like i think it's I think it's a really important game. I really want it to be 2-0. I really want us to just put in a performance that we can all be proud of, a performance that I'm going to to watch.
00:24:40
Zak
I know that's not what you go to St. Mary's for.
00:24:44
Zak
It's to drink a sigh in the fan zone, obviously. Still better Kingfisher. But yeah, i that That's where I'm at, mate. my heart really wants it to be 2-0. The head is at 1-0 to them, and I don't like that.
00:25:00
Zak
So let's hope the heart wins out of the head this week, eh? What about you?
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, mate, I'm feeling 2-0. 2-0 was exactly what I was going to say. I'm thinking two goals, I think one early, one late. Because we're never going to be comfortable, so we're going to be sat at 1-0. I just think that it'll get to the 60th, 65th minute, we'll still be one mel They'll start coming us with pressure, and then I think we'll make some sort of tactical change, and it will pay off and come good, and we'll go on and kick on from it and get another goal.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Feeling positive.
Importance of Winning for Momentum
00:25:33
Zak
Yeah, that's good.
00:25:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe Maybe it's just from seeing a Saints team battle back from 1-0 down last night in the under-21s, but just feel like it can happen.
00:25:33
Zak
That's good.
00:25:39
Zak
There you
00:25:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
like There's that that bit of hope.
00:25:43
Zak
It happened at St. Mary's, so that it's like it can happen at St.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:46
Zak
Mary's again, right, is a is what everyone really wants. And, yeah, maybe maybe we'll actually go in on to... have a better game this is a big turnaround at least in in our opinions and our vibe from last weekend right and i feel like i just need to so i don't end up perpetually miserable so i'm just really hoping that it's a it's a good game i'm sure we'll be there and have great you know
00:26:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's it, mate. And then, because that's the thing, right? We get a nice win. Even if it's only like a stumble over the line 1-0 win, at the end of the day, that's still a win and that gives us the momentum heading into you know two more rapid fire games.
Closing Remarks and Listener Engagement
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah.
00:26:26
Zak
and that's going to be so important.
00:26:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And, you know, we have the additional advantage this time I guess in that two of the games are at home whereas all the other times this happened we've had two games away which which I'm sure is more challenging say
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
fingers crossed 9.3 games let's do it let's let's kick on I'm looking forward to it can't wait to get St Mary's and have an Asahi with you in the fan zone But look that's it.
00:26:54
Zak
sure
00:26:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's all we've got time for today. Thank you, everybody, for listening. And thank you, Zach, for joining me. Let us know in the comments and on the socials your score prediction.
00:27:00
Zak
Thank you, bye.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
How do you think it is going to play out? We are on all of them. We are on X, TikTok, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, everywhere. If there's a social media, we are on it. Look us up. Let us know your thoughts.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We love hearing him from you. Regardless of how it plays out, though, We will be back to talk about it for sure. We always are. We love it. It's what we do.
00:27:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, though, have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and we'll see you then.