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Episode 312: ANOTHER MANAGER GONE! Will Still Fired Reaction!
205 Plays24 days ago
Southampton – After another dismal defeat on Saturday, Will Still has paid the price. We have LOTS of thoughts....
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Transcript
Zach's Game Day Experiences
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. Well, it's been a couple of days, and, uh,
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow, we missed a lot, didn't we, Zach?
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's start with the start. My name is Greg Elliott, and I, as always today, am joined by my good friend, a wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch, who apparently has a curse that every time he attends a Saints game, he gets the manager sacked.
00:00:30
Zak
Mate, had...
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:00:48
Zak
god, you're not even wrong!
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
running
00:00:51
Zak
Three times...
00:00:53
Zak
three times in We've been doing this podcast, Greg, for just over a year now, and we are now recording our third manager being sacked within that time.
00:01:05
Zak
Once again, has come on a post-match game. I had so many thoughts about yesterday. Obviously, attending the game, Went with my dad. I was going to talk a lot about how expensive it is to go be a football fan now.
00:01:17
Zak
I was going to talk about the lads that I sat next to you who were absolutely wonderful and had a proper laugh with because, let's face it, has got a big i had to be someone else other than the football, right?
00:01:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mmm.
00:01:25
Zak
And including the the the lady in front of me who laughed at my joke that, of course, Thierry Small got his dream move from Charlton to Preston and she burst out
Fan Reactions and Managerial Changes
00:01:34
Zak
laughing. And it just gave me that serotonin buzz that got me through the rest of that game.
00:01:40
Zak
And then, like, you know, the the the the depression that would have come from how awful that was, the lack of fight, the ending where the first time I've ever left the game early, Greg, in the whole time I've been a Saints fan, but I i couldn't.
00:01:55
Zak
And then you proceed to tell me someone threw a rucksack on the pitch. like That's how angry people were.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Baffling. it Baffling.
00:02:04
Zak
Which i can I can understand why people are angry.
00:02:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Genuinely baffling.
00:02:06
Zak
and Then you come on then you you you check social media and I'm um'm trying to get home. And I've told you this story, Greg, but I will just sort of, I need to put the listeners into the headspace I was in. So I'd had a few beers at this point. As I the first been in football for a long time.
00:02:19
Zak
worked with dad. just trying to get home. I get on the train. Then some guy tries to rush onto the train. He pushes the guard off of the train, right? Then the guard refuses to to get back on the train. So then I'm like, this train ain't moving it anywhere.
00:02:34
Zak
And then there was a fire on a car in Brockness. I feel like I'm living in some weird Truman show where like the entirety of the day is designed to be as derailed as possible. And yeah, and I had a lot of thoughts and a lot of opinions on the team and then and the players and what they should do and how, you know, it's just still not quite worked for Will Steele and maybe he's running out of time.
00:02:53
Zak
I thought they'd wait for the international break. And and then it's completely derailed because one hour before we're recording, you know, pax is down, another one bites the dust.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:03:05
Zak
Weirdly, not the whole of the coaching team though, right?
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's such a strange sub selection of them, right? So not Adam Lallana and Paul Trollope, but no, but, but we'll still, uh,
00:03:11
Zak
The fact, not...
00:03:15
Zak
So not the assistant.
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carl Martin and the goalkeeping coach, Martinez.
00:03:25
Zak
Ruben Martinez. And also the other guy, the French guy that was at the last club with Will Steele. So that kind of makes sense to me because obviously maybe his loyalties lie with him.
00:03:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:34
Zak
I wonder if it's like solidarity thing. If they've picked out the ones like Karl Martin, I'm kind of surprised by. Because if you survive eight previous sackings... I don't know if you're part of the rot or what.
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:44
Zak
like I think that's what the explanation will be. But I'm very surprised that Trollope's here still stayed. you know we did a profile on him a couple of weeks back, probably months back at this point. and Well, we looked at his time Luton, but also he was with Luton up until Rob Edwards got fired last year for being in a similar position to where we are now, right?
00:04:07
Zak
And so we've kept him. And also Adam Lallana, I'm guessing, i wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of contract that was outside because this is the whole the whole management team they've built, right, around Will still, as opposed to Will still having his own people.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, that's the thing, right? So I think I talked to you quite a bit about it yesterday and I definitely talked to my sister-in-law a lot about it. And it's like, the problem is that when you bring in a manager with their coaching staff, normally they have,
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
like procedures and policies and ways they do things.
Management and Leadership Challenges
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's what they do. They bring that in and that's their, you know, I'm sure that, you know, it's football. It's not rocket science as has been discussed, but there's still different levels. It's like the routine is this, we'll do this kind of training and then we'll do this amount of video analysis and we'll look for this and we'll, you know, there's a structure and a routine. And when you throw a team of management and backroom staff together, know,
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, individually and handpick them, they then have to build that from the ground up.
00:05:06
Zak
Yeah.
00:05:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so you know, that means that it was this entire season so far has effectively been a work in progress. And, and I mean, now that's what concerns me too, because now are we just back to square one back to, I mean, is there a plan B what's the plan? So we've got what the under 21s coach coming on to take over.
00:05:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And frankly, the only way I see it even being you know a remote success is if he brings the entirety of the Under-21s team with him and plays them instead. Because, honestly, what I saw yesterday was just...
00:05:38
Zak
Shoot, shoot. Oh, wait.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I'll stop short of disgraceful, but it's...
00:05:39
Zak
I got...
00:05:44
Zak
Mate, we had one...
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
There were maybe three or four players that the that almost saved themselves.
00:05:45
Zak
one
00:05:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, Nathan Wood coming off the pitch swearing at fans, like, Well, it's.
00:05:58
Zak
it's It's one of those things where like, it's nice because it shows he's human.
00:05:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:01
Zak
It's an awful career decision. And I guess in the moment, but it shows you, I guess, the frustration the players have, but also that maturity level. It's like, if I hear another monologue from any of them saying, oh, we need to look in the mirror,
00:06:15
Zak
Oh yeah, no, you know, we've got to look ourselves. Especially with like the leadership team. I'm like, you're not leading. didn't hear Adam Armstrong talk yesterday. He's supposed to be the sub-captain. So our proper captain, as you've pointed out, is fifth choice centre-back at this point. and There's no cohesion there.
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:30
Zak
And I don't know if that's down to Will Steele, but regardless, he's a casualty. But like, talk...
00:06:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's where i kind of sit on the fence on it because I like look at it and I go, there's a lack of leadership. There's a lack of clarity. There's clearly a lack of mental fortitude. And I think, well, okay, that is, these all factors that have been true across the last three managers, but what a better,
00:06:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
man not a better manager, would a manager with a different style and tact be able to, you know, beat that out of them effectively? Because, sure, Will Steele clearly has a very footballing intelligence brain.
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was clear to see whenever you see him talk. That doesn't mean that that covers all the factors of the job, right? yes
00:07:14
Zak
No.
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not that's not as simple as that anymore. You need to...
00:07:17
Zak
the The descriptions that I've seen is that, like, would have been a really good appointment, just horrifically at the wrong time. Like, i think I do think that Trudy will go on to be a good coach over the years, right, and probably take a little break before, you know, maybe he hops back to France or whatever, but...
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:07:31
Zak
Again, it's just, it's another thing where currently this is all supposed to kind of lie with spores. And, you know, the first time we've heard of him in absolutely ages has been now, you know, Alfie House has talked about how it's like interviews and stuff aren't taking place, whereas, oh, everybody, and then everyone's being sort of hush-hush about why they're not talking to one another.
00:07:50
Zak
He's the one that said he'd take responsibility, but ultimately he's's he's put him as a lamb to the slaughter.
00:07:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
just sucks. Yeah. Right. Hmm.
00:07:55
Zak
so So it's like, okay, so where's the backup?
00:07:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:07:58
Zak
But then the problem I'm already having is that the big worry with Sports Republic has always been, is this there any plan B? And I find that fascinating because there's supposedly you'd like to think there is, but at the same time, I've seen so far rumours today of the under-21s manager beginning given the job permanently, which will not go down well with anyone. I guess we'll see.
00:08:19
Zak
Like, if we beat QPR on the Sheffield Wednesday, you know, we we we hired we hired Sparky for less. Like,
00:08:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:08:26
Zak
And it's a solid situation, isn't it?
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I've got thoughts on on the entire list of names we've been linked with, and I can summarise it beautifully and eloquently in a very short and brief description.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, mate, let's have a little break and hear a word from our partners at Bionique.
00:09:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate. We're back. Right. we We've looked at it. we' know that we've shared it between us. looking at an article from Andy Newton at Sportscasting Bets, right, that was updated, obviously, at the time of sacking, which is the the full list of next Southampton manager betting odds, right?
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And currently on this list, favourite at seventy two is Ralph Hasenhugle. with Russell Martin at 8-1. I've seen other lists where Russell Martin's a shorter price, where he's 3-1 as well, right?
00:09:53
Zak
you
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm looking down this list, and it goes all the way down, and there's about 30 names on this list, and the the longest price available is Matt Letizier at 100-1. Also on this list, by the way, Claude Puel at 50-1.
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And all of the names on this list, and I'm looking at it, and I'm going... If Sproles Republic hire any of these managers... It's...
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
What are we doing? What are we doing? Right? Unless they come out this week with something completely left field with someone that's a promising name that's not on this list, it's not going to do anything to settle down the noise about how useless they are and how useless their recruitment has
Speculating on New Managers
00:10:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
been.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because you look at this list and you go, right, Ralph Hasenhutl, why are we just going in circles? Michael Carrick.
00:10:43
Zak
I'm already seeing, and so I've seen um've seen people talking about how his style of plays back in. The other thing i would I would like to consistently point out, when everyone says these names, regardless of how much money you are willing to offer these people,
00:10:59
Zak
What does the manager get out of coming to our club currently?
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:03
Zak
Okay, so they might... Does Brendan Rodgers need clout? He's just left Celtic. I'm sorry, we're not a bigger club than Celtic at the moment.
00:11:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Sorry. Eight to one on this list. Lee Carsley. Okay. much I just...
00:11:16
Zak
I... It's...
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, Steven Gerrard.
00:11:19
Zak
It's just...
00:11:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why would Steven Gerrard, who just turned down ragers, come to us? You know, Southgate, Liam Manning. The most ridiculous...
00:11:30
Zak
Liam Manning, the other guy who was on our list previously, who has had so far a great time.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah you
00:11:35
Zak
with Maybe that's what will happen, mate. He'll leave Norwich and come to us. And then Russell Martin will go to Norwich because they really want him. Because obviously, X player...
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the most the the most ridiculous one that's come out and has been shared about, and I don't know how... how you know true it is that these our team are thinking this, or but it's you knows thunder the circuits and it's made the press and Southampton would be keen to take Frank Lampard from Coventry City.
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that if that the fact that the that that is even believable shows you how clueless our board really are.
00:12:06
Zak
I'll
00:12:12
Zak
Well, like, exactly. Because it's not only that, like, people said, oh, we should have got a that deal done over the summer. He didn't want to leave in the summer. We approached him. Why would he want to leave?
00:12:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:19
Zak
Look at where commentary are. Look at the team he's built. Look at what's happening right now. What possibly could we owe we give him more?
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:24
Zak
What's slightly more resources? Those resources are going to run out soon. And that's that's a problem. it's it's It's terrifying, mate. It's genuinely as this situation where...
00:12:36
Zak
And the other thing about when you talk about the sort of how clueless they are, is it's the thing on the weekend, we kind of expected to have three games, right? And for me, this has been a reaction to Saturday.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:12:49
Zak
You, but when your players are swearing at your, know, at the the crowd, when the boos are so loud that it rings around. The only players that were were chanted for were Leo and Eribo.
00:13:01
Zak
Eribo, who, bought by the way, has not... I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but considering Will still said, and I quote, he's had a rough period of time, I don't know if that's just headspace because he didn't get the move he wanted, but that's because he wanted to leave. LAUGHTER Like, let's not pretend he's been all in and just not got the chances.
00:13:20
Zak
He wanted to go and it didn't work out for him.
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:22
Zak
And he's had to mentally get himself back into a position. And we're clapping him. Whereas, like, you know, you're booming and screaming at Clayton Wood, who has put in effort but up to thus up to this point. But now he's written off pretty much any good will he's got. And, you know, that's on his bed, be it.
00:13:38
Zak
But it's just, you know, I can't... But I can't also, to the flip side of that, Greg, I can't be cross at any of the fans because being there at St Mary's on Saturday, for about 40 minutes in that second half, like, but the the the idea of the Northern Wall became real.
00:13:54
Zak
There was singing non-stop, trying to get behind this team that offered nothing, absolutely nothing to anyone.
00:13:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
you
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, because...
00:14:03
Zak
Kasper Yander almost scoring a worldie. That was it.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And that's it, know just moments of individual potential, right, and nothing else.
00:14:13
Zak
Yes.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
There was no cohesion. You know, we swapped it out and Damien Downs comes on like a lamb to the slaughter again.
00:14:21
Zak
Proverbial slaughter again. Booed, by the way, which isn't okay.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
because and then And then we launch balls up to him when we have discussed time and time again that that is not the way he's going to deal with it well. He needs balls to feed. And then, you know, we're lumping it up to him and lumping it up to Adam Armstrong.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, then we bring on the young lad, Nick, whose name on surname I'm not even attempting at this. we'll We'll get there, but not right now. But he actually did receive the ball to Chesswell.
00:14:46
Zak
what
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then he's trying to play the ball off, but to who? And also, he got four minutes on the pitch. So...
00:14:54
Zak
Yeah, you and relief when you've when you've got a grand total of six minutes, like it's it's a moot point now to discuss the the actual game and what we thought was wrong with it. And the fact, you know, we've still got the substitutions wrong, but he looked just devastated after that game.
00:15:07
Zak
Like, he asked for a reaction and he didn't get a reaction.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:10
Zak
And the idea that, you know, and is it because he's not respected? And there are also... Going back to, you know, I know I'm rewinding a little bit, mate, and I know I'm bad enough for derailing us left, right and centre, but like apparently you've now got rumours coming out that a lot of the current players would be happy to bring Russell Martin back in. I'm like, yeah, not sure. I'm not surprised.
00:15:29
Zak
Of course they do. They've playing like it. They've been playing like he's still here anyway. you know, I'll take the criticism for it.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's going to go down really well. I'll look forward to that at St Mary's next week. That'll be a fantastic environment to be in.
00:15:40
Zak
but But this is the problem. I just don't think that there's going, you know, I think maybe Tuesday will clap the new guy. He's going to try and rile them up. It's going to be the Simon Rusk situation all again. But the problem is, is it's like if you're looking at the way that the situation we're in,
00:15:56
Zak
You know, I was going to come in and talk today about how in actuality it's awful, but we're also not the only ones, right? You look at Wolves, they're having a worse time, di more dire time than us in the Premier League. You look at Leicester, where like I literally saw what a tweet yesterday that was like the league club after they lost Tudor to Blackburn. They're having a torrid time.
00:16:14
Zak
Bear in mind, their expectations are going to be higher because they did win the Premier League in the last decade, right?
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:21
Zak
It's just, it's it's very, very difficult to see anybody coming in and being able to change this atmosphere immediately.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:16:29
Zak
It's going to be very, very difficult to see anyone come in and get a reaction. And you're now going to have to come in and then you're to have to, we're going have to give a grace period of bedding in. And by that point, it's going to be like January. And then I genuinely think we're now, the narrative has shifted, Greg. And as much as you were joking with me and getting annoyed about me two weeks ago, that now it's just about staying in the league.
00:16:50
Zak
Very much feels like that, mate. And that's harrowing because that should not, that is unacceptable positions of being.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's ludicrous.
00:16:57
Zak
Staying in the league is far worse.
00:16:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely ridiculous.
00:17:00
Zak
The money we've spent, the players we've brought in, like, what are you doing?
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Deeply upsetting.
00:17:03
Zak
it's And apparently it's all on the Spores head be it, but it's not the Spores that's gone, I'm going to go i go step down. You know, how many so so if he decides to get a new manager in, well, because that's the problem.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
because in a couple of weeks he'll be off to Juventus, so it doesn't matter anyway, does it? Another step up. So... who
00:17:18
Zak
will All the people leave us end up subsequently rewarded for failure. So it's like, you know, hit here, which Champions League team do you want Will Steele to take charge of? Because that's what's going to happen.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:30
Zak
It's difficult, mate, isn't it? And it's it's it's hard because like and um'm i'm I'm watching people. I think that the the biggest thing for me, and and like again, so one of the funs one of the points i wanted to make and come in was, I probably spent, total day yesterday, probably cost me about 110 quid, right?
00:17:45
Zak
Went for some food beforehand. the tickets for for me and my dad. So that was like 60, 65 quid. And like, bear in mind, like I'm umm a a married man with no children, but like 110 pound, I know how much it can be. Like you, you save, you do the best you can, but it is expensive to go to football.
00:18:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I
00:18:03
Zak
and like and like how you know And then you're looking at the chunk of fans missing in Chapel. You're looking at the 5,000 people missing and it's it's getting obvious. And I don't blame a single one of them, mate. and And I think that they should be lucky.
00:18:14
Zak
They still got 27,000 people turning back up because it is is yeah is so expensive and it's so negligent for them to allow their product to...
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
agree.
00:18:24
Zak
to just wither. And I don't, I don't know if it's the board. I don't know if, you know, we've tried to talk about how they've invested, but again, if you, you can invest all you want, if you invest into something, but you allow the main product to die, it doesn't really matter.
00:18:37
Zak
And I just kind of feel baffled that they've decided to go into football because it's only really worked out for in Turkey, to be honest, doesn't it? So, right.
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And, I mean, but yeah, it's just maddening.
00:18:46
Zak
the
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's deeply upsetting. I just don't see... you know What we need is a an instant reaction, an instant plan B. They don't just need to like knee-jerk, fire Will Steel, and then, oh, now we're going to start like a three-month recruitment process. like You needed to have the plan B in place to take over.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe not as early as Tuesday, but we need to see something solid in the next week, or at least before the end of the international break.
00:19:11
Zak
we
00:19:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Otherwise... you know, it's just literally back to square one and it's just, what's the point? Why are we just going in circles? It hasn't worked before.
00:19:26
Zak
it
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:19:27
Zak
The jokes we've made about Watford and like genuinely we've hired more managers than them. We've now had the most, I think we're soon to overtake or we already are the most managerial changes in the Premier Leagues of all time.
00:19:39
Zak
We're not in the Premier League at this point, but yeah it's just, it's harrowing. What I was trying to get to the point, but obviously because I ramble a lot, mate, sometimes I lose it.
Fan Frustrations and Podcast Promotion
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:19:50
Zak
The point I was trying to make about how much money it costs to to go out and how much is that, like, for a lot of people, like, football is an escape. And, like, I think that you are genuinely starting to see people's mental health suffer due to just how bad this situation is. And that is that is so so bad. Like, you know, the one thing I can say talk about where we're still, you know, on his way out is that, you know, at least he was honest pretty much in every press conference he's had.
00:20:16
Zak
They can, the fans can do what they want. This club belongs to them.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:20:19
Zak
It does not belong to me. Like, I am sorry. This is unacceptable. I can't really do much else. And, is really really upsetting that like how much as a group of people like well i'm already i'm sick of seeing i think i mentioned it last week but now it's getting to the point that we have just become like the banter tin pot club every single podcast every single one's being able to have a dig ass everyone's been able to talk about our turnover how we should have the most expected points the xg and this and the other it's like something's got a give and i can understand mate why people
00:20:50
Zak
want to bring back Russell Martin because as some people only see the last time memories are short, right? The last time we technically had success was with him in the championship. And I feel like anyone wants to recapture anything. There is, there is nothing for people at the moment to grab, grab onto to as an anchor, right?
00:21:09
Zak
Like maybe the fact that Lallana didn't get fired. oh we have an ex saint there. Like my wife even joked that she, he's going to end up as our next manager. I'm seeing people who say the same.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wouldn't surprise me. Yeah.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, genuinely can see it.
00:21:19
Zak
And, and,
00:21:21
Zak
and And the reaction being this weekend was also awful, right?
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
all
00:21:25
Zak
Like the fact that we reckon he had a week and obviously they've seen the atmosphere, they've made that decision. And you're right, again, no plan in place, no succession plan.
00:21:36
Zak
It's just shambles. And it's so it's so upsetting because this is our club. This isn't... you know this is This isn't like when me and you watch the downfall of Rangers or in NFL, we're looking at the Miami Dolphins or joking about the Cleveland Browns on a daily basis, right?
00:21:52
Zak
This is like our club. We have become the buck of that joke. And it's getting like just... just it's It's hard to accept and it shouldn't be accepted.
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It It is.
00:22:01
Zak
Anyway, sorry, mate.
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's sad, mate.
00:22:01
Zak
I know that...
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, let's let's have another break.
00:22:04
Zak
boy
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Regroup, come back, and try and think about what might be next and what that looks like. But first, a message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those thumbs and ours, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:22:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate. Uh...
00:22:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's I don't know if there's an answer to this question, but I'm going to ask it anyway. it's who Who would you be happy with next? what what What is a right answer here?
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is there one?
00:22:52
Zak
I would like to hear from you, mate, because the problem is is that I don't have a correct answer. I don't know if anyone at this point I'm going to be happy with, because I thought Will still was a really exciting option to take over initially.
00:23:04
Zak
But at this point, you know, judgment, Ken, I don't think that he's a bad manager.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:09
Zak
I think that he's been dealt an extremely bad hand. And I don't think that, I think by the sound of it, the job was significantly bigger than we expected, right? Like when he's having to turn around and be like, the players are asking permission if they can pass, right?
00:23:22
Zak
you realise there is a significantly larger job at hand. And I don't know if anyone's...
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's only one man for the job for me. You know who I'm going say. You know who the only... He's not on this list. It's Big Sam. He's got me.
00:23:37
Zak
You sent the picture as I was on the train before everything kicked off. it was the i I pulled up my phone and you'd sent the picture. And I remember struggling in this little text with my arms right up against myself going, you know what, mate?
00:23:53
Zak
if If it could get us some results, I'd take it. I feel like feel like it's like accepting a deal with the devil. But like if somebody can come in and and motivate them to...
00:24:03
Zak
you know if we If we're playing long ball football anyway, regardless of the striker, does it matter?
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:24:08
Zak
Maybe they could be a bit more accurate, would be all right.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I, uh, look, I've also seen some outside shouts of Neil Warnock and you know what? Wouldn't hate that either. Uh, someone old school who's going to just someone old school who's going to lay into these players and sort them out and if you know what if they can't sort themselves out and step up get rid just bin them off don't play them play the kids who want to play you know Jay Robinson came on the pitch and wanted it yesterday Yander wanted it you could see Sienza starting to get more and more angry with the rest of his teammates as team went on like
00:24:18
Zak
I think that would collapse after two weeks.
00:24:43
Zak
he was he was he was shouting specifically at people. and And the problem I've got is that if if we bring back Russell Martin, if I have to watch Taylor-Harwood-Bellis, Wood and Downs pass the ball amongst each other again, i might lose my head.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:58
Zak
Because what to have watching them pass to each other non-stop was just like, what are you doing?
00:24:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just awful. i Mate, I'll tell you now that I did lose my head. I'm probably one of the people that pushed Nathan Wood over the edge yesterday because I was stood there screaming at him. like We're 1-0 down.
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stop passing it across the road and penalty area. Get up the pitch.
00:25:14
Zak
forward forward forward yeah forward forward forward but this is this is what i mean like at this point it doesn't matter
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're playing Preston. like
00:25:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We got mashed by a team sponsored by Spud Bros.
00:25:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
she
00:25:27
Zak
whether you formulated that joke on the fly or you had it there from the beginning mate that's that yeah no you're you're right being being mashed by preston is is awful and like that's the
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
look No disrespect to Preston, but you look at how much money has been invested into our team and and our club.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just ridiculous.
00:25:47
Zak
which she would you mean no disrespect to Princeton? It was like watching against Swansea again. like I know that they've talked about, saw a lot of
00:25:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, you're right. They offer very little.
00:25:54
Zak
Yeah, I saw a lot of their away fans who obviously had a fantastic day out i' talking about how, like, oh, it's so good, everything started to gel together. And I'm like, guys, realistically, realistically, you had to do was throw 11 men behind the ball, wait, wait a little bit longer. At one point, we're going to make a mistake.
00:26:15
Zak
And then, we they you know, they to be fair, they had about, what, 10, 15-minute spell where it was nonstop being crossed into our box and nothing happened.
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm that was such a pathetic goal as well such a pathetic scrappy
00:26:22
Zak
Until eventually, obviously, you know, because because that was that was during the second half. Yeah, but then this is the problem. this So then this was the problem last season. of the goals were like that. And, you know, i joke about the Russell Martin thing, but also like...
00:26:39
Zak
that's not him in charge. Just clear the ball. like
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:44
Zak
he's my He wasn't in charge and the same individual errors happened. So when we talk about how we cleared out the squad, you need to wonder, did did we? Because the spine of the team is the same. but Yesterday, we had the people that were playing in the championship the season before.
00:26:58
Zak
You had Taylor Harbour-Bellish.
00:26:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Howard Bellis, Downs, Armstrong.
00:26:59
Zak
You had Wood. You had Downs. You had Armstrong. You had McCarthy in goal. Like, what?
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ryan Manning.
00:27:06
Zak
Ryan Manning? Yeah, so what?
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
who Ryan Manning, who, to his credit, should have been removed from...
00:27:10
Zak
Oh, not even talk about it. Leaving him on with an injury...
00:27:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like, was was clearly crocked and hobbling and then persisted to just kick the ball long because he couldn't run because he had hurt himself.
00:27:23
Zak
couldn't sprint. And again, this is some of Stills' management because at that point, I think he just lost his mind, right?
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Didn't get taken off the pitch.
00:27:30
Zak
It was like when...
00:27:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:31
Zak
it was like the the Spurs game that that was the end of Russell Martin when he he took, what, Suleymane off after, what, like four minutes or something?
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
15 minutes.
00:27:38
Zak
Yeah, and it was...
00:27:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, when we were already down.
00:27:39
Zak
yeah and and it was
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:27:41
Zak
or Or like when he was starting to run out of ideas in november but or October, November with the Bournemouth game, when he started Cornet up front because he didn't know what to do. because he was but you could see, and you you I think you even said it a week, just the frantic energy, like the frantic changes are are those of a man who who is worried and doesn't know what to do and is running out of ideas. And I'm like, who who's going have enough ideas to change this? Because I don't think that it's a matter of ideas. It's a matter of...
00:28:08
Zak
just I just feel like if once you've got 12 points in the Premier League and you get demoted and you go down into the Championship, right? And I talked about this a lot last season. It's like the level of
Team Performance and Future Strategies
00:28:18
Zak
personal pride.
00:28:20
Zak
Like, do they have any? It just doesn't feel like it.
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. No, they don't. And I mean, it shows on the pitch, honestly.
00:28:26
Zak
So...
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was an embarrassment. I think there were...
00:28:30
Zak
so
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think I think I said to you afterwards, there were three players on that pitch from the first 45 minutes who who actually looked like they were trying. And then, you know...
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom Fellows came on and and looked like he was trying, but also still achieved nothing. Jay Robinson came on and, again, looked like he was trying. Every time he got the ball, was trying to force his way through three or four players.
00:28:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, like, once again, putting our hopes and dreams on an 18-year-old to take on an entire team is just ridiculous.
00:29:03
Zak
And then then you had Yander taken off.
00:29:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Azaz was absolutely useless.
00:29:09
Zak
You had Yander taken off for a re-bow.
00:29:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:29:11
Zak
That should have been down.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:12
Zak
Down should have been taken off for a re-bow. And it should have been earlier.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:15
Zak
All the changes should have been earlier. like we We've discussed this and it's a moot point. But if Yander's goal goes in, maybe we have a different podcast today. right And that that is a point that that was an absolute incredible save pulled off by Preston's goalkeeper.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:27
Zak
Because I thought it was over-hit.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Imagine a goalkeeper that could make a save.
00:29:30
Zak
Yeah, that's that's the other thing, right? Like, we're talking about how, you know, Paul Rudd and Blackmore the beginning the season turn around and be like, I actually think we've got two really good championship goalkeepers in Pizzunu and McCarthy. And it's just like, that's a tweet that's come back to horning because I've seen four people retweet yesterday.
00:29:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what we've actually got is Alex McCarthy with... I mean, I can't even... How is he not just getting hold of the ball at any point during that? And Bazunu, who clearly is better as an under-21 striker.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I
00:30:00
Zak
But so I guess to bring it back to your original point, mate, you raised the question, who would I you be happy with? And I don't know because I don't know if anyone can make a difference.
00:30:10
Zak
And I'm seeing people chuck around names. And I and i can, and like, you know, we all joke about the Russell Martin, the Ralph Haskell. People just want something to grasp onto. For you, it's Sam Allardyce, right? Like, you think it'll come in and sort it out.
00:30:22
Zak
Other people think it's a disciplinary and we needed Warnock in there. Some people think, okay, bring in Martin.
00:30:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
take it.
00:30:27
Zak
The players loved him, right? Other people were like, oh, bring in Ralph Hasniel because that's when they remember us being good, when we were top of the Premier League. Well, also, there were no fans, no crowd, everything was different.
00:30:38
Zak
It was weird. You could turn on the match day experience when watching it on TV, which was just bizarre, hearing crowd noise with, like, that da you know you As you said, Claude Puel is on that list.
00:30:49
Zak
People talking about Michael Carrick because you know he did all right for Middlesbrough. Really, maybe it's somebody who with championship predigree. the The problem is I don't think that there is an answer that really appeals to anybody. And we said this the last time, right? Me and you landed on Will still, but there are a lot of people with that that didn't trust the guy. And I don't think it's his fault. i don't i think at the moment there is something...
00:31:12
Zak
deeply undermine, like underneath the surface wrong. And I don't know if it's with but the ownership, that's where everyone seems to think it is, whether it's with the the you know the the the dinner ladies poisoning all the players.
00:31:26
Zak
Or the the players themselves, who so bereft of confidence, nobody is seemingly able to get through to them. And again, like we brought in these new signings, but we didn't bring in enough.
00:31:37
Zak
you had You had so much of the old guard there, that you brought in all these new players. And rather than these new players bringing in confidence, because, you know... confidence the ability to, you know, apart from, tell a lie, like Leo Sienza, and maybe to an extent Yander, like you have all these other players that have come in and rather than them bringing their energy to our players, we have spread the negativity back out to them.
00:32:01
Zak
You know, I,
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's the baffling thing, right? Because I've seen lots of debates about it and about, oh, we just need a championship experience and like experienced players. and like We brought in Tom Fellows and Finna Zaz.
00:32:10
Zak
We player final with most of those players.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:13
Zak
But we also won a player final with those players.
00:32:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've both been very quiet. And we brought in Leo Sienza from what? You think you said it was like the fifth tier of Swedish football or something stupid?
00:32:23
Zak
yeah So, yeah, we brought him in from the Bundesliga, but he'd gone from the Bundesliga from, like, the third tier of the Bundesliga before then.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:31
Zak
He got into the second team. But then before then, at one point recently, like, recent memory, when we were winning, when we were top of the Premier League and going, oh, lord stop the count, and he was playing fifth tier of Swedish football.
00:32:41
Zak
And yet he's the one we're looking to, to be a mascot. Matty Fernandes, who you had never played in the british English League, comes in last year and he's the one we're having to sing about. He's put an effort in, who, you know, has managed to get an assist for West Ham in their first win of the season today, right?
00:32:58
Zak
you But a lot of those players who were championship pedigree and like Adam Armstrong and people who would have snapped, you know, a lot of a lot of teams would have taken a lot of our players. Maybe we should just let them have them.
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, honestly.
00:33:10
Zak
Maybe, and I don't think that necessarily it's an individual thing.
00:33:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Genuinely, if i see if I see nine or ten changes heading into Wednesday's night game against QPR, I'm not going to be upset.
00:33:22
Zak
But like...
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, like, we talk a lot. We've talked... We've done episodes, right, about the affinity we have to certain players who stick with you and, like, stick in the memory. And, you know, we've talked at length. And obviously the obvious ones, like James Beattie and Jason Dodd and Matt Letizia, but also other players like, I don't know, Fabrice Fernandez and all of that.
00:33:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, i think genuinely... Couldn't care less if some of these players never played for the club again, because that is how they have made feel the last season watching it.
00:33:58
Zak
how How often are we talking about missing the influence of Jan Bednarek, mate, or other players like that?
00:33:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Baffling.
00:34:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:34:03
Zak
And I don't mean that as a disrespect specifically to him, but the impact of some of the people going has not been felt because it's just as a collective. I don't think it's the individual players that are necessarily involved. I'm not going to say this guy's rubbish and this guy's... And I know, you know, we've...
00:34:19
Zak
We picked out Azaz for a lot of criticism and stuff like that. And obviously we picked out a lot of our previous cohort. I think maybe the Taylor Harbour-Bellis goes to a different team and does really well. I think that Flynn Downs goes to another team and does really well.
00:34:30
Zak
For some reason, the current configuration and combination of those players seemed unable to work with any other manager or anyone other than themselves together, other than that system they played in two years ago.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just, I also... I just don't know if in if that's entirely true, mate, because you look at West Ham, who are now what's struggling with Matt Fernandez and Carl Walker-Peters in their starting line-up, who are both you know two of our best players last year, but were also two-elevenths of the reason that we were the second-worst Premier League team in history. So maybe it's easier to shine...
00:35:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know if I've got a PG way to finish that sentence, mate.
00:35:08
Zak
You don't.
00:35:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe it's easier to shine when you're surrounded by... You can rise head and shoulders above a team playing as rubbish as we are.
00:35:17
Zak
And ultimately, this is why the blame goes up, right?
00:35:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just...
00:35:21
Zak
This is why there is so much animosity towards Sports Republic, because as far as a lot of people are concerned, as much as I can bang on the fact that it was Gao that really brought the downfall of the club, we got to the We got to this point, mate, didn't we? Where, you know, the the sort of the ownership the new ownership took over and then bought a load of players that weren't that great and had a load of other stuff happen that wasn't great. And we're now in the position that we're in now with, you know, what feels like the eighth manager in in two to three years.
00:35:53
Zak
And there doesn't really feel like a hope that the were we're getting out of it. And it doesn't feel like from the entirety of the people in the room that they know what they're doing. And they took a punt on this director of football who so far, you know, other than one or two little gems inside the Bundesliga too, hasn't really got the transfers that...
00:36:15
Zak
fitted the team or profile of the team because we aren't having a profile because we're doing some way. And of course that means that, you know, we've we've run out of people to be angry at. You've basically all got, you've got left now is the ownership of the players.
00:36:27
Zak
And luckily, you've you know, I'd say luckily, but you've got, you've got a lot of our fan base that are willing to give a lot more of the players, the benefit of the doubt.
00:36:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:36:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:36:37
Zak
Because, you know, it's it's the people we watch week in, week out. And I don't know what the answer is. I don't know if there's any managerial appointment that will make it better. I don't know.
00:36:48
Zak
i genuinely think that you you sell half the players in January. you you rebuild as best you can. then if we're sat doing a podcast on a League One team next year, just hope that we can build it up.
00:37:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:02
Zak
And we do a Sunderland in 10 years' time. We return... to the Premier League in good way. But ive the fact that we're having this conversation is is why everyone is so angry.
00:37:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:37:15
Zak
And i concur because, you know, other than us being two blokes that watch a lot of football, there's not really any answers we can provide. I can just, all I can do is say that I empathise with everybody's anger.
00:37:27
Zak
i can joke and laugh at everybody's idea of a managerial appointment, but ultimately everybody who supports this club wants this club to do well. And at this point people are willing to put up and, know,
00:37:40
Zak
come up with the craziest ideas and I guess we'll just have to see and hope it gets better. And I just hope in two months time, mate, we're sat here going, man, that was that was scary, wasn't it? And that we've turned it around and we've we've beat Portsmouth. But the current way that it feels...
00:37:57
Zak
is that that's a long way off. And usually, you should you know, I trust my instincts more than my intellect, as much as I sometimes come across as a know-it-all, right? like it Instincts every day of the week.
00:38:09
Zak
So, yeah, I guess that the only hope that I've got is, well, we're still gone. Next man up. Will it make a difference? Who knows? But we've got another game coming up rapidly.
00:38:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, wait, you I will tell you live as I have been, you know, in the background refreshing and and looking at things that some markets are offering Russell Martin as short as even money to be the next permanent Saints manager. So, you know, maybe we've got that to look forward to.
00:38:39
Zak
but