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00:00:01
Episode 326: Matchday Preview: Away to Charlton!
119 Plays6 days ago
Southampton – We come up against the familiar face of Nathan Jones this weekend as we travel to the Valley for an early kick off!
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Transcript
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 and wonderful co-host Zach Incafinch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
are you doing mate? You alright?
00:00:28
Zak
Yeah, mate. I'm all right. We're actually back to a semblance of normality now, right? Like, you know, there's going to be some football. I say normality. It's against a Nathan Jones team.
00:00:40
Zak
So maybe it's going be a really big outlier. Who knows? But either way, championship's back.
00:00:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
something bonkers is going to happen. That's it, mate. And now we're here to build to, what everyone has been waiting for in this long break. Uh, we are here to preview wicked for good.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No wrong podcast. Uh, there's football. It's, it's back.
00:01:02
Zak
You're alluding to the fact that you're going to miss some of tomorrow's game, mate. Just a little bit. Just a little bit, because you've unfortunately got prior plans.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just, just a tiny bit at the end. That's it.
00:01:10
Zak
You see?
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know, it's, uh, Look, it's going to be magical either way.
00:01:10
Zak
You see?
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's put it that way. it's But yes, look, it's been a long international break. It certainly felt that way. And we got some sort of glimpse of excitement with Scotland the other night. But it's nice to have proper, proper football back to look forward to. And I mean, like you say, it's going to be at least a little bit insane when Nathan Jones is involved. Do you see...
00:01:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
see that being quite a big factor into the atmosphere tomorrow, or do you think it's just going to be like football-y because everyone's so glad to actually have football back?
00:01:47
Zak
Are you telling me that a bunch of our fans are going to go all the way watch Charlton play with Nathan Jones in charge and there there is not going to be an atmosphere there? Like, he's already come out, because obviously we've not had a press conference yet, because of course we haven't.
00:02:01
Zak
And the fact that he's like, yeah, you know, i don't want, Well, I have to those experience too many, too many times, but I learned from that experience. I'm a better man and a better person for it. I'm really glad that the downfall of Southampton Football Club can help this this poor Welshman learn to be a better person.
00:02:19
Zak
So, yeah, no, Greg, I think that it will probably be a bit more fiery.
00:02:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
it could have He could have just gone off and married a Welsh PE teacher, couldn't he? So, you know, it's it's nice that he's growing and learning from that and and taking it on board, I guess. But...
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's an interesting interesting one, right? Because, you know, coming into the season, you would have expected almost our positions to be completely flipped to where they are at the moment. Charlton, guess, beating everyone's expectations, definitely mine, heading into it and and holding their own.
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But are we coming good? You've two wins on the bounce now. We're to back that up into three? It's hard to say, isn't it?
00:03:01
Zak
I'd like to set i'd like hope so, but i know that it's been a really hard place. They've barely lost a game since he's been in charge at home. So it's not going to be an easy away game.
00:03:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:03:10
Zak
We can't just go into it assuming, oh, we'll just absolutely smash them because it's Charlton, right? Because yeah I think I labour this point constantly, but like we should be beating XYZ teams and we're not, right?
00:03:22
Zak
We should have beaten QPR and we did, but you know we should have beaten Sheffield Wednesday and we did. But like all of there there are... games that we have had where we should have beaten that opponent haven't. And this is 100% one of them. And then you're going to have the fact that they really back Nathan Jones and like he's their guy and the fans guy will will get behind the level of animosity we will have for him.
00:03:48
Zak
and And hopefully like they can just step away from what will be an occasion to just put in a good performance, especially after quite a solid international break for some of them, right? Like, you know, the the Republic of Ireland boys, like they're going to come back in Pretty jubilant. you know I know that Finizaz picked up some criticism for his performances, but like hopefully they can just brush all that away. Will we see the debut of Romelu even if for us a little bit? Maybe.
00:04:17
Zak
Surely he's not just going to be here to never come on the pitch. I don't know.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i hope I mean, in all of the back to training videos and all of the you know, the socials and stuff they've put out.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been training with the team and in there you would like to think at this point he'll be ready. He looked in in remarkably good shape right to come back. I know that he hasn't played football in a long time but he is is a man of a certain amount of drive who is going to keep himself fit enough to do it.
00:04:47
Zak
Yeah, he didn't he didn't didn't become a free agent and just like give it up, right? And decide that he's going to pundit Sky Sports and just not bother keeping himself fit.
00:04:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:57
Zak
Like he's kept himself in good enough if this opportunity arises. So yeah, going to be match fitness. Sure, it's not going to be the 90 minutes, but if that was a good enough game as any, it'd be this one in my opinion.
00:05:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it'll be... That is, like, one exciting thing that could happen, right, as soon as the soon the teams are announced, right? see that is an instant boost, I think. And, yeah, looking at the form, you're right. Charlton haven't lost at home since August. they They were beat by Leicester at the Valley in an in a 12.30 kickoff, so maybe that bodes well, but...
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Other than that, their home form is pretty impeccable. It it makes for some scary reading. It's going to be a tough place to go. going to be a proper test of whether the Tonda really has managed to get that bit extra out of the players and they can push on and get through that difficulty....
00:05:59
Zak
Well, this is the other question, right? Is this what we are is this the three-match period? Is it actually a job interview? Are they just struggling? Because apparently they've entered entered interviewed candidates and they've just not had anyone stand out yet.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:14
Zak
but it will So it'd be interesting to know who's actually been interviewed. Because surely if it's Russell Martin, it's like, you want your job back? Maybe. Okay. Put down the phone. So with everyone else, it's like, who else are you interviewing?
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:25
Zak
Okay, so the Michael Carrick, Brendan Rodgers, supposedly, and of any other target they've picked. Will Stills had an interview of Norwich before, obviously, obviously they went with Clement.
00:06:36
Zak
So, yeah, it's it's it's it for him, it's going to be important because you know he's going to have to prove that it's not just the sort of post-manager bounce that we had, right?
00:06:47
Zak
It needs to be more than... And and and also... to be able to get another win on top of the other ones. But I don't think that even if he won three games on the bounce that people will be happy. As in, like, if he won these next three games and we won five in a row, I'm still sure that people would prefer someone with championship experience, which would be kind of bizarre at that point.
00:07:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, mate. Recency bias definitely comes into it and plays into it. and You have to remember that if he does win tomorrow, He becomes you know the second most successful manager under since Sports Republic took over. So that in itself speaks volumes as to sort of where we're at.
00:07:07
Zak
But I get it.
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, it's it's not an easy place to go and play football. That's sort of Charlton's MO, right? They specifically make it difficult for you and look to unsettle you and are hard to break down. And you know it's not like they batter teams at home.
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
but they you know make it hard and difficult to b play the football you want to play and then try and steal that goal. And really, it's exactly the sort of team that we have been vulnerable to time and time again this season.
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is a scary prospect.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
But all right, let's let's move into the tricky bit, the predicted team lineups. But let's take a break and hear a message from our partners at Bionic.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
All mate. So let's let's get into it. Start with the tricky questions. Basil McCarthy.
00:08:58
Zak
Baz, isn't it? Went away with international duty. Would have been surrounded by happy winning. People don't like the fact that he's got a mistake or two in him, as if McCarthy doesn't have a mistake or two in him either. Pretty sure, being you joked about the fact that we watched a compilation after Bazzini came back in. you know the Ultimately, the problem is that neither of our goalkeepers are what we would refer to as safe hands. So we need to...
00:09:21
Zak
Pick the one that seems to be the most up for it, and Eckert seems to like him more, especially where he's played him in the under-21s before, probably has more trust in him. So yeah, I don't really think it's much of a decision.
00:09:34
Zak
i don't think it's a hard decision, personally.
00:09:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. No, i agree with that. I think of the two, think Baz maybe inspires more confidence than McCarthy. i I don't know. It's an interesting one. It's kind of one where there's like not really a right and not really a wrong answer, right? It's it's very difficult. And do you think we'll see much change shape-wise, do you think we'll still end up with a five at the back or three at the back with two wing-back solution?
00:10:00
Zak
Again, tough tough place to go They want to make sure that we're a bit more defensively sound. I don't think that he wants to change up too much. We've been playing a back three, five for so long at this point that I don't think it's probably going to be the time that they want to change things about. right like Maybe if we lose this game, we lose this in a manner that's silly, potentially. But I don't necessarily think that they're going to change shape, so I still think it's going to be...
00:10:29
Zak
Three defenders at the back.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. No, I think so too, especially as what we saw before the international break was that formation, but with just a bit more freedom for one of these centre-backs to push up and and sort of drag the play and and try and like Mally, make the drag the other team out of shape and and fight it that way. So I suspect we'll see the same. Who's the back three for you? Stevens presumably stays in.
00:10:58
Zak
Yeah, I guess like if it's not broke, don't fix it. It's not like we've not managed to keep it we didn't manage to keep a clean sheet, but still. Wood's really good.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:11:18
Zak
I will point out, however...
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
a beautiful ball work to Armstrong as well.
00:11:21
Zak
Yeah, exactly. But I will point out that Kwasi has played two under-21 international games during this international break. So, both of those games, Germany won. So, if you want to pick somebody based off of the fact that you know their morale is going to be high, he can potentially slot in for somebody.
00:11:36
Zak
But I don't really know who he dislodges, really. Again, like i know we everyone's kind of over the whole wood-getting-mad-at-fans thing now that we've actually won a few games and
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:11:47
Zak
you know, Stevens it would be if dependent on if he's fit or not. So, yeah, it's more competitive than it was, put it that way, because realistically, I wouldn't have had Stevens or Harwood-Bettison either way.
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
o
00:12:00
Zak
kind of feel bad for Ed Wins to miss out a little bit, but it's what it is, isn't it, really?
00:12:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wingbacks, I mean, without the presser, it's hard to know where we're at with with some of the knocks that we weren't sure of before fully the international break. So i guess Manning is is in the picture and maybe Rorschlew, maybe Fellows, the
00:12:25
Zak
Well, Rolstein wasn't away on international duty, to from what I can tell. so I would just put fellows back in there, right?
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:32
Zak
Like, it kind of sucks that we're in a position where, despite buying two right-backs, neither of them can play.
00:12:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:38
Zak
i don't know. yeah Again, without the press conference, we don't know if Gillette is back. Because he looked good for the Liverpool game, but, you know, there's already talk about us potentially cancelling his loan as early as January now.
00:12:50
Zak
And that could be the fact that he's just not played enough or is too injury-prone.
00:12:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:54
Zak
So, yeah, why would you you know, if if if Fellows was part of a winning team last time around and, you know, helped set up a goal and stuff, why would you not just put him back in
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i just don't know if you...
00:13:05
Zak
in? Allow the centre-backs to do bit more of the defensive coverage.
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's kind of what we went with with before the break, right? And I don't know, what does the midfield look like then? If if we're bringing Romelu in to start, who's missing out?
00:13:22
Zak
Downs probably. He went off with a a muscular injury what halfway through.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:27
Zak
Has been ill non-stop. And... and it would be the sort of out of him and Yanda would probably be the more physical presence. So I would put Romeo in and then probably swap him out at half time. I wouldn't be surprised if all of a sudden he decides to start like Williams or like Bragg or something like that, just kind of a little bit out there, a little bit saint-y.
00:13:51
Zak
Again, you know, we all thought that was a big risk to take Downs off and replace him with. you know, an academy player, but it it worked out okay. Don't get me wrong, that second half wasn't really anything, but at the same time, you know.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sometimes that's what you need in the game, right? Kill it kill it dead.
00:14:07
Zak
Well, the fact that we that we got bored was nice, right?
00:14:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, indeed. Better bored than nervous. So, yeah. So, what what were we thinking? Like, Romelu Yander and, like, Sienza?
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or, like...
00:14:26
Zak
Sienza definitely, definitely involved. The problem is, is that how much trust you want to put in his eyes again?
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:32
Zak
Like, again, scored for Ireland, had a bit of a rough game, but will come in with confidence after, you know, scoring a goal.
00:14:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:40
Zak
So do you want to put him back in and just give him another go?
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:44
Zak
or do you want to put somebody else in, you know, again, like Robinson, Asuki, what else you want to, you know, do you want to mix it up?
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I also don't know if it is that number 10 role. I was looking at some of the lineups and the way they shaped it on some of the websites and it literally changes depending on whether Sky or BBC or Flash scores and
00:15:07
Zak
Oh yeah, 100%. It's difficult to figure out who's where.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
they don't They put them as like wingers instead of number 10s, but I guess it's the forwards, right?
00:15:12
Zak
according to According to... But then again, that's also... like It's quite hard to draw out exact formations when they constantly change it in and out possession anyway nowadays.
00:15:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:22
Zak
So I'm not really surprised.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It's all so fluid. So I guess you're right.
00:15:25
Zak
But...
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who you sort sticking up top of that? Are sticking? I think. Azaz, Armstrong Siena are all in that sort of attacking role. seemed i mean, it worked, right? If it ain't broke like you've been saying. So give them at least the start and see how we get on.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fellows and Azaz were starting to link up beautifully. it just seems to maybe just getting all of those players on the pitch and just letting them, you know, like you're saying, Don't really draw out the formation of a map, but just stick the players on the pitch and play football. I mean, it's it's the sort of team we're going to need a bit of that against to get through and and sort of break the duck, right?
00:16:07
Zak
Yeah, i agree. And, we, you know, need to just we just do what we can to win. don't really give it, i don't really care who specifically is on the field. I don't think you should hugely change a winning formation.
00:16:17
Zak
But again, if Downs went off half-time due to illness, we haven't heard anything from then, it was something muscular, it would be a great game to just start Rumeau in.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:16:25
Zak
So realistically, what we're looking at is pretty much unchanged, apart from the addition of Rumeau, who will probably have to come off at half-time for somebody. I think everybody else there, heuretic, deserves a spot, and you know we'll we'll have to see how Zars goes.
00:16:41
Zak
But if if he does well in this game again, you know and the at the end of our criticism can start to take place.
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. Hopefully that... Yeah, well, hopefully that goal... We've talked a lot about confidence players. Sometimes it just takes that, right? It was an instinctive finish as well, right? It was a good goal. it wasn't like it was scored by accident. He got himself in the position, took the ball and instinctively shot it and scored a good goal.
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then immediately sort of became that, that precipice of the midfield and was doing all of the sort of linkups and stuff that we would hope to see from him. So hopefully that's just given him the confidence. And then, like you say, being away on international duty is going have done well as well. So we'll just, we'll see how it goes, but yeah, you're right. It's It's good. Let's not change it too much and see if we can you know put together a team that can break down something that's a bit harder to do.
00:17:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, mate. let's Let's have a little break, have a word from our partners at Zencastr, and then come back to the fun bit and see if we can predict how we're going to get on.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencastr came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:18:00
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.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, mate. Look, I'm going to i'm gonna throw it over to my my little statistics website with its little AI blurb that I like to use.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
and get their score prediction first for a change. How do you feel about that?
00:18:22
Zak
Yeah, I'm fine with that.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
a
00:18:24
Zak
yeah
00:18:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, their primary angle is under three and a half goals with both teams to score, Charlton to win or a draw.
00:18:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, basically, one all, right? One all or two ones at Charlton is what they've gone with. That's...
00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't feel great.
00:18:45
Zak
hol
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Historically, you know in the last seven games between the two teams, there's one Charlton win, three Saints wins, and three draws. it's a yeah Charlton are in good form at home, and Southampton's form is now average which is, I think, the highest that the AI has ever given any piece of form, home or away, since we've been reading it, which is maybe an indictment in itself, right?
00:19:19
Zak
As we discussed in our Mythbusters episode, mate, it's almost impossible to use the statistics because of how much last season has just absolutely decimated them. So, you know...
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But with that out of the way, I am going to throw it over to you, mate. how How do you think it's going to play out?
00:19:38
Zak
1-0, Romelu scores, everyone goes wild and then we spend the rest of the game just throwing ourselves, trying to defend it and it's absolutely awful and we hate watching it and it's terrible but then we manage to get it over the line and upset Nathan Jones a little bit, upset the Charlton supporters.
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:19:57
Zak
We'll act like it's the best win ever, everyone will complain.
00:19:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
you.
00:20:01
Zak
Because what i can't deal with is the fact that if they win, Greg, you're going to have to deal with Nathan Jones like crying on the sidelines when Hasenhutl beat Liverpool because of the fact he managed to beat his former team. Because like he's already mugged us off for having like the biggest budget in the you know the championship and being like, oh, it's meteoric in comparison to us and this blah, blah, blah, blah. bar and It's like, yeah, but also if our owners then don't reinvest like more than 90% of it, as we found out with the transfer part portion of your Mythbusters episode yesterday, you know it's not as it' not as important as they think.
00:20:36
Zak
Because if you've bought a bunch of players that then don't gel well together as well, that's a problem. Whereas they've you know got this kind of camaraderie going. But yeah, you could see I could also see a narrative where Romelu comes back and as a is a hero...
00:20:50
Zak
you know puts puts an end to to the Robotnik that is Nathan Jones and and causes a massive win that would bring joy to us all as we start to descend rapidly into this Christmas period, mate.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:03
Zak
So you go. That's 1-0. Hmm?
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
right a win and a clean sheet. I love to hear it.
00:21:08
Zak
hu
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's great. yeah I mean, still the negative thought of an uncomfortable game in there, but I'm still taking it. still I'm still enjoying it, mate. It's nice.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I don't know. I think I've got a head and a heart answer, Zach, for an unusual change. My heart's saying 2-1 win because i I still just don't think we're going to keep a clean sheet, but i do see us getting it over the line. But my head just feels like that one-all draw, it would be like the most Saints thing, just like all of that excitement and it would it wouldn't do us any favours. I guess it would be a good result for Charlton, but Also, it's not like... It's still just a draw, isn't it? Who cares about that?
00:21:52
Zak
Me predicting a win and you predicting a draw is like upsetting the balance of the universe somewhere, mate. This isn't okay. You're not allowed to be more negative than me. This is ridiculous.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, I don't know. But, no, I think i think the 2-1. I think that's what we've got to go with, right? There's got to be an Armstrong goal in there.
00:22:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, uh, obviously you've got predict a predictor Tom Fellows goal for tradition's sake. Like he's got to score at some point, right?
00:22:23
Zak
You keep saying that, mate. In every game, he keeps proving you that he can be there without scoring. So...
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Well, it's going to come eventually. So, uh, you know, and when it does, it's going to be that one that was remembered and not the, uh, the rest that come with it. But, uh, yeah, I know. It's going to be, uh,
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to be a fascinating game to be honest. i'm just I'm just excited to have it back. It's just nice to back watching the football. As you know, I've got a nice long away trip in the morning for my son's under 18. It's going to be nice to get back and sit down undoubtedly just as the whistle goes. is I think how that's going end up playing out. so We shall see. but sir look That's it. That's all we've got time for today. Zach, as always, thank you very much for joining me.
00:23:14
Zak
Thank you very mate.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, everyone, for listening. Let us know in the comments on the socials how you think we're going to and your score predictions. We're on all of them. We are on X, TikTok, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook, everywhere. Hit us up.
00:23:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know. We love hearing from you. And, yeah, but regardless of what happens, whether it's good or whether it's bad, We will be back to talk about it next week. So until then, everyone, have a wonderful weekend, and we'll see you then.
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on, Saints.