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Episode 259: A NEW SIGINING and Matchday Preview - Stoke (H)
153 Plays15 days ago
Southampton – A New signing. One that went completely under the radar (take the Fabrizio!) also, we have a game tomorrow. We throw out our team and sore predictions!
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Transcript
Introduction to Podcast
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 Ingo Finch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you doing,
Surprise Player Signing Discussion
00:00:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
mate? You You
00:00:29
Zak
Yeah, but it's too bad. Like we had a whole thing planned out before we get to talk about. We've gone through the presser. And then at one point you looked at your phone and you go, wait, we've just signed a new prior.
00:00:41
Zak
It's like, there we have it.
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
wait
00:00:42
Zak
Like, literally 20 seconds ago.
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah Yeah, unbelievable. Look, I said that stuff was going to happen under the radar and then bang, there would be a sign in. And you know what? I wasn't wrong. That came out of nowhere.
00:00:56
Zak
It's very funny that you made that point, like, the other day, and that's just how Saints Transfans work. We're like, Yeah, but you know, I think there's a lot of... Even me and Travis and Jesus the other day talking about how like it just feels like we're just we're just telling fables, right?
00:01:15
Zak
Like every single individual story that we hear is just like, oh, maybe this player's going get a sign.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:21
Zak
Probably not, but maybe it will. And no, it turns out that everybody... boy I think my favourite thing is the fact that even the Southampton account mugged off the fact that Fabrizio Romano not manage to leak the transfer before happened.
00:01:37
Zak
Like, fair play. We signed a player.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:42
Zak
There's not a single rumor about it. No one knew it happened. It's for a position we need to cover in.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:49
Zak
We've had all these other links and all this, that, the other. But no. So, Greg, who have we signed?
Mads Roerslev Joins Southampton
00:01:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
We have signed Mads Roaslev. I hope that that is the correct pronunciation.
00:01:58
Zak
We also spent 10 minutes figuring out the pronunciation of that, mate.
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if it's still wrong, at least we tried, man. I'm sorry. Right. Seems to be a ah promising young wing back, full back at the right side with lots and lots of experience.
00:02:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like something like 92 Premier League games on his belt.
00:02:16
Zak
I feel like the problem you've got, mate, is when you say that like someone's 26 and young.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that what read?
00:02:22
Zak
Realistically, yes. In the world of football, he's had like six seasons at Brentford, as well as like a whole little low career at Copenhagen.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:30
Zak
like he's yeah He will bring some solid experience to a team that is currently lacking it. We can't really go through his whole career. like It's just, sorry, weve we found out about this.
00:02:45
Zak
I'd say about 10 minutes before we start this podcast, which is definitely why this podcast is late.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:02:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
who doesn't love a late night recording with some breaking news it's how some of our best work comes about like it's uh but It's great well creep great way to start.
00:03:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean i presume that it's going to be a little bit too early from a registration perspective. hope to see him in action on tomorrow as the game progresses. But, mate,
Transfer Market Dynamics
00:03:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
positive news.
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Making tracks in the market.
00:03:17
Zak
It's weird to me that Adam Blackmore seemed to think that Sugawara was moving on off the back um of this transfer, though. Because I'm like, if James Breeze out, and like realistically, what it he he's a Karl Walker-Peters replacement, right?
00:03:32
Zak
but That's what it seems like to me.
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:34
Zak
I obviously
00:03:36
Zak
It is to replace a position we have already lost a player at that probably needs replacing. So obviously we're trimming down the squad too.
00:03:48
Zak
But it's just very interesting to me. Like, obviously, the the press conference today, that was, once again, transfers pretty much dominated the entire thing, right? I barely remembered if we even really talked about Stoke
Press Conference Highlights
00:04:00
Zak
a lot in that. yeah I think there was ah ah a bit of a conversation about their manager.
00:04:05
Zak
And Will still said he thinks he's done a great job and remembers him from being at Coventry.
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:10
Zak
And then we talked about how would be ready for the game because he studied Coventry. That seemed to be the bit of the press conference that was actually about the game. Yeah.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And the rest was just, you've been linked with this player, what do think of this player? Yeah, he's alright. What do you make of this player? What's the progress on this transfer? Slow.
00:04:27
Zak
Slow. hello
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
wasn What do you make of this player? Yeah. I mean, the only other thing I took from the press conference was a slightly down-heartening line, which might have flown slightly under the radar, where he said...
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's a shame when national managers push for playing in the top five leagues for an international space in a World Cup year, which, I mean, I can only presume is is talking about Mati Fernandes, although maybe Harwood Bellis.
00:04:56
Zak
I there's that think if you look, we've got a couple of internationals, you know, if Adam Blackmore is onto something, you know,
00:04:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, who's...
National Team Influence on Players
00:05:06
Zak
then maybe it could also be Sugawara.
00:05:08
Zak
Remember, Sugawara is a Japanese international and it wouldn't surprise, it also, like, I don't know if that's every single national manager or specific national managers for specific teams that are
00:05:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
so It felt very pointed of that someone has said this and it's upset Will Steele. And it was pointed out that the championship would probably, to a lot of people, be considered higher quality than some of those top five leagues.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I would go and even further and say that the championship is the best league in the world. So... Yeah.
00:05:38
Zak
Famously on record, mate, a point that you have consistently made since we got but since we secured our place in the championship this year.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's it. And, I mean, yeah, I mean, i we guess we'll wait and see. He said there was going to be some definite outgoings before the week is out.
00:05:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I guess that we'll just wait with stated breath.
00:05:59
Zak
tomorrow and...
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, it depends where you draw the line at a week, I suppose. Such a nice ambiguous term. But, I mean, if not before, I presume it will become pretty clear with the team selection come come game day tomorrow. So. Hmm.
00:06:15
Zak
but Yeah, the the thing is, is all all these all are all that that chain that we talked about, right, that house buying chain starting to click into gear across the the different leagues and then across a all the different teams, right? You've got like SA moving on from Crystal Palace, which might open the door for Dibbling to go to Palace if he wanted to, which means that Everton will miss out. That's kind of on them.
00:06:37
Zak
You have West Ham missing out. on transfers left, right and centre and kind of insulting us.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:45
Zak
But that doesn't mean that other, as different things move, you know, as as we've done a bit of business with Brentford now, they need to reinforce probably. that stuff will start to get very busy by the looks of it.
00:06:57
Zak
So
Match Preview: Southampton vs Stoke
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Well, it's going to be it always.
00:06:59
Zak
it's only a...
00:07:01
Zak
We said we still needed to trim.
00:07:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:02
Zak
just got hope that we trim the stuff we don't need. And, you know, we're not left with...
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:08
Zak
ah ah st
00:07:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I've heard three clubs linked with Ben Burr and Diaz this morning. So, I mean, what more could you ask for, really? It's an absolute dream. But look, this is a match preview, Zach.
00:07:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we would be remiss to not talk about the match.
00:07:20
Zak
This is...
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, Stoke are flying a bit high at the moment. I mean, literally top of the table as it stands. So this is a tough game, right? This isn't a walk in the park.
00:07:35
Zak
Treat them like the position they're in, right? we have ah ah but But also, the problem is, Greg, is that every time we've ever done this and talked about us playing Stoke, it's not been entertaining.
00:07:47
Zak
So... but I do think it is a bit of a different
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I refuse to be I refuse to be tricked into believing this is going to be a flamboyant interesting game because it's it's a pill I've taken before and just been humble time and time again when it's like no should be good game they're playing the right football this season it just never is I don't know what it I don't know it's just like the styles just clash too much or what it is but man
00:08:15
Zak
But Greg, how would that be possible if if our style changes every year depending on the weather? So, you know, and apparently by the sounds of it, we were still was pretty confident that he's done a lot of research and he knows what he's coming up against and you know how to play it.
00:08:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's a tricky one. It's hard because it's so hard to tell at this part of the season anyway. And yeah I mean, realistically, I know Stoke have had two reasonably impressive wins. But also, if you're looking at it from before the season, I've beaten two teams that you would have expected them to beat.
00:08:47
Zak
Yes, right.
00:08:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right?
00:08:48
Zak
Derby derby and Sheffield Wednesday who are really struggling. And also they got through the cup on penalties, but that's against Warsaw.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:57
Zak
That was a bit of a, that kind of fine.
00:08:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That was a nil-nil, like a toothless affair. So, I mean, ah cautiously optimistic, I guess, is the there's the sort of standard standpoint, I guess, is a Saints fan, to be excited, but with that reservation that you can never be too excited.
00:09:15
Zak
like Yeah, I guess I will treat them like they're a top of the table side and we'll see how how it goes. But obviously we'll we'll have a look, have a think about the team selections, mate, probably after we we hear a word from our partners, maybe in Bionic.
00:09:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:30
Zak
Does that sound like a good idea?
00:09:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
That sounds like an absolute dream.
00:09:33
Zak
Perfect.
00:10:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. Okay, lots of questions here, Zach. Let's start as we tend to do with the back line. Is this the week we drop to a back four, do you think?
00:10:25
Zak
me
Defensive Line-up Debate
00:10:27
Zak
I'd like to see it. But you understand why we've done it. we We seem to move into the latter half when we can get fresh legs on.
00:10:37
Zak
like to see it. but That's kind where I'm at.
00:10:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, who misses out? I presume that Stevens is going to be the first name on the team sheet.
00:10:50
Zak
Yeah.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So who's with him?
00:10:50
Zak
Well,
00:10:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Harwood Bellis or Quasi?
00:10:54
Zak
I wouldn't be surprised if he gives Kwasi a year week off, right? And that's no written ah no disrespect to the guy.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:11:03
Zak
I just think that, you know, he's had a lot of games thick and fast. they've They've, you know, made couple of mistakes here and there. and And that's no... slow like It's weird how quickly a lot of the fan base are getting mad at the fact that we... And I think it's just...
00:11:20
Zak
I think we've talked about this before, Greg, and I know that some people might laugh here, but I genuinely feel like across the fan base there is a level of trauma that has made us all hyper-alert to like, oh no, the defenders had a bad run, bad spell.
00:11:36
Zak
Wellington kicked that ball. Oh no, it's happening again because of how many times it happened last season.
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:42
Zak
I think it's just going to take a while, right?
00:11:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Genuinely, I think right. Yeah.
00:11:45
Zak
so So I wouldn't be surprised if Harbour-Bellis plays. Like, you know, him and Stephens didn't exactly have the best communication last game, right? So I don't know, you but, you know, if not, maybe Nathan would get some running eventually.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting that we've not seen a lot of him, to be honest. Where I think a lot of people would have probably had him around the starters, based off of the start... Line-up at the start the season, so...
00:12:15
Zak
Well, I don't really know if that's necessarily true, right? Because Ronnie Edwards has come off the back of a really good championship season on
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:21
Zak
So they've got that experience there. Jack Stevens has become the captain we always wanted him to be. ah thats That's a lie. like he just started The whole season last season is a way off this point, right?
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought you were going to say it's a lie. No one wanted him to be the captain. that might have been arguably true as well.
00:12:39
Zak
I'm not having that entire argument right now, but, you know, he's played really well so far this season and you have to judge him on merit, right?
00:12:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wait, you thought it? and
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:50
Zak
And so, you know, of course, he's the new sign-in, the new boy that they've brought in. They want to see how he fits into the team. You know, he's quite tall. He's quite, you know, plays very kind of a bit differently. And unfortunately, he's been caught with those differences of like lack of passing and distribution and stuff like that. think Things that like in our...
00:13:09
Zak
in our preview episode, we kind of covered a little bit and that might just take some time to gel in. And he even himself said the biggest difference has been that the absolute level of physicality for the championship. He just wasn't expecting and as fit as Wilstead is making them all, you know, so then, but that, but of course, because he is the new player, they're going to want to give him the run in, right?
00:13:29
Zak
So because of that, but that leaves Nathan Wood behind all of those other players, which is probably why he struggled to get into the team.
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
i I honestly, I suspect this week we're going to stick with that back three and I think that it will remain quasi and Stevens and either Harwood-Bellis or Edwards.
00:13:46
Zak
Yeah.
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't be surprised at all by that line-up.
00:13:49
Zak
Yeah.
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Full-backs, Ryan Manning, presumably, starting for me.
00:13:55
Zak
I think Manning's back in now. i think I think that he's now become one of the ones that people expect to be on the scheme sheet. It doesn't help that Wellington didn't have the greatest of games last game. know, it was frustrating probably for him more than anybody else.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:14:08
Zak
And again, like we've already talked about how there's a lot of untapped potential in him. And obviously, you're going to need game time to do that. But also, we're at the beginning of the season and we're trying to pick up points quite quickly.
00:14:20
Zak
And it's not like we've got any injuries or anything else like that. And so far, Ryan Manning has been, you know, one of the saviours of the first game of the season. And we just seem to play a bit better with him.
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:14:32
Zak
So, the real question after that then, mate, is the other wing-back slash...
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah is Yuki settled enough to start or are we seeing the return of Weeman at right back uh
00:14:36
Zak
it
00:14:41
Zak
i it It was weird, but I could see it happening again.
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
It works.
00:14:45
Zak
i could see it being the case, right? if If we've got sort of...
00:14:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got to give massive shout-outs to Ryan Fraser. and but When you consider that, realistically, a lot of fans' concerns based off of like his history with other clubs, and specifically with Eddie Howe, I suppose, was an attitude-based problem.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
is there none of that this season, right? Just like willing to go out, put it all on the line. He's got himself into some ridiculous shape and is just happy to play wherever he is on the pitch and like make it work.
00:15:17
Zak
it might It might have been the case, right?
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:15:19
Zak
It might have been the case that he did have an attitude problem back then. The problem is that there needs to be an acceptance sort of the wingliness that people changed, right? Some people will not and will struggle with these sort of things, like Mario Lamina is an example, right? We hoped that after he left us, maybe he'd grow up a little bit.
00:15:35
Zak
He did. He then was made captain at Wolves and then did the same thing again for his toys at the prab and got moved on. Whereas you're right with Ryan Fraser, like there is a lot of that. We were told to expect it. We had so even some of our own fan base seem to kind of be treating him like that, despite the fact that he didn't really do anything other than make a mistake at Leicester last year.
00:15:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:54
Zak
Like there was nothing to say.
00:15:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
it is I mean, self-proclaimed that he didn't have a good season last year. And, that and and you know, but look,
00:15:59
Zak
Exactly.
00:16:02
Zak
He's having a good season so far.
00:16:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know but yeah we said were all about here for redemption arcs and I'm here for it and I ah love seeing it and was it on my bingo card at the start of the season absolutely see not does that make me love it any less absolutely not bring it on
00:16:13
Zak
so
00:16:17
Zak
100% expected him to be moved on, mate. Did not expect him to be here.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah definitely Uh, midfield, presumably Downs and Charles is, is just an expected, like, these are the two names you would expect to see on team sheet every week, if available this season,
Midfield Stability and Alternatives
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
right?
00:16:32
Zak
Yep, pretty much.
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
That seems to be an important part of the system.
00:16:33
Zak
That's what we've fallen into you now.
00:16:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're sort of double pivot style, holding midfield coverage, uh, sort of all the other technical terms that you want to throw at it, but they they seem to have found their feet together.
00:16:50
Zak
Who else are you going to put there? Like, Matsuki's probably the only person. and And Smallbone is out sick sick still.
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah wouldn't ah wouldn't I wouldn't put Matsuki in place of either of those players because I think of him as a far more attacking player.
00:17:03
Zak
Yeah, but but that's ah that's a role that he can play. and that's But then if you were going to...
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:08
Zak
obviously you don't put him there, but if, say, one of them which injur was injured, he's who you'd call up.
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:17:13
Zak
Because at the moment, Eribo is probably... he's like, run his way out, or suddenly we're going to discover that he's going to be here for another year. But that will be after the windows closed, in my opinion. I think until that point, they're going to be trying...
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:17:25
Zak
Well, not necessarily the club, but he probably is exploring options. And Smallbone's out with you know another eight with injury still right? so
00:17:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah What what about but about that other midfield spot? Are we still seeing Matty, do you think? Or do you think he's out the door by this point?
00:17:40
Zak
i don't think so yet. I think that that is a transfer that because of the nature of his agent, we would have heard more about already. And i think that I think that you've read into those comments.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that's fair.
00:17:53
Zak
And yeah, I believe that it's the case that there's probably issues with international. But also bear in mind, he was playing in the under-23s Portugal, right? Like he's not in the main squad yet.
00:18:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Maybe it's not him. Oh, let's hope. Let's hope that it's just because it wasn't just, you know, confirming my worst things.
00:18:07
Zak
it it could it could be it could be you know you're right It could be Taylor Harbour-Bennis. It could be, as i said, it could be Sugawara, because Sugawara is an international.
00:18:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:16
Zak
it could be like If you look at the internationals in our squad, there's a couple, not as many as it used to be. That has to be said. But yeah it might not be him.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:25
Zak
And even if that's the case, just because that's what they've told him... And that that's what he he's thinking about. He might not be that bothered about leaving.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah here's a here's Here's a slightly wild thought, mate.
00:18:33
Zak
Like, he doesn't look like a player that's refusing to train that is upset.
00:18:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could it have been dibbers?
00:18:41
Zak
the
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Dibbling being tapped up in time for a cooler.
00:18:42
Zak
See, this is genuinely one of the things that I'm thinking of, is that if he has ambitions to to make the World Cup squad or play well enough or play in the Premier League, it's kind of, at this point, we we're not...
00:18:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:55
Zak
no No one's surprised by it. like The ego boost of last season to him as a person, of course, is going to have an effect.
00:18:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice.
00:19:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:19:04
Zak
And if at this point, you know if there are clubs showing interest, and there have been clubs showing interest, sure, sure or hell he might end up going. it was ah ah Just remember, he was a breath of fresh air last year.
00:19:15
Zak
and we should like i know that we've dithered back and forth, but
00:19:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, i I've got so much respect for both of them because despite all of it, you know, despite all of it, they're playing. They're training.
00:19:26
Zak
yeah
00:19:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're playing. Like, his time off wasn't because he threw his toys out of a pram and had a wobbler. Like, Will still was just like, yeah, like, I just wanted to give him space to work it out. But that space is, you know, he got on the pitch last week and...
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
was all right and is said to be training well this week. So fair play. You know, he's no Isaac, is it?
00:19:46
Zak
it's happened a lot with a lot of our transfers.
00:19:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:49
Zak
A lot of our transfers in the last couple of years, we've had a lot of players that haven't, you know, Carl Walker-Peters, yeah, didn't sign a new contract. have been nice to get some money, but at the end of the day, he left at the end of conclusion of his contract after playing really, really well for us. There are no players, you know, Teller,
00:20:05
Zak
When he went, that kind of came out of the blue. We didn't expect it. and then he went on to a Bundesliga and, you know, had the season of his life.
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:20:12
Zak
And that was after the whole free Burnley stuff. But he played in one of our games and scored that goal that was apparently Adam Armstrong's goal.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Adam Armstrong's goal. Yeah.
00:20:20
Zak
Yeah, which we talked about, James Hall.
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I personally spoke to Nathan Teller after that goal and he was still attesting that it was his. So, yeah. Okay.
00:20:28
Zak
James Will Proud, which is another one, but as much as I know that people kind of feel, and even us have kind of said, well, that wasn't, that didn't work. I think the only person that I think we've been surprised by recently who left and kind of left with a bit of taste in everybody's mouth was probably Danny Ings. And I don't think that was intentional. I think that there was a lot of stuff going on where,
00:20:48
Zak
he said he kind of wanted to leave and it turned out that the only club that came in from the end at that time was Villa. Before then he got moved to West Ham anyway. He's currently without a club. So look forward to those final days of being linked.
00:20:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, try and rope us back on topic,
Striker Options and Goal Needs
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zach, before we ramble off too far and too long, I guess a front three, if we're playing Weeman at right back, Robinson, Archer, and one of either Downs or Stewart?
00:21:02
Zak
Sure. Sorry, mate. Yeah.
00:21:14
Zak
Yeah.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or do you think Armour does enough to get in in place of Archer?
00:21:19
Zak
Yeah.
00:21:23
Zak
Would you not expect Debling to stop?
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't don't know. Maybe. Maybe in play. I mean, look. For me, we've talked about how I categorise our strikers currently. I want to see either one of Archer and Armstrong, either one of Downs or Stewart.
00:21:36
Zak
Hmm.
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And actually, i think I would be happy with either Robinson or Diblin. I think if you want to... I'm happy with any combination of those six, as long as it's in that sort of basket combination, I think is where I want to see it.
00:21:57
Zak
Yeah, not just not just leaving one of them on their own, I think, is your thing, right?
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, 100%.
00:22:01
Zak
saying So, yeah, i would say I would say maybe Downs and Arma. You know, Arma was top goal scorer in the Championship for a reason. I know that it's been a bit of a struggle for him to recapture that form and, again, again going to the baggies didn't help that.
00:22:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just need to go.
00:22:15
Zak
But then also, same with Damien Downs, in my opinion.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just need to go.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
me
00:22:19
Zak
I think that there's ah there's a lot of potential in him. I think that...
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He just needs to hit the net and get back confident so he knows where it is.
00:22:25
Zak
Yeah, that's the problem, right? Because at the moment, with the confidence is I missed an open goal due to Chex notes my feet. like
00:22:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, look, I feel like both all of our strikers, Archer included in this, they just need that goal to hit the ground running.
00:22:42
Zak
I know, the only worry is been saying that for so long.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stuart, maybe, I think, well, yeah, I know. I mean, this feels like the same episodes that we were posting at the start last season, but this time there's a bit more actual hope behind it that it might actually come true.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. Right. right that's our best attempt at starting line-up, mate. I don't think we're getting closer than that. We'll see how it to comes about about two o'clock tomorrow.
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we're going to move on to everyone's favourite part, score predictions. But first, a message from our partners at Zencastr. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform.
00:23:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zencast 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.
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencast.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, we are back. And as is tradition, Zach, going to throw you under the bus first. Tony, how are you feeling?
00:23:45
Zak
Right.
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
What you think is going to happen?
00:23:48
Zak
Well, they they've historically gone with getting three goals. It's going to be boring, according to you. so I'm going to go completely against the curve and say we're going to win.
00:24:00
Zak
Let's go 3-0. Let's go. let's keep a clean sheet. Let's make a statement. Let's put ourselves back where we belong and think we should be. Can't wait for this to bite me.
00:24:13
Zak
behind within it a day.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:24:15
Zak
However, that's how I'm feeling.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. may ask
00:24:18
Zak
It might be ah ah sleep deprivation. It might be late how late we recorded this in comparison to our usual recorded time. It might be the fact that I've had a long, long, long, long day.
00:24:29
Zak
I need a bit of optimism for my life, mate. So for you know.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
right All right, look, it's time for the return of one of our old friends. And look, towards the end of last season, i stopped looking at this because it got far too depressing.
00:24:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But we're back with my little AI-generated stats feel.
00:24:46
Zak
Oh good! Perfect!
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
the long-awaited return of the previous 16 meetings between Southampton and Stoke, uh, Saints have won five, Stoke won five, and six of them have ended in a draw.
00:24:52
Zak
a
00:25:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And the average goal per game 1.3. So... So... Uh... think that, uh...
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:25:07
Zak
Oh, can I change it to 1-0 now?
00:25:10
Zak
3! Bottom of that trend!
00:25:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:25:14
Zak
but that trendad
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think that I think we're going to two one
00:25:23
Zak
Have you predicted 2-1 every time, every score this so far? far? ah Apparently it's been two games.
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. no I think I've been think i've been going 3-1 normally.
00:25:31
Zak
Right.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
but i think In fact, I think we predicted a clean sheet last week.
00:25:32
Zak
I'm very...
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like I'm mixing it up. 2-1. I don't know if a clean sheet's on the cards yet is where I'm at.
Score Predictions and Statistical Insights
00:25:41
Zak
I'm very surprised you didn't do like a 1-0, because it is stoke. And you're right, that's the problem.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I thought about it.
00:25:46
Zak
It's that like the statistics, statistics can be used to anything in life, right? We've discussed this before, but...
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
A 1-0 just feels really boring, doesn't it? like ah Maybe you're right, it's probably going to be 1-0, but ah ah just I don't know if welcome but don't know if I see a clean sheet in our future and I want us to win, so 2-1 is the lowest scoring way of achieving that.
00:26:06
Zak
Perfect. hello
00:26:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, win's a win, isn't it? I'll be looking forward to it. Unfortunately, I'm not going to this game. other family commitments dragging me elsewhere. But as mentioned in our 3pm blackout episode yesterday, that will not prevent me sitting and keeping up with the scores, even to an extent where i will get in trouble.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you kids are going, so I look forward to bringing you their reviews of the match in our match review, because that's going to be fantastic, top quality content for sure.
00:26:32
Zak
luck yeah Perfect.
00:26:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, but look, great. Both predicting a win. The optimism's back. Uh, mate, I just can't wait.
00:26:45
Zak
Sit along at last, mate, eh?
00:26:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to win the league. It's going to be great. Uh, look, but thank you very much, everyone for joining us. That is all we've got time for today. we hope you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the match.
00:27:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, we will be back on Monday, whatever happens with, uh, our reactions and our reviews of the game.
Listener Engagement on Predictions
00:27:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, Let us know your score predictions on socials and in the comments. We are on X. We are on Blue Sky. We are on TikTok. We are on Facebook. We are on Instagram.
00:27:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're everywhere. Come and let us know how you think we're going to get on. Let's have a great weekend. Come on, Saints. Another win. We're going to do it. Top of the league, maybe. Maybe that's the top sort of time of the season we're getting get to first and stay there.
00:27:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's hope. We'll see you Monday. day Have a great weekend, everyone.
00:27:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.