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Episode 172: RELEGATION.
73 Plays12 days ago
Southampton – What more can we say? The earliest any team has ever been relegated in Premier League history.. Another game this week, and we talk about that too...
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Transcript
Introduction and Relegation News
00:00:09
Zak
Hello and welcome to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, where, like the economy, we are going down.
00:00:22
Zak
Relegation has now been confirmed in a move that one of our centre-backs described as knowing for a couple of weeks, which, quite frankly, is like me and Greg were talking about just before we started. Yeah.
00:00:36
Zak
We are allowed to say we've known for a couple of months. For the players to come out, theyve they've they've had the ability to change this. like Like a run of a couple of wins.
00:00:47
Zak
Completely changed the way the season's going to end. But alas, that isn't the way the cookie crumbles. And today's absolutely dire match against Tottenham has all but now confirmed.
Fan Disillusionment and Criticism
00:01:01
Zak
Our relegation from the Premier League. Championship, ole, ole, ole. Let's look forwards.
00:01:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look mate, that league's more fun anyway.
00:01:09
Zak
It is. I think it's... like I'm not going to lie. The results stress me out that much. I end up just napping for two hours after i finished after the game finished. Because I was just like... We've still got to get through the rest of the season.
00:01:22
Zak
And like the problem is is that all of this all of the noise around the relegation and then and then being like, oh, Jack Stephens has come out to say thank you. And I'm like, mate, you weren't here for 50% of the season.
00:01:32
Zak
So, like, not being funny, bud.
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
literally suspended for most of it.
00:01:37
Zak
Exactly. So, and and you've got, like, you know, the rest of them all coming out. and and And now you've got Jan being like, oh, we've known for a couple of weeks. And and this, that, the other. It's just, it's just like, I just, but I don't want to hear it.
00:01:51
Zak
Because you still have a goal. And that goal is to not be the worst Premier League team of all time. Right? We already knew relegation was basically confirmed. but yeah it's a bv We now have the accolade of being the team to be relegated like the earliest in Premier League history. and It's 2025, guys. like We spent loads of money, but it just shows you that the current state of affairs, like maybe we weren't as harsh as we should have been.
00:02:17
Zak
and keep Benchsell, you know, because I'm starting to think it's just everyone needs to go. We need an entirely new Southampton squad that that actually, because all I care about is that whoever is with us next season wants to be here.
00:02:30
Zak
So yeah, that's that's kind of my thoughts. it's yep It's upsetting. It's devastating. We knew it was coming. We still need to make sure we're not the worst team of all time.
00:02:40
Zak
The fact that they're They're coming out with like acting like this has all been inevitable since the start of the season, when in reality, a run of games would have changed it.
00:02:51
Zak
Yes, I know that the players aren't in charge tactics. The players aren't in charge of who has been picked. Quite frankly, no one's been good
Squad Overhaul Contemplation
00:02:59
Zak
enough. And it's it's I hate hate that kind of feeling around the whole, oh, but it's all because of you. We care about you. And if I remember rightly, haven't you paid more to go see it this year?
00:03:09
Zak
Haven't I had to pay more when I go see it this year? Haven't have the fan zones, are we still spending £8 on of beer?
00:03:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. That's crazy, mate. It's not just that either. Like, they took away a lot of the season ticket holder benefits this year as well. Let's not forget, you don't get the 10% discount in the shop with your season ticket anymore unless it's the one week a year that they specify you can have that discount on. It's...
00:03:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a lot, mate. It's been a rough it's been of really tough season.
00:03:35
Zak
Yeah.
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been horrible. And I don't blame anyone who is feeling disenchanted, disheartened, disconnected, because it's been miserable.
00:03:44
Zak
Disconnected.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I don't know if without you know a vested interest and a podcast about it, if I would... B, I don't want to say positive, feeling about how I do.
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because, you know, I'm looking forward to next season now. This season is what is. Worst team in Premier League history or not. It's kind of irrelevant now with that other record, right?
00:04:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because now there's an argument that even if we get the points, we're the worst because of going down the earliest. So, does it matter?
00:04:18
Zak
This is the thing, right? it's Again, it's the reason I think it matters is that it's showing something, some level of pride. like It's all well and good.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ma
00:04:28
Zak
Thanking the fans, mate.
00:04:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
We lost that. We lost that.
00:04:32
Zak
yeah I know, i know, but...
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've known that we lost our pride and that we know that we've been effectively relegated basically since the last time we played Spurs.
00:04:43
Zak
You're right, when when Russell Martin went for some reason, apparently half the players' brains decided to go with him.
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because if there was going to be a turning point in our season, that was going to be it.
00:04:53
Zak
It would have been then.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what we got was a 0-0 draw to Fulham. And then a promising 1-0 loss to West Ham.
00:05:00
Zak
I can't sum up better than that, mate.
00:05:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:03
Zak
Well, I guess we'll also talk a little bit about the game. Line-up was a bit different. We expected it to be. Bounds was out with a suspension because, you know, 10 yellow cards in a season is quite a lot.
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Were we surprised Stevens got dropped?
00:05:17
Zak
A little bit, to be perfectly honest. I think that...
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
thought he played alright.
00:05:19
Zak
to be honest i think that I don't think that Bednarek and Taylor Harbaugh-Bellis played well. If you see some of the defensive highlights, mate, because I know you didn't get to watch all of it, but yeah, some of the goals, it's just like the positioning, it seems to be sort of like, oh, this ball's coming over here.
00:05:39
Zak
it's gone in the net. And you're like, you could have done anything to stop that happening.
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that I get stick right for being the optimist or or trying to point out some of the obvious things on this, right but we've been playing with a back three, albeit not with centre-backs all the time, but for 80% of the season at this point.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So presumably we changed to a back four today. is it any wonder that our centre-backs looked lost?
Tactical Failures and Player Analysis
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because every other game, there's been three of them.
00:06:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:06:16
Zak
it's It's just dire. it's It's just dire, but...
00:06:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that we've been calling out for a bit more pragmatism, but if you're used to the system, which they seem to have got you know a bit more used to, we had a good run against Palace, I don't understand why you then change it up.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think I said before the game that it almost accidentally... You remember like really early on in the season?
00:06:38
Zak
You said it was almost accidentally tactically astute.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:41
Zak
Yeah, when you thought...
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you remember really early on the season when we thought that Russell Martin had like doubled up on Saka and we're like, this is tactical genius. like we're We're putting tactics on the pitch like managers.
00:06:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I almost thought it was almost a line-up that made you think of that. Because I'm like, yeah, all right. Archer, Suleymane and Diblin, three players who are sort of going to run in so either with pace in behind or in Diblin's case, you know, with the ball to feet, is going to be willing to get behind and run past a very high Spurs line.
00:07:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great. That's a promising start. i Like it's almost accidentally tactically genius, but it's just not how it played out. Although, you know, Sulemana had that chance early on.
00:07:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
If that goes in, maybe it's a different story because that could have turned the fans in stadium,
00:07:26
Zak
Yeah.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Spurs have a bit of notoriety for heads dropping. If that goes in, we might have survived another week.
00:07:36
Zak
Well, they were still pretty miserable at 3-1, if I'm totally honest.
00:07:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:41
Zak
But, I mean, to be fair, comparison to their expectation to ours, they're doing worse and they've got loftier goals. But we'll we'll talk about a little bit more about the team selection. and We'll talk a little bit about the game.
00:07:53
Zak
And then we'll talk about how we're going, how we're going to have to motivate ourselves, mate, to talk about the rest of the season, whether we like it or not. As much as all of us are kind of there like, well, roll on next season.
00:08:07
Zak
still There's still quite a few games to cover.
00:08:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
they're all just They're all just free hits now, mate. They're all just party time. That's it.
00:08:14
Zak
Right. Okay. Well, until then, please listen to a word from our partners at Bionic.
00:09:05
Zak
We are back and we managed to only repeat the ads again a little bit. You all never noticed that cause we always cut out on posts. But it's like a roll of the dice whenever the gleg Greg clicks that button.
00:09:17
Zak
Whether or not you hear anything or whether or not it shows up. And it's always funny. So if you ever see us come... If any of you have watched us on video because we are available on YouTube and you see us laughing when we come back straight after the break, it's always why. But alas, you know...
00:09:31
Zak
just picking things to smile about because there's not a lot in the football. Yeah. Other than that, but the lineup, as you said, it made you thought it was tactically astute. More than likely it's to deal with the fact that Downs was out and Ono actually had a knock because I feel like he'd have much preferred so started probably the same game as Palace midweek, but the fitness that we have in our squad means that they can manage about 45 minutes of good football.
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:54
Zak
Yeah.
00:09:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree with that. And that makes sense. I just don't understand what forces that change to a back four. But I know that Archer for Tallpool isn't a like for like swap. But I don't understand how Stevens misses out for that, unless it's unless it's also down to Stevens' fitness, I guess, because he's not long back from injury.
00:10:05
Zak
But this is the thing. Throw a dart, mate.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's...
00:10:15
Zak
That's the thing. It's throw a dart at a board for a ridiculous explanation and they'll come up with it. And again, like... Juric had a poison chalice from the start, but my my lord, it's like trying to fix... You know, it's like trying to fix a river full of sewage by pumping more sewage into it, right?
00:10:32
Zak
That's genuinely how it feels at the moment. And, like, I wasn't hugely surprised because what else would the line-up have been? There's not a huge amount that's been massively different and it ended up being what it was. But, obviously...
00:10:46
Zak
we hoped for more and again it was one of the classic saints oh we performed for 45 minutes eventually he got a goal back and then wellington brought down he he brought that johnson in the box anyway it i said i tweeted out axon sky i think they had a constellation goal which i should have i meant to put constellation goal was tweeting tweeting angrily
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Classic.
00:11:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then it was written in the stars, so maybe it's both.
00:11:12
Zak
but Yeah, exactly. so so that's what I kind of said today. but that's this just It's just the the constellation in my dreams of Saints being better.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:22
Zak
But...
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
We got Rush Stewart cameo.
00:11:25
Zak
He did. That was one of the think only things I was going to say was a positive, is that he returned to at least 10, 20 minutes of football. didn't didn't Didn't get injured again.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
that Does that double his total time on the pitch in a Saints shirt at this point?
00:11:38
Zak
I feel like at this point, yeah, why not? It's about that, isn't it?
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's got to be pretty close to that. It's not...
00:11:43
Zak
Especially, but like he's probably going to be the ones one of the ones that's with us next season, whether we like or not. Because I don't think anyone's buying for him.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:49
Zak
I think we've still got him under contract. And And could ah could see I could see them shipping out pretty much everyone at this point. I'm not going to lie. do wonder how ruthless they're going to be at the end of the season and and to rebuild for the championship.
00:11:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
think I think I explained in our crossover episode, our bonus episode on Saturday, that actually, for me personally, think that if we keep either or both of Matty Fernandez and Tyler Diblin, and it has to be said that the £100m price tag on Diblin almost says we're not letting go. but That's almost what that means, right?
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
if we're being realistic, if we keep either or both of them... I don't care if we sell the entire rest of the squad. I think it's a good transfer window. Or just release.
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, i And, you know sure, we have some decent players in that list that are falling under fire, maybe unfairly, maybe fairly from that.
00:12:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and think there will be players that will be happier to see stay if they stay and sadder to see go if they go. But honestly, i really think that any Other than those two, that's it for me.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
The rest, take it or leave it. Like, Sugawara, there's a place for, I'm sure. Like, he probably couldn't go on to be a reasonably good attacking fullback, but...
00:13:15
Zak
Yes.
00:13:17
Zak
Started well. Started well and then just hasn't done that good. One of the people that, and thought you know, as as much as when when he started, i had a bit of an affinity to him. Thought was really good. He's not really covered himself in glory the last couple of games. He's been at fault for a few goals. You can say that about most of our defence, though, to be fair.
00:13:34
Zak
You've got quite a few people whose head's already out the door. Quite a few people heads have dropped. And if we do end up as the worst Premier League team of all time, I hope that Monika sticks with those players. I hope that they get to they get to the moves that they want. And I hope that...
00:13:46
Zak
there is always underneath them, right? Whenever
Need for a New Squad and Statistical Disappointments
00:13:49
Zak
it's like, you know, it shows up like Joe Aribo, part of the worst Premier League team of all time, because I want to make sure that that that sticks with them. Because like, it's just, i don't know, if it feels like they're going to walk away with a ton of money and we're going walk away with championship again.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
the Look, the us and going into next season, right, as far as I'm concerned, once once that window closes and whoever's here, fine. it's It's a clean sheet based off of performance next season, right?
00:14:18
Zak
Yeah, true.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll take it from scratch and build from there.
00:14:18
Zak
three
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's fine. I'm i'm happy to give that grace. Like you, you either by choice or otherwise have stayed or been bought in.
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we start from there and go from scratch. But until that point, honestly, like I say, some some will be more upsetting than others. But I don't think, I don't think that any part of this squad that is likely to stay,
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
is essential for championship survival success, right? Like, you know Ramsdale's as good as gone, and that's fine. We will be happy to see the wage packet gone. We knew that that was going to be a condition of signing him anyway, that if he kept us up, great, what a bargain sign in. if If we go down, we'll get probably a profit on him, and it is what it is. We had a great goalkeeper for a season, or a good goalkeeper.
00:15:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Harwood Bellis, when we signed him, I thought, I hope that he goes on and stays on to be a real like locker room leader and stays on to be a Saints captain. But honestly, he's been quite hit or miss this season.
00:15:29
Zak
Hmm.
00:15:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
if he wants to go and he wants a bigger move and thinks he's bigger, then fine, whatever. Next. You know, Bednarek will probably end up staying, but realistically...
00:15:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
he has been a part of both these relegation seasons. Like, it what else is there to say? Like, fine, whatever. Walker-Peters is, you know, out of contract and fair enough. Always puts a shift in at least.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's more than can be said of some of the rest of the team. Joe Aribo, another hot or cold player. You know small bone who came on. Like, maybe to, a you know, one of our own and fair play.
00:16:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
probably do a job in the championship but yeah like honestly maybe a clean slate is for the best maybe you're right
00:16:13
Zak
No one is up to quality. That's kind of where I'm at now. Like, I just can't... I can't... How positive are some of these players going to feel that they've had, like, back-to-back relegations in the Premier League?
00:16:27
Zak
Back down, back up, back down, back up. the can't... You know, you'll end up with that sort of mentality... where you worry about it. and you They had that mentality going into the season.
00:16:38
Zak
They were really, really worried about it, hoped they could do it, reinforced really not strong, and then everything else has just completely got away from them. Blame Sports Republic, blame the managers, blame who you want.
00:16:49
Zak
Ultimately, the player collective hasn't been good enough. So if they all go and they'll replace with new players, then on to the next thing. We already live in the past anyway.
00:16:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just absolutely mental, mate. If you're talking from a statistical perspective, which is part of the reason that we don't, to be clear, because what I'm about to tell you really sums up.
00:17:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Someone who almost, not quite, but almost can sort of walk out with some level of dignity. Paul Honatchu, right? Scores four goals in nine starts.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
you That is an actually half-decent statistic. in the, you know, scale in terms of the season. It's a joke, but it's... Like, any other striker, you're thinking, four goals in nine games, one goal every other game, that's pretty good lower league team striker standards, but...
00:17:36
Zak
Mate, even...
00:17:41
Zak
Even armour in the Championship hasn't taken off, has it? He's had, what, two goals?
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:17:45
Zak
One of them being a penalty?
00:17:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:47
Zak
So, yeah, you can see...
00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
As someone who watched him play at West Brom yesterday, I could show say that he might be suffering from the service he receives as much as anything else in that team.
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:00
Zak
True. But again, like you can't, I dunno, there's been some individual standout performances. You've, you've, you've had Mati Fernandez consistently having a crack. He deserved his goal today, deserved it full heartedly.
00:18:13
Zak
And then it's completely like, for me, it's the part, the absolute poetry of we get a goal back. Maybe we could just salvage a draw and then instantaneously brought down in the Premier Premier.
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
something stupid, Pennaway.
00:18:23
Zak
Yeah. so Something, something done penalty three, one.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Matty Fernandes is player of the year for us, right?
00:18:26
Zak
And then we, yeah.
00:18:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
There's no other player even a sho even close to a shoo-in for me.
00:18:33
Zak
it's It's given for me, the problem is, Greg, is it's very much given me vibes of like when we had a really good relegation season and Lavia played for us and then Lavia just disappeared off the face of the earth to see after almost being sold for after a bidding war between both Liverpool and Chelsea.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:18:49
Zak
But we'll talk about our our closing thoughts because I wanted to actually talk a little bit more about the game to today and how for me it was it was an indictment of our season, and as a lot of the games have been.
00:18:59
Zak
Yeah.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've also got some more thoughts on next. I've got another thing to, but, uh,
00:19:02
Zak
Yeah. and then we'll And then we'll spin out onto our thoughts on next season. Of course, once we've had a word from our partners at Zencaster.
00:19:14
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 automat automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:19:31
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.
00:19:36
Zak
We are back for the end of this episode on our on relegation day. it's It's kind of weird, isn't that the two games against Spurs that we've had this season have been Russell Martin being fired and us being relegated.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
defining defining season moments they really put the nail in our coffin twice yeah
00:19:55
Zak
And I just paused to Coglu. this has been manager for both of those games. And we've been beaten in both of those games. It's that's just surprising that Sundin scored against us.
00:20:07
Zak
That's where I'm at.
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's the only surprising thing right
00:20:10
Zak
Because as much as it wasn't 5-0, it was still 3-1 and it could have been a lot more. Ramsdale had pulled off some good saves because once again, the defence let him down. and Yeah, like I think this game is just, we could carbon copy paste so many of the recordings we've done this this season.
00:20:28
Zak
So game starts really well. We have a bit of pace. We have a breakaway attack. Oh no, the ball was 1-0 down. Heads drop a little bit. No one knows what's going on. 2-0 down. Oh, wait. Oh, VAR's overturned
Fan Reactions and Loyalty
00:20:38
Zak
that goal.
00:20:39
Zak
We've got lucky. I can't remember it get what game it was. Was it Palace? It wasn't Palace. It was another game that was earlier in the season where, like, we got away we got away with it being, like,
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Man United.
00:20:48
Zak
They should have got a goal in the first half of the season. i was Sorry, first half. And then it was overturned by VAR. But it didn't matter because we then just shot ourselves in the foot. We go in and then we come out at half time. We start playing football.
00:21:00
Zak
You're like, where was that 45 minutes ago? Mad. And then obviously yeah you've got the substitutions. And, you know, feel like Wellington's going kicking himself a little bit. Some of the substitutions being a bit weird. But again, like who else stopping out for? We finally bring Paul on. We're playing at one point with two strikers.
00:21:15
Zak
Playing with Paul and Ross Stewart. But like, this is what it is't it is, isn't it? was It was a perfect indictment. But then and then you've got the ending with all of them coming over to clap all the fans and the fans, you know, people criticising them for for clapping the players. mate if you've travelled all the way down to the London Stadium to watch football, you've...
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, just to correct you, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, mate, not West Ham.
00:21:37
Zak
just
00:21:41
Zak
Sorry. Yeah, no, thank you. to all them They're all the same. They're all just modern modern, terrible stadiums with about as much character as, you know. i had a discussion with a former but West Ham fan. the So former, he still supports West Ham, but he's also a fan of long non-league Aldershot.
00:22:00
Zak
So...
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
You had a good weekend, right? They're off to Wembley.
00:22:03
Zak
Yeah, exactly. So they're having a nice time. But, like, again, for me, it's just an indictment of... like Because what's the alternative? We scream and shout at the players.
00:22:14
Zak
Yeah, okay. Everyone feels good about that. it I just, it's just, I don't know what the answer is. I think it's like, like when people grieve, right? Everyone grieves in their own way.
00:22:24
Zak
Some people going clap and be like sad and wish wish them well. Some people going have to be rightfully, as I've seen all over all of the social media, how angry people are, how it's ridiculous. We should never be in this position.
00:22:35
Zak
And then there's other people like me and you at this point where, because we've been doing a daily podcast for so long, have just hit acceptance, right? We hit acceptance so long ago. It's just for us, this is like, yes, tick box.
00:22:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, anger turned into apathy horrendously early in the season, yeah.
00:22:46
Zak
so this so this up yeah So long ago. i remember we even put a tweet out something about that, about just the apathy we feel towards the team and then trying to look forward to what's coming forward.
00:22:58
Zak
Yeah, it's just, it it is what it is. But for me, this game, I don't know what it was about it. i genuinely thought maybe we could get some out of it and within the sort first five minutes.
00:23:11
Zak
I was sort of like, oh no, it's going to be one of these games, isn't it? And then I sat and punished myself by watching the rest of it. And what i should have done is gone outside and seen some sun. But alas, it's it is what it is. And we now will we roll on to next season.
00:23:26
Zak
We'll see what we do. you know Maybe we'll play some of the youth, give some some of the young kids a look in for the rest of the season. Why not at this point? What
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It's... Like say, I remember from our last relegation season, i remember...
00:23:37
Zak
are your thoughts, mate?
00:23:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I remember a lot of the pain and suffering, right? But what I really remember was sunny day at the end of the season where we were already down and Liverpool came to town and we drew 4-1 and it was such a good atmosphere in the ground my kids had a great time and we stayed about after the game because it was you know sunny in the evening and we met some of the players and I'm just hoping that that's the vibe the rest of the season. You know, there's nothing... There's no ums and ahs and ifs, but I know that we've been down for a while.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But now it's official, it's done. There's no... no It's just got to be that vibe heading into the championship. Otherwise, it's going to drive us to insanity.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, hopefully along the way, there's, you know, enough points to take us above Derby's record. But like I say, whether actually matters or not with this other record that we've managed to beat, don't But bring on next year.
00:24:44
Zak
That's all we can hope for. At the of the day, we're not fans of Southampton in the Premier League. We're fans of Southampton. And it's going to be... Sucks. it It sucks. It's awful. I'm looking forward to not having to wait 10 minutes of to figure out if a goal has gone in or not. i know whether I know I'm joking. It's five. But still, five minutes to figure out an offside decision that was very dubious at best.
00:25:08
Zak
we've We've really discussed whether or not we think it was an offside decision.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
As mentioned, I yeah took a trip yesterday and went and watched the championship game. And what that was a reminder of is that although far is horrible and the referee in the Premier League is awful, the referee in the championship is worse.
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:25:28
Zak
Yeah, but my maybe maybe that'll work out in our favour some games because it just feels like it's never worked out in our favour these games apart from maybe as I pointed out today.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:39
Zak
But it's more of the breaking up the flow of like, I'm already, i just want to get to the end of the half and I'm now having to watch seven minutes of added time because we've stood there for minutes staring at a screen waiting for a decision to be made for them to rule it out.
00:25:54
Zak
And then it's not to matter because they scored straight after anyway. So it's like,
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also, don't hold your breath because I have heard rumours that VAR come into the Championship as early as next season. So... don't know. Maybe that's not the part of the hope that you look for, mate.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just think, right?
00:26:10
Zak
It's really not.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just think, right, look like we we like to try and finish on positivity. Just think of this, right? You said that there might be a full squad clear out and that we don't hold on to much hope.
00:26:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
But just think about how many goals our six foot seven striker who's got four in nine in the Premier League is going to score in a league where he is slightly more to his standard.
00:26:35
Zak
Perfect. You're right. Well, on top of that, like,
00:26:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wait, call Paul for golden boot next season. You heard it here first.
00:26:40
Zak
love Another attempt at positivity, because like you know I don't want to be too miserable, as much as it's a miserable time, is like, man, shout out you guys, you included Greg, fans go in week in, week out, supporting the team, regardless of you know whether you feel like you should scream and shout at them, or whether or not you should...
00:26:59
Zak
you know however you feel like you need to react. like Our fan base has popped up with a lot this season and taken all of its stride. Some of the best moments for me are are singing, how bad must you be? It's only The laughing instead of crying is a is a fun way to deal with it.
00:27:17
Zak
and We've had some moments with some the two wins that we've had, but like, we're still going. We still, the stadium still is packed out as in my opinion, it can be.
00:27:28
Zak
The away ends are always still packed out regardless. Like our fan base, you can say what you want, about it, you can call us a tin pot club or whatever, but don't, don't judge the fan base that a lot of people who still go remember League One, Championship, Premier League, all those years in the Premier League, the times where you beat Inter Milan, you know, it's just another, another notch in the bow, another chapter in the story.
00:27:53
Zak
But like, they are the ones that it's important for. And I don't want to hear all the plaudits from the players talking about how, oh, you know, the fans are the best and they're like the Salampton, like ignore the corporate part, ignore, you know, ultimately the lifeblood of the club is the the fan base that support it.
00:28:08
Zak
And I think the Premier League teams general, they'd start understanding that a little bit more because you can have all the tourists you want, but when you when you don't have anybody that actually cares about your club and your club just becomes a business entity, you will soon start to realise that, you know,
00:28:23
Zak
people will be be really, really wound up and people who are Taurus will get mad when they turn up to watch their team supposedly win 3-0 because that's what they used to, that's what they should expect and that doesn't happen as opposed to the loyal fans who stick for it all.
00:28:38
Zak
Yeah, just a shout out to our fanbase basically.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
100% players can come and go but our choice of song in those final moments today are telling because truly we will be here and when the Saints go marching in we'll still be hearing in that number 100% alright
00:28:41
Zak
That's a better way to end Taurus.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
hundred percent
00:28:58
Zak
Agreed, mate.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:29:00
Zak
That's it, I think. Thank you very much for joining us. We'll be back tomorrow with Summit.
00:29:06
Zak
I'm sure there's another game of football around the corner.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
What do mean? you don't want practicalically You don't want to tactically analyze that performance?
00:29:12
Zak
You and Oscar can.
00:29:15
Zak
who
00:29:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll figure something out, I'm sure.
00:29:18
Zak
After watching 90 minutes of it and needing two hours to get over it, mate. I don't know how much more I want to unanalyze it, you know? But yeah, we' we're on all over the social media as a pair. We're Facebook, we're on Twitter, we're on Blue Sky, we're on Instagram, we're on TikTok, we're on the Gnaley Southampton YouTube channel.
00:29:36
Zak
There's a couple of other podcasts apart from GSPN. We have a women's football podcast you're interested in that. Our wonderful owners are doing a podcast on the World to the World there the road to the world cup sort building up towards that.
00:29:53
Zak
We've also got like an overall jet GSPN Premier League chat podcast as well. If you're looking for some other content, we we obviously hope you stick around with us because we're a Southampton-based podcast. And if you listen to this, you must like Southampton.
00:30:05
Zak
But yeah, just letting know, there's some other stuff on there too. But yeah, thank you very much for joining us. And all I can end it on is championship. Ole, ole, ole.
00:30:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.