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Episode 392: Championship Roundup!
81 Plays22 days ago
Southampton – A busy weekend of Championship goodness, the league we know and love with all the drama and ability for anyone to beat anyone. We take a look back at the weeks action and all that transpired, and where that leaves us
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Transcript
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach. How you doing mate, you alright?
00:00:23
Zak
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. I'm not too bad, I'm not too bad. Into another week of March. There's the sun today, that's always a positive. Yeah, I feel a good day.
00:00:32
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Good. And it's nice, mate. Lots of football to look forward to this month. And one of those days today where we actually get the opportunity to pause for a minute and look back over a weekend of championship action and and kind of gauge where we're at in terms of the rest of the league and and see what's been going on.
00:00:54
DailySaintsPod
It's been a while since we've actually had the opportunity to sit and do one of these, mate.
00:00:56
Zak
So long. And we still can't cover all of the games because one of the games is this evening.
00:00:59
DailySaintsPod
So it's nice.
00:01:03
DailySaintsPod
yeah That's it, mate. It's just how it is. So, as always, I'm going to go reverse chronologically, alphabetically organised because it's your favourite.
00:01:15
Zak
The way BBC Sports shows you basically, yeah.
00:01:17
DailySaintsPod
Pretty much, yeah. And go from there. So, we started on Friday night. Watford winning 2-1 away at Bristol. It's... sir A good result from Watford. They're another one of those teams sort of right there in the mix, I would say, right?
00:01:37
Zak
Yeah, well, I think the biggest big story surely is the fact that it's taken Will Still's brother significantly less games to get the same amount of wins as Will Still in the Championship.
00:01:37
DailySaintsPod
Ninth, pushing up. couple of points behind us.
00:01:50
Zak
And it's it's kind of nuts. That kind of appeared out of the woodwork. No one really expected it. his it's Ed still to be in contentions for that job. He got the job and he seems to be doing lot with them so far.
00:02:01
Zak
But Watford, again, like I just feel like potentially they need stability, but also that seems to be counterproductive to what they will ever do.
00:02:02
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:02:10
Zak
So maybe they do just need to change their map every three to six months to to keep them Surely at this point, if you've been a player there for longer than like two or three years, you you know the you know the score, right?
00:02:21
Zak
But yeah, they are another team that wanted to be up on about it.
00:02:21
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:02:24
Zak
And I think for a long time, Bristol City were considered to be the same, right? But they've kind of dropped out a little bit.
00:02:31
DailySaintsPod
m
00:02:32
Zak
But again, it's so it's so tight. Like we're we're on 53, but so Derby 51, Watford 51, you know, Bristol City 50. If Birmingham wins tonight, that could put them up to 52.
00:02:43
Zak
you know It's just so it's kind of crazy how how tight it is at the top.
00:02:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it's properly packed in, properly condensed, but you're right, Bristol and Watford, they're both a kind of, if you look at the table, seem to be languishing in mid-table when actually they are kind of right up and amongst it.
00:02:48
Zak
Yeah.
00:03:01
DailySaintsPod
But that's the the thing, right? Both of their form after this game now reading, you know, two lot two draws, two wins, two losses, or Bristol's actually, that was their third loss in the last six.
00:03:14
DailySaintsPod
And that's that's just kind of shaky enough based off of the form of the rest of the league to to make it look that way, despite you really being right around that playoff zone.
00:03:27
Zak
Yeah.
00:03:27
DailySaintsPod
it's It's crazy.
00:03:28
Zak
I agree.
00:03:29
DailySaintsPod
That's why we love it, though. But yeah, it looked like...
00:03:31
Zak
Great.
00:03:32
DailySaintsPod
what Watched a bit of it on Friday night. It was a good game. Would be lying if I did say that I didn't switch over to watch the Aston Villa-Walls game for for the second part of it.
00:03:43
DailySaintsPod
But but yeah, good result for Watford. Interesting running. looks like Both of their forms probably a bit too shaky, considering the the form table and how it looks at the moment. But...
00:03:57
Zak
Yeah, for for sure.
00:03:58
DailySaintsPod
Anything can happen, like you say. Any of these like three games in seven-day period weeks, and that's flipped on its head completely. So the joys of it. Right there, mate. The early kickoffs, the 12.30 kickoffs on Saturday. Derby County beat Blackburn 3-1.
00:04:16
DailySaintsPod
Now Ben Broughton-Diaz getting a goal in that game for for Derby.
00:04:17
Zak
Yeah. John Eustace coming back, sir so you know. Horn Blackburn, but also Ben Brota-Diaz coming back to Horn Blackburn. He seems to just be loving life at Derby. Fair play to him.
00:04:32
Zak
Seems to be significantly more suited there you know than he was at ours.
00:04:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. I mean, that wasn't a high bar. It's not like you set a high bar at ours to be more suitable than anywhere else at.
00:04:43
Zak
No, he... did the the The bar was a performance, basically, right?
00:04:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:04:49
Zak
But you you do wonder what it is about specifically... Derby that's managed to sort of unblock his potential, especially considering that when he first started there, he, he wasn't getting a lot of high praise, right?
00:05:00
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:05:02
Zak
If you, if you remember our former compatriot GSPN coming on and and talking about, you know, sort of like, yeah, he's not really kind of like kicked off yet. And then sort of behind the cameras being a bit like, oh, he's a bit, he's bit crap. And, And, um, crap.
00:05:16
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:05:19
Zak
Yeah, obviously now it's not necessarily the case. Seems to be sort enjoying himself there. And Derby, considering they were considered to be probably like relegation candidates by a lot of people, are now up there, regardless of whether or not we think we're better than them, you know, they are literally just below us. So wild turnaround they've had in form. And Blackburn, unfortunately...
00:05:43
Zak
you know, still stapled quite close to the relegation zone, not as bad as they have been. feel like Leicester and Oxford kind of West Brom's put in and run in for the money.
00:05:55
Zak
We'll get to them. But yeah, it's a kind of a weird game, really like a John Eustace derby more than anything else.
00:05:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:06:03
Zak
But from a Zayt's perspective, hopefully it puts like a couple of couple of pounds on the price tag of Ben Briggs and Diaz, doesn't it?
00:06:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, we can hope that's his fourth goal this season now, which, like you say, is... is a marked improvement from where he's been at, but, uh, yeah, i like a comfortable one for, for Derby by the looks. And like you say, they're going to be pushing on and the same as us. They, they have like a dip in form, couple of losses and looking to bounce back now. so
00:06:33
Zak
Yeah.
00:06:33
DailySaintsPod
keeping themselves in, in with a shot as, uh, like I say, as is most of the league at this point, which is the crazy thing. Next up, the other one of the other early kickoffs, Leicester 0-Norwich 2, which, man, Leicester at the moment, like, what' what's happening?
00:06:56
DailySaintsPod
Hmm. it's just the
00:06:57
Zak
Well, yeah you see, we beat them twice in a week. And then since then, they've been able to salvage like a draw here and there. But yeah, the the points deduction clearly having having its effect, especially as the the state of the league, you know, as we discussed, is is means that is so tight, it wouldn't probably be as much pressure.
00:07:16
Zak
And it's mad to think there's only a couple of years there in Europe. From a Saints perspective, interesting to see that Joe Eribe was an unused substitute for the entirety of the game. which shows you that he's probably about as valued as he was here at this point.
00:07:24
DailySaintsPod
m
00:07:29
Zak
I think he's had a little bit more minutes than he would have managed here. But Norwich, you know, truly on the resurgence, right? Doing really well under Clement.
00:07:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, like all the way up to
00:07:38
Zak
Considering where they started under under Manning, right?
00:07:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, they looked, you know, like one of the favourites to fill up that that third relegation spot. And now they're kind of, you know, almost enough to be not quite out of it. but But, you know, you wouldn't you wouldn't back them to go down with with what's below them.
00:07:59
DailySaintsPod
And four wins from the last six, that's a sort of really crazy turnaround. they are
00:08:05
Zak
No. They've hashed out the Josh Sargent transfer saga as well. He's finally moved to from to the MLS. Because I don't know how much you were aware of that, Greg.
00:08:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:08:16
Zak
I've kind of been aware since we we talked about picking him up a long time ago. everyone's saying, oh, we should have gone in for him.
00:08:20
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:08:21
Zak
And he kind of seemed to basically go on strike until he got this move to, I want to say he's moved to Toronto now. And yeah, I can see that the reaction to him moving from Norwich fans has been...
00:08:33
Zak
like goodbye snake kind of thing. But yeah, like clearly they but they seem to be better for it.
00:08:36
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:08:38
Zak
And, you know, as we know, when you, sometimes it's better to let a player go, right? And rather than sort of force them to stay when they don't want to be there. And
00:08:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, well, it's the sort of thing that can kind of hang over the the whole dressing room, right, and bring the entire vibe down.
00:08:52
Zak
yes, agreed.
00:08:56
DailySaintsPod
and And in the league where it's as tight as it is, momentum really is, you know, one of the key drivers. So the Norwich looking to build that now. And and i mean...
00:09:08
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, not even like a million miles away from playoffs, although you would imagine that is probably out of reach to the league.
00:09:17
Zak
Mate, I genuinely think you can't say that because all it takes is one one club to drop off of the form table.
00:09:23
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:24
Zak
I know if i know it seems kind of insane, but like if if you have a couple of losses for sort of like what for Bristol, Preston, us, Derby, all of a sudden people will shoot back up.
00:09:35
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:09:37
Zak
It's the same thing with Sheffield United.
00:09:38
DailySaintsPod
That's a lot of teams between between them and that, though, to to all fall off at once is is the thinking, right?
00:09:44
Zak
Yeah, there's quite a few games though.
00:09:45
DailySaintsPod
And 13 points behind the playoff places with 11 games to go, it you know it it's not completely out of the question, but you would think sort slightly out of reach.
00:09:57
DailySaintsPod
But compared to where they were at, that's a win, right?
00:09:58
Zak
You would think.
00:10:01
Zak
you would think. like I wouldn't have thought we'd managed to sort of drag ourselves up the table to where we are now, but we we have. and it's you know I'm all here for it. Don't get me wrong. But it's just it's a funny old game. And you know fair play to them. It's one of the few teams that we're coming up that we've got games against where a bit like war.
00:10:21
Zak
don't know how well I fancy that. But we just have to cross that bridge when we come to it.
00:10:24
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:26
Zak
Or as me and you like say, burn that bridge when we come to it.
00:10:28
DailySaintsPod
Like... And like you say, mate, the other edge of that sword for Leicester, now losing four of their last six, drawing two. It's kind of like a race to the bottom between them and West Brom, it seems.
00:10:41
DailySaintsPod
It's...
00:10:42
Zak
Yeah, the the both of them are seeing how quickly they can capitulate, right?
00:10:46
Zak
It's it's awful.
00:10:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, you would expect...
00:10:47
Zak
I feel awful for them, but...
00:10:48
DailySaintsPod
the the quality in the squad of Leicester to kind of pull through at some point, but, it could be a crazy, like say, with the thing with their points deduction as well is I think they appealed it and the Premier League have appealed it, which means that there is an outcome where it still becomes more points deducted than them where they're at, right?
00:11:11
DailySaintsPod
It could be more than six.
00:11:11
Zak
i Yeah, I think there's a there's a big struggle when you say about the quality that could sort of see them through. But at the same time, like that's got to be a a depressing environment to be around. And they seem to have sort of been neglected ownership wise over the last few years. And it's one of those few instances we talk about where, you know, we talk about how bad owners can be.
00:11:35
Zak
And I don't think that this was like an intentional thing, right? Unfortunately, you know they're they they lost their you know big backer in that accident a while ago. and I just don't think that the company that he was running has had the funds to be able to do what they did when Leicester in the Premier League. So just a lot of lot of problems for sure.
00:11:55
Zak
And yeah, it will be probably disastrous if they go down. So we just have to hope that for their sake, they do a bit better, but also, you know, it's we've seen it we've seen it before, right?
00:12:08
Zak
We've talked about pretty much yesterday or Sheffield Wednesday, mate.
00:12:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. well i think
00:12:10
Zak
Like, it's just...
00:12:11
DailySaintsPod
I think think it raises a topic that's far bigger than the discussion we're going to have today around like the financial damage
00:12:11
Zak
All
00:12:24
Zak
right.
00:12:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. So an interesting one. You're right. not Can't be any, can't create an easy atmosphere to build momentum in. And yeah,
00:12:42
Zak
No.
00:12:42
DailySaintsPod
just just absolutely plunging. Who would have thought Leicester's survival being the main target at this point in the season coming in into the year, but but that's how it is.
00:12:51
Zak
Well, especially when we started the year out of the two of us, if you told me, you know, who is going to be closer to the relegation zone, especially after the sort first month or two of the season, it would probably be us, right?
00:13:03
Zak
So, yeah.
00:13:04
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:13:05
Zak
o Anyway, more games, isn't it?
00:13:06
DailySaintsPod
Right, mate, moving on down the list, the last of the early kickoffs on Saturday, Portsmouth 0, Hull City 1.
00:13:18
DailySaintsPod
Things you'd love to see?
00:13:18
Zak
Oh, mate. Like, we've had our fair share of disastrous goals take place towards us, but my lord, is it nice to see it happen to someone else and it could have happened to a better team.
00:13:30
DailySaintsPod
Specifically, yeah.
00:13:32
Zak
yeah
00:13:33
DailySaintsPod
Look, just to touch on some key stats from the match, just to really drill home what kind of disappointment that goal was.
00:13:44
DailySaintsPod
Portsmouth had 22 shots compared to holes two. It's... Yeah. and
00:13:53
Zak
Oh, mate, it's funny, you know, because we've had games like this before where, like, we've absolutely peppered the other side.
00:13:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:58
Zak
of where They just go like, oh, I feel like when we played like Oxford, right? where we you know
00:14:04
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:05
Zak
And that the clip of me saying teams like Oxford will pawn me forever. But, like, that is a perfect example, right? of Sometimes, you know, it doesn't work out the way it should on paper.
00:14:17
Zak
And as you always point out, it's played on grass. So, yeah, cool.
00:14:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. An absolute howler of a goal for those who haven't seen it. A calamity of defensive mistakes. But and then whole taking advantage, getting that goal.
00:14:31
DailySaintsPod
And coming away with the win. You know, whole proving that they have the ability to win, even not playing at their best, turning around after dip in form. they had a couple of losses and now up with two wins on the bounce.
00:14:48
DailySaintsPod
And they're, you know, they're another one of these ones in that in that mix, right? Up in fifth now.
00:14:54
Zak
Yeah, they they need to be taken seriously and it's it's funny, isn't it?
00:14:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:57
Zak
Because you you look at where they were a couple of seasons ago and like Ruben Sellis happened to save them from going down and, you know, think it was, what was it?
00:15:11
Zak
It seemed that they fired, who's now Chelsea boss, who was like, didn't do, didn't didn't quite make the playoffs and they were like absolutely outraged and then, yeah, made a bunch of bad decisions but,
00:15:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:15:22
Zak
I play to them because they're their fifth now. So something's working clearly.
00:15:27
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, something's working going for them. But, you know, with their shakiness in form up until this point, if they can kick on and and build momentum off this, they'll be, you know, up there to be contended with. But as with all of the the teams in that three to six space, or even the two to six space, to be honest, the the pressure's on, right? You've got keep up the momentum because...
00:15:54
Zak
We do.
00:15:54
DailySaintsPod
The team's going up from slightly below. Us in particular, right? we're We're making our claim known. It's going to be...
00:16:01
Zak
We're knocking on the door. It's just a shame that Wrexham are continuing to also knock on said door. yeah
00:16:07
DailySaintsPod
Absolutely. Pompey, though, sat 19th in the table at the minute. Five points above the relegation zone. Probably doing just about enough at the moment to stay in stay up, you'd have thought.
00:16:22
Zak
the If you look at the fact that they're getting the odd win, it seems to be doing better than a vast majority of those below them, right? Like, the I wouldn't be surprised if Oxford managed to snatch a win or two here or there and that sinks West Brom and everybody else stays up at this point. It's just give the idea, like, it's going to be mad when we go through our predictions, right, at the end of the season.
00:16:50
Zak
for where we put Leicester and West Brom. And I can tell you now, it probably wasn't the relegation zone.
00:16:55
DailySaintsPod
Oh, definitely.
00:16:56
Zak
It's
00:16:56
DailySaintsPod
are i Yeah, crazy, crazy scenes.
00:16:59
Zak
good. just It just means another South Coast army next year. Two more South Coast armies next year, if we don't get promoted.
00:17:03
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:05
Zak
So, you know, it's just fine.
00:17:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:06
Zak
It's a win-win situation.
00:17:07
DailySaintsPod
Something to... it It creates the win-win situation, right? Of going up is obviously a win and staying down is is a win because it's a much more fun league to be a part of and and you get a couple more South Coast derbies.
00:17:20
DailySaintsPod
So it it balances it out, I think.
00:17:21
Zak
There you go. Happy days.
00:17:24
Zak
Yes.
00:17:24
DailySaintsPod
And then moving on to the rest of Saturday's games. So as you alluded to, Wrexham beating Charlton 1-0.
00:17:35
DailySaintsPod
I didn't see a lot about the game, but what i did see was Wrexham's post quoting Nathan Jones from last August with calling them a circus.
00:17:47
DailySaintsPod
LAUGHTER
00:17:48
Zak
that's That's fun. thats I enjoy any level of pain as throwing Nathan Jones way.
00:17:53
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:53
Zak
And it's fine.
00:17:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:54
Zak
If I would want to believe that he's in our head, it's because he is.
00:17:57
Zak
And it's because the damage that I felt that he did in the 48 days in charge that he spent in our club will forever reverberate.
00:17:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:06
Zak
through our psyches, especially where like a week later he was like randomly playing football in like, want to say like the Dorset fifth division. It's just the most bizarre man known to the planet.
00:18:18
Zak
And, you know, fair play that they've got a boss that they actually enjoy, but it does mean that we get to pull out soundbites like that whenever he says anything like that.
00:18:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:27
Zak
And then, ra I told you early season, mate, if Wrexham can bring in the right players and look to continue to do what they've done, they can have a run-in. And they seem to be doing just that much to our frustration. Because obviously every time we get win and they do, the needle doesn't move.
00:18:45
Zak
And that's what's annoying about it, you know? relying on other teams to drop points and us gain them is is always infuriating.
00:18:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:52
Zak
But at the same time, it's the situation we're in after having an early part of the season where we just didn't kick on.
00:19:00
DailySaintsPod
well, I mean, the thing with Wrexham, at least, is it kind of can be in our own hands as we still have to play them and and we can sort of turn that over at least mostly then.
00:19:07
Zak
True.
00:19:11
DailySaintsPod
So, but yeah, you're right. They're exceeding expectations moving up to the lead, right? And... I mean, if they make it to the playoffs, it'll be a great documentary to watch.
00:19:26
DailySaintsPod
Everyone enjoys watching it, right?
00:19:27
Zak
Oh, for sure.
00:19:28
DailySaintsPod
So... Yeah.
00:19:28
Zak
yeah But the problem is that we're going to be in it for like more months.
00:19:29
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah. And...
00:19:33
Zak
I feel like, you know, if we make it to the playoffs with them and we end up playing them and then there's going to be these three games, that's going to be, yeah.
00:19:33
DailySaintsPod
yeah m yeah
00:19:41
Zak
I look forward to us being the villains of the Wrexham story, mate. I told you all along. Why do you think so invested?
00:19:47
DailySaintsPod
and Hey, look, Wrexham just doing their best to turn around the definition of being a Mickey Mouse club, right?
00:19:49
Zak
e
00:19:55
Zak
Yeah, well, you say that, it was even...
00:19:55
DailySaintsPod
So... Yeah. Yeah.
00:19:58
Zak
was
00:20:01
Zak
You say that, but like let's look at it. All we need now is Cardiff to be taken over by some eccentric personality. And then, you know, but basically, don't know what it is with Wales and eccentricity, but apparently that seems to be the theme, at least in football, right?
00:20:10
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:20:19
Zak
That's where I'm at currently.
00:20:20
DailySaintsPod
That's it. that's it
00:20:21
Zak
but Between Nathan Jones, Wrexham, Swansea's Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg, Swansea, sorry. Who knows?
00:20:29
DailySaintsPod
It's what makes the championship such an entertaining league, right?
00:20:29
Zak
Yeah.
00:20:33
DailySaintsPod
It's not just like an incredibly tight competitive league where anyone can beat anyone and literally as far down as 17th can still potentially go to the playoffs.
00:20:41
Zak
It's just weird, mate.
00:20:43
DailySaintsPod
It it creates such an environment of just incredible personalities and entertainment.
00:20:47
Zak
It's such a weird league.
00:20:51
DailySaintsPod
is It's just an absolute joy to behold, honestly. I yeah genuinely love it. It's so good.
00:20:57
Zak
Oh, it's so weird. It's such a strange, strange little part of of the footballing world. and Yeah, you're right. It is good fun. Can't wait to leave it behind and get bad every week again. It's going to be fantastic.
00:21:12
DailySaintsPod
it
00:21:13
Zak
Anywho, there aren't more games, right?
00:21:14
DailySaintsPod
Alright, moving Next game, Coventry beating Stoke 2-1.
00:21:15
Zak
Yeah.
00:21:21
DailySaintsPod
Coventry finding their feet back to winning ways after a slight dip in form and you know lots of calls of potential bottle jobs. you know They're now four on the bounce. They've won.
00:21:32
DailySaintsPod
Stoke
00:21:32
Zak
No one could bottle anything as good as Arsenal, though, let's face it.
00:21:35
DailySaintsPod
Championship classic stoppage time winner for Coventry. 94th minute. Rodoni sliding in and getting the goal. Right.
00:21:47
Zak
that was us against Charlton.
00:21:48
DailySaintsPod
yeah look It was yeah just eight points clear now.
00:21:51
Zak
But...
00:21:53
Zak
Just ever since they came ever since they came to our place, just really dislike Frank Lampard and them. I'm just very much like, yeah, whatever, good for you.
00:22:03
Zak
But like, man.
00:22:07
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:22:08
Zak
pettiness that they they had when they came to our place. like i get it, you need to be that petty and you need to be that ruthless. This is what was talking about with how strange atmosphere is around the idea of us beating Sheffield Wednesday and sort of like, oh, we don't want to win too much, sort of that whole thing. And we kind of feel like that's the case with them, is that they they are just being ruthless. But yeah, fair play. It's still a feel-good story, I think, for the Championship. It just depends when they go up at this point.
00:22:37
Zak
how their next season will be. Like, again, the' the team that went up that's having the most success is into the team that won in the playoffs, which is mad considering that we were up and we had won in the playoffs.
00:22:44
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:22:48
Zak
We are floundered, to put it lightly. So, but yeah, very, very routine recovery.
00:22:52
DailySaintsPod
Well, that's the thing, right? if you If you cruise your way up winning the league in kind of dramatic style, like, you know, Burnley did the year before before with Vince and company in charge, right?
00:23:05
DailySaintsPod
You try and take that progressive style up to the Premier League and find out that you are not... you're not the the big fish in the little pond any anymore. You're, it's a different game.
00:23:05
Zak
We've, yeah, we've conceded no roles.
00:23:16
Zak
Let's see, we'd...
00:23:18
DailySaintsPod
And so you almost, the benefit of going up through the playoffs is at least you expect to probably adapt and adjust the way you're, you're going to go and and have some kind of overhaul.
00:23:30
DailySaintsPod
So, you know, if if we go up now, our squad, I don't know, they're not going to be able to play the with the freedom that they played with against QPR in any game in the Premier League, right?
00:23:44
DailySaintsPod
it's It's just the way it is.
00:23:45
Zak
I don't maybe play that way against Wolves.
00:23:46
DailySaintsPod
and And I mean, honestly, the because of the way our strengths are in the way we play at the moment, it does mean perhaps we'd be better suited to the Premier League because you're probably not coming up against teams who play a low block every week.
00:24:01
DailySaintsPod
But Also, there's you know gaps the other way, right? So it's it's fascinating to see how that will play out. But you're right, eight points clear at the top now, really just a matter of time before that promotion is is locked in, presumably, as we get towards the the tail end of the season. You know, 11 games left, it's getting close to to running time.
00:24:25
DailySaintsPod
Stoke, on the other hand, sliding down the table in a e disappointing run of form.
00:24:28
Zak
Yeah, they've they'll be disappointed.
00:24:31
DailySaintsPod
But I mean, think Stoke at the start of the season, probably just trying to stay up, I think, if I remember rightly.
00:24:41
DailySaintsPod
And were you know definitely exceeding expectations when they were pushing at the top of the table. So probably just happy that they did enough early on to kind of keep their name out of that.
00:24:52
DailySaintsPod
out of that part of the table, right? So think that, yeah, 47 points, but only one win in the last six. I don't know.
00:25:04
DailySaintsPod
It's the, like we say, the the key of momentum, right? Still technically well within the range to push on for that promotion spot, but based on form alone, you can't see it happening.
00:25:15
Zak
very much dealt with it, especially with the other teams around them picking up points.
00:25:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:20
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that's it. Next up, Ipswich 3, Swansea 0. Ipswich, and you know, another team in this in this fight, right? Right up there in the table, pushing on into fourth now. Two wins, three wins in their last four.
00:25:38
DailySaintsPod
Also just on that 60-point mark, Yeah, just just solid from them. so so Swansea not performing as well without their illustrious Snoop Dogg in attendance to drive them forward.
00:25:45
Zak
Yeah.
00:25:52
DailySaintsPod
Apparently that's maybe the key.
00:25:54
Zak
No, that is apparently now only going be the thing that's needed. be fair, it's got to be distracting from a player perspective.
00:26:00
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:03
Zak
When you've got a part owner of your club doing NFL-style walk-ins with his own boombox, that's going to take away from the fact that, yeah, it's going to be great commercially and financially, and that's probably the main reason it took place, let's face it.
00:26:17
DailySaintsPod
it looked It looked like it created a hell of an atmosphere, the wagging in the stars at the start.
00:26:20
Zak
Yeah, it looked it looked great, but they you know they they go away and they're like, oh God, we forgot, we forgot.
00:26:22
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:25
Zak
like you know Partying Snoop Dogg last week has probably thrown us off a little bit, but also fair play
00:26:30
DailySaintsPod
I mean, the quote that sticks out in my memory that I saw floating around was, what was the difference of having Snoop Dogg here? Well, I could smell weed in the tunnel. Like... but All right, yeah.
00:26:42
DailySaintsPod
No, that checks out. So...
00:26:44
Zak
fair.
00:26:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:46
Zak
Yeah, I think Ipswich...
00:26:47
DailySaintsPod
Snoop for you though. Yeah.
00:26:49
Zak
are an example, mate, of what happens if you keep stability and that stability is successful, right? You know, they've kind of, I think there are a lot of criticisms early season and i think there was even talk about McKenna going, but clearly it's not the case now.
00:26:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:04
Zak
They're doing all They're still pushing on, you know. I feel like they are a... or forced to be reckoned with, but they are a very, very stable championship side who will probably be in and amongst, I think, playoffs for quite a while, unless, you know, they start to get picked apart transfer-wise.
00:27:23
DailySaintsPod
i think that they're I think that of all of the teams in the playoff positions, they are the team with their eyes on automatics the most. they will That's what they'll be aiming for. So it's it's definitely you know not off the cards, not on the table.
00:27:39
DailySaintsPod
So we don't know what the Middlesbrough result is going to be tonight.
00:27:42
Zak
We do not.
00:27:43
DailySaintsPod
But, you know, it could... Could start to get really interesting, let's say. But yeah, solid performance from Ipswich. Yeah, another one of the teams with the momentum on their side, for sure.
00:27:59
DailySaintsPod
Right, next up, Oxford 2, West Brom 1. The continued capitulation of the Baggies is sore topic in my family at the moment, I think it's safe to say.
00:28:13
DailySaintsPod
don't think that my brother-in-law will mind me quoting him as saying earlier in this week, watching this team is making me hate football.
00:28:22
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:28:23
Zak
yeah It's like us last year!
00:28:26
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:28:28
Zak
Oh, no! That's devastating.
00:28:31
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, West Brom found themselves 2-0 down in the opening 26 minutes and did at least manage to go on and get a goal back, but not enough to to get anything out of looking at their run of games that's left at Oxford that they would have been expecting to beat to distance themselves from them in in the bottom of the table. and in fact...
00:28:53
DailySaintsPod
You know, that's that's basically a six-pointer that they've given to Oxford because that brings Oxford to within three points of them. Obviously, Watford's first win in the last six, you know, having a season to forget.
00:29:08
DailySaintsPod
But, sir yeah, is's it's kind of crazy.
00:29:09
Zak
It's all that.
00:29:12
DailySaintsPod
Of course, West Brom firing their manager in the week.
00:29:15
Zak
Well, what I think we've realized is that maybe the MLS is just like a different breed and we should stop hiring managers from the MLS because between between him and Nancy when he went to Celtic, like it just seems to be really, really good success in the MLS means absolutely nothing else elsewhere.
00:29:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:29:33
Zak
that That's what I'm taking from it so far.
00:29:33
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean, that's not to say that you're not going to find a quality manager in the MLS, but you're right. It just means that success over there doesn't equate, right?
00:29:42
Zak
but what I mean is... oh currently Currently, it doesn't look to be the case, right? Until we have a some of the upsets or or starts moving that needle towards a percentage that is better than not, it seems to be the other way around right now.
00:29:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:29:59
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, you know, leaves West Brom in in a really difficult position, heading into, like i say, the last 11 games of the league. and don't know.
00:30:11
DailySaintsPod
It might just be the the optimist in me with the the ties that I've got that thinks they've probably got enough to stay up. But so also, the numbers don't lie, mate.
00:30:22
DailySaintsPod
And at the moment, they're spelling disaster for West Brom.
00:30:23
Zak
They do not.
00:30:26
DailySaintsPod
It's... it's it's it's really not good. I'd say it's like a proper race to the bottom between them and Leicester and Blackburn and Oxford doing enough at the moment to to benefit from that.
00:30:39
DailySaintsPod
When, you know, earlier on in the season, it looked like Oxford were a sure thing to to be one of those names going down. Now they're, you know, they've given themselves a chance.
00:30:51
DailySaintsPod
So what more can you say for them?
00:30:53
Zak
Yeah. As I said, I wouldn't be surprised if they managed to stay up and West Brom go down. It's where I'm at based off of what's going on currently.
00:31:02
DailySaintsPod
crazy uh right moving on preston north end nil millwall two uh millwall they get pushing up now into that uh you know talking about ipswich pushing on for the automatics mate but millwall mill
00:31:03
Zak
I know that you hate that, but
00:31:15
Zak
Yeah, you say Ipswich. Yeah, come on, man. This is the team that you you called like a dark horse and I laughed at you and now I'm i'm the one that's completely in the wrong.
00:31:23
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:31:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, look, they're they're finding their feet, they're putting in the performances, they're getting the wins. You know just a solid game, 16 shots compared to Preston 6. Just a good result away from home for them. And like I say, they're they're also going to be having their eyes up towards towards those automatic spots rather than looking down to to the other players chasing them down. And You know, that's sir a potentially dangerous thing, right? Like, they're not out of it at all. Well well within reach of Middlesbrough the moment. And, yeah, Millwall in the Premier League would be pretty nuts, wouldn't it?
00:32:11
Zak
Yeah, I mean, yeah. Anything I say will get myself in trouble, probably.
00:32:15
DailySaintsPod
If... it
00:32:16
Zak
Yeah.
00:32:18
DailySaintsPod
Look, Millwall looking for promotion.
00:32:18
Zak
yeah
00:32:21
DailySaintsPod
If if that gets solidified, the Met will be praying with everything they've got that West Ham get relegated so that they don't have to deal with that particular derby, right? Let's let's put that out there.
00:32:33
DailySaintsPod
You talk about interest in potential derbies next season. Yeah. but yeah
00:32:40
Zak
Yeah, some some somehow, like, yeah, one way or another, if we all go up, I feel somehow West Ham will go down.
00:32:41
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:32:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:32:51
Zak
It just kind of feels like the vibe.
00:32:52
DailySaintsPod
i might
00:32:53
Zak
But yeah, no, fair play.
00:32:54
DailySaintsPod
Elijah Wood looking to spin up a sequel, right? That's where we're what we might be looking at.
00:32:59
Zak
Yeah, Paul Preston, I guess.
00:33:01
DailySaintsPod
Right, next next on the list, QPR 0, Sheffield United 2. QPR... qpr just Just struggling, man.
00:33:13
DailySaintsPod
Like, we we put them down and and now the Blades, you know, have of done that too. it's You know, Sheffield United, to be fair, on a slightly upward turn of form. Did lose in the week, but four wins from their last six.
00:33:31
DailySaintsPod
It's, yeah, again, putting themselves... in in almost enough of a position to be thinking about pushing on for that for that final playoff spot, but just a lot of work to do to to pull themselves up from the the position they created from their poor start to the year, right?
00:33:51
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:33:52
Zak
Yeah, well, as said, it's just there's just a lot of former Saints all over it, mate. Danny Ings, not even in the squad, don know if he's out injured. Very rough well is there now. they have a bizarre situation and they brought in what like they brought in a bunch of extra firepower.
00:34:06
Zak
cal Calvin Phillips, who, if I remember rightly, is currently suspended to be putting some horror tackle last week that has meant that
00:34:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, he himself sent off in the Sheffield derby. Yeah.
00:34:17
Zak
Yeah, and then you've got, you know, and then you've got, like, free agent, as in they brought partpa Patrick Bamford in, who's done a little bit for them. Yeah, they are they are chucking the kitchen sink and trying to be a little bit better than they have been. I don't know whether or not that's going to succeed for them the end.
00:34:33
Zak
But as you said, it's a tight table at the top, so...
00:34:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, and that's that's why we love the league, like we say. The fact that anyone can beat anyone and push it is what makes it so entertaining and leads to so much of our frustration on a weekly basis. But that's it. And the, of course, last game on the list we covered extensively yesterday as we beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at Hillsborough. So if you want to hear our thoughts and analysis that, go back and give that a listen.
00:35:05
DailySaintsPod
And then, yeah, like you say, one more game to play tonight at the time of recording. So we'll be tuning into that and seeing how that goes.
00:35:13
DailySaintsPod
But, mate, all things considered, just just another classic championship week, right? All of the results pushing everyone closer.
00:35:19
Zak
Yeah, similar to that.
00:35:23
DailySaintsPod
I don't think that, you know, no confirmed anything in the league and nor will there be until, like, the last possible minute, right? Like, like as far down as like 17th can potentially get up to 6th, but also like as far up as 16th, potentially looking over their shoulders, you know, what could be coming up from behind them. It's,
00:35:49
Zak
Yeah, it's kind of crazy, to be honest. I'm not going lie.
00:35:51
DailySaintsPod
yeah.
00:35:51
Zak
The state of it is nuts. But we're just off the hope that it continues to be this exciting, except when we don't want it to be exciting. i'd like i like so just you know I just want to make sure that we we go on continue to continue winning ways and give ourselves the best opportunity to hopefully get promoted.
00:36:11
Zak
And then if we don't, it's not the end of the world. But I think either way, come the end of the championship season, it's going to be a lot to think about as a Saints fan.
00:36:23
DailySaintsPod
said Well, look, we find ourselves in the best possible position currently, right?
00:36:23
Zak
It'll be a lot to think about championship.
00:36:29
DailySaintsPod
We are top of the form table, five wins out of the last six, with Millwall right in there behind us with four wins and a draw.
00:36:40
DailySaintsPod
Coventry the same, four wins and a draw, and Wrexham the same, four wins and a draw. It's, yeah, that's the reason it's tight, right? All of these teams building their upward momentum.
00:36:52
DailySaintsPod
Coventry doing their best to pull away, but but everyone else keep in keeping tabs with them. just Just getting there. The long may our form continue.
00:37:03
DailySaintsPod
Let's stay at the top of that for for the longest time because it's great.
00:37:04
Zak
Agreed. Agreed.
00:37:09
DailySaintsPod
It's what we enjoy and what we love to see. But look, that's it, mate. That's all we have got time for today. So thank you for for joining me and going through that.
00:37:18
Zak
Thank you, Bob.
00:37:19
DailySaintsPod
And thank you everyone for for listening. Let us know your thoughts on the week. Any particular highlights? I suspect a few of you will be that whole goal for sure.
00:37:31
DailySaintsPod
But let us know the socials, in the comments. We are Daily Saints Pod. Absolutely everywhere. TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, X. Everywhere. Hit us up.
00:37:43
DailySaintsPod
Let us know. We love hearing from you. and all that good stuff. And while you're there, why not give us a like and a subscribe? It goes a long way to helping us out, and we really appreciate it. And we see all of you helping boost those numbers lately, and we are so grateful. So thank you very much. We will be back tomorrow with more Championship Saints goodness.
00:38:07
DailySaintsPod
But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day, and we'll see you then.