Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 291: Matchday Review: Disappointing draw at Derby
128 Plays6 days ago
Southampton – It was a slightly painful day at Pride Park, but, spinning it the other way, unbeaten in 3? What is the right way to look at this game!
Follow us on social media:
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/gspndailysouthampton
X - https://x.com/GSPNSouthampton/
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@gspnsouthampton
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@gspnsouthampton
Instagram – https://www.instagtam.com/gspnsouthampton
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/gspnsouthampton.bsky.social
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572875812052
Our Sponsors
Bioniq - Don't settle for off-the-shelf solutions made for ANY body. Get what's right for YOU. Right now.
We’ve spent years analyzing blood markers to develop our patented algorithm, enabling us to create a 100% personalized supplement to support your health by optimizing your micronutrient status.
Follow the link and Use code GSPN2025 for 40% of your first month’s subscription.
Zencastr
Built for quality - Designed for growth
A new era for creation is here.
The only complete audio + video platform to get best-in-class recording, intuitive editing, AI-powered growth features, and top-tier distribution tools — all in one place.
Get started for free!
We highly recommend it!
Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email Ken Davies, VP Business & Development at:
ken.davies@globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
www.globalsportspodcastnetwork.com
Copyright | 2025 | Global Sports Podcast Network | All Rights Reserved
Recommended
Transcript
00:00:14
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, wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey there mate, you alright?
00:00:28
Zak
Hello mate. Yeah, I'm alright. This is pretty much how that makes us feel after a draw, right? Like... Yeah?
00:00:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, look, look, I mean, it was bit flat. And a bit disappointing. And there some concerns.
00:00:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
But. Five points from the week is pretty good. Right?
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
it was a tough It was a tough week. And we we escaped undefeated from it. that' That's better than it could have been..........
00:00:52
Zak
yeah
00:01:00
Zak
Yeah? Could have been worse, you're right. I think that's... Could have been worse, could have been better. I kind of feel like it was just a bit of a waste, and I feel like it was because they're already tired, and as we pointed out, it's I think that we've been pointing out for like the last year and a half, mate, it's just a struggle to keep fitness with some of the players, a struggle for some of the players to do full 90.
00:01:23
Zak
You know, we're joking about Ross Stewart, you know? just...
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, let's let's start with that. It's a real shame, right?
00:01:34
Zak
yeah
00:01:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just as he started to hit the ground running and just as it...
00:01:38
Zak
it's It's form. That's That's it.
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, hits form, but not just that... Not just like the goal-scoring form, right? But becomes such an essential role in the team because... as proven by the way we tried to replace him, no one else really does the same things, and no one else is able to, you know, like, make those plays and receive the ball and hold it up like he does, which sort of allows the space that Armour's been thriving in as well, which is... It's a real of shame.
00:02:11
Zak
Yeah.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's hope it's not a proper serious one, and he's back sooner rather than later, but...
00:02:16
Zak
i I worry because it's the hamstring.
00:02:18
Zak
He went down straight away. Obviously, as soon as he went on off after, as soon as he was like at the that so behind the goal, right? like he Literally, the physio was doing the sign for substitution.
00:02:29
Zak
And you're like, well, he knows what that feels like. And he knows that's happened. Obviously, Will still said they still need to do a scan and stuff. It was his hamstring. So, like... i It's one of those things where like you can't help but think like how long can you carry on in a career if you're going to if if if you can only do sort of that amount of work.
00:02:50
Zak
but Was it that maybe he was rushed? Maybe he played playing three games in a week was just too much? Maybe he thought it wasn't. And then sometimes it's just you know people don't really know their bodies.
00:03:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
all
00:03:01
Zak
it's There's a combination of factors. it just I think it just sucks, man. but That's where I landed it.
00:03:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
it a
00:03:06
Zak
It just sucks for him.
00:03:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it does suck. I guess it's like it's the first proper test of like three full pretty intense games in a week that he's had. But he's been back since preseason getting match fitness.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you know he would have definitely thought he would he would have definitely thought that he was up to the task.
00:03:20
Zak
Yeah, but three three games in a week.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's just real sad.
00:03:28
Zak
I feel like if you've had that many severe injuries, i think you should be managed better. But understand why, because he's become now the key part of the puzzle, as you pointed out. We're like, oh, we finally unlocked the puzzle to be creative. And then, you know, i think my biggest problem with it is that it was during a him overstretching to try and get a ball to try and get another goal.
00:03:48
Zak
because, you know, we went seven minutes of what I can just describe as wonderful football. It was, we were all over the place. Like Manning was over for hitting it a couple of times, obviously then Armour just got a goal and it was great. And then we spent 20 minutes, what, like flapping.
00:04:03
Zak
It was like we see, it's like we we were scared of our own shadow. We'd been suddenly like, oh, we've scored. And then and then we kind of just like sat back on it. It was bizarre. And then obviously, I don't know how many saves McCarthy had to make that first half, off but it's at least three or four.
00:04:18
Zak
And the amount of quarters we had to defend, like I lost count, but it was a lot. so sorry ma
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:24
Zak
So then the problem is, is that felt like that was the moment we might get back into the game.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh
00:04:29
Zak
And then obviously he was swapped out. He was swapped out for fellows, which, you know which kind of surprised me. And then everyone's kind of mad about the downs thing, which I'm sure we'll get onto later.
00:04:43
Zak
I kind of feel like if you were going to trust him at that point, you should have done a like for like swap. at that point.
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's a strange one because, I mean, the problem that it caused, and it evidently caused, is that it leaves a lot of players going, are we doing here? Like, what what positions are we playing? It was not... And it it never really slotted together in any sort of occasion for, really, the rest of the game, if we're being totally honest. You know, from that point forward, it was back to slow, lethargic,
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sluggish. Like, not... You know, this fast dynamic. Like, cut in. Ooh, are we going to go up and back? and it it You know, it became... You know, back to the same old Saints.
00:05:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just knock the ball about. Ooh. 63% possession and only 1xG. Like...
00:05:37
Zak
how do you How do you feel about the fact that Steele kind of tried to blame it on the ref? at it Because, you know, regardless of whether it was meant to be on-throwing or not, the decision had been called. And I think that my players trying to, like, be annoyed about it.
00:05:50
Zak
All I can think of is, all it reminded me of is that fastball that Bournemouth took in that loss we had last year Bournemouth where, yeah, like, Cornet played as a striker or whatever.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
The quick free kick.
00:06:04
Zak
that strange Russell Martin experiment when he tried to do something different for once and it did not work. But like, it reminded me exactly of that, of like, we we kind of switched off and we tried to not pay attention. And then the free kick was so quick and then itscord it resulted in a goal.
00:06:16
Zak
And ultimately, as much as they did knock on the door, that was their only goal off the back of it. So, you know, i think that was one of the things that we can be heartened by. i think a lot of people were very, you know,
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's classic Saints though, isn't it? For it to be something so daft off of a like poor referee decision. like It was so evidently a throw the other way.
00:06:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
like it was it it wasn't like it was close, right? It bounced. It was bizarre. But it's...
00:06:44
Zak
Yeah.
00:06:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you still you've got to play to the whistle. and
00:06:48
Zak
yeah
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It really... I mean, it's funny to me because... When I play football, yeah, I guess I moan at the ref too. But also in the entire history of watching football, if you like combine the hours of football I've watched with the hours of football you've watched, I dread to think like where we're at.
00:07:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
But have you ever seen moaning at a referee change the referee's mind?
00:07:14
Zak
No.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:07:17
Zak
No, they have made up their might. There are times where they get surrounded. You could pick up a book in if you do that for Descent. That's a good way to pick up a book in. It's a good way to completely change the game if if you pick up a second yellow card that you forgot about and you get sent off. of But no, I don't think I've ever really seen, you know, I've seen, obviously, like, when decisions of that that, I think that has potentially happened with decisions that are going to VAR in, you know, in, like, the Premier League.
00:07:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:44
Zak
But that doesn't guarantee anything at this known age, No, i'd rather I'd rather take, you know, they're still making terrible decisions.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. I mean, do we do we want, first of all, do we want anything to do with VAR ever? And the answer for a model perspective is no. And then even if you had VAR,
00:07:57
Zak
So it just means it's,
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And even if they had VAR, do we want 10 minutes to decide who's throwing it is? Absolutely not.
00:08:01
Zak
No, absolutely not.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it sucks that it's a poor decision, but that decision been made and you switch on because otherwise you get caught.
00:08:03
Zak
But
00:08:09
Zak
but also, if we made it decisive and we scored another two goals, wouldn't have been a problem. You got my hopes back up, mate.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:15
Zak
And I said I changed my 2-1 to a 3-1 and we ended up with the another sort of ball draw where we seemed to struggle to score afterwards because, you know... Well, I guess we'll get into some of the reasons why. But I think McCarthy had a really, really strong game after you know some criticism from us.
00:08:35
Zak
I think pulling off the amount saves did. I think Derby's keepers had keeper had a really good game as well. And I think he very much kept in him. Considering what we were talking to our GSPN campout, Nick, previously, who told us we were probably going to have one chance all game, that didn't happen.
00:08:51
Zak
So, no, no.
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It wasn't the Derby we were promised, was it? They came out wanting something from it, and that, you know, that...
00:08:55
Zak
nine
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean... That kind of played to our strengths for a bit at first, for like you say, those seven minutes, but it's just, I don't know. don't know.
00:09:07
Zak
seven but Seven minutes of 90 is not enough, is the problem.
00:09:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's not.
00:09:11
Zak
We clearly proved it.
00:09:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right. I'm sure that we've got other parts of the game to to pick out and pick a apart, but let's let's have a little break and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright mate, and we are back. back. Let's go back to the start and start with the the team lineups. right so two changes from from a winning team.
00:10:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Neither of them really changes we were expecting. Not ones we particularly called for. I mean, Sienza
00:10:22
Zak
nope
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
but What did you make of of that?
00:10:27
Zak
Nope. I think he had a good game, but it didn't it just didn't quite pay off, I think.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:35
Zak
like but I saw a lot of criticism for when he was taken off that he was our best player putting downs in. like I think he had like one solid miss. I think that he probably had a better game than Azaz when he came on.
00:10:51
Zak
But yeah, i just I think it was you know slightly surprising more than anything else.
00:10:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:57
Zak
But yeah, i think he gave a good I think he gave a better account of himself in his first sort of game and a couple of the others who've been in the game for been in the sort of squad for a few games now uh which you know but apart from maybe yander who obviously is now commanding sort of a starting place we've also just had a bit of an off game not really the best
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
it
00:11:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Fraser for Fellows, what do we think of that swap?
00:11:23
Zak
he had loads fraser has loads of energy and and I would have preferred to have seen that towards the end when we needed it, as opposed to at the beginning of it.
00:11:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
but I mean, i know that we i know that we hate drawing parallels to our previous championship season, right? But in that season, he was such an effective
00:11:47
Zak
Sub player, wasn't he?
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
player off the bench.
00:11:48
Zak
Off the bench.
00:11:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So...
00:11:51
Zak
like Do you feel like any of the substitutions made a huge difference in this game?
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they were really, really weird.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But really odd.
00:12:01
Zak
good i'm on that okay Good, we're on the same page.
00:12:03
Zak
because like i can kind of I didn't really understand what we were doing, bringing fellows on for Stuart. At that point, you should have just brought Downs on.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:12
Zak
Sienza for Downs was like, okay, right? Like you're grabbing one of the good creative outlets of this game and you're swapping it for your target man who unfortunately just had a bad game.
00:12:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:26
Zak
I just think that he is a man bereft of confidence.
00:12:30
Zak
I think that when you, you know, you're, there's a lot of comparisons to, you know, people be like, oh, Damien Downs is really, you know, so he's come from Bundesliga too.
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:12:41
Zak
into this, you know, Quashie had a couple of bad games, but competed in eventually. Admittedly, he had more around him to allow him to kind of grow, whereas the expectations on him to score goals, and I don't know. I think that there's a combination of things. I think that it's the first time he's really lived away from Germany, which is like, you know, it's the first time he's he's moved abroad.
00:13:04
Zak
doesn't really have any like American compatriots in the team. There it could be a multitude of factors and also bereft of confidence. like People were talking about how, he looks like a competition winner. And I'm like, I think he he looks like somebody that is anxious and nervous and doesn't want to put a foot wrong and is also very aware of the pressure. like There's no mistaking the fact that he's aware of the noise.
00:13:26
Zak
He wouldn't have just gone out of his way and deleted social media if hed did if he wasn't, right?
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:30
Zak
like I think that I agree with some of the people that maybe he should just get some experience in PL2 or something like that, just to give him sort of a, okay, get him scoring again, get him in the goals again, then maybe introduce him later.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I've...
00:13:40
Zak
But now we're in a bit of a crisis with if Stewart's out and they want to play that way, we're not going to be able to. And he's not able to be in that headspace currently.
00:13:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, the man needs a proper performance and a goal. And I really think the potential is there to turn it around.
00:13:53
Zak
Yeah. Yeah.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
i truly believe from what I've seen.
00:13:56
Zak
for sure
00:13:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just needs it, and but it needs to come sooner rather than later, or it's it's kind of like self-reporting than prophecy.
00:14:04
Zak
and i' I'm otherwise just going to be like a Ben Beres and Diaz thing, right?
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:14:06
Zak
And I know that sometimes maybe we're overtly harsh on him.
00:14:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:14:11
Zak
And like, I always try to preface that with the fact that I am not a professional football player. I didn't think I could do any of these guys do on a weekly basis. You know, sometimes we do it in jest. I would never ever want it to kind of sound a bit callous.
00:14:24
Zak
And I think sometimes like we we have turned so quickly on this 20-year-old lad who's just having a bit of a stinker. Yeah, the price tag probably doesn't help. But the fact that we've you know I've seen people say, oh, well, we sold Sulevano and Tallpool, and we've got Azaz and Damien Downs, what downgrade, and all this kind of stuff.
00:14:42
Zak
And I'm like, guys, it's been like a couple of games. Like, okay, let him bet into the team.
00:14:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:47
Zak
For some people, you know he's going to be more aware than anyone that like how ruthless the sport is, right?
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:54
Zak
But, you know, there we've had but you've had teams like Manchester United have strikers that haven't scored in like 20 games in a row. So, like, just think we need to, I think, temper our expectations a little bit.
00:15:05
Zak
Like, there was nothing in that game that was hugely positive from the guy.
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:15:10
Zak
feel like he wasn't it wasn't a good substitution. It didn't help the game. And nobody's going to be more aware of that than him.
00:15:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
no Also, being chucked on with like i mean half an hour, sure, but still being chucked on at that point in the game is such a hard such a hard thing to do when you're when you're out of form anyway.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
right it's is And it was you know the changes of the system.
00:15:30
Zak
It
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It's really tricky.
00:15:37
Zak
was difficult to see what we were really trying to do.
00:15:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've got a slightly different question for
00:15:39
Zak
And again, like we have
00:15:44
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:15:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
it when it happened it felt harsh leaving Cameron Archer out of the team as the only striker who had you know at that point scored some goals doesn't get a sniff again here
00:16:02
Zak
Okay, so if you've got this, if you find if they finally did the thing that we talked about for ages, right, which is fast-pasty striker and big-tool striker to hit with, right, and that's working and they are scoring goals, you are going to keep that same profile because when we had Armstrong and Archer alongside each other, it wasn't
00:16:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but they didn't. They bought on Tom Fellows, so they they immediately abandoned it. It doesn't make sense.
00:16:26
Zak
Yeah, no, so so what you're saying at that point is why would you bring on fellows and not just put on Archer, right?
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, or...
00:16:31
Zak
But then obviously later on they moved it back, right, with having Thound on. So clearly that was like, the plan was to get back to that. you I don't really know what else much of the plan was, but...
00:16:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
i i actually I actually feel like after watching them quite you know a bit of Damien Downs, that although he is bigger than Archer and Armstrong, I think profile and the way he wants to play wise, I think he's closer to Archer and Armstrong than he is to a Ross Stewart with the sort of the way he wants to play the game and the way he wants to move and the runs he wants to make.
00:17:08
Zak
but I think maybe they all need to have that conversation a bit better.
00:17:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
hundred 100%. But that's the thing, right? if that If we've now got three of those types of striker and no Ross Stewart, then we need to be moving the ball a lot quicker to get the balls to these players.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because if we're going set them on their way with runs, oh, nope, I'm going to turn around and pass it back. It's a it so recipe for disaster.
00:17:29
Zak
Yeah, but a lot of it a lot of it and lot of it's the same thing that you're complaining about so far this season anyway, which is like losing second balls, not being able to pass properly or passes being intercepted or but just dumb stuff, just like losing the ball in such silly situations.
00:17:44
Zak
And then that has then you know proceeded to result in attacks from Derby and then we're on the back foot and then we're defending it. And then, yeah, you're right, we're just not moving the ball fast enough. And I think that's where...
00:17:55
Zak
I can understand the criticism of Sienza was one of the few players doing that and then we swapped them out for downs. But then the problem is, is there are a couple of times where a lot of like players would get off on their own and then not be able to do anything with it.
00:18:08
Zak
And I think at one point, i can't remember if it was Sienza or Armstrong who took a crack, but probably just should have passed it. think it was Armstrong towards the end.
00:18:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was Sienza.
00:18:16
Zak
Uh,
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He ran from the middle of the park through and managed to take not necessarily take on, and but get into the space past two sets of defenders.
00:18:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there were Armstrong and I think Fellows over on the right that were great passing options.
00:18:32
Zak
Yeah.
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Instead, he took a shot, which I think is a perfectly acceptable option, except the shot was awful. It just like trickled wide. You're like, well like if you're going to shoot when you've got those passing options, at least, you know, kick the ball at the gong.
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:50
Zak
maybe that is where like the cohesion and, you know, the idea that still was taken away. But like, I just wouldn't be surprised if they were just tired by Saturday because of the fact they've been away from home for the last couple of days.
00:19:01
Zak
They've had, you know, three games in like seven days. And as much as we complain, it's their job and they should be able to, it just, yeah, it just, it just fell a little bit.
00:19:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
still halfway, mate, isn't it? It's not easy, is it?
00:19:10
Zak
It's still a bit flat. No, but I think it's getting that, getting the understanding of, okay, well, these players are struggling, so we'll put these players in because these players fill that role. I think we're still figuring it out.
00:19:23
Zak
and Sorry, I was laughing at my put me punting still, but not even really punting still.
00:19:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
not
00:19:29
Zak
the We're still figuring out And I think the thing is, is that people are running out of patience because we need to figure out faster is I think where people are at. People are expecting there to be more of knowing what we want to do, what we want to do it.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:19:43
Zak
And if there is a plan a and it fails, what is plan B? Because the entirety of the point of one of the positives that... people constantly talk about still us specifically is that oh he just wants to win games i'm like right so okay this has gone wrong what do you need to do to win this game and it just kind of felt like looking at the substitutions it wasn't really that like i don't know if it was just shea charles was tired for flint downs if he thought flint downs was going to bring it more forward it just again like the substitutions just felt a bit weird
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
back Well, look, I've got a couple of thoughts and couple of questions on the back of that.
00:20:15
Zak
so
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But first, let's have a break and hear a message from our partners at Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
With 4K video recording from your phone, and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:20:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, mate. Where to start? Where start? Right, uh... two weeks off now, is that enough time to figure it out? How have we got, you know, we you have we got enough players?
00:20:54
Zak
how How many are away on international break? How much? Because that will always be the reason. If anyone's gone, it's going to disrupt it a little bit.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:01
Zak
Do you use this time to maybe bring in a Dozie and a Rebo? Are they even interested in playing Frost ever again?
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:07
Zak
there's There's also...
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Great question.
00:21:08
Zak
i have questions like that simply because of the fact that I'm like, okay... what do we, do we need more options? Is it that maybe other two guys are taking some time to bed in Would a more experienced head do a little bit better? Would, you know, would somebody who's been out of the game for a while want to come in and do a little bit more?
00:21:26
Zak
don't know. It's just, I just think that like, you kind of, what we've been discussed about, you're like, it's not the worst thing in the world. And I'm like, no, but it's causing, i think, apathy and and an annoyance.
00:21:39
Zak
And I think that's dangerous going on.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
but is that just yeah But is that just a hangover from last season because of how poor we were? Is the expectation actually reasonable?
00:21:46
Zak
Yes.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:21:49
Zak
No. i keep telling you this.
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
a yeah no, exactly. the other The other thing to go slightly backwards is you you talk about plan A's and plan B's and we're still wanting to win.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like, When we won on Tuesday against Sheffield, even in that performance, we had questions over his changes, you know.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, like, taking fellows off at halftime for Fraser, like, was justified because of the way it played out. If it doesn't play out that way, that's like
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just feel like this is dis game was just the other side of that coin. like He makes these decisions that aren't obvious because he wants to win and he thinks it's the best thing that's going to get us to win.
00:22:31
Zak
yeah
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And sometimes that looks ridiculous and pays off. And sometimes that looks ridiculous and is ridiculous. But I just...
00:22:44
Zak
No, I agree, but this is where I come back to the expectations. of that i don't know, with the squad that we had, with the season we've had, I don't quite understand why people are expecting us to be absolutely flying.
00:22:55
Zak
Maybe we're part of the problem for saying we're going to come first and second, mate. Like, doctor
00:23:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:00
Zak
like that That doesn't help, but I think that... you know i've I've seen a lot of talk about how people are people are saying things you don't like, oh, well, the expectations... you know I don't think we should expect mediocrity. I'm like, no, I don't think it's accepting mediocrity. It's accepting reality.
00:23:16
Zak
we We are not. you know we're not like as people were like, oh, well, you know, Coventry City are doing this well and they've not lost a game. And this I was like, okay, but Frank Lampard's had like a season and a half and a lot of backing.
00:23:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:27
Zak
and is These things take time to build and then you've already got people saying, let's bring Russell Martin back. And it's...
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
sorry do they watch football like they watched any football that is that might be the worst football intake I've ever heard and i have heard some football i I have had some bad football takes but I have heard some bad ones but can people honestly believe that that is the answer
00:23:54
Zak
i think i think i I think it's that that people are desperate for for that feeling of that last championship season. And I can understand why. And I think that people don't have patience, mate.
00:24:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, mate, that people are looking back on that championship season with rose-tinted glasses and forgetting that, yeah, we went 25 games unbeaten, but about 18 of those were draws.
00:24:04
Zak
And I can understand why.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, but this is the feeling of the last championship season.
00:24:18
Zak
i mean, Rangers are certainly fighting out, mate. Like...
00:24:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like this is the feeling of the last championship season. And sure, at the end, it had that amazing day out at Wembley that target it that but it erased the rest of the hardships of the season and set this stone. But this is what the championship was like.
00:24:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can win or lose any game, and sometimes you have to go and get a scrappy draw at Derby that feels more like a loss because before this game, they were awful, and then suddenly they show up and play, you know, let's face it, a good game.
00:24:37
Zak
But this is the hangover point.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
They put a team out that are wet ready to fight and probably... if we're being honest watching it, just wanted it just a little bit more. And I'm not saying that that was because Saints didn't want it and like they looked like they'd given up. That was not the case. But there was just a bit bit more bite to it.
00:25:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And that's the way it came.
00:25:13
Zak
yeah
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
It came away in 1-0. And that's why we love the league, right? Because you can win any game and lose any game. It's still five points from the week. this That's pretty good.
00:25:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not awful. We're not in like... you know, we're not in trouble, we're not in an awful position, we're still only, what, like, three points out of the playoff positions or something stupid?
00:25:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so three points puts us sick. So, like, it's just fine. It's going to get there. These players are going to take time.
00:25:50
Zak
But that's the thing is that it's people just don't have the patience and I don't blame them, mate, really.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
blame TikTok.
00:25:55
Zak
Because after... is...
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I know full well that you were expecting me to say Pep.
00:26:04
Zak
but the thing is
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
People don't have the attention span for it. But that is just football. You don't win every game. And I mean, maybe it is Pep's fault. Because he set that precedent for Man City when they were at their best. Where they went into every game expecting to win every game. And they would mostly win the games.
00:26:22
Zak
Well, that's Liverpool now, isn't
00:26:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is just... but but they I mean, they lost yesterday too.
00:26:25
Zak
and that And they lost... Yeah, exactly.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
like
00:26:27
Zak
they've They've lost like two or three games in the back. Ironically, they they've not done well since they played against us.
00:26:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to tell you now, mate, even as a Saints fan who has been on the rollercoaster and and you know continues to ride the rollercoaster of the ups and downs, if we won every game, I'd be bored in three seasons.
00:26:32
Zak
No,
00:26:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know?
00:26:46
Zak
but I get that.
00:26:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
you've got have you've got have You've got to have the downs to enjoy the ups more.
00:26:47
Zak
I get that for sure.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
and like this week We went three games in seven days and didn't lose. What's everyone panicking about? Like...
00:27:00
Zak
but People are, I think it's i don't think it's panicking. I think it's the culmination of like a whole season of being terrible and then not having quite the start that there is the expectations around.
00:27:13
Zak
Because, oh, we're a demoted team. promoted team So we should we should do be doing better. We're a demoted team because we came up from the playoffs last time and we had three managers in the space of a very short period of time.
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:27:26
Zak
Most of our squad is gone. Most of the squad that was there, I say most of the squad, the elements of the squad that we probably would have rather have kept have gone. Elements of the squad we'd rather have gone haven't.
00:27:38
Zak
that sense of annoyance and apathy and not being able to get wins against, you know, Derby who we haven't even played since 2019 or whatever.
00:27:49
Zak
Like that's why there's that level of annoyance. I'm with you that no one should hit panic stations. But also I think that people who have spent a lot of money and have spent a long time supporting states also have a right to be annoyed that we're not doing what we would, at the level that they would expect us to be at.
00:27:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Look.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, if you're going to be annoyed at anything, be annoyed that we've got to suffer through another international break already. Right?
00:28:07
Zak
But this is where I also say the expectations are too high.
00:28:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's be honest.
00:28:18
Zak
You're right. i You're right. I am already annoyed that I have to sit through another international break.
00:28:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I literally sat upstairs this afternoon I'm like, oh, I don't know if I'm going to be able to watch all of the game next Saturday because I've got to travel up to Cardiff.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm like, oh, there is no game next Saturday. And did I think, oh, well, that's good. I don't have to make arrangements to watch it while I'm traveling. No, went, oh, what letdown. like
00:28:46
Zak
But yeah, and and I guess that's the other thing, is that like if you really if you if everyone hated it really, they would they wouldn't get annoyed about it every week.
00:28:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:28:53
Zak
I think that we just want it to be a bit better, and I don't think that's a bad thing, mate.
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, and I agree. it It should be a bit better. We need to move the ball faster. We need to be more ruthless. We need to kick the ball at the goal more. And when we kick the ball at the goal, it needs to go in more.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
All of these things are true, but, you know we look better...
00:29:15
Zak
I also think that i also think that like bringing in someone like Big Ang and then being like, see, we've got a big money signing also isn't going to change.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:24
Zak
I don't i don't think i don't i don't think that people are like, oh, it's because they're not being coached properly.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
How's that paying off a forest? Like,
00:29:31
Zak
They say they're there. I've had so much coaching from so many different coaches. like I don't think that is necessarily the problem. I just think that... We are not as good as we think we are or want to be.
00:29:46
Zak
And we will eventually get there, but we certainly won't get there if we fire a manager every six weeks.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's definitely not the answer.
00:29:53
Zak
but
00:29:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, we are, you know, three games unbeaten now. So if in 22 games time, it's 22 draws. is twenty two draws Still 22 points in it, right? Like, look, we're looking looking better defensively than we have looked, right?
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, yeah, we conceded from switching off for... for all arguing Not even switching off, arguing against the decision, right? Stupid. Stupid goal. Back to conceding them, which in itself is frustrating.
00:30:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
But other than that, like, they had a lot of chances. But did we ever really feel like they were going to score? i don't I don't know really if the answer to that is yes. So it it felt like we were more likely to go on and get the goal.
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean, did we really at any point feel like we were going to score after? i mean, also, I guess not really, but like it's
00:30:51
Zak
That's what needs to change, I think, mate. I think if you if you watch a solid performance for for for like 90 minutes where we give everything we got, we got 38 shots and like we just didn't get one in and it ends up 1-1, that is very different to a one one where like us and Derby felt like we were playing the same team.
00:30:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's it.
00:31:08
Zak
It was bizarre.
00:31:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah,
00:31:10
Zak
I think i think it is that there there needs to be a vibe change and I think that's why there is some flack to the manager. I just think it's too early to kind of get that worried about it yet.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
have look, it's going to come though, isn't Like, it's still nervy. We're still gelling as a team. And, you know, can't moan about mistakes and moan about creativity because...
00:31:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've got to tread that line that could be be a mistake and take that risk to make the creative play sometimes. And so, look, two weeks to go away and think about it anyway and come back better for it on the other side, let's hope.
00:31:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, it is what is in it. It is disappointing, but also it's not the end of the world is where I'm at.
00:31:59
Zak
Just thought I'd end this podcast, mate, with the the news that Rangers have let Russell Martin go.
00:32:06
Zak
Assistant head coach Matt Gill and first team coach Mike Williamson will also be departing. So, he is available now.
00:32:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow, I am... i am shocked by that breaking news. Who saw that coming?
00:32:19
Zak
Anyway, is wet.
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's...
00:32:20
Zak
Oh, man.
00:32:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, well, look, that's all we've time for today.
00:32:24
Zak
oh
00:32:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zach, as always, thank you very much for joining me. And everyone, thank you for listening. It was a bit painful. It was a painful draw, but, you know, still, three games unbeaten is something, right?
00:32:38
Zak
Yeah, let's take that, mate.
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let us know your thoughts. Let us know your thoughts, your feelings in the comments or on the social medias. We're on all of them. We're on X, we're on YouTube, we're on TikTok, we're on Instagram, we're on Facebook.
00:32:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
We are on everywhere. Look us up. Hit us up. We love hearing from you. And gives you know do you have a worse football take than Let's Get Russell Martin Back? I'd love to hear it.
00:33:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
this That's it. We will be back tomorrow to talk more about the lovely life of being a Saints fan.
00:33:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
But until then, thank you very much for listening and have a wonderful day. Bye, everyone.