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00:00:01
Episode 269: Transfer Window Reflection
162 Plays2 days ago
Southampton – Now that the dust has settled we take a look over the window as a whole, and try and work out how we've done.
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Welcome
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 joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:27
Zak
Yeah, mate. Not too bad. bad.
Reflections on Aging
00:00:29
Zak
um so I'm still struggle bussing. I'm real real tired after yesterday evening, and I still haven't fully recoloured. That's wild, because it's not even it like... It's one of those moments in life, Greg, where I start to realise I'm ageing, and it's not fun.
00:00:41
Zak
I guess I'll live and get with it.
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it, mate. It's all a part parcel. Unfortunately, we are now older than our manager, so that is just what happens with time.
00:00:51
Zak
it's It's bad, right? When you when you start to get older than players and then you kind of just accept that, it's not a problem.
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:56
Zak
But when you when you are older than the person managing your club somehow, it just hits different.
00:00:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
Transfer Window Challenges
00:01:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, the dust has settled on the transfer window, on the transfer market.
00:01:08
Zak
Yeah.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
We know more or less all of the ins and outs. There still might be a couple of question marks in the Belgian window still open until, you know, till later it today.
00:01:17
Zak
Yeah.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But
00:01:21
Zak
think I think Belgium's couple days and I think Turkish's ended today.
00:01:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah, it's it's I believe it's later today when you're listening to this. So we yeah we might still hear more.
00:01:29
Zak
Yeah, we we had to do... We had to look this up and it was significantly harder than it should have been to pull that information yesterday evening.
00:01:40
Zak
I'm like, I'm sat there like, it shouldn't be this hard, Greg, to be able to find out when a window closes. But alas, I'll get up at some point. Put it that way.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. But look, we are going to have a little a short overview of our transfer window and the transfer window in general and see how we think it's gone so that in six months time we can look back.
00:02:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
at it and And see how good or bad our opinions were based on actual um actual football results, right?
00:02:12
Zak
you
00:02:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because I think think you raised the point, or i think I raised the point as a counterpoint to you earlier, that on paper, i think we've had a very good transfer window and we've got a solid team.
00:02:22
Zak
Yeah, I think what my what my actual point was is that a lot of people were very... i saw people already being like, spores. Like, yeah, it's great on paper, but, you know, the results will clinch whether it's been a good window or not. And I'm like, i I guess, but from like a director of football perspective, if you are highlighting the best players you possibly can within your budget and you have put together and fulfilled all of the needs that you possibly can and then the players start playing...
00:02:49
Zak
And, like, they could have been really amazing in their respective leads and they just turn into absolute toilet. I don't necessarily know if that's the director of football's fault.
00:02:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:02:59
Zak
However, if it's, like, every single transfer we have, like, yeah, sure, okay, that's probably more... like because Because the problem is, is my own counterpoint to myself is I think of how... Jason Wilcox has been getting on at Manchester United, right? And again, ah pointed out last night's episode, like Anthony being sold for 25 million is nuts.
00:03:18
Zak
They missed out on what Martinez last minute ended up bringing in a goalkeeper from Belgium who is supposedly going to play back up maybe to Anana or maybe go jump in. But it's like that is an example of, you know, or even Leeds, Leeds United have just gone up and like people are sat there waiting on bated breath.
00:03:39
Zak
And nothing happened. Spurzian is not leaving Russia for either us or Leeds.
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:44
Zak
So what absolute waste of time learning his name, mate.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean,
Player Departures
00:03:48
Zak
Oh. Hmm.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
like unbelievable.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
The amount of time we spent talking about him on a Tuesday for months, it seems.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like I know him personally, and now it's just not even happening. But look, it was it was a busy transfer window. So we had, I count, 19 players out, which is
00:04:07
Zak
Really? Good lord, good grief.
00:04:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
not
00:04:10
Zak
I'm assuming you're you're seeing, you're you're you're like meeting youth players and stuff as well, right?
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, not really. So, I mean, some that were kind of, oh guess, fringe.
00:04:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Harley, Embs and James is on this list, which is definitely a youth player.
00:04:20
Zak
Man.
00:04:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But other than that, we had Amo Ameor, which I think technically was sort of already done with an obligation.
00:04:24
Zak
yeah,
00:04:29
Zak
saw It was sorted in January, right? Yeah.
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was like an obligation to buy, but still counts as this window. Kaya Sander, Larios, Bella Kocha, Sugawara, Berit Diaz, Charlie Taylor, James Brie, Will Smallbone.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Juan, don't know if that counts, Don Ballard, Ramsdale, Tallpool, Yanni B, Suleymane, Diblin and Mateus Fernandes.
00:04:54
Zak
as a
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So like even counting the like ones that were already sort of done and the you know the one youth, there's still 16 players out, which is a lot, isn't it?
00:05:06
Zak
but That is a lot, but like we knew we needed to trim the squad. And there's a couple there that I think everyone's kind of like cool. So, for example, Ben Brereton-Diaz needs to restart his career and it's not going to be under us.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:18
Zak
I'm a better hot chap. you You cannot live off of the fact that you're an under-21 and then fall into national four seasons ago forever. ah ah You need to go somewhere and prove that. Because if it's not going to be in the squad, then...
00:05:31
Zak
It needs to be elsewhere. Again, Juan is a... That could be an episode in itself about multi-cup ownership models because the business that Chelsea have done has been i apparently all above board, like selling Ben Chilwell essentially to themselves
Multi-Club Ownership Models
00:05:46
Zak
for market value so it doesn't seem dodgy so on a two-year contract, which was what was remaining with Chelsea contract, to their sister club in France.
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:54
Zak
And I swear, if he goes out on loan immediately... It's all going be, you know, we all know what it's for. And the one transfer feels very much like, we'll bring him in and see how we get a Sonic Gostepe. He's not going to step up, but Gostepe, you'll have him.
00:06:06
Zak
And yeah, it's just very, I don't know how I feel about all that stuff, but it's not, it's not great. Let's put it that way.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it it is what it is, right? And, and you know, the total out for the, you know, there's a couple of question marks on value here, but... Juan and Ballard, I mean, they're not going to add up to an amount that's going to hugely swing this figure.
00:06:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a total out that we know of 126.6 million, which is, I mean, it's quite a lot in it. I know 82 million of that is, you know, two players, for sure.
00:06:39
Zak
but Once again, yeah, but even if there's two players, mate, once again, that is off of the back of a 12-point season.
00:06:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But...
00:06:47
Zak
That is how many So that for me, that is a lot of money.
00:06:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:50
Zak
that is a lot of money But when you look at the gulf between, say, like us and Liverpool, I just don't understand how they ever expect anyone to...
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm
00:07:00
Zak
I saw a point from a Liverpool fan yesterday that really riled me up, which was... ah ah It's just going to be a lot not even hot takes from me, but just things that have annoyed me about the transfer window.
Transfer Market Dynamics
00:07:09
Zak
They will actually talk about Saints, I promise.
00:07:11
Zak
but But it was a discussion about how they were like, oh, you know, like how I think it was the the post about... that the cartel, with the big six, and it was how they've been asset stripped, right?
00:07:22
Zak
And how all the other teams are dealing with all of their players being, you know, stripped away from them and taken away. And it it it sucks. And like, we've been trying to warn everyone for years. Like we literally watched one season in the Premier League, our entire squad go to Liverpool.
00:07:39
Zak
And even Ricky Lambert, they brought it in first for like English registration reasons, which is nuts when you think about it.
00:07:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a bit different. It was his boyhood club as well, let's be honest.
00:07:48
Zak
Yeah, it was his boyhood club. It was a fantastic move for him. But why did Liverpool bring him in? They didn't bring him in to be a main striker, did they? And that's, and that's if whereas for us, he he was.
00:07:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. No.
00:07:58
Zak
He was an incredibly important part of our team. And that that is besides my point, mate. It was the fact that people, that his point was like, how we meant to compete? Bear in mind, this guy was a certain Newcastle fan.
00:08:08
Zak
So take it all a pinch of salt. Because it's like, well, you're just annoyed you can't spend the money you have, which is also a problem in itself.
00:08:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a different issue completely, right?
00:08:17
Zak
Completely different issue. But then, he then you know, a Liverpool fan replied with like, oh, they should just be like Brighton and build get good scouting and build them up. And it's like, well, Brighton haven't won anything. Brighton haven't won competitions. Like, yeah, they're good. They're in it's amongst it.
00:08:30
Zak
They get up there every season. They have about two or three players that go on show and then you pilfer them all. So like, what do you mean be like Brighton? Like, we're not just meant to be, like, if it's meant to be a competitive lead, it it needs, it can't just be feeder.
00:08:43
Zak
And I think that there was a lot of back and forth about comparisons with La Liga, right? Where eventually you're just going to end up with a league that is just these six or seven teams that buy everybody else's top players, which to be fair, it has been for a long time.
00:08:57
Zak
And people like, well, actually, some of that top six are really rubbish. I'm like, yeah, it shows you how badly mismanaged Manchester United and Tottenham were last season. But it doesn't defeat the point. that the gulf is absolutely insane. And like the fact that supposedly all above board and because Liverpool make that much money, they've been able to just essentially buy their way out of trouble.
00:09:20
Zak
And then the audacity of some Liverpool fans to be like, well, it's ridiculous that we didn't get Gehi. And I'm like, I'm sorry, did you not just buy...
00:09:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:09:27
Zak
you'll just break a British record on ICSAC today. And you're there like being and like kicking off and being annoyed that you didn't get that one extra player like last minute because you decided to try and buy him with about three hours to go when explicitly all season Palace were like, Hey, you want to buy it? We need time to replace him.
00:09:47
Zak
Like, and then they're like, well, it's bad business. And then I saw another point, which I also pointed out to
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank
00:09:52
Zak
promise I'll finish in a minute. Yeah. but Another point I wanted to point out to you, I pointed out to you, Greg, that was sort of like, well, as a football fan, is the business of my club is like, you know, unless it unless it's really, really bad and like I'm starting to worry economically for the club, you know, would I rather see us keep our best players and our best players play good football and us win games?
00:10:17
Zak
Or would I rather sit there and be like, well, that was some very shrewd business tactics there. And it's like... Although, you know, we are going to talk about that stuff, right? Because that's just the kind of people we are.
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes Yeah.
00:10:29
Zak
You occasionally message me about how good configurations of motorways are. Like, that's not... That's just who we are as people. But i guess, like, that is a thing, right? Is that ultimately, we're football fans. We're there to be entertained. We're there to want the best for our club.
00:10:44
Zak
And sometimes I think it spreads so far outside the football that now watching clubs and during transfer windows has almost become like a economic simulator on its own where we're like, look us, we've got all this money.
00:10:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it, I think maybe
00:10:58
Zak
Great.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they it's just that one leads the other, right?
00:10:59
Zak
Yeah.
Evaluating Transfer Success
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good business always leads to potentially good football.
00:11:02
Zak
Yeah.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
bob And, you know, doesn't isn't necessarily always the case. Sometimes good business leads to bad football, but there's one thing for sure is that bad business always leads to disaster.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, mean, it it's all about staying alive and and being there and about it, but you've got to spend that money and put it in to to get it out and
00:11:15
Zak
Yeah, so this is also true.
00:11:24
Zak
But that's the sad thing about it, mate, is there'll be some that will survive no matter what.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And survive the other bits with your top players being poached. Wow.
00:11:29
Zak
There'll be, you know, the Manchester United's mate of the world were firing their tea ladies and then have gone out and, like, you know, spent 80 million quid. LAUGHTER Like, they're not going to die overnight.
00:11:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Crazy.
00:11:39
Zak
Like, even if they went down to the championship, they'd make enough money through revenue and this and other. So realistically, what you've got is a bunch of clubs trying to compete to stay alive and a bunch of clubs that have have a privileged position.
00:11:51
Zak
And then they wanted to extend that privilege further by creating their own Super League, which essentially they've kind of done anyway. So it's all it's all stuff that's got nothing really to do with how good our window is.
00:11:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:12:02
Zak
pass back on track.
00:12:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, I'm glad you've got all of those things off your chest, mate. But let's have a little break and bring it back and focus in on this St.
00:12:07
Zak
promise we'll talk about our window.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Frantzine window that we're here to talk about.
00:12:12
Zak
Okay. but
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, and we are back. So, Zach, where we got to about Saints. 126.6 million worth of outs. The interesting point, nine players in, 55.1 plus a Mads Rosliev of inns.
00:13:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a tidy profit this season from a 12-point season, right? Like, can you think...
00:13:17
Zak
Yeah, absolutely insane, because not the none of the other clubs that have gone down have had that at all, really.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:13:24
Zak
Yeah.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. And I don't feel like we've been hard done by by the signings we made. I think that all of the signings we've made look look decent and look good.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, i mean i'll oh sure, I'll hear points and arguments as the season goes on about Damien Downs, but it's far too early to judge, right? Like, he gets himself in the right positions, which is better than we were doing last season
Goalkeeper and Defensive Lineup
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
for me.
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So for me, that's an improvement, and I think the rest is going to come into place. But, but you know...
00:13:54
Zak
People were hoping that we had a ready-to-fire goal scorer straight away. And the problem is, if we would if we were to have that, we'd have had to have spent probably about triple or triple the amount. There's still question marks around it.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'd love a golden unicorn that spits money, mate. It's not goingnna happen, is it? Like, they don't exist. Like, it's not a ready-made striker in any position.
00:14:11
Zak
Okay.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just not... It's not something that happens in the championship. Like, Adam Armstrong, last time he played in championship, scored, what, like, 30 goals? Something stupid like that. 27, think it Like, he also...
00:14:26
Zak
Yeah, it was a high amount.
00:14:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
he also yeah He also hasn't managed to hit a bundle with a banjo this season. There's no such thing as a guaranteed goal-scoring striker. you've got If football was as simple as that, we'd all be very bored watching it, wouldn't it? like It takes a whole team to score a goal.
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't just...
00:14:42
Zak
It's so not to throw back too much to an earlier point, mate, but like, Isak has the opportunity to do the funniest thing. But no, you're right. how do you i think one of the points that we are still slightly worried about, we have talked that we're worried about, is is goalkeeper.
00:15:01
Zak
And obviously that didn't really get much of a resolution. Like we brought in a reserve goalkeeper. Are you confident in the rest of the season in Baz, McCarthy and potentially this George guy?
00:15:14
Zak
How do you feel about that?
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah, yes and no It's it' kind of a weird situation the club's been in, right? Because Baz, I think, is a perfectly adequate goalkeeper who probably isn't the world's best shot stopper, but is, you know, up there.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Does alright. McCarthy is the other way around where he's an excellent shot stopper but just can't distribute the ball for love nor money.
00:15:41
Zak
almost passes it to your opposition players on a regular basis.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's just I think it's fine.
00:15:48
Zak
Yeah.
00:15:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It's a tricky position because of Ramsdale, right? Because if we go back up he probably comes back based off of the deal, right? Like,
00:15:58
Zak
it's It's an awkward one. that's That's one of the things that I think is a problem. I think if if maybe we'd sold him permanently, it would have been a different conversation. And, you know, looking at the fact that he's going to be on the bench for most of the season anyway, which is baffling considering he wanted to leave Arsenal to play football, right?
00:16:15
Zak
And now potentially is going to be playing second fiddle. You know, admittedly, they're going to have this lot more games...
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
in In more games have they got Europe and all the cups.
00:16:22
Zak
Yeah, i but so he might get a chance, but again, like going from a number one not.
00:16:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:16:29
Zak
But I know there's probably England prospects in there and a couple of other reasons as to why. But I think it did put us in a bit of a difficult position where we brought somebody in on loan to act as the third backup team.
00:16:43
Zak
because we don't really want to replace and have a different first-choice goalkeeper because theoretically even then we would end up with almost four goalkeepers and potentially lose Baz who they obviously see as a future prospect as well or otherwise we'd be keeping around him around for as long as we have.
00:16:58
Zak
So as there's lots of
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And he's said he's a young player who has the potential to be our main goalkeeper for a number of years to come. And, you know, he's still a ah ah you you you say young.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's, what, 22? Something like that?
00:17:13
Zak
Again, for for for a goalkeeper, mate, as you pointed out, barely out the womb.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, just...
00:17:17
Zak
So...
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like, he's going to be developing, but you're right. Like, you you don't want to sign a oh any keeper that's going to be better than Baz to bring in as a first-choice goalkeeper.
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
a is going to set you back a lot of money, and B is going to be difficult to come by. and then, what, so you're signing a quality keeper to be second-choice to Pizzunu? Yeah. I mean, what kind of attractive prospect is that to anyone, really?
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
just isn't. And then, and you know, also you've got McCarthy, who presumably is amongst the top earners at the club at this point. you know Like, he's not...
00:17:56
Zak
Yes.
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
but You can't just... Oh, he's just not good enough. We'll just put him as third choice and pay him all the money in the world. Like, it's not a position you can be in. So, I mean, what they've done in bringing in a loan for third choice is really...
00:18:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess it was really the only option I can see as a viable option for the club. It's just a really strange one. But look, I mean, think Baz will be all right this season.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
If he can stay fit, I'm happy enough with it. if If he gets a slightly longer-term injury, I'd be concerned about McCarthy's ability to stay fit for a run of games.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's just going to be one of those...
00:18:34
Zak
Yeah. We just got to hope that doesn't happen. you say It's a risk. Unfortunately, that is a risk they needed to take, like, at least from their perspective.
00:18:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:42
Zak
If it works out, then happy days. If it doesn't, we'll have to see what happens. But I think pretty much the rest of the business I'm very, very happy with. I think one of the ones, and from an influence point of view, that we kind of
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:18:53
Zak
didn't point out was it was a bit it was a bit weird to see Bednarak come back off of loan from Villa, help us fight back to Premier League. And he was in pivot all that lot very pivotal that last season, promotion season. Get into the Premier League, then like sign a new contract, if I remember rightly, for quite a long time, talk about how he's very, very settled and doesn't want to move and carry on.
00:19:16
Zak
Not at fault, but also part of the defence that leaked all of those goals. and then kind of just disappear off into the sunset, like that episode of Simpsons with Leonard Nimoy, where it's like, my job is done.
00:19:28
Zak
And you're like, it's like, who is that guy?
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah You didn't do anything.
00:19:31
Zak
Yeah, or did i And it's like, and it's one of those things where, I don't know, it just feels a bit, just felt a bit strange to kind of, there was no real, we don't seem to have been devastated by his loss.
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
it
00:19:46
Zak
I feel like we maybe needed some more
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's hard to know It's hard to know what's gone on behind the scenes, right? You don't know whether that's his decision or if Will Steele's come in and gone, well, look Part of the problem is you let in 400 million goals last season.
00:19:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe keeping the same back line of defence isn't going to be what works here. And, you know...
00:20:05
Zak
feel like if that was the case, we wouldn't be starting Stephens alongside Steylal with Bellis every game. And that seems to be the way they're going. I think that's what a lot i think there's a lot of fear that we didn't get a centre-back.
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then Stevens has kind of stepped up.
00:20:14
Zak
that Yeah, but i agree I agree to that.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stepped up and been fine. And, you know, we've got Kwasi, who's another one for the future. We've shored up at full-back quite significantly, which presumably means that we're going to settle in to into sort of a back four anyway.
00:20:27
Zak
There's been more swaps.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So think it'll be right. Like, I'm pretty pleased with what we've got. The centre-backs, yeah, it is bizarre.
00:20:43
Zak
and They've tried to... Yeah, the centre-backs is the only kind of weird one because obviously we've lost ABK, not that he really counted. Kick higher, Sanders gone on loan, which doesn't hugely surprise me. It'd be nice to see a bit more, but he's he's very young and you know it's probably a lot of pressure to put on him.
00:20:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll get some minutes in a proper league that's not a youth league and hopefully come back better for it for next year.
00:21:01
Zak
Yeah, yeah. But essentially, we're going to be rotating, you know, providing pre presuming we have two and we start playing four, which seems to make more sense to me, like a four at the back, is that we have essentially got a cycle of Ronnie Edwards, who played really, really well in the Championship last season, Jack Stephens, Nathan Wood and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, which I think most of us would be happy about.
00:21:22
Zak
I just, I can understand the call for slightly more experience.
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's without even mentioning Quasi, who who seems, I mean, is struggling to find his feet. But, I mean, I can see can see the quality in there from what I see.
00:21:31
Zak
Again, it's it's
00:21:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I see the potential. You know, don't get me wrong, I also see the mistakes. But they can be they can be taught out. They can be trained out. Like, we've also been very unsettled. Like, we talked about this not being a settled period for anyone.
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, we had two or three players starting for us who started for us in this season that are no longer with us. So it just...
00:22:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean...
00:22:01
Zak
Oh yeah, that's reality of demotion from the Premier League, isn't it?
00:22:04
Zak
Is that, you know, we look at play the three players we really wanted to keep, mate, were Ramsdale, Fernandes and Dibbling, and
Emotional Impact of Departures
00:22:11
Zak
they've all gone on. But like, I'm not i'm not as devastated as I thought I would be.
00:22:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
thought...
00:22:16
Zak
I think that's what's weird for me.
00:22:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
but for the fees, because the fees we bought in for them were ridiculous. Like Newcastle paid us, ah ah Newcastle paid us money to loan Ramsdale from us.
00:22:21
Zak
And I think also we seem to have replaced really well.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like 82 million for, uh, I mean, I think, I think it probably boils down, rather unfairly, but in effect, 82 million for four Premier League goals.
00:22:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like,
00:22:44
Zak
Yeah, no, you're right.
00:22:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know that's not the full story.
00:22:45
Zak
It's crazy.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just, it's a lot of money.
00:22:48
Zak
But I think...
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's a lot of money that hopefully we've done well enough with. And I mean, hopefully looking at that out cost versus that in cost, hopefully sets us up nicely to build further on it going forward.
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because, you know, as as happy as I am with the squad we've built and think we're going to have a fantastic season with it, you're still going need to strengthen going up.
00:23:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, it's not a Premier League ready team.
00:23:12
Zak
Hmm...
00:23:15
Zak
No.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, only stretch the imagination.
00:23:18
Zak
But it is an exciting team for us going forward, right? And I think, was it you talking about, can't remember, it was probably you. You I talked to 90% of the time talking about rather than being like a one, having like that one key player that we have to be reliant on, which it very much felt like with Matty Fernandez. I think we have a...
00:23:39
Zak
a strong front line now to be amongst it right like we've not even seen fellows or yander in action yet saw thin and we saw how you know much of an effect that azaz can have on the game know we haven't even seen sienza i didn't even really know if that was gonna go over the line so you know and then on top of that
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:24:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't have to sit here and do match reviews where we say, oh, no shots on target again, because it's just, it shouldn't be that way at all.
00:24:22
Zak
I think after we take a break, mate, what I would like to ask you is who you're most sad to see go, you're happiest to see go, apart from maybe the obvious ones, and who you're happiest to, you know, you see...
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:24:42
Zak
I don't know...
00:24:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
who are most excited for. I'm going to go one further on that as well, and I want to denominate it down to a rating out of 10. but But you're right. Let's have a break and have a message from our partners at Zencastr.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at 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 automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:25:13
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. Alright mate, what do you want first?
00:25:22
Zak
Surprise me.
00:25:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alright, I'm going to go for Happiest to See Go and Ben Broughton Diaz next. no No further validation needed.
00:25:34
Zak
Okay.
00:25:35
Zak
Who are you saddest to see go
00:25:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I think it's obviously, Matty. I think that a season with him in the Championship with us would have been phenomenal.
00:25:43
Zak
yeah
00:25:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it is sad to see Dibling go, and I think maybe a year in the Championship would have done him good, but actually, actually, ah year under a good manager at Everton, learning off of Jack Greenish is probably just as good.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a very attractive prospect for him. And, you know, it's such a huge amount of money for such an unproven talent. Yeah. It is what it is. But yeah, seeing Matty go, i think maybe even it was just because there was just that tiny bit of hope but towards the end that he was going to stay, which just made it that bit more difficult.
00:26:17
Zak
Yeah, which is which is frustrating because it would have just been like they'd done the whole of the transfer window, that the goal and the aim of him was to get out of the club. And that's, yeah, that's a little bit, but they I think it could have been conducted in a a better manner. But I also think it could have been a lot worse, right? Like...
00:26:34
Zak
yeah it's just less. I think that one of the lessons I've taken out of this transfer window is that player power is just, is iss it now? We're just NFL. Like whatever a player really wants goes, right? It doesn't matter if you've got a nine year contract, it means nothing. and Realistically.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what what about you, mate? Who are you saddest to see go? And who are you happiest to see go?
00:27:00
Zak
I would probably say, mate, Ben Burrits and Diaz, because same reasons as you, Where... by
00:27:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Honourable mention to Cameldeen Sulemano who got us £18.3 million pound by the way.
00:27:06
Zak
yeah
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
like Frankly, probably also on that same ilk of isn't really going to be doing much for us this season, but can't turn down a money spinner like that, mate.
00:27:22
Zak
it's Yeah, it's it's that if he wanted to go play in the Champions League at Atalanta under Juric, a manager who you gave him a bit of a second chance and a bit of lease of life, but i I really thought...
00:27:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's unbelievable.
00:27:33
Zak
he was going to come good off the back of when he first started, right? He was really bright spark and it just it just never never kicked off for him. i think that injury during Championship season and trying to play Martin Ball just completely wrecked him. And then obviously see decided he wanted to move on. and And I don't really blame anyone that's got got the idea of playing for a Championship club. but You know, sorry, Championship, Champions League club.
Future Prospects and Conclusion
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no. But who are you? Silas, there you
00:27:56
Zak
Can stay and play the Championship if they want, but...
00:28:02
Zak
a I think it's hash up between... I want to say all know that I love love our Japanese players. always have done because like I pay a lot of attention to the J League, mainly because it's free on YouTube.
00:28:16
Zak
Sad to see Yuki go. I'm sad that didn't quite work out. He like seemed like a really bright spark at beginning of the Premier League campaign. We talked about how £5 million pound was basically going to be a steal. And then he kind of just had, you know, and then all the media, everything else. And then he's just disappeared off the face of the earth. And then it was like, okay, bye We're like, oh, that's...
00:28:34
Zak
That's slightly sad. And then i know ah ah should say Matty. And I said, like, Matty was pretty much our star of the season. But I think it probably is dibbling because it was sort of the...
00:28:46
Zak
it was one of the only positive things, you know, we you talked we talked about how we really hoped Matty Fernandes would fall under the radar, but it was like that bright bit of hope and it ah helped us enjoy watching Russell Martin football was because Dibbling was in that front line and, you know,
00:29:04
Zak
And then it was like then the 100 million price tag happened and then there were like injuries and he was at the pitch for a bit of it and it was kind of just a a sad decline and then kind of just the acceptance he's probably never going to play for us again.
00:29:16
Zak
and And that just being like the reality of the way that our academy works, right, is that we might get them for a season if we're lucky.
00:29:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:25
Zak
And unfortunately, you know, it's never going to be not like that any anymore.
00:29:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:29:30
Zak
So...
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess for me, an honourable mention as well for James Bree, because i was a bit surprised to see him go. Thought he was quite a solid, but I mean, also we signed three fullbacks, so I guess it makes sense in the long run.
00:29:36
Zak
Yeah.
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Most promising in? Is that not a fair question to ask yet? two Too little time.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I guess most exciting potential?
00:29:50
Zak
I haven't been able to do my research on everybody.
00:29:53
Zak
But, like, i I really hope Damien Downs comes good. I think that there is potential there for us to have a goal scorer.
00:29:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:30:01
Zak
And I think that, you know, the fact that he's been written off so early into the season is kind of ah ah wild, to be perfectly honest. Because, again, it's like completely different league, different team, different game, you know.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, he gets
00:30:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
he gets in the right positions and now we've got players behind him who can put that ball into him that he's going to want. And I know that he's tripped over his feet a couple of times and missed some, honestly, some shockers, but just needs that one to get that confidence going. And we know that Stryker's confidence players just, it feels like it's all going to come together nicely.
00:30:32
Zak
And Sienza very much looks like he's going to turn himself into a fan favourite. I think if any player chooses us over like League One and rent regular Bundesliga football and and has that level of passion from day one, like you know our last Brazilian that we all were a big fan of was Lianco, and if he can know he can show half of the amount of passion of Lianco but double the amount of ability, we will be absolutely flying.
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, if Lianco had half the ability that he had passion, he'd have been the best player in the world.
00:31:03
Zak
this is also true.
00:31:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly, that man.
00:31:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:05
Zak
so So it's one of those things where like, that's where I think there's a lot of of hidden potential.
00:31:10
Zak
And And ah think that I'm sad we never got Spursian over the line. As we said, it kind of felt like we wasted a lot of time learning that guy's name over and over and spending all this time trying to translate Russian articles, which were real difficult to read.
00:31:24
Zak
And then it just kind of petered to nothing. But again, like that sounds like the, you know, That will pretty much, you know, if we ever to end up going back to the Premier League, I very much doubt we'll ever want to try and do business with the Russian club again.
00:31:35
Zak
And that's more harmful to their league than it is to us, right?
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:38
Zak
To make anything that weird and difficult and the fact that no real information came out about that, right?
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:45
Zak
It was all very, it seems like, it seems like what fell apart in Spurzian might be the making of some of the other players we brought in, right? Like, I don't know if that's...
00:31:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:56
Zak
We didn't hear anything about Yander until very, very last minute. I feel like that might be them swapping positions, right?
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
By design.
00:32:03
Zak
and And potentially, you know, yeah we've we've already seen a bit of what Azaz can offer, and he's a proven goalscorer in the Championship.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:10
Zak
So I actually just think that it's a bit of a cop-out, but I'm actually looking forward to seeing all of the new players we've got.
00:32:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree with
00:32:18
Zak
I very much doubt we'll see George Long, but like I just think that I can't be mad at what we've put together and what we've loaned out. like Loaned in and what we've transferred in, all of it seems to make logical sense to me.
00:32:30
Zak
And there's been times where it hasn't.
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm excited to see... Yeah. Look, I'm excited to see it. I'm excited to see what Tom Fellows brings. I think he's a very good player. I think he's maybe the coup of the seat cu of this window for me.
00:32:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
but But that's because I don't know ins and outs. I don't watch the other leagues. I don't know the ins and outs of Sienza and Caspiander. So my mind is here. My socks are ready to be blown off, mate. I cannot wait.
00:32:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, then. Short, sharp answer to wrap us up. Out 10, as a gut feeling, how do you feel this transfer window's gone?
00:33:06
Zak
Again, 8.5. Agreed. Yeah,
00:33:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Solid. Solid. Yeah. i think why I think I would say exactly the same. 8.5 out of 10. It's good. Solid. I think it's going to all come together. I'm feeling positive.
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm excited by it. What more can you ask for, really? like
00:33:26
Zak
great
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, i guess I guess we'll see what more we needed to ask for is as the championship unfolds. Because...
00:33:31
Zak
yeah well
00:33:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
as As I pointed out to you earlier, mate, on paper, that's a fantastic team. Unfortunately, this game is played on grass. So we will...
00:33:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
we flew Exactly.
00:33:41
Zak
Sorry, it's a January window, mate, as well.
00:33:43
Zak
Let's not forget.
00:33:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And all of that money that we're going to have in to potentially spend as well. Crazy, crazy times. All right, well, look, that is all we have got time for today and then some.
00:33:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But thank you, Zach, for joining me. Thank you, everyone, for listening. Who is your most exciting prospect that we have signed in this window? Let us know in the comments or on the socials. We are on all of them. We are on X, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, Facebook.
00:34:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
think I've missed one, but that's that's fine. We're on all of them. Look us up. We are at GSPN Southampton. We will be back tomorrow with something Saints related, for sure.
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, thank you very much for joining us, and have a wonderful day.