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Episode 313: ORI-ORIEL ROMEU and what is next?
176 Plays20 days ago
Southampton – What is next? We aren't sure apart from the return of Oriel Romeu!
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Transcript
Introduction and Host Greetings
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott and as always today, joined by my good friend, wonderful co-host, Sackinger Finch.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
How you buddy? You alright?
00:00:29
Zak
I can't keep up, Greg. like It's like, we're still fired. Oh, no, that's crazy. That completely shatters what we were going to talk about yesterday. What are we going to do? we i guess we're to talk about what we're going to do going forward.
Russell Martin's Surprising Support
00:00:44
Zak
and Oh, apparently Russell Martin's now the favourite. We thought that was a joke. Oh, no, apparently lots of senior players for his return.
00:00:51
Zak
Shocker. The statement from Nathan Wood that came that is the most PR thing that I've ever read in my life. and I feel like ChatGPT would have done a better job. And then within the last half an hour, us being like, apparently Romain's coming back.
00:01:07
Zak
nah, surely, surely that's a lie. That sounds a bit bad. And then everyone just being like, we are so back as if the last two years hasn't come or happened because we've signed one of the players who we've had before. Like, for me positive news, right? Really good. I'm welcoming back one of the few, few players that I would have, right? To be clear.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:30
Zak
I'm now seeing people who talking about, well, we just get everyone that's back.
00:01:36
Zak
Get get Prowse, just get the whole thing. I'm pretty sure the age would catch up with us all, but they and and also they wouldn't want to come back. But too much has happened, Greg. I can't keep up.
00:01:48
Zak
Can you keep up? You tell me. How you feeling, mate?
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, there's a lot in there.
Criticism of Nathan Wood's Apology
00:01:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, look, let's try and tackle it one by one. Nathan Wood's apology was, let's call it wet. But also, i I think I feel like sticking up for yourself in that situation.
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe not the worst thing in the world. Like, we don't know what was said. It could have been anything. But also, I think I said to you, if we were doing our job and we'd had, like, a particularly bad day at the office and, like, several things had gone wrong and then, like, on the way out of the door, someone stood in the car park going, you suck!
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I'm going to bite back too. Like, it's not... but So I get it.
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:02:43
Zak
And so where I'm at is I'd rather him have just not said anything and let it lie down.
00:02:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:48
Zak
Because you telling me there's a contingent of this fan base that are going to go for like the next couple of years? Because regardless of whether he's apologised or not, there are still going to be a group of fans now that are like, well, I hate Nathan Wood.
00:02:59
Zak
ever since he swore at us that one game. Like, you know, I'm petty like that, to be fair. Not about that kind of stuff, but I'm petty and I know that other people will be. So the idea of literally,
Fan Frustrations and Emotional Investment
00:03:10
Zak
you know, let's put out let's about like the most PR managed statement in the world seems a bit silly.
00:03:16
Zak
But i I understand why.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
baffling.
00:03:17
Zak
It's just a modern game in it. And... Yeah, we've we've talked about it a little bit.
00:03:22
Zak
I can understand why it's frustrating for fans. I can understand why it's frustrating for players, I guess, regardless of whether we want it or not. It's a new page, right, for the XYZ...
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, football, I mean, a lot of people would just say, it's just football, isn't it? But, like, we all know that it's not, it's not simple as that. Football is a game of high emotion and you invest in it with your time and with your money and, you know, you follow your team and you know you know, we took the mick of that, was it the New York Jets fan last week that went viral, Zach? Like, I hate this team.
00:03:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, they're my team and I support them, but i hate them. Like, I get it. Like, we've all been there.
00:04:01
Zak
that's the most but You say we take the mic. That's the most relatable thing I've seen in years.
00:04:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. don look And, you know, what emotions run high and, you know, I don't think biting back to that is necessarily problem. but I don't know enough of the details. I wasn't there. I've seen the video on social media. wasn't there to hit hear what was heard or see the response, to know if the response was justified or not. It's...
Impact of Apology Timing on Fan Perception
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just, I don't i don't think I care, really. And you're right, he would have been better off not apologising than putting out such a wet apology.
00:04:39
Zak
especially mate i don't know when it released right because i've seen it this morning so obviously we're recording like what monday afternoon so i don't know if it came out yesterday but if the timing of it coming out after we're still has been fired like at that point it's also then meant to be lost in the ether right or alternatively it's because
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
definitely saw it.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I definitely saw it yesterday before Will still got fired, but I think literally by a matter of like 30 minutes or so, like it was, it was, it was, it was not like dramatically before, like it's gone out early hours of Sunday morning.
00:05:01
Zak
right okay
00:05:13
Zak
Oh, mate.
Managerial Changes and Team Dynamics
00:05:15
Zak
Mate, could you imagine that he he was asked by Will Steele to put out a statement? It's the only way you're ever going to get back in the team, lad. So he puts out a statement and then he's gone.
00:05:29
Zak
Well, I say that we don't need to invent hypotheticals for how mental everything's been. around the club. So how, how are you feeling? So obviously the odds are across for the new manager, obviously the Romain who seems to have almost wiped everyone's brain clean of the
Positive Impact of Romain's Addition
00:05:45
Zak
fact that we are managerless 21st and spent the most money in the championship.
00:05:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, look, let's let's start with that because it's positive, right? Romero back, great stuff for me. He's a lead. We talked yesterday a lot about how we lacked leadership on the pitch and off the pitch.
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he is and always was a fantastic leader, a very vocal, no nonsense. Yeah, sure, he's a bit older now, but I just don't think... I think that the footballing intelligence that he's always had has always been his strength.
00:06:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It'll just be... I think it'll be good. And, you know, I don't think anyone's under any illusions that he's suddenly going to be playing 90 minutes three times in seven days every week.
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But that's not... I don't think the purpose of the signing, right? It's sensible to bring in, to show that experience and hopefully raise some of these other players' spirits and confidence...
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
either by just, you know, having that presence to drag them up or, don't know, beat them up, whatever they need. They need something, like, whip them into shape. And, yeah, you know, a presence with that leadership potential that's a free agent currently that knows the club. So, you know, and it's good piece of PR, right? Because, like you say, that's it. That's the the positive that's going to come.
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that it's an interesting one because I think it means that we probably won't see a new manager announcement this week, right?
00:07:11
Zak
Thank you.
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like this is the the cherry to keep us tied our appetite until presumably after the, at
Club's Managerial Search Strategy
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
least the Sheffield Wednesday game on the weekend, right?
00:07:31
Zak
I kind of assumed that anyway, right? Like, I felt like that unless there were suddenly going to be three wins on the trot, they'd already kind of made up their mind that still was going, especially if they'd been looking at candidates for the last month.
00:07:44
Zak
And they were probably going to go, well, whoever it is will start from the international break. So, hey, you know, i know that things are terrible right now, but here's this here's this good piece of news. and And I do really hope it works out. And you're right, I really hope that he is able to provide some leadership during a time that it's needed the most, because the rest of the players can't seem to be able to do that.
00:08:08
Zak
So somebody's going to need to.
00:08:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and look go And I've got some interesting thoughts on like what how that changes my opinion on other Sports Republic actions.
Podcast Partner Message
00:08:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But let's let's take a little pause, mate. Let's have a break and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, mate, we are back.
PR-Driven Club Decisions
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, like, thinking about that from, like, a purely PR perspective, right? Like, oh, it's going to be hit and miss firing Will Steele, right? Like, obviously there were calls for it, but people are more angry at us.
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, let's bring in Romayu as leadership, also it's good PR. But these all feel like things that are very, like, PR-driven and like public opinion-driven.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's that's you know smoothly slide that into the next thought of bringing Russell Martin back.
Managerial Candidates and Suitability
00:09:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
That doesn't sound like a particularly PR-driven piece by any stretch of the imagination, does it? could could you I don't think I've seen anyone who would actually be happy with that
00:09:52
Zak
Well,
00:09:57
Zak
i I think what it is, is that if you look at the tenure of a Sports Republic in charge of our club so far, where has any of the success come from?
00:10:09
Zak
who was able to drive us through a part of, to you know, to be clear, it's not something I support, but from their perspective, he is our most successful manager that they have hired previously.
00:10:22
Zak
Right. regardless of how disastrous last season went, uh, you know he didn't have a proper director of football for half of the time. the you know Quite frankly, the sort of transfers we brought in during the Premier League season were not very good up to standard.
00:10:41
Zak
But I also can't help but look at the fact that Rangers backed him and gave him the players that he wanted. and look how that turned out, right? I feel like if that's... He comes back through the door and they all start running up to him and hugging him and being like, oh, boss, we missed you. That's you're not playing for a specific guy. You never were playing for a specific guy.
00:10:58
Zak
you want to follow that guy around, could have left the Rangers at any point. Like... I just, I don't see who it's for other than the fact that, again, it is, they are falling back onto, I wouldn't be sp surprised if they are falling back.
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's baffling. It's really... is
00:11:11
Zak
well Also, Greg, it might just be one of the only people who's willing to take the job, right? It might be one of the only people that is happy and willing to step up and take this job. That is a known quantity in the championship, right?
00:11:24
Zak
Because I'm seeing names thrown around. We're seeing Brendan Rodgers. Why? What possible reason would he want to? Frank Lampard. Why would he leave commentary? Steven Gerrard, yep, we we sure. Turned down to Rangers but goes to Southampton.
00:11:36
Zak
Ralph Hasenhutl, that's just because he won't be used to you know used to manage us, right? Probably turned up the other week, saw it and went, nah.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, he was at the Bristol game, right, but also his friends with the Bristol coach, so...
00:11:49
Zak
Yes, it's because his old assistant manager, who was with him at Wolfsburg, is now at Bristol City. He was invited as a guest of him. Nothing to do with Saints whatsoever. So I can understand. But also it's like us being trapped in the legacy thing again, isn't
Nostalgia and Club Decisions
00:12:03
Zak
it? it's you know I'm seeing calls for Redmond to come back. Why don't we just get Bertrand out of retirement and Pella and whoever I understand...
00:12:12
Zak
i understand why fans are like that, at least. I understand that nostalgia. I am very baffled if that Sports Republic feel that way. But like again, it's because it's a known entity, it's a known quantity, they know what they're getting, they know how to deal with him, he's dealt with situations that have been crap prior.
00:12:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Doesn't make sense.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but it's... But it's a known entity that literally got booed out of the building. like
00:12:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, people are going to be going to their cupboards to get their their existing banners out that have been printed, mate. Like, it's...
00:12:34
Zak
Then then we'll we'll really know...
00:12:40
Zak
we'll really know at that point whether they care about the fans at all, right? Because, like, how tone-deaf is it that after the loss the other day, you've got them trying to encourage people to go to the level one in the fan zone?
00:12:52
Zak
like
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:12:54
Zak
Like... i
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Join us in the Dell for a 10% discount afterwards. That got booed.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like...
00:12:59
Zak
Yeah, of course it did.
00:13:00
Zak
like The attendance got booed, mate, to be perfectly honest. and that's That's where we're at at the moment. and and you know i don't think that our our club is going to start doing mass fan protests. And I think they know that.
00:13:12
Zak
And I think that you know it might be unpopular. But also, if we if he strings two or three wins together, could you imagine how how how it will change again? Because like when we went he went in the championship season, we had our doubts, mate, but we weren't exactly the like unhappy that he was in charge at the time.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:13:31
Zak
Again, it's it's just falling back on what they know.
00:13:33
Zak
We
Russell Martin's Potential Return
00:13:33
Zak
fall back on all of the players and and Ralph and this, that and the other, because that was the best time of our recent history. They're falling back on Russell Martin because that was the best time during their tenure, right? Yeah.
00:13:47
Zak
that That is how I see it. it could just And the fact that you know they might have a player revolt on their hands. So to try and stop that, you know you even you speculated this morning, was the Jack Stephens falling out with Will Steele, the thing that we we categorically said, well, that sounds like BS because he's at the game.
00:14:07
Zak
But also, since the supposed captain of an unnamed championship club fell out with the manager... Jack Stephens has played like 20 minutes of football out position. So, you know, who knows?
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:20
Zak
That might be the case. Again, I don't want to just speculate for speculation's sake, but I understand the logic. Doesn't mean because I understand it, I think it's correct. And I think that it's mad.
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's... It would just be
00:14:32
Zak
I think that it's it's genuinely it genuinely proves the point to everybody that they don't have a clue what to do. And also, I think from Johan Spohr's perspective,
Criticism of Sports Republic Management
00:14:42
Zak
like I wonder if it's genuinely like him being like, hey guys, we probably should do that, and then being like, nah, we probably should.
00:14:51
Zak
i just we i just want to know where all the information is coming from. Is it just bookies? Is it just...
00:14:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
it, right? Like, we don't...
00:14:55
Zak
is it just
00:14:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't know.
00:14:56
Zak
None of it feels legitimate yet. It's day one.
00:14:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:15:00
Zak
It's day one.
00:15:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And like you don't know, right? Because you hear these whispers as well of like, well, actually, despite you know being forced to step down, Ankerson still steps in and has his input when he wants, and that's part of the problem. why you just The whole, it's all a mess.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just such a mess, all of it.
00:15:19
Zak
Yes, there's people... there there's now so There's an article that came out. I'm not going to quote it because I don't know how much truth there is to it yet. So I don't want to start sending people to sources that might be BS. But there was a guy talking about how the...
00:15:33
Zak
apparently the way that Sports Republic is run is an absolute shambles and there's just lot of positions at the clubs that don't really need to exist and kind of feel weird. And I don't know how legitimate that is.
00:15:45
Zak
And I feel like, you know, the job of people like Alfie House is difficult because then people like, oh, you need to, you know, you're not being a proper journalist because you're asking these questions. But again, it's like, access, right? He apparently knew about the Rio May thing yesterday people were like, why didn't you tell us straight away? And he's like, well, in journalism, you need to build trust. If you out your sources literally every second, you will get that access removed.
00:16:06
Zak
And if you get access removed when you are the club journalist, you'll end up in that position that the guy at Blackburn ended up in, right? Where he's banned from all the games.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:16:14
Zak
So it's difficult to know what's going on inside an organization because you never do.
Integrity of Sports Journalism
00:16:20
Zak
It's why everyone who jokes about, you know, oh if any you knew what was going on behind closed door in every single business that's ever run, you know, the government, not five years ago, mate, were using Excel as a database. like
00:16:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:16:34
Zak
it's So, like, how do you think this all works behind the scenes? I don't think that... We've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt multiple, multiple times. I just feel like I can't do that until there's any evidence to the contrary. tro And the evidence to the contrary was the build-up to the Premier League and a lot of the fan stuff they did, the fan zones, the turning us into a sustainable club. but But as I keep pointing out to you, there's point in being a sustainable matchday experience when nobody's going.
00:17:00
Zak
LAUGHTER I don't know. It's it's all feels, you're right it all just feels a bit weird.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:06
Zak
It all feels a bit, but again, the other thing I'd i'd like to point out and make everybody like calm down a little bit is it is, yeah that as you're listening to this, it'll be day two after Will Stowe has been fired, right?
Rumor Mill Dynamics Post-Managerial Changes
00:17:17
Zak
It'll be day two. There is always going to be the rumour mill. Everything is going to be chucked out. We might have, by this point, you might be celebrating the fact we're side rummated. It might be, you know, mike he might come in and do some bits straight away.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, as at time of recording for Brizio Romanus, just here we go'd it, so...
00:17:33
Zak
Man. Okay, yeah, but also, he hit he was very hit and miss over the summer. He's had his reputation tarnished a little bit, I'm not going to lie. couple years ago, you'd maybe go, yeah, that every time you put something out, it's fire. Whereas now, it's like, well, that could still fool through last minute. And also, is he just retweeting what we've put out? Like...
00:17:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
mate, I don't know.
00:17:54
Zak
However, okay, but but that but then it is a bit of is a bit of positivity and we have to latch onto that. I just thought we'd be latching onto a lot more positivity by this point in the season, right?
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, very much so. Right, mate, let's have another little break before I ask you the difficult question, which you know hope that we've ruminated on it in the last 24 hours and and maybe come up with something.
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
sir Let's have a little word from our partners at Zencastr before we get to that. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner.
00:18:31
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 podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster.
00:18:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, mate. So...
Tondarecker’s Interim Role
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. Who is next? what but he who Who on this horrible list of names er makes you happy? Would make you happy? Are we... Right.
00:19:03
Zak
Is there a box for NA? Can I wreck the ballot?
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:19:07
Zak
Like...
00:19:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, look, maybe maybe before we get to that, let's less draw our attention in a bit. What about Tondarecker, right, who's who's been given this job and on an interim basis?
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was kind of banded about that maybe he's, like, with the prospect of taking the job on. how How would you feel about that?
00:19:30
Zak
So we do it what we're doing Ruben Salas again, are we? He's going to get one win when he takes charge and then we give him the rest of the season and then we go down. Yeah, okay. Sure.
00:19:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:19:41
Zak
but That's where I'm at. where Where I'm at is, you know, he he might be in this job by merit. I think you pointed out he'd been in the Red Bull system previously. He was in Mipzig in the same time as Spores.
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, well, he's been a assistant manager. I did...
00:19:53
Zak
So he's a Spores bloke, let's face it.
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Well, look, I did a U thing, mate, and I did a bit of research. That's the the thing. Like, he he is very experienced... coach He's been assistant manager in a lot of places. He started in 2011 as an analyst, then became head of scouting in Germany, then became assistant manager, then moved into the Red Bull system and moved to Salzburg, then was assistant manager at the youth level of Salzburg, then to Leipzig and did all the different sort of couple of different youth teams as a assistant manager there.
00:20:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then was at Bayern, Bayern Munich for their under-17s. Then he went on and was assistant manager for Barnsley for like 125 games.
Tondarecker’s Coaching Background
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then, you know, in 2021 was assistant manager at Genoa. So is that like a Romelu link? Because that's where he was then as well, right? if He was assistant manager at Genoa 21-22 last season.
00:20:56
Zak
Mate.
00:21:01
Zak
Oh, what?
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
they
00:21:03
Zak
Just, just, you know, other than Barnsley, mate, you just, can you just clarify for me? Are any of those in England at the championship? Oh, interesting.
00:21:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, not at all.
00:21:12
Zak
Isn't that what we need?
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, mate.
00:21:15
Zak
So that understands the league a bit better, because that's kind of how I felt with Steele.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, whilst I'm willing to hit
00:21:19
Zak
I was really excited and it just, he's not been able to get the results.
00:21:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whilst I understand that, and and I'm with you, like, I don't disagree with your sentiment to play devil's advocate a bit. Also, he's only lost one game with our under-21s this season so far. Like, knows how to win with a Saints team.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, would we be horribly offended if we swap out half of the starting 11 with our under-21s?
00:21:39
Zak
So, you saying we stop... we
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Probably not.
00:21:45
Zak
We put out the Under-21s team and we start Rubio as captain the minute.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:50
Zak
Is that you're saying?
00:21:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:52
Zak
i mean, yeah, if it works, mate. If it works. I think...
00:21:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Chuck Sienza in there as well. And, you know, there's a couple of other players from starting eleven that the that, you know, you have built up enough credit in the bank to to have a go out and be involved. But, yeah.
00:22:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stick Young, Nick Ojelenke. That's what I'm trying with.
00:22:15
Zak
We're going to need to figure out how to pronounce his name because this can't go on, especially if he's going to become a first-team regular, which i'm I'm really hoping he does.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:22
Zak
like That's another positive that we were we were unable to talk to yesterday really much about because, again, like like a lamb to the slaughter, both him and Downs thrown on in the last minute to try and do anything without enough time to you know barely tie their laces.
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Goalkeeper and then miraculously recovered just the the standard.
00:22:37
Zak
Or wait whilst the you know one of the Preston players went down to the floor for, I don't know, half an hour what it felt like. So...
00:22:49
Zak
Oh, well, you know...
00:22:50
Zak
with That that i was just that because he just wanted a break, mate.
00:22:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, he...
00:22:53
Zak
You know, it's 25 minutes into a game. difficult, isn't it?
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:57
Zak
Besides the point, keep keeping on track for a change for me, I just... I understand where you're coming from, mate. I get that. I think that it's difficult because who out there actually has championship experience that's that's available?
00:23:08
Zak
Who is going to want the job is the other thing that you need to factor in there.
Challenges in Finding an Effective Coach
00:23:12
Zak
If he gets... two wins out of the two this week, right? That would be really, really positive. And if they need to keep him for a little bit longer until they find the right person, sure.
00:23:23
Zak
The problem is is that does anyone trust them to get the right person? no No. If it's an unknown name from some sort of German Bundesliga 2 team, people will people will be mad.
00:23:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:23:38
Zak
it will people will also be know I think a lot of the logical takes are Carrick because of what he did with Middlesbrough. And again, like I think the goal has now unfortunately gone from getting promoted to staying up, which is insane when you think about it. And that could all change. Everything at the top could collapse and we could start climbing our way back up and then it's a different story.
00:23:58
Zak
But like the reality of the situation of where we are is is that we need somebody to take the the team by the scruff of the neck, turn this around, change it if it needs to be changed, and get rid of the people that don't want to be here.
00:24:10
Zak
The problem is is, does anyone have faith in Sports Republic to do that? I would argue that no, not really.
00:24:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:24:17
Zak
This would be the third, fourth successive season. yeah We managed one season under their tenureship, which was Russell Martin, where we didn't do the cycle of... have a manager, get rid of the manager, have an interim manager for a game, bring in another manager, get rid of that manager, bring in another interim, right?
00:24:32
Zak
Like that's kind of, you know, it's insane that this is a cycle.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I don't know if I've said it on the podcast yet, mate, but I know that I said it to you the other night, you know, in the midst of our sort of back and forth, but, you know, we're now more managers in the last two years than league wins.
00:24:49
Zak
Yes.
00:24:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:24:50
Zak
We are also averaging every 102 episodes, we are averaging a new manager.
Frequent Managerial Changes
00:24:56
Zak
So that is, if we do 20 episodes in a month, that is basically, we do five months talking about it.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:03
Zak
Do you know what i will say is very interesting, Greg, that isn't on any of these lists. not At no point has anyone suggested the return of Ivan Juric.
00:25:13
Zak
but Because I had to rev remind my wife of him because she's convinced that, well, they're just going to give it to Lallana eventually, aren't they? And I'm like, probably wouldn't surprised at this point.
00:25:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
they They can't, mate, because and genuinely, real quote, real piece of observational stuff here, Lana does not yet have the correct UEFA coaching badge to be able to be managing in this league.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
That might well be the only reason, right? Yeah.
00:25:38
Zak
Oh, and
00:25:42
Zak
But I will say that one of the some of the other things to to alleviate maybe some of the Russell Martin worries, I will point out, is he's going to want to come in with Gillian that lot, right?
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:54
Zak
We still have Trollope.
00:25:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:25:55
Zak
We still have Lallana. Trollope was a assistant manager to Will Stills. So I assume it means that he's going to remain the assistant. Might end up just going back into the coaching team.
00:26:06
Zak
But, you know, if if somebody wants to come in and not play into this weird system they've set up, I think that they're going to struggle, which is why I i personally think it's going end up being somebody we don't have a clue.
00:26:19
Zak
I think that, do you think that would be better or worse than Russell Martin, mate? Because again, like, how would you get a new manager started unless you give him a shot? We've been very good at that in the past. But the problem is, is that the last like nine out of 10, bar maybe Hasnut, it's been really difficult, right? Yeah.
00:26:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:34
Zak
so to give somebody like an unknown from an unknown entity a start from elsewhere.
00:26:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:39
Zak
Like even when we brought in Russell Martin, he had championship experience from Swansea.
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah You know what?
00:26:42
Zak
So...
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know. i don't know. i don't know what the answer is, honestly. I don't know if I see a way forward. I hope that we turn it around. And you know what? I hope whoever it is does come in and to turns these players around and gets the best out of them and that we push on and and have a good run out to the season because...
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Man, we've really earned it as fans. Like, we've suffered through some absolute horrid times the last couple seasons.
00:27:06
Zak
I don't think there's a
00:27:12
Zak
a... I don't think that that can be repeated again. That game, Saturday, cannot be repeated again.
00:27:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. No.
Decline of Fan Base and Attendance
00:27:19
Zak
And like i don't I don't think that the fan base will survive having to put up with that again.
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:25
Zak
like it's just not It's just not acceptable.
00:27:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:28
Zak
like it's This isn't...
00:27:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've seen the number slowly drop away down to, what was it, 27,000 on Saturday. And I think it'll be even less than that next week, even with still gone. It's just, yeah.
00:27:39
Zak
Well, yeah, because again, like and this this comes to the other thing, which you know I'll quickly add on, which is the cost of it, right? Genuinely, I understand that it's not nice to be shouted at by you know a bunch of fans who are mugging you off for the fact that you've done your job badly and you already feel bad about it.
00:27:56
Zak
But also, again, like I, as a married man with no children, took my dad, spent, you know, 60 quid on the tickets, spent money in the fans, mainly because i wanted to hang out with you, to be honest.
00:28:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would
00:28:09
Zak
And I know that you go there because it's an easy place for you to take the kids rather than sort of a pub. And, you know, you're spending money here, you're putting money into it. You know, I think my dad was getting a shirt and he ended up not bothering because he was too annoyed at the result by the end of the game.
00:28:24
Zak
And like that is, they are, yeah, so this is this is my point.
00:28:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
that would have been another, what, 65 at the moment, Shuts?
00:28:29
Zak
And then like, you know, and there are a lot of arguments to just not put money into the Sports Public, which I understand as well. Like I understand where we why we want to do that, but it's the amount of money that is spent on away travel and the amount of amount of dedication that the fans put into the club And again, it's rewarded with like, oh, by the way, we're removing your season ticket discounts in the shop and we're going to make them vouchers that are only eligible during specific times of the shop.
00:28:55
Zak
And only during specific items. And it's just like, guys, come on, man, read the room. And again, this is what I worry about with the Rumei thing because it just feels like it's a tidy piece of PR for them. And then we're going to end up getting either the under-20s, one manager in full-time, Russell Martin, because he manages to...
00:29:13
Zak
uses voodoo to convince them that he's good again. Because again, we know he's charismatic. We know he can sit in a room and convince people that he's going to do amazing things because he did it with Rangers and us. Or we end up going for some random Bundesliga 2 manager that Spores decides to bring in get relegated to League 1 and then Spores shockingly leaves.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:32
Zak
Those are my my worries. It doesn't need to be like that.
Impact on Season Ticket Sales and Revenue
00:29:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or maybe there's, maybe there is one plus and the flip side to it, mate, is that maybe next season when it comes to season ticket benefits, that there'll be backup on the up because, uh, all of a sudden it's going to be a more valuable prospect to have season ticket holders as opposed to, uh, well, we could just sell this season ticket seat for 70 pound a game and make money off it that way.
00:29:35
Zak
just We just hope it's not like that.
00:29:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cause, uh, The attendances are not going to be maximizing that. So they're struggle.
00:30:03
Zak
Bye.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think we'll really sort of see their true colors coming out across the course to next, the next i guess,
00:30:14
Zak
just I just want to enjoy being a Saints fan again, mate. That's all I'm asking for.
00:30:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:30:18
Zak
like and And I think that's what most people are asking for. Nobody wants to enjoy the downfall of of the club. No one wants to sit here week in, week out being miserable.
00:30:28
Zak
Like, good Lord, like we we know you know from from a selfish perspective, Whenever managers fight, our episodes do really well because everyone is locked into the club. Like, I do not want that to be the brand of Southampton Football Club, is that we just become this absolute banter club that fire our manager every other month because we don't know what we're doing.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:47
Zak
They can't figure out their style of play and they can't figure out this they can't figure out that. I want to turn up and go, oh, maybe we'll give a good go of it today. Maybe we'll get a win. Oh, we didn't get the win today. But the next I know that next week there is a perfectly, like, good chance that
Ongoing Fan Frustrations
00:30:59
Zak
we might win. Whereas at the moment, it just feels like If a win happens, it seems to be by accident, by miracle, or due to the referee.
00:31:07
Zak
And that is that is a devastating place as fans of a football club to be.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:12
Zak
And, you know, it's not as dramatic as the whole club collapsing, but if it carries on like this, it could be the case down the line.
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's real slippery slope.
00:31:20
Zak
That's where I'm at.
00:31:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's for sure.
00:31:21
Zak
Yeah, man.
00:31:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, mate. That's all we've got time for today. We've got a game to preview tomorrow, believe it or not. that's sir Football still happens despite all of the chaos. The world keeps turning and the football keeps coming.
00:31:37
Zak
It's just going to be picking who's not injured, right?
00:31:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Maybe Romay will be in the starting 11. That'll be something. Yeah.
00:31:47
Zak
but What an insane turn that could have taken place over the weekend. I do genuinely feel like sometimes I live in some sort of weird version of the Truman Show. Like, how nuts.
00:31:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely baffling.
00:31:58
Zak
But yeah, that's that's good. It's going to be exciting to talk about, mate. At least there's something that isn't the most
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but that's
Podcast Wrap-Up and Engagement Call
00:32:03
Zak
depressing thing you've ever heard.
00:32:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
it. That's it. That's it. That's all we've got time for today. Let us know on the socials or in the comments how you feel about Will's still going.
00:32:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who do you want next? How happy you that Romeo's back? How much a difference it's going to make? We love hearing from you. We're on all of the platforms on X, Blue Sky, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, everywhere. Hit us up.
00:32:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
TikTok. I don't know if I said it. but it's there as well. Like say, we'll be back tomorrow to preview our clash against QPR. well We'll do our best to to think about the game and how that might look.
00:32:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But until then, thank you everyone for joining us and we'll see you then. Have a wonderful day.