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Episode 423: Matchday Preview: BRISTOL AT ST MARY's TO MAKE IT 20?!
106 Plays9 days ago
Southampton – If we win this game, we are guarenteed play-offs, but we want more than that. Second place is within our sights and we just need a couple of other results to go our way, but none of that matters unless we win here! Focus has to be sharp coming into a particuarly tough game!
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Transcript
00:00:02
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg. Once again today joined my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach. And mate, how are you doing?
00:00:13
Zak
Yeah, mate, I'm not too bad. i am on the mend from my illness. I have unfortunately had to go to the opticians and fork out some money for some new glasses. That has unfortunately resulted in an enforced bit of holiday from work because I can't sit in front of a screen for too long at the moment.
00:00:30
Zak
And that is, you know, our day job. So but that's fine.
00:00:34
DailySaintsPod
Thank you.
00:00:35
Zak
going to make the most of it. I'm really looking forward to joining you tonight at St. Mary's. So that's going to be good fun. So yeah, like it's just weird. I've got an extended period of time off ahead of me and I can't do my normal hobbies. So to be honest, it means why I'm going to get a load of housework done and go for a couple of walks and stuff. So yeah. I'm really good. But, Greg, as I am a chronic oversharer, and as all of our listeners will know by this point, everything I get up to, and all of my feelings all the time, how about you, mate? How are you? Hmm.
00:01:07
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, man. I'm all right. I'm good. was saying it was a bit strange this weekend because for the first time in what feels like a long time... not getting the opportunity to go to St.
00:01:19
DailySaintsPod
Mary's.
00:01:20
DailySaintsPod
You know, it'd been a whole four days and I was starting to feel a bit lost. And maybe there's just a bit of, like, other whelming sadness coming in because like it was my nippers last day of his football season as well.
00:01:20
Zak
o
00:01:32
DailySaintsPod
So Saturday morning's going to look a bit a bit different as we sort of close out the the real season and his season.
00:01:37
Zak
Yeah!
00:01:39
DailySaintsPod
And, you know, no doubleheaders of football on a Saturday. to It's sad, isn't it? It's going to give my wife more opportunities to make me do chores or go shopping.
00:01:46
Zak
yeah
00:01:50
DailySaintsPod
That's not what anyone wants in their life.
00:01:52
Zak
Anyone that's like long-term listens to this podcast knows that me me and Greg have very opposite lives.
00:01:52
DailySaintsPod
Uh,
00:01:57
Zak
I have like two or three things in my calendar for the day and a nice that is too much. And then Greg will show me his calendar for just one of his children. And it'll be like, here's the seven things they're getting up to today.
00:02:10
Zak
And this is why I need to be here at like 12.30. I'm dropping them off at one. Then I'm doing this at two. And I am already exhausted just hearing about it.
00:02:20
DailySaintsPod
Like, it's...
00:02:20
Zak
But yeah, I feel like it's the thing that keeps you going.
00:02:21
DailySaintsPod
the it's
00:02:23
Zak
Whereas as opposed to me, who would be like, oh that's just a little a little bit too much.
00:02:29
DailySaintsPod
Well, yeah, it's so it's like you said before, it's the the chaos that I thrive in. It's really where it comes good.
00:02:33
Zak
You do. You really thrive in chaos.
00:02:34
DailySaintsPod
But but look, speaking of chaos, I mean, another game at St. Mary's tonight.
00:02:41
Zak
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
00:02:43
Zak
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
00:02:45
DailySaintsPod
I don't know if we haven't done the research before the episode, but and looking at results, I don't know if it's game we should be looking forward to, is it? I mean, not great history.
00:02:53
Zak
Mate, where I'm at, yeah, is I'll kind of take the same approach that that Todd has taken when he was asked this question, which is sort of like, I think he was asked about the bogey team status, and he was just like, okay, I don't really care, whatever.
00:02:53
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:03:07
Zak
thought This is the first I've heard of it this week.
00:03:08
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:03:10
Zak
And also, considering the things that we've managed to achieve sort of this, you know, this season so far, like we shouldn't really come into this with a a level of fear around superstition because we're the ones that ultimately will create our own destiny. And also if you look at that last game and the stats and how it played out and the way that it was structured There is a reason that we lost that game.
00:03:38
Zak
And I don't think we're, you know, as I've said it quite a few times. It is almost like the season of two. It almost feels like a completely different season under Will still, right? Just the way the vibes were, the players, some of them are still settling in.
00:03:52
Zak
You know, you've got, you had Ryan Fraser starting over both Tom Fellows and Matsuki, which is absolutely like nuts when you think about it. This was back when we had Edwards in the side, he's now at QPR.
00:04:01
DailySaintsPod
yeah.
00:04:04
Zak
You had McCarthy in goal, who was chosen over Bozunu at the time. Azaz didn't even get on the pitch the entirety of the game. it was yeah It was just some very sort of like it was a very bizarre game, in my opinion. And we also had, like regardless of everybody's opinion on Damien Downs, right i don't I don't want to kick a man while he's down. Excuse the pun. But like you know he's struggle-busting in Germany, as as you may be or may not be aware. He's having a bad time. He can't even...
00:04:35
Zak
play really at the moment without sort of being heckled. And that is an unfortunate reality for anybody, right? To not be able to do your job through fear of, you know, retaliation got to suck.
00:04:48
Zak
However, i don't think he was really built... to be confident and successful our place. If you are bringing him on with 12 minutes to go, three one down to try and do something, just, it's, yeah, it's, some it feels like a lifetime ago.
00:05:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it's... is it it's It's like actually the antithesis of what we've seen in the last couple of games, Tonda actually do with Cameron Archer, right?
00:05:14
Zak
Yes.
00:05:14
DailySaintsPod
Like that is, we talked about his confidence levels being low in a case where he's managed to build... that back up and build confidence and mentality up and yeah it's just uh sensational really but yeah the the complete completely different team now than we were then and you know it's it is still gonna be a tricky one though i think like
00:05:36
Zak
Oh, 100%.
00:05:41
Zak
i'mset It's not going to be an easy thing.
00:05:43
DailySaintsPod
I mean, Roy Hodgson, of course, now in charge of Bristol City as well, is is a manager that house comes with more experience in football than years our manager has been alive.
00:05:47
Zak
Okay.
00:05:58
Zak
Yeah, I think like Roy Podgson has a pedigree about him, right? like There's no other way of of putting it.
00:06:03
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:06:06
Zak
He's a man that everybody has known. was England manager for a little bit as well. It is something that... I don't think we can take lightly.
00:06:16
DailySaintsPod
No.
00:06:16
Zak
And also, they will be bolstered by the fact that they have done it once before. They will probably be bolstered by the fact that they think there is that bogey team element, right? I don't know whether or not Roy will be aware of that, but the team will be, especially as they were the one to just break our last unbeaten run, right?
00:06:35
Zak
So, yeah, it's going to be it's going to be difficult.
00:06:36
DailySaintsPod
Yes.
00:06:37
Zak
But at the same time, we are in very, very different situations different times and different stages of both the season and, you know, where we were and where we were going at that time, right?
00:06:49
Zak
Like they were still on a bit more of a promotion charge back then. We were we were kind of struggling, right?
00:06:52
DailySaintsPod
yeah.
00:06:56
Zak
This was this was in in that period of of really struggle bossing games. And, it you know, was a massively disappointing one for us at the time. and And you pointed out how this was the game that they had, what, like four shots on target and scored the three of them.
00:07:10
Zak
right and like this this is a time where I hate XG, you're aware of this but I will throw there to Jimmy Cheese who is a big supporter of us and I really appreciate him and everyone should go check out his YouTube channel as well.
00:07:11
DailySaintsPod
yeah.
00:07:25
Zak
but He pointed out that like he uses it more as a tool as opposed to looking at it as a stat. And I think that's a different and interesting way of reframing it. And when we sort of look at the fact that RXG, that game was 1.84, theirs was 1.49, but they managed to score three goals.
00:07:43
Zak
I guess what you can say is that they They managed to score probably some soft goals against McCarthy, which is a thing that when we see the argument that I think that I saw recently, which is slightly controversial, of Perret not being great, I just remember back to these games where 70% of the possession, like a bunch of shots on target, still lost 3-1.
00:08:08
Zak
And yeah.
00:08:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, that that's crazy. You're right. And look, it's not going to be an easy game.
00:08:14
Zak
When is very odd?
00:08:14
DailySaintsPod
But motivations motivations count, right? And we've got a lot to play for. Bristol City now are not able to make the playoffs. So arguably, you don't want to use on the beat the term on the beach necessarily. I don't think any team playing under Roy Hodgson is really going to have that mentality. But, you know, this season, only Millwall have conceded less goals than Bristol.
00:08:41
DailySaintsPod
So, it could be their successive clean sheet on the road for the first time since October. So so i guess like they concede, but not a lot.
00:08:52
DailySaintsPod
So it's going to be can be tight. I don't think we're going to be... saw some people online you know contemplating like the permeations of fixtures and that maybe this is the game we need to target to get more goals, to bolster our goal difference. And just i don't know if that's what it's going to be. I think it's going to be a probably a reasonably tough game that's going to require patience probably to to break down.
00:09:18
Zak
Yes.
00:09:22
DailySaintsPod
think the team's going to be quite organized.
00:09:24
Zak
It's the thing that everyone is sick of me talking about. You're probably sick of me hearing about it, but it's it's, again, it's like the not wanting to go into any game with arrogance. We cannot come into a game and just assume we're going to batter team 5-0.
00:09:34
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:09:36
Zak
Like, okay, well, it might have once or twice this season.
00:09:37
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:39
Zak
Don't get me wrong, but that's been fantastic. But that isn't, we shouldn't go, over this is the game we need to come in and of win by a significant amount of goals.
00:09:46
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:09:47
Zak
the The main aim for every single game at the moment is to win. doesn't matter how, doesn't matter if it's 1-0, it would be awful if that's the case, but that is the ultimate game, aim of the game, and that is obviously what they have been briefed up to do, right? is is It's going to be, the fate is in our own hands, but to do that we need to win.
00:10:06
Zak
And I think we need to kind of maybe take a step back from the idea of, you know, completely demolishing every team we come across. Obviously, I'd love it. I'd love to see it, but I don't want to underestimate a team that has already beaten us once this season.
00:10:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:21
Zak
And bogey status or not, like, you know, is a team that we we haven't had a very recent good record against. So, you know, hopefully Fortress St. Mary's turns it around and...
00:10:32
Zak
that is the thing that pushes everybody through and we have a bit more of a fun open game but ultimately like you can't discount the opponent and you can't i just don't i don't like the argument of being like this is the this is the game we should batter people like surely if you're go to take an approach do it like
00:10:38
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:10:49
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah. I don't think it is going to be that tight of game, but you're right. Vibes, motivation and home energy is going to be good. It's going to be high.
00:10:58
DailySaintsPod
The whole stadium going to be looking forward to trip to Wembley, seeing stuff out on the socials about make it, make it yellow for the day to celebrate the trip to Wembley.
00:11:03
Zak
Yeah. For
00:11:12
DailySaintsPod
atmosphere should be good. It's an exciting time to be a Saint, Sam. We say it plenty on the show. And and our form home is only serves to help boost that as well. The energy is going to be good.
00:11:23
Zak
fri sure
00:11:23
DailySaintsPod
It's just... that That's worth taking account. But yeah, it's just... other way I know. I think it's going to be interesting to see... Look, we've done the breakdown on the accounts and we know categorically that the priority is getting promoted, right? That is job one. And the the dreams of the FA Cup and beating City potentially are there, but we can't look past this game to the FA Cup semi-final. because we still need to win this game. And, you know, we're we've we've put an incredible amount of effort in to be in a position now where even a point from this game effectively secures us playoffs mathematically, right? Which is which is fantastic. But we've actually done such a good job of that that that's not even the thought on everyone's mind, right? The thought we've got to win this game and all of the rest of the games to try and get automatics.
00:12:22
DailySaintsPod
And, you know, if... if results aren't happening elsewhere and, you know Mill will drop a goal behind and Slash or Ipswich drop a goal behind.
00:12:33
DailySaintsPod
That's another thing that can put a spring of life into the step of St Mary's, right? it's going to be It's going to be really exciting. I think it's going to be a really good energy in the stadium and it's hard to see really how the team aren't going to feed off of that and just push on and do the good stuff.
00:12:48
Zak
i
00:12:53
Zak
How can it not be good energy, right? Like, this is the most league wins we've had in a row since...
00:12:55
DailySaintsPod
1908-1909
00:13:00
DailySaintsPod
nineteen of eight nineteen no nine was the last time.
00:13:00
Zak
before World War I. Like, when you say that out loud and you you start to you think about it, it's it's insane. and Like, regardless of whether or not, you know, we we we're kind of forgetting how many games were also unbeaten, which just because, like, we've had an unbeaten streak in the past.
00:13:18
Zak
But yeah, this is an absolutely...
00:13:20
DailySaintsPod
nineteen in all competitions it's
00:13:22
Zak
They go. and an absolutely phenomenal.
00:13:23
DailySaintsPod
not
00:13:25
Zak
You know, we've started the bottle of Arsenal as well. Much to the much of the joy of everyone, you know, around around the Premier League who aren't Arsenal supporters. It's, yeah, it's a very, very, very, very good time.
00:13:40
Zak
And there will be high energy and it will be a good place to be. but what we cannot do, as you pointed out, is allow complacency to set in. And complacency resulted us conceding a goal against Swansea. It made that fight against Swansea significantly harder than it needed to be.
00:13:56
Zak
And that is exactly what we'll be trying to avoid tonight, right? And that is, as you pointed out, you need to make sure that you're not looking past it.
00:14:05
DailySaintsPod
Absolutely.
00:14:05
Zak
of it.
00:14:06
DailySaintsPod
So that's it.
00:14:07
Zak
Every game's a cup final, as you pointed out, right? We
00:14:11
DailySaintsPod
But with that in mind, mate, let's talk about the the team sheet and how we see it lining up. We saw, was it five or six changes on Saturday?
00:14:21
DailySaintsPod
I can't quite remember.
00:14:22
Zak
did quite few.
00:14:33
DailySaintsPod
Team Tuesday, right, come probably coming in. So, i mean, let's...
00:14:38
Zak
yeah Probably.
00:14:40
DailySaintsPod
Let's start at the back and and work our way up as we as we like to do. Obviously, Perets is a goal. There's no question marks, not to a discussion point. In fact, I think probably the whole back line is is probably set in stone for this game, right?
00:14:55
Zak
Yeah, when you when you were like, hey, yeah, we should discuss, you know, we should discuss Perrette, yeah, and i'm like, at the back line, like, do we? Like, okay, if Stephen's just fully fit, Stephen starts over Wood, right?
00:15:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I think it'll be... Yeah, it'll be I think we'll see Stephens, Harwood Bellis, Bree and Manning, especially as Manning is is suspended for the semi-final.
00:15:06
Zak
And that'll be
00:15:13
Zak
Yep.
00:15:14
DailySaintsPod
So, yeah.
00:15:16
Zak
Oh, I forgot a lot.
00:15:18
DailySaintsPod
So, we'll be presumably seeing Wellington for 90 minutes in that outing.
00:15:19
Zak
Horrible, anyway. Sure.
00:15:23
DailySaintsPod
So... Yeah, Manning will be presumably playing a full game tonight.
00:15:29
Zak
Hmm?
00:15:30
DailySaintsPod
Looking up the pitch, we previously saw Downs and Yander rotated for Charles and Bragg. Think we do the same again?
00:15:40
Zak
I wouldn't be surprised if if Bragg gets a look in just to keep Yander fresh for the... Sorry, just keep Downs fresh for therash of the weekend. And also... i son
00:15:53
Zak
showed a lot of fighting spirits once he... Just worried if it's a little it is a little bit too much and maybe just needs a bit of calm. like Maybe he comes on half-time. i think Bragg has deserved his starts recently.
00:16:04
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:16:04
Zak
I think he's he's worked incredibly hard.
00:16:06
Zak
He is sort of not... an unsung hero because we have a fair few unsung heroes, right? Like arguably the points that Cameron Archer has won, you could count as unsung.
00:16:12
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:16:16
Zak
Uh, Laren came in with basically almost minus expectations from a vast majority of the fan base. To be honest, as we put, as we will hold ourselves accountable, us included, we did not think that that was going to be a good bit of business. So it turned out to be, we turned out to be incredibly wrong.
00:16:35
DailySaintsPod
It turns out that not only was it good bit of business, but actually the option to buy at his reported price is an absolute no-brainer, right?
00:16:35
Zak
Uh,
00:16:42
Zak
it's It's basically a steal, right?
00:16:42
DailySaintsPod
Like, yeah.
00:16:44
Zak
It it's almost feels like robbery. But you know that then but he is also somebody that has broken through. Everybody thought it would truly be like Jay Robinson's season.
00:16:54
Zak
I think obviously injury hampered him a little bit. And also sort of trying to play in the position of Azaz, who's kind of undroppable, or Sienza, who, when he's fit, is also undroppable. The return of a dozy. like it's it's There's been so many...
00:17:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:21
Zak
I wouldn't be surprised if it's him and Charles. But as we point out about that position, it doesn't really matter. i don't know if maybe Yander gets another game.
00:17:27
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:17:30
Zak
because of just like he had a really good game last game and you know his form's been very very good but also as they pointed as tonda pointed out previously because of how little he played last season he's actually played significantly more this season than he he did the last uh you know there's going to be fitness concerns things like that there and i don't the conditioning is there like it is for leo at this point right so nothing
00:17:48
DailySaintsPod
Well, look, that's it.
00:17:52
DailySaintsPod
Playing every four days for the rest of the season is is's a physical effort. especially It's been a been a long season already, right, for a lot of these players.
00:17:57
Zak
we will need rotation
00:18:02
DailySaintsPod
So, yeah, rotation is important.
00:18:04
Zak
Yeah, you forget because it's like on top of the fact we've already played 43 games and this will be game 44.
00:18:09
DailySaintsPod
Hmm. Yeah.
00:18:10
Zak
You've got to add all the cup games in as well and all of that, you know, but both cups, regardless of whether or not we went out of one, like, you know, there's still so much football that has been played and it's great because you need to get all the sort of complaints from some Premier League clubs.
00:18:13
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:24
Zak
and Or even, you know, i think it was Blackbird who criticised us because the the change that had to take place to their schedule, right? And they're like, oh, this is so unfair. And I'm like, I understand why maybe that you're annoyed that you don't have enough preparation time.
00:18:37
Zak
But that has basically been how it's felt for us.
00:18:39
DailySaintsPod
It was literally also the only slot left in our calendar to fit the game.
00:18:43
Zak
Yeah, that's kind of my point, is we've been having to play so, so many games. So, yeah, it doesn't really matter. I think we have the luxury of the midfield being a place where pretty much anyone goes into that position we're fine.
00:18:57
Zak
Again, the only one that would make me raise eyebrows is Romelu. That's it. And even then, would like, you know, I guess it's on that we trust. But it feels like, you know, he's far more there for moral support than anything else.
00:19:05
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:19:10
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, experience and personality. Look, we've talked about the togetherness of the dressing room and how much it's changed and how much it's come together. And you've got to think that personalities in there like Romeo and Leo...
00:19:24
DailySaintsPod
you know, kind of, and and even Stevens, we've seen a lot from Stevens of sort of bringing the team together. Just, they go a long way to to do that. And we've shown how important that is, but yeah, you're right. Midfield, any of them will be happy. Azaz in that number 10 role, or do we think Archer comes back in?
00:19:42
Zak
If he's fit, probably, but I also wouldn't be opposed to Archer, who seems to be on a bit of a hot streak right now, so why would he...
00:19:47
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. I say Archer, but I guess actually it would be Matski in the 10 roll and Archer on the left that we've seen rotating in, I guess, for Leo, which kind of makes sense because we started Leo.
00:20:01
DailySaintsPod
Leo got, what, full 90 on Saturday?
00:20:04
Zak
here
00:20:04
DailySaintsPod
we'll probably see him rotated out because we'd expect him to start against City. Yeah.
00:20:14
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:20:16
Zak
reckon fellows gets a game.
00:20:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, so I think Fellows, Matsky, Archer, and Laren, because Stewart started on Saturday and it just seems to they just seem to swap.
00:20:18
Zak
Uh,
00:20:26
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:20:29
DailySaintsPod
It's pretty deadly lineup. I mean, Laren and Archer... you know, as well as the work Ray Archer has been putting in, Laren and Archer actually last week seemed to have some really good chemistry together as well.
00:20:42
Zak
and
00:20:42
DailySaintsPod
So I like that, that pair and that playing Cam as the technically out on the left, but really kind of more, here goes that, you're like, this is some football manager lingo, more like a left inside forward.
00:20:58
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:20:58
Zak
Yeah, I get what you mean.
00:21:01
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, it's with with, I guess, Manning coming up behind him and sort of creating the width to allow him that that option to be inside a bit deeper. But yeah, I like it.
00:21:12
DailySaintsPod
I like... Tonda has, at this point, more than earned the right to name 11 players that we've never heard of. And I would fully believe that that is the squad that's going to do the job, right? It's not...
00:21:26
DailySaintsPod
it's It's not the same disbelief we've had in in Saints Managers for as long as I can humanly remember.
00:21:34
Zak
a
00:21:35
DailySaintsPod
Where...
00:21:35
Zak
The coaching team and the morale of the team and Tonda have managed to get a Quite frankly, depressed, sad Cameron Archer, who was unable to get a move, who you know we we genuinely thought we'd seen the last of him, scoring two goals in a row during the most important run-in in our season, in arguably a slightly different position to what he's used to playing in some of those cases. So, like yeah, I don't mind who, what, where.
00:22:07
Zak
when how I just hope that we get a a win I guess it's the most it's the main thing but as you also pointed out even if the the worst should happen and we end up with a draw then you know we we still then what hopefully have done enough to be in the playoffs.
00:22:25
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:25
Zak
And like, you know, the heavens above forbid that we we end up losing tomorrow because it genuinely just doesn't feel like that we're ever going to do that again. And he says that touching all of the wood, the solid wooden desk here, because I don't want to predict a loss for tomorrow because we're, you know, we're flying and, you know,
00:22:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:43
DailySaintsPod
Doubly so, mate, because you're banned from the northern if it's you coming to sit with us that causes a loss. You know that? Yeah.
00:22:49
Zak
Oh, don't send me back to Richard.
00:22:51
DailySaintsPod
so
00:22:51
Zak
I didn't know was going to tell anyone in Richard. It was just, I think my biggest problem from when I went was my wonderful wife joined me and and I really, really appreciated the fact that she she came along and is getting as involved in the football nowadays and knows players and has conversations with me about it, which is, you know, she's taken a real big interest in it, specifically this season because we're winning lots and I'm less miserable.
00:23:16
Zak
Yeah. But I think that combined with like where we were we were sat, the fact that I am significantly more vocal than I think she's used to at the football, I think I am looking forward to being stood next to you again, Greg, where I can shout swear and no one likes bats on eyelid.
00:23:33
Zak
Whereas... It was quite difficult to do that when I was in the sky, right in the corner, and with with my wife, who was not expecting, i guess, the level of behaviour, hooliganism, she would call it, I don't call it that, I call it passion, that we would have at the game.
00:23:49
Zak
So please don't send me back, Greg. Like how you point out that your kids are no longer allowed to sit anywhere else.
00:23:53
DailySaintsPod
oil
00:23:58
Zak
Unfortunately, it's now resulted in me also not really being able to sit many places else.
00:24:03
DailySaintsPod
I like that you say no longer like it's them sitting there that was the cause and not us choosing to sit there because they were that maybe too feral to sit in the quiet family zone, mate.
00:24:16
Zak
No, you're right.
00:24:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:24:18
Zak
You're right, 100%. hundred percent So yeah, but of of course, the again, i i would accept the ban, though. I get it.
00:24:27
Zak
When we were running down at half-time, my wife was like, so am I allowed to come again? i was like, not if we lose the game. But then we ended up winning, so she is.
00:24:37
Zak
It's a Yeah.
00:24:38
DailySaintsPod
look let's ah's good stuff all right look Let's move on to the the historic and prediction section, mate. You know I've got go with the summary.
00:24:47
Zak
Oh, you're going to speak to your robot robot friend.
00:24:49
DailySaintsPod
You know that I love it. So obviously, look, our form is sensational. sixteen 16 unbeaten in the league overall. 13 wins, three draws.
00:25:02
DailySaintsPod
Mad, right? Last five games at home, all wins. Last five games away, four wins and a draw. like Just the tippy top, top of the form table in all of Europe is nuts.
00:25:18
Zak
Good grief. You know, you to be fair, you know it's noticeable when some of like the big Twitter accounts are talking about us and you're like, oh, well, we're producing engagement with the level of form we have.
00:25:25
DailySaintsPod
eve Yeah.
00:25:31
Zak
That's the insane. Whereas previously, the only way we would we would have that level of engagement is, wow, this team's worse almost than Derby. So, you know...
00:25:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it's what the AI calls a heavy home edge under the lights with goals very much in play. It leans towards a Southampton win with their home win rate of 57% and a home XG advantage with 1.78 expected on average Saints.
00:25:53
Zak
Nice.
00:25:56
Zak
Interesting.
00:26:01
DailySaintsPod
With Bristol's away, XG at 1.34%. So, the market suggests 60% win probability with, over one and a half goals as the pick two and a half, not as likely.
00:26:25
Zak
Interesting.
00:26:28
Zak
You're telling me it's decided finally to not predict the 2-1.
00:26:33
DailySaintsPod
second
00:26:33
Zak
So you need to tell you to pick something different.
00:26:34
DailySaintsPod
I mean, to be honest, it it veers in this instance specifically away from naming a score. Like it very definitively doesn't, but does suggest that over 10 and a half corners is a good shout.
00:26:42
Zak
Wow.
00:26:49
DailySaintsPod
So interesting.
00:26:49
Zak
Okay.
00:26:51
DailySaintsPod
in what about you, mate? What are you feeling?
00:26:56
Zak
I'm feeling the reverse of the previous fixture and I'm feeling three one and I'm feeling that Cameron Archer scores a goal.
00:27:01
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:03
Zak
I feel that Paul Lahren scores a goal and Greg, because it is the time to break the curse against the bogey team and because it isn't you making the prediction, I predict Tom Fellows will score a goal.
00:27:17
DailySaintsPod
Wow.
00:27:17
Zak
And honestly, if I break that curse and it turns out it just needed to be me all along, I would be the actual true villain of the story and not you. that's my feelings, mate. so that's
00:27:28
DailySaintsPod
I respect that.
00:27:29
Zak
that's my feelings sp
00:27:31
DailySaintsPod
What's the storyline of that game? Are we fighting back from 1-0 down? are we Are we giving away an equaliser and then going on to win it? Or are we already 3-0 up when they score?
00:27:40
Zak
tit for tat, and then we score again, and then we score another goal at the end.
00:27:44
DailySaintsPod
Okay.
00:27:45
Zak
<unk> scott of That's the vibe that I've got. I don't know whether that will play out that way, but you know I think that and it's as with football mate predicting anything, it's like a roll and a dice in it.
00:27:56
Zak
It's not but something we can we can usually get quite right. Although, to be fair, I've had more right this year than I've ever had previously, so that's been quite nice.
00:28:05
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, me too.
00:28:06
Zak
You nod so much, right?
00:28:06
DailySaintsPod
I got one. so
00:28:11
Zak
You're right. yeah That's not entirely true. You got one last season because you predicted you'd win every game and eventually you did a game.
00:28:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, not the right score, though.
00:28:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. This is a tricky one for me. i think, look, the fact that they've conceded the second least goals in the championship says speaks volumes, right?
00:28:19
Zak
Yes.
00:28:31
DailySaintsPod
I think it's going to be a tricky affair.
00:28:31
Zak
Yes.
00:28:33
DailySaintsPod
I think they're going to very well organised defensively. think they're going to be fairly happy to to leave with a nil-nil if the opportunity presents itself.
00:28:45
DailySaintsPod
Obviously, I think they'd prefer a win, but... But at the end of the day, in the context of the wider season, they're not they're not playing for anything per se.
00:28:54
Zak
like what Swansea had, isn't it? It's just wanting to finish as high as you can for more pride, so you can potentially slightly more money.
00:28:58
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:29:00
Zak
So it's not the end of the world as much as it is for us.
00:29:03
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, and actually in terms of like coming up against solidly well-organized defensive teams or teams that sit with a low block, actually in in our current form and in recent memory, we've done pretty well at breaking through that reasonably early on in the first sort of half an hour or so generally. And then the game opens up a bit and you can't be as as decisive. you know They try and push back for something and it you know it kind of goes...
00:29:30
DailySaintsPod
Seems to go away. I think even if that is the case and we managed to get goal early on, I don't think that's going to stretch the game in the way it has done in the past. I think that it's pretty clear that they like to keep it tight.
00:29:44
DailySaintsPod
And, you know, even if are conceding semi-frequently in amount of games, they very rarely concede more than one in a game. So going to go for a nervous, horrible one mill
00:29:59
Zak
I just, I just can't believe that I live in a world where recently I've been slightly more optimistic than you as a Saints fan. I think that there is something fundamentally broken with the cogs of the universe.
00:30:11
DailySaintsPod
hey well's what's less optimistic than keeping a clean sheet and winning? Like...
00:30:17
Zak
it True, like yeah I guess, I guess for Perrette's mate, you're right. That's probably the perfect score.
00:30:22
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:30:24
DailySaintsPod
I think that...
00:30:27
Zak
Don't do it. You're not
00:30:29
DailySaintsPod
Look, let's... I cannot three and three. And...
00:30:33
Zak
allowed.
00:30:33
DailySaintsPod
none
00:30:33
Zak
That would be something. That would probably be his best scoring record for us at that point, right?
00:30:34
DailySaintsPod
and I don't think it'll be until the second half that we break through. I think think it'll be near-nil at halftime because i think at that point,
00:30:41
Zak
It's both.
00:30:47
DailySaintsPod
it's testing the patience of St. Mary's because we are an impatient bunch. And sometimes, especially if we're not starting off on the front foot fast, it's it's easy to get nervy because at the end of the day, we're still Saints fans. We know, right?
00:31:02
DailySaintsPod
We've been there. We've experienced the full range of footballing emotions. So, yeah, I think it'll be like 70 minutes or something until we manage to get a goal.
00:31:14
DailySaintsPod
And then, yeah, they won't have an answer. We'll just hold out at that point.
00:31:18
DailySaintsPod
That's how I see it playing out.
00:31:18
Zak
Kids.
00:31:20
Zak
Perfect. you know what? Either scenario I'm happy with. What i I'm really hoping for is a win. I'm sure it's going to be a fantastic atmosphere.
00:31:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:31:28
Zak
I'm really hoping the weather that we've had at time of recording holds for tomorrow. And we just have you know a wonderful evening. i look forward to hopefully managing a beer, depending on how late you make us arrive. LAUGHTER LAUGHTER
00:31:43
DailySaintsPod
and We'll see. think it'll be all right.
00:31:44
Zak
butha
00:31:45
DailySaintsPod
I don't think the delays to a arrival should affect the amount of alcohol consumed. I think it'll be all right, mate. It's it's fine. think we'll have a fantastic night out, and you can look forward to an even more unhinged late-night recording after a couple of beers at St Mary's, that's for sure.
00:31:53
Zak
Either way. It's going to good, mate. Looking forward to it
00:31:59
Zak
to it.
00:32:03
Zak
Nice. Happy days, mate.
00:32:04
DailySaintsPod
But listen, let us know your scores and how you think the game will play out on the socials in the comments. We are Daily Saints Pod, absolutely everywhere.
00:32:15
DailySaintsPod
X, Blue Sky, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Hit us up, let us know. We love hearing from you. And shout out to the person correcting me on stumbling over my maths. Yes, if we beat Ipswich and they drop points, it doesn't matter about goal difference. In fact, to be fair, the amount of permutations that end up having goal difference matter at all are really low, actually. It's just ones and threes in points make it quite hard to land on the same. So it'll be interesting. But, yeah.
00:32:50
Zak
Shout out to Jimmy Cheese as well.
00:32:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:32:51
Zak
Go check him out too. He's a great content creator in the Saints space. Shout out to everyone, long-term listeners. Shout out to a lot of the regulars that we have that comment on all bits and pieces. We see it all. We read it all.
00:33:04
Zak
We really, really appreciate it. and yeah
00:33:05
DailySaintsPod
Yes. It goes a long way to helping us out for sure.
00:33:07
Zak
Hopefully... It really does it. Sometimes you know we we have to motivate ourselves through the dark times to get here.
00:33:15
DailySaintsPod
Absolutely. And now we are enjoying the benefits and seeing the good times come.
00:33:20
Zak
Truly. We.
00:33:21
DailySaintsPod
And hopefully some more good times at St Mary's tonight. But either way, we will be here to talk about it after the show. But until then, Saints fans, have a wonderful day, a wonderful trip to St Mary's, and most importantly, come on you Saints!