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Episode 453: End of Season Awards: PART 2!
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Southampton – The final episode of the season, but don't worry, we're back tomorrow to start it all again! We name our player of the season, signing of the season, moment of the season and more!
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Transcript
Introduction and Season Closure
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod episode number 453. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach and mate how excited are you to put the kibosh on last season and wrap it up just be done.
00:00:34
Zak
Yeah, let's just get done with last season. We're already we're already late. We've already kind of moved on. We had heart one half of the awards, which were the fun, exciting ones before we've moved on to these ones.
00:00:45
Zak
So yeah, let's let's talk about some some of the good moments from last season. The ones that we can still like you know focus on a little bit, right?
00:00:54
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, indeed. Look, I think last time I included an honourable shout-out to an award that didn't quite make the cut. So I'm going stick with that train of thought to open us off
Award Challenges: 'Wait, He's Still Here'?
00:01:04
DailySaintsPod
here. And one of the suggested awards that that was coming up in my research and my my looking up for some help with some award suggestions was the Wait, He's Still Here Award?
00:01:17
DailySaintsPod
But the only player that I could even register as...
00:01:21
Zak
Yes.
00:01:21
DailySaintsPod
accounting for that was Charlie Taylor. So that right it felt like a bit, bit harsh and singling out to, uh, to fully include it. But there we go.
00:01:32
Zak
Yeah, I mean, Jamie Jones, who one I just kept forgetting was even a player. Like, I genuinely don't remember when we signed him. I genuinely forgot he was here. I kept being confused why I kept seeing Jones on the team sheet.
00:01:43
Zak
I don't think he ever played for us.
00:01:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:01:45
Zak
He's got to go back to where he came from in the sense of his parent club, right? Which I also don't know. So so if you want to know what my answer for that one would be, mate, that.
00:01:51
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:01:58
DailySaintsPod
That's fair. Uh, good stuff. Right. Look, let's, uh, let's head straight into it and, uh, get through. We've got, uh, a few more categories left to go. i think a total of 11 left. So we're just gonna plow on through, and get
Saints' Season: Meme Highlights
00:02:16
DailySaintsPod
them done. So, meme of the season.
00:02:20
DailySaintsPod
An interesting one. i was going for some of the funnier snippets that we've seen, particularly from the Saints admins as well this this season.
00:02:32
DailySaintsPod
So a few on the list. I've got the classic Shea Charles face pulled after scoring against Arsenal. I've got No Need to Feel Downs, which is one I've seen on Twitter so much. It makes me laugh every time. the The picture of the pre-game of the semi-final against Middlesbrough from afar with the tagline of St.
00:02:59
DailySaintsPod
Mary's has elected a new Pope, which made me laugh more than it deserved to.
00:03:04
Zak
No, no, you're right. Oh dear.
00:03:07
DailySaintsPod
Mark Dennis getting Instagram just in general all all of his posts are amazing and enjoy your quadruple pal in response to an Arsenal fan on Twitter alright what what about you how are you feeling towards this
00:03:26
Zak
Oh, see, the one that resonated with me most is the the the Ben Affleck smoking and looking depressed while they're Saint shirt, which was right at the end of the season. but if you want to know the one that I've laughed at the most throughout the entirety of the season, it's enjoy the quadruple pal. Because, you know, like, let's face it. Yeah, OK, they won the league. We're never going to stop hearing about it. But the fact that that you had an Arsenal team that were beaten by us and, you know, you can say they might have been spying. Who knows at this point? But the fact that they they were insufferable about supposedly doing everything, and you know they're going to win the Champions League, which they didn't. They're going to win the FA Cup, which they didn't. They're going to this, which they didn't.
00:04:06
Zak
you know it it was it's it was just It was just really funny. It's really funny. I don't think I need any more justification of the fact that every time I see it, I find it funny. It's going to be bookmarked. It's going to go down in history.
00:04:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:17
Zak
That's what I'm at. Then I'll sell out that again, mate.
00:04:18
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it it is an an all-timer. No, I can't disagree with that. I think all all of them were great.
00:04:23
Zak
so especially where some of the reaction, mate, to that game, if you were forgotten, was like the balloon on the pitch was causing impact and that's what we've got to blame. And it's like, mate, come on.
00:04:35
Zak
You've won a Premier League, over it. like But yes, that and it was some fantastic there were some fantastic ones this year.
00:04:40
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:43
Zak
What was your favourite, mate?
00:04:46
DailySaintsPod
tell If we're going for the ones that made me laugh most, honestly, St. Mary's has elected a new Pope. was maybe Maybe just more because in the the atmosphere of the time, it was some genuine comic relief that that that really caught me in a way I wasn't expecting.
00:05:02
Zak
It was some relief that didn't contain any binoculars because I noticed that you've not picked any binocular-related or ghillie suit-related memes here.
00:05:06
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:05:13
Zak
Surely by design.
00:05:14
DailySaintsPod
It's yeah
00:05:16
Zak
Yeah, this
00:05:17
DailySaintsPod
almost like the joke run its course, right? I don't know.
00:05:22
Zak
yeah you're right. Oh, dear.
00:05:26
DailySaintsPod
Right, let's move on to some of the more serious
Summer Departures: Key Players Leaving?
00:05:33
DailySaintsPod
awards then. that's That's more or less the funny ones out of the way. but let's go for the Will Miss Him Award.
00:05:40
DailySaintsPod
For a player who who was excellent in this season, but is pretty likely to go in the summer. A few names on this shortlist for me.
00:05:51
DailySaintsPod
I'd put Casper Yander, Leo Sienza, James Bree.
00:05:54
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:05:59
DailySaintsPod
don't know, any more from you, mate?
00:05:59
Zak
Mm.
00:06:02
Zak
i I... No. Shea Charles could potentially be on that list. I've seen him floating around as sort of... even Even Man United, I think. Obviously, they're bringing in someone elsewhere. wouldn't be surprised if they then bring him in as like a backup.
00:06:16
Zak
But you've got wonder if, you know, past associations with City mean anything.
00:06:16
DailySaintsPod
And
00:06:19
Zak
Apparently not nowadays. You know, especially with between the Manchester clubs. But yeah, it's just a bit of... I don't know. Because if if... We have to acknowledge that they're probably going to go if we...
00:06:29
Zak
if we say that, like we were talking about how we reckon Yander might, but by the sounds of it, we have no real intention to sell. And I think he'd probably be the player that, man, that would be that that we would miss in the sense of like, Oh, it was really nice that he had like a solid season here.
00:06:43
Zak
Uh, Leo, it's almost like it's too it's too much to bear. It's more like losing a family member, right? He's reined himself into the club over the space of the last year more than he should have.
00:06:49
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:06:54
Zak
So, you know, I say more than he should have, more than I think anyone expected him to, right? Like, there was a lot there there was a lot of hype about when we brought him in, but there was also a lot of speculation.
00:06:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, for sure.
00:07:05
Zak
And he has become, you know, hugely hugely important to the fan base. So... I think it's going to be like more than just missing him if he goes. Whereas, you know, if it's if it's like a Shay or a Yander, wouldn't be hugely expected.
00:07:20
Zak
I wouldn't hugely be like devastated, but also it would be like, oh, I miss those guys. I don't Maybe I'm just reading in too much to it. or What's yours, mate?
00:07:30
DailySaintsPod
I'm going to pick Caspiander because I think we're keeping the other three.
00:07:35
Zak
Yeah. Interesting.
00:07:36
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, bold, I know. Look, i think that I think that it was pretty well documented before all of the other stuff that Caspiander was pretty unsettled here and was pretty likely to move on in the summer.
00:07:38
Zak
is bald.
00:07:49
DailySaintsPod
And I don't think that... any of this would have helped. Right. So, he will probably go, he will probably go back to Germany and, and play there that I've already seen him linked to two or three different German clubs.
00:08:05
DailySaintsPod
Uh, so, you know, it kind of is what is. And I don't begrudge him that it's, we, we talk a lot about how important the, the human element of players is on this show. So it's, it's important to acknowledge that, that that it's okay.
00:08:21
DailySaintsPod
it It would be sad because he, especially in the latter part of the season, has had a really good season, really grown into that position as well. And gone from being like a player in that position who who was an option to you can't leave him out to include anyone else because he is making that position his. So, yeah, for for me, that's that's the way I've gone with it.
00:08:50
Zak
No, that's fair. It's just a it said so difficult ward because it's not one we really want to give, right? Because we'd rather just keep everyone that we've had, you know?
00:08:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, keep them all. Yeah, to play with the same team again, and that would have be nice. just Just a few more games. I mean, I'm sure that we'll get most of that team for at least a couple of games because, you know, the nature of the beast is that the transfer window doesn't close until after the season starts. And we all hate every minute of that.
Debating Goalkeeping Saves
00:09:20
DailySaintsPod
Right. Next on the list, save of the season. Yeah. It was quite hard to narrow down some of these, not least because I don't remember saves anywhere near as much as I remember goals. I don't about you, mate. I've got the save Peretz made versus Coventry to to keep the lead. Peretz versus Borough away in the semifinal in the first leg where he you know made that worldy of a save to effectively keep us in the tie and Buzunu versus Wrexham in the opening game of the season where he pulled off that that incredible save and made us go maybe it will be alright with Bazzin goal this season so maybe it will play out
00:10:13
DailySaintsPod
I don't know what about what about you got any others that the spring to mind or any of those that jump out as some of the better ones
00:10:22
Zak
Yeah, I'd say the one against Coventry, but like I think Perets has been so so important. and like this music that He's made a couple of sort of vital fingertip saves throughout the season, and I think that's why it makes it really, really difficult.
00:10:34
Zak
But I would say the the ones against Coventry, or potentially the one against Borough, but The Borough one, I don't want to give it to it because it's such just a chalked-off game now, isn't it? That's the only reason why i think it was.
00:10:44
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah.
00:10:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:10:46
Zak
it would have been, in the context of the situation, it would have been really, really, really important.
00:10:50
Zak
But unfortunately, it means nothing, whereas the Coventry one would have meant more.
00:10:56
DailySaintsPod
I'm actually agreement. I think it was the better save as well. Just kept us in it. And a pivotal point of the season for for for us, that. And it yeah, 100%. I asked my kids these questions and have picked out some of the answers to to feedback to you here. So I asked my daughter what her favourite save the season was, which felt pertinent as she plays in goal for her club.
00:11:22
DailySaintsPod
And she said, when Peretz dived and saved it in the top corner, I don't know what game though. Could have been any of like, what, 20 games this season? just have no idea how to narrow that down or get any closer than that.
00:11:41
Zak
The only other one I can think of was against Ipswich, which was like fingertip. I can't remember who it was like we came up against who who burst forward. on that was Maybe it was Jack Clark, but that was like a really, really, really good one as well. but That one is the other one that hugely springs to mind.
00:11:57
Zak
If you look up, you'll know which one I'm talking about.
00:12:00
DailySaintsPod
100%. Maybe that's the the thing. you need to go back and watch the the highlight reel. Which, let's be honest, with the news we got on Friday, a much much more yeah much easier highlight reel to go back and watch.
00:12:08
Zak
Yeah, it matters now. Lucky it is.
00:12:13
DailySaintsPod
you know You don't have to worry about any hurt that comes with it. Right. Let's get into the the good stuff. Opposition player who caused us the most problems this season.
00:12:29
DailySaintsPod
I've written down three that that sprung to mind. McBurney for Hull, who of course fittingly scored the the winner in the playoff final as well.
00:12:40
DailySaintsPod
Aziz for Millwall caused us grief, I think, in both games, to be honest. And Whittaker for Middlesbrough. Any other names like jump out to you that that didn't make the my list?
00:12:55
Zak
No, would probably put it through as McBurney just because of the fact that, you know, especially early in September when we kind of expected to turn around and, you know, batter Hull and we didn't.
00:12:59
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:13:05
Zak
We lost three one and he was the one to score the third. Yeah. Yeah, i I think also just because of the fact that one player that, you know, probably deserves to go up more than most and was a nightmare to play.
00:13:20
Zak
I also, commiserations to Aziz in that first Millwall game especially, like was just an absolute problem.
00:13:25
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:13:27
Zak
I remember that being being a huge issue. you know i'm not really going to give anything to Borough at this point for obvious reasons but I always liked Morgan Whitaker to be fair I don't think he I think he wasn't as much of a problem this season as I'd have kind of expected him to be and I think that's probably actually how a lot Borough fans feel about his goal output as well right so that they probably wanted more from him to be paid perfectly honest but you know Mugberny definitely has put himself forward as a good player we'll just have to see how that translates to the Premier League so what's that?
00:13:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Yeah, I agree. McBurney was the first name on my list for a reason. He was the first name that jumped out at me for this one. So, makes complete sense.
00:14:12
DailySaintsPod
Right.
Season Recap: Key Moments and Goals
00:14:15
DailySaintsPod
Moment of the season. A season full of some incredible moments when we think back and take them in.
00:14:25
DailySaintsPod
It's it in their in their own right, so many on this list that are deserving, to be honest. So I've got Jack Stephens scoring the winner on the opening day against Wrexham.
00:14:40
DailySaintsPod
I mean, 96-minute goals are always going to be high on the list. Vinas Saz scores at Wembley and gives that seven minutes of belief that it was really going to be our year in the f FA Cup. Shea Charles scores the winner in extra time against Borough.
00:15:00
DailySaintsPod
which in the moment was obviously sensational. Now with the information since and and how it's effectively meaningless, matter I guess less so.
00:15:11
DailySaintsPod
Leo Sienza running the full length of Fran Park with his hands on his ears celebrating his goal. Or Frank Lampard kicking off at St Mary's.
00:15:22
Zak
That is the moment of our season. Might be the moment of Coventry season where they developed some sort of ongoing weird rivalry with us at that point, right? Where I think that was the moment that all the sudden Coventry fans hated us.
00:15:33
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:15:33
Zak
I would also personally say that it's going to be Shea Charles' winning goal against Leicester because that was when I think it really turned around in the run-up to us winning and we didn't lose a game since then.
00:15:38
DailySaintsPod
Hmm. Hmm.
00:15:42
Zak
We did draw... Two probably vitally important games against Ipswich Bristol. But that for me was the like a big turning point. And the other one that I had as one of my moments as my God, are we ever going to lose a game again?
00:15:55
Zak
Was Karl Lahren's header against Watford. Because that was just sensational because we didn't expect it. we all did None of us really had the faith like we certainly didn't.
00:16:06
Zak
Right.
00:16:06
DailySaintsPod
you
00:16:06
Zak
And he comes in and pops it straight into the goal. And at that point, you know, i was like, man, have we actually made two like decent January signings going change our season? And the answer to that question was yes.
00:16:18
Zak
And now we've signed them both permanently. So, you know, and I know that might not seem as extreme like that moment, but I'm sorry if you don't see us coming back from being three nil down and winning four, three and it being scored like in the last minute sort of,
00:16:34
Zak
as the moment of the season. I don't know what is. I think you're right potentially about Borough. To be fair, all of them are what I would consider to be great moments of the season, apart from Frank Lampard, who I couldn't care less about, mate, no offence. Like...
00:16:48
DailySaintsPod
yeah I really enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the fight. I really i actually think that... I don't necessarily know if that particular moment of of it all kicking off was was really part of it.
00:17:03
DailySaintsPod
But that Coventry game as a whole was a real... a real coming together for the team moment. It was really from that point forward in the season where we kind of galvanized and and switched it on.
00:17:17
DailySaintsPod
And you really sort of saw the players coming together.
00:17:19
Zak
That's true. we didn't We didn't expect to win at that game, right?
00:17:20
DailySaintsPod
And i think that's why it sticks out to me. Hmm.
00:17:24
Zak
That's why we expected to not, you know, especially from where we'd been and the season we'd been having. I don't think we expected at that moment to to at least, you know, whilst we didn't get the winning against them, least they didn't pick up the draw, right?
00:17:31
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:17:37
Zak
Wait, what's that moment?
00:17:37
DailySaintsPod
i agree I agree with both of your additions. Shea Charles' goal against Leicester was, of course, unbelievable. Nearly woke up the entire street that night watching that.
00:17:50
DailySaintsPod
But for me, I think the winner has to be the Finna Zas goal at Wembley and the the seven minutes of belief that followed.
00:17:54
Zak
yeah
00:17:56
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:57
Zak
I can't understand that I think again it might just be because me and you weren't there if I was there different question about it I reckon that would probably have been it because oh my god are we actually going to beat City considering we beat Arsenal it wasn't outside the realms of possibility
00:17:57
DailySaintsPod
and
00:18:01
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:18:11
DailySaintsPod
No, it wasn't. and it was you know It was late enough in the game that it didn't feel like we'd scored too early, which is is always a risk, right? Especially as a Saints fan. You kind of think, oh no, what have we done here? But yeah, for me, that was that was it. And it was such a beautiful goal.
00:18:30
DailySaintsPod
And yeah, I had to put all of the drinks I was carrying down on the bar to celebrate without throwing them everywhere. it was... Yeah, it will live in my memory for a long time, even not having been at Wembley for it. So you can only imagine that the the feeling inside the stadium would have been even more intense, for sure.
00:18:55
DailySaintsPod
Again, asked my kids for their moments of the season. And my daughter said that beating Arsenal at St Mary's was the highlight of the season for her.
00:19:05
DailySaintsPod
And getting that over the line. And I think that's fair enough. a good answer. My son went with a slightly less conventional when Matski scored the header.
00:19:16
DailySaintsPod
And I don't even remember what game that's referring to. So...
00:19:23
Zak
Man, I mean, it was probably one of the moments that, you know, to be fair, as a kid, you don you don't know why when stuff like that happens, right? It's like, that's what I remember. why not? Yeah.
00:19:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, 100%. Look, I struggle to separate all of these games out from from one another without them all blurring into one gigantic, long game of football.
00:19:45
DailySaintsPod
So, I get it. get it. It's all good. Right. Assist of the season was was a tricky one. For sure. Because...
00:19:57
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. Not all of our goals are are worked in such a way that the assist is something that's spectacular, but there were there are a couple. There were few. There was the... i jokingly put Cameron Archer for his assist against but Oxford for shay Charles' goal, which maybe was a bit harsh.
00:20:21
Zak
Oh, you already talked about being some sort of... that was a That was in the last episode as well, right?
00:20:29
DailySaintsPod
Yes.
00:20:31
Zak
i
00:20:32
DailySaintsPod
There was Tom Fellows with his lofted cross onto Ross Stewart's head. Which... Was that the...
00:20:44
DailySaintsPod
Was that against Borough? God, i've I've immediately forgotten and don't have the the specific notes for this one.
00:20:50
Zak
Thank goodness you wrote down who this was against.
00:20:53
DailySaintsPod
Yes. Fellows Lobcross for Stewart. I didn't write down who it was against, so that was great.
00:21:01
Zak
Good. Professional.
00:21:01
DailySaintsPod
You've got James...
00:21:02
Zak
public car
00:21:04
DailySaintsPod
So good. James Breeze corner for Laren's debut goal with his diving header. And I've got the... wasn't like directly the assist, but the build-up of play for the first goal against Oxford with the the ball from Harwood Bellis through to Tom Fellows that just absolutely tore the entire defence in half, which this is just absolutely wonderful.
00:21:28
DailySaintsPod
One of my favourite
00:21:29
Zak
So the thing is is, as much as we've got like we've got some really good contenders in there, the reason I like the Taylor-Harvard-Bellis one is specifically because of when the team is firing on all cylinders, that really shows you like how good we can be and and how some of our like really, really good games have have come from that.
00:21:49
Zak
If you don't like that answer, alternatively, any of the balls that Ryan Manning delivered that got something on the end of it... LAUGHTER Another reason that he's been like incredibly important this season without really everyone thinking that was going to be the case.
00:21:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, 100%. a
00:22:06
Zak
But then we also underestimated him for the Premier League. So what do we know?
00:22:10
DailySaintsPod
thank For me, Harbaugh-Bellis, Fellows, Laren as the the combination of play. It was just sensational for so many reasons. Obviously, it's it's an incredible pass with some you know ridiculous vision from Harwood Bellis to execute it. Incredible pace from Fellows to beat the man and get there and put the ball in into Lahren, who you know eventually taps it in.
00:22:34
DailySaintsPod
But actually, for me, the the the big like statement about it is how anti-Russell Martin of a goal it was.
00:22:45
Zak
do Do you mean it didn't take like 20 minutes to set
00:22:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, like two passes and we scored.
00:22:49
Zak
Right.
00:22:50
DailySaintsPod
Like, bang, done. So it it felt... It just felt so complete. it For me, it's the the standout in this category, but you're right. So many excellent deliveries from from Manning and from Sienza and from Fellows. Yeah.
00:23:11
DailySaintsPod
Just such... There was... I guess the other one that jumps out is Sammy Adozi at West Brom away, putting it on a 50-inch piece for Laren.
00:23:19
Zak
Yeah.
00:23:22
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, that but series of play, Harwood-Bellis-Fellows-Laren, that was a standout for me as just an unbelievable goal with an unbelievable assist.
00:23:32
DailySaintsPod
so My daughter said Flynn Downs assisting Laren. Mm-hmm. Again, i didn't track down what game that was. is But I seem to recall it it being a reasonably good pass in and finish. So a good effort.
00:23:52
DailySaintsPod
Right. On to the last few.
New Players' Impact: Who Stood Out?
00:23:55
DailySaintsPod
the The big ones, if you will. Signing of the season. So, you know, we we talked in January about...
00:24:06
DailySaintsPod
our rumblings with our work in the transfer window and how we would judge the transfer window of both parts of the season on on quality.
00:24:15
DailySaintsPod
So this is the list to to go from. Leo Sienza, Kyle Lahren, Daniel Peretz, Kaspianda, Tom Fellows.
00:24:28
Zak
i I had simply Daniel Peretz, which I know might ruffle a few feathers because I'm aware that Leo's on that list. But... I think that we had games that we lost with Leo in it, right?
00:24:42
Zak
When Peretz came in, the goalkeeper situation wasn't what we needed to worry about, putting some absolutely fantastic performances. None of the mistakes he really made were hugely capitalised on. Like, he made some, you know, coming out from essentially trying to take someone out on the halfway line that luckily was saved by Matski on, like, literally the goal line, right? Yeah.
00:25:05
DailySaintsPod
was insane.
00:25:05
DailySaintsPod
What was he thinking?
00:25:06
Zak
yeah
00:25:07
Zak
But it is one of those things where like I think that him his signing was probably like the big turning point. And that's when we went on the unbeaten streak after that, right? And that's no disrespect. like I think that Leo's incredible. But I think that you know you can only have one man that pulls it through for that season. And that is such a... There's such a lone position, goalkeeper, right? There's nowhere to really look. like You can see some of the the hate and the vitriol thrown at Bozzunu.
00:25:33
Zak
you know, they when it regards to performances, sometimes rightly regards to it, like, you know, everything else probably wrongly, but it's because it's such a solitary lone position. You make a mistake, it's on display, right? Whereas I think that for some of the other players in some of the other positions where they've come in, you know, Leo has done some incredible things, but if he makes a mistake, it can usually be mopped up by someone else quite quickly.
00:25:56
Zak
I don't think that's the case with goalkeeper. And that just shows you the quality that Perrette's had for pretty much most of the season so that he you know that he played and i get that does it really count if it's halfway through like yeah because that january window was going to mean so much and obviously we we saw what it meant and we saw the difference that it made so that's that's why it's followed probably closely very very closely by by the ocns uh just because of generally the vibes the goals and the assists right
00:26:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean, look, honestly, I would hear an argument for any of the players on this list. It's been ridiculous.
00:26:33
Zak
I agree.
00:26:35
DailySaintsPod
And we said we would judge based on on the quality of the window, and I mean... I can only say good things about these players in particular. and you know, some of the others that, that it didn't work out for, it didn't work out for, and, and I guess the the jury's out, but I think I'm in agreement with you based purely on impact. corrects for me, but it could have literally been any, any of these players. They've all been brilliant.
00:27:04
DailySaintsPod
all I think exceeding the expectations that they had when they were signed even for some of them though the expectations were high right we expected good things from Leo and I don't know if we expected good things from Laren, but it's been brilliant.
00:27:18
DailySaintsPod
We were optimistic for Perez and he's far exceeded that. Kaspianda was a you know bit of an unknown quantity and has been a sensation. And Fellows hasn't quite hit the ground running to have like as good of a season as the other four players on this list, but has still been highly impactful and chipped in with with assists and and caused problems for fullbacks all season, even not being...
00:27:43
DailySaintsPod
quite the the level you expect him to eventually hit. So, yeah. good Good stuff. Just nice to start feeling positive again, isn't it? My son said Leo, obviously. And my daughter, as the the resident goalkeeper, said Perrette. Not surprising anyone with those picks, to be honest.
00:28:09
Zak
Yeah, there you go. and i think I think if you're talking about sort of like personal impact to to the game, I think that that's that's where you can you can easily see it.
00:28:25
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:28:29
Zak
Good signings, but I think there's an argument that Azaz should probably be on there as well. And again, we've discussed many...
00:28:34
DailySaintsPod
Do you know, I just I forgot we signed us as Az this season.
00:28:37
Zak
Yeah, but we've discussed many times also about like the polarising nature of both his role and position, and despite being like top goalscorer, still somehow ended up, you know...
00:28:38
DailySaintsPod
You're right. He should be on that list.
00:28:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:28:48
DailySaintsPod
that sort you know it does him It does him a misjustice to leave him off this list as our top goal scorer, but honestly, I just completely forgot that he signed for us this season, which I think shows quite how, I guess, together the team has become, right? It felt like he'd just been here longer.
00:29:08
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, you're right. i'd I'd hear a full argument for for that as well. Right. Young player of the season. gone for mostly some of the academy lads here, but I guess some of the other players I've not included were probably young enough to count, but I've gone for a short list of Cam Bragg, Jay Robinson, Nick Ikenle, and Barnaby Williams.
00:29:38
DailySaintsPod
any Any thoughts, mate?
00:29:41
Zak
Cam Bragg, from starting the game, for one of his first games of the senior squad without the right shirt in a game that he had absolutely no right being put into because of me not making, again, not making people travel with the squad and making sure you have the right backups or whatever excuse was given at the time to, you know, coming out at Wembley and putting in an absolute performance of a lifetime.
00:29:54
DailySaintsPod
Blackburn, right?
00:30:08
Zak
Why, how can you not, somebody that I don't think we really expect him to come through as much as he did this season. And in my opinion, like a forgotten casualty of all of the the bad stuff that's happened towards the end of the season.
00:30:22
Zak
I kind of feel bad with this. I think I've spoken about this previously, but sort of like taking the light off of Jay Robinson a little bit, where everyone kind of thought this would be his breakthrough season.
00:30:33
Zak
he did well under still, but just picked up an injury and then just hasn't been able to work his way back in, which is understandable because of the position he plays. But considering the position that Cam Bragg plays, i was very surprised to see him there.
00:30:44
Zak
But when he's played, he's been exceptional. So Cam Bragg, waving hard.
00:30:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, 100% for me. Obviously, mean, the others have have played their part at various points in the season and done well. It's encouraging to see as the quality coming up from our youth players that we have. But yeah, Can Bragg for me is a just a slam dunk. He's been excellent in the latter part of the season. Like you say, from that game where...
00:31:13
DailySaintsPod
it almost wasn't fair on him for that to be his debut. The no number on the shirt and it was still just the the absolute series of craziness.
00:31:21
Zak
i was just It was just not fair.
00:31:23
DailySaintsPod
It was an absolute... disaster. To turn that around and come back in and to be a really like crucial rotational squad player and to see that story come to fruition of him playing alongside Romelu, who he idolised as a young lad. Yeah.
00:31:44
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, fantastic for me. Just, yeah. I can't say enough good words, and long may it continue. It's nice that, like i say, all all of the names on the list for for what we saw of them in the season made, I think, positive impacts, and that in itself is only a good thing, right?
00:32:06
DailySaintsPod
So...
00:32:08
Zak
True that.
00:32:09
DailySaintsPod
full agreement. Okay, mate, last two. Surprise of the season.
Surprising Outcomes of the Season
00:32:15
DailySaintsPod
So my short list is beating Arsenal, and I've got down the you put Kyle Lahren, and I mean, not not drawing too much attention to the elephant in the room, but but being kicked out of a playoff final was pretty surprising. Yeah.
00:32:36
Zak
It's not really an award though, is it? That's not really what we award we want to give. the the Again, the main reason for Kyle Lahren is the the absolute lack of expectation we had. And I was very hopeful after the profile that we did with him, right?
00:32:51
Zak
We started looking through and saw the the journey of football that he's been on.
00:32:51
DailySaintsPod
hmm
00:32:54
Zak
and kind of hoped that maybe, you know, selling our top goalscorer. And again, like I could just flick back to me dressed up in a suit jacket and a tin pot on my head, thinking we'd had the absolute worst January window in the world.
00:33:08
Zak
Or maybe Perrette's thinking, oh, it's like, man, we've managed to, get our fifth-choice striker to then end up being a man that's managed to work his way back into a world club squad for his home nation off the back of a ridiculously large amount of goals that he scored. you know And again, sort of becoming what I would consider to be our better striker. I think that they have... Obviously, we've talked about how Ross and Lahren are very, very similar But, you know, from my from the physicality side of things and the ability to kind of just win stuff off of the ball, I think he's just got that a little bit better.
00:33:41
Zak
Not as much maybe Ross probably better the hold-up play. But I just didn't expect him to be as – ending up being as good as he was. So I was incredibly surprised because, you know, but it was like a – it was such a good surprise.
00:33:52
Zak
And as you can tell, I've now definitely got a bias towards the bike. LAUGHTER
00:33:55
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. 100%. I mean, it didn't, you think of some of the goals he popped up with this season as well. You know, the the one that immediately jumps to mind is running the basically the entire opposition half at Wrexham and banging it in the neck. Like, when was the last time we saw a player in a Saints shirt actually do that?
00:34:16
DailySaintsPod
Like, do you remember? LAUGHTER
00:34:19
Zak
No, no idea. And again, that first goal would be like, what were the instructions? I don't know, score a goal was basically what it was. He just kind of hadn't had a lot of training sessions yet.
00:34:30
Zak
Said, Stephens, what should I do? It's just like, yeah, go for goal, went for goal, scored it.
00:34:33
DailySaintsPod
school Score a goal. Yeah, I mean, look.
00:34:35
Zak
And then continue to to score goals like that for the rest of the season. So...
00:34:39
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I mean, look. it That is the simplistic mentality that I have been preaching on this podcast for just the longest time.
00:34:50
DailySaintsPod
just's just Just kick the ball at the goal sometimes. And and it works. And yeah, he's got a lot of that about him. And look to be...
00:35:03
DailySaintsPod
as as prolific as he was, right? the The highest goals per minute in the championship with Stuart. The two of them were the top two.
00:35:13
DailySaintsPod
Eight goals since he came in in January. It's just good. Good stuff. Yeah, I'm with you on that. It's maybe not the most surprising part of the season, but the thing we were most pleasantly surprised with.
00:35:28
DailySaintsPod
that's Let's phrase that way.
00:35:29
Zak
Yeah, that's what the surprise of the season is. look Because if not me, I'm sorry, hands down being thrown out of the final of the playoffs was definitely definitely up there, right?
00:35:40
DailySaintsPod
yeah Yeah, it was pretty surprising. Yeah, pretty pretty much. Right, the big one.
Player of the Season: Who Deserves It?
00:35:51
DailySaintsPod
the The prestigious title of the Daily Saints pod player of the season. could have nominated...
00:36:02
DailySaintsPod
like 13 players for this because in the last half of the season, you know, we talked about the across the board, everyone stepped up to the plate. But I've narrowed it down to not, not much less than that, but, but nine key players.
00:36:21
DailySaintsPod
So Taylor Harwood Bellis, Ross Stewart, Kyle Lahren, Kasper Yander, Leo Sienza, James Bree, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downs, Shea Charles, Daniel Peretz.
00:36:40
DailySaintsPod
not an easy choice, is it?
00:36:41
Zak
No. I mean, arguably, you could add more to that, but
00:36:44
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, easily.
00:36:46
Zak
easily. But I landed on James Bree out of all of them. And my reasoning is that... We didn't know what was going to happen when he went out on loan You'd always kind of rated him.
00:37:00
Zak
He came in what was like a half a million pounds signing from Nathan Jones from Luton to come up to the Premier League.
00:37:04
DailySaintsPod
Mm-hmm.
00:37:08
Zak
He stayed with us since then and has dealt with being in and out of the squad. He was eventually sent out on loan due to some bizarre decision to, you know, I think, as you said, maybe misprofiled that position because they wanted to pay.
00:37:25
Zak
Five the back, which was, you know, not we for whatever reason. But then, obviously, we decide to bring him back, much of the aggressive Charlton fans.
00:37:38
Zak
And then we basically won or not lost a single game since he's been back in And he's delivered some, you know, absolutely exceptional sort of assists, such exceptional deliveries into the box.
00:37:51
DailySaintsPod
Mm.
00:37:52
Zak
key, crucial tackles. And yeah, it's kind of like, you kind of wonder like, oh, where's, you know, where does all this come from? It's always just kind of been there. We just haven't really paid much attention, but also because we then started playing even a bit more of a natural role to him.
00:38:08
Zak
And that's allowed, you know, us to replace this sort right-hand we don't have to have Pompelos being our right back anymore, which was always like a weird, get like wingers and wingbacks and all this jazz. But yeah, i just think that since he's come back in, there's been a change in the squad.
00:38:26
Zak
And I don't know if it's all down to him. It definitely, definitely isn't. I just think that his performance is, it's not... none of the games that we've drawn or one of the games we struggled in, I've really ever looked at James Bree and gone, yeah, he he put like so much wrong this game. That's why this happened.
00:38:43
Zak
And I think that's probably one of the reasons, the main reason why is that he's just been exceptional since he's come back to the side.
00:38:50
DailySaintsPod
I think that's as fair.
00:38:51
Zak
Coming back in a derby as well. Like, let's just not forget that.
00:38:54
DailySaintsPod
Oh, yeah. Unbelievable.
00:38:55
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:38:55
Zak
Coming back in the South Coast derby and then just just just dealing with it.
00:39:00
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:39:00
Zak
And that for me is like, man, yeah, James Pree.
00:39:03
Zak
It's
00:39:11
Zak
not hard, is it, mate, to be honest?
00:39:18
DailySaintsPod
Harwood Bellis stepping up, but especially in the latter part of the season, into that captain role. Under Tonda, he's really matured as a player, as a footballer, and...
00:39:30
DailySaintsPod
you know the The Daily Echo player of the year, for good reason. He really stepped up and it showed. Been really important for that. Ross Stewart, with his goals, chipping in and and just his general play. and We talked about how his injury is probably ultimately what ended up costing Will Steal his job.
00:39:49
Zak
Very true.
00:39:50
DailySaintsPod
and And it could have been a completely different story. had that not been the case. But think it's even when he came back from that, you know, chipping in and and scoring as frequently as he did, very important role to play. Kyle Lahren, I mean, we covered it in in the surprise, but just... We expected him to come in and at best be cover for the minute Stuart couldn't play, and what he did was make the...
00:40:16
DailySaintsPod
himself the first choice in my eyes. And he was excellent and really adapted well to the physicality of the championship. It really seems to suit him. And long may that continue. Caspy and again mentioned earlier in the episode, especially in those last two games, just absolutely showing his best.
00:40:37
DailySaintsPod
but But throughout the season, really consistent player with quality and just a really important read of a really difficult position that we're blessed to have quite good strength in. Leo Sienza speaks for itself because of the person and player he's been. We do look a worse team without him.
00:40:56
DailySaintsPod
And that was true at the start of the season as much as at the end of the season.
00:41:01
DailySaintsPod
It showed more. Yeah.
00:41:01
Zak
Yep, just thinking of that game against Millwall.
00:41:04
Zak
That's all you need to know, really.
00:41:04
DailySaintsPod
it showed more at the start of the season when he was dragging the literal dragging the play up the pitch. and I think was more muted in the latter part of the season as much by the rest of the team stepping up as anything else, but he still had that spark and that joy and you, you still get that or, got that buzz around St. Mary's every time he picked up the ball in attacking position because you got the feeling that something was about to happen. and And that's exciting. That's what we want. James Bree, you're 100% right.
00:41:35
DailySaintsPod
Such a critical piece of the puzzle towards our transformation to solidify the defense in a way at fullback, which effectively did the job of the the three centre-backs that we were trying to do.
00:41:49
DailySaintsPod
As well as the stepping forward and stepping into the space and freeing up fellows to to do that and even chipping in with with a goal. He's been... an absolute breath of fresh air and exactly what we needed. Uh, you, you're a hundred percent right with everything you said. Flynn downs didn't have the best start the season, but so many of our players didn't since Tom specifically has come in. He's really managed to turn himself around and become a really important part of the squad again, like he was under Russell Martin.
00:42:24
DailySaintsPod
albeit in a a different look of the same position under the the style of football to under plays. It's not the same thing that he did under Russell Martin that does for us anymore.
00:42:35
DailySaintsPod
And his presence is missed when he's not on the pitch and it shows. And again, in a position that we are blessed with an incredible amount of strength in he he is still consistently the first choice and he's been excellent. Shea Charles' goal catalogue speaks for itself this season, let alone the job he does also in that same position as Yander and Downs. He's really coming into his own as a like top championship talent who will probably be a
00:43:11
DailySaintsPod
very good Premier League player. And I hope that he stays here to do it with us. He's been a sensation this season. His attitude, as much as anything, is exemplary from what I can see and tell on the pitch. And yeah, brilliant. And Peretz, for all of the reasons we've said as well, an important signing sure answered the the problem of goalkeeper. We said when it happened that goalkeeper wasn't the problem. but it was a problem. And it just isn't when he's between the sticks, he makes so many important saves and the confidence that he instills in the back line speaks for itself. But for me, the winner has to be Ryan Manning.
00:43:52
DailySaintsPod
because has he like even stopped playing football for any minutes this season for us?
00:44:00
Zak
not Unless he's been taken off, basically.
00:44:02
DailySaintsPod
he He has been consistently present. and sometimes there are question marks over his defensive abilities and sometimes all of that. And there was that one goal early on in the season where he let his man run past him because he was busy moaning at the linesman.
00:44:21
DailySaintsPod
But the quality of delivery he brings, the the dead ball game that he miraculously spawned this season, something that we've not seen from him before,
00:44:35
DailySaintsPod
he He is that that essential part of the team. the The crosses, the allowing Leo the freedom that Leo you know needs to roam.
00:44:49
DailySaintsPod
Just a really key player for me. He was one of our better players in the Premier last season and has just continued for that throughout this season for me.
00:44:58
Zak
did you Did you think that Ryan Manning would be your player of the season at the beginning of the season, Greg?
00:45:02
DailySaintsPod
Not even a little bit.
00:45:04
DailySaintsPod
I wouldn't... Yeah. I didn't foresee it even making him even making my shortlist, but yeah, for me, my player of the season as as maybe a slightly unsung hero from the list, but but as mentioned, even more than the names on this shortlist that I've just given the reasons for, very easy to make an argument for because that, from from January onwards...
00:45:04
Zak
I probably say the same about Bree, to be fair.
00:45:31
DailySaintsPod
from January right up until before the playoffs. what What a season and what time to be a Saints fan that was. Yeah.
00:45:42
Zak
Yeah, it was man it was it was a good time. It's a shame it ended so abruptly and so the way it did, quite frankly.
00:45:51
Zak
But no, I agree.
00:45:51
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:45:53
Zak
It was it was a heck of a ride, at least. It was never boring. I think that you can at least say that.
00:45:58
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, think so I think that that is very true on so many levels. And look, I guess after all is said and done, another exciting year in the championship awaits where we get to do it all again and maybe in a slightly less dramatic fashion this time. I don't know. I don't know if that is even reasonable to say. I feel like the drama of the championship persists. LAUGHTER Who knows? But look, that's it. That is the cherry on our 25-26 season cake. That is it. We are officially moving forward into our 26-27 And
00:46:45
DailySaintsPod
yeah what What a great way to do it, I suppose, with the the positivity coming back, starting to look forward to it. A World Cup and a transfer window looming where it all begins. And like I say, the excitement just never stops.
00:47:00
DailySaintsPod
So thank you, everyone, for for sticking with us this season. I actually do have one last award to finish on. But before we go, and that is the Survivor Award.
00:47:13
DailySaintsPod
presented to every single Saints fan, still here listening, still supporting the club, and still sticking with the team. Because, especially with the way the season ended, fair to say a tumultuous end to the season.
00:47:33
DailySaintsPod
You will deserve it, every single one of you. So, that's it.
00:47:38
Zak
I agree wholeheartedly, mate. It was, uh, what season.
00:47:43
DailySaintsPod
That's it. So thank you everyone for joining us and Let us know if you agree with our thoughts and our opinions and who your votes for any of our awards are in the comments and on the socials. We are Daily Saints Pod everywhere. X, Blue Sky, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, just everywhere. Hit us up.
00:48:07
DailySaintsPod
Let us know. we love hearing from you. We will be back tomorrow with more football content. Just just get towards next season now. But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day, and we will see you then.