Transcript
DailySaintsPod: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening and welcome to the Daily Saints pod with Zak and Greg. I am your host today, Zach. Uh, continuing this run of me being in the hot seat of being host this time around, though.
DailySaintsPod: Probably aren't going to get as much of a bumper episode as you did yesterday.
Greg: Well, hello, mate. I mean once we've got things to talk about that's just the way it rolls.
DailySaintsPod: this is This is true, but I'm going to try and at least keep myself keep myself on time a little bit more. So anyway mate, how are you? How you doing?
Greg: Yeah, I'm not too mad, mate. Looking forward. I'm excited to get back to some Aries. Just... Building the hype. I can't wait.
DailySaintsPod: Perfect.
Greg: was like Love an evening game.
DailySaintsPod: effects Yeah, well, you know, midweek games. depending on whether it's last season or this or the season before, right?
DailySaintsPod: we either do really well or we do really poor.
Greg: but
DailySaintsPod: And I'm sure that whatever happens, the average will spit out a 2 -1.
Greg: Yeah, I mean that is just the way it be. Uh... But look, it should be a good game. I mean...
Greg: Nice.
DailySaintsPod: Tonda Eka has named the midfield as a big factor in Swansea City's energy as he identified the threat that league leaders pose. And yeah, they've only conceded one goal.
DailySaintsPod: So we'll go through their games.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: And I've had a ganders at that as well. It started because I went down the rabbit hole, Greg, of... the fact that Ross Stewart isn't in their squad and thus ended up just looking at how their entire season has gone so far.
DailySaintsPod: But yeah.
Greg: Easily dumb. Easily dumb.
DailySaintsPod: So... They have apparently the most in they're the most intense team on the but against the ball, managing a league high of 5 .2 tackles per minute of opposition possession. So that's going to be... It's going to be interesting for us to deal with, considering that we are a team that has... you know
Greg: And I thought...
DailySaintsPod: historically had a lot of possession.
Greg: And I thought XG was a convoluted statistic. Sorry, what was that? Tackles. Per minute. Average tackles per minute. That is... it
DailySaintsPod: It's a league high of 5 .2 tackles.
Greg: Eve. Absolute nonsense.
DailySaintsPod: duels or interceptions. per minute of uploaded possession
Greg: Ugh.
Greg: you know sometimes statistics go too far
DailySaintsPod: the The thing is...
Greg: Uh,
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, but you can record those. XG is based off of like goal scoring positions, right?
Greg: Yeah, but
Greg: Oh, it just seems... like like At the end of the day, you know it's going to be a hard game coming into the to it because you can look at something that's one big statistic and that's the league table and currently they're top of it. Like...
DailySaintsPod: No, you're right. the The league table makes it pretty obvious. how they're doing so far.
Greg: There's the uh...
DailySaintsPod: But you you said the same thing against Millwall, mate. We beat them 5 -1. So...
Greg: Well, that's the thing, right? So this this big deal about the midfield is interesting. I saw the TSP guys speculating that... Maybe they'd drop an extra body in midfield for this and drop to some sort of 4 -3 -3.
Greg: Although actually, i I think what would be quite exciting... would be like a fourth. Three, two, one. with maybe playing Mubama and Laryn together.
Greg: which would be different. Right.
DailySaintsPod: you you I swear, this has just been your obsession since the Premier League season. You just want Cam Archer and Tall Paul again.
Greg: yeah
DailySaintsPod: This is, this is just, this is the next flavor of that, right?
Greg: Yes.
DailySaintsPod: This is you consistently. And then every time we've done it, Greg, have we won?
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Have we, you know, absolutely demolished the opposition?
Greg: but No, but but I mean, you're right, it makes for an interesting game. The thing is that... Obviously, they're they're flying at the moment and they're doing incredibly well and they're going to be a tough team to come against. But like you say, against Millwall... These teams that come and try to play... Football against us.
Greg: is exactly what we want. right They're not going to take the Lincoln approach and literally hoof it into the air from her. for a kickoff, right? like kid Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, I guess we'll have to see who whose's like plays out the best, right?
Greg: You know. Don't know if you saw, like since we recorded our... our post -match, I actually saw some of the the interview with Lincoln. It was like the... that chaos is the area that we thrive in.
Greg: and And that's why we didn't do so well against it. But teams that come and play football against us... under tonda so far tends to...
Greg: played to how we want them to do right so
DailySaintsPod: we're just We're just going to have to hope we can break through ultimately.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: Alfie goes on to talk about the fact that... Their impressive defensive record has come even though like their key centre -back ruptured his Achilles a week before the start of the new season. One of the main three is a Canadian international, which I think will be, if anything, beneficial because we will have somebody that knows.
DailySaintsPod: him. More. Right.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: people kind of Forget that. So... Yeah, I think that... you know, Eckert's aware of it at least and has probably done the analysis and you're right. I'm hoping because it plays more to our strengths.
DailySaintsPod: you know, That means that we'll maybe do a little bit better than we managed at Lincoln. But... I do think that I worry about you know that midfield three of... you know, if if we do decide decide to go to for a midfield three.
DailySaintsPod: There's no Yanda back yet. I don't think that he'll be back tomorrow. There's been no word that he'll be back tomorrow. So that's going to be what, Bragg, Downs, Prowsey probably. Would you stick anyone else there?
Greg: Maybe Matsky. We've seen him utilized in that.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah.
Greg: in that way. Uh... to I don't know, I guess a debatable level of success. I thought he did alright. Others seem to not think... so highly of it. so I don't know, it's a really tough call. you're right without yanda it's not it's not as promising of a kind of a lineup to throw in. And even if you do.
Greg: You know, those those three names in the middle part does sound... good enough for me but when one of them tires and you need to rotate in that's kind of that part of the field that is going to be the busy part.
Greg: of the game Who else do you bring on? to step up into that. Yeah, I don't know. It's a tricky one.
DailySaintsPod: that's That's the problem because at that point we would have to rotate or we'd have to, you know, if if we wanted to do like for like subs, we're not going to be able to. So we'd end up having to just change position again because we don't have the depth there.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: to cover that area. Either way. As I said, i'll I'll get to the start of where it led me down this rabbit hole. And it's the fact that Ross Stewart is basically just going to miss.
DailySaintsPod: I think at least the next four matches from when this article came out.
Greg: Yeah, I heard he was out. I heard he was out until after the international break, basically.
DailySaintsPod: yet. Pretty much. He missed.
Greg: He's played nine minutes, right?
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, he managed 11 days and one substitute appearance before going out injured until the international break. So he missed, obviously, the fixture against Wrexham.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: He's going to miss. his fixture against us. probably Swansea's fixtures against Burnham. Burnley and Lincoln as well. and you know They've kind of said he has a soft tissue injury, not massive, but probably he can return in the international break.
DailySaintsPod: So... I think either way. Nine minutes, three -year contract. I don't want to be. speak ill of our departed striker. He did really well for us, but...
Greg: yeah But it really...
DailySaintsPod: there is a reason that we probably didn't offer him a huge contract.
Greg: I was going to say. It really puts the perspective on the opinion of... but But we'd have been so much better if we'd kept Ross Stewart because actually that always needed to come with the caveat of we'd have been so much better if we kept Ross Stewart. and we're able to keep him fit and that is See you. In this, his...
Greg: you know continued case a big caveat it's not not an easy one and it's a shame because when he is fit he's a solid player But... Yeah, not that...
Greg: Most surprising that he's gone to a new club and gone out injured, unfortunately. But but I mean, they've got... They had the top goal scorer last year, right? the portney and I've seen that in their game against Wrexham he was a substitute.
DailySaintsPod: Mm hmm.
Greg: He came on... in the, like, 65th minute, so... I don't know if it's that. Were they like saving him for us?
DailySaintsPod: That was talk of him.
Greg: Or was it like...
DailySaintsPod: There was talk of him going. right, at some point. In fact, there was even talk of him coming here.
Greg: Right.
DailySaintsPod: So I wonder if that's got something to do with it. I can't. claim that I'm an expert.
Greg: I see.
DailySaintsPod: But... Obviously, they thought they would bolster with Ross Stewart. They've had a cracking start.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: And as we know, when Ross is fit... He does really, really well. But the other thing for him is this is potentially going to now damage damage his international career again. You've got... Nation League games during that international break where hopefully he'll be fit enough for it, but are they really going to risk?
DailySaintsPod: you know, playing a striker that's had the whole whole of nine minutes of football. where ironically Che Adams is actually scoring.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: pretty you know doing all right elsewhere?
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: Probably not. Either way.
Greg: yeah i mean Yeah, so I don't know. like I've just, whilst we've been talking, kind of looked back on their results that's got them to this. this point of the pinnacle of the table. and I don't know. if I feel like at this point in the season as well, like the table can be so misleading because a good run can put you anywhere. but you know, is is a team that... Drew ni nil -nil with Wrexham at the weekend.
Greg: as big and scary. As. as we think. I don't know, is the answer. and You know, I kind of feel like especially if we're going to keep having these. questionable performances right whatever way you look at it, a point away to Lincoln is is not a great point in in most people's opinions.
Greg: But... But to excuse that, you need to... bring your home form up so it's just going to be really important that we go out and and just smash it really.
DailySaintsPod: It's quite, it's quite... difficult because the problem is is that the expectation for us is going to be to continue to win. And I think that a draw for us does absolutely nothing. The issue being is that... They have...
DailySaintsPod: conceded since they lost their opening cup game. they have conceded a whole whopping one goal. right And that's home and away.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: But you're right, it's very, very early into the season. We haven't had a huge amount of games since then. but you know It's not like it's this is absolutely crazy, but... you need to just ultimately look at it for what it is which is that
Greg: Yeah, I like... The teams that haven't scored against them are Derby and Sheffield and Wrexham.
DailySaintsPod: They aren't beaten.
Greg: right so you would think with the with the expectation that we are putting on ourselves in the league this year that we should be able to score goals against teams that Derby, Wrexham and Stoke .
Greg: Otherwise... We're not going to be in those automatic promotions positions or even those playoffs right there that's what we need to be doing So... just need to go out and score.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, but then also you're you're saying you know the the teams that they've won against are are Stoke. he and also Watford, who we lost to. So we just kind of have to take it.
Greg: you
DailySaintsPod: for for realistically what it is. obviously looking, to our history against Swansea. that first game against them last season. was under Will Stills' tenure.
DailySaintsPod: Remember that game?
Greg: Yep.
DailySaintsPod: That was the game that everyone...
Greg: I do, mate. That was the one where we had like 76 shots and it finished nil -nil. And... And it it was kind of like the beginning of the end, right?
Greg: It was where you really sort of started to see Will Still descend into madness. It is like, why can't we just score? It was...
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, 20, 21 shots we had that game. Eight were on target. Uh, We had five quarters. It was ridiculous.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: It was a game that included Alex McCarthy in goal. a centre -back triple of Howard, Ballas, Wood and Edwards. Gillette. Wellington played those games as well, mate.
DailySaintsPod: Armstrong was involved. Yanda, Charles, Scienza, and Archer. And yeah, it was just one that we... We just... I remember just being exhausted after we came out of that game.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: Because we just thought, how... how did we not do anything? and you And you're right. I think I talk about, obviously we talk about Preston. We talk about some of the other. things. Right.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: But this was probably, as you're right, the game that really like pushed it over the edge. I think. for for most other people.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: And... for him in general. Because... if we can't school. in a game like this were we ever going to be able to get the wins that we so desperately needed?
DailySaintsPod: And the answer was no.
Greg: Well, that's the thing right? Especially when you cast your mind back to the context of historically against Swansea of before that fixture, whereas actually every game we played against them in the last few years.
Greg: We've scored at least three.
Greg: Right? If you take last year out of the equation, they're a team we do really well at scoring against.
Greg: Look. look i distinctly remember uh that boxing day fixture where we Absolutely smashed them 5 -0. It was great. Lovely day out.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, no, I i agree. And also, like... they were one of the only teams that we had any success with in our Premier League season as well. In fact, Ivan Juric is...
DailySaintsPod: Southampton managed to win 3 -0.
Greg: so
DailySaintsPod: If you remember rightly, it's when Suleiman has celebrated like he'd...
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: scored the winning goal at the World Cup. uh
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: and proceeded to then not really do a lot for the rest of the season.
Greg: Mm.
DailySaintsPod: Dibbling scored two. It was, you know, a nice and nice game. It was where we really started to think, actually, maybe... maybe we'll, maybe we'll kick on from this. And obviously we played them for a second time last season and we won.
DailySaintsPod: And that was, that was, you know. A much better performance, but still required a Cam Archer goal in the 90th minute to to secure all three points, right?
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: You're eating. we we do historically do well against them.
Greg: That was the game where Camron are... That was what the game right where Cameron Archer had the absolute performance of a lifetime and just was incredible start to finish, putting in a real shift and then had the goal handed to him basically on a silver platter.
Greg: Just really good stuff.
DailySaintsPod: yeah exactly that and we but also you know we'll start to see I think maybe one of the things we've already started missing. but hopefully we can get from James Ward -Prowse. is goals from midfielders. Because having a look through a lot of the fixtures from last year, the sheer amount of goal contributions and goals that Shea Charles scored, obviously we know that there's some really, really important ones. but just in general.
DailySaintsPod: it's a thing we are starting to lack if we are relying entirely on Scienza, Larin and Azaz to kind of do everything.
Greg: Yeah. Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: And that's not discounting that one of the games, the only reason we did all right was because Schlotterbeck scored. so yeah I just
Greg: And I mean, against Lincoln, back up left back, right?
DailySaintsPod: Good.
Greg: like
DailySaintsPod: Well, yeah, exactly
Greg: then
DailySaintsPod: So then I can't really have much of a leg to stand on if I'm saying that I should expect more from the midfield.
Greg: yeah
DailySaintsPod: You know. we'll be getting goals everywhere else.
Greg: The defence chipping in, yeah.
DailySaintsPod: but Yeah, just it it seems like it should be... I don't want to just use the terminology of interesting game, but I think that we need to treat it like we are facing the league leaders, but also not be intimidated by the fact they seem to be doing...
DailySaintsPod: being so aggressive in the midfield and find a way to figure that out. And obviously that will ultimately be down to... to tonder but I think that having a home advantage will be massively helpful because St Mary's has become a bit of a fortress over the last season in a bit.
DailySaintsPod: So you just need to prove that.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: at the time right
Greg: Absolutely, yeah. i look It's going to be good. I'm looking forward to it.
DailySaintsPod: So obviously we've we've alluded a little bit to lineups. How do you think we're going to shape up, Greg? Obviously, Peretz and goal, no argument there. Who's centre -back pairing?
Greg: Well, is there an argument? do you Definitely right enough that we're not going to be seeing Rambo anytime soon? Just to stoke the fire a bit more.
DailySaintsPod: We're not doing this. We're not doing this every week again
Greg: a
DailySaintsPod: If if if
Greg: you You love goalkeeper for chat, mate.
DailySaintsPod: If Peretz picks up an injury...
Greg: It's what makes the podcast.
DailySaintsPod: I think at that point. We will maybe see. maybe he's reintegrated back into the squad, right? Up until... That happens, I am going to say that Proactive is our number one.
Greg: Yeah, no, like...
DailySaintsPod: Every single game.
Greg: Aside from... Taking aims to stoke the fire. You're right. Peretz in goal. Bree and Manning would be my choices at fullback.
DailySaintsPod: I agree.
Greg: Schlotterbeck and Abbott would be my choices of centre -back.
DailySaintsPod: But Greg, they're two new centre -backs together.
Greg: Yeah. We've had two...
DailySaintsPod: Are you sure that's going to be okay?
Greg: Yeah, we've had two whole more training sessions now. I think we're good. Yeah. Yes. straight back into the mix.
DailySaintsPod: Interesting. So you don't think that we need a more experienced head in Stephens or Wood gets another chance after... Not really his fault. helping concede the goal that last game. I think that, again, all the... chucking him on randomly with...
DailySaintsPod: 10 minutes to go was kind of not the best decision.
Greg: Uh...
DailySaintsPod: But yeah.
Greg: I think... I think honestly... And I mean honestly, because I think that if... if one of the names is selected that there'll be kind of certain parts of our fan base that would grumble but i i think i genuinely mean it when i say with those four choices that sent her back for this game any combination.
Greg: I'm not going to be unhappy. with I will understand. the the logic for and be like yeah makes sense let's do it
DailySaintsPod: Okay.
Greg: is is is genuinely how I'm feeling at the moment. However... Right. Stephens comes in and doesn't have a great game.
Greg: Uh... it it it puts real question marks on it right and if Woody comes in and makes and another mistake after... Like you say, not not fair to be held fully to account for Lincoln, right? Because playing in a...
Greg: Just in a position in a system with three at the back is just not... It should never have happened. but But those those noises start to chirp, right? And you you don't really want that. So that's why I think of those things for the...
Greg: For the... Most. positive outcome coming in. Just the two two newbies going in for it. and see how it goes.
DailySaintsPod: Okay. That'll be interesting. Obviously, if it all goes wrong... there's there's time to get the blame at that point or is it recruitment team, Mike?
Greg: Well... Yeah. I don't know. I don't know the answer to that. I don't have the part of my brain that asks what happens if it goes wrong. He knows that, mate. It's just positivity all the way.
DailySaintsPod: No, I know this. What do you think the midfield will shape up like then? Do you think there's going to be a three? Because if not, I don't know why we'd change it from the weekend. I think Downes, you know, was clearly frustrated and clearly is... properly and some of the best form that he's been in a long time.
DailySaintsPod: And obviously James Ward -Prowse is just loving being back. And I think feeding off that energy of being at St. Mary's is going to do nothing but be a positive thing. especially if he manages to score a free kick.
Greg: Yeah.
Greg: Yeah, i I don't know is the answer. I kind of feel like it's a little bit... Uh... potentially setting up for failure either way or setting up for success either way. You either change it to a three and it goes really well.
Greg: And then that pays off. So oh that's a really good tactical change. Top -notch management. But of if it doesn't go well immediately, why are you tinkering with it? this is why We have a system. We play with two and then a number 10 and two wingers and a striker and now suddenly you're tinkering and it's all gone to pot. so I kind of feel like the safe option.
Greg: is Prowse and Flynn. together as a two. So... I wouldn't be opposed to seeing three. I don't think I would be. one of those people calling it for it.
Greg: Uh... of purely putting it down on tonda's head if if he decides to tinker in that way and it doesn't pay off I think it's... Probably a sensible tactical move, whether it works or not.
Greg: I think the safe option is the two.
DailySaintsPod: Okay.
Greg: I don't know, mate. What do you think?
DailySaintsPod: I think the safer option is the two. personally, as I said, because if they have the ability to reinforce that area after 60 to 65 minutes, which is one of the things that Alfie also pointed out.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: that tonda said right that he's expecting them to make subs to make sure that energy doesn't drop we do not have the numbers to do that right unless we're playing people out of position.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: And I just don't think that that's the safe.
Greg: Yeah, or bringing youth players up into a potential position where you don't want to be doing that.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, like... if If not, like you might end up say maybe maybe seeing Akachukwu as well as... you know Bragg or Matsuki or whatever. Obviously up top, I think that if Azaz is fit, Azaz starts. I don't know about Laren. I think... Yes, but he just... done.
DailySaintsPod: He's starting to look a little leggy. That's all.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: But I don't know if anyone is going to, you know. People aren't really seeming to vibe with Mbama. I think you know he had a bit of a rough game last game. He barely did a lot. uh
Greg: Maybe that's the perfect reason to give him a start and get that.
DailySaintsPod: he's not the same
Greg: give him that boost of confidence and... Get the... energy of a crowd behind him and
DailySaintsPod: I would like that.
Greg: get back to goal scoring ways.
DailySaintsPod: because I would like that so we don't end up with just Cameron Archer 2 .0.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: where we we end up he ends up having like
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Because the the alternative is that he has a good substitute appearance, right? And then he gets a start and does nothing. Whereas, you know
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: at the moment because he's the understudy. He's not really getting that, but also Larin is just tired and maybe offers something a little bit different. if we play a little bit differently against Swansea. So that makes sense to me.
DailySaintsPod: Obviously, Cienza starts.
Greg: I mean, I also think to to to try and...
DailySaintsPod: see you
Greg: alleviate some concerns about Mubama. I also think that... Coming off the bench to make an impact is something that we've talked about before, that in itself is...
Greg: Like a completely different... skill set and is also difficult to do. I think we were a bit spoiled last year because both Ross Stewart and Kyle Larin... clearly had that ability to come on and get a goal regardless of when they come in.
Greg: I don't necessarily think it's fair to expect that of Mubama straight off the bat. You know, which isn't to say that... you What's the point of bringing him on then? That's not what I'm saying, but...
Greg: It is more difficult. So maybe, you know, a start and some good stuff will... will be exactly what it needs. Yeah. hit some goal scoring form.
Greg: Maybe a... a nice goal. and Yeah. That's what I would like to see anyway. But you're right, other than that, Leo kind of picks himself, Azaz kind of picks himself, and then...
Greg: I know. Fellows or Matsuki on the right. I mean. i'd be happy either way is the honest answer there i don't know about about you
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, fellow who's just kind of fallen out. a bit of favour. To be honest, if it's just because... of the physicality of the teams we've come up against.
Greg: That was a bit weird, really. you like says in you know you we've been saying that... What he really needs to add to his game is goals. Gets his first goal and we've barely seen him since. but But I actually think it's because... The physicality that Matsky offers was more suited certainly to the games we've been playing, but actually in this game where the middle of the park is going to be such a key battle.
Greg: Maybe it's exactly where you need fellows to be able to... pick up one of those loose balls and run into a bit of space and maybe beat a man and and put a cross in. so Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: either way I'm just really really hoping it doesn't remain a nil -nil. Right. i think that's that's kind of where i'm at i don't really don't want to have another game
Greg: Yeah
DailySaintsPod: that is... 30. odd shots and nothing happens. And to be honest, I think what we're really hoping for is just a bit more energy than Saturday because we, again, I know...
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: that we we discussed it in depth in our episode yesterday. but the whole not getting out of second gear.
Greg: Mm.
DailySaintsPod: really caused a problem but we don't know if it's just because we were mitigated by tactics which is what i kind of think but they they really need to just go at this game and
Greg: Mm.
Greg: Yeah. Not really beating any accusations that have been sort of building up that we had don't look really like
DailySaintsPod: Run.
Greg: entirely fully fit. Right. either in in exactly that. so But that said... Uh... Home crowd behind you, it is easier to...
Greg: potentially, theoretically get that energy level up. kick into that gear and hopefully just just smash it out of the park that's the plan
DailySaintsPod: Yep.
Greg: That's what I hope, anyway. I mean, that's that's what I would like to see. But... Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: That's fair. What do you think the scoreline is going to be then, Greg? That's the true question that we always get to with these match previews.
Greg: What do I think the score's going to be? It's a great question. Okay. One that you'd think I'd come prepared for, but I have to base this purely off of gut feel every time because it's just just how I roll. Look, if you exclude that nil -nil from the mix We tend to score...
Greg: goals against Swansea. And I think that... You know... and It's easy to get carried away with their current league position, but it's still early doors.
Greg: I think that we are going to tonk them. I think... 4 -1.
DailySaintsPod: Interesting. Obviously, we came into the game against Millwall. and you were concerned about them being uh like you know top of the table despite the fact it had been...
DailySaintsPod: three... you know Three games or whatever. And... Now we're coming up you know five games in to the top of the table.
DailySaintsPod: and your tune has changed completely and you think we're going to absolutely trance them just because it's Swansea. So is it just that you're, like, biased against Swansea instead of your...
Greg: Yeah.
Greg: No, I'm just... I think, if anything, I'm just excited to get back to the Marys.
DailySaintsPod: No, it's just a vibe.
Greg: It's just...
DailySaintsPod: That's fair. That's acceptable. We've never done anything here.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: solely based off of logic right My 3 -1 is just a gut feeling.
Greg: Right. Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: I don't think that... I don't think that we're going to be able to keep a clean sheet at the moment because we can't.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: I don't know why And I think going 1 -0 down will galvanise them.
Greg: Yeah, that's That's the... feel him.
DailySaintsPod: which is annoying, but I don't care if we have to go 1 -0 down to be galvanised. So, and then we'll scroll through.
Greg: As long as we are able to turn it around and pick up the win.
DailySaintsPod: That's all the maths. That's all that matters.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: That's all I care about, ultimately.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: It's still not going to be as... bad as like the Russell Martin season where like we conceded goals for fun and then shockingly got to the Premier League and continued that pattern of behaviour. without being able to shoot in the other end.
Greg: Yeah.
Greg: And I mean, it is it is a point of concern that at some point we're going to need to tidy up, but also... Especially with the kind of... let's say uncertainty around choice and centre -back pairing, you've got to give them a minute to build these partnerships and get there. So, yeah.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Look, it's it's one of those things where...
Greg: Definitely.
DailySaintsPod: we we you know We have a lot of changes. A lot of teams have a lot of changes. You've got teams like Cheltenham that are doing exactly what they did last season, which is have a really, really strong start. And then suddenly all of out of nowhere, not.
DailySaintsPod: Bye. my My point around that being is that... the sort of waste just that we're still finding our feet. And as much as we wanted a really, really fast early start, like we ultimately haven't lost a game since Watford.
Greg: Yeah. That's it, right?
DailySaintsPod: go walk it go go into that with that level of positivity.
Greg: like
Greg: I can't remember who it was that said it, but someone's like the... the statistics will pan out whatever way you want to spin them because you can either frame it as four games unbeaten.
Greg: And to... draws away from home. in difficult conditions. Or... four drop points, right?
Greg: Two points out of six falling apart. Like whichever narrative you want to spin, the the numbers are there to back you.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah, exactly. you it's It's like I saw...
Greg: And I think that we are always going to, or we. on this show are always going to side on the... uh side of it that's delusional optimism. right that's
DailySaintsPod: I don't know, I think
Greg: That's our MO.
DailySaintsPod: i think I think you're the delusional optimist and have managed to turn me a little bit last season. but I'm still unfortunately very realistic. But speaking of that, I did see a fantastic tweet by someone completely mugging up, someone from Luton Town of all teams.
DailySaintsPod: a Luton Town fan mugging off Leicester because obviously it like saying oh how is Russell Martin in football like he's only only came here in like you know Again, as for as as MK Don's manager, only finish these positions as Swansea manager. lost like lost all almost all his games in the Premier League, lost all his games at Rangers, losing all his games at Leicester. I just kind of seemed to completely miss out the promotion.
DailySaintsPod: And he talked about it in like a follow -up, but my point is that like... you can't You can say all of that stuff, sure, but if you also lead out that he he led us to a promotion -winning season.
Greg: Hmm.
DailySaintsPod: It's kind of like... But again, either way, I'm glad to not be a Leicester fan right now. Bye.
Greg: Yeah. Look.
DailySaintsPod: And...
Greg: Who could have seen that coming?
DailySaintsPod: Only everyone.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: including apparently, by the looks of it, Russell Martin, who's probably... cracking on preparing for his next job. I imagine outside of English and Scottish football.
Greg: Yeah.
DailySaintsPod: Anywho. That's about all we've got time for today. Thank you so much to everyone for joining us is as per usual. We... on all the social medias. We are on Facebook. We are on Twitter. We are on Instagram. We are on Blue Sky. We are on TikTok.
DailySaintsPod: Yeah. we hope you have a wonderful trip down to St Mary's or if you're watching from home or watching from your bunker in france as a lot of people tend to do Uh, yeah. I mean...
DailySaintsPod: Wonderful. morning, afternoon or evening and we will be back. in the next one.
