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Episode 253: What an opening weekend!
136 Plays23 days ago
Southampton – We take a look back at an amazing opening weekend of football that reminds us why the Championship is the best league in the world. Lots of drama. Lots of fun. And we cover the lot.
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Transcript
Introduction and Recording Context
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Southampton, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Greg Elliott, as always joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host, Zach Ingo Finch.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
How are you doing, mate?
00:00:22
Zak
Mate, I'm doing well. ah We're recording this at undisclosed time. It's not the day or the day before it comes out, put it that way. We got some crazy scheduling this week.
00:00:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's
00:00:35
Zak
you're you're You're a busy man with a week off.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
it. lass it My life
Championship Opening Weekend Excitement
00:00:39
Zak
but
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
has turned into chaos in the summer holidays and subsequently it's Thursday, but it's not.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we are going to have a look back at the opening weekend of championship action and look at some of the crazy, crazy happenings that have been going on because...
00:00:57
Zak
it's been ah It's been an interesting weekend for the opening weekend of the championship.
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, look, when I when i said that it's the best league in the world, I was accused of being a Salty Saints fan.
00:01:01
Zak
That's where I'm
00:01:09
Zak
at.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:01:09
Zak
Yeah, stuff that's the language they used.
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
However,
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
however, it is the best league in the world. No other league can be as exciting as this. I mean, we won in the 96th minute. You know, we we did not lead until after 90 minutes. and You know, we didn't have a goal until 90 minutes.
00:01:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It turned around in stoppage time.
00:01:33
Zak
the late, late show, as as we've seen the hundreds of memes that have already been made. That's a lot. It's about four, but still. ah Yeah, that we weren't the only ones to really sort of have a ah late winner. we We weren't the only ones. You know, there were there were big teams getting completely steamrolled over.
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:49
Zak
We've already had people try to announce, that you know, try to call for their manager's head, and we're one game in.
00:01:55
Zak
we had We had Stoke at one point, the top of the championship.
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's crazy.
00:01:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mental.
00:01:59
Zak
Mate, it's been crazy.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
No one wants to see that.
00:02:01
Zak
Like...
00:02:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
where ah Where do we want to start?
00:02:05
Zak
Shall we start with Friday Night, mate? Because Friday Night was where obviously actually all kicked off.
00:02:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. Man, that was some game. ah ah Talk about bad referee decisions. Are we really calling that handball now? How do you about that?
00:02:19
Zak
get apart Well, our handle wasn't given, so so I don't know how I feel about it. But um it really upsets the...
Celebrity Club Owners: Influence and Impact?
00:02:29
Zak
ah yeah It's one of those things where Birmingham and I were one of the Hollywood clubs, right?
00:02:34
Zak
ah not as Tom Brady, not quite, not quite Ryan Reynolds has his own, put it illustrious career and controversial being a person, yeah but like either way.
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom Brady.
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hates Peter, bro. Hmm.
00:02:52
Zak
Yeah. Either way. Like we we've seen, you know, it be quite, You know, for example, Farahashi, he came from Celtic. That's where I knew him from. he was quite like perfect for them. I think he was even linked with us at some point, right?
00:03:06
Zak
So the idea of, you know, they' they're building a squad and strong squad, sort of like Wrexham. ah You didn't expect them to go up. And they went up. And then Ipswich, you know, saved it at the last minute ah in ah in a way that we would have absolutely loved to save it.
00:03:23
Zak
You know, again, late drama. but But you're right. Do do you do we call that pen?
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, I know game of football I play. I want to, I want that being called a sample, frankly. But if you're going to give it, you've got to give them all. Consistency is important. But...
00:03:40
Zak
Wow, as as we've as we as we have discovered, Greg, consistency isn't important. It doesn't actually matter, and they're never going to give you the points back. Otherwise, if we had another like six points last season, and it wouldn't have been as much of a struggle.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. That's it. But... But man, it was some game and it got a bit fiery at the end. There were some some feisty, some little fisticuffs after the goal.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Saw a fan getting involved. So that's a nice way to start his season with a lifetime ban.
00:04:03
Zak
That was very... You're right. that was That was very much the football is so back moment.
00:04:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:10
Zak
I've seen about 10 different football is so back moments this weekend.
00:04:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:15
Zak
But that was the one that I saw that was like, oh, all right. your your a ah Yeah, but for for a team that's supposedly going to win and come back up, they struggled against Birmingham.
00:04:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:26
Zak
And again, kind of a ah risky penalty is what what got them out of it. So...
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's it's very interesting one coming into you know this weekend's fixture because because that that you know both of us made it look difficult.
00:04:32
Zak
i
00:04:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
We went a bit further and got the win, but...
00:04:45
Zak
Yeah. So it's that the real question is, are we going to make it look difficult next week? Or, you know, ah the other thing, the other thing I i wanted to briefly mention on that as well was, uh, watching Ed Sheeran have a fun back and forth with somebody over the fact that somebody mugged off him having like a, him being the 17th, like member of the team.
00:05:03
Zak
He's just like, it helps, it helps sell shirts.
00:05:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, shirt number 17. Yeah.
00:05:06
Zak
What's the problem? Like, like, I don't, don't worry.
00:05:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah yeah
00:05:08
Zak
I'm not coming in to play the team. Like, you know, how, how you do ownership, right. In my opinion.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:05:13
Zak
Um,
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah All right, well, where where to next? ah Should we use that ah lovely link of ownership and talk about Sheffield Wednesday?
Game Analysis: Sheffield Wednesday and Others
00:05:25
Zak
o what the and i feel I feel like we've gone from Friday to Sunday, but... ah
00:05:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm all about that, mate. You know me.
00:05:31
Zak
it
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Jumping all over the place is exactly the way that we're going to do it
00:05:35
Zak
ah ah Yeah, small Saints league, a lot of controversy over Shea Charles watching his Chex Notes brother play for a football team, team that he also played for last season. ah I don't think it's quite the same as when Charlie Austin wore a Liverpool shirt and said he supports Liverpool and only cares about Liverpool.
00:05:51
Zak
I think that he just went to go and see his brother play on his day off.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah?
00:05:55
Zak
ah they really see as I don't see, see the, you know, and the fact that that they are going to have an affinity towards him. He played really well for them. Yeah. Once again, sort of there was a supposedly, you know, i say supposedly they were going to turn up late because the because they were protesting.
00:06:10
Zak
There was some hoo-ha about people getting into the grounds.
00:06:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:14
Zak
And then they won their lot. And obviously, happy days. And then it seemed to be almost a very similar title game, mate, to us versus Wrexham, right?
00:06:24
Zak
Except, you know, Yannick Vestergaard, former Saint, scored one. And then they scored it quite late in the 87th minute, but not quite as late as us. to go on to win.
00:06:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:06:32
Zak
And that was, to be fair, because Wednesday had a red card. So, yeah, it was a bit of a bit of a weird one. um I just don't know.
00:06:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
not
00:06:43
Zak
it' will be Not as clear-cut as you'd expect to relegate a relegated team.
00:06:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again though, not as clear cut as you'd expect the turmoil versus a relegated team to have been, which is I guess the joy of the league.
00:06:51
Zak
but Because again, the golf isn't... You said it before, this list league is very competitive and there are teams that we'd expect to sit in the middle, right?
00:07:02
Zak
ah The only real mention I'm going to give of Saturday's game of Preston versus QPR is that it's a very middle-of-the-ground game, right?
00:07:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:10
Zak
It's a one-all game between two clubs that you'd expect to be in the middle of the park. That's not me being offensive to QPR or Preston. That is just what we predicted. That is how we view them, especially as where we're at as a Saints fan.
00:07:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:24
Zak
So yeah, Leicester won, but also we're still yet to hear much about what's going on with their transfer stuff, right so you know but especially with their point seduction.
00:07:34
Zak
Is that but happening? Because the championship started now.
00:07:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah It's a real shame it's rosche to not have it all just sorted before a ball is kicked.
00:07:38
Zak
Surely you'll get that done but before it starts.
00:07:42
Zak
It's baffling.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's mad.
00:07:45
Zak
Baffling.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, I mean, that's fiddibustering and legal nonsense. That's the problem, isn't it?
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Those two worlds are very different. So...
00:07:51
Zak
but state
00:07:53
Zak
Man City supposedly one day going to have something to do with their charges, maybe, or that number's just going to sit around for the next 20 years and we're just going to win a moral victory over them.
00:07:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe. i mean... look, when when that comes to an end and is like gets a verdict, what Sports Bible going to post about if they don't have a date's been set for the result and the of this outcome of this update?
00:08:23
Zak
Hey, obviously Birmingham City and Wrexham.
00:08:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, they're
00:08:26
Zak
Like, that that isn't even like a...
00:08:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
going to... They're going to lose 50% of their posts even with that. Like, it's just...
00:08:35
Zak
Or again, we'll talk about how bad you were able to buy ah somebody for £76.5 million pounds after firing the tea lady.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:08:44
Zak
Like, whatever.
00:08:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, madness. Absolute infidelity.
00:08:47
Zak
But anyway, we've still got a host of Townfee Chick Games to talk about.
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, look. Yeah, look, we've we've got three down. Let's take a break now and hear a message from our partners at Bionique.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, mate, let's get back to it. And, right, let's ah let's tackle the list in the order for Saturday's games that I've got in front of me.
00:09:41
Zak
You're going for a
00:09:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, a bit of a shock result, Charlton Athletic beating Watford. That's...
00:09:48
Zak
call, mate. as like as we talked about in the championship prediction episode, mate, the Optus supercomputer put Watford at going down for whatever reason based off of question mark, question mark, question mark.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mmm.
00:10:00
Zak
um But again, it was ah it was a late one as well. These sort of championship games that seem to be settled in the last dying minutes. Like, we remember it from from the Russell Martin championship season, right?
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Remember that time that Baz got the winner?
00:10:10
Zak
Like, we had... stuff Like, it's just, I don't know what it seems to be sort of ingrained into the DNA of the championship. But considering we said they were going to struggle, I still think they're going to struggle.
00:10:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:22
Zak
But it must be a, you know, great feeling. I think the the guy that scored was a debutant as well. So happy days um for them.
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. it it's so way I mean, we know from last season, right, that getting that first notch on the belt, that's important. That could be... enough to get them enough momentum, you know, even if they struggle the rest of the season, that might literally kick them onto enough momentum to just about hang on in there and get higher than they expect.
00:10:47
Zak
Every point's important. Every point's important. and It doesn't matter. like Every point's important, Greg, because that's how numbers work. yeah fuck Like when you get the end of the season, people stay up on the basis of like two or three points, which often happens.
00:11:01
Zak
You know, that that winning game in the opening of the season, for sure. ah Did Nathan Jones, once again, ah be a bit dramatic about winning? Maybe. ah Can I really blame him for that?
00:11:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we can, can we let him off for a 95th minute winner? I think so. i think it's pretty reasonable.
00:11:14
Zak
Yeah, yeah i think I think we can considering we did the same.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, i i saw how I, i was going say, I saw how I reacted to a 96th minute winner. Uh, so I'm going to give him a free pass this time.
00:11:25
Zak
Yeah, me too, beat So so ah for once, we'll give him give them a free pass.
00:11:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's, uh,
00:11:31
Zak
But yeah, as I said, I don't really know what to expect of Watford this season. And i don't think anyone really does, including Watford. So for
Unexpected Outcomes: Late Goals and Surprises
00:11:39
Zak
me, ah you know it was a shock result, but a decent one for Charlton.
00:11:42
Zak
And you know happy days.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Another bit of a strange result. ah You know, if you look at our predictions, we had Coventry as flying pretty high and being there or thereabouts with Frank Lampard in charge, and Hull were both very near the bottom of both of our lists. i think you have them going down.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a 0-0 draw with... I mean, look, i mean if you look at the some of the stats, it tells you it was a pretty even game. If you look at total touches inside the opposition box, 36 from Coventry to 8 from Hull tells a slightly different story, but...
00:12:01
Zak
I did.
00:12:19
Zak
Yeah, well, Hull are really happy they got a draw, which says everything. And Frank Lampard will be mad that they didn't win because they're trying to they're trying to get for promotion, right?
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:28
Zak
They don't really... that That is their goal, right? You can see that from, you know, making the playoffs last year or last season.
00:12:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:36
Zak
ah I'm not surprised that he's annoyed. but again, it's football. And also, I don't know how much we can read into it, mate. It's not like it's December, right? I feel like if Coventry cory had drawn 0-0 with, ah you know, with Hull at that point, and that there potentially could be some shifting around the table.
00:12:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:12:55
Zak
For the first game, yeah, but you're right. for like If you're talking about momentum and you're talking about opening day,
00:13:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:01
Zak
it's it's kind of like a bit lacklustre for them to to not manage to win a team that a vast majority of people will look at, probably ourselves included, and that will probably come back to bite me in the future um of of getting three points against them, right?
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it.
00:13:16
Zak
Especially under a new manager.
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:13:17
Zak
So... Yeah,
00:13:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indeed. Middlesbrough beat Swansea 1-0. I mean, that's it.
00:13:22
Zak
Snoop Dogg FC, that's a shame.
00:13:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
this
00:13:25
Zak
well but with again, mid mid sort of table teams, right?
00:13:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:30
Zak
But it's it's good for Rob Edwards, who's now in charge of Middlesbrough, to get kind of a win winning start. But I'm not...
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's get me to talk about the momentum and how important it can be. It'll be interesting.
00:13:42
Zak
Yeah, that's where at. The only thing that I really have a of note
00:13:49
Zak
is Whittaker was one of the people that was playing for Middlesbrough, who I recognised from Football Manager, mate. Like, this is this is where I'm at. I've been so far off of, like, the Championship. I know it's only been a season, but I'm so out of the loop that, like, yeah it's difficult for me to kind of, like...
00:14:07
Zak
like I think more of Swansea being literally Russell Martin's team than anything else. And same with Middlesbrough. You're going to be slightly different now. you've ah You've got Rob Edwards in charge. But ah just I just don't know a huge amount about them.
00:14:23
Zak
But I still kind of stand by my convictions that they probably will be around the middle of the table at the end of the season. Right?
00:14:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's an that's it. ah
00:14:35
Zak
It's one of the few games where I'm just like, yeah, no, I've read some of the other stuff because some of them had like action points right or surprises, whereas a fight between Middlesbrough and Swansea is very much like, I'm sure one of those teams will win. It's the same with QPR and Preston. And again, like I know it comes across slightly disrespectful, but it's just I'm just not knowledgeable there and I'd rather not pretend that I am.
00:14:57
Zak
LAUGHTER
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's fair. ah Moving on. Norwich lost 2-1 at home to Millwall in what looked like a good game, to be honest, from what it was all.
00:15:08
Zak
Yeah, you you called it earlier. You think Millwall is going to do well this season.
00:15:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:13
Zak
I thought, you know, Norwich would probably do a little better. Again, the thing is that you've got a lot of clubs as well. need to bear in mind there are new managers that have come in for the first time, right?
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:27
Zak
Even though, I said, I don't know huge amount about Millwall's bro, but I know that Rob Edwards, who used to obviously be in charge of Luton, took charge of them.
00:15:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:15:34
Zak
The same with Watford having a new boss and Hull having a new boss. everybody There's a lot of clubs that have new bosses, including ours. There are going to be people that, you know especially this early on, and it's going to take a while for to gel and there will be sort of upset surprises and things that are a bit...
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:15:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:15:53
Zak
you know and I think that's probably where you're at with Norwich is that they're trying gel under a new manager. Whereas I think they will have that level of consistency a bit more, right?
00:16:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but look it looked like a ah decent game. It was sort of tight fought. ah Yeah, just seemed to be slightly in Millwall's favour, although Norwich have more of the possession.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, we know that the possession-based stat is not, you know, the not the important one.
00:16:19
Zak
It means nothing. It means nothing.
00:16:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:16:22
Zak
but They did overhaul their squad quite a lot, and so we'll have to see where they end up, right? But that's why it
00:16:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. Right, we'll rattle through the rest of the list with some more exciting ones to talk about, saving some of the best to last. ah But first, a message from our partners at Zencaster.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that removes all those ums and ahs.
00:16:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's super easy to start podcast. It sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, Check out the link in the show description and learn more about Zencaster. Alright, mate. And we are back.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
The most unfortunate result of the weekend next, ah as Pompey beat Oxford. But, you know, we both had Oxford down as, us you know, potentially struggling this season.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, don't read too much into it.
00:17:17
Zak
yeah
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right?
00:17:20
Zak
Yeah.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't want to talk about too much.
00:17:23
Zak
ah so Sorry about it.
00:17:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's just move on. I want it.
00:17:26
Zak
Yes, we might be a championship roundup, but to be clear, like we're also Saints fans and this is a Saints podcast.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I want it.
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:34
Zak
I don't want to give any more to Portsmouth playing games than I have to, unless it's us beating them, right? So there we go.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, look, we'll cover them in depth when they get beat 4-0 next week. um
00:17:45
Zak
that's different.
00:17:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Stoke battering Derby, 3-1. through one
00:17:51
Zak
Yeah. So that was a bit surprising. That was like for a short period of time. I think it was like a 30, 20, like 20, 30 minute period.
00:17:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it was 1-0 until...
00:17:58
Zak
from some
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is another late one, right? It was 1-0 until the 95th minute.
00:18:03
Zak
Yeah, and then another third sipped in, which there very much could have been how our game went with any of our, you know, if we had actually managed to convert a few of them.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:11
Zak
But happy happy days, like debuts again. like it's it's ah It's, again, it's one of those... but it is It's always exciting with the Championship because of ever how everything gets changed up so often, right?
00:18:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:23
Zak
Like, I know the Premier League goes through through managers and things, but, like, this season, other than the three teams that have come up, And obviously, Tottenham having Thomas Frank. Nothing hugely dramatic in the world of the Premier League, right? like Arnie Slott's still there.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:39
Zak
Guardiola's still there. So, like, with the championship, it's, you know, across the breadth. Like, there will be teams that where we have predicted, think they're probably going to go down, but that are actually going to do significantly better because they they hire the right person or and they they get the right
00:18:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
all just
Unpredictable Championship: What Makes it Exciting?
00:18:53
Zak
sign in.
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
clicks. Yeah.
00:18:54
Zak
Yeah, exactly. And that, again, like, I think also you having a couple extra teams definitely spices things up. But, you know, fat fair play to them. It's a good start for their for their season. They wouldn't have expected it.
00:19:06
Zak
ah Do I feel bad for Derby? Yeah, a little bit. They couldn't do it at Stoke, despite the fact... Well, I don't know. It's not a stadium. That's start as the wrong team, Zach.
00:19:16
Zak
It's the Bet365 Stadium. But, um yeah, that's pretty much all I've got to say on it.
00:19:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:22
Zak
Good. But, again, like the late goals, as we keep talking about, it's nuts.
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. It's crazy. That's what we love. That's what we love. Late drama. ah Next up, ah the Baggies, who... Look, we talked in the predictions episode about how they may struggle a bit this season or they may push on.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You asked in that episode how my family felt about it because they are... My brother-in-law is a Baggies fan. In
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
In his predictions, he put them 11th, which make of that what you will. That's lower than I put them. ah
00:19:55
Zak
Same.
00:19:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, off to winning start. a Decent goal. Ryan Mason's first game, first win.
00:20:03
Zak
going to be It's going to be a bit different than under... What's his name again, right?
00:20:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
You mean Tony... What's his face? Mowbray.
00:20:10
Zak
It's not going to be
00:20:15
Zak
Yes, because we had his brother head up our recruitment for a little bit.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:20:19
Zak
That went super well. And... ah
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, look, it's matt look this is a team that are still trying to find their feet, right? They had a a takeover, but this cash injection still isn't quite ready to be there.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
They had really good manager who was, you know, keeping them there and abouts with Carlos Corbrain. He's gone off to Spain. ah And so, you know, now they're with Ryan Mason, who's fake frankly starting this project. So, you know, getting off for a win, that's a good result for them.
00:20:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And, you know...
00:20:52
Zak
Yeah.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's it's you know It's another one of these, frankly, mid-table scraps based on our predictions because it's a big middle of the table. But yeah, good three points for them. And I guess one of the main talking points of the weekend to finish us off then, Zach.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Finishing on on one of the more entertaining games of the weekend, Bristol City smashing Sheffield United 4-1. Yeah.
00:21:16
Zak
I thought Bristol would struggle after losing Liam Manning, right? um
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:21
Zak
But here we are with them beating Sheffield United 4-1. Now, I do not know if that is an indicator of a lack of... a lack of gelling with the new regime under Ruben Sellis.
00:21:34
Zak
I've already seen some proper level of fan meltdowns.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:37
Zak
Like I know, I know ah to be clear, I know some Saints fans had some, some rough moments after that first half, right? When we were one nil down and it was like, it's happening again. And we all started, but but yeah, I'm seeing Sheffield United fans being like, Oh, we need to fire Ruben Sellis. And so you know that is disgrace. How can he dare? And I'm Guys, I get it.
00:21:57
Zak
We've been there. We've been there. We've called for pizza heads, but also it is game day one. um However, it's like this is the this is the one that Greg, that the Opta supercomputer said has a 40% chance of being promoted.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:09
Zak
That did not like a team that was being promoted. a Fair play to Bristol City.
00:22:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. you know
00:22:14
Zak
Did you see Scott Twine do his knee side celebration and almost do a Charlie Alcaraz and mess up his knee completely?
00:22:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I did, yeah.
00:22:21
Zak
Yeah. have talk Classic. chi Classic. We are so back. The championship is here. Can't wait for him to end up having a knee operation ah because of the fact that he decided to do a knee slide that went wrong.
00:22:33
Zak
Why players do it, I never know. but Don't think...
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:22:37
Zak
it if it pay If it pays off, it's just another celebration. If it doesn't pay off, you severely injure yourself.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:22:43
Zak
But I don't know. I kind of feel bad for Ruben Celis. But again, like it it was a for me, it was a very strange move anyway because you're you're getting rid of Chris Wilder. Yeah, yeah okay. Like... They didn't make it through Wembley.
00:22:56
Zak
I don't think that changing the manager is ever going to change the fact that they've not won at Wembley, whatever. But it seemed very bizarre to me to go and get the manager from a club that barely scraped up, right?
00:23:08
Zak
And I don't know if he just overshot... They overshot how good Celeste was to keep the hole up. But like it's a bit of a dramatic rise for him because, you know... took charge of Southampton one of our worst spells, admittedly better than probably you know most of last year, but then went to Reading, who then went down, dealt with all the turmoil there, left them to go to Hull to fight, managed to keep them up, but clearly didn't do enough, and yet...
00:23:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean that I mean, frankly, the position Hull were in financially, that was a success. It has to be said.
00:23:38
Zak
Yeah, so but but at the same time, like to to jump to a promotion-chasing team seemed a bit, for me, a step up. And you know we don't know how that's going to go, but also they're going to struggle with the fact that they are going to be deflated after going down...
00:23:56
Zak
trying to get back up. You know, this could be, I'm touching wood, Greg, and I'm holding my hands up because know that you don't like to hear this kind of stuff, but I also live in the world and the world is, the reality is things could happen.
00:24:07
Zak
This could be us next year, right? We could lose some of our players. We could go into a position where, okay, that's why I think they're, thats to be clear, this is,
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
me What are you talking about? Next year we mount our European charge. What are talking about?
00:24:19
Zak
to be To be clear, Greg, it's one of those things that we've spoken about our owners and why they're so financially shrewd and don't give out benefits and why they're trying to save all this money. And admittedly, they're saving some of it because you know they want to spend it when we get promoted, is in their words.
00:24:38
Zak
I wouldn't be surprised if they're also trying to save it case we don't. And you know you end up in a situation of demoralization and then you've got a new...
00:24:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:47
Zak
manager that's sort of come in. And and then, yeah, all of a sudden you get hit by a team that are probably... that Their reaction to making the playoffs seems to be, well, we want to get back there. Whereas Sheffield United are, well, we should have really got through the automatics and we didn't get there. And it's it's it's two contrasting fortunes is what what I see.
00:25:06
Zak
Or maybe Ruben Zellis went in and and severely underestimated them. It's just... Yeah, I just feel... I feel bad... for Sheffield United and Sheffield United fans, but really good for Bristol City fans. So that must be nice.
00:25:20
Zak
like the Again, like how many late winners did we just nailed off at that point?
00:25:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Alright, we'll start the season. ah Right.
00:25:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unbelievable.
00:25:28
Zak
It's kind of mad.
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:29
Zak
Or how many just late goals? And I don't know what it is. It's just the physicality and then the finally of that last five minutes we took off.
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
me It is because there is such a you know We talked about the gap between the Premier League teams last season a lot, but the gap in the Championship is much, much smaller.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Each game is competitive, and that's why it goes late and goes long, because because not only is the level you know so equal, and so it makes it you know sometimes harder to break down or whatever, but also just because you...
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
know that that level is so similar, there's just more fight and more belief.
00:26:04
Zak
Thank you.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so even in a situation where you're, you know, narrowly behind, you're still kicking on. Whereas, you know, you you go as any promoted club and you go one nil down in the first three minutes to Man City or heaven forbid, five nil down to Spurs at halftime, you know, you can't fight on and kick on from that. But when the gap is so small, the belief is greater.
00:26:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that creates these beautiful moments and these last-minute winners. And that is why the championship is the best league in the world, salty or not.
00:26:39
Zak
Yeah, you're right. and But again, like there's been there with a few surprises, but also I know that you were talking about, oh, we had some of the people here and here. It's also the first weekend, right?
00:26:50
Zak
Like the first couple of days, first games.
00:26:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Great.
00:26:53
Zak
I'm really looking forward seeing how it goes on.
00:26:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot people talked about grief on the day, mate. If they stopped the count, we'd have a South Coast derby as a playoff semifinal. So, I mean, look.
00:27:02
Zak
We already discussed the logistics of that last episode.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's beautiful. Yeah, brilliant, mate. Look, look.
00:27:08
Zak
i don't want to calculate how much that would cost.
00:27:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I, like, you don't want to see Pompey do well ever, but you almost want to see someone have that bad of a day.
Preview and Anticipation: Upcoming Football Action
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, the planning that would have to go into either... I mean, i genuinely, I don't know what's funnier.
00:27:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
The concept of having to do home and away in the course of a week, or the concept of trying to get both sets of fans to Wembley. You know?
00:27:35
Zak
it Greg, where I'm at is that this is like, this is this is more you as a person because being my friend such a long period of time, know that you love nothing more than when somebody has a really awkward social interaction and you absorb the energy that radiates out of that situation.
00:27:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
it would have to be... possible
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
if
00:27:52
Zak
And I think this this is almost like macro version of that where you just like the idea of someone being sat at an office going, how do we do this?
00:27:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you're right.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:05
Zak
And you enjoy that more than the prospect again. I would much rather see Portsmouth just go down again.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:11
Zak
To start, it's like...
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
no you know what? You're right.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
that That would be the... That is the funniest outcome ah for sure. But look, I mean, look, football is well and truly back. ah Look, we're getting back.
00:28:12
Zak
We might really jovial for a day
00:28:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've had a game midweek that we've not even seen yet. Football's coming thick and fast. We will be back.
00:28:28
Zak
yeah we if we might be we might be really jovial for a day that we shouldn't be.
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's fine, mate. It's fine. so It's only the Carabao Cup or we're going to win the Carabao Cup. It's the best competition. Just take whichever one matters. You know?
00:28:45
Zak
Take what you need.
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, We will be back tomorrow as we start our build and our preview towards our fixture against Ipswich. ah And, mate, it's exciting.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's another televised game.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, look, what weekend. What an opening weekend of ah football ah we've had. It is fantastic to be back.
00:29:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
am buzzing. I am buzzing. Honestly, aft I'm still abuzz from the 96-minute win. Mate, as I said to you ah how can you not like football?
00:29:20
Zak
but ah wemate I I don't know.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Honestly.
00:29:28
Zak
i Again, like I know that we're finishing up the episode, but I again had to try and explain it to my friends of mine that don't like or enjoy sports. I just don't understand you people. like it just but but How can you not feel absolute elation and joy for a last minute score, like sports point being scored?
00:29:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:49
Zak
Like you'll never know.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:50
Zak
You'll never know true happiness.
00:29:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:53
Zak
It's the argument that I had with him.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate, I felt the same last year watching a random game of American football I didn't support either of the teams where there were three touchdowns in the last minute.
00:30:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just... I can't... If you don't get it, I don't know if I get you as a person is where I'm at. It's just the excitement.
00:30:11
Zak
yeah oh
00:30:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I nearly woke my wife up that night. It was one o'clock in the morning. Like...
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just, it's so good.
00:30:21
Zak
we are we are here and we love it and
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's so good. and I can't wait. And, do you know, even the bad stuff, it's all part of the parcel. is It's why we love it. It's so good to be back. ah Like I say, we'll be back tomorrow with a preview. Thank you, everyone, for joining us. Thank you, Zach, for going through that.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's been fantastic. Let us know on all the socials what you're most looking forward to, what you've most enjoyed about football being back. We are on Facebook, Twitter, which is X, Instagram, TikTok, ah YouTube, Blue Sky, all of it.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let us know. We can't wait to hear from you. Thank you very much for joining us. We'll see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.