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Episode 369: Can we stil get PROMOTED?
79 Plays1 day ago
Southampton – We've got lots on our minds today. Have the board put themselves in a lose/lose situation with the transfer window? Are we on the cusp of turning it around? Could we really get releagated?! So much to talk about!
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Transcript
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. My name is Greg and as always today joined by my good friend and wonderful co-host Zach and mate, how feeling today?
00:00:24
DailySaintsPod
gonna waffle about saints for a bit.
00:00:25
Zak
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Yeah, I don't see bad. It's just been as been a really, really long workday for me and I'm just rolling straight into recording and I'm a bit but all over the place and we were originally talking about doing Championship Roundup, but both me and you just just weren't feeling it. I don't know if it's just the struggle to open up all the tabs and look for all of the games and obviously because of the South Coast Derby, don't think any of us really watched much championship football over the weekend because of the build-up, right? That's kind of where I'm at. Like, usually I watch you catch a few games here and there.
00:00:53
Zak
Other than the South Coast derby, the only game I caught was the end of the Man U Arsenal game. It's a laugh at both clubs, basically. LAUGHTER
00:01:00
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, nice aim. I managed to catch a bit of the West Brom game on Friday and a bit of the Man United game, and that was it. And yeah, caught the end of Norwich beating Coventry last night, which was all right. but But other than that, I'm just not...
00:01:16
DailySaintsPod
you're right, just not consumed a lot of other stuff around the footballing world because was just South Coast Derby focus, mate.
00:01:25
Zak
takes Sorry, takes pressure and over everything else at the end of the day.
00:01:25
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And... Hmm. Yeah.
00:01:29
Zak
not I'm not ashamed for that.
00:01:29
DailySaintsPod
and
00:01:30
Zak
So because of that, we've got a lot of stuff to talk about around Saints because sometimes we go through a content drought and it is in the club saying nothing and there is no information regarding anything Southampton for the longest period of time.
00:01:41
Zak
And then other days, stuff just gets thrown out all over the place. And obviously being at the end of the transfer window is probably one of the reasons why.
00:01:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, probably.
00:01:49
Zak
i don't think anything's changed since yesterday when we recorded, right? But...
00:01:52
DailySaintsPod
No, that's it.
00:01:52
Zak
You know, so we've got a couple of things.
00:01:54
DailySaintsPod
But hopefully as we get closer, maybe we'll maybe we'll see more. Before we move on to all that stuff, mate, I don't know if you've seen it. The the club put out Pitchside Unseen, one of like my favourite little video series they do from the South Coast Derby.
00:02:06
Zak
Mm-hmm.
00:02:07
DailySaintsPod
And I i picked up on just one moment that was like really like under the radar, but was in the video, where Stevens just walks past a Pompey player who's down on the ground, and you know, writhing in absolute agony and anguish, of course, and just shouts at him, just presumably something completely obscene, and I just really enjoyed it.
00:02:31
DailySaintsPod
i just, really enjoyed all of it, man.
00:02:34
Zak
what what you've missed, Greg, which is even funnier, because it's going to sound like it's some sort of deep state spy ops from us today, right? But what it actually is that they posted that that picture for his birthday today.
00:02:46
DailySaintsPod
Amazing.
00:02:51
Zak
So I know you haven't seen that because you wouldn't have made that point if not.
00:02:52
DailySaintsPod
things
00:02:55
Zak
Yeah.
00:02:55
DailySaintsPod
dream Well, that's amazing. Yeah, I mean, it's it's great.
00:02:59
Zak
All right.
00:02:59
DailySaintsPod
I mean, there were so many good moments that like captured in picture as I look back, just like really encapsulate the vibe of the South Coast Derby.
00:03:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. There was a lot of of of comments about how like Sky turned the volume of the fans down. and And it was a bit naff. The commentators were genuinely not great.
00:03:27
DailySaintsPod
But, mate, all of it that's come out on... I mean, having seen quite a few videos of both sets of fans in attendance now, I'm not really surprised that Sky had to turn the fans down at midday is where I'm at.
00:03:42
DailySaintsPod
But...
00:03:43
Zak
I think it's it's difficult, right? Because it's a result of corporatism, I'm i'm sure. And like unfortunately, whether you like it or not, is that is just part of football. like you You know that you you have your you have your kids and your kids know that you know football involves swearing and you make it abundantly clear to them that outside of the context of the football stadium, it is not acceptable.
00:04:03
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:09
Zak
And, you know, you'd like to think that we we had we all had the collective common sense not to, but obviously the real reason, like the answer to most of the things that we are confused by in life is that it makes money.
00:04:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:20
Zak
So because of that, advertisers won't want to advertise on something that has a lot of hostile language.
00:04:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:04:26
Zak
And thus, yeah, they'll they'll block all that kind of stuff. So, yeah, it's...
00:04:30
DailySaintsPod
just I've just seen the Happy Birthday Stevens post, and that is not even the same moment, is the beautiful part about
00:04:40
Zak
Well, yeah, but also, you know, they're not going to show... They're not going to be too mean about it.
00:04:44
DailySaintsPod
that.
00:04:47
DailySaintsPod
yeah It's great. and But yeah, look there are just so many like images of it that have come out, that are like stills that just like properly encapsulate. I've seen quite a few Pompey fans sharing the image of their player who's got Finn Downs grabbed by the shirt. And it's just great.
00:05:06
DailySaintsPod
It's what Derby Day is all about, isn't it?
00:05:06
Zak
Yeah, it's it's yeah for realistically, if if nobody if nobody wins, it's it's all about that.
00:05:07
DailySaintsPod
Just, you know, high emotions.
00:05:13
Zak
That's what about. Do you know what? I'm fine with that. you know
00:05:15
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:17
Zak
You know? and let's let's let's also point out that nobody won as as but as much as ever as much as they'd like to pretend that a draw's a win for them. but Nobody won.
00:05:28
Zak
you know who really won?
00:05:28
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:29
Zak
Football. you know who really won? The fact that we are able to rekindle a rival.
00:05:33
DailySaintsPod
Handshake and stab delivery.
00:05:34
Zak
yeah yeah you' You're right.
00:05:34
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:37
Zak
Once again, Greg, Capture Constantly the real winners.
00:05:40
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:05:41
Zak
Although, more arrests at this game at the last game. Mm-hmm.
00:05:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:05:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. so Says it all. Right. let's Let's get into just some of the the stuff happening around the football world and things we've thought of to talk about.
00:05:55
Zak
isn it
00:05:57
DailySaintsPod
We talked yesterday about about the transfer window and about you know the the silence being damning. and We couldn't quite like settle on a vibe. like you You felt like the season was down and done and writing it off.
00:06:10
DailySaintsPod
But but I felt like, well, only seven points away from playoffs. It should be... no mean We had a great comment that was like they've they've set a position for themselves where they're kind of doomed if they do and doomed if they don't, right?
00:06:23
DailySaintsPod
Because...
00:06:27
Zak
Obviously, we like to waffle a bit more, but yeah I think that it's generally like hits the the correct tone between the two of us, which is, yeah, if they were to come out and buy somebody and that person flopped and they spent a load of money and we had someone at contract for years, they're going to, you know, it's all going to be the criticism on Spores.
00:06:30
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:06:46
Zak
And I think that regardless of... you know unless i just don't think that you've got guaranteed somebody that can come into this club into the club right now, slot into like whatever tactic formation we currently have and do the things that would be expected of them.
00:07:06
Zak
right there there is too high of a risk there but also by doing nothing you upset everybody that thinks that they're not contributing and i kind of agree with the idea that if they had actually like reset expectations that would be better for everybody like the There seems to be like this underlying belief that we're still...
00:07:08
DailySaintsPod
Thank
00:07:25
Zak
like As far as the expectations for the season are, and all of the press interviews at the beginning of the season, is that we're still we're still like trying to get promotion. And you're right. Okay, we're not that far off of playoffs.
00:07:36
Zak
But again, you're like, oh, it's only like seven points off. That's seven points where every team above us kind of has to drop points as well.
00:07:40
DailySaintsPod
Thank you.
00:07:42
Zak
And like as a Saints fan, one of the things I'm so done with, Greg, is relying on other teams to kind of gift us the ability to rise up, right? we've've This has happened... And since we've been doing the podcast, the whole of the last season in the Premier League was like, oh, well maybe if all of these teams drop points, it's not a problem.
00:07:58
Zak
But it's a very, very like common theme for us specifically is like we've had to rely on drop points. And I think you know other than us beating Swansea with that Gabbiadini goal to keep us out of the relegation zone you know very, very close to the end, a vast majority of the time it is is kind of like, oh, well, let's just hope that you know hope that we're not as bad as the person...
00:08:19
Zak
above or below. and and yeah, I think by not coming out and having that conversation and resetting expectations and being honest and being communicative with the fans, they will continue to have, you know, I think that that their current stance seems to just be like silence is the best policy, right?
00:08:36
Zak
Anything we say is going to rock the boat and upset
00:08:37
DailySaintsPod
that's that's That's been the way for a long time, though, and it's come back to bite them on more than one occasion. This is nothing new that they just don't come out and talk.
00:08:47
Zak
Yeah, also well doing it right now probably feels to them like it would be incredibly disruptive even more so, right?
00:08:48
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:08:54
Zak
Like, okay, not everything's going great.
00:08:54
DailySaintsPod
yeah
00:08:57
Zak
We didn't win the South Coast Derby. There's still a lot of anger. The wind took off a slight amount of pressure. But again, it's like it's like a sticky plaster on like a 10,000 litre tank of water, right?
00:09:07
Zak
It's not really going to stop it for long. And it's just not their vibe, right? Every time that Alfie's asked, are you going to get an interview with the owner? you going to get an interview with Spores? Adam Blackmore, are you going to get interview Spores? They will come and talk when they are perfectly ready. And because of social media and the connection to the fans and this and other, there seems to almost be a demand that they should have to talk to us.
00:09:31
Zak
And I'd argue that considering the amount of money they expect people to pay, there's kind of a little bit of give and take there. But then also you can see the extremes of why they don't do it when you've got that bloke. don't know if you've seen the video, Greg, of some guy just like accosting Glasner in the street, Crystal Palace's manager, and he him just being like, hey, can you just not film me?
00:09:48
Zak
And then the guy then getting annoyed and threatening to spark him out. Right.
00:09:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:09:53
Zak
This is probably like like one of the reasons why. and you know That is that is a a damning indictment of modern football is that they are not present.
00:09:56
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:10:00
Zak
There are going to be the head coaches that go to the media. Even if the questions are answered asked, they're not going to get answered. But by them not saying our expectations have changed considering what's happened this season...
00:10:12
Zak
yeah, it it doesn't really matter what they do. No one's going to be happy. But I personally would feel a bit better if they came out and said, you know, this hasn't been the best of seasons. We have a lot to learn. We've got a lot to grow. You know, we are probably going change plans a little bit rather than, you know, if we make the playoffs, probably what we're aiming for, that'd be fantastic. We've probably got a good chance if everyone could get their heads together. But that isn't what they're going to do, right? They're not going to say anything. And they they will happily, i don't know, you've fall on the sword, right?
00:10:40
Zak
Like,
00:10:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, we'll just get to the point of the season where it is where it is and we'll put a tweet out that says we've confirmed our place in the championship for next season and that'll upset everyone even more. Yeah.
00:10:52
DailySaintsPod
who
00:10:52
Zak
Or it will will gil be confirmed that we don't make the playoffs, right? And and like then it will they'll fire Tonda and then we'll have our we'll have Adam Lallana for the rest of the season, as as is tradition at this point.
00:11:05
Zak
like like I don't know. it just yeah But I do think that they they are in a... They are in a damned position by not having a more vocal media person.
00:11:16
Zak
But then if you look at how that goes when you do, all I can think of is the Nottingham Forest boss and Morgan Gibbs-White renewing his contract and all of the memes that were generated that he was under duress the entire time.
00:11:26
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:11:29
Zak
I just think it's...
00:11:29
DailySaintsPod
You're right.
00:11:30
DailySaintsPod
there's There's a balance, right? You want something in the middle of those two things for sure and not maybe either end of that. that but Yeah. yeah
00:11:40
Zak
I don't what want.
00:11:40
DailySaintsPod
You're right.
00:11:41
Zak
It's gross, but it's yeah I agree wholeheartedly with the fact that I don't think it doesn't matter what they do.
00:11:41
DailySaintsPod
It's it's tricky. Yeah.
00:11:47
Zak
I think at this point, they've kind of built a rod their own back, isn't
00:11:54
Zak
Hmm.
00:12:07
DailySaintsPod
even if we do get someone in it and they don't do well, it's going to be, Oh, we didn't do it early enough. We left it the last minute again. were all Or we're going to win all of the games and all of a sudden it'll be fine. It's just... I don't know. And it and were as a team, we're in such a... Like, on the knife's edge between being like a really good football team where everything goes well and and just not.
00:12:36
DailySaintsPod
Right? They're either...
00:12:37
Zak
Right, we're one or two chart and chances not being put away and intercepting a set piece away from being a good team. And that is the problem, is that it's been the whole of this season.
00:12:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:12:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it's deeply upsetting. Well, I mean, one of the things that they have at least done this transfer window, which which kind of feels like a new signing because of the way it's gone down, which in itself is sort of a very us thing, is, of course, James Bree coming back, who I think we were all in agreement had an an excellent performance in the South Coast Derby. And and I think collectively amongst the fan base players,
00:13:16
DailySaintsPod
The feeling is that he's the best right back we've got at the club at the moment. That's certainly the opinion I've seen. i think he brings something different.
00:13:24
Zak
A half a million pound player from like three years ago.
00:13:27
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:27
Zak
You're right.
00:13:28
DailySaintsPod
Well, look, he brings something different to the table that the others don't write. He's definitely got more of a physical element to his game. He's more higher in stature. Like, Yulet is a good right back, and i like what I've seen of him, but he is also, like, tiny.
00:13:43
DailySaintsPod
So, it's... yeah But,
00:13:46
Zak
And Roroslav, don't know how major... When he first went out injured, I swear it wasn't wasn't like sort of it wasn't communicated that was this serious.
00:13:56
Zak
Because at this point, it feels like he's out for months.
00:13:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:13:59
Zak
I swear he's been out longer than Ross Stewart at this point.
00:13:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:02
Zak
And you know that was considered a big deal.
00:14:02
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I don't know if he, like, had a complication or or what, but, yeah, it just kind of disappeared and and it was a strange...
00:14:10
Zak
I think the worrying thing is as well, like he is he is the one that we own, right? Jalert is on a loan from, I want to say, Galatasaray, right?
00:14:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:18
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:14:18
Zak
And potentially going back.
00:14:20
Zak
But yeah, dr James Bree coming back is a good thing. But obviously, i know what you're going to bring up next. It's going to be the comments that would have been made, right? Because we all saw Nathan Jones stirring the pot in the middle of the week, as he loves to do.
00:14:31
Zak
And by that, I mean, just says everything without really thinking about whether or not it's good to be in the media or not. Especially for him.
00:14:38
DailySaintsPod
Alfie House put it down to a issue in translation presumably between Nathan Jones' mind and Nathan Jones' mouth but
00:14:51
DailySaintsPod
yeah like it's uh
00:14:51
Zak
That's one way of putting it, but how about Alfie is very media-treatening.
00:14:55
DailySaintsPod
i think like i think that I think that what Nathan Jones said could be taken out of context and blown way out of proportion or could be taken at face value that Brie was happy at Cholton and would have been happy to stay.
00:15:11
DailySaintsPod
And what we've seen Brie come out and say, you know, in the... in the press the last day or so it's come out is like, oh, there was just sort of no real communication with the club as to whether I was going to be allowed to to renew or or just be coming back.
00:15:26
DailySaintsPod
And if I was coming back, whether I'd be involved or or what. And I mean, well, that just seems to be a common thread, right? Lack of communication and our leadership team, our management at the moment.
00:15:37
Zak
It's because it's because our manager our manager isn't a manager, he's a head coach, which means that was probably somebody else's job and probably probably probably Spores.
00:15:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:15:46
Zak
And what was actually happening behind the scenes is they were probably trying to figure out, is Rurislev going to be fit enough? Is Jalert going to be fit enough?
00:15:52
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:15:53
Zak
Are we actually going to be transitioning to a back four again? Or are we just going to keep Fellows there? Because what's the point of recalling him if Fellows is there?
00:16:00
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:16:00
Zak
is charton's offer Did even put in an offer? Is their offer large enough? the agreement on the table was that he was always meant to return on a certain date. But I think a vast majority of us just assumed that it was like a a given, right? He's Nathan Jones' guy. that's he was brought in by Nathan Jones. He had a good time there. He scored some goals.
00:16:19
Zak
yeah But it is slightly worrying that even the players are like, yeah, I didn't have a scoop mate. Like, that's not really what you want to hear. But it's also, as you pointed out, become a part of the way that we seem to do things. It's like me talking the other day about Sugawara supposedly might end up coming back.
00:16:36
Zak
Because they they're trying to renegotiate his fee and nothing will be will be said to us. I think it was Charlton that announced that Bree was returning first, right? They were like, James Bree will be coming back to Southampton as pair.
00:16:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, I think so.
00:16:49
Zak
You're right, he probably will want to be involved. But I guess that if the transfers are being made by not the head coach, again, the the reason this communication isn't happening is that they're clearly working on stuff behind the scenes.
00:16:58
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:17:02
DailySaintsPod
Just too many chefs in it.
00:17:02
Zak
Yeah. Yeah, and and probably one of those decisions where they're like, oh, well, we don't need to tell the player.
00:17:03
DailySaintsPod
It's...
00:17:07
Zak
He's our player. It's fine. Which, again, that might impact the mentality of humans.
00:17:09
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. It's just not how... like to say, from from his perspective, I think that it's perfectly acceptable for him to have been happy to stay on at Charlton for the rest of the season and and also be happy with coming back and playing here.
00:17:21
Zak
Yeah. He's playing every game.
00:17:25
DailySaintsPod
right like those They don't have to be mutually exclusive. They are both things that can be alright. And I've always rated Bree. And I don't really you know if I've seen enough of Rorschleff to...
00:17:38
DailySaintsPod
to cast judgment one way or the other. But it's, I mean, purely based off of coming in and hitting the ground running, it's got to be a good sign for things looking forward, right?
00:17:49
DailySaintsPod
It just brings that that ability to play it and allow that freedom for for others going forward. So, yeah.
00:17:57
Zak
Yeah, I just hope that he is involved more for his sake. we we he was one of the brightest sparks of last year. Admittedly, it was only in Cup games, but you know he scored a couple of worldies. and you know it's obviously had if If we're looking to sign players that have got championship experience, he's played every almost every game of the championship this year.
00:18:18
Zak
It's a no-brainer with him being an our player.
00:18:19
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:18:21
Zak
But yeah, I think that, once again, the Cup could have handled things probably a bit better. Yeah.
00:18:27
DailySaintsPod
That's it.
00:18:27
Zak
Let's spit up that old record every day.
00:18:31
DailySaintsPod
Before we move on to a couple of rumours outside of the club floating around about other teams, I want to i want to ask you the difficult question, mate.
00:18:41
DailySaintsPod
we We kind of floated around it a bit, but...
00:18:44
Zak
Okay.
00:18:45
DailySaintsPod
just I've got to get the opinion out there. right Looking at the the table and at the fixtures and where we where we are and the teams above us and and all of that in consideration, are playoffs achievable in your opinion?
00:19:05
Zak
With the teams that are above us and and how consistent they've been,
00:19:06
DailySaintsPod
Like like thought full happy path, right? like like It all sort of plays together.
00:19:10
Zak
Yeah, OK. So it's a full hop and path is we basically win all of our next games. Then, yeah, obviously. But just don't think that's going to be the case. I think there are teams that are above us that if they, you know, you're probably going to have somebody that accidentally falls into the playoffs. Currently, you know, Wrexham are there, right? Wrexham are a team we we heavily criticised at the beginning of the season. and we You kind of thought, oh, they're going to go down.
00:19:30
Zak
i don't I don't see it personally. I think the only team that might make it back up to the Premier League from last year is Ipswich. And again, they've they've recruited quite well. They've been consistent. They've got a consistent manager. the The expectations aren't as high as they have been with us for their club, right?
00:19:47
Zak
But yeah, if everything worked out perfectly, yeah, okay, maybe we get a shot at playoffs. But I also just can't see the the rest of the teams that are around us dropping that many points.
00:19:59
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. I mean, it's it' it is a lot of teams to to rely on dropping points, right?
00:20:00
Zak
just Just a personal opinion on it. It's too late. for mes For me, it's too late.
00:20:05
DailySaintsPod
Like 6th, 15th, it's nine teams. So...
00:20:07
Zak
but For me, it's too late to try and try and you know i know that, yeah, okay, to get into the playoffs. Even if we make the playoffs, I don't i don't know. which i guess the real question, even more than this dancing around the playoffs, is with the current squad that we have and the way that we've invested this year, do you think that if we did get promoted and we have invested with the current leadership, do you think we're even going to be prepared for the Premier League?
00:20:32
Zak
Are we going to be like Sunderland?
00:20:32
DailySaintsPod
Oh, absolutely not. No, not even a little bit.
00:20:33
Zak
Right, well then...
00:20:35
DailySaintsPod
i
00:20:35
Zak
then the probably realisation is that we're going to be staying in this league for at least another year and we need to figure out how to do better in this league and free up money.
00:20:39
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:20:43
Zak
they're already stuck This is what i I'm seeing. They're already starting to free up the wages of of various players. we We spoke about yesterday, Brian Fraser. It already seems like they are preparing, right?
00:20:50
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:20:52
Zak
And I know...
00:20:52
DailySaintsPod
longer longer term than we'd like, right?
00:20:53
Zak
Yeah.
00:20:55
DailySaintsPod
like just not They're not doing it for this window.
00:20:56
Zak
Yeah.
00:20:57
DailySaintsPod
They're kind of preparing themselves for for the next season's run at it, presumably.
00:21:06
Zak
i ideal scenario, like, you know, best case scenario, best run ever. Sure, we get into the playoffs again, but I'm not, I'm not as upset as I would have been the beginning end of the season, right?
00:21:18
Zak
Like, not when when you, me and you predicted like first and second, that feels like, that feels like a million years ago at this point.
00:21:22
DailySaintsPod
It's a long way away.
00:21:25
DailySaintsPod
That's it.
00:21:27
DailySaintsPod
where Where is acceptable to finish?
00:21:33
DailySaintsPod
Now I'm asking the hard questions.
00:21:36
Zak
above Portsmouth, above the relegation zone.
00:21:38
DailySaintsPod
Alright, yeah. Yeah, anywhere else you're happy?
00:21:43
Zak
At this point, I guess, happy is a happy is an interesting terminology there. Happy would be the playoffs.
00:21:48
DailySaintsPod
content.
00:21:49
Zak
Content would be we stay up.
00:21:50
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:21:52
Zak
You know, I don't know how much, if we get awarded any level of money in comparison to the position that we stand as high up as we possibly can be, right?
00:21:57
DailySaintsPod
I think... I believe so.
00:22:01
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:22:01
Zak
But,
00:22:02
DailySaintsPod
Well, I think anything less than top 10 with this squad is an absolute disgrace, to be honest. And even the fact that we're in 15th is that... But...
00:22:13
Zak
i would have so I would have said the same, but again, like something something about personnel tactics, mentality, whatever you want to list it, Sports Republic being in the way, Sports Republic's meddling, all of the hundred of different variables, that the too many variables that like when I have conversations about this with people that aren't as, I guess, obsessed with staring all of this like we are,
00:22:36
Zak
It's like you're trying to list out the 100, 200-so things that potentially have impacted the way that we are. And some of them are as simple, as we pointed out. Defending a set piece is better and putting the goal in like put the ball in the goal more.
00:22:46
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:22:50
Zak
But there's also a lot more to it. So, yeah, i kind of kind of get who you are. But like I'm just content that there was a big possibility earlier on this season that we were going to drop into the relegation zone. And there are where were a lot of people that were worried we were going to do looping and just drop down down again.
00:23:04
DailySaintsPod
Hmm.
00:23:05
Zak
I don't think... I think that our little purple patch has helped not do that anymore. I think that the problem that I have, and probably a lot of our fans do as well, is that seeing us have another purple patch doesn't feel... it doesn't feel like the win against Sheffield United was like, we blew them away.
00:23:22
Zak
we drew against Pompey. It was a derby. It's a different type of game, but it it still wasn't like, you know, we took all of the chances we need to take. I don't understand why that's randomly going to change. Especially, how at least last time round was the manager being changed.
00:23:32
DailySaintsPod
and I just think like...
00:23:37
DailySaintsPod
You know, I know that like... A lot of what we say on the show a lot of the time is like it's the result that counts. And that is true a lot of the time. But I think the draw against Pompey actually, the the togetherness and the team spirit from the performance and and just the...
00:23:57
DailySaintsPod
like the almost like the bonding, the the increase in chemistry from dealing with that hostile atmosphere and that hostile game against you know against the team that were up for it, I just think will has served us well.
00:24:14
DailySaintsPod
And I can really see that that sort of being enough to flick a switch and just all of a sudden like the... Like we say, it's we're so close to to unlocking the potential and have been all season.
00:24:30
DailySaintsPod
Maybe that that is just what it is. you know Another week on the training ground now to get ready for a trip to Stoke. is if it It doesn't feel out of reach And maybe that's just me going in the ever long circle of optimism.
00:24:47
DailySaintsPod
right Like nearly halfway through the week, so I'm almost back to to like full positivity. But it it really feels like maybe, like it's not decisive that that's the turning point, but maybe we could kick on and go on a good run from here.
00:25:04
Zak
it's very upsetting to me that the thing that, the thing that turned it would be draw against Pompey. And the fact that like to get a little bit of like team bonding by being kicked by the same people and is the thing that, that turns it.
00:25:11
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:17
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:25:18
Zak
I would love to be in the same boat as you, mate. I just, just don't see it.
00:25:21
DailySaintsPod
It's old school, isn't Sometimes you just need to get kicked. Go and play game of football with your shorts on backwards and get kicked to misery and sort sorting out, you know?
00:25:32
DailySaintsPod
don't know.
00:25:32
Zak
Yeah. Yeah.
00:25:33
DailySaintsPod
Obviously, we'll see as we sort of head towards the weekend, but I'm... cautiously optimistic as as ever. But... Hmm.
00:25:42
Zak
a big problem for me still remains when people get cross and, and you you know, Pompey fans, for example, other fans throughout the league, you know, when you've got like people celebrating, obviously when they beat us, you know, so it is a bigger deal because of the squad and and and people point to the cost and you're like, okay, so people point to the cost of Archer and you're like, oh, it's like you've got a, you know, double digit striker sat on the bench. I'm like, no, we don't. We've got a striker that scored like four goals in the 30, 40 appearances that he's had for the club.
00:26:11
Zak
I think maybe more, but I also think that maybe I was bang on at that point. And like the reality of the situation, as I keep pointing out to you, Greg, is that, yeah, okay, we we keep talking about how we we feel like we're a little bit away. And during that purple patch, it did feel like, oh man, this is incredible. But that purple patch came to an end, came again to an end quite abruptly.
00:26:30
Zak
And I keep, I don't know, I know it's not nice to hear, but like, i just don't think we're as good as we think we are. So maybe we do see a little bit of an upturn in form after, you know, the the South Coast derby.
00:26:38
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:26:46
Zak
But my biggest problem, Greg, is that since last season, when everything went horrifically wrong, you're like, oh, well, you know, but the way we play is matter and the result matters.
00:26:57
Zak
And I'm like, yeah, but the other big issue that you've you've got with that point is that we play for 60 minutes of the ninety nearly every game since we went up into the Premier League last year.
00:27:09
Zak
And when we've come back down, it's the same. Even even the win a lot of the wins we've had have been the first 45 minutes.
00:27:12
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:27:15
Zak
And then that even even the Wrexham game that we won at the beginning of the season was like, I felt like we played about five minutes of football and it was Manning and Stephens to rescue it.
00:27:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. No, you're not wrong. 100%. No. Mate,
00:27:25
Zak
And I don't know if that can change as quickly. And I don't know what's going to happen if it's stretch or whatever.
00:27:29
DailySaintsPod
that's a really... we a really great point, right? We can, we can't string it together for a full performance. Like say the, the games that we won comfortably, we did it in 45 minutes.
00:27:41
DailySaintsPod
So yeah, you're right Great point. And, uh, hopefully that's something that, I mean,
00:27:46
Zak
I hope I'm wrong, to be clear.
00:27:47
DailySaintsPod
with with We're through the really intense part of the season now, right? We're into it. There's still games, you know a couple of three-game weeks where it's busy and you get a few games here, a few games there, but it's not quite as intense as as like the December and Christmas period.
00:28:07
DailySaintsPod
It kind of eases off a bit towards the running, so you know maybe that plays to assist that. But i bit we'll wait and see.
00:28:19
DailySaintsPod
Right, before we wrap up, as we rapidly run out of time, I alluded to a couple of rumours that we would briefly address. So James will prowl on loan to Burnley, basically a done deal.
00:28:32
DailySaintsPod
Are we surprised?
00:28:33
Zak
puts an end to that. No, I made sure to check it was a loan because I thought surely he's not going to go to a team that will then get probably at this point very likely relegated. Yeah.
00:28:43
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:28:44
Zak
and then go back down to the Championship with them. And obviously it turned out to be a loan. So he'll have six months there. Maybe you finally beats his record and then he'll go back to West Ham where it won't be wanted and sold on in the summer probably.
00:28:56
DailySaintsPod
yeah Can't claim to have watched a lot of Burnley matches this year to be honest to know whether whether he will bolster their squad in a way that they desperately need or not but I hope it works out and I'm sure that
00:29:08
Zak
I mean, historically, having to take advantage of set pieces, right, as part of their game, having a set piece specialist, sure, probably just wants to get the minutes.
00:29:14
DailySaintsPod
Sure Yeah
00:29:17
Zak
What can you say about him? Professional, sure. I just hope it kind of puts an end to...
00:29:21
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Well, supposedly ever the consummate professional, and I fully believe that, but if the rumours of how he is being left out at West Ham are true, maybe not always the the smartest consummate professional.
00:29:36
Zak
Look, the thing is, is you be your caught you're a professional. You just make sure you don't call the guy baldied within earshot of somebody that might tell him.
00:29:45
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:29:46
Zak
but what
00:29:46
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. And the lot the last rumour, obviously Leicester in the hunt for a manager.
00:29:47
Zak
but
00:29:53
DailySaintsPod
And one of the names supposedly high up on that list, Russell Martin.
00:29:57
Zak
He was there. he was linked before they ended up going for Svente, right? So does it surprise me that he's now been linked again?
00:30:03
DailySaintsPod
Yep.
00:30:09
Zak
not really. do I think Leicester fans would be upset? Probably. has he got experience of the league? Yeah. Did he get a team promoted with the league? Yeah. Are Leicester looking forward to having their team completely switched around again?
00:30:25
Zak
by you know i just i am baffled that he would want to return so quickly after Rangers. After the experience that he had at Rangers, I would have taken it off like five years, come back couple of years later, completely changed by philosophy and tactics. Because if he comes back in and tries to do the same thing he's done everywhere else, I just... I can't see it ending well.
00:30:51
Zak
Even if he gets promoted, you know for a fact it's not going to go down well in the Premier League. So like, it's a mad one.
00:30:57
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:30:58
Zak
i said so not one
00:30:59
DailySaintsPod
Well, mate, what will be interesting if that does happen is how we would be received by our fans when we play them twice in a week, in a few weeks' time.
00:31:12
DailySaintsPod
So... Yeah.
00:31:14
Zak
man, do you remember at the beginning of the season we thought we'd end up having both the Nathan Jones derby and the Russell Martin derby, and then we didn't have it, and now we might end up with it again.
00:31:20
DailySaintsPod
Yeah.
00:31:23
DailySaintsPod
Yeah. Great.
00:31:26
Zak
Time is a big circle. or Or, you know, you never know, they might go in for Big Ange.
00:31:27
DailySaintsPod
But that's it. Sure. Yeah.
00:31:32
Zak
I'm doing that thing, mate, where, like, people keep making trance, like, stories up, and I want us to be the one.
00:31:32
DailySaintsPod
Absolutely. Put it out in the news sphere. Yeah.
00:31:37
Zak
LAUGHTER yeah
00:31:39
DailySaintsPod
Sure.
00:31:39
Zak
I want to trace four or five articles back to me or you being like, yeah, that's Pastor Coglu's linked with Leicester.
00:31:44
DailySaintsPod
but
00:31:46
Zak
That's crazy.
00:31:49
DailySaintsPod
Well, stranger things have happened, I suppose. Right, that is just about all we have got time for today. Thank you, Zach, for joining me, and thank you, everyone, for listening to us waffle about our thoughts and feelings about the club, as we love to do.
00:32:08
DailySaintsPod
LAUGHTER
00:32:09
Zak
i have too many.
00:32:10
DailySaintsPod
We will be back to do it all again tomorrow. But let us know in in the comments on the socials how you feel about the season. is it Is it really over or have we still got that push for the playoffs left in us? I would love to hear your thoughts. I feel like it's going to be a divisive one. We are Daily Saints Pod absolutely everywhere on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Blue Sky, Instagram. Hit us up.
00:32:39
DailySaintsPod
Let us know how you're feeling. We love hearing from you. And if you're on YouTube, give us a like. Give us a subscribe. It goes such a long way to helping us out as a newly independent podcast. It really helps us get our names out there and helps us carry do it on doing this for you every day. Like i say, we'll be back tomorrow to do it all again. But until then, everyone, have a wonderful day, and we'll see you then.