Latest / Scots With A Mic / Statement Victories and Statements...

Transcript

Statement Victories and Statements... · Scots With A Mic

0:04
Welcome to the noise. Listen to the passion in Hamden
0:07
Park. It's.
0:08
John again. It's John again.
0:16
The great done by. Elvis Chancellor one for
0:18
Scotland. Hello and welcome back to the
0:29
Scots with my podcast. I'm your host James Scott, and
0:34
we're back for another episode. It's been a huge week in
0:36
Scottish football, like it always is.
0:38
What's the drama? Plenty of goals and plenty to
0:41
talk about. Joining me for this one is Finn
0:43
Crocker. Finn, back from your European
0:46
adventure, Aberdeen. Yeah, just a bit recovered.
0:50
And another man that's still in a good mood as Adam from Gorgie
0:55
talk. Adam, glad to have you back on.
0:57
Good to be about mate, good to be on.
0:59
So I mean, we'll just start similar to the last pod with the
1:04
Jambos big game. Obviously the time that accord
1:07
and had the weekend fixtures passes by and the midweek
1:12
fixtures. We'll go back to the weekend
1:14
first because that was a game of the week, Hearts against Celtic
1:17
at Tynecastle and it was beld as this big top of the table clash
1:25
and Hearts run at three one winners.
1:27
Now. I'm guessing you were there
1:29
Adam. I can't a bit.
1:31
I wouldn't believe it if you weren't.
1:32
I was there, man. I was there.
1:35
What was the atmosphere like at that then, just before we get
1:37
into the night of the game, it must.
1:39
Be chicken full time. I really, really good atmosphere
1:43
before June and obviously after Yeah, it was it was good.
1:45
I think that's what McInnes wanted.
1:46
He's always kind of talked about that since he took over the
1:49
whole like, you know, other teams he's brought here and he's
1:52
like the intensity attain castle.
1:54
You can get the crowd like really railed up and you can
1:57
have them that they're like a 12 man and you know, the coarseness
2:00
of the patch. We OK anyone knows Scottish
2:01
football like knows about like that intimidating atmosphere if
2:04
you can get the harsh fans like on your side.
2:07
So I think he has tried to do that from the start.
2:08
And obviously the game at the weekend, Jay, you were fully,
2:12
fully feeling it and hearing it and feel voice for the night and
2:15
pretty much. And obviously there's less and
2:18
less Celtic fans allowed in anyway.
2:19
So that's another debate for another pod I would imagine.
2:24
Yeah, because in terms of how the game went, Hearts obviously
2:27
took the lead early on with a shocking on goal from Dane
2:31
Murray. He really didn't have a good
2:35
afternoon at all in Edinburgh. You could arguably Penn Hearts
2:40
second goal on him and then I'm right and seeing he tripped on
2:43
for the penalty as well. So yeah, really not a good deal
2:45
for him. But Hearts took the lead Celtic
2:47
wise not long after turning it back to 11, and then the Heart
2:51
second-half performance just seemed to blow Celtic away.
2:55
Yeah. So I think I think like
2:58
obviously from the outset, obviously Celtics been will form
3:02
then nearly half their team picked up hamstring injuries on
3:05
the Thursday night. I don't know if they hadn't done
3:07
a warm up or what the hell has gone on with that.
3:09
But obviously, you know, Johnston just comes back, get a
3:11
hamstring injury, an actual hamstring injury.
3:15
And then obviously you hear then cut our records out as well.
3:17
So like that's again, three key players and obviously the an
3:21
actual signing was seemed like a bit of a panic free transfer
3:24
just because they had no strikers anyway.
3:26
So obviously you see the line up and you find yourself albeit
3:29
they've got a lot of depth in in that midfield data still.
3:32
And beyond that, though, there was a lot of vulnerability and I
3:35
looked. Honestly, when I saw the
3:36
starting lineups, I genuinely fellas on paper that's quite a
3:39
close contest yeah, even if even if taken format the equation
3:43
and. Yeah, from the.
3:44
Clubs. I was just really surprised
3:47
about the man you've talked about South Dean Muddy.
3:49
Like, I'm really shocked that Rogers went with him over
3:52
trustee. I think if you think of the
3:54
magnitude of the game, you need cool heads, you need people that
3:57
are a wee bit more experienced, people that have dealt with
4:00
maybe tougher occasions before, which obviously Dean Murray
4:04
would never have been in before. And we said something about it
4:09
brought balance to the defence, like on the left hand side, we
4:12
haven't been like left, sorry, the right hand side with scales
4:15
of us on the left. But and something about I think
4:20
that kids not being fearless or something like that, But I mean,
4:23
it's not really the type of game for that when you especially
4:26
look at how Hearts teams play, how they harass and press and
4:29
they were going to do it from the start.
4:31
And yeah, yeah, I think I think like the game like sort of high
4:34
level, like first half harsh on some of them are getting a wee
4:38
bit annoyed because we weren't constantly pressing.
4:41
But I think if you looked at how we'd done it, we'd sort of done
4:43
it as packs. Like we'd go at them and like
4:44
twos and threes and then back off.
4:46
And I felt the reason we were doing that as well as because we
4:48
were quite aware that Celtic have been really passive under
4:51
Rogers. And we're I think we're kind of
4:52
like not sort of taunting them, but you know, that way you see
4:55
like, well, what he's going to give us, like he's going to put
4:57
anything on us or we just got to keep coming at you.
5:00
And it was, it was very like sideways.
5:02
And it was like if they couldn't find McGregor, they didn't have
5:04
any sort of out ball at all. They had nothing to do.
5:08
And I actually thought McGregor played really well, but he
5:11
hadn't nearly no help. Like it seemed to be talking
5:15
half the kids through the game as well.
5:17
So like, obviously that played in our hands.
5:21
And yeah, let's say mother had a bit of a nightmare, I think
5:23
obviously so nightmare for him, but equal.
5:26
It's the same sort of nightmares that we're causing people as
5:29
well. And it's the same players like
5:30
it's Braga because they did this like Javelin and Benny and
5:33
Shankland, all these all these players that seem to be in tune
5:38
together and see me became the bringing a different side to
5:41
Hearts or side that McInnes wants, which is one that's going
5:44
to be aggressive on the front foot and direct.
5:47
So yeah. And then obviously we've got the
5:49
the the centre back pier and Houka and Finley, which
5:52
second-half especially, just literally, like you said, they'd
5:56
start to take a lot more control of things.
5:57
And, and really, again, it looked like Celtic were trying
6:00
to rely on old heads. So like Tierney, McGregor and
6:03
Forrest came on. It's like they were relying on
6:05
old heads to get them through things, which I think was
6:08
obviously at the time of concern, but since then also
6:10
talk Celtic, talk about Celtic later, but they also changed
6:13
management. So so yeah, obviously absolutely
6:15
buzzing about the result. It was when I seen the lineups,
6:20
it was 1 though, where I felt like I'm confident, like it
6:21
seems to be all falling in our favor, especially after the
6:24
Thursday night with injuries and stuff as well.
6:25
I was really confident that we'd get the one, but 3-1 up with
6:29
like 30 minutes to go or something.
6:31
And you know, that way. We just came to Philly when they
6:33
had the the young boy up front and stuff at E4.
6:36
I can't actually see them getting two goals.
6:38
Like I can't see. And that's sort of really
6:40
bizarre fantasy about our Celtic team.
6:43
So it was out. Yeah.
6:44
It was such a weird ex. It's such a weird experience to
6:47
like be on the on the front foot against the team that you're
6:50
sold, you're used to just decades have just been on the
6:53
back against them. So yeah, really, really good.
6:56
That obviously keep, let you say keeps the good teams going for
7:00
us and keeps that gap. Mckennis was not trying to pour
7:04
cold water on it, but he said I've got a good finger on it a
7:06
minute, but it's only three points.
7:08
It's an important, it's important for us to keep
7:11
winning. We've got loads to do.
7:13
And after the first round of fixtures, I mean, you know, he
7:16
says this is no gauge for where we're at right now.
7:19
He said once you get past the, you know, the the first two
7:22
rounds of fixtures and you've been holding away against
7:24
everyone, that's when you can have a feeling for you know
7:27
where your season is going to go.
7:29
Yes, I think, I think we talked about in previous pods as well,
7:32
like you say, the two rounds of fixtures.
7:34
And I think again the conversations that McKenzie will
7:36
have an addressing room versus to the media will obviously be
7:39
very different. So and I find the good thing is
7:41
as well, it's got a good backbone.
7:43
It's got a good sort of age group of players as well and
7:45
ones that know Scottish football like he knows Scottish football.
7:48
So don't that underlie any illusions.
7:51
And I do think they are well balanced and well placed too.
7:54
Caused problems this season, how far it takes some and you know
7:57
where it goes. I'm quite kind of level headed
8:00
about it as well. Like I'm not not under any
8:02
illusions, like I've obviously put stuff out online all the
8:05
time about it. But I'm never really saying like
8:07
I think we're going to want to take.
8:08
I just more think like it's about being in with a chance for
8:11
as long as we can. And then if we are and then we
8:13
aren't. But it's all signs that a good
8:16
season, whatever that may look like.
8:18
Yeah, just enjoy it for as long as you can because I was in
8:21
exact same position last season. Exactly.
8:25
You. You've.
8:25
Been there, we've been there like and yet it falls down and
8:28
can fold in very quickly so. Yeah, I mean, it feels.
8:31
A little. Different the the difference
8:33
from this Hearts team to the Aberdeen team last season was
8:37
that Celtic are shite this season I mean.
8:40
Oh yeah. It's a much worse Celtic and
8:42
there's no Rangers obviously in the sense of like they're there,
8:44
but they're not. Yeah, I mean, I mean, last year
8:48
I think we had a almost similar record that I think it was 10
8:52
games, then we'd won nine, drawn one or something like that.
8:55
And the draw was at Celtic Park. Yeah, yeah, 22.
8:57
We were two nil down going in at half time and then we came back
9:01
to to this time. I think it was a year yesterday
9:05
or year today that we beat Rangers at Pitajree last minute.
9:08
Shade Morris. So yeah, things can spiral
9:12
really quickly. So just enjoy it while you can.
9:16
And I honestly, yeah, I. Get those.
9:18
We get those comparisons as well, right?
9:20
So we've had the ones we have but didn't quite a lot.
9:21
Obviously they're so close to each other, right?
9:23
For last season. This season I think like the one
9:26
for me though, is a heart, if you think about just ourselves,
9:29
but the last time we had something like this was
9:31
Romanoff. So obviously when we try to
9:33
compare it to our own house and our own situation, it does.
9:37
And a positive. We feel different again because
9:38
I think George Burley had the exact same record as McInnes
9:42
after 10 games and then what the chat was was that this time were
9:46
six points clearer. His last time were three points
9:48
clear. Now I know that's nothing when
9:49
there's like whatever 20 or 28 games to go.
9:52
But another key thing as well as we don't have like a mod Russian
9:55
owner, whereas now we have like, well, we've got a former poker
9:59
player. But you know, my point is about
10:01
it brings about more stability than.
10:03
Well then template complain that you know you see that and that
10:06
in. US, yeah.
10:08
At least you've got at least you've got something to go off
10:10
with Bloom as well. So like the analytics fingers as
10:13
a tested improve and thing it's not going away.
10:15
Has plans a 10 year plan, like all where it's like rolling
10:20
offs, 10 year plans that yeah, hearts should go in the
10:21
Champions League in 10 years. So I think even bloom would be
10:24
like, yeah, that's definitely not going to happen.
10:26
So like, yeah, it was all a bit more crazy and the rumor off
10:30
there was funds and money there, but it was all just just seemed
10:34
a bit a circus and even barley didn't so well wasn't good
10:36
enough and end up getting sacked for basically no reason.
10:39
So that's not going to happen this time.
10:41
It's just like you see raiding it while we can in terms of the
10:45
Crest of the wave. And I ultimately think that
10:49
Celtic and I think Rangers will talk about them and going
10:52
forward obviously in the pod. But I think over time and then
10:55
when January comes, it's about getting the points as much as we
10:57
can though between now and January.
10:58
Because in January comes it'll be different that we are
11:01
definitely all from that we're facing for then onwards.
11:03
And obviously Europe, you know, you'd imagine maybe they're out
11:06
of it and stuff like that. So those sort sort of things
11:08
will change the scenario for us. And I mean, after that game your
11:12
vessel went on to mid week. I draw on Paisley, which was a
11:15
good job. But we'll talk about what
11:16
happened in the time between those games and we'll talk about
11:20
drama. I mean Scottish football
11:22
delivered in that sense where the Celtic statements and it
11:26
will basically Brendan Rodgers resigned, pushed.
11:30
I don't quite know what's going on behind close to it.
11:32
Was it was it dismissed or was it resigned?
11:35
It was resigned officially, but judging by.
11:39
The statement. I think they agreed that he
11:41
would resign. Yeah, Derman, Desmond Dermott,
11:44
Desmond Dermott, sorry, kind of put up a statement that was just
11:48
condemning basically everything that Rogers has done over the
11:50
last couple of months, his comments to the media about
11:53
backing, about the financial backing of the board and
11:58
everything like that. And they basically blamed him
12:01
for all the toxic, toxic atmosphere towards the board
12:04
that's going on right now. So it did kind of feel from that
12:07
statement that he was kind of pushed towards resigning.
12:11
Because he said, what was that? He said he went well.
12:13
First of all, he talked about, he said the conduct and
12:16
communication was not a reflection of the trust and
12:19
belief they had when they brought him back to pocket.
12:21
And then like you said there he said Rogers talked in the
12:26
pressors about the fact he wasn't being backed, but they
12:29
said we offered them. Oh, can you hear my dog?
12:32
Bloody Ziggy. I'm sorry.
12:34
My dog just decided to come have a drink.
12:36
Right next. No, I'll start again, Ziggy.
12:39
He's fucks sick. Someone all times.
12:42
Finish it. I'm just going in one second.
12:44
He's just going to finish his drink and then he's off.
12:46
Right? OK, right.
12:48
I'll start again. And then the contract.
12:50
Well, they said he said and his presser he alluded to the fact
12:54
he wasn't being backed. But then days when day and says,
12:57
well, there was a contract offered in the summer and
13:00
Brandon Rodgers said he wanted to think about it.
13:01
But to me, I don't that's not how I read not been backed in
13:05
that sense. I mean we all know that the
13:07
grievances and much of the Celtic support has been
13:10
investment on the patch, not. Yeah, I mean.
13:13
Your new contract. You can circle back to the the
13:16
squad against Hearts where you get a few injuries and suddenly
13:18
you're playing kids. Yeah.
13:21
And they, you know, you're kind of there in certain areas.
13:25
Yeah. And then he also, but then he
13:27
says other things about Rogers having through control over
13:30
transfers. You know, nothing was ever
13:33
signed off without his approval, be that outgoings or incoming
13:37
players. And and then again, there was a
13:40
whole thing about I mean, then they'll lack investment in the
13:43
patch that the fans unhappy about.
13:45
That's always obviously going to be aimed at the board.
13:48
And I think when the managers sort of kind of lighten a fire
13:51
underneath that a wee bit more by saying stuff about not been
13:54
backed. And I just, I mean, it's it's
13:56
just a crazy, crazy situation. And then, I mean, he's gone now.
14:01
They're known in the search for a new manager and interim
14:05
managerial structures. Martin O'Neill returning to
14:08
Celtic and Sean Mooney coming in as his assessment.
14:12
It was just to meet this situation even more.
14:15
Well, I was going to say funny. Celtic fans probably won't see
14:19
it that way. Martin O'Neill, when was it?
14:22
Monday on talksport. The direct quote from him was
14:26
for Hearts to when? It would be amazing, obviously
14:28
talking about their title bed overall.
14:31
And then with an amount of hours later, two days later, he's
14:35
taking charge of the Celtic team.
14:37
Was it, was it not the same day as that was published that?
14:39
Even same day. So I mean, yeah.
14:42
He was, he was really good social media content for me that
14:45
day. Martin, Neil.
14:47
I bet you're a loving. Life actually and actually let's
14:49
say a talk sport most days as well and I actually hit like
14:52
heard the statement about on basically it doesn't say like
14:56
hearts, it's like we'd won it, but I think he was like
14:59
basically like there's no going to be a better chance then.
15:02
I think he just over collectively for Scottish
15:04
football, I think he said. I'd be better.
15:06
Yeah, he'd be good, he said. It'd be good to see.
15:08
So now I am convinced that Martin, he was maybe an unsafe
15:11
job. So part it's all part of the
15:13
plan, just like the VAR decision.
15:15
It's that matter and all that, like so just part of the master
15:17
plan though. I mean, yeah, so I basically
15:21
that that all happened. You know, you could kind of draw
15:25
your own conclusions from that more than you know, as much as
15:29
you could read about what people have said and haven't said.
15:31
It's there's, I guess there's a true version of events that no
15:34
one will ever really know about apart from the people closest to
15:37
what happened, like Rogers and Desmond.
15:40
A point that aim a point they were making as well.
15:42
I can't remember. I can't remember what other
15:44
media source it was, but somebody also said this will
15:46
that they found it really bizarre the age sorry.
15:49
It showed how chaotic it was at Celtic that obviously that
15:52
announcement was really late at night, right.
15:54
And then not so long after that statement obviously for Dermot
15:57
Desmond. 15 minutes later was enough.
15:59
Yeah. So I think it we're talking like
16:01
11, nearly half 1011 at night or whatever it was, right.
16:04
And I think what people and media were calling it as well
16:07
was like, how is he able to just go in and make that kind of like
16:11
however many paragraph statement as only like our because he's
16:14
not even our like a majority. It's just a major shareholder.
16:18
Yeah, he's just the largest. Majority he doesn't majority own
16:21
it. So like that, like how is he
16:22
able to just go and all these whatever?
16:25
Rich and he went to send the statement via Celtics website.
16:27
I think. It's somebody just let him
16:30
through that. It just do that the way he said
16:31
that. Yeah, he's the largest
16:33
shareholder. So he owns about, I think it's
16:34
33 to 37. Yeah, yeah.
16:37
So like they were like he's not majority is like over 50.
16:40
So like how is he getting away with just going in and doing
16:42
that without anybody else like agreeing to it?
16:44
But again, you don't really know what goes on behind it.
16:46
Maybe it has got that much clout as the fact is the highest that
16:50
you can just go in and do that, but it seems a bit wild.
16:53
But it can just works in on that actually deals with PR knows
16:56
what a nightmare that is because it just looks it looks.
16:59
Yeah, like, because if he's like that, I want to make that
17:01
statement. Yeah, if he's like, I just want
17:03
to make that statement. And you're like, well, even if
17:05
imagine if you were in the room and you're like, I don't know,
17:07
that's a good idea. You could maybe just go, well, I
17:09
don't care, so let's just do it anyway.
17:11
You're sacked, yeah. You're like, right?
17:13
Yeah, because I was still in Athens when that statement went
17:16
out and I think it was 12:30 and I just had to check if it was a
17:19
parody account or not. Yeah.
17:22
I mean, it is that kind of level of high jinks, almost like.
17:24
That is prime time. Just generational Scottish
17:27
football archives. Yeah, I mean you saw stuff
17:29
coming out about it and you kind of are questioning like because
17:32
you some of the stuff you want obviously seen it directly from
17:35
Celtic. It's like you know through the
17:36
2nd remark of posts. Yeah, like the quotes and
17:39
everything. Yeah.
17:40
And you're like, surely that's not true, but I mean.
17:42
But see for me, see for me as well the statement that's ironic
17:45
because the statement that he makes basically seeing this all
17:49
Adobe Rogers, right? It's actually the way he's done
17:52
it at that time in eight going through.
17:54
However, network needs to get through make the statement
17:57
actually makes a mockery of their structural setup behind
17:59
the scenes. So then actually from the
18:01
supporters perspective makes them look like they're right and
18:05
the fact that they felt like the board's just chaotic.
18:07
Get rid of the XYZ because he's only doing things properly and
18:10
all they're meaning directly more about obviously signings,
18:13
but it's still the narrow of that Celtic fans are trying to
18:16
push. You could argue that him send
18:18
statements like that, that time innate and everything that
18:20
happened with Rogers that you're just proving the fans right
18:23
really. But the predicament they've got,
18:25
of course is like you see a lot of it will then stay behind
18:28
closed doors after people look after each other in the
18:30
boardroom and it becomes again, like the toxic pocket talks
18:34
about Rogers being toxic. It seems like a lot a lot of the
18:37
boardroom stuff is quite toxic as well.
18:39
So yeah, it'll be interesting to see where it takes them.
18:42
Yeah, I mean, I was working on the Celtic game mid week against
18:45
Falkirk and the amount of times there were chants about the
18:49
board were, it was crazy. I mean, when when Martin O'Neill
18:52
came out, obviously it was a very warm reception.
18:55
They've obviously got fond memories of him mostly and the
18:58
amount of times the cameras kept on panning to the board and the
19:01
amount of chants that are going on about them.
19:03
I mean, it's such a toxic atmosphere because of statements
19:06
like that and he's really not helping anyone.
19:11
The Martin O'Neill appointment entered on for me as the way it
19:14
seemed to be described by Martin O'Neill afterwards and his
19:16
presser at 70s. Like your mate phoning you up
19:20
for a bit of help and that's all it.
19:22
As in like it keeps the fans outside to have Martin and you
19:25
there. Because it was that
19:26
realistically O'Neill set the tone early.
19:29
They'll go more direct, which is what they've did, obviously did
19:32
that last night, but in general, and it'll be a bit more reliable
19:36
and a bit more aggressive than Rogers would be, certainly
19:39
domestically. So like, it steadies the ship
19:42
and it sorts things for us. Well, heck, they'll be hoping it
19:46
sorts things forever long to take them to January and then
19:48
whatever happens, happens. But yeah, it seems like I'm very
19:51
much like I'm phoning my friend for help sort of scenario.
19:54
We O'Neal. Yeah, I mean, that second Johnny
19:57
Kenny goal last night was the most Martin O'Neill goal I've
20:00
ever seen. It was just.
20:02
I think it was Ralston floated up from about 30-4 yards out all
20:06
the way to the back post and a Negron heads back across school
20:10
and then other header to the far post.
20:12
So, Martin, any ball there? Yeah, that game.
20:18
Well, that was for now. Celtic wasn't at Falkirk
20:20
Stadium. Yeah, that was at Celtic Park.
20:24
Said about Beg your pardon, The other match going on at the same
20:28
time was Hearts and Paisley. Now Paisley has been quite a
20:33
tricky place for you guys to go recently.
20:35
Adam, I've got here Hearts sex without a win and Paisley within
20:39
90 minutes. So I mean a draws, I guess you
20:43
can be happy coming away with a draw there and you know in some
20:46
degree keeping keeping yourself 6 points clear at the top.
20:50
Yeah, I think it was it was came to the first game as well, would
20:54
have came to look to us and thought we look to be a bit
20:56
vulnerable at the back. It's not something I would
20:58
expect to see. Like we can we go because
21:00
obviously do have a lot of faith in the back lane, but I think
21:04
the physicality is at Mirren and just like there's sort of
21:07
swashbuckling approach that seems to happen every year under
21:09
Robinson. Like it works.
21:11
That's why they get to where they get to and and that's why
21:14
Robinson's always linked to any other job in the SPL whenever it
21:18
comes up. So like, but it's really
21:21
frustrating because it feels like doesn't matter what type of
21:24
Hearts team we turn up with, we can't seem to get one.
21:26
So but in this in the same vein, the positives would be that you
21:31
know, by beating Celtic at the weekend and then getting the
21:35
point they are obviously we've got the 2 Dundee teams next as
21:38
well before the break, so at home.
21:40
So like it puts us still in a really good position.
21:44
Still 6 points clear chance to go further clear with input in
21:47
the cup at the weekend when we played on D at home.
21:50
So yeah, it's positive signs and to be honest, we nearly snuck it
21:54
as well. Obviously there's a couple of
21:56
dubious but far decision against that matter when there were two
21:59
one up which could they obviously completely undone us
22:04
at that point. I think there was still
22:05
obviously play time left but been two goals behind in a place
22:07
like that where record that we've got, it's not the best
22:10
place to be in. But then equally with a game,
22:12
we've come back twice in the game and then Kibori scoresly on
22:17
MC and T fractionally offside, obviously with the leg he
22:20
actually doesn't use to get the ball, but albeit is his leg to
22:23
keep his balance. So yeah, unfortunately not to be
22:26
with the one, but yeah, fine click.
22:29
It just shows another signee like character and resilience
22:31
for that heart. Steam though, like as a lot
22:33
togetherness. It's six games in a row with the
22:36
same 11. So that's the first time we've
22:37
done that in 40 years. So that as again, a surefire
22:42
sign like consistency and trust in the players, but it's also
22:46
shown as well with like Kibori and Magnuson who came in on the
22:48
second-half, they actually made a positive difference to the
22:51
team because we were looking a bit leggy.
22:52
I mean, we play that as bigger game against Celtic and
22:56
obviously are hammering and tongs for 90 minutes and then
22:58
you go to a place like St. Madam with the physicality they
23:00
bring. We were starting to look up a
23:02
bit tired I felt, even though we're still going for that.
23:05
But but yeah, the guys on the bench, like obviously they're
23:08
getting kept out, so we are not quite keen to see like what will
23:12
these guys look like if we do bring them in the team.
23:14
So do you feel like some point? Yeah, so I do feel obviously
23:18
we've got big squads, there's going to be guys missing all the
23:20
time. Like that's just to be as.
23:21
And we obviously weren't able to move people on.
23:23
So that's why the squad's as big as it is.
23:25
But like Kajol and Magnus and Kibori, these kind of guys that
23:29
you could see them get in minutes.
23:31
But I'm very cautious about that as well in the sense that like
23:33
you don't want to make too many changes because this is that
23:36
elevens the team that's getting you to where you are.
23:38
So I just hope it makes like the odd tweaks and you know, if
23:41
games are looking a certain way or, you know, maybe we get
23:43
comfortable in a game, give people a bit more minutes and
23:45
see what they can be about. And then it gives you extra
23:47
options like you say. What is the in the coming weeks
23:50
and months? Yeah, I mean, OK, right.
23:53
I think we'll move on because I think this this episode and last
23:57
episode, there's been points where it's in danger of turning
23:59
into the Hearts and Celtic podcast, even if they are some
24:02
of the most exciting topics we'll talk about.
24:06
We move on to the dawns of it. So we've got you on.
24:08
Oh no, you were in Athens. That was, I'd imagine a pretty
24:13
hard one to take in terms of league football, though.
24:16
You're when the other night takes used to three wins in your
24:20
last four league games, which is, I mean, that's a big
24:23
improvement on the direction you were going to start the season.
24:26
How are you feeling about how the season is at this exact
24:30
point? Because it is kind of hard when
24:33
you're juggling these two different.
24:34
I mean, the defeat in Athens was prayed, devastating sex.
24:37
Now is, is. Yeah.
24:40
I mean, it's as bad as it sounds.
24:42
I mean, I mean, how did you get, first of all, how did you get on
24:46
over in Athens? And secondly, how?
24:48
I mean, do you feel you have turned the corner a bit or is it
24:52
still a bit just too wobbly? We've turned the corner into
24:56
being an even worse team, if that's what you mean.
24:57
That's. Not what was meaning, but.
25:01
It was 6 nil going on 10 nil in Athens.
25:03
I actually think that's the worst single Aberdeen
25:06
performance I've ever seen and I was at Darville, so that's in
25:10
something. Jensen may be the worst
25:14
performance I've ever seen in person as well.
25:17
I think him and Keskinen were having a competition to see who
25:21
could get subbed off earlier. Yeah, we we had a narrow defeat
25:27
against Shakhtar. I think that's that was probably
25:29
our first good performance of the whole season.
25:32
And then follow up with a four nil win against Dundee.
25:35
That was a good performance. But then kind of scrape to
25:40
scrape the winner in Paisley, which was a really good result.
25:44
But performance it could have easily been two or three Nelson
25:48
Mirren. Then obviously that six nil
25:51
defeat. I was in Athens, unfortunately,
25:55
honestly, what a waste of money, but you know, have to support
25:58
the team and then lost at home against Hibs 2, one that could
26:02
have easily been four or five that we conceded and luckily got
26:07
a win against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
26:09
But again, I mean, the only positive from that game was the
26:13
result and Dylan Lobbin making us feel debut because again,
26:19
performance was absolutely shocking.
26:20
So we've got Larnaca, Wayne, Cyprus on Thursday, next
26:26
Thursday. Luckily I will not be at that.
26:28
But yeah, I don't know where where we go from this because
26:32
again, it's it's shocking performances again and again.
26:37
So I don't really see where we go from here.
26:40
When I spoke to you back when we met, we mean then had the pain
26:43
before the Scotland game in Glasgow against Belarus and at
26:47
that point I said to you pretty stand with Ellen and you were
26:51
quite adamant. No, Backham, you know, and it
26:54
doesn't feel like too long ago we had that conversation.
26:59
It's just the man of the football sensei and it's just
27:01
been too bad to stomach. Yeah, I mean, it's just he had
27:07
favourites the whole time he's been Aberdeen, but he's got away
27:09
with it because of either results in the first half of
27:13
last season or, you know, obviously winning the Scottish
27:16
Cup in the second-half last season.
27:19
It was it was Nielsen in midfield.
27:22
This season. It feels like it's Jensen.
27:26
There's a reluctance to to change things.
27:31
I think he's been forced into from the backlash of the fans.
27:33
Dylan Lobbin came and came into the side yesterday, had a good
27:37
performance. But yeah, I don't, I don't know
27:40
where we go from here. I don't know where I even stand
27:42
because I think Dylan's got more patience from the fans,
27:47
obviously because of what we've seen he can do.
27:52
Obviously. Yeah, yeah, it's it's not a year
27:55
ago where we were having those results.
27:56
But obviously it's like, well, I did it before, why can't I do it
28:00
again? But there isn't any sign of of
28:02
those types of performances. And obviously it's a lot of new
28:04
players. It's not the same squad as it
28:06
was last year, but yeah, it's got more like you would go on.
28:09
Yeah. I mean, yes, but Stuart.
28:11
Armstrong's like what? I've not seen enough on the
28:13
coin, but you know, from an outsider it looks like I
28:17
thought, oh, they've done quite well with Bring.
28:20
Recruitment in, yeah, I mean Kevin Nesbitt coming back in, I
28:24
didn't think we'd, I didn't think we'd be able to get him
28:26
in. Jasper Carlson, arguably one of
28:28
the best players on paper and in the whole league, he's played
28:32
it. You know, Bologna was one of the
28:33
best players in the area. The busy, got European
28:35
experience. So on paper, yeah, we had a
28:38
great summer, got Alfie Dorrington back on loan from
28:41
Tottenham. But yeah, it's just not really
28:44
clicked on the pitch like like we were expecting to.
28:47
I thought we'd have a tough season, obviously trying to
28:50
balance Europe and the league, but I didn't think we'd be that
28:55
would be set in in 10th place after 10 games with with only
28:59
three wins and six losses. So yes, it feels like it's kind
29:04
of reversed from last season and I feel like for some reason
29:09
Hibs, Aberdeen and Hearts can never all be good at the same
29:12
time. It always has to be one or two
29:16
that are shocking. Last season it was it was Hearts
29:19
and I think it's harder in the season.
29:21
Yeah, I mean, well, I mean, like you said, tabs here as well.
29:25
They had both had Rangers midweek.
29:27
I mean, in terms of how the table looks right now, firstly
29:29
after the games, Hearts up top six points clear to Celtic who
29:33
are on 20 points and it's quite tight after that.
29:35
The pack, you know, from the tops, the rest of the soft top
29:40
sex. Rangers on 15, Hebs on 14,
29:43
Motherwell and 14 as well. And in Dundee United on 13.
29:46
I was going to say Hibs could it maybe been a little bit better
29:48
off actually if they hadn't messed that last minute penalty
29:51
against Rangers. That was Danny.
29:53
What? Danny rolls second when with the
29:57
with his his new club obviously lost in the Europa League with
30:01
them but he seems to have made a good start to league football
30:05
with Rangers with two league wins, one against Kelly at the
30:08
weekend and then like I said Easter Rd. last night, not the
30:11
easiest place to go and he got a one.
30:13
Yeah, that's Jack Butlin saving to Jimmy McGrath penalties in a
30:16
row. Obviously he saved one when
30:20
McGraw was at Aberdeen and he saved that one as well.
30:22
So yeah, I mean, I say we're in 10th place, but we are only 5
30:26
points off Rangers right now. Yeah, unless when?
30:29
You shoot the table is actually incredibly.
30:30
Tight. Yeah.
30:31
I mean, yeah, we've got Motherwell Hearts as our next
30:37
two, so I wouldn't say those are the best games to pick up those
30:40
points. But you know, you never know
30:43
what happens, I mean. That's part of the problems we
30:45
have for Aberdeen because I mean, the first game of the
30:48
season was one nil lost to Falkirk and then.
30:53
Yeah. And then dropped points with
30:54
Livingston. Yeah.
30:55
You know the harder teams you're going to play and you know the,
30:59
you know the Blake was you've had, you've not played Rangers
31:03
yet this season. Yeah, we unfortunately did not
31:05
get to play Russell Martin's Rangers.
31:07
No, you've not played Celtic yet again before.
31:09
They've arguably had that. They've not got a chance to sort
31:14
of new manager bounce or whatever you want to look at
31:16
post Rogers bounce. So yeah, it's kind of like just
31:20
as you're starting to pick up results.
31:21
Yeah, not played hard coming into.
31:23
Hard yeah, Hearts as well. Just as you've started to pick
31:26
up results, you actually might be coming into the more
31:28
difficult fixtures. I was just going to say, I was
31:31
just going to say on those, those points you made for
31:33
nothing like that. Most of them are where my head's
31:36
at where Aberdeen as well. Like I've not seen lots of the
31:39
IT was I've seen the shark tar game, seen the offense game and
31:45
I've seen bets and pieces of the league games.
31:48
And obviously I always look at like stats and other things like
31:51
that as well. And I just feel like if I said
31:54
on the previous pod as well, it's like sometimes he's just
31:57
living off other things. He's living off his good starts,
32:00
living off the cup 1. And it does feel like a better
32:03
90 minute man Jim Italian. So like he's got that, that 90
32:07
minutes that you cannot take away from.
32:08
And it's still a special moment for Aberdeen.
32:10
And and that's why it should be regarded as whatever high level
32:14
it plays the government for one. And that I just feel like the
32:17
longer he's they are, he is not getting a tune out actually a
32:22
decent squad of players and that is the biggest concern.
32:26
Yeah. I mean, if you look from the
32:28
second-half of last season, we are in relegation form.
32:30
Like we're averaging like a point a game for the lasts.
32:34
I don't know. Couldn't score for ages as well.
32:36
Friend couldn't score for ages. I know it took us so many games
32:40
just to get that first league goal so.
32:42
And yeah, quite as well, but favorites, I think it does seem
32:45
like he seems to stick with the same sort of like 3-4 even more,
32:51
but like same guys that again, it doesn't matter what he seems
32:54
to do with them. They're they're no getting
32:58
obviously they're getting the results to know, but you've hit
33:00
the nail on the head. So it's like they're they're
33:02
getting fortunate, which every result they get, you're looking
33:05
at going part of the obviously the Dundee one begin you're
33:07
taking that weapon to assault slightly based on everybody's
33:10
sort of viewpoint. And we're Dundee at the moment.
33:12
So like you look at the Saint Maran game again, could easily
33:15
lost Hibbs game. I did see quite a bit of that.
33:17
And I was an agreement like I felt like Hibbs could easily.
33:20
I'm surprised Hibbs won a four or five.
33:22
And that was that was the thing that we don't have as well as
33:25
going to say against Rangers like they were actually so
33:27
wasteful at David Gray was right.
33:29
They should at least got a point out that gaming Rangers, like
33:33
Rangers were not they were not that great to be honest, that
33:37
the game looked poor and helps again.
33:40
Like they've done what they've done against Celtic and Harsh
33:43
and they've done it again against Rangers.
33:45
They played far too defensive. I don't know why Greece seems to
33:49
have adopted this approach whereby like if I set tight and
33:52
then I just use a well, no, it's sort of clutch and Bowie instead
33:57
of Boyle and Bowie and just mess out the midfield entirely, then
34:02
I might sneak a win or I might sneak a good result because like
34:04
he's maybe given that that team that he's playing a bit too much
34:07
respect. But there was no reason
34:09
whatsoever to give that Rangers team any respect.
34:11
They should have been at them for the start and putting them
34:14
right on the back foot, especially like you say, Easter
34:16
Rd. where this was a game that helps were going to be one year
34:19
unbeaten at home if they did got anything for that game
34:22
yesterday. So that should have been more
34:24
than enough motivation to hit them right for the start.
34:27
But again, like I said, they seem to just have this approach
34:29
where they want to set back, not utilize their midfield and just
34:32
try and counter them or or use belly hold things up and get
34:36
them up the patch. It was a really strange approach
34:38
for Grey. Yeah.
34:39
I mean, coming back quickly to what you said on Jimmy Tallene,
34:42
I think like you said, he's an 80 minute man.
34:44
But also it's a bit of a random one, but I think it fits Derek
34:49
McInnes or Jim Goodwin or someone of that caliber, I think
34:55
they'd actually be already be out the door.
34:57
I think it's because yeah, of what he's done abroad and kind
35:01
of the unknown Ness of him if if that even makes sense.
35:05
Like the allude of the fact that's like an overseas manager.
35:08
Yeah, yeah, exactly. It's like, oh, it's kind of
35:10
unknown. You know, he did so well with
35:12
such a small team in Sweden. But I think, yeah, like we've
35:15
seen in the past, if it was Derek Mckennessy, he'd already
35:17
be at the door with with the forum he's in and say, you know,
35:20
thank you very much for for kind of for giving us such a great
35:24
moment in our history, obviously.
35:26
Can I throw certain random at you board right.
35:28
Let's just say in the coming weeks, Jimmy Italine goes, Would
35:33
you take Stephen Robinson? You see, that's what my uncle
35:38
said and he, he actually suggested him as well.
35:42
And I, I don't, I don't know, because if you're appointing
35:46
someone like that, I don't actually know what your ambition
35:49
is. Is it to steady the ship?
35:51
Is it to aim for cups like? What?
35:55
What do you think Stephen Robinson is capable of doing
35:58
Aberdeen with that squad? Well, so exactly.
36:01
So I find that's the key myth. Like when it was harsh, it was
36:04
like McInnes or Robinson and like what that was getting toted
36:07
about like domestically, who should we go for?
36:08
Oh. McInnes all.
36:10
Day and it's like obviously it's McInnes all day right but with
36:12
Robinson I think it's more again that fact of like how well he's
36:17
done with us at Madden team yeah, when you look at budgets
36:20
and whatever he's been so consistent with them.
36:22
But again, it's like sacrifice and maybe like not a pretty
36:27
stale of football at times to just be trying to bully teams.
36:31
But again, that really depends on the personally, I'm very much
36:34
if you get the one, I'm not really bothered how we're
36:36
getting the one like if we've. Got 100%.
36:38
We've got a hard working team like if the entertainer and
36:41
that's just the bonus point of the actual weight getting the
36:44
three points. So yeah, I just I don't know.
36:47
It's not about Robinson Albertina.
36:49
I think like for him as well, it should be seen as like an
36:52
opportunity for him to challenge himself because obviously the
36:55
objectives Aberdeen given the size and the history and the
36:58
budget is different for Saint Milan.
36:59
So there should be, it should be something where Robinson.
37:01
Thanks, Lee, I'm going to go and do something with that and that
37:04
step up for me in my sense of like what Aberdeen looked to
37:07
achieve. So yeah, I don't know.
37:09
It'd be interesting to see like if that did ever materialize.
37:12
Yeah, I mean, a lot of people didn't ever think that McInnes
37:15
would get another shot at, you know, one of the big clubs, and
37:18
obviously he's been given that and look what he's done.
37:20
So maybe. Man Hearts are a big club fan.
37:24
Well, part of I think they're, they're clearly the fourth
37:27
biggest club in Scotland. This season I'm just trying to
37:32
see if. We could get by you, Adam.
37:35
There's a joint appreciation here mate.
37:38
Yeah, 2 European trophies mate, 2 European trophies.
37:41
Anyway, I've. Got.
37:41
We've got 2 European trophies between us.
37:43
We have well. Yeah, yeah, great one.
37:45
No, I think, I think Stephen Robinson would definitely be an
37:49
interesting appointment. It just depends on what
37:52
candidates would be available because obviously we've
37:56
appointed the new director of football and I'm not even.
37:58
Oh yeah, that guy was going to be talking about him.
38:00
Yeah, I'm not even going to try and pronounce his name.
38:02
German Guy Ben or German? Maybe Swiss?
38:06
He's not the guy with the wild Wikipedia.
38:08
Yeah, he's been in a Singapore in prison for 101 days, accused
38:12
of match fixing, which he wasn't.
38:14
He kidnapped a Penguin, kept him in his bathtub and didn't
38:18
release him until he had to. Know that weeks of reeks of like
38:21
when we were sponsored by the cinch proper cinch moments.
38:25
Yeah, the sporting director. But he's got a good record, to
38:28
be fair. I mean, he's he's done well in
38:30
Germany. He's he then went to Saint Louis
38:33
in the MLS when they were being founded.
38:35
They won the league in their very first season.
38:36
So yeah, we'll see. We'll see what happens.
38:39
Obviously Derek Gray was a big part of that, yeah, Known him
38:43
from being a Bundesliga commentator.
38:45
So let's see what happens. Obviously we've, we've not
38:48
really had a footballing person as, as director of football
38:52
before. I think that's something that
38:54
was clearly lacking. And yeah, let's see what?
38:57
Let's see what we can do. Yeah, that's that'll be
38:59
interesting to watch that story play over the course of the
39:02
season. I think, I mean, we'll move on
39:06
to a big moment that happened in Europe, but I think there was a
39:09
lot of good goals at the weekend.
39:10
But if you've not seen Scott Mccomoney school against Inter
39:14
Milan for Napoli, definitely go and take a look at.
39:17
So that's Scott now got 2, three goals into the games for
39:20
Annapoli. Didn't you guys managed to catch
39:22
that goal at the weekend? I didn't watch the game but I've
39:25
seen the goal about 10 times. They might.
39:28
I've seen the goal with an absolute beauty.
39:29
Yeah, hard to avoid it. I mean it was a it was our ball
39:33
over the top them and how many latches on the end of nothing.
39:36
The defender kind of slows down thinking he's not going anywhere
39:38
with that and McDonald many them the angle from behind McDonald
39:42
many as he shoots towards the goal is just the best one.
39:44
A lot cat is it perfectly. I mean is one of those is the
39:49
strike of a strike that you see like Champions League level and
39:54
you think I wish got on how to player that quality?
39:57
It's just a proper like talismani like it just exactly.
40:01
And I'm like for my son's like when I was a glory hunting
40:05
child, I was a Man U fan. That was my English team, right?
40:07
And that's obviously still, I still live by that, which is why
40:10
I have years of torture ever since right.
40:11
But same, I'm disappearing him disappearing from my United even
40:16
way before this, I was like, I cannot believe they've got rid
40:18
of Scott McDonald because he was against.
40:21
Scapegoat. Like the times again, these runs
40:25
into the box and these big game goals like he was already doing
40:27
that Man United. So I didn't understand what
40:30
possessed don't get rid of him like it wasn't.
40:33
Like, it wasn't like nap. Like, it wasn't, It wasn't.
40:35
They just let him go. Yeah, it was a real feeling.
40:38
They got rid of him. And like, yeah, like, I can't
40:41
remember what his name is. It's a guy that said.
40:43
Mark Goldbridge. Yeah, yeah, Goldbridge.
40:46
Anytime I see a Mark Goldbridge complimation come up on tech
40:49
talk now I said more check because as usual as coming to
40:52
anyone, that's him quoting stuff, but he's not got the DNA
40:55
and he's that. The DNA.
40:56
The DNA. And you know, I mean, I mean,
41:00
it's just been I mean it's they've done it for Razzmos all
41:03
as well. But the turn around me Tommy's
41:04
hard and it's good to see him had in a better form this season
41:07
again because he didn't start the season were quite the same
41:11
like case that he finished. He was playing white left or
41:15
James. He has film White left, so
41:17
that's a different change for a man.
41:18
Yeah, and the Bron De Bruyne and I think it's just Conte trying
41:21
to figure out where. Well, the Bruins now got a
41:24
massive injury, so he's out for the season.
41:27
Or is he out for the season? Yeah, he he's a risk of missing
41:30
the World Cup, apparently. Wow.
41:32
OK, so so maybe Metorman has gone back to where we would want
41:34
him to be. Yeah, Talisman again, I mean.
41:37
That's a good thing as well because like, I mean, this year
41:39
for Scotland, having been in like like on fire for us in the
41:43
qualifiers for the Euro 24, he scored for us in Portugal and
41:48
things like that in the Euthanasians League and against
41:50
Poland he looked good. But he's not been at it as much
41:54
this year. So it's good to see him hitting
41:57
this little bit Vayner form again when I play.
41:58
Getting back to the standards he was heading last season.
42:01
What do you think Scotland need to do to get, I mean, is it, how
42:05
do we get the best at him again because arguably the whole team
42:09
hasn't been at it recently? I think it's a lot to do with
42:12
the players that you play around them.
42:15
I think I said to you when we were in the pop up in a pint,
42:18
I'd start Bowie up front, not even mainly to do with him, but
42:23
because he's such a nuisance that at times Belarus would have
42:27
to double team him. And then that leave space for
42:29
Mcdowman arriving in the box. Because I think, yeah, yeah,
42:34
exactly. I was.
42:35
But so the reason that he's maybe not scoring as many as he
42:38
was in in Euro qualifiers is because nobody really looked at
42:42
that Scotland team and was like, Oh yeah, he's the guy.
42:45
He's the guy that's going to score.
42:46
So he kind of was left a bit more space and he'd arrived in
42:51
the box and suddenly pop up and score a goal.
42:55
But because of his form and how well he's done at Napoli, that
43:00
is the guy that now when will play grease away or Denmark at
43:03
home, they'll look to to neutralize him to to make sure
43:07
that you won't get that space. So I think having people around
43:10
that can cause a nuisance that can maybe draw defenders out the
43:15
way to create that space for Mcdonaldy can can let him
43:20
flourish in that team. And yeah, I think I think it's
43:23
just a sign of of how well he's been doing that he's now getting
43:27
these fake stories in the sun saying that he's not happy with
43:30
night in life in Italy. I mean, what a load of shite.
43:34
Oh, did, did you not remember that thing when he was, like,
43:38
smoking cigars and dancing with old women in Naples?
43:41
Yeah. Like, there's no way a guy like
43:42
that wants to leave. Like he's living his best life.
43:45
Looks like a. Fashion sense now.
43:46
Like what's going? On the direct quote was saying
43:49
they cite the fact that in Naples he's revered and almost
43:53
God like status and he find. Hard.
43:55
That's too much for him. And I'm like, what?
43:58
Yeah, I mean. He looks he buy a little bit,
44:00
but at the same time just no. No, not a chance.
44:04
Yeah, I think even his fashion sense got better.
44:06
He just looks better. But no, he's he's been he's been
44:09
linked this week to Tottenham. I think that'd be a awful move.
44:14
But also Barcelona. I'm not sure, but I mean, that
44:20
would be insane. What's the last Scott to play at
44:22
Barcelona? I don't know.
44:23
Would it be? Yeah, probably Gammel.
44:26
Archie Hill? No.
44:27
I'm not being I'm not being funny though, but like seem to
44:31
consistently make controversial comments.
44:33
But I think like going from Napoli, Tottenham is a big
44:35
downgrade like. Oh no, 100% it's not even close.
44:38
Like obviously Barcelona, Barcelona would be an upgrade,
44:40
but then equally don't know if Barcelona is going to actually
44:42
fulfill the obligations of the contract.
44:44
So you may end up saying and then it gets wrapped up a month
44:46
later. So that would be a bit of a
44:47
nightmare as well. I think, I think if you have a
44:49
couple of bad games that Barcelona as well, you're out
44:51
the team and you're on the bench.
44:52
Whereas for Napoli, even if he has a couple bad games, they
44:55
know what he's capable of and he's such a fan favorite that
44:58
he's allowed those bad games because they know the the good
45:02
games will come. Tell you what though, I would
45:04
meet it'd be some be some poster for Real Madrid V Barsha and the
45:08
two 10s are Bellingham and Mcdormand and Scotland.
45:11
Who finished the Balandor, eh? Who would?
45:12
Who would you rather have? Bellingham or Mcdormand?
45:14
That's the question. Well, I know what Balandor says.
45:18
Exactly. And then obviously Napoli, Bel
45:22
Gilmore, Bel Belly, Gilmore started the last four games
45:26
sort. Of Scottish Javi.
45:28
Yeah, the Scottish Javi, of course, he is sort of getting
45:34
all that fortune in Luboka's injury.
45:36
We haven't been out but 4. Sons and the Bruin.
45:39
And the Bruin too. So yeah, the Scottish boys are
45:41
certainly helping hold up the Fort there as Napoli lead joint
45:45
top of the league, 21 points. Roma up there with them.
45:49
Yeah, I mean, look at that midfield.
45:51
There's Mcdowman and Gilmore and I think example and Geese.
45:53
I saw stat today that he's out of Annapolis.
45:56
Eight wins. He's one man of the match and
45:57
five of them he's been one of the best players in the league,
46:00
if not the best. So yeah, 2 Scots and a
46:04
Cameroonian. I think what a combo that is.
46:07
I know long they may continue as well.
46:10
It's good to see them both in such good form with our big
46:13
games against Denmark and Greece coming up.
46:15
Probably. I was going to say next month,
46:17
depending on what time this gets published, but talking to the
46:20
national team, we had two big three big games that occurred
46:25
and the week just passed. Scotland women played on the
46:29
African continent. They traveled to play Morocco
46:32
where they won two, one against them in Casablanca, My Year and
46:37
Cuff Bar AM. I right in saying that's the
46:39
first Scottish team to ever play in Africa as well.
46:44
I think I saw a start that's the first ever team to play in
46:46
Africa, which if that's true, is a crazy start that has taken
46:49
that long. Yeah, I would say so.
46:52
And we have played the African nations.
46:54
I mean, it's played Nigeria, but I was at Caven Cottage.
46:56
Yeah, yeah. It wasn't in Africa.
46:58
So I think I saw a start. That was the first ever Scottish
47:01
team to travel to Africa to play so.
47:03
Yeah, and we won. So I two on one.
47:06
It was our first one of 2025 of us.
47:10
We've got the new manager and the women's team now after PED,
47:14
Sure God is George, Melissa and Derita.
47:18
Anderita, I think Andrea, yeah, Australian, she's come in
47:24
obviously disastrous Nations League campaign with We also had
47:29
the playoff defeat against Finland over 2 legs.
47:33
That was barely disappointing. Like the men's national team?
47:38
We won our playoffs. We won our playoffs.
47:40
What against Greece? Oh, sorry, I just.
47:43
You know what? I totally erased that from my
47:46
memory. I'm.
47:47
Going back to Euro 20. Nice.
47:50
Fairpoint yeah, yeah, got me there.
47:52
But yeah, no, a good, good result for the girls even.
47:55
It was just a family. I mean, we then played
47:57
Switzerland after that on the IT was Tuesday.
48:01
You can't. You can't brush over the winner,
48:02
by the way. I mean, yeah.
48:06
Carlene, we are. Just a fairly 5 yards.
48:09
In the 90th minute, yeah, yeah, I mean best, best goal I've seen
48:13
all year. Maybe Kieran Bowie tops it just
48:15
but yeah, for her 20th Scotland goal, I'd say about yeah 35 four
48:19
yards out in the last minute to win it.
48:21
Obviously it is just a friendly you take it.
48:24
But yeah, Goodwin and then yeah, moving on to Switzerland game
48:28
like you said, they building a valiant effort, but lost 4 three
48:35
came back to equalize it half just before half time.
48:38
Another good game, by the way, The first one, yeah, I wouldn't
48:43
call a chap, but it was a lob, you know, Caroline Weir assisted
48:46
that one, got a goal for herself.
48:48
So she's been that's the captain stepping up over the course of
48:51
the two games, isn't it? I.
48:52
Mean Balandor nominee, Yeah. Yeah, well, exactly.
48:54
Yeah, first first ever women's play to be nominated for the
48:57
Balandor Feminine Feminine. Still think that's mad as well
49:00
that she's the first one Like Oh yeah on them all.
49:03
That's crazy. Kim Little and stuff as.
49:05
Well, yeah, like that is wild because they've played for good
49:07
teams as well. It's not like, I think like
49:08
they've, they've only done well domestically.
49:10
They've they've shown it like a bigger stage as well.
49:12
So the fact that none of them have had that even a nomination
49:15
is crazy. Yeah, I think they've been
49:17
overlooked. So it's good to see Caroline, we
49:19
are getting getting the the nomination that does that she
49:23
deserved. I was going to say one game with
49:25
that mess. Don't kind of let this one slip
49:28
by. Come on.
49:30
Yeah, Scotland under seventeens. We're playing at the Excelsior
49:35
Stadium in Airdrie again through the week and it was was it you
49:40
goodness, I've been taking the the the competition.
49:43
You're on the 17 qualifier. 17 Qualifier.
49:45
The first game. First game England and it was a
49:49
one now win for the boys in blue over the old enemy and it was a
49:55
yeah and plus 90th minute goal from Luke Douglas, youth product
49:59
of Saint Maron so good on him. It was a ball to the back post.
50:02
He made no mistake putting it in the net.
50:05
Quite the the cheer went up as we beat them one now and yeah,
50:09
that was was on YouTube. You can come catch the
50:11
highlights for that. Quite a fire game as well
50:13
because it was pretty much the last kick of the ball.
50:15
There was a little bit of back and forward.
50:17
England boy ends up getting sent off because he chucks the ball
50:19
and think it's in Douglas face against.
50:22
He's involved and all sorts there.
50:26
So the other game in the group was Switzerland, not
50:29
Switzerland, Sweden and Lithuania.
50:31
Sweden one in that one. So we're joined top of Sweden
50:33
now and then we play Sweden on the 31st.
50:37
But time you've listened to this.
50:40
And this will be going out about 10:00 AM on the 31st.
50:43
So if you're listening to it just after it's released, you
50:45
can go catch that game on YouTube.
50:47
It's at 3:30 UK time. If you're listening after, go
50:50
check out the results, see how we did.
50:53
Because yeah, hardest game in the group, maybe probably away
50:58
England, but hardest team in the group at least out the way.
51:02
Three points, hopefully a a win against Sweden under seventeens
51:05
away and yeah, perfect. Left you now after that which
51:09
will be on the 3rd of November at 3:00.
51:13
So again, they're all on YouTube, so definitely go and
51:16
watch them. I mean I watched the England
51:17
game and it wasn't just a case of Scotland grabbing a lucky
51:20
last minute goal. Some good football played.
51:23
They were quite brave on the ball killing Kadamade.
51:25
I think I've pronounced that right.
51:27
Is the young star like who's now at Man City?
51:30
Yeah. Highly rated.
51:31
Someone England I know has been after as well.
51:34
He looked absolutely electric when he was running.
51:37
Yeah. 15 year old, I think, yeah, who was bought, who was
51:41
bought for over a million from from Man City, from Sheffield
51:44
Wednesday when he was in the under 19, under 18 squads the
51:49
previous camp. And he did really well.
51:51
So I was actually a bit shocked to see his name missing for that
51:55
squad, but I think that's because the under 19 squad just
51:58
had some friendlies. I think maybe I'm wrong and
52:00
says. It just needed.
52:01
Does it just need the ones men's court to be like official hours?
52:04
Yeah. No, it's.
52:07
You can get caps for a team now, a national side and is if you're
52:11
not a certain age you still have the choice to swap.
52:14
It's also to do with if it's a friendly or not.
52:16
So I think it's 5 friendlies or three friendlies.
52:20
But you can still play one competitive game and still
52:22
change the. Yeah, because, because.
52:24
That's that's that's a strange rules and all makes play one
52:27
competitive game and then you can move.
52:29
Yeah, so I think Zaha did it. He played one for England and
52:31
then he switched the Ivory Coast.
52:33
So yeah, hopefully we can get him some caps at 16 or
52:37
something. I don't care.
52:38
Yeah, I'm in the November qualifiers.
52:41
Yeah, get a few. Get a few friendlies against San
52:44
Marino and cap them in both. I come on.
52:47
Yeah, just looking ahead to the games in November next month,
52:52
there is a few actually injury risks.
52:54
One came out today that Angus Gunn, according to Sean Dice has
52:58
opened up his lead as his knee ligaments.
53:00
So he's a risk for the the games in November now apparently.
53:05
So that's. Not what?
53:06
You want? It's really not.
53:08
Rising up, Rising up like the Undertaker, Craig Gordon
53:11
returns. Oh, don't get me.
53:13
Yeah, I mean, who would you put in as your replacement?
53:16
First of all, Hey, Gordon. Yeah, I think I'd do the same.
53:19
But secondly, Aaron Hickey still not back in first team training
53:22
with Brentford. He's scheduled back next week,
53:25
but that's not confirmed yet. Max Johnson out with a hamstring
53:28
injury. He was injured last game for
53:29
Darby. And Nathan Patterson is all out.
53:33
So who would you start right back?
53:34
Is Ralston really the best we have?
53:36
No. Who would you put then?
53:39
Alvin Ramsey. That's an e-mail.
53:42
I agree. I agree.
53:44
So I mean. It won't 100% beat Ralston, by
53:47
the way. Calvin Ramsey.
53:50
Calvin Ramsey definitely over Ralston.
53:53
Ram. Ram Ralston's getting kept at
53:55
the team by Young. Oh goodness, his name escapes.
53:59
And what's who's the late back at Celtic?
54:01
Well, don't. Sorry, Donovan.
54:03
Yeah. But you know what?
54:05
Martin O'Neill came back. I knew Ralston's going.
54:07
To play, yeah, he started, He started.
54:08
Forest, who's going to play? And if Forest is going to play
54:10
as well. And news Get before us then.
54:14
Ralston will be shooting for that one.
54:17
Yeah, we've not even talked about Calvin, Calvin Ramsay
54:19
actually. So first start in 1085 days.
54:24
His first start came against Derby County in 2022.
54:28
Obviously he's had his battles with injuries, went on loans
54:31
that really didn't sits playstyle.
54:33
At Wigan, at Preston, at Bolton. Yeah Kelly.
54:38
There was 2 ex Aberdeen players, 2EX Kelly players on the pitch
54:41
against Crystal Palace. Freddie Woodman and Calvin
54:44
Ramsey both played for Aberdeen and Kilmarnock so that's quite
54:47
something. But yeah, good to see him back
54:50
in the squad. Apparently was the best he.
54:53
Said he went I think often had a very, very decent performance
54:57
Cam on the ball, he said speaking about him, he actually
55:00
spooked him after the game, allegedly along with another guy
55:03
that made his debut, I think Kieran Morrison.
55:06
And he said after Athena loss, you might feel very, very
55:09
disappointed, but you took been quite happy with the way you've
55:12
played your first time here at Anfield.
55:14
I mean, that sounds promising. Yeah, I mean, Jeremy Frempong,
55:18
they're starting right back, is injured.
55:21
So it's either him, Dominic Shabazzla, who's played right
55:24
back sometimes, or Connor Bradley.
55:26
And I don't think Slot really fancies Connor Bradley.
55:28
So a lot of fans are calling for Kelvin Ramsey actually to start
55:31
the next game. I can't actually quite remember
55:34
who it's against, but yeah, it'd be really good to see him
55:37
actually get a run of games because I think he's he's still
55:40
in the 22. I mean, people forget how young.
55:42
Yeah, yeah. I mean how people forget how
55:44
young he was when he broke into that Aberdeen team, winning
55:47
young player of the year for Aberdeen and everything so.
55:49
Their next game's their next game's Villa at home, and then
55:52
it's Real Madrid at home and then Man City, Oh.
55:55
Could you imagine Calvin Ramsey against Real Madrid?
55:59
That's. Calvin Ramsay will have Benny
56:01
Junior in his back. I'm telling you, that's a make a
56:03
great game. I mean, imagine he has two good
56:05
performances in a row, then he's then he's locked in for
56:07
starting. The thing is we that's I mean
56:10
there's he's a talented kid, like he's a talented kid and I
56:14
think it's one of them where if the stars align and he gets semi
56:17
better running form and like you've said, like it doesn't he
56:19
fancy Bradley or doesn't seem to fancy Bradley.
56:22
I mean, to be fair, like he's quite aggressive or slot.
56:24
So I think like suppose like right back, I could see that
56:26
happening, but but you see if he gives some of that real
56:29
opportunity, even if he gets some some minutes in any of
56:31
those games might be enough like if he does like his style and
56:34
how he plays because he's Got Talent.
56:36
Yeah, because you. Never know when he goes from
56:38
there, right? Yeah, I mean, I saw the
56:40
completion of what he did against Chris Parse and he
56:42
really did look really calm. Obviously would be nervous
56:46
playing first game in three years competitively, but it
56:49
really looked like a calm presence.
56:52
How many games did he get for Aberdeen?
56:55
First season he didn't get many I've got.
56:58
The Wikipedia says 28 here, but and then I don't know how I
57:02
care. That no, that's not He played 39
57:04
games for us. I think some.
57:06
How do you feel done when it was at Aberdeen fan?
57:08
Well, I mean, first season he was kind of a bench player
57:11
really. Got a few good games, a few in
57:15
the Scottish Cup of thing and then the season after that
57:17
obviously was absolutely incredible.
57:20
Think he was That was that calm head then as well.
57:22
Yeah, he was really calm. There was obviously a level of
57:27
inexperience, maybe is the right words.
57:29
Obviously first proper season in professional football was when
57:32
he broke out. But even then you could see he
57:36
was just in a class above the Scottish Premiership for that,
57:41
for that time. Obviously he's he's had his
57:44
injury problems since then. But yeah, he one young player of
57:46
the year I think. I don't know if that was for
57:47
Aberdeen or for the whole league in general.
57:49
I think it was for the whole league.
57:51
Whole league, yeah, yeah, I've got up here 24 games, one goal,
57:54
4 assists. But it was more than just the
57:57
goal and assists. That was how he really got his
57:59
head up and drew forward. Not kind of 1 dimensional
58:03
player. It's whatever there was.
58:06
He'd exploit that space and I think he can do that at
58:10
Liverpool if he's given a shot. I.
58:12
Mean there's certainly an opportunity there in that right
58:14
back position. I mean, we've obviously talked
58:15
about Ralston Hecky for me, obviously Hecky would be the
58:19
would be the number one, but there's no reason why Calvin
58:21
Ramsey couldn't get himself to that point.
58:22
If he has the same sort of his breaks that that heck he had
58:27
through his career. He can make never really get
58:29
there. And then Max Johnston.
58:30
So it's a position where people are vying for it, but people
58:33
keep getting injured in that position as well.
58:35
So just got a bit of a run and like you say, he gets to gets to
58:39
play in a team where Liverpool would be great for him if he can
58:42
play either there or on loan somewhere where it suits some.
58:45
I never know. I suppose they wouldn't be a
58:47
posted the times that that scene.
58:48
Aberdeen was very briefly. It looked quite raw, but you'd
58:51
expect them to be. But the talent was really good
58:53
and I still looked quite he still looked quite composed and
58:56
comfortable all the time in the ball, which again, reminds me of
58:58
hacky and not. They're not, Obviously, that's
59:01
the exact same to player, which mean like in terms of how they
59:03
carry themselves. And so, yeah, yeah, watch this
59:07
space, I suppose, with Calvin Ramsey.
59:09
I mean I'd I'd prefer Tyranny playing it right back then.
59:12
Ralston. That's how lowly I rate Ralston
59:15
I think. In a Scotland, surely?
59:16
Better. You'll generally better when he
59:18
came on against. Yeah, yeah.
59:20
I mean, yeah, I think Ralston for Scotland's been woeful even
59:23
at the EUR. I think people say he was
59:25
scapegoated, but I think he just he just had some pure
59:27
performances. Yeah, it'll be interesting to
59:30
see kind of who can get themselves back fit because
59:35
we've got a lot of injury prone fullbacks tyranny.
59:37
Nathan Patterson was obviously supposed to be the next big
59:39
thing. He says he's had his issues with
59:41
injuries as well. Calvin Ramsay, Max Johnson,
59:45
seems like he's had a few injuries now.
59:48
So yeah, it's the starting spot. Will go go to whoever can
59:51
actually keep themselves fit. I just hopefully, hopefully hope
59:56
that's a strong squad that we announced that will be coming
59:58
out. Next Tuesday it should be given
1:00:02
up with two weeks to the game. They've not actually released
1:00:04
any of the tickets information yet for the games and for the
1:00:07
game in Athens even for this got on the way.
1:00:09
And so that's the game I'm hoping to get them getting quite
1:00:12
twitchy about that one thing if you.
1:00:14
Go. You could go back to Athens film
1:00:16
for a bit of redemption. I was honestly thinking about
1:00:18
because me and James were talking about going as well,
1:00:22
because you're already in Budapest.
1:00:24
Is that right, James? I'm on.
1:00:25
I'm going there with my girlfriends as a tactical break
1:00:28
because I think flights are, believe it or not, often is
1:00:32
actually quite a hard place to get to in terms of flights.
1:00:34
There's not. Many it's really bad.
1:00:36
Yeah, the prices just show up. So I'm taking a week to a
1:00:40
romantic break in Budapest and. Then.
1:00:45
On the Friday I'm getting a 20 LB flight on top.
1:00:48
Yeah, I mean, if I can find the cheap flight, if I can find the
1:00:51
cheap flight and it drops to my points, then I'll I'll be out
1:00:54
there. But I will not be doing any of
1:00:56
the the hikes up to the Cropolis again.
1:01:00
I mean, I might do it for good luck.
1:01:02
It served me well when I was out in March.
1:01:04
So anyway, that's like I said, I Scotland, big Scotland games
1:01:08
coming up next month. We'll be talking a lot about
1:01:10
that in the coming weeks. I've been speaking to the guests
1:01:14
we had on for our two opposition analysis episodes with Denmark
1:01:18
with talk and Stephen who came on to talk to us about Greece.
1:01:22
Going to get them back on hopefully.
1:01:23
Should be really good. So look out for those podcasts
1:01:26
coming up soon. One more thing before we leave
1:01:29
you again, I'll just ask. Please drop us a rating.
1:01:31
Whatever you listen to your podcast, be at Spotify or
1:01:35
whatever discover. So you thumbs up or whatever
1:01:37
metric that has for showing your appreciation, please do so.
1:01:40
A lot of hard work goes into the pages and running this and a lot
1:01:45
more come in your way soon. So fun.
1:01:48
Thanks for coming on. Been great chatting to you.
1:01:50
Cheers mate, good to be back on. And Adam as well, hopefully next
1:01:54
time we speak to you just as happy.
1:01:56
Always made, always happy to regardless, regardless of the
1:02:00
hot stuff always happened to the pod.
1:02:03
Nice one. Well, thanks very much and we'll
1:02:05
catch you in the next one. Take care guys.