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Scottish Premiership Split and Steve Clarke's 55-Man Super Squad · Scots With A Mic

0:00
Hello and welcome back to the Scott Smite Podcast.
0:04
My name is James Scott. I'm joined by Finn Crocker.
0:06
Finn it's been a couple of weeks since we've been on the mics,
0:09
but we're back now. Yeah, it's been a while, but
0:11
it's good to be back in a new set, a new studio.
0:15
Obviously a bit different to the one that the video viewers are
0:20
are used to, but not bad I don't think.
0:23
I know it's scrub up well. Scrubs up well, Yeah, we've
0:27
been, like I said, we've been away.
0:28
We've missed our a couple of things, had the Scotland
0:31
doubleheader that we've not had a chance to talk about, but it's
0:34
a bit annoying now to be going back to discuss that.
0:37
But we do have Premiership action returning, we've got the
0:40
post fixtures split, post post split fixtures even and that's
0:46
caused a bit of debate. Also got the Premiership table
0:48
final six, top and bottom have been confirmed and a couple
0:52
other dealings in the the Championship, League One and
0:55
League Two that I've caught at eye.
0:56
So good to discuss all them. But first of all, Finn spotted
1:00
the bottle up there, something I've not seen before.
1:02
Do you want to talk to us about? That Yeah, just a bit of news
1:04
before we jump right into the action.
1:06
I think may or may not have noticed the El Dorado lovely
1:10
bottle looking very beautiful on our shelves as well as the wee
1:14
bag there. So moving forward, Eldorado will
1:17
be sponsoring and and helping support the podcast and the the
1:21
Scottish football content that we bring to you.
1:23
So just before we get into a big thank you to Eldorado for their
1:28
their support. Yeah, big summer and yeah.
1:31
Yeah, big summer coming up and. We need to live fuel.
1:33
We need to write fuel if. If you need fuel wherever you
1:36
are in Scotland, if you're if you want to sneak it over you go
1:39
ahead. Is it over?
1:41
Is it banned in the states? Well, it's got caffeine in it,
1:43
so you can't buy it there. But yeah, it's the it's the
1:46
drink for Scottish football fans.
1:47
So thank you very much for El Dorado and we can jump jump
1:50
right into it. No, definitely right first up,
1:54
Premiership. Yeah, a lot of talk to, a lot to
1:56
talk about. Top and bottom sex confirmed.
1:59
So Hearts currently at the summit at the table and then
2:01
Celtic Rangers, Motherwell, just I had abs and then Balkirk make
2:07
up that top 6 come to the bottom of us all the others United
2:11
Aberdeen, Setman, Kelly Livingston, Dundee on the order.
2:16
But but yeah, no, it's a bad debate around the fixture split,
2:20
though. Obviously hearts not getting
2:22
game at Tynecastle for the final game of the season despite being
2:26
top and also Rangers been say I think they said it's the first
2:29
time 2nd and 1st place. I've not had a finishing game at
2:33
home and I still have to go third.
2:36
Well, the only one are the only ones who can lift the title as
2:39
champions at their home ground. If it was that the final game,
2:42
it might well do. Yeah, you'd expect, Oh well, you
2:45
don't want to speak too soon, but you'd expect it to, to
2:48
potentially go to the final game with how tight it is, obviously.
2:50
Yeah, I'd be shocked if anyone pulled away from the back at
2:53
this. Point.
2:53
I mean, those six pointers can have big swings, but you know,
2:58
I'd expected to go at least the second final day, if not the
3:00
final day. Yeah, yeah.
3:02
So hi Hearts at Celtic Park, Rangers will be at Falkirk.
3:08
Falkirk Community Stadium I think.
3:10
Yeah, so I mean it's it's going to be a wild day, that one,
3:13
yeah, Hearts fans in Glasgow, Celtic fans in Glasgow,
3:15
helicopter Sunday, yeah and all apartment, maybe 7-8 hundred
3:19
Rangers fans. All the Rangers support will
3:21
also be in Glasgow so. Yeah, powder keg.
3:25
Could you imagine the scenes though of Hearts went at Celtic
3:27
Park? I mean, they start to worry
3:32
about Hearts because they seem to be on a bit of wobble.
3:34
But I mean, we'll jump straight onto their result yesterday and
3:38
Sunday. At the time I record in big win.
3:41
Motherwell obviously kind of going off the boil about
3:44
themselves looked an entertaining game.
3:47
Motherwell to the leads. Hearts equalized and then a
3:50
couple of good chances, but Hearts get a pain away That
3:53
seems to have caused a bit of debate that we'll discuss.
3:55
And then obviously they got their goal later on to make it
3:58
31. So yeah, they've got, not saying
4:02
they're on a wobble, but you know they're in a good place now
4:04
going into the splat one behind them and Celtic and Rangers
4:08
always are backing up their wins too.
4:11
Yeah, obviously there's there's there's been a bit of debate
4:13
about the penalty. It's if it goes either way, you
4:17
you could debate that. I think it's one of those we
4:19
were talking about it before the pod where if it's given you, you
4:23
don't argue. If it's not given, you don't
4:25
argue. Like it's, I mean.
4:27
Either way, yeah, upset about it.
4:28
Because realistically, I mean, if you've not seen it, go and
4:31
see it because you'll see why it's called such a debate.
4:34
There's a sort of scuffle in the box.
4:36
I can't remember the boy's name. Charter.
4:38
Yeah. Drops to the ground and the ball
4:42
is coming down on top of him. And he, while lying on the
4:45
ground, tries to nod the ball. And Steven Welsh goes to kick
4:50
the ball. A real state, a player, you
4:53
know, in terms like endangering opponents or themselves.
4:57
And they're included in that if they they're, you know, they're
5:00
in a compromised position, such as on the ground.
5:02
And you know, you know, you folk talk about high feet, you know,
5:06
kicking on the head. Flashback that London Dicks goal
5:09
against Israel. I think it.
5:10
Was obviously that's what the rule rules there for if the
5:13
players on the ground. They shouldn't be trying to
5:15
head. It they shouldn't be trying to
5:16
head it because they are endangering themselves.
5:17
I think the debate comes to whether I mean what you question
5:23
is he has broken the rules by trying to head of the ball.
5:27
Stephen Welsh has broken the rules by kicking.
5:30
Putting the ball in the face. Putting the ball in the head,
5:31
Yeah. If he doesn't attempt to head
5:34
the ball, the ball is still kind of dropping into his head area.
5:37
And this is where I kind of feel it's possibly not a penalty
5:40
because I don't want people going to slaughter him if this.
5:42
But, like, if he hadn't attended the head of the ball and Steve
5:45
Welsh kick some penalty. Yeah.
5:48
Because, like, the guy realistically can't move.
5:50
He's not attempting to play the ball.
5:52
Steven Welsh, you know, doesn't take the cares, you know,
5:55
doesn't as a you know, as a player, you've got an obligation
5:57
to look after other sportsmen If you catch someone hit that point
6:01
foul. But the fact he he's put.
6:03
Himself in the danger area. Yeah, well, like, not he's
6:06
already in there, but like, he, he still makes, he makes
6:10
conscious effort to still engage with the ball.
6:13
And I think for me it's such a great area.
6:16
But like, I mean, it ended up being a very decisive moment in
6:21
the game. Yeah, because obviously that's
6:25
that's a massive win for Hearts, one that was really important,
6:28
especially after after the slip of against Livingston.
6:30
Yeah. And you know, Motherwell played
6:35
probably better in in that game at Tynecastle.
6:38
If you look at the XG. If you look at the all the
6:41
stats. I've not seen much of the
6:42
highlights from the games have lost.
6:44
I kind of didn't know what to expect going into watching this
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one. But they looked good.
6:49
I mean, their goal was a lovely bit of play.
6:50
You know, the boy picks the ball up deep, nice bit of skill to
6:53
turn play the ball forward out wide back post perhaps.
6:56
And you know, it's a it's a lovely goal.
6:58
And you know, there was also another nice bit of play from
7:01
Mash when he say he picks up the ball, drops a little bit, but
7:04
takes a heavy touch round the defender and you know, that's
7:08
the score he has to score. He he actually beats, you know,
7:11
he beats the defender again, beats the heart's defence again
7:14
when he like sort of chops across.
7:15
A bit too much. You know, he opens up some
7:17
perfectly. He gets himself into a situation
7:19
where, you know, 9 times a 10 most strikers score that
7:22
especially him. Yeah, no, the most 17.
7:24
Score in the league. 17 goals a season, Yeah, Yeah.
7:26
So I mean, obviously and that seventeen goals when that comes
7:29
off the back of maybe a slight, not a drought, but like, he's
7:33
not yeah, he was. He was.
7:34
Far he was far and away the top scorer.
7:36
I think he's like, you know, him and Motherwell have had a bit of
7:39
different form, you know, I think it's ever since.
7:41
Was it Celtic at Celtic Park? Yeah.
7:44
Where, you know, people were starting to question maybe.
7:47
It's it's a. 4 horse, it's a four horse race.
7:50
And then obviously that game happened and they and they lost.
7:53
And I think it's been a bit, I don't know if spiral is the
7:56
right word, but you know, it's been a bit of a of a downwards
7:59
trend and they've not really been able to pick themselves up
8:02
from that. Yeah, but yeah, he's been an
8:05
amazing striker. 9 times out of 10 he scores that.
8:07
Yeah, so I mean, you like, and that's again, that's one of the
8:11
that's one of the moments of the game where, you know, it's
8:13
almost like sliding doors, like he scores that mother
8:16
potentially going to win. Harsh are in real trouble.
8:18
Yeah. You know, they're no longer top
8:20
of the league. But then you know he doesn't
8:23
score squat and get pen away and then you know that's that's how
8:27
he ends up. That's it.
8:28
Yeah, I mean, I think it's about the narrative as well.
8:33
I think you've you've, you may, you might have heard some Hearts
8:36
fans saying this. I think Adam from Gorky Talk
8:40
said that the last time he was on the podcast as well, where,
8:43
you know, these these wins where they might have not been the
8:45
best team, but they're still grinding out the three points.
8:49
A lot of people tend to jump on that and say, oh, you know,
8:51
they're lucky. Yeah, it can't keep going on
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like this. But if it was Celtic or Rangers,
8:56
you might look at it differently and think, oh, you know, that's
8:59
a sign of champions, yeah, you know, getting these results in
9:01
the hard moments. And it's funny, that was
9:03
actually something Derek Mcinister was asked about before
9:05
the game, you know, because it has become a talking point, the
9:08
one that wins, yeah, that you don't grinding stuff out.
9:10
And I think it was just quite funny at the end of the game of
9:13
Hearts running 31 victors and at Celtic, who almost sort of
9:16
grinding out a victory at the park against St.
9:18
Mirren. It's just funny, you know?
9:20
Oxley Chamberlain, Yeah. Yeah, good.
9:22
I mean he also got an hour ago but it was offside.
9:24
But yeah, but no, just to touch on, before we got in the Celtic
9:27
game, I mean we had comments from Derek Mccannas and he said,
9:30
you know, in terms of Mother Bell they have been one of the
9:33
best teams in the league in terms of exciting play.
9:35
He went and causes a bit of anxiety with their speed.
9:37
But I thought our shape was good and we shaded the first half.
9:41
We went down one nil. We had a lot of work to do, but
9:44
importantly we stayed calm. Once he even said himself.
9:46
So I wasn't sure about the penalty, but everyone's telling
9:49
me it was 1 so and he's been kicked in the head.
9:51
So, you know, that's how it goes.
9:55
Yeah, they've they, you know, he played give credit to his
9:58
players he went with, managed to be a good team by digging deep
10:01
and showed the motivation. Fans stayed well as well.
10:04
And it's easy, you know, you could feel for the fans back
10:07
because like, there's a lot in the line here and I think
10:10
anxiety has been probably building over the last couple of
10:12
weeks. You know, my one of my
10:14
colleagues finally came right into the the line sort of
10:18
talking going, you know, we can win this.
10:21
And when I met him last week, he was back to going, no, I don't
10:23
think we went. We've just we've not got we've
10:25
just not got enough to go in this final stretch against the
10:28
big teams. But no, the fans of us backed
10:30
them to help. 31 What victory in the end asked who said it took
10:34
us 1015 minutes to decide how to deal with hearts tactics.
10:37
And from there we thought we got more and more control of the
10:40
game. They had their moments,
10:42
especially in set plays, but in the second-half we started
10:44
bright and took control and created moments we and created
10:47
moments when we had to, he said. I thought we were the better
10:51
team and we didn't take the moments we had.
10:56
Yeah, you, you can't really argue with that.
10:59
I think you've, I've, I've also heard a few murmurs.
11:01
I think it comes around every year about this time about, you
11:05
know, how good would it be with with a league reconstruction
11:09
moving potentially from from 12 teams to to something like 16.
11:14
And I think that would reduce the amount of times you play the
11:17
Celtic and Rangers from, you know, potentially 4 in the
11:21
league down to two. Yeah.
11:23
And I think, you know, that I'd create a lot more variability
11:27
with title races. We've always had this one this
11:29
year, but this is the first and God knows how long where it's
11:34
went down to the wire. Obviously Aberdeen were were
11:37
there in abouts until December last year and that was the first
11:40
time in a while it had even gone that far.
11:42
Yeah. And if you reduce the amount of
11:44
times you play these, you know, the Old Firm down to two, well,
11:48
4 total instead of eight, it halfs the amount of points that
11:53
that's at stake. Because obviously if you, if you
11:55
lose all 80 points and that's, you know, 24 points gone
12:02
already. If you only play them four
12:04
times, that gets reduced into 12, which is such a a much
12:07
smaller gap. That's why Celtic Rangers don't
12:09
want that to change though. Exactly.
12:11
Exactly. Well, that's why I'm not saying
12:13
they don't want it. I'm not putting words in the
12:14
mouth. But like, if you were to be,
12:16
they vote against you to be cynical.
12:18
Like you've said, there's a clear benefit for other teams if
12:22
they don't have to play selling Rangers multiple times.
12:24
So yeah, interesting. But no, it's it's it is going to
12:29
be good to agree with that. I can't, I can't wait to see how
12:32
this is going to play out even. I mean, they'll be
12:34
disappointing. I mean, I think I speak for a
12:35
lot of Scottish football fans. It'd be nice to see status quo
12:38
change. Even if it doesn't, it's still
12:41
going to be entertaining. It's still going to be good for
12:42
Scottish football and hopefully it's something that we're not
12:45
just this isn't just a flash in the pan from Hearts and it will
12:47
be something we can see seasons going on into the future.
12:50
And, and if you're, you know, cast your minds back to just a
12:53
bit before this season started when when Tony Bloom first came
12:58
into hearts and he said. 10 years. 10 years if if hearts
13:01
don't win in in 10 years, I'll be disappointed and everyone
13:04
laughed them they generally was you know there was a bit of well
13:08
that's quite ambitious, but a lot of people went not a chance
13:11
you. Think I heard it and I was like,
13:13
I don't know, I I wasn't able to film with this game to like the
13:16
level of fight I knew like Brian and stuff like.
13:19
Well, yeah, you do question like it's one thing seeing it.
13:23
Obviously, obviously, like people that know about Tony
13:25
Bloom and know about, you know, how successful he's been with
13:28
Brighton and and Union St. and Belgium, yeah, would maybe take
13:32
more notice of it. But if, you know, you're a
13:34
casual and you see this guy coming to a club and he's going,
13:37
yeah, we're going to win the league in the next 10 years when
13:39
the one's done it since 1984, then, you know, are you really
13:45
going to take him seriously? I don't know, I think a lot of
13:47
people were laughing at him, but fair play.
13:49
Yeah, and I think Scottishable has had his fair share of people
13:51
coming in going, oh, we're going to, you know, shake.
13:54
Yeah, like false promises. Yeah, well.
13:56
There's been so many. Yeah, so so he said we'll Celtic
14:00
first, obviously, like we said, I mean, I mean Martin O'Neill
14:04
said he was a bit concerned with the energy levels from his
14:06
players. I mean, it was just a one that
14:09
when they grinded out against him and that offside goal.
14:13
But I mean, I don't know how much that man really threatened
14:16
them to be honest. But from the highlights, I think
14:21
it's fair to say Celtic didn't look at their best.
14:26
I was, you know, they just, it was weird as you think Hearts
14:33
are maybe dropping off a bit, Hearts back up again and Celtic
14:36
scraping past that man. Although they have been a team
14:38
that's given Celtic about a bowl of season in the cup final, you
14:41
never know really how that plays on players, how they approach a
14:44
game and seven man players are trying to recover from moving on
14:49
from Steve Robinson. Don't know how that affect
14:52
effects things. Yeah, I mean, I didn't see the
14:56
game. I was unfortunately watching
14:58
Kilmarnock versus Dundee which will get onto the VAR decision
15:01
or not decision more. When the decision.
15:04
Was was incredible. But staying on Celtic for the
15:09
moment, yeah, from what I've seen of the highlights, it
15:12
didn't look, I don't know if it didn't look comfortable, but it.
15:16
Didn't look comfortable. Yeah, it was.
15:17
It wasn't. It wasn't.
15:19
It wasn't an emphatic when and there's not been many of those
15:23
under under Martin O'Neill in the second interim spell in the
15:27
league anyway. And you know, we've been
15:30
probably saying it for two months now.
15:32
You can't keep graded out these one the wins, but they are.
15:36
But you do wonder if they're going to be able to, to do that
15:40
against Hearts, Motherwell, Rangers, even Falkirk and Hibs
15:45
maybe. I don't, I don't think Celtic
15:50
are are in a position to to be favourites at this stage.
15:53
I think it for, for me anyway, it comes down to Hearts or
15:57
Rangers and obviously those six pointers between those two will
16:03
be will be massive. Yeah, and they said like they're
16:07
going to have to potentially deck out results.
16:09
I mean, even Martin O'Neill said he's like similar heart control
16:12
of all a second-half. We just had to dig in, grind out
16:15
the result. It's.
16:18
Not what Celtic fans want to hear though.
16:19
No, no, it's not that, you know, But is it?
16:22
It's just where they are. It's just a reflection of where
16:24
that team is at right now. I mean, what's the quality in
16:27
there, You know, Negrams, the second got top goal scorer in
16:30
the league. It's got 15 goals.
16:34
Yeah. It's, it's, it's going to be
16:35
interesting to see who drops the first points of this split
16:39
because it'll really test their mail because you know when
16:44
Celtic, Celtic and Rangers is at the in the middle, isn't it?
16:48
Yeah, I think it's third game. Yeah, if I'm almost, I mean I've
16:53
not looked in depth at the the post split fixtures of an
16:57
Aberdeen fan. You've got your.
17:00
Own no the the I was about to say the relegation split is more
17:03
important for me than than the top split, but yeah, I think
17:07
it's in the middle. Yeah, I mean, I think, I think
17:09
speaking from Celtic, Hearts is going to the last game of
17:13
season. You I think someone's going to
17:14
be on on the cards. Yeah, Hearts fans of, I mean,
17:18
like the guys I spoke to are quite concerned about the Hibs
17:21
game. Yeah.
17:23
They feel like that's where points could be dropped and it's
17:25
not. You said, isn't it?
17:27
It's a Easter Rd. hips have. Run hips are going to be so up
17:31
for they're. Well, for especially the and
17:32
they've run them close. They have run them close so far
17:34
this season. So interesting to see how that
17:35
plays out. But yeah, I mean, like like
17:38
Rangers, the other team, they're in the top three within, you
17:41
know, going in this top the splat.
17:43
So obviously you mentioned they're not exactly emphatic
17:46
when the Celtic wanted at Celtic Park against Simone, but at
17:51
Fokker Stadium. I don't know if if you was harsh
17:54
not to call 63 an emphatic one for Rangers, but.
17:58
They had to work for. Yeah, they had to.
17:59
They were two nil down. It was certainly like, I mean,
18:02
Hearts fans must have been very intrigued by how that first half
18:06
was going. You know, at one point a little
18:07
Dave Fokker were going to pick up a massive win against
18:11
Rangers. Not the first time they've got a
18:12
result against them. Or at least the Rangers drop
18:14
points. Yeah, at least they'll drop
18:15
point even if they came back to. Especially yeah two nil down
18:18
you're well tunnel Fokker tunnel up hearts fans are looking the
18:21
lips thinking you know even if they come back and score to 2.2
18:25
points dropped yeah you know a bit more of a lead going into
18:27
the split but now we're. Playing the ball about well, I
18:30
mean, I watched a good part of the game and I mean I'm off as a
18:34
as a refund. I'll number the players in that
18:38
Folkert side used to play for their overs and Brad Spencer
18:40
watching him stroke the ball about.
18:41
He's a good player. He's and you know, the folk
18:43
would really, you know, they weren't just defending their
18:47
lead. They were just stroking the ball
18:49
about and you know, certain half just like, you know, walking
18:53
about the patch instead of just like, you know, sideways passes.
18:56
So it it it looked by all means that Rangers had a real game on
18:58
their hand and all changed in a moment when Rangers were not
19:04
long before half time attacking crosses put in.
19:07
Now the soccer players stop and appeal for the by CAC as the
19:10
cross goes over the goal, potentially behind the goal
19:14
referee and Lionel don't stop playing balls nodded back into
19:17
the six yard box and it's slashed home.
19:21
So and like in a second it's 21. Suddenly Rangers just need one
19:24
goal and then you've got the whole second-half to go and find
19:27
it. They end up going to find five.
19:29
Yeah, which is crazy. Obviously that one just pour
19:32
half time and then second, second-half, they came out
19:35
absolute firing and I think it was three goals and 11 minutes,
19:39
four goals and 16 something crazy like 3-4 goals and 19
19:43
something like that. Yeah, yeah, there's 4752 and 58.
19:47
Your your good friend Miowski. Get in.
19:50
On that, yeah. Yeah, Chimi Miowski got two.
19:54
Well, Chimi got two. It was Raskin with the other one
19:57
and then it was Chigwani in the first half.
20:01
Yeah, obviously Bulker did get it back to 4/3 at one point.
20:06
Yeah, from the spot. Good penalty.
20:09
I thought it was a good penalty. My dad said I wasn't but.
20:11
Goal and assists for him as well.
20:13
Yeah, I'm not. It's good going.
20:14
You know, obviously John McGlynn talking about him and and how he
20:17
could be an asset to Scotland's squads.
20:20
I don't think he'll he'll get the call up.
20:22
I don't think he's even in contention, unfortunately, but
20:25
he's a really good player. He's going back because he was.
20:28
You're not like pronunciated. You're probably way too young to
20:31
remember this, but there was a time when I was when I was at
20:34
high school. Calvin Miller was included in an
20:39
article that he was like deemed to be a kind of his top 20 young
20:44
footballers in the world, you know, and it's just, it was just
20:47
a point to see the way his career sort of tailed off.
20:49
You never really, you know, even Celtic, he never really hit any
20:51
heights and. Now Celtic fans want him back.
20:54
Yeah. Well, yeah, it's crazy.
20:56
But he usually, because he was a striker by then.
20:58
Yeah, he was a striker. And then, you know, basically he
21:00
seems to have worked out. He's now, you know, I mean, I
21:02
remember, I remember watching him for this, got into it.
21:05
Anyone's hoping that he was just going to kick on and it's never
21:07
happened and he's playing well, but I just let you sit when
21:10
you're staying there. About John Mcglenn happened on
21:11
1st Scotland Co-op. In terms of the Scotland squad,
21:15
I don't know. I just want to think about
21:17
options. Then they cut us, actually.
21:19
Yeah, we're not that strong in his area, obviously.
21:21
He definitely makes the 55 man squad, the initial the initial
21:24
55 man squad that Clark has to draft up we.
21:26
Can go through a full 55 later on in the podcast.
21:29
Yeah, we'll cover that at the end, but I just, I don't know, I
21:33
think was it 26 man for the World Cup?
21:36
Yeah. And then obviously the initial
21:38
55 that Clark cast a name that I don't think that will go public
21:42
though. No, not at all.
21:43
Which is, you know. I think some of the players
21:45
won't even know they're in it. No, I doubt it.
21:47
Yeah, but players don't know until the squad released, you
21:50
know? I mean usually sometimes like
21:51
they wait and see it getting released on there unless they
21:53
get a wee text or something can. Move on to Championship.
21:56
Yeah. Yeah, Johnston picked up a big
22:00
win. Three points closer.
22:02
Obviously. Partick Thistle also picked up a
22:04
good one. You know, there was a point
22:08
where part of this were kind of closing the gap on Saint
22:10
Johnstone. But I think now it's probably
22:13
the league now that is is the the most predictable for Who
22:17
Will Win the league, I think St. Johnstone.
22:19
Three games, I have 5 point gap. Yeah, I mean.
22:23
I can't see part. Of this asking drawn that back,
22:25
yeah, part if I saw. Asking from a lot, for a lot of
22:28
favours. Yeah.
22:28
From, you know, like the Rovers. I've got St.
22:31
Johnstone on Friday night to Friday's time.
22:36
Yeah, I think they've, I've got a feeling they've got a roof as
22:38
well. Yeah, I would take that, but.
22:41
Yeah, obviously the Rover has also got a big win.
22:44
Dougie Emery with a well not he didn't score it, but obviously
22:48
Dougie Emery's wrath. Rovers side with a a late winner
22:52
against this former team Greenock Morton.
22:55
As Ian Murray, X-ray manager in charge, of course, like some
22:58
weird episode of Football Wife Swap.
23:00
They're like, yeah, yeah. Robert, I forgot he was the
23:03
manager and I. Yeah, it was a weird game.
23:06
The Rovers kind of I felt we controlled most of the first
23:09
half. Didn't really didn't really get
23:14
questioned too much about Morton apart from the one chance they
23:17
really had where they I mean, it was an absolutely.
23:20
But scored two, didn't they? In the first half though, Oh
23:23
yeah, like it was a crazy good, like the strike, it was Cameron
23:26
Blues, like you know, isn't even postage stamp level at top
23:31
corner. It was like even farther at the
23:32
top corner. Josh Ray really had no chance.
23:36
But I had confidence in the team in the second-half that we could
23:38
come back and get the lead, not even draw it like going to win
23:43
because we had been dominating and died. 2 penalties
23:47
potentially from the referee and then but we did get the goals we
23:51
needed. We're kind of exposed to Morton
23:55
getting you know one goal lead at that point and wanted to come
23:57
back and make it 22 but we managed to get LA one.
24:00
I think for the Rovers that's I think I mean we're completely
24:05
clear to 10th. 9th would require some sort of level of
24:09
compatulation from us. Our away form has been dire.
24:13
The last only problem for the Rovers we're the worst team in
24:15
the league for away form, like even Morrison County, which is
24:19
pretty surprising. Yeah, obviously that's nine
24:22
point gap now between you and 9th place Airdrie and it looks
24:26
like Ross Kent, you're heading towards back-to-back relegations
24:29
after their loss to Queens Park. Was it?
24:32
Yeah, well now on the Friday night fixture, Aidan Conley with
24:35
three header apparently. How many points adrift are they
24:38
now? Just a 2, but Airdrie has a game
24:41
in hand on them. Yes, and I mean Ross County's
24:44
final games against Air Morton and the Rovers, I mean.
24:50
Some winnable games in there, but yeah, with how bad they've
24:53
been the whole season, you you don't find some in any game
24:57
really. No, I mean I was kept to record
24:59
it was a 61 pumping, yes. And it's crazy because obviously
25:03
at the start of the season, if I'm not mistaken, they were
25:07
bookies favourites for the championship.
25:09
They looked like they were thrown about more money than St.
25:11
Johnstone and they looked like they were the ones recruiting
25:14
more aggressively. I had the new league campaign
25:18
both off the backer allegation and it's just not, I mean, it's
25:21
it is, I mean there's not there's not hitting heights
25:25
expected and then there's what's happened that.
25:27
I mean it's crazy, like the money they've spent compared to
25:31
you know, someone like an Arbroath who are still semi
25:32
perot I think who are in and about the playoffs now.
25:37
Yeah, Arbroath are on 47 points one point again.
25:41
I had it done Fairmont but not got.
25:44
They're one game ahead of them, though, and they're eight points
25:48
ahead a riff. Although my dad was trying to
25:50
convince me that the Rovers can steal a playoff place if I mean
25:55
I love. His That's his Rover's heart on.
25:57
I love his optimism, but like I was saying, I.
25:59
Don't see that about I. Mean our roof does have a quite
26:03
a difficult run and they've got they have got unfair 1 the
26:07
Rovers and Partick. The Partick if they want to put
26:10
a squeeze on Saint Johnson will look to win that.
26:13
The firmly are looking to leapfrog Arbroath and Arbroath's
26:15
not been in the best form of late.
26:17
You know, 3 losses on the goal, now on a trot.
26:20
How many? Points behind them are you?
26:24
We ate behind them, but we've got to play them and we've got a
26:26
game in hand on them, so yeah, we've played.
26:30
Them and then from. We've played them next weekend,
26:33
Yeah. Then this is like,
26:34
hypothetically for words, man speaking, but we're playing them
26:37
next weekend. If we beat Queen Spark in the
26:39
week and we beat them next weekend, but only two points off
26:41
them. With a game in hand?
26:43
No, that's the game in hand. Level on games so.
26:46
You'd need them firmly to slip up as well though, right?
26:48
No. Well, if you have done firmly
26:50
and beat our roof, they got above our growth and then we
26:53
would need to win our final games and probably get a point
26:56
against Johnston. But I mean, because air is in
26:59
the same point as US 59. But air, I've got their own
27:02
problems right now. Yeah, I mean they're they're
27:04
nine points ahead. The air, which again there's I
27:08
can't see anything there. Airdrie realistically, when we
27:10
have ambitions of catching Morton, I feel this point here
27:12
are 6 points ahead and they've got a game in handle more than
27:16
at least. But I mean, it's going to be
27:17
it's going to be an interesting end to the Championship season.
27:20
It's definitely, I think, where people should be looking at that
27:22
table is the bottom, not the top.
27:23
Yeah, I think as we said previously, the title looks more
27:28
set than than any other divisions, but relegation is
27:32
still very much exciting. So I think we can move one
27:36
further down to League One, Yeah, where the title race was.
27:41
At OCO view. Yeah, OCO View, obviously Stanny
27:44
kind of surprise contenders after going up two seasons ago
27:50
from League 2 and they've been, you know, in and around 1st
27:54
place the whole season. Obviously leapfrogged Inverness
27:58
Cali I think a couple weeks ago, maybe a month ago now.
28:02
And I've stayed there since on a big point for them with a late
28:07
penalty, I think 82nd minute, yeah, which was very dubious.
28:11
I think even more dubious than than the Hearts penalty that we
28:14
mentioned earlier. I don't think there's a penalty.
28:18
I think it's it's a big decision.
28:20
But Steny fans won't mind. I think they'll be happy to take
28:24
that. Two points ahead and Inverness
28:26
going into their final. Obviously Inverness with the
28:29
game in hand though, I think. Yeah, three-game.
28:31
Yeah, Inverness. I've got four games before the
28:34
end of the season. Steny just only got 3 to play.
28:37
But I mean, yeah, that's maybe incredible because like,
28:41
Inverness came with resources and like, off the back of their
28:45
relegation and things like that. Standard to me.
28:48
I'm pretty sure they're still part time under Gary Naismith.
28:52
If you look further than the table in League One as well,
28:55
it's just as tight than the bomb, obviously.
28:57
Hamilton Aki's three points above Celtic Hearts at the
29:01
bottom, which is what, 2 points, 2 points, which is quite
29:05
remarkable given they've been deducted 21 in total, I think.
29:09
And they got initial 15 and then our initial 6th and another 15
29:12
or other way around. And they're still fighting for
29:15
survival. They are returning to Hamilton.
29:18
I don't know if you've seen that for next season.
29:21
They are Douglas Park. Returning to New Douglas Park,
29:23
which is, you know, really good news for the fans who have been
29:27
through. I can imagine getting this place
29:29
like that. Yeah, a lot to Broadwood,
29:32
obviously. I think they've been all over in
29:36
in recent years. I thought as a stadium, I think
29:38
I'm fair, Broadwood. Well, I'm sure Hamilton fans
29:41
will prefer no part. So I'm just saying if I was
29:44
going to watch, if I was having to go and watch Hamlin players
29:47
and away supporter, I think broad would be my preference.
29:50
But yes, it was quite still. Yeah, I think there has been
29:54
plans to develop a ground. I'm not sure where that is.
29:56
I think you might have read rather Glen, maybe I.
29:59
Thought rather Glen someone I saw because I mean, I grew up in
30:02
Google Maps. Because obviously there was, you
30:04
know, they just swapped stadiums.
30:07
I remember going to Aberdeen versus Clyde in the Scottish Cup
30:11
and going to New Douglas Park and I and I want.
30:15
To take off a new stadium when they move.
30:17
It yeah, yeah. So no, it'll be good for
30:20
Hamilton fans to return back to to their actual stadium just.
30:26
Depends if it'll be. In and the two or league.
30:28
They'll be hoping it's in League One.
30:29
Yeah, moving on to League 2 now I think Title race still really
30:34
tight. They're both teams slipping up
30:36
though. East Kilbride losing to four fur
30:40
Spartans and Spartans losing to Sonora.
30:43
So yeah, it's a it's a game of who wants to win it more.
30:46
I think neither of them are picking up the results they they
30:49
wanted that weekend. Especially the title races all
30:52
over the, you know, in each league apart from the
30:54
championship like you said. Yeah, I mean, even like up until
30:58
a couple of weeks ago it was Premiership, Championship,
31:00
League One, League 2 low and League and the High end league,
31:03
all you know, titles completely open, obviously.
31:09
Highland. League is now decided.
31:11
I mean it just finished there the weekend like this weekend,
31:15
but it was kind of decided and the effection between Beacon and
31:21
Rora that you know, first and second up against each other
31:24
Rora 2 one winners there. Yeah.
31:26
You know, I think they would have to have lost in some crazy
31:30
situation would had to card with Beacons when for that deficit to
31:33
be overtime in terms of yeah, but they drew at the weekend.
31:37
They ended up winning the league by one point yeah, they go into
31:40
the Premier League playoff pediment to get into League 2.
31:44
So congratulations to brew Rangers.
31:46
I've got a pile up Brodaway actually, so.
31:48
There you go. Show it to him.
31:49
Whoever. Yeah.
31:50
What's his name? Campbell.
31:51
There you go. Are.
31:53
You getting mine this year actually.
31:54
Oh well, there you go. I'll be going up for that, so.
31:56
So there you go, Broda will Well, they'll face either Lunska
32:01
Rose or Clydebank. Obviously.
32:03
Luska Rose beat Clydebank 4/1 was it?
32:06
Yeah 41 which is a massive 1 leapfrogging them to the top of
32:10
the table. I think they played Bonnie Rae
32:11
Glass game in season. Well, yeah, going into going
32:14
into the the weekend's fixtures, Bonnie and I at the time of
32:18
record, yeah, Bonnie and I grew on 68 when the Gurus were on 69
32:23
and Clydebank won 70. Two points between 2:00.
32:28
Points separating the top. 3 is there.
32:30
On left grow is, you know, 41 Vector is very convinced against
32:33
Clydebank. You know, they're still I mean,
32:35
to be fair, I mean in terms of who I'd like to seen.
32:39
I mean, I've done a couple of posts on the tech talk and
32:42
Instagrams about like lost aims of the past and yeah, kind of
32:45
refreshed me in terms of get up to speak with Clyde Bank story.
32:49
I knew about it, but I had never actually.
32:51
Yeah, personally, I'd prefer Clyde.
32:52
Bank the journey they've gone through the Scottish people
32:55
tiers to get back to this point one step away from the
32:58
professional leagues again yeah their.
33:00
Their whole story of. Yeah.
33:02
Of losing their club really, and having to rebuild.
33:05
Yeah, it'd be a great story. Obviously the world needs Bonnie
33:08
Rig to do them a favour against Alaska Rose.
33:11
Yeah, last game of the season is Clyde Bank of Hope, Caledonia
33:15
Braves. Which should, yeah, you'd expect
33:18
them to to win. As fifth versus second, but I
33:22
mean, Claybank will be home and that and they'll be 1.
33:27
Bonnie Raiku because of their draw at the weekend, means they
33:32
can't really overturn the goal difference.
33:33
A mental final day with that but if they won three horse race
33:36
final day season yeah first versus.
33:39
Second, I think if they won it would it would be much.
33:42
One point. It would really one point in
33:44
that. Yeah, it'd be, it'd be crazy,
33:47
you know, they'd be needing, they'd be needing it to be,
33:50
they'd be needing a draw. Clay Bannon been in a draw in
33:53
that game because any other result would rule them out.
33:56
But body makes draw has kind of ruled them out that now.
33:59
And now they're looking through. Well, Clay Banker, we hope they
34:01
do them a favour. Yeah, well, whoever wins that
34:03
will then go into that playoff against Broad Rangers and then
34:07
whoever wins that will go into the Tigers and Bracelet who have
34:11
been confirmed bottom League 2 only because of their point
34:15
deduction. Stonewalling would be sitting
34:18
bomb at the time of recording if they hadn't got that points
34:21
deduction. So yeah, Edward City, we feeling
34:25
pretty hard done by again there. You know, they've had a pretty
34:30
good season by by their by their expectations at the start of the
34:34
season. So, you know, commiserations to
34:38
them and I think that wraps up everything around the SPFL.
34:42
Yeah. I mean, it's yeah, it felt good
34:44
to go top to bottom there and give a lot of coverage because
34:46
we we do usually talk Premier League, but like I said,
34:49
Highland League when I was broader, we've got an interest
34:52
into the season the only. We don't just watch the
34:54
Premiership, I promise. I would love to have gone up for
34:58
that. We had talked about going on
35:00
trying to cover the Aurora region game, but it was midweek.
35:03
Yeah, it just, you know, full time job and full time shouldn't
35:07
kind of be everyone going that one.
35:10
Yeah. So that covers league stuff,
35:14
Scotland, it's only going to get worse as.
35:17
Well, excited every time. Every get excited every time I
35:19
talk about it. I So for the World Cup Steve
35:22
Clark is due to name for FIFA requirements.
35:24
This won't be like a public squad that released.
35:26
He has to name a 55 man squad which is like the preliminary
35:30
national squad that he then packs the final 26 man squad
35:34
from. He did a joke about including
35:37
himself and that he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to
35:39
find 55 players. I've got 55 the.
35:42
Help of my friend has drafted up his 55 man squad.
35:46
I've saved us. I think we'd probably go through
35:48
most of the same players twice, but and just.
35:51
Agree or disagree? Obviously.
35:53
Yeah. Like Jim said, if we both did
35:54
one then we'd probably pick at least 40 of the same players.
35:57
So to spare you the hassle we've just got mine.
36:00
I've got a few rogue names in there and you can tell me if you
36:03
think I've missed any out. So yeah, starting with
36:06
goalkeepers, I've gone for only four Craig Gordon, Angus Gunn,
36:11
Scott Bain and Liam Kelly. Yeah, it makes sense.
36:14
Left backs I've got Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Josh Doig, Harry
36:18
Milne and James Penrice. Can't argue with that, really.
36:23
Yeah, Centre Max. I've got Scott McKenna, John
36:26
Sitter, Jack Kendry, Stuart Finley and Craig Calcott, as
36:30
well as Stephen Welsh. Grant Hanley, who I included
36:34
because I know Steve Clark well. You includes Grant Hanley.
36:38
Yeah, you wouldn't. And if no, in a 55 man squad I
36:42
would. Right.
36:45
And Luke Graham, you. Wouldn't you wouldn't include
36:47
him in the final squad? No, no, he's not been playing
36:51
enough. He's been injured, though.
36:54
Exactly. Yeah, but come the end of the
36:56
season, assuming he's been playing, no, no.
36:58
OK, So it's not whether or not it's not the fact he's not been
37:00
playing enough. You just don't want to squad.
37:01
Don't. Want him in the squad, but
37:05
obviously for what he's done for the national team, for how many
37:07
Cavs? I don't think he gets in a
37:09
minute like that. I think he actually does bring
37:11
someone to the team. I think a lot of people disagree
37:13
with you. I'm fine man.
37:15
Yeah, and then the last two being Luke Graham and Dominic
37:19
Kia. Have I missed anyone?
37:22
Ryan Porters. Ryan Porter's almost made it in.
37:25
Almost. How is he not making it?
37:27
I just I've not seen him enough at LAFC and I don't think.
37:30
He's been playing so well for them.
37:32
I was, I was more thinking of a real like who was more likely to
37:36
get in. And he's not been seen by anyone
37:40
since, Well, barely been seen since obviously that.
37:43
Germany backs again. Give them time.
37:45
Scott McKenna, John Serter, Jack Kendrick, Stuart Finley, Craig
37:51
Calcott, Stephen Welsh, Grant Hanley, Luke Graham and Dominic
37:55
Keon. I think there's been a four on
38:00
that list you've named. I would have him in over.
38:03
Who? Probably Halka or Finley Welsh
38:08
and then did you? Have him in over Steven Welsh.
38:10
Yeah, and then Luke Graham. Really.
38:13
Mate, he's playing a good level. He was playing a good level
38:16
before he went across there. He's consistent.
38:19
I I can't believe how much he has been punished for that.
38:24
You know, people make mistakes. The German game we had an
38:27
absolute Howard. He's he's played the all time
38:29
for us since, but not really got a notable game time.
38:34
He was a mainstay in that team and he.
38:36
Mainstay when we were having the the five at the back kind of
38:38
pendulum system. Good.
38:40
And we, you know, we, you know, Steve Clark has admitted we will
38:43
have to jump between systems. I feel like.
38:46
Yeah, it disappoints me. He's the way he sort of dropped
38:50
out but I'm surprised he has made your 55 man squad.
38:53
There you go. You can add him into yours then.
38:56
Yeah, but right back I've got Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson,
39:00
Ross McCrory, Max Johnston and Colby Donovan.
39:07
Anyone of us you? Didn't say it, you said Allison.
39:10
No, not a chance. He's getting it there.
39:12
Not a chance. He said before, realistically I
39:15
know Heinle get included, so I've got to include him.
39:17
Oh, spite, I'm not including him.
39:21
I mean, I actually thought Tony Ralston should I shoot more for
39:25
Scotland than I mean, I know it's just one game, but I wasn't
39:29
overly impressed with McCrory against Ivory Coast.
39:33
Yeah, I wasn't overly impressed with him either, but.
39:37
I think I think Ralston gets in there ahead of him from I agree
39:41
with Kobe. Oliver Merit or like actually a
39:44
Billy? A Billy, OH.
39:45
Come on. And I wasn't impressed by
39:48
Mccrory's ability were. You impressed by Anthony Ralston
39:50
in any game? I don't think he's like, as bad
39:54
as people make out. He's not.
39:55
He's not. I've generally I don't remember
39:58
a good game he's had for Scotland.
39:59
Never seen a good game, I said. He had that.
40:01
He wasn't awful. He's been awful in most.
40:03
Games, I mean, I had, I had day expectations about Macquarie.
40:06
I heard quite good things from Bristol say.
40:08
Yeah, and it's been one game. Yeah, I know.
40:11
It's a friendly as well. I just didn't.
40:13
And he wasn't good. But if you look at the ages,
40:16
McCrory is younger so, so I think for the future, you have
40:20
to to look at him. And I think for Anthony Ralston,
40:23
he's proven time and time again for me.
40:25
I don't want to use him as scapegoat because I know I do
40:28
sometimes. They had a hell I mean.
40:30
He's awful. He's awful in the EUR and he's
40:33
been awful since then. I don't, I don't know.
40:36
How he has got person's heroes? I don't think he has for
40:39
Scotland and I think I would much rather Colby Donovan than
40:42
Anthony. No, but OK.
40:43
I mean, I think we're arguing about something as immaterial
40:46
because, like, in the final squad, I think he'll be in it.
40:48
I think he'll probably still be in the final squad.
40:50
Yeah. Because, I mean, for me, Clark
40:51
does give. And all folks are saying about
40:54
the Finley carts and being quite surprised that Clark included
40:56
him. But Clark has proved himself to
40:58
be a guy that will give youngsters a chance when he
41:00
thinks the time is right. And because he's not either a
41:02
partisan for the Euro 2020, either.
41:05
Billy Gilmore, Lena Miller has finally got his chance.
41:07
And people would argue, maybe not as quick as they would have
41:09
liked to seen him. I still don't think he's given
41:11
Lennon Miller enough minutes at all.
41:13
No, you had different he got, but he's good some.
41:16
Did he get 0 in the last in the last break again?
41:18
But but he hasn't called them. I'm just but like, if you're not
41:22
going to give them minutes in these friendlies against Japan
41:26
and Ivory Coast, he's not going to get any in the World Cup, is
41:29
it? Or maybe he does what he does
41:32
with Billy Gilmore and chucks in the deep end, but I can't see
41:34
that happening. No, I can't see it.
41:35
I mean, I think the Billy Gilmore thing was out of
41:38
necessary for what the Scotland team was facing at that point in
41:40
time. But yeah, I mean it was, it was
41:44
disappearing, the point not similar because we got to see
41:46
McLean again, even though we know what you can give.
41:49
Exactly. I like McLean.
41:50
I think friendlies are about experimenting more than he did.
41:53
Yeah, I think you maybe did. Experiment is not amazing.
41:56
We want to see yeah, but no club Donovan is has been playing.
42:01
He is someone, if he could finish the season good for
42:03
Celtic, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be in the squad
42:05
of arouse then. But what will he be?
42:08
Yeah, exactly so right, midfield.
42:10
Midfield first, just centre mids.
42:12
I've got Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Lynn Miller, Billy
42:16
Gilmore, Elliot Watt, Rogue One, Jordan Helsgrove.
42:20
Not rogue at all, mate. Him out?
42:22
Yeah, good. Under Ian Kathros out.
42:24
Yeah, one of he's been Ian Kathrow has been named as one of
42:28
the 23 most. Exciting young managers.
42:31
Exciting young managers. I think Hearts fans will
42:34
probably be laughing at that with his 26% win record.
42:38
But he's been doing really well. Obviously was under the wing of
42:42
no Esperanto Santo I think and then has kind of found himself a
42:49
Esteril who were favourites for relegation and has gotten to
42:53
come to me mid table, even pushing to the to the upper
42:55
thirds at times. I mean, he had quite a poor
42:58
start to the season and he's not the season.
43:01
He has been there for a bit longer than that.
43:03
But he's he's a national on boarding period was about ropy.
43:07
But once he got the gaps where I mean, they've been sort of
43:10
heralded for playing some of the most exciting football in the
43:12
league. Exactly.
43:13
And Jordan Holsgrove, it's part of that.
43:15
One of the one of the key stays in that team.
43:18
So I've got him, I've got Kenny McLean.
43:21
And then just to fill out the I was struggling for names at one
43:25
point, David Watson, Mark Leonard and Tyler Fletcher.
43:31
Tyler Fletcher, you know, he's been involved in the Man United
43:34
first. Team has been, yeah.
43:35
You have to be pretty decent to, well, maybe not now you usually
43:41
have to be pretty decent to to get into that, to that first
43:43
team. Yeah, my has been doing better
43:45
though, and Sony's. Well, yeah, they are third or
43:47
fourth. So those are my centre meds.
43:50
I know Liam Henderson. I did that.
43:52
I I did forget. I won't lie, I did forget.
43:56
Even you I mind writing an article about him many years
44:01
ago. Been like, you know, I thought
44:03
he was. He was.
44:04
In Serbina? Or is he back in Syria?
44:06
Is he Empoli Sampdoria he's been all about?
44:09
I think he's Sam, Sam Dorian, Sam Dorian and the SAB.
44:13
So yeah, I missed him out. I would probably put him in.
44:17
Back in, we're talking about. Yeah, you won't get into the
44:19
final squad. Centre attacking mids have got
44:21
McGinn, Mctominy and the Irving, Rheingold and Josh Mulligan.
44:28
I know he's not as a calm as the others.
44:32
Josh Mulligan, obviously injured as well, but 55 months scored
44:36
and I'd put them in. Yeah, wingers.
44:38
I've got Ben Guy and Duke Finlay, Curtis, Tommy Conway,
44:41
Calvin Miller that we mentioned earlier, Lewis Morgan, Ollie
44:45
Burke, who is the fastest player in the Bundesliga.
44:51
I saw that he's still been the fastest player of the season, 37
44:53
kilometres an hour. Come back after this
44:56
conversation because. Ollie works in there.
44:58
Might not be this podcast but I mean looking at I genuinely
45:01
think Spark should be in the squad, the final squad. 100% I
45:05
think it gives us something. That, you know, in a team, I
45:08
mean, he. Should have been in an instead
45:09
of from the curse or both. A deal?
45:13
Well. I mean, Luke, I think we've
45:15
touched this before, which one doesn't have Ben Duke in the
45:18
squad? There's a frightening lack of
45:20
pace. And I think when you looked at
45:22
how we played an Ivy Coast game, we controlled the game.
45:25
But getting up the patch quick and opportunities where we
45:28
really could had the better urgency about us and a better
45:31
pace to brave Ford. We lacked that.
45:33
Yeah. And that took away from our
45:36
attacking threat. And it's what made Ivory Court
45:39
such a threat. I don't, I don't think they
45:41
didn't control the game, but they've had one nil victors and
45:43
they had a couple of moments where they really had a
45:45
scarpering to get back. Exactly.
45:47
And and I think that that's the thing, we're in the World Cup
45:50
where we're playing Morocco and Brazil, we're going to expect to
45:55
not have much of the ball. And how we're wanting to attack
45:58
is probably mostly counter attack.
45:59
And apart from Ben Gan and Doke, we have no pace like we saw.
46:04
And you know, if you think about, you know, the likely
46:07
frontline that we're going to have, it's probably going to be
46:09
Ben Gan and Doke, hopefully fingers crossed, as well as
46:14
either probably Christie or McGinn out on another one.
46:17
And then Jay Adams or London next on top.
46:20
Like in those kind of situations, you kind of look
46:22
even because I know like Christy and began our traditional
46:25
wingers, you kind of look to your feel backs for that pace.
46:27
Yeah, Robertson's just not like not easy.
46:30
He's not he's not slow, but he's not like he was before and he's
46:33
not got the legs to do it later in the game.
46:35
Jason. Patterson has that pace, but
46:36
he's probably not going to be starting.
46:38
Iron. Hickey isn't the fastest, you
46:40
know. He's not known for his pace.
46:41
Yeah. So I mean, I think, I think I
46:45
wasn't, I wasn't surprised not to see Bark in the most recent
46:49
squad, but I haven't seen how the game is played out and how
46:52
he played. I think peace is an issue that
46:55
needs addressed and you know a bit, even if dork's fat, I think
47:00
I would. I would like to see Bark and
47:02
their national squad for the friendlies to see what he brings
47:06
because as also. Friendly.
47:08
Obviously, since we've been away, the Bolivia friendly has
47:11
been confirmed. Yeah, it's going to be Bolivia.
47:14
New Jersey Sports Illustrated Stadium.
47:16
Is that the New York one? Really It's it's a new New York,
47:19
New Jersey. Yeah.
47:21
So that's on the 4th. Yeah, yeah, it's it's a week
47:26
after the Crusoe game at Hamden. Few 32 pointers going to get
47:32
knocked off their perch in the Scotland Sports Club with that
47:34
one. I don't know if it's counting
47:35
towards points. Oh, true.
47:37
Yeah, I hope it's not. I hope it's not.
47:38
Yeah. Well, we got what you're saying
47:40
the Ivory Coast game well. Because that ivory.
47:42
Might it might not count towards the EUR it'll.
47:44
Count towards the EUR if this game doesn't get if the Bolivia
47:48
game doesn't get counted, so it better fucking knockout.
47:51
Yeah, I think it might. Like, I've got that.
47:53
Well, I mean, but yeah, no bark. You're talking about bark in
47:56
those games against Brazil. He's actually got experience
47:57
playing against Brazil for Scotland, so too long
48:00
tournament. What was that again?
48:02
When was that? We're going back.
48:04
I mean, he did. It was on the 20s.
48:07
I think he must have been about 2021 and he's now, he's the same
48:10
age as me. So that's going back eight
48:11
years. Eight years ago, Billy Gilmer
48:13
was, I think it was a tournament before Billy Gilmer got named.
48:16
Very strong player of the tournament.
48:18
Greg Taylor scored actually against Brazil and in one of the
48:21
games Bark was really good there.
48:24
Again, that was back when he looked like he was going to be.
48:26
A real next big thing and. Yeah, a real force in Scottish
48:28
football. But I mean, it's not worked.
48:31
He's he's got a good week here going over in Germany right now.
48:33
And like, I mean, he would make my final squad.
48:35
He'd make is it OK? But Rush, yeah, he would make my
48:38
squad for the friendlies. And I think, I think having
48:42
Lyndon Dykes and George Hurst together doesn't offer you much
48:47
different. And I drive.
48:48
George Hurst been in there. Such a waste scored.
48:50
At the weekend, though, Yeah, well, we'll stand by it, Yeah,
48:53
but no, no, no. I mean, seems a nice guy, but
48:58
yeah, I'm not. Yeah, yeah.
49:01
Then closing out, yeah, along with Holliberg closing out the
49:04
winger section, I've got Danny Armstrong, who's obviously
49:06
playing his football in Romania, Dynamo Bucharest.
49:10
I think, yeah, this one. And then a rogue One, Emilio
49:13
Lawrence, who's been playing really well in League One for
49:16
Luton Town. Yep, scored today at 10
49:20
recording, which is a Sunday. And yeah, he's been really good.
49:24
Obviously scored four goals back in that game against Gibraltar
49:27
for the Scotland on the 20 ones. So he looks, you know, hopefully
49:30
like the next one with a bit of pace as well that can come
49:33
through, you know, maybe. So a long way to go the.
49:36
Nations League or or Euro qualifying campaign and then
49:39
closing at the squad with the Strikers.
49:41
I've got Linen Dykes, Jay Adams, Barney Stewart, Olie Mcburney,
49:47
Robbie Uri, Ross Stewart, Kieran Bowie, Lawrence Shankland and
49:52
then another Rogue One, Ryan Oni, who just won the League One
49:57
league with Lincoln City. Yeah, his goal pretty much put
50:01
the seal. Goal put the seal on it.
50:03
Lincoln City fans love him, obviously he's on loan from
50:07
Sheffield United and they're not too happy about that.
50:09
They're they've fallen in in love with a lone player.
50:12
Like they've said, all done it, they've all done it, but it'll
50:15
be. Right now actually pull into
50:16
what they're over. He's going back to Rangers.
50:19
He's he's he's got he's gone on a better things.
50:21
What a player. Yeah, it'll be interesting to
50:23
see how he gets on at Sheffield United.
50:25
If he gets the game time in the Championship, yeah, he probably
50:27
deserves. Because he's he's proved himself
50:29
in League One of the season, He's not actually had the amount
50:31
of goals he's scored. He's not actually had as many
50:33
starts as you think. He's been a real impact player,
50:36
came off the bench and got a lot of, you know, put a lot of goals
50:38
to his name. They've ultimately held Lincoln
50:42
to their promotion. So I think he's he's above
50:47
level. League One.
50:48
He's proved himself there. Well, Sheffield United keep him.
50:52
Well, he go on loan. Yeah, someone else next season,
50:54
who knows. But yeah, he's doing good thing.
50:57
Great to see. Dad used to play for the Rovers
50:59
actually. Armando.
51:00
Yeah. So yeah, Frenchman.
51:03
So he's obviously half like Ryan.
51:06
I don't know who it was it brought.
51:06
I think it wasn't just the Rovers they played for.
51:08
I've got a feeling he was my Petronaut and stuff as well.
51:11
But yeah, our mind was, it was at the Rovers.
51:14
It was actually he was in the Rovers team the season, the
51:16
first season I started supporting us and this is all
51:19
these years. I got relegated.
51:21
No, no, we were League. I was old Division Two by then.
51:26
And he was, yeah, that was the season Craig Levine came in to
51:28
help set the ship at the Rovers and he helped bring in John
51:31
Mcglin. That was John Mcglin's first
51:32
role in management. There you go.
51:34
Yeah, so, but yeah, I, Ryan, obviously son of Armand because
51:38
of that move the, I don't know if it was moved to overs or
51:40
whoever that brought him to Scotland, but he's he's kind of,
51:43
he's looking a better player than his dad that way.
51:46
So yeah, obviously I've not included James Wilson.
51:49
That's probably a mess on my part, I've just realized.
51:52
But he could probably be playing in the same league as Ryan only
51:56
next season when Spurs get relegated to the Championship.
51:59
Yeah, it's crazy. I didn't imagine being James
52:01
Wilson. The element starts season right,
52:03
mate? You're going to get moved to
52:04
spars. Great.
52:06
No one catches hearts while we're playing champions like
52:08
football next season and you're going to be in the chat and
52:11
you're going to be in the chat. Oh, it might not come to pass,
52:15
but it's. They're in the real usually.
52:17
Not looking. It's one of the things where
52:19
you're surely not, surely not surely not like market title.
52:24
Yeah, yeah, I bought it exactly and keep it just keeps going on.
52:29
Like close it my 50 man 55 man squads.
52:33
Let us know if you've you think we've missed anyone glaring on.
52:37
Glaring him, obviously. Let us know if you agree with me
52:39
about Ryan Portis, because I feel like I'm fighting a useless
52:42
fight. Yeah, but.
52:43
Let me know if you agree with me with Anthony Ralston, Grant
52:46
Hanley, so you'll have a. Few agree.
52:49
Me and Hanley, but I'm not. Absolutely.
52:51
I'm not here for. That Well, yeah, I think that
52:53
closes out the podcast. I think we've talked about
52:55
everything we can. So yeah, thank you very much for
52:58
listening. Again, thank you very much to
52:59
our sponsors, Eldorado. Yeah, good job for helping us
53:03
create this content and empowering us to to be able to
53:06
create this content. Fueling our fire held up to the
53:09
World Cup. Yeah, there'll be plenty drunk
53:12
here and over there, so get your hands in it while you still can.
53:15
Thank you very much for listening to the podcast.
53:17
And we'll, we'll see you again very soon.