Listen to the noise. Listen to the passion in hand
and path. It's John again.
It's Donnie's. Let's me.
Oh yeah, the green dump by the fish chance.
The one for Scotland. Hello and welcome back to the
Scots for the Mic Podcast. It's great to have you back on.
It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks in Scottish football
that's seen a lot of turbulence for a lot of clubs, most notably
Celtic. I'm joined by Celtic fan Niall
Kavanaugh and Aaron Mackintosh to discuss everything that's
been going on. How are you both?
Good. Thank you.
Yeah, very good. I'm not a Celtic fan.
Just to make sure that. You wanted.
My like I was a.
Celtic fan. As well, Yeah, we've got wreath
Rovers of fan iron on, so we can start quickly by going over the
would you call it a disaster class at Celtic, Obviously
Wolford nonsense coming into the job, 4 losses in a row, first
time that's happened since 1978. Yeah, it's been a, it's been a
terrible start for Wolford, Nancy.
It's just it's never really got going.
He came in and said that, you know, I had a quick chat with
Martin O'Neill, I'm not going to change anything.
And then he's implemented his feet at the back and it's just
been an absolute disaster. Yeah, I mean, his press
conferences haven't been that much better as well.
Obviously some comments turn in the heads of Celtic fans said he
doesn't need to prove anything to anyone, which I think in
football, especially Scottish football, a club like Celtic,
you definitely do. And on social media, obviously
that infamous new profile picture, if you've not seen it,
then it's a Venn diagram of things you can control, things
you care about, and it's what you should focus on in the
middle. So what were your thoughts on
all the the press conferences and media?
To be fair, I think sometimes he gets a little bit maybe lost in
translation. But yeah, they saying that he
doesn't have to prove anything to anyone, to me was that was a
major red flag because he clearly does at at the time you
said that it was free defeats and at all it's No 4 defeats and
at all. So he does clearly need to prove
something and is watching every game.
He's not shown me anything that I can get behind.
He's not proved anything. I think his tactics are a bit.
There's certainly question marks over them, over these tactics.
I mean, the players don't look like they know what they're
doing. They touched off night there
about Callum McGregor at least four or five times.
Again is getting pulled over to the dugout and then she's giving
them instructions. So it looks like to me the
players don't even know what to do.
Another noticeable point is, and it was last night at Tani Dice,
is he's very animated on the touchline.
If he waves his hands about a lot and it like gives a lot of
instructions. And I was looking at the players
when she was doing it and not one of them, not one of the
players were looking at them. So that to me is a major sign
that I don't think the players believe and what he's trying to
coach. Yeah, horrible results.
Obviously first starting with with Hearts at Celtic Park, that
was going to be a tough one coming straight into the role.
I think you had one training session maybe before that, maybe
2, so you could maybe give him that.
But then obviously the the result in the League Cup final
most notably where Celtic for the maybe the majority game,
fair to say were second best. Stephen Robinson obviously
winning his first major trophy after losing 2 Celtics against 2
finals against Celtic as as Motherwell manager.
Were you watching that one, Aaron?
And what did you, what have you made of his time so far?
Yeah, I was watching. I've watched Sunday's game.
I actually watched all four games, to be honest with you
that he's been in charge. It's yeah, it's it's so funny to
as a neutral to see this happen to a big team.
And I'm so sorry to say that to you on on a podcast as well.
It's it's well to to to Celtic and Rangers this season as well.
I. Know yeah, it it no as a as a
lower league supporter, you know, it's good to see the
bigger guys, you know, being a little bit of pain, you know,
because we've been in pain and we've had so many things happen,
financial issues, you know, you you see it and you're keen that
happen to them that yes, this is this is payback for domination
and stuff like that. So it's great.
But yeah, Sunday in particular, I think if there was one team
Celtic did not want to face at that point was probably St.
Mirren, just because you see what they've been like against
Celtic this season. Very hard to beat, even though
it's been they've won more games very, very late on.
I think the first one was 89th minute and the other one was
95th minute in both games. So, and you can tell what we're
going to do. I think, you know, they are the
people say they're a little bit of an interactive team.
I think they played good football, to be honest.
I think they play as good as it was you can possibly get for a
budget they've got, yeah, and a squad size they've got.
And I think that they were the best team on the pic.
There was only one team that was going to win that cup.
I think they wanted it more. I think they wanted it a lot
more. I mean, 1st St.
Mirren, that's I think the fifth major trophy in what is 149 year
history, something crazy like that.
Yeah, yeah. Whereas Kel McGregor sitting on
8 league cups just itself. So I think if you put it into
comparison, it's obviously Celtic fans will care.
Yeah, they said to me, yeah, exactly.
That it'll just be another, another piece of silver, another
like, you know, like. Yeah, I mean like.
You're on the year on the board. Yeah, obviously Celtic fans will
care. I think they'll care more about
the embarrassment of the loss rather than not getting the
silverware from Saint Mirren. That whole squad, well you know,
Michael Mann drawn top, top scorer in the whole competition,
He will be looked upon as a St. Mirren legend.
And I think Stephen Robinson put it best where, you know, he said
you won't get life changing money at Saint Mirren but you
can be a cult hero. You can be one of these guys
that in Paisley and across Scotland for Saint Mirren
supporters, you will be remembered as a hero.
Yeah, absolutely. And I think you just seen the
scenes of celebration in Paisley.
Just I think everybody was out. I don't even know if they were
also. Everyone was in Vienna.
Everybody was everywhere. Time Membership.
Yeah, yeah. Honestly though, fair play.
I mean, as I said already, as a lower leagues supporter,
somebody in the lower leagues, you know, it's good to see like
those clubs, like you're Saint Maron's, you know, Motherwell's
as well. You know some both sides of
clubs try and get like a you know that they're they're day in
the sunshine even though it was a day in the freezing cold at
Hampden Park. Yeah, and it's two cup finals in
a row they've lost. Now, obviously I was at the the
one before that as an Aberdeen supporter.
What a day. That was probably the best day
I've had as a football fan grow. Up on this podcast, right?
Oh, at least at least 10 so far. I'm trying to get in one in
every every episode. But no, touching back on Dundee
United, obviously Peter Lowell resigning as a Celtic chairman.
There was fans going around on social media of the toxicity and
Tana Dice, you were there. How was it?
Obviously chatting towards the board and they were, they were
filming at one point. Yeah.
So obviously as the teams came out the tunnel, the Green
Brigade and Boys, who are the Altus Celtic fans group was sat
next to kind of the directors box.
So they had a banner seeing Scotland Shame And Midway for
the game of about 10-15 minutes in the Sky Sports cameras panned
to Michael Nicholson, who's another member of the Celtic
board, and it looked like he was in dialogue with police, maybe
pointing at a few members of these groups.
So it's been a very toxic, it's been a toxic season to be
honest, on and off the pitch. But I think last night, last
night was the the final knee when a few people's coughing.
I think because it was just, I've, I've never seen anything
like this at Celtic in the 21 years I've supported.
So it's just, it's a very toxic environment.
And now there's a a clear dispute between Bald and fans.
Yeah, obviously a lot of fans are are for the manager to be
sacked. He's not been despite reports
today that will be yesterday when this podcast comes out.
Do you think he will be? Well, first of all, do you, do
you want him to be sacked? And secondly, do you think he
will be sacked if there's another loss against Aberdeen on
Sunday? So first of all, yes, what?
I want him to be sacked because as I touched on earlier, he's
shown like nothing in full games for me to give him a reason to
go. You know what?
I'm going to back this guy because as as a fan, I'm
watching us play. I don't know how we can go from
winning seven out of eight games to losing 4 games in a row.
It's standing in tactics. And do I think you will be
sacked? No, because that will mean that
the Celtic board will have to take a bit of credibility and
admit that they got it wrong and.
The pay off. Yep and the pay off and based on
the track record I don't think that they have that in them.
So I don't think he will be sacked unless if he gets beaten
Sunday. I think he'll have no other
options because the Sharks will be back out and I don't think
he'll be able to walk out of Celtic Park if Aberdeen win on
Sunday. Yeah, it's like the Russell
Martin when he drew against Falkirk.
I think he had to get escorted off.
I think when it gets to that point, yeah, it's not just about
results on the pitch, it's about what's going on off the pitch.
As an Aberdeen fan, I think we're gonna absolutely squander
that opportunity. I think you're gonna get an easy
3 points and. Hopefully.
No, I think on the, I think it was the STV or podcasts, they
had Craig Levine speaking about the situation and I think he
said the best thing that could happen to Scottish football is
for the Old Firm to go play in England.
Obviously this is a rhetoric that we've heard for a long
time, not just from Levine but from a lot of people.
There's been offers for for leagues involving the Norwegian
teams, Swedish teams, as well as the idea of English teams going
in or sorry, of Scottish teams going down to England.
From an outsider's perspective, I think it's something that will
never actually happen. But what do you think of of
those comments and what do you think of the idea?
Well, I think, I think now as you said, that is interesting
because Hearts on the top of the league, League Cup holders are
sent Madden and Scottish Cup holders and Aberdeen.
So maybe if you sat down and asked that question a year ago,
you could go, yes, in terms of football on the pitch, it'd
probably make it fairer. But a year down the line, this
is the worst that Celtic Rangers have ever been.
So it is making it more competitive.
But how long are Celtic Rangers going to be this bad for?
Historically if Celtic and Rangers are bad, they tend to
spend to make it better, which then would fall back into the
point of that's why they probably should move on because
because they're bad and then they can just kind of buy it
away. Exactly.
I think, yeah, in January we'll see that as well because
especially from Celtic, I mean Rangers are on on good form now
under Danny Roll, 11 unbeaten I think, if I'm not mistaken.
But with Celtic with all that money in the bank, you've got to
feel that they need to spend, especially the board to at least
save their arses if nothing else.
And I think that's where the real issue lies.
I mean, if there was a level playing field or even A at least
a bit better of a playing field where budgets are not too
extremely different than we could maybe talk about a
situation where, you know, as I said, that I've heard from
English media, Oh, is this the downfall of Celtic?
And I'm like, no, no, they'll be back next season with with 20
million spent and St. Ern will have got free agents in
the summer. I mean I think it's just because
of the vast different and not just fan base and ticket sales,
but revenue in clubs where even if you have a bad season isn't,
it's still going to be dominance for forever.
But Celtic, so I know you're talking about money, Celtic only
stuck in a dilemma of the back, Wilfred, Nancy in January and
get the players in to shoot a 343 system.
So that will be wing backs and attacking midfielders.
You back them get the players in and then five months down the
line you sack them and then a new manager's left to come clean
up his mess a bit like what Rangers is in Danny Rose kinda
walking with the mess of Russell Martin and and Kevin farewell.
So Celtic and lay in that position of the cut ties with
them and back from the ocean. January of the double down and
back of Fid Nancy and run the risk that it might not get
better and then 345 months down the line you have to shack them
and the new manager's left with his signings I think.
Well. There's a bit.
There's a bit that reminds me just just when you said that
about a few years ago when Sean Maloney was the Hibs manager,
If. You were I.
Can't remember. He replaced that was Paul
Higginbottom. I think he released at the time
and he spent some money in January and you know, they were
saying we're going to back him. We're going to back him for this
long and we're going to, you know, he's going to be here for,
you know, gears years in the very common.
Nobody lasts years anymore. But yeah, they they spent some
money, not a lot, but you know, they still got a few good
players in the into the dressing room.
And by the time they lost the the Scottish Cup semi final to
Hearts, he was out the door and that was what, four or five
months later. So, you know, it's an
interesting point what you're seeing there, and I think it's a
risk both ways. You've got to look at both
because you think you don't want to double down on like sack of
the manager so soon. But then if it doesn't work out,
how long you know, how long do you?
It is, yeah. It's such an awkward time
because because even if you do sack Nancy right now or after,
I'd say after the Aberdeen game, that's the 27th of December,
then January transfer window opens, 1st of January.
You've probably got who Martin as interim.
Do you give him it to the end of the season or do you try and
identify a manager that you want long term?
I mean, that's obviously Martin being a certain style of
football, but it's more common, it's more direct, it's played by
more managers than the 343 or whatever 352.
So yeah, like you said, it's a bit of a sticky situation where?
And Martin O'Neill would notice how the players would want to
play, yeah. You know, because he knows the
club. Exactly.
And but also looking at the squad of players, I mean last
night in particular, you put Ralston on the right side of a
three or you know, Tierney as well.
I mean Tierney can play that. There's we've seen that in
Scotland for Scotland, we've seen it for Celtic a few times.
I think he's done it for real. So she died a couple of times as
well when he was there. So you could do that.
Ralston's not somebody that should put him in in the.
Same. I don't, I don't rate Ralston at
all, whether it be for Celtic or Scotland.
We've we've had this discussion before and I think I hate
singling them out, I really do, because I don't, I want to like
the guy, but there's just something about him.
I mean, but I think we said this before the Greece game.
I've just watched him the whole time.
And. He was like, yeah, my eyes were
glued to. Him, I go back to Switzerland
game when I was there, but no, I think I think you touched on it
there where O'Neill would know how the players want to play
because he gets Scottish football.
And I think, yeah, it's clear to see that Nancy doesn't get it
because I think that quote came out.
I don't know if it was yesterday after that I think it was, yeah.
I think it was his match reaction where he was questioned
on if he does know Scottish football and has response was
that he doesn't know Scottish football because he almost
signed for Carlisle, Yeah. I think he's been taking a bit
of a context, I think. I think, well go on, give me the
context then I. Think he's mean in British
football more than anything British.
English football is so different than Scottish.
Football I know, but I think what he said was I almost signed
for Carlisle United. I know who you know that was.
Then it was like stopped. I know a little bit about
Scottish football. I mean I.
Don't know it's it's not a good look.
It's still not a good look, but I kind of get what he's trying
to say about it. But it's like when you said I.
But what does he mean by British football?
What does he mean by British football?
Does he mean Manchester Cities football?
Or does he mean Burnley's football like?
Yeah, it it, but it's a hypothetical thing because he
said. I know a bit, you know, it's
like me saying I know a little bit about the MLS because I was
in Florida for three weeks. I mean that at.
Least that's in America. Exactly.
But it's just so it's it was just a comment that didn't need
to be made. He could have said you could
have just said yes or no. And.
That he's not helping himself. Yeah, he would.
Have made more of a deal than that.
Yeah, it's been a whirlwind. I think can move on to to
massive scores in the lower league, one that Aaron, you'll
have greatly enjoyed watching. I think you were there as well.
Race Rovers beating Ross County 6 nil.
I know, I know, you messaged me saying it's the biggest league
win. Since when?
When was that? 1992 was it was opening game
1927 nil win against St. Mirren.
St. Mirren got relegated the season
before from the Premiership and so they were the favourites and
there's a good clip on YouTube. Ross Keitney the favourites this
season as well. Exactly.
Yeah, there's a good clip on YouTube just to plug it in.
There's somebody's filmed it from, if you know, Star Spark
you, there's the main stand which is like the L-shaped stand
that you see on the TV and somebody's filmed the goals from
there. And there's a brilliant goal
scored by Ronnie Coyle who used to play as a centre back and he
was a Celtic youth player and he was, he's been around the blocks
and he's was a centre back and I think he scored the 6th or the
7th and he's literally took it from, I think he took it for a
run to like 70 yards. He's managed to score from
there. So yeah, my dad said to me,
because I was with my dad on Saturdays, like minds me the
good old days, I was like, that's only one day.
Yeah, exactly it was. Just yeah.
It was I was kind of, I had the fear because Rath Rovers do
historically with somebody's in a bad run, Rath Rovers normally
on the team now that that. Give them the win.
Yeah, that's what happened to the.
Season. That's Aberdeen.
Yeah, hopefully, yeah. But we played county in the
season. Exactly the same thing happened.
No, they were on a bad run. Yeah, they're.
Losing run, they're winning on the streak and then they we were
the first team to lose against them at the end of the season.
You lost in the playoffs to them as well, right?
Exactly. Yeah, about revenge for them so
but. But yeah, you got Tony Docherty
sacked. Well done.
That's that's them. Got rid of Don Kelly, Tony
Docherty. And I think that the, I don't
know who it was, maybe the chairman of Ross County saying
they've had so many applicants to the job and I've that.
Earlier, they've got 80 candidates.
Sorry, 80. People.
Oh, that was it. Yeah.
And I bet one of them is Stuart Kettlewell, I'm telling you.
Derrick Adams because he's. All.
No, yeah, Stuart Kettlewell got sacked of Kilmarnock there from
Kilmarnock after their two one loss to Aberdeen.
What a turn around. Definitely deserved it.
With the second-half we could have scored about four or five.
I think they had about 3 cleared off a line that puts Aberdeen
top of the form table actually in the Premiership.
Seven wins, 2 draws and one loss.
And obviously Kilmarnock were on that 10 or 11 game winless run
where it couldn't go on like that.
And then touching on Inverness, 9 nil win against Dunbar and I
think it was 7 nil halftime. I mean, crazy Alfie Babbage,
Aberdeen Loney scored four inside 37 minutes.
I don't know if that's the quickest or the quickest.
Someone scored four goals or something like that.
That is crazy. Biggest one in their history.
And yeah, crazy, crazy. Couple of scores there it.
Was good because there was a bet there was because I've got the
tweet here. So the Dunbar and twerk page.
I'm still saying twerk. I'm not saying X.
Yeah, old school fair. So.
So. 37 minutes. Goal for inveness.
Babbage sons No. Kali 6.
Somebody's replied to them. Azman, go home, please.
You went. I can't.
I've got a job to do. Yeah, long night, long night for
him. Exactly.
I feel so sorry for that, for that, for that admin.
But yeah, it was such a crazy game.
I did, you know, it's one of those games that kind of expect
that was going to happen. I didn't think was going to be.
Yeah, because obviously Inverness top of top of League 1
despite A5 point deduction and they're just absolutely walk in
the league. Yeah, I think Babbage is such a
good player as well and it didn't work out for me.
United and you know, it was kind of questioning why I didn't
because I thought he would fit the championship he's gone to.
Let's go to see County. That's not a good sign.
He's going to Cali. He's going to Cali and I think
there is that family connection up there because I think his dad
played for Cali, didn't he? Or somebody's family played for
Cali. So there's that family
connection there, which is good for him.
I'd be interested to see what happens to him in January.
I don't know if they've got a recall clause, but it's whether
he would stay at Cali or he would really go up to the
championship. So be interested to see what
happens to him. He's more than capable of
playing in the Championship, so you know, be interested to see
what happens, but good for him to get the four.
Yeah, I was. I was going to say that a United
could really do with Alfie Babbage this season.
So I don't know if you're aware, but I commentate on the United
home games. Yeah.
And like, we do everything right except score.
So I think Babbage would be a good sign indefinitely.
Get talking to Scott Brown, then.
Yeah, yeah, get any easier, get any easier.
But yeah, boss county. I mean, where do you where do
you start? Terrible, terrible season.
Obviously, as you touched on Finn bookies favourites to to
vault the leak. I think they just threw the
kitchen sink at it, but prime example of that from the kitchen
sink at it always doesn't doesn't pay off.
Certainly not paid off for the Staggies this season.
When? You look at their squad as well
and looking at Saturday's squad as well, because I've got the
team sheet here and there's still good players in that team
because they've still got, you know, they've got Jordan White,
they've got Ronan Hale, they've got Jay Henderson, you know,
they've got Jamie Lindsay, you know, they've got good player,
they've got Trevor Carson who's a decent enough keeper for
champions level. But it's just not clicking.
And I mean. If you, if you look at the type
of players they had two years ago as well, Jan Danda, Simon
Murray, I mean, they were a brilliant, brilliant squad and I
don't think. That's how we didn't get
promoted because. Yeah, that's why.
No, because those two in particular just were so good
against us in. That and I don't know if they
can afford to get relegated to League One either.
I mean, they've got, they'll have a massive wage bill.
I imagine that they're going to prove.
I mean, it's hard. We don't know what's going to
happen. Yeah, Yeah, January, Yeah.
I imagine because they need to appoint the manager and they
need to throw as much to the money manager as possible, and
no doubt they will because they've got the money available.
Because McGregor back to his managers, there's one thing that
you can't criticize him for. Yeah.
So but I would just want to know
who would get that job though, because it's such it's becoming
a lot bit yeah chalice now though, because Kyrie.
And. We had Ramsey on this podcast.
I was with them on there, and you said that, yeah, it was time
for him to go. His favorite was Tony Dockerty
to come in. I thought the same.
I thought you should have. Who did they appoint?
His assistant manager. So where they appointed the
assistant? Yeah.
Yeah, So they had like 2 actual managers they had, they had John
Robertson. That was it.
Yeah, they. Had so they they they had
they've got 3 managers, 3 managers who capable of managing
the championship all. And they're all gone.
I. Was thinking, let's just say
that on I think they've got too many cooks in terms of
management, in terms of there's too many voices.
You need the hierarchy exactly where there's a clear boss.
But no. I think touching back on on
Alfie Babbage as well. It's so good to to finally see
real promising attackers coming through.
Hopefully. Fingers crossed obviously,
because for so long it's been, you know, Scotland are a great
team, but they don't have a striker.
Scotland are a great team, but they can't score the goals.
So hopefully in the next couple of years, you can kind of see
those players like Alfie Bavage, Kieran Bowie, Tommy Conway,
Emilio Lawrence, a Man City, you know, these kind of really
attacking players, Harvey Barnes, which we can we can
touch on as well where Harvey Barnes obvious isn't coming
through it, but others are where you can you can bring that kind
of attacking flair if you want to use that word, where we've
kind of been really well, really good defensively.
We've got arguably probably the best midfield in the world
outside the top eight nations, but at the top end of the pitch
we've kind of like that. Yeah, certainly.
I think looking at the forward areas in particular, like the
younger players as well, like you were saying about Babbage,
and obviously it's far too early, but I'm.
But you look at Conway, we know what he's capable of.
You know what Bolton Valley is capable of.
And obviously I'm a big boy fan because he's no local connection
and stuff. So I.
Will throw is yeah, yeah. Well, he's a crocodia boy as
well, so you know. Yeah, we'll always be on, always
back, not always back. Our local boys to pay that won't
back. You know, Ollie Burke, one of
ours as Wells, you know, he's a Kakodi boy even though he's got
the nut in the Maccent. And so, you know, they could
have the cubation out of those two Kirkcaldy boys in the in the
Scotland scored for the World Cup.
Who knows. But certainly the young players
coming through, I like the look of me or Lawrence.
I think he's got. Something.
He looks really good. Yeah.
And who's, I don't know how to pronounce it.
Who's the boy that went from Sheffield Wednesday to Man City?
Oh, got a Mccamer. I don't, Yeah.
I've got a lisp that's not. The the son of Danny, right?
Danny, yeah, he used to play for Dundee United.
Yeah, and I'm not going to try and pronounce his surname Never.
I've never been able to. But that's how he's eligible for
Scotland because he was, he was living in Cooper when he was
playing for Dundee United and. Yeah, so he's his son is 15 or
maybe 16 now and he was playing under 19 level for Scotland and
scored a hat trick. So he's went for over £1,000,000
to Man City now his. Dad said.
Because if there's people on Twitter saying things like.
Yeah, I was going to touch on that.
Yeah, yeah. Soon as England comes calling,
he'll go to them and you know, it's like the Elliott Anderson
situation, like he's in hacked. He's done as well a little bit.
And Harry Gray and Archie Gray and the rest of them, yeah.
Traitors, if you like to call them.
Yeah, but his dad pretty much says on Twitter like he wants to
play for Scotland or Jamaica. Yeah, his reply was I don't know
if it was in our comments or someone elses comments where
yeah, someone said. Tagged into it, yeah.
Yeah. So someone said he'll switch
thing on as soon as they come call and then he replied they
already did and he said no. So hopefully that's one to
watch. I think he feels Scottish.
He is Scottish. And he definitely wants to play
for Scotland or Jamaica. It's one of the two.
And he said he wants to give Scotland because he was born
there, his. First priority His.
Priority. But who knows?
It's one of those that might yeah, you know, you can't.
You want to throw good things at young players, but you don't
want to throw too much of them at the such an early stage
because. Caramel code, then Billy coming
to mind, Yeah. You know, you've got such a, you
know, the highest prospects and this is the game.
Just let them. Just let them develop, you know
what I mean? Exactly.
Yeah, let them, let them develop to their to their full
potential. And then once, once they're
ready, it could be a time when. Yeah, I mean, we can we can
focus on the World Cup next summer rather than, you know,
let them develop and maybe come 2028 when we've got three games
at Hamden, at least for the EUR, we can talk about them and wild
cards for their. There's been a lot of talk for
Harvey Barnes in the last couple of days.
Steve Clark did an interview where he's a they both got each
other's numbers and that Clark will reportedly reach out to him
after the new year. He also said that he's he's kind
of confirmed that he's going to take a 26 man squads.
Obviously we saw something similar for year 2020 where Chay
Adams came in kind of not last minute but pretty late on.
Do you think well would you have asked us about 3 podcasts in a
row to different people Now would you take Calvary Barnes
and what a great from my, in my opinion, what a great addition
need be to the squad. Yes, I think MD that wouldn't
take Calvary Barnes, I think is silly.
Yeah, I get I. Get.
Yeah, I get the point that the players who've got you there
like deserve to be on the plane. But like, say, for instance, if
you swap him for a a Conor Baron, you're not going to
you're not going to be missing out.
You know what I mean? Conor Baron, I don't he's not
even he's been even played in like the last two camps.
So albeit he's been on the bench to get you there, but he's not
like you're not going to miss out on what he brings, albeit is
a good player. So I think that and as well with
the World Cup qualifying as in the past, we're now at the
tournament. Surely you'd you'd want the best
for at the tournament and not what's best for the previous
qualifiers. But I think it'd be a great
addition plus Scotland to have one winger, Ben Ganondoke, who
is probably going to be 5050. And even if he does go, how much
football is he going to play before the actual World Cup?
Whereas Harvey Barnes is has been starting we can recount
from Newcastle. I think if you get enough of
these wingers and it allows you to, to switch system within
games, which is something that we've kind of struggled with.
Obviously we'll play 4 at the back now before, you know, in
the kind of EUR 2020 qualifiers played five at the back.
But that's the only two systems we've really seen on the State
Park. And you kind of need that if
you're wanting to to attack the game, you're you're trailing and
you need a goal if you want to be able to switch to that kind
of attack in formation. Obviously Ben Ganondoke against
Denmark in the 1st 20 minutes or so before he got injured was I
think his best game I've seen. I think he was absolutely
electric. Yeah, exactly.
Yeah, I think he was the best player in the park.
Yeah, Dorgie couldn't get anywhere near.
Him that's yeah and that's two world class field backs.
He'd done that to Dorgu and Fardeal in the Nations League.
So I think he's obviously you know the main priority for
winger, but if you can get someone like Harvey Barnes and
which allows you to play 2 wingers, that's a big, big plus.
I. Think the one thing as well
about people will say why would he?
Because he's not committed, but he's not saying no, you know
what I mean? He's not because he's had the
opportunity to be on TV a couple of times.
Remember, I think he was on TV a few weeks ago after the Man City
game, I think it was. And it was also straight after
we qualified. Exactly.
And, you know, I think who was it that was saying that, you
know, joking with the Micah Richard?
I think it was, was joking with them.
He was saying. Like Mick Barnes, Scotland World
Cup, No, he could have said there and no, no, no, no, no,
I'm not that's that's no, but he's never ruled it out.
So you want to you've got unless he actually comes out and says
no, you've got to still keep him under consideration.
I've always considered him under, you know, for
possibilities until you actually get the no or until he gets his,
you know, full allocated caps. So coming behind me as.
Yeah. I know he's been capped once for
England but I was a friendly so he's still.
Capable. To play for us and it would have
been the same for Tina. Left me until until he got
capped. I was going to say, I think,
yeah, I feel like this is the first one where it feels like it
is going to happen because obviously there's been there's
been rumours of like there was God, there was Gerald Kwanza
before he played for England, Tina Liverman, So Chris Brady,
the goalkeeper, Chicago Fire, Archie Gray, obviously Elliot
Anderson, Hayden Hackney, so many.
But I think so. There's still some that you
think that might happen, I think, yeah, I think one of
those ones, as long as long as he's at middle, yeah, I think
he's. You've got to cook though,
because he's not going to get in that England squad anytime soon.
Yeah, but I think this one, this one feels like it's going to
happen and speak. Speaking of friendlies, there
have been a lot of news on the Scotland friendlies in
preparation for the World Cup. So this these are not confirmed
officially, but it seems like we're going to be playing Japan
at sometime in March. They've got a game against
England at Wembley, the 31st I believe that is 30 first.
Yeah, I think that is, yeah. So they're really doing Auk tour
and they've chosen Scotland as their second opponent.
Obviously they're preparing to face, I think it's two European
nations in their group. We've got Kuruko and a send off
game at Hamden on I think 6th or 7th of June.
We've got an African side reportedly at either Saint James
Park, which would be the perfect location for Harvey Barnes debut
or Everton's new ground. So that's the African side that
obviously Steve Clarke said he wanted to face a nation from
each confederation that we're going to be playing at the World
Cup and the South American team that we're heavily rumoured to
be facing as Argentina. So yeah, that would probably be
the other March friendly. Yeah, I.
Think there's there's a friendly going to be held in Florida.
They want me because I was reading.
Yeah, I read that. Yeah, you want to get to, they
want to have a, a. Warm waiter.
Yeah, and I think Argentina want.
Yeah, acclimatized. Yeah.
So, and it's a good reason for us.
I mean, I know somebody was criticizing why they should, why
Steve Clark needs to play the friendlies.
The fact is you've got to play these friendlies.
It's, you know, it's if you weren't in the World Cup, you
need to play 10 games minimum during a, you know, the course
of a calendar year. So the friendlies have to count
it. So that one against Curacao at
hand and one have a funny feeling.
Nothing's been confirmed, no rumours, but if that Argentina
is going to happen, it's going to be in Florida.
But it's one of those that is it's a good, it's a good one to
have. If you can play against like the
bigger nations, I think it's good as well.
We're not playing anybody from Europe as well.
I think that was one thing, Clark.
Said as. Well, yeah.
But we've played enough different teams.
Yeah, we've played enough. That's that's what the World
Cup's all about. We've waited long enough.
We've waited long enough that we don't play.
We don't want to play any more European teams.
Obviously last time out before year 2024, I think it was the
Netherlands that we played. I remember, I remember Lawrence
Shanklin started that one. That was the main debate if
Shanklin would start up front and then the send off game was
Finland. I think it was Finland.
So yeah, it's good to play some teams that we've we've never
played and some teams that we've not played in in a long, long
time. Obviously that was different
scenario because that was European champions.
Yeah, obviously you had. To play, I think it was the
right thing to do that time. But no, no, I'm just, yeah,
certainly playing. I'm just saying it'll be
definitely nice to because because with a lot of teams you
don't with a lot of these teams that are not European, you don't
actually know what to expect. Yeah.
I mean, I think it was Ecuador that were in Part 2 or Part 3,
Part 2, where I think they're arguably one of the dark horses
for the tournament. They've got one of the best
defenses in the world, really good midfield, really good
attack. I mean, they're one of the dark
horses. But going into those games, you
don't really know what to expect because obviously a lot of
people aren't included up on South American football or
African football. So yeah, it'll be good to play
those games. And if we can get that game,
that St. James's Park, that will be a
good away there I think. Know that Dan, who's in our
group chat for Football Park Scotland, You know he's one of
our admins as well. No, he's from Newcastle.
You know he's 10 minutes away. He's.
About 10 minutes away from from Newcastle.
So as soon as he heard when did the news break?
I think it was Monday it broke could.
That be. Doing it his eyes immediate
love. He doesn't respond.
I mean our chat if you if you can get to if you can get to
Scotland Supporters Club points for for that away day.
Yeah. Oh, I will be.
I will be there. It's it's such a good place to
play a game of football, though, somewhere different, you know, I
mean, and people are saying why are we doing that?
It's like, well, first of all, I don't think they want to play
two games at Hampden. No, Yeah, you need, you need the
neutral venue friendly. Yeah, I think, I think you don't
want to fly them mid season to Africa for let's say we're going
to be playing South Africa. We don't know who we're playing
yet. So let's say we're playing South
Africa. We don't want to fire in the
gate town. So let's put them as neutral as
possible. I know we could probably have
flown them to France or somewhere like that, you know, a
little bit for a journey for both places.
For us it's like a 2 hour bus journey down the road.
So it's a whole lot different compared to that for them.
But you know, I think it's a good certainly going to
Newcastle is it's only it's not that far.
It's the 25 LB train to get. To Newcastle.
From Edinburgh, so you know, it's quite good that we've got
this in at stake. I think it is good in Newcastle.
Every paper said it is going to be in Newcastle and but
Liverpool is still in contention.
Personally, I'd I'd like the whole Dickinson just purely for
the fact I think the new stadium is like an absolute not saying
not saying St. James's a bad stadium, great
stadium right in the heart of the city.
But I just, I just love to try the the Hill Dickinson Stadium,
but probably far in a way the ancient James's would just just
slightly edge it. Yeah, it feels more appropriate
for Scotland. For some it was like fairly pubs
within a 5 minute walk of the stadium as soon as.
You get off the the train. Station.
Yeah, literally not that far away.
From the stadium. It's like 5-10 minute walks,
it's literally a dream. But I've never been to
Liverpool, so I wouldn't have. A clue I've got some some family
down in England that are Everton fan, so I'd get some yeah, I'll,
I'll take them if it's if it's Liverpool, but yeah, exactly.
No, but I I hope it's St. James's because I think that
it's renowned for having an amazing atmosphere and I think
that's a lot to do with the stadium and I think pairing that
with Scotland fans, that would be some atmosphere.
Thank you everyone point even if it is a friendly.
Yeah, I think people are saying why are we doing this a friendly
in England. My simple question is why not?
We've done. It, I mean, we played, we played
Brazil. What was it?
Wembley, right? Yeah.
Emirates, Emirates, that was it, That was it.
Played Nigeria at Craven Cottage and yeah, no, the Emirates at
the time was Brazil's neutral ground and I don't know why we
played Nigeria. OK, I can't remember, but I
think it might have been for the World Cup and that was like a
stop off place for them if I remember greatly because.
They yeah for. Brazil, I think we're 2014 that
we played them. So I think there was a stopover
point more than anything. But we've no, we've played them,
we've played a few teams, you know, at a neutral ground
elsewhere. So why not go to Newcastle?
Why not go to Liverpool to play this against an African team?
It'll be interesting to see which African team it's going to
be. I've got a sneaky feeling it
will be someone like Cameron who are a really good side, but
they've not qualified for the World Cup.
Yeah, so. I think I've seen rumors of
Senegal. I'm not sure if that's true, but
I'm sure that sure I read that my only.
Players, like many teams, as close.
To as possible you know as. Close to, yeah.
I mean, like you don't, you don't want to be playing like a
Botswana or something like that where they're nowhere near the
level of Morocco. I think it's to get a sense of
what the football would be like against an opposition from that
region of that same strength. So I don't know who would.
I mean, Morocco I think is probably the best African
nation. Full stop.
So I don't know who would get close to yeah.
Afghan start, yeah. And that's what I was going to
say. It's like if nobody's aware of
it, it's starting on Sunday. So it's a good preparation for
us to see what. We're going to be doing hate
watch. Yeah, hate watch.
Hopefully they go into the worst run of form I've all done.
Yeah, can. We get a hate watch in Brazil as
well somehow. Just like who do they play?
Haiti hate watch. Yeah.
I think it'd be good to see Morocco action though,
especially because if you're not used to seeing these national
teams because. We're not, yeah.
I've not watched them since, since the last World Cup,
obviously. That's.
What I was going to say about Japan, like we've not seen them.
Certainly I've, you know, seen the results, but you don't see
them in action, you know. I've not watched a single Japan
game since they lost to Belgium, I think.
Yeah, I think. Oh no, no.
When last World Cup, when they did that?
Yeah, I think I've seen one of their their qualifiers.
I can't remember who was against.
I think it was Australia. I can't remember, but certainly
it's good to see these teams in action before you play.
And I think that's one good thing about Afghan for us is
that we've got you know, we could have been drawn with them
Croatia from Bot 2 and obviously we don't have we knew all about
them, whereas now we've got an African team who is one of the
best to that see them in action. Let's see if other teams can
into the weaknesses and we can probably try and exploit it as
much as like. I'm sure Steve Clark will be
watching them. Yeah.
I don't think you'll be going.
Yeah. No, no, I know.
Are you heading off to the to the US Nile?
Yes, I'm only going for the first two games IET in Morocco,
so I'm doing 10 nights in Boston, flying out on Thursday,
Thursday the 11th of June, which is day nice to meet kicks off,
and then I'm back on this Sunday the 21st, which is two days
after the Morocco game show. Nice.
Should be good, hopefully. I need to check check with what
you're on because I'm flying out from on the 11th as well.
Oh nice, nice Dublin, Dublin direct.
I just hopefully I can get a ticket and I've swallowed my
parade and accepted that I'm going to be paying silly money
for a ticket, but I've done. I just don't want to go.
I'll be over there and not go so.
And they're charging for fan zones now.
Yeah, I've seen that. Twelve, $2.50.
Yeah. So it's going to be an ideal
one, but hopefully it's a memorable one.
Be interested to. See what happens like because
obviously we've got a culture of like drinking outside the pubs
and stuff. Yeah, and we.
Call America actually doing stuff.
Like that, you know? Yeah.
So actually sitting watching the TV, watching the football
outside. We did that in Germany.
If you can, you get down hands on.
Go to Germany was Germany was best two weeks of my life yeah,
apart. From the football.
Yeah, well, yeah, exactly. I always say when I when I go
with Scotland it's it's it's such a great holiday apart from
the football. That's what I said when I went
to Athens for the Aberdeen game as well.
Landon Donovan said on him Fox Sports, because they're the main
broadcasters for America for the World Cup.
He he was saying if you want to see anybody in action, go and
see a Scotland game because just for the fans, because, you know,
he commentated for Fox on the opener and you said he didn't
care about the football, you cared about the fans inside.
And it was just the atmosphere and we could have outnumbered
those German supporters that. Day Oh my God the price of those
tickets though, because I I got the Switzerland and hungry
tickets to supporters club and they were extortionate as as and
then for the Germany game it came around then I got the
opportunity to buy it for 400 each is.
That not for your dad's was it? Did you not want to surprise
your? Dad, I want, yeah, so I was in
the Germany game with my dad. Well, originally I was just
going with my mates, but we'd gambled on flights, so we were
flying in on the 15th. So the only game of the whole
tournament, the only game of the whole tournament we were going
to miss was the Germany opening game.
And we're like, yeah, so one in 12 chance or whatever it was,
one in eight chance. And obviously be in Scotland, we
get the opening game and then I booked flights, a second pair of
flights with my dad to go to the Germany game of him and then
spent £900 on 2 tickets to see us get absolutely humped I
imagine. He wanted to disown you after.
That. I paid.
I paid for the ticket. So do you.
Ever know about the prices? Could I just say.
That yeah, about a year a year later, he.
Doesn't know you if you're listening to the podcast.
He does. He does.
Yeah, it's a good of a culture
shock time. It's like a heart attack.
What? No, but it was a great
atmosphere and obviously I'll never forget that.
I'm glad we don't have the opening game this tournament.
I'm there from the 11th to the 27th, I think it is.
Got all my flights booked, I think for the return and then
the two internal flights that came to 900 for the flights.
So I got lucky with that because when I'm looking back now, it's
God, it's 3 or 4 grand if you want to do that now.
Yeah. And I'm in staying in
Providence, which we're doing a travel and accommodation guide.
I'll put that in there for anyone that wants to keep an eye
out for that because Boston Stadium is so far a Boston, it's
the equivalent of from Glasgow to the Kelpies.
So it is a long way of the the city.
So Providence is is a bit closer.
So I'm staying there for 10 or 11 nights, I think, and then
flying down to Miami. Picturesque.
Hopefully last game beat Brazil and I'll be off to Mexico City.
I'll be changing my flights. Is that in Mexico City or?
Wherever it is, yeah. My return flight from Dublin to
Boston was like 700 lbs. And then so that was, I booked
this Saturday morning, the day after the draw, and then the
Sunday morning it was like €3000.
Yeah, wild. So that's like 2700 LB rank,
something like that. So jumped up at 2000 LB It's
easy. Yeah, it was great.
I'd. Like to use this podcast to
actually probably shame a company.
If that's OK, go. On go on.
There was a literally just remembered that and now.
So there was a hotel pretty much where you're staying, friend,
and I think it was because it's new.
England in Providence. So there's somewhere in there
and I was like, right, I'll do that.
So it was not bad like 1500, but then you go onto your thing,
onto the booking and they said do you want to take your
suitcase? If do you that's $500.
I was just like, I'm not going for. 10 days for that.
Suitcase was that I'm not going to wear the same clothes with
that you. Know, yeah.
With no. You need all the Scotland tops.
Well, yeah, exactly. Yeah, I booked, I booked my
return flights direct from Manchester for six hundreds, so
I'll just get the train down. That's good with my dad and
Nepal and some of his pals. And then the the outbound flight
was 450. The return flight was 150 or
something like that. And then we looked two days
later at the outbound flight and it gone up to 1.8 grand just for
the outbound flight. So very happy that I was rushing
when the ceremony or circus was going on.
I was I. Was on a train going into
Edinburgh. I know I remember that me and
James were in his flat ready to book whatever because I'd booked
15 different accommodations. I'd booked 15 different
accommodations. Refundable.
It was my past 30th on the on this Sunday before so we.
Were in. Edinburgh and as soon as I have
like why have I not booked it came to me like why have I not
done this street? Why am I here instead of trying
to pick up my laptop? Can.
I just jump in whilst we're talking, why have you just
mentioned that Anthony Joseph, Sky Sports journalist, has just
tweeted there that Celtic boss Wilfred Nancy has the full
backing of the board despite losing his opening for matches.
The article reads that the board are happy with the changing
system and basically the previous full games and the
games from now until January is basically an assessment to see
who's good enough and who isn't good enough to fit his system.
So I think he's going to be backed in January.
Yeah, so that's a big admission from from from the Celtic board
back in Wilford, Nancy in January.
We'll see how that goes. Obviously next game against
Aberdeen's massive to attempt and try and get the Celtic fans
back on board. Is that possible?
Not sure about that. We'll we'll see in due time.
Thank you both very much for coming on.
Hopefully we have an amazing World Cup, an amazing time in
America. Hopefully my bank, it's not in
the Reds and I'll I'll catch you guys on the next podcast.
Thank you very much for joining.