Welcome to the boys. Listen to the Passion and Hunger
Park. It's John.
Again, it's Johnny's. It's great.
Done by the fish Chance, The one for Scotland.
Scott And we're back for another episode talking about league
action, domestic football once again starting in Scotland after
our international break and our couple of chats we had on
Scotland and it's been an exciting week.
Lots of big results, some disappointing for some members
who are joining us to talk today and others have led to elation.
One of the guys joining us is Adam Mccorky.
Talk, Adam. I think we all know you're
wanting to like be awaited of. The party trying to stay, trying
to stay humble as best I can for this podcast.
Yeah, a good call because also on the mic is George was a
Celtic fan. Joe, how you feeling?
I've been better, James, but I'm still waiting that there's a
long way to go, so I'm just trying to look on the bright
side. The life is this.
Certainly early days. Early days like so, yeah, Quick
scan through of the results before we get talking.
Aberdeen 11 nil away to Saint Man.
That was their second one in the season.
Back to that one's for them. Dundee night.
I draw eyebrows against Rangers. Motherwell lost 21 owned folk.
Our decision there we'll probably talk about.
I was at Easter Rd. for a four nil win for the High Bees, their
first win since the league, first league game of the season
so good for them. And then of course to the
biggest talking points parts running out three nil winners at
Rock the Park in the Del Classico which has been dubbed
and Dundee. 2 nil win for a team that was right, that fit the
table nearly against Celtic. So we'll start we'll start on a
on a on a more happy tour. We'll go to the maroon corner of
Edinburgh for this one. See now in Kilmarnock.
Adam talked to us about it. Were you the game?
How did you see it? Yeah, I was at the game that
managed to get a ticket for it, but there are plenty was plenty
of us there, that's for sure. So I think it was just under
4000 there, which was obviously good to see.
I think obviously you naturally expect and the good times are
going, you start to see more fans and not that obviously
touch of terrible away athenses or anything like that.
But I think people were quick to know about maybe like our
attendance there in May and whatever.
But circumstances change. And I suppose five months on
things are very different from when we went to Calais in a
bottom 6 match, which was effectively nothing for us other
than them being upset by the fact that they'll was on the way
out. But yeah, I think the game, I
think they came to hit the nail on the head.
A lot of the pundits and everything in the media, Kelly
came out the traps really good for sort of 1015 minutes.
Think it was more just like weather in the storm a little
bit with them. They tried to obviously beat us
at our own game a little bit in the sense of like high press and
putting us under a lot of pressure.
And I think it was just about maybe trying to get through
that. And then we obviously managed to
go up the pitch and get a corner.
And as by no surprise, which seems to be a theme for the
season for us so far anyways, that we scored for that corner
and Halket three goals in in three games.
I think between having Finley and all comps, they've got nine
goals between them. So it's probably more than more
than more than strike parents have, never mind centre back
parents. And at this stage in the season
anyway. So yeah, is it really, really
good to get that goal from from a game, like I said, that
started we weren't really in control of.
And then I think really from there, like Kilmarnock, I think
Kettle will touch and I think they were, they were kind of
masters of their own downfall a little bit and a lot of like
loose passes. Yeah, just a lot of mistakes
going on in the middle of the park and then didn't really look
to have a lot of ideas to answer us once we did get that goal in
front. And then obviously the game
starts to open up a little bit. second-half gives the Lexi Kizri
this in Braga, the space they're looking for.
And then obviously the two of them were pretty devastating
between the two goals that happened in fairly quick
succession. And then it was pretty much, I
would say after, but I think it was roughly just over the hour
mark, last 30 minutes, just Hearts sort of see me enjoy
themselves in terms of be a bit more free flowing in their play.
And yeah, just like I said, enjoying the moment.
And I think that you could see that obviously the fans and
again, everything that's going on media wise with Hearts as
well. So they're kinda right in the
Crest of the wave and rightly so.
So just as long as we can, for however long it is.
Yeah, I mean, I mean, he said about the their first 15 minutes
was just about like sort of containing Kelly about.
They really gave him something to think about.
He said he didn't think there was much in the first half but
when the press came on. But when their press came on, we
started to engage with our strikers and scored a couple of
good goals. It looked straightforward in the
end, but until the third goal went and it wasn't.
So yeah, he's acknowledging Kelly.
So I'd given a good fight, but and then Hearts did put together
a really good performance. Couple of good goals.
Baraga, obviously, I saw one of his ones, the one that shifted
around the keeper was very neat, did well with that.
I mean, what a coupe. He continues to look for Hearts
coming from the Norwegian second tier and I'm right and same as
that, just over half 1,000,000 lbs.
So I mean brilliant signing like you said, right in the Crest of
the wave. Are you starting to dream
already? Do you think there could be a
title challenge on or is it still too early and you don't
want to fall into the same trap as Aberdeen fans did last
season? I think like to be honest, like
if I, if I'm heart to heart, like the heart of me would say
like, yeah, I'm dreaming. So obviously we for any Hearts
fan, I'd be dreaming about it, just like Aberdeen fans would be
dreaming last season. And then obviously the numerous
times Aberdeen were up there when obviously Rangers weren't
there and whatever. Like you'd be kind of foolish
like not to dream like and have that sort of your heart and you
want into win it. And I'm always thinking of like
it's maybe not of us the same circumstances somewhat, though,
I would say in terms like the Leicester situation just for
like golfing and whatever. Obviously I know the leagues are
very different, but like it's still got that that Leicester
kind of feel, albeit Hearts position and Scottish foot was
higher than I suppose Leicester's would be at that
time. But but yeah, in terms of like
in my head, I would say what everyone else is saying like
it's eight games and Aberdeen were however many games and
roughly this stage as well. Same kind of scenario.
I think this, I think even though that people keep banging
on about being the same type of scenario as Aberdeen, I do think
the circumstances are very different.
Like the points you get are the points you get regardless
because it's eight games. And so obviously it's natural
that we may have roughly the same points.
But I mean, it was a better Celtic last season.
The stuff that's going on with Celtic and Rangers is very
different from the last season for both of them.
There's a lot of bunching up going on with everybody else in
the league, which means there's a lot more draws.
So it's given Hart's more than early advantage on a lot of
other teams, which Aberdeen didn't quite have as fortunate
circumstances as well when they had their form.
So and I just think overall the set up with hearts as well as
clicked in a lot of places on and off the park.
So I'm hopeful that it lasts. Whether that lasts like to get
like a league title, I don't know.
But certainly you'd be looking for certainly with an injured
situation that to aim for second, but you'll never hear
that chat obviously for Mckennis for anybody.
I think he has been already stating about, you know, we need
to see like 2 full rounds of games.
So obviously best been eight games and you'll not not see
that till around about 22 games. So still we to go for that and
then they'll maybe start talking about it then.
But obviously in house, like they'll have their own goals and
targets and everyone will be aiming for it.
You know, to everybody should be aiming to be as high as they can
be. So as long as they can keep
challenging themselves, then yeah, they should be in a good
place this season, regardless of where that end position is.
Yeah, no, I agree with that. They are looking good.
Does that 'cause you to be a little bit concerned, Joe?
Obviously Celtic now five points a draft like early days, but do
you like ours and say no, they're playing well, that's
good football, you know, that's going to give us something to
think about. Be honest, I don't know.
I mean obviously hearts add to the concern, but most of my
concern comes from within the club and I'd be concerned
regardless. Obviously the table position
adds a lot of concern to that and appreciate it.
But regardless of where we would be, obviously be different if
we're five points clear. But the fall off and performance
is alarming enough. And fair play to Hearts.
They've just capitalised on that and not to I, I sound like I'm
getting them a high horse here and I don't mean it, but I
genuinely do welcome, welcome the competition and because I
think it's good for Scottish football and it's good for
Celtic because most years of her being honest self probably get
away with the sub pubs that they've had so far with the
quality of the other teams, including Rangers.
The competition's not really been there without exceptions in
recent years, so I'm not getting overly worried.
I've seen Celtic have tourist starts before.
This may be the worst, but I do think it's entirely possible
that Celtic steady the ship enough.
I don't think we're going to reach the heights that we did
last year and I also think it is quite unlikely that Hearts
maintain this level throughout the whole season.
Come back to me next week though and it could be completely
different because the result on Sunday could change my complete
outlook. If Hearts play us off the park,
which wouldn't surprise me, and when to not at Tynecastle, there
it clear I might have a different outlook on things.
Or if Celtic score and a really tight game, a late goal snatch
at one nil and bring it back to two points, I would use that as
I'd hope that Celtic reduce that as a platform to build off of.
Yeah, I mean, I don't know, it's a, it is a massive 1 next Sunday
12:00 at Tynecastle and kicks off.
I mean we'll, we'll discuss the Celtic game at the weekend.
First two nil to Dundee obviously rotates at the game
and stuff. There was in the golf balls and
all the bouncy balls getting thrown on by the Celtic fan.
I thought the bouncy balls were quite funny to be honest.
I took ages to clean them off, so 3 minutes, 3 minutes and then
what? Someone said that's the stoppage
time, that part of that. There was, there was 4, there
was, there was 4 added to be honest.
Like Dundee were going to score regardless.
It does. I mean, it just meant that they
scored an added time instead of the third three last minutes of
normal time. And I'm glad they did that at
the start of game instead of at the 20th minute when the team
were in their flow. And you can see, you can see by
where Celtic are and in the league that things aren't right.
I know and I understand it's an extent that other Scottish
football fans around us look at us saying, oh, what have you got
to complain about? But for so long Celtic have been
held back out with out with Scottish football.
When you look around us at the potential that the club has.
So I actually think that the people on the board are lucky
that they've got this far, and they're lucky that Rodgers is
actually still there as well. No, I mean across the game.
I mean well in terms of what the manager said, Dundee just even
previously obviously very proud that we worked in exceptionally
hard over the last couple of weeks.
You can work on certain aspects but the execution of that is
down to the players. I thought to a man they were
brilliant today. Rogers assessment was the
resultant performances. Performance are bitterly
disappointing. Give credit to Dundee, the
defended well when they got in front.
All the statistics in the game show We dominated the ball but
we didn't do enough with it. It was a disappointing day for
us. Agree with that.
Yes, I mean, I probably could have written a script for that
to be honest. I mean I feel like half these
interviews were the big media outlets are pretty PR trained,
but no, it's. It's the whole thing I don't
need. It's fun with what he's saying
and it does smell a lot of how football was looking at Celtic
and Rogers third season, his first and before he went to
Leicester. The football's predictable.
The only difference was that the teams around us weren't as good.
But even then the poor results were were were showing,
especially in the first half of that season.
But it's it's up to Rogers and the team to find a way around
it. It's not controversial to say
that player for player Celtic is the best squad in the league.
It's just finding the best ways around it.
I mean, I saw someone stating the financial gulf between
Dundee and Celtic and it was astronomical.
And so everyone will say, oh, Dundee played dire football.
They they beat a team that was in the Champions League last
year and and nearly took Bayern Munich extra time and all that
stuff. I mean, for any Dundee team to
do that in the state that they're in is mighty impressive.
And you can try and take away all that they want with how bad
Celtic were. It's an incredible achievement
that they should be very proud of.
But to allow that to happen at Celtic and also the fact that
nobody was surprised, I think says a lot because, well, I'm
not saying I wasn't surprised because I literally said in the
sub stack for Scott's with a mic that everyone would be shocked.
But the performance from Celtic didn't surprise me.
Dundee's going to maybe that just because of how Dundee had
been this season. And but I there was no pointers.
I was thinking this is unbelievable because it's
nothing that we've not seen before from Celtic this season.
Yeah, and as I mean, as I've been talking with Dundee, as
well as an interesting journey to watch since Chrysler's
appointment in the summer, there was a, you know, a level of, you
know, the criticism I guess leveled that the appointment and
people not been too enamoured with Presley coming in.
League Cup campaign didn't go amazingly dropping points
against lower league teams. You'll be chuffed with that.
It feels like that he's got them playing a little bit more how
he's wanting. I'll come back to Adam begging
on Sunday and Joe's getting his thoughts there.
Are you looking forward to it? Definitely, definitely.
I think you cannot look forward to it, right.
It's the first time, probably going to a game against Celtic,
well first time and God knows how long we got a game in Celtic
above them. And then also again the
situation with Celtic versus us, it's like polar opposite.
So there's a lot in our favour. I did not foresee Celtic getting
beat yesterday. I did watch it, most of it to be
honest, and I've not spent an enormous amount of time watching
Celtic this season. But I've obviously heard murmurs
about like, you know, not replacing people.
And to be honest, I came to agree with what Joe's saying.
Like I'm not like whilst there is a financial goal from Walsh,
I probably would say at the moment in most positions Celtic,
man for man with every other team is better.
Overall. Do think there is significant
weaknesses and I do think a lot it all comes from the fact that
it's just poor, poor recruitment or you know, over time it's
either been not spending enough money or where they are spending
it, it could be spent better places.
And I think like from watching the game, certainly in like
forward areas and full back areas, they did look
significantly weaker. They did look very predictable.
They just looked so passive that ideas looked like they were
one-dimensional. And then also the fact as well
that like they just seem to still be relying on, at the
moment anyway, because I obviously got injured and stuff,
but relying on like the same people.
So like relying on McGregor, relying on a returning Kieran
Tierney and James Forrest, again, hoping he does something
because nobody else is. And then obviously the other key
point as well that I was thinking about the other day was
the fact that I've got AFCON coming up as well.
And I find there is like 3, at least a couple of attacking
players, maybe 3 attacking players for Celtic that are
going or potentially going or likely going to AFCON, which
again, further weakens them in an idea where they're already
weaker than they were last season.
So yeah, I do echo like Joe's points.
Really, they shouldn't have really got to this position.
But obviously it's up to Rogers to find a way.
And ultimately, when you look at the league table, you know it's
not like it's even if Harsh were to win on Sunday, eight points
ahead of them but only nine games in, still 29 games to go,
still to play Hearts three times, twice at Parkhead more
likely. So yes, by no means not
something they can overcome and I am fully expecting Hearts to
have a dip at some point because it's not a normal position for
us to be in. But I would say something for
our favour would be the fact that we've still got a large
quad squad, full equality and literally no distractions.
And so again, Celtic got a game first Thursday night for Celtic.
Hearts got obviously bombed on penalties by Saint Mirren.
So we've got no other focus than the league all week, every week.
Our focus is just one game a week and then stay as high as we
can with our squad, the players. It was built technically for
European football, like in my mind, like we should be probably
have less players given the fact that we've not got any Europe.
But I think it was just because, you know, maybe the right offer
didn't come up or you think because obviously a lot of them
are still under contract. So again, you're stuck with
players, but with players that are still in the mean of
quality. And then you've added to that
by, you know, the number of settings we did make through
analytics and obviously what Dell and Graham Jones were
looking for. So yeah, I think it sets off for
a tasty one on Sunday. Like if I was to think about
what the outcome would be, I'd say it'll be a draw in my
opinion. Like I think that Celtic do have
frets and around the pitch that I think it's Taneki or Taneki, I
can't remember his name. Henach obviously brings the
obvious threat and then they've still got stability in the
midfield, still got man for man good quality midfield that will
definitely find a foothold in the game.
Harsh will be on the back foot at certain points in the game.
And then I still think the centre back pain in the car of
records and scales, albeit they maybe don't have the same
fullbacks they've had and certainly missing Johnston, I
still think they bring a lot of stability along with Michael.
So it'll be a really good game, I think.
No, certainly I think all eyes will be on that on Sunday.
Looking elsewhere in the league in terms of results, like you
said, we have a two 2 draw Ibrox, Dundee United getting a
point on the road. Good win.
Said it was going 2 halves. Rangers dominated more than the
first, Dundee United dominated more than the second They went.
There was 4 good goals in that game actually.
Dundee United went one nil down rock.
To me that was the reaction and I draw, you know, as much as
they deserve. But yeah, Rangers now appointed
new manager Danny Roll. He was in the frame for the job
initially and then pulled out, am I right?
Insane. Then they're looking at Kevin
Muscat that talks there, got to the advance stage but then broke
down. He pulled out.
What's your guys thoughts on that appointment?
It seems, again, it's just not ideal for the Rangers support.
I think a guy that didn't seem feeling it and then you know,
it's not just the case. I'm going and getting them on.
To be honest, I think it's actually, I think it could be
quite a similar appointment to Russell Martin and not, not
heaps of management experience actually lesson Russell Martin
as a first team manager. Personally, I should.
I actually think it could be good, but I thought that about
Russell Martin as well. Yes.
When they brought him in. As he's been assistant at Bayern
Munich and Germany hasn't. He and Germany.
He's also vegan. Drawing similarities, yeah.
What was the Russell BC? Vegetarian and a vegan.
No, he's vegan that. Was something that rubbed up
that I mean, to me, that doesn't bother me.
I know. No, no, that's not that doesn't
define someone. But the Rangers fans, that was
just the chair on top of yeah, I got it was.
Woman and and fairness has actually not got a bad record at
all, it's just very limited. He's 36.
Off the top of my head. I'm assuming there will be
someone in the Rangers squad that's actually older than that.
If not, won't be far off it he must.
Be like 33 or something surely? Yeah, but he'll be on, so not
not far off it. So that's the challenge that
comes with management and he actually did a really good job.
But Sheffield Wednesday, the circumstances that surround
that, I think people could really underestimate.
Turn to 12 and at one point we're in a playoff hunt.
So to have done that with Sheffield Wednesday would have
been spectacular. I think the potential is there
but the problem that he's got and he'll have known that and
it's maybe part of the reason why he turned it down the first
time. Rangers friends expect results
and success straight away and I actually don't know how viable
that is right now with the state of Scottish football, with the
state of the Rangers squad. And I think when he goes in
there like Russell Martin did, he'll realise that there's much
bigger issues at play than the quality of footballers.
I think there's a main set issue throughout the whole club and
these players are not used to success.
I know that sounds brutal, it sounds like I'm rubbing it in,
but the most successful player in that team at Rangers is James
Tavernier, who has won four trophies in about 10 years, and
Rangers fans expect and want much, much more than that.
And what might play into Daniel Grill's hands is that Celtic are
doing badly right now and one of his first games is going to be
the semi final against us and the League Cup semi final next
week. So if he wins that, which
genuinely wouldn't surprise me with how Steltz kept playing,
right now, the whole thing changes.
But if it goes the other way, he's got an uphill battle from
pretty early on. Yeah, yeah.
I don't know what you got. That's all right.
I do echo like a few Joe's points there.
Like I did manage to see some of the Rangers done that game.
Yeah, there was good goals in it.
It's good to see regular limbs happening in the corner.
Ibrox as well. So show it to Dundee United fans
for that. That was that was a good watch.
But yeah, I think it's the same old can't be a.
Rangers fan on the podcast at some point because we can't just
have a new guys just taking cheap shots every time they drop
points at home. Do you know what though?
It's all give and take. I'll happily take abuse of any
Rangers or Hips or Jewel, whoever, doesn't matter.
You've got if you're going to give it out, you have to.
You want it to take some as well.
So I think I was kind of the same old feelings for Rangers a
wee, but I felt like they obviously the quality of the
team is not anywhere near what Rangers fans expect or anybody
would expect to suppose for the size of club Rangers are.
But I think like they did suffer a little bit from having like
just some some some sort of coaching contingent and there
are not really anyone that was like a leader in the dugout.
Obviously it's chucked together because they're still trying to
sort out recruiting a manager, which has been again, a sort of
shambolic feeling of the board anyway.
But I. Do.
I think like Danny Rule will actually be all right.
I actually think you'll do fine. I had a look at their games,
right? The next five games is not, not
what you think, what you'd want. And it probably makes you think
like why the hell would you have faith from base in the next 5
games? Because they've got Bran away on
Thursday, they've got Kelly at home, Hibs away, Celtic of us in
the cup and then Roma at home. And that's all in three weeks as
well. So five games in three weeks.
So obviously they would, like you said that we want them to
get good results. Obviously try to get the table,
they'll be expecting them to deliver in that cup semi final
regardless of form, regardless of where they are in the league
positions. Do have the opinion that I think
Rangers I didn't. I wasn't sure who would win
itself that Rangers the cup, but I am actually thinking that
Rangers will win it. So I'll probably be wrong.
But it's just because I do think there'll be a manager basis.
I think there'll be a manager bounce of some kind.
Sorry, Joe. And do you know what as well,
right. The reason I'm a wee bit more
confident about role when I don't want to be obviously as a
heart fan, but I just think that like he seems a bit more
adaptable than Martin and I think his personality is
different from Martin as well. Not that you know, I do feel
like Martin kind of got chucked under the bus a little bit with
the pressures, but I just feel like as a little bit more suited
to role and they've got a lot of similarities in Martin
background, age, all that kind of thing.
But I think, like I said, the style and the personality and
adaptability role, I think that will help Rangers and I think he
will get positive results in those five games.
And I do think we will start to see them stead the ship a bit.
And then obviously not sure where they'll be come January in
terms of league position, but I'd imagine they'll be at least
in the top three. I would say so, yeah.
And then January, obviously it's about, well, no, Rangers love to
spend money so and there'll be more money chucked there.
And then I suppose that will be a test of of role as well where
how he works for that recruitment team.
Can the recruitment team get it right?
Because they have appeared to have failed so far in terms of
like their signings. But yeah, I'm a bit more
confident about rolling than what others are.
Yeah. I mean, we just just have to see
it gets on, like you said, next five games, couple of big
fixtures in there, so a chance to really endear himself to the
Rangers support if if he manages to get them playing and winning
more games. Dundee United though as well,
like I make a point in Dundee United just quickly, James, if
that's all right. Like I just like, what did you
say? Their 4th.
Yeah, it's not the 4th. I think it's, yeah, just like
joint at the Kelly, they're joint Mifflin.
I just, I just think like they're living off other
people's feelings at the moment. Like like I do like they've made
a lot of signings and they do have like good players, like
saps for dole check players like that that have came in done
well. But like for me, like with
Emily, I do not have faith in good one like at all.
Like I've seen his feelings, Aberdeen, Sitman and all that I
could. I can see that when other teams
get their act together, like so for example, say maybe like a
Motherwell or something like that.
Rangers, obviously you would expect to me that I can just see
Dundee net being the team that just starts to go down that
table. Like I was looking at their
stats for the season. They've only won two games all
season and all and then they're out the Europe that Europe they
got beat for kill in the League Cup.
But yeah, there's I don't I still think Goodwin again
provides like that sort of consistency you'd want and
they've had a lot of changes. So I'm be keen to watch them the
next few weeks like because they if somebody who's asked me who
different is going to go up and down that table because there is
only five points between 3rd and bottom, like I'd be having
Dundee now going down the table. Yeah, I mean, you've got them in
three games time, They've got St.
Martin at home and Motherwell away in between.
So yeah, I mean, it's hard to tell.
I mean, as a Ray fan, obviously we played them two seasons back
when we're both going for the title.
And again, I did really feel more forceful trying to throw
the title away. Dundee United went up by, you
know, we felt like we're trying to put on a plate for each other
and then last season and it's quite well at the table.
But again, Aberdeen last game of seasons and not they leapfrogged
them in that position so. I just don't think I just don't
think Goodwin brings that dependable factor that you would
want. I just that's something it may
just be me like, you know, end of the day, I'm no coach.
Goodwin knows better than me about how he coached.
But I just think as an outsider and given a sort of opinion on
it. If you're just watching football
and have seen as teams like I just feel like it's always like
a matter of time. We're good when we're just like
goes downhill and I just don't see that stability then I think
they are living off like individual performances and like
a lot of teams living off like just teams letting themselves
down. So like Rangers and stability.
They lived off, like you said, a couple of really good goals that
they scored. And yeah, I just think like they
will eventually end up on the slide now.
We'll hold you to that. Looking elsewhere, I was at
Easter Rd. as Hibs won four nil against Livingston.
Really strong game from Hibs. David Gray saying he hoped they
could have had a couple more goals.
He said that Evan I asked Evan asked for we saw the big thing
was the reaction to losing our game first game of the season,
which was a defeat at Hearts just before the international
break and they did it in a perfect way.
Four goals, a clean sheet and he said again, we could have got
more but the biggest fan as follows the intensity and we got
that from the start. I mean, I'd agree with what I
saw and correlating with what he said there.
I definitely think they could have a couple more think Karen
Berry and collegiate who got his first league goal of the season
record signing for him. So finally and a value that's
starting to live up to what he paid with the goal.
But I think they could be a little bit disappointed with not
going in with more goals and they had 1/2 time and then they
run out for now winners with junior Hoyle grabbed too late
on. That's Hibs first one since the
first league came the season. So two wins the season smart and
draws and the defeat against Hearts obviously come in last
week. Your last last match day before
that it drew now now with Celtic losing 1 nil to Hearts is never
great, but in the context of been a tight game between 1st
and either further whatever place it was at that point, do
you think we're starting to see a bit more of the hips team we
saw last season? I think yes and no.
I think it's definitely more positive than it was a wee while
ago. I saw them get a point at
Parkhead and I'm used to a hips team that would come out and
attack a wee bit more and they really didn't do that but make
that point was still a positive for them.
But I wasn't impressed by them to be honest.
And they went, I think that Livingston game that they just
won was a first win since last beat Livingston in the League
Cup, which was before they'd even lost out in Warsaw.
So I mean, it could be, it could be one of one of those games
like Aberdeen beating Dundee that just starts then turning it
around a wee bit. Obviously Hibs is low was
nowhere near what Aberdeen's has been this season.
Only one league defeat. It's been draws.
Draw after draw, it's just draw. Exactly, it's just been an
insane amount of draws and it probably sums up the league to
be honest. Yeah, but no, I mean, I, I stand
by that. If Aberdeen hadn't been so poor,
more attention would have been on David Gray because obviously
so much was being said. Jimmy Tully may be going because
of where Aberdeen were a few weeks ago.
But you know, the overall job that David Gray's done has been
so positive. Any, any talk I'm good would
have been insane. And I, I do think they'll be OK
this season. What OK as the Hibs?
I don't know, because I think Celtic, Rangers and the Hearts
will occupy the top three spots. And at the start of the season,
the Hibs fans probably would have said that third was what
they're aiming for. So I don't know if they would
change that now or not. It's a very competitive league
this season. They're shaping up because, you
know, you know, you know, Rangers are probably going to
get that turned out at some point, you know, with a new
magic man defined form again, it'll be it won't be a case
similar to what we've seen through the opening fixtures of
the season, or at least I mean, that's not what you expect.
I'm not going to say whether or not that's the case or not, but
yeah. And obviously Aberdeen, you
touched on them, they're feeling really struggled with them
throughout the start of the season.
We struggled throughout the whole latter end of the, you
know, last season getting the Scottish Cup one doing a lot
from and you know, like a credit he's got in the bank with Don
support and the board beat some man one nil at the weekend.
That's their second one of the season back-to-back wins.
Felon said he's proud of the team.
They managed game in different areas and they were resilient at
the end to them at shots they had where a lot.
We just have to be a little bit better when we're creating
chances. Sometimes you just need to
someone to step up and Marco's goal was incredibly good.
That was magnificent and I'd agree with him there.
It was a not a Croy turn, but a ton of sorts.
He lures who defended and the the touchline and then just flex
it around and then shot as I mean, it's a lovely goal to go
and see if you've not seen it. Definitely going to catch the
highlights is well worth the watch.
There was a questionable via decision, but it wasn't
questionable in the sense it wasn't offside.
It was definitely offside interference, but it's taken a
long time. You know, the balls come out the
boxes could arguably be a different phase of play, which I
think some man fans would probably argue it was feeling,
like you said, being a lot of heat at the start of the season.
I mean, I don't know, drop this to you as well.
Do we feel like he's got them playing again or is it too early
to tell? I think I'll just touch on Hibs,
just to go back to the point, just on their game now, I'll
quit lie. I think so.
With Hibs, I think they're the opposite to Dundee.
I think they are in a more stable spot under Grey, but I
think that my faults on Grey are somewhat a good one where I
think like he doesn't have obviously that the natural
experience because not being in a coaching role long enough.
So it's not to say we'd never get to, you know, improving, but
I do feel like they're starting to show signs of, yeah, like
just being tactically sort of inept at some points.
Like obviously Joe touched on the Celtic game, right?
So obviously they got a good point at Celtic, but the key
point for me was how he said they played.
So they went to Celtic to get a point effectively and hope maybe
to sneak a goal, but didn't really try and entertain and
play free form football, which Hibs fans always would refer the
Hibs teams play like. So David, they changed that sort
of approach when he went to Celtic and OK got that positive
result. They played the exact same game
in the Derby as well. They just sat with a back five
and two holding midfielders and didn't come out didn't really
play well midfield at all. So I think like they'll be OK as
getting late July. Not don't really know where
they're going to finish. I'd like to think they would.
Well, I hope they don't, but I'd like to think they'll finish in
the top 6. I just feel like unless they
start attacking teams and playing like like more freely as
a team, like, you know, using the wing backs better than teams
where they you'd expect to dominate like that against
obviously Levy. But again, I don't know how much
to eat into that. I did feel like a lot of the
game, I did feel the game was a lot more about like how good the
new like how good clutch was. Like I really thought clutch was
played really well. I actually shocked that and
happy that he's not played and Boyle's been playing stadium for
the first few weeks because I think if it had been clutch and
Berry upfront there again, like Barry and Boyle, very opposite
players, but clutch is obviously a lot younger.
How's that potentially? Whereas Boyle obviously he can
provide moments, but as everybody knows, he's sort of
again at the other side his career.
So like that was the main positively Hibs.
But that's feel like obviously the man for man have a lot more
quality than living. It's hard to tell like how good
I went to the goals. Well, that was the second-half.
They ran away winners, but Martindale obviously I did as
well. But how like performance wise,
there's ways to lose a game and it felt like his players didn't
really turn up. So the Hibs get the same
positive performance and it's a team that does play well.
Like if they play like again, a Motherwell or Kilmarnock,
whoever, whoever all those teams are that in about Hibs, like are
they going to get the same result or outcome?
Because if they don't play, they're still playing with that
same backfield that Gray never moves from still playing, you
know, with the one backs, are they going to be defensive or
are they going to actually play with any freedom in the
midfield? I just feel like is like non
existent like so I don't like if I was to put that Hibs midfield
against that Motherwell Field midfield right now, I know what
one I'd want and it isn't have just midfield.
So yeah, I do wonder where they'll they'll end up under
grief if he is again, won't make changes and tweak how he plays
games. But again, it comes with
experience. It makes sense and recognize it
because obviously did get a turn around last time for them.
And and generally speaking, like you've said, James, I don't
think like, you know, there's not certainly not racked up a
lot of losses. But here they are the two
European Cups and League Cups. So they've only got the league
to focus on. So yeah, it'd be interesting to
see Aberdeen short and sweet with them.
To be honest. They don't trust to lean.
I give the on the Scottish Cup. He'd be bent him.
I don't I don't I don't buy into whatever you fancy.
But to lean like it's his record as shocking it so like.
I mean, Finn obviously not on the podcast today, he's away.
He's actually travelling to Athens for Aberdeen's Conference
League fixture. He, I mean, when I speak, when I
spoke to him about personally the Scotland game and he
references the Scottish Cup game is like a big thing like that.
You know, he brought such a good night.
You know, that seemed down a lot of like I said, credit in the
bank with the guys and they don't support and.
But for me it's like, it's like it feels like a 90 minute man to
be honest. For me, like 90 minute man won a
Scottish Cup. It's obviously some massive,
actually one in that trophy is a massive achievement, no doubt.
There's no doubt with that. Nobody would.
They thought that we're going to do it, especially with the form
they'd been in. But that form has never changed
after it, before it. It's been like a slide for like
what we're like nearly a year now had bad results.
But the 90, the 90 minute man carries on because he's got in
the bank if we played. Like winter football, for
example, in the season started in January.
It'd be a very grim tale for the Don.
So I don't think, you know, I know that's not the table we're
looking at. And there's all lifts and buts
in that respect. But yeah, I mean real, meant to
be seen. Like I think.
I think like obviously very, very unlikely to happen or touch
any kind of like with their enemy.
But like if Macinnis had the drop off that he has, he will
not get to the Scottish Cup final.
He would be sacked. So I think like it's just a mad,
it's a really mad scenario. But the longer from from my
perspective, longer twins are the better to be honest.
So I just think like they do have players and they do have
quality. They've made loads of sign and
spent loads of money as well. And I add for a normal forum
team, so like. Again, to echo the point,
they've spent all that money and if you think about what they've
had as an outcome from leaks, which is your bread and bar,
like the drop off is huge when you consider what they've spent.
I mean, look at if you put them in and like compact compare to
like say St. Mirren, right?
If you just look at pure leak results and we've got something
from like the start of the drop off till now and look at Saint
Mirren's points versus Aberdeen. And again, look at the budget
side, like they're miles apart. So like, I just, I don't know,
like they've got good players there, but I don't think T1 will
get the tune out of them like. I just, I disagree with you, but
I mean, I was at the game again, shark to the Nets, and you can
see from there the confidence it was brewing.
I think there's a special player in Carlson and maybe Tilling's
not the best guy to do it, but I think he's good enough to get
enough of a team to do relatively well.
But at this point, I actually don't know what relative success
is for Aberdeen. I don't know what they want from
this season. When they were I, I was always
confident they turn around enough to not go down.
I know that sounds tough, but after they hadn't scored in the
first six or seven games, it was genuinely on my mind at one
point. For a while I said I still don't
think they'll make top 6. The league is so tight now.
It's actually not it's not out of their out of their realms at
all. So it wouldn't surprise me.
I think they've got a better squad than a lot of the teams
that are performing above expectations that you're
Kilmarnock's and sit Byrons and some are doesn't notoriously
hard going to go to. So for Aberdeen to go there
don't they've got result there in a long time as well and I
think that does show the confidence growing and the
confidence plays such a big part in football if the confidence is
there. And you can see the lack of
confidence in the games that I went as well when they were
doing Bradley I saw against Livingston when they drew Not
Now and I saw great with the League Cup to Motherwell and you
can see what they were trying but there was no belief there.
I think Shakhtar really helped them in that respect and I can't
see them growing enough. I don't think it'll be a
spectacular season by their standards, but just like I said
about your Hibs, I think they'll be OK.
Either of you know, like what the the European spots are for
the end of the season because I know they're getting gradually
worse. But like I'm just like you just
said there, Joe, a bit like if we think that Celtic, Rangers,
Hearts take top three, Aberdeen and Hibs will both be definitely
aiming for four. There are.
Five there are five spots 5 but they're they're worse than they
were this. Year.
There's just more, like more qualifiers.
Yeah, yeah. OK, cool.
I think the main difference is 4th place well had like Hibs had
the season. I think they were starting the
conferences of Europa League. As the best as the next best
spot, though still the Scottish Cup, right?
Yes, yeah, that's why like Hibs would normally have got it
because I believe won the cup. It's going to be some Scottish
Cup then. The only other fixture in the
Premier League was Scottish Premiership even was Motherwell
1 Fokker 2. So Fokker now only one lost in
the last four. Quite good going first side
that's came up. There was a VAR decision though
when the game was at Nell. Nell Motherwell having a goal
chopped off. Yeah.
And ask you had to say on that. He said we should have had.
We should have scored another. And I don't think I'm ever going
to understand how they disliked that goal.
That's one of the worst of the year decisions I've ever seen in
my career. I've been for me, Brad Spencer,
that player who's failed, doesn't even appeal for it.
There's no, you know, outcry for a foul.
Very soft. Yeah.
Strange one there, but I was given nonetheless.
Coming down into the Championship, two big results.
One was the 5th Derby mean I was at the game at least.
Joe, obviously you're from the Bell and you said you've got a
slight stake in that. Yeah, I'm actually from
Kirkcaldy I. Didn't realise there's so many
Kirkcaldy but he's in this I. Know So another another big
grief fan then. No, no, far from it.
All right, growing growing up, if I wasn't a park head, Eastend
was the granddad go to. So I'm saying I'm from Kirkland.
I was born there. I've never lived in the in the
town park. Nearest maternity ward seems to
have taken a lot of names. But no, my heart's always
belonged to the only city in Fife, you see.
And say when you lived there, journalist.
But no I and with Neil Lennon being the manager there now as
as well, been been keeping an even closer eye on them and I'm.
Proud to dislike them, I guess. And oh.
There you go. So, and I was, I was happy.
I, I, I never expected a good game between these two sides,
especially when it's been shown on television for like every
championship game that's shown on the tail is an absolute
stinker. But I I was happy that the
Furman got over the line because they've had a really bad record
than that fixture recently. And the Forman's problem I
actually stand by since Kevin went to Hibs from them, they've
never found a proper replacement.
I still don't think Chris is that.
But the problem has been scoring goals and they managed to do
that twice on Friday night. And to be honest, once the
Herman got one, I couldn't really see Race threatening too
much. And James, sorry to say, but
they never did. And look at before the game
people going to me. Well, how do you finger one
tonight? Do you think going tonight like,
well, you know, Rovers and I went throwers.
I was going to be honest. I think it'll be a game where
two teams play quite bad. I know the Rovers haven't been
in great form. I couldn't I didn't see that
change coming. I welcomed that.
But then and I'd spent, you know, if Dunfermline place
slightly less worse than us, they'll get the one.
And if they don't lose. And I felt honestly, I felt that
was the case. It was a game lacking in
quality. Rovers come off the back.
Our game against air which was sandwiched between the Greece
and Bellus games for Scotland. One of the worst performances
I've seen for us in a very long times.
The lack of creativity when he's once brothers begging for
thefted bullet because didn't see a scorn and then, like he
says, the game went on at East End.
I didn't. I was lacking any faith that
we're going to get a goal and I hate being so critical on my
team, but it just. Seems honest to you don't want
to be deluded and say things are fair when they're not.
The game plan just seemed to be they seem to bear a key in trend
and chatter into the channels and trying to get runners going
and the family just mopped up that we didn't have to work hard
to keep us out. And you know, the goal is scored
by the Stewart opener was a moment of real quality.
But. What does he keep her playing up
by the way? I.
Don't know, it's just it was just no, that was on real moment
of quality in the game. I think Stevens is kind of
culprit for their second and Chris and Kane get gold side.
They probably expected more of my guy who has experience, but
it happens. Yeah, like you know, that's one
one win, one draw on our last six.
So partick vessel for the Rovers of the Saturday.
A bit big game for Robson to try and get a tune I think.
He's in trouble already, James. I didn't until Friday night.
I'd kind of I'd been up and down wall seen us play for.
We were hard done by. You know, Ross County didn't
really offer much often the goals he scored different.
We controlled the game, but we ran up there knowing they hadn't
won a game all season. It was probably just going to be
one of these things where they got the win.
They were finally, you know, due it whether or not there and on
the patch sort of thing. Yeah.
And I think being losing the Derby, losing the game against
the air was hard because it's it was nice to lose that fashion
just, you know, no hope. And the performance coming into
this one, it's got the extra but a needle with a Darby, you know,
that puts the pressure on a more.
So, yeah, see what comes on Saturday with that.
Elsewhere in the championship, Smokey's Smoke show up at a Gay
Field St. Johnstone, their first first
league defeat of the season. But and it's now only one
winning the last four for them. So they're starting to, you
know, find the championships not going to be a walk in the park
in that respect. Yeah.
Are both three one winners there?
Don's Lonnie Finley Marshall grabbed a double there.
It was one of my mates in the chat actually said when we saw
that result, he said well, that's a proper.
That's welcome to the championships.
And Johnson. Yeah, because that's the sort of
is is a very competitive league and I think on anyone's day,
anyone could be anyone else. And that kind of that that
result for me just screamed out, you know, that's just the
championship all over really. And I've always found it to be
the more competitive league in Scotland.
Maybe the season, not so much for the what's going on in the
top flight, but yeah. And then and then dipping down
into League One and two of it's the League 1.
Hamilton and Stenoschmir keep up the pace at the top of the
table. They're both on 20 points after
Hamilton won four nil against Montrose and Stanley B Cove one
nil. Not looking too good for Cove.
They're at the foot of the table after 10 games with only two
points, only one goal in their last six games.
That's pretty hard going. Over in a really bad way.
Yeah, it's not looking good. You just look at the table.
After coming second last year, a lot of their fans really would
have wanted them to take on after they weren't even that far
behind our growth. They got the other playoff final
and lost to Airdrie, but you could kind of see early on it
wasn't going to be that kind of season for them this year.
After the financial issues came out, I didn't expect it to be
this bad and Montrose are probably thanking their lucky
stars because before the financial issues came out,
Montrose probably would have been the favourites to go down
and they're still not doing great, but it's looking like
Cover gonna be the ones that are fighting for their lives.
Yeah, it's not looking good for them.
And then League 2 Spartans still clear three points at the top of
the league. He's cool, bright.
Obviously the new boys in the league continue their good start
to life in the 4th tier. So yeah, a lot going on over all
the leagues. I think that kind of draws our
discussion to an end because we have been on for a wee bit and
unconscious. We've we've snapped this one in
on a work break, some of us. So we're needing to get back to
that. Anyway, yeah, good discussion
guys. Glad to have me both on.
Any leaving thoughts before we end this one?
Not from me. Just on just on Spartans like
they deserve a lot of credit because East Kilbride came into
this. Everyone knew they had decent
financial backing. Obviously a lot of publicity
around, but Kennedy inside Ferry being involved as well.
But Spartans have been the ones that have really been had their
foot on the gas this year and the vote they were I've seen
that's they were doubt they were very mid table last year.
No wondering really knew what to expect from them and their away
form has just been spectacular. And so that Elgin a few a few
weeks ago and it's Senator, It's a hard place to go to.
And then Elgin will be really worried this season as well.
Yeah, well, like I said, exciting, exciting weekend.
Scottish Football Watch of what's the big results?
We've covered them comprehensively enough for you.
If you've enjoyed the podcast, again, I'll ask if you could go
and rate US wherever you get your podcast.
It's always appreciated. Like I said, a lot of hard work
goes into preparing and recording episodes, but also the
the Twitter account or the X account even and you all other
platforms operate on. We do try and bring you the best
coverage and content. So please, as a token of your
appreciation, we would really appreciate a rating as long as
it's a good one. Obviously.
Thanks for coming on Joe and Adam.
It's great talking to you all. Sure, next time we discuss in
the Premiership there'll be a big game all taking place and
there'll be plenty to talk about with that one.
Arts and Celtic at Tynecastle. It's Sunday like we discussed,
so thanks again for listening. We'll catch you in the next one.
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