Welcome to the noise, listen to the passion and hunter car
let's. Jump again.
It's dying. Let's move on.
Great done by Dunphy. Chance the one for Scotland.
So hello and welcome back to the Scots for Mike podcast.
I'm your host James Scott and it's been another busy week in
Scottish football. We've had the World Cup draw,
something that's heart and army we're all getting very excited
about. And we also had a really good
result for Hearts. We weren't going to talk too
much about the club football that happened, but I think it's
hard to avoid what happened at Celtic Park on Sunday.
Joining me for this episode is Fenn Crocker.
Fenn, good to have you on. Good to be back.
Busy week as usual.
Yeah, busy, busy night for us. And Friday night after the job
we were the stress all that. Had to go for a few pints just
to. Yeah, just a few, just a few.
Lay off some steam and Adam from Gorky Talk a good episode to
have you on for. Yeah, glad to be back on the
pod, mate. Be be a good one.
I we've seemed to avoid you when Hearts form depth, put your back
on after I went at Celtic Park. Is that is that from the
shadows? Do you know I'll, I'll make a
conscious effort the next time we have a horror show to be on
there. That part and that by the way,
that's a guarantee. So I.
Prefer some of my colleagues. They were like, it's not not too
much horror shows. They were trying to like die and
play the the bad results are like, you know, we're just any
any other season. We'd take some of these all over
the Kelly one at home. We'll talk about a lot.
More I was at, I was at the killer game as well.
Glorious at some point so you can have me on for the action
when that happened. That's already happened against
Aberdeen mate, didn't it? One that you made, quite
literally. Yeah.
Right. Well, anyway, First things first
and World Cup draw. Think next.
Someone feels just a little bit more closer after Friday's draw.
Just a little bit more tangible, a bit more real though, that we
know what group, when, who we're going to be up against and where
we're going to be playing. So yeah, it was a ceremony.
It certainly was a ceremony. More of a soccer maybe, but.
Fucking Netflix documentary Jesus.
Correct. Yeah, it went on for quite a
while and we eventually got there though I think it was,
what was it, Corp 6:00 and I went in by I think.
It was half 6. Half 6.
Names came out at the heart, Brazil and Morocco were drawn
together and in Scotland were the team that eventually ended
up in Group C and then Haiti were the the fourth team to join
us from Part 4. Before we get decking into a
little bit deeper, just initial reactions from you both are in
the draw and you know the group we've ended up in.
Yeah. I mean, I was at your flight,
James, obviously watching the draw and soon as Morocco is
drawn in the same part as Brazil, same group as Brazil, we
were all thinking avoid that one, avoid that one.
Although the locations were pretty good on the East Coast,
just thinking, oh God, here we go again.
And then as it got to to Group C and we had African team after
African team and South American team, eventually it was just
bound to happen. You could see the stars aligning
and. Me and you were looking at each
other just as each one of them went by.
And we're like, we know how this is happening.
Yeah, we know what's going on here.
So. Yeah.
Initial initial despair because of yeah, Morocco is probably the
the hardest part to a team by far and to a field for the for
the older guys that have waited 27 years and then been drawn in
the in a group with two of the three same teams.
But no, obviously was nervous that we'd get a UEFA playoff
winner like Italy or Denmark. Luckily those were both drawn in
Group A and Group B to spare us. And then we got Haiti, which I
think obviously having them first is a big boost as well.
Yeah, and I would have been the cheddar on the cake had to be
drawn Haiti, had we done Haiti had we drawn one of the big guns
coming in for the playoffs in Europe, I think that was a
really must avoid. It's not just like at lady
Marving Turkey and other as well, like just teams that would
would wouldn't it just pose a challenge to us, But arguably
Brazil and Morocco probably would have rather not been up
against as well. Steve Park commented on the draw
in respect to the fact that we haven't got a European team at
all. And that's quite nice because I
think for especially guys in Maine and your generation fan
possibly use well, Adam Link. We've only really seen us play
non European teams in friendlies and the lure off this event was
Scotland getting to play Brazil or Argentina or someone in a
competitive match and, you know, just getting to getting to
experience something a little bit different.
As he said, obviously it's a good draw.
C plus exact words where it's a good draw.
It took a long time for them to get on the draw.
Mind. The draw is fantastic.
One of the big things in my head was no European teams.
So we're playing three top sides from three different continents
of the world and that's what the World Cup is all about.
So yeah, I think it's a really good draw.
Pretty much agree with that, Adam.
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, unfortunately I'm in
that older category of seen. I seen the previous one, albeit
I was only the tender aged 9 year old to let you do the
maths. But yeah, like 28 years to wait
for two of the same three teams who played in.
It was a bit of a second or when it first came out.
But then when you look along the groups as they're getting drawn
like, and I've just a quick look again, they're like, I remember
like watching it and the pour and rain, watching my son's
training and thinking when is this actually going to actually
be drawn? Like it was taking forever and
then it got drawn. I'm looking on the groups and
I'm thinking like there's like Argentina, Austria, there's
Portugal, Colombia, Spain, Uruguay.
And I'm thinking, yeah, I'd much rather be in Brazil, Morocco
than any of those. And obviously we'll go into that
shortly. But yeah, I'm quite happy with
it. I agree with the point you
should have made, Steve Clark, as well as right, as that's the
point of World Cup, right? You don't want to just be facing
European teams were used to all levels of European teams.
So it's good to do something for a change in power.
What's against like, let's see the other continents in the
world looking forward to it. Yeah, so you might be a ticket.
Do you remember, would you watch the last games in any game?
I mean they they get on at school for a year.
Do you remember them getting the TV out in class or?
Nah, man, I mean I can barely remember last week man.
To be fair, I think I do remember the opening game in
school. Like I think I do remember it.
Brazil was it, you know. What I was I think it's more
like flashbacks because of the moments like because there was a
penalty. Yeah, there was an own goal like
it was the usual like well, beginnings for us obviously been
main understanding that the glorious failures are like we
get so close and then we we fail and.
Then that, yeah, that mix up at the back.
They remember the Norby 1 so much because we've obviously
we've managed to get the one there, but in the Morocco 1 was
like the one again where you're like waiting to get through.
And I think Morocco at the time were like bottom seeds.
So again. Everyone was like hyping up, all
came, we're going to get through, we're going to get
through. And I think it was like 3 no
Morocco. I watched the high on this back
just to like, you know, it's not a game of I can recall seen at
any point and um, it was, you know, I just seemed like one of
those typical Scotland games, like we had loads of chances
based on the highlights. Uh, they went one nil up, quite
a good goal. The second goal was like a
shocker and then we got mine sent off and you just I've been
in the stands and these scenarios know exactly how it
feels. Like a late 90s version of self
destruction for Scotland that's obviously continued for decades
of ourselves in the. Brazil game, I'd say it's funny
you seen about watching that skill and remember in the
penalty, the penalty is like one of my like claims to like being
an early Scotland fan for a black moment because I was born
in 1997. I was 11 months old in July and
and June of the 98 World Cup and I got taken to the pub for it by
my mom and dad. So.
And when John Collins scored, I think he'd taken it sakes a bus
into tears. I mean, I was I was in tears.
I mean, Tommy scored at Hamden. But here's a joy, here's a joy,
here's a joy I knew I was in for.
So yeah, obviously, I mean, I think overall looking along the
group, so it was definitely I think me and you fan penned
Argentina one good Jai. I think Jay, that wouldn't have
been a bad one to be. And I think I quite like the
idea that. But yeah, I think 1 like this.
The appeal of it is I think actually I picked out Morocco
and Brazil as two teams. I just like to see us play
before the draw. I mean, if Morocco is in Part 1
maybe, but I think yeah, Part 2, there was a lot of teams like
Iran. I mean, I mean like, games
aside. Yeah, obviously, like talking
from a spectacle standpoint, that'll be a very good game to
watch. Yeah, well, hopefully, maybe
it's not as a Scotland fan, but you've got Iran, Australia,
Austrian Part 2. Those are the kind of teams
you're kind of hoping to maybe get Morocco and maybe Croatia,
the ones you're trying to avoid. Obviously being Scotland, we get
Morocco straight away, but no Haiti, Kuruko or Kuruso and Cape
Verde were the three that you were kind of hoping.
You get one of them and you should.
I'm really emphasizing the word should be.
And yeah, hopefully we get 3 points on the board first game
and a good goal difference and then we can relax and bathe in
the Miami Heat, which is going to be absolutely scorching for
the players. Yeah, I saw something today as
well that every half of every game in the World Cup there will
be a two or three minute pause for hydration in each half.
Yeah, so. That a football as you can to
the 22nd minute or something and.
That will give us the. Perfect, perfect.
Good fans, fun as well. I can we have a 2-3 minute.
Yeah, if they're providing that, no, no.
Tell beer in America at games, do they not?
Oh. True.
Yeah, No, no, I'm just saying that'll give them a perfect
excuse to to run as many commercials as they say as
possible. There'll be commercials mid
water break. I'm telling you 100%.
I so I mean I touched on the draw again.
I just thought it was kind of crazy the way it worked out like
me and fan were like trying to I'll be in.
I ended up finding a lot of time to book extra accommodation and
I were from the start of that that we kept looking over and
like, oh, it's not started yet. And then I'd go back to the.
Last we were we were eating fajitas.
I'd booked everything and you're like, oh shit, I should probably
book something. And by the time the draw
started, I think you'd booked everything.
Yeah, that colored like pretty much most of these coasts.
And then I mean, that was that was another massive benefit, I
mean for the Tarn army been drawn into the script because of
all the locations. I definitely think we've landed
a more affordable group of games.
Well, if you can call it that, yeah, I mean.
I know what you mean. I know what you mean.
Yeah. In comparison to what else you
could have, Yeah, definitely. So we've.
In Seattle, prices were out. We were looking and we didn't
even book anything. But yeah, me and James, we got
good flights to New York from Manchester, good return flights,
good price. So we'll be heading out there on
the 11th to 27th. Think you're 11th to 26th.
All three games we'll be there for.
And then, yeah, I think if we can touch on the venues as well,
Boston. We'll just, we'll just go the
we'll go to Haiti game, the first one, OK, Say Haiti ranked
84th in the world game through the World Cup qualifying
campaign. And I grew up with Honduras,
Costa Rica and Nicaragua. They topped out on 11 points, 2
points clear of Honduras. And that got more as a direct
entry a long way. A couple of other countries like
Carousel. I don't think I've got the
pronunciation right. Definitely promised the better
than Wayne Gretzky did not. Rocco.
No, no, definitely not. So in terms of the players, not
a lot of big names people recognize 1.
You might recognize Fan, but in Aberdeen Fan, you were in Athens
a couple of weeks ago. The striker Piero Yeah key
Athens he assessed against using that so night that you'd
probably rather forget. Yeah.
Not so welcome reminder for you. Yeah, thanks.
Thanks for that, James. No, I do.
I don't remember much of that night.
I think after I just dragged myself to death.
No, but I think they've got him. They've got a boy.
I can't actually remember the name off my top of his name off
the top of my head, but he played an MLS for Houston Dynamo
and a couple of teams. Maybe but.
Yeah. No, I don't know.
Any of their players, really. The only other guys I've knew I
got there. I think it's Belgarde or Belgard
for Wolves, and then Oh yeah, and then there's Del Croix for
Barnley, but again, apart from the on.
I thought it was French. Well, there's quite a big link
there. I think there's a few guys that
are born in France have changed nationality in the same way that
kind of. So I think there's.
Only one there's there's one born on the island and that is
Teeth Chong and. So he's.
Also of Dutch heritage, Yeah, but no, I think there's been
reports coming out from Haiti. Well, from what we can gather
that they are going to be targeting Jill Nationale
players, so watch out for that. Maybe their squad will be, well,
one of the names by the time 1. Of the names, it was 10, no.
As you know, I'll see it mark some money, yeah.
But it was someone, I was going to say 20 years old former
Newcastle player. I think everyone members on for
the the designer headbands they was flaunting during his games.
He's now a. Good.
She ones, yeah. Yeah, he's now at Club America.
It's not been confirmed yet, but I think, I mean, he's just been
given a lifeline to appear at World Cup.
Yeah, he was that Al Akhley in Saudi Arabia as well.
Yeah. And then he's, yeah, it's.
A better you turn James like it because I looked earlier on
today at that and then like there's a few articles for the
through the search engine. I looked down it was like it was
done 2 two or three weeks ago. Most that was saying he drooled
out, not like not all of them were like concrete, like it was
5050. Like some sources you could, you
know, like put in the back of a fag packet and then the other
sources you could maybe see them as kind of like genuine sources.
But like, yeah, like I'm more than your count for that.
Like if there's a chance to be a World Cup like then I think is
he not French chance at Max men? Yeah, yeah, he's capped up to
under 20 ones for the French. I mean the.
Chances of getting the French squad?
That's like, no? Not to be.
It's just like Harvey Barnes. They talked to him coming over
to Scotland. National team Mixed depends on
it from well everyone. If you're not meant, yeah, yeah,
I'm I'm of the same opinion, I think.
Yeah. It's hard from players that have
worked so hard, but I think there's people that have been
overticked by Steve Clark that maybe that's the only way they
get forced at the squad. So I'm of the opinion getting
in, if it makes us a better squad, especially with Ben Doak
seemingly injured all the time, then I'm all for it.
We'll focus. We'll keep focusing on Haiti,
yeah. I know you're of a different
opinion too. I'm both.
I hate being like AI, hate being a grump like that, but.
James that's why we have podcasts mates so we have
opposite opinions and chat for people like us engaging with
each other. I mean you're wrong like but
what? It's not the opinion all the
same. I don't like he's been asked,
I'm positive he's been asked already and he's obviously not
taken up on it because he's waiting on an England.
Co-op. He said he'd had earlier talks
with Steve Clark but nothing concrete, so I don't know what.
Yeah. And for me, like the Navy blue
jersey is no less valuable than a white 1.
And I just think if you've been asked once and you've said no,
you know I've said no. I know see key thing mate.
Like if for me I'm I'm instantly with you.
If he's, if it actually comes out that he's been asked before
and said no, like I'm with you like now, then it kind of just
turn up just because we're a World Cup.
Can't. I don't want players, just
Scotland actually to play. It's because I think it's
because James, it's not being categorically said.
And then I think when that what's that reporter guy that
does the Nuka Scottish reporter does it, Keith, Tony or someone
like that? Yeah.
I think it was him though, or somebody that questioned them
the moment we got through and like.
Yeah, like the next thing he had a pre.
Kind of. Schedule interview and he was
like, and I think he started replying to people that are
commenting on it. So whatever saying like listen,
he never said they wanted to be part of Scotland because I know
at the World Cup he said, I just thought I would ask because he
was eligible. Like would you like, would you
be up for that? He's like, so I know, whereas I
think folk could like jumped on it to see like, oh, I or just
cares all of a sudden because we're at a World Cup where it
seems like not all. I as a reporter literally asked
him. He didn't mention anything about
until I asked them. So I mean, we'll just.
Watch this space, I suppose. Yeah, got to March next
international break, so see what develops over that time.
Same with Haiti. Obviously you're saying then
they are looking to draft and guys are eligible, so we might
have a conversation down the line.
And we can actually touch on something else that Steve Clark
said. He said he wants to play a
friendly with at least one country from each of those
continents. So there was rumours about a
friendly against Argentina. Obviously maybe that will happen
now. I don't know who would play from
CONCACAF, maybe Jamaica or something like that, or maybe a
bigger nation like US or something.
I don't know. And.
You like the thought of that idea, to be honest.
Yeah. And then maybe obviously we've
never, I don't, I don't know where these friends, friendlies
we played, but obviously we've never, the men's team has never
played a game on African soil, only the women's team to die
against Morocco just a couple of months back.
So maybe, maybe there's a trip to Africa, to the extremely few
that can afford it. Yeah, I've not got enough money
for this. The money is all going towards
the States for me. Very, very little entry for for
getting tickets to that. I think what it might be as
well, it depends like, like, so say it's like an African
country, it depends what country they play.
Sometimes they'll organize it in such a way that they've got a
squad that's playing in certain parts of Europe and stuff.
Because I think like, for example, was it not Brazil?
Senegal wasn't like Wembley, Yeah.
And a friendly so like I think. Not.
Not saying we'll be played at Wembley.
But like, you know what I mean? We had a.
Few years ago we played Nigeria at Craven Cottage.
Aye, so that's what I mean. Like it might be something like
that. It'd probably be more the most.
I think that'd be more what Steve Clark would talk for then
my whatever they would end up in Africa or whatever.
But yeah, no. Yeah.
On the flip side though, obviously it's going to be
extremely hot, so maybe getting a game in where there's extreme
hot conditions to see how it ends, yeah.
The game against Haiti as well, I mean it was going to be hot.
It's in Boston and 1st 2 games in Boston at the Gillette
Stadium, the Boston Stadium and stuff which is. 25 miles away
from Boston. Yeah, so if you're, if you're
Scotland fan looking to get booked up for this game,
Providence, I was had a few people taking, you know, haven't
taken pops at me saying why have you booked there?
But like many of the stadiums for this tournament, they're not
city centre based, they're not neighborhood based like British.
Philippines. It's the Hamden in Boston,
James. Is that what you're saying?
Oh, it's well, the difference. The difference This was a Hamden
in Boston. Obey.
Yeah, it's if what's what's Sterling's going forth?
Barton Forth. Bank, yeah.
It's the Fourth Bank of Glasgow, essentially.
To give to give an example, cool the distance between Boston city
centre and the stadium is the same as between Manchester and
Liverpool. Right, there you go.
So I mean we've booked up, we've booked up me Infinibo from
Providence for that one. So it's.
In the House of Glasgow, the fun start that I got told by my dad
has also come in is that it's got the highest density of
coffee shops and donut shops in any set of any city in America,
certainly. What's look at?
Is that over? Yeah, doughnuts and coffee.
I'll get me up to noon and then after there I'm going to need
something a bit stronger. But no, it's about an hour of
public transport away from the stadium.
I was hoping to get to Philadelphia for fill a cheese
steak, but wasn't to be. We're in Boston.
It gives us a good base. I guess it's good for the
players and the fans. That's definitely good for the
fans and the team. 13. It's moving about.
It would have been. It's a smaller venue of I think.
65,000 for all three games. Yeah, so the FIFA take a 10% cut
for corporate 10. 1000 C Cut. 10,000 Yeah, I wish.
That's the allocation for supporters club members will be
about 3500 and. 20 I've seen that.
I've seen that from. Yeah, that's from Gavin at
Scotland's Confession. All credit to him, he does all
the hard work. And yeah, we'll, we'll find out
more. They've released the fans over
that they said would they'd release and then they'll give
more details about tickets through the SSC I think in three
days. So find that more than hoping to
get a Category 2 ticket, which is not cheap, still $300.00, so
about £200 a pop. And yeah, flights are booked,
accommodation booked. It feels a lot more real like
you said. Yeah.
So, yeah, that one's 66,000, so well less than 10.
And you said 3500 for the supporters.
A good, a good allocation there for the Tarn Army, although one,
I mean, it's not good for Haiti fans, but it's definitely a
benefit for the Tarn Army. I'm sure Haiti and Iran are two
nations that are banned from having traveling fans.
So the delegates and the players get to come, but most well.
Early. Well.
Yeah, FIFA had to stand in to to get Iranian delegates even to
the draw and they only got 3. So yeah, yeah, Iran and Haiti
band, obviously that means it'll feel a bit more like a home
game, if you can even say that. I know there's a lot more
opportunity for tickets in the resale platforms.
Yeah, and it's just not going to demand the same interest from
locals, apart from the fact there might be that people,
Scottish heritage moles come to watch.
I hope so. I.
Feel that's that's half the country, isn't it?
Yeah, it's a, it's a good. It's a good opportunity for tech
fans that miss out through the supporters club to get something
in the resale. And like you said, I mean it
could be, I mean many, many phases.
Of Scotland, I was going to say, because in Germany there was
reports somewhere, but well at peak there was about 100,000
there, but across the whole tournament there was reports of
about 200,000 travelling to Germany for the EUR.
What do you think? Obviously it's a lot more
expensive. What do you think those numbers
could look like, both of you for the USA?
It's a hard one. It's so hard because I know
people that don't have tickets. Mummy, he's not in the we, I
think he is in a supporters club.
He's. Not, I think, the difference
with. This one is like you've just
touched the nail on the head a little bit as well as like
there's so many people with Scottish connections and by
either Scottish people in America, like people that have
got family or you know, Americans like their family
trees and stuff. So somebody somewhere they know
water kilt for them, however many generations ago.
So like there's going to be loads of Scotland or Scottish
related people over there on top of the Tartan Army that are
common. I really couldn't hang up.
I can't. On the one hand I can't imagine
200,000 people going to America obviously.
But then I'm like, I don't know what number I could put on it,
but it'll still be a lot I think.
I think it'll be like closer to 20,000.
I think that's a conservative estimate, not too high, not too
low. We can see how many we see in
Boston and Providence. But no, I mean, like you said,
I've got someone was born and grew up in Aberdeen and then
there's been in the States for 25 years.
So like you said, there's so many connections of so many
people that are actually Scottish, not like the the group
that was interviewed that was talking about the Scotland
result, the Scotland, yeah, Washington, Scotland fan club.
If you've seen that interview, you'll know what I'm talking
about. Yeah.
Yeah, that's who we're going to be competing with tickets for,
you just know. Exactly.
The ones that, the ones that ask you what clan you're from, those
types. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yeah, some interesting dress choices in that video as well.
I've never seen a suit like that in my life, to be fair.
Yeah, But yeah, then so we've got first game against 80I mean
it's a it's a tricky 1. I think we spoke with this just
before we came on and, you know, in the warm up, when in this
game is winnable, definitely winnable.
But we know we've been here with Scotland before.
It's a lot of stakes right in the first game, you know, I
mean, how do we approach this? Do you think?
Is it I? Think it's better than having it
last because I think that's what really done is in in the in the
EUR Obviously we can't say we would have beat them if we
played them first. But I think it's that whole
sentiment of like obviously we know playing against it or
Haiti. I don't know how to say it is a
must win because of the other teams in the group, but it's the
fact where if it's the last game, it actually is if you lose
your out. Whereas I think if there's
certainly there's still pressure, that is less pressure
on it being the last game at the whole final, the decider.
So I think getting it first where there's still a lot of
confidence within the fan group, getting three points on the
board and then having those two games where if you either don't
lose heavily or even get a point, then you're through to
the round of 32. So I mean it could really and
that what that could do is set up the group going forward
really well for us. Yeah, I think we're a momentum
team a lot of the time. I think you saw that in Euro
qualifiers where obviously got that first one against Cyprus,
but then that big win against against Spain at Hampden really
just got us into the flow of things.
Then obviously Norway would game we we won and obviously even
could have top that group. And then World Cup qualification
again, even though performance were bad, I think if we just get
a couple of results, even then we go we go into this kind of
slow. And on the on the flip side of
things, I think it can also happen in a negative way.
So, you know, at the EUR losing heavily to Germany, I think that
just kind of sent us into a spiral.
Obviously Switzerland performance was better, but we
never really recovered I don't think from that from that
Germany game. So I think it's vitally
important to get off to a good start and then I'm confident
that we can we can finally break that, you know, 100 and what 120
year curse where we've never got a group stage.
Yeah, I was. I don't like that start though,
because, you know, although we've never got the group stage.
If we've like to be in. No, if you if you go back to you
donate just like to be at that finals was pretty much you know,
I think it was like 2 groups of four Yeah, like there was 8
finals yeah, but like it's it's just the way as right coming
into the next game. Actually 2 are still up in the
North East of America, Morocco 11th in the world, just outside
the top ten. Like we said, unfortunately not
to be a part one side. They've been doing very well
completely undefeated and they're African qualifiers.
It wins from eight games and a group of sex, obviously all
possession varies massively. I mean they had nowhere near as
tougher group as us, but you know in terms of our
qualification. But they can only play what's in
front of them. And when you look for the team
as well, certainly lots of call in there.
I mean, Morocco's really stepped up in terms of being one of the
best sides in the world. That's in nevermind, one of the
best African sides. They were the first African team
to get to the semi finals last World Cup.
Obviously got massive names like Hakimi and Braham Diaz, Real
Madrid and PSG. Obviously some some other names
that maybe if you're not a football nerd like me and James,
you won't know like Aguerd who's at Marseille.
I think now maybe you'll know him from Premier League time at
West Ham, yeah. Yeah, no former I'm forgetting.
My Amrabat is now at Bettis. Yeah.
So I'm Robert Former and I'm, I think are you thinking of
Mazzarowi then as well? Yeah.
And then obviously and Naziri, who knocked Portugal out in the
quarterfinals last time. Yeah, and then you've got a
player that I think a lot of Scottish football will be.
Oh yeah, the drama. Start the season.
Egg Imani Leal so and he's been starting for them as well.
Yeah, he's been really well. And then, Oh yeah, and they're
keeper Bona or Bona, Yeah. He's getting.
The best, Yeah, he's getting on, but he's one of the best penalty
savers in the world, so let's hope we need that.
No, don't need them. Yeah.
So. Yeah, quality in that team, like
you said, I think, I think 11th is their old world rank and I
think Adjust has had the top 12 because obviously 12 groups of
four and it's done by world ranking.
So there must be 13 to 14. No, I'm sure like I don't know
when they've based. Because because of the hosts are
Part 1. You're right, yeah.
No, they are so. They'll go, they'll feel hard
done by, yeah. Who if it'd been a one host
situation, Morocco would have been a Part 1 sides, yeah.
Puts it into scale, yeah. Adam, only one of us here may be
old enough to members play Morocco or just champion without
you. Again, what's realistic here in
terms of this game, assuming we have one first game, Morocco
could be coming into this with one point, with three or with
none. It's hard to really see how that
Brazil game with them could go. I mean, what's realistic for us?
I don't see why we can't get result.
I would say Morocco's. We've got a lot of good players,
a lot of talent and like you said that up and coming, they're
progressive. I think their main issue is like
a lot of African teams, they're heavily reliant on their players
getting to the big leagues in Europe, which they have
obviously achieved recently. They've got a lot of good talent
probably people have not even mentioned on top of the ones you
have. I.
Don't think that a level that we haven't faced before.
I don't that a level where we couldn't see ourselves like
coming away we are a victory. I think every single team in
that group like we can get something off every team working
at World Drunken's. It doesn't overly mean that much
to me to be honest. They won an AO8 and their core
first doesn't mean much to me. It's a great achievement
obviously. But then I look at the opponent
and I think, well, I'm not really that excited about the
fact, just want to and consider to an African qualifier like
that doesn't really mean anything to me.
So, but the differences as I find they have got the talent
and the quality and and the, I would like to say it, forward
thinking attitude. So I think like Scotland and the
EUR, we've seen them and a lot of us were sort of crying out
for Scotland to just be a bit more aggressive in terms like
the forward thinking, in terms of attacking mainset, trying to
get goals. We would always sort of bet
don't be about how much we didn't really give it a go and I
don't think that all core that kind of team.
So like Morocco will give it a go.
Morocco or more than Keith boy turning us over.
I think it's more that I'm more than worried about us not not
turning up. We need to make sure we right
the wrongs, but I think we have it in US based on the fact that
like Clark talked about, you wanted to create like a a club
mentality where people get a lot of caps and a lot of experience
in it and it's met it and a lot of these guys have met it and
they're all playing in top leagues themselves.
So I think we're in a much better place to show we can do
on a backstage. And like you've just touched on
earlier, if we can get that one against Haiti and a major
tournament, regardless of the fact that Haiti, it still then
gives them that belief that a game in the turn up, no, against
Morocco, they'll be thinking, right, we can beat Morocco as
well. And then what?
You never know for their how it can look, even if they don't
beat them at the time and a really good performance, then
they might still feel they can, you know, do damage on Brazil,
depending on how the results have went.
So yeah, I'm confident in every game like I would if I put like
productions on it. I'd be like a win against TT and
then I'd be hopeful if I draw against one of the other two and
then I defeat against one of the two, that would be my outcomes.
Yeah, I think the goal has to be a point in one of those two
games, obviously, but I think I'm honestly more optimistic
about getting a result against Brazil than Morocco.
I think Morocco look really, really good.
I think Brazil are not the team that they once were.
Obviously everyone fears them. They're they're the team that's
one of the most World Cups in history with five.
But obviously they've got the individual players like
Vanessa's junior, all these players, but they're not working
well as a team, I don't think. Obviously, I think people forget
that going into the last World Cup, they were massive favorites
as well. And then they had that massive
collapse against Croatia in the quarterfinals.
Yeah, Neymar scored an extra time, looked like they were
going through Sale, and then they had that collapse.
Yeah, obviously Carlo Angela is their coach now, relatively new.
He spoke about the draw, said Scotland's a good team and it's
going to be tough. Yeah.
And to Steve Clark. See you soon.
Yeah. I think Carl Angelotti and Steve
Clark are eerily similar with how little emotion they show.
But yeah, I think I think it's not the same team as France 98
with, you know, R9, all those players.
So I think we obviously we're not going to be confident going
into the Brazil game, but I think we have to be optimistic
at least to, to, to be on the front foot or, or get a point.
I think, I think we can and I think like you said, four points
is the is the goal. 4 points will guarantee through.
Now with all the 3rd place teams, 8 out of 12 going through
three points, you've got a fighting chance and it'll govern
that the goal difference. And like we said, we're not the
type of team that will beat IT or Haiti 6 nil.
So yeah, we've got it in for four points.
I think him just to touch on the Brazil thing, that that thing
about Angelotti, I think getting Angela in with obviously always
accolades, I think like he's a big factor in helping Brazil get
as far as they can get. I don't for any.
There's nothing in my mind telling me that they'll want it.
They're not. I'm not even sure how far down
the road they'll get with the tournament.
But as far as they get, I think it'll be more down there how
Angela is sets them up, but they do not like I'd go as far to see
like we're more organized. We're more that team than Brazil
at the moment. And obviously man for man
quality and all that, obviously we're not we're not necessarily
near them in certain aspects of the team.
But like, yeah, like Morocco are far more well drilled, far more
organized, far more used to like again, that one in mentality one
in every single game and playing for each other.
And whereas Brazil, there's always seems to be problems with
them. There's always issues where they
got a star player like a Neymar, whoever then falls off the wagon
somehow, either off the field or just, you know, former club.
Like you said, even off the field it's like.
You don't hear anything. I don't like it.
At all time I. Don't like it, mad at Rangers.
You could argue with A1 like that, but you know what I mean?
Generally speaking, you never hear that a bit like a Moroccan
player or a Moroccan team. Again, it's they're a bit more
like Scotland that they feel a bit more like a club, they feel
more organized and they know you know what you're going to get
from them. But equally that's still a big
problem because they're really good at what they do.
And I think I took a couple of things there.
But Brazil, you mate, again, you could shoot me down if they've
been putting away somewhere and that's no Brazil.
But I think then the Cup America that will be in the
quarterfinals finished 5th and qualifying in the World Cup for
the World Cup qualifiers to finish 5th.
And they haven't won outside the Brazil in the last four
competitive games. So the last thing they won at
home was against Chile in October last year.
And then when you look at the actual, when you look at the
actual, you know, it's like a league table in South America.
The 18 drew 4, lost six, and they only got eight points out
of 27 on the road. So again, it makes you wonder if
they're again, not putting them in Brazil and more so not put
them in their continent. It'll be a challenge for them.
So yeah, I'm kind of like you. I'm more worried about Morocco
than Brazil, but equally feel like there's a point to be hard
at least one of them or you know, but please be to God that
we got a one off one of them. That would be even better.
But yeah, well. I mean, that happens with what
you're saying about being more worried that Brock Morocco than
Brazil. I agree with that, but not
because I don't, you know, I don't see a threat and like in
Morocco or whatever. It's more because Morocco are
the Part 2 side if we are to achieve something, they're
probably the most like, they're like the most likely side that
we should be taking points from that's not below us.
And I mean, it's not going to like Brazil.
It could be Brazil, but statistically the chances are
lower. And again, people keep saying
the Brazil. I mean, I've got a French friend
as soon as the jockey might even or Brazil even, they're not the
country they want to wear. And I was like, yeah, but that
sentence means. Stole Brazil the way.
That sentence means something else that Frenchman than it does
to Scotsman. There's not been the country
they wear or came about and Bapi's going to take them to
town, not been what they want to wear when Comedy and McGann are
going to need to have the game in their lives.
And maybe, you know, and you know, and it's good.
Like we said, it's last game. Obviously we're coming down into
Miami for that one at the Hard Rock Stadium, 65,000 capacity.
So good opportunity for the Tartan, our male best seller.
Similar allocation to what we had up in Boston.
And then you've also got the Elemental.
Pricier, slightly pricier. I might just slightly pricier.
And then unfortunately officer Brazil resale, there's been more
tech is in demand for a game where Brazil was involved.
I do think the thinking behind being in Miami was because, and
someone could pick me up on us if I'm wrong, but I think
there's some stronger Latin American influence in Miami.
And I don't mean Mexican, I mean Latin like Argentine and yeah.
So I think I mean it could be a good atmosphere not respecting
and be a really nice one for Tartan Army.
Game kicks off 6:00 PM local time.
So yeah, in the. UK.
Yeah. Yeah, we can.
We can touch on times as well. Obviously the the Haiti game,
2:00 AM UK time. Hopefully pubs will get special
licenses in Scotland to stay out, to stay open longer.
Have to. Obviously, yeah, Friday night as
well. Like we can't get away.
Saturday night will be is it game Friday?
I'm gonna go mental. So no, the game's on Saturday in
the US, so it'll be a Saturday night in the UK.
So yeah, obviously is a lot stricter alcohol laws in in
Scotland and England. England has already said that
they'll open pubs as long as they need to, so hopefully the
same happens in Scotland. But yeah, I'll.
Just get to train a Newcastle and.
I was going to say they opened them as long as he needed to in
Scotland with this shot. They'd just be ruling right for
the next day. 24 hour pubs. But I mean, yeah, come back down
to Miami, Brazil game, like I said, I mean, in terms of the
players, it's not when you've looked at Brazil squads in the
past that really have been some fearsome names.
They're like just stacked with quali.
Vinicus Junior, probably the biggest, and Rufina, you know,
Venekas from Venetius, even from Real Madrid, Rafina, former
Leeds player. But now Barcelona didn't very
well. It was a band or nominee along
with Mctomini. So sort of quality we're up
against here. Yeah, there's a couple of other
games names that people may or may not be be familiar with,
depending on how much. What European football, Rodrigo,
Real Madrid, you want marking yours?
PSG captain, I think he's Brazil captain as well.
Mellitao very strong defender, playing is Real Madrid.
He's broadcasting the Rebecca and straight away as well.
Cast me know, Yeah, Notice he played last game over to start
Manchester United along with Kenya.
I don't know if I mentioned it already.
And then there's him and I at Newcastle.
Very good midfielder. And then name the quiet I was.
It's the vowel. Yeah, Chelsea.
Yeah, Chelsea, 18 years old, looking really good and you
know. Brazilian Ben Doak.
Well then, well then, let's grab.
That you say that, not me. No, but he's he said that you
know, he won't take a player where he cannot start any of the
three games, which is which was directly aimed at Neymar,
obviously. So Neymar maybe not at the World
Cup, That's probably. It's slightly beneficial to
Scotland, doesn't really make a difference obviously with their
wingers being so strong and him probably not starting.
He he's been injured a lot for Santos played through engine to
try and help him play with injury.
Yeah. Avoid relegation.
He got hat trick in the decisive game if they were going to get
really good or not, but obviously that could do long
term damage. So yeah, might not see Neymar at
the World Cup. Obviously do take a lot of
players from the Brazilian leagues, obviously Flamengo,
Corinthians, Mayer asks where where Hendrick came from.
He's been a bit of a disappointment of late.
But yeah, they've got an extremely strong squadron paper.
But like I said previously, they've not really clipped as a
team so long. May that continue.
I'm just looking at that. You remember I said that Brazil,
Senegal game earlier on just I know that was in Wembley.
I think there was a few big cutters in that game.
So they're starting 11 for that game was Ederson, Edemilito,
Martinios, Gabriel, Alexandro, Casamiro, Gamiraish, Estevo,
Vene, Kunya and Rodrigo. So yeah, that's a.
Fucking great team. I mean, that's that's their but
again, that's that's their team that's finished fifth in the
qualifiers. So again, the other point to
make on that as well as like still shows how strong a
continent that is that four other teams are finished ahead
of result. Now I know the obviously the
different coach, like you said, Kasmir will come back and but
it's still like there's still a team where it's like, yeah, I
know every single player and the team pretty much even even even
the the sort of state they would deem that in themselves compared
to teams gone by. We still know like all the
players, we still know that all like world class.
So yeah, it's. I'll caveat one thing you're
saying. That you're on the same time.
All right. What's that?
I'll caveat one thing. You're saying the 5th place
possession was actually joined with four other teams on 28
points. So but at the same time they
were 10 points Argent off Argentina.
And that's that's probably the bigger thing than the fact they
were theft because they could have if it's packed up another
two points, they've been second, but it's the gap between them
and Argentina which is where they're so often measured.
That's. On the road, that's on the road,
like Adam said, where they're so per, especially in the
second-half of the campaign where they were really
struggling to get a win on the road like like Adam said.
So yeah, hopefully that can continue.
I think it'll be interesting to see what happens in their first
game against Morocco because that'll really set the landscape
for the the group and where we can say where we can finish.
Obviously we're not going to do, you know, like England have done
in their coverage and the Scotland's possible route to the
final. But I thought.
I was well keen for that. I was well done for that.
Everything can do it. Why let's, you know, have a 5
fun where I'm seeing Scotland play, I'm seeing Scotland play
England and all these paths by the way people seem to be
expecting us to do yes. So the the projected thing.
So if if we finish second in our group, then we will. 1st in
Group F. We'll get first in Group F,
which is the Netherlands grip I think.
Which Japan, Tunisia and then the four potential piece of
yeah, which? Is Ukraine.
No Ukraine. Yeah, you're right, Ukraine.
Ukraine, Sweden, Albania and Poland.
OK. So yeah, if we finish second, we
get top of that group. If we finish first, then we get
second in that group. And then if we finish third,
then we can get a host of countries.
But the most likely because of complicated algorithms that I'm
not smart enough to work out we'd we'd face first in Group A,
which is Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and the winner of US
playoff D, which is North Macedonia, Denmark, Bosnia and
Ireland. I think if I'm right into that,
I can't quite remember. That's off the top of my head,
which I'm. Yeah.
OK. Denmark, N Macedonia, Czechia
and Ireland. There we go.
That's right. Yeah, I'd.
Fancy as I get. I think that's probably better
than if we finish first or second and that would be in
Mexico that round the 32. And then if we were in that
path, then around A16 fixture would likely be the winner of
England versus Senegal. So I'd take that.
It's mapped. All the way to the final fin.
That's as far as I looked. And then when I got, yeah, when
they were doing the the survey poll and they were saying, oh,
are you planning to attend this match?
And it got to quarterfinal. I was like.
I'm going to put up to around the 16.
I've got faith. That's what I did.
I put round the 16 I mean. My joke was when my joke I did
see on Twitter, but it was when I was joking me guys, when we
drew Brazil went, Oh no, we've drawn first World Cup in nearly
30 years and we've got to play Brazil twice.
The female mates went Brazil, what do you play Brazil twice?
I was like, well, once in a grip and then we'll meet them again.
Yeah, that's what they're saying on the broadcast.
So. Yeah.
Yeah, it was, that was, it was someone.
It was on some. Yeah.
But yeah, I mean it like, I mean, overall the group falls in
a really favorable order for us. I think a win against Haiti is
not beyond us for sure. Anything can happen against
Morocco. And you don't know what's
happened in the first game between Brazil and Morocco
either. I don't think you could actually
call that. So going into the final game
against Brazil, it could be a situation where they really need
something, you know, and anything can happen in these
games and I think ideally. They've won and then the rest
and all the players. I mean, order, order, you know,
I mean order. There could be a situation where
they're desperate for one. And, you know, it's hard.
It was hard for us as Denmark because they knew we need to win
for that reason. Yeah, You know, we could quite
make it hard for Brazil. And I think I'd like to hold
because, yeah, I've always, I've just always got faith.
And Scotland point to the best I can.
And I think we've all seen us play some really good football
when we've been on top form recently.
I mean, we played Geese and Athens.
Most of the the first half was poor, but those points in the
second-half where we played really good football and you
know, we just couldn't quite find that finishing touch the
seas little moments we keep producing.
That kind of gives me faith to think, you know, could we
achieve something. You know, the last two EUR first
one back, we kind of rolled that off as, you know, experience.
It would have been nice to do well but never went.
The baby water then went to Euro 24.
There was disappointment in the Germany game.
We kind of shot ourselves in the foot against Switzerland with
the past that let Shakira score and then in the game we had.
Sorry. In the game that in the game
that we had to win hungry then capitalized on, you know, either
way, I just said that, you know, Brazil would maybe have to do
against us. I just, I just feel would would
you a couple of performances from Scotland.
I've seen a couple of things online about, oh, you know, it's
good to be there. Well, if it's going to be a blah
blah, let's get stuck in, let's go and achieve something.
I really want to see Scotland take something from these games,
get the winning and say and kick on.
So yeah, I mean, that's, I mean, that's my overall, that's what I
want from the team. And we've got 2 warm up games
while friendlies March that you said potential Argentina there
maybe an African country. And there'll be two matches just
before the World Cup starts in June.
Hopefully one of them has a hand and send off.
I would begin to see yeah, send the boys on their way before we
all catch our flights as well. And yeah, it's just, you know,
it should be. It feels real now.
It really feels real now. And forget, like said, fun for
me guys, mine and your age. It's, you know, it's just what I
feel special. Yeah.
It's it's, you know. I don't want to, I wish my life
away but obviously it's it's now just a countdown until then.
Yeah, I'm. Sure.
The league season I'm not even thinking about.
Obviously as an Aberdeen fan, it's looking on the app.
I think we can, yeah, maybe touch on the the Hearts game
now. Yeah.
Let's move on to that a little bit just quick because we've got
Adam on and I think unfortunately we had we talked
we spoke a little bit at the start a bit how heart we don't
we don't want to say the bubble worst because you know, some
people are saying what bubble? You know, it's you know, hard
just been playing well. I.
Think that was me. Yeah, but you know, they had
their wobble form, depth, but they had an opportunity to
rectify that safety park on Sunday, very rainy day.
It was nonsense. First game as Celtic manager
said he didn't want to change too much.
But I think a lot of Celtic fans personally dead and it didn't
work out from from your perspective, parts obviously
been an absolute shift and they came away with three points.
Yeah, absolutely delayed with the result.
And I actually thought the moment I thought we had that
actual chance at Barcade was the moment they said that Martini
was stepping down after that midweek game.
And to be honest, like I stole as another off field decision
made by a Celtic board that's just like inept to be honest.
Like I think Celtic Rangers taking turns for who's got the
worst board at the moment and that's obviously fallen in our
favour based on the table, right.
Yeah, well, obviously tell man like they played really well.
It's a completely different game for the one I think Castle, as
you'd expect, obviously a bit more on the back foot, bit of a
different system where to play. Obviously missing Bengami as
well, which has been part of the supposed downfall and the games
we have not managed to get ones recently.
But yeah, it's one of the games where you talk about a player
and another player and another one used.
Obviously start to realize that it's just.
Everybody done really well that day.
I mean, could highlight key ones that would highlight probably
dev one again, like most harsh functionalities.
Probably our player of the year so far this game a lot from our
from our standpoint of with the ball, which I think even our old
nemesis Scott Brown talked about him in such a way as well said
he's always loved his tenacity and stuff, but just how he
didn't taste games. Now it's actually on the ball,
happy with the ball. It actually doesn't misplace as
many passes isn't as reckless as used to be.
Once more fouls. So it's just everywhere.
But yeah, I'll get known. Yeah, market, he said that
really good. But yeah, I think there's.
Just a hard to go for marketeer. Was that the second one?
The header? Yeah.
That was an absolute blinder
ahead of that one. And then, you know, he's really
reaching for that. Even the first one, like Braga
school, everyone thought it was off site.
Celtic practically just stop playing and then obviously
Braga. So did.
So did Braga for a minute. That was such a strange.
Goal Tom say he was on site because obviously the guy came
back on the patch for the byline.
Yeah, yes, yeah, really great one pushes 3 points ahead.
Celtic obviously got keep my hands but yet to go back to my
point and start like I think it a lot of it is down really just
that that little bit of a change for Nancy also want to bat his
favorite system very much instantly even though they just
take a session on the Friday. But regardless, like are the
following win, lose or draw for us in that game still follows a
mad decision for Celtic managers who are the fans love and who's
was getting results and cut the deficit to nothing.
And for this game like that it was heavily staked for Celtic
doing that if he was in charge. It's just he's a mentality
animal as well. Like he's my management is an
experience that will get Celtic over the line and has been
getting online. But it's clear and obvious that
they've not got the personnel that they should have.
And now they have a manager that it comes again with potential
like what role does for Rangers instead of like, like a
guaranteed, like, you know what you're getting from 1 character.
And so, yeah, we'll also see what comes from Nancy going
forward. But obviously, like McInnes
pointed out for the starts, just about every week that comes just
obviously looking at beat whoever's in front of us.
And obviously the longer up then the longer it goes on, the more
likelihood that they start believing they've got a chance
to win on it. But yeah, I've never, I've never
believed it. We're definitely going to win
it. We are going to win it.
We're in a title race. I've never said that either.
Bubbles a meth. So like what will be will be.
Yeah, I think it was like you said it was a mad decision with
two massive games obviously that Hearts 1 and then the the League
Cup final against St. Mirren, the first time since
1980 five 1986 season where Hearts have won at Celtic Park
and Ibrox in the same season. So that's massive obviously beat
Celtic twice now and still a game to go and then another one
in the split. Well, for Nancy yet tough.
His finest hour, little reference that Claudio Braga
chant and he had, he had a quote after the game saying I'm not
worried about losing or winning, I'm worried about having good
performances. A lot of Celtic fans didn't like
it, a lot of them didn't care. Performance either so.
No, I know he got neither. A lot was made of them.
I don't know if you guys have seen it, I know you have had
them, but a lot was made of nonsense, putting, pulling out
the tactics board. He got a lot of stick from it
across social media. Very Russell Martin esque, I
mean. What are your thoughts on it?
I personally have nothing wrong with it I think.
I don't think anything's wrong. I think it looks silly.
Yeah, I think it looks. Silly when they lose.
When they win, he gets his plaudits like.
Also I will say one thing they could packed up on the tailor
was the fact that the Celtic players were blue on it.
I'm sure. Yeah, yeah.
So. I think to be honest, like the
tactic wars, like for people like me, all the sun social
media, it gives us our momentous and something like this like fed
to Celtic fans, whoever as they'll jump on me the moment,
you know, hearts are losing points, call me out for whatever
I've said. It just gives me an opportunity
to sort of throw one back. But yeah, generally speaking,
like a manager getting out of tactics board, you know, it's
like it's like like I don't like a policeman have in handcuffs.
You know what I mean? Like it's not something you
would. I'm going to be like, I can't
believe they've got a tactics board.
But like, I think the funnier one was that was it Paul test
deal. Having a nap like halfway
through the game when the camera cut to him.
Is it Paul? Is that his name?
Paul, I've not even seen it. Oh, I did see that.
Yeah. Yeah.
One of the. Is that the Celtic?
Directory football or something? Yeah, so they basically cut to
the camera like live and he was like having some shot eye for
about 10 seconds and he's like head the recruitment.
So obviously again, it was given people like Amway for for
obviously all the all the wrong reasons.
And that was at 2 nil as well. Cursory just had a chance to
make a three nil at one point. That's where I go.
Yeah. So like, you know what, they're
all helping themselves and they're just people keep going
up. It's giving us like a this whole
you're not going to have a better opportunity.
And it may be right to be honest.
But like for us, it's probably came out a wee bit too soon in
terms of expectation. But the expectation is more
coming on the fact how bad deal for them are.
Not to politically play a stone, obviously.
You know, for that amazing start and it's we're nearly halfway
through now, but like it's still heavily to do with how poor they
are. And they surely, I think
numerous pundits have said that they can't have as bad a windows
as you've started looking cannot be possible.
And it'll just be interesting to see obviously what we do
ourselves and it makes it interesting, right.
The longer it goes on, the more it becomes interesting, the more
football point comes on the power game and domestically,
which can only be good for for, you know, the financial reasons
and and whatnot. So yeah, long may continue.
Because I mean, as long as Hearts can, I don't think by
saying Celtic could have an extra 5 points on the board if
they're playing better. And I don't think Hearts would
be getting the same heat they're currently again if they were
chasing Celtic. And I think as long as Hearts
just keep themselves ahead, the longer this will go on.
But I mean, like you said, is is a glorious opportunity for you
because I don't. Think it'll be that much longer
if they can't win against Kilmarnock though.
True, sorry, had to get it. Obviously four games before the
Celtic game they didn't get a win so it's strange I think.
Yeah, I mean, you weren't. Awful.
You weren't awful in those games, but I think it was just
the big moments where 91st minute, you can see it against
Kilmarack at home. Those are the big moments where
if you're trying to go for the title, I think you need to be
winning those games. But on the flip side, Celtics
lost three league games already and then the season gone by
they've they've lost 3 the whole season so.
Yeah, I think like if you look at the way of like a lot of the
reasons people are jumping on us for everything, any point we
drop is this whole that you can't do this, you can't do
that. So I think like it feels very
much like as we went off at the games, they're telling us we're
going to the league. There's never nobody's ever had
to do that to the enemy. So like I think I think it's
more that like the reputation of the teams that we're up against
and equally our own reputation of, you know, I think like the
two other teams we've been closest has been, strangely
enough, 20 years apart. So 86 last day of the season,
2006 on the runoff and no will be 2026 for forever reason.
We keep the every 20 years, but like so they'll farmer there
every year. Well, barfy Rangers in there
financial problems, but like, you know what I mean?
Reputationally, people know come April May, they'll still be
there. And whereas I think people are
jumping fat delay. If hearts drop points, they'll
fall away like other teams have in the past.
And it's us trying to sort of beat that drum of like Tony
Bloom's just and Jamestown just and This Is Us like and proven
and and it's it's looking like we're maybe a flash in the pan.
But our actual expectations is that we want to be up in the
positions nearly every year. How how close we are every year.
Nobody obviously will not we can't see in the future.
But like that's that's Tony Bloomsey.
So like it's just because it's half it straight away.
People are, you know, wants to be there.
They're just kidding to jump on at the moment.
Any points are dropped but they aren't as keen to jump on go
from if it happens to them because they think, well,
they're going to be back anyway, so always.
Well, well, maybe you'll have about a really bad 1A forum and
you'll keep up the relegation every six year that you've been
currently having 2014 relegated, 2020 relegated and you're due
one now in 2026 like you said. That'll be a challenge.
Yeah. I mean, to be fair, like you
said though, it is about the expectations entirely at Hearts
and the fan base. And I've spoke to a few jambles
and like yourself, they have kept the feet on the ground and
said, you know, this is not about when the tail for Celtic
gates, this was Celtic gates. That what we want to do is try
and put a healthy number of points on the board that will
help, you know, whether even if Rangers packed up form and you
know, we ended up third if we are strong, third, if we're
getting close to 2nd, 3rd, you know, that's progress and that's
something that can be measured and improved on year on year and
get you that point. It just wouldn't be like you
said, I don't find a bit of pressure and the sort of pokes,
you know, coming in the jibes coming in from other teams as
much if the old farm hadn't both completely collapsed in the same
season. Like that's just, you know,
we're in prey unfamiliar territory here.
But I mean, we'll see how it goes, but we'll be talking about
a lot and imagine because we're about to domestic football for
quite a while now, sadly, no Scotland talk until whether we
play Scott and talk, but nothing concrete to talk about until
March apart from maybe ticket prices and other things.
But I'm sure we'll bring all that to you on the socials and
maybe on the pod as well. But I think we'll wrap up there,
boys. Thanks very much for both Coming
on. It's been in our great episode.
Excitement continues to build for Scotland.
Like I say, and hopefully over the mums we'll be able to bring
you other little snippets, get guests or even We've already
started trying to hunt down Moroccan Arizalian accounts.
I don't know how we're. We're going to get.
Even I'm even allowed to speak to any Haitian people.
Yeah, I don't know. I can't.
I'll leave that off my visa application for my ticket.
We mark that one. Yeah, we've we've got a Brazil
English speaking Brazilian podcast lined up.
So we'll have all the the previews ready for you and maybe
a wee sneaky documentary that is in the works.
Like that I would say. Once again, thank you for coming
on. Fun being good to have you on
again Adam. Good to hear you mate.
Hopefully, hopefully next time that the title race is still
alive and kicking when we chat. Hopefully it's not so.
No, but hopefully there'll be two.
On to the next pod then. We'll still be in it in some
shape or form, just literally. But yeah, we'll see how it goes.
Perfect, perfect then catch you later mate.
Thanks for listening guys, take care.