Welcome. To the noise, listen to the.
Passion and hunger park. It's John again.
It's done. It.
It's done. It hello and welcome back to the
Scots with a mic podcast. I am your host James Scott and
I'm delighted to be bringing you our latest offering from
everything Scotland team after what has been a successful week
for the national team. Scotland, of course, kicking off
their World Cup qualifying campaign with back-to-back games
on the road. And we came home without
dropping too much points. First of all, we went to
Copenhagen to face pot one side Denmark keeping a clean sheet
and they'll they'll draw there our first points on the road
against a pot one side since Croatia in 2013.
If I've got my my facts right there Robert Snodgrass goal.
Of course, I won the win in Sigreb.
And then of course, we then moved on from our match against
Denmark down to Hungary for a more unusual fixture against
Belarus. Joining me for this one is Finn
Crocker. Finn, how are we doing?
Good. Thank you mate.
Good, good. And also we've got Adam from
Gorgie talk on Good to have you back.
Adam, how are you doing? Yeah, good mate, good to be
back, Good to chat off on Scotland.
I definitely it's been it has been a good week.
I think Spitz are feeling quite good amongst the support.
Obviously going away. Like I said, to put one side by
Denmark, you can never really take for granted again anything
away one of these teams. Obviously Denmark aren't the the
Frances and the the Germanies of this world.
They're not one of the elite European sides, but there are
pot one side and and nil nil draw was an excellent result.
I was at the game myself. It felt quite good in the
stadium. It was an electric atmosphere.
It's something sometimes a bit nervous in situations like this,
but even towards the end of the game, I didn't really feel like
really too uncomfortable. We we held their own.
I'd say fan. What was I mean, obviously you
watched it from Scotland. I did hear from people watching
the telly saying it was a bit more of a boring a boring game,
that it was quite hard watch as a Scotland fan but kind of a no
no draw away against the pot one side really be that boring.
Yeah, I mean it was, it was definitely no affair, but I'm
very happy with the point. I like you said first time
taking points away of a of a pot one sides since Croatia and that
was a long, long while back. Obviously we didn't have too
much of the ball set up an unusual system.
I don't think anyone would have predicted that 11 before the
game. But Even so, I think we
contained them really well. Grant Hanley had an absolute
blinder, albeit not many people will have been that excites him
in the lineup. But you had a great game and
yeah, really contained them. Well, they only had two shots
from target, obviously we only had one, but away in Copenhagen
you're not really expecting to see much of the ball as a
Scotland side. So was overall. 74% possession
against 26, so quite a dominating performance from the
Danes there. Yeah, but I mean watch watching
about the highlights of the of the Denmark Greece game, which
we'll get into later on in the show.
Obviously Denmark beat them three nil away from home in
Greece. So I think we've we've done
really, really well to get a point on the board.
Probably the hardest game on fixture out the way as well.
And yeah, throughout the game there wasn't really much
opportunity for Denmark and there wasn't really many times
where I was holding my breath, which is unusual when you're
watching Scotland as a. Yeah, no, definitely.
I mean, even when you look at the expected goals, going by the
stats at Denmark one point 1.2 pretty much.
I mean, while Scotland had 0.6, it is only numbers.
But if you round them both, it's A11 draw that that comes back
to. So it's not exactly screaming
out that Denmark were hard done by and you know, us holding them
10 nil, nil draw. You mentioned Grant Hanley there
and we'll come back to him. But there was definitely a few
standouts in terms of the performances from the Scotland
players. Like you said, I don't think we
really expected to go to up front.
That was something, you know, I think we continue pulling.
Everyone was questioning would it be 5 at the back or would be
state the four, which I think we've definitely been more
comfortable with recently, but we went with a four and we'll
come to you now. Adam, obviously a Hearts fan,
one of the standouts was one of your old boys, unhappy first
start for Scotland since he pulled that hamstring back in
Seville 2023 two years ago pretty much.
What did you think I'm coming back in?
Yeah, delighted. To be honest, I think right back
it's not overly been a a great position for us.
The national team in Hickey seemed like he was very much the
answer when he came in two year ago, albeit he would have been
about 2021 maybe and when he was starting to sort of consolidate
that spot. So yeah, it feels like it's like
a lifetime probably. Well, feel like a lifetime for
him anyway, Certainly all that time out and especially when he
got his move to the Premier League after so much success in
Bologna. And so, yeah, I think really
good to have him, but also good to have like Max Johnston as
well as an option. I know that Judy's been a little
bit when he looks on the socials and stuff, but again, he's still
maybe adapted at that sort of international football.
He's still young. So like, I think there's a lot
of scope there with him. And yes, I would say could have
potentially be a good able backup for hockey.
But yeah, I mean, I think like overall in terms of that
performance in Denmark, like I think I think that it was a
really, really good point. I don't think, you know, if
you'd been asked what you would take beforehand, you'd bite a
hand off for a point in Denmark. They had a lot of the ball.
They didn't seem to do very much with it.
I'll kept quite looking at like looking at stats on these sort
of games and like you think about like touches in the
opposition box. So like Denmark had 74%
possession, 28 touches in the box.
We had 23 touches in the box, so only 26%.
So goes to show that we were actually, let's say we're having
the two guys up front. We're maybe trying to be a bit
more impactful when we did have opportunities, albeit nothing
came to fruition. But yeah, I hate to be honest,
it's a bit as much as they were a bit toothless up front and it
just looked like there were options.
But partly that's probably because of how well organized we
were at the back and think like obviously family was seem to be
visually the standout. But like I mean the whole back
for like suit or even like some Tommy McGinn, their defensive
side of things and gone obviously as well out the cold
sort of like I think like everyone really done their bit
defensively. Like you can't really fix it
wrong in terms of that save the performance.
Yeah, I mean you say they look to us up front and I think
that's credit to the defence as well because you know, they've
got like Sambi Kabira, who obviously we all know from his
time at Motherwell, but he's at Monaco now, scored three hat
chicks in the second-half of last season.
They've got Dahlberg obviously, who's Celtic we're trying to
get, didn't end up getting, but to be able to bring someone off
the bench like Rasmuss Hoyland, who was just at Man United,
obviously didn't do too well there.
He's at Napoli now, so we'll see how he does with with greats
like McDonald and Gilmore by his side.
But to bring someone off the bench that's, you know, gone for
70 million, just just able to do that, bring on more firepower
and for us to just still be able to hold strong and contain them,
I think was really impressive. And I think one of the decisive
moments in the game, obviously, was when Max Johnson was brought
onto the pitch, just kind of as soon as he got on that, you
know, heart and mouth kind of moment where yeah, yeah, referee
went to the screen and I was going on, Here we go again.
And you got to give Grant the referee for for actually having
his own opinion, which you don't really see nowadays.
Yeah, usually once they go to the screen, I mean we said.
That's my head. Was my hands and you go, it's
usually at that point it's just a case of, you know, it's a it's
a process. They go over, they look at the
screen, they go, OK, I'm overturning my original decision
and then you're a man down. Yeah.
And I think that was with 71st minute.
Yeah, it was 71st minute a minute after it came on 20
minutes to 20 minutes against, sorry, 20 minutes, you know,
with 10 men. I think that would have been a
very well. You obviously you can't say and,
but it could have been a different.
I've not found out how that would have gone.
Yeah, exactly. So obviously really happy that
the referee had an opinion of his own for once and.
And just to just to be set up as well, you know, the defensive
side you're talking about. You're right.
It's more us sort of snuffing them out and, and came to
leaving them looking to be a bit passive because I run out of
ideas a bit. I think another mad start I've
seen was about clearances. Scotland had 52 clearances in 90
minutes. Yeah, Denmark 50.
I mean, that's just like a wild number of clearances, 52
clearances, 10 interceptions, 9 blocks.
I was going to say that's just Hanley, but it wasn't.
It was obviously everybody. Yeah, I mean.
You had fifty of them, no. I mean, when you look at the
defence like the in terms of what's even more impressive is
the game time, including the goalkeeper that you know the
guys are looking at on Hecky coming back and he's still not
played 90 minutes since that injury way back in 23.
I think there was also I mean, I think we expected him to be in
the squad. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't
surprised they started. It's obviously paid off
massively. But again, credit to him for
coming in and putting in such a shift.
I don't think he's I mean he's played games for Bournemouth
foot set and my friend, but he's definitely not.
I mean, this is just the level above, isn't it?
Coming away to Copenhagen, Hanley and gone as well.
Not played too much football between them.
If any. It's just, it's just so
impressive guys that really maybe would have had an excuse
to not have been as sharp and have been as a unit, maybe not
as organized and fresh, but we really did shortly we said
there's the number of clearances does speak for itself.
Yeah, Lewis Ferguson. Sorry to jump in.
Lewis Ferguson. 'S I thought the fastest what I
was going to say. And then yeah, in the midfield,
Lewis Ferguson getting I'd say that's his first proper stake
acclaim for Scotland Jersey that game, you know, in terms of
starting and a competitive friend, competitive game.
And I think that that probably was his best performance in the
Scotland shot for sure. Yeah, and 90 minutes in both
games I've been calling out from, for, for God knows how
long. Obviously the Aberdeen fan when
he got the move to Bologna and started doing so well.
I, I think it's kind of what we're seeing right now with
Clark's stubbornness towards maybe Kieran Bowie didn't get a
single minute. I'm sure we'll touch on him, but
that's kind of how I felt about Lewis Ferguson when he was, you
know, captain and belong and not getting on for a minute.
Yeah, it's definitely had to be patient.
When you look at those points, guys just sort of jump in there.
It's when I'm looking at I'll just sort of try to scan each
player. We're talking about the the
defence, like Robertson bench for Liverpool, Hanley on the
bench for Hibs, got on the bench for Forrest.
Have you gradually come in at Brentford?
But like you say, never done 90 minutes.
Ferguson on the bench for. So like fitness levels to, well,
won the fitness level and to the lacking match fitness for like
nearly half the team didn't let you see get a point against the
Portland team's massive right. Definitely and then like 1 I
could get another player that was maybe sounds silly saying
he's about a stand out because of how good he has been for
Scotland in the past. I do think McGinn has blown
slightly hot and cold for Scotland at points and I mean
that game on Friday night I really did feel I was back to
being closer to his best for Scotland.
Not maybe in the sense of getting goals and stuff,
obviously, but there was just a couple of times where I think it
was second-half, it came down the right, barged the boy off
the ball, kind of fell on top of it, got back up, held the ball
up and it was just like fighting like a dog.
That was closer to what we've seen him again in the past.
And it was good to see him, you know, put in such a good shift.
I mean, they all did across the board.
I mean, I think we've we've kind of danced around this already.
I mean, the result? Do we feel the Danes
underperformed or were we just so organised?
And I mean, we mentioned the fact that they felt a bit
toothless commend. I think it was 88th minute.
I looked at the big screen and in park and, and I thought, you
know, usually at this point I'd be quite scared we were going to
concede just by the nature of things, not because it's
Scotland, but just because it's late on.
The pressure is building. But I kind of sat there for a
second. We'll put myself in Denmark
shoes. What would I be thinking here?
And the fault that came through was, you know, we're running at
a time and we don't look like we've got any more ideas.
Yeah, I think, I think that's, I think obviously it's like a bit
cliffy, but it's always a bit of both.
But I would say it was more down to I think us being very
organized. I seem to be very resolute
despite what we're up against in terms of that attacking fit that
they have because it was in a national opening as well.
But Denmark just seemed obviously the pressures on them
to be the whole team and just get the points whilst having to
handle a relatively experienced Scotland team.
You would see now and obviously Scotland team, it's got a lot of
players going to the top level. Like I think like it was that
over time. And then the more that came in
second-half, like you say it was, it was coming down and like
we're just essentially just being smart, being intelligent
and getting things away. And they're like I said, they
just became quite passive and then desperate for Denmark.
There wasn't a lot of they weren't using their experienced
heads to like unlock the door, but then equally we weren't
opening it. So it was a bit of both.
But yeah, I think proper resilient performance would be,
would be my my take on as Scotland played well in terms of
what they were trying to do. Yeah, I think, I think they had
one big chance maybe in the whole game, and that was really
towards the end of the game where it was that double save
from, from Angus Gunn, I think. Yeah, offside anyway though, I
mean. I think, I think, yeah, I think
it was. But yeah, I think apart.
From that like. Yeah, exactly.
I mean, I think they were really toothless at times, but I think
kind of my frustration was, you know, I was happy with the
point. Of course I would have bit your
hand off it bit bit your hand off to get the point beforehand.
But kind of I think around 6060, fifth minute, maybe 70th, around
the time when ironic he was coming off.
When I saw the substitution I was was happening, I was
thinking, you know, surely get Ben Doke on right now.
I think that was kind of when we were building momentum and when
I saw it was just Hickey coming off I I was, I was really
frustrated just because Dykes has.
Something else to think about. Yeah, Dykes.
And Adams had both been ineffective that game.
Obviously they do bring different, different aspects,
but not really having a single winger on the pitch with what
dykes, Adams, McGinn and Christy.
Obviously McGinn can play on the wing, but he's he's not a
winger. No, he's not got that pace, that
trickery, you know that you you want from a winger, one that
we've, you know, the type of player that Scotland don't
really have in recent years, which Ben Doak does now provide.
So for him to to only get on the pitch 83rd minute and you know,
within within 90 seconds gets the ball, run down the wing,
saves the corner, which I think a lot of people are saying just
let it go out for the corner, dribbles past 1 and almost puts
it on the net. I mean bring him on 70th minute
and I'd I'd love to see what happened.
But obviously got to be happy with the point, but a bit
frustrated that we didn't see him a bit earlier.
Yeah, is is one of these things we always look back and you go,
oh, but but what if what if we just, you know, like like you
said before the game, you take it.
But in the circumstances you think especially I mean the one
that I'm going to heart back to is London Dykes getting played
in by sheer Adams. Honestly, with a rather just
ballooned over the bar first time and just took the shot on
instead of just letting the defender get in front of him and
get goals side. Why?
Is he waiting for us? Yeah, I know.
You know, you know, I'll say the same thing about Adams in the
Belarus game where he goes around to keep her.
I just want to see, Yeah. Or strikers stepping onto the
ball confidently and just having that, taking a shot on, you
know, I mean, not wanting that touch, having that.
They've touched on that and they should have changed as well.
I find that I think Scott Brown said, like you said, I can see
what he's trying to do. Take it around Dom and he says,
you know, if it wasn't for a clearance off the line, like
obviously it's going on, he says, but the thing that I don't
get is at that level, I would want my strike it always to that
first time. The confidence is like, I think
it's. A lack of confidence.
Yeah, there must be a lack of confidence internationally
though, because I mean, he's went to Tedino and started
putting them in. So it's like he gets that and or
it could be the the step up I suppose as well.
I was more meaning dykes. I think Jay Adams is obviously
with that, with that chance in the Belarus game he should be
putting away. But I think having to get the
goal earlier in the game or was it later in the game?
I can't remember. I think he's stepped up more in
the skull and shirt of recent times.
Obviously you'd still want your striker to be back in the men,
but compare it to, you know, a year ago where I think he hadn't
scored a goal since San Marino or some crazy stuff like that.
I think he stepped a little bit more.
But London Dyke still he's, I still see him as, you know, he's
on there to win headers. That's what his job is in the
national team. I don't.
I don't even do you know what do you know what?
That's a great call out because when I was looking through
stats, I could see dykes his name a lot, but it was for a lot
of like winning stuff in their clearances, aerial jewels, like
nothing. I mean, don't get me wrong, you
can wind them up the patch and I know like you could argue I'll
get us up the patch, but it's not really where you want to see
his name like consistently. You would want to see it from an
attacking perspective as well, like all the attacking stats you
weren't seeing very much. So he's there for both sides, I
suppose. But yeah, I was going to say
when you think back to all of dyke schools as well, especially
in that Airlife phase where he was, he did feel like he was
kind of banging them in for Scotland.
They weren't happens necessarily, but they were all
one touch goals in and around the six yard box.
Yeah. And you know, I mean, it maybe
just isn't his game, but you, like you said, you just want to
see guys take the shot on and at least make give the keeper or
something, someone to think about instead of just going out
for a corner. Yeah, I think, yeah, we should
move on to the Belarus game now. Obviously it was a banana skin
avoided, luckily. Yeah, Coolest steps over that.
You know, there's been many a game or many a campaign where,
you know, we have taken points off the the quote UN quote hard
resides and then gone to the likes of Belarus or Georgia, not
wanting to cast back any memories and failed to
capitalize on a good position. So really happy that we could
get that one out the way. It was really weird
circumstances. Obviously behind closed doors.
I, I, I don't see a quote from John McGinn before the game
obviously saying, you know, we, we weren't into about during
COVID, so we should be fine. But obviously no, no used to.
Played in front of the fans and even even away games, having
that Tartan Army behind you like like you were in Copenhagen,
James, obviously, even in the even in the best of atmospheres
like the park and in Copenhagen, you know the videos that we've
seen in the you got the Tartan Army wherever they go, we'll
push the team on and. Help.
Results. Yeah, exactly.
So yeah, obviously. No, no fans.
Was really weird hearing John McGinn sing the national anthem
was was a funny one. But yeah, glad to get the the
three points. I think it's really just a touch
on that Belarus game, like like you say, it's one where you
always get that bit of fear, right, that this is really you
don't want the slip up is where we end up getting it right.
Not in the ones where you're kind of head to head with
somebody that's a competitor. It's like a stupid banana skin
game like like what Belarus was and then with no fans does not
help. I just think that I was actually
quite pleasantly surprised by like covering Gilmore there and
Duke there. Obviously, I actually thought
Gilmore was like, well, I always think Gilmore internationally
and even now obviously I've I'm abroad and he's not getting
regular time at Napoli, but I just think like uses quality,
like he's just someday like it's just I was just describing was
like a Scottish Javi basically. Like he just evidence so simple
for him, like the way he takes a ball and he wins battles, gets
the ball into the final four. He just seems to dictate a lot
of play and what's Belarus? And it's like, you know, they're
not pulling up any trees. But like even in bigger games
where we've seen Gilmore as well, we can dominate midfield.
So really good to see him there and obviously staking acclaim
for the games in October, right? Whoever the lineups will end up
being, McKenna was in for Hanley as well.
They're absolutely fine. Belarus only had eight touches
in the box for 90 minutes. So again, as much as you're not
expecting them to be 3 flown attacking, we did nullify pretty
much any threat they had to offer.
And then like you see, got the the three points and and leave,
frankly. Look, I did feel it was quite
obviously it was a strange game the way things worked, but if
and around Scotland dominated possession in that one, I think
we had what was it? It was similar to the Denmark
game, just the other way around. We had 73 against 27% for
Belarus. Goals expected for each team met
at the score line. I did find myself getting a
little bit frustrated throughout the first half because I didn't
really feel we were cutting through very well.
And Denmark, where Denmark, Belarus, we're posing a little
bit of fret on the counter. Like you said, they didn't
really get the touches in the box.
But when we were committing boys for, they seemed to have quite a
couple of fast runners up in their final front of the patch
and the long balls over the top. That gave us a little bit to
worry about a couple of times. Obviously Max Johnson was caught
sleeping at one point with the offside man not taking on the
ball and then has run again and then Andy Robertson's back
passed a gun. Kind of had my heart in my mouth
at that moment. But I mean, the goal came a good
time for us just for half time. I think we really need that
because I think it would have been disappointing to go and
nil, nil at half time. second-half with a lot more
chances. We touched on, OK, maybe like
she Adams not being as clinical in front of goal as he could
have been. There was a couple others
though. We did have chances.
Do you think maybe if this game was played in October or
November, once we were further into the season and players are
maybe just a little bit sharper, got a bit more games under the
belt into the season, do you think we win that by more goals?
To be honest, no. Yeah, well, to be honest.
I'd love to say, yeah, you know, if it was October, we'd do a
Norway where they beat Moldova 11/1.
But I think it'd still be two, two, maximum three.
I mean, look at, I think historically against these
nations, this caliber nation, we just do not rack up these goals.
I mean, look at Pharaoh Islands, you know, Moldova, yeah, that
was the one I was thinking of Moldova with where, you know, in
times we've we've been relying on last minute winners to get to
get 3 points. So I was happy to get a goal
before half time and felt quite comfortable.
Although obviously that, like you said, they did pose a bit of
a threat on the counter attack. And I think the start of the
window is that we conceded more shots on target to Belarus than
we did Denmark. Sounds about right.
I think, yeah, I think they will be able to set up though.
It gave that, I know what you're meaning, like visually they seem
to have people going forward and I think it's 'cause they set up
like 532. So they were trying to give a
balance whereby trying to shut us out.
But when they did get to go forward, they could move those
one backs up and another two upfront anyway.
So it looked like they had like a front 4 at one point.
So there was that Say that. Do you know what they're seeing
these games you're seeing against lower league teams,
lower league, lower ranked teams and sometimes feel like we, I
don't feel like we ever really play that way as well either.
We don't play like we're wanting to hammer them.
Like I think like, all right, I know like dates and Adams are
the obvious choices, but I just think like somebody like Bowie
was paying for that. Like, like for me as a Hearts
fan, Hibs fans, and I appreciate like the Shankland issue that we
had, Like when Shankland's like informer, doing well, scoring,
he's in the squad and then barely got any minutes.
And now that's probably in 2025. It always feels like somebody's
got a some, someone who's informed all right, maybe
because they're playing in Scotland, but I suppose we'd
see. But it feels like those guys
playing in Scotland seem to go like a sideshow, whoever's
already there. I think, I think Grant, I mean
look at Grant and Hamlet. He's been sitting on the bench,
bench ribs and he's starting. So I think it's more to do with
Clark's favourites, which is really annoying at times.
Obviously he's got his critics, but you know, the qualifying
record speaks for itself. But I think he could really do
him some himself some favours by being less stubborn and
experimenting. Because I mean, 3 strikers were
using that in in that window. 2 substitutes for strikers in in
the games. In the Denmark game, George
Hurst came off the bench and in the Belarus game, Linden Diggs
came off the bench. So for Canebury not to get a
single minute with how well he's playing and how young he is at
22. So, you know, but Linden Diggs,
who's not scored a Scotland goal in God, how many years who's 29?
You know, who's not our future? Let's be, let's be honest, he's
not our, he's not our future. If we want to compete at a
higher level, you know, go to these major tournaments, our
starting striker is not going to be London Dykes.
So if you're not trusting him when you're 2 nil up against
Belarus, when are you going to trust him?
I mean, it was yeah. I mean for Lennon Miller also to
get on in the 90th minute and that's it.
I know he's not had too much game time like you said, but
neither is Lewis Ferguson. So yeah, overall of.
Frustrating. That's that's what I think.
That's what I mean. I think like I just I don't
know, like I just I some not don't have all the answers.
I'm not the manager, but like I feel like some things like what
would it do any harm to like put like 433 against Belarus?
They like, you know, I bought the exact answers, but you may
put a belly up front. I'll like book on the left for
pace. You maybe end up having like a
Christie or I'm again or somebody.
Yeah, things like that. And then even CC, to be honest,
right as well. When you watch like comedy, for
example, at Napoli, right. I think the further forward he
is the better and like to the point where I like think if
we've got 2, well, obviously Duke's a wide option, but there
probably is maybe like Ferguson or Christy McGinn, whoever has
another option, right? I just think something that why
is McDonald just doing us in that central role?
Like why not just have him up there Because he'll do what
Dykes is doing. For example, he could be the
Talisman for us that is for Napoli essentially.
Like you didn't get a Ballin door nomination for all your
attacking threat, but can he really be one of the main ones
for your country that doesn't have the attacking threats that
Napoli have? It feels like just wild.
One, one thing you'd counter that where is like he has he's
get here he is allowed more space in the athlete because
they do have a world class striker in the Kaku occupying
that area as well, which does take up defenders.
You know, they they become occupied by him.
Whereas I think with Scotland, one thing since pink comedy has
started to hit these heights, he hasn't scored as frequently.
And it's possible because like when you look at the team, like
if you're going to you're going to mark like Sarah Mcdomany,
you're probably going to commit more men to keeping Mcdomany out
sort of thing. So I mean, I don't know if
that's a fair assessment. But I think I think that aids
more towards the argument of why Kieran Bowie should be on
because you watch him every time it helps.
He has a handful, he gets in defenders ways, he's strong,
he's powerful, he'll get into positions and you can't leave
him unmarked or he will score because he is clinical.
So I think to to combat that, you know, kind of because
obviously, obviously now when you're looking at Scotland,
Mctominy is the guy that's the the main focal point and the one
that will be double teamed if if needs be.
So if you put Kieran Bowie on, I think that kind of evens it out
where they will need to at times double teamed Kieran Bowie
because of how strong he is and then that will leave gaps for
McDonald to run onto it and score like he did in that in
that World Cup qualification run.
We've got also as well an abundance of like midfield
talent as well like so, but all the things that Lukaku produces
up top in terms of like already gives goals as well, but he's
also a big nuisance so by way. Can you think of anything that
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Now that's obsessively, relentlessly at your service.
And or Dykes could provide that, but then also behind McDonald in
terms of like don't really think there's in the Holy Europe that
many teams apart from the obvious ones in port one, right?
There's not many of that teams that you look at our midfield
and you go, we'll not be able to take control of this.
Like we've got so many that are playing and not playing like
we've got. You've got obviously Christie,
for example, never plays defensive material for Scotland,
but does it like I can't or for Bournemouth and the best league
in the world. So you've got him.
You've got Ferguson not even talked about Miller yet and
Miller's again for the future. He he could easily have played
anywhere in midfield against Belarus to get 90 minutes or
even a decent hour and a national level and probably
strolled it the way he plays. I mean, that's before you talk
about it like McDonald, all these other guys, so many people
that could support McDonald if he was in that more of a 10 or
Talisman false name, whatever sort of rule you want to call
it. Like I just feel like we've got
so much talent and I ruined that area for them.
And Gilmore, sorry, Gilmore was the other one to dictate things
and allow them to have the freedom there.
You know, if you look at the table now where we were actually
second because Denmark had less yellow cards at one point, but
because they won 31, obviously we're a second on goal
difference, one point ahead of Greece.
So going into that October break, if we beat Greece at
home, we'll be 4 points ahead of them and we'll have Belarus at
home next and they'll have Denmark away next.
And if results go away in in those set of games, we will be
guaranteed a World Cup playoff spot.
So, you know, a couple weeks ago we were six, we were six games
away from a World Cup, whereas now in two games time we could
be guaranteed a playoff spot. So it's it's obviously a in this
nature now it's it's a really quick turn around.
But if we do have a good result against Greece, beat them and
then don't slip up on the banana skin against Belarus at home and
Denmark do anything like they did to them away at home, then
you know we could be looking at a playoff spot and a battle out
with with Denmark for first. Next, I mean, looking at the
group overall, when we came into this campaign, there was a fear
with Denmark been a part one side, that's totally normal.
Obviously, Greece been part two sides.
They were fearful and for reasons we only recently
discovered in March, like you said when we spoke to talk
talker in the opposition analysis last week, he actually
said he was more concerned about Scotland than he was about
Greece. And I think that came as a as me
and Aaron that were speaking to him and it came as a surprised
us both that you would say that because I'm just what we'd
recently experienced with Greece.
We felt that they were possibly stronger than us or you know,
they kind of turn us over at start.
Hamden no two ways about that. Obviously the free now when
against Greek and Athens maybe shows he knew what he was
talking about more than they kind of thought.
I mean, looking forward to the game at Hampden now, like you
said, it's almost like cup final vibes because of how short the
campaign is. A win against Greece will be
absolutely massive. Like you said, the game after
they've got a game in Copenhagen that'll be challenging.
We've got Belarus. Hopefully we can do the same
thing we just achieved on Monday, Luz Ferguson said.
We've seen what they're all about, they're a really good
side but a definitely tilt game at Hamden.
But we're better prepared to decide this time what what do
you guys think like and what had gone into this game now?
What's different about the Scotland team that was different
from the team that played at home in March?
You can go, honey, go. I think like key point as well.
Just put a touch on the Grease fan is through the home games
they've had and they've got three points 2 away games we've
had and we've got 4. So that will play in to our
favorite. Again, in terms of like going
forward, we've got these two own facts.
We've come in got to take positivity from that known that
Grease have only got 1 home game left.
I think we've probably learned a lot from the mistake and I think
it was a mistake and it was maybe maybe a bit naivety of,
you know, the qualities that Greece preserves for equal.
Obviously Greece came out just the way that we now know they
can. I don't know about digging on
Greece actually just just before the pod as well.
And I think like I think took is right in the sense of we are
probably more of a problem at Denmark.
Obviously at hindsight now it shows them to be right, I
suppose in a way, but I've not seen the reverse fixtures yet.
But I think there's a there's a couple of things with it.
I think like they're obviously like you say, a bit more open
Greece, but they are lacking a lot of experience as well.
I think that I said it's up and coming.
I think that I said it has the potential to be really good and
and actually going forward depending where all the players
end up. Yeah, I mean that there's two
teams in place. Yeah, Caretas, the two, the two
teams that they put out were nearly identical and actually
the only change they made was in in the number 10 position where
they obviously not too much knowledge of their players, but
they essentially took a 32 year old out that played in against
Belarus, but a 22 year old and against Denmark.
So against Denmark they only had one player over the age of 31
and then they only had three players over the age of 24, over
the age of 25. So when you take that versus our
team without trying to be a SWAT and remember everybody's ages, I
think we only had one under 25 in the last game, which was
Gilmore and then the ones underneath that Hickey 23 then
you're looking at like Dok Dok at 19.
I think it is really beyond that.
Everyone looked like they were pretty much in around like 2930
in terms of age. And obviously the number of caps
that comes with that, the experience.
And I think as well just a general more balanced and more
rounded site. Like we have our we have our
sort of issues in terms of like the forward data that we talked
about, which appears to be Greece is not problem.
I was when you look at Tiso lesson, I mean, if, if, if we're
the Mick Pavlidis upfront and that Greece have got then then
obviously I think we'd be in a lot better position than we are
probably this at 26 and he's he's a big threat and he will be
in Tazolas at 23, correct. It's a 17.
You know, they're going to be there for a long time.
But yeah, they're back like the keepers 22 centre back 21 right
back 23. So, you know, these guys are are
are good talents, but they've still got a bit of inexperience
in them and a bit of mistakes in them.
And I think we then like say naive is the word.
We just want smart enough. And I don't think Clark will
make those mistakes next month. And I think you'll be well aware
of the threat, but equally so you'll nullify that the way to
the Denmark, but then look to obviously impose us on them in
the defensive areas where, like I said, maybe I've got that bit
of an experience and look to be pressure.
I think that the home, the home advantage is a big factor as
well. Like if we can use that to an
advantage and please learn for the mistakes will be in a great
position. And obviously getting the one
that would be massive and like you say, guarantees a playoff of
pretty much get the inevitable one against Belarus, which and
like thought would get if we beat Greece a few days before
that. And yeah, it's just.
Going to be mindful, like I mean there is an opportunity for
Greece to get something in Copenhagen, but you know, you
never know how how these things will work out with the with the
overall group. I don't know if I knew how
they'd be comment on that. Yeah, I mean, I think it'll be
hard to to to make analysis on how different the team will play
against Greece until we play them.
Obviously we can sit here and say we look better against them,
Mark and Belarus, but obviously Greece do play just so
different, really open, really attacking.
So I think that's the the biggest game we've got left.
Next one a Hampden so. I think to be honest, like as
well, sorry, sorry if I'm gonna cut you out.
I think to be honest as well, the biggest thing, as well as
that Greece game against Denmark could actually, if we were to
beat Greece, could actually work in our favour to potentially one
anyway. Like then they win and they
asked to beat them because we'd be sitting on 10 points at the
top of the table with them on 7:00 and 6:00.
So Denmark on 7 and. Greece, I was, I was actually
thinking about this this morning, where if we beat
Greece, would I want Denmark to win or Greece to win?
And I I came to the conclusion I think a draw would be best for
everyone. If.
If if Denmark win, we are guaranteed a World Cup playoff
spot. If we did beat Belarus and
Greece, if Greece win, then they'd be one point behind us
breathing down our necks. And you know, one slip up is all
it takes. And you know, away in Greece is
a tough game as well. So I think a draw would put us 6
points, clear them if I'm right in saying that, or maybe 5
points. Yeah, five points, clear
degrees. Yeah, 6 points and then yeah.
So, so this is where a goal difference come into it because
for World Cup it's head to head, but for world qualification it
is goal difference. So currently we have a better
goal difference than them because they got scudded off of
Denmark. So if we beat them at home and
then was hoping for a draw, that is where we would really look to
try and, you know, hump Belarus. Something that we don't really
do often obviously, but Greece have already played their home
game against Belarus. Obviously they put 5 past them.
So we'd be hoping to do something similar.
And then if we did lose to Denmark at home, hopefully limit
that to to a small school length.
So yeah, I think it's too many scenarios to really go into.
It's if buts and maybes but bottom line is Greece game need
to win it. Yeah, bottom line is when all
are. You exactly.
Yeah, exactly. Yeah, exactly.
I mean quite, he said in in his post match and if you after
bellows, he said it's a start, but it's only a start.
And that's something that's that's sort of drives me
summarize it really. He said.
He said four points doesn't qualify qualify here.
No, I mean, he's always, I mean, if you think back to Euro 24
campaign as well, I mean, we were flying 12 points and from
our first four games there and he still spoke quite candidly
about about that. He never really kept his feet
family on the ground, which I think is a good thing.
Doesn't he sort of put this Grease game next month on the
podium that I think a lot of fans are putting on for how much
it means. But yeah, we can.
We had. We had. 15.
Yeah, even 15, yeah. And I think the only, I'm still
bitter about the fact that we didn't qualify first and get a
pot one, get pot one for the EUR because I think the only reason
we didn't is because of that VR decision in Spain.
Oh, don't get me started on that.
Oh, don't, Because yeah, I, I put up a post the other day
about our last 20 major tournament qualifiers.
So World Cup 18, sorry, World Cup 22, EUR 24, and now the
start of World Cup 26. Those qualifying campaigns,
we've lost two of our last 20 and that was away in Denmark
where we lost two nil and away in Spain where arguably we
should have won. So I think where that Clarke
Christian comes from is 1A stubbornness for players and a
favouritism. But mainly our friendly record
is absolutely atrocious. You compare a friendly record to
to competitive qualifiers. It's, it's horrific and
obviously the the disappointment of when we do get to those major
tournaments, we've underperformed.
Obviously that EUR 2020 was a hard group, but 24, we really
should have beat Hungary. I was there for all three games
and that was the roughest one. But hopefully we do get to to
World Cup 26 and obviously with the the expanded format,
hopefully we get someone like Kuruka or Cape Verde in our
grip. Yeah, that's perfect.
Sorry, can you help me? No, I was just going to say this
could be the time as well. Like you said things have
started off well. This could may be the time we've
managed to secure automatic and finish top or not that we didn't
secure automatic for the EUR. But you know, I mean get
finished top of a group for the first time and I can't even tell
you the last time. Just got into that as possible
before my lifetime. Yeah.
I mean, I think we'll move on a wee bit now to just cover some
other Scotland stuff that happened in the international
break. Obviously under 20 ones played
the AD back-to-back defeats against the Czech Republic and
Portugal 2. Now both games it just seems to
be a reoccurring theme how disappointing the under 21
results are. Not just this campaign, but like
years gone by, so many good players coming through that age
group and just never really seeming to achieve much.
I don't want to use as a stat handy about Scott Gammell in
terms of, you know, how long he's been a manager and his
stats. But yeah, just he's been.
He's been. Manager, he's been manager of
the under 20 ones for nine years now and he's got eighteen wins
in 62 games. I mean, with the talent that's
come through, I mean you even see recently the talent that's
come through from the 20 ones now into the first team.
It has to be. I mean, I can't think of another
youth coach that has that job security.
Any other coach in world football gets those results.
They will be gone out the door. I mean even look at the talent
that was in that squad. Finley Curtis has been flying at
Rangers. Robbie Uri who's been flying in
Sweden didn't get a minute. I mean putting putting players
like Diamond Buddy who is a winger upfront instead of I mean
I think they took 5 or 6 wingers in the squad and then played two
upfront with no wingers. I mean, it is.
It's just incomprehensible how you can waste that amount of
talent like Emilio Lawrence, so much talent in the squad and to
get nothing out of them and to not even play the right
formation. There's definitely quite a young
nest to that group of the current crop.
I mean, when you look at Eden, Borland's only 18 or 19.
There's a couple of guys are only like in the 18 to 19
bracket. And like you said that dearly
midday is up. I think he's 21 now.
There's a couple of 120. And it's just, I know you're
maybe maybe giving them an excuse there, but it definitely
has to get so much better out of these guys.
It's just crazy. We've not done achieved
anything. Yeah, I mean, correct me if I'm.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we've qualified for
a major tournament under Scott Gemmell, so no.
No, I don't think so. Definitely.
Not so. Yeah, in nine.
Years we qualified us for anything.
I mean, I, when I remember first really when I was old enough to
like, not just be watching Scotland to start to taking and
you know who's coming. I was looking at under 20 ones
who's going to be coming through into the, the, the men's team.
We had that sort of under 20 ones golden generation.
They had Ryan gold McGann. It felt like a golden generation
at the time, gold McGann and Christy Ryan Fraser was in
there. Jason Cummins was a Scotland
player back then. We had calm Patterson at right
back, maybe even John Souter in that group.
Andy Robertson played briefly for them but was promoted to the
first team. I mean, even a good A-Team like
that, which I mean, it just seemed so like that that's, I
mean, it's good to have a #21 crop as you'll find back in the
day and that that team even didn't manage to, you know, get
past the qualifiers. Yeah, I think we should move on
to a more positive note under. 9 times, yeah.
Under nineteens did extremely well this window, albeit only
against the United Arab Emirates but they won 71 Hat trick from
Josh Landers who moved from I believe Hibs to West Ham.
He started in the under eighteens last season and then
he got 5 in his first six and then he's been moved up to the
under 20 ones. Looked really good so good to
see him grab a hat trick and definitely one to watch.
Ewan sorry even Mooney grabbed 1 as well.
He's at Saint Mirren I I believe Callum Adamson grabbed one who
is on loan at Alloa from Rangers and obviously the the up and
coming one that even for Britsy. Romano has been tweeting about
Kaylin. I'm going to butcher this
Kaylin. Is it kadam kadam kadam
Kalamatari. There we go.
But yeah, he's only 15 and came off the bench.
I believe in this one. Got a goal.
He came off the bench in their previous game as well and got an
assist. A name of the Man City from
Sheffield Wednesday this summer for reportedly over 1,000,000 as
a 15 year old. He was.
He was born. In 2009.
Yeah, born in 2009 and was the the top goal scorer in the under
18 Premier League division last last season.
So moved to Man City for over 1,000,000 lbs reportedly at 15
years old. And yeah, off the bench in both
games for the 1919's. Got a assist and a goal, so one
to definitely keep your eye on. Obviously I'm getting shades of
Karamoco down belly. Hopefully it doesn't turn out
like that. Yeah.
So scores as well with him as he was.
Danny Karamande Haddam when he was at Dundee United.
Yeah. Yeah, for that one.
Yeah, obviously his dad was somewhat of a wonder kid
himself. So yeah, hopefully continues.
No, no English switching, which I don't think is on the cards.
Luckily also Tyler Fletcher was back in the squad.
Darren Fletcher, one of Darren Fletcher's sons, which was good
to see because obviously he went over to the English for a bit.
So it's good to see him back in the squad.
But yeah, definitely a few to keep our eyes on.
See, obviously very good for the under nineteens there.
Great result on the 20 ones, not so much.
And then like we said, what week it's been for the men's team.
Looking forward to next month very much now.
Thanks for coming on guys. It's been a really good one
chatting with tease again. Any leaving thoughts from News
before we wrap up? We're winning it all.
It's a conference here in North America.
Yeah, I was. I was genuinely looking at
venues on Wikipedia the other day.
I hate, I hate being that comforting.
I told my laughing so much. I was mentioning my my one of my
guys in the Tatan Army. It always seems to be in laws
going, you know. What's that?
How does it work with allocations for tickets again?
Reserve the national teams. So yeah, I mean, to be fair, I
think my dad always gets on me for getting a little bit too
excited before things have occurred.
But I think with Scotland, you've just got to enjoy, enjoy
the journey when it's happening. I booked my flights to Germany.
I think after two games so.
I know, I know someone's booked the highest booked flights to to
America. They booked that's £99 or 200.
It was like the 199 or 99 LB flights from Barcelona or
Madrid, which to be fair is a decent guy.
I mean, if I'd known at the time, I'd probably gambled on
that because. I would have got them.
Yeah, the fights will probably go up a fair bit.
So I've been that's this. Look, these are all problems for
months down the line, maybe, maybe after the next month's
results, we'll be able to talk more sureness around what
flights to get. But no, thanks again guys.
And that's been a really good episode.
We'll catches in the next one. Perfect.
Thank you very much.