Listen to the noise. Listen to the passion in Hamden
Park. It's John again.
It's Johnny's Yes Man, the Green done by Dunfish Chance, the one
for Scotland. Hello, and welcome back to
another episode of Scots with a Mic.
I'm your host, James Scott, and it's been a very busy January
across Scotland. We've had lots of ingoings and
outgoings, and that is what we're here to talk about.
The transfer window slammed shut yesterday at this time of record
then. And yeah, there was a lot going
on right up to the deadline, lots of late moves and lots to
talk about. So let's get into.
Joining me on the podcast is Fen Crocker.
Fen, good to have you back on. Good to be on, lots to talk
about. I definitely and also joining us
is Nail Cavanaugh Nail how we doing?
Good mate, thank you. It's been a been a while since
I've been on a a lot's happened but.
Yeah, he must have just been non-stop with Celtic last night.
Luna. Luna coming in.
Final still could be another side in as well.
Yeah, true. Yeah, Yeah, we'll get into that,
I'm sure. Yeah, I mean, right.
OK, where we start? I mean the biggest transfer in
Scottish football was arguably Scotland striker Kieran Berry,
former Reef Rovers man. I'll plug that right now.
He moved from Herbs to Verona in the city for €6 million pounds
plus add-ons. I believe so, yeah.
Substantial fee, especially for a club like Herbs is one of the
biggest transfers we've seen from a non Old Firm.
Club, I mean, I mean, it's a club record fee for Herbs,
massive, massive fee for him. I think the the bids that kept
on coming in and they rejected them.
We were all thinking, you know, you should take the money, but
fair to play to Herbs. You know, they held out for for
what they deemed was was the value of Kieran Bowie.
And they've got their massive sale.
I think it was about 48 hours after he signed that the head
coach got sacked. So yeah.
But also be basically thrown our rock bottom in the league.
There's that context there. Yeah.
Well, they're I think 14 points.
I want to say they're round about the same points as
Fiorentina, but they only won their first game in December in
the league. You know, that's sort of where
they're sitting a bit on the table.
It's not looking great. And the managers obviously got
the chop for us. Is that good or bad for him?
I don't know. Obviously he was.
Obviously wasn't done too good a job.
Their second lowest scorers in the league.
And like you said, yeah, they are rock bottom.
So maybe they're preparing for life in Sarah B.
Maybe Kieran Bowie can conceive them from the drop.
Well, I think Sarah B might actually not actually be too bad
for him if they were to go down, get some experience kind of kind
of similar to what Josh Doig did.
And he's came back stronger this season.
So yeah, we'll have to see he's. Made almost £10,000,000 off
Verona Habs, by the way, that's they've got a good thing going
there. It's a, it's a tiny wee, yeah.
So Josh Doyke, he was done, said Abby as well.
He's not special and it's done well for him.
So but I mean, is a good move in terms of when you look at like
you mentioned there, one of the lowest scorers in the league,
strikers of us and not up to the job so far.
Pretty. I mean, it looks good from
potentially getting game time at least.
I mean, I guess that's always one of the worries.
These guys go tightly and like Lennon, Millie's finally getting
his chance now in the start of the season, as the mums went by,
you start to think, oh, has it been the night movies not
getting game time at all? But I think it's we could maybe
expect to see Kimbe fairly quickly get in a run out to see
if he's going to bring something extra to the table that their
current strike force isn't. But yeah, no, it's good.
It's good to see Hebs but you said stand on their ground and I
mean personally I don't know where if I was the value came
bad dead thing sex my own was on the the higher side but hubs
didn't need to sell and they did.
Exactly. They let the club's test the
resolve and they held out and they got, like you said, the
biggest thing when the Creek Gordon got Sunland.
It must be around 2007. 7. 2007, right?
I've got that bang on. Yeah, that's 20 years.
And when you go back, actually you consider that's a lot of
money to be getting thrown around.
Back. In year back in.
That does matter at the time. Yeah.
And I think one of the only other sort of big fees was for
Scott Brown going hips to Celtic.
Yeah. That was a club record fee I
believe before the Kieran Bowie sale, so.
I know. But yeah, obviously good.
I think it's good for obviously for Scotland as a team we
getting on our national side, it's got another player in this
area. Yeah, I think it's also good for
for Scotland as a league as well.
I think obviously we talk about Scotland internationals a lot,
but I think for the league itself, it's really good to see,
you know, non Old Firm clubs as well as Old Firm clubs holding
out for for these these top fees that we've not seen for so long
for their best players. Because I think for so long
clubs have just, you know, take taking whatever they're given
really. Yeah, almost like.
Ferguson yeah, yeah, Key. They all win.
I mean it's kind of comparing different players here.
They're not a striker and you know, maybe different ages and
stuff. Like they didn't go for anywhere
near this sort of money. Even Lennon Miller, there's only
5.5 million I believe that might be EUR as well.
So. Yeah, it seems a bit more but
like even even in the last few days Massuinis say Motherwell
they were they received a bit of I think 2.5 million from
Blackburn, turned it down because he's worth more.
Dundee got a 7 figure bid from Portsmouth for Luke Graham,
turned it down as well. So, you know, it's good to see
that these clubs that are valuing their players more and
that they are holding out for these bigger fees obviously as
well. Celtics turning down 25,000,000
for angles. We can, we can debate whether
that's smart or stupidity. You know, that's one for up for
debate as well. No, I think it is good to see
you especially see when you look down in England some of the fees
getting branded about for players, for example, Yorgen,
Stan Larson, 50 million or just under 50 million, Crystal Palace
from Wolves, two goals all season.
So I think these clubs have got every right to be asking for
these prices. James, you've touched on as
well, when clubs are in a position to sell, when they
don't need to sell, then why not ask for these fees?
There's no Hibbs swearing exactly rushing, Keyed and Bebe
out at all. But they've got a good enough
fee there. So I think they've got every day
and they should be. I'd like to see more of it, more
demanding, high fees. I think, I think all parties in
that situation are happy, like Hibbs will be got to lose 1 of
their star players. But like you said, the money
they've got in a key for next season, you know, so it's
something they can really use to invest in our squad.
And yeah, I. Did go out quickly and sign a
few replacements obviously, I think it was Dane Scarlett from
Tottenham on the loan as and Ando and Elding from from Sligo
Rovers. So they did go out, try and
replace them as quickly as possible while still, you know,
not going out, being rash and keeping a lot of money, as you
said, in the Kitty for next season.
Yeah, about what? What we'll go back up because
we'll work our way through some of the top transfers in
Scotland, but what we'll do is we'll cover a couple of the
Scottish ones first. London Dykes made his transfer
from Birmingham to Charl and obviously wasn't getting too
much game time at Birmingham and he made a good start to life at
the Valley with a goal at the begin against Ipswich I believe,
which is quite funny because I think they were one of the
club's been rumoured to the after them or no Lester the last
time. Yeah, it was less to score
together. I think both, sorry, both those
clubs around from actually, but yeah, he end up scoring against
them, took his goal well, again, he's another failure, has not
been getting too much game time. But yes, again, it's so crucial
to the way Steve Carr plays when he lines out Scotland up
sometimes depending on how he wants us to go about our
business. How good is it to see him, you
know, going somewhere He's clearly going to be getting game
time. It's a back four months coming
up for a lot of players across the different leagues are
wanting to be in that squad in June.
Dykes is a guy there's been sort of question marks around because
I think people have sort of been saying how long can a guy that's
not getting games consistently stay in a squad based on the
matter of what he's done before. But I think yeah, well, does
well from. I think it's a different, I
think it's a big four months from for different reasons than
others. I think for others it's about
getting in the squad. I think for him it's about
getting as fit as possible. You mentioned there he made a
good start. I think he came on against
Sheffield United and within 60 seconds of coming on he got an
assist. Only goal of the game, one nil
win. So it's been a good start to
him. He's plays 90 minutes, two
games, 87 minutes against Leicester, as you said, where he
where he got a goal. And I think, yeah, he's not
going to be dropped from Steve Clark squad, let's be honest.
But it's about being the best player that he can be for what
what he is because because obviously he's not that clinical
goal scorer. He's not going to get a hat
trick every game, but but he's going to win every single
header. And it's about being as fit as
possible come come June 11th or whatever it is against Haiti.
Yeah, I mean, as well worth knowing, unfortunately he did
mess out in the EUR back in 2024 like that was that was, you
know, heartbreaking stuff for him.
He was, he was still over with the squad.
No, that's how much he enjoys being part of that unit and
stuff. But unfortunately someone who
was so important and getting us there wasn't able to take part.
And it would have been a shame if you know, he just tapered it
off in form and just wasn't really going into the World Cup
in the best place, whether that's in the squad or not.
And this will give him the best chance to and like you said,
starting life off in the night. We a goal and assessed in his
first couple of games. Can't really complain.
Think I mean, there was it was quite a few Scottish boys on the
move. Actually.
We'll just rattle through a couple and then we'll get some
sort of general opinions. Even Mooney of Saint Madden went
down to Arsenal. 18 year old, good move for a young guy,
Although I mean you do see a lot of these young guys going down
to the big clubs down South and sometimes you do go a bit mess
and see there's always that concern.
But I guess the youngster will be absolutely buzzing to get a
move like that and I heard someone with the chop in there.
Yeah, yeah, I was just going to say as an Aberdeen fan that that
brings me back to Lewis Perrier, who I think at the time he had
scored like 40 goals and 30 games, something mental and went
down to Leeds Academy and I've not heard anything about him
since. I'm always a bit wary where, you
know, are these players really, are they really investing for
for in these guys for the future or are they just bolstering out
there on the 21 squad for for the key players that they are
investing in? Because with the amount of money
that they get, I saw something where each Champions League win
is I think 4 million on top of it for Arsenal.
So with with one win, a 10th of that is is gone to Evan Mooney.
Obviously I think it was around 400 K for for him to move down.
They've got to sell on theme St. Mirren as well, but it's it's
pennies for these guys. So are they, are they investing
in them or are they just bolstering out their their youth
squads for other players that they do see a future for?
Yeah, I mean, it's interesting as well because like, Arsenal
has not been a club. There's been too many Scottish
guys recently, apart from Kim Bowie, Kimberly Quintini, sorry,
and then they signed Callan Hammer, or I believe it's
Simpson Johnson, and he's been doing fairly well.
He's been doing really well for them.
Yeah, and he rave reviews. Only 15, I'm pretty sure he was
training with. Was it the first team?
Was he? Yeah, it was the first team for
a couple times. So I think he's, I can't
remember his under seventeens or under nineteens captain.
He's one of the two and he's just been included in the under
17 Scotland squad again. So yeah, he's did really well.
I and he's yeah I mean he's he's he's well thought of down there
centre half as well position we've not been blessed with too
much over the recent years so it's good to see that umm but
another player that Arsenal were interested in but it didn't end
up happening. He went to Tottenham Hotspur on
loan is James Wilson. Umm, I mean, that just seemed to
come out of nowhere, doesn't. It that's the that's the most
bizarre move of the window for me.
It's obviously T she can play in the for the under 20 ones.
But like you say, James, it just came out and nowhere like
literally nowhere like he was he's leaving.
He's not even been playing at hearts and then all of a sudden
taught number and from. So I think that probably falls
under the category that friend was taught about as where was
did he actually have a eye for the future as James Wilson or
are they just wanting to like bull stop in under 21 squad?
Yeah. And the way it's done is like
it's a loan with the auction to buy in the site.
No, I think it's a good move for the lads.
Obviously happy for him and I'm glad it's alone because
obviously it doesn't. If it doesn't work out, you can
come back up and and still be at Hearts.
But I'd honestly not be surprised if he makes his debut.
As far as this season, I know that's bold to say, but in the
January transfer window, they signed 1 senior player.
Yeah, they're they've got an incredible injury crisis, one
that I've never seen before. And if their squad gets better,
I would not be surprised if if he makes his debut at one point.
Be shocked by that to fail. I know he's been good but for me
that's a that's a better stretch.
But like you said that when he's got the the perks of getting, I
mean, Adam, that's usually on the podcast from Gorgie talk
that says like as long as he's at Tynecastle under that
McKenna, he won't get much game time.
Derek is not been, I mean, he has brought free guys like Lewis
Ferguson. He did play with David Watson at
Kilmarnock, but he's not been like overly known for playing
young players and maybe giving them a chance to go here does
expose them to something new, give them opportunities that you
wouldn't begin the hearts right now.
Even if he has traded with the first team, but that's a real
bonus. I just.
Question what it does to his value if spars you know, if he
just plays in under 20 ones for the next couple of months and
any retardants to hearts in the summer and spars just got now
you know right like what I mean it's good for.
I don't think it makes as big an impact as you think because even
if he doesn't get sighted permanently, he's still trained
with the first team at Spurs and you learn from players that are
leaps and bounds above anything at heart.
So I think, I think it's, I think it's only positive.
I don't know about the way Spurs are playing.
I don't know how many leaps. Well, come on, let's not compare
Hearts. Let's not compare Hearts.
The Spurs. So I thought you were you going
to jump in there now. But I do get that point because
that is an interesting point because would it benefit more
being in an under 21 station room for six months or being an
addressing room that's going for a league title like in the and
like few years down the lane and his career 10 years time she's
still at hearts of moved on. I think expedience of being an
attention and that's going for a league title, I think would
probably benefit more than just being in a under 21 station
room. Yeah, I mean, I agree with that.
But the same time if he's get obviously it's big FS, but if he
is getting exposed to first team at Spurs and I think that's
really good for him as well. And I think right now he's fifth
choice striker Hearts, which is crazy.
And I think he had options to go out on Luntus and Johnson and
they they they blocked that heart.
So, you know, who knows? I think that's one that we'll
just have to wait to. See, that's quite a very slight
indoors moment. From there you can go into Perf.
Instead, he's ended up like Hotspur.
Like, is this so funny how these things work out?
But I know best of luck to James because if it works out from
that could be, you know, that could really like make his
career, but we'll have to wait and see see how it plays out.
Touching on a couple other Scotland transfers, right?
Finley got this. I've got that right this time
going from Rangers to Kilmarnock on loan.
I mean, he's a guy I would have liked to seen in the first team
of Rangers. To be honest.
I'm surprised he's going to Kilmarnock.
I mean, I don't know, I don't mean to hammer Neil McCann here,
but his management track record isn't amazing.
I don't know what another forum on Sunday him, Finley Curtis
under him like the parts would do for his development.
But you know, I guess that's we'll just have to wait and see
how that plays out. Transfers that didn't happen.
That's a wee topic we can touch on because there was a massive
story that broke about Robertson leave in Liverpool, Andy
Robertson, Scotland captain, leave in Liverpool and go into
Tottenham as well, really blow up, but then it didn't happen.
Where does that sit with you guys?
Is that something you would like to see happen?
Because obviously he is kind of playing second fiddle to
calculus. From a Scotland point of view,
if you've been selfish then yes, you would like to see it happen.
It's the same as dates you want your key players to be playing
regularly going into the World Cup.
But a, I think as well, if you look at it on the flip side,
he's he's obviously clearly happy at Liverpool.
You know what he's going to get for Liverpool.
He's still going to be heavily involved I think, because I
think in recent weeks he's been more up to it.
But in the first few months Kirk is was a bit hot and cold.
So I think he's still going to feature a lot.
But just you'd obviously rather him playing week in week out.
But if he's happy but playing each club football, then I think
that'll be that'll be all right. Yeah.
I think, I think it could have actually worked out well if he'd
gone to Tottenham and he could have, you know, kind of taken
James Wilson under his wing a bit.
But no, as long as he's still getting some game time at
Liverpool, I think it's all right.
Obviously he's regarded so highly in Liverpool, almost like
a club legend I think. Every location now on the
talking about, you know how much the fans appreciate Sort of
modern day legend. Absolutely.
He has kind of, in his time at Liverpool, reinvented what means
to be a fullback. Absolutely.
I think people, I think you'll only get the recognition that he
deserves when he retires. I think how much he
revolutionized the modern day fullback is quite understated.
I think when you think back, it was him and Alexander Arnold
that kind of created this, this shift that we see today as as
normal. So yeah, he's he's been integral
to a great Liverpool side over the years.
He's adored by them. And I think it's it's probably
only right that he stayed. Obviously, like Niall said, from
a selfish point of view, I'd love to see him get booked more
game time. But, you know, I'm sure he's
happy where he is. Yeah, but he said World Cup
coming up, you want him to play in.
But I mean, I think he his contract runs out in the summer.
He will be playing football away from marriage aside, at some
point next season. And I think this will be.
To see you'd expect to get a a proper and field farewell at the
end of the season that yeah, if he'd left.
And as much as it's theatrical and isn't really substance any
of any material substance to how his footballs played, I'm sure
that you would quite like to get that sort of heroes goodbye.
Yeah. And I think when you think about
having a Scotland shirt as well, I think this might be or
probably is the the last major tournament that he will be
starting for us because I think in 2028 he'll be God.
How old, 3534? Yeah, he's 31 right now, but he
turns 32 in March, so. Yeah, maybe 34.
I've come there, you know. Sorry.
EUR, Yeah, the EUR will be 34 and I think there's enough
talent coming through that, you know, he's clearly not at his
prime anymore. And I think, you know, there's
potential that he wouldn't start the euro.
So obviously that's a wait and see.
You'll be in the squad at the matching styles.
There's some sort of massive shift in what's coming through.
But like you said, this is maybe his last crack.
It being one of the main many def.
I can't imagine it to be captain.
Come then if he was, you know, he's not going to be playing
regularly for us. So yeah, no.
But yeah, that worked out the way it did.
We had rumors of Lennon Miller going to Strasbourg, but the
sort of peered out and now he seems to begin a lot more
regular game time at Otanese. And he was playing the other
night, used to beat Roma one now, which was a great result
for him and the team. And he's like, like I said,
that's him 123456 last six games he's featured quite heavily.
So yeah, great to see for him. Just just to add on to that, I
think the Danaze fans absolutely love him.
I've seen also even other fans from different Syria clubs
saying like, you know, this is this is a guy for the future and
a couple. He's got something best.
Than him like I've been on my Google Translate on Twitter and
everything like that. Yeah.
What was it? Miller must play.
Lenin must play there. Yeah, they played there.
It's a Como game or something. But yeah, he's, he's been really
good for them. So it's good to see you 'cause
yeah, there was a few months where I think me and you, James,
were thinking, is this going to work out?
There was a reason for. The bench, it's not like you
expect them to go in and start dominating and starting every
week, but like you really just wasn't featuring at all and you
kind of thought when's he going to get, when's he going to get
his break? There was even rumours of him
being homesick. I didn't believe that, but you
know, you never know. But yeah, good to see him
finding his feet in Italy. Then another guy in Italy there
was rumoured to be moving. Was she Adams on the Planetarino
scored a couple of goals in his last couple of games.
He finally found this sort of goal scoring form.
Believe he got two against Roma and then he scored one at the
weekend there. So yeah, he was rumored to be
going to Wolves, which are in pretty dire straights at the
bottom of the Premier League. So I think I'll speak for
everyone when I say I'm glad he's not ended up there.
Yeah, as well. Not much, not much said about
that. I think he much prefers, I think
you'll probably much prefer being at 3:00 than Wolverhampton
Wanderers. And yeah, glad that didn't
happen. I'm not even sure he would be
first choice straight kid at wolves either.
Yeah. I think he would be well,
obviously strand Larson's left, but I just don't think he'd have
been like, no offense, he Adams, but we was also looking to stay
up and I just don't think that's a a Maliki signing.
So I think it was obviously just for for the squad.
Yeah and then like as well when I say there are two goals
against roll my scored against Leche at the weekend.
You're finally getting goals. You know he's not been the most
prolific over there and he's got you know, 3 in the last four
games so I don't know why suddenly.
Exactly. So yeah, another guy that was
rumoured to be on the move was Nathan Patterson potential and
moved to Genoa. What's the thoughts around that?
Because Patterson hasn't been featured and overly forever and
and. He surprised me a wee bit
because I know you thought you said there that he hasn't overly
been featuring, but I think he's actually like featured the.
Last couple months. I will, yeah, he's coming.
I mean the last few games ever and he played 71 minutes, Aston
Villa played 90 minutes. Probably 116, yeah.
But I was a bit, I was a wee bit surprised when that leak came
out that because I believe that Jake O'Brien's back from injury,
which maybe we have a factor in it, but then.
How long does that last or no true like that's that's kind of
new a new obviously when when you read stuff online, they do
even the funds and the blogs. The ones added enemy sort of
thing that he was a backup to James O'Brien.
And it's kind of like again. I mean, if you think back,
Nathan Patterson was probably our biggest prospect to write
back before he started getting his injured problems and then
I'm breaking a. Member friendly against Poland,
I don't know if you remember, I think it was yeah, they got a
penalty to equalize and last minute that wasn't one and he
absolutely told them to shreds that game just up and down the
wing all all that long. And I think that was when I was
like, oh, this guy's like really got potential.
And obviously he's not gone on and and done that consistently
and he's been out his worst enemy, but I hope that he can
get over that and, and trying to find some, some regular game
time. I don't know if that's going to
happen. Everything like you said,
O'Brien, what I've read is that, yeah, he's not, he's not really
thought that fondly by the fans. Hopefully it can change their
minds. Obviously, he's just for them.
He's just been injured for so long that they've not really got
a chance to look at him properly for a for a sustained period of
time. Yeah, he's like one of the sort
of one, but no, the picture for that long.
Maybe a bit like an heckey as well.
You kind of like even as I've got on fine.
You can you came back. I think you featured early last
year might be wrong in saying that, but it kind of came back.
You're like goodness, you know, and then you look his agencies
only 24 like this guy scores so much as clear head on me.
I wasn't not there writing them off, but you do can you just
slips out to the back of your mind and other guys become your
natural first choice when you're thinking of who you'd start for
the team especially, I mean what Italy has done for Scottish
players of recent years. Would you blame him for having
having a look over there and going?
You know, I want a better that, you know, a decent league chance
to prove myself as a good level and also get minutes under my
belt and put myself in contention for the summer
because he's our guy that missed the EUR last last time around.
We end up playing Ralston at right back.
He'll be going. You know what, there's an
opportunity to get it right back there.
Hecky's not playing every week for Brentford.
You know, there's a chance that right back spot might be up for
grabs. And you know, if I can get
consistent game time, why can't it be me?
So yeah, another one, one last one, one last one.
It didn't happen was Rory Wilson on our top striking prospects at
Aston Villa. He was rumoured to be in a
similar, sort of a similar sort of James Wilson move,
Hoffenheimer sort of doing one through our loan to potentially
by in the summer. But yeah, couldn't be worked out
there. And I think there's still stuff
on the, I think, can we say fan about the yes?
So there's a buy option that was proposed by Hoffenheim for about
€7 million, but they're looking just to do a straight loan for
Rory because I think Aston Villas still have them, still
have Rory in in their long term plans.
So the transfer window shut here obviously and in the major
leagues in Europe, but there is still options in Norway and
Sweden I believe because their windows are open much longer,
March and April I think. So obviously no names being
dropped, but there's clubs interested in in Norway and
Sweden. So all hope is not lost because
I think, yeah, Hoffenheim was getting floated about there, But
I was thinking, you know, how much game time is he going to
get when there's the strikers like Kramerich in the fray?
So start. Start in the Bundesliga, Yeah, I
think, I think the talk was they were they were more using mostly
going to be and then in the end of 20 series, I think that was
kind of what we heard getting floated about.
So yeah, I mean hopefully does get moved because he is really
at the point in his career we should be getting first team.
Football, you're good enough and he's good enough.
Well, he is good enough and you know, he last season or even
early that season, he was handed by a lot of injury sort of stuff
going on. It is time he should be kacking
on. He's been one of our hottest
prospects for a while that we said one of the previous pods
when he went to Arsenal Villa, he kind of went down South.
This was a similar hype to the week Gilmore that So that's, you
know, that's the level a guy, you know, we should really be
hoping for. You know, he's only just pushing
into his 20s. But like, yeah, it'd be good to
see him actually, because men's football.
Yeah, because because he's, he's been doing really well all the
time that he's been in the youth teams.
Aston Villa where to the point, all Aston Villa fans have been
taken, you know, talking about when's he going to play, when's
he going to play, Should be the first team that's not happened.
He's he's. Scotland fan, you know we've not
been blessed with strikers so when you see a guy coming who
that's doing your desperate desperate why is he not getting
game time out and he. Scored, he scored a hat trick in
the UEFA Youth League this season as well.
So he is clinical and hopefully he can show that in a league
where where it's first team football and and then kick on
from there obviously. Yeah, exactly right.
OK, enough of the Scotland boys will get on to sort of league
details now starting with Hearts.
We'll work our way down from the top.
They've been getting the business done quite early,
bringing in Geordie Altena and is it from, well you right back
1.4 million, Volvic, Well, absolutely no one near about
that one, €1.2 million. I think that was one that they
were speaking about for a week while, wasn't it?
They also brought an Islam Cheznikov right winger on the
fee and then Ugandan Rogers Mato from Massudo inside Nevada.
That was just a loan. That was a mark.
Leonard as well. Mark Leonard two, sorry, yeah.
Is it the option for loan for Rogers Mato?
Is that not? Not so no, no they they
announced them on a pre contract and then.
Like in the. Middle of January and then I
think they got them on loan until the end of the season and
then obviously it will become permanent in the summer.
Sorry. And that's why I was trying to
work my way to. But I can remember because what
happened was they announced a pre contract and then I believe
it was an MLS club with some description, came in to Vidar
and put in a transfer request from not a transfer request, but
you know, the North offer. And suddenly it was a, you know,
it was all open air because you'd had this pre contract,
same heart as allegedly. And suddenly, you know, Vidar
looking to sell them. So yeah, but end up getting
their man in a roundabout way. And then he said Leonard as
well, looks like a good, bad business bringing him back to
Tyne Castle. Obviously was there as a
youngster and then he was thought off quite highly.
Birmingham, you know, I think when you were talking about
their guy for. So I tapping on for a Scotland
call up at some point. And then he seems to have fallen
in a favor. But he's ended up at Tyne Castle
and the hunt for a title. So, yeah, recruits.
Well, what do we think there? I think Mark Clendard could be
an absolutely massive sign and I've seen what he can do.
I don't think many fans have watched the much at Birmingham
or Northampton. When he was at Northampton, I
think that was at the same time Kieran Bowie was there as well.
Yeah. So yeah, he's he's phenomenal.
I think he could be a really big sign and I think you saw
glimpses of that in the Celtic game.
The to to Celtic game dropped. Him straight into the starting
lineup, Yeah, he sort of strolled it.
Yeah, I think he was one of the best players on the pitch.
You know, we'll see what he's like in the in the coming weeks
obviously as well, but I think that's a massive sign in Geordie
Altena. Again, great signing.
You know, maybe a bit late in the in the fillback department.
They go out and they get one early in the window as well.
And like I said, Rogers matter. They were getting quoted for I
think 1.5 million for him. They went no, not doing it.
I'll just sign a pre contract. And then obviously they've given
him a smaller loan fee and he's came straight away to to kind of
ease the injury that that Jacques Cliff has for the next
couple weeks along with Kibori and and obviously Claudio Braga.
So I think they're they've recruited really well.
I think they've shown intent and I'd say that they've probably
done the best business of the window, maybe only behind
Rangers. They also have signed Josh
Mcpaic on a pre contract. Yeah, Yeah.
That was way back. Yeah.
I mean, yeah. But it's good.
It has been good business for Hearts because there was they
were always going to be tested this window with, you know, it
was a talk of if they're still in the title race now they'd
have to have a good giant window just ensure they had the ground
run into, you know, the final straight to the season.
And they have been Hanford with a couple injuries, Cami Devlin
and Shanglin. They're absolutely key men to
what they've been doing at Tynecastle and and their absence
on those gaps was going to be hard.
But like you said, I mean, across the board, you know,
brain in guys like that. Mato, Ugandan international
scored the AFCON. You've got George Del Tanner as
well. And then, you know, Leonard
looks like they've done well and you know, these other guys are
injured. Welcome back.
So I think like put some in a good possession going into the
final stretch. Just got to see how that plays
out. Points at Mountain tonight.
So we'll have to find out what happens there to see if they
extend their lead at the top. Now coming down a little bit,
Niall, you're on with us as our Celtic informant.
Lots of deadline day business went on at Parkhead.
Obviously he got the Thomas Schvanchiera.
Fun shit I funshot. Enough.
That would do. Yeah, he came in quite early on
on from Gladbach, got an assessed in his opening game.
He's looked like probably a pack of the bunch in terms of what
you brought in, but talk us through those are the guy you
brought in, obviously 4-5 ones in total, yeah.
Yeah, but they start no money, no money spent.
I'm presuming there's probably a couple of loan fees in there.
But yeah, Shank, Kinshana, Shank that.
He's probably the packet a bunch.
However, I'll hold and place that right back.
I'm not sure if many listeners have watched, but he's been
decent. A junior Adamo from Freiburg had
a promising start to his career, broke through and Switzerland
and then moved to Salzburg and Austria who unknown to produce
good talent. Benjamin Alpha alone from
Brentford. I'm not sure why.
I don't really get the the point in that, just developing
somebody else's player, but a Joe Mavuku from Laurent, he's
probably the one who's had the most controversy about him, was
going to sign a deal with about £3,000,000 and he's medical.
It flagged up that he has heart problems.
So so take last minute, we negotiated to deal to a loan to
buy. So All in all, I think there's
three loan to buy's in there and two straight out loans.
I mean, you said earlier you kind of thought, I mean, there's
two lines of thinking about that when you go and they don't want
to spend back because they know they've not got a permanent
manager. O'Neill won't be there past this
summer. So you kind of want to give that
money to the new guy coming in. But at the same time you're
saying, well, you know, I've Celtic, if you know Celtic spend
12 million on a player. I'm just blocking numbers out
there here. They spend 12 million on a
player and the Scottish Premier League, a guy of that caliber is
going to do the job. So the manager coming in, you
know, should be happy to see a guy that's hopefully done a job
for you over the, you know, the tail end of the season and then
he can pack up with that and going to the next.
Yeah, I mean, for me, I think Benjamin Arthur is the weirdest
one at the bunch when you've got a player like Stephen Welsh.
What's that? Obviously, yeah.
He's gone back to Motherwell. Yeah, first half the season.
Yeah, after, after signing Benjamin Arthur, you reload out
Stephen Welsh, the Motherwell her, you know, they're not far
off Celtic, I'm telling you, they're, I think they're four
points behind, you know. Motherwell fans are very happy
with that. So yeah, Motherwell, I mean, I
guess it keeps on playing. I suppose if he's not going to
be playing, maybe Celtic are looking next season going, you
know, where we could be a guy we rely on.
So let's just keep Motherwell. But he's doing good things, he's
developing, he's found somewhere, he's playing good
football and hopefully, I mean, you never know, Gentians,
Motherwell fans will hate me for saying this, but that could be a
manager. Celtic a look at next season,
I'm sure if he was coming in to say like and Stephen Welsh was
already there, you know, that's I mean, that's our conversation
for a different day. And then one we touched already
is there's a potential for fee agent Oxley Chamberlain coming
in as a late signing. What are your thoughts on that?
I'd be I'd be happy with that because I know he's not really
played since May when he was released from the heat task, but
he's been training with Arsenal and I believe I deal was in the
pipeline from Arteta because he oversee thinks he's good enough
to be entering the squad. But I think you'd be a good
option. I believe personally that I
think you'd be a better option off the bench and like me, Cohen
or Paolo Bernardo, who in my opinion haven't been updated
this season. So not as I say, and I can I can
get behind and it's not really a panic by Ida Kelechi and actual
enough. He was just a complete panicked
by because they couldn't get a striker in but I and obviously
Martin the new rate some. So this may be this could be
biased, but whatever Martin O'Neill thinks, it gets my fuel
back. Fair.
I mean like as an experienced player come into the squad, I
mean on paper it looks a good signing, but it's just one of
these ones. You do really have to watch it
play out when the time comes. So yeah, it's not happened yet.
So watch the space on that one. Yeah.
And then obviously bad Celtic almost sold on then almost sell.
But RNA Angles bottom Forest tested the result for 25,000,000
bed when Celtic not back, which I mean, I guess the board don't
want to be seen to sell and it was a board's decision around
and they don't be seen to sell on their best assets.
But that is an incredible fee for a guy that you could maybe
question whether. Yeah, exactly.
You bought them for 11,000,000 in August and yeah.
Yeah, so I mean, that's crazy, yeah, especially for the
Scottish parent league. I don't think apart from we're
just talking about beforehand guillotine for 25 now.
And I think maybe Calvin Bassey went for around a bit of 20 mark
and then you had Matt Riley 30. The big numbers like this don't
appear every too often, you know.
So it's it's you know, fair plated thumb first time that
down question, you know, whether or not that was the best
decision in just we're going to try and get freeze last ones as
quick as possible. Rangers the the bad guys coming
in where Ryan Nadre for 5.5 million euros.
They also had Todd romance from Westerlo and is a torchy Chewani
from Stringgraz. I hate getting names wrong, but
yeah. In fact, Romans and Chikwani
were announced with Andres Scoff Olson.
He came on more from Wolfsburg. They sort of.
Did that's a master fan? Triple is just lone, but yeah,
back player, experienced international with Denmark as
well. So I mean, Rangers doing well to
sort of recruit there because I mean, they're all in.
As I said before, I actually felt between Celtic and Rangers
and you're going to hit me for this nail.
I felt Rangers were the ones showing more promise of catching
Hearts. Oh, not even close.
Yeah, I mean, well, they're on the same points, but you know,
in terms like what we're seeing, Rangers just seem to be doing a
lot the loot Canmore convinced on the path.
I think the fans are sort of on a better place, whereas, you
know, said they're, you know, loggerheads fans, boards,
managers trying to bring in players and he's joking about in
press conference but not getting signings.
Meanwhile, Rangers are mechanical those deals done
earlier apart from the Ryan and the daily 1.
So, yeah, I mean, so we can. So we can not too bad.
I mean, obviously, yeah. Scott Scott Olson's a massive
sign and I'm not too familiar with the with other ones, but
after some digging they look decent signings.
Obviously you'll have to wait the.
Took took when he is, it usually got a red card against Celtic a
season for still that's an ego power.
Yeah, they'll sent off, sent off at Celtic Park.
So there's a there's a start for you.
So he's already loved the Rangers, I'm sure.
Pretty much. He's probably already seen them.
Yeah, I mean, I mean, big money spent really well, not for
Rangers, but decently sized figures for for those three.
And then Scovels and we mentioned previously big
players. I wouldn't say Rangers have been
thrown about that sort of money recently.
So yeah, exactly. Or like, you know, I mean, I
think when you look at not enables the guys, they're not I
mean they're not I don't you know, the rain and the address
on the younger side. I mean, it's good.
I mean Rangers problems been if not been invested in the right
way and guys are going to retain value or increase and this is a
bit more shrewd business from them.
If you could call our. Back fees for players and wages
who age we didn't really on the side.
Exactly. Yeah, But Celtic, we're always
good at that. And it almost seems like that's
sort of flipped in the last year or so.
Just OK. Well, Ralph, through HEBS, I
mean like you said, they had own Elding from Sliegel Rovers, the
19 year old who got twelve goals and four assists last season in
their league. They brought men for 400K, so it
doesn't look too bad that business.
They got Ante Suto from Slavin Balupo striker on our striker,
so really doing. I mean they lost, they sent out
collegial known, they've brought on these two strikers here.
They spent €550,000 on him. You had four goals and five
assessed in the creation top fight this season.
Pass lack came in from Bochum, former Prussia Dortmund boy feel
back. And then like you mentioned
there, I found a couple of loonies and Gran Garan gar from
Copenhagen maybe butchered that one again, sorry.
And then Kai Andrews and scarlet from spars yeah, I mean, I did
actually reach out to a spars fan I know.
And the I mean, they seemed pretty happy, but I mean,
obviously they feel like they've sort of earlier part of the
season could have gone better. The are touching distance from
Motherwell to be really have aspirations on catching them.
And you know, I think she should actually they lost Junior Hoiler
as well, which they've kind of they've lost guys there and they
have this do seem to do seem to recruit OK, especially bringing
in the strikers. And yeah, and they have sort of
reinforced at the back with it, you know, the center half and
past lack because they actually they've not scored too far off.
I think they're pretty someone in terms of goal scored to
Motherwell, but where they've not matched them as goals
conceded, they've got some like 10 more goals conceded.
And that really is the seven point gap right there.
It's the goals of land. So the dumbbell to recruit
helps. Fans have spoke to seem happy
with that. So yeah.
Coming up to your team fan Aberdeen.
Tom McIntosh came in on a free transfer from Portsmouth.
He was a guy that was getting tapped for a Scotland Co-op and
not to in the recent past. So yeah, not too bad.
Yeah, for one. 21 International did very well.
I have to see. I think that's just one that
wait and see see how he does. Yeah.
And then yeah, Liam Morrison was another looney, a guy that I've
kind of been tapping for Scotland call, but he seems to
on a favorite QPR but alone Aberdeen, you know, for the kick
on and the second-half of the season and really get their game
together. He's potentially up, you know, a
spot in the Scotland World Cup squad.
So I think that I think he maybe I just spoke about that and his
ambitions. I'm not sure.
Yeah, he did. I think obviously him being at
Bayern Munich before there was such high hopes for him, Yeah, I
think he does have the potential.
Again, not seen too much of them still being down in England.
Yeah, still young. So him and Lyle Cameron, I think
both have come with the with the World Cup in the back of their
mind trying to get as much game time while Cameron is barely
getting any Rangers. And they kind of see Aberdeen as
as an opportunity to to show off what they can do to Steve Clark
if he's if he's watching. Yeah.
And then you said to me, the sort of biggest one you're
excited about was Dennis Geiger on loan or Geiger from on loan
from Hoffenheim? Yeah, I think he could be a
really good one. He's got Bundesliga experience.
I think we only got him because of Lutz Fansteel, our sporting
director. Obviously he's got ties to
Bundesliga and I think he could be a really good one.
He played at Hoffenheim, played against, you know, top players
like Lauren Verts. So hopefully, fingers crossed he
can come in and screw and stroll it.
Obviously we lost a few players. Leighton Clarkson is is the main
one for me. Dante, Paul VAR as well to to
Louis and the MLS. But yeah, Leighton Clarkson,
he'll go down as as an Aberdeen legend probably because of how
few times we've won the Scottish Cup and he was in that squad.
So both of them will be remembered fondly.
Yeah, I think we've had a decent window.
Not too shabby, but I'm not that hopeful for the second-half of
the team, I'll be honest. I mean, you look at the Aberdeen
team though, you say there's a plant, you know there's a good
base here, you know they've got guys they've brought in there,
seem to recruit, not too bad. Then you did you watch the
Kilmarnock game to. Me.
Yeah, Dad. Well, I didn't buy like I saw
the score, but yeah, what I'm saying is the bar is pretty low.
We like Aberdeen in terms of improving, not I mean like.
I mean, I think we just keep getting further into the whole
though. I mean, as you say, as you say,
on paper, our squad is brilliant.
It should be in the top six. It should be probably where Hibs
are, but that's not happened. Oh, she's recalled from from
loan and he's had a permanent transfer elsewhere.
And yes, per Carlson also recalled from his loan back at
Lania So. These are guys that weren't
doing anything in the first half in the season, so.
I know, but it's. On big grade, use Israel.
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I think just with
no permanent manager, the way that we're playing, I don't have
high hopes. We'll see if I'm proven wrong.
I'd love to be proven wrong. Maybe we can retain our Scottish
Cup or something like that, but I'm not, I thought.
That would be something you can always hope.
Underwear. We're just touching them.
Obviously we can be read not together in their league
position. They've brought on a striker
from the Swedish league mayor. They got him on a three years
Ethor Bjor golfson. So I don't know if that was sort
of done pre empt and a potential departure from Mashwanisi who's
been like he is. I was.
I mean we talked with Barry go on.
I mean he gets the sort of attention because he's Scottish.
I think arguably the most informed player in the country
is to under mass money she because of you mean seven goals
and it's like 6 games for club and country is crazy.
They did, you know, like you said, Scottish clubs seem to be
getting a bit of a backbone in terms of, you know, when teams
come and test the resolve lowball and they're standing the
ground and saying, you know, that's not how we value our
player. And you know, they're not really
recruit too much from that as much as you can see.
Motherwell fans can maybe correct me on that.
But you know, I think it. Was just.
Even Welsh, Yeah. But.
I think he's more of a probably going to be a backup because I
don't think a stomach stomach a lot.
Yeah. I.
Can never say I can. Never, yeah, I don't think he's
really been fighting. So I think that's more of a a
cover, but obviously last when you see that Morrow will kind of
front free of like mass when you say Justin said is very
interesting. They all kind of see me switch
about and game. It's not like I'm having.
People, sorry, and having people like Elliot Watt behind them.
Yeah. They've really got a good base
and it's it's just testament that, you know, they've sold
arguably one of their best players, Lennon Miller and they
still to be honest. Imagine.
Imagine where they could have been.
Yeah, you. Know, I know.
I mean, I mean, and it's good to see machine system as well
because this one says that Zimbabweans love affair they've
got for Motherwell. Yeah.
And this tweet, he said if I obey Shava, this guy on Twitter,
I got several thousand likes. He said I speak for every
Zimbabwe. And when I say we are now all
fans of Motherwell, we identify. We identify with your whole
wellhood, be it Motherwell, Fatherwell, Brotherwell, sister.
I'm by mash when you say, fine by mash when you say and that's
why that is brilliant. That's just these funny sort of
things that crop up in Scottish football.
Only Scottish football and only Scottish football, yeah, for
Motherwell it was getting flooded with Zimbabwe and stuff
and I think with Hearts it was Kazakhstani stuff.
I think every single post they do now it's like play, play
chestnut golf, play chestnut golf.
And in one of the the posts it was Derek McInnes in a pre match
press conference and all the comments were saying speak
Kazakh. So that's it.
That's it. Go.
Get a dual language. Yeah, they need to get a dual
angle translator. And honestly, love for Derek to
just give it a go and do anything in Kazakh.
That'd be class. But no, yeah, these are the nice
things that kind of are Scottish football.
It's it's the soul of it. Yeah.
Motherwell in a good position. Not many signings, but I don't
think they need many. Yeah.
Lace you said that airline about something else, but don't don't
fix if it's not broke and Motherwell under Jan Jan asker
doing absolutely amazing things and to fair long may that
continue because the league table is very fun to look at.
You know, there's a lot going on a lot of competition.
Like, I'm just so buzzing to see how it pans out in the
second-half of the season. I obviously think model where
we've got an eye on Satan. Because we're not.
Because why not? Why?
Because Celtic and Rangers are closer and moderable than the
Hearts. Yeah, I'll tell you what, what
you would have got in the bookies for Hearts first,
Motherwell second. At the start of the season I
could have retired with a 1 LB coupon.
No Europe for one of Celtic and Rangers, unless they won the cup
that would be. Oh, no.
But yeah, I think a couple other notable signings.
Scott Wright signing for Dundee. What do you think of him being
back in Scotland? Saying spear with Dundee Zell
2018 nineteen well a player that was probably about a touchy
subject to you for a. Yeah, I'm not even.
Always divided opinion a lot at Rangers.
I think it was more leaning towards a the more that this
guy's probably not good enough, but at the end of the day, Scott
Wright started more Europa League finals and Lionel Messi,
so now you go. That's a start.
Lovely. I think, yeah, Ross Kennedy also
kind of got their their chequebooks out because of how
badly they're doing this thing. Again.
Yeah, again. Do you feel that you've got a
few off the wage bill? Yeah, a few off.
The wage but but they replaced them with Itchak Piazza and Liam
Polworth. I believe that went over the
line. Former Inverness man, I'm sure
that will go well. Yeah, in parts of the Highlands.
So yeah, quite surprised in that one.
Obviously he did quite a infamous celebration towards
county fans at one point as well.
So yeah, good signings for them. Yeah.
And, and and Livingston also made quite an important signing,
not in the form of a player, but instead a manager.
Marvin Barley, who I believe was assistant before, stepped up.
Yeah, he's now the the, you know, head lead manager,
whatever you want to call it with Martindale's kind of it
said stepping up. Yeah, it's foreign.
Director. They framed it as him.
Yeah, it framed. They framed it as him stepping
up. But I think it is a bit of a
step back overseeing the club operations more than the the the
team itself, because I think I saw a stat that was it was a 24
game run without a win, which is.
Yeah, not one since August. Incredibly.
Bad, Yeah. It's just obviously it kind of
go on, but you kind of do look at and go.
Tartandale has become part of the identity of Livingston over
the last couple of years. Yeah, I'm a very.
There's a gratitude that a hard team, they work hard.
You know Eagles right through them.
You know. You've heard.
That sometimes a question though.
You know what? I.
Mean you've you've seen the same tech talk.
I have no, but like you know he has he has been synonymous with
Livingston success. You know, the way he's played,
he's got the most at a small budget.
I've got them doing things, you know, in the league, getting to
the Premier League, things like that.
And I do think there's a slight risk and bringing them badly,
you know, in terms of his experience.
I think his last role was cleaning the South.
So I'll be I mean it. Can't get worse than this
though, can it? Can, but yeah, it just, I'll
despair. It's just one of these ones that
kind of surprised us. It came out of nowhere in terms
of the news cycle. But yeah, I think I think we
have covered everything boys good hours or for less than
there. So I hope you enjoyed that.
If there is anyone or anything we messed, especially if it's
gladly all this, I'm sorry. We did try and take as
comprehensive notes as possible. We've tried to pick each other
up when we've met something over the course of the recording.
But yeah, it was, you know, it's been a good one.
And like I said, can't wait to see how the second-half of the
season pans out in Scotland as well as Scottish boys abroad and
down South. Seen how they're doing in the
build up the World Cup? Fen pleasure to have you back
on. Cheers mate, thank you.
You as well now, nice to chat. To you, It's good to meet you
mate, nicely nice to get back on.
Our first one together, so I know brilliant.
And what is on the next one, Cheryl?