Listen to the noise. Listen to the passion and hand
and path. Let's jump.
Again, let's jump again. Oh yes, great, done by the fish.
Chance the one for Scotland. Hello and welcome to another
edition of Scots with the Mic. We're here today to talk about
the Scottish Cup. Fantastic weekend of Scottish
Cup action and one of the best weekends in the football and
calendar in my opinion. And my name is Ian Mackintosh
and joining me for this one we've got James Scott.
James, how are you again, all? Right to get you back.
Good to have you back and Adam Gorgie talk.
Nice to have you back on the show.
Good. To be back on.
Good to be back on after Saturday as well.
I mean we've all this is going to be like a like a rehab
session for us because we've got all of our teams are out of the
cup, such an early stage. So we're going to try and make
it as fun as possible and maybe try and cheer up our cheer up.
Are we thinking, well, anything after the weekend?
But we'll make a start on the big shock I think of the
weekend. And that was Hebbs going out the
Scottish Cup to Dunfermline. I think that was one of the ties
that was predicted to be there was going to be an upset, it was
going to be there or the, you know, the potential for an
upset. East End Park, you know, 10,000
fans inside East End Park, Championship, Dunfeldon, they
were a bit inconsistent in Championship but they've still
got a good team, champion level and Hibs doing OK in the
Premiership and then had all the makings of a cup competition.
Adam, what did you make of that game?
I had to take it you, we all, we both, we all watched out on the
television. And what did you make of Hibs
over the course of the weekend before we talked about
Dunfermline? I think to be honest, I've seen
a bit on socials and stuff and I think a lot of them are right as
kind of summed up Hibs, to be honest, and the last however
long under David Grey this season.
I'd sort of call out early in the season.
I felt like there would be a team that would maybe
underperform just based on the fact that David Gray's got a lot
of credit in the bank in terms obviously, well what achieved as
a player, but then as a manager going on that that really,
really good run that they had in last season.
A but obviously there's still gaps there in terms of personnel
in certain areas. And then there's also still a
gap for me in terms of David Gray and obviously his
experience, which is still a improving as a manager.
So I think like when we look at the game itself and yeah, I
think personnel wise, like maybe there was that element and then
tactically as well, just I don't know if they went about the game
in the right manner, that might be combined with obviously who
was starting. But yeah, I just felt like they
missed certain players. I felt like you, Anna Boyle, at
least one of them could have been starting you.
And so she only works in flashes.
But again, he's been in a little bit of form.
He's always good for a goal and assessed and and then again
you're thinking about the opposition as well.
You know, you're dropping down a league in terms of the
opponents. So it should on paper be a
slightly easier game for him as an attacking player.
Then you've got Boyle with his experience again, he he wasn't
looked to start and yeah, it's like people like handling that
as well. It'd be maybe good to rotate the
men obviously with, you know, Scotland, the main, but equally
just rotate the squad. But use his experience in a game
like that going East End Park, he can keep things tight at the
back and then let them express themselves.
So just that, yeah, it felt like a little bit off in terms of
like how they were performing. I mean, the last time I seen
them properly was the Derby. And obviously that was a
complete completely different reason.
And how they'll perform in a Derby will always be different
to to any other game. But yeah, just two second or
third time I've seen them there in fault.
Like there's just something a wee bit off with them.
And it does seem a bit concerning from their
perspective. And however, obviously another
hand on film and you know, heya, Neil Lennon master class against
his old against his old fours, albeit came off whoever's body
part in the, you know, the second minute injury time, but
they started to go in somehow. So yeah, you know, that
perseverance, I suppose, paid off in the end.
And sneaking a really, really big one for them.
I was going to say that it's probably the scrappiest goal
you'll ever see. And it was I had I had that make
and if it was going to be, you know, a mistake or something
completely out of the blue or, you know, something spectacular
to to sell it because it was, I'm not saying it was a nothing
game. No really.
But what I'm trying to see it was a game of maybe very few
clear cut chances. I think Kieran Boy's chance in
the first half is one that he's got to try and score.
He's one-on-one with the goalkeeper, MMA, and he's got to
score when he's one-on-one keeper.
Yeah, I feel like him as well. I feel like when boy's not
playing at his best, it seems to then filter down to the rest of
these team mates. I feel like he does a lot of the
obviously he's got that about me, like the size, that bit of a
Talisman. He can offer a bit of
everything. But when he's missing the
chances and things aren't quite going well, it seems to like see
the rest of the team didn't seem to like, you know, rally round
or anything like that. And and it's that's becoming
quite a common theme as well. But I think like as as the more
the game went on, the more nervous Hibs came.
They looked and they're more like they weren't playing like
freefall in football. They weren't a, you know,
haven't done Feldman, certainly his backs to the wall stuff and
it was starting to play in it done Feldman's hands on you.
But how sort of not great an occasion it was in terms of like
the football side of things. It started to suit them more
than Hibs. And then, like you say, the
typical that was going to come. That seemed like it's going to
be something like that, something scrappy.
Maybe it's. No, that's not the.
I was going to say that's just how it goes, wasn't it?
I mean, we got the ties like that, the longer games that now.
Now when you know there's a potential opposite on the cards,
you do see teams like that get sort of twitchy.
I mean, you've been up at Aberdeen and nowhere only we're
losing 1 now. But you could definitely tell
they were conscious of something could have gone wrong there if
the Rovers is actually built their socks on, managed to
produce something. But yeah, it was there was like
a slackness from Habs. I think there's a couple of
times it's on the middle part, just straight passes or
miscommunications between players, you know, you know,
just expecting each other to take the ball and then ended up
at the Ferman player because he was the only one that really
reacted to that. And even a couple of times there
was a couple of crosses from I think it was Nicky Cadden, and
they were just almost aimless crosses at someone.
I think 1 landed in the stand, one went really deep and found
nobody. And you see when stuff like
that's happening, you really do, you just start to think this
might be done Ferman's day. You know, when you know these
moments that maybe won't happen once in their usual
run-of-the-mill Premier League fixture start to build up over
the course of the night, you start to think, OK, that could
be an upset happening here. And I think they have support
and players become conscious of that and it's not really helpful
for them managing to grab the game by the scruff of the neck
and go and get the goal we need. But I would I would disagree
with chances. I mean, don't fear I won't had a
couple. I mean, I don't think it should
have taken them until the 90th minute to to put the game to
bed. I mean, it pains me to say it's
a rave, man, but you know they more than deserve to go through
a film. Yeah, over the course of the
night match, I think if one team was going to go through, I think
it was going to be done. Fairman.
So it is, you know, that's a big upset in the terms of the
Scottish Cup. I just want to point you to one
of the articles in our Football Park team because Adam talked
about like Hibs falling apart in general, like because of the
season, Like you can see something like this happening.
And there's a great new writer in our Football Park team called
Andrew Jeffrey. And he's written a couple of
articles for us now. He's he's very good.
He's very detailed. If you've not read his latest
one, it's, you know, after it's Saturday, I think you need to
read it. It's called it's tight until
then why Hibernian season unravelled long before the
Scottish Cup accent and pretty much exactly what you're saying
there, Adam. It's pretty much you know, you,
you're spoken about what's happened over because you're
pretty much so I think you might have read the article because
it's been you pretty much said I.
Might I might have doubled? I might have doubled.
I might have dabbled, yeah, but it's a bit.
It's a brilliant article. Nobody's read it.
I would recommend having to look at over it, especially if you
are a house supporter. And if you you are and you agree
with this, then last note. And because it is something that
is quite a good read and it's, you know, if you are a HIB
supporter and you're crying over it, we do apologize.
But it's just one of those. But it's a great read.
And I think you have not had it trying to look at it and do so.
Yeah, we talked about Dunpel wanting it more.
James. They've not played since the end
of the year, so they've no last game was the fight Derby victory
over Reprovers. They've not played in two weeks
and it looks like they wanted it a whole lot more.
Do you think that was just a case of them wanting it more?
Do you think it was a case of Hobbs just being off that or do
you think it was just a mix of both that was the reason why
they went coordinated? I mean, games like this, you're
quite often see the the war team wanting it more, especially when
they're at home, you know, at their home ground, they've got
their fans behind them. It only takes one chance for
their supporters to sort of get behind them and get on their
feet and really create a better noise.
It's not the same as when you know, hubs master.
I mean, it was opportunity. They went into the box and it
was not a straight at the goalkeeper play easy save for
memes. Is it memes and the sex for the
part? Yeah, You know, a chance like
that for the unfair one would have probably had people would
have been disappointed, but they would have been.
They would have been a rallying cry from it, if you know what I
mean, Whereas, you know, I think there was sort of groans from
the Hibs end, you know, missing such an A chance that they
really would expect to put away. And that mean.
But that's just I mean, we talked about Hibs season falling
apart and that's just been another another example of that.
The Scottish Cup is lettered with results like this, not just
this season, but throughout the years.
Like you do see, I mean, Dunfermline Habs isn't quite a
giant killing as Brewer Rangers, Hearts, for example, but you do
you do see these these things happen.
Celtic only be Auchinleck to now, but and it sometimes it
just does. You know, Hibs aren't at it.
It takes Dunfermline will know, especially been led by Neil
Lennon, a guy that's very posh that Quentin always spoke about
the fact that no one got him up for a game more than Neil
Lennon. And he'll have been getting that
right into the players all week, you know, letting them know
exactly what's at stake, telling them to get a hips because the
haze could go down if you know, chances aren't going the right
way for them. The fans will.
Like we said, they got twitchy. They weren't right behind them
and then Dunfermline felt like they were getting momentum and,
you know, had something about them.
So, you know, but that's just what you expect.
That's really just what you expect.
You know, they've been numerous games.
That was I mean, we're going I think we could probably move on
to the Rovers game. Then I.
Yeah. But like, that's exactly why I
was disappointed with her game because I mean, I was up with
fan where it's usually on the podcast.
He's an Aberdeen fan and we both agreed both teams were poor.
It just so happened that Aberdeen been the Premier
League, then been poor, you know, was enough to get them
over the line. And what was disappointing for
me was that I didn't see that fight from the Rovers or, you
know, didn't see that the same ruthlessness and desire there
was, you know, moments. But that's what was the
difference here. That's how you win a cup game
and get an upset like that. You, you know, you meet them in
every aspect of your game. And that's not just about
quality. It's about just being hungry for
that and willing to put bodies in the line for the one.
Yeah, I think talking about the Rovers as well, I think, I think
they controlled the first half in particular very well.
After the goal, I think the first 10 minutes Aberdeen were
all over recovers and it was just, no, I was just watching it
and it wasn't anything like they were creating loads of clear cut
chances. I just see something was just
going to happen in the 1st 10 minutes and then the goal goes
in and you just think, OK, this could go one of two ways.
But I think they got controlled quite quickly.
They didn't seem to faze them and didn't seem to, I think if
anything that just say, say they just rolled their sleeves up,
right, we're going to go for it now, you know, and they got in
control of the first half and particularly really well, the
second-half was I think a very scrappy affair.
I think it was just going to be a case of I think of just seeing
the game out for Aberdeen and even though they did have lots
of good clear cut chances, but they just couldn't take any of
them. To fair with start the game, I
think any Championship League One club that comes into that
game and it's magnitude what you're looking to do is weather
that initial storm. You know, you're coming up
against a team that's on paper vastly.
You know they put more quality than you absolutely for sure You
know they used to play in a higher level play in a certain
style of football you're maybe not experienced against weekend
week out. So you really want to just get
into the game and get settled and get used to the tempo of the
game and, you know, the all position you're up against
because it is different. And that was that was the
disappointing thing about conceding so early.
Because again, speaking with Aberdeen fan and speaking with
fan, they felt if they hadn't got that early goal, you know,
the they didn't really see that changing much of the pattern in
the game. You know, you know, they were
quite poor after they got that goal.
Like you said. I mean, maybe it goes far to say
we completely controlled the half, but.
You know we. Looked as likely to score as
each other. It was very scrappy at the gamfi
could have been sent off actually for bringing down.
I think it was Dylan Easton or Jack.
I can't, I can't remember who it was.
So I was at the game. So I'm trying to.
Remember trying to remember faces I.
Didn't get a replay of it at the time.
So but yeah, you know, there was there was moments either end and
it just there was just a lacking quality with either side looking
to finish our chances. And yeah, and it was just that
was just the case for the Rover. So we hadn't conceded so early.
We might have stood about a chance.
And I think at the moment I can expect that Aberdeen to really
take the game by the stuff and I can just go on and go to go to
task. But they didn't like you said.
And then second-half, it was sort of the balance of the game
as well. No one really had the better of
it more than the other. Aberdeen did have chances, but I
think, you know, just similar to the way their their league
season's gone. They just don't seem to be
making the right decisions all the time.
The execution's just not there and then come full time.
I don't really feel like either sets is either set of supporters
were, you know, left anything more than disappointed.
I mean the Rovers finds good reception to the boys for, you
know, the dip and the effort was there.
I just you know, like I said, there's just stuff over and
above that you need to get a one against a team like that.
But the Aberdeen support, I mean there was quiet as I've ever
heard. You know, I ground that bag and
get a friend said as well. You said he'd been a long time,
if he has ever heard it, as quiet as that aptitaudry.
And I kind of just felt like no one was really happy.
And then Aberdeen obviously in the hat for the next for the
next round and I'd be kind of hoping they could put on a
better performance than that because they've got Motherwell
and the way they've been playing, I don't think they'll
be scared of Aberdeen one but. Yeah, talking about the Rovers
away from home, they've not scored a goal away from home in
five games. So scoring goals away from home
starts Park They're they're doing OK.
They don't they don't score a barrel of the goals that we did
have two games in quick concession 5, two games Hamilton
and then we had a six dill against Ross County.
But then it's the goals are just starting to dry up a little bit,
but especially away from home, though five games without go
away from home. It's not a good sign at all.
But hopefully we can get some more bodies.
And this is like a personal plea.
I think I I always try and use this podcast as a personal plea.
If we can get a player, I say you're going to come in at
breakovers, please, please come in.
Hopefully we can get a body in in that department in the next
couple of weeks or so. Let's go to Tynecastle.
Adam, your we, we've been, now we've lost, we've, we collected
our disappointment. Now it's your turn.
I think it's only fair. Your turn now to talk about what
happened on Saturday. Falkirk progressing and penalty
kicks game like what we're saying.
It was like a nothing first half but then the second-half just
for me as a neutral watching the game, it was it turned into
quite an entertaining football match from the second-half into
extra time and then the penalty kicks.
What was your thoughts on? I was going to say the 90
minutes. Would it say the 120 minutes
plus the penalty kicks on Saturday?
Yeah, I think, I think the first half it was quite like KG.
No one was really giving too much away.
There wasn't like a lot happening first half.
second-half it started to open up a bit, I think to be honest,
like on the on the reflection of the two hours that we played,
like Falkirk deserves to win annual penalties is obviously
5050 and whatever. But I think I think it was more
a case as time went on. I mean, Even so early in the
second-half that it kind of combined with opening up with
the fact that like we were trying to put on more aggressive
players and other players that were taken off were actually
getting tired or taking knocks or coming off.
I think like it was starting to become evident that the two
games we've played when the last six or seven days before the
Falkirk game, majority of them had been with 10 men on the
pitch. You know, albeit they were
successful in terms of winning, it was starting to look a bit
leggy after like an hour and at the cup game.
So the fact that they managed to get it to penalties obviously is
an achievement in itself. But then ultimately it's
probably done more harm than good because you've went to a
lot of the penalties and and then went out.
So yeah, again, can't really fault like the fight and stuff
like that. But this seems like it's may
have been one fight too far. And then obviously we've had to
then bow again from the cop on penalties, second cop, second
defeat and penalties. Positives I suppose would be
that obviously now just all focus on the league.
We're still obviously a reasonably large squad which has
got a decent amount of quality in it and then it's not really
any disgrace. Wasn't a Falkirk team that
really should have got something for Celtic during the week.
They've been really well against Celtic, they've played really
well all season, which is why they are where they are now.
When you consider where they were when the Glen first took
over. And you know what you get with
Falkirk, you get people that work hard.
Again, you talk about the cup games.
They've got that that good mixture, I suppose in cup games
where they do have that better quality and togetherness, but
they also have that that sort of they're willing to be the what's
the right? We're in the same this the size
of the the size of the fighting the dog as opposed to that.
That sums up Falkirk like McGlynn Husdam that way that it
probably suits some cup games. And obviously they've been
rewarded by a nice local Derby away Stenhouse Muir, which will
be an interesting effect. Sure, to be honest, like we'll
obviously go and astonish me shortly but yeah, well deserved
for them from that mass side of things.
They can't really. Obviously it's a shock in some
way but in other ways it's not in the sense of how I talked
about the fact that we are running on empty and the fact
that Falkirk are 6 in the league themselves and on Mehta are one
of the better teams in the country this season so.
That's what I was going to bring up there because we've talked
about Motherwell on this podcast being one of the best
footballing teams in the country this moment, and if not, maybe
the best football team in the moment.
Can we see that Falkirk are getting there to that level of
how they're playing at Motherwell or do you think, do
you think when they're not, do they still think Motherwell are
a little bit far ahead in terms of like entertainment and we
attack the game so that they control the game?
I think there's, I think they're maybe slightly different and how
they play. I think they are both organised
and understand what their instructions are based on their
coach. But I think Mcglinn's a bit more
streetwise in terms of his daily place.
So obviously they do play nice football and stuff, but they
have that little bit of bait about them.
Whereas a Motherwell it does seem to be a lot more like they
are a bit more like a Lanarkshire Barcelona.
I think, like I said, good in terms of like the way they
spread about and stuff. Don't don't get me wrong, I'm
I'm sure like having obviously I've been at Far Park when we
played them then I was obtaining, but I've more what
what rings in my head more in Motherwell is just how they play
the ball about. Whereas with Falkirk, you do you
do see that from them, but you also see the other side to them
as well, which probably naturally comes from the fact
that they've like organically came through the leagues and
kept all the players and stuff like that.
So you need a bit of that to get to where they are.
Whereas Motherwell's obviously well establishing the
premiership. See, I wouldn't quite have them
at Motherwell in terms of like, I mean, I have, I would say
Motherwell are side Hearts. Obviously I'd say Motherwell are
the best in terms like plain sight and say Hearts are more
rounded as a team, but certainly the best bike in terms of like
putting the ball around and how they play.
I mean, we spent 10 minutes at Far Park in a second-half of me
saying to my kids like we kind of get the ball from the really
I cannot get the ball from and could not say that, but any
other team in the whole league. So yeah, but Falkirk said that
what it's true. Like they are definitely one of
the best performing teams like in the country.
And when you consider the amount of players that were in League
One and some of them were too good to be in League 1, and I
think me and James in particular know a lot of them, you know,
from Marley Silver's days and, you know, lower league days.
I mean, Brad Spencer, I said when he signed for Falkirk, I
mean, I think if John Mcglenn wasn't the manager at Falkirk,
he would not went to League 1. He, he, it was at one point, he
was going to be going to Motherwell at one point and
then. It was linked to us at one point
as well. And I've always sort of been a
better admirer of him as well, just the way he carries himself
and it gives you a bit of everything.
Like he's so composed. You'll have that aggressive side
to him as a leader. Yeah.
I mean the other guys like Calvin Mullen and stuff like
that as well. Like I think again, you can just
tell they've got that togetherness about them.
Like Glenn Husdam is is got. I know that a club, obviously
it's that proper club mentality. Like everybody has the same
goal. There's no like any anyone
trying to be a hero. There's no flashiness about
them. Like they just have all got the
same purpose and there's. No.
And there's not a premiere. There's not like one star
player, if that makes sense. And that's not a bad thing
because if you have a big name clear and a small team, they
always get the attention because we used to think of like Simon
Moe when he was at Ross County, for example, he was always the
star player for them. But if you take him out, you can
see what happened to Ross County.
Whereas Paul Kirk, there's no real one star player.
And that's good. It's because you've got this
collector in the building and they're working hard as a team.
Somebody called, I think I remember John Baird called that
when he played for John McGurk. Rover.
He said it was like a well oiled machine and I think he's done
that from what he did it Rover. He's doing it bulk Greek as
well, albeit in a much higher league as well, which is good to
see. I still have a big mile of John
McGlynn. I was to think of a weakness in
their game that stops them being elevated a bit more as they do
lack a wee bit attacking quality, like, you know, for
they lack like a proper, you know, like if you put like
again, like Shankland boy Maz when he say or whoever, like if
they were all, if one of them was playing for Falkirk, like
that would elevate them massively.
So I guess the same way like Carty take away Shanklin for
hearts from as when he say, I don't know, maybe the hearts got
maybe a bit more depth forcing forward.
There is, but like still, like it's, it's still a fact that
you've got a goal scorer there. It makes all the difference.
I think Falkirk are there's six in the league.
They know, but that you know, it's 23 goals, 22 games, you
know, so -5 for goal difference, even though they're in the top
6. So but you can see where the the
weakness is. But again, it's that
organization, that defensive resilience, which is how Mcglenn
still manages to get, you know, like one, no ones, 2 no ones,
they shot people out as well. And what they did is close and
they get a draw. So that that's the difference
maker for them is is how resolute they are.
And yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, very good oil, Willow Machine I think who I think Tall
could be receiving. And let's move on to
Stenhousemuir. We'll go quickly to them.
I think for me, I think I've said this to you James in one of
our group chats that I didn't see.
I've seen the shock happening. I've seen Stenhouse mere
defeating more and I think it's scoreline that stand out more. 4
nil. A couple of them were those were
set pieces. But at the same time they all
count. They all, you know, they all, as
long as it goes to the back of the net, they don't care how the
goals are scored. Four nil against a team that's,
you know, in another higher league.
That just shows how good a job Gary Naismith and his coaching
staff are doing at Stainhouse Mirror.
Yeah, I mean, like you said, top League One fighting against a
team sort of not pulling up trees in the championship.
It's not it's not completely unforeseeable that stainhouse
mirror going to cause an upset there and get through, but the
four now aspect of it's incredible.
I mean the way they chop themselves and I just like it as
a just a testament to the work they're doing right now.
I'm interested to see how they get on the next round,
especially given it's a it's a Derby.
You didn't maybe thought that playing a team that was 2
leagues above them might have been a step too far, especially
at that stage in the competition, but you never know.
Stan X Mirror, I don't think they've got an awful record ends
Falkirk. They've definitely beat them a
few times when they were maybe misquoting here, but when
Falkirk were down in the League One.
Long time long. Time ago, but yeah.
Think if I remember correctly, the last time they played in the
cup, certainly in the Scottish Cup, I think a Stenhouse mere
won by four goals to two if I remember that correctly.
So they've definitely got a a good record against Falkirk in
cup competitions. So they're interested to see
what he's what what's going to happen in that tie.
We'll come to the draw in a minute.
Just want to quickly finish about Steinhausenmuir,
particularly about Guyanese in particular.
This is a guy who has managed in the championship, he's managed
to Queen of the South Albia. That was I think it was about
5-6 years ago. He's done that.
So he's gone back to League 2. You know, he's learnt his trade
there. He's doing such a good job at
Steinsmuir. Are you surprised James, that no
one in the Championship? Because we we think about some
of the teams that have lost managers.
So Ray Throwers have lost their manager and Martin have done it
recently as well. Air Dronians for a while.
Are you surprised? Yeah, Ross County as well and
didn't think about them twice as well.
Are you surprised, James, that Gary Smith has not been, not
necessarily not left to ask me to go to another job, but do you
even think he's been in the radar for certain clubs in the
Championship? I mean, I mean, I to be fair,
I'm probably guilty of that as well because the Rovers didn't
replace her manager too long ago.
Obviously go do get him right now.
Went and got him from Morton. But you know, there's not
exactly a wealth of options out there right now.
I'd say in Scottish football for managers, our level.
I mean, we were kind of thinking where do we go now as a club
when we were you sort of looking about our options and nice my
force and someone it was on my radar at all.
I don't know if it's because it's Stenhouse Mirror and you
don't associate them with, you know, typically been up the top
of the league and all that's maybe an even further reason for
you to, you know, consider why they're there and obviously the
fact that the manager is doing a good job with them.
But yeah, I mean, they look like they could be on the cards to
what? And they'll say I'm hoping if
they can get automatic promotion, they could somehow
get it for the playoffs. And it's just going to you don't
when I see stories like this happening.
Obviously Stenhouse meal haven't been up this end of the the
League One doing things like this knocking on the door a
championship in my lifetime. So, you know, I'd I'd prefer to
actually see him stay there and see what he can achieve because
it is. I don't know.
I don't like it when teams have smaller budgets.
Just you know, once they get a sniff of success, all of a
sudden people are trying to pull them apart for their best
pieces. So.
But no good on them. Yeah, what?
Said see, see, see just a random fault, right.
What what is the general like as a like a general consensus for
Gary Naismith as a manager in the world leagues Like you know
how like John McLennan has obviously a lot of respect in
terms like what he's been before he went up.
There's got. I know Ganis before obviously
been the same like as John Mclenn given what he done, but
like, you know what I'm getting at like is, is he one of the
managers people look at in the lower leads and go he's really
good, He's everything he's done so far has.
Been, I think, I think just for my benefit, I really like what
he's doing at Stan asmere. I think the only thing that
might be like like what's the word to?
I can see it like a because Queen of the South.
He did a decent job, but towards the end it just started fading a
little bit. You know, they weren't really,
they should have been there what they were, you know, gotta
remember that Stephen Dobie team, I think he scored forty
goals in one season and he was Gary Naismith was the manager at
the time and but they were not doing anywhere near what they
should have been doing. So I think just that, just that
record, that being himself towards the end is probably
what's hindering them from like getting a job in the
championship. But I certainly think he's doing
a great job and he did a great job at East Fife where he
started his career off, You know, he won the, I think if I
remember correctly, he won the League Two title and then a few
months later he became the queen of itself manager.
So that's how quick he became like involved in full time
football. It'll be interesting because
obviously he had sort of a couple of mediocre spells with
like Edinburgh City and Lisa Queen as yes, it does well as
finish me and then whatever the next move is, say it was like a
Championship club and then again does well.
I mean, he's got terms obviously playing career, like he's got
top level, like top level Scotland, top level England.
So like there's no doubt like from experience on the pitch,
like he knows everything, but it's more about if he can just
make that gradual progress. You do wonder, like could you
see him like in the top flight in Scotland at some point and
tell you that probably just an interesting 1.
He seems to be doing AI think you're right, James.
It's what you'd more be want to see him continuous tennis
really. Who can he take them?
Where can he take them? Like can you take them as far as
he can and then like go somewhere else is what I'm
trying to say. More like that.
Instead it let you see maybe starting well and then Peter and
off or or whatever. But I'm like you, yes, finish
me. You're getting up to
championships. Like couldn't even tell you if
like when or how close they've been to there and when it last
was. So yeah, I suppose just
hopefully continues the good work there.
Exactly. I think he needs to stay there
for a little while longer just for my benefit, just so I can
see. I like seeing good managers do
good jobs at clubs. And I do like Stenhousemuir as a
football club. You know, if it's I've been able
to do a few times, you always get treated well.
It will go be from like the start and things and you don't
really get that from like certain clubs, you know, in
certain places. So yeah, just so it's good to
see Stenhousemuir for me like in this position and hopefully
maybe one day they'll be in the Championship team alongside the
guns with you know, what we've got in the Championship at the
moment. But that's for another day.
So hopes but they've got a good draw in the news, man.
We'll come to the draw in just one SEC.
We'll just go and talk about aquatic Talbot.
The dream is over. But then But what a cup to that
was though. I mean, that's the stuff of
fairy tales and and like the West of Scotland giants coming
against D Giants and Scottish football.
Adam, imagine you watch some of the game or all the game.
They could be proud of how they performed over 90 minutes
against Celtic, can't they? Definitely I've got first hand
experience with Auckland like Talbot or like in a cup guys and
there doesn't matter the levels that you go down the arcade of
them. So it's superstars in their own
right in terms of like what they've achieved at their level.
So like, I know obviously start golfing and quality and you
know, money or whatever that is. But I think based I think
everyone knows based on the team said that we're going to put out
and based on the squad that Celtic have at the moment, there
wasn't there wasn't going to be any Harmons getting dished out
talking like and they wouldn't let it happen anyway, certainly
without putting up a fight. And I think they actually
performed really well to be honest.
And they stopped Celtic getting a shot on target for like the
first 35 minutes or something like that.
So Celtic weren't causing them any great amount of problems.
First half just turned to a little bit second-half.
But I've made a few changes. But again, it wasn't like back
to the wall stuff for me like it was I've seen Celtic teams in
the past like batter teams that have that are that are of a
higher standard than than open lick and the cup ties.
You know, if it's like say a League One team or whatever.
But yeah, no disgrace stalking like 2 nil late on could easily
be just one nil. Yeah, could have been anything
based on that such a low score line.
And I think if anything, it just probably what we'll talk about
later on in terms like the draw, who Celtics got next and then,
you know, transfers and whatever else we talk about.
But I think it just again, just reeks of how poor the
recruitment as it's Celtic and the severe lack of depth they've
got. I mean, they should be able to
put a second string string that should put maybe like 4 or 5
past Doc and like, but they made that look very difficult.
But again, the thing that kind of art may we bit watching the
game was I was actually a bit frustrated.
That was like Kelly. Yeah, I was going.
To say that like I hate, like there's a magic of the coppice
to go somewhere like Auchen Lake, like, well, that's the IT
gives it one, it gives them the advantage.
But again, local communities support and stuff.
How great is it to for them to see somebody like Celtic turn
up, you know, and they are and they are sort of many are, you
know, that they've got and like put it, put it to them in their
own backyard, But you couldn't even do that.
Again. They go to Kelly on the on the
on the Fiji wide open stadium and stuff like that.
Like, I don't know, I just feel like sometimes it takes away
the, you know, the the chance they are upset they didn't have
one. And of course the scoring was
was close, but feel it takes away an element of that, maybe
even hostility of having to go ilk and like in that small set
and then not have a big support there.
And the North tightness of it and the, you know, the the
muddying around and sort of the lower league like way of playing
and and haven't handled that. It kind of disappeared me, but
because it was a Premier League ground.
Yeah, because I think you got to think.
About as well like Celtic play at Rugby Park usually on average
twice a season. You know I mean it's a place or
used to going. It's not quite the same as
rocking up this be small ground in the east of Scotland.
There's barely hot war. I'm I'm sure they've got hot
war. I mean I'm involving in places
where you have to run the top for a while for the hot water
comes through. You know it's I'm sure it's not
a glamorous little changing room they've got maybe as maybe
dinner with the service. But exactly what you mean, you
know, the rustic nature of that does actually it just it sets a
mood and it does give or can like something and they just I
feel sorry for them. They said it was totally out
there, just their control decision, didn't they?
Yeah. And I think I think they did not
mean complete a bit in the sense about the fact that they've
played Scotch Cup ties obviously or collect plenty of times in
the past. And it's just because it.
Was played, you know that you played, you played Hearts and
you know, a couple of times. It's just like, again, it's sort
of bending the rules just because it's a certain team and
and or whatever the reasoning. That probably is the reasoning,
but like, so, yeah, I just think it takes away that that that
certain magic element of the cup.
Me see all the time down South. Don't you like you see, you see
like nationally teams or whatever as you know, and teams
that haven't to go there and like you see no got any hot
water. It's like the old school
changing rooms and you're tight and close to fans and stuff like
that. Like that.
Part of the beauty of like the chance of an upset and a cup,
but it's like they were trying to take that part away.
Do you not remember last season, the Navy Cup?
I don't know if you've seen it. So Tamworth were playing yeah.
And and they had to get I think government and saying they had
to hire like the the. Porter Cabins.
But they also had to get like Porter cabins for the dressing
room because it wasn't big enough for Tottenham.
So you because you see, think about how many like staff and
players and you know, you know, medical people or in Tottenham.
So they don't have any room for all these because it had to get
for cabins and it's just we things like that.
I think it just spoils like. That's the prime example that
you're making like that is pretty much a like for like.
So, again, fought them on a massive club, massive fan base.
But again, just so happens they drew a team that doesn't have
the fancy facilities, the massive stadium.
So that's what you have to deal with partly, like the cop, like
that's the magic of it. Like that is what gives the
chance of unpredictability. Yeah.
As well I mean. Take that element away from them
by Punez like you say, James are ground we are Celtic are more
familiar with that grim than Oakland live card if we're there
every season. Exactly, and as well the reason
giving them is like safety concerns or something.
I just, I just don't understand. Yeah, well, no.
No, you know, whether it's Celtic or a United coming or
whoever, if it's going to be a sellout, you know the club, they
sell the tickets, attackers, you know, people take the tickets,
attack it, sell out and those people show up to the game.
I don't I don't understand where the safe, the aspect of that
comes in, I mean. And if they're thinking like
overcrowded, it's not like there's going to be thousands of
people turning up. That's where you say, OK, that'd
be, that'd be the odd person. They can, but they're going to
be thousands of people rocking up to try and watch the game.
But then it seems like laziness, like if they call the police on
that, like, you know, that's like often like a host and
something that's their job to ensure like it's done in the
right way. And then there's appropriate
security outside the ground. You know, like I said, people
talking overcrowding, that's like, you know, the capacity of
the ground you sell attack. It's based on that shouldn't be
any issues. Like I just, I don't know, I
feel, I do feel bad because it's one.
Of the the general consensus says they dodged the dodged the
upset and Martin O'Neill does Martin O'Neill things again and
just, you know, gets the one. However, he gets the one
regardless say what person he puts out the roles on.
Exactly. Yeah, One thing I was just going
to bring up actually just in regards to like cup upsets.
So last week in England in the FA Cup, Macclesfield became the
the biggest upset ever in the FA Cup, the knocked out Crystal
Palace. So it was the Premier League
team and the FA Cup holders and I think there was a gap of like
a. 111. 111 places, yeah. And I'm just thinking, do you
think, like, did you wonder, you think that that comes into the
mind of like Celtic players like a cup upset like that and they
think, oh shit, this could happen to us going away.
Oh, we'll say it's not not like in this like the same ground.
Like if you watched the Magathield Stadium, you know,
the Max the ground, it's such a tame little one.
And obviously it would have been if it was at Orkin Lake, you
know, actually there, it probably probably would have had
the same there's. But do you think that any, like
do you think if they were watching that and they think
shit, this could happen to us or do you think that it's just
that's down in their competition?
Mapping to focus mapping you would be that the Celtic squad
right now would be nervous about it because of the pressure that
under and they obviously clearly see they're needing players in
general anyway. So there's a chance that could
happen that, you know, that way it starts to keep at the main
set of they recognise that they're struggling anyway in
general. So there's a chance that could
happen. And again, probably the same way
like say, I know the personnel has not massively changed.
It was changed recently, but in the Rangers team under Russell
Martin again, if they got that kind of tie earlier on the
season when they were feeling the way they were feeling.
Possibly, but I think generally speaking, like I suppose the gap
in Scotland, the gaps or the gaps, it doesn't matter.
You're right. Yeah, but Celtic, any of such a
stranglehold here, it is really different.
So like I think like most of the certain Rangers teams I can
think of in days gone by probably wouldn't they be faced
by like the chance of an upset? Like, I don't think, I don't
think they would. Yeah.
But I feel like the fragility of the current and recent teams, I
definitely felt they would have been feeling it at some point,
especially like again, if they've been like what it was
with Dunfeldman and Hibbs. No, it says Celtic company
scored first half. The longer it went on nil, nil,
they would start panicking a little bit.
You feel that the same thing could happen again and like
another upset or another let down from their side of things.
But. Yeah.
Generally if you want, if you want my concept as a harsh fan,
I would definitely say we always feel it definitely like the most
teams have seen us playing for God.
That was a struggle and it's like we can't handle that
pressure off like you know you want to play harsh fans and
whatever else, what a preacher. But the whole were bit like the
best team. It's a dual from.
But then we'll see when it comes to the scenario of all your
playing whoever as Spartans or whoever it was at the time away
from home and stuff. You can see the nerves like 5
minutes in, yeah. And you're thinking, well, if
you want to preach about being that big A-Team, then you have
to show it and you have to. The quality needs to shine
through and you need to use your experience.
But definitely the nerves will start to kick in with most teams
I would imagine. I've had that experience when
you go to late because we keep getting drawn against Lynn
Lithico Rules in the cup and it's always away from home as
well. We never seem to get at home
time. We've had three away games at
Lynn Lithico Rules in the last 10 years and it's a great set up
there and stuff. But every time we go there, I
always think where where we could be out of this too.
You know, the worst, the worst happens and we always seem we
always won all the we we lost in the pre season against them the
summer, but every competitive game we've beaten them.
But you know, it's just the thought of actually going to
like a small ground, like a like a tablet, like corrosor.
You just see it and you know, it's just like the tiny little
stand as well. You know, you see things like
that and you see the over overcrowding inside, like
underneath the like shade stands and you know, the old, you know,
hot stands and stuff. Jesus go to God.
I just don't fancy it. It's when you walk in and you
see how much of their home support showed up more than
probably was the usual support. Like you really get you really
get a feeling that everyone in the town is showed up for that.
And it's because they think something might happen, like,
oh, we could see something here. And you're thinking, well, you
know, like, you know, and they're always like they're like
you said, they're right on the terrace.
It's, you know, players are taking Thrones and they've got
guys hanging over their shoulders nearly.
I mean these are like the sort of images are so on the mess
with like these cup ties. Yeah.
You've like, I think that the Tottenham one we just spoke
about earlier, like I'm pretty sure there's a few photos from
that where like guys are taking Thrones and it's like one of the
world's most famous players. Just next step, a bunch of like
guys on the, you know, spending their time at the football at
the weekend. They're just plumbers and, you
know, regular, regular supporters.
And yeah, I know, I know exactly what you mean, Adam, because you
walk in and you go, they feel and it's the same way we walk
in. Like, you know, when we're with
Aberdeen, our fans are were saying more than theirs and you
know, their their home support thing.
No, they don't mess up this. They must think there's
something, you know, there's something going here and that's
it. That, that's just that is just
the beauty of the cup. Yeah, exactly.
And just one of those stems and let's quickly move on to the
draw and we'll just quickly see if we've got the same opinion
here. Just quickly go over the ties,
Airdrie Owens versus Saint Mirren, Celtic versus Dundee,
Dundee Knight versus the Spartans.
The Spartans are the last team left standing in the Scottish
Cup. People would have thought that
before the ball was kicked on on Friday.
We're going into the weekend ties and Dunfermline now taking
on Kelty. So that's a local Derby.
Elgin be part of Thistle. I know loads of Thistle
supporters who are loving that, that growing up there.
I think that's a bucket list stadium for them because they've
not played today or I think ever that I might have seen Rangers.
Rangers have got either Strandra or Queens Park and we're
recording this on Tuesday night. Right now Queens Park are ahead
and the we mean ahead. Then it's a repeat of last
season's game I rocked where Queens Park, not Rangers out the
Scottish Cup, but it's a whole different type of Queens Park
team now, Stenhousemuir versus Falkirk, local rivalry.
But I think the big one for me as a neutral is looking at
Aberdeen Motherwell tie and it's the same tie as in the
quarterfinal, the League Cup as well.
And Adam, do you have, is there any ties in there that you it
stands out to you or is that the one that standard that was for
you? Yeah, Aberdeen, Motherwell is
always a big tie. Don't I don't have any doubts
about the outcome of the tie, but I think, I think it's like,
I definitely think Motherwell won.
Like I don't have any. I've seen Aberdeen enough times
and watched Motherwell for three hours straight to know that
Motherwell are definitely the better team at the moment.
I mean, I know Aberdeen have been making signings recently.
Obviously if they start to bed and then my mind could obviously
get swayed a bit. They look like they've made two
or three decent signings so far, but obviously still got the
manager situation that we've got and certainly Motherwell's in a
better place currently. So if it was based on currently,
I would I might be straight to Motherville and but that would
be 1 And I think the other one is as definitely standard Smith
Falkirk as well. And then Dalfelm and Kelly
Hearts like I suppose, again, they're not obviously direct
rivals as such. I know you guys and and and the
part also the rivals, but like still that better locality,
right? Like them filming and.
Yeah, I'd imagine the world. Yeah.
That'll be the only team left that's called Hearts that'll be
supporting and then the Edinburgh team will be sporting
will be spot. And so I've got obviously got 2
ties still to keep an eye on. Yeah.
So I would say Aberdeen, Motherwell, you're right.
And then Steny Falkirk feel like that could be a good one.
Like I feel like it could be a good game.
Steny, Falkirk. James, do you have any, do you,
can you predict an upset anywhere in this in this round
right now? If we were to pick an upset
right now, do you have a tie that stand out for you the most
or do you think that it's all bankers for the play with the
teams? Yeah, I mean, it's a bit the way
the draws, the way the draws come out.
I think a lot of the weird teams will have been hoping they
managed to get pepped against, get pepped against each other,
which is not how it's worked out.
I mean, obviously Dundee United, Spartans, I think that's just
way too much, you know, a difference in quality there for
anything to happen. But I mean, you never know.
I think Jane, I'm not saying this as a rave man, but the one
that's most likely is probably Dunfermline, Kelly Hart.
So I'm just saying that because it is.
I mean, Kelly will certainly be viewing that as a local Derby
and all. Like Dunfermline sort of feel
fork and reefer. There.
Yeah, that's, I feel the same, James.
I feel like they'll be right up for that.
Kelly that is the nearest team. Like that's a part maybe right
up for that hidden beef. And like, maybe I don't like,
look, Eli Albert, I think like that is, you know, and I think
Ted Sir, as well, you know, excellent fellow man.
He's just a manager, yeah. He's up at Kelly, so they will
very much be up for that. You know, we're getting framed
through that local Derby element and, you know, it is Eastern
Park, but you never know. But yeah, that's that's the only
one that I feel was realistic. I mean, Falkirk, Staney, there's
a chance, but Falkirk are just point so well, right now, I
think of it being any other time, you know, maybe even last
season, you know, when the Falkirk are like top of the
league sometimes when you know, teams are high flying like that,
that they, you know, a team like standings almost able to knock
them down a peg. But you know, Falkirk are so
strong in the Premier League right now, they're not, you
know, they're not up challenging for the title.
What you know, they're doing good things and then, you know,
partake Elgon. I think that'll just be Elkin.
Well, to do anything there if they can.
But you'd expect that to be just a Partick.
A Partick when really it's just a yeah.
And then but you never know. I mean, Queens Park, you said
it's not the same team as last year and it's definitely not the
same Rangers team. But yeah, they were going to
Ibrox thinking, you know, we did it last year.
You never know. As you know as well, we keep
talking this magic of the cup. Crazy things can happen.
I know Dundee probably won't be happy with getting Celtic but
there's another team they've already beat this season so you
never know. That kind of be considered a
shock then kind of done deal. I mean, you know, we could, we
could, we can take the back of it all we like, but have got
Martin and never like like. Martin, I'll see them through no
problem. Yeah, I.
Mean that's how we're getting framed from a Dundee angle.
You know, they've they've got the result getting Celtic this
season. But I mean, Celtic are very much
hoping this isn't the same Celtic team that faces, you
know, maybe in personal wise, yeah, but mentality wise, you
know. If you had to pick a winner of
the whole thing, now who use each second?
I said Motherwell to begin with. You know what is is looking at
the last year. I mean, Rangers are playing
really good football right now. I mean, I think for me it's
maybe between Rangers, Motherwell, just, you know,
Celtic, Celtic are sort of an ongoing case in terms of where
Martin O'Neill can get them to, who they can recruit in this
window. And, you know, and, you know, if
you can sort of get the same tune out of them that you was
getting and it's, you know, the previous interim period they had
before Christmas. So But yeah, I think I'd agree
with you there. Motherwell definitely,
definitely should fancy themselves.
But I mean, Rangers I hate, like, I don't hate saying that
Rangers are playing good football right now, so.
I'd I'd be Rangers as well, probably just, I'd just be on
Rangers only because they've improved a lot on the rule and
because they've got a favourable draw.
I think, like I know I'm saying, but I do fancy mother would be
Aberdeen, don't get me wrong, but Aberdeen have got obviously
a way better chance to beat Motherwell than.
Spark. Cover beating Rangers,
especially given what I touched on about Aberdeen potentially
improving with the signings they're going to get and then
obviously whoever comes in management wise.
So that is that Padanas gonna say Motherwell and then they get
put out. But like a Rangers canny like it
pains, messy it. But can I see past them though
to be honest? Yeah, they're playing class and
I mean, we feel also one thing. I know we're just pulling it to
move on to covering the game at the weekend, which is the
tabletop clash between Hearts and Celtic.
But is there a small part the item that's happy, not happy?
But like if you could take any positive from been out of the
cup, is it that Hearts can now 100% focus on this final run in
to win the title potentially? Yeah, pretty much like I think
and it actually helped as well League Cup wise.
So we got fairly good start, don't want to go to the cops,
but going out the League Cup and then we know Europe effectively
well that could start in the league and that no other things
to focus on until January because there wasn't a Scottish
Cup game till January at the whole rest of the year last
year. Sorry, we're just the leak and
the same scenarios now. Again, we're only at the end of
January and we've only got the leak to focus on between the and
May and we've got the sizes squad we've got and the depth
that we've got. I know it's going to get tested
now because of no gut injuries. So it'll be interesting to see.
When we talk about depth, McKenna says it's got the
quality there. Do we actually have it there?
Because a lot of these guys have been sitting waiting in the
wings, but equally that's their opportunity to to show that
they've you know, that they deserve to be there and then
that they obviously deserve a spot on the team.
But it's definitely a massive help me not being in the cup
because you've not got that that distraction and but equally
frustrating it because like you just want to get you guys will
be the same. You just want to get as far as
you can. Try and get your hand then.
You're never happy. Like you said, it's it is.
You've always got. The pizza, but you're right in
terms of league priority in terms of if I was just talking
about the league you're buying on the money like it gives us
sole focus on that and like and it gives you that sort of even
like it's even little things like best week.
Obviously we've got the game Comer, but to talk about the
Celtics playing midweek again and stuff like fuddle that kind
of as well people playing midweek and cup games and extra
games and we didn't have any of that.
So yeah, it gives me that that really hope even though we've
got the injuries that is just our only focus.
So that might be enough to help support us to continue the run.
Hopefully get that coming Let's. Let's talk about Sunday because
I think it is going to be the game of the season so far and
certainly in the Premiership anyway.
How are you feeling about it Adam?
Are you nervous about it? 6 points in front?
We don't know about how many games we've got left.
It's about 16 games to go. 16, yeah.
Yeah, how how you, how you Obviously it's Tuesday now,
still a while to go, but how, how you feeling about Sunday?
Like I'm not not as obviously confident as it would be if we
had Devlin, Beningamine, Shanklin playing because they
are three core players that have got us to where we are.
But like I said, there'll be a bit shuffling about, especially
in that central midfield area where Celtic are especially
strong in that central midfield area.
So that'll be a challenge. But I mean, I Celtics got a
decent opportunity now that they've got O'Neill and we're
having to face O'Neill on how he plays mixed with the fact that
we are depleted a little bit gives them the best chance they
may be had. When you look at the other two
games that we played against them, I thought like both games
we deserved that and we were the better team.
But I think we can still be the better team and get a one on
Sunday. Yeah, I do.
And I'm confident that we'll win.
Yum. But there's still a chance that
Martin O'Neill does martineal things.
I hate being and I hate being so cliche about it.
But he just it's just that experience.
See, like he's just got that knowledge and it says man
management. Like he gets the best out of
people, I think. His character as well his
character as. Well, it carries an order, mate.
It carries an order that like you just put a wee bit like
McKenna, I suppose, like you just believe what he's saying
and you and then it makes you perform better.
And then yet that can maybe that we better luck or someone
changes the game and all of a sudden they're a Celtic team
with confidence. Even with the personnel they've
got is still better than the one that's been shot the bits in
terms of the under Nancy and things.
So and they've still got quality there, right.
They've still got the you know, they've still got McGregor who's
at the heart of everything. They've still got Tierney
scales. They've got experienced players
in the team. I think again, their their main
problem is Denny have that firepower that you're used to
them having and they've got wonders that are a bit hot and
cold to Denny huff like a central striker yet, which is
crazy. And I think the thing that we
have that they don't have, which is I've never really said as a
kid or an adult as we've got that we have been able to bully
them. We've got that physicality and
I'm there's been chats and I've been on some sort of a couple of
other podcasts and YouTube things and stuff and they've
been talking about like what system information we're going
to play. And I think regardless, I think
you'll find there's will be a lot of people that are 6 foot or
more that will be playing. And come Sunday, I think he
might go with four centre backs as a back 4.
So I think like it'll be like Steinwender, Halket, Finley and
Mccart, because there's a chance that Harvey mum could be in
central midfield because that's what we've done in the cup game
because that's where we're lacking.
And he also offers that sort of fate and Gale that you need.
I mean, the Shankland ones about Shankland.
Devlin's like massively like, yeah, Devlin's everywhere.
The last time we were at 10 Castle, he really, really got on
McGregor's nerves. He got in his head quite
quickly, which isn't the easiest thing to do, to be honest.
No, not. And then it's just about and
it's about like taking McGregor out the game because it's so
obvious. Something Celtic as well.
Like they play everything through McGregor or they play
Tierney down the left and Tierney tries to cut back like
the show of us and what they do. But the guys are obviously top
players. So they're always finding the
holes in the space and people at Devlin can can have the energy
and that the like I say that the sort of aggression and getting
on the nerves to prevent it and and arc them a little bit.
So that yeah, that's that's going to be a real pain.
I'm not playing but I think Kabodia will just replace Shank
on top front and Kabodia is like your typical.
Have you seen AFCON yet? Did you watch any?
Yeah. Watch some of that.
Yeah, yeah. So Kibori is like again, like
your typical AFCON player, like he just brings chaos.
Like like it's like he's playing in sliders, but he's got like
that power and peace and strength and he's just going to
be like a pain in the pain in the butt for the Celtic
defender. So I'm hoping that's what he
brings. And then I think they'll just
try and start us off like push and press, like try and be
physical and get in their face. And like you see, hopefully once
you get the first school way that then the the crowd and
stuff that will start to be a big factor.
But it's it's no way could be anything like it's not the first
one. He was been attained cast.
So you'll know what to expect and you'll prepare the players
correctly for it. And they still have experienced
players in the team. So like they will Celtic will be
it'll be a tough game, but we'll see what happens as well.
I think it's one of them. We just didn't want to lose it.
Like if you can get through this game, not lose, you know, you're
at least six points, go to Celtic still and then obviously
a some other week where you can maybe get devil and Shantlet
back another both 68 weeks. But you know what I mean?
Like another big game where you don't put Celtic until post
split. So like a yeah, but they still
be PR big loss like they must Celtic Rangers on hubs.
Yeah, so a lot so a lot of big games as well to miss out on
business I. Mean these are the one even the
one after Celtic. I waited on DNA.
It's that's the one I've been as well.
Like so, but then you can't have it both ways.
Like talk about like, well, every game's pressure, but like
if you want to be at the top, but yes, you have to just deal
with. So like you have to just if
that's what you want your team to achieve, whichever they
should, then you just have to expect that that's what comes
with. But we'll see what happens.
I think it will be a really good game and thank goodness that
beating a lotion on the middle and so beating his own bottom
should have tried his best and we'll see what comes with it.
You guys be tuning into that or he's been?
I'll I'll watch, I'll watch that, I'll watch that.
I'm covering it for the for the page.
So well. Well, I'll be on top of that.
I'll go to James to talk about this game in particular because
I want to know about I want to get an opinion from from a
neutral perspective, James, just because obviously I haven't been
a big heart supporter and I think you'll know loads of heart
supporters as well, James, that keep saying to me in particular,
we're not favourites to win this title.
We're not favourites. And Adam, I don't know if you
think you're the favourites or not, but you know, I know loads
of heart supporters at work in particular who say.
Let's put it on record. I also think we're not
favourites. Right.
OK, so so we know loads of heart supporters here James that have
seen they're not favourites to win this league.
They're not favourites that it's you know, Celtic Rangers are the
favourites to win this league. If Hearts win on Sunday, are
they the favourites to win this league?
Games I. Mean there is.
There's still a long way to go, isn't there?
No, I don't. I'm not saying.
Yeah, Yeah. And there's, you know, you know,
I want. It's very tight at the top of
the table. And you shouldn't conflate not
seeing Hearts our favorites is because you think any other team
is an overbearing favorite. No, I mean, if I was to say
Hearts are the favorites, it'd be because I'm, you know,
fractionally maybe think they have a better chance than others
is really tight and open on Saturday goal.
Saturday will go a long way because like, you know, we
already talked about how Martin O'Neill just seems to get things
done. He's not been in charge when
Hearts have played Celtic so far.
It was Rogers and then it was nonsense.
So. You know, they'll be part of
Hearts are going right. OK.
This is the first Test against the aside that you know is that,
you know, the Celtic support are more comfortable with the guy
who's in charge now. I'm sure they're like maybe not
as much Rogers, but you know, things weren't going great back
then. Enemy for them I think was it
was in the aftermath of that game he left, wasn't it?
I'm just, I'm thinking that James as well.
So we've played Celtic 3 * 3 different managers.
That must be a record. Yeah, that's not.
And that's, you know, and like say like it's first time I
played well, I've been well, he's been at the helm.
So that's that. I guess that brings a new
element to the test. You know, if I I don't know who
I'd say the favors, but right now I'd say I think Rangers have
a better chance than Celtic. And I don't know where I put
Hearts in and around that, but one thing I will say is like
hearts have got to a point in the season where the top of the
table and it's January. Like I'd be I might not be seen
I'm favorite or if I was, you know, if I was a hearts fan, but
I'd be I've been enjoying it. You know, you got enjoy it.
You know, you act like you're the favorites.
Enjoy being at the top of the table, these things, I'm sure,
but it's sort of Tony Bloom era just getting off that start.
Hearts will open seasons like this, you know, become far more
common going into the future. But it's not been something
Scottish football team for a while.
And I'd love to thank hearts fans are enjoying us.
They're going into their work, they're going into the schools
and they're telling them it's not their favorites, you know,
winding up their old farm colleagues and classmates and
whoever, you know, stacking it to them and say, you know, we're
favorites fest and you know, back them all the way.
So I might not if hearts were on Saturday, then my favorites.
There we go, Saturday, Saturday, Sunday, Sunday.
Something I think I think like there's two obviously kind of
speak for all hearts fans. I'm sure they'll shoot me down
if I say it wrong, but like the two main factors.
I can think as to why certainly I would and I feel like a lot of
other people wouldn't have got us as favourites.
It's and one of them will disappear at the end of the
month as the transfer window, right, just because they have
the the financial gap to be able to just bring in not anybody.
But you know, I mean a better standard you could argue of
player based on, again, whatever the valuation of that player is
and all based on Jamestown. That doesn't necessarily mean
that they're better based on their market value, because
that's the point of Jamestown buying people that are good than
whatever leaked that in at a lower price to then maybe upsell
later on. But you take my point and then
the second one, which is probably a bigger one in the
mines and like you're touching on James, you're like, you know,
giving it to them. You know, like we are the best
and we're totally you've been 100 days at the top, blah, blah,
blah, right. But I think that the thing
that's Arkin Harsh runs a little bit and preventing someone from
seeing it is because it's just the reputation of the country.
Like it's just not what it's still just not the norm.
So it doesn't even it's baffling that we're set 100 days at the
top and still a lot of us are going now.
We're no favourites now. We can't see that yet, but like
Celtic Rangers, if they were top and six points clear would be
saying I were definitely favourites.
So it's just because they're still and again, what's been
predominantly Celtic, but it has study wise, both of them are the
title winners, right. So like it's just what
reputationally them and the rest of the countries used to.
So therefore everybody's just like now we're just waiting for
hearts to fall. There's no you've seen it on on
XA lot like when we were topping September, like they'll know
last till November. They'll know last the end of the
year. They'll know last till March.
They keep moving the goal posts till what's checking me.
So they're convinced that like. And always everyone can say
that, you know, there is this expectation at some point at
Celtic, which suddenly it was clacking and get that together.
And and once they did, this whole sort of debate would be
put to bed. You know, it would, you know,
it'd be it'd be all said and done.
Celtic would just go in there, went in streak and that would,
you know, close the whole conversation.
That's not happened. And I I do agree what you say
about the reputation because it just kind of gets in green then.
Yeah. And it's almost like cash your
mind back to Leicester City went in the title.
It was a while before people really were willing to accept
that they are going to go all the way.
And it almost happened in like it was almost like a watershed
moment. I was, you know, as soon as it,
as soon as people start to believe that, you know, it was
suddenly unbelievable. They wouldn't win it.
I don't know if you remember what I was like about then, but
you know. Here's another one.
Here's another one for you, right, another question that's
it's hard to came down to now we depend on how you spin it, But
if Hearts win the league, what's the bigger achievement?
Hearts win an or Leicester. I'd say I'd say Hearts 100.
Percent, I'd say, I'd say Hearts as well because I think because
Leicester still spend like lots and lots of money where you
know, you know, I know it's not a lot of good bits like sort of
Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool's
among that, but there's still you can.
Still have the ability to spend millions.
Exactly. Yes, Well, I know, but in this
country we there's only two teams that have the ability to
spend millions if they want to spend.
Millions obviously. Look at Rangers accounts.
There's technically only one, but yeah.
I know, no, we're not going to get talks about we're not a
finance podcast, so we're not going to talk about fine.
But certainly my, my, my view, I think carts would be the bigger
achievement. And I think being somebody who
likes you always say it's evolved in Scottish people.
I want to see big stories here and I don't want to see big
achievements here because we were talking on another podcast
a couple weeks ago about when you think about what's currently
happening in Scottish football, you consider that Hearts of
women, you know, Hearts are, you know, leading the title race.
St. Mirren are the League Cup
holders, Celtic are the Premiership holders, Aberdeen
are the Scottish Cup holders. That's four no different teams
altogether currently having successful spells and the one,
So I think just to be involved in Scottish football at this
moment, team, it's brilliant and hopefully there's another big
story to come. From my perspective.
I want Hearts to win it because I would like to see somebody a
bit different. I was going to say though, we
have like about here, like what you're saying Leicester, like
we've seen Blackburn when, when the, I don't know if it was the
Premier League at the time, but we have seen stuff like that and
before and the variety of winners of the Premier League
over the last 20 plus years. You know, there's been lots, but
the domination is Scottish football has been like an iron
grip for women's. Last time it was Aberdeen and a
was that the. Last or a four years or so,
yeah. Exactly.
So, you know, you're you're as it goes against the culture that
has been imposed on the nation, you know, you know, guys in the
Premier League, so eyeing up that third place box, you know,
setting them for starting up for grabs.
And even the hearts have made changes as I heard folks in
different podcasts that they didn't really think this was a
Tony Bloom yet team yet, which I would disagree with because, you
know, there's a handful of signings have made, you know,
have proved to be brilliant signings.
And I don't think they would have made if it wasn't, you
know, for those Jamestown analytics that you keep
referring to, Adam. But, you know, at the same time,
even though they've got this at the disposal, they're still not
forced to be reckoned with in the Scottish football.
They have gone with a manager who has been in around the
league for years. And it wasn't necessarily a case
that they were just going to hit the ground running, something
going to do well. So, you know, what Hearts are
doing this season is massive. It's, you know, and it continues
to be a massive achievement even even if they didn't win it.
It's to push Celtic and Rangers as far they've created the
conversation in itself as an achievement.
And, you know, like I hope and it helps fans.
Well, this will give you some way to say, but I really I'm
what this could do for the country to completely change the
Nat of of the league and, you know, create a little bit of
conversation, you know, other countries looking angry and
what's going on now, you know, TV like this stuff.
It could be great for the country.
Yeah. It's massive financially in that
sense and it's massive financially as well in the sense
of the coefficient, because obviously this is the last
season that like the League One that'll be in the Champions
League playoff round and then the 2nd and 4th will be
Conference League pretty much. So like whoever wins that league
title, it's the last time for however, however long until we
sort the European standard that we've we've set ourselves.
And obviously Rangers, Celtic carry that torch for us
supremely. Didn't get me wrong.
But like that I'm just meaning in terms of like why it's so
important still for Celtic, Rangers not only just to win the
title, but also what comes with that in terms of monetary value
as well. They still, as much as they're
bigger financially, they still do rely on heavily the fact they
get to Europe and make money from Europe and obviously they
want to progress in Europe equal again.
That's why Thursday they're in Bologna.
That's still going to be a massive game for Celtic to try
and win that game. But in three days later they've
got to come to tank castle and we've had the week off in terms
of like games. So there's all the factors as
well. But I think it's even the
foresight, like if you look at Hearts in terms of recruitment
that they seem to just be a lot more switched on and all Rangers
have had a flurry recently. But like, especially if you
compare it to Celtic, the Celtics nearly took a year to
try and replace Kyogo and then Hearts have also replaced in
numerous areas as they're, you know, ramping up with analytics
and whatever. But like, even if you look at
now the summer, like Hearts of what are they like got Josh
Mcpeak on like a pre contract that the the the Rogers Mattel
guy on a pre contract. And now obviously they've
they've got they've ramped that up now just because of what's
happened and got him this month. You'll be here by this month.
But the point I'm trying to make is if Celtic even do sign
whoever they sign this month, they're still no fought beyond
this month. They felt like, what are they
going to do in the summer? What they're going to do was
that hearts are already built foundations, like it's like a
few months ahead. It seems that really in reality
should be ahead of them anyway, like because they should have
the, the sort of the, the facilities and the funds to sort
of squash whatever as we're doing.
Maybe the gap should close because we're obviously in terms
of what we've got. But again, they're still
dwarfing us in terms of like their own finances and their own
what should be better recruitment and and whatever
else in terms of whatever they pay their staff to do what
they're doing is what I'm trying to say.
We shouldn't be out of their head that one do with them.
It just seems bizarre and I think they've maybe took for
granted their own stations a little bit and not recognised
like the how how the people at Hearts have got in there, how
they operate and how quickly it all starts to just fit into
place. But you're right James, I can't.
It's came came too soon because obviously, don't get me wrong,
like I need to enjoy it, I want to enjoy it.
But it's more like understanding that hopefully as like you say,
like seasons to come, you know, maybe we finished second one
year, then maybe we do want another 2-3 years then and then
we finished fourth second. So we're just always in the
mixer. So we become nearer them than
the neither the the rest of the teams in the premiership and
like say if it causing that gap. And so it's exciting times.
I will try and stay wasn't ever enjoy it as long as I can, but I
will keep coming on the podcast. Like I said, even if we get bend
that we come to lose games, maybe that for big games I'll be
on no matter what. I appreciate the support for you
guys, try our best. You'll try, you'll try your
best. You have to quick score
prediction for Sunday. Just a very quick one before we
move on to Scotland before we wrap up.
Do you go first? 21 hearts when you go. 21 go on.
21 hearts. I said one Oh so so I'll I'll
cool 10 because I like sitting on the fence and but yeah, good
to good to have a great discussion there about that game
and took on by our hearts and I think well this is not a story
that's going to go away anytime soon, even if it is a defeat by
hearts. I think it's going to be there
for rest of the season, if not maybe going into next season as
well. So let's just keep an eye on
what's going on there. We'll very quickly go and speak
about Scotland. Two home friendlies.
Boots, it was two home friendlies that we predicted it
was going to happen. Japan and Curacao.
I hope they're pronouncing that right.
So I do apologize for pronouncing that wrong.
James happy with those two teams coming to Hamden.
Yeah, I mean it's great. Obviously Curacao is a World Cup
send off match from Hamden before we have an away friendly
probably over the pond somewhere.
I think Florida's what's been mentioned for a game against
Peru, so I know that'll be good. That'll be good.
Saturday afternoon, 5:00 PM So 5:00 PM One PM, 1:00 PM Five.
PMI think for the Japan game that same for the curious. 1:00
PM. So not as much time to get the
beers in, but I'm sure we'll get a couple.
Oh, actually, there will be things.
Get the beers. And that's what they've just
announced, isn't it? Trial, trial, trial trailer.
Hamden Yeah, that was a nice. Segue.
You know what actually didn't? No, I haven't meant that I've
been really good. You know, it's just maybe I
don't know, maybe there's there's someone working hard at
that back of my brain to make this, make this a good
production. But no, not as good.
I mean, Chris, how you can draw parallels with them to Haiti.
So we'll get to match up against.
I mean, Clark talked about playing against different
countries, different players, different playing styles.
So, you know, they'll definitely provide that.
And it's an excellent experience the boys will get just before we
go and play against he because that were the first game.
And then Japan as well. Obviously we're not playing
anyone from the Asian Confederation at the World Cup,
but I mean, Japan are a really good side.
They are routinely at World Cups, usually perform quite
well. They have good players.
So yeah, that'll be, that'll be a good test.
I feel like Scotland, we've played quite a lot of families
recently and I'll play some very high caliber opposition.
It's going to be nice to play someone that is a good team.
But I don't feel as like, you know, of our league and, you
know, in summer space, then you know, they're they're they're at
least I'd like to think closer to our level.
And it'll be interesting to see us play them because I don't
don't think we've played. We've not played them since the
kidding Cup. We won that bad.
I think we've played them in 2009, if I remember correctly,
if I read that right. Yeah, we've played them in
Tokyo, I think, or somewhere. George, George Burley and George
Burley. Played that's to me, but I
surprised that did not. Realize that.
I'm sure, I'm sure my brain has recapped that from somewhere.
You were saying about the beer, I'm saying about Japan.
So I'm sure I've got that. I'm sure I've got that right.
We've definitely played them twice, but we've never played
curious before. So that's certainly it's good to
have different teams as well. You were saying about playing
somebody from Asia. It's good to have different.
We're not playing like let's say we're not playing at France,
we're not playing at Germany, we're not playing in England,
we're not playing at Spain. We're playing somebody could
completely different. So I like, I like the way that
they're going around these friendly matches in.
Particular, do you think that that the two friendlies are
handpicked in a way for like what we'll be facing in a in a
way like either like stale of play or, or like the type of
teams that they normally face for how they play themselves and
stuff like that? You think that's a factor?
There, I think that I think he the the curious game for Haiti
definitely is Japan game. I think it's just a case of
getting somebody completely random because they don't want
to play anymore European teams as much as possible.
That's my opinion. A game.
Maxwell interview Maxwell gave an interview that I tuned into
and he said that the Japan game was one that was organised
before the draw was made. I'm sure.
OK, I mean that a good team. But he did say, you know, I
think we're looking at Ivy course potentially for a game
down in Liverpool after a Ripley Japan And then again, 2 is 1/4
team for the three with the final friendly before the World
Cup. So yeah, and he did say he's
like Luke, he's like Clark comes to us.
Well, last we see he says these are the sort of teams who want
to play. You know, I think I don't think
it's just a case of, you know, who's in that confederation.
I think there has been a little bit of thought towards playing a
team. They think we'll give them the
experience they need against, you know, the the three teams
we're going to be up against the World Cup.
And he said, and then it's our job to this goal and basically
try and organise that and make it work.
So I that's what they've done. And yeah, it'll be good to see
because that, you know, like like you said, and it'd be as
well. We're well versed against UAE
fun nation teams. We've all seen these sorts of
factures. It's a rare, rare chance in the
past when we've got. I'm trying to remember last time
I saw this player team that was non UEFA I think we called.
With Mexico and. Peru, your bad Nigeria.
Yeah, yeah, Nigeria it. Was Peru, wasn't it?
No. Yeah, we played Peru think and
yeah, Mexico as well to right together.
Yeah. I mean, I'm trying to think.
Played the United States a couple of times as well in
recent years as well. Canada to Canada and Qatar,
yeah, but like, you know, it doesn't come around all too
often. I mean that's I mean, if it is
the Mexico game, that was back when McLeish was in charge.
So we're going back to at least about 2018 there.
I'm sure. So, yeah, it's nice.
It's nice as a fan to guess, to see these different play against
these different teams and, you know, watch the boys.
But back, back from the Hamden against, you know, some of the
best teams in the world that aren't, aren't from Europe.
Well, thank you man. So you guys, I think we've
talked enough for today and we'll be wrapping up there.
Thank you very much indeed for being on James and thank you
actually would be an item. Great company as usual.
We like to get as many opinions on as possible for what's going
to happen in terms of around 5:00.
So if you've got a favorite, a favorite tie, do let us know.
We'll see what we can talk about Friday.
It's podcasts as well. So as always, I would like to
ask if we can like subscribe, follow wherever you get your
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That's it for us. We'll see you again next time, I
hope. Until then, take care.
Goodbye.