Hello and welcome back to the Scots for my podcast.
I'm James Scott and join us for this episode.
We've got Ben Crockart fresh back off the plane from his
holiday. Yeah, straight from the airport,
but good to be back. And we've also been joined by
Gordon Shack. She had good things with the
podcast. He liked the first episode, and
he was like, I want in on that. I'm coming along.
Thank you very much guys. Glad that you had an extra mic
for me. Yeah, coming straight from the
pub. Yeah, I wait.
Yeah, me to start that attempt to soar up though.
But yeah, I know it's been welcome you into our studio.
Yeah, thank you. Some setup you've got.
Yeah, it's. Some very professional.
I wish you guys could see what we can see right now.
Yeah, I'm going to be getting in trouble again for taking over
the entire living room. So.
But yeah, no, it's cool. Yeah.
It's been a crazy week, crazy day.
Very good at the. Recording on the Sunday fresh
off an Old Farm Scottish Cup quarterfinal.
Ding Dong. Yeah, that was opera.
Yeah, stuff, stuff went down as about the the keeping it light,
but we'll get on to that. We've got an itinerary we're
going to work our way through today.
First of all, women's team, Scotland national team.
What a start. On the March, yeah.
Great start. Yeah, two games, twelve goals
and I think we mentioned off camera, great to see Caroline.
We are kind of bringing her club form that she's had at Real
Madrid into the national team with that hat trick in the five
nil win and then obviously carrying it into the seven nil
with, you said, 4 assists. 4 assists yeah so I basically the
way this World Cup campaign's working is it's actually pretty
hard to wrap your head around so I don't blame anyone for not
being able to get it 'cause we. I was watching explainer video
off camera. I I tried to explain it to
Gordon. We sat down and watched that
video again. It was Amy Carr.
Amy Caravan on the. BBC.
Yeah, the BBC. We watched that, still going to
start it again. I was like, I was like again,
did I have too many tenants at the pub or is this just hard to?
So it's basically, I feel like the easiest way to describe it
is the Nations League seems to replace the World Cup qualifying
and because of that Scotland can, and I felt this is pretty
naff to be honest. Scotland can't qualify for the
World Cup automatically. Directly, yeah.
Yeah, so. From this group.
Yeah, yeah, the teams in the A league can.
We're in Group B4, so essentially as long as we don't
finish last, we're guaranteed a playoff.
But yeah, you know. Basically, yeah, Basically it
seems like the better you do in this group, the kind of more
gentle a path you might get through the playoffs.
Obviously it's going to be difficult as we know with
obviously with with the men's team, qualifying for World Cup
is always going to be harder than qualifying for EUR.
There's fewer spots for European teams.
We will have to go through some tough teams eventually to get to
World Cup. I think if I was to say, I mean
put a positive spin on on this, being in League B gives you an
opportunity to get a really good head start and a really good bit
a bit of momentum going as we've seen this week with these two
big wins. Yes, caveat is Luxembourg.
So you know, again, absolutely no disrespect to them, but it's
teams you would expect us to be beating.
But we've gone out and demolished and dominated both
games. Excellent.
So this gives us a really good opportunity get form, get
momentum, get some goals up, get a new system in place and then
when it comes around to playoff time, we're ready to
rock'n'roll. And again, to, to, to to Fence's
point there. Yeah, Caroline Weir, obviously
you captain. She's been a real kind of
Talisman for the team or she's been a player that we've always
looked to, to be a real Talisman for the Scotland team.
But I think so good to see her translating as you said, that
that that club form, you know, she was obviously playing at
Real Madrid. They're doing really well in the
Women's Champions League this year.
They're in the quarterfinal against Barcelona so they've got
a home and away tie against. Barcelona Balandor nominating
the club, obviously. Balandor but she is, she's
actually the second top, top goal scorer in Women's Champions
League this season of everyone in Europe.
So it's 5 five goals so far. So yeah, she's doing great over
there in Spain. But yeah, fantastic to see her
bring it back. It's good because that was
Melissa Andatta's first competitive.
Yeah. And competitive wins.
Yeah, she would she took over at the end of the Nations League
campaign. Pedroid obviously not long left.
Things weren't looking good. I think the performances, I
mean, I remember watching the, the the, the playoff for the EUR
and it was just so far below what we expect of like
realistically a good group of players.
Yeah. And you know, the team looks
like in a good place. So obviously it was 5 nil away
to Luxembourg. The way this, the way this group
is working, because we've got Israel as a team, they are not
every other group's doing this, but we seem to be doing like
double headers. Yeah, so.
So we've got Belgium next. Yeah, we had lots.
That's a tough one, yeah. Luxembourg 5 nil away to
Luxembourg and then we came home 17 nil.
So in Luxembourg it was a weird hat trick along with Jen Clark
and McGovern scoring and then became home.
McGovern and Clark getting on the goals again.
Double for both and then Davidson, Lawton and McKinney
got their goals too. Plus like I said, 4 assists from
Carly and we are so not too bad. But then it's April, they have
their next fixtures double header against Belgium, first of
those the Easter Rd. We'd encourage people to try and
get tickets if they are are, you know they have a they're.
Available, yeah. Well it's free if you're a
Scotland supporters member. Why not?
I mean, I've got my ticket, managed to grab tags, more
people on as well. So you're in Edinburgh.
So they sometimes, I mean, I appreciate sometimes it's harder
to get through to Glasgow for a game if you're local, great
opportunity, but. Good, good, good, good.
Good atmosphere as well. Real family friendly like.
Unfortunately I was meant to be there at the game yesterday.
Unfortunately chickenpox reared its ugly head in our house so I
was going to take my wife and daughter were going to come and
for the three of us to go it cost me the princely sum of 10
lbs. So I got my ticket for free.
Kids ticket was free and a tenor for an adult non member so it
can't say fairer than that kind. Yeah, also I get along if you
can, because you might see me there in my jacket.
This was this was literally the feedback from there.
But we're just check, yeah. Absolutely nothing about the
podcast, just where can I get that jacket?
We had like after the first video one, we were like, oh,
it's let's like reach out feedback from different people.
Gordon's like it's great. I want to come on.
Other folk were like, oh, like it's quite good be like this
like that. Everyone asked personally, I
just went where did you get the jacket from?
So like, yeah, I mean the. Other people don't.
Don't gatekeep that you have to gatekeeper.
You have to gatekeeper. The thing is it's it's like it's
an old, it's score draw, but it's like I bought out a buttons
in Dunfermline maybe 10 years ago.
So I stay off the topic of Dunfermline.
Oh, OK, that's like, you know what, that's a good segue right
there. It's going in the Scottish Cup.
Finn could your team has spared me a little bit of pain and not
let my local rivals get into a Scottish Cup semi final.
What happened? Did you watch it?
I I luckily was not watching it. It was away in Portugal and
couldn't find, well, not surprisingly, I couldn't find a
a pub that was showing Dunfermline versus Aberdeen.
And yeah, horrific. Wasn't I'm, I'm not overly
surprised by the result, but the performance and the scoreline
where it could have actually been more than three nil, Yeah.
Was just a fracking goal shocking one from Matthew Todd.
I mean, he's had he's wound up with Rovers fans in the past,
but I mean, it's such a joke. Yeah, include me, I I include
myself in that. But I mean, there's a sniff of
offside in that goal. The the head, the defender, the
headers at clear is under pressure.
I guess you could say if I'm an offside attacker, maybe VAR
would have ruled that out. Who knows?
They weren't covering that game because it was at East End Park
and he's didn't fair play term. One touch caught on a volley by
1 now and Aberdeen's chasing from that point and then Thomas
grabs two goals after him and like Aberdeen, the family's
outside by that point. Yeah, no, I mean, it's, it's,
it'll be the first year where Aberdeen's not Hamden for four
years. So yeah, at this point and but.
Not reigning champions out. Yeah, I know.
I was. I was, I think.
Clanging on to that last. Year.
So the amount of times I've used on you, no, I was kind of that
was the last kind of hope I had for the season because obviously
leagues done were clearly bottom 6, not even mathematically
possible. And now the job is just don't
get scraped into a relegation playoff.
Honestly, did you ever start about the last time a Scottish
Cup semi final included that? No, I didn't if you know in the
well there's no in the comments. Last time a non premiership team
got to a Scottish Cup semi final this is a few that spring to
mind. Ross County and it's 201020170.
Could have been a night. So that's a shout.
When they got to the final against Celtic.
Yeah, yeah, that's can't really. Oh, another one.
Yeah, if you don't let us know in the comments, but obviously
Dunfermline will be at Hampden against one of Falkirk Celtic or
and then St. Mirrenor Partick Thistle tonight
which? Is going on tonight.
So obviously Falkirk won two, one against Dundee United.
That was Yeats and Stewart Barnett.
Stewart obviously in great form, Great Fork came back on.
He was on loan at Dunfermline first half of the season,
returned to Falkirk and he he's he's settled in quite well to
the squad, grabbing goals I did. See him I did see a comment
online someone saying that he has Jamestown written all over
him. You know, let's see, let's let's
see if he makes a bigger move, but.
See where Shanklin ends up at the end of the track window but
no is rise from. What is it?
The city? What the 7th?
Uni student? Yeah, the 7th tier.
Shared a pitch. I know, I know a boy that should
have pitched on my head what he was like.
He was like prattling on. He's really good.
He's really good and. He's not bad, yeah, 7th year
start of last season, then we'll say got the move, been on loan
at Dunfermline and yeah, he's banging him in I think.
Yeah, he scored a hat trick in the Premiership, did you Scored
a couple of races and yeah, he's really kicking on.
And I think we mentioned off camera that with the injuries
we've got in the Scotland squad, it might not be about outside
show. Obviously it's a yeah.
It's a friendly, definitely, yeah.
I saw him, I saw I saw James McFadden the other day was
talking him up for for Scotland as well, talking about his all
around games, really good finishes.
He's a Cali, he's pacey and obviously he's finishing as
well. And again, like you say, we're
not overly blessed for forward options or also we have forward
options in the Scotland team that you know exactly what
you're going to get from them. So I'm sure we're going to talk
about it. But this, this camp in March, I
think it's the opportunity, given that Clark will know
ultimately what most of his squad is, let's be honest, for
the summer. Probably 18 of exactly 23 or 26
because. He's so loyal and that's the
team he's got. Yeah, it's a great opportunity.
I think there'll be a lot of players that come into this
squad in March, like Mark Leonard as well, was getting
linked, yeah. Yeah, he got there was a story
yesterday about him potentially getting called up.
I think I I said on the last podcast, I said wild card and
you you went Mark Leonard, not that Mark Leonard.
That's horrible show, No. I did that.
I did not see as a horrible. I just said.
You said that was really rude. Said it has maybe, maybe it was
a bit rude, but it was, you know, it is the most competitive
area of the pitch in terms of the Scotland squad.
Yeah, obviously. And I think we, you also tapped
Elliot. What?
One of the one thing I'd. Say was one would get an FN but
not both. But yeah, no, things are going
good. Yeah, Ellie, what gave us a
following Instagram the other day as well.
So good lad. I'll be definitely support him a
bit more. Now, yeah, but we'll talk about
Mother in a minute once we've wrapped up the Scottish Cup
stuff. So I, Dunfermline and Falkirk
were the first teams into the semi final draw hasn't been made
as of right now. So you guys are going to make
tonight. Get me tonight.
We we're just going to have to guess who's won out at party can
sit man, Obviously sit man will be favourites there.
Me and gorgeous. I will then.
I think, I think there's an upside there.
I genuinely think. There is, I think, fate bookies.
Surely they'll. Be all well bookies, yeah, but
in the Premiership St. Mirren have been Yeah, all
again. In the cup, though.
Yeah, well, all right, the cups, if they hadn't won the Cup, I
think Stephen Robinson would probably be sacked.
Yeah. So.
But again, I think, I think I think in, in in the same way
that I think you could kind of smell and upset in the air last
night with Dunfermline against Aberdeen.
Yeah, just the general mood music around Aberdeen and also
St. Mirren just recently.
The form just has not been there.
I think Partick will be answering their job.
It's crazy. Could.
You imagine that would be like Hampden semi final of
Dunfermline versus Partick? Yeah, goodness me, felon Falkirk
that'd be that's I mean, they're they're rivals to degree.
Yeah, so I say to the Greeks, holds tightly 5.
Derby I think the best would probably be Falkirk and Celtic
because I think they'd be the team that would give them the
biggest run for. You're looking for the.
I just want. Final get put out.
Imagine like a Falkirk Dunfermline final.
That's what I want to see, honestly.
That's that's a shot of glory level.
Same thing were mentioned there. Interesting game I blocks and
last few hours has come to pass. Yeah, and Celtic didn't
register. I mean we didn't see them
register and we also noticed on the stats apps not a single
shot. In 120.
Not even a short target, a shot. Until the penalty.
Shot until the penalty. Shot for that goal, but that's.
A goal My Ada was ruled out. Which, which again, that looked
so tight and obviously I, I appreciate when they do the kind
of the angles and replays, the broadcast angles are different
to what the V are looking at, certainly from the screen that
we were looking at. Again, we're looking at a big
projector. Maybe wasn't a sharp image.
It's hard to see. I think it was from scales flick
on maybe. I think he's he's come back from
an offside position to flick the ball on.
Yeah. And then when he headed it and I
was like, offside there. So I think he's come from an
offside position. Yeah, I guess so tight.
And then obviously Rangers scored and that was ruled out.
But I mean, you, you said at the time you're like, I think Mark
VAR might intervene here. And I mean, you got the replay.
You only handballed it twice. Yes, when you saw when you when
you it was it was you like it. Like I said, like I said in the
pub, it was one of those ones when you see it from the wide
angle, the scramble inside the so many players, it's pinging,
it's deflecting the ball ends off the back of the net and I
turned turned to James. I said this has got AVAR rule
out written all over it. And then, like you said, you
should be there to be fair as him.
I guess the defender tries to hook it clear and his arm just
happens to be there. It comes off his arm.
It was like this looks like he's basically.
Punched it into the net, yeah, but.
You can things he goes to be celebrating with his arms.
In the air, convinced. With celebrations it.
Really knows though. No, but there's no.
This goes crazy like Bar is, yeah, if you make it because Bar
is going to rule it out. But like, he was so convinced
with celebration. I was like, oh, maybe not Like
he looks quite adamant that's going to stand.
Then you saw the replay and I, like a chuckle, went around the
pub like everyone was watching because they're like, that's so
ridiculous. Yeah.
So game, game to pass 120 minutes played.
Celtic have not had a shot on target.
Rangers was a good game like. Rangers like for.
For a nil, nil. No, it was, it was one of those
nil Nils. It was good fun.
It was intense. Well, I think obviously.
Rangers point of view because they were just the most anytime
you looked up dominant, they were around the box yeah,
Celtics 18 yard box was just penned in and you just couldn't
really like just break the dam there and get in.
I mean obviously they were they were missing but I think I think
it was hinted at in the pre match with Martin O'Neill.
But like obviously Cal McGregor and Karen Tierney both missing.
Like obviously no one at that club, at Celtic, this season's
had a brilliant season, apart from maybe Negrin is the one.
That's the one outstanding player there.
Sometimes been a scapegoat for Celtic fans.
But you know, even even with that context, like these are
still big, big, big players for Celtic to be missing for a trip
to Ibrox. And you're right, they they,
they, they really struggled to get any foothold in the game all
game. Yeah, I, I think I heard a stat
when I was you. You showed me obviously the,
the, the, the scenes that came after the game, which we'll get
onto, but it was something like they're a fourth ever when Ibrox
in the Scotch Cup and their first, oh, since 1950s.
Yes, I'm in crisis. Yeah.
And they? Probably didn't meet, I mean.
Yeah, we meet in the semifinals usually.
Yeah, yeah, they. Forgot to heat up the balls
this. Time.
Yeah, they keep the balls, that is.
It joking for legal reasons. That was a joke.
That was if there's anyone from this, that was a joke.
Yeah. So I penalty shout.
Rangers, having been on top for the whole game, managed to put
two over the bar. Including Tavernier, like I
said, again, libel, the meme of penalty to Rangers.
Tavernier scores. He's the one that puts it over.
Yeah, yeah. So I get like, like we said
there, so Celtic go to Ibrox, play 120 minutes, don't have a
single shot on goal and then Rangers, the keeper doesn't even
have to make a save in the shootout and.
Both. Both penalties over the.
Bar and it's Thomas Kevan Shara. Shara.
Yeah, that scores the winner and then just bedlamber UPS.
Obviously Celtic progress to the semi finals, the Celtic and the
first time they've had the broom on stand in a while, which is
disappointing, is a spectacle. You know, it really helps,
Scott. It's an advert for Scottish
football. You know, same in Edinburgh,
Darby, when you've got the full away end, it just looks good and
I think the Celtic fans obviously spoil it.
Spell onto the patch union bears then, which who are at the
opposite end of the pitch behind the goals.
Don't know the name at stand, but you know, opposite from the
brilliant stand they come spelling onto the pitch and it
looks like it's kind of fizzling out.
But I mean, Celtic players aren't really helping themselves
in the way because not blaming the group, but that Thomas
Vanchara, he's taking selfies with guys like you.
Don't not naturally you would expect that again like Celtic,
Celtic, I think it frankly all all teams that would win cup
game at Ibrox, they'd go to their own fans like that static.
No, no, go to your own fans. And it's the fact they've gone
up the other end and then they found their fans on the pitch.
Yeah. And then before you know it,
again you see the clips. I think O'Neil as well.
He's he's on the pitch and he's got fans running up to him
grabbing a selfie with him. And again, in that moment,
you're like, what can you do? Yeah, they they make, they get
off the pitch of. Fair, I can accosted someone for
a selfie today. You did, yes.
Do share Share with. So basically I was saying the
football realm, there was a big result for Scotland, the rugby
yesterday, man. The biggest result, a record,
was. A huge result and captain.
See only two Pilates. You know, 2 Pilates.
I mean, thank you for that. Yeah, I was.
Yeah. I've got it wrong every time
I've said it, so go ahead and save me there.
One more time. See you only two.
O'clock Sione tipple or two. I was walking the dog down to
Stockbridge and I turned the corner and there he is just
killing about in the street by his son.
So as you know, I'm, yeah, I'm crazy fan Shara, but I didn't
really give Sione much an option there.
Yeah, come on, let me take a fool.
So do your impression of what you said about your dog.
He's saying no, no, he's like, he's like, he was just a good
impression. But, you know, he had his wee
boy and he was like, oh, let's see all this guy's doggy and
like. Do the voice, do the do the
voice? What's that said?
Blue look, my son, nobody, he said.
He's like my son. He's like, leave my son a little
doggy. I was like, I was like.
Great. But things Ziggy can be, yeah,
Ziggy was like not face at all. So.
He seems like a sound guy. Just to very quickly be on this
tangent, did you see the moment between him and Princess Anne
yesterday after the game? This is because, again, if you
saw it the last time after the Calcutta Cup win, when we beat
England, Sione goes up to get presented with the trophy and
he's a very obviously very emotional person, a very big
person, big personality, big guy.
He just instinctively goes in to hug Princess Anne, which
obviously with like Finners watch the crown, you know, like
royal protocol not allowed. You can't do that.
You can't hug Princess Anne.
I love it. So that became a bit of a
talking point after that game. So then yesterday we beat
France, record result, biggest win over France ever.
We stuck 90 points. Unbelievable.
Unbelievable goes up and then like you say, they both see each
other, they both gotta go hug. Nah.
And it was. Just class formal, classic.
Kept it, kept it, kept it formal.
And then yeah, I got the self with him.
I know I'm going up it myself. Yeah.
And I make Grant and Hanley like 10.
Oh yeah, come on. I was like, what's going on?
I felt like I was like a simulation.
I was like, you know, Scotland captain being on Scotland
combinated as Walker so. Grant and Hanley come on the
podcast, please. Yeah, I don't know.
I was too nervous. I was like.
Neighbor. Yeah, Grant.
Anyway, right. So what we're talking about
this? Oh, yeah, Yeah.
And like, yeah. And I think this, there was then
the ringing bears, it looked like they're going off, then
come back up. There's like flares getting
chucked in there. Was an invisible wall for a bit,
and then. You meanie joke because the
commentators always go, oh, these are things you don't like
to see and you always think these are scenes we love to see.
But then when we saw the fans coming right across and the
players going to be like, actually, these are scenes you
don't like to see. You know the certain fans have
got the spectacle the Brimon stand again you know they've a
guest abuse that privilege in a way but porn onto the patch and
then you just yeah, it's just it's not a great look.
But I mean overall I mean you touched on it.
You said it just shows how much a pressure cooker Scottish
football is a season yeah, 1 result like that has like to
like, you know an outburst I box and you do feel like that stuff
is bubbling over from the league and the way a. 100% go it.
It definitely speaks to just how much kind of general disruption
there's been in Scottish football this season.
You know, the fact that you've got our resurgent Motherwell
who've come out, who've come out of nowhere and who are doing
fantastically well. Obviously we can speak about it,
but also they they, they were derailed a little bit yesterday
with that one. But obviously with Hearts being
so fantastic, getting that lead at the top of the table, there
was a real intense energy and I think you could tell it, even if
we were just watching it on TV, you could feel the atmosphere
from that stadium, the desperation from both sets of
fans to get the win because it meant so much more to both of
them. Every time Celtic, Rangers, not
bloody so I can. I can feel how loud it is in the
stadium just watching on the telly.
Precisely. And again, it just speaks to,
like I said, just how much pressure there is on both of
those clubs this season that there can just be that amount of
head loss from all involved at the end of a game.
Like that head losses about that was that was generational head
loss. And it'll put like genuinely, I
think it'll put real doubt in the minds of Rangers fans and
Rangers players and Rangers, the Rangers management, the fact
that you know, you've had two games against Celtic in the last
week, not one either of them should have won both of them.
You've got two goal lead in the first one and let it let it come
back to two each. And then today, like we said,
dominant from start to finish and don't win.
So like just going to put a doubt in the mind as to what
happens next. Yeah, and then Danny Rowland to
you after the game was there? Yeah, quite something,
obviously. Just kind of the truth.
World that we live in, Yeah, trying.
To shy away. From fingering.
Just trying to shy away from anything.
What was the question? Yeah, to see.
Season at the end and he went. I didn't see anything in
penalties. I didn't.
I didn't see anything. I was on the tunnel, No,
obviously Celtic staff I think was one of the the first ones to
get attacked. There's a blood and then I was
about to say yeah. Well, that was from transfer,
that was from the game, but. Yeah, I think again.
It's look, it's one of the it's, it's one of those ones that all
will come out in the fullness of time, I'm sure.
I mean, I'm sure you remember the initial headlines after 2016
when Hibs Rangers played in the Scottish Cup final.
There's a lot of headlines about how many assaults had happened
on the pitch. And you know, there's a lot of,
there'll be a lot of things that will, it'll become clear in the
fullness of time, I'm sure. I've just got 1 old farm game to
go left. If there's also, I'm sure
that'll be a quiet affair. Yeah, yeah.
Nice calm one. Yeah, so I obviously Simon and
participle tonight, we don't know what happens.
You will don't. By the time this comes out,
we'll know what the four teams and the draw for the semi
finals. So that'd be really good fun.
Looking forward to that return to league action.
So much praise on Motherwell over the last couple of weeks.
I. Was really feel really big them
up I. Feel like praise as was taken.
It was you know, it was it was to the point people were really
starting to go to the point where I actually said we're
going to do. I had a funny segment plan for
this episode where we're going to go can Motherwell do you
still want Hearts to win the league?
And I'll go no. And oh, you don't want Hearts to
win. And I I want Motherwell to win
and I go oh, so like so wise and, you know, so different.
But yeah, obviously Motherwell have finally been stopped in
their tracks. And it was by Dundee for the
teams. Yeah.
I mean, I mean it's not, I mean it's by means not, it's not
over, but you know, when they really put them on the hunt for
Celtic Rangers. They would have been right
behind them, yeah, and especially with the draw between
between Celtic and Rangers. Yeah, but at dense park.
Are we saying, are we saying this is the start of the
narrative that Stephen Presley should be the next Celtic
manager? A lot.
A lot that I just see. A few of them too.
I think Motherwell fans will be loving it if Stephen Presley is
the next manager. Not Yens.
Yens can state you can have Stephen Spain.
But. I'm, I mean, yeah, for like,
like Stephen Presley said, for a job team, they've had some
cracking results. Yeah, beat Motherwell, beat
Celtic and Rangers this season. And yeah, the team probably at
least expected to do it. Although Yensworth Lasso did say
in his post match that it's the team that probably given him the
most trouble of all the teams and they've troubled them every
game they played the season. Face again.
Again as well, I think if you look at you look at the stats
from that game as well. I didn't watch full game, saw
the highlights, but did seem to be similar to most other
Motherwell games this season where Motherwell dominating
possession, had more shots, more extra.
More everything. It wasn't an off day.
Exactly. It was an aberration.
Precisely. This doesn't necessarily have to
be the end of the road or a derailing of anything.
It's a continuation. And sometimes you get games like
that where it just doesn't fall for you.
You lose the game. But all the metrics were there
that it's they were still the performance still seemed pretty
good. Yeah, nobody was expecting that
definite coupon Buster. For some people, I'm sure it
wasn't. Do you even?
Watch No. Better.
Experience, yes, including on a coupon that had Italy beating
England in the Six Nations. So thanks, Motherwell.
Yeah, first time ever. England first time ever in 33.
Yeah, you just needed. Motherwell to be.
Done the best The best odds on the thing on your. 1.85 odds,
yeah. Yeah, crazy.
Thanks guys. So I we've covered Scottish Cup,
we've covered league action, One last opportunity to touch on the
Scottish national team. Just always a good opportunity.
Yeah, always a good opportunity. The World Cup, we're going to
talk coming up. Yeah, we're going to how far
away? It's 100. 90 days, 99 days until
our first match, if I'm not mistaken, because I think it was
100 days yesterday. Yeah, so, so not far to go and.
You know what the bet the the best thing I was saying this to
you earlier but so I've been out of the house last week but I'm
going to be back in the office tomorrow got messages last week
that big package has arrived at the front door of the office.
For me it is the Lego World Cup trophy, which it only goes to
show there is no limit to how much I'm going to spend on stuff
with a World Cup logo on it. So.
I'll get that tomorrow because I'm trying to go to well because
we're both going to all the games and the bank account is
already struggling. Instead of getting the Lego win
which was £150, we got this one which was.
The new one won't us by. Yeah, yeah, obviously Gianni
and. Fantino, thank you again.
No that was £20 off a TikTok shop so I hope it looks good in
in the set. I could not afford the Lego one.
But you had a voucher. But yeah, I saw I what's what's
excitement building there is is just creeping up news on the
opponent front, shall we say. Morocco have parted ways with
their manager. He's actually stepped aside for
their African Cup of Nations final loss to Senegal.
Obviously he took them to a semi final at the last World Cup in
Qatar. He's done quite well.
He's done quite well getting them to the final of this half
con. It was obviously Morocco.
So there's a lot of expectation. So controversy, yeah, that was
great. I don't think you could.
More see that? More See.
Yeah, more you do or don't want to see.
More drama. So, but yeah, his his departure
came with the quote from him, which was the team needs a fresh
face, a different energy and a new perspective with a new
coach. I think the team needs a new
lease of life before the World Cup, a new vision to continue
progressing. My decision to leave as part of
the team's evolution, now they have replaced them with Mohammed
U Abbey, there is obviously the predecessor. 20s coach.
Yeah, yeah, Pre won the World Cup of them.
So it's yes, Walid regular UE that's going out or Mohammed U
Abbey coming in. Yeah, sure, that pronunciation
was spot on as well. I suppose I YouTube that it was
so, but yeah, it's a. Shock.
It's a shock. I mean, Morocco, our team has
been doing really good things recently.
Yeah, I think I speak. I think #7 in the world right
now #8 something like. That should have been a pot one
team. Yeah, that's it.
So. That should have been 100.
Percent. I speak first of all when they
say. I think I would far prefer them
stepping away from the consistency of a tribexed
manager that's done well over the last couple of years into
the unfamiliar territory of on the 20s coach who has done good
things. But I mean as past.
Football, it's different. Yeah, so.
I think, I think also, while also appreciating that they'll
have a number of games, obviously we've got 3
potentially 4 friendly games between now and the World Cup.
Morocco will have ultimately the same.
So from us, from a kind of scouting and analysis
perspective, we will have a fair bit of evidence built up to how
they're settling in with this new coach.
So I think we should hopefully still be pretty prepared for
what's to come. And impose himself on a team.
No, it's not. It's really surprising, even
just from a purely selfish perspective.
Like if you were in a job that had the opportunity to go take
your country to a World Cup in three months time, surely you're
doing that. I think you walk away after.
Because I thought he was sacked because an employee.
I thought, I thought he was sacked because there was a lot
of talk when it was the Afghan final that there was, there was
some reports where if he doesn't win the half coin, he's getting
sacked. Then obviously they didn't
somehow. From what I read and this you
know the depends if it's true he made the decision to leave and
he was convinced to try and stay and they couldn't convince him
to stay and his statement kind of backs up really.
Or maybe he was pushed. You know, if you don't resign,
we're going to sack you. Yeah.
Keep your dignity. Who knows?
I. Think you did a bad job.
I mean, that final was like you said, like you know, when you
could have won or lost that. I think there's there's other
stuff going on there and. I don't think.
Well, yeah, first. 1st at the managers feet.
First African team ever to get to a World Cup semi final in
2022 and then obviously they. Were they were everyone's second
team And yeah, 22 for sure. And now in AFCON, we were
obviously all hate watching them and, you know, they were one
kick away from wouldn't it? Obviously that would have been
very controversial. The penalty, the penalty was not
a penalty. And I think even Chiefs are
higher ups at the AFCON. We're calling it embarrassing,
but, you know, I think justice was done in the end and it
didn't win it. But yeah, it's really
surprising. Not long to go.
As you say, only four, four games, but they're friendly.
So it's different to, you know, competitive match you'll.
See and then we'll see how they kick off against Brazil.
I know exactly well five games for the playoffs yeah so yeah,
yeah well return to the Scotland camp.
We had spoke in the previous podcast with injuries mounting
up got another potential one can Tierney could be for a little
bit I think rumours of a potential broken foot.
We're Googling what the recovery time for time to sport my broken
foot is. 3 months, so 100. Just another 100 days.
The World Cup that gives us. Maybe a weak wiggle?
Room a weak wiggle room but not great.
It's bad, hopefully. Not again, like, like like we
were saying earlier, obviously none of us are, none of us are
Doc, we're not doctors, we're not medically trained.
And again, I think, but I think the one thing we do know as
football fans is there's lots and lots of different bones in
the foot. And obviously it's going to
depend on which one's been broken, how badly, etcetera.
Obviously I'm a little bit older than you guys.
I'm old enough to remember, you know, England before one of
their major tournaments when David Beckham broke one of the
metatarsals in his foot. And I'm pretty sure it was the
Sun. On the front page of their paper
before the World Cup, they printed a basically scale model
of Beckham's foot that you could rub for good luck to to make his
meth parcel heal in time. So, yeah, there was it was a
full summer for all of the the narrative around football in
England was about a tiny little bone in David Beckham's foot.
So we will do that. Maybe the Daily Record or the
Sun will do KTS. If Cantini's going to score a
couple more goals like that, the World Cup against Denmark, I'll
be I'll rub his fit one of them, yeah.
What's your driver in? This house will be lining up.
If you want a massage, let us know.
Yeah. So I mean apart from him though,
I can't think on any recent bank.
So things have happened. Yeah, I think.
We'll see. McDonald's still out.
McDonald's. Yeah, McDonald's still out.
He's doing a spy quad. Inflammation injury, yeah, he's
kind of been living with for a little bit and they've just kind
of made the decision that I think.
Yeah, it's the same with John McGinn, where he maybe if it
wasn't the World Cup, would maybe push himself to get back
100%. But I think with John McGinn
said it with the EUR, he was like almost burned out.
And this time he's going to feel fresh, hopefully.
That's 100% like I I genuinely, I would happily have all the
guys injured right now, like get them, get them injured, give
them a nice wee break, little preseason, you know, to build
back their build their fitness back up few games the end of the
season off the off to the World Cup.
We touched on there, but John McGann been burned at the last
year. I mean, I think we've spoke
about this in the past as well. And I can't remember if we spoke
about it in the last podcast, but I had an interview with
Daryl Curry and I think it was Michael Stewart.
And I've seen that. And he actually they kind of
said what I've been thinking because I feel like there has
been a pattern of John McGann, who is a regularly very reliable
player for Scotland, quite often one of our go to men.
His summer performances in the international window in June
have quite often fallible part. Don't remember I'm doing too
much. The first year was second year
was he was not really that anything not I remember the game
at Dublin. We were played the northern walk
of Ireland, sorry, and the Nations League.
I think it was just after the World Cup, the World Cup
playoffs, where again the summer game actually.
Michael Buffet, Me. Yeah, that.
That long range one against Gordon three nil defeat.
But I just remember thinking watching John McGann in that
game going he must be absolutely cooked.
Because this is not the John McGann when no one may expect
because because. He didn't even get a break.
No, I mean he doesn't get a break.
And do you end the season back into the EUR Nations League and
then back to the season? Yeah.
And I know, I know, I'm just echoing what they said, like I'm
guessing you guys agree this because based on what you've
just said, there's AI think it is a good thing he's getting
this little break this because, you know, he said himself he's
like the first thing I thought it was World Cup when I got the
entry. You know, I don't blame him, but
like I think this really could benefit him because he'll be
coming into the World Cup off the back of things and be moms
on the sidelines. You'll get a nice
reintroduction. Like you said to.
Building up his fitness and that and we might hopefully peek in.
Yeah, yeah. Just, you know, ready to go
100%. When the rest because I get, I
get, I think like like, like you're saying there, the most
important thing now is just that everyone is fit and healthy and
well and ready to go. Because obviously, you know,
we're all, we're all speaking about this World Cup opportunity
is going to once in a lifetime opportunity for us as fans.
Obviously you got. It's not once in a life.
But you know, but you know what I mean?
Like 28 years is such a long time.
There's so many folks that weren't even alive the last time
we. Yeah, my brother was born in 95.
This is it, right? And he doesn't remember that.
And I'm. In 97.
An adult, you guys. Barely remember it.
I won't dox my own date of birth.
I do remember the last World Cup in 1998 just.
So what was you in the top acts? Exactly.
I was literally, literally my first ever football shirt was
that France 98 shirt, which I'm very, which I'm very proud of,
you know what I mean? So for, for these guys, they,
they deserve this opportunity to go to a World Cup.
And I think it would just be absolutely heartbreaking if any
of them were to miss it through it.
So I'm desperate that they all go.
And like we said there, you want them to be able to go in a way
that they can do it, do themselves justice.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, but as well, I don't
know by when you're talking about guys that deserve to go to
World Cups. Andy Robertson, goal and assist.
Lovely. I'll go.
Lovely. Reminiscent, almost.
I know it wasn't the exact same sort of goal, but reminded me of
his first goal under Clark. Yeah, if I was like the boxing.
Yeah, Cyprus, that was. Like Cyprus, wasn't it?
Tucked into the corner quite well.
Good to see him get a start for Liverpool again, even if it's
just in the cup. Yeah, I mean, he could have gone
away because there's rumours of him going to Athletic Madrid and
and. Then.
Spars and Spars was the one that was deadlined there near bouts
and he could have went and played 50 games, but it's
probably, again, selfishly, it's probably good that he's been
still. Want him playing some SO.
Yeah, he's no, but it's a good amount.
Like you, it's probably where he'll be again.
Like hopefully John McGinn peaking in fitness where he's
not very. Just like you're just walking
that tightrope of wanting them to like not wrapping them in
bubble wrap and not wanting them to play too much.
You don't. Want them to be like, yeah
again, not fit for the World Cup either, yeah.
I think as well the thing, the really, really nice thing about
that period, like you said, when there was the transfer of rumors
by the end of the window where he might have gone to Spurs.
What I really, really liked, I'm sure you guys enjoyed it as
well, was just seeing the kind of outpouring of Liverpool fans
online. Very different obviously to the
scenario with Trent Alexander Arnold even there was a fair bit
of comparison. But again, the reaction from
Liverpool fans being look, we understand why he'd want to
leave. Obviously he's not playing every
game. Kirk has his first choice like,
but good God, he's been a good player for us, a legend.
Well, this is it. And again, it's it's good
sometimes to take stock and step back and think actually, God,
you know what you will go down as a legend of that club.
You know, he's literally won everything there is to win
Champions League, Premier League, everything there is to
win. And you, you, you were saying
earlier in the pub, obviously his post match interview.
Where I was going to say just like in terms of talking to
Stocking, seeing what he's achieved, yeah.
You know, he was asked whether or not he's proved a point
tonight by, you know, Gordon, an assistant, but not he might get
a starting position for carcass and he just said, look, I've got
nothing to prove, which is a fairpoint.
You know, he's achieved so much. Look.
At my locker, look at, look at, look at the medals, look at what
I've achieved for this club like and the one thing he's missing
the legacy. Right there only.
Only a World Cup left, yeah. Yeah.
So that's always led to me to say so.
But but again as well, like I liked him.
I don't know if you guys saw it, but Kenny Douglasch in January.
On the warm up 7th. Yeah, on the warm up said
basically he hoped Andy Robertson stayed, not just
because he's he's a good player for Liverp Pool and he's done
really well, but he wanted him to stay, didn't want him to
leave in January because he said he deserves 100%.
And I think that's exactly what you're going to see this summer,
which again, like we said, befitting of the player and the
man and what he's done for that club.
So yeah, well, he can be. He can get his send off and
send, send him straight off the rock up.
Really was one of the first kind of modern fullbacks in in in the
new era. Him and our Alexander Arnold
kind of, Yeah. Reinvent revolutionized.
Money with like Manny and Salah yeah ahead of them they're just
unbelievable for that you're. Still a travesty.
Didn't get nominated for the Balandor in 20.
Yeah, 1829. Was the first thing I checked
when Mcdominy got nominated because I was like, well surely
Robertson was and he actually wasn't that.
That is kind of it. Wasn't the first one since I'm
Mccoist. Yeah, no, that shocked me.
But yeah, Robertson is a good goal and I play that scored a
goal. He got his first goal in Italy
here today. Yeah, Verona not beating Lewis
Fergusons Bologna. In Bologna as.
Well, yeah, so good result for a team that's like struggling at
the bottom of this table. I think it's 31.
I ended up. Yeah.
Great to do 1.
I don't know if one of them was dislodged.
Yeah, well, but anyway, get by, grab the second and it was, you
know, it was a nice little striker school, nothing overly
spectacular, but you want some confidence.
Yeah, basically I'm, you know, get his first goal in Italy and
hopefully I can kick on from there because he's someone I
would expect to see in this squad, which will be getting
released in the next couple of weeks, maybe next week before we
travel, before we host Japan and then travel down to Liverpool
for either coast. So yeah, aye.
We've covered everything there, though it's been a fairly busy
couple of days. Yeah, yeah.
So I think we'll call it there. But Gordon, glad to have you on.
I'm sure it's not the last time we'll have you and talking to
just can't. Wait to do this in Boston.
Hey, yeah, if we can get, yeah, one more check bag, we'll get
this. Yeah, Mammoth studio of all this
equipment out and yeah, maybe we can do a podcast in between
games one, maybe 87 now. Not the class, but anyway, yeah,
it's been a good one. I hope, hope people are enjoying
the the show and the way we're now doing this new dynamic.
It's been good fun, Absolutely brilliant.
Good Jackies and Moses in the next one.