Does Cyriel Dessers get too much criticism ? The Football Show LIVE w_ Scott Allan
Does Cyriel Dessers get too much criticism? Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Rangers: Cyriel Dessers' Last-Minute Equaliser Fuels Gers' Champions League Hopes
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In a thrilling Champions League third-round qualifier, Rangers secured a 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kyiv in the first leg. Andriy Yarmolenko put Kyiv ahead, but Cyriel Dessers delivered a dramatic injury-time equaliser for Rangers. The two teams will clash again in the second leg at Hampden Park on August 14, with the tie finely poised.
Also on The Football Show:
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00 Cyriel Dessers goal v Dynamo Kyiv
02:30 Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Rangers reaction
09:24 Rangers playing at Hampden
12:34 Kilmarnock v Tromso preview
20:39 St Mirren v Brann preview
30:57 St Johnstone 1-2 Aberdeen
34:44 Bojan Miovski transfer news and Celtic FC rumours
40:47 St Johnstone relegation battle
41:52 Luke McCowan Hibs transfer rumour
44:30 Scott Allan on signing for West Bromwich Albion
51:10 Celtic FC transfer news and rumours
54:32 Scott McKenna Las Palmas rumour
56:06 Peter Leven Raith Rovers manager news
Love Scottish football as much as we do? Subscribe to ScottishFootballRadioShow on Youtube for the latest Scottish football matches,
SUBSCRIBE: @ScottishFootballRadioShow On Youtube
In a thrilling Champions League third-round qualifier, Rangers secured a 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kyiv in the first leg. Andriy Yarmolenko put Kyiv ahead, but Cyriel Dessers delivered a dramatic injury-time equaliser for Rangers. The two teams will clash again in the second leg at Hampden Park on August 14, with the tie finely poised.
Also on The Football Show:
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00 Cyriel Dessers goal v Dynamo Kyiv
02:30 Dynamo Kyiv 1-1 Rangers reaction
09:24 Rangers playing at Hampden
12:34 Kilmarnock v Tromso preview
20:39 St Mirren v Brann preview
30:57 St Johnstone 1-2 Aberdeen
34:44 Bojan Miovski transfer news and Celtic FC rumours
40:47 St Johnstone relegation battle
41:52 Luke McCowan Hibs transfer rumour
44:30 Scott Allan on signing for West Bromwich Albion
51:10 Celtic FC transfer news and rumours
54:32 Scott McKenna Las Palmas rumour
56:06 Peter Leven Raith Rovers manager news
Love Scottish football as much as we do? Subscribe to ScottishFootballRadioShow on Youtube for the latest Scottish football matches,
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SportsTranscript
00:00Show on PLZ Soccer's YouTube channel, I'm Peter Martin, Scott Allan and Tamek Manassar
00:11with me here on this Wednesday with lots to talk about European football in mind. We'll
00:16look back over some domestic issues, the transfer window still open, lots of speculation and
00:22of course the managerial merry-go-round never too far away from our thoughts. Last night
00:28it was an excellent result for Rangers, 1-1 against Dynamo Kiev. It could have been a
00:34slender defeat up until that last second when up popped Cyril Dessers with the equalising
00:40goal. What did you make of it? Well I was training last night Peter so I caught the
00:44highlights today I felt. Rangers in the second half looked like they had a go. Dessers, for
00:49all the kind of criticism he does come under, he just keeps going. I think for the goal
00:54before he gets the finish he manages to set the ball to one of his teammates in the break
00:58and you get impact from Cherney, great ball and Dessers finally putting it back in. It's
01:03going to be a huge goal for Rangers I think, the tie. This is what the striker had to say
01:09about obviously the constant assessment of him as a striker. I don't have to answer people,
01:15I'm just doing my job for the team, for the manager and for myself. That's the only thing
01:20that matters. And over and above that he says it would be nice to get more recognition
01:25for what you do but I get the recognition inside the building and that is the most important
01:31thing. I don't think anybody can argue with that Tam because if you can block out the
01:35noise and just concentrate on what the manager thinks of you, that's the key issue. Yeah
01:40I think he's been written off very early doors by a lot of Rangers supporters. A lot of Scottish
01:45football supporters don't fancy him as a player but his goal scoring record was tremendous
01:49last season. Peter didn't take penalties either and I think if he was on the penalties
01:53he might have been near 30 goals. I think he's a marmite character. One thing I like
02:00about him is he doesn't hide. He's a great character, he's got a great mentality. Very
02:04easy, particularly at a club like Rangers if you miss chances of getting criticised
02:07just to hide and shy away from it. He doesn't, he's always in there, he kept going to the
02:11very last minute. The Scots said they had a great ball in from Cherney, substitutes
02:15made a big impact for Rangers. He looks a quality player I think once he gets up to
02:19fitness. You see him wee flashes last night, I don't think he's quite 100% yet. Great
02:24whit ball and he gets hisself in there again and he missed a couple but he doesn't let
02:27it affect him and he got a crucial, crucial goal for Rangers in the tie. And if anything
02:31it just shows you though, if you give away, the difference between domestic football sometimes,
02:37if you give the ball away in Europe sometimes you're killed right away and that's when
02:40Yilmaz gave the ball away, you know, quick two passes, bang, Yarmolenko's in there and
02:45it's in the back of the net. Yeah, Yilmaz does give the ball away but they still had
02:49a decent set up behind the ball, Rangers and I think that's their weakness, Rangers. We've
02:54seen it even at the weekend at Tyne Castle, cross balls and balls in behind full backs
02:59that caused them all sorts of problems and again, that's kind of ridiculous at the moment
03:03to lose a ball within a couple of passes, the ball's in the back of the net, guys not
03:07taking responsibility. It's been a common theme for Rangers for the last couple of months.
03:12If you're going to credit the manager, you have to credit him, as you mentioned there
03:16Tam, it's a squad game. You need to have strength on the bench that can impact the game, make
03:23changes. Sometimes over the last few years you've looked at the Rangers bench and you've
03:28thought to yourself, well there's not really something that can change the outcome of this
03:33game. He's got to try and get more of that before he gets to the end of the transfer
03:39window. Yeah, I think once the new players settle in Peter, there'll be quality. I think
03:44obviously the Dutch centre-half proper, I think he's not quite 100% fit yet. Cherney
03:49came on last night, as I said I thought he looked good. Sterling came on, Sterling when
03:54he's fit is probably one of Rangers' best players. In the middle of the park I thought
03:57he was excellent in there, got Rangers a real foothold in the game towards the end of the
04:01game and the substitutions changed the game. Scott Wright, he hooked him at half-time,
04:07I was surprised that he started but he didn't wait about, he's 65-70, he changed it straight
04:12away at half-time. They were 1-0 down in the second half. I thought Rangers thoroughly
04:16deserved it. I was disappointed with Dynamo Kiev. I thought from a team that's beat a
04:21decent Serbian team 9-2 in aggregate, I was expecting a bit more from them but I don't
04:25want to take anything away from Rangers. They played well and they're now favourites to
04:28go through in the tie. The only unknown in this, Scott, is they've put themselves in
04:34such a good position but suddenly you're saying to yourself, wait a minute, I didn't
04:38think there were any great shakes Dynamo Kiev but that's more down to the fact that Rangers
04:43played really well, pressed when they needed to but suddenly you've got that Hamden equation.
04:48Yeah, well listen, Rangers have got experience of playing there. I think Rangers in Europe
04:53when they play counter-attacking football, they do look a much more organised and better
04:57side. I think domestically when they're asked to go on the front foot they have struggled
05:01in terms of the transition against other teams and that's how you would play against
05:05them, looking to catch them out down the sides when the full backs are going high but I think
05:09Rangers are really looking forward to it. It'll be interesting to see what Hamden is
05:12like backed by a full Rangers support and it's a Champions League qualifier and there's
05:18a lot to play for for Rangers financially in terms of the club as a whole and in terms
05:23of their players.
05:24Yeah, financially I think it could transform, you know, you're listening to John Bennett
05:28talking about that kind of short-termism has to be a more long-term view. They have
05:34to change the mindset of everyone in the club and with the fans as well. If you've suddenly
05:39got access to £40-60 million, it's going to make it a lot easier. It might even release
05:45something for the manager a little bit more before you get to a transfer window closing.
05:50Yeah, and obviously they're guaranteed Europa League group stages and that's still a decent
05:54amount of money but the Champions League's, you know, astronomical in terms of the finances
05:58you only see the money that Celtic are going to make in the group stages. So I think that
06:02Rangers would definitely spend it as well. I think if Rangers had it, they would spend
06:06it. I don't think they would be quite as pragmatic as Celtic in terms of transfers but, listen,
06:11they've got a long way to go. They've still got to win the home tie and then Salzburg
06:15are 20 waiting in the next round which will be tough as well. I think a lot of Rangers
06:20fans looking at that team last night would have feared the worst, you know, you'd have
06:23thought...
06:24They're still trying to find, he's still trying to find his strongest team. He doesn't know
06:26which strongest team is yet and if they get through the Kiev tie and progress a bit better
06:32in terms of domestically and maybe put some wins together, it kind of leaves them in a
06:35good position going into the next qualifier if they do get past Kiev.
06:40Yeah, I think they deserve the credit for... I thought they played some nice football in
06:46patches where they could get the ball on the deck, nice interplay. The goal was all about
06:51that. It was all about quick, one little touch, getting the ball forward quickly. I just wonder
06:56Tam, we're always talking about teams and how they will be looking to bring players
07:01in. I'm curious to see how he might engineer one or two out the door.
07:07Yeah, I think the big one is Tavernier. I think he's been heavy on teams in Turkey,
07:12teams in Saudi. Obviously you've got Carntwell there who he doesn't want. I think they'll be
07:18actively agents, they'll be working in the background to try and get him out. Kieran
07:22Dowell came on last night but I don't think he's made a major impact either.
07:27So I think there will be players trying to get out the door, Peter, to try and free some
07:30more money out.
07:32Can you see them, I'm just throwing this at you, just out of left field the two of you,
07:36could you see them maybe looking and seeing if somebody started to bite with Butland?
07:42It would need to be £10 million, Peter, plus. It would need to be £10 million plus.
07:48Such an important position in your team.
07:50Yeah, and he's signed Liam Kelly though. I know some people might not be too enamoured
07:55with him.
07:55How does that look to the fans again though when they're trying to build something? It
07:59would be a big shock to me.
08:02He is a sellable asset and they have been talking about it.
08:06That balance between the sellable and being in touch with your fan base and where the
08:12club's going, especially at a range as a Celtic, is huge.
08:16The only way they'd do that, Peter, is if they could bring in a Joe Hart, Casper Smyco
08:21type, really experienced on a free, 35, 36 year old goalkeeper in the background and
08:26you take the money for him, £10 million, you've got him, take him straight in, which
08:30I think Rangers would possibly do and bank the money.
08:32Yeah, I'm quite confident Rangers are getting past this hurdle.
08:35The other game I watched the highlights of at Salzburg, you know, looked good, 2-0, they
08:42were mega confident, they gave away a cheap free kick at the end of the game, right in
08:47the 91st minute and if you see the free kick and how he dispatched it into the corner of
08:51the net, it's a lifeline for 20 but I still fancy Salzburg to go through.
08:55Yeah, I've seen some of the stats, they dominated the game, Peter, I think they were by far
09:00the better team.
09:01I think they're obviously a wee lifeline for 20 but I think Salzburg would still be
09:04favourites to go through.
09:05But I don't know if Dinamo Kiev had an off night last night or if it was Rangers playing
09:09well but if that's Dinamo Kiev at their best, then I think Rangers will definitely beat
09:15them at Amden.
09:16Yeah, absolutely.
09:17Fingers crossed to go through for that one and you can give us your view on how you think
09:21that's going to play out, the return leg at Amden.
09:24It's going to be interesting to see how the fans respond to it and of course the other
09:27thing about it is, it's not my favourite ground, it's alright for us swanning about in the
09:33press box but I'm not a big fan of it on a regular basis.
09:39No, I think, listen, Amden, even for myself, I've not had many great days out of Amden,
09:43I've been on the end of a few defeats there.
09:45I think it doesn't have the same appeal as what Anibus is going to give you and we know
09:50how crucial in terms of Rangers' European performances that has been over the past few
09:54years.
09:55I think if you go back maybe a season and a half ago and you're saying it's Salzburg
10:00to get into the Champions League group stages, you'd bit your hand off.
10:04It shows you the decline in terms of the debt for the squad that Rangers have had but listen,
10:09it's Amden, it's still going to have your fan, they're going to need to make it home
10:12because it seems to us as if they're going to be there for a while.
10:15So we need to make it as hostile as we can.
10:18What's your most painful Amden experience?
10:22It must have been Hibs-Falkirk.
10:24Hibs-Falkirk 1-0 in the semi-final Scottish Cup.
10:27It was Falkirk-Inverness in the final, do you remember?
10:30Oh, you could have had a winner's medal there, you'd have been red hot favourites.
10:34We probably should have had chances that game.
10:37Lost one for a massive set-piece and then I was on the bench for the Keele.
10:41Remember, we scored for Hibs and Keele were still celebrating.
10:46Oh, I do, not been good to them.
10:50Tam, Amden?
10:52Getting beat for Livingston in the final with Hibs.
10:54Yeah.
10:54After we beat Celtic in the quarter-finals and Rangers in the semi,
10:57we lost to Livingston in the final with 40,000 fans there.
11:00So we hadn't won a cup for donks and we lost 2-0.
11:04Yeah, I remember that day, I think I was able to, during the game,
11:08able to count the entire Livingston fan base who stayed behind at the end of it.
11:14That was painful to say the very least.
11:17Okay, two guys with a bit of pain.
11:19There have been highs along the way, I'll try and dedicate a programme to that when we get round to it.
11:25Yeah, absolutely.
11:27Okay, if that was the European game, there's European games to talk about, of course,
11:33involving two Scottish clubs, Kilmarnock and St Mirren as well.
11:37And we're keeping our fingers crossed that slowly but surely,
11:42we get, I think four would be fantastic in European football.
11:47Scott, I don't know about yourself.
11:48Oh, it'd be amazing.
11:49It'd be amazing, that is a big ask.
11:53But listen, I think we all want to see Scottish clubs go and do well in Europe
11:57and it can't just be Rangers and Celtic flying the flag.
12:02We want to see Scottish clubs take the next step with their hearts.
12:05Obviously, they had a few seasons back, so all eyes will be on it, yeah.
12:09Yeah, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
12:12He's got a wry smile on his face as if to say I'm being maybe overly optimistic at four.
12:18I like the look of hearts because of the depth that I think they've got on their bench as well,
12:24whether they're able to add to that, who knows.
12:27Kilmarnock, I was disappointed that they lost to Circle Bruges,
12:32albeit Bruges are a good side.
12:35So now they've got Tromso.
12:37Yeah, and I didn't think Circle Bruges were outstanding.
12:41I thought they were okay, Peter.
12:43I mean, I've seen a wee bit of the second leg and they were the better side.
12:46But yeah, I think the Norwegian team,
12:49I don't think there's much in it between Scottish teams and Norwegian teams.
12:51I think St. John's beat Rosenberg a few years ago.
12:54So I think those two, obviously St. Maarten, I think have got Bergen.
12:58So I think they're 50-50 games, Peter.
13:01I don't think they are.
13:01You need to probably take a lead over to Norway for the home leg.
13:05But Hearts have got a pretty winnable game for me as well.
13:08You know, Victoria Pilsen and a team from, I think, from Ukraine.
13:13So they have got a chance to get into Europa League as well.
13:15But if Kilmarnock, or even if one of them get into the group stages,
13:18I think it would be fantastic.
13:19Yeah, our man Patrick Mullin was out there in the Kilmarnock camp
13:23to find out what the big news was ahead of the game.
13:26Kilmarnock will take on Norwegian outfit Tromso here at Rugby Park tomorrow night
13:30as they look to move one step closer to group stage European football.
13:34It was such a disappointing result for them against Circle La Bruge,
13:38which has now seen them drop into the Conference League.
13:40But Derek McKenna is hoping that European lesson can stead them well tomorrow night.
13:45Last couple of games, it's the first time my players have played in Europe
13:49for the majority of them.
13:51And I think it's exciting.
13:52And we've again reminded them today about, you know,
13:56it doesn't come around all the time.
13:57We want that to be the case.
13:58But in your careers, it doesn't always come around.
14:01And you've got to try and embrace it.
14:03And hang about as long as you can.
14:06There's a brilliant tie for the winners of this tie ahead.
14:12A really attractive tie to get in that playoff spot.
14:15We want to try and be that team.
14:16Big advantage for Tromso will be their fitness,
14:19given there are 18 league games into their campaign.
14:22In between the two ties, well, they have been given a break by the Norwegian FA.
14:26Not something the Scottish FA have given Kilmarnock.
14:29And while Derek McKenna, well, he was in a jokey mood about the decision,
14:33he hopes that maybe later down the line,
14:35something could change for Scottish teams.
14:37I'd rather not go to Celtic Park, eh?
14:40With a depleted squad.
14:43No, I'm not, I think there's a case in point,
14:45maybe somewhere throughout the season when,
14:48if teams are progressing, you know,
14:49and we've seen that before when Rangers and Celtic
14:53go a bit further with runs and stuff like that.
14:55But there might be a case in point there.
14:57But I think at this stage of the season, we're all,
14:59certainly for us, we're kind of looking for games.
15:02It's not a big, too big an issue.
15:04Looking at the Norwegian outfit,
15:06they have struggled 18 league games, yes,
15:08but only 18 points accumulated across all of those games.
15:12They'll be hoping they can pick up some European form,
15:14starting here tomorrow night.
15:16It's Kilmarnock versus Tromso in the Europa Conference League,
15:19third rounds, and PLZ stock will be here live,
15:21keeping you up to date.
15:23Yeah, mid-table for them in the Norwegian league.
15:26There's no point in that.
15:27Are we going to have a moan about the SFA or the SPFL?
15:31I don't think, at this stage of the season,
15:33I think they need games, Peter.
15:34Pre-season, you know, it's the start of the season,
15:36you're wanting games of football.
15:38So, although they lost heavily at the weekend,
15:40I think the players that played 90 minutes
15:41will feel a massive benefit of that going into this game.
15:45I don't think Tromso will be as good as Serko Brugge.
15:47And I thought Kilmarnock were very unlucky not to beat them.
15:49So I'd fancy Kilmarnock to beat them at home
15:52and then trying to get a chance away from home.
15:54But I think the Norwegian team's a lot of AstroTurf over there.
15:56So I think they'll be quite happy on the turf.
15:58There's a lot of teams in Norway playing Astro.
16:01Yeah, the other thing I was going to say to you is,
16:03I don't buy into anybody making any excuses or moaning
16:07about, you know, the particular fixture list.
16:10Because players just,
16:12players would rather play games regularly anyway.
16:14I heard Carlo Ancelotti talking about that.
16:17Top players doesn't know why they're moaning about being tired.
16:20They're so used to now in the top flight,
16:22playing Wednesday, Saturday, Thursday, Sunday.
16:26Yeah, I think at this stage of the season,
16:28as Dereby kind of says,
16:29you're actually looking for the games.
16:31Coming to this tie,
16:32I think the fixtures that they've had against Bruges and Celtic
16:36will stand them in good stead
16:37because they've spent a lot of time out the ball.
16:39They're kind of working on their units
16:40and I know it was disappointing on Sunday,
16:42but they'll be looking to go out
16:43and maybe do that to Tromso over there.
16:46So yes, if you guys are playing City,
16:49you're killing the Greggers,
16:50who over the years have played 60-odd games.
16:52They will be tired sometime during the season,
16:54but not at this stage.
16:55Yeah, I'm looking at the starting line-up for Kilmarnock.
16:59They've got a kind of a settled feel about them.
17:01Now, I know from his point of view,
17:05Derek's got Armstrong to come on.
17:08That was the starting 11,
17:09which was McCrory, Lyons, Mayo, Finlay, Bainbridge,
17:13Polwarth, Donnelly, Watson, Murray, Vassell and Kennedy.
17:18I think Armstrong, when he's fit,
17:19he is a real danger for them.
17:21And they've also got Marley Watkins.
17:23He's a big fan of Marley Watkins.
17:24Yeah, I think Armstrong kind of been the standout for me
17:28in terms of the numbers that he's produced
17:30over the last few seasons for Kilmarnock.
17:32I'm quite surprised he's maybe still there at this point.
17:35I thought a lot of teams would have been looking at him
17:38here and maybe down south.
17:40So he is, for me, their main man.
17:41He delivers balls out of box.
17:43Time will tell.
17:43He looks to cross early,
17:45not always chopping back and chopping back.
17:47It's in early.
17:47And he's had relationships with Vassell.
17:49And we know what Watkins can do as well.
17:51He's obviously been a player that's been prolific
17:55throughout his career in terms of up here.
17:56So I think Armstrong, for me, the main man.
17:59And if they can get him firing, fingers crossed,
18:01we'll have another team through.
18:02Yeah, OK.
18:03Paul Baird, not really confident in our feed
18:07about Keeley's chances.
18:08He says, Keeley will be out of Europe soon.
18:11So early days, but already our fan base
18:16is getting a little bit negative about Scottish football.
18:20I want them in there.
18:21And the reason I want them in there, Tam,
18:23more than anything for all the clubs,
18:25is just to open up the financial aspects of it.
18:29For some clubs, I mean, I mentioned to you last season
18:32about Hearts, had they beaten Zurich,
18:34it was seven to nine million pounds
18:36would have been in the kitty.
18:37It's huge, you know, Europa League,
18:39and then you drop down into Conference League.
18:42Even three million pounds is a game changer
18:45for clubs nowadays.
18:46No, it's for commanding St Mirren, Peter.
18:48I think even for Hearts, it's big money.
18:51It's difficult to get there.
18:52You've got to get through two or three rounds,
18:53which is the hard part.
18:55Obviously Hearts finished third,
18:57which is great.
18:57Their coefficient is so high
18:59that they're guaranteed group stage football.
19:02Same with Aberdeen, I cut the scenes as I go as well on Hearts.
19:04So listen, it's going to be difficult
19:07to get through two or three ties in Europe,
19:09but if you're lucky with the draw,
19:11then you can maybe get there.
19:13I've seen a few Irish teams in there over the years,
19:14and they've got a wee bit lucky with the draw.
19:16It's just, honestly, you need to try and keep away
19:18from the bigger clubs and try and get winnable games.
19:21Yeah, OK, winnable game then.
19:23Kilmarnock against Tromso.
19:25I'm going to go 2-0.
19:26Yeah, I think Kilmarnock will win.
19:27I'll go for 2-0 as well,
19:28and I think they'll get through.
19:29Scott?
19:31I'll go for 3-0.
19:34Mr Optimistic, eh?
19:35You weren't like that two minutes ago.
19:37But anyway, 3-0 is good.
19:39Listen, we'll take anything
19:40as long as they can keep a clean sheet.
19:42What do you think, Killy?
19:43Paul Baird's not too confident about it,
19:45but certainly we'd like to see them get a positive result.
19:49Thanks to so many of you for joining us
19:51on the live feed as well.
19:53Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 4 o'clock,
19:55you'll get content live on the football show.
19:58You'll also have the women's football show,
19:59which is out now, I think, on our channel,
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20:17If you want to know about what happens
20:19when a manager comes in,
20:21transforms a club,
20:22brings in good players,
20:24gets results,
20:25gets them in the top six,
20:27fills the community with excitement
20:29and knows what he's doing,
20:31then all you have to do is go down Paisley Way
20:34and look at the queues
20:35to get tickets for St Mirren games,
20:37because this one looks as if it's going to be a sellout.
20:40St Mirren against SK Brann.
20:43What an opportunity for the Saints to,
20:48I wouldn't say exceed expectations again,
20:50but they've just constantly,
20:52since Steven Robson arrived,
20:54gone up and up and up.
20:55Incredible, incredible job he's done.
20:57I think the only worry about it,
20:59I think Mark O'Hara might be a slight doubt.
21:02He's injured.
21:03So he's out for tomorrow, I think.
21:05He has a big loss in terms of his energy.
21:07He's driving, he's a goal threat.
21:09He's come up with some big goals for St Mirren over the years,
21:11but in terms of what Steven Robson's done with St Mirren,
21:14it's been incredible.
21:16They play Hibs at the weekend there.
21:18Clean sheet, three goals off the back of a European tie,
21:21so the place is full of confidence.
21:23They'll be thinking they can go on and get through this tie.
21:25Yeah, three good goals too.
21:28Well, good goals, yeah, from a...
21:29Passed back was a bit...
21:30Yeah, they passed back,
21:31but he still has to pick his player up.
21:33Yeah, I just think the way St Mirren are playing at the minute,
21:36they're really confident,
21:37and they took advantage of the mistakes
21:39that the Hibs defenders gave them that day.
21:41Yeah, it was painful on Monday for Tam,
21:43obviously realising that his team had been spanked,
21:46but they're your team as well.
21:49And you've played for them in two stints.
21:52We've been talking about the need for boardroom,
21:57any boardroom, to show a bit of spine, a bit of backing,
22:00and boy, does David Gray need it.
22:02He's brought in Nicky Caddon, he's the twin of Chris.
22:08He's got Junior Hoylett in there.
22:10I like that saying.
22:11I think he's real positive.
22:13He's a ball carrier.
22:15I think they definitely need him
22:17because that onus is on Martin Boye all the time
22:19in terms of taking him up the pitch.
22:21So I think that's a really good sign.
22:22And in terms of, as a whole,
22:26they've obviously tried to put a new defence together,
22:28and it didn't go to plan.
22:29On Sunday, there's no denying that.
22:31So they'll be looking to sort that out first and foremost,
22:34because that is your foundation
22:35for how you want to play the rest of the season.
22:37So it might just be one of the off days,
22:40but they'll need to strengthen at the back again.
22:42Yeah, funnily enough, when you're looking at that game
22:44in years gone by,
22:46you'd say St Mirren against Hibs.
22:48Close call.
22:49Hibs might be looked at as the bigger team,
22:52stronger favourites in these games.
22:54But it's a mark of where St Mirren have travelled
22:57over the last few years.
22:59I looked at that game and I thought,
23:00that's a home win.
23:01I think you did as well.
23:02Yeah, I mean, I quite quietly fancied St Mirren as well.
23:05I think, as Scott said, they're playing with confidence.
23:08They're getting the wee things that are going for them as well in games.
23:10I thought Dylan Venti should have scored in the first half.
23:13I think Hibs were the better team in the first half.
23:15If you don't take your chances,
23:17then you always risk up the park
23:18and the lad for St Mirren cut inside and hit a wonder goal.
23:21And then that changes the whole complexity of the game, Peter.
23:25I think Hibs will be okay.
23:27I'm impressed with the players that they're bringing in.
23:29But David needs a wee bit of time
23:31and they've got Celtic back to back.
23:33I'm not expecting much, to be honest.
23:35I think Celtic look really strong at the minute.
23:37But after that, then they can maybe go and try and win some games.
23:40But there's no pressure, I suppose, on Hibs in the next couple of games.
23:43But I just hope it's not two kind of heavy defeats or else
23:48there will be some questions already getting asked.
23:50Calm down, calm down.
23:51You know what you were like last season?
23:53Sack him, back him, sack him, back him.
23:56I didn't know where you were going with that.
23:57No, definitely with David.
23:59I'd like to give him some time, aye?
24:00Yeah, absolutely.
24:01I think so, 100%.
24:02As far as St Mirren are concerned,
24:04I mean, I look at their side
24:07and the side that he has put together,
24:10especially when players, you know, were out.
24:12Olusanya was out with an injury last season.
24:15He's back at the front alongside Iunga,
24:18Rooney, Adeneron, Boyd Muntz,
24:21Edowu, Tanzer,
24:22the back three,
24:23Taylor, Gogic,
24:25I usually say Alexander Gogic in booking
24:28because I think it's a three-way name for him,
24:32Marcus Fraser,
24:33and then Balcombe in goal.
24:36It's a good, solid side and they all know their jobs.
24:39Yeah, they do, and that's what Stephen Robinson implements.
24:41We've seen that with his previous Mullable side
24:44that he'd put together.
24:45I think with that, there's a lot of pace and power.
24:47I know a few of the players,
24:48personally, Gogic I played with.
24:51Very underrated.
24:52Very underrated, aye.
24:53I like him.
24:55Gives it everything.
24:55Yes.
24:57It would be nice to play against him in training.
24:58He's grabbing on to you the whole time, you know.
25:00Toys Olusanya came to Uprove.
25:03Didn't quite do well there in terms of,
25:06we played 4-4-2 at times,
25:08it just didn't click for him.
25:09But I've definitely seen something there in training
25:11and he's went back,
25:13Stephen Robinson's given the time he can.
25:14He's repaid him.
25:15He's been excellent.
25:16But when you've got pace and power
25:17and guys who can hurt you,
25:18you always look a threat
25:19and they do always look a threat
25:21with the players they've got.
25:21Yeah, with a sell-out crowd here,
25:25I'm confident without being over-confident
25:27that St Mirren can come away with a result.
25:30The only reason there's a note of caution, Tam,
25:33is Brian are second to Bodo Glimpt in their league.
25:38And they will be a useful outfit.
25:42Yeah, I think they'll be a lot stronger than Tromso.
25:43I think the lead table tells you that anyway.
25:46Bergen, traditionally one of the bigger clubs in Norway as well.
25:49And I think they beat Go Ahead Eagles,
25:51a decent Dutch team, in the last round.
25:52So I think they'll definitely be a tougher nut to crack than Tromso.
25:57But St Mirren at home with that stadium full behind them,
26:01I think they're capable of going,
26:03I think they'll have to win the game.
26:04I think going away from home over to Norway
26:06against a team that's near the top of the league will be tough.
26:08But I think St Mirren can get a narrow win in this.
26:13I'll go for two-one to St Mirren.
26:14Well, this is what Stephen Robertson thinks ahead of the game.
26:18If you look at his performance in that game against Faluri,
26:22he was excellent.
26:22So you can see he's backed his best.
26:24I believe the system we're playing
26:26suits him better than the system we played last year.
26:28It allows him to get forward,
26:29it allows him to score goals.
26:31And it was a real captain's performance.
26:32So when your captain's out of the team,
26:34and a squad as small as ours in numbers,
26:38then you miss everybody when they're injured.
26:40So Mark's no different than anybody else.
26:41When you lose a top-quality player,
26:43then it's difficult on the squad.
26:46We've got other players to come in now.
26:48Maybe last season it would have been a huge act to follow.
26:52But we've got five and six midfielders in the building.
26:54That there's a real scramble for places.
26:56So I'm confident the people that we'll put in will be equally as good.
27:00Yeah, interesting.
27:01He's talking about, obviously, the fact that they've lost Mark O'Hara.
27:05Does it change your mindset?
27:06I'm just looking at their bench.
27:08And this is the difference when you've got people.
27:10Iacoviti, we all know his strengths and weaknesses.
27:14And you'll be looking to Oisin Smith as well.
27:17Mandron can come in.
27:20Yeah, I think it's a tough ask to replace our captain.
27:23In terms of he's an endeavour and he's a goal threat.
27:27I played with Mark at Dundee.
27:29I feel I've played with everybody else.
27:30I was just about to say, is there anybody you haven't played with?
27:34He is the ultimate professional.
27:35And he does exactly what he says in the tin.
27:38And that's 100%.
27:39But he's got the quality as well.
27:41So he's going to be someone who's going to be very hard to replace.
27:44But it's an opportunity for one of these other players who have been waiting in the wings.
27:47Yeah, thanks to so many of you for sending us messages.
27:50Some people are obviously concerned when they're watching it.
27:52We do have people listening to it on the podcast.
27:55Some people concerned when they're watching it.
27:58William Smith worried.
27:59He says, I hope that's a well-padded Calvin Klein body warmer you're wearing
28:03in case you've got plenty of love handles there.
28:05He's a wee bit worried about your clobber.
28:08Scott's not actually aware of the fact that you do wear some mile-out gear as the season progresses.
28:15No, I was golfing today and it certainly wasn't the warmest.
28:18So there is a bit of padding on it.
28:19But there is also a bit of padding underneath.
28:21Yeah, absolutely.
28:22It just makes me feel at home.
28:24And don't forget, every Wednesday, we've got super padded man,
28:29Tam McManus and ultra-thin Scott Allen.
28:31Although, eventually when he hangs up his boots, Tam,
28:34and he just sits in front of the fire and orders a Domino's,
28:39the 32 waist will soon disappear, I'm sure.
28:43It's an absolute stonewall certainty.
28:45Okay, St Mirren to win.
28:47I'm going to go 2-1.
28:50Eh, 1-0.
28:541-0, okay, so it's going to be tight.
28:56Okay, fingers crossed on that.
28:57Give us your thoughts on it.
28:58What do you think the Saints fans out there?
29:00There's so many optimistic people on our feed who are hoping that St Mirren can do it.
29:06I just think the fan base out there in great numbers.
29:09This, I'm trying to think of how positive.
29:13Feel-good factor, you can go back to various teams,
29:17Danny Lennon's team that reached the cup final and won the cup.
29:22I think Jim Goodwin was the captain at that time.
29:26That was a great time for St Mirren.
29:28You go back even further, everybody looks at that 87 side.
29:31The side that Fergie was building, you know,
29:34he went out with a loud hailer, would you believe,
29:37around Paisley asking people to get out and support them.
29:40I mean, Sir Alex, who would have thought, you know,
29:43can you imagine him going around Moss Side in Manchester asking fans to come out?
29:47But he's around everybody at that time.
29:49And this is what happens if you get a team playing football and winning games
29:54and you get a good manager, fans respond.
29:57It's a good place to go and watch a game as well,
29:59especially for young kids in the Paisley area.
30:01That's a good stadium.
30:02Pitch is always good.
30:03I think they've done some job at St Mirren.
30:05Even coming out, I know people love the old Love Street,
30:08but always a pitch I enjoyed playing at St Mirren.
30:12They're right up for it.
30:13Yeah, they are.
30:14And that's the thing, Peter,
30:15if your team's doing well, the fans will come out and support.
30:17You know, Kilmarnock, we've seen that last week,
30:19you know, in the Serco-Brooge game,
30:21there wasn't nearly enough of a full house there.
30:24I remember when I was playing for various teams against Kilmarnock,
30:27the rugby part was always dead.
30:28I'd go down to the rugby part and there'd be a cut of 1,000 Kilmarnock fans
30:31and they were kind of, you know,
30:34mid-table, you know, and maybe fighting relegation one year,
30:37but they were never really up there.
30:38I think this season, last season under Derek,
30:41you know, you can tell that there's something good happening there.
30:44Same with St Mirren, that's why the fans are coming back.
30:46They want to see winning football.
30:47Every fan wants to go and see winning football.
30:48They want to see a team struggling at the bottom of the league.
30:50And it'll be the same with Hibs, you know, if they,
30:53and Aberdeen, you know, if they start winning again,
30:55there'll be full houses back at those places.
30:57Yeah, and that brings us nicely to the first chance
31:00to talk about that game on Monday night,
31:01because that's why you were added to the team.
31:04You might have thought, obviously, that we added you
31:06because we thought you had an opinion.
31:09We added you because you're aware of how to play good football on the deck,
31:12you know, that's why he was brought in, to strengthen the midfield.
31:16And I want to see better football this season, Scott,
31:19because last season, I thought, was mega poor.
31:22I thought some of the standard of football we watched was poor.
31:26But if you're getting a slight hint and taste
31:29of what Aberdeen are like under Jimmy Tolleen,
31:33phase one game against St Johnstone, certainly.
31:36Excellent, excellent, a lot of chances created.
31:39McGrath's goal was a great goal.
31:41The up, the set-back, the through ball, the finish,
31:44everything a touch on Sunday as well.
31:45We really enjoyed the Dundee derby.
31:48So in the first week, I think, the first two games,
31:51not so great, but the Sunday and Monday,
31:52some really good positive stuff to look at.
31:55Yeah, their second goal was a thing of beauty.
31:57Aye, but I think Aberdeen, it's been so similar to house.
32:01I think we're now at the stage where there is good players there.
32:04We knew there was good players there last year.
32:06We've got Mijovski, who we don't know what's going to happen,
32:08but he looked like he still looked hungry to me.
32:11I thought he was excellent in the game.
32:13Jimmy McGrath, one I've always been a fan of.
32:16Real quality in the ball and a great goal.
32:18Yeah, you talked about Mijovski.
32:20I think Jimmy Tolleen is well aware of all the speculation,
32:23but thankfully for him, he's got a player
32:26that doesn't seem to be affected by all the chat.
32:29Yeah, yeah, he has been ready all the time,
32:31but we also try to prepare the whole team.
32:34We don't have any friendly games.
32:35We have the cup games, right?
32:36And I think Esther and Pete are doing well,
32:38and I know what Boyan can do.
32:40So he has been sharp all the trainings.
32:43He's been mentally here.
32:44And now it was the first cup game we took him out,
32:47because it was a lot.
32:47But since then, he's been really, really focused
32:50and a lot of positive energy in the locker room
32:53and on the pitch and in training.
32:54So I think he showed today also he's here in his head
32:57and doing really well for Aberdeen.
33:00I'll tell you what he does well, Tam.
33:02If he's not scoring a goal, his link-up plays superb.
33:06Yeah, he's awareness.
33:06You know, he knows when to turn,
33:08you know, when to hold the ball, when to lay it off.
33:09Little backflips.
33:10Yeah, he's just a really clever footballer.
33:13He's quick.
33:14You know, he's mobile.
33:15He's a great finisher.
33:16So I'm surprised he's still there, to be honest.
33:18I think there will be a big club coming in for him shortly.
33:21There's obviously rumours that, you know,
33:23Espanyol and Spain and La Liga
33:24are in Southampton in the Premier League.
33:26I'm surprised Celtic have not had a look at him.
33:28I think they're in the market for a striker.
33:30Maybe they're putting all their eggs
33:31in the Adam Ida basket.
33:33But I don't think he'll be there.
33:35Past this window.
33:36Enjoy him while you can if you're an Aberdeen fan.
33:38But I think he can go down south to the Premier League
33:41and do well down there and get a bigger move again.
33:43Yeah, I mean, if you're looking at him now
33:45and you're seeing that window still open,
33:48I'll tell you the measure of his confidence.
33:49There was a moment where he picks the ball up
33:51about 25 yards out.
33:53And if you're not as confident as you normally are,
33:57I think everybody was expecting him
33:59to shift the ball out to the left-hand side.
34:01And he just rattles it and it just clips the bar.
34:04Yeah, but I think on top of that though,
34:07like we talk about the hold-up play,
34:09he's got the lovely wee deft touches
34:10that players with real quality have.
34:12And there isn't many strikers like that now
34:14who it comes up to on the wee round the corner
34:16outside about the wee deft sets.
34:18And he's just a constant menace on my time.
34:21I think it looks to me that he would suit Celtic.
34:24I know there's not been anything kind of concrete there,
34:28but he is that mode.
34:30I think he could go into Celtic
34:33by the way if Kyogo was injured
34:34or in a bit of a problem there.
34:37Because he's injured,
34:37there's nobody really a natural striker for him to come in.
34:40I think he'd be the perfect kind of foil for that.
34:42Strangely enough, if you're looking at the teams
34:45and the type of players that they need
34:48and how many they need,
34:49you know, just touching on it,
34:50I think Celtic need two strikers.
34:52One above Kyogo.
34:53Yeah, I think they do.
34:54And the dream would be either and Mijovski.
34:57I don't think Peter Lowell's probably fell off the chair
34:59if he heard that.
35:01No, I don't think they're going to sign both of them.
35:08But I'd be surprised if he didn't sign one.
35:10But I totally agree.
35:12He's got that movement.
35:15I think he'd be perfect for Celtic.
35:16But I'm not trying to sell him to Celtic.
35:18I think he'll go down south.
35:19I think one of the teams that have maybe just come up
35:22might try and sign him.
35:23Yeah, the more good players we can have in this division,
35:26the better, wherever they go.
35:29And a Celtic fan agrees with me.
35:30He says Celtic should go and get either and Mijovski
35:34and let the three of them fight it out.
35:35Kyogo has injuries and, you know, they could be in trouble.
35:40It would bring out the best
35:42and give Celtic the option of two up top.
35:45Well, it's a strange thing, actually.
35:47You very rarely see two up top.
35:50But don't be surprised at it, by the way.
35:52Celtic don't play that way.
35:53No, but I heard everybody bumping their gums about,
35:56you know, nobody plays a 4-4-2.
35:57That's a lot of nonsense.
35:59I mean, they do.
36:01Their managers switch and sometimes games.
36:04There are teams that still play 4-4-2.
36:06I mean, it's just, I mean, it's like, you know,
36:09we discuss, you know, ad nauseum about people talking about
36:12attacking fullbacks, the big, the high press.
36:15Do you think teams in the 60s, 70s and 80s
36:17were not doing the high press?
36:19Of course they were.
36:20You know, it's just a complete and utter nonsense
36:23to suggest that this is something new.
36:27As if Pep Guardiola was the only guy who invented,
36:29you know, high press tic-a-tac of football.
36:32No, listen, there is obviously teams out there.
36:34I think now, though, I'd be very surprised
36:37if you've seen Celtic with two up front.
36:39I think when you go a goal down the game,
36:41the shouts you always hear, get another striker on.
36:45And by the way, see, most of the time,
36:46a lot of managers don't do it.
36:47Even when they go a goal down,
36:49they kind of work to the system.
36:50They've been working on since pre-season.
36:52But in fairness, I've played in 3-5-2s.
36:55I did prefer the two up front.
36:57In a 3-5-2, and I've played that at quite a few clubs.
37:00Why?
37:01Because I've got one coming short and one going long.
37:03It kind of gives you more options.
37:05But you're relying heavily on your full-backs
37:07to be bombers and have a severe pace about them.
37:11That's the only thing I would say.
37:12But I did prefer it.
37:14Yeah.
37:14Do you have any field players beside him?
37:16Aye.
37:16Yeah, of course.
37:17Runners, of course.
37:18Absolutely.
37:19John McGinn.
37:20John McGinn.
37:21John McGinn must have been a dream to play with.
37:22I was just about to say.
37:24I was going to say to you.
37:25He's at the work of three men.
37:27That's some water carrier you had there, John McGinn.
37:29I'm just on that point, Tam, if it.
37:31I mean, Scott will be well aware of the fact
37:33that sometimes a player, if he's a really good player
37:36and he can hold the ball in,
37:37he can make the other striker look good.
37:40And Miksu Patilainen did that for you.
37:42He made you look as if you were a half-decent striker.
37:45The two best spells I had were Miksu Patilainen and Craig Brewster.
37:48And both of them were hold-up players.
37:50And I could run in behind.
37:52I didn't need to come and take part.
37:54My strength wasn't coming and getting the ball
37:56and linking the play.
37:57My strength was my pace in behind.
37:58And that worked well for me.
38:01And I think it's always good to have that balance
38:03of maybe a big target man,
38:04somebody that holds the ball in
38:05and somebody that can win headers.
38:07And then a guy that's quick and mobile.
38:08And it's worked throughout the years.
38:10You know, Haitley-McCoy's guys like that.
38:11So it's a hard profile of a player to find.
38:15Holding the ball in.
38:16Like the big target man.
38:18Even guys get up and generally knocking headers down
38:21like passes.
38:22Yeah, it's a skill in itself.
38:24Yeah, absolutely.
38:25If anything, you actually see probably more of them
38:28in the lower leagues of England.
38:30You know, there's more of a target man.
38:31There's more of a playing the channel.
38:33And you see less of it, you know,
38:36in the absolute top flight.
38:38Although when you get them,
38:40you know, a classic is Giroud.
38:43Giroud is great at bringing people in.
38:45Sutton and Larson at Celtic as well.
38:47Well, Sutton was just a master at it.
38:48I'll tell you another one.
38:49Mark Haitley.
38:50Haitley-McCoy's.
38:51Absolutely fantastic.
38:52You know, because...
38:54Sandy Clark, John Robertson.
38:56The absolute top drawer, actually.
38:59I did actually spot Sandy Clark
39:01of one of my three out of the four last games
39:03that St. Johnson played last season.
39:05And I looked at Sandy and he was,
39:07you know, he's coming towards me.
39:08And I went, quick, get your shirt on.
39:11You're on because you'd be 10 times better
39:14than what I'm watching.
39:15And then I tried to...
39:15Real before my time.
39:17Well, honestly, I tried to reel myself back in
39:19because I realised his son was playing up front.
39:23But he was such a fabulous player, you know.
39:26And, you know, listen, you like 3-5-2.
39:29There are some people,
39:30and well done to Stuart, who says right and coin.
39:34You could think of some fantastic partnerships
39:37down through the years.
39:40And I think Paul says Celtic would still win the league
39:43playing a 3-5-2 formation.
39:46There's so many that you can think of
39:48down through the years
39:50that were absolutely sensational at it.
39:53So thank you to so many of you for your comments as ever.
39:56If you catch it live at four o'clock, great.
39:58If you don't, don't worry about it
40:00because the majority of people
40:02who watch our programme catch up with it.
40:04Watch it on the YouTube, on their television.
40:07If you download the app,
40:08you can get it at your fingertips live on the phone as well.
40:12And if you hit the contact section of the main menu,
40:16you can also post messages.
40:17We'll try and read as many of them as possible.
40:21Lots of people asking us about the predictor.
40:24We haven't got the predictor this year.
40:27We might still kick it in.
40:28I'm under a lot of pressure to get it.
40:30But it was good last year.
40:31You enjoyed it, didn't you?
40:32You need to get that up and running.
40:33I've only got about 400 other things to do.
40:35I had to obviously try and keep everybody happy
40:38for this new season.
40:39So we've got lots of programming coming your way
40:42and hopefully you'll enjoy it.
40:44Just a footnote on St John's in Aberdeen.
40:47Anything that you witnessed in that St John's side
40:50to suggest that they will not be battling to avoid relegation?
40:55I think they're going to need to make St John's
40:58and McDermott Park a real fortress.
41:01I just don't think they have the quality
41:03throughout the squad to do that,
41:04like previous St John's teams
41:05who have done well in the league.
41:07So I think it's going to be a long season for St John's.
41:09So do I actually.
41:11Again, with that in mind,
41:14as you mentioned,
41:15if you don't get off to a good start,
41:17if suddenly two and three defeats
41:19can shift the momentum in a negative way?
41:23Yeah, it's a really important start
41:25to get off to a flying start in the season,
41:27particularly if you're a team that's tipped to get down there.
41:29I think they did indeed in it last season.
41:31They were tipped to be bottom two, bottom three.
41:33They started really strongly
41:34and just kicked on from there.
41:35But St John's finished the game strongly the other night.
41:38I thought the last 10, 15 minutes,
41:39when they got the goal,
41:40they could maybe have nicked a draw.
41:41But I think overall,
41:43Aberdeen were by far the better team.
41:45And St John's, I think they'll be
41:47toiling this season.
41:48Yeah, I'm going to get your thoughts
41:50on a couple of your old teams.
41:52But just, we talked about Hibs there.
41:55They're still sniffing about in the gossip
41:57that's coming.
41:58They're sniffing about Luke McCown
42:01trying to get him from Dundee.
42:03That would be a really good addition.
42:04I think that's the Amazon man at the door there.
42:11No, I really like him.
42:12I think he's excellent.
42:13I think, I think that's a,
42:15I'd be surprised if Dundee let him go
42:17in terms of what,
42:19what type of fee do you think Hibs would?
42:21Yeah, I would think they'd be looking for 500 grand.
42:24If I talk in my head,
42:25I'm not sure of his contract situation.
42:26But if he's got more than a year or two left,
42:29at least 500 grand.
42:30Yeah.
42:31I wouldn't be letting him go for any less than that.
42:32And I don't know if Hibs have got that.
42:34But I can imagine Dundee see themselves
42:36finishing above Hibs this season
42:38in terms of,
42:39as a group,
42:40they would think their squad is going to have another good season.
42:43Yeah, I think that's...
42:43I think Hibs,
42:45probably your best player is saying something.
42:48The emphasis though has to be on Hibs
42:51quickly backing the manager.
42:53They have to get players in for him.
42:55I mean, okay,
42:56they might be testing Dundee
42:59and then go back in with another bid
43:01and then see where they go with it
43:02and then they might have to move on elsewhere.
43:03But wherever they move,
43:05they have to, in my mind,
43:07make Hibs difficult to score against.
43:10That's the first thing.
43:11It doesn't take a rocket scientist
43:13and I hope David Gray realises
43:15Hibs first and foremost,
43:17get a strong defence,
43:18work it from there.
43:19Yeah, and he will.
43:20He's obviously a defender himself
43:22and I've played with Dave.
43:25If you're not doing the work,
43:26he's no quick to shout at you
43:28to get back in and defend as a team.
43:31So he would have seen the failings come Sunday.
43:33Like Tam said,
43:34first half,
43:36Venti's got to score.
43:37Boyle has a chance as well to get back in the game.
43:40They don't take them and
43:42wait how long until they've been punished.
43:43So they need to try and get some sort of run going,
43:47especially with all the pressures that we've had,
43:49obviously from the Black Knights and all that stuff.
43:52That definitely doesn't help it.
43:53But I think the fans have got David Gray's back
43:57and I think they'll give him time.
43:59Yeah, OK.
44:00I was at the Dundee Derby,
44:01your old club, Dundee United,
44:03from all those years ago.
44:05I'm not going to be too faced with you,
44:06by the way,
44:07when you were playing at Dundee United
44:09in the early...
44:09I might as well be honest with you.
44:10Yeah, just go on.
44:11When you were playing at Dundee United
44:13and everybody was talking about you and thinking,
44:16what a player he is.
44:18I think there's more than a few clubs in for you,
44:20isn't there?
44:21And I remember thinking,
44:23what the hell is he joining West Brom for?
44:26I did, I said that on the show.
44:28I said, what a rotted move for him.
44:30And I know you went down there
44:32for the 30 grand and the car and the house.
44:36I've actually spoken,
44:37I actually didn't want to leave Dundee United.
44:39I wanted to sign a new deal,
44:41but I don't know if you...
44:42Who was the manager, Peter Hudson?
44:43I remember the time they had come out
44:45and said in the press
44:46that I wanted to be the highest paid
44:48and all that type of thing.
44:50And then I was frozen out.
44:53When I was that age,
44:54I was just wanting to see my name
44:55in the back of a top
44:56and play in front of fans.
44:57Yeah, what age were you?
44:5918.
44:59I was in six games.
45:01I was getting booed off the home support
45:02because of what was said.
45:04You shouldn't have asked for the six grand.
45:05I think four would have been reasonable.
45:07Exactly.
45:09What age were you?
45:10I mean, you said you had six games there.
45:11What age?
45:12Six games and then...
45:13You'd only played six games for United?
45:15Yeah, so I'd played the first six games
45:18and maybe came out a few
45:19when the contract hadn't been signed straight away,
45:21but I'd been there since I was
45:23nine or ten years old.
45:25I'd only ever looked at playing for Dundee United
45:27at that point.
45:30And then the thing obviously came out
45:32with Peter Huston in the press
45:33and you obviously have agents at the time
45:36and they're left in control and stuff like that.
45:40And it kind of put me in a position
45:42where I was generally playing for Dundee United
45:44and getting booed off my own fans
45:45when I was coming on,
45:47which was strange.
45:49But you're saying that a weird move.
45:50It was Dan Ashworth I went and met.
45:53I'd met McCoy and spoke to Celtic at the time,
45:56but at that time I was looking to develop myself
45:59as a player.
46:00I knew that I wasn't going to be a first team player
46:01at either of the clubs
46:02and I met Dan Ashworth,
46:04who's now at Manchester United
46:05and showed me a video in terms of...
46:10It kind of blew me away
46:11between him and Roy Hodgson.
46:12That's why I went there.
46:13Yeah, I mean, I'm tongue-in-cheek with you.
46:16I did think it was,
46:18I did think, I am always of the opinion
46:21at that time that you should have played
46:2450 to 100 games in Scotland.
46:26And plus, of course, we don't,
46:27we understand the mechanics of money talks
46:30and sometimes, as I often say in this programme,
46:34managers and boards tell porkies
46:38at 100%, they'll spin it to try and not...
46:42Keep the fans onside.
46:43Yeah, absolutely.
46:45That's the way it happens.
46:46That's the way it happens in life sometimes.
46:48See, on the flip side of that though,
46:49that same season,
46:51so I went in January
46:52and by the end of that season,
46:53I'd played 25 games in the English Championship
46:56at Portsmouth, at a big team.
46:58So as much as the 25 games in the Championship,
47:03more experience than another 50 games
47:05in the SPFL at a team like Portsmouth,
47:07it's kind of hard to weigh up, you know?
47:09Yeah, absolutely.
47:09Did you feel out of your depth in any capacity?
47:12At Portsmouth?
47:13No, I had a really good spell there.
47:15I went back the following season,
47:16I had a really good spell.
47:17It was just, and I had a good relationship
47:19with Roy Hodgson,
47:20but at that time, the West Brom man,
47:22I got the England job
47:23and then a different guy comes in.
47:24Yeah, who was the guy that came in?
47:25Steve Clarke.
47:26Right, oh, and then you get...
47:27Then I get binned out.
47:30That's fine, okay.
47:31There you are.
47:32I was just right when he was a Steve Clarke type player.
47:34No, no, no.
47:36Don't go there, by the way.
47:37Don't go there.
47:38I've already had the misery of Germany,
47:41but no, no.
47:44Listen, one manager fancies you,
47:47sometimes you can't fit into the whole thing.
47:50And it just goes to show, you know,
47:51managers and players.
47:53I always remember Gordon Strachan saying to me,
47:55you know, managers, if they get good players in,
47:59suddenly they're a great manager.
48:01And Steve Clarke at that time,
48:03I don't know if you remember,
48:05had the boy up front, the striker,
48:09they got him on loan from Chelsea,
48:11Lukaku.
48:12Lukaku, who was banging in goals for fun,
48:15he goes back at the end of his loan deal.
48:18And at that time,
48:18they were talking about Steve Clarke
48:20as the next Chelsea manager.
48:22And then Lukaku goes back,
48:24six months later, Steve Clarke's bulleted.
48:26That's right.
48:27It just shows you, you know.
48:28No, I know.
48:29Well, see the following season after,
48:31I talk about things working out for you in football.
48:33So on deadline day, the following summer,
48:36that was when Steve Clarke first came in.
48:38And so I got down to Dougie Freedman,
48:40who's the manager at Crystal Palace,
48:41and I'd played against him in the Championship
48:42and done well against him.
48:44So I was down to Palace,
48:46getting ready to sign.
48:47Last day, I see Jeremy Peace
48:48was the owner at West Brom,
48:50who was well-known as a tricky customer to deal with.
48:53So I sent Dougie Freedman saying,
48:55right, Zaha, I hear you're playing the number 10.
48:58The boy, Johnny Williams,
48:59the really good...
49:00Blond-haired boy, yeah.
49:01Murray up front, bang, bang, bang.
49:03So I go back to the hotel,
49:04waiting on it going through.
49:05And he phones me,
49:06Jeremy Peace has changed the goalpost.
49:08He's wanting a bigger loan fee.
49:11You're going to need to go back.
49:12We'll try and get this done in January.
49:13So on deadline day,
49:15he changed the goalpost,
49:16wanted a bigger loan fee.
49:17Crystal Palace got promoted to the Premier League that season.
49:20And I had to go back and play
49:21for the reserves at West Brom.
49:23You've had a bit of four sliding doors moments,
49:25haven't you, in your career?
49:26It's unbelievable.
49:28I'm just hoping that by signing you,
49:31you're not the equivalent of Jonah here
49:35on the right-hand side.
49:36It's quite simply,
49:37if they'd have said to me in the name check
49:39that you were on the Titanic list,
49:40I would not have been surprised,
49:42such as your bad reputation
49:45and your history with clubs.
49:47But nevertheless,
49:48the Dundee derby was magic.
49:50It was great.
49:50It was fantastic.
49:51And by the way...
49:52North Thomson.
49:54What, I mean, the goal.
49:55What about the goal?
49:56I know, all-around play as well.
49:58Chevelle, first class,
49:59first ball right across,
50:01and there's the young boy.
50:02And amazingly though,
50:03Miller Thomson said to me after the game
50:06that he was quite happy
50:08that the gaffer has finally put him
50:10in the position that he was brought up in,
50:12which is as a winger.
50:13Yeah, well, I think, listen,
50:14I think when you're young,
50:15you're trying to break in a team,
50:16you'll take it anywhere
50:17just to go in and make an impact.
50:19But he looks like another excellent player
50:22to come through the Dundee United Academy,
50:24like all the years that we've seen them
50:26produce players.
50:27I think fans always get behind that as well.
50:29I think he had a loan spell with Montrose.
50:31Dundee United's always done that.
50:32Myself, Johnny Russells,
50:34we all went out for offers.
50:35Montrose, they take the clubs,
50:37come back more experienced for it,
50:38and he's come in and made a real impact
50:40in a huge game for Dundee United.
50:42Yeah, absolutely.
50:43This transfer window,
50:45of course, if anything,
50:46quite a lot of people...
50:48Cowan says Babinski will be one
50:50to watch this season for Dundee United.
50:52I don't think you're wrong there.
50:53I think they've got three or four
50:55really good players to watch out for.
50:56I think Dundee United will not have
50:59and I know there's been a bit of
51:01consternation and moaning
51:04about Jim Goodwin,
51:04but I think United will be OK this season.
51:08Of course, the one thing
51:10that everybody's keeping their eye on
51:11before we finish this programme
51:13is quite simply,
51:15teams signing players.
51:17I do have the feeling
51:19that Celtic will sign a number of players.
51:23Their financial results
51:24are about to come out as well,
51:26and I think people are going to look...
51:28They're going to have no option.
51:30I mean, it's one of the
51:34best run clubs financially
51:36from an accounting point of view,
51:37from a banking point of view,
51:39from any business point of view,
51:41but that's not overly
51:42the way football works.
51:44And I think a number of people
51:47will look and say they need to sign.
51:49I think they will sign.
51:51It's just the timing of it, Scott,
51:53that will bring the debate.
51:56Yeah, the timing, I think.
51:58Like we touch on again,
51:59if Kielgo gets injured,
52:00there isn't a straight swap there,
52:02and that's what I think
52:03Celtic fans are worried about.
52:04I agree as well.
52:05I think they need two strikers.
52:06I think they need a left-sided centre-back.
52:09I think they maybe need cover as well
52:11at full-back.
52:12So there is positions there
52:13that need filled,
52:14and listen, they keep saying...
52:16Obviously, Brendan said a few times
52:18about the type of player they want to get,
52:20but time is ticking on,
52:21and the only positive
52:23is what he's done with the current squad,
52:24and he likes to coach
52:25and make players better.
52:26We've heard it before.
52:27We've seen him do it with players.
52:29Celtic look really good.
52:31The players that played last year,
52:32they looked as if they were upper level,
52:34and them adding to that
52:35is only going to be a worry
52:36for teams around about them,
52:38and especially Rangers.
52:39Yeah, a lot of people saying,
52:41yeah, Celtic are not a bank.
52:43They're a football club.
52:44I can't argue with you on that.
52:45The Celtic fans will voice their opinion
52:49on what happens in that transfer window,
52:51but if I am looking
52:53at what Brendan Rodgers,
52:54the team, I think you're right,
52:55have gone up a level,
52:57I think they would skate that lead still
52:59at the moment,
53:00but I still think they need four players.
53:02O'Reilly will go.
53:04The only problem is,
53:05if O'Reilly goes,
53:06they're obviously going to try and...
53:08Bernardo is not the replacement.
53:10I think they still have to go
53:11and get somebody creative.
53:13I think they've got to get two strikers.
53:15I like Bernardo.
53:16Yeah, the Bernardo will develop
53:19and get better,
53:20but he didn't play regularly last season.
53:22He came on as a substitute.
53:23Maybe because of the form of O'Reilly.
53:24Sometimes you need to...
53:26Yeah.
53:27Sliding doors moment,
53:28he leaves,
53:29he gets...
53:29There's your six games going.
53:31Go and make the spot yours.
53:32Yeah, I stand to be corrected by you,
53:34but I think in Champions League,
53:37they might look...
53:39I still think Brendan will want four players.
53:41Oh, definitely, Peter.
53:42I think he definitely needs
53:43at least one striker,
53:44maybe two,
53:45and I think he needs a left back
53:46to put pressure on Taylor,
53:47and he needs a left centre back
53:48to put pressure on Scales,
53:50and possibly a winger.
53:52So, yeah, they do need four,
53:54maybe three or four players,
53:55but as Scott said,
53:57Brendan's...
54:01He definitely makes players better,
54:03and I think you've seen that
54:03when he came in with Scott Brown,
54:04came in, James Forrest,
54:05guys like that.
54:06I thought Scott Brown was done.
54:07Yeah.
54:08I've told them that.
54:09I thought he was done.
54:10When Brendan came in,
54:11but they get another two or three
54:12great seasons with him,
54:13James Forrest revitalised him.
54:15Revitalised him again.
54:16Yeah, aye.
54:17Absolutely again this season.
54:17He's unbelievable,
54:18James Forrest, isn't he?
54:19I mean, just...
54:20They think he didn't get
54:22a minute at the Euros.
54:24Absolutely.
54:25It's our bugbear, isn't it,
54:27from the substitutes.
54:28You were crying out for him to come on.
54:31Just before we go,
54:33Scott McKenna could be
54:33going to Las Palmas.
54:34I thought maybe some of the
54:36Scottish clubs might have
54:37had a wee sniff at him,
54:39but it looks as if he's
54:40going to have to go to Europe.
54:42I know, I think a lot of the
54:44Scottish players are liking
54:45that idea now of going abroad.
54:47I know there's a lot of the
54:48boys who went to Italy.
54:49I think McBurnie,
54:50has he went to Las Palmas as well?
54:51Yeah, he's away, yeah.
54:52McBurnie, so it is something
54:54different out of your
54:54comfort zone, I think.
54:56I actually think we'll see
54:56a lot more of that in the
54:58coming years.
54:58Boys not just going down,
54:59straight down south, I think.
55:02Touching on you saying about
55:03West Brom and me,
55:04when I was younger,
55:05if they were the options
55:06back then, I think you'd
55:07have got your hand off
55:08to go abroad, I think.
55:09Yeah.
55:09I think that's where
55:11you'll learn a different side
55:12of football completely
55:14on and off the pitch.
55:14Yeah, just out of curiosity,
55:16have you changed your game now
55:18as you reach the
55:19twilight of your career?
55:20I mean, you're 32, aren't you?
55:22Yeah, well, 33 in a couple
55:24of months.
55:24I would say I've changed,
55:26obviously not as quick
55:28as I used to be.
55:30Yeah.
55:30Although I was rapid,
55:31but they cut the yards.
55:32I still, obviously,
55:33want to play the
55:35through balls and all that,
55:36but you need to play with
55:36a lot more discipline
55:38than you did before.
55:39Like I always say,
55:40when you've got a John McGinn
55:41and an Alan McGeach
55:42who just sat there
55:43and fed you the ball,
55:44it allows you to go
55:45and express yourself.
55:46And players like that
55:47are hard to come by.
55:48I thought that was the
55:48best time of your career.
55:50Aye, that and probably
55:51my time at Portsmouth.
55:52But in terms of the football
55:54we played, we genuinely
55:55went out believing
55:55we could win every game
55:57and that was against
55:57Rangers and Celtic.
55:59There was no inferiority
56:00complex.
56:00We genuinely believed
56:01we could beat both sides
56:03and we did.
56:04Yeah, absolutely.
56:07Peter Leaven being quoted
56:09now as one of the runners,
56:10front runners,
56:11for the Ray Throvers job.
56:12I imagine they'll be
56:14bombarded.
56:15I think we're averaging now
56:1650 to 70 applications
56:18that come in for the job.
56:22Yeah, obviously Peter
56:23done really, really well
56:24at Aberdeen
56:26as a stand-in manager
56:27last season.
56:28I think he's obviously
56:29part of Jimmy Tillan's
56:30staff up there.
56:31Whether he fancies
56:32being his own man again
56:33or whether he wants to
56:35stay at Aberdeen for a year
56:36and learn off the new manager,
56:37I don't know.
56:37It's up to him.
56:38But I would think
56:39the Ray Throvers
56:40making that decision
56:40that they would have
56:41someone to earmark
56:42to come in.
56:42I don't think they would
56:43have done that
56:44without having someone
56:46earmarked to maybe
56:47come in a week or two later.
56:48Yeah, so all staged.
56:50Yeah, and as I said,
56:51I heard Andrew Barrowman
56:53speaking the other night
56:54and he seemed to indicate
56:56that Ian was maybe
56:59putting his name in
57:00for other jobs as well.
57:01So I think there's a lot more
57:03to come from this Ray Throvers
57:04sack and I think with Ian
57:05and the board,
57:06there's just something not right.
57:09Behind the scenes,
57:09Ian's pretty adamant
57:11there was nothing going on.
57:13No fallout.
57:13But I think there must have been
57:15something went on, Peter.
57:16I just don't understand.
57:17I still don't understand it.
57:19Yeah, absolutely.
57:20Bit of a surprise, isn't it?
57:21After one game.
57:22If anything, we've been
57:23highly critical of the fact
57:24that even if you were
57:26not too enamoured
57:27with the manager,
57:28don't give him the first game.
57:30If you're not happy with him
57:31from January onwards
57:32and you're looking at it.
57:34And the League Cup group stage
57:37gives you a chance to see
57:38how your team's going to look.
57:39So it's so strange.
57:41I agree with Tam,
57:42they must have someone
57:43lined up and
57:45I think there will be
57:47a lot more fallout from this.
57:49Yeah, absolutely.
57:50OK, that's just about it
57:53from us here on the football show.
57:54I hope you enjoyed it.
57:55Thank you to so many people
57:56who link in and post messages to us.
57:59We are absolutely delighted
58:01of your support this season.
58:03We've got lots of things coming.
58:05I think they're going to excite you.
58:06Lots of chances to win prizes as well
58:09coming up on the show.
58:11And of course,
58:12we may even snaffle,
58:13surely we can snaffle a Kelty Harts
58:15top off him to get it signed.
58:17Things like that, eh?
58:18Nice mirroring and it's got hearts on it,
58:19so you can sign it.
58:22Thanks for that, Tam.
58:23Anyway, apart from that,
58:25don't forget to hit the subscribe button
58:27on our YouTube channel.
58:28Download the app
58:29and you'll get it all at your fingertips.
58:30And thank you so much to people
58:32who listen to us on our podcast
58:34and download in the podcast section as well.
58:37We're absolutely delighted of your support.
58:40It's been massive right across our platform
58:43and we're delighted with that.
58:44And our journalists are out there
58:46covering the games
58:47and giving you all the feedback
58:49that you need on social media.
58:51Managers, players reacting,
58:53and we talk to people past and present as well.
58:55So thanks to every one of you
58:57for supporting us
58:58and long may it continue.
58:59From Scott, from Tam,
59:01from myself, Peter Martin,
59:02thank you for listening and watching.