Hearts FC is on the hunt for a new manager after the sacking of Steven Naismith. In this episode, we cover the fallout and explore whether Derek McInnes could be the next in line for the role. We dive deep into the swirling rumours about who might take over at Tynecastle, with plenty of speculation and analysis.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: @PLZSoccer
We also preview the upcoming Malmo vs. Rangers clash, and look ahead to Borussia Dortmund vs. Celtic. Plus, catch up on the latest football headlines including the Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw, Rodri’s injury update, and Scott McTominay's debut for Napoli.
⚽ What's on The Football Show LIVE today:
Hearts FC manager search after Naismith’s departure.
Is Derek McInnes the right choice for Hearts?
Who will step in as the new manager?
Malmo vs. Rangers breakdown and predictions.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Celtic – what to expect.
Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw analysis.
Rodri injury update and its impact on Manchester City.
Scott McTominay’s Napoli debut – how did he perform?
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00:00 Intro - The Football Show
00:00:49 Steven Naismith sacked by Hearts FC
00:12:59 Derek McInnes on if he will be Hearts FC's new manager
00:15:00 Hearts FC manager rumours
00:21:38 Malmo vs Rangers preview
00:37:57 Borussia Dortmund v Celtic
00:50:03 Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw
00:52:53 Rodri injury news
00:55:30 Scott McTominay Napoli debut
Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more of The Football Show LIVE.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: @PLZSoccer
We also preview the upcoming Malmo vs. Rangers clash, and look ahead to Borussia Dortmund vs. Celtic. Plus, catch up on the latest football headlines including the Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw, Rodri’s injury update, and Scott McTominay's debut for Napoli.
⚽ What's on The Football Show LIVE today:
Hearts FC manager search after Naismith’s departure.
Is Derek McInnes the right choice for Hearts?
Who will step in as the new manager?
Malmo vs. Rangers breakdown and predictions.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Celtic – what to expect.
Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw analysis.
Rodri injury update and its impact on Manchester City.
Scott McTominay’s Napoli debut – how did he perform?
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00:00 Intro - The Football Show
00:00:49 Steven Naismith sacked by Hearts FC
00:12:59 Derek McInnes on if he will be Hearts FC's new manager
00:15:00 Hearts FC manager rumours
00:21:38 Malmo vs Rangers preview
00:37:57 Borussia Dortmund v Celtic
00:50:03 Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw
00:52:53 Rodri injury news
00:55:30 Scott McTominay Napoli debut
Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more of The Football Show LIVE.
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00:00Welcome to the Football Show on PLZ Soccer's YouTube channel. I'm Peter
00:00:04Martin, Scott Allan, Ryan McGowan and Tamek Manas are here with me on this
00:00:08Wednesday and a big thank you to you for joining us and of course the commitment
00:00:12the figures for our programs right across the board and social media as
00:00:17well has been absolutely fantastic and of course thank you for the comments on
00:00:21a lot of our stories and all of our ideas that we're pitching to you. Lots of
00:00:27people very complimentary so thank you to that. Hit the subscribe button you too
00:00:31could become a member of the football family and if you download that app PLZ
00:00:36Soccer's app in Google Play and the app store you'll get all the breaking news
00:00:40at your fingertips. Lots to talk about of course the guys have been in top form
00:00:44because we look at this 21st century football now and you know you get four
00:00:50games, five games or you're sacked and we've had two managers gone already Scott
00:00:54which is just unbelievable Craig Levine and Stevie Naismith. Yeah well I think
00:00:59there's a lot of pressure obviously on clubs now. Hearts looking to continue to form for
00:01:03the last season that we're in and it's just it's just not went that way. They have
00:01:07been disappointing, they've been conceding week in week out and
00:01:11obviously not getting a goal so ultimately something has to change and
00:01:14it's resulted in Stevie Naismith obviously losing his job. Yeah and I can't wait
00:01:18because obviously you're going to be a coach pretty soon you're going to
00:01:21eventually get a manager's job somewhere and we're all waiting because we're
00:01:26going to have to Tam and I know you're not going to evade the situation you
00:01:31know Scott goes in he holds the scarf up above his head said you know I've always
00:01:36supported this club I'm delighted to be here. I have photographs but I'm delighted to be here
00:01:45and we have to come on Ryan especially has been on a great run of form of two
00:01:49half-decent weeks but we're going to have to say he's got five games to save
00:01:54this club. I know it's difficult you can know friends in football Peter as you
00:01:57know I've been in this chair and some of my friends Stephen Glass for example at
00:02:00Aberdeen who I really like they're good pals who really stuck on my craw that I had to say
00:02:05he was to get the chop yeah and he did message me and say why are you saying
00:02:08that but anyway you've just got to give your opinion Peter and if Scott goes
00:02:12three or four games without a win I'm just saying he's a dud get him out.
00:02:15Absolutely and by the way I'll be right behind you and if the centre back doesn't bring the ball down and play a nice pass to the midfield I'll be saying he's gone against his
00:02:26footballing principles but in a serious situation like this you don't like to see a manager lose
00:02:33his job but Craig Levine we discussed he didn't see it coming Stevie Naismith's a
00:02:38different situation because he probably did realise that with such a big club
00:02:43like that you called it you thought if he doesn't win it he's going to be out.
00:02:47I think the fans turned on him and once the fans turn on him it's really hard to
00:02:52get back in you know they've started the season really poorly which is a big
00:02:57reflection on you know the summer signings before the season started
00:03:01everyone was really positive about the place felt that they brought players in
00:03:05that could enhance the squad which was already finished comfortably third last
00:03:09year but it just doesn't seem to be working for him and like Scotty said
00:03:14something had to change and that was him losing his job. Are you surprised by you
00:03:18know Andrew McKinley's comments he's been interviewed on Harps TV basically
00:03:23saying if he'd had a good second 45 minutes against St Mirren it may have
00:03:28been different they might have kept him in the job. It's a strange thing for
00:03:32someone to say isn't it? I think that's where we're at though with modern
00:03:36football that is the difference between keeping your job maybe for another two
00:03:39weeks or not and that's how fine the details can be in terms of keeping
00:03:45your job or losing your job which is ultimately why I think they're maybe
00:03:48looking at looking for that reaction the second half if they've not got it
00:03:51they're probably looking at it going he's been changing him at half-time and not
00:03:54managed to get the players going and ultimately that's why that decision came.
00:03:58Yeah I mean as a chief executive you expect them to you know maybe show a bit
00:04:06of resolve, a bit of spine, he had a good relationship with Ann Budge as well, Stevie
00:04:10Naismith he was well liked you just I thought he may have I thought they might
00:04:15have stuck with him on it you know and had some credit in the bank. 44 days ago
00:04:21or 45 days ago he signed a new three-year deal so I think that and you look at
00:04:25that I thought it was strange comments Peter I thought that and I agree with
00:04:28Scott 100% I think the board had been sitting in the stand at St Mirren Park
00:04:33and thought right second half I want to see a reaction, the manager's got to get in there
00:04:37and we've got to come flying into traps and show they're still playing for him
00:04:40show they're still fighting for him and they haven't Peter you know I watched the
00:04:43highlights I seen the stats they were just as poor second half as well
00:04:47didn't really deserve a draw so I think that yeah it could be more goals for St Mirren
00:04:51I think they've looked at that and went he's not getting any reaction for the players now
00:04:54and that sums times up. Yeah what happens what happens I mean what you've
00:05:00probably been have you been with a manager who's got the sack? He's had loads of times.
00:05:06What happens because in my mind the reason why he's out the door is because
00:05:12Lorne Shanklin didn't score goals. That is one of the factors and I think his
00:05:17goals last year papered over a lot of cracks I think you know there were so
00:05:21many games that there wasn't much in it and he would score a Weldy and and they
00:05:25got the three points which you know made them finish comfortably third last year
00:05:30and it he has been off it a little bit but there's been no sort of chances
00:05:34created you can't even see like him missing you know three or four chances
00:05:38this season he's just not had that service throughout the season and that's
00:05:42probably down to Steven Naismith and how he wants to play. He's not the only one
00:05:46Scott in my mind there are games that I've watched this season where on three
00:05:50or four occasions if Vargas had anything about him he'd put the ball in the net.
00:05:55That's what I was just about to touch on. I think you can't be reliant on Lorne Shanklin.
00:06:00Goals have got to come through all over the pitch if you're just reliant on one
00:06:02player especially a club like Hearts who finish third. Obviously European games
00:06:06they come and see themselves as one of the best teams outside the Old Firm. You
00:06:11can't be reliant on one player and as much as they haven't scored goals or
00:06:15conceding goals they're not defending well and we've said for weeks now both
00:06:18boxes is but ultimately gets you results and they've not been good enough in both
00:06:23boxes. Yeah absolutely thanks to so many people who've joined us to offer their
00:06:27own opinion on this. I like one who says I'm just here for Peter's first good lad.
00:06:33He's a good ladder. He is a good lad. To be fair I don't know about you Ryan but some
00:06:42people ask me you know when you get these interviews where people whether
00:06:46it's people who want to be journalists or want to be commentators or whatever
00:06:50and they say is there any, they always want the dirt, they say is there anybody who's a
00:06:54moron you know who's just not a good lad you know. Liza? Well they're
00:07:02certainly in single figures as a percentage in football because we all
00:07:07grew up wanting to be professional footballers. We all enjoyed it and most
00:07:12of the guys have that same sense of humour. You know you go into a
00:07:17dressing room you know it's the one thing that most of my mates who were
00:07:20professional footballers would say they miss the dressing room because you get
00:07:24in the dressing room you absolutely cane each other you know. Most of the guys
00:07:28that I played with in teams were desperately unhappy if I scored because
00:07:33they thought here's this arrogant prick going to tell us all about how good he is.
00:07:39Whereas you know so you get the banter but there's very few people that I look
00:07:43and I think oh you're a moron you know I really don't like you and I've
00:07:46interviewed thousands upon thousands of footballers and there's you know there's
00:07:50maybe it's a small percentage. I think it showed you know his character the
00:07:56statement that he put out the other day you know thanking everybody and you know
00:08:00he still believed that he could get something from the from the squad and
00:08:03I'm sure the players you know I've spoken to a couple of those players who
00:08:07were disappointed and to see him go because you know at the end of the day
00:08:10he probably brought in near enough that whole squad you know he's gave him the
00:08:15platform to go play for a club like Hearts so I feel like sometimes the
00:08:18manager gets the bullet but really it's the players that have badly let him down this season.
00:08:22Yeah and by the way I'm open to criticism and I think it's fair that
00:08:26Les Watts has just put a message over he says why is Peter championing Naismith?
00:08:31Because he's a good lad, Christman. So he's clearly from Aberdeen he says
00:08:36Christman just accept he was rubbish like McCoy's before him the media bomb
00:08:42them but they're just not up to it well the flip side of it all is Tam he was
00:08:48good last year he was third last year you know and they took some good
00:08:52scalps they beat Celtic twice so you know you suddenly become a bad coach
00:08:58overnight I mean Neil Lennon's a classic example people thought he was you know
00:09:01he's your pal you're backing him and everything like that you know and then all of a
00:09:05sudden they have the most horrendous year Celtic he gets bumped and they say he
00:09:10wasn't up to it he was tactically inept this was another type of accusation that
00:09:15was made to him he was tactically inept he wasn't tactically inept when they
00:09:18beat Lazio home and away or Barcelona. That's just probably a big part of that social media
00:09:24everybody wants instant results Peter and you're either a very good manager
00:09:27one week or you're a dud the next week and that's just the way it goes you can
00:09:31go have a great season and then like Stephen Naismith you could have a poor
00:09:35start to the following season and all of a sudden you're written off as a dud
00:09:38last season Hart's third comfortably by a mile I think there were some
00:09:42extenuating circumstances as in Hibs were rubbish Aberdeen were rubbish
00:09:47Lawrence Shankland scored a lot of goals as Ryan said won them games when they
00:09:52weren't great yeah but they still managed to finish third and I think you'll see a
00:09:56stronger I think you'll see a stronger league in total this I think you'll see
00:09:59a stronger Aberdeen definitely stronger Hibs this season so Hart's have got to
00:10:03pick it up but yeah it's just you go from you go from hero to zero so quickly
00:10:07as a manager because of a big part of that social media and people the
00:10:10platforms that people are allowed to go on and comment on and by the way Scott
00:10:14it's not a crime to be lauded for the fact that your strikers scoring goals
00:10:19all the time you know because how many teams have you played in where you've
00:10:23been ranked rotten and the striker has scored the goal that's won you the game
00:10:27and your ex-teammates and one of your old teams you know as I said on one of
00:10:34our shows previously you know I went for lunch with Gordon Strachan he was a
00:10:38Scotland manager at the time he said to us Romulo Lukaku was up front for West
00:10:42Brom scoring goals for fun on loan from Chelsea Steve Clarke was being touted
00:10:47for the Chelsea job Lukaku left Steve Clarke gets sacked six months later yeah
00:10:52I understand what you're saying but I think when we're looking at Hart's is
00:10:56obviously they finished comfortably last season there needs to be goals from
00:11:01elsewhere it's just every manager obviously when you set your team up you
00:11:04want to get goals from midfield you want to get goals from your vargasses of these
00:11:07these world and when so you think they played good football I get the goals
00:11:10part no you didn't think they were playing good football right if you ask
00:11:15most Hart's fans last year it probably wasn't good to watch but they got the
00:11:20results when was it last good to watch at Hart's where you really went you tuned into
00:11:23Hart's game thought they're really playing good football I would ask you
00:11:27because obviously you've been there it's been a while yeah it has been a while
00:11:30but I think what's the best Hart's side you've seen you know in the last
00:11:37championship side yeah yeah obviously when they beat when Rangers and
00:11:43Hibbs were in it did they play good football they play good football I think
00:11:46it's got the most ever points from the championship 110 nil yeah that's the
00:11:54nature of a club like Hart's and I think I've spoken about it before if you look
00:11:58at what each Hart's fan wants per season it's the finish third get closer
00:12:03to Celtic and Rangers move away from the rest and have good cup runs which
00:12:07Naismith ticked near enough all of those boxes last year made a semi-final lost
00:12:11the Rangers and finished third but that's just the sort of nature of
00:12:17football isn't it that they've got off to a slow start didn't help that they
00:12:21won third comfortably last year because they then had a couple of bad results
00:12:25towards the end and now all of a sudden it's one win in 12 one win in 15 and
00:12:29that kind of goes against it it would have been interesting to see if he sort
00:12:33of beat Dundee I think it was in the second game of the season having drawn
00:12:37with Rangers at home beating Dundee away that could have changed the whole
00:12:41narrative of the season he probably would have still been in the job yeah
00:12:44thanks to Les who says Peter I'm fae Elgin which is near enough and then he
00:12:49says come on the hoops so he's a local Celtic fan I was just about to say that's some
00:12:56trick from Elgin isn't it anyway lots of people commenting and thank you very
00:13:01much for your comments Stephen Naismith's gone they've now got to look for a
00:13:06manager there's various names going in there even Derek McInnes has been linked
00:13:11with the job this is what the Kelly boss had to say about it
00:13:16no really no I actually don't take any notice of it my job and focus is is here
00:13:23and I think I'm you know at an age now where when you get linked with things or
00:13:29your jobs under pressure people talking about it I actually don't really see
00:13:33much merit in dwelling on it so my job fully is on Comarner and going back to the
00:13:38other question it's just about make sure that we are the team I want us to be
00:13:43being relevant again as we were last season
00:13:46that's an interesting one because you know when we were talking about Stephen
00:13:51Naismith, Derek one win and if you look at it six defeats and five draws
00:14:02yeah I don't think they've had a great start to season Peter I think that
00:14:05obviously been involved in the European games a fantastic result against
00:14:09Tromso getting through against them. He's your credit in the bank. Yeah yeah big time
00:14:14just like the New Deal as well and Copenhagen was a tough tie for them
00:14:18they've been unfortunate a couple of guys getting sent off but I think they've got
00:14:22games coming up they can go in with the Dundee clubs coming up in the next two
00:14:24games so they've got a chance to pick up points but the thing is Peter how far
00:14:29can you take Comarner he's took them they went to Europe you know Hearts are a far bigger
00:14:33club than Comarner no disrespect to Comarner and I think you look at where
00:14:38Derek could go in Scotland that's one of the teams for me he could go to Hearts and I
00:14:42think that a lot of Hearts supporters would take Derek McInnes a lot of supporters
00:14:47would want Derek McInnes before David Gray was appointed and before Nick
00:14:50Montgomery was appointed I just think he knows Scottish football Peter he knows
00:14:54how to get results here he's experienced and I think that he's definitely got to
00:14:58be on any shortlist that Hearts have got. Okay the shortlist I would suggest to you
00:15:03right now is going to be based on Tony Bloom Jamestown analytics and they're
00:15:08going to start looking and I think the name that they suggest is going to come
00:15:12out of left field not from our collection of names if it was me and I
00:15:18wanted Hearts to play the football that was easy on the eye that was positive
00:15:24that was on the front foot and and it was a style of football that I like
00:15:29watching I'd pick John McLennan all day. Yeah and I think he's a Hearts fan he's
00:15:37obviously been at the club he was at the club when I was coming through and I
00:15:41worked under him after the 2013 so yeah you know he's someone that has done
00:15:47extremely well with Wraith first and then Falkirk I think they're still on an
00:15:53unbeaten run in the league which is unheard of it must be 45 46 games now so
00:15:57it is somebody that they would probably be looking at but whether that would
00:16:04appease the sort of Hearts fans. Big enough name? Big enough name for Hearts?
00:16:08No you're right but he's not a big enough name but but if we're
00:16:12talking about don't like the football he plays Brendan Rogers way
00:16:17they played Falkirk Hearts played Falkirk they weathered the storm for 15
00:16:2320 minutes and then absolutely you know played them off the park at times with
00:16:28some one wonderful passing and attacking football and Celtic Park how many times
00:16:33have you seen anybody go to Celtic Park and take the game to them and high
00:16:37press them and and play around them? Well I've never been involved in any of those games but yeah it is
00:16:45someone definitely that I think that the board would be looking at I think it
00:16:51would be a lot easier to get McGlynn than McInnes purely from a financial
00:16:57point of view I think Hearts fans would possibly prefer McGlynn over McInnes
00:17:01but that's just the guess for some reason they a lot of Hearts fans I
00:17:07speak to aren't that keen on McInnes coming which is I find quite strange
00:17:11considering how well he has done previously with Comanica and Aberdeen
00:17:15but. Who would you like to see who do you think is an ideal candidate in your
00:17:20mind that you think I know Hearts played for them and know the demands of
00:17:25the fans this is the type of football they want to see who would you pick as a manager?
00:17:29I think John McGlynn would be up there for sure but I think that they're
00:17:32going to go for somebody that we've never heard of who's maybe doing well in
00:17:38sort of one of the European countries and playing stylish attractive football
00:17:42and I think they'll go down that route you know as someone late 30s managed a
00:17:49smaller team though he's done really well and I think they'll sort of be
00:17:53headhunting that way or that route instead of anywhere in Scotland if I'm
00:17:57being honest. Arnard Goodluckson, Kim Helberg, two Scandinavians who've been linked as well.
00:18:02Totally agree I think if Tony Bloom is involved I think that they appointed
00:18:08somebody out at left field for Brighton in the summer there I think he's a 31 year old
00:18:12nobody really had heard of and the same before that would deserve it so I
00:18:16think that they'll go down they'll put everything in the mix and they'll
00:18:21come out with a candidate who plays good football who's got a great winning
00:18:24percentage who brings young players through who sells players on about a large
00:18:30you know catchment of what this manager has to bring to hearts and I think it
00:18:34will be someone that's outside Scottish football and wants someone outside the
00:18:37list that the bookies have got at the minute.
00:18:40Yeah someone on our feed says they want a Jimmy Tolien type to sprinkle some
00:18:47magic dust on them and then we've got Kenny who is an Aberdeen fan and says what
00:18:51about Robson or Warnock? Kenny's still in Los Angeles hurting after those
00:18:58experiences up at Petaudry where everything is absolutely rosy in the
00:19:04garden. Well that's harsh, St. John's and Scott Brown seems to be one of the
00:19:08frontrunners for your old club as well. Ian Murray because he's basically
00:19:15there's no compensation now. Peter Levin and a Larne boss Tiernan Lynch was
00:19:22another one that I read but you know. You'll know him, I had him last year.
00:19:26Any good? Really good, really good. I just don't, I think he would need his own
00:19:33type of players. He's very, statistics in terms of how he wants to play, front foot,
00:19:39good football, chances created and all that but for St. John's in terms of the
00:19:44playing squad that they've got it needs to be, for this season it needs to be
00:19:48specific. He needs to get to January with that batch of players but there's no
00:19:52doubt Tiernan Lynch will have an opportunity I think in the next year to
00:19:56go and take one of the teams in Scotland. I think he's excellent. Well there is a
00:20:00that's a good bit of positivity about him. St. John's fans out there, what do you
00:20:07think? Who's going to get that big job? That's just what we're talking about at
00:20:12the moment because amazingly we're five games into, how many games? I think we were,
00:20:18what was the record? Well we're seven games in when Jack Ross got the boot.
00:20:22Yeah and again he had a fantastic season the previous season, Scott was there.
00:20:28I've covered most of the games with Hibbs TV, fantastic season, finished third,
00:20:32got to a final, got to a semi-final. Disappointing they lost to St. John's on both
00:20:36occasions but started the following season poorly. I think the last game was
00:20:40Livingston away. I don't know if Scott was there, I was playing and the fans just
00:20:44totally turned on him that night. He was at the game and as soon as the final whistle
00:20:48went they were screaming for his head and I think there was some members of
00:20:50the board in the stadium that night and they just, well it's been proven
00:20:55and I think that Iain Gordon came out and said that they did pull the trigger too early,
00:21:00they went with peer pressure with the supporters and they wouldn't do that again.
00:21:03Jack Ross, he didn't have any luck because he went to Dundee United.
00:21:07Yeah and he had credit in the bank at Hibbs as well and he did an identity of the way
00:21:12they played. Jack played a lot of good football as well. I think honestly football
00:21:17management is such a hard job, I think you can never rest on your laurels. I think
00:21:21even if you've won good season you need to follow that up and you need to keep
00:21:24going like a Derek McInnes or a Stephen Robinson, guys are consistent season in,
00:21:28season out. You cannot have a bad spell because everything that went before,
00:21:32that just goes out the window. Yeah absolutely, it's a changing world
00:21:36of football management. Ok big games coming up this week, European football
00:21:40to look forward to of course, Rangers in action as well as Hearts and we'll
00:21:46obviously get your thoughts guys on next week with Dortmund against Celtic but
00:21:51as far as Rangers are concerned, this is a perfect opportunity after all the
00:21:57consternation and the people jockeying for positions in power,
00:22:02Raibrox with John Bennett stepping down, John Gilligan's come in there,
00:22:06the manager Philippe Clameau will just be trying to protect his players from all
00:22:11the noise of what's going on and they've got to go and try and do something
00:22:15against Malmö who are currently top of the Swedish league.
00:22:18It's going to be a really difficult game for them but one I think that they might,
00:22:22I think historically Rangers have always done pretty well away from home in
00:22:26Europe. The season they made the Europa League final was probably more based on
00:22:31how well they did away from home but yeah it's a tough ask. I think we spoke
00:22:37about it, it's a really difficult group that they've got so if they want to have
00:22:41any sort of plans of progressing through, they have to go and get at least
00:22:45something away to Malmö on tomorrow night.
00:22:48Although a lot of people Scott talk about the need for Philippe Clameau,
00:22:53we've discussed ad nauseum on this programme, the need for him to keep the team
00:22:58on the tracks of winning constantly. Strangely enough I'm looking at the players
00:23:04that are either back from injury or the players that he's signed, that he's
00:23:08slowly but surely introducing and I don't know, I remember we were talking about
00:23:13can you try and get to 9 or 10 players that you're definitely going to pick
00:23:17every week. The boy Jeffsday is just settling in now, Igamani everybody's
00:23:23talking about and the other one, Barame. These are players that will all add to
00:23:31the fabric. I mean the one guy who's just slotted in as if he's been there
00:23:35forever and a day is Barne. I just get the feeling that they're slowly but
00:23:42surely after the pain of losing to Celtic, he might just be formulating what he
00:23:47thinks is a good strong 9 out of the 11.
00:23:49Yeah there's no question since the Celtic game that they have put a bit of form
00:23:55together in terms of a lot better on the ball but I think as Ryan says,
00:23:59away to Malmö is a very tough game. I remember going there with Celtic
00:24:04in a Champions League qualifier, I think it was Van Dijk's last game and I don't
00:24:09know what it is about there, the fans are right on top of the stadium, they're
00:24:12better than what you expect them to be. So I'd be very surprised if Rangers get
00:24:17the win there, I think a draw would be a good result. I think it's a very tough
00:24:20ask as the Scandinavians, they've been in their season for a while as well so
00:24:24they're at kind of maximum fitness so very tough game but there has been sign
00:24:30of progress in the last few weeks and that's something that Rangers fans are
00:24:32kind of looking to at the moment.
00:24:33Do you think there's a sign of progress in the way they're playing?
00:24:37Yeah, I think like you say the players are starting to settle a bit more,
00:24:41they'll know, well I would like to think they know what's now expected of them
00:24:45after they defeat the Celtic in the manner of how they played that day so
00:24:49there has been progress because they could have maybe folded but they've put
00:24:53some wins together. Tomorrow night's going to be the biggest test since that
00:24:57game so it'll be interesting to see.
00:24:59Yeah, of course. I wonder, what's the most intimidating ground you've been in?
00:25:05Have you played in a European game or somewhere where you just actually,
00:25:09some people say you try and block the noise out but...
00:25:12AEK Athens when I was at Hubs, it was the old stadium, I don't know if you
00:25:16remember Rangers going there many years ago and it was, so we were supposed to
00:25:20play them on September 11th 2001 and I got postponed obviously with the stuff
00:25:25in America and then we played them a week later and there was a minute silence
00:25:28before the game and there was like 25,000 Greeks packed in up on the stadium.
00:25:35Flares and bombs.
00:25:36Flares, bombs, we were burning American flags, booing, so I mean it was
00:25:40absolutely crazy and we lost 2-0, we beat them, actually beat them 2-0 at home
00:25:44and we went out and away goals in extra time but probably AEK Athens was
00:25:49probably the most hostile for me, I think anywhere Greece, Turkey, places like that
00:25:54I think it's intimidating atmospheres.
00:25:56I remember Fenerbahce Rangers were those, they were pelting the press bus
00:26:01and I thought can't wait for the TV to come in.
00:26:05And we were in 2 and a half hours before and there was 20,000 in the stadium
00:26:10so God knows what the players felt when they got in there but in some cases
00:26:14and we talk about hearts at Tyne Castle but in some cases there are places
00:26:20where players think, I mean I think there was a great line from, I think
00:26:24Eric Cantona played for Manchester United in Turkey and the banners were
00:26:29Welcome to Hell.
00:26:30Galatasaray.
00:26:31Yeah, Galatasaray, could have been Galatasaray.
00:26:33I played in Fenerbahce for Celtic in Europa League and it was the whistling
00:26:37and all that, I wouldn't say it was mad intimidating but it was noisy.
00:26:41Yeah.
00:26:42I think the smaller grounds in Scotland are less than that, you can actually
00:26:45hear what they're calling you.
00:26:47Ryan is there something that sticks in your mind?
00:26:49We had a World Cup playoff in Honduras and that was like proper crazy.
00:26:55We had to have our own hotel with a sort of local army out the front
00:27:01because it was the playoff for the World Cup.
00:27:04Yeah.
00:27:05They were setting off the fire alarms, bomb threats.
00:27:09No sleep?
00:27:10It wasn't too bad but it was that case of every time the fire alarm went off
00:27:14you'd have to go out to the hallway and they're like no it's just someone's
00:27:17triggered it off again.
00:27:19As a guinea?
00:27:20Yeah.
00:27:21I was just about to say did Australia, I was trying to think to myself
00:27:24did Australia ever go to war with Honduras?
00:27:26I mean is there any hostility there?
00:27:28There was no real need for it at all.
00:27:30We weren't very good as well but I remember going to the stadium
00:27:33and it was like eerily quiet outside the stadium.
00:27:37So I think we got there maybe like two and a half hours before we pulled up
00:27:40and then as we got out the bus we just realised that everyone was already
00:27:43in the stadium and it was 60-odd thousand there
00:27:46and we went out to inspect the pitch and I think three boys got out
00:27:50and it was just bottles and everything was going straight back in.
00:27:53The pitch looks good.
00:27:54But that was probably one of the most intense atmospheres
00:27:59that I've been involved in.
00:28:00Did you just win?
00:28:01I think we drew nil all.
00:28:02We ended up, we qualified, we beat them but yeah that was quite scary
00:28:08because we were there a few days before and it was…
00:28:10Honduras is mental baby.
00:28:11I watched a few things on, like documentaries on Honduras.
00:28:13That's one of the murder capitals of the world.
00:28:15Narcos Honduras?
00:28:17No I don't know what it is but Honduras man, mental.
00:28:20We could hear gunfire and we're like is that gunfire?
00:28:23Yeah that's gunfire.
00:28:24The boy who used to play with the Rangers got murdered, remember?
00:28:26That's right.
00:28:27The boy who played with the Rangers got murdered.
00:28:28Oh what was his name?
00:28:29I can't remember his name.
00:28:30Somebody in the chat might know.
00:28:31Somebody in the chat will tell us.
00:28:32The boy that played with the Rangers and got assassinated outside his car.
00:28:35The boy that Hibbs had, remember, was it Carlos or something?
00:28:39Carlos Sanmid Fiore, he played for them.
00:28:41Aye, aye, aye.
00:28:42But yeah that was probably Roberto.
00:28:45Yeah.
00:28:46He played with Hibbs.
00:28:47No, well they did have a big guy, Hurtado.
00:28:51Do you remember him?
00:28:52Nelly?
00:28:53Yeah.
00:28:54I played with him at Hibbs.
00:28:55Torres Armstrong.
00:28:56He was for Ecuador.
00:28:58What was his name?
00:28:59De La Cruz.
00:29:00No, something Hurtado.
00:29:02Called him a tank.
00:29:03He was a big, the tank?
00:29:04Aye, no that was Alan McLeish brought him over because we signed De La Cruz for like a million quid or something
00:29:08and he was their top player at Ecuador and he brought a pal here, a striker.
00:29:11And I thought, oh no, he might be decent.
00:29:13Then after, honestly.
00:29:15Turned into joy.
00:29:16He was absolutely honking.
00:29:17I was like, he's no way he's playing in front of me.
00:29:19But he was terrible at Hibbs and then he had a brilliant career everywhere else.
00:29:25I looked at his Wikipedia, man.
00:29:26Guy scored hundreds of goals, 100 caps for Ecuador.
00:29:29And he was rubbish at Hibbs.
00:29:31Yeah.
00:29:32But anyway.
00:29:33Intense competition.
00:29:36It all started with Malmo Rangers.
00:29:40Our man Patrick Mullin was out there at the Rangers training centre ahead of them flying out.
00:29:46Here at the Rangers training centre where behind me the Rangers team are training
00:29:49ahead of their opening Europa League fixture against Sweden's side Malmo.
00:29:53They'll travel out later this afternoon before heading to the Aladea Stadion for that fixture tomorrow night.
00:29:59Rangers, just like Malmo, fell short in their pursuit of Champions League football
00:30:03after a 3-1 aggregate defeat against Dynamo Kyiv.
00:30:06They will now look to better last season's Europa League record
00:30:09where they were out of the round of 16 after a defeat against Benfica.
00:30:13A bit of early team news in training.
00:30:15Rydvan Yilmaz still is injured.
00:30:17He is not seen in training.
00:30:19And Oscar Cortes has also been missing from the action here this afternoon.
00:30:23Malmo will have a few injury problems of their own.
00:30:25The big notable one, though, is former Celtic star Sead Haskebanovic.
00:30:29He will play no part tomorrow evening.
00:30:31Looking at Rangers' opposition of Malmo.
00:30:33They're currently top of the Alverseken, the Swedish top division,
00:30:37by a massive 11 points to their nearest rivals.
00:30:4024 league games already under their belt.
00:30:42And you'd have to say a bit of an advantage will be theirs in terms of fitness
00:30:46against Scottish teams in Europe.
00:30:48Well, they've had a fun time since 2011.
00:30:51They've faced Scottish teams four times and have cruised by every single time.
00:30:55Will it be Fleet Clermont's men that get off to the very best start?
00:30:58Or will it be the Swedish champions that give them a taste of defeat?
00:31:02Kick-off is tomorrow night at 5.45.
00:31:04And PLZ Soccer will be there live, keeping you up to date.
00:31:07Yeah, absolutely.
00:31:09Looking forward to, hopefully, Rangers getting a result, a positive one.
00:31:13Because, quite simply, as they move forward,
00:31:17they're going to, again, have to try and get some kind of form.
00:31:20It's not exactly a given right away, Ryan,
00:31:22that you look at the last four or five years where Rangers have been flag to flag.
00:31:27It doesn't necessarily go hand-in-hand that this team's going to suddenly be able to produce those performances.
00:31:32We're yet to see them really get a run of form, a style, a regular pick from Philippe Clermont.
00:31:40Yeah, hopefully they played so badly against Celtic.
00:31:44But hopefully some of the newer players came in,
00:31:47would understand the magnitude of that game
00:31:49and that those types of results don't happen at Rangers.
00:31:52And they can't happen.
00:31:54So, as much as it was a terrible result for the whole club and the players,
00:32:00it might be a good little early wake-up call for some of them,
00:32:02knowing that they can't have those types of performances again.
00:32:05And there's no better way, like you said, to go over to Malmo, get some kind of result.
00:32:11They come back, they've then got another big game against Hibs at the weekend.
00:32:14And then they're at home against Lyon, I think, the following week.
00:32:18So, that's three tricky games.
00:32:19But if they can come through those three games with some good results,
00:32:22it will start building that momentum into the rest of the season.
00:32:25Before I get your prediction, guys,
00:32:27I'm just looking at their side at the moment, Rangers,
00:32:30with Butland in goal, Tavernier, Proper, Suter and Sterling.
00:32:36This is the team that obviously defeated Dundee.
00:32:40Jeff De Baeren, Barame, Dessers, Tom Lawrence and Cherney.
00:32:47So, there's your 11.
00:32:50And of the subs that come on, Diamandy was there,
00:32:52Cortez, Igamani, McCausland and Casarguiro.
00:32:58So, I'm looking and saying, is there...
00:33:01And obviously, Ballaghan, Raskin are in that mix, as well as Kieran Dowell.
00:33:06Is there, out of all of them, is that the strongest starting 11 against Undeer?
00:33:12Would you put maybe one in and one out?
00:33:17No, I think he'll stick to the same team.
00:33:19I thought they were pretty impressive against Undee, particularly second half.
00:33:24They've obviously brought some new players in and they're going to try and bed them in.
00:33:28A little bit disappointed with Cherney.
00:33:30I thought when he first came in, I thought he looked really good.
00:33:33I thought he was poor against Undee, first half.
00:33:37Igamani's obviously pushing Dessers now for starting place.
00:33:40A lot of Rangers fans like looking at him.
00:33:42I think he's got a lot of potential as well, but Dessers keeps buying goals in,
00:33:45so he's going to stay in the team.
00:33:47But I don't think he'll deviate too much from the team that beat Undee.
00:33:51I'm really impressed with Conor Barron.
00:33:53Looks as if he's been playing for Rangers for years.
00:33:55And Jeff, that he left back as well, looks pretty good.
00:33:59So, slowly but surely, Peter, the players that they've brought in are starting to show what they can do.
00:34:05Yeah, do you fancy them?
00:34:07I think they'll get a point, Peter.
00:34:09I think Malmo are 11 points clear at the top of the Swedish league.
00:34:12They're a good side.
00:34:13They've not got a particularly great record in Europe.
00:34:15Rangers have, so I think one each draw for me.
00:34:18Scott?
00:34:19Yeah, I would go one each.
00:34:20I would echo Tam there.
00:34:21One each for me.
00:34:22I think they'll lose.
00:34:23Yeah?
00:34:24I think they'll lose maybe 2-0.
00:34:25But I think the performance will be...
00:34:27They'll be in the game, but I think they'll lose two late ones.
00:34:29Yeah.
00:34:30Okay.
00:34:31You're a right barrel of laughs today.
00:34:342-0.
00:34:362-0.
00:34:37We'll wait.
00:34:38We'll wait next week and see what the score is.
00:34:41The Prophet of Doom is here.
00:34:44Have you noticed that Gowzer's joined this season in the two ex-teams he's played for
00:34:48have sacked the managers already?
00:34:49St Johnston and Hartz?
00:34:50Yeah, absolutely.
00:34:51Davey Martindale must be like,
00:34:52the name of his cup of tea.
00:34:53That's right.
00:34:54Oh!
00:34:55I'm going to phone him.
00:34:57Mate, you're next for the chop.
00:34:59Because the Prophet of Doom is here.
00:35:01Will Stevie Nesmith stay in the job?
00:35:03No, he won't.
00:35:04No?
00:35:05Davey will be all right.
00:35:06Davey will be all right.
00:35:07As long as he doesn't sack me, yeah.
00:35:09Davey will be fine.
00:35:10But, oh, that's another thing.
00:35:12You've obviously played in these two.
00:35:14Did you play with Stevie Nesmith as a player?
00:35:16No, played against him.
00:35:17Played against him?
00:35:18Never played with him, but played against him.
00:35:20I think Stevie will get back in at some point.
00:35:22Yeah, I think he'll get a job somewhere, Peter.
00:35:26His first season he was excellent.
00:35:28I think a lot of board members and a lot of clubs will look at it and go,
00:35:33he's a bad spell.
00:35:34I don't think you can judge him too far on that.
00:35:36I think he'll still get in somewhere, Peter, but he'll take a wee break now.
00:35:38Yeah, absolutely.
00:35:39And on your point on Cherney, I like to look at him.
00:35:41I thought Cherney looked as if he was a…
00:35:43Disappointing recently, isn't he?
00:35:44Yeah, I thought he was a player that really, with that left peg…
00:35:46Respect him more.
00:35:47…could cause people a bit of problems.
00:35:49And actually, when I was looking at the…
00:35:51And you know what it's like.
00:35:52Everybody tells you somebody's a player, you know.
00:35:54But the boy Barame looked…
00:35:56He looked all right.
00:35:57And I thought, well, there's the two flanks.
00:35:59That could be, you know, that two-pronged attack.
00:36:01You know, the crosses into the box, the supply line.
00:36:05You've got Barne in there.
00:36:07I'm still not 100% sure of what their definitive midfield is.
00:36:13I think they need a strong midfield.
00:36:17Three.
00:36:19What take my player?
00:36:21Well, I'm expecting more from Diamandy.
00:36:24Yeah, he's fell off a bit as well.
00:36:26Yeah, I think to do anything, to win the cup, the league cup,
00:36:31if they win against Motherwell and get into the final.
00:36:36To win it, they're going to have to learn how to boss that midfield.
00:36:41That's the only way they're going to beat Celtic,
00:36:43is to learn how to either destabilise them, nullify them, but boss it.
00:36:49And I still don't see that.
00:36:51And, you know, they can talk about…
00:36:54I mean, the jury's always out in decimals.
00:36:56I don't want to labour the point with the boy
00:36:58because I just think he goes out and does his best.
00:37:01And it's never enough in some people's eyes.
00:37:04But the midfield is where they've got to boss it, and I don't see it.
00:37:07It's probably Celtic's strongest area.
00:37:11And they've got quality on the bench.
00:37:13You've seen it in recent weeks.
00:37:15The players that they're bringing on are arguably,
00:37:17if you ask Celtic fans, you would flip a coin over who they're going to play.
00:37:21So they've got probably five options for those three positions.
00:37:24And Rangers, like you said, has probably only got Barron.
00:37:28And then you're trying to think who else could possibly go in there.
00:37:31So it's up to those players to go in there
00:37:34and really showcase what they can do.
00:37:37I remember playing against Di Mandia last year at St. Johnson,
00:37:41and he was very, very good.
00:37:43And after the game, a lot of Rangers fans were like,
00:37:45that's the kind of performances that we've been waiting for all season.
00:37:48And I think he's maybe just a little bit too hot and cold
00:37:51to be able to sort of get that level of playing
00:37:55each and every week for a club like Rangers.
00:37:57Yeah, absolutely.
00:37:58And of course, of the European games coming up,
00:38:01Hearts are away next week to Dynamo Minsk,
00:38:04and Celtic will travel to Dortmund,
00:38:08which will be just a fabulous stadium.
00:38:11I really wish we could go to that, Dan.
00:38:13Yeah, that's the acid test.
00:38:14I think everybody's been really positive about Celtic this season.
00:38:17Obviously, a brilliant result, performance against Bratislava.
00:38:20Dortmund are a totally different kettle of fish.
00:38:22Got to the final last season, had a look at their squad the other night.
00:38:25They're a very, very strong squad, strong starting line-up.
00:38:28They go to Dortmund, they get any sort of result.
00:38:30If Celtic can go there and get a result, a point,
00:38:33you think the Celtic team could do something this season.
00:38:36But until Celtic can prove that they can go away
00:38:39from home in the Champions League and get results,
00:38:42then I still think the jury's going to vote
00:38:44in terms of them actually getting into the knockout stages.
00:38:46Have you been to the Westfalenstadion?
00:38:48I have, Peter.
00:38:49I went to Scotland under-21s many years ago
00:38:52when the full team were playing.
00:38:53We played Germany the night before and beat them 1-0.
00:38:56Then the full team played at the Dortmund stadium.
00:38:59We went to the game, Scotland beat them 3-1,
00:39:01but we were all there, under-21s.
00:39:03I was there that night.
00:39:05Was it 3-1? I think it was 3-1 to you.
00:39:07The atmosphere was fantastic.
00:39:08Oh, brilliant, absolutely.
00:39:09The Scotland fans at some stadium.
00:39:13Behind the goal is one of the biggest stands,
00:39:16probably the biggest stand in Europe.
00:39:18The one behind the goal where the Dortmund fans are all parked.
00:39:20Yeah, the yellow wall.
00:39:21It's going to be a tough ask for Celtic to get out of that game.
00:39:24I see Atlanta lost last night at home to Cuomo.
00:39:27So again, Celtic fans will think they can get a result there,
00:39:31but it's different doing it than actually saying it.
00:39:34Yeah, I'd love to see positive results,
00:39:37because I think now, and I know it's an old cliché
00:39:41that a lot of journalists, broadcasters, pundits
00:39:43like to be positive about Scottish football,
00:39:46but right now, with the way this coefficient's going,
00:39:49every point's a prisoner for Scottish clubs.
00:39:52We've got to hope Hearts can do something,
00:39:55regardless of who the interim manager is,
00:39:58Liam Fox, or they eventually get someone in time.
00:40:02But we need points.
00:40:04We need Rangers to, again, continue to fly the flag,
00:40:07as they have done.
00:40:08And you need Celtic to do something now,
00:40:11and this is the best chance, I think,
00:40:13of seeing Celtic doing something.
00:40:16The only thing I...
00:40:18I actually think they're going to lose the next two games,
00:40:21but if they got a point in one of them...
00:40:23You can't say that.
00:40:24Big doom and gloom, huh?
00:40:27I say that Rangers won't win at Malmo,
00:40:29and you say they're going to lose the next two.
00:40:31Yeah, but I genuinely listen to Brendan Rodgers,
00:40:36and I'm looking at his team,
00:40:38and I look at the way they play right now,
00:40:40and this is the best start of a team
00:40:44that I can think of in a while,
00:40:46since obviously...
00:40:47I mean, even Ange didn't have a great start.
00:40:49But this is the best start to a season
00:40:51where suddenly the football looks really, really good.
00:40:55You know, I mean, before when Brendan came in
00:40:58the first time around,
00:40:59he was building the squad.
00:41:01He was building the team.
00:41:02It's strength and depth now as well, Peter.
00:41:04Exactly, it's strength and depth.
00:41:06They play good football.
00:41:07The press is good when they're off the ball.
00:41:09You know, we all know that they've got
00:41:12one or two weaknesses in the side
00:41:15that need to be addressed at times.
00:41:19But I just think they're good.
00:41:22We're about to find out how good they are away from home.
00:41:26If they got one point out of six,
00:41:29I think they'd be delighted.
00:41:30Yeah, I think we'll maybe be a bit more positive
00:41:33if I can go with what Tam says.
00:41:35Obviously, we were at Atlanta last night
00:41:37conceding three goals at home.
00:41:39Chess Fabregas, who's the manager of Como,
00:41:42will play the same brand that Celtic do,
00:41:44trying to play through and suck guys out
00:41:46and obviously get the attacking players on the ball.
00:41:48And I can assure you that Como won't have the speed
00:41:50that Celtic have in the final third
00:41:53by guys like Maeda.
00:41:55So, we'll be breaking that down.
00:41:56I think there's a chance there at the hut.
00:41:58At Atlanta, Richard Dortmund on the other hand,
00:42:01it's going to be a real difficult task.
00:42:03But I think that will be something that Brendan Hodges
00:42:06and that will be looking to,
00:42:07especially after that defeat at home,
00:42:09because Celtic do have players at the hut.
00:42:12They're going to create chances.
00:42:13I know we were speaking a minute back
00:42:16about Rangers coming in
00:42:17and how they would stop this Celtic midfield.
00:42:19I think the Celtic midfield takes physicality out of the battle
00:42:23because the movement is so good
00:42:25and they're so sharp with the ball.
00:42:26So, I'm really looking forward to the Dortmund game,
00:42:29to be honest.
00:42:30I quite like, he's called the slavering cabbage,
00:42:35who says Peter talks some amount of,
00:42:37let's rephrase it, crap.
00:42:42If the slavering cabbage had an opinion,
00:42:44well, he doesn't have a point, he's still to make it.
00:42:46But if he had an opinion,
00:42:49he'd be able to tell us how many points Celtic
00:42:52are going to get in the next two games.
00:42:54If I'm the prophet of doom,
00:42:56let's hear from the prophet of optimism in Scott Allen.
00:43:01Are you going to offer us one point
00:43:04or three points out of the six for the next two games?
00:43:09Four.
00:43:10He's going to go six and Celtic win the Champions League.
00:43:13By the way, Tam and I mentioned to you
00:43:15at the start of the programme
00:43:16that we thought you'd lost your edge
00:43:18in the last week or two.
00:43:20What edge is that?
00:43:21That edge of just getting in there
00:43:23with a couple of tackles.
00:43:25He's got hurt.
00:43:27Tam said to me,
00:43:28you know what's happened, don't you?
00:43:30And I was sitting down with Tam,
00:43:31we had a big meeting about it
00:43:32because he said Gowser's really stepped up to the plate.
00:43:35And then Tam turned around and he went,
00:43:37Scott, he's just had too many touches
00:43:42on Radio Clyde, Super Scorbun.
00:43:44He's gone soft.
00:43:45He's letting a 75-year-old man
00:43:47dominate the phone in
00:43:48while you can't offer an opinion.
00:43:50I mean, even I could let her keep it.
00:43:52You've been dying to say that.
00:43:53Honestly, even I could let her keep it.
00:43:56I could let her keep it
00:43:57into left field when I was on that programme.
00:44:00We need to concentrate on our own show here, Peter.
00:44:02We need to concentrate.
00:44:03No, no, we need to look at opposition
00:44:04and see why you've lost your edge.
00:44:06Give us the points, Eddie.
00:44:07It's been flying, to be fair.
00:44:10Give us it.
00:44:11Is it three or is it six?
00:44:12Or is it none?
00:44:16I think Celtic create chances.
00:44:21I'll go three.
00:44:22I think they could maybe produce a win away.
00:44:24Who against?
00:44:25Atalanta.
00:44:26Atalanta?
00:44:27Right.
00:44:28By the way, and we are going to allow you
00:44:30to come in with that condescending look.
00:44:34He's going to do the Conor McGregor walk right in.
00:44:37Beat Atalanta, he's entitled to do that.
00:44:39Absolutely.
00:44:40By the way...
00:44:42I'll tell you right now...
00:44:43I think it's going well, that is.
00:44:45I'm not just going to say a point.
00:44:46I think what they've given us this season
00:44:49can allow you to go.
00:44:50You could maybe fancy them to win one away from home.
00:44:52So you think it's Atalanta?
00:44:54Yeah.
00:44:55Listen, by the way, if that happens,
00:44:57the Celtic support are going to go into overdrive.
00:45:01Claremont last year goes away in wins and bets.
00:45:04A game maybe not fancied for, you know what I mean?
00:45:07It's a team that's flying, it's confident,
00:45:09creating chances, defending better,
00:45:11dominating the ball.
00:45:13A late goal will obviously go down,
00:45:15just promoted to CREI.
00:45:17We've got a manager who's very similar to Andy's,
00:45:20but Brendan is, and scores three goals.
00:45:22Yeah.
00:45:23Geoff likes what you've said.
00:45:24He says,
00:45:25Atalanta have just been beaten by the team in bottom place.
00:45:28I want three points, why not?
00:45:32So he's with you, which is fine.
00:45:35They conceded three goals at home,
00:45:36so there's deficiencies there.
00:45:38Yeah, absolutely.
00:45:39A big thank you to Geoff Allen,
00:45:41Scott's brother,
00:45:42for messaging in there to boost his confidence.
00:45:45See you at home, Geoff.
00:45:47Ryan, are you going to be as confident as your man?
00:45:50Yeah, I don't think they'll get anything from Dortmund,
00:45:53but I think they'll have one eye on Atalanta.
00:45:55I think that's the chance for them to get some points,
00:45:58so I fancy them to win that game.
00:46:00Yeah.
00:46:01Yep, I'll go for a two-beat Atalanta
00:46:03and get beat off at Dortmund,
00:46:04so I think they'll pick up three points from the two away games.
00:46:06Well, I'll tell you one thing, this is like...
00:46:08There's a big gloom there.
00:46:09Do you want me to tell you something?
00:46:11We're building you up now.
00:46:13You're talking to me.
00:46:14You see they're going to pick up six points,
00:46:16we can get back in.
00:46:21Stop sticking the knife in.
00:46:23Stop the bitterness and just say you're going to win.
00:46:26We'll get them in for you, Clyde,
00:46:28and we'll get you in.
00:46:32Listen, it's all about opinions.
00:46:34I'm looking at them and I'm saying,
00:46:36they've had a great start,
00:46:37they're playing great football,
00:46:38are they good enough to go away and win the two games?
00:46:41We're about to find out if they've got that game.
00:46:43And remember, by the way,
00:46:45the best two games that I witnessed
00:46:47with Brendan Rodgers in charge in European football
00:46:52was Man City home and away.
00:46:53I mean, they were fantastic games,
00:46:56but this is why he was brought back.
00:47:00I mean, there is no doubt about it.
00:47:02I mean, he is the top coach,
00:47:05the best coach in Scotland for me,
00:47:07but this start to the season has been brilliant.
00:47:09I've thoroughly enjoyed watching the way they're playing,
00:47:12watching the team and how it's developing.
00:47:14I still think they should have brought a striker.
00:47:18You know, I'm looking and I'm saying to myself...
00:47:21Another striker?
00:47:22They should have had another striker, absolutely.
00:47:24I still think they should have had one more striker, but...
00:47:27What brings you to this point then for you?
00:47:30I just don't see the...
00:47:32Is that previous campaigns?
00:47:33I'm looking and I'm saying,
00:47:35have they come along far enough
00:47:38that they won't be exposed at the back?
00:47:40I think there are weaknesses in the back.
00:47:42Left side central, left back.
00:47:44And I think they get found out there.
00:47:46And we're about to find out if they go there
00:47:49and they suddenly get to a situation
00:47:52where they can play that high press,
00:47:54they can pick their moment,
00:47:56they can score the goal away from home
00:47:59that suddenly delivers something that they can hold on to.
00:48:02All well and good.
00:48:03If I was picking a weakness in the Celtic side,
00:48:07it's just left of centre.
00:48:08That's all.
00:48:09The rest of it looks fantastic.
00:48:11It's great to watch.
00:48:12They're not getting pressed at the back more often than not
00:48:15in the games.
00:48:16Who's pressing them?
00:48:17The best side that's come to Celtic Park,
00:48:20Brendan Rodgers wasn't trying to noise up Rangers.
00:48:23He was just stating the bloody obvious,
00:48:25which is Falkirk with them.
00:48:26Falkirk played the best football
00:48:28that I've seen played at Celtic Park this season
00:48:31because they played a pressing game
00:48:32and they said, by the way,
00:48:34we have confidence in our players
00:48:36to try and play triangle passes round them
00:48:38when we've got the ball.
00:48:40And they played good football to their credit.
00:48:42Yeah, they did.
00:48:44I still think this Celtic team
00:48:47is probably the strongest squad I've seen in a long time, Peter.
00:48:50The start in the XI is good,
00:48:51but you look at the bench
00:48:52and you look at even the weekend there,
00:48:54they're bringing on quality players
00:48:56and I think that's been Celtic's problem.
00:48:57I don't think they've been that far away
00:48:58under Ange Postacoglu and Brendan,
00:49:01but I think the last 20, 25 minutes,
00:49:03they're getting done.
00:49:05They've seen it last season
00:49:06because they're bringing players on
00:49:08that are not the quality of Champions League football.
00:49:10I think this season,
00:49:12the 20, 25 minutes to go,
00:49:14you bring Ida on for Kyogo, for example.
00:49:18You maybe bring the guy Trusty on for Scales.
00:49:20You bring Ingles or you bring Bernardo on.
00:49:22You've got real strength and depth there
00:49:24and I think that's going to be the key for Celtic
00:49:26is 60, 70 minutes they've done well last season
00:49:28and then at the end of it, they collapsed.
00:49:31Lost late goals, Lazio home and away.
00:49:35Athletic Madrid at home.
00:49:36So they lost late goals
00:49:38and that was the key for me,
00:49:40but I think they've got a stronger squad this season.
00:49:42So I think that's why they can go away
00:49:44to probably Atlanta and get something.
00:49:46But I don't think Dortmund will be a tough game.
00:49:49Okay, I hope you're right.
00:49:50All three of you.
00:49:52It's been like somebody caught down an alley
00:49:55and they can't get up over the fences.
00:49:56The three of you just put their boot into me.
00:49:59But yeah, we'll live to fight another day.
00:50:01I hope you're right.
00:50:02What did you make of the draw for the League Cup semi-final?
00:50:07I think everyone could have guessed that
00:50:09it was going to be the draw, isn't it?
00:50:10Oh, conspiracy theories, eh?
00:50:12It just happens to a lot of people, doesn't it?
00:50:14Big ball wee ball.
00:50:15It just happens.
00:50:17It just happens a lot.
00:50:19Conspiracy.
00:50:20But it just happens a lot, doesn't it?
00:50:22Yeah, absolutely.
00:50:23Probability.
00:50:24Chances of it happening so many times, it's crazy.
00:50:28Yeah, I think obviously Rangers will be...
00:50:32If you're going to try and rank them,
00:50:34they would have won at Motherwell, no disrespect.
00:50:36But I think with Aberdeen, Rangers and Celtic,
00:50:39they would have probably been wanting to avoid each other.
00:50:41So I think Rangers have got the better of that draw
00:50:44and it sets it up that the Celtic-Aberdeen one
00:50:49could be real tricky for Celtic.
00:50:50Even though it's still a couple of weeks away,
00:50:52it would be one that Aberdeen would be fully confident going into.
00:50:55Yeah, absolutely.
00:50:56I'd love somebody to do...
00:50:57I mean, I know Rod Stewart did the draw half-pissed.
00:51:00But I'd love somebody to do the draw in the last four
00:51:04and put their hand in and go,
00:51:05whoo, the ball's roasted.
00:51:07I wasn't feeling it.
00:51:10But I take his point.
00:51:12I'll tell you one thing, though.
00:51:13I mean, we have Kenny and we have various Aberdeen fans on.
00:51:19They'll get into overdrive if suddenly they start
00:51:24taking scalps along the way.
00:51:26But we all know what October's bringing for the Dons.
00:51:29Yeah, I think that Aberdeen fans are really excited at the minute.
00:51:32The way their team's playing.
00:51:33The 11 wins in a row is fantastic.
00:51:35I think they'll really start to believe and get excited
00:51:37if they take a scalp.
00:51:38And a scalp for me is Celtic.
00:51:39That's a big scalp for me.
00:51:40Or even Rangers.
00:51:42They could maybe think to themselves,
00:51:43oh, we've got a wee chance of second place this season
00:51:46if they can beat Rangers and keep their run going.
00:51:48But that's a big one for me.
00:51:50And Celtic are in the midst of a really busy period as well.
00:51:52European games and league games.
00:51:53Aberdeen should be well rested for that.
00:51:56Celtic are in the back of European games.
00:51:58I still think Celtic are big favourites.
00:52:01But you've seen last season Aberdeen ran Celtic close.
00:52:03Very close.
00:52:04And a poor Aberdeen team.
00:52:05I think this Aberdeen team is a lot better.
00:52:07This Celtic team's a lot better.
00:52:09But I think if Aberdeen can take a scalp,
00:52:12go and beat Celtic or Rangers,
00:52:14I think the fans would really start to believe
00:52:15that they could make a special season for them.
00:52:17Yeah, absolutely.
00:52:18We're fast approaching October when all those tests
00:52:21are coming for the Dons.
00:52:22But right now, it's all rosy in the garden.
00:52:25We were talking about players and whether they played
00:52:28too many games.
00:52:30Rodri had brought that point up last week.
00:52:32And would you believe it?
00:52:34He's got a knee ligament injury.
00:52:36And Pep Guardiola has mentioned that he's facing
00:52:41a heck of a long time on the sidelines.
00:52:44Still, we don't have the definitive.
00:52:49We'll be out for a long time, a while.
00:52:54But there is some opinions that maybe it will be less
00:52:57than we expect.
00:52:59But unfortunately, he was injured.
00:53:02Right now, still I cannot tell you because we're waiting
00:53:05the last phone calls from him and the doctors
00:53:07to know exactly what definitely he has
00:53:12and the type of surgery that he has to get.
00:53:17Oh, you couldn't make it up, could you?
00:53:19Rodri talking about too many games next minute.
00:53:22He'll not be kicking a ball this season, they reckon.
00:53:25Yeah, I watched the game.
00:53:27He's obviously trying to get away from his man at the corner
00:53:29and the knee goes by the looks of it.
00:53:32So I don't think it's actually...
00:53:34I think when he's here, I don't think it's actually
00:53:36to do with how many games he has.
00:53:37I think that's just sometimes your luck.
00:53:39It wasn't like a hamstring or a quad or something like that.
00:53:42So very unfortunate.
00:53:43Probably one of my favourite players to watch.
00:53:45I modelled football at the moment.
00:53:46One of the best controllers that there is.
00:53:48So disappointing, obviously, for Man City
00:53:51but disappointing for all of us who like watching football.
00:53:55Surprised, actually, you said that.
00:53:56What makes...
00:53:58I mean, from you, who was your favourite midfielder
00:54:03of all time that you loved watching
00:54:05that you thought, oh, if I could model myself on him, it would be...
00:54:08I liked, obviously, Zidane, the first one.
00:54:12Raquelme, do you remember him?
00:54:13Yeah.
00:54:14Loved him.
00:54:15I watched him.
00:54:16I watched him at Ibex for Villarreal.
00:54:18One night, he was outstanding.
00:54:22Defence splitting passes, so someone who I really liked.
00:54:25And now, probably my favourite player in the English Premier League
00:54:29would be Odegaard.
00:54:30I love him.
00:54:31Yeah?
00:54:32Yeah, love him.
00:54:33I don't know what you think of that,
00:54:34but I think when he plays, he makes them tick.
00:54:36Yeah.
00:54:37Did you see the fear in his look there?
00:54:39When he looked round, he said,
00:54:40I don't know what you think,
00:54:41he's probably all bludgeoning you on it.
00:54:42He is a good player.
00:54:43He was one of those players that...
00:54:46Nidaleh.
00:54:47Celtic tried to get him on loan at 16,
00:54:50and he ended up opting for Real Madrid.
00:54:53Yeah, he did, I think.
00:54:55It's never easy, obviously.
00:54:57None of us can speak, to be honest,
00:54:58but he's went to Real Madrid.
00:55:00A big money at a young age.
00:55:01I had a lot of pressure on him,
00:55:02but he just grew into the Arsenal strip.
00:55:04And like I said, he makes them tick.
00:55:06Some of the things he does,
00:55:07he's a wee throwback to when we spoke about number 10s
00:55:11a month back,
00:55:12who were in the tight spaces,
00:55:13just can't get out of them,
00:55:14and then slip passes through.
00:55:16And why Rodri?
00:55:17He's a wee bit different.
00:55:18Just different, isn't he?
00:55:20Yeah.
00:55:21Rodri just does everything.
00:55:22Rodri passes the ball forward quickly.
00:55:25You don't get the ball in areas about guys like that.
00:55:27He's in off the ball very good.
00:55:30Okay, good insight from you.
00:55:32We always like to see Scottish players doing well.
00:55:34Boy, there's a fair bit of hysteria
00:55:36following Scott McTominay's starting debut.
00:55:39He was class.
00:55:41They're absolutely going ballistic over in Italy
00:55:43for him saying he could be the next icon.
00:55:46It just goes to show you,
00:55:47hopefully that builds up the Scottish boys' confidence,
00:55:51and it also makes this whole European campaign
00:55:55in the Euros a bit disappointing,
00:55:56because we know that we've got players
00:55:58that can go out and perform in these big clubs
00:56:01and big leagues,
00:56:02and John McGinn playing in the Champions League,
00:56:06the boys at Celtic.
00:56:08They just need to almost believe in themselves
00:56:09a little bit more,
00:56:10and hopefully that showcases Italian football
00:56:14that there's good players in Scotland,
00:56:16and the more players you can get playing abroad
00:56:18and playing in these big leagues,
00:56:19the better for the national team.
00:56:20Yeah, it's a big change, isn't it?
00:56:22You think about the players.
00:56:24In the last, what is it, five years, guys?
00:56:27The last five years, there's been...
00:56:29I think maybe a wee bit longer
00:56:31on the basis that we had them on the show.
00:56:35I think Ruffey and I had them on the show
00:56:36in the first two or three years,
00:56:38was obviously Mark Haley's boy, Tom,
00:56:42and we had Barry Douglas on the show as well,
00:56:47and Ziggy Gordon went out to Poland
00:56:52and played for two clubs out there,
00:56:54so they made the move,
00:56:55but then all of a sudden,
00:56:56you started to get more than a few players...
00:56:59Lee Henderson still playing,
00:57:00certainly midfielder for Empoli,
00:57:01haven't really spoken about him as much.
00:57:03Yeah, absolutely,
00:57:04and he's completely and utterly
00:57:05just off the radar, isn't he?
00:57:07He's now Italian,
00:57:08he can speak fluent Italian,
00:57:10he has all his interviews in Italian.
00:57:12I'm still in contact with him,
00:57:13but plays regularly for Empoli in the centre midfield.
00:57:16Obviously we speak about Gilmour,
00:57:18Josh Doyle went out last year,
00:57:20he's at Cicero now.
00:57:23It's good to see,
00:57:24I think we all kind of wish 15 years ago
00:57:27guys were taking Scottish players,
00:57:28but it was always about going down to England now,
00:57:31they can see that we've got qualities
00:57:32or something's been done right.
00:57:33Yeah, there's a lot of them.
00:57:35And I was just about to say to you guys,
00:57:38if there was one Italian team
00:57:39that you would love to have joined...
00:57:43Roma.
00:57:44Yeah, good shout,
00:57:46mental set of fans,
00:57:48great atmosphere.
00:57:49Milan.
00:57:50Yeah.
00:57:51Milan for me.
00:57:52Yeah.
00:57:53Milan, yeah.
00:57:54Napoli for me,
00:57:55I've seen the parties at Maradona
00:57:56I used to go to.
00:57:58Oh, I'd have a bite of that.
00:58:02Oh yes.
00:58:06There's always got to be an angle for you.
00:58:08We had,
00:58:09one of our reporters went out
00:58:11and Napoli is a place
00:58:12which is just a shrine to Maradona.
00:58:15I mean, it's incredible.
00:58:16The documentary's a fantastic film,
00:58:17the Maradona film's unbelievable.
00:58:19You see he drives in the car
00:58:20and they turn the soundtrack.
00:58:21Yeah, it's just absolutely crazy.
00:58:23Yeah, Napoli's a good show,
00:58:24I can understand where you're going with that as well.
00:58:26I wonder how those two will,
00:58:27I wonder how those two will be
00:58:29hanging about with each other non-stop.
00:58:32Prestation.
00:58:35Wasted on them, eh?
00:58:36Yeah, absolutely.
00:58:37But I'll tell you,
00:58:38if ever there's a game
00:58:39and a set of footballers
00:58:42that you think can cut it there,
00:58:44you know,
00:58:45it's those two because,
00:58:46you know, Scott's one thing
00:58:48but of course,
00:58:49and Billy Gilmore I think,
00:58:51once he gets in...
00:58:52Two great signings for him.
00:58:53Two great signings for him.
00:58:54Brilliant, isn't it?
00:58:55Oh, brilliant.
00:58:56Completely different type of players as well.
00:58:57Yeah, absolutely.
00:58:59And Gary Connor leaves us
00:59:01with possibly the best point
00:59:04of the whole programme
00:59:05as we're just about to say goodbye.
00:59:07Guys, he says,
00:59:08my granny wants to know
00:59:10which curtain shop made Tam's trousers.
00:59:14Who said that?
00:59:15Gary Connor.
00:59:16Gary O'Connor.
00:59:17I was about to say that.
00:59:18Not the one who...
00:59:19Is he heard Napoli parties,
00:59:20he was writing about that?
00:59:23Yeah, absolutely.
00:59:25I must admit,
00:59:26out of all the guys that I know,
00:59:28your clobber is...
00:59:30Horrendous.
00:59:31It's just horrendous, isn't it?
00:59:32I mean, you wear it...
00:59:33Gets the point of us talking, doesn't it?
00:59:35Absolutely.
00:59:36I mean, braces,
00:59:37that does not bother him.
00:59:38No.
00:59:39You just don't bother.
00:59:40It's like you,
00:59:41you're minty
00:59:42and you just dress like a Jake.
00:59:43I'm quite...
00:59:45That's exactly it, Tam.
00:59:46That's brilliant.
00:59:47That's how you know you're minty.
00:59:48I don't care.
00:59:49I'll be honest,
00:59:50I'll be honest,
00:59:51no one told me that.
00:59:52I'm not giving out clues.
00:59:53Once you get to my age,
00:59:54you think,
00:59:55why bother now?
00:59:56I've got everything that we need.
00:59:58Anyway,
00:59:59as far as we're concerned,
01:00:00we might be a mile out,
01:00:01but the two catalogue boys on the left...
01:00:04They're looking good,
01:00:05they're looking good, the boys.
01:00:06They're looking good, aren't they?
01:00:07They're looking good, the boys.
01:00:08There's nothing worse than
01:00:09still being thin.
01:00:11Getting into a 32 waist.
01:00:13Aye, that's what happens
01:00:14when you're still playing me.
01:00:15We retire.
01:00:16Aye, absolutely.
01:00:17And your wife starts saying,
01:00:18why don't we just get a dominoes?
01:00:20We'll stay in.
01:00:22Not bothered, you know.
01:00:23Anyway,
01:00:24great to have Scott and Ryan here
01:00:25on a Wednesday.
01:00:26Always good for a good noise up.
01:00:27Hit the subscribe button if you can,
01:00:30and if you get a chance,
01:00:32download the app as well.
01:00:33We've got some great interviews
01:00:35and unique video content
01:00:36on our YouTube channel.
01:00:37I think you really will enjoy.
01:00:39Well worthy,
01:00:40if you're a football fan,
01:00:41of having a wee look
01:00:42at our Hibbs documentary.
01:00:44Just 10 minutes of your time
01:00:45to get a wee insight
01:00:46into the club.
01:00:48Pat Stanton's on it,
01:00:49Marvin Bartley,
01:00:50they're all talking about
01:00:51the fans,
01:00:52the different levels
01:00:53of hospitality you can get.
01:00:55There's so much attached
01:00:56to a game of football now.
01:00:58I'm going to watch it later.
01:01:00Well, to be fair,
01:01:01commercially,
01:01:02they're doing everything they can
01:01:03to give the manager the money
01:01:04to put a good team in the park.
01:01:06But as we all know,
01:01:07Tam,
01:01:08it's a good watch,
01:01:09but over and above that,
01:01:11if they get a winning team
01:01:12on the park,
01:01:13they'll easily sell
01:01:14all the levels of hospitality.
01:01:16Oh, it was brilliant.
01:01:17I mean,
01:01:18when I was there,
01:01:19it was just concourses
01:01:20of nothing really,
01:01:21just burgers and chips.
01:01:23Now you're getting
01:01:24the full hospitality treatment.
01:01:25And as I say,
01:01:26they just need to get it
01:01:27right on the park,
01:01:28and I think Hibbs will shortly.
01:01:29OK.
01:01:30Thanks to Scott.
01:01:31Thanks to Ryan.
01:01:32Thanks to Tam.
01:01:33From myself, Peter Martin,
01:01:34thanks for watching
01:01:35and listening on the podcast.