What Is The Current Best Scottish XI? | The Football Show LIVE
We dive into the best Scottish club team since the 1970s and discuss who're the best players in the Scottish Premiership right now.
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Subscribe: @PLZSoccer
Also on The Football Show:
Join us on The Football Show Live as we discuss whether Iniesta is the greatest midfielder, the complicated relationship between sports journalists and footballers, and the history of Aberdeen's last league win.
We dive into the best Scottish club team since the 1970s, preview matches like Croatia v Scotland, and debate Scotland's performance against upcoming Nations League teams. Plus, get the latest on Tony Bloom’s investment in Hearts FC and the rejected television deal for Premier Sports to broadcast the upcoming Celtic vs Aberdeen clash.
Stay tuned for all the latest in Scottish football!
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00 The Football Show Live
01:15 Is Iniesta the greatest midfielder?
11:30 Can sports journalists be friends with footballers?
19:54 When was the last time Aberdeen won the league?
20:24 Which is the best team in Scotland since the 1970's?
23:10 Croatia v Scotland and Portugal v Scotland preview
25:29 Does Scotland have an excuse playing top Nations League teams?
27:07 Is Scotland missing good goalkeepers and key players?
31:20 What are your score predictions for Scotland's fixtures?
34:34 Latest Scottish football headlines
36:10 Who will be the new Hearts FC manager?
41:25 How much money will Tony Bloom invest in Hearts FC?
43:32 Do Rangers have one of the best players in Scottish football?
53:50 Celtic vs Aberdeen: Are Celtic right to reject Premier Sports deal?
Love Scottish football as much as we do? Support PLZ Soccer by liking this video and subscribing to our channel.
Support PLZ Soccer: https://bit.ly/PLZKickstarter
Subscribe: @PLZSoccer
Also on The Football Show:
Join us on The Football Show Live as we discuss whether Iniesta is the greatest midfielder, the complicated relationship between sports journalists and footballers, and the history of Aberdeen's last league win.
We dive into the best Scottish club team since the 1970s, preview matches like Croatia v Scotland, and debate Scotland's performance against upcoming Nations League teams. Plus, get the latest on Tony Bloom’s investment in Hearts FC and the rejected television deal for Premier Sports to broadcast the upcoming Celtic vs Aberdeen clash.
Stay tuned for all the latest in Scottish football!
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00 The Football Show Live
01:15 Is Iniesta the greatest midfielder?
11:30 Can sports journalists be friends with footballers?
19:54 When was the last time Aberdeen won the league?
20:24 Which is the best team in Scotland since the 1970's?
23:10 Croatia v Scotland and Portugal v Scotland preview
25:29 Does Scotland have an excuse playing top Nations League teams?
27:07 Is Scotland missing good goalkeepers and key players?
31:20 What are your score predictions for Scotland's fixtures?
34:34 Latest Scottish football headlines
36:10 Who will be the new Hearts FC manager?
41:25 How much money will Tony Bloom invest in Hearts FC?
43:32 Do Rangers have one of the best players in Scottish football?
53:50 Celtic vs Aberdeen: Are Celtic right to reject Premier Sports deal?
Love Scottish football as much as we do? Support PLZ Soccer by liking this video and subscribing to our channel.
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SportTranscript
00:00Welcome to the football show on Peel's Edsockers, hit that subscribe button and you can join
00:14the football family. I'm Peter Martin, Scott Allan, Alison McConnell and Tam McManus are
00:20here with me today. The big Oz has pulled out, sends his best wishes. He won the clean
00:27sheet trophy last night, they were celebrating their draw. I know, I've seen that. Gows don't
00:32have that on his Instagram, they have that clean sheet. They actually retweeted it. He
00:37said I'll leave you, can't make it today, I'll leave you in the capable hands of Mr
00:42Tactician, keep the eyeballs low and spread out. It's working, guilty hearts, top of the
00:46league. Yeah, it's going well. Going really well, yeah, obviously that was a difficult
00:51fixture away to Queen of the South who overtook previous to the game but to go down and obviously
00:56win in that fashion, it's a big statement for myself. And will you be able to get back
01:00into that side because I noticed the old... The cast's off. I think I'm maybe two or three
01:06weeks away yet so obviously back into training. Strap up, do the Benzema and see how I get
01:12on. Yeah, do the Benzema. We've been arguing non-stop about midfielders. What do you like
01:19to see in a midfielder by the way? What's your idea of the perfect midfielder? A perfect
01:22goal-scoring midfielder, I like goal-scoring midfielders. I always liked Steven Gerrard,
01:26Frank Lampard, the guys that could get by the striker and score. What about playing
01:31with? You in that too? I'd probably Russel Latipy type. If I'm a striker I want somebody
01:38who can slip the ball through to me like Latipy. Yeah. Your man. So he's got both, he's a hybrid
01:44of both. And of course... That means Kelty are top. Yeah, the reason I mentioned that
01:50as well before we get into the meat and bones of what we're going to talk about today Ali
01:56is quite simply one of the greatest midfielders of the last 20 years hung up his boots, had
02:02a press conference in Barcelona at 40 years of age. Iniesta was really emotional actually
02:08just saying he didn't see this day coming but now that it's here he'd just like to thank
02:14everybody on the journey and what a journey it's been because World Cup, two European
02:19Championships, scored the winner in the 2010 World Cup and he could pick a million and
02:25one great passes and a million and one memorable moments in his career. Just integral to that
02:31really celebrated Barcelona team too. Just an outstanding football player, just so graceful
02:37and elegant. Like all great practitioners of his art, he makes it look easy. Yeah, he
02:42was magnificent wasn't he? I mean that three of Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets was just outrageous.
02:49Yeah, well we're obviously talking about football and how that Pep Guardiola team kind of changed
02:55football for a while. They came up against, I remember Bayern Munich putting everybody
02:59above six foot out against them, they didn't see the ball. That's how good they were, they
03:03just had answers for every sort of opponent but the one that sticks out for me is the
03:08last minute goal against Chelsea, do you remember that in the semi-final? Yeah, it was a belter
03:11wasn't it? Top off and Drogba was calling everybody cheats. I remember sitting in the
03:16house watching that and obviously the goal in the World Cup final. I think I seen something
03:22on X saying that he'd manned a match in like six finals that he'd played in so it just
03:26goes to show you how good he really was. Yeah and another thing that you used to do Tam
03:31which I think if you were part of the Barcelona backroom team, you know who's working in the
03:37background making sure that the stadium and the tour and everything is all ship shape.
03:43When they actually get to the point where they say look, Iniesta's leaving, we want
03:49you to get all the trophies out that he's won because that's a big thing that they do
03:52in Spain which they don't do here is they get all the trophies that you've won and you
03:58get your photograph taken on the pitch and if you think about the trophies that Iniesta
04:05has won, you know your Copa del Rey, the league itself and then of course the Champions League
04:12and then the European Championships and the World Cup. So they got them all out on the
04:15pitch? They get them all out on the pitch and you get your photograph taken which is
04:19magnificent. Would you spend a wee Polaroid if it was me? Yeah, well what they would have
04:24done there is just a little Polaroid of you leaving with your bag as the administrator
04:30comes in. No, I mean absolutely magnificent. You know how we always get caught up in the
04:40great, great players and we're picking our World XI and you've got guys like Cruyff
04:45and Messi and Zidane. I think that's the best midfield that I've ever seen. That's the
04:52best team I've seen. Xavi and Iniesta, Busquets is the best midfield three that I've ever
04:56seen. That's better for me. I'm not talking about individual players, I'm talking about
05:00as a midfield, those three. Busquets just sitting in the two in front of them. It's
05:04ridiculous. Best, best. I mean there was a moment, I don't know if you've seen the footage
05:09Scott, where they're actually playing against Madrid in El Clasico and they just keep bump,
05:16bump, bump, bump, you know in a triangle. It was just magnificent to watch. That was
05:19them every week at that time when you were kind of glued to the TV every time a game
05:24was on TV. So for me, the best football team I've seen, no question. When somebody comes
05:31out with a statement like that, I try and counter it by offering... You've got a bit
05:35more experience than me in terms of that. Yeah, but I'm trying to... For me, that was
05:41ridiculous what they've done to some big teams. Yeah, I mean I saw them, I was at the Champions
05:46League final in Rome and I saw them dismantle Manchester United and Messi scored with a
05:52header of all things. But I was trying to think of another team, Milan of the late 80s,
05:59you know with the three Dutch players, Rijkaard, Hulot and Van Basten was special. They were
06:06fantastic because they had a really good team. Maldini, Barresi, Ancelotti was in that side
06:12as well. So they were a really good side. But there were two Barcelona sides that I
06:19think were special and then prior to what I would call the Galacticos, who really didn't
06:25win anything. Beckham actually ended up winning one title there but the one that was together
06:30when they won the European Cup at Hamden was Zidane's goal and Carlos was in it and Raul.
06:37They were a good side but I can't argue with you. I mean actually here, Mark says Iniesta
06:43for a genuine world class player was always slightly underrated because of the generational
06:49talents he played with and made better. I mean it's a good point. You're looking and
06:55you're saying who could contest it and I can't think of many. I don't even think Man City
07:00come close.
07:01To that team?
07:02To that team.
07:03No, that's the best team I've seen. Best Man of Field 3 and you've got Messi just sitting
07:06in front of them.
07:07I'm still taking Zidane though, not Iniesta.
07:10Yeah, absolutely.
07:11Would you take Zidane over to Iniesta?
07:13Yeah, yeah. I mean it's a hard call isn't it?
07:16I would.
07:17Yeah.
07:18I'd take Zidane over to Messi. Messi's a goat.
07:20But the thing about it is, these players now when you're picking your World XI, it changes
07:25all the time. I mean I had a World XI that I could write. One of them was absolutely
07:31suspect and I'd take it in the neck.
07:33That was Kenny Dalglish.
07:34But I couldn't even get Dalglish in the World XI. How can you not get your hero in the
07:38World XI? I should have jimmied him in but the problem is, I've got an XI that I've picked
07:44since day dot and then as Messi and Ronaldo started to batter in records, I had to keep
07:50changing them. I never changed them right back. I just kept them and I thought people
07:53are just going to leather me but I don't care.
07:56So I've always had...
07:58Who did you swap for Messi and Ronaldo?
08:01Who did I swap?
08:02In your World XI, if you put them in.
08:04Well I always had Schmeichel and Goal.
08:08I always had Danny McGrane at right back.
08:12Of the World XI?
08:14Well Danny McGrane voted the best right back in the World XI.
08:18World XI?
08:19Yeah, to hell with Cafu. Danny McGrane's parter was better than Cafu's.
08:24And then I had, you know, Beckenbauer, Baresi, Maldini and then I had just in front of them
08:32Cruyff, Pele, Maradona. Cruyff could play anywhere.
08:35Cruyff, Pele, Maradona, Messi and then the front two was Gerd Müller and Van Basten.
08:41You had Müller in it?
08:42Gerd Müller. Have you seen Gerd Müller's goal scoring?
08:46I know you were going to say that.
08:47It's just outrageous. He's just unbelievable.
08:50So I had to move a couple of people out. I had to take Van Basten.
08:53Did you put Müller beside Rice?
08:55Eh? No, I'm not giving you that. Well too early for you to start all that crap by the way.
08:59He's a very good old friend. Good grown up.
09:01I'd take Maradona over Messi as well.
09:03Would you? Oh this is a great batter. Honestly we should do a full programme with you.
09:08Can't have anybody on Messi man.
09:09Maradona, when their videos are Maradona playing in their pitches, that's off the scale.
09:16Yes, absolutely. Do you want me to tell you what you can tell when there's a…
09:18He's nutting drugs when he's playing.
09:19What's that?
09:20He's nutting drugs when he's playing.
09:21Even more so.
09:22Even more so?
09:24He's doing that out of his nut.
09:26His performance was surely enhanced by the cocaine.
09:31I'm not sure it was. I'm not sure actually.
09:33Do you know, it's in 1990 when he…
09:36Screams into the camera.
09:3794 when he screams into the camera.
09:39I actually thought to myself, if he's doing cocaine, how does that enhance?
09:45How does that enhance the fact that he's unbelievably skilful?
09:48I was trying to work out, does it make him run faster?
09:51You know, does he start to see things with a real clarity?
09:55I'm not quite sure.
09:56I don't want to ask you to, in case you actually stick yourselves in.
10:01I'm going to bar you for that. You're a disgrace.
10:05Anyway, lots of people say Maradona, best ever, hands down.
10:10And you know, listen, you're right.
10:14You can always tell a great player or a great team when they force you to watch football
10:20at a time when you wouldn't normally.
10:22And on a Saturday morning, you would get up and you'd have to watch Golazzo.
10:29Gazetta Football Italia.
10:30Gazetta Football Italia.
10:31Sunday morning, no?
10:32It was a Sunday morning.
10:34Channel 4.
10:35Channel 4.
10:36And you had to get up and watch it because Gaza was playing or Maradona was playing originally.
10:41That's when you knew…
10:42What was that one with Maradona?
10:44Aye?
10:45Yeah, it was fantastic.
10:46I remember that with the Fiorentina strip or the Nintendo.
10:48Aye, aye.
10:50That's when I kind of first remember watching that.
10:52Yeah, absolutely fantastic.
10:56I always like to read out messages.
10:59You've got to read some out.
11:00Read Neil out.
11:01Yeah, Neil's just…
11:03Neil Mellor has just sent us a message.
11:06He was a good player, actually.
11:08For Liverpool?
11:10Yeah.
11:11Don't tell me who it was against.
11:13It was an absolute belter, wasn't it?
11:15And then he ended up playing for Preston.
11:18Neil Mellor, yeah.
11:19But listen, if you get the chance to walk out at Anfield and say you've played for Liverpool, Ali, does it get any better?
11:27You know?
11:28Indeed.
11:29Neil Mellor says, Peter, can I just check in on you?
11:32Have you gotten over your pal Nazy getting the sack and you've had a petted lip for a wee while now?
11:40Neil, we've got to thank you for that.
11:42Thank you for that.
11:43I'll tell you one thing.
11:44I'd hate to not have people that you got on with in football.
11:50Do you think you're compromised, Ali, if you like someone in football?
11:54Do you think it compromises you when you suddenly have to, as we were all in here, be critical of the fact that it results in a kill-out?
12:01I think it is difficult if you're too friendly with people.
12:04I do think it's hard.
12:05I think if your relationship starts to become quite a personal relationship, I think it is hard.
12:10Yeah?
12:11I don't think, in a journalistic sense, I don't think you can get too friendly with people at times.
12:19It's interesting because, I'm going to give you a perfect example.
12:22Sutty hated the press.
12:24Never went to a press conference.
12:25Absolutely hated the media.
12:28You know?
12:29I mean, the hypocrisy knows no bounds now.
12:31There's quite a few that fall into that.
12:34The great thing about Chris Sutton and Nacho Novo is when I phoned them to launch PLZ Soccer,
12:41the two of them just went, you just tell us where you want us to be.
12:44They were just there 12 years ago, boom, in the car.
12:47What was I saying on feed?
12:49Did the brown envelope help?
12:51To his credit, Chris Sutton took nothing.
12:54Neither did Nacho.
12:55Two of them.
12:56I met Nacho.
12:57I was with Nacho on Saturday night at a function for Drumchapel United.
13:00He just walked up and it was like rolling back the years.
13:04It's nice when you get people that you, I think you build things up on trust,
13:09but sometimes you fall out with people because you offer an opinion and they don't like it.
13:13And that's where the difficulty, I think Alison's right,
13:16sometimes you get to a situation where you think, I'm going to have to call it.
13:19It's very difficult.
13:20It is tough.
13:21It's quite hard.
13:22I think you have to have quite a professional line,
13:26just because your judgement can't really be affected by knowing that you like someone.
13:32You've got a really good relationship.
13:34If you're going to have to sit and say, well, it's not working for a manager,
13:37or it's just maybe time to go, I think it can be quite hard.
13:41Yeah, absolutely.
13:42Especially if you call it.
13:43I think even for players,
13:45you're in a situation where you've said something about a player,
13:49or even some of your pals over the last couple of years have been managers.
13:54Stephen Glass, perfect example.
13:57Eventually you're here and you've got to be painful and say he's got to go.
14:01I'm good friends with Stephen.
14:03I spoke to him all the way through the process of getting the Aberdeen job.
14:06Coming over, I met him when I was over in Florida.
14:09I met him at the game.
14:10He got me tickets.
14:11It was his team against Neil Collins' team, actually.
14:13Tampa Bay.
14:14And then Stephen got the Aberdeen job.
14:16Really, really wanted me to do well.
14:18And he didn't do particularly well.
14:20I'm on this show and we're speaking about Aberdeen.
14:22I'm just...
14:23I haven't even been critical.
14:25I don't think Glass has seen it, thankfully.
14:27But I think if he'd seen it, he'd have been like that.
14:29It's a bit slight.
14:30It's not personal.
14:31You're not being personal.
14:32You're offering a criticism of someone in the job that they're doing.
14:36However, you can imagine it's really difficult not to take it personally.
14:40I think you would.
14:41We've got a friendship that goes deeper than the superficial.
14:44You'll know in my position how difficult that is.
14:46But I do think it compromises you.
14:49How did you handle criticism?
14:51I just genuinely felt that it became part of football.
14:55But I had it from the get-go, though.
14:57We'd just done the United, so I didn't know anything else.
15:00But how did you handle the personal criticism?
15:02If it came from a journalist?
15:03I didn't really bother with it.
15:05Genuinely, I can say it didn't really affect me.
15:07You?
15:08Remember Robert Greve?
15:09Is it Robert Greve?
15:10Kyfie's son?
15:11I played for Hibs.
15:12I had a stinker.
15:13I don't know if I still do them.
15:15Do you still do the ratings in the paper?
15:17So anyway, I think we could beat 2-1 on a Monday morning.
15:20We always used to look by the paper.
15:22Do ratings mean more to you than anything?
15:25I think my mum still gets ratings up in her fridge.
15:28Aye.
15:29And Robert Greve said...
15:31I don't know if a young boy and I are coming through on it.
15:34It's just a poor game.
15:36Looked out his depth.
15:37Not ready for this level.
15:39It's just something like that.
15:40Do you agree with it?
15:41I don't think...
15:42The fact he still remembers it is quite fine.
15:44I know, aye.
15:45Let it go, will you?
15:46I remember bumping into him years and years later
15:48at one of the sports writers' days.
15:50I said to him,
15:51I can't remember writing that.
15:52He says, I can remember.
15:53I'll go out framed.
15:54Because all the boys were going...
15:55Everybody would read it in the dress now.
15:57It's funny you say that.
15:58I'm just going to read it out here.
16:00You're right.
16:01Players would take it badly.
16:02They did.
16:03She's even watched the game.
16:04I played well.
16:05It's a kind of...
16:06It's just another thing to do.
16:08You're doing it quickly.
16:09There's not a massive amount of time put into it.
16:12What, for scores in the stars?
16:14The beatings?
16:15It's just like...
16:16You've not analysed it.
16:17Exactly.
16:18Whereas...
16:19The effect it had.
16:21It did, aye.
16:22The most grief I ever had
16:23when I was in newspapers and writing stuff
16:26was over ratings.
16:27Rather than sometimes writing match reports
16:30and critiquing people
16:32or maybe writing a column and criticising people,
16:34the most blowback I ever had
16:36was over ratings.
16:37Nobody read the match report.
16:39They're just looking at the...
16:40Would they get any paper?
16:416 out of 10?
16:42Honestly, sometimes it is just a...
16:44God, I've not done the ratings yet.
16:47Brian says Peter only gets a petted lip
16:49when he faces criticism.
16:53Brian, I'd have a petted lip every day of the week.
16:55I get pelters every day.
16:58But I have to say,
17:00just on that point,
17:01when you were talking about the overall...
17:03How the press can criticise you
17:07or tag you or whatever
17:09and then you hold a grudge,
17:11I ended up watching on Netflix last night
17:14the Andrew McCarthy documentary
17:17on the Brat Pack,
17:20which is basically a movie star
17:22who was part of a group of people like Demi Moore.
17:24All the John Hughes movies.
17:25Yeah, all the John Hughes movies.
17:26Demi Moore, Rob Lowe,
17:28all this group.
17:29And because they were making movies together regularly,
17:31they called them the Brat Pack.
17:32They were all teen movies.
17:34Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles.
17:36Yeah, when we were pretty and pink.
17:38We were all growing up.
17:40They called them the Brat Pack
17:41and it was going through
17:42how they felt about being labelled the Brat Pack.
17:46Was it detrimental to their career moving on
17:48or was it something you just had to deal with
17:51and then try and move on in your career
17:53and not let it hang around your neck?
17:55And it's interesting how...
17:58I give you, in a footballing sense,
18:00the Spice Boys.
18:02Liverpool guys just hated that whole...
18:05They looked at it early time
18:07when the Spice girls were there
18:08and McManaman and Jamie Redknapp and that.
18:10And then when you don't win,
18:12it becomes a noose around your neck.
18:14It becomes that ultimate...
18:15So an element of that happens as well,
18:17doesn't it?
18:18We were Christians.
18:19I remember Neil Lennon said that about us.
18:20Yeah, yeah.
18:21That was Neil Lennon's press conference?
18:22Aye, it was Kevin Thompson, Scott Brown, me,
18:24Guy O'Connor, Dirk Riordan.
18:26We had stupid haircuts,
18:27bleached hair with Mohicans and all that.
18:29Just looked stupid.
18:31And we get called the Spice Boys, aye.
18:33Yeah.
18:34Okay, lots to talk about.
18:36Always good to get a wee natter and things like that
18:38and get pelters from people early on.
18:40Don't forget to hit the subscribe button
18:42while you're absolutely battering us.
18:44Steve Clarke on call-offs for Scotland.
18:47Of course, we'll analyse that squad.
18:50Celtic opt out of a Premier Sports deal
18:53that could have been worth 75 grand.
18:55Was it low-balling it?
18:56Was it one of those situations where Celtic were right?
18:58Can Hearts reverse this slump?
19:01And I thought we'd finish off the programme with
19:04Can you name the best XI right now
19:07in the Scottish Premiership?
19:09Based on form?
19:11Based on form.
19:13Not on who's the best player in that.
19:15It's based on form so far.
19:17We've had a wee ding-dong already.
19:20It's difficult that, but we'll have a go at it.
19:23See if we can get XI, Tam.
19:25Get your head thinking.
19:27The Aberdeen team's in the Scotland team now.
19:28There'll be a lot of Aberdeen players.
19:30Well, Kenny watches it from LA.
19:33There's a few people who'll be
19:36hanging on our every word
19:38wondering if we're going to put any Aberdeen players in it.
19:40They're wondering if we're going to put any Rangers players in it.
19:42So if you can think of a Rangers player
19:44that's in this current XI
19:46that we're going to come up with
19:47then only time will tell.
19:49Let's have a look.
19:50There's a competition talking about Aberdeen.
19:52Great chance for you to win something.
19:54Here at PLZ Soccer
19:56we're giving away this Aberdeen away strip.
19:58All you've got to do is leave the answer to this question
20:01in the comments section below.
20:03What was the last year Aberdeen won the Premier League title?
20:06Good luck.
20:08Yeah, good luck with that.
20:09And I'll tell you something else, Ali
20:11which is absolutely enjoyable.
20:14Tomorrow's Journos
20:17which has David McCarthy
20:19who worked for the Daily Record as a journalist
20:22Hugh MacDonald and Ali
20:24and we were discussing
20:26the best team
20:28over the last 40 years
20:30which team can lay claim
20:32In Scotland?
20:34In Scotland.
20:35Since about 1975 onwards
20:37forget the Lisbon Lions or the Barcelona Bears
20:40which team over the last 40 years
20:43can lay claim to being the best team in Scotland?
20:46So it was a good watch.
20:49I've got two in my head.
20:53The Rangers team that got to the
20:56semi-final of the Champions League
20:59Rob van Marseille
21:01that team.
21:02Gascogne, Louderup, Gough
21:04they got to that.
21:06Or the Celtic team that got to Seville.
21:08Right, okay.
21:10There's the two I can think of.
21:13Gascogne and that weren't in that team.
21:14I know, I know, but I just thought I'd leave them out.
21:16It wasn't Gascogne before that, was it?
21:18Four years out there, Tom.
21:19Haitley-McCoyst.
21:21Haitley-McCoyst, McCall, Geraint.
21:23McCall.
21:24So, he's given two.
21:26Who do you think is going to be in that equation?
21:29In terms of best, most attractive
21:31for me I would say...
21:33Habs 2016.
21:34Habs 2016.
21:38I would say...
21:40Rangers 1999
21:42and Celtic, Posta Cogla.
21:45Oh, is that right?
21:47Oh, that's interesting.
21:48That's a great shout from you.
21:52That's interesting, isn't it, Ali?
21:54It didn't even fit.
21:56No, it didn't register at all.
21:57It wasn't even in the top eight.
21:59Really?
22:00Not in any capacity.
22:02It's a great show.
22:03I thoroughly enjoyed making it.
22:04Martin O'Neill, Strachan, Lennon,
22:07Wengloss
22:09or Angie's team for Ali.
22:12Celtic.
22:13No, no.
22:15Actually, you'll never believe it.
22:17What we did was
22:19we picked what we thought was the best teams
22:22in that last 40 years.
22:24And it's in Aberdeen.
22:25Did you take Aberdeen?
22:26And then there's...
22:27Is it?
22:2883?
22:29And then there's a team...
22:30Once you pick the team
22:31and you look at the players
22:33try not to blow it out of the water, the programme.
22:38Once you pick the team
22:39you then, once we got it down to it...
22:41That's before your time, really?
22:43No, there's teams that you've played in.
22:44There's teams that you've watched
22:45or you might have played against
22:46and then what we did is we picked a semi-final
22:48and then a final
22:49where two teams would...
22:50If they were playing against each other
22:52who would win?
22:53So it's a good watch.
22:54I mean, you should watch it, actually.
22:55You'll enjoy it.
22:56Long as it's on for an hour?
22:57Yeah.
22:58Get a massage.
22:59Yeah, absolutely.
23:00That's good.
23:01Surprise.
23:02You're here for an hour.
23:03Anyway.
23:04So, with that...
23:05That'll be good.
23:06So that's on tomorrow, Peter?
23:07Yep.
23:08It's well worth it
23:09if you get a chance on our YouTube channel.
23:11Okay.
23:12Croatia versus Scotland.
23:13Scotland versus Portugal.
23:14Our man Blair Malloy
23:16Blair Malloy was out there at Hamden today.
23:19Scotland take on Croatia and Portugal this week.
23:22And forward Ben Doak has addressed the media
23:24ahead of those two crucial Nations League clashes.
23:27The 18-year-old captured the attention of the nation this summer
23:30when he was called in to Steve Clarke's Euro 2024 squad
23:34before unfortunately missing out through injury.
23:36However, the 18-year-old says he doesn't pay too much attention
23:39to all the hype around about him.
23:41Only with my family and my mates and that.
23:45I try and not really look at that stuff
23:49because it's all well and good when you've got all the hype
23:53and everyone's begging you up,
23:55but it can be the same people that are smacking you down
23:57when you don't play well.
23:58So I don't take notice to the negatives or the positives.
24:01Doak has been catching the eye for Middlesbrough this season
24:04on loan from Liverpool,
24:05whom he joined from Celtic as a 16-year-old.
24:08However, Doak today admitted
24:10that when he made the move south,
24:11the Scotland national team wasn't at the forefront of his mind.
24:14I wasn't really thinking about playing with Scotland at that point
24:17to be honest.
24:18I just felt like that was the right move for me at the time
24:22to go down south and go and play and train at an elite level.
24:28Everyone knows how good that Liverpool squad has been
24:32and how they are doing currently,
24:34the top of the league.
24:37So I didn't see any cons to going there.
24:41As Steve Clarke's injury list grows longer,
24:43with Laurence Shankland today pulling out,
24:45will we see the young forward in action for these two upcoming games
24:49at Scotland versus Croatia this Saturday?
24:52Yeah, that's one of the games out there in Croatia
24:55and then back at Hamden for Scotland against Portugal.
24:59One win in 14, Ali.
25:00My God, it could be one win in 16.
25:03Yeah, it's fair.
25:04It's a tough couple of games away to Croatia
25:07and then at home to Portugal on Tuesday night at Hamden.
25:11I don't know that I can see Scotland taking anything from my other game.
25:16I have to be honest.
25:17I think that start and how long it's gone for,
25:21it just becomes increasingly difficult to protect
25:24and it becomes a question that you have to keep asking.
25:26You have to keep going back and saying...
25:28Is it better though?
25:29Is there an excuse that he's playing in the A-league of the Nations League now?
25:33You're not playing any tough teams.
25:35I'm not sure if there's an excuse but it's certainly understandable.
25:38You can understand why it's so tough and so challenging
25:41to try and take anything from these teams
25:44but I think just given the atmosphere around Scotland
25:48on the back of a really lump European Championships campaign
25:52and the form running into that wasn't great.
25:55I think it just adds to the pressure.
25:56It just adds to the weight around the manager.
25:58I think now we're in a mode...
26:01I'm not sure I'm speaking for all of the Tartan Army
26:04but I think we're in a mode right now of just going to suck it up.
26:08Steve Clarke's there.
26:09Nobody's calling for his head.
26:11He's got two years left in the deal
26:13and the deal in the remit is get us to the World Cup.
26:15I think Ali touches on terms of being in that A-group.
26:20You are up against some top European opposition guys like Modric
26:24who have obviously been about the game for a long time
26:26at a high level so it is difficult to go there
26:29especially with the amount of injuries we've got as well
26:32and call-offs and guys coming in.
26:34I think looking at the Euros, really disappointing.
26:37I think we all kind of agree on that
26:39even the coaching staff and the players
26:41but I thought there was a lot more positivity about it
26:44after the Poland game I'm sure it was.
26:46They looked as if they were playing a better kind of brand of football
26:49and we got a wee bit excited again
26:51but just not managing to pick up the win.
26:53These next two games, very difficult to pick up anything
26:56but it's a chance for guys like Ben Doken
26:59and obviously Nisbet coming back into the squad
27:01to try and cement their place in the team
27:03and move forward after these difficult fixtures.
27:05I'll throw this at you, Tam.
27:06I think we've got a problem in the goalkeeping area
27:08whereas we used to be rich with great goalkeepers.
27:12We've got Craig Gordon back,
27:15John McCracken, Robbie McCrory,
27:18Angus Gunn picked up an injury
27:21and you've got Xander Clarke
27:24who I think is a good goalkeeper
27:26but it's not quite the standard of the three we had
27:29before Marshall, McGregor and Gordon all vying for it
27:33and I think as we move forward,
27:35I mean Gordon's in at the moment
27:37and I expect him to be in for both games.
27:39Yeah, I think he will be, yeah.
27:41I think that Angus Gunn obviously
27:43thought he did a good game against Portugal.
27:45He's going to be a miss.
27:46I think we're missing key players, Peter.
27:48The squad looks kind of flimsy,
27:50looks weak for me.
27:51Is Angus Gunn number one material,
27:53you know, rock solid for you?
27:55No, I think he's the best that we've got, Peter.
27:57You know, I think he's the best keeper
27:58and you're right, we had three top keepers
28:00fighting for one space at one time
28:02with Alan McGregor, Craig Gordon, David Marshall.
28:04You know, it was a real golden spell for us for goalkeepers
28:07even before that with Jim Leighton, Andy Gorham,
28:09guys like that.
28:10I think the goalkeeping department, we are light.
28:12I think defensively we're light.
28:13I think Ciaran Tierney's a miss.
28:15I think that Scott McKenna's a miss.
28:17Jack Henry's a miss.
28:18For me, there's three guys that probably play.
28:21Then your right backs you're talking about,
28:23you're talking, you know, Patterson and...
28:25Soutar Porteous?
28:26Soutar Porteous.
28:29I wouldn't inspire me with confidence
28:32playing against Croatia and Portugal.
28:33I mean, I know they're decent,
28:35but I'm not sure Porteous has been playing at Watford,
28:37but even in the middle of the park,
28:39you know, we're missing John McGinn,
28:41which is a huge miss for us as well.
28:43I think our squad doesn't look the strongest,
28:46to be honest.
28:47I hate to be a killjoy here,
28:48but John McGinn hasn't been really
28:51on the top forum of the last...
28:55You know, he had a poor European Championships.
28:58Everybody had a poor European Championships.
29:01Yeah, but you're talking about big players
29:02that you want to go and do something.
29:04I think he looked knackered.
29:05Yeah.
29:06I thought he looked shattered in the European Championships.
29:07Everybody looked shattered in the European Championships.
29:08I thought there was an argument to say that...
29:10I thought it was actually maybe an argument for saying,
29:12look, there's too many games.
29:14You're getting people when you go into a tournament like that
29:16and it felt flat.
29:17Yeah, but top players,
29:18that's the demands now, Ali.
29:19You can't just say for Scotland
29:20they all look knackered.
29:21I know, but for us to get something for a game,
29:23we need everybody on it,
29:24not just John McGinn playing well.
29:25We need a team chemistry.
29:28But I do think you need big players
29:30that you were looking to somehow inspire.
29:32I didn't think he had a great Championships.
29:34Absolutely.
29:35Well, look at the back line.
29:37Devlin, Hanley, Lindsay from Preston, obviously.
29:40Mackenzie, Porteous, Ralston,
29:42Robertson and Suter.
29:44And then you've got Custie, Doak, Forrest,
29:47Gauld, Irving, McLean, McTominay and Morgan.
29:51Adams, Dykes and now Shankland is out
29:54and Nesbitt's hidden.
29:56As I said to you, Peter,
29:58we seem to be lacking in that squad.
30:01We've got a few call-offs
30:03and we're going against two quality outfits.
30:06I agree.
30:07I don't see us getting anything out of these games.
30:09I think we'll lose both games.
30:11I don't mean to be a killjoy for Scotland,
30:13but I think that bad run's going to continue.
30:15Yeah, absolutely.
30:16Do you share that view?
30:17We go 5-4-1.
30:22Just play all the defenders in that bush.
30:24With all due respect,
30:26can I just highlight to you,
30:29Mr Tactical Genius,
30:31Ross County.
30:33The disparity between Ross County and Celtic
30:36is far greater than the disparity
30:39between Dortmund and Celtic.
30:43Dortmund and Celtic,
30:45the spending power
30:47and then of course the spending power.
30:49But I would say to you,
30:52and I'll stick by it all through this year,
30:55great managers change
30:59depending on the fight that they face
31:01with the team and the team
31:03that the opponents are playing.
31:05I've got nothing to say until
31:07after the Atalanta game.
31:09You're waiting to see if he's going to play the same way,
31:13aren't you?
31:14He'll play the same way.
31:16Alisson thinks it's a stick-on.
31:18He plays the exact same way?
31:19Absolutely.
31:20I think it's a stick-on as well.
31:22Do you think it's a stick-on?
31:24I think the scoreline will be similar.
31:25I think we'll get pumped again.
31:26I don't.
31:27Yeah?
31:28I don't think they get pumped again.
31:30You don't?
31:31No.
31:32Define what that would look like.
31:35Three or above.
31:36Three and above?
31:37Three and above.
31:38Yeah.
31:41We'll just hold off until the game plays out.
31:45I think if Celtic play the same way,
31:47they'll lose 3-4-0.
31:50I would agree.
31:51I think they're far too open.
31:52Yeah.
31:53And that's why Steve Clarke,
31:55in this one,
31:56I think will revert back to what...
31:59And again, this is the thing.
32:01I've been getting it in the neck
32:03from social media and people going,
32:05you can't have it one way.
32:06You're claiming one minute.
32:07You're saying Steve Clarke sits in
32:10and doesn't come out and attack.
32:12Then Brendan Rodgers does it.
32:14There is a different argument
32:17for the way that Steve Clarke
32:19has to approach the European Championships.
32:23Sitting in the stadium against Germany,
32:26I did like exactly the same mode
32:29that we are in with Celtic
32:31and Rangers possibly against Lyon.
32:35I did not go into the stadium thinking
32:37Scotland are going to beat Germany.
32:40I didn't think that.
32:41All I thought was that we would have
32:44a performance where there might be
32:45the odd chance here and there
32:47and there was a bit of positivity
32:49about the way he went about it.
32:50It was competition football.
32:52Three games, two of them,
32:54realistically you have a chance.
32:56So when he gets to Switzerland
32:58with 15-20 minutes to go,
33:00you're thinking this is competition football.
33:02Get somebody on that can take the game
33:05to Switzerland and we could have won it.
33:07Hungary is just a nightmare.
33:09Now we've got an away game against Croatia.
33:12He's joking about it but I think
33:14Steve Clarke will look at it and say
33:16we'll play the same way again.
33:18We'll sit in and we'll wait and see
33:20if we can pick our moment.
33:21Portugal, for me, if they go toe-to-toe
33:25with Hamden trying to go tic-a-tac-a
33:28I think they'll get battered.
33:31I think when you're playing Croatia away
33:34you need ball carriers and pace in the forward areas
33:36that can get you up the park and out.
33:38So Ben Doak could be one for me
33:40that could be the wild card for me.
33:42He's been playing...
33:44Not exactly the saviour though
33:46but we're clinging on to the Ben Doak.
33:48Some of the best players we've seen in a while
33:50in Scotland just with real pace.
33:53And there's a bit of excitement about him.
33:56He gets you up the pitch.
33:58He's also got, which I love,
34:00he's got skill.
34:02I love players who can square somebody up
34:04and beat them with a bit of skill, either foot.
34:08We were crying out for it in the Championships.
34:11We've now got a young player who's
34:13obviously come through the academy system
34:15at Celtic, he's now in the Championships.
34:18So he's got experience.
34:19He's been around players at Liverpool
34:21you'd think he's ready to go and play
34:23one of these games for us.
34:24Let's see what he does.
34:25I think having that real pace
34:27gives you a completely different option
34:28which we haven't had.
34:29Yeah, absolutely.
34:30Okay, let's have the news.
34:34Hello, I'm Cara
34:35and here are your Daily News headlines
34:37on Wednesday 9th October
34:38sponsored by Arnold Clarke.
34:40Steve Clarke makes it three call-ups
34:42from the Aberdeen squad
34:43as Kevin Nisbet comes in to replace
34:45Lawrence Shankland.
34:47It is reported that Rangers are set
34:49to have yet another high-level departure
34:51as Football Operations Director
34:53Craig Robertson looks set to leave his role
34:55to pursue other opportunities.
34:57Tottenham and England striker
34:59Dominic Solanke said
35:00it's a great feeling to be back
35:01in the England squad
35:02after a seven-year absence.
35:04Yeah, it means so much.
35:06It's worked very hard to get back
35:08to this moment.
35:09Obviously, I made my debut
35:11a long time ago now.
35:12So, yeah, it's been quite a journey.
35:16Yeah, to get back here
35:18it's a great feeling for me
35:20and the family.
35:21Finally, Hearts are closing in
35:23on their rumoured investment deal
35:24with Tony Bloom
35:25and their Chief Executive
35:26Andrew McKinley said
35:27it would be great for Scottish football
35:28if Hearts can manage to close that gap
35:30to Celtic and Rangers.
35:32Those were your Daily News headlines
35:33on Wednesday 9th October
35:35sponsored by Arnold Clarke.
35:37For more exclusive content
35:38please be sure to download our app
35:39and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
35:42Yeah, thank you very much to Cara.
35:44Great line there, you know,
35:45from Andrew McKinley.
35:46I think the immediate thing
35:47that Hearts are looking to do
35:49is try and close the gap
35:51on St. Johnson.
35:54I never mind anything else.
35:56I'm sorry to be so blunt about it.
36:00I did cross my mind when I heard
36:02you say that.
36:03I was like, what?
36:04So, yeah, win a game for us.
36:07That is the predicament
36:09that Hearts find themselves in.
36:10But interestingly enough,
36:12the one thing that, you know,
36:15investment is the key to it all
36:17and I think a number of clubs
36:19in Scotland are going to have to look
36:21towards individuals.
36:23I love the fact that Hearts
36:25have a really successful
36:26foundation of Hearts.
36:28Motherwell, again,
36:29simple backing with the fans
36:32helps that club.
36:33They knocked back the opportunity
36:35to bring a major investment
36:37into Fair Park.
36:39For whatever reason,
36:40they didn't feel as if
36:41the mechanics of it were right.
36:43But Hearts have a dilemma coming up
36:45where Tony Bloom,
36:47there was a lot of talk about
36:49Tony Bloom,
36:50there will be investment.
36:52And then everybody's obsessed
36:54by this Jamestown analytics
36:56and whether this is going to transform
36:58the way Hearts go about their business.
37:00I think that's why there's a delay
37:02in calling out the manager as well
37:04because they're waiting to try
37:06and look at the stats
37:07and analyse who is the perfect person
37:10to implement the strategy
37:11that we are about to
37:13direct towards Hearts as a football club.
37:16It's interesting.
37:17I think interviews started last week
37:19and the fact that you've not had
37:20too many names leak out
37:23into the public domain
37:24I think is quite interesting.
37:26I think it's a hugely important appointment.
37:29I think it has the potential
37:30to be exciting.
37:31I think it's something fairly innovative
37:34that we've not seen here
37:35before we see it, obviously.
37:37Examples of it down at Brighton
37:38we've not seen it here.
37:39I think it has the potential
37:40to work very well for Hearts.
37:42Let's ask Scoop
37:43who's going to be the new manager.
37:45Come on, Scoop, tell us
37:46who's the new manager of Hearts?
37:47I've generally not a clue.
37:48Not even heard a snippet of anybody.
37:52It's unusual.
37:53Once interviews start
37:55you tend to start hearing whispers
37:57or people say what it's like
38:00and football people talk.
38:02Who conducts the interviews?
38:03Is it Ann Budge?
38:04Is it Andrew McKinley?
38:05Is it Tony Bloom conducting them
38:07and then advising them
38:08this is the type of person
38:10we want to implement
38:11the way these analytics play out?
38:13Do you follow me?
38:14It's easy to go to a hotel in London
38:16and sit down with somebody
38:17who's a foreign manager
38:19and say listen I want to talk to you.
38:21I'm based in Brighton
38:22but I can sit and have a discussion
38:24in Park Lane with you
38:26about the Hearts job.
38:28So I'm not surprised
38:29that nothing's come out.
38:30When Andrew McKinley says
38:32the likelihood is
38:33it's not going to be a Scottish person
38:34you know it's in lockdown somewhere else
38:37where they can go and interview
38:38these managers.
38:39Nobody would be able to join the dots.
38:41Yeah, no, as I say
38:42I think it will be done
38:43before the next game
38:44but I think you look at the league table
38:46you know eight games, two points
38:47you know it's a dreadful start.
38:49Probably one of the worst starts
38:50in Hearts history.
38:51So they need to get a manager in.
38:53I heard somebody speaking
38:54about the Bergen brand manager
38:56last night as a potential candidate.
38:59I think it's going to be
39:00somebody like that
39:01maybe in Norwegian League
39:02or Icelandic League
39:03or somewhere where someone's
39:04punching above their weight
39:05not only domestically
39:07but in Europe in terms of
39:08getting to group stages
39:09and all that so
39:10I think it'll be someone
39:11along those lines
39:12but I think they'll get a manager
39:13in before the next game.
39:15Yeah and with that
39:17suddenly it's not a shoo-in
39:20that looking at the analytics
39:22immediately that things
39:23will turn around.
39:24This is going to be a long process
39:26where they'll eventually
39:27start to recruit players
39:30that fit into a system
39:31and then I mean I noticed
39:33one of the write-ups today
39:35in the papers where they're
39:36talking about Brighton
39:38and all the players
39:39that they've managed to get
39:41through this process
39:42and then sold them on for
39:44huge amounts of money
39:45I mean I think one of the
39:46biggest ones was
39:47Moyes' Casino
39:48112 million
39:50he's not a 112 million pound
39:52player at the moment
39:53I have to tell you but
39:54Fair play to Brighton
39:55That's what they paid for him
39:56Yeah fair play to Brighton
39:57they banked the money
39:58they don't care if he's
39:59a 112 million pound player or not
40:01they're recruiting well
40:03I wonder how the analytics
40:06at a lower level
40:07because Hearts are not going to pay
40:09five and six million for a player
40:11so they're at that other level
40:12with the stats and you're hoping
40:13to get key players
40:15one that can get lots of crosses
40:17and one that's got an engine
40:19that can defend and does
40:20exactly what it says on the tin
40:21do you follow me?
40:22Because that's what it's all about
40:24Yeah but I think it's still
40:25a process though I think
40:27you need to come in
40:28first and foremost
40:29you've got players there
40:30who are on contracts
40:31and the manager coming in
40:32needs to get the most
40:33out of them because
40:34he can't really do anything
40:35in terms of how their
40:37analytics would work
40:38in terms of January
40:39because the transfer window's shut
40:41so first and foremost
40:42they need to start winning games
40:43with what they've got
40:44that's the difficulty for Hearts
40:46and what they bring in
40:47will they have that type of
40:48technique, man management
40:50where they can get the best out of them
40:51or will they need to wait
40:52until he gets a few windows
40:53gets his own players in
40:54along with the system
40:55that they've implemented
40:56to get the best results
40:57so right now it's all about
40:59just winning games
41:00and doing it any way possible
41:01for Hearts
41:02Yeah, John says
41:05all this strategy nonsense
41:07here is a strategy
41:08try and win more games
41:09than you lose
41:13Normally it was so easy
41:14Hearts would be happy
41:15just to try and win
41:16one game at the moment
41:17the way they're playing
41:19but listen, it's a job
41:22it's going to be interesting
41:23to see first and foremost
41:25they need cash to do that
41:28so if he comes in
41:30No, I think every Hearts manager
41:32is backed
41:33I think they've got
41:34a good budget there
41:35Foundation of Hearts
41:37European group stage football
41:39they're going to make money
41:40from that
41:41so I think there'll be money
41:42there to spend
41:43I think it's an attractive job
41:45for somebody to come in
41:46because you know
41:48if you finish third
41:49every season
41:50you're guaranteed
41:51group stage football
41:52you're going to make that money
41:53and then that gives you
41:54the opportunity
41:55to try and get closer
41:56to the top two
41:57but they're sitting
41:59at the foot of the table
42:00at the minute
42:01their priority's got to be
42:02trying to get up the table first
42:03before they can target
42:04the top two
42:05Yeah
42:06It will be interesting
42:07to see who is appointed
42:09as the Hearts manager
42:10and can you see them
42:11reverse the slump
42:13and go back up the table
42:14I think it's inevitable
42:16for me
42:17the way the league
42:18looks at the moment
42:19that Hearts and Hibs
42:21will get a run at some point
42:24I'm not going to
42:26David Gray
42:27clearly will be taking criticism
42:30in the early part
42:31of his tenure as manager
42:32but I don't see Hearts and Hibs
42:34being in that bottom three
42:36much longer
42:37No I don't think so
42:38I think they will
42:40move away from it
42:41however what you would see
42:42is that there's a lot of damage
42:44being done already
42:45I think third is gone
42:47for Hearts
42:48I just cannot imagine
42:49that they'll make up
42:51the ground now
42:52on Aberdeen
42:53so I think that's a significant
42:54bit of damage
42:55that's already been done
42:56Hibs too I think can
42:57you know they'll just be looking
42:59to get in
43:00and make top six
43:01I think
43:03but it's been poor
43:04obviously we've spoken about Hearts
43:06it's been desperately poor
43:07for Hibs
43:08I think it's been incredibly
43:09inconsistent
43:10I think lots of issues there
43:12that you've seen
43:14across recent seasons
43:15just haven't been addressed
43:17I think
43:18and the longer it goes
43:20it is difficult
43:21to keep asking the same questions
43:22to keep seeing the same frailties
43:24and then to keep seeing
43:25the same mistakes
43:26inevitably it just brings
43:27a certain kind of pressure
43:29on the manager
43:30Okay we'll wait and see
43:31who they appoint
43:32as it was the
43:33international break
43:34we talked about Scotland there
43:35I just wondered
43:36you know
43:37everybody's played
43:38seven or eight games
43:40in the Scottish Premiership
43:42so far
43:43and I wondered
43:44if we could come up with
43:45based on forum
43:46the best 11 players
43:48in the Scottish Premiership
43:50right now
43:51and with that in mind
43:52when I was putting
43:53the team together
43:54I was wondering
43:55if there's a Rangers player in it
43:58you know
43:59I'm looking at where
44:00the teams are
44:01and their position
44:02and the way they're playing
44:03and you think
44:04it's not necessarily
44:06the best players overall
44:07it's the forum
44:08that they've had
44:09you know
44:10up until
44:11that international break
44:12could you pick
44:1411 players
44:16that you think
44:17are in there
44:18so I'll give you the first option
44:19on this
44:20this is the line-up
44:21that I've selected
44:23and then we can argue
44:24till the cows come home
44:25Schmeichel or Butland
44:29possible argument
44:30Devlin or Alistair Johnson
44:32Carter Vickers
44:34Scales or Rubicich
44:35McKenzie
44:37Nielsen
44:38McGregor
44:39Kuhn
44:40Miller
44:41Maida
44:42and Papa Gay
44:43and I know Gay's picked up
44:44an injury
44:45but in that first
44:467 or 8 games
44:47he's the top scorer
44:48in the division
44:50so
44:51of that 11
44:53throw me an argument
44:55Ali
44:57I think Schmeichel
44:58is probably
44:59edged Butland
45:00I think I'd be tempted
45:01to go for Kasper Schmeichel
45:02I think
45:04right back
45:05I think Alistair Johnson
45:06might just be on ahead
45:07of Nicky Devlin
45:08yeah
45:09ok
45:10so that's your main concern
45:12Scott for you
45:13it's an 11 where
45:15you know
45:16Nicky Devlin
45:17has managed to
45:18force his way
45:19into the Scotland side
45:20scored a big goal
45:22in their win against Harps
45:2430 years of age
45:26I'm just throwing you out
45:28is he worthy of that
45:30yeah I think he's obviously
45:31had a good season
45:32he's obviously topped off
45:33of getting the cap
45:35tough I think
45:36Johnson's been excellent
45:37for Celtic
45:38especially domestically
45:39for me Schmeichel
45:40obviously ahead of Butland
45:41I think he's conceded
45:42one goal this season
45:43yeah
45:44and domestically
45:45taking away that
45:46Brescia Dortmund goal
45:47and Falkirk
45:49and based on
45:51since the
45:52Celtic Rangers game
45:55I think Suter
45:56arguably could be in there
45:57for me
45:58yeah
45:59I think he's
46:00responded really well
46:01to that game
46:02and Rangers obviously
46:03had on the back of the
46:04clean sheet so
46:05maybe Suter in there
46:06for me if any
46:07in place of
46:08Carter Vickers
46:09he's injured isn't he
46:10well that's
46:11I'm not sure about
46:12Carter Vickers
46:13no exactly
46:14and I think
46:15if you were
46:16one of the guys here
46:17says I'm a Celtic fan
46:18but Cameron Carter
46:19Vickers hasn't been
46:20great this year
46:21so is there a
46:22Suter
46:23that's worth it
46:24is Suter
46:25yeah I think so
46:26a better shout
46:27I think Suter yeah
46:28yeah
46:29the only Rangers player
46:30which is
46:31quite alarming
46:32not that
46:33this is definitive
46:34we're all just
46:35shooting the breeze on it
46:36but I look at
46:37difficult
46:38do you look for
46:39Barron
46:40Connor Barron
46:41yeah I think
46:42Connor Barron
46:43would be one
46:44the boy Nielsen's
46:45done really well
46:46at Aberdeen
46:47we don't really see
46:48Aberdeen every week
46:49you've probably seen
46:50more of Barron
46:51yeah
46:52but he's
46:53he's run the TV
46:54apart from
46:55your highlights and stuff
46:56I think the wee boy
46:57Jeff D's
46:58been decent to Rangers
46:59as well
47:00yeah
47:01yeah
47:02I'm ahead of McKenzie
47:03I don't know
47:04I said
47:05Jack McKenzie's
47:06obviously playing well
47:07so is Devlin
47:08in the Scotland squad
47:09yeah
47:10but I think
47:11the argument
47:12for Jeff D
47:13maybe as well
47:14left back
47:15Nielsen
47:16Connor Barron
47:17I think the next
47:18three are stick ons
47:19I think Coon's
47:20been the best player
47:21Kyle McGregor and Lennon Muller. He's been a superb young player. Guy and Maida, yeah.
47:28I mean, I don't think there's much argument to them, but I think defensively, midfield, maybe you could argue a couple.
47:35What about you in the midfield? I mean, I've seen Aberdeen on a few occasions this season.
47:40You like Nielsen, don't you?
47:41Well, here's my point on it. I like Nielsen because he's a no-nonsense midfielder.
47:48He's not what I would call my typical midfielder that I love to watch.
47:52But the one thing that he does really well is he organises.
47:57He's 33 years of age now, and what he does is he absolutely berates anybody who doesn't get back into position when they haven't got the ball.
48:06So he's constantly talking.
48:07What about Tim then?
48:08Yeah, exactly. He's constantly talking.
48:11But do you know what he does really well? He takes the pressure off the back line, Scott.
48:17Which is something I thought you always did well, and the likes of Barry Ferguson did it to great effect.
48:23And so did Lennon or Lambert.
48:27They make it easy for the central defenders because they take the ball off them.
48:31They only have to make a 5-10 yard pass tops, and they give them angles.
48:36And he does that.
48:37And when he's going forward, Scott, the joy of it all is he gets forward by making those simple passes that other players complicate.
48:48Yeah, like I said, their players are sometimes worth their weight in gold.
48:51So I think he's probably, off the back of how well they've started the season and the win streak they've been on,
48:57I think he's earned his spot in there alongside Kyle MacGregor.
49:00Just two of them for me over Connor Barron at this moment in time anyway.
49:06Yeah, and Lennon Miller.
49:08He's affecting games, 50 games now at 18.
49:12Blair said he was in the game against Hibbs, and he got the ball and hit a 70 yard pass right to the boys toe.
49:21And he said it was quite funny because everybody in the press box went, wow.
49:26You know, it's very rare you get journalists excited when somebody...
49:31And the one thing I always, you know, when you think about, we were talking about NES at the top end of the programme.
49:38I was down watching, this is a good few years ago, I was down watching Liverpool Everton in an FA Cup match at Anfield.
49:46And the ball came out to the right hand side, effectively the right back position.
49:51You're about to compare Lennon Miller to Gerrard.
49:53No, no, no, I'm not comparing them.
49:56Gerrard hit a volley, right?
49:59He hit a volley from the right hand side of the park.
50:02And it was a volley pass because he'd spotted somebody a way out on the left hand side.
50:09And he volleyed it like a missile and it went right to the guy's toe.
50:14And you know, sometimes if you watch football at different levels.
50:17And I just looked and I went, he's just amazing.
50:21He's outrageous, you know.
50:23And the Everton fans obviously were shouting, you're going to jail in the morning.
50:28It was a time where he got in a bit of trouble, but he was outstanding.
50:32He scored a goal in the game and absolutely drove them forward.
50:36But Lennon Miller, for a young guy, now we're starting to see him regularly playing.
50:41That's my point.
50:42Yeah, 50 appearances for Miller.
50:44I think he's the go-to man in the team.
50:46He's demanding the ball.
50:47You can see with the experienced players as well.
50:50They're happy to let him take that responsibility.
50:52And that's a sign of what I think is going to be a top, top player.
50:57Yeah, and is Miller better than Bernardo, Hattati or Engels?
51:02Couldn't lace any of their boots, says one of our...
51:06Hattati's quite a poor start to the season.
51:08It's within what words?
51:10Yeah, yeah.
51:11He's an 18-year-old Scottish player who's...
51:13Had a really strong start to the season.
51:15Yeah.
51:16It's only the start of seven or eight games, that's what I'm asking.
51:18Can you name an 11 that's worthy of it?
51:20If somebody thinks Paolo Bernardo...
51:22I like your boy Keskinen at Aberdeen as well.
51:25Finish guy, I think he looks good.
51:27Pace.
51:28Yeah.
51:29You're some man, by the way.
51:31You haven't seen Aberdeen, but now you've seen them.
51:33I don't think he's got a...
51:34The one thing about him is, he doesn't have a trick for me.
51:37You know that?
51:38He's all pace.
51:39He doesn't have a trick?
51:40What would you want to see?
51:41A wee step-over?
51:42Listen, if you've been brought up with guys like John Robertson
51:45at Norringham Forest...
51:46I mean, I just love players who've got that...
51:49You know, they can...
51:50They do something and it's just...
51:52Mark Walters used to do it.
51:53Mark Walters used to do this.
51:55He'd do a step-over, Mark Walters.
51:57If you're faster than him, just run by him.
51:59Well, absolutely, there are players like that who just run past.
52:01But Mark Walters used to do a step-over
52:03and every defender that I would interview said,
52:06we know he's going to do it.
52:08But when he does it, we just used to go bang.
52:12He was past him, you know?
52:14Do you not like players like that?
52:16You know that when you give them the ball, you think,
52:18he can get past them for skill.
52:21We didn't have any in the Scotland side in Europe.
52:24We had none.
52:26But people don't really play with wingers now.
52:29They don't really play with out-and-out wingers,
52:32just going to stand in the wing like John Robertson,
52:34just gearing the ball.
52:35That's why I'm excited about Doak.
52:36David Cooper, aye.
52:37If you lose it, just walk back.
52:39I'm down.
52:41I think you've oversimplified David Cooper.
52:43I think that's why I'm excited to see Doak.
52:46I'm curious to see what he's going to do.
52:47He's got a trick in him and he's got pace
52:49and he's a throwback to an old-fashioned winger.
52:52So, no, I'd like to see him playing in both,
52:55particularly the game away from home in Croatia
52:57where we're going to be camping to Murhav
52:58for a lot of the games.
52:59You need that pace.
53:00You need a football.
53:01You need to get us up to part 50, 60 yards,
53:03going to win a throw-in or a foul or affect the game.
53:06We didn't have that in Portugal away.
53:08It was crying out for someone with that pace.
53:10Dykes is a good player.
53:12You know what you're going to get from Dykes,
53:13but he's not going to run behind.
53:14So, Croatia, if he plays him up front,
53:17they'll just park themselves in a half-way line.
53:19If they've got Doak up there as well,
53:20they might go for Dykes.
53:22Dykes set back.
53:23Yep, having to go through.
53:24Yeah.
53:25Kenny Merchant, who's a big Aberdeen fan,
53:27says Peter Weir used to do it.
53:28Absolutely.
53:29Kenny, if I was you, I'd watch the journals tomorrow.
53:32I think you're really going to enjoy it.
53:35And Janice says Scotland need to park the bus.
53:38Yep.
53:39I think when you look at the squad that we have
53:41at our disposal, that is a stonewall certainty.
53:44Just one little footnote before we obviously
53:47say farewell today, Ali.
53:49I find it astonishing, or is it a good thing,
53:54that we're looking forward to one of the biggest games
53:58in the season in Celtic Aberdeen.
54:01It's at three o'clock on a Saturday,
54:03which you can't have your cake and eat it.
54:05It's three o'clock on a Saturday,
54:06but so many people want to see it.
54:09So many people want to see it.
54:11And you're not going to see it
54:13unless you fly out to Rod Stewart's home in LA
54:16and watch it legally, or we all get a bus
54:19and head to East Kilbride to Tam's house.
54:22I'll have a game.
54:23Thanks.
54:24So other than that, just a big giant queue
54:28and then Tam taking tickets and the wives there
54:31just organising with the sandwiches.
54:33It's hard going, isn't it?
54:37Yeah, I know you're talking about the TV deal
54:40and Celtic have opted out of it.
54:43It's at 75 grand a game.
54:45I think when you look at that,
54:47I think a few people will be surprised
54:51at the figures involved, just how paltry the return is.
54:54It's paltry for them because they're trying to
54:56take advantage of it, that it's additional matches
55:00that haven't been picked up.
55:02You know what I mean?
55:03It's paltry for them.
55:04They're clearly playing the business angle on this
55:07and saying, well, Premier Sports want to try
55:10and pick these matches up for as little as they can
55:13and make a profit.
55:14You can't fault them for that.
55:16Can't fault who for that?
55:17Premier Sports don't want to pay top door on it.
55:19I think we can fault Celtic for it either,
55:21for saying, hang on a minute.
55:22We want people through the door.
55:24We don't want to give it away for very little
55:27financial return and risk them not having people
55:30come into the ground and watch the game.
55:32Yeah, big game too.
55:34Everybody will want to see it, won't they?
55:36Huge.
55:37I'll not be seeing it if Saturday 3 o'clock
55:39doesn't look for me.
55:40Obviously, they're kilty things.
55:42But yeah, I think...
55:43Hold on a minute, dear Michael.
55:45Scott can't make that.
55:48I think October's got a few fixtures that will
55:50really kind of define how some teams' seasons
55:52are going to be.
55:53Yeah, but that one, everybody wants to see it.
55:55Yeah, but unfortunately, if Celtic don't think
55:59that's worth it for them, they've got the right
56:01to do that.
56:02Yeah.
56:03Kind of a gutted in that one, are you?
56:04I am.
56:05I am, because I'd like to watch the game.
56:07But Celtic supporters travel from all over the world
56:13and they might have boats booked or flights
56:15booked, whatever it is, and your season ticket
56:17holders, I think for one, Celtic have actually
56:19looked after their interests of their own fans
56:21and says, no, we're going to stick to 3 o'clock
56:24kick-off and our season ticket holders are going
56:27to be able to come and watch the game.
56:29Yeah, absolutely.
56:30As ever, we always thank everybody for watching
56:35the programme on a regular basis.
56:37Thank you for subscribing as well.
56:39If you haven't yet, hit the subscribe button
56:41then, by all means, do that, please.
56:44And you'll see lots of unique video content,
56:47certainly breaking news stories, our journalists
56:50out at games, covering, of course, domestic
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56:56So we hope that you are going to hit the subscribe
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57:02of the breaking news at your fingertips, plus
57:04all our unique video content.
57:07And if you get a chance as well, we obviously
57:10try and take on the big guns.
57:12We don't have the same revenue, Scott, as the
57:15big guns, so we just have to be a little pinprick
57:18that annoys the life out of them as we build
57:21our audience to take over.
57:22Obviously, world domination is what we want,
57:25as we move forward, which is why we brought you in
57:28as an early pundit.
57:30Do you think he'll be here, Stam?
57:33I think he's a bit of a mess, and I think he'll go elsewhere.
57:36LAUGHTER
57:39That's brilliant.
57:41He's already said...
57:42What do you find out about it?
57:43It was an isn't it?
57:44Yeah, it was.
57:45I know.
57:46I was already saying to him, he's signalled
57:48Ruffey's demise, Ali.
57:49He just said to him on Monday, by the way,
57:51we're just phasing you out.
57:54If anything, McManus is absolutely ruthless.
57:57The reason I'm mentioning it is, have a listen to...
58:00By the way, would we stick Ruffey in front of a camera
58:03and ask him to read something?
58:05If it's longer than a sentence, it's absolutely outrageous,
58:09isn't it?
58:10I mean, he just toils.
58:11But I think this is one of his better ones.
58:14If you can click the link and get onto our Kickstarter project,
58:20then we'd be really delighted if you could support us
58:23in any way.
58:24Here's Ruffey to tell you.
58:26Hi, it's Ruffey here.
58:27If you would like to help PLZ's soccer team
58:30in our new Kickstarter project, please click on the link below
58:34and offer your support.
58:37That was good going, wasn't it?
58:39Ali, what about that?
58:40That was like Terry Waite in Beirut, wasn't it?
58:42The Jane Tradeater.
58:43LAUGHTER
58:44The hostage video.
58:46I don't think that's the way I would really like him portrayed,
58:49but nevertheless, we might not actually get another show on.
58:55He was good there, wasn't he?
58:57Yes, he did very well.
58:58Yeah, he did very well.
59:00Seal of approval from Ali.
59:02Not too complimentary.
59:04Anyway, if you get a chance, go on our Kickstarter
59:07and see if you can help us out.
59:09Thanks to Scott.
59:10Absolutely delighted.
59:11The cast is off.
59:12How far away are you from playing?
59:14I'm going to say about three weeks.
59:16Two or three weeks.
59:17Yeah, two or three weeks.
59:18Fantastic.
59:19I'm not going to bank a team now.
59:21Three weeks.
59:22You're a wee bit optimistic.
59:23You've still got to fight your way back into the team.
59:25Of course, yeah.
59:26You could do it at any club.
59:27Yeah, absolutely.
59:28LAUGHTER
59:29Or you'd be blind.
59:30He's just thinking, I'll be banking a team.
59:32I'll be banking a team.
59:33Absolutely.
59:34If I was a manager.
59:35LAUGHTER
59:37Always helps.
59:39Thanks to Scott, thanks to Alison, thanks to Tam McManus
59:42and most of all, thanks to you for watching and listening.
59:45MUSIC