How imperative is a fast start to life at Rangers for Russell Martin? JOIN us on the FISRT Football Show of the season where we discuss all the prominent topics surrounding the world of Scottish Football!
Join PLZ Premium TODAY!
You will receive exclusive benefits via PLZ Soccer YouTube - including member only video content, access to ask questions on our special live stream and special features before anyone else. Plus much more!
✨ Sign up HERE: / @plzsoccer
🎙️ Peter Martin, Alan Rough, Kris Doolan, and Tam McManus are on the couch!
The panel also discuss Rangers' looming managerial and ownership changes, Stuart Kettlewell's appointment as Kilmarnock's new manager, and the SPFL Playoff Final: Ross County vs Livingston.
🔴 Subscribe to PLZ Soccer and tap the bell for more Scottish football insight, interviews, and debates!
⚽ Plus:
Peter pays the price for predicting a 4–0 Celtic win — in full Aberdeen kit!
Celtic’s muted support and emotional Callum McGregor reaction
What this win means for Aberdeen’s future, European campaign, and Jimmy Thelin’s credibility
Why Scottish football needs a stronger Aberdeen, Hibs, and Hearts to challenge Celtic and Rangers
VISIT PLZ SOCCER HERE:
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/plzsoccer?s...
FACEBOOK: / plzsoccer
X: / plzsoccer
WEBSITE: https://www.plzsoccer.com
👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more Scottish football content from the #1 digital sports channel in Scotland.
#scottishfootball #scottishpremiership #spfl #celticfc #rangersfc
Join PLZ Premium TODAY!
You will receive exclusive benefits via PLZ Soccer YouTube - including member only video content, access to ask questions on our special live stream and special features before anyone else. Plus much more!
✨ Sign up HERE: / @plzsoccer
🎙️ Peter Martin, Alan Rough, Kris Doolan, and Tam McManus are on the couch!
The panel also discuss Rangers' looming managerial and ownership changes, Stuart Kettlewell's appointment as Kilmarnock's new manager, and the SPFL Playoff Final: Ross County vs Livingston.
🔴 Subscribe to PLZ Soccer and tap the bell for more Scottish football insight, interviews, and debates!
⚽ Plus:
Peter pays the price for predicting a 4–0 Celtic win — in full Aberdeen kit!
Celtic’s muted support and emotional Callum McGregor reaction
What this win means for Aberdeen’s future, European campaign, and Jimmy Thelin’s credibility
Why Scottish football needs a stronger Aberdeen, Hibs, and Hearts to challenge Celtic and Rangers
VISIT PLZ SOCCER HERE:
SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/plzsoccer?s...
FACEBOOK: / plzsoccer
X: / plzsoccer
WEBSITE: https://www.plzsoccer.com
👍 Like, Comment & Subscribe for more Scottish football content from the #1 digital sports channel in Scotland.
#scottishfootball #scottishpremiership #spfl #celticfc #rangersfc
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00:00Welcome to The Football Show, I'm Peter Martin, welcome back for the new season 25-26, Alan
00:00:10Ruff, Tammy McManus with me and I'm delighted to say, former Paddy Thistle manager and legend
00:00:15it's fair to say, another legend from Paddy Thistle in the days, Chris Doolan is with
00:00:19us, are you happy with that one too?
00:00:20Yeah, more than happy, I put that in the file, proper legend, yeah, it's been a while
00:00:25rough here, two months is too long without football, there's only so many holidays you
00:00:31can get in two months, yeah, there's been a lot of football to be perfectly honest with
00:00:38you, we've watched more than a few games, yeah there has been, obviously a lot of people
00:00:42would have tuned in to the Euros to see England winning the Euros last night and obviously
00:00:48the FIFA World Club Cup as well, it was pretty good, I enjoyed that as well, so there has
00:00:51been football on, but as you know, Peter, I like the Scottish football, I like the Scottish
00:00:57football and that's back next week.
00:01:00Yeah, absolutely, really looking forward to it and delighted that you could join us as
00:01:04well, so anything that you want to mention to us about football, we'll read it out and
00:01:10we're ready for a new season.
00:01:12Chris, from your own point of view, I would imagine you're just buzzing, waiting and hoping
00:01:16that you can get back in.
00:01:17Yeah, of course, I think every manager since I left said, you know, take time to relax because
00:01:23it's such a wild job, it's such an intense job, you actually don't realise until you
00:01:28step back how draining it is and I think I've used that wee break well, so aye, ready to go
00:01:35again, regardless of what that looks like, you know, it might be a management role, it might
00:01:39be an assistant role, it might be a first team coaching role, whatever that is, I'll come
00:01:43in and do a good job somewhere.
00:01:44Yeah, but remiss of me not to mention on the programme, obviously, that since we've been
00:01:49off in that two-month trophy, we've lost a few footballers across the UK, one of them
00:01:54most notably, in fact, two of them I think it's nice to highlight is John Clark, the Lisbon
00:01:59Lion and John Fallon, also a Lisbon Lion squad member and perhaps his finest hour and a half
00:02:06came in the Bernabeu Stadium when Celtic were invited along to play Real Madrid as European
00:02:12Cup winners playing the legendary Madrid side and John Fallon played out of his skin that
00:02:18night as well.
00:02:19But two footballers, another two legends who sadly passed away.
00:02:23Yeah, and unfortunately for the Lions, there's unfortunately not that many of them left, which
00:02:27is a tragedy. But yes, John Clark's been at the club ever since that day, doing everything
00:02:32behind the scenes. I think any footballer that comes through the doors at Celtic will
00:02:37remember John Clark for what he was at the club. John, I was pleased to hear that John Fallon
00:02:42actually got his European Cup medal. I don't think he got it on the day and it took them
00:02:47a while to sort of convince him to give them that 12th medal, but he got it and I think
00:02:52he was very pleased with that.
00:02:54Yeah, absolutely. It's funny actually when you think about it, if you think of some of
00:02:58the great players that have walked through that stadium and then just quietly, unassuming,
00:03:04humble, John Clark would be walking around with a Champions League medal effectively, you
00:03:10know, as a great player for Celtic.
00:03:12Yeah, I think it just shows you how humble he was. You'd never have known that if you spoke
00:03:16to John Clark, you know, we've all been involved in games at Parkhead and maybe at Lennox Town
00:03:19and you see him walking about collecting dirty socks and dirty pants and, you know, taking
00:03:24pick and kit up and you just think, that's John Clark, you know, that's a Lisbon line,
00:03:27a real legendary club and you'd never think that, you know, he never boasted about it,
00:03:31he never spoke about it. I'm sure Brendan Rodgers had plenty of chats with him, even Ange
00:03:35Poster-Coglu and I think it was a good sounding board for them as well. He'd never
00:03:40come out of Celtic for John Clark. He was, you know, he told them stuff in confidence
00:03:44and it was never late. So, yeah, that's a real sad day, as Ruffy says, and there's
00:03:49no many of them left. Time's catching up with a lot of them and, as I said, it doesn't
00:03:53matter. They'll be remembered forever at Celtic.
00:03:55Yeah, perhaps the, you know, losing footballers is a tragedy at any age, but one that caught
00:04:03everybody on the hop, Chris, was the death of not only Diogo Jota, but Andre Silva, his
00:04:09brother, for one so young, a hero to the Liverpool fans and for both of them to perish in a car
00:04:18crash, it really actually caught everybody on the hop.
00:04:21Yeah, and, you know, everybody, I think, had the same emotions when they heard the news.
00:04:27I think one thing you see in football is it's an industry that comes together when something
00:04:32tragic happens. I think we've seen that. I think you've seen, you know, clubs outpouring
00:04:38their emotions and rightly so because, you know, it was a massive thing to happen. It
00:04:44wasn't just a footballer. Obviously, his brother was involved as well, you know, Andre was involved
00:04:48as well, but just a horrible thing for any family to go through. Just married and always
00:04:54get kids. There's a horrible background to that, but I think one thing you see is how
00:05:00close-knit football actually is and I think that's one thing his family, the families, can
00:05:05certainly take some condolence from as well.
00:05:07Yeah, two things that I thought well worthy of mention, Ruffie, and sometimes football
00:05:12much maligned at boardroom level sometimes, but the class of Liverpool to honour the contract
00:05:19and to make sure that the kids will be, for the rest of their life, taken care of. I thought
00:05:25that was just a real mark of Liverpool as a football club.
00:05:28Yeah, it just shows you, yeah, you don't see the things that go on behind the scenes at
00:05:32these well-run clubs. You know, they're very loyal to the players that have done a turn
00:05:37for them. In the past, it was a player who would do good things for the club and then
00:05:42he'd leave for whatever reason and you lost that continuity. But nowadays, I think now the
00:05:48players that have served these big clubs have been respected and he's one of them.
00:05:53Yeah, and I'm not cutting you out of this, Tam, and I'm not cutting you out of it, Chris,
00:05:56but it's only just due to the fact that you and I, sadly, will remember them more than
00:06:00most. I think you might have played against them. Joey Jones, who passed away, who was
00:06:05a great Liverpool player, who played in the 1977 European Cup winning side.
00:06:09Yeah, I think it was Joey Jones' hand that let us go to Argentina. According to Joe Jordan,
00:06:16it was Joey Jones' hand. But, you know, he was the player that was in that scenario with
00:06:23Joe, that we got a penalty. Obviously, we scored and went on to Argentina. But again,
00:06:28he was a big, big player with Liverpool as well and he'll be remembered with Liverpool
00:06:33and with Wales because I think he was a big player with Wales and not only won two, maybe
00:06:38three World Cups.
00:06:39Yeah, absolutely. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends. I think
00:06:44it's only right that we honour some of those great footballers. Great to have you back with
00:06:48us at New Studio. Lots of big changes coming, Tam. You can see the technology slowly,
00:06:52but surely coming together from us at year 14. I believe that's a touchscreen you've
00:06:57got there behind you for tactics and formations and stuff like that. I'm looking forward to
00:07:00seeing Ruffey on that.
00:07:03You know, when he tries to play a 5-5-3, it also allows you to doodle so you'll be able
00:07:10to draw things. But yeah, and Chris, Stonewall Certainty will have you on there telling us
00:07:16about formations and how teams will shape up how they win games and lose games. And
00:07:22there's so much more to come on PLZ Soccer and hopefully you'll join us on PLZ Premium
00:07:27as well because if you hit the subscribe button to our premium service, you will be able to
00:07:32watch Straight Talk. You'll be able to catch the journals, lots of other programs and documentaries
00:07:37we're going to be making. We're going to give you the chance to win in our prize draw in
00:07:42the month of August. One of, well, it's a Scott McTominay Napoli shirt. That's not bad,
00:07:48Tam, is it?
00:07:49Yeah, I think that'd be worth a few quid, Peter. Obviously, last season won in Scudetto.
00:07:54My mate got a Billy Gilmore one. He bought one last year and he was delighted to win the
00:07:58league as well. So yeah, I think that both those guys, you know, being the first Scottish
00:08:02players to win Serie A, they're a big interest in strips from them, from Napoli.
00:08:06Yeah, I don't think they'll be the last of the drain of talent heading towards Serie A.
00:08:13It's quite amazing, Chris. When you think about it, you know, at times when we were all
00:08:17watching, you know, Italian football on Channel 4, you're looking, you're thinking, okay,
00:08:23Gascoigne, maybe soon as Trevor Francis at Sampdoria, but ultimately you were watching
00:08:27for Maradona, but now the amount of Scots out there is great.
00:08:31Of course, and they've almost blazed a trail now for more to follow. And you see, you know,
00:08:36other Scottish players obviously linked now with a move to Italy. I would imagine these
00:08:42boys will jump at the chance because they'll see how successful, the style of play obviously
00:08:46suits the Scottish players. They make tour money. The guys who look after the ball, they've
00:08:51got athleticism. Billy Gilmore will protect the ball. These are what Italian teams are
00:08:56looking for. Scotland are blessed with some players, young players. And, you know, I think
00:09:01if they get the chance, they'll be a lot more starting to head to Italy and do just as
00:09:05well as the two lands last season.
00:09:07They've played Italy rough, eh? You'd have been a star there.
00:09:10Who'd you make that out?
00:09:12Yeah.
00:09:13They're not come for crosses there, no?
00:09:16Goalkeeper of your calibre.
00:09:18No, as I say, you know, the goalkeepers up and about them are absolutely fantastic.
00:09:22You used to watch it and just to get back to McTominay, I was over in Naples in the summer
00:09:26there.
00:09:27Howdy, another holiday.
00:09:28It's absolutely amazing how much they're adored, you know, even the big flags of them
00:09:34outside. They're nearly every second window you went through and it just shows you how
00:09:38well they've done.
00:09:39Yeah, you love a flag, don't you, Ruff? You're obsessed with it.
00:09:42Well, Aberdeen started it last year. I hope they continue, you know, that beach stand full
00:09:48of flags.
00:09:49Yep, absolutely.
00:09:50That's Aberdeen, the Scottish Cup winners, as they keep reminding me, Tam. A big thank you
00:09:54to Scott Battersby's. That's the entire budget spent on a leather sofa and a coffee table.
00:10:00I'm not wrong.
00:10:01Scott, you've hit the nail on the head. We don't want to go too much because obviously
00:10:06we're paying a fortune for duels at the moment. It's absolutely crippling as we're only just
00:10:10back. But there's lots to talk about, of course, with teams. You know, it's early days,
00:10:16Ruffey. Sometimes I think people get into a real tiz over, you know, their club and who
00:10:23they're signing. Should we be looking at clubs and thinking they're not doing enough this
00:10:28early on?
00:10:29Well, I think it's a change for last year. I've been pleasantly surprised with particularly
00:10:34Aberdeen, Hibs and Harts. We saw the disastrous start that they had last year. I don't think
00:10:39they added anything to the league until the second half of the season with the way they
00:10:44are. They seem to have got their act together now and they seem to be looking good in the
00:10:48games that they're playing in. So I'm hoping that these three, you know, give a bit of some
00:10:52kind of challenge better than what it was last year.
00:10:54Yeah. Give us an insight, Chris, because as a manager, you know, for example, a lot
00:11:00of Celtic fans and Rangers fans will be looking and saying, and we're going to talk about
00:11:03Rangers with the return leg against Panathinaikos, but they're looking, they're seeing the manager
00:11:07and his group of scouts trying to recruit players within a certain budget to enhance
00:11:15the squad. There's maybe more pressure on Celtic Rangers because there's such a huge amount
00:11:20of money at stake. But what about from a manager's perspective? How do you view that window?
00:11:25I think the summer window is a long window. I think, you know, it's going to be up to September.
00:11:31Managers are well aware that there's players you want, there's targets you want. You don't
00:11:35always get them. Sometimes they want to hold off because they want to see what else they
00:11:39can get. Obviously, if you're a Celtic or a Rangers, if you can offer these players
00:11:43Champions League football, if you can offer them European football, you might be able
00:11:47to entice them. If you can't, if you're not one of these teams that can offer them that,
00:11:51what else can you offer? So managers have to come up with, you know, roundabout ways
00:11:56of enticing players. But they don't have to dive in and bring just anybody. I think that's
00:12:02the key is, yes, any manager could go out and just sign 10, 11 players and then they
00:12:07get criticised for, you know, the level of player they've brought in because you jump
00:12:11too early and you bring in the wrong players. They will hold off. I think you see it's
00:12:16notorious that every window at the very end goes really quickly. You have to be ready
00:12:21for that, ins and outs. You know, you have to be ready for some of your players to leave
00:12:25because a lot of teams, and you'll see in the Scottish Premiership soon, people will
00:12:30start making bids, I would imagine late on, because it almost puts clubs in the back foot
00:12:35a wee bit and then they hold the cards and you can almost dictate how much they can spend.
00:12:40So managers have to be on their guard in this window both to get players in, the right players,
00:12:45and if you miss out on the target initially that you want, you get the next one. The depth
00:12:49charts that managers have, maybe depth charts that had, you know, umpteen for every position.
00:12:54So you have to be ready. You won't always get who you're looking for, but the manager has
00:12:59to be reactive to things. He also has to be proactive. And I think that's what you're seeing.
00:13:03You see managers out there, head of recruitment, sporting directors, everybody's sometimes
00:13:08fighting for the same players at times, you know, in the same pool. You have to be able to
00:13:13offer them something slightly different than the teams you're up against.
00:13:17Yeah. But the big bonus for you and your Thistle boys, you could say, look, there's
00:13:20Clatty Pats on a Thursday. There's Threshers. There's Threshers. There's some of the best
00:13:26The Shed. There's some of the best restaurants in the West End.
00:13:29That's it. Come to Thistle. Join the Jags.
00:13:31Ashton Lane.
00:13:32Ashton Lane.
00:13:36Ashton Lane.
00:13:37Yeah, absolutely. Can you sense when you speak to a player though, you think, oh, he's
00:13:41waiting. He's hedging his bets. Yeah, I think so. I think, and it's all agents now, obviously.
00:13:45Everybody's got an agent. So as much as sometimes they want to speak to the players directly,
00:13:49you're always pushed towards the agent because the players don't want to have that direct
00:13:54discussion. Because sometimes they become likeable. And I think as a manager, unfortunately,
00:14:00you have to be a wee bit reserved. You don't become too attached to players because you don't
00:14:06get them, you have to move on to the next one. So you have to be ready to move on and take
00:14:11the next one. Don't become too attached. I think that's what you see with managers just
00:14:14now. Yes, they'll talk about the targets they might want, but they won't go over the
00:14:18top on them because you might not get them. And they'll be ready to bring somebody else
00:14:21in.
00:14:22The other thing, Tam, which I tend to, and I don't want to put a dampener on it for anybody
00:14:26who loves their club and obviously, you know, look at the whole situation and say to themselves,
00:14:33we want a bit of transfer speculation. We want a bit of, we want a bit of chat on who potentially
00:14:39you're signing. But more often than not, you know, June, July, you know, I think somebody
00:14:44just goes into a darkened room and speaks to an agent and starts throwing darts at who they
00:14:48essentially could be signing because so many of them, you know, will wait, as Chris said,
00:14:54by the time they never end up materialising. And the other aspect of it, which I have to
00:14:58say, some fans need to put a wee dampener on is when they say he's one for the future
00:15:04or he's going to be a mega star or he's a wonder kid. Fans are not fooled by that now
00:15:09because how many players have come in at the big clubs and then they just, it doesn't materialise.
00:15:15That gamble. Yeah, I think when you're looking at particularly Celtic and Rangers, I think
00:15:20that Celtic supporters are wanting a finished article now. I think they've, you know, over
00:15:25the last few seasons, Brendan has brought in some projects of Celt, listening of Celt players
00:15:28on for big money. And I think the pressure of social media now, fans want new signings
00:15:33tomorrow. You know, they just want players in the door and you can see it now with Celtic.
00:15:36Rangers have obviously bought quite a few players in, which they had to do. I think their fans
00:15:40are quite happy. They obviously want a couple of more, but I think from Celtic's point of view, you know,
00:15:44the players that they've brought in, you know, you're looking at Shin Yamada, who's possibly
00:15:49a backup. You know, I think Celtic still need a proper number nine, you know, a real blockbuster
00:15:53number nine. They need, I think they need two wide players. You know, in Celtic they want
00:15:58to see somebody going and signing somebody for one and a half million, two million. They'll
00:16:02think, is he a starter? They want to go and see they've spent 11 million on Engels,
00:16:07nine million on that leader. They want to go and spend that kind of money on players that's
00:16:10going to come in and really improve the team. So, yeah, I think when you come into the
00:16:14last week of the window, the last week in August, as Chris said, you know, things start to
00:16:18ramp up. You know, other clubs, your Hibs, Hearts, Livingston's teams like that might
00:16:22be needing to get a couple out, you know, to bring a couple in. You know, obviously
00:16:26tighter budgets. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing who they bring in. Hibs, I think,
00:16:31have really spent money. Hearts have spent money. Aberdeen have spent money. So I don't
00:16:34know if it's that carrot of European football potentially maybe getting into that group stage
00:16:39next season, or they maybe smell of weakness in Rangers this season that they can think
00:16:42they can get closer to them. Yeah.
00:16:44I think one of the worrying things, not just for the younger Scottish players, is there
00:16:49has been a big influx of foreign players coming in now. And I think that new rule that they
00:16:54brought out, that you can tie up with another club and release some of your younger players
00:16:59into them there, United and whoever. I think younger players are now wanting to play. Because
00:17:04you can see they're all leaving, Rangers and Celtic. If they're not going to game, I'm off
00:17:07down south. So I think that's a new rule that's come in that's going to be beneficial to hold
00:17:13on to your younger players.
00:17:14Yeah. A lot has been made, Chris, of the fact that Dundee United didn't field a single
00:17:18Scot in their side. You know, we'd love to see more Scots being able to burst into the
00:17:25team to have that ability. But by the same token, some people look at their budget and
00:17:30think, well, I'm going to get a cheaper foreign player for the same quality, you know, and
00:17:34I'm not going to look to the Scottish players. And as Steven Robinson said on this very couch,
00:17:39at times, if you play two or three youngsters, you know, and suddenly you lose three games,
00:17:44they're calling for your head. You only have to look at the ridiculous situation we find
00:17:48ourselves in with Steven Presley at Dundee.
00:17:50Yeah. And that's, I think I actually mentioned it last time I was here about the league being
00:17:54bigger. If the league's bigger, you know, there's less pressure on managers. They can
00:17:59blood some younger players because there's no fear of getting sacked within three games,
00:18:03four games. Yeah, you're right. I think it is cheaper to go, you know, abroad to bring
00:18:09in players. But ultimately, we as a nation want to see young players. We all want to see
00:18:13that, everybody. It's just whether they get a chance or not. And as Ruffey says, if they
00:18:17don't get a chance by the time they're 18, 19, they weren't away. And it's, you know,
00:18:22you're almost hampering their development by holding on to them and not playing them.
00:18:26So they have to go and play games. But the boys that went to Italy, like I said, have
00:18:31blazed a bit of a trail now. And young Scottish players should be looking at that and saying,
00:18:36you know, if I can play games by the time I'm 21, I might be able to, you know, play abroad.
00:18:42And instead of going and bringing players from abroad to Scotland, you could actually
00:18:46be one of these guys that do well in Scotland and move on to another club.
00:18:50Are you surprised Lennon Miller hasn't moved?
00:18:53Yes and no. I think I'm surprised nobody's jumped quickly to take him because I think
00:19:01there'll be a bit of a bidding war for him. I can also understand at the window, how the
00:19:05window works. Teams don't want to show their cards too quickly. They don't want to jump in
00:19:09with an offer and then they get trumped by another team. So they'll try and hold off.
00:19:13Like I said, it becomes a bit cat and mouse. So I'm a wee bit caught between why, you know,
00:19:20I thought somebody would come in and take him really quickly. If I'm honest, I thought one
00:19:24of the foreign clubs or the old firm would come in and take him. But I can also understand,
00:19:29you know, why they're a wee bit slower. And it's also to try and put some of the cards
00:19:35in their hands. When they're making offers, you know, they're almost, they know the time's
00:19:40ticking down. They know the window's ticking down. They know if they miss this window, Lennon
00:19:45only has the rest of this season. So the clubs that are going to put bids in, I think once
00:19:51you see one bid come in, you'll see two or three followed from other clubs as well.
00:19:55Yeah. Try not to mention Trump too early in the program. You'll get absolutely hammered
00:19:59on here if you mention them. I'm just done in line. Yeah, Chris. The other thing here
00:20:03is, here's a good one and it just shows you. Rabi says, look forward to the long-anticipated
00:20:08loving for Hearts this season. McInnes and Shanks, two of the Scottish media boys.
00:20:13It must be in that you, you love Hearts. You love Hearts.
00:20:17Well, I like Derek. I think he's a good lad. Shankman was one of the, Shankman was,
00:20:21and's gone. And Budge is gone. You know, Shanks is the longest running thing ever. I
00:20:29just hope Lennon Miller isn't subjected to that, Tam. Aye, I think if you're the
00:20:34Hearts support, you're thrilled that he's signed. I think he didn't have a great season
00:20:37last year. He didn't get the volume of goals. But if you look overall, I think he's three
00:20:41or four seasons at the club. He's scored nearly 100 goals. So he's a proven goalscorer.
00:20:45He's obviously, he's probably his last big contract. So he's, maybe his agent was hawking
00:20:50him elsewhere and maybe trying to get him a big deal. Didn't materialise and he goes back
00:20:54and probably got a good deal at Hearts. So I hate to, I hate to go with Rabi here with
00:20:59this. He's obviously a Hibs fan. I can see he's, he's Monica the 1875. But I do think
00:21:04Hearts will be strong this season. I think I've been impressed with some of the signings
00:21:07and I think their best signing is Derek McInnes. I think he's a, he's a top manager.
00:21:11I think him and Hearts, we take part-time castle. You know, Derek's quite direct. Gets the ball
00:21:16away, gets balls. I just think it will suit Hearts. I really do.
00:21:19Yeah.
00:21:20Yeah.
00:21:21Sadly.
00:21:22You share that view. He's a good operator and we'll certainly get them more solid at the
00:21:27back.
00:21:28They certainly have looked impressive in the friendly games they've played in. They've
00:21:32won them all quite convincingly. The supporters are right behind them now. Obviously Shanks
00:21:37is there. And the goalkeeping one is one they have to sort out. Obviously Craig's got a
00:21:43wee bit of an injury there now, but I'd love to see him do in another year. But if there's
00:21:47Xander Clarke there, you know, he'll be wanting to play as well. So that'll be a big decision
00:21:51when Craig is fit.
00:21:53Yeah. And we're going to hear from Willie Collum on the programme. We'll also look ahead
00:21:57to that big Champions League second round return leg because there's no doubt that Rangers
00:22:03in the box seat at the moment, 2-0 up. Can they finish the job against Panath and Icos?
00:22:08You can give us your thoughts on that. We'll hear from the Rangers fans shortly as well.
00:22:13Just talking on that, they were talking about, you know, the signings. Rangers obviously with
00:22:19the big game coming up against Panath and Icos. Lyle Cameron had not a bad little debut.
00:22:25I thought Joe Rothwell looked good last week in that first leg, Chris.
00:22:29Yeah. And I think the first one would be Lyle Cameron. You know, a young Scottish lad
00:22:32is just what we're talking about. We want to see them play, not just throw away games
00:22:37and just to tick a box. They're actually playing games that are going to mean something.
00:22:40I think Russell Martin, I think, will do well at Rangers. You know, he comes with a very
00:22:46good pedigree in terms of coaching players and the style of play that he wants to play.
00:22:51And I think he's got that mindset where even if it doesn't go well, he's strong enough
00:22:56in his mind to keep doing it until he gets it right. And I think we guys like Lyle Cameron,
00:23:02who understand Scottish football, have been around Scottish football, will really prosper
00:23:06under him as well.
00:23:07Yeah. I watched the game, Ruffy. What did you make of it? 2-0, it's a nice cushion for them.
00:23:13Yeah, I think the second goal makes it a nice cushion. I think if the boy hadn't
00:23:17to get sent off, they'd have sort of dug in for 1-0. And they'd have left thinking 1-0
00:23:21would be enough when they go back to their place. It would be a very hostile environment.
00:23:26You know, obviously, it's the old one. Whoever scores first has the initiative.
00:23:30But I think I saw enough in them that they've got something. But if you're Rangers, yeah,
00:23:352-0's a good score to sort of try and hold on to.
00:23:38Yeah, I fancy Rangers to go through. But I'll tell you one thing, Panathinaikos missed a few
00:23:42sitters.
00:23:43Yeah, they did. I think Jack Buckland, I think in the first half, he had two or three great
00:23:47saves. It was two sitters. They should have scored when the ball broke to them and the
00:23:51keeper saved it and then the boy missed it at the back post. And that changes the game.
00:23:55But I think Rangers had two and a lead over there that will be roasting over there.
00:23:58You know, I was in Greece not that long ago and I was talking to a few taxi drivers and
00:24:02they were saying that it's even warmer at the end of July. And it was boiling over there.
00:24:07So that's going to be a factor, I think, the heat over there. But Rangers going there with
00:24:10a two-goal lead is a big cushion. And as rough as he is, I think it's a first goal game.
00:24:15I think if Rangers go 3-0 up in the tie, I think they'll coast it. Panathinaikos
00:24:20get it, fans behind them. You know, they could maybe make a comeback. But yeah, I would
00:24:25think Rangers would go through and I think the other tie, Pilsen and Servet, was a bit
00:24:29of an upset. I think Servet beat Pilsen, won nothing away from home. So if Rangers can
00:24:34get through that, maybe play Servet, who I believe they've played before and beat. So
00:24:38all of a sudden you're looking to maybe get a wee chance to get in the Champions League.
00:24:41Yeah, the rewards from that, the financial rewards are massive. Of course, Rangers fans
00:24:46will be watching on, eagerly hoping that they can finish the job. We were out the
00:24:49at Ibrox today to catch up with a few of them to get their thoughts on the big game.
00:24:54Confident? Aye, I think we're going to win there as well.
00:24:57Yeah, I think we've got a chance. Obviously, we need to defend well over there. The temperatures
00:25:02might play a part, but I'm pretty confident we could at least get someone for the game
00:25:07to get through the next round.
00:25:09Yeah, defensively, we're a bit set-pieces in. We're a bit weak, you know. We could do the strength.
00:25:14I don't think it'll be the same team that played on Saturday, but it'll play on Wednesday, you know.
00:25:19If we can keep them quiet, hopefully we can score the first goal. We go free nothing, I think it'll be in the bag.
00:25:27I would like to think we try and attack and get a wee goal first, but I'm not too sure.
00:25:33As the game goes on, they'll have to come out, and I think that's when we'll probably catch them.
00:25:37So we'll probably start off a wee bit tighter, and then open up in the second half.
00:25:40We've got a few changes, I would say, but we do need to tighten up at the back a wee bit. We can't just go gung-ho.
00:25:46We've got goals in us. I think that's the important thing. Obviously, I have to try and tighten up a wee bit, losing two goals as well.
00:25:52But we've definitely got goals in us, so that gives us confidence.
00:25:55I'll say 1-1.
00:25:571-0 Rangers.
00:25:59We'll go through.
00:26:00I think it'll be 1-1.
00:26:03Yeah, I'll go 1-1, Ruffy.
00:26:05Yeah, I think Rangers have proved, particularly last year when they're away from home, they've got goals in them.
00:26:10And as we say, it's really important for them to get the first one.
00:26:15But no, I think they've got a good enough players that they've brought in.
00:26:20Some of them have got a wee bit of European experience, but I think they've been in the game long enough to see this one.
00:26:24Chris?
00:26:25Yeah, I think 1-1's a good shout.
00:26:27I think it'll be a good eye-opener as to how Russell Martin goes about these types of games.
00:26:31You know, just obviously in the door, in a big game at home, goes and gets the victory.
00:26:35Then you have something to defend.
00:26:37When you go away from home in a big tie now, do you sit back and defend and look to hit the counter?
00:26:41Or do they come out all blistering and want to score that early goal?
00:26:45It'll be a good one for the Rangers supporters, I think, to see just what their new manager is all about in terms of being in Europe.
00:26:51But I think 1-1 and they'll go through.
00:26:53Yeah. Tam, what are you going for?
00:26:54Yeah, I think they'll go through as well, Peter.
00:26:55I think it's vital that Russell Martin gets a good start at Rangers.
00:26:58I think this would be a really good start.
00:27:00You know, it's a tough tie, opening tie, Panath and Icos.
00:27:03I'm not seeing the nicer out for Russell Martin, but there's a lot of Rangers supporters who are not convinced about him.
00:27:08And I think it buys him a wee bit of time, wee bit of credit with the supporters.
00:27:11So I think one each as well when they go through.
00:27:13I'm looking forward to seeing the style of football he's going to play.
00:27:15He's a good coach, Peter.
00:27:17I've worked to him, I've seen him coaching as well.
00:27:20I've listened to him, I've seen him coaching and I think he comes across as a really, really good coach on the pitch with the players.
00:27:26And I do think he will stick to it.
00:27:29He's a high press and he wants to pass the ball through the lines and he wants to go and press it after teams.
00:27:33And I think if it's not quite clicking at the start, he will stick with it.
00:27:36He's not going to rip it up and just go route one.
00:27:38I think you need that mindset.
00:27:40If you're going to manage Rangers or Celtic, you have to be strong.
00:27:43Have you been in close proximity to him, Chris?
00:27:46Just in terms of, I brought in Liam Smith from Swansea last year and Liam had played when Russell Martin was the manager.
00:27:54So I was quizzing him on what he's like and he kind of said, look, he's the best coach as much as manager.
00:28:01He's the best coach and I know a couple of other people who are really friendly with Russell who say the exact same things.
00:28:07Will continue to play out, will continue to high press and is strong mentally.
00:28:12So, like I said, I think it will be interesting to see away from home and a European tie, how you go about it.
00:28:20As a manager, a coach, I like to watch these types of things.
00:28:23But I think he's got the right mentality for what Rangers are needing.
00:28:26Yeah. And as ever, and there's no point in carrying anybody on here, when you look at his pedigree, what he's got to offer,
00:28:34he'll want the players that will be able to execute what he wants to do, Ruffy.
00:28:38And as ever, Europe will be a huge bonus if they could get themselves past those hurdles into the group stages because that opens up all sorts of wealth.
00:28:47But the other thing that is absolutely vitally important is just bed yourself in, get the wins that you're expected to get,
00:28:54keep yourself on Celtic's tail until you start to build a bit of momentum and then you start to gauge where Russell Martin's Rangers are in comparison to where Brendan Rodgers Celtic are.
00:29:05Yeah, I think everybody's anticipating, you know, I mean, we keep talking about a gap, you know, where Rangers and Celtic overall season.
00:29:13But in one-off games, Rangers have given as good as they've got.
00:29:16I think a lot of the Rangers supporters will be wanting that long-term gap to close to make it more competitive.
00:29:22I think it is important to get into the Champions League.
00:29:25There has been a lot of investment there.
00:29:27A lot of new players have come in with money behind us.
00:29:30So I think the investors would want a wee sort of a cushion of that 40, 50 million if they get into the Champions League.
00:29:35So at the end of the day, they've just got to win games.
00:29:38Yeah, absolutely.
00:29:39Great to have you back for another season.
00:29:41I hope you will enjoy and support us here on PLZ Soccer.
00:29:45The football show five days a week will give you very much a magazine feel to the show Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Monday.
00:29:54Monday, we'll look back at what's happened over the weekend.
00:29:57Friday, we'll look ahead.
00:29:58But there's so much more for you to enjoy.
00:30:00We've got competitions, quiz, lots of different programs that you might want to watch along the way.
00:30:06Seven days a week, you've got PLZ Soccer.
00:30:09If you click on the link below on the YouTube feed and across our social media, you can get subscribing to our PLZ Premium,
00:30:18which opens up a whole load of other programming for you that you can enjoy and you get the chance to win some fabulous prizes.
00:30:25This month coming up, we'll give you a replica Scott McTominay Napoli top to get your hands on.
00:30:30I think that's certainly one to look forward to.
00:30:33And as ever, lots of different guests and Chris will be coming in and doing a bit of tactics with Tam
00:30:39and Ruffy will be just edging them out and showing them exactly how Scotland played in the 1978 World Cup.
00:30:47And then, of course, we'll get Ruffy to reenact the free kick.
00:30:51Yeah, we'll get you to reenact Ruffy with the touchscreen, the free kick, how you lined the wall up with Zico
00:30:57and how it made not a blind bit of difference as he ended over the wall.
00:31:01It was very interesting during the close season. I don't know if you saw Peter Brown.
00:31:05Peter Brown's a friend of us that does the after-dinner stuff.
00:31:08He'd obviously caught a video that the year before, 82, we got beat by Brazil in the Maracana
00:31:16and Zico scored the exact same free kick.
00:31:19And he sent a text saying, once, twice.
00:31:22Exactly.
00:31:23No video analysis.
00:31:24The funny thing is, Ruffy, how on earth did you not know he was going to go?
00:31:30To be fair to him, in Spain, he hit the postage stamp.
00:31:34Yeah, but you don't see things behind the eyes.
00:31:37Pre-game, there was obviously somebody had watched Brazil in the other two games they'd played
00:31:43and my exact words were, free kicks, what's the story?
00:31:47And he said, I've watched the free kicks, there's only three people take part.
00:31:51And this particular person who had watched them, I'm not going to say who it is,
00:31:54said it's going to be Socrates, Janinho, I can't remember the other boy.
00:31:58And I put my hand up and I said, what about Zico?
00:32:01Yeah.
00:32:02He said, no, Zico's not taking any free kicks this year.
00:32:04Is that right?
00:32:05You wouldn't have to worry about him.
00:32:07So I saw him lurking.
00:32:08I saw him lurking and I went, I don't have to worry about him.
00:32:13And unfortunately, he did take part.
00:32:15Yeah, absolutely.
00:32:16And then some.
00:32:17Dules, did you work a lot on free kicks?
00:32:20I mean, it kind of kills me to see so many people now with a free kick and somebody steps
00:32:28up and they've got that kind of a bravado as if I'll bend it over the wall.
00:32:32It's a really difficult skill at the best of times, but I am all in for people who,
00:32:39like an Austin McPhee, who will pay particular attention to it.
00:32:44Like Alan Russell used to play for Airdrie.
00:32:47You know, they pay particular attention and come up with schemes to work out clever free kicks.
00:32:52Is that something that you tried to do?
00:32:53Yeah, I think so.
00:32:54Look, I think you see that particular job becoming more and more apparent at clubs
00:32:59because they're starting to realise, you know, it's such a big part of the game.
00:33:02And just touching Derek McKinnis earlier, you go to Tyne Castle, the pitch is small,
00:33:07the ball's got to play more than it's in play.
00:33:09So what are you going to do about it when you've got the ball in your hands or you've got it as a dead ball?
00:33:13They're such a big part of the game.
00:33:15Yeah, we had to work on them.
00:33:17Obviously, we weren't blessed having a set piece coach,
00:33:20but you have to work on them as a team and as a manager, as a coach.
00:33:23We would try and come up with, we would do a lot of analysis on the opposition,
00:33:28look at where they were weak, where we could maybe exploit them,
00:33:32where we could bring them into areas they didn't want to be in.
00:33:35But it's such a big area of football now.
00:33:38I just think that that job you'll see in the years to come will get even more and more apparent as well.
00:33:44Yeah, absolutely.
00:33:45And thanks to Maestro, who says Andy Ritchie, which is fine,
00:33:49which is fine if you have an Andy Ritchie.
00:33:51A David Cooper.
00:33:52A David Cooper.
00:33:53And you say, listen, or a George Best.
00:33:56You can work out all the intricate free kicks you want,
00:33:59but if you've got a genius who can walk up and bend it over the wall, then on you go.
00:34:03So, talking of looking for geniuses to step up to the plate this week,
00:34:08you'll be hoping the Hebbies can do their business again.
00:34:10Michelin, it's poised nicely at the moment.
00:34:16Yeah, I think a lot of people were surprised at the result.
00:34:19I think when you look at the Danes in the last couple of seasons,
00:34:22they've been in the group stages, they got to the knockout stages in the Europa League last year.
00:34:26They were heavy favourites going into the game,
00:34:28and the Hebbies went over there and done a job on them.
00:34:32Started well, got the goal, and then really were comfortable.
00:34:34Watched the game.
00:34:35Bar the free kick that they scored,
00:34:37they didn't really create much against Hibs,
00:34:39and the Hibs were comfortable at the back.
00:34:41So, I think it's a different game at Easter Road.
00:34:43The Hibs are going to be rode on probably by 19,000, 20,000.
00:34:46They're going to be on the front foot, trying to get after them.
00:34:49There's going to be chances for Middelland on the break.
00:34:52So, listen, it's in the balance.
00:34:54I think if Hibs can get through this tie,
00:34:56they would fancy the next one.
00:34:57I think it's Fredrik Strad from Norway.
00:35:00They would fancy it.
00:35:01I think they're probably an easier one than the first tie.
00:35:03So, listen, they've given themselves a chance, Peter,
00:35:06and a big European night at Easter Road.
00:35:08I've played in a couple myself.
00:35:09You know, it's an intimidating atmosphere,
00:35:11and I think it'll be a full house,
00:35:13and you're just hoping that Hibs can finish the job,
00:35:15because we want to see Hibs done United,
00:35:17you know, Aberdeen this season.
00:35:18You know, Rangers have flew the flag for the last couple of seasons, really.
00:35:22Celtic have had some good results as well.
00:35:24But we need other clubs to do it as well, Peter,
00:35:26because I think that coefficient, you know,
00:35:28we're teetering on maybe dropping out of the top 10, top 11.
00:35:31Yeah.
00:35:32Are you enthused by what Hibs are doing in the transfer market?
00:35:34Yeah, I am.
00:35:35Are you confident for this season?
00:35:36Yeah, I am.
00:35:37I think when you look at the money they've spent,
00:35:39I think bringing Jimmy McGrath in, who obviously scored last week,
00:35:42I think he's a great signing for Hibs.
00:35:44He's obviously on a big contract.
00:35:46You know, Kledja, the new signing,
00:35:49the signing from Switzerland,
00:35:52over a million pound, Peter, on a striker.
00:35:54You know, Hibs have never spent that money, you know,
00:35:56and Aberdeen have spent money as well this season.
00:35:58So I'm really impressed with Hibs.
00:35:59I think they maybe need one or two more,
00:36:01but that could all depend on how they do in Europe.
00:36:04So, no, I think they've got a really, really strong squad this season, Hibs.
00:36:08Yeah, it'll be interesting.
00:36:09Don't pick it too early, guys,
00:36:10because picking anybody who's going to finish second bottom
00:36:14or bottom is nigh on impossible until that window closes.
00:36:18Should we wait till the 1st of September, Hibs?
00:36:21Yeah, I think we always have that, wait and see how it goes,
00:36:24and then we'll dive in and change it about December or January.
00:36:28Well, we got it right this.
00:36:29We got it right last season.
00:36:30I picked St Johnston and Ross County.
00:36:32Yeah, I think most of us hung on in there for most of the season on that too.
00:36:36Yeah, although the championship is going to be fantastic this year,
00:36:41and we'll talk about that as well and get your thoughts on it too.
00:36:45So many teams to talk about, so many games to cover,
00:36:48and we'll bring you managers and players as well as lots of programming.
00:36:52Una Strassen nilled under United one from the first leg.
00:36:56I fancy United to get the job done. Do you, Chris?
00:36:59Yeah, I think so. I think, you know, they're a good side.
00:37:02As much as we were all saying, you know, there's no Scottish players in there,
00:37:05they're a good side.
00:37:07And I think they showed that.
00:37:08I actually think Una Strassen maybe were better than United expected them to be,
00:37:14and almost caught them in a hop a wee bit.
00:37:16But I think their speed, their strength this year in United, I think will show through.
00:37:22And I can see them going through this time as well.
00:37:24Yeah. Okay.
00:37:25You can give us your thoughts on some of the games coming up as well.
00:37:28But there's one burning issue which reared its head today at Hamden.
00:37:33And that was, of course, changes to the laws, which we've got to look out for.
00:37:36Willie Collum was speaking to some of the assembled members of the broadcast
00:37:41and the written media.
00:37:42Our reporter Alison McConnell was out there to find out what Willie had to say.
00:37:47Willie Collum, the SFA's head of refereeing,
00:37:50offered a media presentation this afternoon here at Hamden.
00:37:54The same presentation that's been shown to clubs around the country
00:37:58ahead of the new campaign kicking off this weekend.
00:38:01And interestingly enough, he revealed that he's brought in some aviation experts
00:38:05to help with the SFA's communication when it comes to making on-field decisions.
00:38:11Yesterday we spent time with the top match officials in the country
00:38:14and we brought two aviation experts to talk to the referees about their comms in the VA.
00:38:19And how they should be looking at incidents, you know, in that environment.
00:38:23Very similar to the cockpit.
00:38:24A high pressure environment.
00:38:26Life or death for pilots.
00:38:28People might say life or death for football as well.
00:38:30But obviously that same pressure, kind of pressure environment.
00:38:34How do you communicate?
00:38:35How do you keep your composure?
00:38:36How do you take cognizance of what the situation is showing?
00:38:39What you're seeing?
00:38:40So these are all elements we're looking to make.
00:38:42We're pushing forward to make improvements in VA.
00:38:45One of the key changes that we'll see this season is the eight second rule
00:38:48that's been brought in for goalkeepers in terms of hanging on to the ball.
00:38:52A first sanction will result in a corner kick.
00:38:55A second will be a corner kick with a warning.
00:38:57And a third will be a corner kick with a yellow card.
00:39:00It won't be strictly enforced and it certainly won't be a matter for VAR.
00:39:05Rather, it will come down to the jurisdiction of the referee on the pitch.
00:39:09We'll make the game much quicker because the goalkeepers now are under pressure to release the ball.
00:39:13We've prepared our referees tactically for that as well.
00:39:15Forgetting just about the decision making, the eight seconds and punishing it.
00:39:19We also know there will be a lot of shorter balls at times in and around the penalty area.
00:39:22We need our referees to be well prepared for that.
00:39:25But it's like any rule change.
00:39:27The Cubs are aware of it.
00:39:28We've spoken to a lot of goalkeeper coaches.
00:39:30They're saying they've already been coaching it, working at it.
00:39:32So we don't think we'll see a great amount of issues with that.
00:39:35We know that in the League Cup so far,
00:39:37we've not encountered any issues with it at all.
00:39:39It's not been punished once.
00:39:41So we'd hoped that would continue throughout the season.
00:39:43So there you are. That's great news.
00:39:46Maverick and Iceman have been brought in to help them calm down in these pressure situations.
00:39:51Let's hope they're fishing for flying.
00:39:52Let's hope there's no seagulls about.
00:39:56He's practically admitted that the kind of pressure that the people are under up in this VAR room,
00:40:04you know, that some of the decisions that have been made are under pressure.
00:40:08You know, you would like to think that there would be enough stuff that that's not going to happen.
00:40:14You know, you'd like to be two or three guys there, not just one person who's making that decision.
00:40:18So it just shows you it must be a difficult job to come to that decision.
00:40:22I think Willie Colm deserves tremendous credit for the fact that he's tried to be transparent,
00:40:27tried to engage with people.
00:40:29Obviously, at some points, Chris, no manager has enjoyed phoning him on the Monday
00:40:35and he said, I'm sorry, we made a pig's ear of that.
00:40:38That's when they don't really care whether Willie calls or not.
00:40:41But he's trying to be open and tell you what they're trying to do to get things better.
00:40:48Yeah, of course. And I think managers appreciate it.
00:40:50Look, I think, as you said, nobody wants that phone call on the Monday and, you know, be told,
00:40:55yes, there was mistakes here, there and everywhere.
00:40:57I think he should be commended for thinking outside the box and bringing in people from another industry.
00:41:03Because sometimes when there's a different voice from a different industry, it hits home better.
00:41:08Because it's just the same message, same message that these guys are under pressure the same way they are in the cockpit,
00:41:13as he mentioned. But sometimes just having those voices from a different industry to say,
00:41:18look, you know, we're under the same pressure, albeit in a different way.
00:41:22Here's how we deal with it.
00:41:24And football can learn so much from other industries at times that I think that's quite a good, a good step.
00:41:29And I sometimes think managers, players, they like it when something different gets thrown out there.
00:41:34You know, it's not just Willie Collum talking all the time.
00:41:37They bring in guest speakers, they bring somebody else in who sometimes just gets their attention.
00:41:41And I think that's something that having the guys for aviation will do.
00:41:44Yeah. Well, listen, pressure is one thing. Getting things right. Slight tweaks to the law changes as well.
00:41:51It's good to actually be aware of what the referees are going to be looking out for, Tam.
00:41:56Yeah, it would be interesting to see how much they implement it.
00:42:01You know, there might be big pressure games. You know, we spoke about it just off air when we were talking there.
00:42:06An old firm game. You know, the goalkeeper tries to waste time and you give a corner to the other team and they score.
00:42:11That would be an interesting phone call. And I like the one with the referees, the captain going to the referees.
00:42:18There's nothing worse for me than seeing, you know, I think it's more of Athletic Madrid teams like that abroad
00:42:23where everybody crowds the referee trying to get players sent off. I hate that, Peter.
00:42:26The captain goes up. I think we've seen a wee bit of it in the Club World Cup where the captain was going up and speaking to the referee.
00:42:31The two captains, he'd be speaking to them. It was a lot calmer. They were getting, you know, quicker through that and that sort of stuff.
00:42:38And that's what you see in rugby.
00:42:40Aye. You learn from other sports. You learn. Football can learn massively, not just keep doing the same stuff.
00:42:47They can learn from other sports as well and other people and other industries and bring it into football.
00:42:51Yeah. I think that one of the things that I would love them to embrace from rugby, Rafi, and I've been banging on about it for decades,
00:42:59is quite simply if the ball's out of play, the clock stops. It will eliminate cheating immediately.
00:43:05And I think it's a nonsense to suggest the game could go on forever. That's just people scaremongering.
00:43:11Yeah. I like the other thing for the rugby as well. I like everybody hearing why the referee has made that decision.
00:43:18Yeah. Yeah. You know, he's actually telling everybody, you know, everybody of their own opinion and what it was,
00:43:25because they're so far away they probably haven't seen it, but he's there. He's seen it and this is the reason why I've given this decision.
00:43:31Are you buying into the clock stopping?
00:43:33Yeah, I think it'll only affect in the last five or ten minutes when you're trying to waste time trying to see you at the game.
00:43:38Yeah. I think, you know, you only have to look at some of the games, you know, throughout history and, of course,
00:43:45especially at the tail end of last season and this season, even in the European Championships for the women's game,
00:43:50you've got people just going down, you know, nothing wrong with them.
00:43:54Yeah, you're right. If you bring that rule in, sometimes it's just enough to scare people into stopping doing it.
00:43:59And that's sometimes what the rules are. Even not really enforcing this eight-second rule, but the fact it's there is just enough sometimes to frighten goalkeepers into getting the ball in play quicker.
00:44:11So whether it's enforced or not, stopping the clock, whether it's enforced or not, just having that framework sometimes enough.
00:44:17Yeah. Tom, is there anything they've missed that you wanted addressed?
00:44:21No, no, I agree. Listen, they have been adding a lot more time on at the end of half-time and the end of full-time, you know,
00:44:26particularly in English football. You can see it in Scotland as well, there's eight, nine, ten minutes going up on the board.
00:44:31And I think they're trying to obviously get that time back from time-wasting and stuff like that. But, you know, Ruffy's right.
00:44:38Probably only maybe applies to maybe the last 15, 10, 15 minutes in a game if a team's hanging on and they're trying to waste time.
00:44:45Maybe do it then, last 20 minutes of the game, I don't know.
00:44:49There'll be ways around it. Football will find a way around it.
00:44:53Absolutely, because you three guys know these are the greats for finding ways to cheat and come up with something.
00:45:01Give us your thoughts on it. What role would you like to see applied?
00:45:04What do you make of the new rules that will be implemented and what do you make of Willie Collum?
00:45:09Trying to be proactive, transparent, trying to explain to everybody what he's trying to do with the referees
00:45:16so that they can act quickly, get it right, under pressure.
00:45:20Aviation experts in there to try and get them to calm down and slow their heart rate down,
00:45:25which is something, of course, that strikers have to do because, Chris, you know yourself,
00:45:30your heart rate would get down in the box, take it easy, calmly put it in the back of the net, no problem whatsoever.
00:45:37Ruffy, what about your heart rate? Did it go up? Did you just think, I've got my angles covered, no problem?
00:45:42No, it never really fazed me at all, really.
00:45:46His heart rate went up when we played in America.
00:45:48Jelly, doesn't that come out of half time?
00:45:50Yeah, absolutely, but that's another programme behind the premium wall.
00:45:54Ruffy in America.
00:45:57But that'd be some documentary, wouldn't it?
00:46:00You know, Ruffy meets George Best.
00:46:03Anyway, let's have a look at the Premier Sports Cup draw before we look towards the weekend and the opening day of the season.
00:46:09This is indeed what we look forward to once it gets to all the big teams coming in there.
00:46:15Celtic against Falkirk, Livingston-Hibbs, Rangers-Allowa, Kilmarnock-Dunday United, St Johnston-Motherwell,
00:46:22Morton-Aberdeen, Partick-Thistle against Air United and St Mirren against Harts.
00:46:27Some tidy ones in there and a great draw.
00:46:29If you're Falkirk and you're looking at the ultimate draw, it's welcome to the big time.
00:46:36And, of course, a nice wee mouth-watering one.
00:46:39Yeah, it has caused Celtic problems last season.
00:46:41And the Cup went in there and were ahead twice.
00:46:44So, really made a good account on themselves.
00:46:46So, I think that's a tricky one for Celtic.
00:46:48I think the way Falkirk play, you still expect Celtic to go through.
00:46:51But, you know, Rangers getting a home tie against that great draw for Aller as well.
00:46:54You know, they've started the season well by Gandy Graham.
00:46:57We all know and that supporter will be looking forward to the same old Aller always cheating.
00:47:02Remember that one?
00:47:03Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
00:47:04Those gifts have been going about over the last couple of days.
00:47:07But, great tie for Aller.
00:47:09And tricky one for Hibbs away to Livingston, tricky one for Hearts away to St Mirren.
00:47:13Yeah, and your old team, the Jags at home to Air United.
00:47:16Yeah, they must be fed up playing each other.
00:47:18They play each other umpteen times a season.
00:47:20But, good game.
00:47:22Two sides that probably will fancy themselves in the tie in a one-off game.
00:47:28I think both of them will go and throw everything at it.
00:47:31Two young managers as well.
00:47:32So, it should be set up for a good game.
00:47:34Yeah, absolutely.
00:47:35And, as you mentioned there, St Mirren against Hearts, we always look.
00:47:39And, I think it's right that we pay tribute to one man who, Ruffy, just keeps on going.
00:47:44Obviously, you're looking and you were hoping that he wasn't going to go past your caps for Scotland.
00:47:50But, Craig Gordon waltz past them and he's heading towards 42.
00:47:55Can he go all the way through to all?
00:47:57Yeah, the last time I spoke to him, I said to him, he had these injuries that have curtailed your...
00:48:02I think he's on 72, 73 just now.
00:48:04I did say to him, try and keep playing as long as possible.
00:48:08Because, I really did think he could catch Jim Layton.
00:48:11He would have to really get back playing again.
00:48:14You're playing maybe seven internationals a year.
00:48:16You know, I know it's asking a lot for him to be playing in our two years.
00:48:19But, certainly, it'd be a target I'd be going for.
00:48:22To try and be the best, most all-time cap goalkeeper.
00:48:27Instead of just being second.
00:48:28Yeah, 18,000.
00:48:30And, just short of it, I think, were there for his testimonial against Sunderland.
00:48:34Yeah.
00:48:35They won 3-0.
00:48:36I mean, that's fantastic for him.
00:48:37Because, testimonials these days, getting fans out to them to get them interested.
00:48:42But, he's clearly a jambo.
00:48:43Although he won five league titles, five league cups and a couple of Scottish Cups with Celtic.
00:48:49When he got that great domestic haul.
00:48:51He won a Scottish Cup with the team he supported.
00:48:54Yeah, I think he's very well respected, Peter, at Hearts.
00:48:57I think he's served them well.
00:48:58They got a massive transfer fee from him when he left as well.
00:49:01Which helped the club.
00:49:02Sunderland were a big draw.
00:49:04I think they brought 3-4 thousand fans up as well.
00:49:06Great day out for them.
00:49:08And a brilliant attendance from them.
00:49:10And a good result for Hearts.
00:49:12Gives them more confidence going into the season.
00:49:14So, yeah.
00:49:15I think he thoroughly deserved it.
00:49:16When you look at his record at Hearts and his record for Scotland.
00:49:19I think he deserved a full house.
00:49:21Yeah.
00:49:22And Derry McInnes was talking after that testimonial about the players that he's witnessing now
00:49:27as the Hearts boss.
00:49:29Craig Gordon, he'll know exactly what he's doing.
00:49:31Although he won't be available for the first part of the season due to injury, Ruffy.
00:49:35Which is a blow to him.
00:49:37It certainly is.
00:49:38Particularly at that age.
00:49:39You know, sometimes injuries come quicker than what you like.
00:49:42You know.
00:49:43But let's hope it's not as serious as the ones he's had before.
00:49:45Yeah.
00:49:46And the one that he's looking forward to and that's impressed him.
00:49:49Derek McInnes looking at the Australian Cammy Devlin.
00:49:53He's been well impressed.
00:49:54Absolutely delighted with him.
00:49:56He's been first class.
00:49:58Even from my first conversation with Cammy when we were on holiday.
00:50:01You know, I've always been an admirer from a distance.
00:50:06And now that my manager, I'm really enjoying working with him.
00:50:09You know, I think he gives you a bit of everything.
00:50:12I just want him to be at midfielder.
00:50:14He doesn't need to overthink his game too much.
00:50:17The game will come naturally to Cammy if he keeps just getting about his work.
00:50:21And he's been a different class.
00:50:23Yeah.
00:50:24And I'm sure he'll love to add a few more players to that heart side to supplement what Cammy Devlin can offer.
00:50:32A couple of things I want to get your thoughts on, lads.
00:50:34I don't know why they quoted, you know, her story there about Leanne Creighton on the verge of becoming the Rangers match.
00:50:41It's a fabulous opportunity for Leanne to follow Joe Potter.
00:50:46But the great news is she started out at PLZ Soccer as the best of them do, Ruffy.
00:50:51Yeah.
00:50:52I don't know why they're saying BBC person in line for the Rangers job.
00:50:56She started here.
00:50:57We certainly gave her the introduction to get into this side of it, the media side of it, which she did particularly well.
00:51:03And I think she's done particularly well at most of the football teams she's been at as well.
00:51:07Very successful and very highly thought of.
00:51:10And, yeah, it'd be a fantastic appointment.
00:51:12Yeah, it'd be fun.
00:51:13Not only that, she was a good player as well, Tam.
00:51:16This is what you call the dream job for her.
00:51:18Yeah, listen, it's a big job.
00:51:20I think you see the money that's getting put into Celtic and Rangers and Glasgow City and the women's football in Scotland.
00:51:25It's a big, big job for her.
00:51:27But she's a clever cookie.
00:51:29I think you listen to her.
00:51:30You know, she speaks well.
00:51:32She knows tactically.
00:51:33She's very astute as well.
00:51:35So, no, I think that she would be a great appointment for Rangers women.
00:51:39Yeah.
00:51:40The other thing, we wish her well.
00:51:42She was great when she was working here with us, Leanne.
00:51:45We wish her well when the appointment is confirmed and she's unveiled.
00:51:50But over and above that, just on that point, I was going to ask you guys.
00:51:54As far as watching football over the summer, obviously there's a saturation point, I think, at times when you've literally gone through all the domestic stuff.
00:52:03You've got your highs and lows from the internationals.
00:52:06Did you watch more of the Club World Cup or more of the European Championships with the women's football ruffy?
00:52:14I have to say I watched more of the World Cup.
00:52:17Did you?
00:52:18The Club World Cup?
00:52:19Yeah, I thought there was a lot of big superstars on show there.
00:52:21There was a lot of good games.
00:52:23And it's just a joy to watch that level of performance.
00:52:27Yeah.
00:52:28The only games that I persistently watched were PSG because I thought they were out of this world, Chris.
00:52:33Yeah, definitely.
00:52:34Look, I'm probably the opposite.
00:52:36I didn't watch as much of the Club World Cup.
00:52:38Yeah, same here.
00:52:39You get kind of, when the Euros are on and, you know, I've got three kids putting football on and sitting down and watching a game doesn't always happen.
00:52:47But when you get a chance to watch some of it, I ended up watching more of the ladies' football probably than I did the Club World Cup.
00:52:54But timings of when the game's on, you know, things like that doesn't always suit.
00:52:59But as you say, there's been some amount of games over the summer for us to follow.
00:53:03Yeah.
00:53:04And what's the reaction been from your kids to the cartoon Lion King and then the reality Lion King?
00:53:09Let's not open that debate.
00:53:12He's not in control of the controller.
00:53:15No, he's not.
00:53:16No, absolutely not.
00:53:17He gives three kids.
00:53:18He's never.
00:53:19Have you got a man cave?
00:53:20Yeah, well, I've got a gym that I get to.
00:53:22So, I'll wait out the road and close the door.
00:53:25So, that's exactly where I go.
00:53:26Yeah, that's just the way you say there.
00:53:28When you've got that many kids, you're not watching the television.
00:53:30Tampa, did you watch?
00:53:31Did you watch Club World Cup?
00:53:32Yeah, I watched the Club World Cup.
00:53:33I watched a few games.
00:53:34I watched Man City when they were obviously in it.
00:53:37I watched PSG.
00:53:39Chelsea, you know, great result for them.
00:53:41You know, you go and win it.
00:53:42Gives them a boost for next season.
00:53:43I just wonder how, you know, the players in terms of fatigue.
00:53:47You know, it's been a long, long summer.
00:53:48They've played all the way through.
00:53:49They've put international games in.
00:53:50They've played in that Club World Cup.
00:53:52I know it was lucrative in terms of clubs and the money that they earned.
00:53:55100 million for Chelsea.
00:53:56Yeah.
00:53:57Some of these players will be lucky to get a week off.
00:53:59Yeah.
00:54:00Genuinely.
00:54:01One week before they're away again.
00:54:02That's going to bite.
00:54:03I think that will bite.
00:54:04Clubs like Chelsea.
00:54:05Maybe in February.
00:54:06Do you think so?
00:54:07Aye, I think they will run out of legs.
00:54:09I really do, Peter.
00:54:10It just becomes a bit of money.
00:54:11Going to the bank.
00:54:12Taking some money.
00:54:13To be fair though, when you look at it and you think about the teams and the financial fair play
00:54:20and who's been able to spend money.
00:54:22If anybody you're looking at at the moment, you're certainly domestically here for Hibs to spend the money they have in one player is a good sign.
00:54:31We want to see, yes, Scottish players.
00:54:33You're still waiting to see if Celtic are going to sign some players of a higher calibre.
00:54:39No disrespect to Shin or Negrin or anybody, but I think Brendan Rodgers is highlighted regularly, Ruffey.
00:54:48And Russell Martin will obviously be hoping that they can duck and dive with a better quality of player that might cost a wee bit of money.
00:54:54Yeah, I think Celtic, some of the Celtic supporters will be a wee bit anxious.
00:54:58You know, they always keep saying, oh, we want a marquee signing.
00:55:01But Brendan seems to be into one for the future.
00:55:04I think now we're Rangers putting that wee push in, bringing better players in.
00:55:09You know, I think something will happen at Celtic.
00:55:12I think a couple of ready-made number ones need to come in, you know, to keep them on board.
00:55:18Starters.
00:55:19Starters, yeah.
00:55:20Because I think we're all excited with the start of the season.
00:55:24Obviously, Rangers did have to change quite a lot of players to bring it in.
00:55:28And it remains to be seen, you know, where they are.
00:55:31But the first Old Firm game will just be as exciting as every other one.
00:55:34Yeah, absolutely.
00:55:35And the opening of the season, we'll preview it in greater depth on Friday's programme.
00:55:40You can catch the football show Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, as well as lots more programming.
00:55:45If you want to get involved in our new premium service, you'll get the football show,
00:55:50but you'll also get lots of other programmes and competitions, quizzes.
00:55:55And I think you'll enjoy it.
00:55:57And next month, August, you'll get the chance to win the first of our prizes, a replica,
00:56:02Scott McTominay Napoli top.
00:56:04It could be a nice wee surprise for you there.
00:56:06And over and above that, lots of great content that you can enjoy on our channel.
00:56:11And your support last season was welcomed.
00:56:14And we hope we can go on to bigger and better opportunities for you.
00:56:18There's lots of technology we're going to be bringing on board, lots of little programmes as well,
00:56:22which I think you'll enjoy across all our social media.
00:56:25If you click the link below on our YouTube channel, get involved and subscribe to PLZ Premium,
00:56:31we would love to have you on board with that.
00:56:34And don't forget, if you want to get any of our merchandise, there's lots more coming out.
00:56:38It's in the PLZ Soccer Shop on our website.
00:56:41You can click through to that as well.
00:56:43Opening of the season, I always like it.
00:56:45The flag will be unfurled at Celtic at half past four on the Sunday.
00:56:50Celtic against St Mirren.
00:56:52Falk at Dundee United.
00:56:53Dundee against Hebs.
00:56:54And then Monday, it's Hearts against Aberdeen, which means Saturday.
00:56:57Only two games in the Scottish Premiership.
00:56:59Kelly against Livingston at three.
00:57:02And Motherwell against Rangers at half five.
00:57:04It's all over the place, Ruffey.
00:57:05Yeah, again, you know, sometime during the season, the supporters start complaining about it.
00:57:10I think the reason why they're all at that is because the TV are giving the money to the clubs.
00:57:15So you can't have it both ways if you buy into it.
00:57:18And I'm sure some supporters might like a wee change for three o'clock.
00:57:22What do you do, Chris, in these situations?
00:57:25Would you say to yourself, well, obviously you want to get back involved,
00:57:29will I go to a Championship game, will I go to a Premiership game and pick up maybe some tips?
00:57:34Or just let people know you're there.
00:57:36I've kind of done a bit of both.
00:57:37If I'm honest, I've been out at Championship sides, I've been out at Premier League sides.
00:57:41I think it's good to know and see the different styles of play.
00:57:44Know the players, recognise the players, work out who's been brought in.
00:57:48Because some teams bring in a full new team at times, you know.
00:57:51So you have to learn who these players are.
00:57:53But I've actually enjoyed getting out to all the games.
00:57:56You can see that teams have recruited well where they're maybe still needing to bring in.
00:58:01But I think both divisions will be good this year.
00:58:05Yeah.
00:58:06I'm going to Hibs Michelin on Thursday, Tam.
00:58:08I'm going to try and get along to that myself, Peter.
00:58:09See the high bees.
00:58:11And the other thing I was going to say to you, out of all the games that are there across
00:58:16Saturday, Sunday and Monday, where am I going at the weekend?
00:58:18Where am I going to go?
00:58:19You've got to go to Town Castle, I think, on Monday.
00:58:21You think so?
00:58:22I think that's the game of the weekend.
00:58:23I think that's been interesting to see.
00:58:24I think the Hearts are fancied by a lot of people this season to go and not only finish
00:58:29third, but maybe push closer to the Rangers under Derek McInnes and the money that's come
00:58:33in from Tony Bloom.
00:58:34There's a lot of hype about Hearts.
00:58:35And I think Aberdeen have signed well as well this summer.
00:58:38Scottish Cup winners.
00:58:39Scottish Cup winners, as you know.
00:58:41And listen, I think that will be a cracker at Tyne Castle.
00:58:44Derek McInnes up against his old team as well.
00:58:45So I think that's the tie of the weekend, Hearts-Aberdeen.
00:58:48Yeah, that's not where I'm going.
00:58:50Obviously, as a journalist, Ruffy, I'm going where the story is.
00:58:55Where am I going?
00:58:56There's a story already.
00:58:57There's a story already.
00:58:58Best game of the season.
00:58:59Yeah.
00:59:00I'm going to Dundee Hibbs.
00:59:01I'm going to Dundee Hibbs to say hello to Steven Bresley and see how his team are going
00:59:06to play and then just ridicule some Dundee fans who maybe don't fancy him, but Chris knows
00:59:11only too well.
00:59:12I mean, to suggest that managers are under pressure because you don't like them is just utter nonsense.
00:59:17I would agree with that.
00:59:18You have to judge what he's bringing to the club on the park and off the park and obviously
00:59:23the results are important.
00:59:24Yeah.
00:59:25It's the madness that is Scottish football.
00:59:26Don't forget to subscribe to PLZ Soccer on our YouTube channel if you want to join
00:59:30the premium service.
00:59:31You can.
00:59:32You'll get lots more in there.
00:59:33A lot of chances to win and a lot of great programming as well.
00:59:37You'll see a lot more of Chris Doolan until we get him a job, Ruffy.
00:59:40Is that fair?
00:59:41Yeah.
00:59:42We've got a horse in here.
00:59:43You know, we usually, anybody who comes in moves on to bigger and better things.
00:59:47Yeah.
00:59:48Thanks to you for watching the programme, listening to it.
00:59:55You can get it on the podcast as well.
00:59:57We really do hope you subscribe to PLZ Soccer for another season of madness.
01:00:01Of course, only in Scotland could someone come out and say we've hired aviation experts
01:00:06just to make sure that everybody's calm before the madness starts.
01:00:10We wait and wonder what the referees will be subjected to as the first weekend of the
01:00:16season, Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
01:00:18Kerry will be in the hot seat tomorrow on our programme.
01:00:22Hopefully you can join us for that.
01:00:24And also don't forget, we'll be back on the Friday previewing the big kick-off to the
01:00:29Scottish Premiership season and we'll look at all the lower leagues as well.
01:00:32From everyone on PLZ Soccer, thanks for listening and watching.