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00:00Welcome
00:29to the football show on PLZ Soccer's YouTube channel. I'm Peter Martin, Alan Ruff, Alison
00:33McConnell and Tam McManus here with me in the studio. Thank you so much to you for your
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01:43details in case you indeed are affected by it and need support and help. So lots to talk about
01:50European football at the forefront of our mind and then we'll focus on the weekends, football Saturday
01:57and Sunday in the Scottish Premiership. So with the lads all here, what a miserable night of European
02:04football for Scottish clubs. Yeah it certainly was, the three games, we could have got a wee bit better,
02:10maybe a couple of them but the performances were predictable, you know the way the three clubs
02:16are just now, it's just not happening. If we're talking about Celtic, obviously they didn't play
02:20particularly well but obviously the turning points of VAR, you know you would have thought if they'd got
02:25that goal they would only try and win the game but it wasn't to be but no, not a good night for
02:31Scottish football. Yeah we'll discuss Rangers and we'll also look at Aberdeen as well, as well as
02:37analysing the contrast in the reaction to each defeat towards manager, board, certainly where Celtic
02:45and Rangers are concerned, you can give us your thoughts on that, and the differing viewpoint up
02:49in the north with Aberdeen. Let's start with Celtic, 2-0 loss to Braga and okay, a perfectly legitimate
02:59goal but did they deserve to win Ali? I don't think they've done enough to win, I thought the football
03:03was pedestrian, I thought the performance was flat. I think you can see very clearly that Celtic have
03:10no menace up front, they've got no bite at all in the second period and particularly enjoyed a lot of
03:16the ball but it's a frustrating watch at times, the ball going side to side without going through the
03:22middle, without getting into the box. I think you see players inhibited when they do have the ball,
03:27looking for a safe pass, not wanting to take a risk. Yeah I thought Celtic were very very poor,
03:34I don't think they've done enough to take anything from the game and I would agree, I think the goal
03:38that's chopped off is baffling. I think for me it's a legitimate goal, I don't understand why it
03:43wasn't given it and there was a very lengthy delay to check it, I don't know why the referee wasn't even
03:48invited to go over and have a look at it on the monitor but when you look at, that's a moment in
03:54isolation but when you look at that performance over the hole, it was desperately poor.
03:58Yeah, just on that, VAR Christian Dinger, instructed referee Tobias Steeler to disallow the goal because
04:06of a hand ball time. Yeah I think it was a poor decision Peter, I think that they're very unlucky
04:11there Celtic, I think that at best it's maybe brushed his hand at the top of his arm but it's not
04:17conclusive to turning it over and as I said I just think the Celtic were unlucky in that decision but
04:22overall I don't think Celtic deserved anything out of the game, I thought they were poor Peter,
04:26I think they're really really struggling for confidence in front of a goal, I think they've
04:30not got that spark, they've not got that, you know, Tenecti was at times looked as if he could
04:35be the one that could open the door for Celtic but in the middle of the park they're just,
04:38they're too semi for me, they just go side to side, there's no different middle of the park
04:42going forward and getting into the box, creating chances, scoring goals and you can't just keep relying on
04:47your follower players so I think Celtic in terms of creating and scoring goals at the
04:51minute are miles off of the well last season and as I said Brendan's stuck with those players,
04:56he's got to work with them, he's got to work with them until January but he's got to find a solution
05:00quickly whether that's in the training ground or switching personnel to find a way for Celtic to
05:05start scoring goals again. Yeah Brendan Rodgers had this to say about the disallowed goal which certainly
05:12had more than a few fans staring in disbelief at the decision, I haven't had an explanation
05:18of why the goal wasn't given, it was a pivotal moment in the game, I don't understand why it
05:22wasn't given but there have been too many games now where we haven't scored, I need to find the
05:27solutions to that, we need to be more aggressive in our attacking play, last season we scored the
05:32most goals in the last 54 years of the club's history, we are in a moment now where we can't
05:37find a goal, the responsibility is on me to find a solution to that. Well with that you only have
05:45to look at his team selection, now if a couple of weeks ago as I am being told and I can't remember
05:50the clip that he says he has last call on the players then I have to say suddenly as well as
05:56the board getting it in the neck I think it's time Brendan Rodgers got it in the neck as well Ruffy because
06:02when you look at and I have said before it's like Groundhog Day with Celtic, this is going back to the
06:07same situation where Brendan Rodgers obviously left the club in unsavoury circumstances according to
06:17most Celtic fans and certainly weren't happy at the way he departed the club but you could change
06:22Odson Edoard, you could change Moussa Dembele for the situation you have with Maida because he just
06:28looks as if he's just not interested. Kieran Tierney can't finish a game and he hasn't certainly
06:37contributed the way a lot of Celtic fans thought he was going to contribute. You're looking to James
06:42Forrest at 34 to come on and change games, Engels is a failure up until now because the manager's not
06:47playing him, Hatati possibly a knock, can't get a starting place and I think as well as the board getting
06:54it in the neck for the obvious things that we've all highlighted, if this is the manager's team and he's not
06:59getting anything out of them, Brendan Rodgers has to come into the spotlight into the firing line as
07:05well. Yeah, he has to come into the firing line for the present players that he's got, you know okay
07:10he said his piece that it's not my fault players come in so he's dealt with what he's got but he's
07:15still got to get a tune out of him, he praises himself in making players better. I just feel that
07:21every player that Celtic have left in the last two years have not been replaced by any better.
07:26They've actually went back their way and the players have brought in compared to the players
07:31that have left the club. Two things on the goalkeepers union, Ruffy, I thought he was at fault for the
07:36first one and I thought his distribution was woeful all night. Yeah, his distribution was bad and the
07:41part of the goal, you know, I think he's big enough to say he could have done better. He's not moved his
07:46feet quick enough, the ball has swerved quite a lot, it was hit with pace, you know, but a goalkeeper
07:52of his quality has got to save that. Why did he go with that hand? I know you're going
07:56to say that because if you watch every goalkeeper, your hand does automatically go like that when
08:01it comes across you. I don't know why that hand doesn't, but since you've seen that, watch a lot
08:07of goals that go in like that and you'll see every, not every goal, most goalkeepers come across with
08:13that hand and I haven't got an answer to that. Yeah, it was a poor goal to lose. Listen, your eyes don't
08:20deceive you and as well as the unrest in the background, which can affect players, Ali, but
08:25but the fans are certainly not buying the tickets to the tune of 60,000 inside the stadium and by the
08:31time you got to half-time and then beyond it, there was lots of fans heading for the exit. I think,
08:37having spoken to a number of Celtic fans,
08:39Scunard, very similar to Rangers and the apathy,
08:44and then there's of course the anger at what's going on. They managed to see off the 29th minute
08:51silence, but on Monday, I don't know what that board can do to pacify the Celtic fans and the anger
08:59that they probably will display. I think Sunday might be a more accurate barometer of that apathy of
09:06what you've referenced there. I think the 5.45 kickoff time last night maybe camouflaged things a bit,
09:13because certainly inside the stadium maybe five, ten minutes before kickoff to what it was by about
09:20six o'clock, it did actually fill up a bit more and I think traffic was particularly bad across the
09:25city and getting into the city. But what I think on the back of that performance last night, coupled
09:32with everything going on around the club, coupled with even as much as the weather across this weekend,
09:37I think on Sunday against Motherwell what you'll see is people voting not to go. There's frustration
09:46at every aspect of the club. It's not just frustration at the board, there is I think
09:52frustration at the manager. I think the kind of football that's been played, it's been boring to
09:58watch, it's a side to side football, there's no penetration, there's not goals. It was February
10:04of the first time around when that same turgid football was on display. I think what's notable
10:09now, we can go back, there'll be many reasons for this, the fact the Celtic have scored eight goals
10:14I think in their opening six league games. They had scored more than double that at this point of the
10:19campaign last year. So I think there is a real apathy around the club. I think there's frustration,
10:27I think some of that frustration will feel impotent because engineering any significant change
10:33as we know is nigh on impossible really. I think there'll be a lot of Celtic fans looking at it
10:39and thinking this is going to be a slog between now and January when then you maybe get the opportunity
10:44to change it by bringing in fresh players during the the winter window but at the minute there is
10:50a flatness and it's palpable, you can feel it around on the pitch, you can feel it in the stand.
10:56People leaving in their droves last night when the second goal went in, no real belief that Celtic
11:03were capable of getting back into it. Only Tenetke got pass marks for me Tam because he he does
11:11something which is rare in the Celtic side at the moment. He actually goes forward and tries to take
11:15a man on but they are pedestrian and that's down to a number of things. The manager's giving them the
11:21tactics, they go out there, they play that way. They played that way first time around when all the
11:26Celtic fans were actually looking at it and thinking this football's turned you to watch. But the problem
11:31I have with the whole situation is if there's now a genuine unrest towards Brendan Rodgers and and
11:39what's unfolding here and he's going to have to take a bit of criticism, this board and this
11:45majority shareholder brought them back. Yeah they did and I think everyone's got to take a
11:50share of the blame but obviously the board are getting it mostly in the neck from the supporters
11:53at the minute but when you look at the Celtic team they played last night they should be good enough
11:58to beat Braggar at home in the Europa League. So yeah I just don't think they're playing
12:02many speed in their play Peter, I think they're lacking confidence in front of goal. There's so many
12:06players who are miles off their levels from last season. Me there's obviously the the biggest
12:11one but even Carl McGregor you know he looks as if he's lost a yard of pace. Carter Vickers,
12:16what's happened to him? You know he was he was awful last night I thought. Kieran Tierney,
12:20poor. You know Saraki came on and actually played well, he looks a better fit at left back for Celtic.
12:24So Tenecti was the only player who actually had a bit of confidence and a bit of gung-ho about him
12:30to go and get out of fullbacks. The only time you can think of the goalkeeper having a save to make
12:34was the one that he cut inside and had a chance in the second half. It's the only time you can
12:40really think of it. I think he's won the first half as well Tenecti but he's the only one for me Peter
12:44that when the ball comes to him, the Celtic supporters can get off their seat. That's the
12:48only player on the Celtic team in the minute that's doing it. Yeah before we move on to Rangers,
12:51just one little footnote Ruffy. Monday, obviously they've got a difficult game coming up against
12:56Motherwell which we'll talk about later on, but on Monday when they eventually meet the Celtic
13:01supporters at six o'clock. The board's not going to change, they're not going to give up power,
13:06there'll be nobody walking off it. The majority shareholder's not going to leave, so that's the
13:11first thing that I think they'll have to face up to. And the second thing, and the only thing that
13:16they will probably get out of it, is a promise of greater communication and then maybe a promise
13:22of addressing the transfers in the January window. But I wouldn't hold your breath on it.
13:26No, but I think they have to go to that meeting with a bit of honesty. I don't think they're going
13:30to fudge it when there's people sitting in front of you. It's okay putting it out elsewhere, but
13:35when you've got, I don't know how many of that committee is going to be sitting there, they have
13:39to be honest that they got it wrong. They have to hold their hands up and say, look, we get what
13:43you're coming for, we really appreciate it, it's your money we're spending, blah blah blah. But they have
13:48to get it right, they have to be seen to be doing something about it, and the only time they can do that
13:52is in January. The other thing about it is, the only time they're ever mobilised
13:56is when basically the Celtic fans have to basically demand it. The demonstrations is one
14:04thing, but when you start buying tickets, that's when this board gets mobilised and thinks, wait a minute.
14:09I think that would go for most boards, once you start seeing empty seats.
14:13This is a defiant board who at times has been almost dismissive of the support,
14:18that's what's angering the Celtic fans. I think it's multifaceted, the anger. I think
14:23the frustration comes down to the recruitment, the poor recruitment, the lack of progress in terms
14:29of the Champions League knockout stages, that Kairac game. I think the hangover from that has lingered
14:35significantly, and that all goes back to feeling as though recruitment in the window just wasn't up
14:42to scratch, not up to speed. In actual fact for me, I think that's the area that's probably most likely
14:49where you can engineer change and change things. That's the source where I think you can change
14:55probably the perception of the club and the mood around the club. If you get recruitment right,
15:00you get so many more things then that fall into place naturally. I think they've moved away from
15:07previous strategies that were in place. I think certainly from the outside it looks as though
15:13it's chaotic when it comes to how they recruit players, the manner in which they source a player,
15:19and then try and get that deal over the line. I think it comes across as very amateur from an external
15:25point of view, and I think that is the area that you need to focus on in getting it right.
15:29Because I don't think there is anything wrong about going and sourcing a project. If that project
15:36is aligned with your values as a club and what you need from them, and that you can sell the club as
15:42to say, come here, progress your career, we give you a stepping stone, you can go on to a bigger league,
15:48a more lucrative league. I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but you have to be
15:53identifying the right players that fit into your system and that suit your club.
15:57And they haven't done that. Sturmgratz 2, Rangers 1, and again, a different kind of problem. I've never
16:04known a season like it, Tam, where both sets of fans are unhappy with the board's decisions. Both sets of
16:11fans, one set extremely unhappy with the manager and the other just starting, I think, to turn again.
16:19Rangers fans just can't take to him, and it doesn't do him any favours when he's got a defence that can't
16:26defend.
16:28Yeah, I think just starting the game, you know, to lose a goal of that ilk in the first six minutes,
16:33you know, a throw in Peter. It's just one ball played over the top, a ball inside, and then it's a goal.
16:38You know, and it just puts you right up against it. And then the second goal, you know,
16:42when you're keeping that high a line, you know, you've got to drop at some point.
16:46And they just kept, you know, when the guy's coming towards the ball, you've got to drop a
16:48wee bit. And they just kept that line. The guy runs off him, scores 2-0 down. Get the goal back,
16:54second half. Second half was better from Rangers. I think Gassama's, you know, shining light for them.
16:58Similar to Tenecte at Celtic. He's the one, when he gets the ball, he thinks something's going to happen.
17:03They hit the bar in the first half. Rangers had a lot of chances, created a lot of opportunities.
17:06But if you're giving teams two goals at a start, then you're not going to win many games,
17:10particularly in Europe. So it just adds more pressure to Russell Martin. It just adds more
17:14pressure to him. And in terms of going forward, you know, Rangers have spent a lot of money there.
17:18I've seen a couple of videos on social media today about supporters confronting
17:23Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell. That's not going to help either. So, listen, it's just an
17:28absolute mess at Rangers at the minute. You know, Celtic are obviously not playing well either,
17:32but Rangers, I think it's far worse to be a Rangers supporter than a Celtic fan at the
17:36minute. As a goalkeeper again, Rothy, I don't know about you, I thought the first one, I mean,
17:40he made some great saves. I thought he was suspect at the first one, Jack Dutton.
17:44No, I give him the benefit of the doubt. They bought him through a ruck of players.
17:47I don't think he had enough time to react to it. I actually think it hit his knee, didn't it?
17:51I think he saved it. I think it hit his knee and went in. So, I have to give him a wee bit of leeway
17:56in that one. But you're right, he had some right good saves after that. Kept Rangers in the game.
18:01And I think the only thing the manager can take out is a bit of the performance
18:05and say, look, guys are trying, we're trying to get a win. But again, it's the defensive
18:10mistakes at the back. And as long as they keep doing that, it's going to be an uphill battle.
18:14This is what Russell Martin had to say after the game and the 2-1 defeat.
18:20You can't start that poorly. We still had loads of chances in the first half, but they had too
18:24many, all from set plays or throw-ins. We have to be brighter, organised quicker and help each other
18:30more. So the mentality is the problem. We are not doing what we should do on the set play.
18:37We are not doing what we should do on our throw-in. That's a mentality issue. We have to look at
18:44the mentality. We have a lot of young men, but they have to learn really quickly.
18:49Peter, one thing from that statement is he's taking zero blame. He's washed his hands of anything.
18:57Usually the manager comes out and says, I picked the team. It's on me. He's not doing that now,
19:01Peter. Everything is done on the players. He's thrown them under the bus every single week.
19:04Well, one week it's anxiety. Now it's mentality. Where are we going with this?
19:09We're stopping him coming out and saying, listen, I picked the team. You know, it's on me. He's now
19:14just going, here, have that. Giving it to the players, Peter, and that's just a sign of the manager
19:18that's drowning at the minute. But it was his sign right at the beginning at Motherwell.
19:23When he called out two players but never named them. And then we found out who the two players
19:27were in the next game because they weren't playing. So he's not messing about with them.
19:31You know, Tam's right. You know, he seems to be looking after his cell a wee bit now.
19:35And with the way things are going, obviously all the stick he's getting, he's beginning to go,
19:40hey, wait a wee minute. I need to stick up for myself.
19:41Yeah, Max Ahrens. Again, one of the players after the game says the mood in the stands isn't good.
19:48And it's affecting us. But as players, it has to start with us. We've got to be the ones who get
19:53our fans up for the game. That has to be from the start, from the first minute of games. If we do that,
19:59the supporters will have something to get up for and cheer for. So that's down to us. I can't put my
20:04finger on why that's not happening. But that's how it feels right now. And he's got to
20:11and again, it's down to, you're looking at the recruitment, you're looking at the players.
20:16I mean, I think, I think like Tunetke, I think Gassama's got a trick. And he looks like a player
20:22who can do something for them. I mean, I think Ruffy's right. They did create chances. There were
20:27times when I was watching the game when I thought, Rangers at times going forward look really good.
20:33And Cermiti hit the bar. They did create chances, but the back line, and of course, you know,
20:39midfield and the front line have to defend along with the defenders. This is not an isolation,
20:44but that's where they are suspect. And sometimes you think to yourself, are they capable of leaving
20:49getting three goals? I think it looks disjointed. I think the whole thing looks really disjointed.
20:56I think, dare I say it, I think they missed Dessers too, up front, the focal point up front.
21:01I think they look like a team short on belief, short of confidence, short of conviction. I think they
21:09looked shell-shocked in the opening period of the game, the way that they started. And I think that
21:16has been a feature throughout this campaign so far, a slow start, and then recovering once they've lost
21:23ground, trying to come out and make up for it. I think it doesn't look as though there is
21:29improvement. So you go back and you think you look at the win on Sunday, the first league win
21:35on Sunday against Livingston, and a team looking to build a wee bit of momentum, get back to back,
21:41wins start to bring in a bit of conviction about performances. I don't see it.
21:46Yeah, it is fairly turgid when you watch them. I mean, Livingston was a late, late winner.
21:52And again, with fans, you can't fool anyone. And we always say to all of our reporters in here
21:59going to games, don't listen to hype, spin, whatever it is. Don't let your eyes deceive you.
22:06Just watch the game. And the fans are watching the game, and they can see it. They don't see
22:10a side that's well organised and has a style in Russell Martin. And they're watching now
22:17a situation where, I think it's, I mean, the wins for Rangers are poor. It's so poor. I think
22:26it's five wins, Tom. That's not Rangers manager material. No, it's miles off it, Peter. He has
22:32to get results at Rangers. It's okay talking about projects and mentality, and we're going
22:36to get there. And nah, that's not going to wash with the Rangers supporters. And it's just interesting
22:41now. It's like everyone's looking after themselves now. There's Max Ahrens coming out and basically
22:45blaming the fans. You know, the atmosphere in the stands is no conducive to us being confident.
22:51You've got the manager blaming the players, you know, and you've got the fans blaming the manager.
22:55So it's just a blame game at the minute at Rangers. Everybody's pointing fingers at each other,
23:00and there's nobody coming together as one unit. And if that continues, they're just going to keep
23:04losing games and drift down the table. So something's got to give in the next couple of weeks,
23:09whether that's Sunday, you know, obviously Falkirk away, then it's international break.
23:12A great time, I think, for owners to change a manager. You know, you've got a couple of weeks
23:17to get a new manager bedded in. So, you know, whether he gets to that stage where he has to
23:21win on Sunday and he gets another couple of weeks, stay of execution. But for me, it's just a matter of
23:26time. You know, it's just, it's just ticking the days down where he's inevitably going to get sacked
23:32at Rangers at some point in the next couple of months. So it's just a question of when.
23:36Brian says, Peter, the bottom line is both Celtic and Rangers have players who are just not good
23:42enough, either in ability or mental strength. Can't argue with you there. Neil Jamieson says,
23:47Peter, do your research and you'll see Martin has blamed mentality at every club he's managed. Well,
23:52thankfully, I haven't followed his career elsewhere. What I'm watching at the moment is a manager who just
23:59can't get a trick out of any of the players that he's got. The difference between Russell
24:05Martin's situation and Brendan Rodgers is I think you've got a manager in Brendan Rodgers who's going
24:11to try and just, you know, kick and scream all the way to the summer. And this guy here has got a new
24:19board who don't do the same things that the old board were guilty of, which is when you have a majority of
24:27what I would call fans on the board. They're more likely to be listening to people who are
24:32members in the blue room. This is a different mentality here. And I don't know how long they're
24:37going to stick with him, but they're going to stick with him at the moment.
24:40Yeah, they certainly are. Well, according to him, they are. Any chats I've had, they've said,
24:43look, keep your head down, keep working hard, it'll turn, it'll turn. You know, but there's only so
24:48long you can keep saying that. I mean, we don't know these people personally, you know, they come
24:53obviously from America and we've seen the Americans have different ideas and the British managers,
24:59our owners have, you know, and I was listening to a thing, believe it or not, I was listening to
25:03Talks World, believe that? Yeah, I can't believe it. You're a bit as loyal to us as anybody I know.
25:08I pressed the wrong button on the radio. Anyway, they were talking about foreign owners
25:14and I think they were talking about Sheffield Wednesday, I think it was, and their point
25:19they were making was foreign owners don't care. They don't care. You know, if it's not working,
25:24they just bin it and they move away and they go and do something else. They're not supporters.
25:28They're not supporters of that club because they're not here, they're not games. I don't
25:31know if that would be the same with the 49ers. I mean, he's coming over to see some games and
25:36he's not seeing others. His main focal point is the two guys he's put in charge and they're
25:41the other ones that are getting it. It's not him that's getting it the now.
25:44I wonder, and I hate to, I hate to dive into, it's just because of, I don't want to be political
25:51because I know there's people on here who absolutely cane me for it, but I don't want
25:55to dive into the way society and the politics of the world is going at the moment. Maybe,
26:01is it maybe that the foreign owners have a more cold and calculated business outlook to it?
26:08I think they don't have an emotional connection to the club that influences them the way that you
26:13might have when you have supporters on a board and also when you're sitting amongst it every
26:20week. I do think it's different when you're exposed to that and we can speak about what
26:24that would be like to experience. And you think once you've made your decision that you're sticking
26:30by someone that you're going to see it through, the reality is when you're in that moment, I would
26:34imagine it would feel very uncomfortable when you're on the receiving end of abuse or there's
26:40a very toxic atmosphere around you when things aren't going well on the park. But certainly I think
26:47if you're thinking about the 49ers and Andrew Kavanagh, it is they put a manager in place and
26:54they put a structure in place. And I would wonder if just now making the decision so early would feel
27:00like admitting failure, admitting that you've got it wrong, they also might see that from top to
27:06bottom within the club it needed a rehaul, it needed to be restructured and it was never going to be
27:13a quick fix, it was never going to be something that happened overnight. So there may still be some
27:18goodwill in terms of time and giving them the opportunity to go and try and redress the balance of
27:26how we started. The problem is that you just don't get time at these clubs and I know you're going to
27:32come to it, but I covered Aberdeen last weekend and our colleague Cheryl was at Petorgia last night
27:38and there's a very different culture between both sets of supporters there in terms of reaction and
27:44appreciating that there's time. At Celtic or at Rangers there is no time because the demands are
27:50immediate, you have to be winning, not isolated games, it's not a long-term project, it can't
27:58always be jammed tomorrow, it has to be today, it has to be this is a successful team, this is a
28:04management team capable of delivering success and I think that's where the rub is just now. You might
28:10have a boardroom hierarchy who are prepared to wait and play the long game, you definitely don't
28:16have supporters who are going to buy into that. I'm glad you mentioned Aberdeen because it's quite good
28:20obviously we've got Kobe, our North East reporter and Cheryl was there at the game
28:26last night, so you get a sense of the attitude of Don's fans, I mean it's eight defeats, two draws,
28:34one win since the start of the season for Jimmy Tallinn. They lost to Shakhtar Donetsk, which I think
28:40generally most of us thought they would lose to them. The Champions League team for so long.
28:44Absolutely, they're a better outfit, but again there doesn't seem to be, and Cheryl interviewed
28:50countless Aberdeen fans last night and I'm talking a lot of Aberdeen fans, not one of them was saying
28:55pull the plug on him, they were all saying you know you've got to back him, he's been backed,
28:59they've got to give him time and even Jimmy Tallinn himself was talking about connecting with the supporters.
29:06The thing was that when we are connected with the fans, when we show some desire, passion,
29:15personality on the pitch and we're fighting for Aberdeen football club, this connection with the
29:21fans is really really strong and we have to build on this now and learn from this that we have always
29:28to go out on the pitch to show that we are fighting so hard for them so they can feel it and see it and
29:33that's what they did today, that's what was a good atmosphere.
29:37And one of the key issues, which again we were looking at last night, he goes off the part,
29:44I think he had Carlson by his side, going to the Aberdeen fans, they're clapping back,
29:50whereas down here in the west it's a way to take a flying and get yourself up the tunnel because
29:55we're going to give you absolute dog abuse. So as Ali pointed out, he's got a different mentality, isn't it?
30:01Yeah it is and I think Jimmy Tillin when he first came in at Aberdeen was such a hero because of the
30:05start they made, so instantly the Aberdeen fans thought he'd be a great manager, credit in the bank,
30:11they ended up on a bad run, okay fine with a great start and then they won the Scottish Cup,
30:15so I think he has got credit in the bank amongst the supporters Peter, it's running low at the minute,
30:19but I watched the highlights of the game there before we come on, I thought Aberdeen played really well,
30:24I thought they ran a real strong team close, they're topping the league in Ukraine, a lot of quality
30:29players in the team and they scored a couple of goals and they've got Lazatic, the striker,
30:33who looked very good, you know boy face him, I think he's on the programme, I'm trying not to get them
30:37too excited with Lazatic the next Thierry Henry. Oh he looked good, looked to business.
30:43Yeah, quite a few people say if Jimmy Tillin had won the Scottish Cup he'd have been gone by now,
30:49he probably would have by now. Aurora who's a big Dons fan says far better formation last night,
30:56Kaiser says if we don't win against Dundee he's gone, surely. Listen, if you can see
31:03little shoots, the way they're playing, maybe that buys them the time as well, although the results
31:12are atrocious. No, I think that's the supporters last night have given them that wee bit of leeway,
31:16because I saw the players in a shift, you know, they're a lot better than what they are, they scored
31:21two goals, which they haven't been doing, but he has to continue that again, he's like the rest
31:26of them, he's on borrowed time as well, he needs to keep winning, get on some kind of run, but I mean,
31:31the Aberdeen supporters have been very loyal throughout the years, they've always travelled in numbers,
31:36and at home, you know, it's the first thing I would say, well if I don't support Aberdeen, who else
31:40do I support? Yeah. So you hang on in there and you hope your team turns and you get behind them.
31:45Yeah.
31:46Yeah.
31:46Yeah.
31:47Wolverangers?
31:48Have you seen where they are?
31:50Okay, thanks for that. By the way, just in case you think this is unique to Scottish football,
31:57in the other Europa League match, Norringham Forest 2, Michelin 3, and I don't know how many games
32:03he's had, he hasn't had many, possibly six, maybe eight, the Norringham Forest fans are calling
32:08for Ange Postacoglu to be sacked.
32:10Six games.
32:11Yeah, how many?
32:12Six.
32:13Six. This is Ange's reaction to that. And we'll come back to that. We'll come back to
32:20that. Ange, clearly, you know, he's heard the calls, but it's early days for them. Although,
32:27I would say to you, he's got an owner.
32:29Yeah, he's got an owner that wouldn't tell me.
32:32Obviously, there's some severe weather out there, which might be affecting your view of
32:37our programme. Slight buffering, I haven't heard that in a long time, Ruffy.
32:41No.
32:43But the weather is absolutely mental.
32:45Just to let them know that is Dan's haircut.
32:48Yeah, the buffering won't take away from your... Did you get that regress on?
32:53I've had the same, didn't I?
32:54Did you get that haircut because you, for the Easter Road, for Tyne Castle?
32:59Did I, aye. I'm going to March not tomorrow with the Block 7 boys, so...
33:03With the green gear on.
33:04We're going to, yeah, absolutely. Can I just say at this point, and I hope it doesn't buffer
33:10at this point because people think we've gone mental, Ali, but Hearts will never have a better
33:18chance of winning the Scorish Premiership than this season. If they get the bit between their
33:26teeth, keep the momentum going, what a shout they've got. I've got them down for second,
33:32but by the way, the catalogue of calamity that we've just been talking about with the two big
33:40clubs, what a chance for them. Indeed, I think when we heard these predictions of a ten-year plan
33:47to go and win the league, I don't think anyone anticipated that there might be an inkling of it
33:52this season. Certainly, I think they'll be laughing all the way just now when they look at what's
33:58happening at both Celtic and Rangers. I think the football is turgid at both of them. I think both
34:04teams look low in confidence. I think you could dissect Hearts' performances and say that there's
34:11an element of luck in where they find themselves. It's not entirely been convincing if you look at
34:17the performances across every game, but the bottom line is they've built up a head of steam. They've
34:22got themselves into a fantastic position. They're sitting now at the top of the table. Realistically,
34:28can they sustain it for the course of the campaign? I would doubt it because you're up against two
34:34teams who have a financial might. Realistically speaking, come January they can go in and properly
34:40change it. But you're right to say that they should scent blood, they should scent an opportunity
34:47this season. If anything, just to go and ask the question, just to unnerve both Celtic and Rangers.
34:54I think certainly the way that they've started will give them a confidence, belief and all those
35:00things are so important when you put it into the bigger mix and the bigger equation.
35:07If they turn over Hibs at the weekend and then turn over Celtic, I think I'd be more confident in
35:13saying what you've just said there than now. It's up to them. It's up to them. It's not up to
35:19Rangers and Celtic as far as I'm concerned. It's up to them to go into these games that are coming up and
35:24show to everybody that we are the team that's going to be challenging.
35:28Yeah, and there's nothing better than an Edinburgh Derby, which is undoubtedly a game of the weekend.
35:36I'm really excited about going to it, as I often am going to Edinburgh Derbys.
35:41This one at Tyne Castle, when you look at the runnies on, when you look at the performances now,
35:46it's starting to get a bit ahead of steam, the way they're playing. Goodwin against Falkirk.
35:52We've already highlighted the squad he has at his disposal and the game changers.
35:58This one could be a humdinger, although every time I build an Edinburgh Derby up like that,
36:02it ends up 0-0. Is it a game of containment for Hibs, or is it a game where they think,
36:07we've got to go there and get something?
36:08Yeah, I think Hibs are going to try and win the game, Peter. Obviously, it was a totally different
36:12scenario last week at Park Ed. You're losing a lot of goals. You're going to Celtic Park,
36:16you're thinking, right, let's try and keep a clean sheet. That's what Hibs done last week.
36:20They've got a point. Fair play. I don't think they'll play like that at Tyne Castle. I think
36:23they'll go after Hearts. As I said before, I don't think there's a lot between the teams.
36:27There is, I think, eight points at the minute. There's a bit of a gap in terms of the points,
36:30but I don't think there's much between the teams at all. I think the weather could be an issue,
36:34Peter. If you look at the weather tomorrow, it's to be 50-60 mile an hour winds in the Edinburgh area,
36:39so that could affect the game in terms of quality. I think Hibs are capable. Hibs have got the
36:45squad are capable of going to Tyne Castle and win. I think they've won the last two against
36:49Hearts. They've only lost one in the last eight against Hearts. So, Hibs are in a good place
36:54in terms of head-to-head against Hearts in the last couple of years.
36:56Yep. Our reporter Kerry Pollock has been certainly covering the miles this week. She was at the
37:02Orium, first of all. It's the first Edinburgh Derby of the season this weekend and a first
37:08for Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who firmly believes that despite having a number of players
37:13on his hands who have yet to experience a game against their city rivals, they'll be more than
37:17ready for when Saturday evening comes calling. I think they'll be well aware. I mean, like everybody
37:23else, you know, the lads are all living in and around Edinburgh, so they quickly get the gist of
37:28this game. They've been getting told for months now since they've been here that you need to win this
37:32game. So, I think they're well aware of the importance of it. I think in terms of preparing,
37:36we'll show clips of Hibs and we'll look at clips of previous Derbys in terms of just to try and get
37:45a wee flavour of it. But lads are in the daft, you know. They'll realise what it means to the club
37:50and the supporters of most sets of players. The high-flying Jambos sit at the summit of the
37:56league table, remaining unbeaten so far this season. But Derek McInnes is brushing away any
38:01potential title race talk for the time being. I don't know what pundits are. There's
38:06more pundits who'll say we cannae. Let's be honest, we're six league games into the season.
38:11And listen, I don't, you know, our fight's with ourselves. You know, it's stupid to say we're in
38:17a title fight at the minute and we're not getting drawn into that. For us, our fight is with ourselves
38:23to improve on what wasn't good enough last season and we need to try and improve on that.
38:28It all takes place this weekend. It's the first Edinburgh Derby of this season. At
38:33Tyne Castle, kick-off is the later time of 5.45pm.
38:38The only thing that does your head in about an Edinburgh Derby is just what he mentioned there,
38:42there's nothing worse than, I mean, you can have rain, freezing, you can have sunny conditions,
38:48roasting, but wind kills it, doesn't it?
38:50No, I think there is a new ruling place. If it's the wind, whatever you call it, as the games go, get
38:56cancelled. I think there is, yeah. I think because of the wind. I mean, I think one of the worst places
39:01you could go to would be Urbroath. You know, if there's a home game at Urbroath, you're wasting
39:06your time. Because many games have been out there, the goalkeeper's taking a bad kick and it's coming
39:10back into his hands again.
39:11Yeah, you've had to have a couple of saves, didn't you?
39:13That's scandalous. I mean, you cannae have a game of football like that. So I really hope,
39:18I mean, you've got to think about, you know, people going to the games as well and the transport
39:22and everything, but to actually play in 80, 90 mile an hour winds is just not on.
39:28We've just, yeah, but we've just, he just said 50, 60, and you've just up to 80, 90,
39:3490 mile an hour. Well, that's what he does. He just pulls anything out of the game.
39:38Yeah. The other thing I was going to say to you, Alison, is quite simply, the players, he's got at his
39:46disposal. If you're looking at the match winners, Shankman scoring goals. Braga's an
39:51absolute fan's favourite, with every reason, because of his technical ability. Kizaridi has
39:55scored an absolute raker. And there's optimism. Okay, we know they're at a certain level,
40:01their back line, but he's picking them every week and he's got options from the bench,
40:06but the two in the middle. I mean, Halkett is, you know, avoiding injury.
40:10I was just about to say, he looks fit. Yeah.
40:12He looks match fit. I think they look solid. I think what they have is a decent foundation.
40:18I think he's right to play down the title chat. I think he's right to say, we're six games in,
40:23just calm down a minute. I think he'll want to protect his players from all that kind of distraction,
40:30and all that kind of hype and talk. He'll want to just be saying, it's a good start, but it's
40:35nothing more than a good start. Look at Aberdeen. Last season went all the way to, to that game at
40:40Hamden, when they played Celtic in the semi-final and then just fell off a cliff. So you've seen that
40:46what can happen. I think, I think the next couple of weeks will be really interesting in terms of
40:53tomorrow's game. And then I think they've got Celtic at Tynecastle. These are interesting games.
40:58And Kilmarnock away in between. If you come out of them with a good stash of points and then go
41:04into the international break in a fairly good place, I think the longer it goes, the more you
41:10start to build a bit of momentum and belief. But I think from his point of view, you can understand
41:14entirely why he wants to pour cold water on any talk like that. I don't know if anybody, I mean,
41:20we obviously give our predictions one to 12 and I've said, I think they can finish second. But nobody's
41:27saying they're going to win the title. What we are saying, and I think it's, you know,
41:31you only have to look at the evidence that's in front of you. What a great chance to make it
41:36really interesting. Absolutely. And certainly I think the nervousness at both Celtic and Rangers
41:43is so tangible at the minute. It increases the more that hearts keep winning games. The more
41:49pressure that you put on them, then the more nervous you get.
41:52What about the opposition? You have to eat your head around the Rangers and Celtic being as bad for
41:56the whole season. You have to take that into consideration. Yeah, you can't see that.
42:01I can't see them as being as bad as what they are right at this very moment.
42:04Well, do you remember when Ali a couple of weeks ago was getting mega comments saying,
42:06don't be so stupid, nine points. On Monday, I said, what about 12 points? She went, well,
42:1112 points. And then I could see it, you know, she's, she's on the fence, 12 points,
42:15you know, in front of Rangers. And suddenly, you know, it could be all bets are off.
42:19That's for second. But, you know, what's going to happen with Celtic is another matter. But,
42:24what about the opposition? Because Hibbs are not there just to make up the numbers,
42:27as Kerry Pollock found out. I think it's always about trying to,
42:32every game you go into for players who haven't experienced it before,
42:35to try and give them an idea of what to expect. One, so they're not kind of caught off guard,
42:39but also to look forward to that, to relish the opportunity. There's a lot of other players as well
42:44that, you know, I've played here before. It's not as if there's a lot of players that haven't
42:48played in the Derby. So, from that point of view, I think it is always good to try and give them an
42:53idea of what they're going into. But you don't want to make it something they need to be,
42:57you know, overhyped as well. And then you start to do things you wouldn't normally do.
43:00So, as I've already said, they should really be looking forward to the game.
43:04It's the brilliant days, especially if you come out with a positive result. And that is a challenge
43:09for the players. Matt, four draws out of the last five games, one defeat.
43:15Yeah, they'll be encouraged by last week. I know the Hearts game is going to be different,
43:19you know, you'll have to approach it differently. I don't think they'll be backs against the wall.
43:23I'm like Tam, they'll see that a win would be great for them, you know, and I think they'll go for it.
43:29I think they've got players there that can cause problems. Obviously Boyle, Bowie,
43:34but they have to do it on the day and they have to look at, you know,
43:38hearts where they're getting the benefit of their wins and it looks as if it's up front.
43:42So, defending-wise, I think I read somewhere that Bashiri's back and he's going to be playing.
43:48I think he's fit to play, so that'll be a big call for the manager.
43:51It's a big week for you, Ruffy. You've been listening to the radio and you've been reading. Wow!
43:55I've been in my car quite a lot. That is unheard of.
43:59It's when I start saying I'm reading this book, then you start panicking.
44:02If you read a book, it'll have a lot of pictures in it, believe me.
44:07Yeah, listen, they've got to turn up, they've got to do the business.
44:11Is Bowie delivering what you thought he would?
44:14I mean, he's in the international squad. I like him.
44:16I think he's lost a bit of confidence with Peter from the international break.
44:19You know, with Scotland flying, never kicked a ball for Scotland.
44:22You know, over there, never played one minute.
44:24I just don't think he's been the same player when he's come back.
44:27I don't know if he's lost a wee bit of heart, a wee bit of confidence from no getting a cap
44:31or he's not trained well with Scotland or whatever, but he hasn't looked the same player in front of goal.
44:35He's still doing all the donkey work, he's holding the ball up, he's getting fouls and
44:40he's doing the nasty part of the game, but he's not scoring goals.
44:42So, there's no time sorting that out than tomorrow night.
44:45And as I said, I think him and Martin Boyle definitely can cause Hart's problems.
44:50I don't think Bashiri will come back in.
44:52I think he'll go the same back three he played against Celtic.
44:54And I think the possibility of putting Mulligan into the middle of the park and playing Cadden wide right.
44:59I think they're missing Mulligan in the midfield.
45:00I think Mulligan, starting the season, European game at the middle of the park was a machine.
45:04Brilliant.
45:05Chris Cadden's obviously dropped off, they've dropped him and moved Mulligan back into the right wing back.
45:11He's not the same player, he's not got the same effect in the game.
45:13So, I would look to see Mulligan back in the middle of the park tomorrow night.
45:16Prediction?
45:162-1 to Hibs.
45:182-1 to Hibs.
45:20Okay, big call.
45:22Yeah, listen.
45:23Fancy Hibs.
45:24That's what I love about you.
45:25You've got a Hibs-based column, you played for Hibs and you've really stepped up to the plate.
45:32Yeah, that's god almighty.
45:35Okay.
45:37What's your prediction?
45:38Well, I said hards at the beginning of the week,
45:40but you know it's getting near the games.
45:44I'm encouraged by what Tam's just been telling me there.
45:46So, with Tam being a top class pundit, I'm going to go for one each.
45:50One each?
45:50Yeah.
45:51Wow.
45:51Do you know what I look at you?
45:52It's horrible, isn't it?
45:53Sometimes I look at you, Ruffy, and I obviously see my old pal Derek Johnson.
45:59Derek used to write in the Evening Times, and he'd be on Radio Clyde,
46:02and then he'd write for the Rangers news, and he'd three different predictions in all of them.
46:07And I just looked at you there and I thought, wow, five days is a lot to get you holding, isn't it?
46:12Well, let's see if it's right.
46:13That's the main thing.
46:15Let's see on Monday if it's right.
46:162-1 Hibs, a draw, and I'm going to go 3-1 hearts.
46:20I can't see beyond hearts.
46:22I think Hibs record at Tyne Castle is poor at the best of times.
46:27I thought they'd done well last weekend at Celtic Park.
46:31I thought they were fairly resolute, but I just think I can't see beyond hearts.
46:36I'm going to say 2-1 hearts.
46:37There you are.
46:38At least you've got your predictions.
46:402-1 hearts.
46:41You going to the game tomorrow?
46:41Yep.
46:42Take it and get a starter, main course suite.
46:44I'll be in the press room, sitting on my own, as I often do.
46:47I'll be in the press room.
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