REACTION as Thelwell & Stewart sacked by Rangers; what next for director’s ’empire’? | Go Ballistic

SunSport’s Ryan Rowe, David Friel and Kris Boyd react to the bombshell news coming out of Ibrox that Rangers have sacked Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart.

The sporting director and chief executive have been the subject of fan protests since the start of the season – were the owners left with no choice?

And what will this mean for the ’empire’ Thelwell had been building by bringing in former colleagues – and his own son – to the club?

We also bring you the latest on Andrew Cavenagh’s pursuit of replacements.

The team also cast their eye over the action involving Celtic, with a new manager still yet to be revealed – but there’s a BIG update on that front.

Analysis of the games at Ibrox and Celtic Park are included, plus reaction to Hearts losing to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

Plus, what will Steve Clarke do about picking Harvey Barnes for Scotland and does Craig Gordon need to move to get game time ahead of the World Cup?

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– Contents of video: –
00:00 – Intro
00:21 – Thelwell & Stewart GONE
09:42 – Expensive mistake
12:37 – Another rebuild
15:46 – Gers got away with one?
17:21 – Huge 3 points for Celtic
21:35 – ‘Unfair’ on O’Neill
23:34 – Nancy pursuit ‘VERY ODD’
25:41 – 100% new Celtic manager
26:22 – Definitely a penalty
29:20 – Happy Thelin
30:45 – No panic for Hearts
33:59 – Craig Gordon move?
36:06 – Dundee Utd BAD TO WORSE
37:34 – Killie need a win
38:13 – Hibs ticking along
40:47 – Harvey McBarnes?
END

#goBallistic #football #scotland #krisBoyd #celticfc #rangersfc #heartsfc #scottishfootball #scottishpremiership

Hello and welcome to the latest episode of Go Ballistic on the Scottish Sun Sports YouTube channel. I’m Ryan Row. I’ve got a sore throat. So, the two men that will love shoulders, sore shoulders from carrying me today are David Fel and Chris Boyd sitting next to Barry White here. And you’ve got some heavy lifting to do because what a day in Scottish football. We can’t go a week without a huge story. Kevin Fwell and Patrick Stewart, they’re out at Rangers. A week without a big story, it’s every day. Um, Roger Hannah’s off. I was hoping for a we quiet Monday morning. Just come in. Just talk about the weekend action and then wow before we get going here. Roger Hannah’s off today as well. So that’s Roger Hannah Grieve happening too much these days. I know left be left shoulder on the the responsibility. Serious. What’s happening here? And for what’s happening here, what is happening is that Patrick Stewart and Kevin Farewell have left Rangers. uh started to kind of do the rounds this morning. There was a 12 announcement statement or sacked sacked. They have been relieved of their duties. Andrew Kavanaaugh put out a statement at 12:00 and it’s over for them. Patrick Stewart less than a year in the job as chief executive. Kevin Fewell, I think he was appointed late April, is no longer there. Seismic stuff. Rangers fans have been protesting against both Patrick Shu, Kevin Fewell. They’ve wanted him out for a long, long time. They blame them for Russell Martin’s appointment. They blame him for a very very patchy and that’s maybe been favorable transfer window Ryan and now they’re gone. So boy just on our quiet day football might be average but I tell you what the stories are never amazing. Yeah listen I mean one one half of Glasgow’s got their wish I mean the one sing and sack the board and other ones managed to do it. Um but I mean you you’ve got to ask yourself why now? As you say Patrick Stewart less than a year. Um Kevin still well a few months in the job but let’s we can speak about the time frame and um in terms of why now but it’s the correct decision. I mean let’s be realistic. Rangers have been going backwards at an alarming rate in recent months. Um, you look at the drop off from even last year when we when we spoke numerous times regarding how far off Rangers were last year to where they are now and having spent an absolute fortune. We said it a couple of weeks ago. I don’t think any player that’s been brought in has been an upgrade in what has already been there. So Kevin Thwell is solely responsible for that. Um the interesting thing I don’t know David if if you’ve got any more information you know I think that he has created u you know a little empire below him that’s that you know and I said in my column a few weeks ago that personally I felt as if it’s been people that he’s worked with that he has got to know family members that I don’t think was ever going to challenge or question him. So he said a free run at it. he has made a complete and utter um mess being honest. Um and and that’s I mean you I think in Scottish football you know is pretty unique in a way. Um, but you look at the and usually we speak about for the big two been able to go to the transfer market and spend the money that they nine times out of 10 they do they’ll bring in better players than what’s already in the league and I just don’t see that. I mean you you look at even I mean I covered Aberdine and Hearts yesterday as well. There’s a lot of the Aberine and Hearts players would get in the Rangers team that that’s that’s where it’s at right now. I mean the recruitment um has been so bad. Um Patrick Patrick Stewart as a CEO as well you know you go back and it was you know obviously the club the takeover and everything was was in place or was was it was leading to that um that part of taking over the club. So, he had to navigate the club through that part, which, you know, you can cut him some slack and say it’s not always easy to do that when that club’s in transition. But from and and I alluded to it a couple of times, you know, in the past, you know, everybody that I spoke to or when I was at Rangers, it was a case of people were striving to get there, you know, they want to get all I’m hearing now is within the building that people are trying to get out because the working environment was not somewhere that was uh, you know, great. They didn’t enjoy it. And that can’t be great. I mean, that can’t be um there’s no way you can function um to the best of your abilities when the environment that’s being created is not one that everybody enjoys working at. Um listen, these two have been removed rightly so, but now it’s up to the the people, the staff and everything else to kick on now. Um I think that, you know, the owners will probably take more of a hands-on approach now, rightly so. um it’s taken them six months. I think they’ll have learned a lot inside six months that you know the Rangers fans didn’t stand back and and accept what was going to um or what was happening. It’s been especially when you look at the league when you look at Celtic the way that they’ve imploded um hearts yes Tony Bloom said it was going to be a few years before the challenge they’ve been able to do it inside such a short period of time. I think a lot of Rangers fans will be looking at it saying if we had have had a house in order at the start of the season what an opportunity this would have been to win the league. And but you know as I said going back to the earlier point there you know what impact will this have for you know the the little contingent that that um you know Patrick shoot had the long um Kevin Stwellwell had the long that that and that’s the thing I mean it’s kind of understanding that Rangers don’t expect any more exits you like said Dan Pugy Robbie Farewell I mean obviously time is going to tell in that as as body said um Pragmarat and Andrew Cavana both lead the hunt for the next chief executive for the next sporting director and I think especially a January window of sporting director Hunt is going to be crucial because they are going to lead up the recruitment now essentially Rangers did inherit Kevin Farewell but Andrew Kavanaaugh signed off Pragmarat signed off Greta Steinson signed off signed off in them so he wasn’t coming in as as a nobody he was a guy that was Andrew Cavana said in the statement six months ago they were happy with but six months later they’re not happy with um and I don’t know it’s interesting because Angels couldn’t afford to keep them in the sense that of the mistakes made in the summer window, but when you’ve got a January window that’s going to be so crucial and everybody knows Rangers need players when you don’t have that head of recruitment or or that sporting director, does it make it more difficult or is it just the right is it just the right decision regardless? What’s the right decision? I mean, there’s no getting away from it. I’d rather I would rather not have one than one that’s already in a position making decisions that’s been made. I mean, like we’ve we’ve spoken about it there. who has been brought in at Rangers that’s been better than what’s already there. There’s no there’s nobody. Um the fact that and I know because of the price tag we keep going back on it. I mean the Chitty deal is incredible. I mean I mean it really is. I mean the fact that that Kevin um Thwell was part of the the deal to take him to Everton. He must have seen it there that no disrespect. The kid’s not up to it. He is not up to it. um to then go and shell out 89 million pound whatever like Rangers you know I I think when you when you go back years ago and you would think oh Rangers are not in the position to go and spend this money they clearly are when they’re doing it when you think of people like Manny Fernandez who come out come in at the weekend as well three half million pound in him ascard what four and a half million pound Antman two and a half three million pound Rangers have spent an absolute fortune in the summer on players that are nowhere where near the level that is required to be a success at Rangers. Um and that if you are the sporting director that falls at your door, you have to be held responsible for that. It has been a really really poor um period of time in terms of recruitment for for Rangers. Um going back to as I said when that when that um lump sum has been spent on an individual I get the fact that you know they might look at Rangers and think oh we can maybe bring players in development sell them on um it doesn’t work that Rangers need to get players that know how to win games of football. Rangers could have Rangers could have assembled a team for less than that 9 million pound when you think of the Scottish boys that were up for grabs in the summer. It was a disrespect towards Scottish football. Um they decided to go down a route that that they they thought that they knew best in. Um and it’s backfired. But let’s not be kided. It is for the best that Kevin Thwell is away from Rangers because he was miles off it. Um you listen to his interviews um still trying to convince people and that you know that the process is correct. I mean no I I wasn’t buying it. And as for for Patrick Stewart, you can only go on what you’re hearing behind the scenes and and you know, for me, there’s a lot of unhappy people there. He was part of the the process that that hired um you know, Kevin Fwell as well. So, he has to be held responsible as well. So, it’s no great surprise that both of them have been relieved of their duties, but at the same time, I think you’ve then got to ask why now? Yeah, I was going to say that to you actually is the heat now on Andrew Cavvern and Pragmarat because fair play they acted relatively quickly Russell Martin they did the same with Kevin Farewell and Patrick Stewart you know they’ve made tough decisions but they need to get decisions right because Kevin Fewell was an expensive mistake when you look at the money that’s been been going Russell Martin was an expensive mistake you know these guys came in promising a fresh start promising things will be different but they’ve clearly made mistakes andrew cav having a pragma get ston who’s in the background have to get this right now. Yeah, 100%. I mean, there’s no it’s not easy. It’s not going to be easy, but and I was all in in favor of of Rangers creating a a you know, a structure that allows them um you know to build it. But you’ve got to get the right people within that structure. I mean, that that’s that’s a must. You’ve got to get and you know, for me, I think there was a disrespect right from the start towards Scottish football. They have totally underestimated how difficult it’s going to be. Um I’ll say it again, the recruitment has been absolutely miles off it. Um and it is the correct decision for both them to go. Um Rangers will need to rebuild again. Um it’s every it seems to be every six months. That’s all we hear. But I think there’ll be, you know, there’s going to be a big challenge ahead now for Rangers because the players that have came in, they’re not good enough, but they’re all on big contracts. They’re all on long-term contracts as well. You know, I think when you when you even when you look at the the loan deals as well, I mean, you’re talking about building for the future and everything, the defensive line was going to be made up of sorry of of loan players. Um when you think of De Ja Max they’re all loan players that came in you’re then looking at saying the one who was signed Manny Fernandez three half million pound why would you spend that type of money if you’re bringing someone in you’ve already got John S there listen it may be a project I get that but Rangers Rangers will never be a project people need to understand this like there there’s there is players you can bring in and develop them but within the the you know within the working environment. They need to win games of football. There’s no getting away from it. And the next appointment has to be someone who understands that you’re not you’re not getting time. You need to the only the only thing that matters to Rangers is winning. And that’s been, as I said, because of the way the season has started, there’s a lot of angry Rangers fans out there, rightly so, because they would have felt as if it was it was the start of a a new dawn. It was it was going to be um positive going forward, but they already sacked the manager. the CEO is now gone. The sporting director is now gone. Um, but at the same time, you’ve got to give the owners credit for realizing it’s not working and change and they have to change it again. Yes. F. If you look at this statement, there’s a lot in it. But this is perhaps the most telling line. Simply put, when we think about what we need in both CEO and sporting director today, it’s different than who we think Patrick and Kev are, that’s quite a strong statement. And they’ve also said, you know, Fraser Thornton, he’s going to lead on the appointment of the next two, but the owners have needed to act decisively. But there’s also that tinge where it still feels too late. I I know what you mean, but to be honest with you, I think I think the easier thing would maybe have been to give Kevin farewell in our January window in terms of, you know, it was only a month ago that Andrew Cron came out and says they’ve got a full backing. So, I I don’t know. I kind of agree with with I think I think it probably you just had to had to make a decision and what it will do is remove the sort kind of toxic feel around Ibros. You would imagine obviously fans can be upset at performances were against Livingston, but it’s always been played out against this backdrop of the anti- Kevin Fwell protest, the anti Patrick Stewart protest. That’s gone. Now the focus can be a bit more on the future as opposed to just this constant, you know, shouts and cries to get them out. And I would imagine it will probably help the atmosphere around Ibro. There’s no there’s no doubt it will. Um but at the same time I I’ll say it again the only thing that will help the whole the whole thing is winning games of football and Danny always has came in um look has the performances been great no. Have they been an upgrade than what was before him? Yes because he’s managed to win them. Uh you know as I said you can play bad, you can play poorly. You can have spells in a game where you’re not at your best but you need to find a way to win the game and that’s what Rangers did on uh on Saturday. I mean it wasn’t great. Um, what a weekend I had watching that game before I went to Pasley. Wow. Um, two arguably the worst games of the season. But, um, Rangers found a way like Celtic on Saturday night. They found a way to win the game and that is the most important thing. Um, but I think when you are when you’re taking everything into consideration, it has to be better that the, you know, the whole club has to be functioning better. It needs to be aligned together. And I don’t think that has been the case. I would imagine I would imagine Danny Ro looking at that squad right now there will be a lot of players that he’s already said they ain’t going to take me to the next level. They ain’t going to take me to winning trophies. They ain’t going to take me to winning league championships. the the the work then starts to how do you start to to to get these players out the the squad and and start to build another one because it’s every it’s every six months all we hear is our rangers are it’s a rebuild it’s a it can’t I mean they’re spend an absolute fortune fortune and so a lot of credit goes to owners for as I said realizing that this wasn’t working and removing the two of them of their duties but they need to get the next one So, just before we move on to because there’s plenty of Celtic news, we’ve got the game to cover and a big Celtic manager update, but I mean Livingston actually tweeted touching what you were saying. The Livingston tweet, Rangers escape with all three points. V stepping in to give the hosts a goal and not giving a penalty for a blatant hand ball. You know, Rangers did kind of get away with them, but as you say, Chris, they’re winning games. I suppose the one appointment they’ve got right the set piece coach you know at least at least there’s one appointment right I know I mean Levy’s Levy clearly emotions running high I have complete sympathy over the penalty but the goal was on side like I don’t know why anybody thought of stepped in well clearly stepped in because the goal was on side penalty it’s a penalty kick I think we can do all do mental gymnastics as hand out as he doing that natural position it’s a penalty kick it was a penalty kick in 1981 it’s a penalty kick in 2025 forget the new rules all that sort of stuff it’s penalty kick but in terms of the goal it’s a goal Oh yeah. No, you spot on. I agree with everything you’re saying. It should have been a penalty. There’s no get away from it. Um the goal is a goal. Um and and other than that then I mean there’s nothing else you can add to it. I mean it’s not as if you can you say it’s a natural position. You know if you’re running your hands are going forward but it doesn’t matter. You’re you’re making your body bigger. It is a hand ball. It’s a penalty kick all day long. Are you surprised I said that? Yeah. clipped. So, as you said, you maybe saw what half a dozen shots on target at Ibrooks and Saturday. You probably saw even less at St. Martin Park later on. Captain Call McGregor steps up, bail Celtic out once again. and then he calls for unity and he mentioned, you know, we’re getting a new manager in soon. But how much will those board protests that have been going on at Celtic for, you know, pretty much since the start of the season be affecting the players? I think you I don’t think you’re immune to it. Um, I mean, look Mac said as well, his family keep I mean I mean you can’t ignore it, right? And people will be stopping at the petrol station shops or whatever talking about what’s going on and what happened to AGM and everything. I think what Celtic do still have is a nucleus of players who can dig it out and who have won things and no more so than Cal McG. I mean Celtic were appalling in Saturday night. Let’s be honest. I mean it took them I think it was a kind a header from Yang and just a minute before KG scored to even get a shot in target or an effort in target. Some of them were very good. They hit the post. They had some chances. They had a goal that’s allowed correctly. Um but when push came to shove Celtic it found a way to win. and Callum McGregor. I know at the start of the season people were questioning his form, Ryan. I thought that was premature to kind of be writing him off and I think he’s shown in the last few weeks what a good player he is, what a good captain he is and what a strike that was. I mean he scored a lot of good goals for Celtic over the years but the power behind that shot, the first touch, the second touch and the goal and given the heart losing next day, it’s a huge three points for Celtic. Yeah, you’re right 100%. Um I think it’s important to touch on the the goal as well from scales. Listen, it’s it’s the correct decision. Um isn’t an offside um position and I and I get I mean we touched on it Saturday in the game like when people say oh but skills he’s heads down even if he’s heads down you can still see out the corner of your eye um that there’s someone there and then all of a sudden he has to do something. He catch what a finish it was. It was like one of yours in the fives but it’s the correct decision. There’s no get away from and I know there’ll be people mumping and moaning about it but it’s the correct decision because you know skills as an international defender you know he had mandering in the inside of him he was going to get his body across and probably usher it back to the goalkeeper Michael would have came and collected it. So when McMen comes into his his line of vision that’s when he he decides to kick it. Um so it is a correct decision. You’re 100% right on Callum McGregor. Great first touch to get it out. Then you know the second touch just settles everything down and then boom. What a fantastic strike it was. Um, you know, I think for for Celtics was a huge three points in the context of the weekend as well with with Rangers getting over the line. Hearts then playing the following day, asking a question of them touched on it. They would have been sitting in that hotel watching that game on Saturday night. All of a sudden thinking, whoa, here we go. What an opportunity we’ve got um tomorrow. Then, you know, that goal goes in and and all of a sudden the pressure then is on us because the gap’s been closed. Um, they had a a difficult game. um epic will touch in a minute, but you know for for Celtic I think you can tell that it’s a team that that’s getting to the stage now where it needs a manager. It needs a man I mean Martin’s been in and had to steady the ship. Um, but listen, I might be I might be totally wrong here, but I don’t think Martin will want to manage coach the same way that Matt Fley and Sean Maloney will. Whether there is um there’ll be different um bits of information given to the players and and the way they want to play, I don’t know, but all I can say is watching them, that’s what it looks like. you know, they see have an identity for a number of years now in terms of the way they play football. Um, and I don’t know, it’s maybe just like a they’re hearing some things and then, you know, Martin might be wanting to do another thing and then there’s the whole thing of a new magic coming in. He’ll be watching us right now. We need to impress him as well. But for whatever reason, David, I don’t know, but Celtic players right now, they seem to be struggling. Um, you know, when you think of MiAa, miles off it. Hitati, miles off it. Engles, I thought at the weekend again, another opportunity for him to play, miles off it. Um, Anthony Ralson, wow. Um, you can go right through it. Um, you know, there was there was there was a a lot there where you thought they ain’t anywhere near the level that they’ve been in previous seasons. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I think for Matt Mill um this boy he’s saying you know I think if he was to get the job longterm which isn’t going to happen he would want to do things a certain way you could tell he was frustrated by aspects of Celtics’s performance and it wasn’t a game to be trying to play too much football I don’t think especially at the back and Celtic kind of got themselves into danger at times but I think on Martin I think we’re now at a stage where it’s almost borderline unfair for him to be still be front and center and fronting all this up I mean he was on that was rolled out after the AG GM to kind of pick up the pieces and give his view on it. I know some Celtic fans were even criticizing him for, you know, almost high and defending the board. I mean, get a grip. Come on. I mean, Martal has done so much for Celtic both in the past and both now. He’s answered the call here. He’s been put in a really difficult position. He never expected to be back in this position and he’s trying to kind of almost be this figurehead and speak. He’s now almost a spokesman for the club again. And I think, as I said, I think it’s getting to say so it’s borderline unfair. I do expect this time next week Celtic will probably if not have a manager there’ll be close very close to appointing a manager but I think he’s done a terrific job in the circumstances if you just look at results performances have been up and down but if you just look at the domestic results getting to a final he can walk away when he does walk away with his head held high and if going to win the cup and going to win the league I think there should be a special recognition from him because I think he’s done in really really trying circumstances and as I said it’s borderline unfair now that he’s having to do all this um I think He’s been exceptional. He’s trying to galvanize the club. He’s trying to unify the club. That’s not his job, Ryan. He’s an interim manager. He’s 73 years old. You can tell, you can look at him at the side. You know, it’s going to take a toll. Um I’m not being patronizing. It just is. And it is. And I think Celtic, his body saying Celtic need a manager in. I think it’s going on far too long. Um anyway, but they need a manager in as quickly as he possibly can. I’m assuming it’s going to be after the Hibs game there at the weekend. But whatever happens in the next two games, I think Martin, as I said, can walk away if he said hell tie. Why do why do you think Celtic, you know, why do they not get it done? Because we’re all expected to be Nancy next week. Why? Why is it why is it taking till why, you know, like because I mean, Rangers were criticized for having a long period of time without a manager, yet it seems to be okay for Seli to do it. It it’s it’s probably gone. It’s I don’t mean under the radar. It’s probably not been such a big thing just because Sel managed to win. If Selia had dropped points, people would been talking about it more. There are so many theories. There’s so many conspiracy theories over why he’s not in yet. Did he want to break it into the season? Did Celtic want to kind of just give him a bit more time? Did Celtic want to try and get through some tough away games? Did Celtic are his compensation? I mean, I’ve seen the stuff at the weekend of his compensation drops once they get into December. I don’t know. It’s been very very odd in terms of a pursuit. He’s number one target. I’ll sit here right now and say Wilfred Nancy will be the next Celtic manager. However, Columbus crew still maintain. They still maintain to the blue in the face that there’s been no contact. The whole thing is very, very strange. I agree with you, boy. I think it’s taken far too long. I mean, how how long we talking now? Four weeks since Brendon Rogers left. Three, four weeks. Um, but he will be the next manager. And I’ll repeat, S have been lucky they’ve had a guy like Martine to come in and steady his ship and take so much on on his shoulders because he has answered their call and they owe him a big favor. Yeah. I mean if you think like we’ve got a story out that Celtic also there’s he wants to bring in four coaches of his own and there is this you know sort of compensation angle but who wrote it who wrote the story decided who wrote that story this morning. Oh, well, I’m taking I’m taking money, dude. So, we added all these things, you know, like backroom staff and, you know, you’re getting deals over the line, all that kind of stuff. But I think we it was it was Derek that originally revealed Derek McGregor revealed that it was Wilfred, you know, Nancy was the kind of top target. It seems to have taken a long time to go from top target to in the door. And I think that’s where the frustrations come. There’s clearly a reason. I’m not sure we’ll ever know the reason to be perfectly honest with you because there’s a lot of murmurss and rumors and as I said conspiracy theories but I’ll put my neck in the line. He’ll be the next Celtic manager. Oh, it’s a big one that breaking news that one. So, this will probably be the last globalistic that we have where he’s not the manager. So, next week we said that. Yep, I know. Um, so next week we’ll be we’ll be reacting to that concert. What we will come back on next Monday as well. I never say girlfriend. I told you so. You’re Misha and Gisha. That was that was a six month. Um, going to pard. Um, I’m probably heard you over the weekend cast. I think Dimmitov was a lucky boy with a penalty. Um, but right here’s I’m going to go right on my soap box. Goalies get away with murder. Protected species. A protected species. See if that’s an onfield. See if that’s an outfield player. It’s a red card and nobody’s even talking about it. How are goalies why are goies allowed to get come out like that? I get the fact that by the way the ball he goes for he totally misses as well because he totally miss times that he’s and I get you cannot just say right okay I’ve missed the ball. Stop. That’s it. My feet are back on the ground. But the way he goes for it, you know, the knee’s up, then the leg gets it’s outstretched as well. I I cannot believe a penalty kick wasn’t given. I said that at the time. Um I get the fact that, you know, you would you’d be in danger of re-refereeing the game and that will be the line that, you know, that will probably be used, but it’s a blatant foul. I mean, it’s just it’s mean, he’s just crashed straight into to Kabor, wipes him out, and you know, I I It’s one of those ones where not a lot of the hats players went to the referee and asked for it, but at the same time if they’d have done it and it wasn’t given, all you would hear is, “No, we don’t want to hear players gathering around the referee. It’s not the right thing to do.” So, you can’t have it both ways. And and I just I mean, for me, as you say, they get away with murder 100%. They’ll always come, you know, anybody that’s anywhere near them in the box. the simple touch and it’s a free kick given to their way, but they can come flying out their goals and just smash into people and nothing happens. For me, I it was a penalty kick all day long. Um, listen, Derek will look back and and and this morning when he watches it back, I I would think of a case of we should have got something from that game. Uh, you know, the guys that were missing Hal but then give me Shanklin Shanklin for the the little bit of quality. the X factor he’s got at the top end of the pitch. Yes, but I don’t think the other ones played that. I mean, Frankie Kent come in and done really well um at center back. Magnesum came in to center the the pitch and was very good. Kabori, I think I’ll be honest with you, and I don’t know what you two think. For me, Kabori, if he plays every game, he will get you 15 goals a season, no problem. But there’s going to be you’re going to look at it and think, “Oh, wow. He’s no he’s not a finished article. He’s not this. He’s not that.” But he gets himself into position to score goals. It was a bad day for him in front of goal yesterday. Snatched a couple. But I do think there is a player in there that knows where the goal is. Can finish um as a handful. You know will back into defenders ask questions of them. But you know overall yesterday Derek McKennis I think will be he won’t be happy that they’ve came away from PGI having played as well as they did in large parts of the game. with with uh you know without a point. Aberine you know I thought that there was there was there was um Jimmy Tene would be happy enough be delighted with the result delighted with the clean sheet. I thought for periods of the game Aberdine showed that they have been underperforming this season. It’s a great three points for them. Um they then go to um you know Europe on Thursday night. Um I think it’s a page you’d imagine but another full house there where opportunity of getting three points there and then looking to kick on next week as well. So it’s I can’t remember the pictures off the top of my head. I had them written down yesterday but the next four home domestic games for Aberdine is a huge opportunity for them to get points in the board and if they can do that they can get ourselves back into it because there was a little gap opening up there from Mville to uh you know in that top six position. They’ve managed to to get the victory yesterday. Um, Keskin and good goal I must admit. Um, you know, Derek again might look at and think because he that bad. I don’t think they lose that goal in the back four. I I really don’t because it would have been more solid. I don’t think they do. Um, but Keskin and you know he’s moved for a for a fair bit of money um in his career. You’re expecting more from him. But overall, I thought Aberine yesterday they at least had Scottish boys back in as well. They’ve been playing recently. Scottish boys in. they had that identity about them. Um I don’t know if if if he’s watched the game, but it was actually an old school game. Tackles flying in the the the rain um you know that was a major factor in a lot of the tackles in the game, but it was just a good game end to end. I enjoyed it to be honest. I enjoyed it. It made up for your poor watchings in Saturday a little bit. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. But back they’re a race from my memory of those two games. But talking about um Aberdine’s next few games but I mean hearts for talking about this really exciting title race now that we actually have they go to Mother Bowl host Kalmok go to Celtic then go to Fal then have Rangers I mean that’s up until Christmas. So Celtic could have a new manager, but then Rangers are winning games now. You know, Hearts, how long? No, I think the key is for Hearts not to panic because as I said, I think on another day they could have minimum a draw on Sunday. Obviously, they’ve dropped points before that Mland United. So maybe the kind of early season blistering form is gone a bit. They’ve also lost a couple of players. I certainly had at the weekend suspension injury and stuff like that, but I just wouldn’t panic. But it’s clearly it’s going to be this is going to be a key period. But it always is in any title race in any race or Europe relegation. This sort of festive period which is really kicking off now um right up until pretty much the Scottish Cup in the middle of January. This is going to be a crucial period. Um SE will be licking their lips and we’ll have some stuff from from Cal McGregor in tomorrow’s paper talking about the title race and all that sort of stuff and and where Selty are in it and how they’re viewing hearts and and Rangers coming behind them and hibs and all the rest. Um I think it’s great but I agree. I don’t think D McKinnis will get too upset by the defeat because he needs to look at the bigger picture and look at the performance. Yeah, I mean if you think sorry D McKinn’s full focus has to be on they need to go to mother and win them. That’s what Ranger Celtic have done especially Celtic recently but over the years when you are in a title race if you have one set back you bounce back the following week. You go and you show um that no no we’re here we’re a force to be reckoned with. It’s a huge huge game for hearts now at F Park and Saturday. Huge game and they have to go there and get the three points. You know, all I was going to say is looking ahead, Celtic will have a new manager in place for the January transfer window. Maybe you told us next week, friend. Rangers are going to potentially maybe not have a new sporting director and chief executive. So if people can say a sell to convenient will strengthen in January, you could argue that hearts are actually in the best position to strengthen in January because Tony Bloom’s been there. Derek McKinnus knows the kind of players that he wants. They’ve got the Jamestown analytics. Hearts aren’t going away. I’ve said this, I’ve I’ve never expected them to win a league, but they’re not going away. I think hearts will have a major say and how the title race unfolds. But yeah, expect them to to go and strengthen. But I do think when you look at it, look at the bank balances, etc. I would imagine to go and spend a fortune in January. So this man is full of exclusives this morning. That’s why they call him the poster. Always delivers. So Chris, your old pal, I’m talking about hearts. Craig Gordon, what do we think for him in January? If he wants to be the Scotland number one at the World Cup, does he need to think about a move somewhere? Would there be a spot open at Dundy United perhaps? No offense. Oh, wow. Wow. Listen, I I don’t I don’t know. I don’t I don’t know. I mean, I think if he wasn’t playing regularly because I saw Yeah, I think Gordon shown that um you know, he’s not played regular up until the last international um games and Ken was excellent. Um, you know, I think a goalkeeper is a position where I know you’re not playing games, but in training you’ll still get you still have the same scenarios that happen in the games as long as you can keep your your sharpness here. Um, I get, you know, if you’re an outfield player, you know, you would say in terms of fitness and that, but I mean, let’s be realistic. It’s a total different um fitness regime that goalies go through that they’re able to do every single day with the exercises they wouldn’t get too bogged down in it. I don’t think it would look great if he, you know, if Craig Gordon’s to go, you know, a long period of time um and and and not playing in any still Scottish number one. I think that would say a lot more about the other goalkeepers that, you know, been pushing them. Um I think Xander Clark’s another one that you’ve got to say well you know that Liam Kelly’s not been playing Angus Gun’s been injured. Does he look to move on and then maybe try and force his way into the or back into the Scotland squad? So there is a lot of um things that could unfold regarding the goalkeeping situation with Scotland because if Xander Clark to go somewhere he starts playing then all of a sudden you know Scott Bane’s got himself back in because you know he’s been playing. So there is a lot of things. So Craig will I’d imagine have a a huge decision to make. Um but I would imagine right now Craig Gordon thoughts will be I need to get back in the hearts starting 11. He’s showing me Scotland is good enough. I know hearts need to move on eventually. Um but that will be his thoughts right now. I need to get back in the hearts 11. Um Dundy United I mean I know you mentioned them there. I mean last it just went from um you know it was it was bad and then it just got worse. Um Jim Gooden’s got a huge decision to make there as well now and I don’t think he can carry on. Um you know the first one was was bad enough. I mean it was just school goalkeeper just a a party back out and then I mean the second one you thought it couldn’t get any worse and then even the third one I mean I don’t know. I mean I think he must have been in the goal line at Den Park by the time he got there. Um it was it was it was so poor. Uh and it’s not the first time this season. So I said Jim Goodwin has now got u you know a huge decision to to make. It’s one win one and seven for United as well. Um you know I know there there’s been three draws in there. But it’s there’s a lot of teams right now even old team K as well. That’s six defeats. Um I mean they’re averaging um conceding just under three goals a game as well. I mean that can’t continue. Mother will um you know fantastic for them to to go to rugby park and and get the the three points but there’s a there’s a lot of teams right now we’ve got Dundee I mean wow um I mean they’ve they’ve no scored in the last five five last six scored in what the last three and I think they’ve no scored than five out the last seven or something as well. So scoring goals is a problem for them. But Commander looking at it, it’s always been the case where you thought Commander at home, they’ll get results. They’ll win games of football. It’s not happening. It’s it’s not happening. And you I think it’s is it quart to six Dunded on uh on on on Saturday night. It is a huge game for Commander and Stuart Kwell because I mean I still speak to a lot of um you know Commander fans and it is getting to that stage where they’re starting to to to ask questions losing six in a row. The performances have not been great. Improved the second half in Saturday but the first half was was um was really really poor. I get listen he’s got injuries. The goalkeeping situation’s not helping there either. Um but they need to find a win from somewhere. They need to So just to sign off guys, Harvey Barnes or Scotland will finish. I think I think we need to mention Hibs as well. Uh when you look at when you when you look at them um you know everybody’s hearts ab sorry Harts Celtic and Rangers Hibs Hibs are starting to you know that I know you go back in that last minute goal they lost against Liby they’ll be frustrated with that they didn’t turn up against Rangers but they’ve won four in the last six Hibs they go to they go to far park choose Tuesday night yeah Tuesday night go there and get the three points what a huge game it is at Easter road next Sunday as well and they’ll f their chances I think they should. I mean, they tend to do okay against Celtic at Easter Road. You know, they’ve been beaten him a few times over the years. I was there. I was at Easter Road Saturday. Bowie back scoring should have scored a hat-tick. Martin Boy was lively. Cluji came off the bench. And for me, the standout player, Jamie McGra was really good standout player. And it goes back to what we were talking about at the start in terms of Scottish players that Angels overlooked. Josh Mulligan was the best player in the park by a country mile powerhouse. Um, he was outstanding and seems to sit a lot better in that central midfield role though. Yeah. He was he was maybe it was against his former club and he maybe had a bit more but I just was really I thought he was he was by far in a way the best player but he just looked bigger more powerful quicker than everybody else and I think he’ll move on again and I don’t want to I know he’s only beaten the house for a couple of months but he’s got another move in I know you’re just about to touch on Scotlander could he be somebody that forces himself into it’s a congested area but he is more than good enough you know he’s versatile too but I just felt Having watched him awarded in D and then seeing him on Saturday, he just looks as if he’s really really mature and physically and as I said he was good in the ball an end product, but it’s the pace. It’s that burst. Really, really good player. Hibs are a lot better when he’s in the middle of pitch. I mean, I know he’s been out there and Kan’s came back in there, but I do think Hibs are a lot stronger when he’s in that central mid um role as well. And McGrath, it was a really good goal, the second one. Well worked. I know they got a little ricochand, but the setup play from Bowie. Good finish from from McGrath. Hibs, as I said, if they can go to Far and get a result, I’m look forward to next Sunday. Um, you know, it could be a it could be a really really good game. Hopefully that’s the case. I’ll have my H scarf on. Calm down. Calm down. Bars. Harvey Barnes. Harvey Barnes. I have him. He’s a good player. It’s one for Steve Clark. um the Scotland players for the senior players to work out. If Harvey Barnes is up for it, I don’t think it’s as simple as and you come. I think you need to make sure it’s not going to upset the squad. I mean, how would you feel if you were still playing for Scotland, you qualify for World Cup and suddenly someone who has never played just gets parachuted in. Personally, if it was me and it was take my position, I would be angry. You’d be hurt. You’d be frustrated. But at the same time, if I am someone else and it’s not like impacting me, I’d be like, “We’ve got a player here.” You know, if it’s if it’s if it’s if it was a striker and then he’s coming in to take the place, you’d be like, “Oh, you know, as I said, the the words of you is there.” But if I’m a striker and he’s coming in for another winger that he’s better than, I’d be absolutely buzzing because he’s a better player, create more opportunities for me. Um, and that’s where I think it’s at. If Steve Clark can convince, I know he’s spoken to him before, but if if if Harvey Barnes is now um ready to commit to Scotland, go and get him. It’s an absolute no-brainer. You we we we we speak about people performing at the top end of the pitch. Um we speak about people performing in English Premier League every single week. He’s doing that. He’s got two goals against Manchester City weekend as well. Why would you not? Why would you not? he’s at an age where he can come in make a huge impact. Um who you never know bringing players like that in might actually the players that are in the squad it might make them better you know because usually when you’ve got better players around you it takes you to another level. So if if um if Steve Clark decides that yeah I want to do it then it is an absolute no-brainer because does he come in and play? Yeah he does. Yeah. And I think it’s a 26 man squad at least as well. So you’ve got a bit more wiggle room in terms of you know there probably are guys there that I’m saying in normal tournaments maybe would miss a cut. So I I I think as long as Andy Roberts and John McGinn and all the senior boys are happy with it then I I can listen I get what you’re saying but Andy Roberts and John McInn don’t run Scottish football. They don’t run, you know, for years. I get that it’s a it’s a together. I totally get that. But Steve Clark has got to look at Scottish football and I get the fact that he needs to look at the squad and what’s best for the squad as well. But if you’re telling me that Harvey Barns is not better than some of the players that we’ve got in Scotland, wow. Go and get him. If there is an opportunity, go and get him because I tell you what, there might be there might be players moaning. There might be fans moaning, but if he takes to the field in a World Cup and scores a goal for Scotland that gets him three points to the group stages that gets him to the next round, they’ll be singing his name about him. Harvey Mcburns. It’s got a nice ring. It’s got a nice ring to get out the group. Are we even playing yet? I know. I mean, I’ve dropped some big exclusives here, but I’m not going to drop it in the future. Psychic. The fifth. The 5th of December. 5th of December. On the fourth. Oh, yeah. We’re getting ready. Of course we are. Right. Good stuff. Chris, pleasure as always. Thank you to you and to David for carrying me in my sore throat. You will. You’ll have sore shoulders. And next week, we will be back. We might be reacting to a new Celtic moment. Who knows? Who knows? What did we say? Probably will just in case I’m not here next Monday. Is that a problem? I probably Sorry. No problems at all. Backtracking already five minutes ago. We will have a new manager to now it’s probably have a new manager. Make up your mind. I thought you were the post always delivering. Well guys, thank you very much for watching guys. Thanks for being here with us. Plenty more on the Scottish Suns YouTube channel and online and in the paper to follow across this week. Scottish football, Chris said at the top of the show, even if the games are boring, the stories aren’t. Thanks for watching.