Rangers have question to answer over TIFO | The Football Show w/ Stephen McGowan & Stephen O’Donnell

Rangers Tifo Sparks Backlash | Old Firm Fallout, PFA Scotland Awards, and Fan Conduct Debate ⚽
We dissect all the drama from Scottish football — with a major spotlight on Rangers vs Celtic at Ibrox.

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Rangers Tifo Controversy
The show opens with a deep dive into the controversial tifo displayed by Rangers fans before kickoff in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox.

🏆 PFA SCOTLAND AWARDS:

Daizen Maeda named Player of the Year
Lennon Miller wins Young Player of the Year
John McGlynn takes Manager of the Year
Reaction to all the winners and their achievements

⚔️ Old Firm Fallout: Rangers 1-1 Celtic

Who were the standout performers? Raskin and Balogun praised
Celtic’s attack lacking sharpness, McGregor consistent as ever
Barry Ferguson’s post-match press conference and case to remain Rangers manager
Debate over whether Rangers have done enough this season

💬 Scottish Football Fan Conduct Across the Scottish Premiership

Discussion on sectarian chants, banners, and bottle-throwing
What responsibility do football clubs and SFA hold?
Reflections on how fan behaviour is policed and punished in Scotland

⚽ Elsewhere in the SPFL:

Motherwell’s smash-and-grab at Dens Park
Hibs rise to 3rd under David Gray
Aberdeen’s inconsistency under Jimmy Thelin
St Johnstone’s relegation fight with Ross County
Falkirk’s promotion success under John McGlynn
Playoff predictions: Partick Thistle, Ayr United, and Livingston

📺 Plus:

Reflections on player health and dementia, focusing on Andy Payton
The case for clear daylight offside rule
Reactions to VAR decisions, manager frustrations, and match-changing moments

💬 Join the debate in the comments!
🟢 Was the Rangers tifo acceptable or unacceptable?
🔴 Who stood out in the Old Firm?
⚪ Should Barry Ferguson stay on as manager?

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The Football Show LIVE Highlights:

00:00:00 Intro – Steven O’Donnell and Steven McGowan
Peter Martin welcomes viewers, introduces Alan Rough, Steven O’Donnell, and Steven McGowan, and previews the show topics including PFA Awards, Old Firm fallout, fan behaviour, and playoff analysis.

00:00:32 PFA Scotland Awards recap
00:02:09 Maeda’s transformation at Celtic
00:03:44 John McGlynn Manager of the Year
00:05:18 Lennon Miller – Young Player of the Year
00:07:01 Rangers fans’ display at Ibrox and objects thrown
00:10:48 Old Firm fan behaviour problems
00:13:03 Dementia in footballers
00:19:36 Rangers 1-1 Celtic analysis and reaction
00:22:10 Barry Ferguson’s future as manager and Rangers rebuild
00:27:01 Cyriel Dessers debate – 47 goals in 2 seasons
00:30:19 Celticfans criticism of Taylor, Scale, Idah and Bernardo
00:33:11 Brendan Rodgers on Daizen Maeda’s performance during Old Firm derby
00:35:12 Scottish Cup focus for Celtic and push for a treble
00:36:35 Dundee 1-2 Motherwell reaction
00:41:04 VAR offside debate – Dundee vs Motherwell
00:45:49 Ross County 1-3 Hearts / Shankland praise
00:48:13 Derek McInnes Hearts FC rumours
00:49:54 St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock / Simo Valakari on relegation fight
00:51:04 Hibs 3–1 Dundee United / David Gray backed by fans
00:53:02 Aberdeen criticism and St Mirren praise
00:56:00 Falkirk promotion celebration
00:58:38 Scottish Premiership Playoffs: Partick Thistle vs Ayr / Livingston’s form
00:59:45 Champions League preview: Inter Milan vs Barcelona

Thanks for watching PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show LIVE.

#celticfc #rangersfc #oldfirm

Welcome to the football show on PLZ soccer’s YouTube channel. I’m Peter Martin. Alan Ruff is alongside me and two special guests on a Monday. Steven O’Donnell and Steven McGowan are here with me and here’s what’s coming up on today’s show brought to you by Arnold Clark Rewards. John McGlin picks up manager of the year at PFA Scotland last night. Meanwhile, Dyson Mietta is named player of the year. Rangers release a statement condemning fan behavior at yesterday’s old firm at Ibrooks. Hibs hit front of the race for third after victory in the capital. Antony Dockerty blasts match officials after Dundee suffered a harsh V call at Dense Park. Yeah, just a few of the topics to discuss. We’ll look back over the weekend’s Scottish Premiership fixtures. look ahead to what we have in store this week which involves playoffs, a bit of European football thrown in for good measure. And if we get right to the end and we’re looking for something to talk about, Harry Kane as a winner in the Bundesliga, let’s see if we can get there. Um, great to have the two Stevens with us. Uh, Ruffy PFA awards in the end, Dyson Mida, uh, John McGlin and Lennon Miller, the big winners. Here’s the whole list of everybody who attended the awards last night and watched on as the player of the year voted for by the players. Dyson Mita picked up that award. The young player, Lennon Miller. The championship player of the year was Brad Spencer. Fraser Taylor picked it up in League One, Alan Troutton in League Two. And there’s John McGlin confirmed as manager of the year. And for the SWPPL, Emma Lton was the player of the year. The young player of the year was Laura Bry. And the manager of the year was Grant Scott. So congratulations to all. Um any argument with it, Ruffy? No, I think we all know he was the front runner for a long long time. He’s had a wonderful season. Uh the amount of goals he scored since goals had left, I think, don’t think anybody saw he was going to get that amount. But no, he’s been a breath of fresh air. I think anybody we had in when we asked who they thought would be the front runner, it was going to be him. Yeah. Did he surprise you moving into that central role and scoring so many goals, Stephen? I think obviously scoring so many goals was maybe a bit of a surprise, but what you knew from from when he played out wide was the the energy he gave, the relentlessness in his performances every week and he continued that when they went up top and he’s he’s getting chances. Celtic obviously have a lot of the ball and and and he’s brought this season a composure in front of goal and delivery that has propelled him to to Celtic’s main man. Yeah. um in the end, you know, when he goes there and he he he’s fired in the amount of goals that he’s fired in. Um that certainly caught the attention of everybody. I’m not too sure um whether some people might have a gripe about the manager of the year. Steve, what do you make of it? Well, I think people always have a gripe about the manager of the year, but I mean John McG backto back promotions. I mean, it’d be pretty pretty poor to begrudge him that. Um look, the trouble with these things always is the same. It’s too early because you can’t really get the full context until you know who’s won everything. If Brendan Rogers wins a treble, then it looks a bit harsh not to give it to him. But equally, you have that argument about resources as well, don’t you? Yeah. And your teammate, young Lennon Miller, um he looks assured. I watched him up at Dens at the weekend as well. He just he’s always looking for that forward pass. What is it that’s so special about him that you see on a daily basis? He’s so calm, composed, and and always want he always wants the ball. That’s one of the things that’s the most impressive about someone so young is like the number of times you’re we’re trying to find the middle of the park a lot now. and and when you you find him, he will lose it sometimes as as every player does. But the next time I get the ball who’s running over trying to give me the angle, he is constantly looking to better himself as as a play player, how he kind of listens, wants to kind of learn from this manager to differently learn to from Kwell as well. And it’s um and no, it’s it’s it’s exciting to see how he does and and interesting to see where he goes because he will go. I’m sure he will and and nothing but the best from everyone at ML. He’s been been exceptional for us. Yeah, it’s a it’s a big call for him. It’s a big decision. He’s got some really sensible people around him. None more so than his dad. But thought you going to see me there. I was like, “Yeah, know your spot. Let’s not descend the show into stupidity.” Steven, he’s waiting till he goes before he goes in and neg you’re still hanging on for the testimonial. But on that point though, I mean, as a player, so there there are no boundaries now when you consider that, you know, we’re all sitting here watching Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmore on the, you know, so close to winning a SEA title. He’s got a big call that he might say to himself, I want to go and develop myself in European football. and it’s open for him. I’ve spoken about this before. There was there was the debate with um young rice went to Rangers and and and Lenn and stayed at Mau and decisions like this, you can make what you think’s best for yourself and your family. There’s there’s no other nothing else matters because no matter where you go or what you do, if it goes well, people will say it was a master stroke. If it goes badly, oh, shocking decision. Should have stayed, should have left, whatever it is. So look, I’m I’m delighted that he has stayed and played for Muddle because he’s made us better for the the 70 odd games he’s played. He has improved our team. So selfishly, I’m delighted and hopefully he’s got more experience which then puts him into a position to be a first team player wherever he goes. But look, I I think he’s a a ridiculously talented footballer and no matter what path he chose, I think he would have made it. Um I just hope that he goes and kicks on again, which which I’m sure he’s capable of. Yeah. Um, congratulations to everyone who picked up an award at the ceremony last night. Um, that’s the highs of an award ceremony. Um, we always like to talk about uh the football that we’ve witnessed over the weekend, whether it involves Celtic and Rangers playing other teams, but when the two of them lock horns together, uh, you like to talk about what happens on the park. But as ever with uh, the clubs when they get together, there always is a contentious moment and it started right from the off. uh with the tofo that was displayed. Now clearly uh this tofo has angered not just people who witnessed it uh in the stadium and on the TVs but obviously it’s upset uh Rangers as a club as well. Uh Rangers Football Club has condemned the actions of the individual who threw a bottle during today’s match. This behavior is no place at our stadium which is the first part. Uh and then they go on to talk about the to. We also acknowledge that the to displayed prior to kickoff crossed the line and was unacceptable. Our approach to supporters displays has always been built on trust uh with the responsibility placed on groups to exercise good judgment. So that’s let’s deal with the immediate uh point which is on uh you know the to again it’s in bad taste but I think over and above that I think that that could easily be nipped in the bud earlier when you allow people into a stadium in the first place there must be some kind of control on what you’re going to display. That’s what people can’t understand. It’s all very well Rangers making a statement and they’re right to make a statement and I understand why because this is a club you’re trying to go through with a multi-million pound takeover just now and it’s very likely that the values of the potential new owners in San Francisco don’t necessarily marry with the traditional values inverted commas of some supporters but the fact is how does that something that monumental get into the stadium without the club knowing about it we’re talking about always been built on trust well you Oh, I I think if we know anything about Union Bears and the Green Brigade, you can’t necessarily trust them to tow the line all the time. Ultras will be ultras. So, I think there has to be a bit more checks and balances going on when it comes to these things. Yeah. Um Ruffy, it was in pure taste. I had one of your old teammates photographed with a gun uh first and foremost. And then secondary to that, um you know, it’s it’s just a derogatory statement. Again, inflammatory as well. Um, and I think that’s the most pertinent point about it is the fact that with the fans holding this banner up. This again throws light on a very sensitive time when the owners are looking and saying you want you want everything to be above board. You don’t want negativity surrounding it when you when you’re negotiating with them. I personally think if there is a takeover, the owners are might be upset about these things but are looking at the cold light of day of financially what are we getting ourselves into? Yeah, I think Steven’s right. I think any of the new owners that were at that game it would be an eye opener and they’d be turning around each other and going what’s that about? You know, that’s that’s the problem they’re going to have when they get in. But you’re right, it’s for me it’s just happening far too often and we we sit here and we debate how do you do it? How do you stop them getting in? The question for me is why do they do, you know, why do they think that that is acceptable in this day and age to do something like that? Yeah. And uh just they’re on the verge of everything, you know, that that stand getting banned, not in SPL, but in Europe, you know, but something’s got to happen. Somebody’s got to come out and do something about it. Who, you know, that’s the problem. Who does you look at it? I mean, police Scotland are obviously looking into I don’t think it’s a police matter personally. um a to other issues that happened when was going on in the picture. So that absolutely is a police matter. I don’t know what a to but did the SPFL did the SAP want to get involved in that? Well, I think we know the answer to that. Yeah, banners Toss can cross the line into whether the police uh would then view it as something my personal feeling. Yeah, I mean I don’t I don’t get offended by these things to be honest. No, I don’t either. I mean I can’t get excited about it. If people do get offended, fair enough. But I mean, is it is is that a police matter for me personally? Probably not. A bottle going on the pitch, absolutely. The other thing about it, um, yeah, bottle going on the pitch, I think I’m I’m not I’m I’m excluding you for a specific reason, Stephen, because quite simply, you’re playing football. It’s a very difficult and and volatile subject for a player of another club uh to offer, you know, some kind of forthright opinion on it, just in case you think I’m blanking you on it. Um the bottle is another problem because as we are sitting you know week in week out talking about bring drink back to the game. This just sets you further and further back. We were trusted with Tif. How can be trusted with a drink? Well absolutely because we were at Motherwell a couple of weeks ago uh where they had a beer garden. It was absolutely brilliantly organized. Um people just going for a drink of all ages um and enjoying themselves and then they would go into the game roughly and drinking does happen around the grounds but it makes it more and more difficult to get it on a on the the courtyard in the in the grounds. Yeah. But again we we in the modern day CCTV is everywhere in a stadium. If you get into most stadium there is a room with so many cameras that can identify that kind of thing. You would just like that they can pinpoint it and find the person, you know. Same with the Celtic thing as well. They’ve got photographs of that guy with a the phone in his hand. Identify them, make an example of them, and hopefully the people run about them would say, “Well, if I’m going to get banned for life, that’s what’s going to happen to me.” Well, that brings me to the next point which I do have here in the notes which is quite simply at times genuinely good football fans who go to games um you know want to watch the football want to sing and support their team um we’ve already dealt with a t in the bottle when I saw the images of a man mocking the death of 66 people at Ibros um it just beggars belief uh that you know first of all he thinks that that is okay to do. Um it tells you all about his morals and values when he goes into a game like that. And again, if he’s crossed the line, if he’s broken the law, I’m sure the police will deal with it. There’s also and I was reading in the papers today investigations into an Aberdeene fan mocking a disabled St. Marin fan. There are people and we’ve got to accept it in life, Stephen, who just come to games and they are not nice people, no morals, no values and basically they tarnish the club by being associated with them. What a brain dead. I mean it’s very difficult to get your head around that stuff. How can anybody with a normal background relate to what’s going on in these situations? It is brain dead and as you say it’s been a pretty grim weekend if you look at what happened at Baisley what happened at Ibox the problem is that what you get quite often is a what about instead of fans looking at the the you know looking at trying to trying appeal to their fellow fans and their own support to get their house in order it’s like never mind us what about what’s going on over there that’s exactly what happens and that is what’s happening again here and it’s just like look can we all agree it’s not a it’s not a there’s no point scoring it’s not a point scoring It’s not a club bias thing, you know, wherever this happens, it’s out of order. Yeah, absolutely. Um, okay, we’ve dealt with the issue. We’re going to try and talk football. Just before we get on to the games, um, can I just mention that, uh, our thoughts are with Andy Payton. Uh, it was a story that caught my eye. Andy Payton played for Celtic in the 90s. He’s only 57 roughly, battling against dementia. Uh and clearly Andy was one of those players, striker who would be heading the ball, you know, relentlessly in training and of course in match play. And at 57, his wife and himself are well aware of the fact that having seen and sought out medical advice that that dementia early as it is will play a part in his life in future years. Yeah. The Tony Higgins in particular is active and uh doing something with dementia. We went through to to Hollywood a group of footballers just to put a case forward. I think it was about six or seven months ago and I think unfortunately it never get taken any further. It was put in front of the MSPs. Uh and we debated it for a long long time. Everybody threw in their tenssworth of my generation and other generations and but I don’t think it happened. you know they were looking for compensation as other organizations were looking for some kind of know some kind of decision but we don’t even know medically you know there’s nobody coming out and actually going 100% yeah you know everybody seems to be again usually as it goes to something like that just goes round and round and round and round and nothing happens. Yeah, Stephen. Uh, what we do know is that, um, of the evidence that’s been presented, it is three to four times more likely that you could get, you know, dementia, Alzheimer’s, based on the fact that you’re heading a ball relentlessly. Uh, especially, dare I say it, center half, center forwards. Um, probably a positive I’ve moved any center back 32, 33. I know exactly. That’s what I was thinking. But the problem here is Stephen that as Ruffy mentioned there and this is where I think it it does hit a wall and it’s quite simply who pays and if they have to pay then they’ll put a rider in a contract saying by the way you know the risks there’s no compensation. I think it’s a we bit you see it over in America more so with American football and and I think with the helmets they just feel they’re they’re they can’t be broken and they fly into everything. I think I’m surprised at that being as high as that with with with heading it. Um, I would have thought it’d be increased it that much, but again, it would be nice if everyone was made aware and and kind of making sure everyone’s aware of it. I still think people would want to do it. I don’t think personally my mindset would be I I came in football when I was playing and and I knew there was risks attached. The problem is I don’t think the generation before maybe knew so they should know. But um certainly being aware of it and maybe helping catching it early, things to prevent it. I know the the concussion protocols changed to try and be a bit more vigorous to to kind of help minimize the damage when rather than doubling down, which a lot of players would do. Oh, I’m fine. I can play. Um, so it’s important we try and certainly when people players are active do everything we can to be like making it as safe as possible for them, but certainly after they retire as we they they they can’t be forgotten about and giving them the best help and the the best care if it’s maybe providing some sort of some sort of private health to maybe get them scans earlier if they think something’s wrong because there’s no doubt about it, dementia, Alzheimer’s, they’re they’re they’re very diff difficult for for the person involved and family members to to to cope with and deal with. And last point on this, Stephen, and this is where the problem that Fraser Wisher as chief executive of the PFA is highlighted. It’s fine if you’re in the English Premier League where there’s absolutely thousands upon thousands of money there and a and a stronger safety net and an ability to try and help people and their families. Up here, it’s very difficult. Even down south, there’s a bit of controversy, isn’t I mean Chris Sutton one of the guys has been battering the PFA down south because they they are rolling your money. I don’t really know that they’ve been coming forward to help families and players and that that’s the issue. Football is is welfare than it’s ever been as a sport. What is it doing to make some provision for the families who are struggling to cope for players with players who were damaged from heading the ball too often? And you know there’s a big myth about this as well and it was exposed by the field study at University of Glasgow that it’s because of the heavy balls. Well, actually that’s not proven. It might as just as much be the fact the speed of the modern ball as the heaviness of it. It’s just as damaging and that’s got to be concerning as well. Absolutely. I would have said with Stevens Tom there in my era there was no building up for the back. Soon as I picked up the ball, you launched it. So the only two people were going heading on the ball was the center half and the center forward. Yeah. So I would think they’re more likely than anybody else. era before my era. But as Steven says, you’ve got somebody to put forward a I don’t know if that’s been done like looking at midfielders say avoiding it. Well, the other thing is a good point. Interesting to know that as a I don’t know if you’ve I don’t know if we’ve actually got to a situation where they’ve actually looked at the broad spectrum of people who have contracted dementia or Alzheimer’s and then started to break it down into where you play because Billy McNeel basically said in training would be heading a ball. Somebody would be throwing it up for him and he’d just be heading it to try and get the distance and of course you know heading the ball properly and that in training alone you know well Scotland’s led the way in this. I mean it’s not just University of Glasgow SFA 2022 was over when Qatari World Cup when the SFA announced it. Was it the day before training and day before a game and the day after a game you don’t hate the ball or something for Steven or something? There was something like that brought in. Yeah. Yeah. And so I mean the the Scottish football’s kind of tried to lead the way on this. Um the problem is that it all takes money and to get to the next stage where we start to identify whe it’s midfielders or center halves or center forwards someone needs to feel to to fund the research. As I say I think football has been a bit slow coming forward. Yeah. Okay. You can give us your thoughts on that. Let’s get into the meat and bones of the weekend’s football. Rangers won. Celtic one. Wasn’t a great game. Um who was the star man on each side for you? Rascan for me for Rangers. For Celtic thought Engles wasn’t bad. Um tricky for Celtic actually. I thought Rascan was definitely the best player on the pitch. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Rascan and and Balagan. Celtic. I mean it’s difficult sometimes because of the standards he set. Sometimes it’s difficult to look beyond McGregor because he makes the whole thing look so easy by coming back building taking it off somebody giving them an angle. uh and he gets applauded so many times. But of all the players that were there, I mean, I think one of the papers gave Hati an eight. Second half, he was good. Hat I thought like Vicers and McGregor tend to be pretty comfortable all the time, which is um and I thought they were again yesterday, but I think I thought Balagan was really good. Um he was solack in the first half with M Forest was slipped in just to get back. Some really good defending. But um but look, I think the game maybe lacked a spark that creates a star man. Um but it was still an entertaining enough game. There was a drama obviously before and then and then during the game which obviously adds to stuff, but you know, look, I think um with the the the league being over, I think it was always going to be a difficult one to to contest. Yeah, I think if from a Rangers perspective these games I think the Rangers fans will feel what might have been because they’ve they’ve got the best out of the the fixtures against Celtic um even with the draw. Um but it just hasn’t materialized for them this season. That’s what the big pain is. Can’t beat lesser sides. Yeah, you could see the hope in the game that they would win it and uh take that goes with that winning uh and carrying it on into next season because obviously now it never happened and the records are coming out what is it seven games at home they haven’t won a game it’s a record you know things like that things like that but anyway they haven’t won six games anyway yeah and and these records start coming out so it was important that they won it I I think from Rangers point of views in these games I I don’t know who it is, but there they seem to been able to deal with Callum McGregor know such that that he’s not going to be influential in the games. We’re going to do something that he’s not going to win the game for Celtic. In the last three games, I thought they’ve done that. Yeah. Well, the battle for me, which I love to see, I mean, Scott Brown was a master at it. Let’s pick a fight. Rascan and McGregor sort of ding-dong with each other was great to watch. Yeah. I mean, I don’t think there’s any great secret to this. I think Rangers are well suited to games against Celtic in Europe when they can set traps, they can counterattack, they can press high. The problem is when they come up against teams playing a low block, you know, when they’re playing against 11 men, they’re just not as good at breaking them down. So, I think it just I think it’s that simple. And I think that’s part of the problem for Barry Ferg that hasn’t really changed since they came in. They’re still, you know, they’re still getting the same results against Celtic that they were under. Come on, Lally. Anyway, the same results they were in Europe. He just hasn’t managed to break that pattern domestically in terms of going up against teams like Mwell, against Murden, against, you know, Dundee United and actually making it better and breaking them down. Yeah. Um over and above that um you know we’re talking about the record Barry still himself has to look at it and say well you know they have he thinks it’s better if Rangers make their move soon to appoint a manager. Barry himself still wants the job. I know I can do the job. Yeah I would of course but that’s up to people above to decide. Um, look, since I’ve come in here, there’s been a few bumps, but that does not scare me one single, but I know I’ve been in I’ve been through the doors now. I know what’s needed in terms of change. Um, so we just need to wait and see. But as I said to you, it has to be a decision made quickly now cuz we’re we’re coming to the end of the season. You need to obviously start deciding what way you you want to go heading into heading into next season because this season’s been dry in terms of trophies. This club needs to get needs to get back to to challenging and winning trophies again. I think the general feeling across a broad spectrum of people is he hasn’t got a catch chance in hell of getting it. Um now I think it’s a we bit unfair on the basis not his side. I think they’re a team of I think they’re a team of underachievers and a team that’s just quite simply not good enough. Yeah, I think probably the players are the problem other than the man who the manager is. I think Barry’s conduct himself pretty well. I think he’s spoken well. I think he’s shown he takes responsibility seriously. Um he he’s he’s been a good ambassador for the club, but I think they want to make a statement. I think they want to get a name. Um and listen, we don’t know what’s going on in the background. It would be naive to think they’re not already looking at this subject. They’re not talking to people. Be that Steven Gerard or whoever Shawn Disher and I’m not just throwing those names out there. Have no idea whether they are or not. But you’d like to think this takeover is not a new thing. You must have been speaking to people behind the scenes. Although ultimately the decision you would think would have to be influenced by Kevin Fwell, the new sporting director. I would have thought he’s spot on though looking like Barry talking about wanting to get a decision done quickly because even for ourselves at Mau the manager coming in he needed time to especially when he was foreign coming in maybe not knowing the league he needed to come in and find out who he can trust who he thinks’s a good player who he needs to get rid of that is hard to so Barry is well placed to know that he he’ll know his squad but obviously to fight bring someone else in they they need to try and catch catch that quickly because before you know the season started And then is it another year? Are they going to wait another year? Which then obviously I dare say the fans aren’t going to be happy with that. So it becomes a a time-sensitive issue and um and I really do think they need to try and appoint one quickly. Well, here’s my take on it. I don’t think there is a time-sensitive issue here. I think quite simply until there are new owners in the door and then Kevin Fwell says, “Okay, how much have we got? What type of manager can we recruit? And how much money is he going to have?” And that will then allow me to sit down with a specific type of manager and say, “Listen, I want you on this fee and this is what you’re going to get to try and transform Rangers to take the title away from Celtic.” And that for me is not suddenly Barry Ferguson calling it’s time to quicken this up because it doesn’t happen that way. Ry, there’s too many unknowns at the moment. Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. The guys are perfectly right. We’re waiting in a statement and we’re waiting till it’s all signed and and sealed. You know, we know it’s going to cost a lot of money to take it over. No. Does that mean what’s left? Does that mean what is left determines what kind of manager comes in or takes it? Uh, and I think the range of supporters are just anticipation just waiting to see. But Bar’s right, you know, I can’t imagine what it must be like for him, wondering, wondering is it going to be me, is it not going to be me. So, from his point of view, I’m sure he’d want to have a decent sleep at night knowing whether he’s getting it or not. Yeah. whether it’s Barry Ferguson or someone else that we are waiting out of left field to get that job. Um there’s a few players that they’ll have to look at and say yay or nay. Um but of course he has actually the man who’s coming in inherited a guy who scored a barload of goals and is still dividing the Ranger support. Um here’s what Sirill Desers had to say after his goal his sixth touch of the ball yesterday. The other five touches weren’t really in dangerous areas. the sixth one provided Rangers with the lead and he was quick to highlight his contribution over the last two seasons. I think if two years ago, the day I signed, you would tell the fans this striker is going to score, I don’t know, 47 goals uh in two seasons, I think everybody would have said, “Oh, yes, please.” And I I didn’t now. Could have been more, probably. Yes. Could have been less. Probably yes. Um, so I’m just trying to do my job and and it hurt me a lot in the beginning, but now I kind of move past that. If you ever met a guy who scored 47 goals in two seasons and and the juryy’s still out, I think we’d take that. 47 goals. I’d take two. The uh No, look, I think um it’s certainly someone that at times you can see the fan fans get frustrated with him. Um but to have that return like it’s you can’t argue with it. It’s fact. Um what’s he like to play against? I thought he’s difficult. He’s he’s strong. He’s athletic. Um I think he maybe falls suit to sometimes Ranger style doesn’t they maybe don’t dominate the game say as maybe a Celtic did. But you probably look at Celtic strikers like Ko would have went through games where he wouldn’t have touched it much when they’re dominating a lot of the ball and he’s kind of drifting in that offside channel. The problem is he’d be dead sharp and and maybe easier on the eye. Um, I think he’s look, you can’t argue he’s returning. I think when the if the new owners come in, they’ll be certainly seeing him as an asset and probably either one they’re looking to sell if the fans aren’t happy and they maybe get that vibe or um or want to try and keep him tied down because he’s certainly an asset with that return the likes of Rasking as well with the form he’s been shown. Yeah. Um, it’s an unforgiving city. You know, in some cases I’ve heard the sweet give Desers 57 chances and he’ll eventually kill you. Listen, I would have them about the place. Personally, I’ve always said this, always felt this. I don’t know. I wouldn’t you wouldn’t want him as your main man starting every game, but I mean 25 goals this season alone. I mean that that’s some dud for me. I mean um he he can be infuriating. He can drive you nuts. A bit like Adam was kind of tailor two strikers. Just wasn’t that the jury was out the two of them. Vadima doesn’t score that equ. Yeah. The price tags are a bold around our neck with these guys. Yeah, serial was it 4.3 million a lot of money for Rangers to pay at that time. It’s not Eda’s fault that they paid 9 million for Hamira. I mean that that was a a negotiating situation with Celtic when they didn’t build a permanent deal into his own deal last season. So I think these guys are victims of circumstance or price tags and I think that some of sometimes the criticism is a wee bit harsh. Yeah, criticism as ever always comes over the course of the season. You’ve you’ve been well used to it yourself, Stephen. um with regards to these guys when they come to an old F game or they come to a Champions League game suddenly everybody’s got an opinion on them everybody then will you know are ruthless in the way they go about it you know people yesterday looking saying Taylor no scales bomb scare right hand side rson back up but not good enough then you move to Edah you go 9 million you know not lethal enough and then the ultimate one which everybody’s debating is 11 million angles what does he do you know That’s the type of thing that’s the fallout from it and Desers comes into that category as well. Ruffy. Yeah, but as the guy said, these records there 47 goals. No, you could sign somebody for 15 million and maybe not get 47 goals in two years. I think it’s just the way Rangers play. He gets chances. Yeah. But I mean I I just think if if I shut my eyes and put him in a Celtic jersey, I think you probably score more. the way Celtic play with the wide two wide wingers balls flashing into the the box you know I think that style of play would probably suit him better but tell me a center forward that doesn’t even miss chances you know somebody was saying to me I can’t remember who it was told me the other night that when when he signed for Rangers was a journalist can’t remember who it was said he phoned somebody in Italy a well-known name in Italy I said to him tell me about serial desers and he said well the thing with him is it’ll be a two some weeks it’ll be a nine other weeks it’s just there there’s very little in between the serial desers eratic. It’s either there or it’s there. There’s no middle ground. Yeah. You’re a six or a seven every week. Ste 100%. Exactly. 100%. I think when you see if he is like that, I don’t obviously watch him week to week, but if he what Ranger would think then if that was say maybe if they had heard somewhere, but if he can get that up to a five, you then go this is a top player like that’s not a massive and he’s got the ability, he’s got the finishing. It’s just trying to string that together. And again, you’re saying string that together. He’s he’s return’s not bad for one strikes is a brilliant guy, doesn’t he? He doesn’t take all this. He takes this stuff amazingly well. Yes. Absolutely to Glasgow. And and I think there I think there is um mitigating circumstances for Anita or an Engles. And I’ve said it before, you know, whether you’re Barry Ferguson, whether you’re Brendan Rogers or any manager that comes in, you know, a Stuart Kettlewell or Michael Vimemer, you have a responsibility first to win games. You look at your squad, you want to get players around you and you want to try and make them better players. and Arna Engles Adameida young players developing I include in that Hamza Egan Mana um because I’m waiting to see if he’s going to uh you know improve he’s only 22 years of age so we’ve got to cut them some slack the one thing that’s certain out of the game I mean bragging rights are gone it was a dead rubber for me had won the league by a caner and you don’t really know if you’d had that real edge to it um and yesterday at one point I’m watching the game amazingly Ruffy I was looking I’m thinking to myself, Mita, he looks off it, you know. And by the way, that’s him slowing down to hurricane. That’s not usually the tornado. This is him. I said he’d flown 20,000 miles to the car. But of course, the other thing about it is you’re looking at Well, I’m just giving you my thoughts on what I’m watching and I’m watching going, he looks off it. And of course, this is what Brendan this is what Brendan Rogers had to say on it as as he opens the door to why he looks off it. We have to give him uh some leeway. He’s been in Japan all week. He had his first training day with us yesterday. He flew expecting his wife to have their third child and she didn’t have it. So, he had to come back and then go into a game here at Ibro. Now, come on, Ruffy. I think it’s fair to say at 20,000 miles. By the way, his Fitbit must have been delighted. It’s the first time it hasn’t burnt out. No. No. But again, you could see his face. He was disappointed with that chance at the end, you know. I just think you try to be a we bit flash trying to roll it around the the keeper when there’s two guys wide. But again, we’re talking about what he’s contributed this year and just a we mistake like that, you know, he’s scored that many goals. I think it’s harsh in some leeway. How long is the flight to Japan 20,000 miles after two and a half hours in the bus? Brilliant. Um now obviously from that point of view um yeah I think the Celtic fans will not be bothering about uh that game. He he certainly last night was a happy man. He picked up his award for player of the year and he obviously revealed to our reporter uh Allison McConnell that all his focus as his teammates will be is on the Scottish Cup final and the treble. Um it’s not easy to get this award. So I’m really happy to receive this So as a team we have a chance to win the treble. So yeah it’s been great and we will go everything for it and individually it’s been a great season as well and uh still we play uh three four more games. So I would like to do my best to contribute to the team’s winning. Well the team is doing well and it’s kind of like teams are making me to score. So first of all we still have a cup final to play and we need to win that first. So there you are, D Mida. Focus on the cup final. Okay. Elsewhere, give us your thoughts on the Rangers game. Um, Rangers fans, what did you make of it? Um, who do you think got past Mark as a star man? Uh, Celtic fans, give us your thoughts. We struggle to actually name a star man. Um, and of course we will read out some of your thoughts regarding Toss and the conduct of some fans, which is uh quite clearly uh something that the police may well see. there could be uh somebody who’s broken the law and they’ll deal with it. But uh certainly rangers have taken a stance that they don’t want to be associated with the conduct of people displaying a to which is inflammatory. Whether there’s action to be taken by the SPFL as well, we’ll wait to see. Um other games I was up there at Dens Park done D1 Mother 2. Um I know you’re a little bit meiffed. I thought, you know, it’s always a worry when you get a text from a footballer who’s not happy with your line of questioning. Um, but I did think it was a bit I did think it was a a bit of a smash and grab from your boys. Um, because suddenly you’re down to 10 men and I thought, God, you’re going to be up against it. But you actually you actually started to play even better. No, look, I think when you go to 10 men, I I’ll allow a bit of smash and grab. I felt in in context of the game in the first half they scored two. they one chance one-on-one they should maybe score but Master Oxra who’s been out for a while came back in and he’s ridiculously hard to beat from oneonone so I kind of think oneonone’s it’s not even a chance half the time with him because he’s that good um and then the two outside the box portales first one’s a beautiful strike but a ricochet before it second one’s another ricochet and a kind of bit more of a lucky strike with with the offside um contentious offside but I still think if some days can affect you doing something I think it does interfere with it. So that’s my opinion on it. But um and then I thought in general play was we were pretty comfortable and had a number of chances. Simon Murray was a a nuisance at times but didn’t really have any chances. I don’t think there were many games you can say that about Simon Murray and I thought we looked threatening at times. Can we be better? Yes. Um but look I think when when we got the the equalizer and then obviously the red card you then think okay we probably would have taken a draw but um for that second goal for the jump and by the way I felt it was a red card I was running about saying it wasn’t at the time but quite a good view of it and and it did look quite bad so that’s good with VAR we need to praise it when it comes in and does the right call even if it’s against yourself and um and then obviously the goal JT’s jump um to the energy shown by that even it was Dom Thompson in the the wide area to get there at that time in the game and and put in a good ball and JT to to out jump I think was it Robertson was a was a great goal and a great kind of moment to kind of secure 41 years in the league and what’s been a a pretty disappointing season not really been any consistency which is disappointing but um but look we’re in the league again next year hopefully come back stronger um get some players in and uh and see how we look. And at the end of the game, as ever, this is the one thing I like, you know, like Stephen, I like a good noise up. All the players are cheering and the mother players are all c kind of cuddling each other. But Tony W is over to the Dundee fans lifting his top because they have been calling him a fat so and so for the entire game. So to his credit, he gave it to them, you know, and I thought, good on you, Tony. That’s the That’s when you like a bit of banter. That’s a spirit. I thought I mean that Clark Robertson thing was a big to point, wasn’t it? I mean that is interesting statement but the letter of the law you’re thinking okay the referee’s got it right but it’s a real debate isn’t it I mean if he doesn’t touch the ball is he is he well I just I disagree with Stephen I mean that’s the joy that’s the joy of it I thought it was a goal I thought it was a perfect legitimate goal because at the end of the day I don’t I you might say that that he’s altered it but I don’t think he altered the any challenge came anywhere near enough to to actually alter the way he was clearing it he touched the ball back out again I don’t know if he did. No, he didn’t. Ruffy, I think he did. I think he was in an offside position and he came forward. I thought he came. I thought it was affected. If he touches it, if he touches it, he’s offside. 100%. I thought he did. No, that was the reason. My My thought was, so I know you’re a good f player, Peter. Right. Maybe say sevens as well. Right. Sevens involves a bigger pitch. No, if you’re going one-on-one with the keeper and nobody’s chasing you from behind, you’re taking what you doing? You’re taking your time and you’re slowing it home. Yeah. If somebody’s coming for you know they’re there, they’re coming. Are you right? What you you changing your mind thought process? No. But if you know he’s there, but it is interfering with playing. So I know he’s if I know he’s there, I’m going to need to rush my clearance. If I don’t know he’s there now, we’re giving our player the benefit that they knew. Yeah. Which they 100% did. Yeah. Unbelievable awareness we had. You’re going to you take a touch or you maybe the referee’s not saying I am thinking on thought process. The referee is looking in the cold light of day and saying that’s an effect. Has he had a material effect with the distance? That’s what I’m saying. You’ve changed my thought. You’ve the person behind me are coming from an offside position has affected what I’m going to do. Yeah. And therefore I think it’s now we can we talk about I get that the managers are disappointed because it’s not a it’s obviously not a blatant one. Yeah. But again we were up Dundee a couple of months ago and we the man down with head knock the game didn’t get stopped. So maybe the the gods spin it round and another contentious one albeit I’d say head knock stop and play regardless. So um there’s going to be mistakes. Var is going to make mistakes. I don’t think that’s one of them but again that’s for the beauty of football and the beauty of VAR. It’s it’s it’s it’s continued debate and I thought it might have ended it but we’ve still got plenty of talking points and that and that’s the that’s the that’s the positive of Scottish football. Yeah. You say he was ra he was raging. Boy, he was raging. Here’s Tony Derty. the this game for spectators is all about entertainment and the entertainment comes from them watching the team scoring goals and you’ve seen the reaction of the fans when Antonio scores his second goal there and I just think it’s a disgrace to have made that decision which affects the dynamic of game and again I will stress the point I do not abdicate responsibility our second half performance they came out the front foot they had a lift from that decision we went deep and we allowed them back into the game but not matching a runner and then at one each when they get a player sent off we go for it you We take off a defender, we put on an attacker, we go 442 and we shouldn’t lose that. You know, it’s it’s a ridiculous goal to lose the match on and what could have been an important point the way results went today. The other thing about it, which you know, I take your point, you’re going back and you’ve highlighted something else that happened elsewhere and and probably every team, Stephen, and I hate and I don’t buy into it. It evens itself out over the course of a season. But we’re now getting down to that point where managers are saying, “Wait a minute. I could get the sack. A player loses his job because they’ve cut the budget.” Context is everything there. I mean, you if you look at it, then if they get two up, we’ve got a real good chance of winning the game. That gives them a bit of leeway between themselves and Ross County and then St. John. You look at it now. If St. Johnson beat Ross County this weekend to reduce a gap right between 11 and 12 to three points. Then de are going to kill Marmock which is not an easy place to go at all. That could get really tight. So context is everything. You can understand the frustration. I think it’s probably exacerbated his reaction there. Yeah. Um listen it’s a great it’s a good argument uh all the way on it. What’s your take on it Ruffy? thought he came in I think like Steven he came in and was active in the move that led to the goal you know and and I’m thinking I think back to the Celtic game why is why was M my not interfering with play just when he was in the line of vision of the goal that’s I thought at the time when I first seen it I thought he was just a wee bit wider you know a bit to the left he would have been yeah yeah yeah listen it’s one of those decisions give us your thoughts on it which camp are you and definitely shouldn’t have been a goal. Should have been a goal. You changed my mind actually. Yeah, Steven’s changed my mind before. I thought you were going oneon one. Pre previously I was very much should have been a goal. Actually listen to the pro speaking as opposed to yourself, Peter. I think I’ve actually changed my mind. Yeah, absolutely. Um there hasn’t No, not at all. I just think you’re talking a lot of crap. But nevertheless, you double down. I love it. I’m not. I love it. Listen, the last thing I’m going to be is a weak journal is being changed by your mind on it. Not a chance. I thought it was I thought it was a goal. In fact, I had already tweeted it was a goal and then the referee put his hand up and had to quickly change back. I hadn’t clocked it at all at the time. I was like, why is he checking it? Keep checking it. And then and then of course your uh that can go getting chopped off. It was a lovely. He’s an absolute belter. It’s a belter of my goal. But uh listen, just on a quick little point that I’ve mentioned to the boys we’ve talked about on the journals as well. I’d love to see ar and it’s nothing to do with the way that goal came about. I’d love to see arson vengers um you know implement the there’s got to be clear daylight in offside to give us more goals. I mean even the goal for goal’s goal would have been on side. I want to see clear daylight so that we understand that this is an entertainment where we want people to come and enjoy goals. The problem is always going to be though where’s that that point? So what do you give one foot? Yeah. Do you give half a foot? Who who dictate then? And then if you’re half a foot, I’d rather say half I’d rather say half a foot you’re on. Half a foot you’re off. Well, there was a goal in Milan Barcelona, wasn’t it? Was it choked off by it was a tool? That is a definition of what you’re talking about. Funny enough, I thought Vas I think that’s clear enough for me. No, I think that’s that’s that’s so harsh. That is not clear. No, but I mean I thought to me you look at you think yeah he’s offside toe don’t know but that’s exactly the point but that’s the point you’re making which is where do you draw the line well they draw you draw the line quite simply this if there’s not clear daylight between them if a toe plays them on body half a body clear daylight is saying if there’s clear daylight if somebody’s toe suddenly plays them on let’s see more goals I would have an issue look for ways to attack us get the benefit I would have an issue with coming in. But what I would love to come in and see when somebody’s offside, stick the flag up and stop the game cuz see the number of times you run back to your own goal. Yeah. And you’re and it’s the play can go on for a good wee bit. Tackles flying in because normally you’re running back frustrated that the flag’s not went up. I’d love that to come back where it’s like the ref the linesman have the courage to make the decision knowing that if it was maybe marginally against them the manager going to slot them because I think players would rather that. We don’t have that technology in yet, Stephen, that they do down in England. That’s another problem. We We’ve got a pound land value. That’s a problem. It’s not the cameras to do it. Absolutely. Um Ross County won Hearts three. Um and budge after Ross County scored was getting absolute dogs abuse. Ruffy once Harts got her three goals that we’re all talking about. Master stroke by Liam Fox. You know, he’s now playing the number nine role. Shanklin’s got two and he set up the third. Well, that’s where we are. and that, you know, the supporters at some clubs are dictating, you know, what’s to be done behind the scenes and unfortunately if you’ve not got a strong board to stand up and and and see them out and obviously things have got to go your way for them to keep quiet, but uh that’s the way it is at hearts just now that they’ve just turned and the people who have saved the club. Yeah. Um and there’s talk of Derek McKinnis becoming one of the front runners for the heart’s job now. It’s premature to say that just now. I’m sure he will be in their thinking. He absolutely will be in their thinking. But I think if you’re Andrew McKinley, chief executive, you’re Graeme Jones technical director. You know, you’ve got to get this right. You know, there’s big pressure here. So, I think the the process will be exhaustive. I think they’ll really take their time. Can’t rush into it. Can’t get this one wrong. The interesting thing is Jamestown Analytics will be involved again. Well, they were involved in Critley and it wasn’t a great advert for that. So, they as well have got to themselves a little bit this time. Um does Jamestown Analytics I don’t know about the software but does the software stop near Grangemouth in Falerk or does it just does it does it just blank that out isn’t it? Well, I mean what it does do is I mean we we we we we look live in every bubble where we say okay see the manager command see the manager of of Falcart they should be the front runners. What that does is look far and wide them to look across the world and the question then would be do they need somebody who knows the Scottish game. Do they need somebody who knows Scottish football? Probably. So they probably will come back to that little short list again. Probably will go back to Mc Glenn and McKinnis and so on. But I would imagine there’ll be a leftfield name or two in there. Yeah. The way things are going, you look at Aberdine. Yeah. Look at Mother. Yep. You know, these foreign coaches seem to have the heads up everybody else. We’ll get to Jimmy Tina in a moment. By the way, the tweet’s coming. It’s coming. Um St. Johnson come out at two. Watson and an Armstrong. Watson last year picking up young player young player of the year. This year he’s had a difficult time. Um and Derek McKinnis confirmed that Barry Wales will um be heading out. Bobby Bobby, Bobby Wes, sorry. Barry’s great great uncle. Um, Bobby Wales will be leaving to go to Swansea. Um, but I think Derek was putting across a positive message that he always felt as if they weren’t really thinking about relegation. Well, you can say that now. Yeah, you can say that B would crash. I don’t know. I don’t know. You can say it two weeks ago. But no, I mean, listen well have given ourselves a bit of be space. You’re coming down to that bottom three now. I mean this weekend’s going to be well we’ll probably come on to this. I don’t want to jump the gun but you know St. John was counting as a game in the weekend for me. Oh, absolutely it is. And uh Simo Valakari uh knows that they’re in the last chance saloon. Uh before I go to the game, fight continues because the other results they went, you know, that way that we still we still have a lifeline or how you call it, but it’s getting more and more uh difficult and it’s more likely our last chance next week. Now, next week we’re going to play against our direct opponent. There’s no no other options if we want to keep pushing the last two matches that we need to win next week. So, they’ve been riding them off for long enough. He’s he’s managed to get a trick out of them, just not enough, Stephen. Yeah. You know, look, I we’ve we played a couple of things, played them when they cut, they knocked us out and and I felt he he has them playing a a brand of football that’s that’s hard to play against, but maybe leaves them open sometimes for whether it’s counters or or picking up kind of the ball in dangerous areas. And um and yeah, know it’s certainly a tough one for the weekend. they do need to to win and it’s um it’ll be an interesting one if if they stay with them because he has got them playing a style and this comes down to clubs and boards having the the strength to keep a decision if that’s what they if that’s the route they wanted to go then they need to keep trusting that route to try and get them back out the championship or do they rip it up and go we need to some I think I think they will Stephen I think that’s just got mood music coming out they’re going to stand by it’s a project I mean he’s been linked to spawn with HLK Helsinki and the The noise is coming out. It’s noise staying put. He’s going to stick with us, get him back at the championship again. And you know, you talk about Neil Critley think never looked a great fit for hearts. I think Valikari will be a reasonable long-term appointment for St. John. I hope so anyway because I like him. Yeah, I like him. I think he’s I think they’ve started to play a better brand of football than they did previously. Um Heb 3 done D1. Um it it is actually not unusual to get a group of supporters who who actually put out a to which is very positive. Um and here are the Hebs fans displaying that. Nauseating as it must be to some people in the West. But uh this is them ruffy basically showing their support for David Gray. He’s turned things around. They stuck by him and there was a huge to um to celebrate um what he’s done. Um he’s been absolutely magnificent. They got a 3-1 win over Dundy United. Um, and you know, all things are looking good for third for them. Now, Ruffy, when you consider where Aberdeene were and now where Hibs find themselves favorites to finish third. Yeah. Again, I think you have to give uh the people behind the scenes at Hibs a lot of credit for hanging on in there. He was obviously a legendary club as a player and getting the manager job and seeing that right sticky. How many games was it they went without winning? Something about 13, 14. Yeah. You know, I would have thought other people in charge would have said, “Right, that’s it.” But this particular board or whoever makes the calls, whether it’s Mali or whoever, you know, stuck by them and now they’re getting the rewards and that might be a lesson to a lot of other clubs. Yeah. Let’s not be giving them praise for sticking by them. Roughly, it was because they were backs against the wall because they’ve been sacking managers willy-nilly. Fing after a man game, they lost to S. I remember there was a statement in the Monday kind of vote of conference and David Gray and to be honest was sitting around all journalists were sitting around that day waiting for the sack announcement. Yeah. And you wonder if they had an alternative that day where they might have just gone for it but it doesn’t matter was by luck or by design. It’s worked. Yeah. You see how you’ve got to try and we we have to do this on a continual basis Stephen. You have to analyze the person who’s made the statement and it’s just a sneaky exhibi who tried to spin that there, but we we didn’t fall for it. You’ve seen through it. Yeah, exactly. It’s a Hall of Fame heavy. Yeah, it’s a we know it’s a Hall of Fame heavy in the end. Dundy United I think maybe um all the highs of what Jim Goodwin has achieved is being slightly um you know criticized by some harsh United fans who are saying wait a minute we could be dropping to fifth here but yeah look I think for Dundy United again it’s just sadly the the poison chalice that is football yeah supporters will always want more and whenever you see Dundy United getting promoted last season I know Jim Goodwin had said finishing in the top six I think he’d mentioned it and before he actually which was a bold shout. Um but they went and done it and I think that’s it’s been an incredible season. Regardless if they lose the next three games they’ve still had a very very good season and um and pretty harsh if they’re criticizing them. But touching on uh Hibs I feel he could have been up for the manager of the month manager of the year. Sorry. I thought he if they were to finish third you talk about if the season was finished and I know you could say Rogers could win a a treble but from where they were in November in November wasn’t even autumn. Yeah. and and now we played them and they were a good they were a good side and we we played them near the start and they were a good side but we bet them and it continued continued and then I think we bet I can’t remember now and um to stick with him whenever he’s an inexperienced manager um it’s fair play and and to be where they are and to play exciting football um delighted for him and and and hopefully it can be sometimes there can be rough patches along the way but if you buy into them the club maybe for got the feeling around the place that the players bought into him. Um and and it’s it’s came good. Yeah. Uh Saran won Aberdine nil. Um you consider they could have been 12 points clear of Rangers to where they are now. I think there has to be some criticism here of Jimmy Tene roughly because it’s they’re now a little bit erratic. Um and they’re still in the battle for third, but he came up against St. Marin Mand who’s now got a Scottish granny somewhere. This is fantastic news. Really? That’s that’s a that’s a consideration. Apparently, his granny’s Scottish uh ruffy or she’s driven through Paisley at some point. Um we’re grasping his ths here, but yet again, Steven Robinson comes up with a win. Yeah, it was Steven in a couple of weeks ago and he still believed, you know, in the players and the results they were getting against the bigger sides. They’ve done it again at the weekend and who’s to say they won’t do it next week. So if you’re in a a team with that kind of momentum coming at the end of the season and you’re winning games and it’s a great place to be. It’s a great dressing room. Train is magnificent and uh guys like him coming up with goals at the end of the game. But I think Aberdine are just shown again that inconsistency that they showed you know in the middle part you know off the rails a wee bit. But I think the supporters will be more than happy with the cup final. Yeah. Um if they win it you’ll be a legend. Well, if he finishes fourth for third, it wins a cup. Haven’t won a Scottish cup since 1990. Yeah. So that that that will influence how people look back in this season for nothing. Who scored the winning penalty? Brian Oven. Brilliant. That’s the knowledge you need in this show by the way. Um congratulations to the manager of the year, John McGlin. Um and of course they managed to get it over the line. Uh and then a good old pitch invasion without any trouble. Uh the Faler fans certainly average age nine. uh enjoyed it. It was fantastic to see um and John McGlin was right to point out after the game um what he inherited when he came into Falerk. So proud to everyone at the football club, my backroom staff, Paul Smith, everyone involved, the directors, the fans turned this club around. This club was broken. It was on its knees finishing fifth and sixth in League One before we came in. To get to second in the first season, a Scottish Cup semi-final to be invincibles and then to do this. It’s uh it’s it’s incredible. I I don’t know. Maybe you guys can tell me when when was the last time somebody went League One Champions and then to to the Premiership. I don’t know who it is. I don’t know. Obviously, I don’t know about recent years, you know. Brilliant achievement. Great. I mean, they’re great to watch, Stephen. No, definitely. I think they we we’ve the luxury of playing them the last two preseasons. It’s just it’s not what you need preseason. You’re trying they’re popping it everywhere. You’re running a bit, but the sun’s out the pitch. But no, you could tell both both times we played them, they’re they’re a good side and um and and and delighted for them. I think when they they they play that style. Obviously the the unbeaten season kind of comes in the Brendan Rogers. They’ve been obviously a big big squad, big budget for the league, but to do it this season has been incredible and delighted for them. Know a few of the players and and Noah, I think they’re just now. So hopefully they’re enjoying it and and come back and drink plenty so they can go down next season hope. By the way, Perry, he’s not wrong because do you remember that AGM? Remember the AGM? It went viral. Yeah. It was that the board were basically just getting up you to the fans effectively was pretty much what it was. And I think at that point I remember writing a story we were losing like 1 million a year at that point. Yeah. And I don’t think Paul Hartley’s allowed anywhere near the Faler area by the way because that youth policy now is reaping its rewards. And and I hate to say this but while Falker are coming up and thinking about players that they might want to buy, I think there are players in that Faulker side that might want to be cherrypicked. I mean every time I see Calvin Miller I absolutely love the ball. That’s the amazing thing is that I think McGon’s done it with the same team, the same group of players, hasn’t it? You know, I mean, normally these players get one year contracts to change and they go up. They they don’t trust them, but they’ve trusted them. They’ve gone with them, given them a chance. Yeah. Uh just before we finish, guys, got to get your thoughts. Playoff Party Thistle, Air United, Ruffy, can you be in any way impartial in what you’re about to say? I think it’s going to be tough. I think nobody’s done it for fourth uh to get up there all the way. It’s going to be hard. I think you’re asking a lot of the players to play that many games uh in such a short time. So I think everything favors Lovington. But in this particular game, as we’ve shown in this championship, anybody can beat anybody in any given day. Yeah. Party this will have proved that in the last two games. So you Yeah. Yeah. Let’s hope they do it again. I’m going to back them. They’ll go all the way. Be delighted. Yeah. Absolutely. I tell you what, if you’re Ross countered in D, you’re not going to fancy playing Livingston a playoff fine, are you? No. Not one bit. No, absolutely not. a we mixture of a we bit of good some good football from them. Uh a bit of experience at the back as well and uh good old Davey’s absolutely magnificent. You’ve done another great job as well. Absolutely has the changes they’ve had and it’s not you take your hat off them. Yeah, absolutely. Um if you’re in control of the control in your house and you are watching football this week, you’ve got playoffs. Then you’ve got uh the ultimate game for me is Inter Milan Barcelona the the return leg which is going to be sensational. you know, to live up to, isn’t it? What a game that was. It was ridiculous. That’s the best game of the season for me. Oh, no question. Yeah, the the goals were ridiculous. It was I loved it. It the summer touch. One of the best. You probably done that a lot. Did you? Yeah. Touch on the post off your head that big head and it goes. Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes as I as I looked at the boy Rafina hitting the ball, the only thing that was going going through my head was Ruffy saying, “As a goalkeeper, there are some shots that you just don’t bother diving for because they’re that good.” Uh, and I think that sums it up perfectly. Just one little footnote to it all and I’ve got to say this because you know what it’s like. You can go through your career, you’re desperately hoping you can get some sort of silverware. Harry Kane wins the Bundesliga and he gets a chance just to have a we celebration beer towards some of the Arsenal fans have been giving him pelters and a lot of the pundits as well still go on about it and not great like he’s a he’s obviously a top player and um to go over there and to not win it in the first season when they’ve had won it so much but for him the curse is off so maybe Tottenham can do it as well now it’s all for Kane yeah absolutely how many years have you been at my door six six another four to go you might get the after dinner gig I’m certainly getting the hosting of it for the testimonials. A Stonewall certainty. Well, let’s go and see. Yeah, absolutely. Will you be about in That’s the line. That’s looking brilliant. Yeah, he does look great. Boys have a drink. Exactly. Uh thanks very much to Stephen O’Donnell, Alan Ruff, and Steven McGown. Absolutely brilliant to have them on the show. Thank you to you for all your comments. 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