Old Castle Rock
Andy Gav K aand Gav F are here...
To discuss everything that's happening on Gorgie Road. It's been a tough start to the season so what has went wrong
Old Castle Rock
We Go Again........
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The lads reflect on the Killie defeat and the Dundee game on Saturday
Hello and welcome to Old Castle Rock, the podcast that tries to talk everything hard in the Godian. We're back for another week. It's me, Andy Dixon, and uh we are joined not by one Gav but both Gavs are back. So, first of all, how are we boys?
SPEAKER_00Very well, Andrew. Very well. Miss your missed your dull set tones last week, mate. I was in Birmingham just to clarify, just to clarify, I was working, but you know what happens when bankers, you know what, you know what bankers happen when they go down, you know, when they go in these little conferences, you maybe pop out for a beer in the afternoon, and then that maybe turns into something else altogether. So I was technically working, but I might have just got a little bit carried away, but nah, all good, mate, all good.
SPEAKER_02It's a family podcast, so I don't think we'll um we'll go down and what gets carried away.
SPEAKER_00Um what I would say, what I would say for you, Andy is right, it's not my fault, right, if the bank decides to put you in a hotel that's right opposite a Birmingham Pop World that's open until three o'clock in the morning, right? I'm just gonna say, you know what I mean? That's not my fault. That's not my fault, right?
SPEAKER_02I don't know, I know that night goes out goes, yep. Uh we've all been there, haven't we? Um and aye, something else that would hang about a pop world to 3M, Gav, how has your week in your new bachelor pad, temporary bachelor pad been?
SPEAKER_05It's been fantastic, as I said to you earlier. It's got a dishwasher and it's got a washer dryer combo. So I am loving life at the moment, eh? So aye uh apart from the football at room at the weekend, which we're gonna talk about. So, yeah, here we go.
SPEAKER_01We need to go and get a ride.
SPEAKER_02Like, if that's if you if you're buzzing because you've got a dishwasher and a washer dryer.
SPEAKER_00How old are you gonna be the same age as me? You're 44 years old. Aye, you're buzzing because you've got a dishwasher. Have a one, have a one.
SPEAKER_02Honestly. Honestly, what are you like? So I mean, I suppose at some point we probably do have to talk about the football.
SPEAKER_01Um but let's start with something.
SPEAKER_02Just a wee bit different is this the announced we'll talk, Kelly, but the announced the Scotland squad is Heart's moves. The announced the Scotland squad this week, no Halkett, no Mountain obviously no Shank under Gordon, anyway. Juke injuries. Any thoughts, surprises on that? Absolutely delightful. Delighted that the two are near there.
SPEAKER_00I was I was that I was actually a little bit surprised that Halkett I hadn't made it to be honest, Andy. Milne, I think has been brilliant, but I can understand that given the quality at left back, right? And the the well, the the so-called quality, uh he and he's not having the best season, and I know Andy Robertson's not playing that much, but you know what I mean. But um Halkett has had a tremendous season, right? And I get the performance on Saturday was bad in isolation from Halkett and the whole team. And I know Clark wouldn't have just made his mind up on that game, and I think for friendly, a couple of friendlies to have a look at arguably the best centre back in the Scottish top league this season is a bit harsh. And I can understand why I don't know if you've seen McKinnon's comments earlier on today as well about it being a bit disappointing and everything. But Clark, it's the Clark way, no, there's no point going over it. Again, he's got us in these three tournaments, he rewards royalty. But uh just if you were a player and the World Cup was coming, and you maybe thought you'd had your best season in a long time, and you can't even get into a friendly squad, it's yeah, it's questionable, but it's not unexpected, shall we say.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, well that's it, that's what I was thinking as well. And you're right. I mean, he has got us to three tournaments now, and he's also he's also led us into two tournaments, and we've no done fuck all and we've gone out with whimpers, so um it's I bet I bet nah for me. It makes it quite it makes it a bit uninspiring that these that there's players in the air.
SPEAKER_00It's not gonna be that podcast, right? Still having them on about it gets us to three tournaments, and you're still having them on, honestly. But no, no, no, no, no I know, I know.
SPEAKER_02Um but yeah, and and in all honesty, right? It is it's disappointing for these guys, it's disappointing because I mean just for these players, like the fact is that they've probably maybe worked hard on the chance that they could go to the World Cup, and now they've they've they kind of get in that squad and it probably disheartens them. I mean, on our heart on our personally, on our heart's side, it's it's brilliant, that they're not going away. One game's at home and one game's in Liverpool, so they're um so they're not well they're travelling, but they're not going away, there's no chance of them coming back with injuries. I mean, I think Harry Mill's injured.
SPEAKER_00Who are you even playing, Andy? I I've missed it completely. Who are we even playing? Japan and the ivory coast. Japan and the ivory coast. And what one of the games is in Liverpool? What I feel.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, Hill Dickinson.
SPEAKER_02Hi, they um they're playing the Ivory Coast at the Hill Dickinson, because basically it's an away game because the Ivory Coast that are the home team, so that's why it's there for whatever fucking reason. We didn't care at this point.
SPEAKER_05But what's that? I think we did that with England, I'm sure before one year as well.
SPEAKER_02Probably, um but it's one of these things is that these guys will be disappointed, it'll be good that they're but they're still with us, they're still they're staying with us, and we can work on it. I mean, I think Harry Mullens, as McKinnon said today, he's not trained all week because he's had a thigh strain anyway. So, and I mean Halkett's fitness is prior to this season has been questionable. So the fact is that they're they haven't gone is a good probably a good thing for us, but for the lads, it's uh just that just that wee bit disappointing. Um, and then the other thing is that they've announced plans they're going to Spain, I believe. Um, for the instead, obviously, to make up for the Dubai Jolly that they didn't get. Um is that correct? I didn't see the dates on it, so I only caught the headline. I would imagine it'll be over the international break.
SPEAKER_05Yes, that's right. And I saw that a headline as well. I didn't see where they're actually going. At least we're not gonna get shot by drones uh in Dubai.
SPEAKER_00So I think it's I think it's actually the two weeks after the Motherwell game and not that not that it's a big deal, mate, but just aye, because I I was thinking that myself, is it is it like next? But I think it's to try and obviously we hope we're still in a position where you know we're playing for the the title, and I think it's like I before the the the top six games maybe get away because it's the Scottish Cup weekend in between. Um so I think it's that that that kind of two weeks, mate. But um that'll be decent, you know, one weather training, see how it goes, and hopefully we're obviously still in contention and it can only benefit the team. Uh sorry, you're right.
SPEAKER_02It's the basically it's over the Scottish Cup weekend semi-final weekend. So that probably makes a bit better because obviously you can take the whole team because Chesnikov will be away with the he's away with Kazakhstan, he got a call up. Um, I don't think there'll be much more mattle, maybe, but nothing else has obviously been announced. But right, we've put it off for the first five minutes of the podcast, guys. Let's talk and Kennedy's favourite time on a Saturday night. A little light vote. Um yes. Um, so where do you what bit do you want to start? Same team that started um against Aberdeen. What were we thinking then when we've seen the lineups quite still quite happy everybody deserved a chance after beating Aberdeen?
SPEAKER_05When you look at the paper, it's a great team in terms of like that's a team that's been consistent. So if a manager can't play a consistent team against a team that's quite near the bottom, then there's something wrong there, you know what I mean? So I thought he made the right choices there. I mean, I would argue with a right back situation like I've done all season, but I'm not gonna bore us to death on that of the fall day again, you know what I mean? So, quite generally, I was happy with Pat Dyne didn't make any changes because looked at a team that's as capable of winning there.
SPEAKER_00Um so yeah, I had no issues with it before the game, like exactly uh I agree with Gav and then it was it's the same team from the the Aberdeen game, the the same team that played quite well against Aberdeen too, to be fair to them. I know it was just one nil, but it was one going on two or three, and it was actually something there was something and we were all unanimous in in praise of certain players that we're probably gonna be not very complimentary about tonight that played against Aberdeen. So honestly, no issues with the the team at all, and I know we're gonna get into it, but I I do think it was just more on the players than anything that Dell did, to be honest, mate. But no, I was happy with the team, happy with the team.
SPEAKER_01Happy with the team, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, and then teams came out.
SPEAKER_01I just didn't start off late at all.
SPEAKER_05So difficult, right? No, a quick play just before we go on to the game. Um on the telly, it didn't sound like uh the stand was actually bouncing in terms of like you know, like it was against Stud United, that felt quite flat uh behind the goals for the first five or so minutes. Um like you could hear for me but of a young team at the ultras and that, hey, but it wasn't like every section was joining in or doing a heart sword and stuff like that. It did feel a bit flat. I felt hey, I don't know if it was just me watching it or being deaf, eh?
SPEAKER_02But I just want to go so up to this up to kickoff, it felt like it was bouncing, but that I was I was in the middle of the stand, so I was I was like three rows for the back behind the goals, like directly behind the goals. So the ultras were in front of me to my right, so it felt to me like it was it felt like it was bouncing, and it certainly felt like that before the game. And then the teams came out, and it felt like to me that's it was the atmosphere was there, but again, I'm writing I felt like I was probably right in the middle of it. I think what happens is I feel that as the game starts in the way that we started the game, it flattened the crowd, exactly, and I think that this is something that happens at Timecastle as well. Uh that basically, if we do not start well, within the first five minutes, Kibori had fell over the ball twice, yeah. Um and Kelly had went Kelly had already, I think they'd already had an attack by that point, and at that point, if maybe people had flashbacks to St. Murrin, where it maybe felt like this is this we're going to go through the very similar motions, and I think that maybe it started to echo onto the crowd, which was weird.
SPEAKER_00Because Gav, I'm glad Gav brought that up, right? You you're you were obviously at the game, right? And a couple of the other pods have mentioned that this week as well about the atmosphere. Gav, I I agree. Obviously, watching it on the old telebox as well, right? And um by the the crowd, it seemed okay pre-kickoff, but when it started, I was a bit like like you say, Andy, right? We're we've all been watching hearts, right, but so long, right? That we can set our watch by hearts, right, when it comes to certain performances, right? Now we we we know so like you know if hearts are up for it, you just know it's like that Aberdeen game came out, it was quick, but it's gonna be decent. That that the first touch, as you say, Andy, first touch, right? Leonard takes the centre and gave it away within 10 seconds, right? And it's just and then Caboy falls over. I think Kelly had already hit the post after about five minutes, and yeah, fans just know. We just know because we just know, right? So as much as people go carry on singing, right? Sometimes you're like that, oh god, this is one of those nights, right? And it just makes you go, oh, and you can see it, you can see the defeat. It's like you can predict it, and it does. And I cannot blame anybody for not then jumping up and singing because it's just hard to do it. It is hard to do it. Um, I don't think there's any right or wrong way, but it was just it did seem one of those nights, and you just you've seen it before. And I know sometimes you can pull a team through and everything, right? And you try, but I think we've just seen it so many times, and I think with what's on the line, it just made everyone a bit down almost, and it was like, oh god, here we go. And it was like the mining game, it was almost exactly like the Slit Minen game, and we could have played all day and never scored. I I don't think there's an answer because we just know we've seen it so many times, and it just happens. And if you want to stand up, you just like oh no, here we go again.
SPEAKER_02Well, it's that's the thing as well. So I was having a conversation on the car on the way through, and it was because again, we're having that we're talking about because that happens at home. It's happening at home, is where we is where if we don't start quickly, it's been better at it, but it's been better.
SPEAKER_00It has been it has been I've been game, you know, for falcard, but I I I I I it's just that it's like something happens, and even even watching it in the house, right? Like, I know it was a Saturday night and that, but it's just sometimes a feeling, and I was sat it's a Saturday way, but it was just it was like, oh no, it's one of these nights. I was just like, nah, it's this is this is I was gonna put in the chat after five minutes as one of these nights I can just tell it. Um it's really difficult, mate, and it spreads around the fans. Um I know the players, I know the players need to get the fans to, but it's got to go two ways, and it's really hard when that happens.
SPEAKER_02Of course it is, of course it is. Let's say the thing is well, what I was was trying to say was we're talking about Time Castle and then where the nerves kick in. So the fans it's one nil and out, like then that's what's happening as well, is that at home the fans start to get nervous, and I think and I think that goes on to the players. And uh the question and the the conversation I was trying to see is in the car on the way through was do we think it might be easier away from home with a smaller away, a smaller support, obviously, than a home support. That's maybe a bit more vocal and that will that maybe can bounce on to the players, and it didn't actually happen because you've as you said within four within five minutes, uh Finley uh Finley Curtis has hit the post for Kilmarnik, and you're like, Ah, here we go, here we go again, and eventually at that point we don't wake up, we don't really waken up, we don't start creating chances, and we still we don't really get ourselves a grip into this game, and then it just gets worse and worse, and then once the goal goes in, it probably gets even it gets even more flat because again everybody's thinking, well, that's it.
SPEAKER_05Well, to be fair, I felt we started pressing a wee bit after they scored, with like Magnuson and that and like Braga having a shot as well, eh? And it was like there was no sort of like massive reaction from a crowd, they were cheering, we were clapping in that, like you can see it, but there was no like big chance going on for a bit, eh? And it's like as Gav says, it's up to players' responsibility, but it does work both ways, and it does in that sort of sense, you know what I mean. If if you're creating chances, you should be encouraging more by raising your voices, especially in that situation where we're finding ourselves to beavis season, eh? It means more of an ever now, really, eh, you know what I mean? But that's just me, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um sorry, so we were talking about the the the fans on um yeah, yeah, no, just that like just everything was just uh I don't know, it just you would think on a Saturday with everybody being like on the sauce and stuff, like Andy said, it would have been like Andy is saying it was really good prior to kickoff, okay? So from that point of view, it seems like the fans were doing a good job. And I just think that there's just so much nerves just now that everybody just starts to think, oh, this is one of these hearts games, and then you go and go down, and we just didn't look like getting back in, and it just becomes difficult sometimes, you know. I mean Andy was there, he would know. I mean, did they try and I uh it's it's it it's just it's a hard one, it's a hard one. We've got to get behind the team and I know what's on the line, but at the same time, a performance like that was really, really bad, and it just becomes difficult.
SPEAKER_05It's tough to watch as well, when you just want players to make an effort and do a bit more like creativity and stuff, eh? But when you just do the same passes, it's hard to get a crubs going, eh? I don't I get that, eh, because I've been there myself in like the last couple of seasons, you know what I mean? But it's been horrific to watch, so uh so as you said, I'm just so used to it.
SPEAKER_00But you sometimes get games like when I like we went to the Aberdeen game, right? And the atmosphere for that game was really, really good. That was like maybe it was a Saturday at three o'clock, and Harsh Aberdeen game's always usually quite good anyway. There's always a little bit of sort of spice, they bring a decent crowd, and you know, um Colin Chisholm was obviously out on the pitch with a hearts song, and that kind of geared everybody up. But also, the hearts came out with quite a fast start. So it's one of those within five minutes, so you could tell we were up for it. So you know the ball was quick, it was crosses going in. And that you do need that sometimes, as much as we say that the players it's it's just it's a little bit of both. You sort of need to and the fans did try and do their bit on Saturday prior to the game starting, but it did just have a flat feel about it. And I know that it might seem weird that what you're going through the league, and there were 4,000 drunk carts fans there, and it was flat, but it can still sometimes happen like that, and then sometimes a game can just organically have an amazing atmosphere and it comes out of nowhere, be it like a red card to an opposition player, you can't. So uh I I know I know the fans have been good on Saturday though, and I know there'll be a proper effort. Um Andy was talking about that the atmosphere at Time Castle, but I know that there'll be a proper kind of you know, refocus on Saturday, trying to get behind them again, trying to get them up for it, and you know we will we will we'll do what we can on Saturday.
SPEAKER_01We're just moving silence on our boys, alright?
SPEAKER_05I wasn't sure if you were still there yet or not, to be honest.
SPEAKER_02Hi, I'm here, I'm back. Um so aye, moving on to the atmosphere then. The obviously McCarthy sets the post. And then let's talk about the goal that we concede. Whose fault is that?
SPEAKER_05It's a tough one, isn't it? Because you think initially Steinwinder, eh? But he's actually pure showing and uh uh was it McCart? And you think to yourself he might have an actual point there, eh? Because he that's about it as he's meant to be protected from mate.
SPEAKER_00But I know who you want to blame Andy, you may as well just go for it now, mate.
SPEAKER_02I think I'll I think if you based on a don't chat as Michael Steinwinder because he's he just stops, he doesn't follow a man, he can continue, he might be shouting at McCart, but there's nothing to stop him from following the boy in.
SPEAKER_00I think um I think it's actually Joe Gandalf. I think it I think it's I think Kizzy actually gets caught in in the box, right? I think Kizzy is is running back and tracking back or whatever, and I think you see Kizzy turning round, right, and kind of acknowledging that he's let his man go. But at the same time, Steinvender is the right back at that point, right? And Steinvender should be a lot more switched on than he is, and you see the two of them look at each other as in, oh, you should have got it, you should have got it. I I am I am I am I as much as I'm trying to defend Steinvender, I felt I felt a bit sorry for him because when he went off on Saturday night, you could tell he was actually a bit downhearted. Like he was taking off the camera, um, sort of focused on the bench and that, and he was shaking his head because he knew he'd had that bad game. I am now thinking though it's maybe one high profile mistake, you know, too, too, too many, too many times now. And and I do think I know we'll come on to it, but I think Saturday is the day to just bring Alterna in and just see what he can do right back, you know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, totally I would follow all of that. I'm just watching the goal back, yeah. Is it's Kizzy that he follows in, uh, the two of them are running in, and the boy, the Shlong Larson or whatever his name is, just basically runs in between them and basically just taps it in.
SPEAKER_00It's a it's awfully it is absolute for for a for a defence that has been really quite good this season, it's an awfully how many times do we concede how many times do we concede goals when they run down the right hand wing or the left right wing and they cross it in and they just get a simple tapping?
SPEAKER_05It's half an hour.
SPEAKER_00To be fair this season, Gabler, our defence has been pretty solid. We've got a reasonable number of the colour. When we concede it, aye, aye, when we have the role.
SPEAKER_05Same thing again. We've done it uh against Rangers as well once, at least, I'm sure of it. Um it's just really frustrating that we continue to make the same mistake over and over, and that's when it's like, well, that's won't make you win a title if you get behaved, because if you keep making the same mistake, eventually it'll catch up to you.
SPEAKER_00That that is when this is this is when though, and I know we're not going to do a fuel dissection about the right back situation again, but this is this is the point, though, that I suppose you know and the US Betball vaginitary lads have been saying all season that a natural right back does know the position better, so uh a natural right back is probably not caught in that position that Steinvender finds himself in on Saturday night.
SPEAKER_05Well, that being said, Dave, but McIntyre's back and fit. It's like is he gonna go for it if you know what he does? He's just gonna go back to McIntyre.
SPEAKER_00I I I I think I I I think there's maybe been a little slight I I don't really know what I'm basing this on, but I think having seen how Altena did play quite well on Saturday, I I think it might be a bit of a shift now. I think my kind of smitey a bit like we are going for the league. We've only got eight games, we're on the front foot, we need to be on the front foot on Saturday. I'll as much as I've defended Steinbender, I'll be disappointed if Altena doesn't start on Saturday. And that's not me saying that um Altena's like fucking Cafu, right? But you're playing Dundee, let's try we need to win, and we need to get the crowd onside, and we need to get an early goal, let's give the fans a bit of a lift by having your attacking right back playing. You know what I mean? It just gives you a bit of a lift.
SPEAKER_02That's the thing though, you're you're spot on. I totally agree. I agree with most of it. I think that I don't think you I don't but what I would say is without previewing what's coming up on Saturday already, is I don't think we've got the right backs. Sorry, I don't think we've got the centre midfielders fit and available, or enough of them fit and available to to allow Macinty to play right back anyway. Um so and another thing would be we do have that attacking right back, but we need to make sure that we allow this attacking right back to push forward and rather than than do it than what was happening on Saturday as well, because on Saturday there was points where rather than running forward, he was running across, he ran across. I watched him at least once run across the wood to the park, give the ball to Milne, who gave it to McCart, who gave it to Halkett, and by the time Altena got back to the other side of the park, he picked the ball back up again.
SPEAKER_00And do you know just on that, Andy? But he he is. I was reading about that. Do you know he's he's actually a converted right midfielder though, right?
SPEAKER_02And I think I know that because McInnes told me that the thing.
SPEAKER_00But what I meant is though, mate, so apparently I that that is that's kind of part of his game, eh? So like I I because I know I know what you mean because you notice it, you're a bit like you're gonna be the right back, right? But he comes in like an inverted midfielder coming right across the pitch to kind of he's almost like an extra midfielder in a way, eh? Um uh I know I know what you mean.
SPEAKER_02It's a good point being the midfielders get like if he's gonna do that though, that's fine. But uh then McInnes or whoever or the players need to realise is that we can't, if he's doing that, going through one side of the park to the other, then we can't just be waiting for him to get to go back and to recycle the ball to go back the other way. He needs to we need to be doing something that's slightly that little bit different, and going and using the left hand side if he's giving the ball that way or or whatever, if he isn't if he's stepping into the midfield, which is fine because it happens, right fullback step into the midfield, fine. But then we have to do something with that.
SPEAKER_00I do think he looks like he's got good potential, Andy. I do think he on it like technically and quite comfy. I do I do think there's uh there's a decent player in there, by the way. You know that, I do, I do. I agree.
SPEAKER_02I think that there has to be this has to be the point. I agree, I think this has to the point that he that he goes and he plays altena. Um I don't think we've got the centre midfielders enough centre midfielders fit to play McIntyre um at centre mid, but then on Saturday as well, I thought Macinty looked like he was there was something a bit off about him as well. It was like he was a very good thing.
SPEAKER_00I was just gonna say that as well, man. He he looked like he and he's obviously just come back from injury, but I was gonna say that as well. He looked like he was still carrying his injury, and I know he was on the platform stuff, but yeah, totally, totally scared that he would still like because it was a shoulder injury.
SPEAKER_02If he went a bit too hard, they would get into his shoulder, would get injured again. I wondered if there was something a little bit um a little bit with him as well. And obviously, he comes on, he comes on for Magnuson. Um Magnus obviously has that chance, and then obviously he takes uh he takes a dull one and he has fractured his cheekbone. McKinnon says, obviously, without going further forward again, but McKinnon says that he's probably he's going to miss Dundee, but they'll be looking to get him back for Livingston. Um because he's going to get one of those Zorro masks basically, and it should allow him to play for Loving uh against Livingston. But I thought we probably looked I thought we looked we didn't look at when Magnuson was on the park. I think Magnuson offered something a bit more. I think it was maybe the maybe when Magnuson on the park it allowed us to play that the way that we set out to start to start the first half with um obviously Kizzy was down the right hand side on the front of Steinwender, and then Harry Mullen had basically the whole left hand side, but Magnuson was obviously was helping out at that point as well, and or Spittle was and the the two of them were were kind of doing that, but it was I thought that we obviously brings Mack into, and at that point it probably it's more of a two double pivots rather than just like like him and Leonard is more of the pivots and spittle a bit further forward uh compared to when Mag.
SPEAKER_00It seemed to have a bit of the sort of walking wounded a little bit as well, though, and they it just felt not and I know people were saying that we hadn't played for a fortnight and they should have been you know fresh as a daisy and everything, but it doesn't always work like that. And it it did just like I I've been hearing, you know, and on the other pods and stuff that Milne has apparently been playing with like some kind of injury for almost two months, apparently, and been taking injections. And I think Saturday was probably Milne's poorest performance, and it's because he's had this injury, and then you know, Mads going off and then McAtee coming on, still practically injured, and Spittle showing why, and I I mean this respectfully why he is a squad player again, though. You know, we built him up after the Aberdeen game, and then unfortunately he did revert to tight against Kelly, and then when you've got Cabore just falling over the whole game, the only one that really had pass marks was Braga, based on the first half. So when that happens across your entire team, what he actually meant to do, I thought McKinnon has dealt with it quite well when he said, I'm not gonna have too much air going on, but internally he'll be a bit like lads, that wasn't good enough. Do you think it was complacency and kind of going down to Kelly? 11th in the league, this will be easy because we've no really being like that this season.
SPEAKER_05I think not. No, I think it was more of a situation of three bits of me that things back to I brought when uh Celtic won before the match, may have played in the hearts' heads a wee bit uh before the game because like we had a wee bit of rockiness during that game as well. And that's what makes me think like Celtic getting in front before the game kicked off, that would make a difference to the players' minds mentally.
SPEAKER_00Uh I I I would that's a good point, Dav. I was I was thinking, I was trying to think about what kind of an impact that would have, right? And I know McKinnis is so shrewd, he'd be in that changing room going, lads, it doesn't matter, just need to do our job. But I I I kind of it's almost like when you're maybe beating one of the old firmmates and it's like one nil with 10 minutes to go, and you drop really deep. Maybe they are just starting to get a bit like, oh shit, they're just right behind us now. And I I know what you mean. I I uh basically I do prefer playing before them. I put it that way. Put it that way.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I do think it makes a difference before like it the game, eh? Because I there's just like a wee bit less pressure because we have to get the points on the board, that's all we're thinking about. We're not thinking about anyone anything else, if you get me. And uh there's no way that the hearts players didn't know that score before the game, like you know what I mean.
SPEAKER_00There's just not but it just it it was it was it was one of I I I couldn't quite honestly so like they've done they've done so well in so many games. I mean I've said that thing about um you know they won't they won't they'll they'll die trying to win the league, but that was one game when it was like the the I'm not saying they weren't trying, but it it just wasn't it was like half-hearted. It was going to be a few years.
SPEAKER_05For me, it's nothing to do with that graph. We're just like a team that's punching well motherway at one day. I mean, we've done absolutely incredible to like be top for this long for this like entire sort of eight single-digit fingers that were still top, you know what I mean. I know a lot of it people say, Oh, it's due to Celtic and Rangers not being on bar this season, but we've still got to win our games, we've still got to do our jobs and stuff like that. You know what I mean? I'm doing it week out, week in, week out. I we're not doing it every week, but like you're obviously gonna get a blip here and then hit here and then, and like it's just like incredible what the players have actually done in hindsight. You're right.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you're right, actually, Gab. Like, we we have we are we are we are punching well above our weight, actually, when when you think about it, right? There's just been a lot of 50-50 games, right? The hearts have just eked out 1-0, 2-1, or last minute or something. When it's not to say they've not deserved those victories, but aye, they we we have been punching. What am I trying to say? Do you think maybe do you think maybe we're not what am I trying to say? We're not as good a team as we maybe think we are.
SPEAKER_05But well, I think we're still a really very good team, and we deserve to be where we are, because in any league, leagues don't lie. I'm a firm believer of that, eh? You know what I mean? And this is like watching Monday night and be top of the league for many, many years, eh? So I hate to admit it, you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00But at the same time, if you're top of the league, you're being the same teams as everyone else, so you deserve to be there, uh, no matter what the situation in the league is around you, uh, because of the I'm I'm just meaning we've not like it's it's never been like it's not like a kind of when Jeffrey's was popped in 97-98 and we were punching everybody three, four-nil. There's there's been you know what I mean, it's been a lot of one-nil and that, but but we have still deserved to win a lot of those games, but a lot of them, especially earlier in the season, they could have gone, you know. Look at the two Dar days at Time Castle, right? If they both ended nil-nil, right, we would have been rioting, but you get the last minute winners and it changes the narrative and everything. But in a roundabout way, though, that's actually a really big compliment to the team because they they have kept going and they have but I was just I just it felt like we could have played all night on Saturday night and not scored. And in the second half, I was not does that happen with Team Z.
SPEAKER_05I mean, I I don't know if might be using uh my other team like down south or like Luke Liverpool last season. How much did we end up drawing over that finishing line in the end day? And it looked like we were gonna were blow it away at one point because I also put a pressure on the way, and it was just like that happens in title challenges, you're gonna get stinges like here and then sort of thing, eh?
SPEAKER_00Well, the what I was I was thinking as well, right? The obviously this is quite this is new territory for everybody, right? So we've got three of these, three of the teams, right, in this hunt for the title, right? But what's interesting is obviously any other season, it's usually well, Celtic have been walking it, but you know what I mean. Rangers are trying to do whatever. But every single season, though, as well, when those two are kind of going for the title, one of them always drops points in some in some random some random game like that. I'm thinking I might Celtic have lost up at Inverness and Ross County and that. And these results, you're right. Celtic Celtic's a team whether Rogers got beat by St. Johnston last season. So yeah, you are right. And football is a it is a funny game. I know that's a cliche. I think I think it's just me and Andy were talking about this when it's when when the the the league is is so close, Gab, it's so far, and it's it's the disappointment of a defeat just starts making your mind think it's not gonna happen, and that's that's what is it's hard to deal with. That's what's that's what's difficult about it.
SPEAKER_05For me thinking for me, the defeats have stopped making me think that now. For me, it's now points. So, like, if Celtic get to a point, or even Rangers get to the point where like four points ahead of us, that's when I'll stop believing. But even if Celtic go level with us, I'm not gonna stop believing because anything can happen at that point. It just takes one we fumble on goal into the box, or one bad off night for Celtic or uh Rangers just draw like do we did against Livingston and can he find a goal? It takes that just one good result and it's back on again, you know what I mean? So you can't keep getting disheartened because we shouldn't even be here at the moment because of our I know that's a good point.
SPEAKER_00I I I think I it's it's maybe we'd got as well, maybe mentally, right? We'd we'd had two good weekends as well, right? We'd had uh the two wins be Falkirk and Aberdeen, right? And the old firm had dropped points both those weekends. So we may we maybe started to think, oh, we might and and I think as the way the games were, we maybe thought Motherwell would take points from Celtic as well. And the fact Motherwell went ahead and then lost, and then I think it just it just sort of well, but you're right, we've been here before. It was only a couple of weeks ago. Celtic beat killing 3-2, we got beat by Rangers, and I think we were a couple of points ahead then, and it was a bit of doom and gloom. We recovered from that, so the the team can recover, but uh I don't know. Andy's been quiet. What's what's what's Andy saying, thinking about all this?
SPEAKER_02Andy's just listening to you've chat, to be fair. Andy was trying to direct the the conversation back to Saturday, um, to be honest, but um to be honest, I was just totally I was actually to be fair, I think I've missed most of your points because I was just listening to what you kind of what you were saying, but it's it's in regards to obviously there is pressure is going to is going to sneak in um in places as as we as we do talk as we obviously as it comes to it, and it's gonna as the games come, gaps are going to extend, but they're gonna decrease as well. We have had injuries, as of most teams, um, but we are still we're still two points in front, and that's the thing is that we still have the we still have this leap. We will play before we play before the old firm on Saturday. Um so and again, it I don't know.
SPEAKER_00I definitely don't know how the best way to maybe to to express how we're feeling regards to it because it is if if hearts go behind Andy, say if Celtic go ahead of us, right? Like I've asked this before. Do you do you think that that's it, even by like a point? Do you think it's do you think Hearts would just go? I I don't think they would just like you know chuck the tunnel in, because as Gas says, it's only a couple of points, but do you think the fans might just start to go?
SPEAKER_02I think the fans might. I think I I think is that my whole mentality is that once Celtic get in front is I feel that it might be a case that we might struggle to get back, but if it is one point, we still have to play Celtic. So there's the old farm game as well, and the old farm as well, and obviously we still have to go Eastern Road and Motherwell have fallen away a little bit.
SPEAKER_05By the way, it's gonna be tricky, and Falkirk are Celtic by the way, after what we did to a standard as well, eh?
SPEAKER_02And Falkirk and Falkirk are going to be difficult for everybody else as well. But at the end of the day, right, we talk on Saturday, we talk about the games coming up at the weekend, right? And like Rangers have got Aberdeen, and Aberdeen have got a new manager who'll have been with the squad a bit longer than the three days that he was there before to implement what he wants to do and have a plan to go to iBlocks and things like that. So don't get me wrong, it's like, yeah, we're two points at the moment, and everybody's like, oh, here's Celtic coming and here's this and here's that, but but it's still such a long way to go before we get anywhere, before the even the split.
SPEAKER_00And just one thing as well the Harts' record against the top six is the best in the league, right? It's actually really, really good. So that it's just people be it maybe being a bit like, oh no, it'll be really difficult in the top six. Harts' record against the top six is fantastic if you check the stats. So, you know we can still win those games.
SPEAKER_05That's true, but how many seasons have we been awful in the top six?
SPEAKER_00We have Gab.
SPEAKER_02How many seasons? How many seasons have we generally just been awful though? Like you can't.
SPEAKER_00That's also been seasons gap when we've just been stumbling about mid-table or going for a third. This season's different. The evidence would say we beat Celtic twice, we beat Rangers twice, we've beat Hibbs twice, we beat Falkart three times, we've gone with Munavell twice. We've only lost twice against the top six all season. Once to Rangers, right? And um Hibbs at uh Christmas, right? That's it. Our record is better than we're taking eight more points than any other team in the top six against the rest of the top six. So that evidence would suggest hearts are a team that are equipped to play the top six teams. Problem hearts have is is your fucking Kelly's and probably even Livvy in a couple of weeks, right?
SPEAKER_05Because they just don't forget Dundee, because they've not a bad team, to be fair.
SPEAKER_00Like, you know, these games are hard for hearts because we've not got that creativity. So I I guess I'm just gonna say that that I know the top six is coming, but it's not like oh, the top six. We can beat Rangers at tiny. We can we can beat Ebs at East or Road. Do you know what I mean? We can't, it would be hard, but we can't. Um I I just I don't know, psychologically. I think if Celtic went ahead, I know there'd be people puffing their chests out and putting a brave face on it. Would the team but then with the first way to get to Celtic? Rangers have still got a say. There's only three points behind as well.
SPEAKER_05So Mumberwell still have a say, despite them falling behind the last two games, they'll come back again, like without a doubt, because they're like if they got a good centre midfield and a good centre forward in that. I can see them going back again, eh? To be honest with you, like hey, we're not gonna come close to like second or top, but we'll certainly be third or fourth, like 100%.
SPEAKER_02Like well, that's the thing, is that I to be fair, I wouldn't discount Falk having a say in this as well because Polcock are going just going along steady, they are difficult to beat, they're they're doing well in the cup as well. Uh so that's the thing, is that all teams are going to have a are the thing is they're also all want to go and have a say as as well, and they'll raise their games for when we come to town the same way that they raise their game for when Celtic and Rangers come to town. So, and we just we just need to be there and we just need to adapt. And that probably was a part of Saturday as well, is that Kelly raised their game, especially after what happened to him against Walker when Hartz came to town, and we just didn't adapt to it. One thing is before we move on to try to to next Saturday, is that do we think that the formation without Shanklin and Kabori up front doesn't really work compared to maybe Brager through the middle and then a put a someone better at right side the midfield? Now, whether that be Chesnikov who played the second or the full second half.
SPEAKER_05Really well felt uh to be honest with you. He could had quite good pace on him and stuff. He just wasn't getting the ball enough, and when but when he did, it looked like he was going to do some of it, like hey, but I don't know what he used for.
SPEAKER_02And then well, one other thing was there's obviously Curzotta, who seemed to who seemed to be doing more creativity in the the eight minutes or whatever he got than what Kazid has done in the whole the whole game.
SPEAKER_00So do you know I am I am I'm I am coming I'm coming round just maybe leading into Saturday as well, lads. Like I love I love Kazay. I do he's he has been brilliant, but some I'm thinking maybe just a wee rest actually, and maybe Saturday is the day just to maybe freshen it up a little bit. I know he won't play antenna in Cardotta from the start, right? That would just be too too lightweight on on that side. But I just I do see what you're saying. Like it's just something slightly different. I mean, they know what Kizzy's gonna do, Kizzy knows what he's gonna do. He's still technically great, but maybe him coming on with half hour to go might just give him a little bit of a kick up the backside or something, you know, against a tie-in team. Um it's a tough one. I don't even know, uh, it's a tough one, though, because he's still got moments of quality, Kizzy. It's really difficult.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and this is the thing is that what Kizzy really does well is he gets us up the park quick.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So he's he is very good at that. He's very good at when we're we're in our own half, or he can get us up the park very quickly. Um, but again, when he gets into the final thumb, we know what he's gonna do. They know what he's gonna do because they've they've watched a couple of videos, he's gonna take the ball, he's gonna cut inside and try and put it in the top corner, and it probably means that there's the centre half and the centre midfielder will step in and it hits off one of them and he doesn't get the room, and then we lose the ball. So you're right, we probably do need to try something. Um I would like to again, I'd like to see Kurjota play more than the 10 minutes, but again, McKinnis obviously feels that he's maybe can he be trusted, or maybe not he's not maybe physical enough uh for that. Um obviously Mattle the Mattel one's a strange one if we're I'm purely just talking about replacing Kizzy because I think that rather than using him as much as he maybe could, I think they're maybe wanting to let him bed into this the whole culture and the club and get used to things first because again, he was he was one that they probably hadn't banked on getting anyway because obviously he was meant to come in a pre-contract, and with all the half with all the fucking about that was happening there, they ended up bringing him in early anyway. So I think he's probably one more for next season. Um but I don't know what you think in regards to to that, and even leading on to Saturday, would you would you be happy to see a front three that's Braga, Kirjota, Chesnikov? Ivan playing on the left.
SPEAKER_00If if I I I think I I wouldn't I wouldn't, Andy. Like I think what I mean by that is that we did to see some freshness in into the team. Purely just as a bit of an unknown and freshen everything up, right? Because a lot of those Gundee players won't have seen what they do. But at the same time, we know McIntyre will probably go with his tried and tested. Obviously, if Shanklin is fit enough, do you think Shanklin could start on Saturday? Or do you think that's just too too unlikely?
SPEAKER_02I think it's just so here's the thing, then, right? We're talking about Shanklin, we're talking about Devlin, and I'm going to come back to the I seen the chat that you and Dougie had in our group chat today, right? Is are we rushing them back too quickly by thinking that one of them can start on Saturday? Bear in mind they only started to train on Monday and Tuesday.
SPEAKER_00Devlin did the like S conference. I know that doesn't mean anything, really, right? But um I think they've been like from what I was reading on the old um JKD, mate, they were they've been in they've been doing run-in, for example, on every three day, and then they came back into proper training. I I I agree with you, a week's training, and it seems that not you know not enough. I mean it's cliché. Cami is like the old USL bunny go and they and it's maybe if I put this name, if I was starting one of them, sorry, Gab, I was gonna say if I was starting one of them, i it it would be Kami. Um sorry, Gab, on you go, mate.
SPEAKER_05Nah, I've just said it's a cliche, isn't it? If you're fit enough for the bridge, you're fit enough to start.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, but the thing is, the the problem is that you're you're you're fit enough, but uh can you can you play 90 minutes is the is the next thing and is also I mean more this is more a Shanklin thing is that do you start him and you've maybe rushed them back too soon and then he's got it pops very quickly and we're back to the whole we're back where we're back where we started.
SPEAKER_00This game though is so it's such a big game on Saturday though, right? We need we need to recover, we obviously need the three points for the reasons that we know. I think if Alterna was starting maybe Shankland as well, the fans would just get a lift dandy, right? And I'm thinking to myself, even if he could get 60 minutes out of Shanks and he could maybe be in control of the game, but I agree with you, what if he pulls up his injury and then he's out for the rest of the season? But then it's unlikely he's gonna play at Livvy's plastic pitch. So you're probably looking at the Motherwell game, like I was saying, before Shanklin maybe starts. Devlin, I think, is a bit different, and I just think Devlin, his position and how he plays, I think you could maybe chance Devlin for starting on Saturday.
SPEAKER_02So, well, this is the thing as well, is that going through the rest of the team, bear in mind Benny's not trained this week at all.
SPEAKER_00Oh, Benny. I I I I think we should just start. I mean, we need uh been a great survey, but I think we need to cut our losses on Benny's. Well, I think we are going to cut our losses. Yes. But it's too much now. It's just every single week, and it's uh what are you doing?
SPEAKER_02But um I I don't I don't know Benny's nobody playing, so the funniest the funniest bit is that Neil Crichley seemed to be the only one that could get could get him consistent money form. Aye, fit fitness not form, but fitness at him. But then the other thing is that Harry Mulne's not trained all week either. Um we weren't allowed to swear this pod. What's that?
SPEAKER_05I thought we weren't allowed to swear this pod.
SPEAKER_02So I mean at that point you're talking, but then you you're then going through the whole thing, and that if Mulne doesn't train, and bear in mind we're recording this on Thursday night, so he's not trained all week. Um, because he obviously came off injured on Saturday.
SPEAKER_00Mel Milne Milne's the kind of guy, though. I think, given what they were saying about this injury he's had, uh he's he strikes me as the kind of player. Mind a couple of weeks ago when we thought he was going to be written off for the season, and he turned up and he played the next game. We're like, oh Miln's out for the season, and it yeah, he strikes me as the kind of guy, mate, whatever, and it's it's it's it's very, very it's fair play for Miln. But he strikes me as the kind of guy that can maybe do Friday training, take an injection or strap himself up and he'll still be out there. Um this is this is the thing. Some players, and I'm I don't like to cast aspersions, but you know, there's been anecdotal chat about Benny previously, just about how he recovers and everything, and I think he's maybe a little bit more selective about when he makes himself available, shall we say? There's maybe you know what and he's not what I mean by the way. Yeah, I know what you mean. I know what you mean.
SPEAKER_02You know what I mean. But this is the thing as well, is it obviously you're talking now, you're down to the thing is you didn't even want to aggravate anything if Milne's got because Milnes, we don't have any other Kingsley's no pack.
SPEAKER_00I think he's already fucked down there. Honestly, I think Milne is already playing through pain barriers and everything. Um but no, I I know what you mean, and then he's out it's not uh and then Kingsley's no back, and oh my god. So what are you looking at then? McCart plays at left back, and then Frankie Kent comes in.
SPEAKER_02That's what you probably Well you're uh well you're a McCart, you're a McCart at left back, Kent or Stenvender at right at centre half. You're a back three with Alan Forrest as your left wing back. They're your two options.
SPEAKER_00Stop it, stop it.
SPEAKER_02Imagine you rock up on Saturday and we're playing a back three with uh Altena and Alan Forrest and Altena as your two wing backs.
SPEAKER_00Oh my, I'd actually leave before Kipot.
SPEAKER_02I'd leave before back three, Halkett, Kent, and McCart are freaking the slowest three you've ever seen in your life.
SPEAKER_05Um if it's a back three, I definitely won't be like good of a game.
SPEAKER_02But this is this is the thing as well, is that this is the worrying, but obviously Kingley isn't a fat, and you're like, right, okay, so and I know that McCart maybe is playing through the pain barrier and these but we have at what point do we look at it and go, right, do we get this, do we get through this game, get what we obviously get the try and win. But the thing is it's no the same Dundee that rocked up the last time it tanked.
SPEAKER_00That's exactly what I was gonna say, Andy. It's not this is what's the and I know you've got to beat all the teams, right? Don't get it wrong, but sort of the I like everybody's gotta play everybody, like Gav said. But the sort of the the time is a wee bit annoying, like it's like Killey had obviously recovered a wee bit with McCann and Dundee are on the up now as well. It's not the same, Dundee, and even Livy are are putting some results together, like they're gonna battle it and getting draws. None of these, none of these games are easy. None Gav's right, this game is not easy. Hearts have got enough to win, of course they have, right? And if the fans play their part and hearts are up for it, right? I would like to think we've got enough. I I just I think I think Shanklund and Depp. I don't know.
SPEAKER_05I just love to see I would love to see a dollar performance from us this season because I've still yet to see really see one in terms of like a high score at Tyne Castle. And I would you know what I mean? I think it's gonna be a tough game. See if it was three and four now, it'd be absolute buzzer there.
SPEAKER_02Were you not at the hearts for the the hearts dunny game the last time, Gab?
SPEAKER_05No, I was working a bit.
SPEAKER_02On the Sunday.
SPEAKER_05Oh, wait, sorry. Wait a minute. I thought about no, it's a Falcon game, I missed that. So I'm thinking I'm sorry. Sorry, made that lot of away.
SPEAKER_02So uh I think it was actually game on the Sunday.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, not Mr.
SPEAKER_02Home game, I was seized it, so yeah, but it's where Shanklin scored, Kubori scored twice, and Magnuson. So we have scored four at home. Just uh just to say, just to think of that in 4-0 at home the last time we played them. So that's about as close though, just to sorry to be pedantic, that's about as close as we've probably come to giving any team us an absolute shoe in. I see what I mean.
SPEAKER_00I do see what Gab means though as well, Andy. Like it it's probably not gonna happen. But just for the nerves and everything, eight, uh it would just it would be lovely if it could just but it probably won't, it will probably be another one nil. But I I I just think we could we could get such a lift, right? If there's maybe certain players selected, and even even Shanks Lyndon Cammy on the bench would maybe give people a lift and they maybe come on or whatever. It would just but we just need to win by hook or by hook again. Um you'd love a two or three there.
SPEAKER_05It doesn't matter how we win this league, it's always we scratching floor way to a final.
SPEAKER_00But it does, it does make it again playing before the old firm though, it does really help because it just psychologically, even though Rangers play the same day, right? Celtic to Sunday, you do it's just you're you come out and you are a little bit more buzzing, and you're Saturday, five o'clock. You're you look at the league, you're five and six points ahead again, and even though it can get brought back quickly, it just gives you a wee bit of a lick and you start going, oh okay, it's back on again. But uh uh it's it's it's it's tough, like it's tough. But what an opportunity we've got, it is still in our own hands as well. That that's what's we've got to remember.
SPEAKER_05That's a important thing, really.
SPEAKER_02But that yeah, yeah, this is it, and it is in our own, it is uh it is in our own hands, and this is the thing as well. And by the way, I'll tell you what, right? C talking, we've we've spent this last three months we talk about mental health and stuff, right? See, when it comes to being at the game and coming home on Saturday, the difference that I've felt how more raging I was on Saturday compared to when we got beat to St. Murren, where I watched it on the tele, and just how if you're you can't you understand what I mean? Just the way that I just got so invested. Obviously, you're invested, you're always invested, but see because you've travelled through as well, and it's just it and it it's the same when you go to a game and you win. So you could be watching a game on the tele, and you win the game on the tele, and it's like yeah, it's traffic. You go to the game at the you go to the game at wherever at Ty when you're at Tynecastle or Eastern Road or wherever, and you win, and it's just so much better.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I remember for the Dundee game away game where we uh won one nil, and it was like I was like uh weekend day for the FA Cup game, and I was more buzzing at Hearts Fun on a Sunday, but it was actually whatever the reason I was going down there for the Liverpool Burnley game, you know what I mean? It was like it was mental.
SPEAKER_00I I felt I I like I can only imagine what you're saying there, Ann Billy. I like coming back to my game like that, and especially at that time, and you're you're maybe not getting in till close to midnight, and it's almost your whole Saturday night, and you've got Sunday ahead of you, you know what I mean? It and it's all the stuff that you and even but I I felt down just watching that on the tell, right? Because like your mind starts to go, you're like, Oh no, we've lost it, it was a terrible performance.
SPEAKER_05If I dad had his friends messaging me going, oh that's it, done, blah blah blah. And it's just like, fuck off, are you actually even paying attention to this? You're just dying for us not to get close to his title. And if I'd actually been.
SPEAKER_00Oh, can I just can I just ask actually just a little important part from the game? Sorry, two seconds. Should we have a penalty and should Brian just have stayed down?
SPEAKER_02By the way, I can't believe we've got to 57 minutes in this pod before mentioning it, but yes. Uh see uh see at the time at the game, right? So obviously you see it as a completely different angle.
SPEAKER_00Because somebody on this podcast was happy with his honesty, apparently.
unknownNo.
SPEAKER_05No, right, okay, right. Can I just say in terms of a penalty, right? If that was outside for penalty box and he went down, got back up, the referee would have played advantage, and he would have pulled it back if he couldn't get the ball. So why hasn't he pulled it back for a penalty?
SPEAKER_02Because you've got to go down. This is the thing. And if you want to see it, the game I turned to Cluesby brother and went, he would have if he'd been doing it. I thought I thought he'd yeah, I think the ref was going to book him for diving.
SPEAKER_00But he actually he actually had his foot clipped dandy and he didn't. I know he didn't ball. So I I I can't, and I'm not having a go at brider, but for a person that maybe embellished a penalty of a Canadiz, if I remember, right? I I cannot understand why he jumped back up so quickly. And Gav makes a good you've got to admire the integrity of the guy. That's fine, but it wouldn't have been a dive because he had been clipped and he was on the deck, and even if the red if Var would probably have recommended a review for that if he just stayed down because the clip on the foot was so obvious, and it wasn't like he was right in it wasn't like he was right in front of the keeper and had a chance to shoot. I was like, oh, but it's it's a split-second decision he makes, and you've got to admire the uh trying to get a goal as well.
SPEAKER_05Hey, so you gotta give him audits for that because he's obviously thinking he's got more chance of getting the ball, but he he maybe just made the wrong decision at that time, if you know me. But at the same time, it's not really wrong if you're being honest, eh? So, as well, you know what I mean? But that's his way, yeah. So I know I know all players cheat and all that, blah blah blah. I'm not naive to that, but at the same time, it's like there's a time and the place if you don't be there.
SPEAKER_02I don't think it was the time to make a big sorry, that was the time and the place to go down. That was the time and the place where we won't now doing away if you hold in the title race. That was the time and the place to fall down.
SPEAKER_00I I just he could have just I know but then the I get the argument about a penalty is still a penalty, right? But I think because the ref doesn't give anything, it's not one that Var could I think could come back because Braga jumps back up. Yeah, Var probably goes, Oh, the ref's seen it, is happy with it, let's not get involved. But if Braga stays down and the ref gives nothing, Var then goes, Oh, he was he was clicked, he was tricked. You could say it's soft, but that's probably a penalty.
SPEAKER_02By the way, I that's the thing though, right? As I don't think that if he I think if he goes down, what he does is he go he books him for diving, and that's the that's when the uh the review would happen. Because the week or when you see it for the stand, when I looked at it for the stand, it looked like he was walking towards where Bragg was going, because he looked like he was generally if Bragg had fell down, I think he would have booked him for diving, and then it would have been brought back and it would have been remember what it happened to was at Kingsley, it happened to Kingsley against Rangers, and he got he got booked for diving and then they gave the penalty and stuff, and it's and I think that that's probably might have that might have happened, they should have gone down like every other like he he probably thought that himself, is that he probably should have gone down, but again, it comes down to the does he stay on his feet because of the whole reputation that these kind of players have over here as well, foreigners are cheating and stuff like that.
SPEAKER_00And he has he has just maybe like I've said Andy, he's maybe made a split second decision, eh? He's like he's maybe thought he was closer to the goal or something, he's maybe like, oh I'm through, I can get back up, I can get a cross or I can get a shot away, right? And and then maybe a lot and there's obviously McKinnis would obviously have said to him after the game, you know, Claudio, come on, mate, you know, just he would have, and he's not he's not cheating because he had been clipped and well, and as Gas said, every single player does the dark arts, right? But it was just a bit annoying that it might have changed it, it might not have, but god, it's Brad, he's been fantastic, so you know, more indeed, that's it.
SPEAKER_02Um quickly then, what's your team for Saturday before we we wrap this up?
SPEAKER_00I'm bringing in Altena, and I'd like to see Devlin start, and I'd like to see Chesnikov in for the start as well, and maybe give Kizzy a rest. I'm not sure not coming in for the landy. Maybe oh see that uh maybe take Spittle out, maybe take Kabori out and Steinvender, that would be and then the rest, you know, but bear in mind Magnuson's missing as well, though. Oh god, so he is. Maybe well if if if if Benny and Carrie could play, I would I would I would play Benny and Carrie, mate, because I think we need to win, we just need to go out and win this game. We need a solid video.
SPEAKER_02Is Benny, Came, and Leonard a bit too defensive?
SPEAKER_00I don't know, mate. I don't know. I'm not a massive fan of Leonard, to be honest. I'm not trying to be controversial. I think he's been good. Um I don't know if he's been as brilliant or as being made out like people talking about a contract for him and everything. I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_02Oh mate, I would he's I would been I would if cat if if Mark Leonard was available, I he would get Cami Devlin and Benny Berengham's wages and I'd give him another 10 grand on top of that. Nah, I'm I'm not saying it.
SPEAKER_00I'm honestly I'm not seeing it at all.
SPEAKER_02Honestly, the boy, he is he is so tidy on the ball, it's unreal.
SPEAKER_05Like the first five minutes are commodity.
SPEAKER_02He's uh he's a different Mark Leonard's a different level compared to the midfielders that we have in this team. All of them. Especially the Australian ones that just are good at chasing the ball down. By the way, and quickly, I'm going to come back to that as you're talking about Cami Devlin. Is that what kind of Cami Devlin are we going to get back? Are we going to get the Cami Devlin that's been good, or are we going to get the Cami Devlin that's needs it's a bit rusty and he starts playing like the one that was that we've had where he gives he wins 15 tackles, but 13 is a long team because he's given the ball away.
SPEAKER_00He would obviously be a bit rusty, Andy, and that's absolutely fair enough. But I I just think a team in need of a lift after Saturday, right?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, this is it. This is it.
SPEAKER_00This is the thing who's your which we even the very fact he's in that midfield, Andy, running around, the enthusiasm, the infectious energy, it just helps and it gives everybody else of lift, you know.
SPEAKER_02Uh-huh. Kennedy.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I would probably put Cavi in if he's available. If not, I would go down the vacante route. Um, because he's obviously back now. I'm still swerving between Bench and Kazarita's for a rest, because I think he'd be more critical against Livingston in the week after. Uh, but if he goes in for him, it's like is it Gorjotto? I'd love to see him play, but will he get a position off or point? It would be Chesterkov. Um, I would keep Spit on, to be fair. I would still keep it. Um still would they? I think I think he is.
SPEAKER_02If you look at me wasn't against that, I don't see what suppose we're playing Dundee and he only scores against Dundee teams, so that's but is but again though have a good game against Aberdeen, so he he he might
SPEAKER_00Steinbender and still three of them had good games against Aberdeen, but they were all pretty poor against and McCart and McCart. Yeah, we we know we get this with Cabori. You could get the good Cabore on Saturday at Tiny, but someone has to be looking at his footwear or something because that was that was ridiculous on Saturday, utter ridiculous.
SPEAKER_02But that happens every week. Like it generally happens every week, regardless of the whatever pitch he's on. He's on his arse mere times than you can count. Honestly, right? Buy yourself, go and buy yourself a juice, Clemen, when you get to the game, and just every time that he falls on his ass, take a sip, and within that you'll be fucking you're you're you're the cabori, the cabori, the cabori drinking game, the cabori drinking. What's that?
SPEAKER_05Russia did that on Saturday.
SPEAKER_02Honestly, I think that's the thing. The Kabori drinking game is the next is the next level up, but this is it. For me, he misses out for me. I have I'd play Braga goes through the middle. I think I said it earlier. I'd if he's never ever going to do it on a monthly Sundays, but Kurzotta on one side and uh Chesnikov on the other would be mine. I think having Shanklund and Devlin back in the dressing room as well, not just the squad, but in the dressing room, because McInnes obviously does Nellow's injured players into the dressing room will be a massive lift for everybody and it'll be a massive lift for the crowd. I wonder if them sports instead. What's that?
SPEAKER_05He just lets them on Sky Sports instead, apparently.
SPEAKER_02Alright, well it does that's fine. There's there's never to be fair, there are less harm on Sky Sports than there are in the dressing room. Um but I think even I wonder if them just coming on with half an hour to go will give up a bit more lift as well, especially if if it is 1-0 and we're just kind of being a bit stagnant and Lauren Shanklins comes on for half an hour or Camille Devlin comes on for half an hour, and it's uh it would be my my biggest issue, my biggest worry, I should say, is if Harry Milne isn't fit to play on Saturday, is who would who plays in his place at left back because I watched Jamie McCart on Saturday and I watched the Kelly boy chase him down, and it looked like McCart was running on tree call.
SPEAKER_00So um that is where I would uh that was that was terrible. It was uh there was a ball passed in a cart or something, and I was like, right, control it, control it, control it, and and he's just never and then all of a sudden the killing point I was like I've I've I've I've not actually been angry really that many times this season, right? But I actually shouted at that at the telly, I was like, What are you actually doing? Because he had about 10 minutes to control it, and he's like, not not not not not not I think the telly point was always what the fuck are you doing like that?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yes, so that is uh that is probably my biggest fear, and to be fair, we've managed to get through a whole podcast, and I only mentioned the goalkeeper once, so it is one of these things, but again, aye, has anybody got anything else? What's that?
SPEAKER_05You just follow your pride to that one.
SPEAKER_02Hey, right. Anybody got anything else before we we go, lads?
SPEAKER_00Because I think I've got a smoked sausage for my dinner, mate. All good. Oh, I think I'm sorry. I need to jump on lads.
SPEAKER_02See you later. Anyway, he's away for uh his smoke sausage and whatever else he's getting up to. But again, thank you very much for everybody for that has been listening there for the last 70 minutes or so of us chatting. Um, we do really enjoy it. We do talk mentioned already, but mental health has been one thing that we have been focusing on as well, and it is good for us. We just like to get out and we chat hearts. But it's also if anybody is feeling lonely, they do want to have a chat, then please reach out. Whether it's a reaching out to us, um, we'll certainly have a chat with you, whether it's online, uh on Twitter or uh Facebook, or if it's reaching out to all the multiple different uh outlets that are there for you, such as the Samaritans, uh such as out the breathing space, or even attending one of your local Andeman clubs that are designed there to help as well. So, and I'll another thing as well is if you have a friend who you've not heard from for a wee while just that little text message can certainly make a difference. Um, they may be just feeling a bit low and just reaching out can also help uh when it comes to that too. So, again, don't suffer in silence, especially again, when it comes to I mean bringing it back to the football is at this time when nerves can be shot and everything else is it'd be good, it's good to get just to get stuff off your chest, or even at other times where things maybe are get building up, reach out, uh uh will help, honest. Um, but again, thank you very much for listening again. We do appreciate everything. Um, you can get us on all your streaming sites, uh all the good ones, all the bad. Get us on social media, get us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Blue Sky and Threads. Uh I reactivated those accounts all that long ago. Um, I'm gonna try and get Gavin Kennedy to make a couple of TikToks for us as well, but we'll see how that goes.
SPEAKER_05But it's maybe a TikTok, eh? Honestly.
SPEAKER_02No, those kind of TikToks, Gav. Anyway, um again, thank you very much. Um, and it's a bye for me.
SPEAKER_05And uh Bonger for me. Um we go again. Here we go, eight to go.