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Vranckly A Great Performance

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Andy and Kennedy talk

- Dundee United Win

- McKinley leaving

- Kyzi to Turkey

- Benfica and ICT 

SPEAKER_01

Welcome back to Old Castle Rock for this podcast that talks everything Heart of Medlow and the moments that lift the roof of Tine Castle, the ones that test your patients, the history, the stories, and everything happened around the club. This is the place to be it. We are back for our technically our third episode, but this is episode two. You can work that one out yourselves, everybody. Um, and we are joined first of all, it's a full house. Gavin Kennedy, how are we doing?

SPEAKER_00

Hello, mate. I'm good, yourself. As we say, just jealous of other boys away in Lisbon this this evening.

SPEAKER_01

So aye, absolutely, and a man who has just backed with Falaraki on his club 1830s holiday. Gavin Fleming, how are you doing? It's a not special.

SPEAKER_02

I am very good, mate. Very, very good. The holiday was actually really, really good. Um, getting a wee bit too old for these 18 to 30s, if I'm being honest, but it was um it was a good holiday, mate. Um happy today. But looking forward to talking about the jambos, it seems to have been a long time, mate, so and there's quite a lot to discuss, shy. So uh looking forward to it.

SPEAKER_01

Good. Um, right. So let's go into it. First thing then, obviously, you we have missed you, obviously, and missed you over the last couple of weeks, Gab. So, what's your thoughts on everything preseason, uh Stoom Gratz, transfers, everything else? Give us a quick rundown of where you are with everything at the moment.

SPEAKER_02

Aye, good question, mate. I mean, quick quick rundown, just uh because obviously to be talking for ages. I think uh uh listen back to your thoughts, you know, the ones that you you did on Gratz. I think a lot of what you and Gav said is correct. Graz still are uh uh a good team, uh experienced Champions League and you know, parallel team. I don't think there is a disgrace in getting knocked out by them necessarily. I think the first game I actually saw the first game. I don't know if everybody's seen the first the first game, I don't know if people have actually seen it, but I remember saying Hurts did actually play well the first half, and just from I think it gave us a bit of a false expectation, and obviously we just collapsed in the in the second half. So, you know, nothing wrong with getting knocked out by them per se, but I think we could have done a bit better today, not keep it, you know, under 6-0. And I think we deserve to score a couple of goals based on the away game. Pre-season, the preseason we've touched on hasn't been the best. We uh we know the reasons why, but there's a lot going on. Hopefully, that'll start you know knitting together quite soon. And um, yeah, in terms of transfers, transfers in some good, you know. I wouldn't say any ad as such just now some unknowns, and we just need to kind of see see where we end up with it all. So a bit of a mixed bag, but yeah, we are where we are, and I think it'll all come together now through the next couple of couple of weeks and couple of months, hopefully, anyway.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, good. Um again, I didn't need to ask Kennedy what he thinks of your thoughts, that'd be really weird. Um, so we'll move on to things that have happened this week, obviously. First of all, things today the derby has been moved to the um it's not the sixth, it's the third of September. It's because the Dundee game has been moved on the the Sunday to the 6th as well. So Easter Road on the Thursday, and then we're at Pinecastle on the Sunday. I you know I could I could I couldn't get my head round that Andy, right?

SPEAKER_02

That the Derby was as soon as that, right? I was I was actually quite survived. I was like, I and I don't know if it's just because this the summer or whatever with the World Cup has gone so fast, right?

SPEAKER_00

And that is because of the international stuff because I think we have a three-week international break.

SPEAKER_02

So I think in my head, I'm I'm still kind of remembering like the one Easter Road doesn't seem that long ago, right? When Spell scored, and now all of a sudden we're actually talking about the first derby of the season. It just seems mad. It just seems mad.

SPEAKER_01

Yep, uh it does. Alright, and it's the thing is obviously there is condensed pictures obviously because of this this international break. And to be fair, normally our first our first derby has nor has been October over the last few seasons. It seems to be if it's not the first game or second game of the season, it seems to be in the October. Um I think since we came back up. That's normally roughly when it has been. So the fact that it is quite early.

SPEAKER_02

Um break in September. You're kidding. Can I watch Scotland again after staying up till four o'clock in the morning to watch them against heated? Oh no.

SPEAKER_01

You don't need to watch them, mate. You could probably like put films on or something. Um it might chew you up and make you feel a bit better if you go and put go to the cinema or something.

SPEAKER_02

Um, how is it three weeks this time? Is it four games that they're fitting in?

SPEAKER_01

Aye, so basically what they've done is they're condensing it. So it's a three, it's a a larger September international break, and then they don't really have one. It used to be one in September, one October, one November. So it's a larger one in September and a smaller one in November.

SPEAKER_03

Right, right.

SPEAKER_01

Well, so rather than actually break it up, and it's meant to be um it's meant to mean that you're it's meant to obviously try and not disrupt it as much, but I'll be honest, you're generally gonna be climbing the walls for then debit because we play without going through if Navy really is here to listen to us talk about Scotland, right? But Scotland plays Slovenia on the 26th, Switzerland on the 29th, North Macedonia on the 3rd of October, and then the 6th of October is the the other game against Slovenia on the Nations League, and then they go back and then they play two games in the in the November. So that's where it is. They play four games um between the 26th of September and the 6th of October, and then they play two games in a fortnight or so in September in November.

SPEAKER_02

So there's a bit of a there's a bit of a kind of extra kind of sort of group in a bunch of games together a wee bit a wee bit quicker than but it does aye, but then it obviously has that impact as well, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Because you're obviously you're missing out, right? On you're missing out on your club football for that timing. It means that you're obviously you're condensing your like we are right now. Aye, well this is a thing, right? Is it's what happens though? Because you're then you're adding you're playing more midweek games and and things like that. By the way, I didn't even mind a midweek, Jimmy. Like it's I quite like it. And obviously, because it's international, it means that you've I'll get to more like non-league games and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_02

The question is though, Andy, that's a Thursday night down at Easter Road. The question that everybody will want to know is has Gavin got his day's holiday and yet? That's what we need to know.

SPEAKER_01

Well he's he's already told he's pre he's pre-dinged this, right? Because he told me this before he started that he's going to ask for a half day on this day before. Which is fine, because you know what?

SPEAKER_00

So I can drop my car off and just get hit to straight to Easter Road and drink outside it. Whether Dico has a ticket for me or not, I'll be hanging about round there.

SPEAKER_01

Uh no, because we don't, we're not, we're not you we're not one of these people that hold loyalty points gavs. So if you don't have the loyalty points, I don't think you're gonna be able to go. So you might want to find the telly for that one.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_01

Um but aye, it's uh well the thing is as well, because before that, we're obviously gonna have to fit the the Falkirk game in because that's been postponed for the 22nd as well.

SPEAKER_00

So, thing right, the TV have taken no consideration to the fans, so like for both us and them, not when I give a toss about them or anything like that, eh? But they've put the Derby the teams that are gonna be in you uh more likely in the conference league. On the flight of Thursday to Sunday week, now we decided oh, we'll just put the Derby on the Thursday instead of a Tuesday or a Wednesday, just so uh we don't interfere with any other television or uh we have a I take it, I take it Sky have got a game on the Wednesday then.

SPEAKER_02

You know, I mean is that is that I was just saying, Gav, is that is that why Premier have moved that to Thursday? It is a bit random, eh? You think they could just show it on the Wednesday? So I'm assuming Sky must have a game.

SPEAKER_01

The games were obviously meant to be on the Wednesday, right? Um so aye, the games were meant to be on the weddings day. So what they've done is they play Falkirt Rangers is on the is on the Wednesday at Falkart, and then Hearts Hibbs is on the Thursday the third at Easter Road. And then Celtics St. Murin is the well that's the thing, right? So we obviously our games got to be moved to Sunday anyway. But then well actually here that's here because the the games are like the ones I've read out, so Falcut Rangers and then Wednesday the second. Thursday, September the third is Hearts Hub, or Hearts Hibbs at Eastern Road, then the Saturday is the Celtics at Murray game, and then on the Sunday at three o'clock, both the Hearts game um and the well maybe not then. Hearts games just been rearranged anyway, um for the Sunday. But the Hibs games are on us on the tele on Premier Sports. Well, Hearts aren't even on Sky. Hearts aren't even on Sky, they're on Premier Sports against Hibs, but our game isn't going to be on the tele um on the Sunday against Sunday. Um although we will be able to sell pay-per-view for Hearts TV, but it's not even going to be on the tele and we've just got to go on the Sunday. But say, Ken, what right? I'm gonna I'm gonna I'll play devil's advocate a little bit for you, Gab, right? Okay. So say that we are say that we get into these conference league group stages, and I'm just gonna double check the dates on it. Would it is it beneficial to keep us on that on that schedule, like playing Sunday, Thursday rather than playing Sunday, Wednesday?

SPEAKER_00

Because like you get your first you get your first Saturday like kick-off, like three o'clock kickoff, and it's all been moved because of TV. And it's such a pain in the arse, and it's like I can't grieve it. I know what you're trying to say in terms of a schedule for the players and all that of the team. That's all fair and fine. I do get what you're saying that side of it, but for an actual fan side of it, it just sucks, you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_02

I think I think that's one of these issues that we need to kind of get used to as well, lads, because I think we talked about this last season, and if hearts want to be the team that we want to be under blue, we are gonna have to get used to this Sunday fixture quite a lot now. It's gonna be if we're up there challenging, a lot more games get moved, and if we're in the European stages, a lot more games get moved. But I do agree with you, Gab, it does, and you know, it does take away the uh the occasion of a Saturday, three o'clock. It just does, and it's it's frustrating, and it's a bit of a difficult adjustment, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01

Well, yeah, that's the thing. But I don't even he's somebody that doesn't work your office 95, it doesn't bother me if came down three o'clock on a Saturday. Like it generally, I have I have no interest that if they're three o'clock on a Sunday, two o'clock on a Sunday, it doesn't bother me because uh the the way that I worked at three o'clock on a Saturday doesn't he always doesn't he always thingy me if you understand what I mean? Ah it's no three o'clock on a Saturday, but we didn't work in factories anymore. That's why it was that's why it was set out to three o'clock on a Saturday.

SPEAKER_02

But do you know, Andy, I bet I bet I bet psychologically though, right? A three o'clock on a Saturday, right? When you wake up and you've got the three o'clock on a Saturday, there's probably a wee bit mentally it's still a bit like, yes, it's a three o'clock game on a Saturday, as opposed to oh, it's you know three o'clock on a Sunday. I I'm not saying it's a big thing, mate, but um I get what you're saying, eh? But anyway, it is it is what it is, it is what it is, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Ah, yeah, of course it is, but yeah, it is obviously well the thing is aye, we would we would our game is obviously on the 28th, is the it's the it's not it's the 29th, is it not, or the 30th now, which would be the St. Johnston game anyway, at home. So we're St. Johnston at home, Ham's away, and then Gundee away within that week. Um, so aye, and just quickly when you're talking about the fixture, just to recap that, you're talking about the fixtures as a where are we? Because I just had it. That's that's not what I want. Uh sake. Uh right, so basically we play, obviously, we're playing we play St. Johnson 29th, September and 2nd against Cabs, the 5th of September again or the 6th of September against the B. We then play Falk through midweek. Uh well if we're in the if we play Falk one of the midweeks, we then play, if we get through the week cup, we play there, and then we play Kilmarnock on the 19th of September, and then we don't play again until St. Murray and Cup to Tine Castle on the 10th of October. So, yeah, it's uh it's this international beck is just totally scanner dust and and stuff, so aye, it's uh um it is what is, but I said we'll move on. Obviously, we're talking about tickets as well. Fent week away on sale, Inverness is now on sale reserved for season ticket holders. Anything else you want to want rant about the ticket office, Kennedy?

SPEAKER_00

Um to be fair to me, ticket. Obviously, I I don't know if he listened to us last week about uh reserving seats because he did it now for uh our topic coming up shortly. So um no, nothing new yet, um to be fair. But yeah, we're obviously a bit boost about uh having to stress and like worry about the European side of things, eh? So um it's not easy for us these days, eh? Uh for Spirit Spanish for our season ticket holders and that, you know, so it's pretty rubbish outside.

SPEAKER_02

I see there was also a few folk that were um, and this is understandable, the arrangements for collecting the tickets for um Benfica in in Lisbon, they'd set up like uh an address in Lisbon, like an area to go to for fans to collect tickets, but they were saying that you had to do it by three o'clock tomorrow afternoon. And obviously, a few folk were a little bit panicky because there were some people's travel arrangements that were getting in after three o'clock, like folks that were traveling on the day. I think it's sort of out now, you can just get your ticket at a kiosk at the Ben Tita Ground Day, but um stuff stuff like that, like it's understandable and it can be a little bit you know frustrating for fans, but at the same time, the club can only do so much in these circumstances, and I think they've communicated that reasonably well, to be fair. So obviously, hopefully safe travels to everybody that's going tomorrow.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, absolutely. Um, and obviously, we found out this week about what the the draw would be. Um have obviously if we somehow manage to advance. Um when we advance, when we advance, is when we advance, um we would play in either ADF R House or Sabah FC. Um or if we get beat and we go into the conference league, we would play either paid linemascond.

SPEAKER_02

Nicely done, Andy. Nicely done, mate, nicely done.

SPEAKER_01

Or rapid Vienna in Austria. Um so first of all, let's break down the Europa League. Um let's we'll break it down. Obviously, we we'll just talk about let's play, let's talk about Europe. We'll start with that, right? Obviously, because it all kind of links into one. Um the Europa League, obviously, we've got the massive task of Ben Speaker um tomorrow night or tonight, as everybody's listening to this or yesterday, and you'll all know the score, and you'll be like, Why is he even talking about it? Um, so my first question to the to the group is Is there a chance? Is there any type of chance?

SPEAKER_00

Realistically, always a chance.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_02

Um I think the beauty of football, and they and we know this over the years, right? There is always a chance, right? Because ultimately it's a game of football, it's 11 men, the 11 men, and it's 90 minutes, right? And it's nil-nil when the game starts, alright? However, that's it. It's probably highly, highly, highly unlikely, and I think we all know we're most likely gonna be on the receiving end, right, of a complete doing. However, within the context of maybe getting taken apart, the parts can still perform reasonably well in certain parts of the game. So by that I mean let's just try and defend, let's just try and be as compact and organized as we can be, right? Let's just try and make sure that we work hard and let's see if we can try and keep it semi-respectable, right? So you know what I mean. Even if it is a 3, a 4-0, we'll probably all take that, right? But within that, we can still maybe see some encouraging signs. But like you said last week, I think if it goes into sixes and sevens, that's when you can start to get slightly frustrated and it becomes an argument about, oh, is it now embarrassing? And that's when you start to look at proper double figures on aggregate, and that's when you can start to get properly concerned. But I don't even think you should be that concerned with that. I think in isolation, say if you lost seven nil, seven nil, it would be really, really embarrassing. But at the same time, mate, in isolation is Ben Fika, they've won the European Cup twice. They're a massive name on the European States. Mourinho was managing them last heat in. You say me all played for them, so you've got to put it, let's put it in context, right? But there's always a chance, you just never know. Back a tee from a corner, 89 minutes, you never know.

SPEAKER_01

Kennedy.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, just like that, basically. I mean, there is always a chance, it's football, innit? You know what I mean? But you just you do have to look at the quality and you do have to be a wee bit realistic at times, eh? You got to know that it's gonna be a difficult task, no matter if we come out uh blazing against us uh early on, or if we maybe, I don't know, take it easy, think that they're just gonna get a go and they need one sort of thing, taking up our levels against us. So it's gonna be challenging, but at the same time, it's it's a great experience for the players because we we've taken other experienced championship team off the box, you know what I mean? And that can only do well for a team, really, in future in terms of experience, because it's like we're never gonna get to play these type of teams. And it's all based on what we did last season as well. So we do deserve to be where we are. Um, so whether we get punished for it or not are two different things. It just depends how we can defend on the night.

SPEAKER_02

So okay, so I worry I'm just gonna say just gonna say, like, just echoing briefly what what Gav says there, Andy. I I agree with that point because I think you play an entire season, right? And we all know what happened last year, but we've still got second. And what's the point in playing an entire season if you can't try and enjoy an occasion like Ben Pika away? Where we're kind of sounded like we're we know we're kind of writing maybe the score off, right? But take it in and what it is, Ben Pika the will, you know, the how how romantic a game this is, Ben Pika's history, that stadium, the fans on the away trip enjoying themselves, right? So if you can't get a bit excited about Hearts playing Ben Pika, right? Or you know, you shouldn't really be following football, and and and and it blows that argument out of the water for me about should Hearts maybe not be in Europe or is Europe a distraction? No, we need to qualify for Europe every season because we need to get used to it, we need to get used to the Sunday and the Thursday. And I we need to the fans and the club just need to try and enjoy it as much as they can, if that makes sense.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Um so, in regards to tomorrow and everything that you've seen so far. Is it worrying how weaky we are at at the black and how weaky? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02

Absolutely. It could be horrible, mate. It could be horrible. I'm looking forward to our chat tomorrow, quarter past eight, when we're 3-0 down and people are moaning. But like I say, I think I think we've just got to go like that. We are going to lose this game. It could be four, five, or six. But I think he can still play within the team at moments quite well, Andy. It is worrying because the defence is not looking good at all. We're also losing goals in little clusters, three and nine minutes in Graz, two and five minutes at home, two and fucking five minutes on Saturday. Aye, it's terrifying. It's terrifying me. McCart's going to be playing tomorrow. Is it? Can Finlay play tomorrow?

SPEAKER_01

I'm not even sure how to well I'd imagine they will be because they got sent off in the league and they can so Finlay, it'll be Finlay, Finlay and Mackitee.

SPEAKER_02

And I mean it's just I don't even oh I don't even know where you go. Like do you start with a back five? Do you start as a four-five-one? Do you go? It doesn't really matter. It's been fine. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_01

Well, that's the thing, is obviously you would you would you then be better treat using it more like a pre-season game, writing the results off already, and just you know using it to try and get minutes under belts and trying to fine-tune things.

SPEAKER_02

I think you can do a bit of both. So I think you can use this game, and I still think you play your strongest team because you still want to go out there, it's on tele, it's in front of a lot of fans, you want to give a good account of yourself. We need to improve our coefficient rankings as well, so we can get better qualified for these tournaments. But at the same time, it's not the D all and end all. So I think there's got to be an element of, yeah, let's maybe maybe play this player, get some minutes in the legs, let's maybe play this and see what we can do. But within a structure, and I'm sure the manager will be doing that. But any conversation about oh, do we play this guy up front or do we play this guy up? I don't really think it matters. It's just going to come down to what Benfica turns up. And like Gav said, will they be a bit complacent? That might be the only saving grace if they're maybe a little bit under prepared, prepared, I said, guys, under prepared, under prepared.

SPEAKER_01

So are we it's the thing though, are we undercooked?

SPEAKER_02

Would we say under prepared, under prepared?

SPEAKER_01

And the thing is, do we would we go are we better? Would we are we better going into defensive, maybe a black 10 or something like that, um, and just try and soak it all up, or are we should we just try and would you just play your your normal game?

SPEAKER_00

Like what would you as a as a new manager? I think he should honestly be trying to play his his uh like new game. Aye, we might get cuff for it, but if heart's players are gonna we what do you mean we might get cuff? Aye, but you know what I mean is like if we're gonna if heart's players are gonna get used to the system going forward, disrupting it for two games only can only like maybe not like stop the uh what's the word I'm looking for? Uh stop the uh progression of the system uh even further behind into the season. And do you really want that? So why not just play your normal game, do what your players have been instructed to do from like pre-season training and over and what we've been working on and stuff like that, keep working and working it. Someone will come right eventually. We see if we got like to go in the first five minutes and that angered them and he hammered us like line one or something like that, it would still be good for the fans because they get to tell them a goal, you know what I mean? And it's like we played our system, we didn't give in just to like because of who we're playing. And that's something that we've got to learn as well. If we're gonna have to stick to manager who plays a certain way, you just can't like change it just for the sake of one team. Ah, if it's like a if it's like a final or something like that, then fair enough. But an actual chip player, Europa qualifier, do you change it just for that?

SPEAKER_02

See, yeah, that's that's a that's a that's an interesting point, Gab, because um I do see where you're coming from, right? And I was thinking about this. I was like, Banking obviously likes this uh attacking system and it's gonna take time. And and when it when it works, eventually, I think it is gonna lead to some good days, right? But I'm thinking, I mean, going going to Ben Tika is hard enough, right? If if we try and play as open as he likes to play, and we're pushing our fuel backs really high, you've seen how often Aberdeen, Aberdeen, we're even getting him behind us in the first half on Saturday. Now, you imagine Benfica doing that. I'm thinking, oh my god, what could actually happen? So I think we they've got to just do maybe a bit of a combination of both, and maybe try and maybe play a certain bit of the style, but also just try and maybe not too bumble and not proper, you know, pushing up to the halfway line. Because if we do that, then yeah, you could be looking at double figures, you know. So a bit of balance, maybe a bit of balance.

SPEAKER_00

I know. I mean, there would it would be great format, eh? But I mean, it depends what uh situation like you can do with it, because when they've got the ball, you can always go into a more defensive flight formation. But as soon as one of us gets the ball, we we immediately go into our our own system, don't just be afraid to play it just to because you've been told to like lay back a certain way when they've got the ball. There's ways of doing it in football, eh? And it's just how you perceive the tactics, really, eh? To be honest, yeah.

SPEAKER_02

So yeah, no, no, no. I I I agree. I don't I know what you mean because Rankin's been there for like five, six weeks now, and it's been my lads, I want to be on the front foot, I want to attack, uh you know, I want the throwbacks, press in and everything, and then to all of a sudden say, Oh, wait a minute, for these two games, though, I know I want a low block, blah, blah, blah. I I do get your point. I I do. I bet it'll be interesting to see how he plays the game. Like, uh it'd be interesting to be a fire in the ball in the dressing room, like, definitely.

SPEAKER_01

Well, that the thing is as well, you then obviously look in and obviously I'm I say in the middle of the park as if they're obviously it does it matter if it's if it's Belay or Spittle in there as well. But obviously, Spittle does seem to be the one that he does, he obviously does fancy. I mean, Spittle's played he played the two Ston Gats games he played on Saturday against Aberdeen, and I mean he's one that probably wouldn't have had in. Do you think he plays again, or do you think Winot comes in?

SPEAKER_00

I think so. He didn't really do too much wrong on Saturday, to be fair, I felt. Um he wasn't he's not the type of player I'd have in that system going forward. But while we're waiting on this uh Ronald uh boy getting up to speed and his fitness and stuff like that, he's not the worst option for us. I know some people obviously want to prefer Magnuson to that, but do you think Magnuson might be too attacking for this type of game? For you know, Smetle's more compact and defensive, you know, he's almost like uh a lesser cavian, if you like, was a good way to describe him if you get me. Um so like he doesn't do the backside pass, but he certainly knows how to like hold up a ball and like you know, working his van and stuff, eh? So for me, it's a no-brainer to get spitting on it, really.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Um Fleman, thoughts on the obviously I don't I'm not gonna go over play this and that because I think that it doesn't really matter which of the eleven go in there on the I can't I can't believe we're having a conversation about whether Blair Spittle starts away to Ben Pika will make a difference.

SPEAKER_01

I think no, I don't think it I don't think it's to do with whether he makes a difference or I don't think.

SPEAKER_02

I'm only joking, mate. I'm only joking. I think I think Spittle he did have I I agree, I get what Kennedy said. I did actually think he had a decent game on on Saturday, um, despite the result, and I think uh Rankin likes him for uh leadership reasons, but I would rather have uh Renault and Magnuson in myself, but that's just uh never what about Mendy though?

SPEAKER_01

Like obviously Mendy Dunwee. I thought Mendy Dunwey.

SPEAKER_02

I actually forgot about Mendy, but I totally forgot no. So Mendy and uh another another, yeah, yeah, Mendy, Mendy in as well.

SPEAKER_01

I I think I kind of mentioned this last week as well.

SPEAKER_02

Obviously, I the thing is Magnuson can obviously play a bit further, can play a bit further forward, and could be an option if you're needing if he not packed the midfield, but if you need rather a more of a centre midfield option, uh actually in there rather than just being like obviously your your proper pen, but there's a part of me, there's a part of me that's really looking forward to see how we approach the game and just to see his team and kind of where Rankins' mind is at, what he thinks he can realistically do tomorrow. It'll be really interesting to see it, mate, and just to see what happens.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, aye, absolutely, and this is it. I'd be interested to see what he thinks he can do and what they're obviously what they've they've worked on and and things like that. I mean that'll be it must be one of these things where you're the the level of position. And by the way, the level that Steam Gratz were at was was quite scary compared to us, and this team are going to be even are going to be even better, and I don't think you'll we're not realistically, I don't think we'll play a better team than this season than Benfica. Like we won't play a team that's got a better quality than Benfica, even I think if we get into the group stages.

SPEAKER_00

Well, when we get into the final of a conference, mate, eh? So just Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_01

Tony Bloom final, Brighton versus Hart. But realistically, you probably aren't we are going to play a team as good as Benfica. We probably I think that but Stum Grats team would have beat Rangers and Celtic easily over two legs as well. So it's it's quite it's obviously quite difficult because I always think that like a McInnes team would have would have set in a bit deeper against Stum Gratt. I think I said it last week, and would have would have sat in a bit deeper, would have sat in where that low blocking, would have sat there and made it made it tough, made it defensive, and then tried to come out where we could. And obviously you'd probably feel that a McInnes team against against a Benfica would would be we've heard jokes about the the back 10 and everything else, but it would be something very similar to that. And we know that Franken isn't able to do that because it is all about it is all about style and how he wants to do it. And I think that that's fine. And I mean Benfica definitely isn't the time to look at it and go, um, right, this is where I want to see stuff, I want to see some substance within my style. But I mean it's probably something where you can it can help you build towards that, obviously, uh with Dundee United on this on this Sunday as well. Um because really realistically, you want to get through this game with as low score as possible, and we want to get there with no injuries or anything like that, because even even now we're still picking up injuries. We're you can see uh thinking Walcott's out, whether you whether he's in the moon boot or not, depending if you think that picture is AI. Um it's uh it's obviously Kingsley's out for a wee bit as well. Um so we're obviously we're starting to pick up injuries already. And I mean, we're looking at our squad, and Kennedy put a picture of how big the squad is with the squad numbers, and it looks massive, but it does at the same time feel that we are we are feeling we are starting to pick up injuries already. So you want to come out of this with as low squad as possible with no injuries, so that it gives us the best chance against against Dundee United on the on the Sunday as well. So yeah, I mean that's where I am with everything. Um I think it I think I'm more gutted that I'm not actually in Lisbon uh this week, uh unfortunately, but I was it was mentioned to me at the weekend that I was probably all Europe out for a little bit. So you can you can take that.

SPEAKER_02

You've had enough, you've had enough European trips for one season, mate. You're fine. As Gav says, save it for the save it for the latter stages, mate, when we're a still uh in the league stages.

SPEAKER_01

Well that's it. Two European trips in the same country, basically a fucking hour apart. Um that'll be good. But yeah, um aye, let's uh let's I suppose we should probably move on to Aberdeen then, guys. Uh to be honest, um as I said at the before off mic, I don't really remember too much of it. Saturday was quite a little bit of bluff for me, but um thoughts then uh with the team obviously that played Saturday, you had um obviously the midfield was Mendy came in at the midfield. Mackin team moved into centre half, obviously, to play alongside um Stuart Finlay. Any other any other surprises that you you thought might have been in regards to that team?

SPEAKER_00

Gorjota getting his first start.

SPEAKER_01

Gorjota, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I felt was a bit of a wee bit of a surprise because of his fitness levels. Um but yeah. Other than that, obviously B Roos gave his obviously his Davy as well. Um yeah. We didn't suspect that with uh obviously um Swallow Lever, but you still think he might have like maybe he's voted for an Aver D game just while he settled and training and stuff like that. But yeah, he obviously trusts him enough to give him a go ahead, eh?

SPEAKER_01

So um fair enough. Um what was the what was your thoughts on the on the goalie then? I know he obviously picked we conceded two goals on his on his debut, but what was your thoughts on the goalie?

SPEAKER_00

What was he didn't have a lot to do to be quite honest with you, so it's quite hard to judge. Um I think he had maybe one shot in the first half, and it was really sort of chucked right at him. So it wasn't it wasn't exactly a great Gordon Wonder safe if we get the A. It was just your average goal type safe. And then even in the second half, I mean a lot of that was for me was defensive errors that uh led to both goals. Um what it's not much you could have done about that penalty, to be fair. It was like I hate this, but hey, but it was a well-take of like penalty right in the top corner. It's a dad, right?

SPEAKER_02

What he did do though, Andy, I I noticed um like similar to to what Kennedy said. He didn't really have any, you couldn't really notice any saves or or anything like that, right? But it was noticeable how uh comfortable he seemed to be coming out of his box on occasion because there was there was two or three times when a ball was played through, and he was really quite he looked like he could be quite a good sweeper keeper, he but he was off his line really, really fast. And it was also quite noticeable, and I know this is a direct correlation with how Vankins wanted to play, but it was noticeable how he would um sometimes come outside the penalty box and just kind of sit in the kind of semicircle bit, right, and try and play a pass almost like an extra outfield player. And he also looked like he was quite comfortable with the ball at his feet, and it was noticeable how we're trying to play out from the back.

SPEAKER_00

So like he does a lot of what other keepers used to have, anyway, just stayed the back.

SPEAKER_02

He looks like he's gonna be, I think it'll probably give us a couple of palpitations in the season, but it looks like we're gonna have one of these keepers that a bit like the Motherwell guy Ward last season, he'll be coming outside his box. Remember when we beat Motherwell 3-1 at a tiny that game and got uh Kamori got brought down for the penalty at the end of the season, and uh the Motherwell keeper kept coming outside the box, and all the fans were like booing and everything saying to go and challenge him, similar to that style. So we're gonna have like an extra outfield player almost. Now, sometimes that's gonna work and it's gonna look really, really good, and we're gonna spring and break a tax, but sometimes we'll probably get caught playing out from the back and we'll concede a goal. But hey, that's what rankings want, and so you know, to all intents and purposes, that's the positive.

SPEAKER_01

Yep. Um, Mac, what were your thoughts on Macinty at right centre half? Is that the answer?

SPEAKER_02

He didn't he actually he did well. He he did well. I actually thought he was quite good that I would have no clams in keeping him there. Sorry, guys.

SPEAKER_00

When you go No, no, I don't agree. It's not his position, but um, let's face it, when does he ever get to play his favourite position at RTVA? You know what I mean? So every time he goes into a place, he does do a job, eh? Um you could very uh argue that with uh first go, but even then it's like that I I think he did really well for the circumstances he had, especially if that he's obviously preferred to have cart that position when it's absolutely meant to be his position if he got the A.

SPEAKER_02

So and in fact, you could you could actually there's an argument, right, that uh moving McAtee out of defence and into the midfield, right, when Rankin made the subs was a possible contribution, right, to Aberdeen getting a foothold in the game because honestly, Marx actually for me played pretty well in the second half. I I honestly had about five minutes to go. I was honestly, I was a second away from saying in the group chat, right? We look really comfortable here. Aberdeen haven't laid a glove on us, right? And I was sometimes honestly, I was like, I cannot see a way that Aberdeen are going to score here, but obviously they did. We know what happened, and it's we'll talk about it. But for me, no, McAtee was good at centre back, I would have no qualms in him being there, even maybe full-time Andy, to be honest, right? If you because if you've got guys in the middle, if Mendy Madnesson and Renault are playing there, right, and then Arew Kokov maybe comes back at some point, right? I'd have no problem with McAtee playing as a full-time centre centre back. Seriously, I I think he's I think he's okay there. I think he's good there.

SPEAKER_01

He took his goal well, by the way. It was quite a poacher's instinct that he has go. I obviously he he reacted quite well with the the way that the Aberdeen defender had obviously had kicked it to and was a bit slow to react to.

SPEAKER_02

What about Big Shirley Basse's turn as well? That was quite a good play from the big man. But you know, he's I think he's got good feet, Big Basse, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01

Well, did you see the Daily Mail headline as well? Did you see the headline about him?

SPEAKER_02

Oh mate, I'm not I I I don't even want to give that uh I read a bit of that story and I was like, that that's just ridiculous. Like, ah, it's terrible.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Aye, exactly. And as it it's quite obviously, it's quite hard. He's he's a he's uh he is a big laddie, and sometimes he's touched his name. It's a new game and everything else, and if it's trying to get used to the way that it's played and everything, it's an absolute horrible thing to write. Um but yeah, I mean I thought the first half from the from what I've seen, I thought the first half was we were I thought we were we were doing well. I was quite I was quite happy the way it was going. I thought we were we were doing obviously quite well, and then I went away and I came back just as Alberdeen had obviously equalized, and then obviously they they got the penalty. It's a hard ball, like it is a handball for their goal. So first.

SPEAKER_02

Oh, I think like obviously there's there's no frustration for me.

SPEAKER_00

It's a bad time if a referee couldn't see an angle in it on VAR to confirm it was a hard ball, and that's where it frustrates me if you get behaved, because like if you can't see it actually touching his arm, it's again it's like Motherwell, if you don't have a right angle for it, why are you giving it on the basis that Vara telling you that he's handled it?

SPEAKER_02

So I think uh it was one of uh it's an interesting point, lads, because um at the time, right? I think I was like, oh, I surely like handled that, and then you could tell from his reaction because the Aberdeen boy doesn't kind of celebrate as in like you would normally do. It's like so he kind of knows. And to right, and I don't really like to say to be fair to the SFA people, but they did spend a couple of minutes checking it on VAR. So I was a bit like, right, at least they're checking it. But like Gav says, because we've got a bar light, there's no decent camera handle behind the goals. So if they can't see it, they can't give it. So I am okay with that as much as it probably was a handball, right? I can't I'm not gonna be crying, I can't cry over everything, you know, already this season, right? So I get it, and I think it might have been an Aberdeen penalty anyway, because Cabore handled it right before the ball went over. So he might have ruled out the goal and given a penalty for a handball from Cabore, but it is what it is, and then and and then but do you know what? That was still that was one-all. It was one all, right? It's Petogee, just get down the road. Last season's team. I I know we're gonna have to get out of the habit of saying that, right? But it's gonna take a couple of weeks. But last season's team, they're never losing that game to one, they're probably winning it one-nil. And uh I I disagree, man. I think we would have drawn that game last year, you know, but um I mean conceding the goals, but the goal, the goals got like the the the goals and grats, mate. Three three goals in nine minutes and then two goals in four minutes at Team Castle. We we should never should never concede to make it two one. One all just just concentrate, store everything up, right? A bit of leadership, get down the road to our point.

SPEAKER_00

The problem is we have to store it up with a cart and fiddly, you know what I mean?

SPEAKER_02

It's obviously not it's not as good as winning the game, but just get a point, right? Get out of Dodge, right? It's annoying, it's a last minute equalizer. But listen, a point at Aberdeen, it's not terrible. Honestly, it's a just stupid defending and to concede, oh, it was just the mentality is just not quite there, and the resilience is not quite there with this team. I don't know what the answer is, but it's it's got to come and it's got to come soon.

SPEAKER_01

It shows that there's a fragility there.

SPEAKER_02

Like you could talk about that.

SPEAKER_01

You can talk about there. There is there is obviously a fragility somewhere. The fact is, you talk you just highlighting it there. You you lost three goals in nine minutes, two goals in four minutes, and you lost two goals in five minutes. So, like when you lose a goal, there's a bit of a panic that sets in somewhere. And I don't know if that's maybe that that Hulkitz's not there, that Hulk's not there. For example, is he a re is he the reassuring figure? Is it that there's is it that Benny's known the midfield? Is it that fucking Cam, Cam Devlin's known the midfield? Is there something there that they're they're they're panicking a little bit and worrying, or is it that they don't understand some of the the jobs that they've maybe they're maybe doing and they're not that comfortable yet? So when they when something goes against them that they're they're then panicking, going, oh, by the way, this has just happened against us. We're still not 100% comfortable, and it get they get into their own heads about it.

SPEAKER_02

As maybe they've not got those those figure heads like like you zed and they that they had last season. So last season you can see the goal. Halkett obviously had the season of his life last season. We probably can't underestimate what a what a figure he is to have the right lads, consider the goal, come on, concentrate. Like you say, Benny and Kami in there, right lads, come on, win a tackle, even you know, the you know, Shanks, you know, the rat boy up front, right? Even you know, him now, it's like you know, he just made it so they're just missing that kind of figurehead to kind of just keep it together.

SPEAKER_00

I don't think it's even to do with that kind of thing. It's like for me, uh it's just really about margins here. It's like the Scottish football, as you know, it's like it's all about margins. And uh even that three kick before it uh taken for the goal, I was actually applauding the tele because as I had some finale like you know fellware because you know, I thought it's a meant about the attack. And hopefully we should just be able to clear the line and get out of field, anyway. That's all we should have had to have done. But the way it's worked out is that we couldn't clear the lines. There was no other market any of the event and stuff like that. It was very similar to the other needs goals. They were just like headless checking almost there, and that's nothing to do with leadership on a figurehead, that's that's to do with basic football, ain't it? And it's like the first goal gap. Oh no, I I I I believe that it's dead for the equalizer, but I'm just talking about once you leave the first one after that, it's just panic stations in it.

SPEAKER_02

But that's like but that's my point, that's my point, mate. That's now happened three games in a row, though, right? So there's a recurrent pattern of heart to keep them goals.

SPEAKER_00

Again, it was against an experienced European team, mate. When we look at Scott like the Premier League, that's a bread and butter, eh? And that's when we're gonna have to really like take notice of how we're playing in the European football sort of stage, eh? You can always write all those games off, to be honest with you, mate. Even if we get into a conference league, but when it comes to like the Premier League games, even if it is our first game as well, we haven't won there since 2016. I think that I I generally think it's a case of a defence just got a bit spooked as soon as he scored, and that's why we felt no, that's fair enough.

SPEAKER_02

That's fair enough, mate. No, it's fair enough. I get your point, I get your point.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, um so aye, it's uh and then obviously what about the penalty then? I didn't think it was a penalty, I was looking at it going, that is not a penalty, and it's certainly not on red card, and then both happen, and then Hibs got uh, and then obviously a very similar incident happens in the Hibs game, and it's it's not on red card. So what what's going on? Why why is this happening, Gav Kennedy?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, I mean, when I looked at it, I was sort of similar to you. I had to watch it a couple of times, and I was like, the second time I could have see why the referee would have gave it, but it was frustrating the red card for me because if I was a Celtic and Regious player, I bet you any money he would have just yellow carded him at worst and waited for Vaughn to get into on a red. It was the fact that he decided uh like gave a red card to the Hurts player straight away. And I was just like that scandalous, that on its own. But regardless whether it's a penway or not, we shouldn't be doing that.

SPEAKER_02

I like with a I like I like with a double jeopardy rule as well, then lads. Yeah, and because they are because the appeal was rejected, right? Are the SFE effectively saying that they think that Finlay didn't make an attempt to win the ball then? And because it was reckless, that's why he got the penalty and the red card. Because double jeopardy, you should just get, like we were talking about, you should just get a yellow penalty.

SPEAKER_00

It wasn't yellow at all, really. It was still a wee bit a bit wide, and the ball wasn't exactly gone in his favour if he thought of an age. So to give him a straight red for that was a bit shocking too, I felt eh. You know what I mean? So I can see why Hartz have appealed it, whether they were right to appeal it or not, uh the SFA eyes are different stories, but for us as fads, it's good to see that Hurts are finally uh purely against these sort of decisions, eh? Especially when they feel that it's not right, eh?

SPEAKER_01

I think they've got to, though. I think they've got to do this because they've got to this will happen a bit more often now, especially the way that they probably feel that last season went. So I think they will I think we will see it, we'll certainly see more of it, and I think that there's there's certainly intentions. I think we see a lot of the the people that behind the scenes at the club. Um I'll be honest, I don't think I think there's one person within the club that's probably suppressing any any anger or anything like that coming out a bit more publicly because they may be on the cake from the SFA as well. Um but I think that there is certainly within this within the within the obviously the club, there'll be there'll be players that are angry, there'll be members of the board, there'll be directors, everything else that are angry, and but I think that the our there'll be a certain member of the of the board in a very high position that will be encouraged by their other employer to to make that go away for their own progression. And I think that um I don't want to see that I want to see the club question everything, every decision. Anything like that is like they should be making statements.

SPEAKER_02

I know, I know, I know it's a conversation, I know it's a conversation maybe for another day, Andy, but um very briefly 100% the the the conflict of interests there, and uh I do think it'd be a lot better for the club if that individual was to uh make his decision and uh you know stick with hearts or just decide to go to the SFA basically because you're you're right that there's no way with what's going on and everything that happened last season that it's not slightly muddy in the waters for him on a professional level. But uh we could talk about another time.

SPEAKER_01

Well, yeah, and this is the thing as well. Yeah, this is the thing. Um, it's one of these, it's obviously something that with the club are obviously I'm quite happy with, and I'm definitely getting behind the club if the club were to come out and challenge everything. Um because we know and obviously the club have tried to make uh sorry, not the club, the SFA have tried to make examples of McKinnon and just with things that they came out at the end of last season. Um, so it's uh obviously don't question us that we we are the the greatest thing ever. Uh do not question us, we are never wrong. But again, we all know that that's wrong. We all know that the I don't know if it's incompetence um or if it's just outright cheating. Um but stop it, mate, stop it.

unknown

You're you're getting me, you're getting me upset about last season again. Move on, move on.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I am going to move on, mate. I'm gonna move on because again, it's one of these things is that but again, it is one of these things I do want to move on, but again, we've went from how last season ended, the last few games of last season, and into this season, and we've had a red card, uh, a red card of penalty given against us that were certainly questionable, and they've had a goal that looks like it's hit the hand of the other beam player that's went in. Um, but anyway, uh before we move before I go and get my tinfoil at my kitchen and make a rehat wear, we will move on because we have we've also got a league game on Sunday as well. Sunday United at home, first home game at Tincastle of the season uh in the league. And again, as Kendi mentioned it already, I think the best thing is that we come out of the Benfica game with an injury with injury free. Um obviously, Finlay will miss this game because of the suspension. Um, so it'll probably be McCart and Mark and T as your two centre half, and it does feel like that we are very short on the ground there. Um but again it's still something to be positive at home. Um if we can carry quite a lot of what we we've learned out of a beam into that game, and hopefully it's going to adjust. I think it probably is feeling it should feel a bit more positive than maybe we are. Um Gavin Kennedy or Gavin Clemen, whichever one wants to continue that.

SPEAKER_02

I think um obviously first home game at Tiny and after what happens tomorrow night, you you could really do a bit of confidence and a bit of uh uh a morale boost dandy, and just uh you know what I'll be honest, I'll be happy just with three points by hook or by cook. I'm not really worried about performance levels just now. Uh yeah, one nil. I think I'd bite your hand off for one nil just now, just to help out ahead of the next game against Ben Pika, and maybe just to not make the fan base be in this position when all of a sudden we maybe say maybe lost on Sunday, for example, right? All of a sudden you've been maybe pumped by Ben Pika twice, you've lost your two league games, all of a sudden you've maybe lost, you know, four or five games in a row, and everybody starts to get a bit like you know, really uptight when really you shouldn't, because it's only the four games Gav said this, those four games in Europe, they're really they're they're like outliers, you know, it's like against brilliant teams, right? Is what it is. Sunday United, you should always be beating at High Castle. I just worry uh with the new style and everything. I can see us playing pretty well, creating lots of chances. Uh I just don't know who you put your hat on to score these days, though, mate. That's why I'm a bit I think it might be if we win, it might be by the odd goal. But I could unfortunately maybe see us drawing or even losing one-nil or two-one as well, just missing a lot of chances.

SPEAKER_01

Sorry, on your goal, mate. On your goal buddy, sorry.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah, I can agree with Gav says. I mean, after what we said about last year, so we're getting one double of uh we're kidding us, we could make out we would actually like beg for like rip your arm off if we got a one-double uh Sunday, to be honest. So yeah, that would like be like Gav says great for a crowd, great for morale, great for a player, so we can just build on something. That would be great for to have a first clean sheet, you know, since since the first season has sort of like almost started, if you like. Um so I would take it right now on Radovo. I watched the Rangers game with United on uh was it Friday night, was it? I can't remember that. Yeah, um and uh United look actually pretty decent against Rangers, to be fair, eh? Um so it's gonna be tough. Like, hey, but it depends if how we play away from all. Sometimes they turn up at Tide Castle, sometimes they don't. They're a funny TV.

SPEAKER_01

Um I think as well, but they like they look like they want to play, they want to knock it about as well. They like they look like they are gonna be quite open. So I think that might suit us a bit better than a team that wants to play it long or they want to be a bit more physical.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

I think that's I I just I just worry about I just worry about these putting the ball in the net chats. I I just I'm I'm looking at the I'm just I can't that I don't know what it is like. Um Braga doesn't look the same without Chantlin, then you know, I can just see us creating four or five chances, but just lacking that composure to maybe score two or three. I think that's just why for now I'd be happy if we could just scramble a one-nil from somebody, you know, and we can then start to build. Because wait, wait, wait, we need this other striker in. And I think even if um Braga stays, I think we need another striker, you know. So if Braga goes, we definitely need another striker. But uh you know, it's the early days. Uh the Spanish team in that friendly. So and Tynecastle, it is Tynecastle, right? We're all we are you know, vast majority of times, right? We we do always take the game to most teams, even in our poor seasons, right? We're still in the ascendancy at Tynecastle. So maybe we shouldn't be too spooked about what's happened at the Toddry, but it's just the way I'm feeling, I'm thinking, oh, even a draw, I can start not pressure, but yeah, it's just it's just sandwiched in between pump ins from Ben Seeker, just starts to add to the pressure, which is why it's important to get the three points.

SPEAKER_01

Of course it is, aye, absolutely. And I think that I think it while I think we'll be I think well, I mean, aye, you brag about can score goals. I mean, Bassi looks like he can. Um and this is the thing, is like, and to be fair, then you're then maybe saying is obviously what's Mueller got, is McPeck going to get on as well, and then obviously if we can if we still at any point can maybe do a set piece, you there is still the aerial threat to Macinty as well. Um McCart's meant to have some aerial ability, but whether that's the the case or not, I mean we will soon we'll see on Saturday or on Sunday, I suppose. But I'm quite optim I'm quite I don't know optimistic, but I'm not as not like not as pessimistic as maybe I should be after getting two pumpings or some uh Stone Graz, losing the way we lost against Aberdeen, and then obviously knowing that we're going to get a pumpkin on tomorrow night as well, or against Ben Kika. So I think that against Undy United, I think we have got a chance, and as I said to Kennedy there, they are they do look like they want to play the ball out, they look like they want to play a little bit of football as well. And I think that might suit us a bit better than uh some of the other teams as well, because I think that if they if they do want to open it up, we'll certainly we've got the players that can certainly press that arm and uh take to win the ball back, probably better than what Rangers did um as well, because Rangers were letting them come out, but that's obviously where the McKinnist wants and the way that McKinnon's wants to set them up. So, yeah, I mean I'm certainly more uh most happy with or more optimistic with Sunday and how it's gonna go, and as long as we come out with no injuries against Ben Peter, and we can are we better not confident, but a head on the completely our head on the shattered after however it's going to go tomorrow uh in Lisbon, then I think we should be alright. So, yeah, any final thoughts on it, Kennedy?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, no, just uh like I say, looking forward to uh see this bad feet out of it. Get back to Tight Castle on the Sunday for United Day. It's uh always a great occasion to be back at home. Um yeah, just uh see what happens if Europe is what it is that one of the day. So just enjoy my experience for me carry and I hope everyone stays safe for the Lisbon, eh?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, absolutely. Um hope we have an absolute great time. Uh anything else, Clemmin, before we go?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, just like I go out and have enjoy the game tomorrow, fans, players, just try it, take it for what it is, on the big stage, you're over league playoff, Benfica, the romanticism of the name, the club, the stature, pedigree, history, everything like that. Enjoy it, have some beers in the sun, come back, and then let's get three points on Sunday and maybe just start to try and build uh a bit of momentum. Because after Benfica, we've got a couple of wee winnable games before the Derby Andy. I think we've got uh ICT in the League Cup and then uh St. Johnson at uh Tyree. So, you know, uh we chance to maybe you know get a couple of wins and everything. Not based on my League Cup prediction right enough, but aye, you know what I mean.

SPEAKER_01

So before we go, before I I wrap this up, you have got a change to a song that you want to get going. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_02

No, no, no, I know. I cannot possibly comment on that on a uh a social media platform, Andrew. Uh, we'll take that offline, mate. We'll take that offline.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, we will leave that there then, guys. So again, uh thank you very much for everybody that that's listening. That's another episode of Old Castle Rock Podcast. Uh, your supporters generally keep this whole thing moving. If you want to stay connected, make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and threads at Old Castle Rock Podcast, and X Twitter at Old Castle Rock Pod. Join the chat, share your stories, and be part of the community. And before we do wrap up, we want to get in touch with something close to home. Men's mental health, football touch it teaches us a lot about life, the big wins, the rough defeats, the weeks where everything clicks, and the ones where nothing goes your way, and we've certainly had a few of them lately. But just like football, you're not meant to face the tough spells on your own. If you're going through a different form, feeling the pressure, or carrying something heavy, there are places you can turn to, Dandelion's Club, or there's a space where men can talk openly, honestly, and without judgment. Breathing space is there when you need someone to listen during difficult moments, and the Samaritans are available anytime, the day or night, when you need a calm and supportive voice. Reaching out isn't weakness, it's the same strength it takes to step back onto the pitch after a hard match. Support is there and you deserve it. Take care of yourselves, look after your mates, and we'll see you the next time on the old Castle Rock podcast. And again, thank you very much for listening. It's a bye for me.

SPEAKER_02

A budgir for me. Go on the Gianties.

SPEAKER_01

Right, lads.