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
Derby Week
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Its a full house as the lads recap
St Johnstone Win
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and Hibs away
Good evening, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of Old Castle Rock Podcast. Great to have you with us again. This is a place where we talk all things heart of Benlovian, the moments that lift the roof of Tynecastle, the ones that test your patience, the history, the stories, and everything happening around the club. So, as I said, it's a new episode. My name is Gavin Kennedy. I'm joined by the MC, uh Gavin Flevin, with his new mic, I believe. So welcome.
SPEAKER_05Good evening. Good evening, Gav. Looking forward to talking about the jambos and uh a certain fixture tomorrow night. Already getting a little bit getting a wee bit excited about it.
SPEAKER_00Mike kids at Christmas Gav, eh? You know what I mean? Indeed, indeed. And also joining us, uh, he's got bad flu, so we'll try to do his best tonight, eh, since he's got a death row. So it's uh Andy Dixon. How are you, mate?
SPEAKER_03I'm so fucking shot on this morning for the day.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely toiling. But I'm here. So let's go for it.
SPEAKER_05Alright, let's go, eh. So that's a proper hearts man right there, by the way, Gav. He's got the man flu and he's still making the pod. That's a PHM right there. Right there.
SPEAKER_00So let's get to it. Hey, so obviously we just had uh the result on uh Sunday, but we won't talk too much because we want to get to the proper uh topic, which is obviously tomorrow night. Uh we're recording Wednesday, obviously, so you'll hear it was probably before the game. If edited it's not a time. Uh so first of all, Sunday, what was your thoughts on the team about the changes? Were you uh surprised or not surprised or given the likes that was used on Thursday?
SPEAKER_02Can I reverse you back for a second? Because I feel that was a fucking targeted dig at me there. And it's done in time. Fucking do it yourself anyway, Friend. You can talk about the team.
SPEAKER_05Aye, I was um to be honest, Gav, I was it was uh it was a bit of a strange one, right? Because I was I was on still on some kind of high, right? From like Wednesday night rolling into Thursday, and then Friday, but by the time Saturday came around, right? I was a bit like it seemed to happen so quick. And I was like, and I and I was doing stuff Friday, Saturday morning as well, um, with the with the Barons, and all of a sudden it was a bit like, all right, there's a game again. So I was only really when when the team news went up, I was a bit like, oh aye, and I had to kind of tell myself I would add another game so quickly. But there wasn't there wasn't massive changes, and the the changes that had been done made sense. If I remember rightly, Gav, uh Spittle had gone onto the bench and uh Calvin Miller had gone onto the bench as well. But I think that's pretty much it, mate. Was it and was it Andel maybe don't correct? Matt Magnuson had come in, obviously, for a start, hadn't he?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, if it start, obviously the first start for Bed Day as well. Obviously, so that was uh I really enjoyed him at the game on uh Saturday, to be honest with you. Up until maybe about 70 minutes. I thought he just played like really well, eh?
SPEAKER_05Um but he's Mendy, Mende was Mende was the best. Mende was the man of the match, actually got the man of the match, and he was our bet he was our best player in the first half, right? He you don't want to get carried away, but he does he but he does look like another very good shrewd acquisition from from Jamestown. I think he can maybe do he can maybe do the Camin down on the Croyff turns in his own box, like but he looks very, very he looks very accomplished, very good.
SPEAKER_02I think you mean I think you could tell that he hadn't actually played 120 minutes, and I think that that was maybe some of the difference where he looked a lot better than some of the a lot sharper than other players because a lot of them had were still probably tired for everything that happened on Wednesday. And I think that maybe as well as Mendy played, and I didn't know what it seemed like a total negative, but maybe it was why he maybe looked like he shone a bit more than everybody else on Saturday.
SPEAKER_05No, it makes sense, no, it makes sense, mate, because he he was maybe a little bit fresher than everybody else, but yeah, yeah, but he was it was good to see, and I think it was 60 minutes he got taken off at around about the hour mark. And when I was at the time, I was like, why are we taking off our best player? But obviously, they're maybe still managing the element of his fitness and his lack of.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, no, no, no, that that that's that's management that like that that absolutely makes sense.
SPEAKER_05Absolutely makes sense. I just think it was because though he was still maybe not fully fit, right, from his pre-season, he's given him an hour and he's a bit like I'll take him off, and he's he's thought you know he's he's got a decent replacement to come off.
SPEAKER_00I think you can see like if it's the Johnson player who starts coming onto a game when he did take him off, and it was like started to control the game a wee bit, eh? And it was like we were like we weren't like maybe I don't know if hanging on is a bit harsh, but we were certainly looking like we could be in trouble if like if you get a proper chance, eh? Thankfully, if we didn't, uh from what I can remember, eh?
SPEAKER_05Well, going going back to go going going going back to the the the first half, like just taking it from there, you know, we were talking about the the team, how how we played, where we obviously came out, and I I thought we were a bit like an express train actually, and that's it was really I was really pleased with how quick we were, considering everything that had happened on on the Wednesday night. We you know, we got the goals. Were you were you happy with how we we started the first half and how we played in general first half?
SPEAKER_00Absolutely, it was uh really temporal, like you say. Um we were taking our chances and stuff. Wilson particularly was pleased for him, obviously. Um and Med Day as well. How on earth was his first one like cut off or did giving keepers far too much protection for goals? It isn't within the rules, I get that, and I can see why it wasn't given, but it was such a shame it was chopped off. Hey, I just felt like nah he deserved it from the way he was playing, like you know what I mean. Um and then on top of that, like as well, it was just like I can't remember. Well, it was a shove, I can't remember who our player it was, but there was a shove of the horse there, it was St. Joseph, and he just sort of like gets away with it. And it's like, how is that not a penalty? It doesn't even get looked at by VAR.
SPEAKER_05Well, there was the there was that shove that that you mentioned, just briefly on that, then lads, there was that shove that yeah, just seemed to get completely disregarded. There was also the the penalty claim for attack all on on Borch as well. I must I must admit, when I seen it in real time, it looked like a penalty. When I've seen it back, I actually think Borch maybe makes a little bit of the most of it. We use what did you think about that? Do you think it was a fair decision not to give that?
SPEAKER_02I was like, how's that not a stonewall penalty? And again, where I sit obviously sitting in the main stand, and I was pretty level with it, and it looked like a penalty, but yeah, it probably would look maybe a wee bit soft looking back at it. Um there again. You seen, and I you see the push, you see the blatant push, but these I don't know why these things don't seem to be given, like if you know what I mean, because he's nowhere near the ball, as if they think it's just some kind of coming together. So the referee just looks at it as if have they just bumped into each other, so he doesn't look at it, and then VAR, the people watching VAR are obviously just too interested in where the ball is to to come back and to to pull that back.
SPEAKER_05What was your what was what was your thoughts, Andy, on the the disallowed Mende header as well? Like Gav's already said, you know what he was thinking. What did you think about that one?
SPEAKER_02That's absolutely the goalie, isn't it? Really, the goalie is he's barged into the goalkeeper. Um you can see.
SPEAKER_05But yeah, I agree, has kind of gone through the keeper and taken him out. But you know, maybe what maybe 20 years ago that goal's fine, but I suppose these days it probably is, and that's it.
SPEAKER_02And that's the thing, is that yeah, and this the thing is, I you're right. I mean, 20 years ago that goal was given, and everything's fine again. You've you're you're following today's rules, and today's rules are as soon as I seen it, I was like, that's never going to be given. I didn't even get out my seat. I'll be honest with you, I did not get out my seat. I was like, that has not been given um in a monthly Sundays. We were never ever going to get that goal.
SPEAKER_05Gav, you mentioned you mentioned James Wilson, Gav. What did you think about his his finish? I know he never he he never touched the ball too many times, but it was a very, very confident finish.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it just uh shows you where he is as a player at Boad A. It's just like he's just like thankful to be getting back into the team again, eh? After being out for so long of it. Um and he's just like he's just flourishing right now, eh? Especially since like Vienna, you know what I mean? So it's like and even like Inverness as well, it's just like he just like continued on, and that's what you want from your striker. You don't have to play the full 90 minutes, but you want to be making even an assist or at least or go, and that's uh he's done exactly that.
SPEAKER_05So um Would you would you would you would you say that Wilson's now maybe properly turned himself into like a regular starter now for that?
SPEAKER_00I would only because of the fact that Bassi and Kabori are still like a wee bit off being a starter, if you know what I mean. Um so until that changes, um I'm not sure if I've seen it. Um with maybe Cabori a wee bit, but not enough to like be uh dropping Wilson for if you get me. So um I think definitely he should be the first day of the team sheet.
SPEAKER_02I don't know about Andy, like for me, he is the he's the main he's the second striker at the moment for me with the with the the six strikers that we've got. We've not seen JJ Williams yet. Um I don't think Satur Saturday didn't go to plan um on how I think we would have wanted it to go. I think we would have wanted maybe one more goal, and I think we might have seen that um and a bit a better a bit of a stronger performance maybe in the second half where we we were in a position to bring him on. Said that saying that, and there's people moaning about Kubori coming on, but the boy has he earned it? Has has that goal over in Austria made it that he probably is the third choice striker?
SPEAKER_05Um I I I think um for for me, Andy, like he he did, I know I know we talked about it a couple of times, he did brilliantly with what he did um in in Vienna, like the goal and his actual cameo, he was involved in the second goal as well, obviously. Uh but I think I think again you you go from the high of what Cabore did against Rapid Vienna, right? And then he does that, and and and I'm trying I'm trying to be as um balanced as possible. But you think but you think you think he would have came on and been right, you think he would have been confident after uh Wednesday, right? He scored his goal, he comes on, he's got you know half an hour, 25 minutes, and you just think, oh, his touch might be in, but we just got what Kabore is all about. Passed the ball out the park again, slipped within a couple of seconds, and then he tries to lob the keeper from outside his own box.
SPEAKER_00He tried to do a David Beckham basically here for the.
SPEAKER_05For me, at least Beckham, at least Beckham was at the halfway line, Gav. Kabori was just outside his own box, like so I I don't know. Um I still I still see Merritt's as Kabore as a squad man, but I think it now goes Braga Wilson, like Andy said, and then possibly the JJ guy, if you were kind of playing a you know one up top, and then that's the kind of order, and then maybe Kabore and Bassey are maybe fighting it out between them to come off the bench.
SPEAKER_02Okay, let's not let's for me. The thing is, Kubore technically is still the third striker. I mean, we don't know what this boy could be like. This boy is either this boy could be Lauren Shankland or he could be David Vanichek. Like, we don't know what this boy is like at the moment, we've not seen him play. So let's not suddenly automatically make him our third our third choice striker, um, because we we don't know what he's gonna be like. So and at the moment, and as much as Kivore falls on his arse and he's and everything else, and he probably still is our third choice striker out of the six.
SPEAKER_05Here's a question for you, right? I I'm like this is this is this is not even like trying to say a joke here, right? I have I literally and I think I have never seen a player slip as many times as Kabore repeatedly, right? Do do you think it's like some kind of underlying issue? Like, has you got some kind of maybe coordination like issue? Or like I'm not trying to also not try to be funny, like, or is it just his boots, or is it the way he just plays the game? Because it doesn't actually make sense.
SPEAKER_02I think it's a bit everything. Like, I think that it's probably it could be his boots, it could be the way he is as a player, and it could be the surfaces in Scotland, and whether they are probably a lot wetter uh and damper than he's used to maybe maybe where he was playing.
SPEAKER_05I was I was like because I know because I was just thinking, Andy, because like once, twice, three times, right? You kind of go right, ha ha. But it's no, it's a continued theme, mate. And I actually I I think he slips in the vast majority of games that he plays. Now, we we know that we know that players slip, but it's it's you don't really see the same player in every single game at certain points. So I'm just like obviously Rankin will be looking at it as well, going and they'll have checked his books and they'll have gone. I I just wondered if there's some medical like coordination issue or something, maybe, but no, I mean it is what it is, it is what it is.
SPEAKER_02What game was it? Was it Stone Gratz where it basically Noah's arc was parked outside because it was that wet, and that's the only game of Disney Fallover. It's only Disney Fallover, but every other week he falls over. But I think it's a bit of everything. It generally, I think there's a bit it's a coordination thing. I think it's these boots, the pitches are probably watered a lot more than he's ever been used to, and you think, oh that sounds like a silly excuse, but at the end of the day, he's been playing, and if he's if where he's come from, and the pitches are bone dry and rock hard, then he's it's totally different, it's different surfaces, then and I think that that's his he's just and it could be that he tries too much as well. So because he's trying so much to get involved because that's the thing, is the difference is that you would say that Basi's work rate is probably is lower than Kibori, but Basi probably is could be technically better.
SPEAKER_05That's one one thing I would one thing I would say for for Kibori as well, lads. Like in his genuine defense, right, his attitude and his work rate and his application, right, is always that very, very good, right? So I would I would always rather have someone write okay technically, and you might get the stuff that he does, but at least you can see that he's trying, and and that I think he I do think he enjoys playing for the club, right? And he is always trying 100%. So that's a that's a big plus. That's a big plus.
SPEAKER_02Definitely. That's the thing, is that and that's why for me, and it it's let's uh let's not jump to conclusions in regards to this guy, this Williams guy, yet let's let's watch him play, let's probably be a bit a bit pragmatic about it rather than just going, oh, he's amazing. We've never seen him play. We've watched him, we've watched highlights clips, and how many times do we get do we get do we get suckered into looking this player looks amazing because we've watched him on YouTube and and things like that. So um at the moment Kubori probably is the the third the third choice striker. Um so yes, um first half I thought we were we were stolen at at points it probably could have been three or four. Um just a wee bit more I'll just probably a wee bit more deadly. Um and again going in at halftime, I was I was quite content. I don't know about yourselves.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I thought it was too winning for to be honest with you, mate, eh? Um but it was just one of those games you couldn't get it going, eh? And you thought yourself right, we have to kick on to the second half, um get an early goal, uh continue this run and then hopefully just kill the game early. But as you know with hearts, it never quite works out that way, yeah.
SPEAKER_02So who wants to start with their goal before I get rattled right into it?
SPEAKER_05So I'll I'll I think we've we we've had a few conversations already this season, chaps, just about the defending. And I've I've all I've I've always tried to be a little bit uh sort of balanced like with the the the criticism, but uh the defending on that that was that was literally just like schoolboy stuff. Like the the that actually I I thought we'd been I thought the defending was getting to a level where overall it's it's we're we're getting better for longer periods of games, but then you get that reminder on Saturday with basically a header that just goes past guys, and within seconds, somebody's through, and the boy puts it away. And because it's so soon after halftime, it just seemed to spook everybody, and that kind of led to the way that the second half actually went. But uh, it's it's pure defending, there's there's no getting away from that. There's still quite a lot of work to do across the centre back positions, and I know we'll come on to it, but it does make me a little bit worried for tomorrow night with balls over the top.
SPEAKER_02Well, that's a bit for me, it's Altena. What's Altena doing for the like obviously McIntyre's clearing it? Obviously, it's a long ball, McIntyre clears it with a header, but what's Altena doing? Altena's absolutely sleeping and lets the lets the boy get in front of him, and at that point he's panicking because the boy he knows that any bit of contact and the boy could just fall over, and it's a red card and everything else, and dogzo, and the whole shabby, and he's but again, he's just not switched on. You can tell that defending is not an Altena's game at all. Um, how many times that he's the one that's maybe caught that he's caught, or how many times that he's let he just lets we plays the sick the pass and then suddenly they're in. But again, it also was very similar to the two Inverness goals, the way that it was just a long ball over the top, a long ball over the top, and yeah, from where we are further forward.
SPEAKER_05And if you think if you think back to you think back to one of um I think Aberdeen's first goal as well, Andy, like I know it came from a free kick, but it kind of came through them initially just running through the middle of the pitch at Petodre, the two Inverness goals, like you say, uh two touches and they were through. And then again, so if you're Hibbs, David Gray, you're obviously going, Oh, what's our tactic going to be tomorrow night, right? Let's target that right hand side, like they always do. So, yeah, at Altonar, and I and I will I will defend him because I do see a very technically gifted footballer there. Um, you know, to give him his credit, he put the ball in for um Mendy's kind of header OG that it was ultimately giving us. He's a very comfortable, technically good player, but it does worry me that he kind of is gonna be the right back for the full season. So it's like, is it just a case of going, well, he can maybe do this up front, and we just need to roll with the punches defensively? Surely, surely the coaching team will be working on the defensive side, you know?
SPEAKER_02This probably comes down to it as well. Look, probably comes down to who's playing alongside them at centre half, because when you watch the goal back again, the ball comes long. Our two centre halves are fixed on the fixed on the striker, not the boy that scores, so not Peyton, the other boy, and I don't know his name. Um so apologies, but our two centre halves seem to be fixed on him because the two of them are basically looking at him, they're very close to him, and Altena's basically standing on the pitches at the distillery. Um that's how big the gap is, and then that's when obviously Peyton nips in and scores. But then that comes down to who's is it a natural centre half that's maybe not playing there? Like I could, because I can't would probably be talking out to Altena as well to try and tell Altena maybe to tuck in a bit, and then it probably narrows that gap as well, or I'll or he's basically out for it, or again or or Halkett's out a bit further a bit over to the right-hand side, so that it narrows this it narrows the space down as well, and it it probably helps a little bit. And I think that that's probably as good as Macinty's being in that position, then I I wonder if it's you're just at these points, you're maybe seeing where we lack not having an actual proper run-of-the-mill centre half in there compared to a boy that's been a Jackie all trades, basically. And I think that Yeah, it's it's like a haw there's no kind of are we are we overcompensating because it's Finlay that's there, whereas McCart's probably a bit more natural into this the way that we're playing. Whereas Finley's as good as Finley is, is Finley's a bit stiff compared to McCart.
SPEAKER_05What but what's what's interesting with this kind of conundrum though, with the centre backs, Andy, is that I like for I like I listened back to the the the pod that you boys did on the uh the transfer window, right? And I I'm I'm I'm not of the view that we actually need another centre back, for example, right? Because I do just think that if you've got McCart there and you've got Finlay there and McAtee's actually playing pretty well there, and Mendy can play there, and like there's quite a bit of cover, but you are right in what you say. It's like the the impact it's having on Alterna with maybe not having a Halkett there that just commands everything. I think we're just I think I think Lankin is just gonna stick with Alterna for the season, and I understand why. And I think we will see the benefits on so many occasions and go, oh, how comfy is he? But we are just gonna lose goals. But Annaly's gonna get it tight tomorrow if he's at fault, and Hibbs will be going at him a hundred miles an hour, you know.
SPEAKER_02We should um we should be signing a right back and playing him centre mid. But anyway, that's uh this is a a totally a totally different story, obviously. That you're just again because he's probably more like a centre mid where he's with his his technical and he he's passing ability. Um obviously again they scored. We did we did have chances, Spittle hits the bar um as well. We talk about obviously the other chances. Spittle Spittle comes on, he hit he does hit the bar. Um Kubore, Kabori where he basically it should be a tap in, and he's second to the ball because their goalkeeper manages to get his hand to it as well. So it did feel like it. I thought we were it felt to me as if we're hanging on, but I don't know if I was getting caught up in the moment, but we we did still have chances. We still had chances in the game uh to to extend our lead.
SPEAKER_05Um I again it's it's one of those ones, right? So Spittle had a uh a really good shot off the bar. He was unlucky with that. That that could have been uh that would have been a great strike, and that would have given us all a bit of comfort at 3-1. And that, Andy, that might have actually seen some of the changes that you were talking about on the chat. That might have maybe seen us maybe bring on some fresh legs. I wonder if he maybe just kept it as it was because he was maybe a bit worried it was only 2-1 or whatever, and you know, Mende had gone off. Uh, and I think watching the game is one of those ones that if you watch it back, right, St. Johnston probably didn't have many chances, but in in in real time, it seemed like they had all the ball, all the possession. And and actually, I I thought, I thought, you know, as is watching them, I thought St. Johnston played pretty well, so credit to them because I thought they took the game task. Uh, they hadn't actually played for three weeks, though, or found out after the game, eh? Just with how the games have gone, eh? But um, Harts did look quite tired and fatigued, and we did kind of we were we were the ball was getting away, and but the the character, and you know, Gav was always talking about this last season about the character and the spirit, and it looks like this team has that as well, you know. So that's that saw us through happy days, we get the three points.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think that's that's the main thing, isn't it? You've you've got the three points, you've managed to get through, you've got through it, you've been knackered, you've had an amazing away win. Um obviously over in over in Austria. You've played 120 minutes, we looked like a team that had played 120 minutes and then parted for about two days afterwards. Um but again, it's the main thing is that you've obviously got the you've got the the points on the board. So aye, I mean I've nothing else I probably want to say about the game to be honest, Kennedy.
SPEAKER_00Yep, so let's go to the next topic. So obviously the transfer window is still open, and we've got another um sided, so here we go. It's uh pardon my pronunciations if I bows this up, but Aaron Benjaminson, is that it? Oh, we'll take that, we'll take that garf, we'll take that, mate.
SPEAKER_05That was well done. That was well done.
SPEAKER_00Not one of the harder ones that we've had recently, to be fair, eh? So uh, but he's from Vikings, uh Faroe's youngster, he's 18 and joins us alone. Guess what? Yes, he's another wigger, and he also looks like he's came from the former band Wham. So what do you guys think of that?
SPEAKER_05Well, the fact that he looks like he's from the band Wham, or the fact that we've actually signed him. Very, very, very, very, very, very briefly, because we obviously I don't know, Andy might have a bit more, but uh I don't we don't really know too much about him. Um, I think he'll come in. Apparently, his stats are quite good. Jamestown doing what they do. I think uh I think it's interesting about the age profile of some of the players that we are now signing, obviously with the other guy coming in, but we we did need a little bit of uh reinforcement on on the right hand side. Uh, and I think he'll maybe be on the fringes of the squad. But yeah, let's just see how it goes. Let's just see how it goes.
SPEAKER_02So that's the thing. You're right, he is another winger, right? But at the same time, we have we have got three left wingers, technically, and one right winger. So it is one of these cases we do have to, we are trying to obviously have a bit of a bit of options on on both sides. Um so I have no issues, being in mind we did sell Kizzy as well. So it's It's fine, like Yeah, it's har as hunters of wingers, wingers everywhere, but like that's fine. Like if you're gonna play this kind of game, we are gonna need we are gonna need pace.
SPEAKER_00We talked about it last week with about Rapid Vieira, where it's like, well, last year Vicidis would have put in a defender, but instead he brings on two wingers, which is absolutely wild, eh? You know what I mean? So that's the type of football you want to play, you have to have the bodies for that as well, eh? So you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_02Well I would say about the age profile thing now though, is that because they're 18, we can keep them long enough, if we manage to keep them long enough, and they'll start to become homegrown for us, which will help us when we come to start naming European squads, because that's what's that's what's actually hindering us at the moment is we don't have enough homegrown through hearts profile uh players. We've got Scottish players, um, but we don't have like obviously Kay Gordon would account as one, and in the past we would have probably not sold Macaulay Tate and we wouldn't have let Adam Forrester go out on loan so that we could have registered these bodies as well and made sure that we had the the A-list was a full 25, but instead we've obviously got a shorter A-list squad because we don't meet those criteria. But bringing these players in at this age means that we as long as we we've got them until they're 21, which means that they then fall into that criteria going forward as well. So again, it's a it's a step in the it's the step in the right direction on all fronts, not just getting these players coming in where they're 24, 20, 23, 24 in Jamestown. Uh they're also the slightly a step younger, and it helps to obviously build it up for youth as well. So, yeah, I'm pretty happy with that. Don't know too much about him. You can file you can obviously file that under the the whole argument I was having with JJ about JJ Williams, we don't know too much about him. He's it's it's all about the step-up and the step-up that he makes to adapt to Scottish football because you can see what you want about how good a player he is. The game in Scotland is completely different, and when you've got hoodies trying to kick lumps at you, um, it's how does the boy adapt to that as well?
SPEAKER_05So if we manage to bring in this other midfielder lads, this this this young guy that we've got coming in, and we manage to keep a hold of Braga, I know there's still another day to go, you never know what might happen. But would you would you say that's been a and actually I know Andy, we don't know that you know some players haven't even really played, but would you be happy would you say that's a successful window?
SPEAKER_00Well, a good window touch of that guy. I don't know if you boys have heard the the suitter rumours.
SPEAKER_02Uh let's let's talk about this first because what I was going to say to you, K Clement, is that I would want our oven another oven ready center mud. I think that's me being picky.
SPEAKER_05I if I was being if I was being greedy, Andy, aye, I I get that as well. Someone that comes in and directly replaces Renault and comes in the team I, but it's just we just got too many, too many numbers though, for that. But I know where you're coming from, I well this is the thing as well.
SPEAKER_02So obviously cartoons left, okay. Um I actually don't know if I've told Harrison. So my son must be the only person in the world that has a cartoon 27 on the back of his top.
SPEAKER_05You can't tell him. The laddy needs to keep that strip, he needs to keep that strip.
SPEAKER_02Oh, he's keeping the strip. The strip's going on a frame, right? Because it's the the last top his grandad ever bought him, but that's going on a frame. But like the the thing is is that basically he watched Khartoum score two records against Dundee and then decided that's what he wanted on the back of his shirt. Um and then he was quite excited on Saturday, he's like, Well, I can't believe Khartoum's still at hearts, and then Khartoum leaves on the Monday. Um, but again, tomorrow we might be, I think we might release a couple of players. I think a part of the rumour was that Kabangu was linked with Falkirk, um, and he rejected that, even though we were going to cover his wages.
SPEAKER_05So very, very, very briefly on that, Andy, right? Do you ever like I I know he's uh he'll be away, but you ever kind of feel like Kabangu's it's just been a wee bit like harsh, kind of what happened to him? Like he's is it is not so bad that like you know, Kabori and that. I just I just somewhere it just it just went completely wrong. And I know you're gonna say, you know, two or three managers haven't fancied him now. But when it well when it when it when he first when he first came in though, he was decent. He was decent. I wonder if it's his attitude.
SPEAKER_02It has to be his attitude. Like if two or three managers haven't fancied him, there's got to be an attitude issue there somewhere and on why he's not being packed, because he must be watching like if you're standing on the sideline and you're watching Kibori fall about on his arse all every week, and then you're watching um you're watching Basi no bother and he's arse to do it to move about, and then even with Wilson, even when Wilson was nowhere near where he was and he was out the down the peck road and he's away at spots, Kabangu still couldn't get in the team.
SPEAKER_05Because if you if you remember, see if you remember back to when he first came in as well, uh and when we beat Dundee away 6-0, Kabangu scored a double, right? And they were both peaches. One was a half volley, top corner, another one he ran from the halfway line, acceleration pace. And we were like, oh, who's this boy? You you might be right. I just I just wondered a little bit of a tangent. I just thought, like, he'll obviously be away, but aye, there's there was definitely a ability there, eh? It wasn't like he was uh like like a number day, aye, just maybe I just maybe a number a number of issues as wage or whatever aye, but part of me just thinks it's aye.
SPEAKER_02I think so. I think I wonder if the day this goes out, Kabangu might leave if we have to just pay him off to get him off the wage bill. I wonder if Xander Clark might might leave. I wonder if Danda seems to be a bit further up the peck in order than a couple of them. So I wonder if Reynolds the Reynolds injury maybe means that he he stays about and is just as as cover, because again we would be maybe leaving ourselves short. We're an 18-year-old midfielder, Magnuson, and Spitling Mendy. So four midfielders to to do us bear in mind we have got obviously the League Cup, the League, and Europe to to go with.
SPEAKER_05I wonder, I wonder as well though. I I wonder if it's because um everybody's favourite Brazilian player is back in training, they're maybe think maybe thinking he could be coming back at some point. I forgot all about him. Um Kennedy fairly, what do you think of him?
SPEAKER_00Don't get me started.
SPEAKER_05Um to be fair, I've You were Gav, I meant mate, I I've Gav, I've got a bone to pick with you. I meant to say that. You were talking about cutting up his contract on on the other pod. I was like, what?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, Buddy Wach meet uh yeah, but I was basically it's just really always interesting that eh, and it's just like I know he's meant to be close to coming back, but remember when he was close to coming back the last time and he came onto IVOX and he got yellow carded in the first five minutes and he couldn't do anything the rest of the game because he was basically scuddered. Um and then after that he he was never seen from again, hey, it was in Portugal with like you know what I mean, living up for like months, eh, before the end of the season. And it's just like I just don't know. I just have this feeling of him. He's just never gonna be his player, but every once a week giving the money, but we actually paid for him as well, eh?
SPEAKER_05Um you might end up being right, Gav. And I get what you're saying. I I think you've maybe though just at least got to give this until January time, just because he is coming back from an injury. If if he was to break down again, right, then there's there is maybe a conversation to be had in in January. But I I think given how much the club spent on him, the record signing and the fact remember McInnes was raving about him as well. Uh so um I think we need to.
SPEAKER_00But we haven't seen nowhere near what we deserve for a return on his fee, eh? Um patches. If it wasn't good for if it wasn't for that fee, would you be saying he should be staying because of his inter issues?
SPEAKER_02Is that the the fee's probably one of the reasons why he probably shouldn't he be staying because we're wasting money on players, but I think you've got to give you the You do have to give him give him a chance to see exactly what he what he's obviously done. I mean, how many times have we do we get um caught up and bit on the arse with fucking playing big fees? So I mean uh he's probably worth it. I totally forgot about him when you're talking about him uh till you mentioned them there, Fleming. So and talking of that, Kennedy, we'll just divert back to what you were saying about players that are constantly breaking down. Talk us through the rumour that you've heard about John Suter.
SPEAKER_00So it's been a lot of chat around uh the old usual uh Hurts unreliable sites, if you know what I mean. There's even been a fake Barry Anderson account kicking about, apparently. But uh there's a long deal uh been done for uh John Suter to Hartz, um, which I've been very surprised if that actually came to tuition, to be honest, even though he he's not really favoured with Bicinness yet. I don't know. I don't know what you guys think.
SPEAKER_05Or I think that's just uh that's just a made-up rumour gav. I I don't see that happening at all with the defenders that that we have already. That said, that said, Shooter is a ball playing centre back and would actually probably fit that banking style. But I I just think there's um I don't I think that's a bit wild. It's a bit wild.
SPEAKER_02I mean it's another another defender that um that breaks down all the time. I mean, we've already got Kingsley and Halkett. Um and it'd be it would be really nice to reunite the back three that played in the 2022 Scottish Cup final, um because the other two are obviously still on our injury date or injury list as well. But I think the thing is ability-wise he would be perfect in that's that in that position. This is the problem, is that um he would be he would have been really good in there, but is whether he's able to do it, whether that but whether we're interested at all, but bear in mind the apartment has already knocked back Aberdeen, Hibbs and uh Leicester City. And I suppose at the end of the day, if he was gonna come and he's gonna be loaned in, is it um as long as there's no obligation to buy and we're not having to pay an absolute fortune, is it a bad thing? Maybe maybe not. But at the same time, should we want to be taking loan players for angels? Arrival is is the next thing as well. So I don't know. Um I think ability-wise, he'd be perfect, he'd be really good in the system, but I can't I cannot see it happening to be honest. I'd rather we went and signed a right back.
SPEAKER_00I'd rather we didn't sign a Judas either, but that's a different point here, you know what I mean. So um but anyway, joke joke it aside.
SPEAKER_02I know seriousness, right? I totally get it. I totally get the whole Judas thing. But bear in mind, remember Andy Webster? There was a Judas, there was an absolute Judas who then came back and became a hero. So it's only until it's only when they're not playing for you at times that these players are Judicies, apart from the two that are at IBROX at the moment. But um like if he was to come back, it'd be like if we can take Andy Webster back, we could take just about everybody back.
SPEAKER_01Anybody back apartly so anyway, I'll let you move on before yeah.
SPEAKER_00So let's get the real excitement. Uh obviously, it's that time of year again where you get a wee bit nervous, you might have a wee dream or two, but a football game is of course the derby at Easter Road. So, how are you boys feeling about it so far, first of all?
SPEAKER_05I'm um I'm at like I I I ideally I I would like this game to have come a bit further on in the season, to be honest, Gav. I'd like us to be maybe another month down the road in terms of the just in terms of because I know we had our game against Falkirk rearranged because of rapid. So this is uh what this is game number four domestically. Domestically, I mean I know we played Inverness, you know what I mean? So our fourth league game, and also the running matches that we've had domestically have all been at Townecastle since we've played at uh Aberdeen. So although we beat Dundee United and St. Johnston and Inverness, we haven't actually played away from home since Petodre. So I just with our defence being what it's like and uh how easily we can concede goals, although we have got a lot of a lot of good qualities going forward, I would I would have liked it to be another month further down the road, mate, just to have a little bit more confidence and cohesion. Because as it stands just now, I I I can't I can't honestly call tomorrow. It could be anything, it could be three, two to hearts, could be three-two to hibs. Do you know what I mean? Uh what about you, Dickel?
SPEAKER_03Um I don't know.
SPEAKER_02I don't like to ever think that I'm worried by Hibs. Like, I think if Hibs ever worry me, it's it starts to become an issue with probably me. But the thing that probably could be our down for I don't even think it's the defence, I think it's the midfield. I think that they're gonna play three in the middle of the park, and I think that that's maybe where some of the issues are going to come from is that their three in the middle of the park is gonna is gonna dominate. I'd imagine it's probably going to be Spittle and Mendy as the two. Um and that that's probably what worries me a wee bit more than anything else tomorrow. That that this is where this is where I think. they probably could get the advantage. Don't get me wrong, I think if we go going forward, I think that I think we've certainly got the calibre player that can that are going to cut them open as much as they're going to cut us open. I think it is going to be a very it's going to be a very, very tight game.
SPEAKER_05It probably it's how do the how does how does Rankin adapt to the derby see I it might it might it might not actually be a tight game though because of how Rankin sets us up now right that's what's interesting me because he he's not going to change his style eh so like is I I I think oh I'm I'm just getting a wee bit the more I think about it if he goes to Benfica and tries to attack he's not going to change his style going to Easter Road eh it's not but at the same time it's still it's a derby it's always going to be it's going to be nervous it's good this they'll still be tight but when I say tight I don't mean it's going to be a 1-0 so one nil back for the walls performance but it's going to be one of these games where they can they're they're as vulnerable as we are I mean I watched um I seen the Ghent highlights last week.
SPEAKER_02I watched how easily Ghent took them apart. So they can be taken apart just as easily as we as we do and I mean if if uh if Chowers Chow or whatever his name is finishes like he finished for the Ghent third goal then we could certainly be there certainly could be trouble there but um in all seriousness it is it could be for all it generally could be a four all game um tomorrow so it's going to be no no this is the thing is that we can we're I mean Christ almighty if I can see how easily we're opened up like some a professional football manager and our coaching staff will be able to should be able to pinpoint where they where they think they can as well but at the same time I can see where hips are getting opened up so both teams are are there to be opened up I think the bit that obviously does worry me a wee bit is that there's three in the middle of the park against our two and how does that and how do we how do we adapt to it and how do we accommodate it and do we do we play the same team do we do we keep Wilson in there Wilson probably deserves to be in there or do we put do we put old Kubori in there to be a wee bit more physical and you just I think I think I think you'll I think you'll keep Wilson and I think Wilson deserves to start just after his his goals because he's playing with confidence just now the the the interesting kind of question.
SPEAKER_05Nah it is it's like what am I trying to say like obviously they say about tactics kind of going out the window and stuff and it'll be a big battle right but what what we do know is what happens at each of road right let's well firstly let's try and avoid conceding within the first 10 minutes right that would be really nice cards right so if you can do anything for me tomorrow lads please don't concede within the first 10 minutes or at all yes guys that'll be even that'd be even better mate but the the thing the thing the thing though like you know at Alton like maybe actually being in that position despite the fact that they'll be targeting him Rankin might be thinking because he pushes up that might maybe push Hibs back a bit and Harks might actually be a bit of a different team to obviously the mechanics team that Hibgs are used to. So David Gray doesn't know what to expect as well from us really because we're still no one really knows fully in an attacking sense what to expect from Harks.
SPEAKER_00That's what makes it that's what makes it real interesting to me for me as well Gave is I it's a different personnel who no matter who he uses it's the same philosophies and but there's still different styles of players that play in it and they can still adapt and change to it and it's really quite fascinating to watch in the tactic perspective eh you know what I mean that's what's exciting about this team this year it's not the one drizzles like you know what I mean they see week in week out or even like trying to come back after going three nil down hopefully you know what I mean so it's just like I can't I couldn't see us being that bad eh maybe one goal but not certainly free like it was last year eh so it's going to be an interesting match it's hard to call like you say to be honest with you but we have been due hives a hiding for at least the road for a while so that's all I'm saying on it.
SPEAKER_02But sorry sorry quickly what I would say as well is that the difference as well is that Hibs aren't going to press us as hard and as high up as or as quickly as maybe a St Johnston or Inverness Califistle there is probably we are going to get a wee bit more time on the ball. What makes you what what makes you say that though given it's a derby mate do you not think they'll be at us even like even more than St Johnston I I don't I think that they will give us we'll get a bit more time on the ball than than than some of these games as well as I also think David Gray probably is one of he'll he'll treat it more like a is it going to be more like playing a c a continental team I maybe and you might be right he might he might come and try and harass us harass us the whole time but if he if he does try and treat us the same way that teams will maybe come and try and play from from Europe because of the way obviously ranking style is then he'll be very wary of by doing that and by committing so many men forward that we will go forward quickly and can cut them open and it's the same way that they have had these kind of lessons in in Europe compared to when he was playing against um Derek McInnes because I I think one thing Grey did is that Grey was able to master the way that McInnes plays football. And I think you've seen it the whole of last season against the four games we played against them on how tight in the conventional sense those games were and then you've seen it when he went to Ibrox at the start of the season and got all result there is that Grey has somehow mastered to mastered against that way of football but I I think when it comes to the way that we're going to set up and the way that we're going to play I don't think he's going to go get his players to go battering in because at the end of the day if they go charging in is the way that you'd maybe expect players to go charging in a derby then you'd amma you could see that well we're just going to knock it knock two passes and away we could away we go especially with especially with some of the ability and some of the wide players because for all for once we've got players that you're looking at the wide players as well so you've got your Mullers your McPage your carjottas and I'm Matt oh to a little to an extent as well where you're looking at these players and go by the way these are just as dangerous as some of the the wide players that Hibs have had over the years where are again Martin Boyle is still there but he's he's no the same Martin Boyle as he's been touched with it that doesn't come back to bite me on the arse but um you know what I mean so we've got just as dangerous players to to play down the flanks and he'll he he'll be wary of that as compared to last year when we had Kizaridas and we didn't play anybody down the right hand side because we had our a centre mid uh at right back and well no nobody at right wing so I think that won't be they're not going to come out and hard harass us for the moment it starts because he'll I think they'll be worried that we will be able to open them up.
SPEAKER_05Yeah it's that it's actually it's quite it is quite fascinating it's a fascinating thing this it's like obviously a derby but I is it's really interesting to see yeah hearts with maybe a different style in a derby and obviously we won three of them last season and it was absolutely tremendous don't get me wrong because three of them were all you know almost last minute winners and it was great. But if you if you're being serious about an objective the performance in the three games that we won was actually pretty poor and that they were proper McKinnon's template games. So you're right Andy David Gray has and even similar when I kind of like we know when even when Robbie was there as well like they did seem they seem to have a a way of playing against us because of the style and this might be so you're right they he might actually be like right lads we do need to maybe change our style slightly because of how hearts are playing so yeah no honestly it's going to be um I think there'll be goals I think there'll be a lot of squeaky bum moments as well I can see chances being given away I can see us going mental about Altina the the right hand side especially but I think we can break with pace as well and I think we've got a stronger bench as well lads you know the the th the only thing is I think you know first half performances other than Saturday away from home have been a little bit poor but if we could take our performance maybe in rapid or uh when we play Dundee United or you know but it will be a hard game I wouldn't be too unhappy with a point to to be honest right but 3-2 either way wouldn't surprise me lads honestly it wouldn't I think I'm going with the um actually I think usual defence for me Gav so we're obviously going with Rouse interestingly Harry Milne is seemingly in the squad for tomorrow I don't think I'd play him at left back just because of everything you know he just maybe come back from injury so at left back to see with the back so again like to be fair I think I think he'll play I think he'll play uh Borch at left back and then I think he'll go uh McAtee and McCart Alton at right back spittle Mendy and then McPake Miller Braga Wilson I think that'll be your 11 and then that does give us some decent options on on the bench to change it so I would obviously voice I would play Altera will be my right back McCart and McIntyre my two centre halves Harry Mullen at left back Mendy and Spittle would be my two centre mid and then it would be Miller and sorry McPake and or miller or I don't know Miller or McPake it doesn't need to make too much an effort and then Kraj on the other side Bragg and Wilson is my that is my 11 that is a loving did you are you starting Kerjotta or did you say Andy are you saying yeah yeah I start Cojotta so I don't know he's just meant I'm asking if I'm starting Cojotta and then he's just kind of went quiet. No that's fine mate no I just I just wanted to see if I I was picking you up right because I I was thinking we would go I was thinking we would go with McPake and Miller because they're kind of the the stick on kind of wide players but you're saying that you'd bring in Cardotta I mate I I I'd have I'd have no problem with Carjotta you know playing instead of uh McPake see for Miller and McPake I think it's any three at the moment it's any two of the three I think that it's hard to separate all three of them I think all three of them have had great good like really good starts to the season so it's quite I think it's quite difficult but for me it's Muller or McPake and then Gorjot on the right hand side so that I've got a right hand side on a left hand side one on each side yeah yeah what are you thinking what are you thinking Gav?
SPEAKER_00My team is completely wild eh so you're gonna maybe enjoy this a wee bit so while Rose obviously um Altena Mark Tidley and Porch on the left I'd have Magnuson in a widow along with Spittle on the right hand side believe it or not I want to have a wee bit of battle and this is what my wild card is um I've also got uh Wilson um Willer and shit I forgot who else I was there now yeah it's Bragg obviously um so I for two for you that's it yeah so had to do a bass there for a minute why are you Gav what's your um what's your thinking behind not playing Mendy tomorrow night mate the reason why was because he did well on on Saturday aye but is he ready for a competitive derby whereas Magnuson already has that experience he's scored against him he's always a bit more of a safer option for me because of Renault been out and I just don't know what Mendy would be like with a pressure and the like Dickel says of uh midfield three and that I think Magnuson might be able to cope with it a wee bit better.
SPEAKER_05That's that's actually no that that that's a decent point mate actually if you're saying maybe I based on his experience of the fixture obviously played in them last season scored the winner at the end day in a in a derby you'd rather it be a time castle to bed him into it rather than keep in straight away and it might affect his confidence in other games you know what I mean where we could use Yeah I mean that's that's a fair that's a fair point mate fair point right um so that's my thinking on that so hey I don't know about as loud as you thought eh so um what anything else to cut go on with that or Matt's Matt's I like Mattel's the wild card's a good one mate just for his pace you never know you never know what could happen. And you see as I said Rap and Vieira go uh for for Miller the assist on that ball imagine if he does that at uh Easter Road I'll go wild like so this is the thing as well this is the thing is that you've obviously you're uh you're talking about obviously Mattel like is another one but again if you've got him on the bench or you've got Miller and McPake on the bench then it is options at the end of the day it's not just one option where you're bringing one winger on you've got you can you can replace you can replace your your pace and you're replacing them with speed and pace as well um I definitely think I definitely think and I'm not trying I'm not gonna pretend that I know all about the whole hib squad lads but um I think we definitely have got more options I believe on the bench because you could be in a position like you say when you're maybe bringing on a a Kurtotta a Mattel a Basse a a JJ for for for example you know so I I think we've we've at least got those options and to to come off the bench um but I just I can't derbies are so hard at the best of times um I see Steve if I was a neutral watching this game I I'd be fascinated to see how both teams approach this game genuinely just with the the the contrast and styles because rankin's rankin is not going to care. This is what's gonna be so good about this season and it's it's gonna be terrible sometimes but the fact he doesn't care is brilliant and he just goes and he just sits up to attack and he'll do it at Ibrox and he'll do it at Parquhead as well do you know what I mean? This is the thing though right is because he could easily he could easily take Wilson out of the team yeah so I did me and Kennedy have just muted ourselves and I think is that as Falker keyclies but what I was going to say was um was would the rogue shout be like how this is how defensively we can be is to combat their three in the middle is you take Wilson at the team you have Braga as the lone striker and Spittle as the 10 so you have Magnus and Mendy and technically Spittle as a midfield three the thing that Andy that's that's a good shout but I I I I I'm not gonna change that I was going to say like me that's what I would do I mean because you're technically you could probably still play most of the same football in the same the same way I I would know Andy I'd I'd have a three I'd have a three in the middle as well mate but I just he's just see see when he mate see when he played two in the middle in Benfica that was it for me I was like this is what it's gonna be like all season eh absolutely absolutely um you're right and that's the thing as well is that for me that's what I would do but he's never going to do that imagine imagine it's one of the ones that imagine it's one of the ones that works though and actually unlike other derbies at Easter road recently we come out the traps and we're the team that comes out the traps flying and we maybe get an early goal and you know and it's like oh attacking him actually works so uh bring it on bring it on exactly so anybody else to add to that or no I'm good for that mate so before we wrap things up for tonight um I did have a wee surprise for you too so um I'm hoping this is right as well last week Andy did his version of terrible so I have done my own one as well for this week and I'm keeping I Gav I think your one might need to get independently verified me given how accurate some of your answers are I I have uh gone by some and so hopefully it's uh what we told is right you never know but you never know I'm like because of my reading skills as well eh so that might be the issue so but uh so what I've done is the top ten hearts players to score last score at Easter Road so the recent top ten. Now the only thing is you you can have the same player twice so that's not real okay and the other one is it can't be an old goal either okay so um so can you name both uh top ten uh last hearts players to score at Easter Road uh Diko you can start okay can I have correct yes that's obviously the last one so uh I shall go with the Amy used to play for a big team Kami Devlin correct yes that is also on there Dico can I have Gold Sabak correct yes I he won me 160 pounds that day what a lad um Gavin can I go for another used to play for a big team Lauren Shankland correct again yep so four so far Dico can I have James Wilson correct yes well done Gavin right so what did Andy say James Wilson right right I shall go oh I'm gonna go with one of Andy's favourite ever players I'm gonna go with uh George Osgrantos I thought this was the one that was gonna stop you boys eh but well done Gav yes that's correct yes well done uh I actually can't remember that can't score in it Easter Road neither can I we got beat uh Andy mind mind we got beat 2-1 in critsley season when uh the Hibs defender scored uh a peach to win it 2-1 Grant equalized just after Hibbs scored Martin Boyle got ran down the wing we went they went one night Taylor's fault Jenner Taylor's fault so that's absolutely main point yeah I would be struggling with George Rad if we fairly I I'm struggling 'cause I can't remember um three How many movies have to go three difficulty because I scored that few they are yeah that's why I made him not you know that's why I did the rule of a not scoring twice if you don't really know so right I'm going I'm going way too far back here.
SPEAKER_02I'm gonna go Ole Bazanich correct yes that's where I was like right um that's what I was like right okay who else scored in that fucking game actually but that actually is terrible that is that long ago so like you must be like Shankland must have scored half of them then well bear in mind we went down the season as well didn't we so we else scored that fucking night Washington correct one more to go Sean Clare well done Gabriel well done well played lads well played I've enjoyed that memory lane there that's the thing mate so I had in my head I had Bassanic and I had the Basanich there right and it was like right it was like right so I is that too far back because like is is would Aaron Hickey technically be too far back.
SPEAKER_00I was a couple of seconds away from seeing Baguche honestly so what so you so you can farm me I've sent you the link to where I found uh the answers from eh so no I mean they do sound they do sound like they're correct mate so uh good game well played well played so night before with Arby so I have some happy memories for a change so um so aye um is that for everyone is it yeah yeah yeah all good mate all good so yeah that'll be us for another episode of old castle rock I hope you enjoyed that thanks for sticking with us and if your support generally keeps the whole thing moving if you want to stay connected make sure you follow us on Facebook Instagram and friends at old castle rock podcast and on X Twitter at the old castle rock pod. Come join us for chat for your share your stories be part of the community and before we wrap up we want to touch on something close to home's mental health football teaches us a lot about life the big wins the rough defeats the weeks everything clicks and the ones are where nothing goes your way but just like in football you're if not meant to face the tough spells on your own you're going through a different form feeling the pressure or carrying something heavy there are places you can turn to Andy's Vancouve a space where men can talk open and honestly and without judgment remote space is where you need to someone to listen to during difficult moments and Samaritans are able anytime or day or night when you need to claim supportive voice. Reaching out isn't a witness a weakness it's the same strife but it takes you step back onto the pitch after a hard match support is there and you deserve it take care of yourself look after your mates and we'll see you next time on the old castle rock podcast if you want okay so uh it's a bonjour for me jambos for me and it's an HMS here international for me enjoy guys pop ahead