Will Ben Doak Make Final Scotland Squad? | The Journos

Ben Doak Joins Scotland’s Euro 2024 Squad in Exciting New Lineup!

Scotland’s head coach, Steve Clarke, has unveiled his provisional 28-man squad for Euro 2024, featuring the standout addition of Liverpool’s teenage sensation, Ben Doak. The young forward, known for his blistering pace, is poised to inject fresh energy into Scotland’s attack.

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Also on The Journos:
Full assessment of the provisional 28-man Scotland squad for EURO 2024;
Thoughts on Celtic v Rangers Scottish Cup Final 2024;
Nick Montgomery sacked by Hibernian;
And much more!

The Journos Highlights:

00:00 Intro – The Journos 23rd May 2024
01:53 Scottish Premiership 2023/2024 review
03:33 Celtic Scottish Premiership title win
13:58 Rangers Scottish Premiership review
18:34 Celtic vs Rangers 2024 transfer budgets
22:29 Derek McInnes Manager of the Year
24:39 Livingston FC relegation
27:26 Scotland EURO 2024 squad
30:24 Ben Doak Call-up
32:43 Final Scotland squad for EURO 2024
36:57 World Class Scotland footballers
38:08 Scotland EURO 2024 fixtures
39:26 Celtic v Rangers Scottish Cup Final predictions
42:08 Raith Rovers v Ross County playoffs final
44:40 New Hibernian manager
49:27 Gerry Collins tribute
54:11 Ewing Grahame journalist tribute

Ben Doak, who joined Liverpool from Celtic in March 2022, has already made three senior appearances for the Reds. Though he’s yet to earn a senior cap for Scotland, his performances for the Under-16, Under-17, and Under-21 teams have been nothing short of spectacular. Clarke is optimistic about what Doak can bring to the table, noting his unique talent and speed. “Ben’s obviously got a lot of talent, he catches your eye,” Clarke said. “The pace is something we haven’t got an abundance of in the squad. He’s something a little bit different.”

Veterans Return
Another exciting inclusion is veteran winger James Forrest of Celtic, who makes a return to the national team after almost three years. Forrest’s resurgence at the end of the domestic season has not gone unnoticed. Clarke praised his professionalism, stating, “James epitomises how to conduct yourself if things aren’t going well. Train well, work well, keep your head down, keep believing, and you never know.”

Other Notable Inclusions
Bristol City’s defender Ross McCrorie and seasoned pros like Grant Hanley (Norwich) and Ryan Jack (Rangers) have also been called up, despite recent injury woes. Unfortunately, injuries have sidelined right-backs Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, as well as Bologna’s midfielder Lewis Ferguson.

Final Squad Decision Looms
Clarke must trim his squad from 28 to 26 by June 8, after friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland. “I just wanted to give myself a little bit of breathing space to have a look at certain players, how they are, how their fitness is,” Clarke explained.

Scotland’s Provisional 28-Man Squad

Goalkeepers: Zander Clark (Hearts), Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Liam Kelly (Motherwell).
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds United), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Al-Ettifaq), Ross McCrorie (Bristol City), Scott McKenna (Copenhagen), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Real Sociedad).
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ryan Jack (Rangers), Kenny McLean (Norwich), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Forwards: Che Adams (Southampton), Ben Doak (Liverpool), Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), James Forrest (Celtic), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts).

As the Euro 2024 approaches, Scotland’s squad, brimming with a mix of fresh talent and seasoned veterans, is set to make a significant impact on the European stage. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how these players perform in the upcoming friendlies and who ultimately makes the final cut for Clarke’s team.

#scottishcup #scottishfootball #euro2024

welcome to the journals I’m Peter Martin Hugh McDonald’s and former presenter Allison McConnell S one thing she get S she’s back the troops try not to read too much into that I know actually to be fair you did a brilliant job and you’ll be back in the chair you’ll be happy to know um but nevertheless we like to talk about things domestic and a little further a field as well uh International Football will occupy our minds as well as we look towards uh Scotland going to the European championships the squad will assess it uh and of course by June 7th I think they’ll have to cut it down to 26 28 we’ll discuss those players shortly and we’ll also look back over the season which is just finished there’s one more game to go as far as the top flight’s concerned that’s the Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Celtic and there’s a small matter of the playoff between Ross County and wraith Rovers all of that will occupy our thoughts as well as who’s going to become the next HEBs manager and finally A fitting tribute and I couldn’t think are two better people to give uh you and gam A fitting tribute than uh these two journalists I have alongside me um gam sadly passed away uh last week but over and above that as ever because it’s a show that deals with football uh I’ll also throw my toin worth in on Jerry Collins uh famed for being the party thle assist assistant manager alongside John lambi for uh a great number of years Jerry also played football uh for Hamilton AIS and pck thisle and a few other clubs which we will discuss uh so uh the footballing world has lost uh a great writer and a good man as a footballer and uh an assistant manager in Jerry Collins we’ll talk about the two characters very shortly uh so to the season which has just passed Hugh how would you assess it was the weirdest season for a while for me I think I mean that cliche of roller coaster uh I mean if I do it in my personal way I was standing in buan series The Day That Aberdine beat Rangers uh the the game that did for be and you that’s the season that’s the league over then you fast forward to roundabout Santa getting Bo time uh Hearts beaten Celtic and people are saying well the me designation setting in that amongst the Celtics support and a real expectation growing amongst the Rangers support that the the titles heading across uh uh the river and then astonishly when you look at it and it as it dust settled if You’ saw nothing of the Scottish football and you come out of a coma and you looked at the league table you’d see I see Cela of uh run away with the league again yeah eight points I know it summed it up perfectly 93 Point difference for Superior Al when you look at it you know Celtic won 129 matches they lost three uh they drew Six Rangers won 27 they lost seven matches and Drew four um that was their overall record but it’s a strange sort of season as you mentioned there Allison because a low Rangers eventually faded away and Celtics stepped up to the plate with a strong finish it certainly through pundits through ious journalists and more often than not football fans who know their football Celtic were not really that inspiring I think they came to the boil just at the right time I think H as Rogers had said that they come to life in in the last couple months of the season I think you saw that I thought that arguably their best games of the Season came at the death I think that performance against Hearts was huge that 3-n win H come flying out the traps it was a confident display it was aggressive in a way that it was maybe not in keeping with how Celtic have played across much of the season but I think H I think they were the better team I think just at points what undermined them was an inability to kill teams off to to manage games and I think you saw I Brooks at 33 draw um the fact is it six draws across the course of the campaign that that’s what had the potential to be there undo just on top of game sometimes dominating games but not just getting over the line at times but I think the performance against Kar the performance against Hearts the performance against Rangers at Celtic park I think it was a very confident finale from them yeah um if you are following a man who’s won a treble um you know he was one of the top candidates for the job he certainly surprised as when he suddenly emerged as the man coming back um and coming back after leaving in very difficult circumstances I don’t think anybody uh you know when you look at everything in context that was said nobody was doubting his credentials as a coach but I think they were looking for a spark um and that didn’t materializing I would go as far as to say in three quarters of the Season here because at times a lot of Celtic fans were moaning about the football in the style that they were watching and of course you’re going to win matches you’re stronger you know by sometimes 4 five to one uh in spending power against some clubs of course you’re going to win games just by grinding it out yeah I think I think what Happ it’s quite interesting listening to the sort of postmortem or Brandon’s postmortem of the season when he we been written off the uh you know from day one there you know negative stuff now I’m thinking I can’t remember any of that at all I mean I you got to remember when he came in at first I think one Hearts assed T Castle ear on you thought oh this is you know he what was the problem was uh there was a period where they r with the heart game lost couple what was the problem as Alison pointed out was killing not killing teens off the other problem is was this almost lethargic sort of horseshoe against teams the low block yeah and and there was people were saying we’ll have to be more incisive we have to be quicker we have to be and I think a lot of the problems there were uh you know certain problems was was Personnel but I think the big thing about you know you can go on about everything about uh Celtic season but I think the big players got fit at the right time he had carler Vickers or Ry had ta and McGregor fit at the end of the season and I think they’re I mean I think they’re in Scottish terms they’re the elite if I was being uh you know really uh honest uh about the whole appraisal and and I think there are a number of people who would offer this assment of it is the fact that he inherited a squad some of them that he looked at and thought not good enough um and I think whereas an POA cogo was able to come in and demand an early signing of players what we eventually witnessed for Celtic was a role reversal I think the board went back to what it’s gone to before he didn’t get players he wanted in this summer he came out and said that and then he was quickly reeled back in uh and then in the January transfer window he wanted a certain caliber of player he didn’t get that and I always as I said to you on many occasions with Rangers and Celtic the assessment of the Season always follows into two parts August to December to assess your European campaign and then January to May to assess how you’re going to win the honors uh and and after that he then realized that he had to make do with the squad that really wasn’t his and and try and get the best out of them and and I don’t think they responded as quickly as he would have liked and I certainly think if you had that manager out with the pr machine that is Celtic he would have told you a totally different story I don’t mind his Defiance at the end because at the end Brandon’s a winner and if he wants to Lether people fair play on you go I think he’s probably stung a bit I think it’s been a very different environment he came back to than the when he operated in the first time when you know people were throwing garlands at his feet all the time because you know an invincible treble this fast football guys like Scott Sinkler able to play the kind of football that he wanted H winning everything lording it over teams domestically and then obviously the very Abed end and so he came back to a very different environment but I think too at the start of the Season it was a hangover from from Celtic fans I think they were devastated at the way they lost St posto I think everyone had bought in to to what he was doing what you was playing I think H when you started to break this time last year that Spurs were interested Celtic fans and they want didn’t want to know and you know the Bild up to last year Scottish C FAL there’s an accusation that the media sing the poort and oh there’s no substance to this and you try unsettle the wayed it well he danced on the head of a pin the press conference before that Scotti Cup Final I think and obviously ritten a different environment when you’re away from Camas it can be a bit more informal but he danced on the head of a pin for 15 to 20 minutes which is a long time to prevaricate and be pushed and it’s it was probably the angriest that he got that that we had seen um but you know it’s almost a we know you know we know but we can’t we can’t for many reasons all managers get angry when they’re exposed yes H but I I think Celtic fans there was a hangover from an going and then obviously there was a split about Brandon coming back there was still a soreness about whether or not he he was the right guy to come back so whereas the first time he came back they had to open the stadium to like 14,000 people come in and salute him he came back and I think there was maybe a couple hundred people on on the stepes and and it was a very different we also I think what’s forgotten about is how integral J and abada had been to how an boso side played and obviously the abada situation became huge usely difficult and problematic for the club and for the player J’s exit again which was fairly abrupt I think um going left a massive hole and you think of how how instrumental they’d been with goals with assists and just that width that Celtic had and I still think they’ve not really compensated yeah and with the second part of it my criticism of them is quite simply H uh that in that final quarter you know he’s he’s had numerous signings which clearly are not the level that he wants and he’s he’s had a a plethora of Wingers brought in and he comes out with the line James Forest the best Winger at the club now remember the best lines are the ones that the manager sometimes tries not to say when you read between the lines there are two or three times when he’s been reeled back in but James Forest returned to that Squad galvanized them absolutely and and and uh and Forest I mean I’m glad for Forest personally because Forest is a is on the CP of been one of the greatest Celtic players ever and I use this you’re talking about from award’s point of view from yeah I he’s now he’s now up with Billy manil and he’s chasing down Bobby lingers he could be the most decorated Celtic player in history it’s AST people were still sitting on the fence over whether or not he he yeah and a guy so I mean you know I’m pleased for Forest because a lot of times when he was even in his PP he was going under the radar with people uh so glad that he’s he’s think all the songs that Celtic fans have for players that have passed through when have you ever heard that James it’s difficult to get something that rhymes with it the problem you think but I think that there is a perception that he’s never quite never quite grabbed everybody I I always I think he’s very technically very good remember the goal he scored the outside his foot early on against hibs years and years ago thing about all this is is because you were talking about the elements of the Season which absolutely bang on about of course but the one of one of the great elements about Celtic and Rangers and every manager but Celtic Rangers particular at the end of the season as soon as it starts it you know as soon as it fin it starts again so the conversations and the the bars and supporters buses on and Saturday and more so come this Saturday they’ll be I where do we go next what does he need next and they’re all talking about the Rangers rebuild I was thinking down I see the Celtic rebuild I think they need a goal keeper a left back two center backs a midfielder a center forward and a Winger yeah yeah but the other thing about how many do you think they’ll get yeah well how many have quality H I think that’s what Brandon Rogers is going to stick his uh you know dig his heels in is listen I want the quality rather than the quantity and can you empty out all your project I think that’s his demand that’s a build and we’ve given our assessment of Celtic winning the league and and and fair play to the manager and as I said before you know based on any criticism that’s come his way I think you know providing it’s constructive if you wants to have a dig at people absolutely as long as you can face them up and square them up game you know I can’t wait to meet him on that point I’m sure he enjoyed it I’m sure he would have felt thoroughly Vindicated the flip side uh um the flip side of it all is is Rangers at one point and this is where I think sometimes the nonsense of the spin comes in you because for me I don’t know how he managed to do it and I tell you it was a great piece of PR from Michael Beal from start to finish on managing one of the top clubs in Great Britain um and he should never had a job and and he gets he get found out quickly very quickly and I think the Rangers fans AB absolutely H got to the point where I thought hey wait a minute you know we’ve been duped here um and then basically all the nonces that he that he brought out in uh press conferences came back to haunt him and the team waful so he lost his job and in comes Philipe clont and again um you know this is a man who quickly turned it around but by turning around the mediocrity and the ineptitude of Michael Beal you have a you have a good coach who served his time knows what he’s doing he comes in steadies the ship but even Philipe clemont was well aware I can steady this with what I’ve got but it’s not my team yeah and I think you’ve seen that in the the last few weeks of the season and I’ve seen I think you’ve seen the the pressure on clol and I think clong has really has made a few major missteps major missteps I mean the most recent one he you know when he was talking about um you know I I I I’ve you know I’ve improved ranges were seven points behind now we’re only six points behind that came to backfire number two reasons CU they ended up eight points behind so we actually lost ground on Beal but the other thing it was what was he saying that for do you think does he does he think the Rangers sporters were all well oh man we’re only six points behind down stad of the seven I I just what feel with clont I feel there should be somebody within iooks who says can I have a word come here and you know I’ve been here a long time but these are not the things you should be saying in press com are hostages to Fortune there’s not enough strong people in there to even the fun comment I thought like biting on that was silly because there’s nowhere it can go when when Rogers and and to be fair I Had A Bit of Sympathy for rers with that I thought it was taking out a context a bit and then you know how it works in a press conference or he’s saying this and then you want a reaction to me the sensible thing to do is just to say well you know we do talking on the pitch let’s just look forward to the just close it down rather than amplify it and then before you know it you have a whole narrative and the buildup to that week that runs around something that’s got away from you yeah the other thing about it as well is he quickly realized that the players and that he still had and that he wanted to go you know into the trenches with um no matter how hard they they were blowing they couldn’t actually back it up you know you’ve got a guy in Des who scored what 21 22 goals not convincing Rangers fans not convinced by him missed big chances in big games you have a guy in the middle of the park who is more happy you know going on social media rather than doing his talking on the pitch and cwell um and you have a whole load of people just saying well wait a minute let’s Slaughter the captain you know and for me there’s six or seven players in front of him before you start slaughtering the captain because you know barisich is not going to win it yilma is always injured Central defense not good enough um middle of the park not strong enough to handle Celtic in any capacity over the four games um and the fact that matondo comes up with a worldy saves them from four defeats over the course of the season so I think the big key issue now for Rangers is to try and work out a way to back Philipe Clon and I know for a fact that they have people coming in to I bro’s investors they’re trying to get investors to invest to allow them to back them to give them enough money whether these people that they’ve been courting will actually jump on the bandwagon and say okay we’ll give you the money and and let the manager have a go at it the biggest signings for Rangers this summer will be people who are willing to give them substantial amounts of money to try and stay neck and neck with Celtic Celtic could have somewhere in the region Alice of about 150 to2 200 million coming into the coffers well you think the Champions League money this season is going to be about 60 million pounds I think everyone would anticipate a a bid for Matt o I think Celtic will make a substantial profit arguably a Scottish transfer record don’t jump in with a figure your no I I would I wouldn’t know where to begin but I think you you would it wouldn’t be outlandish to suggest it’ll be a new Scottish transfer record for a boy at 23 who is now ready to take the next step in his career I think Celtics finances are so robust to start with they were they go into it in a very good position to be so further enhanced gives them an opportunity now to cement this dominance that I think they’ve enjoyed for the the bulk of the last two decades more more than that I I don’t think any kind of investment at Rangers takes them close to that on a realistic sense well if they don’t get it if they don’t get it they’re staring into the abyss you I mean it’s three three titles now it could be another nine their own unless this season they get some serious money into back them but the thing yeah but the the problem with Rangers is the Rangers historically and it is historically make a loss they just make losses all the time they come out last oh made an operating profit well did you once you get the tax into it you’re actually actually Rangers make a lot another thing is the other historic thing about Rangers is people come in put their money in and don’t get it back they get it back in the confetti of shares and all that the Parks have some their money back there’s guys in always have a rice smile when you hear people slagging the Rangers board because whatever you say about the Rangers board these guys that put their hands in their pockets the guys like Bennett Le them these are guys that put their own money you know in the club so there’s got to be another model there’s got to be a model that’s what I think and even the recruitment model has to be different you cannot possibly go out and spend 15 million pound on a player and bring in wages at 30 40 Grand a week is even it’s Celtic that’s that’s a headache for Rangers and Celtic I think the biggest model has to be a recruitment model where you recruit with some intelligence to meet the financial demands that you have at the club and work within the parameters of what you’ve got it’s never a popular decision if you look at what what’s happened to Celtic but that’s where you will find htis oiles young guys hungry to learn for a bit of exposure a stage to per perform on and then to take the next step on their career but Rangers have gone all in and sort of winning titles see even the Christmas here they you know with the Lo loan signs silver I mean you hear incredible amounts of what Silver’s getting ey watering ey watering 75 grand a week but Rangers weren’t paying 75 they were been a good of it why I hear were P AB more than half of it yeah and you see say what what and and look at the return when you look at the return for that it’s a big big call for them I think I think this is this Summer’s huge and it’s huge for board and how they attract the investors if they don’t you know there a long painful summer ahead for Rangers and and you know the early indications of they’re interested in this player and interested in that player it’ll be interesting to see the caliber of player that they’re going to have to recruit to try and bridge that Gap and also change the mentality within the squad to go to Celtic Park win win the league that’s a huge call against the power financially that we’ve been talking about couple of notable mentions Derek mckennis picked up the Scottish Football writers manager of the year at the weekend he spoke very well um Hugh and he’s one of those managers that he’s older he seems to be getting better wiser um knows what he wants from his team yeah and I think he was worthy award I mean we all talk about um you know when the awards the votes are made and at one time and it wasn’t that long ago I was thinking clont maybe honestly too so it’s nothing so I think Derek and was a good solid choice because what he he’s he’s improved a team he he’s got a he’s got a strategy there I look at the Comm H line up now and you go you know there’s a few in it you really you really like I like me at the back you know the boys up front I’m strong I mean there there’s there’s good quality in that team as well there good strategy so yeah absolute um I think there was some great managerial performances in Scotland I think um I muray at WTH Rovers done really well um uh I think uh John mcglenn as we’ve talked about already I think reys mck um and Tony doer done so you could had the old aine one two could have been a a manager of the year one two mhm yeah absolutely um um and as far as players are concerned you know you’ve talked about Mar Riley but Lauren Shanklin you know basically was the worthy winner right across the PFA and the Scottish Football writers what a great season for him he’s a fantastic individual season and part of a strong Hearts campaign too I think H yeah I think he he a really strong season I think if you’re scoring that amount of goals particularly outside the Celtic and Rangers I think it’s notable I think Matt would have run him close for it I think had a dip just after January after obviously the atletic Madrid interesting obviously fairly unsettling for him and there was a we dip in for him for a couple months and then finished the campaign strongly I think yeah but I thought sh going a fantastic season yeah um and just a one little footnote obviously the playoffs we’ll discuss that a little later on in the show but Livingston’s demise is a worrying one because unless they sort out their B unless they sort out who is taking control they may well be looking for a new manager and and over and above that they’ve got to try and work out a way to try and bounce back uh into the Top Flight and and of course off the back of that as well any chance of bouncing back into the Premiership will also involve uh you know putting out a bit of money on a glass pitch yep it’s and it’s an interesting Championship next year uh even if Ross County come down into it uh and I still think Ross count or favorites to stay up even if they come down into it there’s not a Rangers a Hearts A dund United a hibs a dunde that have been in it in in recent years and should win it you’ve got a really you it’s going to be a really tough League I think um thle will be strong again they’ll go again under Chris Dulan but faler will come up and if John mcglen gets even a bit of investment you would think they’ll be biting about I think D ferland season was completely derailed with by injuries all dman played really good in spells and good team so they they’ll be back in the hunt so it’s not the division where L can say well can just come in here and you know we you know we’ll be top four ET I mean you see what’s happened to ver calan thisle yeah ABS I want NIS as well how long it’s how NIS to get back stabilize almost yeah so um give us your thoughts on the season highs the lows uh your overall impression of the battle for the title at the top end uh the performances of some uh clubs who really underachieved when really were we talking about them at the start of the Season being up in the top six I’m talking of course about Aberdine and hi we’ll be discussing who could potentially be the next hibs manager in this program thank you to so many of you for uh joining us on the journals throughout the season figures have been fantastic right across uh all of plz soccer’s YouTube and social media channels we’ve had a great season uh and we are endeavoring to go bigger and better for next season for you with lots of changes and lots of programs to offer you as the football channel to come to so hit the Subscribe button on our YouTube channel if you can and don’t forget if you download the app you’ll get all the breaking news at your fingertips I’m going to switch your attention from just digesting that whole domestic season in Scotland and the Scottish Premiership to the Scotland Squad because plz soccer will be at the Euros we’re going out there we’re really looking forward to it thanks Peter yeah absolutely it’s just myport I think don’t worry about it you might still be you’ll have to break it to your family um but uh the Scotland Squad 28 players announced uh and it’s going to have to get down to 26 so with that in mind let me at this point just take you through um the Scotland Squad Xander Clark Craig Gordon Angus gun Liam Kelly four go goalkeepers uh The Defenders Liam Cooper Grant Hanley Jack Henry Scott McKenna Ross mcro Ryan pores Anthony ralson Andy Robertson John Sutter Greg Taylor and Kieran Tierney the midfielders are Stuart Armstrong Ryan Christy Billy Gilmore Ryan Jack John mcin Kum McGregor Kenny McLean Scott momy and the forwards sheay Adams Ben do lynon dkes James forest and Lauren shankin forest and do so there’s there’s your lot two of them have to drop out um so where are you making the cuts and what do you make of the squad yeah it’s interesting um I think if it was me personally I don’t know that would be going with four goalkeepers I understand why he’s done it I know he’s very loyal to to the players that he’s used but I think four goalkeepers at a tournament is almost a waste of another Outfield place um Anthony Ron that’s a I’m mildly surprised at that I I thought he had an outside chance but he’s played so little football but obviously the right hand side is a huge problem at the minute um I wondered if Danny Armstrong might have sneaked in Conor Barner thought for right back was a chance Max Johnson people were saying for right back obviously if I was Anthony rson sitting there the say I’m on the plane y I’m the only excuse me I’m only the right back in S I was going to say there’s no one else they’re right back yeah I mean if I was if I was looking at it I I would suggest to you right now that uh you know Jack’s a surprise as well after say yeah if I was dropping PE two people out of it I would I would looking I’d say to myself he’s he’s got a dilemma he’s got a dilemma on on whether Grant Hanley is fit enough because he’s played very little if any um I think he’s played 10 games this season so he’s got to prove his Fitness that’s the first dilemma Ryan Jack’s another one um that I think he’s going to have a dilemma on I think that area of the pitch is so well served yeah if it was me I would look at it and say to myself if I was dropping two people out of that Squad and because of the cover that he absolutely needs and remember James Forest could play right back as a right back um I think he takes ralson I think you drop I think Liam Kelly might drop out for me uh and also at that point I think Ryan Jack drops out um the rest of them all have something that they could potentially offer isn’t do a fascinating one yeah absolutely he said earlier on in the season that if he was fit after he got the injury he said if he was fit we’d like to take him so I think that’s a great show I think it makes sense so many levels I think he’ll play the but also as well this is a boy that’s going to be part of the Scotland setup for years to come take them give them exposure to the squad to the tournament I think it I think it’s sensible I think it it’s it has a long-term benefit for that Bo and plus if he’s fit throw him in he’s he’s one of these guys that call impact player isn’t he come on and do something it’s interesting cuz Erikson did the same with Tio Walcott years and years ago he was and and in Mal didn’t make go on to make the huge impression in England that he could have have a a very decent career don’t get me wrong the the do thing’s fascinating because at the beginning of the season I can remember sitting in these J he would be the one was coming through and he just had to get game time he got immediate game time with with Liverpool yeah the injuries ciled them the only thing I think is if if he can get him the two friendlies he gives you an option if Scotland in the last 10 minutes of a match absolutely and he’s the only guy we’ve got of that dynamism creativity and young like an element have been fairly Fearless you know like an an energy and unknown unnown absolutely it’s an unknown quantity when you’re up against you know Hungary anderland and those two games are the key because I think generally regardless of whatever he’s talking about Germany might not be the force they once were they’re a force in their own backyard they got better over the season as well be Cruz coming back and vers being you know up for European Player of the Year etc etc they look not too bad at the moment I expect Scotland to be beaten in the first match and then you’re looking you’re saying to yourself okay the next two matches are where we’ve got to really earn our bread and butter to potentially stay on um for another game if he stays on he gets the freedom of Scotland and he’s called the greatest Scotland manager of all time something that no one else has ever you know so um who’s your two to drop out I think Jack and one of the goalkeepers that’s it for me as well yeah that’s what I think I’m but the thing that sticks in my head is I think going to the Euros with four goalkeepers is actually Preposterous right but I I know mm Steve Clark’s whole thing it’s in his DNA and what he preaches to his Squad not by words but by actions is loyalty and I think he would find it hugely difficult personally to to to drop Liam Kelly you take for I don’t think you can take I don’t think you should but I wouldn’t be hugely surprised if he did oh I’d be Gob smacked I would absolutely be Gob smacked he needs every bit of he needs every bit of uh Arsenal if you want to call it that at his disposal to try if he’s got the goal scoring midfielders great because he hasn’t got a goal scoring Striker apart from shankland and shankland wouldn’t start it I mean the other thing about shankland is shankland is one of those instinctive players who in and around the Box yeah he’s not going to run away from anybody here you know what I mean I mean the counter attack for us I don’t see Shanklin being in around that box anywhere Left Foot Right Foot bang it’s a goal um and we’re about to find out if he can take that step up again in International Football um but it’s an interesting one give us your thoughts and who you think who’s the two you think go he’s not taking four goalkeepers not for me I I think I also think that Angus gun’s number one I think Xander Clark Nar is number two and I think he’s looking he say himself if by some strange twist of fate something happened I need an experienced goalkeeper I can rely on and trust and it’s Craig G all day long he has absolutely got all the experience in the world that you need around that camp and who knows let’s just say two goalkeepers get injured you’ve got a top class goalkeeper still playing at the top of his game in Scotland after coming back from an horrific injury so I I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind um’s your other one uh and and my other one’s Ryan Jack just and not no no harm to Ryan Jack other than he’s not played enough and and of the two players who have come back from injury and suddenly got a little bit of game time James Forest has made a bigger impact coming back into Celtics team than Ryan jacket Rangers I Forest is certainty I think so too also on that right side and ralon it’s an absolute certainty as well because you just look at that Squad and you see he’s the right back yeah absolutely give us your thoughts on it um what you think uh about that Scotland Squad um of course Steve Clark uh did mention that there wouldn’t be too many John Carver actually only in the last few days suggested there wouldn’t be too many surprises anyone out of left field and in fact I would go as far as to say Allison without uh blowing our own trumpet certainly Way Way Back at the start of the season um I can remember on this show and on the football show saying Ben do is is that that great unknown if he can get games for Liverpool if he could get fit he’s the boy that you need to take to give us that something different absolutely and I think at the start of the season when he was in and around Liverpool’s team and getting game time and you could see how highly he was thought of by CL and how difficult it is to walk in to that team and and find yourself in the first team sad he was 17 at that point you know and remember by the way the other thing I was going to say to you just on that right back situation Alan Allison Ross MC can play there as well not ideal I don’t really I think Ron would be ahead yeah I think R be for in terms of do going I think I think it’ll be a unanimously satisfying H addition to the scor for everyone I think so many people wanted to see that boy fit and available and given an opportunity and just out of curiosity um I wonder how do you think Scotland are going to fair I think I think they could get out the group and I think I know that there’s been a run of really poor results and there’s run of disappointing results but I think I think Clark will have them really well prepared uh for uh we’ had so many bad injuries but I think the the real the real world class players in our team and I use there are world class players on that team well maybe only three or four they’re going and uh I think there’s a good SP four world class players on the Scotland team I I can you know well world class isn’t playing Champions League at the top level I think if you’re playing Champions League at the top all depends what you seen I mean you can argue about old class all day I mean all depends what what your definition is but if you’re talking about maybe better this shows about of course I mean if if you’re if you’re definit well I I’ll rephrase it Champions League class players there’s four or five Champions League class players extra one and an extra one I’m just think M because M will be a Champions League player yeah and he wasn’t before and that’s he’s come through the so you got four or five they’re fit they’re going to start I think I think we’ll just I think we’ll just squeeze our way out the group and I think that’ll be an extraordinary result because Switzerland and Hungary are no gummies I think four points is enough yeah I probably would be yeah I think have take four points now there Al no just try just try to work out all the all the well it’s it’s Germany Scotland first so we’re not we’re not going to win that if we got a draw everybody would be handing out Scotland tops I mean and we be going bananas it’s such a big game though that one because so we don’t win that one I don’t think you win it Scotland Switzerland cologne in the 19th and then you’ve got Scotland Hungary uh in stutgart 23rd of June I think both are winable oh absolutely I agree with you yeah but but I think I think and for anyone who’s been familiar with spoiler hold on hold on a second is any CH you two could startop going into what I call roughy probability we know they could win lose or draw but nevertheless I look at them and I think to myself I think I I think they’ll get four points and and if and if I get it wrong it’ll just be one of a million and one Scots fans and pundits who’ve called it wrong in previous major tournaments we’ve been to um when you think you’re going to get there and it all uh you know goes per shape but there’s your there’s your squad couple things I want to talk about um just because we won’t get a chance to see this is the last journals of the Season uh quick one Rangers Celtic the Cup Final what’s your prediction on that it’s an interesting one because I think Rangers really need to win it I think the the pressure is on Rangers I think they badly need one the psychological win over Celtic who they’ve not been able to beat all season and something to hang their hat on ahead of of the summer and a rebuild and something to substantiate the claim that this is a better team that the Gap is what it was and saying that I think Celtic will win it I think Celtic are going in with their tails up no no real pressure on Celtic with this one I think the fact that they’ve delivered the league I think they’re confident I think the the way they’ve ended the season they look like a stronger team I think Celtic will win it okay you I Celtic will win it yeah I I just don’t think Rangers have and I noticed and I was listening to the comments of arur new there’s no real flare or Sparkle in the Rangers side there’s nothing that would put the fear of God into Celtic and I think they’ve got too many special players that can change the game Rangers for me you know unless suddenly deser discovers his shooting boots in in a big big game then I don’t see anything that there to threaten Celtic I think they’ve got the capacity H to to to threaten at the back post Celtic have lost a lot of goals at the Pike post recently a lot of goals and and Des can you know they’ve got I mean barisich if he plays for all uh Rangers fans uh are again him he’s got really good quality in his cross taverners qualities in his cross and excellent as well really top level stuff so you could if you’re looking at a scenario of how will Rangers get the goals you I think odds on favor would be cross to the bik post and they do it so there I I just tend to think that what what clont has cla’s got thinking to do whereas I don’t think Rogers has I think Rogers knows his team know know we will set up knows his strategy I think cl’s got to sit down and say it ain’t working we can’t match them in Midfield so how do we do we’ve watched the last couple of games where he’s tried to bypass Midfield with a long ball so he’s got to come up with does he stick an extra man in Midfield does he I mean because if you talk of Midfield Rangers have got nothing to match atat McGregor nor that even that I don’t even think that’s an opinion I think that’s a fact uh so he’s got to find somewhere around that okay and give us your thoughts onage Cup Final as well we’ll keep you right up to date with that right across uh pz soccer social media the playoffs R thrs against Ross County how Ross County are in the playoffs for me I’m absolutely go smacked I cannot believe it um they absolutely shot themselves in the foot in that match against St Johnson that I was at at mcder Park just over a week ago and and they now find themselves in a situation where they’re playing yet again in a play off against a wrath overside um that have five wins in the last eight only two defeats obviously that win against the Jags despite losing 2-1 they won the penalty shootout um and you know they’re against the county side in the last eight matches at they’ve won eight matches over the course of the Season lost 19 and drawn 11 if anything uh wraith uh Ross County in the last six games I certainly sh a wee bit of for him but you know losing to St Johnson you know that L go killed him having watched a fair bit of St Johnson this season I’m amazed that they never got pulled down into it because I thought there was just a feeling about them there was just an atmosphere about them that I thought they were going down I thought they were in trouble I think now I think it’s waited in favor of the Premiership team staying up I think if you look at the games at Ross County The Wraith have had over the last week I think I think um I think Ross County should Prevail in that one however I think R Rovers could give them a scar if if um if it was a betting man it was R Rovers against Johnson have R Rovers all day long think they would have played them off the park but I don’t think they’ll play Ross County off the r bits of quality in the team well D obviously who’s ahead the hearts and it seems D for team bought the league they’ve got a we goal threat about them as well muray Etc um be tougher I’ve watched Rovers a couple of times live this season um and they’ve been part from the fact they’ve been sort of easy n their passing they’ve been a really canny team there’s no other word for it I watched them against on F and they they just they they just sat in and hitting a bit they’re a well coached team is what I’m trying to say yeah uh but I still think I still think the the Ross County should have the legs because they’ve got two fewer games that they played and I think um they’ve got the touches of class just to get over the line although I would need be shocked if if throws do it okay um couple of things before we finish hibs manager Maly McKai certainly well I think he will have a a major say um to the board to try and advise them on getting the next man in this is a club notorious for bumping managers you know if it’s not in a short period you know it they don’t get too long at Easter road and it didn’t work out for Nick Montgomery they’re now looking again the odds at the moment and it can change you know by the time this program goes out Ali Steven Robinson 6 to4 David Gray 2 to1 Derek McKinnis 3 to1 uh Alec Neil 7-2 Michael anneal 4 to1 Ronnie D 6 to1 Scott Parker 7 to1 Lambert Paul Lambert 15-2 Ian Murray 8 to1 Damian Duff 10 to1 Michael Beal 12 to1 which I’m gobsmacked at anybody would put him in the in the running for the job and Tommy Ali at 14 to1 I think there’s a few viable contenders in there I think stevenh Robinson would be a popular appointment for the HB Support I think he’s obviously done fantastically well across the the past two seasons at and David gay I think is an interesting one as well although of course no managerial experience so there there’s an element of gamble there going in and at how much time would he get if there if it doesn’t go well right away um I can’t see them appointing David yeah I don’t think it’s a high risk for them yeah I I think they’ll maybe go with a sh and tested I think Robinson would be where my money would be if you’re if you’re looking at it you’re saying to yourself okay have they got a bit of money have they got somebody they want that can maybe take them on to the next level Steven robson’s credentials are there I think he’s the I think he’s the one I mean I don’t see them being able to prize Derek mckinn come excuse me one of the interesting things about DK McKenna’s speech uh a very uh very good speech it was in Sunday was he he made a point of thinking you know the major shareholder that come on um which is yes as a really strong bond and Trust there and I don’t think and this will get many critics don’t think hibs is big enough to take him away from command I think he looks at what he’s got command and says I’m in Europe next year I’ll get a bit of money in the close season he talking about still working on that so I don’t think McKenna will go Robinson I think the dynamic with Robinson is is how much power is in uh the director of football SS um you if you look at the two variances a you know you know David Gray or Steven Robinson that would to me is how much power is the director of football going to have you’re looking for a head coach for example or you’re looking for a manager I would suggest if you go a director football and you’re looking for and especially if it’s Maly maai you’re looking for a head coach would that be a barrier for Steven Robinson um I think you’ve got I mean there’ll be discussions here at the moment uh and there’ll be parameters put down and it sounds D to see but hibs must know what they’re looking for they can’t just go go we’ll get this one we get Jack Ross we get this we’ll get Lee Johnson we get or we get ni momy they’ve got to say not what what do we want and see when we get something in let’s stick for a while letum the first let’s have a strategy here and see how the strategy plays out we brought in a director of football or whatever his title is Mal’s title is how do we see him working how do you see him working with the head coach cuz it will be a head coach and who would be best to put in that position it’s got to be there got to be a thinking game here because they’ve been a bit like Aberdine of late they’ve been all over the shop in managerial appointments and for the size of the club that they are they have underperformed dramatically dramatically and I think they need stability and they also need somebody with a vision uh that can steer them through and say right this is how we’re going to first of all bridge the gap between ourselves in our great Rivals Hearts um but if it’s a guy with a vision this is how we move on to level again yeah without question and I think you not hit it in hit the nail in the head I think there needs to be a strategy that that’s unwavering that at the first sign or trouble you’re not jumping ship I think you have to have a commitment to what you’re doing a belief in what you’re doing you’ve not seen it you’ve not seen it for some season same there a couple of clubs you could level the same accusation at but I think KBS desperately need an element of stability yeah absolutely um okay a couple of things to finish on a sad note um Jerry Collins uh passed away uh Jerry played for Shar Alin Rover here United Hamilton AIS and partic thistle uh I knew him well um and he probably is more famous for his partnership as assistant to John lambi H he was a player when he defeated the Rangers in the Scot absolutely um which I think was one of his highlights but I think for Jags fans when they were on that slump uh you know towards the TA end of the ’90s Jerry Collins with John lambi revitalized them and got them back to the Top Flight absolutely what a great man he was he was like you know that that that cliche the football man he was one of those it was knew everybody everybody knew him you all the stories I had a wonderful day with I it was in the 10th anniversary of Tommy Burns’s H death Jerry and Thomas Burns as he would call him uh were really really close buddies brought up in the same close together and uh I came up with this idea that I would go around uh the Calton and Jerry’s taxi and he’d tell me all the stories all the way around and it was one of the we ended up with a rolling sausage and coers as you do and it was one of the great working days of my life you know it was one of the days you know Al you came away it you go he this is going to be the easiest thing to write as long as I don’t put my words in if I keep it in it’s going to and be I get paid for that and he he’s just he’s just an IR repressible character H Jerry you know and it’s it’s well it’s just it’s it’s tragic to see the the you know and the the way he died as well you know sort of uh the lingering of it uh uh but uh I God bless jerck God bless him two stories that I think are worthy of I was lucky enough to play football with him and his famed du pumers which she set up with Tony roer and cck young and and you know ex pros and how can I journalists and celebrities all rolled into a team um and uh you know boy could they party I mean they were Champions League party uh guys and the banter in the dressing room was absolutely fantastic there were people like chick and Tony and and uh Tony Higgins as well and and guys who were there long long before I ever managed to get into that team but there were great days and the patter was absolutely Sensational the best story I could possibly tell you about him because he was friendly with Tom and the two of them were cut from the the same Stone um is quite simply their attitude to life because he asked me if I could get a a strip sign for him and I said yeah absolutely and this was towards the end of his life and I went over to his home and you know went in there and he didn’t have the movement and Mobility in his left hand and tragically the year before when he got the diagnosis of the tumor in his brain um you know in that week that he got that a week later he lost his wife who did not know that she had an illness and she passed away quickly so he’ such a it’s such a huge trauma to deal with and then when a doctor tells you Alison listen it could be it could be next week but it’s more than likely you’ve got a year you know um or in his case I think at one when they told him 3 months and he was a year down the line and I said to him how did you cope with all that and and I think it kind of a really it just shot home to me how he looked upon life and he said I’ve had a good life perer you know I lost my wife it was a real blow and I knew that I was going to die at some point but of all his friends you know that stood by him and were around him and he said I’ve had a good life and I thought that was a that was a it was a really great way to look at it um and funnily enough when I was keeping tabs on him and saying how is he and I’d sent him a couple of texts and he sent me some replies one of the guys I said to him how you know Jerry M I said How’s H Jerry getting on he said he wanted to go to the PB this about three or four weeks ago the boys got him in the wheelchair and I went down to the bum to watch the game because you what else can you do absolutely I think it’s there there’s bravery in that too you know nor a good you know which is incredible and and listen my thoughts go out to his family um and of course all his friends and there are many uh losing Jerry Collins the other one uh that we lost was was a journalist that I think is well worthy of a tribute from both of you um because quite simply we were lucky enough um on Allison’s suggestion to have you and geme here as one of our pundits as the journals um and he was well worthy of it he had his stripes he was absolutely clued up and a very good journalist indeed and when he came in here you know he offered you know his facts as was as want you but he had a great aeric wit and nobody better than you two to sum him up and the tragic loss of you and at such a a young age yeah devastating loss and then um I the the honor of of of writing a tribute to him and one of the things was I said it was like the just when a friend like that goes after you know the night before having a text conversation I say it’s like a a band leaving the stage mid song not mid performance mid song that’s an El I frankly I haven’t when Allison gave me the news I was obviously shocked and and and I had the physical reaction but I haven’t really taken it in Peter and you know I don’t I still do you know um still think of him being about you know so his great strength was his strength and that he um he knew what his opinion was he knew what he liked he knew what he didn’t like but underneath it all he had um he had a great generosity great generosity both in taking you out for a meal or buying you a drink or in my case a a fizzy water but get John and generosity of spirit towards you if you were in with you and G you knew you were in yeah I probably only got to know him in the last 10 years um Allison and could exchange you know chats with him and and and good fun and he he did have that kind of a real you know he could lay out with one line you know on anything you know any topic whatsoever all been laid out by you I I have I have a great way of looking at it he could inflict his intelligence on you double very very clever you but he was a great friend he was a great suppor to me encouraged me to go freelance was was very practically supportive of me at that time in terms of the logistics and what I needed to do and giving advice he’d been freelanced at that point for 15 years telling me what to do and the first time I think I ever wrote multiple match reports I was at ear one night and came back and I honestly the first time you do it is like nothing else and you going get to the point where you’ll do one March report one night and you feel as though you’ve never been at your work because it’s it’s then so easy but he he was great for just support in a day-to-day level a fantastic humor really a s at times never shy to tell you what his opinion was on anything solicited or otherwise um but I I’ll miss him terrible he’s a great friend and a great support yeah absolutely and again our uh thoughts prayers and condolences go to uh y’s uh um it’s well worth actually if you do get a chance just maybe looking back over the journals of the last couple of weeks um Hugh I think you were away at the time that was in that was in t yeah we three weeks ago Gordon Parks and uh Y and and myself and Allison and it was it’s great to look back on Sunday and you just get that glimpse of all the qualities that we’ve mentioned uh on the show when he was offering his opinion and I think he’ll be greatly missed among uh the journalists uh in Scotland because of uh the quality of him as a friend and as a journalist as well which I think is uh Testament to uh him as a person I think he’ll be greatly missed by all um and another sad loss to Scottish Football uh I do hope you’ve enjoyed the program today as ever on the journals you never get a shortage of opinion we try and offer you it some you’ll agree with some you don’t uh you can give us your views don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button on plz soccer’s YouTube channel uh and let us know what what you think as you join the football family uh I can say without fear of contradiction uh wherever you are we are if you’re looking for the breaking Football news and of course all the features and video uh content that we have on the channel we’re going to try and Endeavor to make it bigger and better as we do every year uh and it’s only possible when you have the qualities of a Hugh McDonald and an Allison mcconell and you know a Y G who will be a huge loss to us as well as uh the press so with that in mind as we move forward over the summer don’t forget we’re at the Euros we’re going to be there in Germany looking forward to Scotland um we’ll probably have uh some uh great crack with The Tartan Army uh we may have a few sherb buts no point in lying to you uh and uh and we’re going to enjoy it and hopefully with you you can join us live from Germany uh featuring the three games previewing them and giving you postmatch reaction to them all anyway thanks to you thanks to Allison and wherever you are we are plz soccer hit the Subscribe button from myself Peter Martin uh thank you for listening to this podcast and of course watching it on our YouTube channel