SPFL Sighs and Aberdeen Lows: The Scottish Football Podcast

Two games into Scotland’s new era and there have been encouraging signs — but are we getting carried away with the positivity?

We look back at the 0-0 draw in Slovenia and the 3-0 defeat to Switzerland, the concerns at both ends of the pitch, Scotland’s new-look forward line and the costly mistakes that international football ruthlessly exposes.

And we ask the big question: if Steve Clarke had overseen exactly the same performances and results, what would the reaction have been?

Two games is far too early to judge a new manager — but should the standards for Scotland remain the same?

The Sébastien Pocognoli era is about to begin — so we pick the Scotland starting XIs they’d like to see and ask what would represent a successful international window from four Nations League matches.

Then it’s time for something completely different: the Dons Tennents Sixes! We each pick six Aberdeen players we’ve watched who we think would be perfectly suited to the indoor game. Think technique, quick feet and a little bit of magic…

And with the Race to 50 sitting at 3–2 to Gavin, we’re taking full advantage of Scotland’s four matches and predicting every one of them. Surely the points will start flowing now?

🏴 Scotland Starting XIs🏆 What would make this a successful international break?🔴 Our Aberdeen Tennents Sixes teams⚽ Four Scotland predictions in the Race to 50

The Premiership seesaw keeps swinging.

Rangers looked in crisis just a few weeks ago — now they head into the international break in superb form after another Old Firm victory. Celtic, meanwhile, have gone from a flying start to a difficult week that leaves plenty of questions.

Alan gives his take on a game that felt like men against boys, while Gavin sends his thoughts from Singapore and Rangers fan Scott gives the view from the blue side of Glasgow.

Elsewhere, Dundee United produce a superb 3–0 win at St Mirren on Jim Goodwin’s return to the dugout, with United fan Phil joining us to give his reaction. Aberdeen take a point at Easter Road as their own fortunes continue to improve.

And there are absolute scenes in the Race to 50: a 96th-minute St Johnstone equaliser briefly completes Alan’s comeback… before a late Hearts goal puts Gavin back in front, 4–3.

As Scottish football heads into the international break, one question sums up this unpredictable season:

Which way will the seesaw tip next?

A night of shocks in the Scottish Premiership as Falkirk stun Hearts, Kilmarnock pile more pressure on David Gray at Hibs and Aberdeen produce a stunning 4–0 win at Motherwell.

We review all three games, ask whether the Dons are finally turning a corner and briefly discuss the news that Alan Burrows is stepping down as Aberdeen CEO.

There’s also plenty to discuss from Sébastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad. What do the changes tell us about the new era — and was Kevin Nisbet unfortunate to miss out?

Then it’s onto the weekend Premiership fixtures, including Hibs v Aberdeen and Celtic v Rangers, with another round of Race to 50 predictions. After another blank midweek, Gavin still leads 3–2.

And Gavin provides the latest state of play in the increasingly questionable £5 betting kitty…

A quick midweek preview as we look ahead to the three Premiership matches.

Gavin is protecting a slender 3–2 lead in the Race to 50 but admits his recent prediction form has been dreadful. Can he arrest the slump, or is this the week I finally overtake him?

We give our predictions for Motherwell v Aberdeen, Falkirk v Hearts and Hibs v Kilmarnock — and disagree on the big one at Fir Park.

After finally getting a much-needed result at the weekend, can Aberdeen build on it and start to turn their season around?

The Dons renaissance starts here. Hopefully…

The Premier Sports Cup semi-final line-up is complete — and Rangers produced the statement result of the weekend with a comprehensive 3–0 victory over Celtic.

Regular listener and Rangers fan Scott joins the pod via voice notes to give his reaction to a result he certainly didn’t see coming. Has Derek McInnes finally found a system and identity that works, and can Rangers now build on it?

Elsewhere, Aberdeen survive a marathon against Kilmarnock to reach Hampden on penalties, while Hearts and Hibs set up a mouth-watering Edinburgh derby in the other semi-final.

I react to all four quarter-finals, Scott sizes up Aberdeen ahead of Rangers v Dons at Hampden — and even finds time for an entirely unnecessary dig at my Race to 50 campaign!

The Premier Sports Cup is down to the last eight — and we preview all four quarter-finals.

We look ahead to Stenhousemuir v Hearts, Ross County v Hibs, Kilmarnock v Aberdeen and Rangers v Celtic, with our latest Race to 50 predictions.

We also discuss the SFA’s new proposals to increase opportunities for young Scottish players — and ask whether they go far enough.

Plus: who is under more pressure this weekend, David Gray or Stephen Robinson?

And after Bojan Miovski’s dramatic late winner for Rangers in midweek, could this finally be his opportunity at Ibrox?

The Race to 50 remains Gavin 3–2 Alan, while the £5 betting kitty takes another hit after Josh McPake failed to find the net last weekend.

Four quarter-finals. Four Hampden places. Plenty at stake.

A frustrating weekend for Aberdeen as the Dons draw 0–0 with Kilmarnock, make it four games without a goal and leave Stephen Robinson facing growing pressure. Gavin joins me by voice note to assess another dismal performance at Pittodrie — including a worrying comparison with Jimmy Thelin’s final 14 league games.

Elsewhere, Rangers make it three wins in a row, Celtic come from behind to beat St Mirren, Hearts climb to second after another dramatic late win, and Hibs follow their derby defeat with a disappointing loss in Perth.

Plus, it’s Good Week, Bad Week and — for poor Dundee — Cruel Week.

And finally… I’m off the mark! Two Saturday successes drag the Race to 50 back to 3–2, before Gavin and I make our predictions for the midweek Rangers and Celtic games.

The comeback is on!

The Premiership barely pauses for breath as we look back on the midweek action and ahead to another big weekend of Scottish football.

Hearts claim the Edinburgh bragging rights with an impressive 3-1 win at Easter Road, Rangers pick up another victory, Motherwell continue their unbeaten start and St Mirren keep flying.

For our first Talking Point, the focus is on Aberdeen. Three games without a goal, three defeats in a row and suddenly Saturday’s meeting with pointless Kilmarnock feels far bigger than a game this early in the season really should.

We preview all six weekend Premiership fixtures before an increasingly uncomfortable Race to 50 update. Gavin has raced into a 3-0 lead while Alan remains pointless.

And finally, after Gavin’s Maswanhise gamble went up in smoke despite Motherwell scoring THREE, Alan takes control of the £5 Betting Kitty – and puts his faith in Josh McPake.

🎙️ Midweek reaction

⚽ Aberdeen’s worrying start

🔮 Weekend predictions

🏁 Race to 50: Gavin 3-0 Alan

💷 The £5 Betting Kitty

The Premiership barely has time to catch its breath before a full midweek card — and Gavin is back to preview all six games.

We start with one Talking Point: what did we actually learn from Rangers’ win at Pittodrie? Was it a sign of progress for Rangers, or did a dismal Aberdeen performance make life far too easy for them?

Then it’s onto the midweek action. Can the Dons produce a response away to Celtic? Can Rangers build some momentum at Falkirk? Are Kilmarnock already in trouble? Can Dundee United back up their four-goal weekend? And we finish with the big one — Hibs v Hearts under the lights at Easter Road.

There are six more predictions in the Race to 50, with Gavin still leading 1–0, before we finish with an update on the all-important betting kitty.