SPFL Sighs and Aberdeen Lows: The Scottish Football Podcast

With only one Premiership fixture this weekend, we’re doing something a little different.

Dundee United fan Phil joins me for a proper look at life at Tannadice ahead of the Dundee derby.

We discuss Jim Goodwin’s three-year transformation of United — and whether he’s a different manager from the one Aberdeen fans remember — before digging into the make-up of the current squad and the club’s changing recruitment approach.

There’s a big focus on youth development. United gave more than 5,100 minutes to U21 players during their Championship-winning season, so why are opportunities seemingly harder to come by now? And are managers actually wrong to think playing youngsters puts their jobs at greater risk?

We talk Lorenzo Sassetti, Owen Stirton’s loan at Ayr, Will Ferry’s future and United’s proud history of giving youngsters their chance — from Christian Dailly through to Mark Wilson, Stuart Armstrong, Ryan Gauld and John Souttar.

Then it’s onto the main event:

🟠 Dundee United v Dundee

Phil gives us the view from the United side, his derby memories, the team he’d pick and, of course, puts his reputation on the line with a Race to 50 prediction.

A Dundee United deep dive before derby day.

Scotland have their new manager — and it’s not the appointment many of us expected.

After Gavin had some very strong views when Steven Naismith appeared to be in the frame, the SFA have gone in a completely different direction with Sébastien Pocognoli.

In this bonus pod, I set the scene before handing over to Gavin for his reaction to the appointment. Then I come back in with my own thoughts on the gamble, the potential change in style and what Pocognoli might do differently with this Scotland squad.

Bold, risky, exciting… or all three?

A quick bonus episode on the beginning of a new era for Scotland.

The Scottish football seesaw is already in full swing. Rangers finally get lift-off under Derek McInnes with a 5–1 win over St Mirren, Celtic cruise through at Tannadice, Aberdeen bounce back emphatically against Dundee and Stenhousemuir produce the shock of the League Cup weekend.

I run through all eight last-16 ties, react to a very tasty quarter-final draw — including Rangers v Celtic and Kilmarnock v Aberdeen — before finishing with Good Week, Bad Week, featuring McInnes, Stenhousemuir, the battered Tannadice woodwork…and our increasingly questionable predictions.

It’s Premier Sports Cup weekend and Gavin is back for the preview show.

We start with two big talking points for Scottish football: the summit on improving pathways for young Scottish players — and whether a bigger top flight could be part of the answer — before discussing the Scotland manager situation, with Steven Naismith looking increasingly likely to get the job.

Then it’s onto eight last-16 cup ties:

Kilmarnock v Ayr UnitedAberdeen v DundeeDunfermline v Ross CountyDundee United v CelticHearts v Inverness CTHibs v Partick ThistleStenhousemuir v MotherwellRangers v St Mirren

We make our predictions, with Gavin still leading the Race to 50 by the frankly intimidating score of 1–0.

And after my £10 Motherwell bet went absolutely nowhere last weekend, the betting kitty is safely back in Gavin’s hands.

Cup shocks, score predictions and the usual Scottish football sighing.

A grim afternoon for Aberdeen at Dens Park as the optimism of the opening weekend disappears rather quickly. I pick through what went wrong for the Dons and where the performance leaves them.

Elsewhere, Hibs produce a magnificent win at Ibrox to pile more pressure on Rangers, Hearts respond after a difficult week, and St Mirren continue to impress.

Plus, defensive problems for Dundee United and Kilmarnock, Falkirk pick up a clean sheet, Kasper Høgh hits a hat-trick, and we finish with the Good Weekend, Bad Weekend awards.

Scottish Premiership reaction, mild despair and absolutely no overreaction whatsoever.

The Scottish Premiership is back for another big weekend, and Alan and Gavin preview all six fixtures.

This week we discuss whether the standard of defending in Scottish football is slipping, why VAR’s quiet opening weekend was exactly what everyone wanted, and where the biggest pressure points are heading into round two.

We also preview:

• Dundee v Aberdeen
• St Mirren v St Johnstone
• Kilmarnock v Celtic
• Hearts v Dundee United
• Motherwell v Falkirk
• Rangers v Hibernian

Plus, we update the Race to 50, reveal this week’s Betting Kitty selection, and make our predictions for every Premiership match.

Can Aberdeen build on an impressive start? Will Hearts respond at Tynecastle? And is Motherwell the best bet of the weekend?

Join the conversation by sharing your predictions and letting us know where we’ve got it right—or completely wrong.

Are Hearts already under pressure after the opening weekend, or is that classic Scottish football overreaction? We debate the key talking points ahead of Hearts v Dundee United and make our predictions.

Full preview episode dropping shortly.

The pod is back with a review of the first weekend of action in the Scottish top flight. I give my thoughts on the games and assess how the predictions went for week 1. And the main thing is - the Dons won!

If you listened last season, thank you for sticking with us. What started as a solo podcast has evolved into a new format, bringing more conversation, more debate and a fresh dynamic. We’ve already learned plenty from our first recording together, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

Exciting times for the evolution of the pod! I am joined by my new regular co-host Gavin to preview the weekend action as the league campaign for 2026-27 kicks off. And a new regular feature on the podcast Talking Points makes its debut! Hope you enjoy!