Cove Rangers F.C.

and and sensing that out um couldn't agree with both of you more obviously that um the idea that um he wasn't in long-term plans for umi to lean is bizarre because I know we've said a lot of the times about some of the younger players, you know, could they have been given a better chance given, you know, they couldn't have necessarily done better than what they were asked to do in their relative spells on loan.

But a lot of the time they were, you know, out at League One, like Finlay Marshall was himself at Cove Rangers the season before, you know, and at a certain level, and you can always kind of ask yourself, you know, yeah, would that really translate into, you know, premiership or full-time football? But, I mean, Marshall's case last season was the very...

zenith of what more could you possibly do to be considered in the first team squad.

You've gone to play at Arbroath, probably the smallest club in the championship at least from a financial perspective and have been in a team that was involved in the promotion race right up until the playoff rounds he was a star player in that side multiple goals and multiple assists and the thought that that might not have earned you at least a further contract extension and an opportunity in the first team squad just beggars belief but Yeah, I really haven't got why he didn't get that opportunity beforehand.

Into the Championship, Livingston 2, Inverness Caley Thistle 2, Morton 0, Dunfermline Athletic 1, Partick Thistle 0, Raith Rovers 0, Stenhousemuir 1, Arbroath 0.

Into League One, Alloa Athletic 1, East Kilbride 2, Cove Rangers 0, Ross County 2, East Fife 1, Montrose 2, Hamilton Accies 4, Queen of the South 1, Peterhead 1, Airdrie 2.

And in League Two, Dumbarton 3, Spartans 0, Elgin City 1, Stranraer 5, Forth Athletic 1, Annan Athletic 0, Kelty Hearts 1, Edinburgh City 3, Stirling Albion 1, Clyde 1.

And in England, Spurs 2, Aston Villa 3, Brighton 3, Arsenal 0, Everton 1, Ipswich Town 0, Newcastle United 2, Hull City 1.

They've actually got that game in hand against each other.

County top, though, on goal difference.

Montrose 15, East Kilbride on 13, Alloa Athletic and Airdrie on 9 points, East Fife on 8, Peterhead on 7, Cove Rangers on 5, Queen of the South bottom of the table on 4 points.

They did actually go ahead today against Hamilton Accies, but they were very well beaten at the end of the day.

That was back in 2023.

I think was it Jamie Hamill with his weird red face he had to leave at that point and then you have to go back to literally 2020 and again Stirling Albion were 5-0 down to Cove Rangers but that Cove Rangers team was like had a huge amount of talent applied to it and I'm not saying that this Edinburgh City team doesn't have a huge amount of talent but If you go to the start of this campaign, I presumed that this Stirling Albion team would be good.

It feels like they have, on paper, they have a decent squad.

And yes, I know this Edinburgh team also has a good team on paper.

Right, okay.

But they've had a couple of other results against the way to Airdrie and at home.

At home, Cove Rangers as well.

I mean, Cove aren't a great League 1 team, but still, they beat them 4-2.

Never mind just toxic, it could be utterly venomous if they get it wrong once again.

yeah let's park the old firm there then it was nice one thing actually one final word Mike how nice was it to have a big game like this in Scotland and there wasn't VAR controversy particularly an old firm it was it was made a pleasant pleasant change but we'll move down to League 1 where Montrose were aiming to keep up their good run going against a hapless Cove Rangers outfit

Duffy managed to find Oliver Oliver's Running it down the line.

Sutherland.

He comes from a great family of players who have obviously done very well over the years.

Obviously, his cousin, Connor Scully, is a wonderful player in his own right in the game for Martin United, of course, and formerly at Cove Rangers.

A wonderful player.

And Matty Took obviously just signing recently from Sonny Bank in the summer.

And this team is special.

There's not many special teams you could say in our league.

You know, we talk about great Highland League teams and great teams up in this north area over the years that have been very successful, like Brora Rangers in recent times, Cove Rangers, obviously.

been in the Scottish League now, Elgin, of course, Peter Head all those years ago.

I think the Montrose one is really difficult 'cause at the last time we did this, did a podcast, I think you certainly would've been penciling that one in a little bit as like, "Oh, that's one we want to win," you know.

The same as the Cove Rangers at home.

Um, but Montrose, yeah, they lost their first three, which I think were against some of the tougher teams.

But they've, they've now won three in a row, including winning 3-0 up at Peterhead, which is obviously very good.

So if you count Robbie Hemphrey, I'm not used to he's going to be the sub-goalkeeper.

but in terms of players that are expected to go out there and make an impact the permanent signings that they've made have been really good Scott Bright joined from St. Johnson excellent so far maybe a wee bit cheap the way he dived in for the goal he basically dived in and that allowed the ball to be played through for Callum McLeod that went over to Seoul but that aside just very very good defended well good football player as well his distribution is really good I like the way he can drill the ball through the lines he can hammer the ball right into a midfielder's feet which is really important it's getting Stenny out of bother Sam Young's been excellent since he's come in from Dunfermline Athletic really really impressive and Leighton Grant we knew how good a player he was last season Gary Naismith preferred him in the middle of the park Marvin Bartley wants to see him play in the right of the back three so that is very good the two wing backs Kinley Billum and Ross Meakin we know all about them they've just as Dennis Muir have stepped up through the levels the pair of them have stepped up through the levels as well and in the middle of the park you had Mikey Anderson and Finn Robson both very good Anderson best part-time player in the country for me another really good game albeit he played a pass that almost led to a goal by not looking and seeing where Alfie Babbage was but it was Lewis O'Donnell further forward who was the star boy for this one just brilliant just a great player I knew he was a good player from having seen him at his lone spells at Kelty Hearts and at Cove Rangers last season but it feels like he's taken his game up to another level with us the goals just so well taken Dale Carrick's little ball the way he it's hard to explain how he does it because he's got his back to goal and he sort of he doesn't kick the thing but he kicks the thing sort of just like with his like a big curly toe almost the way he kicks it he doesn't quite hook it he doesn't quite shin roll it it's quite hard to explain but the way he kicks it perfectly in the path of O'Donnell

just looks up and boom hammers that ball into the net I think Carrick is a perfect example of the unexpected nature of this Stenishmuir team.

Now was it last season or the

They were on penalties and they're in the Conference League, so well done, the Jambos.

Rangers, out of Europe.

after putting in what I would describe as one of the worst performances I've ever seen.

And I think, what did Derek McKinnon say? He was mortified by the performance.

regardless of what went on in the

tie and how they found themselves in that position, they were 4-0 up and still managed the ball to.

However, Rangers were beaten by the sixth best team in the Czech Republic.

which is embarrassing really embarrassing