The Go Radio Football Show Podcast
Scottish Cup Dreams & Transfer Drama — The Weekend Starts Here
16 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What are the key matchups in the Scottish Cup this weekend?
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We sure are. Good evening. Scottish Cup weekend kicks off tonight. Rangers up against Anand Athletic. Welcome to the programme. You know the number 0808 17 17 700. There's a buzz about this place. It's a Friday. The team are in great form here in the studio listening on radio and also on YouTube where you can catch us live. And I'm hearing we're on Spotify as well. More details coming soon.
Who have we got tonight? Well, Two guys who've played in Scottish Cup finals, Peter Grant, of course, with Celtic, and James McPeak, who was there with Hebs. James, welcome back.
Good evening, Paul. Good evening, Peter. Good to be back. Peter's got better memories of me from the Scottish Cup finals.
But listen, to get to a Cup final at Hampden, we all grew up boys, girls watching football, and Cup final day, usually sunny, and it must be the pinnacle, Peter. That was the biggest dream, Paul. For me personally, we played Celtic Rangers in a cup final, sunshine out, because you've seen it all, because it was built up with the English game and the Scottish game.
You've seen it fairly in the morning as a kid. You were out practising out the back. And that was the ultimate dream, go and beat Rangers in a cup final. The sun's shining. Thankfully managed to do that. You did it? Yeah. What year? What was the scoreline? That was 89. A very fantastic Rangers team. We'd just won the double a year prior. Rangers were going for the treble this year. Joe Miller?
Joe Miller. Fantastic goal. People say mistake by Gary Stevens, but it was still a fantastic decision. Obviously, all strikers do. When people make mistakes, it was a very, very good Rangers side. I thought anybody looking back would deserve to win on that day. Right, don't worry, we're not still talking about it. I am, I am. We're right up to date with the news on transfers.
You'll miss nothing here. But in the first minute, we're talking about the 89 and whether or not... Good job there was no VAR, but that's all I'm saying. Good job there was no VAR. And James, the Cup final, did you ever think you would play in one as a boy in Lanarkshire when you were playing keepy-uppy? Were you any good at keepy-uppy?
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Chapter 2: What are the implications of the three-way title race?
to know he was looking at a different way of playing. And Martin Lake's ready-made players as well. Somebody can come in and hit the ground running. And he'd done that the first time he was here. He brought all the stars up and made them a proper team, but it was players that could just fit in like a jigsaw puzzle, and he knew they would perform.
Then you had, obviously, the Golden Goose and Henrik. But you had other guys. You had all the other guys like Sutton and Hartz and all these guys coming in. Thomson. So he built a team that he knew would suit them. And that's what he's wanting to do now. And I can guarantee you, I don't think Martin would bring anybody in just to follow up the numbers.
Because I think he thinks he's got enough of them. And I just think now, unless it's someone that's going to improve that group, Martin won't rush it. Let's hear from Martin O'Neill. We'll hear from Danny Roll. We'll hear from the two Liams, Liam Kelly, the Rangers keeper. I would imagine he'll be playing tonight. We'll give you the team news fairly soon.
And we'll hear from Liam Scales, who's speaking about his time under Wilfred Nancey. In fact, let's hear that first.
I just feel like after, like in the last few years, the majority of my games have been played as a centre-half and a back four. So when you're asked to do something different, it can be difficult sometimes. especially at the start, and I really didn't have time to develop into that role I was being asked to do. So, yeah, it probably is.
I'm just more used to playing in that position, even though I've played in a back three before, different clubs and stuff. Having played for a couple of years here in the same system and having the same sort of tactics, yeah, I'm just, I suppose, comfortable in that role.
And, of course, he was mentioning the... Well, he didn't want to, but he was asked about the Darvo result. What was that, three years ago, when he was at Aberdeen? Of course, that ended the career there of Jim Goodwin, who, of course, now is at Dundee United. Celtic fans, what are you looking to see happening?
They've been holding talks, I see it's on a number of the outlets, for a Leeds United striker, Joel Pirro. So, of course, they're part of the 49ers, Peter. I mean, I don't know if that's out the kind of budget range that you'd expect Celtic to spend. I don't see that happening, Paul. He's one of the first substitutes in the Premier League. They spent a lot of money on him.
I'm sure he was from Swansea. He scored a right few goals down there. And he'd be a fantastic signing if there was any interest. But I don't think Leeds, unless they're bringing someone, and that's the only way you can see if Leeds were bringing another striker in. and they were wanting someone out the door. But he'll be still in very big money, obviously.
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Chapter 3: How are Celtic's transfer strategies affecting their performance?
Peter, going back to that, I'll owe a team of yours and there's others, but some of those players were the better players in the league at certain points. Yeah, and again... Peter's right, they might have had good jobs, and that's bringing them in a good way.
Your team was full-time, obviously.
Yeah, and Peter will tell you, and I'm not just saying that because we're sitting here, but we struggled against his Alloa team. They had a really good way of playing. There were a free-free draw in there, there were a draw at Den's Park as well.
The point, just some of those players, they're probably in jobs that pay a wage of a full-time player in that league, so for them to take them out of that, and then you've got all the problems that you spoke about, but it's The golf's even bigger tonight because it's at Ibrox. It would have been different if it was at Annan. Going back to that. So I think that adds to it as well.
It's been that way, Paul. You remember a player that played along with the great Davy Cooper and all him at Clydebank, Kennedy. Of course. He was an unbelievable striker.
He played for a long number of years.
He was an unbelievable striker. Scored a hell of a lot of goals. Not the tallest, was he? But he wouldn't go full-time because he was making more money with Clydebank, his job, and playing with Clydebank. at that particular time. What job was it? Is it still available? I don't know if it was a fireman. He was involved with firemen or something at that particular time.
But the funny thing was, Paul, he was making more than probably the Celtic and Rangers players were making, believe it or not. He's combined work with Clyde Bank and his job at that particular time.
People wouldn't have believed that, would they?
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Chapter 4: What historical context influences current Scottish Cup expectations?
Have you got a chance of winning this league? And I thought he's handled it great. The one thing I think I can guarantee, I don't think it'll be the first time he's mentioned it to the players. I think within that dressing room, as the weeks were going on, knowing Derek in the way he is and the way he motivates his teams, he would have been, that would have come up a lot earlier, Paul.
And it was actually good to hear him coming out and say it. And I think Peter's right. It was for me that the players will have heard that from Derek, but I think it was more for the fans and everyone about that. No, just everybody relax. We know where we are kind of thing. We know what we're doing.
And it was refreshing to hear him coming out, because again, every week in my head, I'm thinking, when's he going to say it? Because as I said, that question's coming from every single person that does an interview with Derek. So to hear him say it the other night, I'm surprised, because I sat here maybe eight weeks ago and says, no, look,
I don't even think they'll be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. The other night I said for the first time that I'm starting to worry about that as well. So, no, it's fair play to them. What a job Derek's done since he went in.
Without doubt, it's a three-way title race. There's nobody else in it. Mullall have had a brilliant season.
Hibs in and out you know a really good team as well and Motherwell everyone impressed but it's down to the top three Peter you did say let me see the transfer window before I give my final verdict you said Celtic at the start of the season I mean remember Paddy Power paid out after a couple of games but now so I'm not going to ask you again tonight because I don't think you're going to change the thing you would say about Rangers is Rangers have got three bodies and they'll improve the team I know the two of the players have signed which one's Chikwani yes and Winger
I know the winger who, if he plays at his best, there's no wonder they paid £12 million for him the last year when he got sold. Because he was a top quality player who runs really, really well with the ball. He played excellent with Bruce when I seen him, and a few occasions I did see him, and I thought, big superstar in the making. He was that good.
But I'm not so sure what he's like off the pitch because he's that couple of moves. There's always a question mark. And you look at Hartz, They've got game-changers. They've got Shanklin's goal the other night that was an excellent finish for a striker. What did you like about it? Just the way he glided it. Only strikers do that, Paul. Celtic don't have that.
That's the difference I'm seeing at this moment in time. They don't have somebody who just glides the ball into the back of the net. Johnny Kenny's a wee bit tight. He's a young man. He's a bit tight. Dyson Maeda, you know what I've said about him many times. He'll miss more than he scores. And that is the problem.
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Chapter 5: What are the latest transfer rumors involving Rangers and Celtic?
She'll be saying 5-0, Rangers.
Don't you worry about that. Taylor is on her way from the Go Radio football studios, heading there. I thought, look at her working tirelessly until late in the evening. Hey, she does anyway, but it's great. Jim is listening in in Turnbridge Wells, down south. So Jim and Ali and Gabby and Nicky enjoying the programme.
So Jim is a Celtic, huge Celtic fan, comes up at times, James, but can't get here all the time. But it's amazing when you move,
Abroad Or down south Or wherever People love To talk About their team And in Jim's case It's Celtic No they do And they love Listening to As they say Scottish football When you go away Even Peter I'm sure Was the same When I went down south He always tuned in To what was going on In Scotland Even though you were Playing in England You always wanted to
Chapter 6: How do the panel feel about Craig Gordon's impact on Hearts?
You know, it was happening up here and it's the same for all the fans.
You don't get that much down there, do you? You know, about Scottish football. You do a bit in talk sport, to be fair, and there's so many Scots there. But, Paul, it's weird. James is right. I was at Norwich, Celtic Supporters' Club. Bournemouth, Celtic Supporters' Club. London, Celtic Supporters' Club. All these places I was living at Celtic Supporters' Club.
Chapter 7: What is the current state of youth football in Scotland?
Same with Rangers. You know, and it's unbelievable. They love their football. They're probably more passionate because they move away and they've got to show everybody because people are talking about Liverpool, Man United and whatever.
But Celtic and Rangers, and I've said to you before, outwith Manchester United, I still think that's the biggest jobs in British football with the pressure that comes the most. Just to clarify a couple of things from earlier on, still no signings at Celtic or at Rangers, although perhaps Andreas Skov Olsen will be revealed tonight.
It's gone quiet today, but he was in town for the medical, so we think that will go ahead. In the first hour, it's been mentioned, it's on lots of the websites, Joel Pirro, striker, Dutch striker, isn't he?
at Leeds United not getting a regular game but he comes on he'll not be coming to Celtic so it sounds as though there was no way that was going to happen with Parag Marat vice chairman of Leeds sorry of Rangers being the vice chairman of Leeds United well you think about it yourself Paul would you do it
absolutely not you're in a race with someone you're going to give them one of your best players and there's no doubt Pirro could play for Celtic or Rangers and if he was available I'm sure Rangers would take him you know there is absolutely no doubt he's got that capability to score goals and there's no doubt he would score goals in Scottish football yeah and I've got to agree with Peter on it that if that move was
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Chapter 8: What predictions do the panel make for the upcoming Scottish Cup matches?
Anywhere near or likely to happen, it would be to Rangers. It's just with a link and, as you say, the vice-chairman being there and the quality of that player. And if Celtic could afford the wages in, Rangers certainly would as well when it comes to just a loan move.
So there's no way that the 49ers would allow that to happen or anyone that... Nobody that's got any influence at all at Rangers is going to help Celtic out and vice-versa.
Rangers fans are, I nearly said loving it at the moment, but the word is, well, until the last week, saying they're not playing brilliantly, but they're now just, I think, saying, OK, there's another three points. Was that five wins in a row under Danny Rule?
Danny Rule, therefore, was asked about what's happening behind the scenes and the link with the board and what's going on with the recruitment.
I think I said this from the beginning on, how we set up at the moment, yeah, our communication, our... Our direction is great. I think Andrew is very helpful. He is very on front foot. I like this. But we are also very clear what we want. I can always give my opinion. I give my recommendation.
Then the recruitment give me recommendations and suggest some players and then we sit together again and then we look through the videos, through the data. We make some calls to make sure how is the characters and then we look if it's possible to do the deal or not. At the moment, we are really strong because we make strong decisions.
We are not just talking, we are really acting at the moment and doing and this is great. We prepare everything and we have to continue. We know we want to strengthen our squad. We have to, to be very competitive in the second half of the season.
The defence so heavily criticised earlier on, not so much recently. And Liam Kelly was speaking about his number one keeper, of course, Jack Butland.
I think, honestly, if somebody's no good, I just say they're no good. If somebody is good, I say they're good. I think Jack's been amazing for us this year. I think he has been... brilliant. I think he's won us loads of points. It gives me a sense of comfort and sense of satisfaction that he is playing that well because it justifies me that I'm maybe pushing him as best I possibly can.
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