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The Journos · 19 August 2026
The Journos deliver their verdict on two big stories in Scottish football this week: the appointment of new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli, and a pessimistic outlook for Scottish clubs in Europe. With Celtic, Rangers, Hibernian, Motherwell and Hearts all playing European first legs, the panel predict that only two of the five will still be standing by the end of next week. Which two? They make their calls below.
WHO IS THE NEW SCOTLAND MANAGER?
Sebastien Pocognoli has been appointed Scotland manager, and the panel are optimistic about the appointment. They discuss the biggest challenge facing any international coach — how little time you get to implement your ideas — and argue Pocognoli's remit is simple: qualify and win games, while introducing a front-foot, high-press style. The panel also weigh up the emerging talent Pocognoli can call on, and which senior players (from a group including Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney, Billy Gilmour, Lawrence Shankland, Lyndon Dykes, Grant Hanley, Kenny McLean, Ryan Christie, Scott McKenna and Jack Hendry) may step aside after the World Cup. Their conclusion: Scotland still have a strong core, including Champions League winners, a Scudetto winner and a Europa League winner.
HOW WILL SCOTTISH CLUBS DO IN EUROPE THIS WEEK?
The panel are braced for "wreckage" from the Scottish clubs in their European first legs — Celtic vs LASK, Rangers lost to Jablonec, Hibernian vs Gent, Motherwell vs Freiburg and Hearts vs Rapid Vienna. The big talking point is Celtic: with Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels moving on and a board unwilling to spend (the same board that provided no cover for Kyogo), the panel question whether a lightweight Celtic midfield can survive two legs. On Rangers, they call for calm around Derek McInnes rather than the "hysteria" that has surrounded him, and dig into why Scottish clubs keep struggling in Europe — the coefficient problem, and the gap between domestic form and European results.
The panel's bottom line: only two Scottish clubs will still be in European contention by the end of next week. Do you agree? Which two survive, and who gets knocked out? Let us know in the comments.
Chapters:
0:00:00 Can Pocognoli implement his ideas in time?
0:08:45 Michael Carrick at Man Utd, and Scotland's real remit: win games
0:14:25 Spain at Hampden and Scotland's exciting nucleus
0:19:59 Which senior players call it a day after the World Cup?
0:25:38 Scotland's strong core: the Champions League, Europa and Scudetto winners
0:31:25 European week: bracing for the wreckage
0:34:15 Celtic lose Johnston and Engels - and a board that won't spend
0:45:38 Give McInnes calm: the Rangers hysteria
0:48:48 Domestic vs Europe: the coefficient problem
0:54:10 Motherwell's tough European night
The Journos is PLZ Soccer's Scottish football panel show, with journalists Peter Martin, Hugh MacDonald and guests debating the biggest stories in Scottish and European football every week.
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