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The Football Show · 7 September 2026
Alex Rae has welcomed the SFA plans for a pathway for young Scottish talent to play first team football, but has reservations about the big clubs embracing the strategy. The Football Show panel returns for Part 2, with Peter Martin joined by Alan Rough, Alex Rae and Tam McManus to debate whether Aberdeen are living on past glories, why so few young Scottish players are getting a game, and the SFA's new plan to force clubs to develop them. The show opens with a frank discussion of Aberdeen's self-image as Scotland's "third biggest club" more than 40 years on from Sir Alex Ferguson, before moving on to Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, the Dundee United and Falkirk relegation picture, Livingston's decision to sack their manager after just 98 days, and a big debate on the SFA's under-21 proposals and whether the Scottish league is simply too small.
ARE ABERDEEN LIVING ON PAST GLORIES?
The panel debate whether Aberdeen fans still expecting to be Scotland's third force are living off the Ferguson era, pointing out that a whole generation of supporters do not even remember Fergie's team, that Alex Smith was the last manager to come close, and that the expectation to run Celtic and Rangers close simply is not being met on the pitch.
WHAT ARE THE SFA'S NEW UNDER-21 PROPOSALS?
Ahead of the November AGM, the SFA are proposing that two under-21 Scotland-eligible players must start in every Scottish Cup and Premier Sports Cup tie (with one on the pitch at all times), and that clubs field an under-21 Scot for an average of 60 minutes per league game, roughly six per cent of available minutes. The panel admire the intent but doubt it will pass, arguing self-interest will win and that the real problem, a league that is too small, was not even discussed.
WHY WON'T CLUBS PLAY YOUNG SCOTTISH PLAYERS?
The panel argue Scottish football is a negative, results-first league where managers on one and two-year deals cannot risk young players, where clubs cherry-pick from England instead of promoting Scots, and where fans slaughter young players like Anthony Ralston and Colby Donovan. They make the case for bringing back a reserve league, with Alan Rough sharing his "welcome to the big league, son" story about Aberdeen legend Drew Jarvie.
The Football Show Highlights:
00:00 Are Aberdeen living on past glories?
02:28 'Criticise Robinson and the stream gets cut'
03:12 Neil McCann's Kilmarnock turnaround (Aberdeen 0-0 Kilmarnock)
04:20 Dundee United 1-1 Falkirk: Goodwin's men dig in
05:05 Are Falkirk really going down?
06:00 Livingston sack their manager after 98 days
07:39 A weekend win and a Premier Sports Cup trip to Stenhousemuir
08:34 The SFA's under-21 proposals explained
11:11 'The real problem is the league's too small'
11:57 Cherry-picking: why clubs won't play young Scots
13:58 Bring back the reserve league (Alan Rough's Drew Jarvie story)
15:57 Win a Hummel kit + what's on this week
Part 1 of today's show: https://youtube.com/live/R1o_cPlu2ho
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The Football Show is PLZ Soccer's flagship panel show, going live with honest, no-spin debate on Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and all of Scottish football.
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