Daily Record

Jermain Defoe left Moore with an easy decision to make after missed Ibrox opportunity planted the seed for Glasgow switch

Mikey Moore had already been filled in on the Ibrox atmosphere by Spurs’ modern-day stars.

But when the call came offering a move to Rangers, he realised it was a Tottenham legend of old he had to speak with.

And thankfully for Russell Martin, Jermain Defoe’s words could not have been warmer as he urged the 18-year-old to get himself up to Glasgow quick.

Moore took that advice on as he signed up for a 12-month loan stint with Gers.

Now the talented teenage winger is looking to emulate the achievements of a man who is now regarded as a hero as much at Ibrox as he is in North London.

Defoe helped Steven Gerrard’s squad lift Premiership silver back in 2021 but after retiring, returned to Tottenham to help rear the Lillywhite’s next generation of youngsters.

Exciting winger Moore was among the kids the former England ace worked alongside before quitting his academy gig last summer.

And he said: ”Obviously I spoke to Jermaine Defoe, being my old coach at Tottenham. I’m really close to him now, so I spoke to him about the club and he didn't say a bad word about it.

"He said it's an unbelievable place and told me, ‘If you've got a chance to go there, then take it’.

“What a player! What a guy as well.

"I remember seeing some of his goals up here. I was a bit younger then but I know that he was an unbelievable finisher as a striker and the fans loved him up here.

“He said he loved his time up here and I think he wishes he could have played here longer. I hope I can make a similar impact."

Moore’s parent club paid a visit to Ibrox last season en route to lifting the Europa League.

There was a surge of emotions as Ange Postecoglou and his team went all the way to Bilbao to secure the club’s first trophy in 17 years.

But they very nearly blew a fuse in Glasgow on a night when the electrifying Ibrox atmosphere came close to handing supercharged Gers a famous win.

The Light Blues were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw in the end but the noise in the stands made a lasting impression on the Spurs squad.

Moore may have missed that trip but he certainly heard all about it.

He said: ”No I didn’t play that night. At the time, I was out for a bit, so I couldn't travel. I watched the game on TV but I was fuming that I couldn’t come up.

"When they came back, the lads all said it was one of the best atmospheres they've ever played in.

“So when I heard about Rangers’ interest, I think that comes straight into my mind. I remembered all the good things the boys said. I can't wait to play in that sort of atmosphere myself.”

Moore might just get his chance come Tuesday night when Martin’s team line-up for their final Champions League eliminator.

Club Brugge come to Ibrox for the first leg of a £40million shoot-out but hopes are not exactly soaring amongst the Gers fanbase.

Martin’s Rangers revolution has yet to ignite despite a £20million summer spend.

But Moore hopes he can provide a spark having enjoyed his first taste of continental action last season.

The Spurs kid - who registered five appearances during that triumphant Europa League run and grabbed his first senior goal after a mazy run against Swedes Elfsborg - said: “Tuesday is a massive game, as every game is when you play for Rangers.

"I'm excited for it. I've seen some of the games in the earlier rounds and it's been good to qualify.

"So it's a massive opportunity for me and all the boys so I can't wait to go.

"It was a really good season in Europe for me and for the team at Tottenham last year.

"So I've had some good experiences and I'm ready to go and show more, really.

"I want to go and make more of an impact on a European stage, so I'm ready to play.

"I just want to play for this club and I want to just become a better player really, so I think there's a massive opportunity at this club and there's massive games. It's a great club.

"So I just want to play as many games as possible, score as many goals and excite as many people as I can.”

Moore has been in Glasgow for almost three weeks but he was only given the green light to make his first appearance in a blue jersey on Saturday against Alloa as Ibrox chiefs finally cut their way through the red tape holding up his debut.

But that delay has allowed the youngster to settle into life in Glasgow away from the intrusive Old Firm spotlight.

However, he knows all eyes will be on him as he gets down to work with Martin’s team.

"I've experienced it a bit so far, but obviously it's not the same when you're not playing,” he said after Gers’ 4-2 win secured a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final berth.

“Now I'm involved in it I will probably feel it more, but for me personally, if I do what I'm good at and I go play the way I know I can, I think everything would be alright.

"I see the way the gaffer wants to play and it suits me a lot.

"It's attacking football, I get a lot of opportunities on the wing to go and show what I can do.

“It doesn’t affect me, it helps me actually, so I'm happy to be playing under the gaffer.”

Martin is the man he has to impress now but Moore will always be grateful to a boss who once plied his trade on the opposite side of the city here.

Asked about Postecoglou’s impact on his career, he said: "I'm thankful for him really. He gave me my debut for the club, so he's helped me a lot, but now I’m focussed on playing here."

The ex-Celtic favourite was brutally binned by Spurs just weeks after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought

Daniel Levy had doubled down on Tottenham's decision to sack Europa League-winning boss Ange Postecoglou.

The Spurs supremo decided to pull the trigger just weeks after Postecoglou led the North London club to European glory.

Ex-Celtic favourite Postecoglou boldly vowed to end Tottenham's 17-year wait for a trophy and was true to his word after beating Manchester United in May's final.

But a catastrophic Premier League campaign ended with the Lilywhites finishing fourth bottom on just 38 points - and the Aussie paid the price with his job after two rollercoaster seasons at the helm.

Levy took some heat from supporters and pundits for wielding the axe and the chairman had to justify his decision in an awkward conversation with Postecoglou.

He told the Overlap with SkyBet: "Ultimately, the decision sits with me, but it’s always a collective decision.

"We have a board of directors, but under the board, we have a group of technical staff, and they advise.

"We had to explain the decision to part ways with Ange. Ange just won us a trophy – a European trophy – highly significant and he’s always going to be in our history.

“However, we couldn’t lose sight of the fact that we finished 17th in the league, we lost 22 Premier League games, and it’s impossible for Tottenham to be in that position, and so we had to take the emotion out of it and we had to give some data points as to why we decided to do what we did.

"Whichever level you do it, no one likes telling somebody, ‘You’re losing your job’, but it is the nature of football.

"We’re there to win and yes, we won a European trophy – and it was fantastic – but we also need to win on all fronts – and the Premier League says it all."

Tottenham moved on quickly from Postecoglou by luring Thomas Frank from Brentford as their new head coach.

Levy added: "Whenever you appoint a coach, you always believe it’s right and you need a lot of ingredients for it to be right. Thomas Frank is a highly intelligent individual; he’s got a fantastic way about him in terms of communication.

"He will be great at developing both young players and older players – and making them better.

"He gets the style of football we want to play; he understands that Rome wasn’t built in a day – we haven’t set him: ‘You’ve got to win the league this year’. We just want to compete at the highest level."

Moore will be be facing one of his former teammates at Spurs in the Premiership this season

Alfie Dorrington knows his Spurs teammate Mikey Moore will come up to Rangers with no fear.

The talented teenager has joined the Ibrox side on-loan for the season.

Dorrington is a few years older than the 17-year-old but has seen the impact Moore has made coming through the Tottenham Hotspur ranks.

The England youth international had a host of options but has decided to sign up for Russell Martin’s Ibrox revolution.

The on-loan Aberdeen defender said: “He is very direct. He reminds me of a powerful runner with the ball. He has no fear.”

Moore sought Dorrington’s advice before he moved north. He knew Dorrington did well at Aberdeen and ended up with a Scottish Cup winners medal.

The centre half has since returned for a second loan spell at Pittodrie.

They will need to wait until November before the first clash at Ibrox in November.

Dorrington confirmed: ”I have spoken to him. He is just excited to be honest.”

It will bring an interesting mix when Rangers and Aberdeen clash.

Dorrington explained: “He didn’t realise the rivalry, a bit like me when I came up.

“It was a bit like me because Rangers was my first game. Now I do and I had to explain to him.”

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Rangers dressing room clued up on Mikey Moore after Son Heung-min's revealing statement

Rangers look poised to sign one of English's football's hottest talents in Mikey Moore, and his captain at Tottenham has told Russell Martin's side just what they'd be in for with the youngster

Rangers are getting close to signing Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid Mikey Moore on loan – and according to Spurs star Son Heung-min, the club are landing an "amazing" player.

Despite stern competition, Russell Martin’s team look favourites to sign the player on a season-long deal, subject to a medical.

The 17-year-old is regarded as one of English football's brightest young talents and has decided a move to the Scottish Premiership club will further his development. Spurs boss Thomas Frank has been eager for his starlet to gain more minutes on the pitch – something Rangers hope to offer.

Moore has made 21 appearances and scored two goals since breaking into the Spurs first team in the 2023/2024 season. While earning plaudits from James Maddison too, speaking last year, Spurs captain Son said he believes Moore has what it takes to go all the way to the top, and gushed over the youngsters attributes, on and off the pitch.

"Yeah, he's a fantastic boy and obviously, I mean, he's coming from the academy," Son said. "You as a club, you look after him even more.

"Everybody is so welcoming and looking after him, so do I, because he's such a lovely kid and working hard every single day, coming with the first team with that age it's not easy, you know, like sometimes you're very shy.

"But he's showing a good personality and working hard, which is very important to me. When you see the young players are working hard in the first team and you just want to help, you just want to help him."

Son continued: "Now I want to be that guy as well, you know, just having him around me and just talking about things, because we are playing in a similar position that if I can help him a little bit with advice, then I'm always open to it.

"Mikey is also coming to me most of the times and asking questions, which is very fun. I enjoy talking to him. He's a fantastic boy and then I'm definitely sure that he can be a fantastic player. There's no doubt because he has such amazing quality.

"As we always say about young players, let's don't give him too much pressure on his shoulders. Just let's enjoy how he develops, how he improves every single day, every single season and as a fan, as supporters, we should just enjoy watching him and he will be, I think, one of the top players."

Moore made history at Spurs when, at 17 years and 172 days old, he became England’s youngest-ever scorer in a major competition when he bagged a goal against Elfsborg in the Europa League, which smashed a record set by the iconic Jimmy Greaves.

New Spurs boss Frank is equally excited by Moore's burgeoning talent, but stressed the importance of the youngster gaining experience at the highest level.

"It is very important [he goes on loan]. Mikey is a big talent. I'm really excited about his future here at Tottenham," Frank said.

"I think, for all players, but especially younger players, they need consistent first-team football into their bodies. I think, if we can find the right option, we will do that."

Meanwhile Martin was playing his cards close to his chest over any move on Tuesday. Talking to the press ahead of the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos, he said: "I think I’ve said to you all the way along that, as soon as it’s done, you’ll be the first guys to know.

"There are lots of players we like, lots that we’re linked to. He’s [Moore] a really good player, and if at any point he becomes a Rangers player, we will let you know."

The 17-year-old has made a dozen top team Spurs appearances but Thomas Frank will let him head out on loan

Rangers are reportedly favourites to sign Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid Mikey Moore.

The Europa League winners are willing to send the 17-year-old starlet out on loan this season.

And despite stiff competition from south of the border, Russell Martin’s Light Blues are said to be favourites to land the player.

The Daily Telegraph report that: "Rangers have emerged as favourites to sign Mikey Moore on loan from Tottenham. There's been a lot of interest, particularly from the Championship, but Rangers seen as most likely destination."

England youth international Moore has made a dozen first team appearances for Spurs.

He also made history at the north London club when, at 17 years and 172 days, he became England’s youngest-ever scorer in a major competition when he netted against Elfsborg in the Europa League - breaking a record set by the legendary Jimmy Greaves.

Spurs wanted to keep Moore at the club this season but new boss Thomas Frank has reluctantly agreed to let him go out on loan for more first team football.

Former boss Ange Postecoglou admitted his rapid rise had come quicker than expected last year, saying: “We’ve exposed Mikey a hell of a lot more than I thought we would at the start of the year.

“He only just started playing Under-21 football last year and he had some injuries, didn’t play a lot. It was kind of touch-and-go at the start of the year, do we let him bed in with the 21s or give him a loan or keep him with us?

“But my thing was to let him train for a year, train with men, train in the first team environment and see how he adapts.

“At the end of that, he’ll still be 17 or 18 and we can make decisions, but he’s played a lot more than we thought. But he’s very much a part of our set-up in the first-team and he’s training every day.”

The former Brentford manager was hired by Daniel Levy to take over from the ex-Celtic gaffer in North London

Thomas Frank has spoken out on Ange Postecoglou as part of his first interview as Tottenham's new manager – hailing him as a legend.

The former Celtic boss delivered on his second season trophy promise as he sparked wild scenes in Bilbao by defeating Manchester United in the Europa League Final and ending the long wait for silverware in North London.

The triumph also booked a golden ticket to the Champions League this season and landed Spurs a mega windfall in the process.

However, a 17th place finish in the English Premier League - despite the success in Europe's second tier competition - proved to much for Daniel Levy and club bosses as they decided to axe Ange after two seasons at the club.

They moved quickly and turned attentions to Brentford boss Frank and got a deal over the line with the Bees.

Now, the new Spurs boss has spoken for the first time since taking up his new position and he has shown his true colours over the man he has replaced.

Speaking as part of an in-house interview, Frank said: "I think Ange has done something special. He'll forever be a legend in Tottenham.

"It's important to understand we all stand on the shoulders of others.

"I'm going in on the foundation Ange built, and his coaching staff, and I'm very humble about that.

"I'll do my very best to continue the great work he put in.

"The feeling, the excitement, the joy and the happiness in the fans' faces, the pictures were 'wow'.

"Hopefully, we can create more of those moments. That will be the ultimate dream: to do that and build on that."

Tottenham kick off the new season at home to Burnley but before that EPL showdown they have the small matter of fighting PSG in the Super Cup with more silverware on the line before the campaign even gets up and running.

Ange has already been linked with a quick-fire return to the dugout in Saudi as he ponders his next steps.

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You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.

The Tottenham cost if Ange sacked 'revealed', Schmeichel rule frustration after injury - Celtic news bulletin

It's your latest news from Parkhead all in one place including headlines on Kieran Tierney and Kasper Schmeichel

Ange Postecoglou is still awaiting his Tottenham fate and it could prove a costly decision if they decide to axe him.

Spurs chiefs are yet to decide on the future of the former Celtic boss after his side suffered a shocking domestic campaign with a 17th place finish in the English Premier League.

But by defeating Manchester United in Bilbao, Ange ended the long wait for a trophy by lifting the Europa League and also banked Champions League football for the North London club next season.

However, Daniel Levy is expected to give clarity over the situation very soon and the Telegraph report that should he decide to axe Ange then it will come at a major cost.

They claim that a compensation bill would be in the region of £4million.

That figure would come on top of a £2million bonus for his European success.

Ange still has two years left on the four-year deal he signed on his arrival to the club and the same report states he will soon be provided with the news over his future.

Meanwhile, Kasper Schmeichel has opened up on his shoulder injury and admitted he heard it crack at the time.

The Celtic No1 was in action for Denmark when he suffered the blow and he has now opened up on what he was feeling in the moment and what was going through his head.

He also vented his frustration at a rule in the game that could have avoided him suffering the painful situation.

Speaking to Ekstrabladet.dk, he said: "I heard the crack. It was right up to my left ear. It really hurt.

"The pain was very intense. It's one of those unfortunate situations that could have been avoided if the flag had been up.

"I think many collisions could be avoided in football because of the rules that exist now.

"Those who have experienced a shoulder injury know that it just hurts. Many things are problematic. Getting a jersey on is just very difficult. I had a very good idea that the shoulder was broken.

"But if we had had one more substitution, we would have probably used it. Because the situation was that if I went out, we would have had to continue with a man short.

"When you play for Denmark, you have to sacrifice yourself. I bit the pain inside me. I was captain in that match. We had to fight on with everything we had.

"I didn't have surgery. The shoulder just had to grow together. In fact, I was back on the training pitch after just a week and a half, where I could play with my feet.

"In May I was given the green light to train after all the scans were positive. And since then I haven't had any pain and my shoulder is completely fine again."

Elsewhere, Kieran Tierney's return to Celtic has come as a delight to Scotland boss Steve Clarke.

The Hoops-bound defender - who is returning from Arsenal - is likely to land crucial first team minutes during the friendly double-header starting tonight with Iceland at Hampden.

National team boss Clark said: "Kieran’s happy to be coming back up to Scotland to play. If Kieran’s happy, then I’m happy.

“More recently, it’s been the injury situation with Kieran. The one last summer stopped him having more game time.

“The six months before that, he’d been in Spain with Sociedad and done really well and it was good at Arsenal that he stayed and ended up the way it ended up, by getting back in the team, getting regular minutes off the bench.”

Spurs assistant head coach Nick Montgomery has shone a light on his fellow Aussie’s love for his old club

Nick Montgomery has revealed Ange Postecoglou cherished his time at Celtic and continues to watch Brendan Rodgers’ double winners.

The Australian head coach has just led Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory but his long-term future has been thrown up in the air due to a poor English Premier League showing.

Postecoglou, who won five trophies in his time at Parkhead, left Celtic for Spurs two years ago.

His assistant, Montgomery, has revealed how Postecoglou still has a soft spot for Celtic and their games are regularly on in the coaches’ room at Tottenham.

“Ange loved his time at Celtic,” Montgomery claimed. “I think he cherishes those times at Celtic, it's a massive club.

“It’s used to winning and when you go in there the pressure is on that you continue that trend and you have to win.

“Probably, people doubted him but Ange managed to do that. He's always watching the Celtic games and the A-League games and the Japanese games.

“We always have them on in the coach's office. He obviously really enjoyed his time there and no doubt he's really happy for the success again this year.”

Postecoglou ended Spurs’ own trophy drought. He lifted the first one in 17 years and their first European one in 41 years, as they beat Manchester United in the final. Montgomery admitted his manager’s influence was massive.

“He's obviously been massive in this cup win,” the former Hibs manager claimed. “Look, he's a great guy and I think he's a man that's full of self-belief.

“He's been around the world and won trophies. To work alongside him and get the opportunity to come to a club like Tottenham in the Premier League and Europa League, he always had the self-belief that we could do something special this season.

“It was a special moment for the club, a club without a trophy for a long time.”

Spurs had struggled with a crippling injury list in the English Premier League but delivered in Europe.

Montgomery admitted: “There was a lot of euphoria, but also relief after what was a really difficult season. Just the usual emotions for winning a major trophy and the celebrations that come with it.

“It was just a beautiful moment to see the boys lift that trophy at the end and obviously Ange and all the staff, just the hard work that we'd put in throughout the year.

“Like I said, under really difficult circumstances. “It was a great, well, probably the best way to end a season.”

Montgomery left Hibs in the summer of 2023 and had several opportunities to return but he decided to go in and learn under Postecoglou.

He stated: “When I accepted to come as his assistant, it was a great honour. We spoke about doing something special.

“I think no one can deny what we achieved was special and I don't think any Tottenham fan would argue any differently.

“It was a difficult season in the league for many different reasons, most notably a long sort of injury crisis that virtually went on the whole season.

“So, when you put all that into context to see how he navigated through that and how the coaches supported him and been an assistant to him.

“I felt it was a great opportunity for me to come and work with him and work at the highest level.

“That's why I chose to come here and turn down offers to go straight back into management when I left Hibs.

“He's won trophies basically all around the globe.

“He's got high standards and he sticks to what he believes in.

“I think, yeah, that's the important thing that he sort of never wavered on what he believes in."

Fans are largely behind Ange after he led them to the Europa League but he may still be sacked regardless

Tottenham fans have exploded on social media amid swirling rumours the club have decided to sack Ange Postecoglou days after winning the Europa League.

It was a dire domestic season for Spurs but their first major trophy in 17 years did a lot more than paper over the cracks in the eyes of fans.

The former Celtic boss was ridiculed for brashly telling reporters he 'always' wins a trophy in his second year – and then went and did it when his side beat Manchester United 1-0 to lift the trophy in Bilbao.

But there's no escaping the fact a 17th-placed finish in the Premier League was a dramatic underperformance and it's expected that owner Daniel Levy will announce a decision on Postecoglou's future in the days ahead.

On Sunday rumours began to swirl on social media that he has in fact already reached that decision with Postecoglou to be given his jotters imminently.

It's claimed either Brentford's Thomas Frank or Fulham's Marco Silva have already been lined up as possible replacements.

Football London have played the speculation down slightly saying Levy is still weighting up whether or not to give the Australian a third season at the helm.

But it's not stopped fans from reacting furiously to the news on social media.

Here's just a flavour of the responses on X to the news that Postecoglou may well be sacked days after ending a 17-year wait for a major trophy.

"Not again. This club.... I have no words."

"Daniel Levy is an embarrassment. Sacked Jose Mourinho the week before a Cup Final and then sacks Postecoglou after he wins their first trophy in 17 years."

"Thank you Ange Postecoglou for giving me the best week of my life.

"I don’t even know what to say. Empty. Destroyed. Soulless."

"So he wins a trophy and gets sacked? What is going on?"

"If Ange Postecoglou is sacked, it will be #1 on the list of disastrous decisions Daniel Levy has ever made at Spurs. Wake tf up."

"If they replace Ange with either of these two, especially Frank, the fanbase are going to be in uproar! Frank? Good god!"

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Nathan Aspinall shocked at attention ahead of football icons and TV stars

Gobsmacked Nathan Aspinall was left aghast at darts’ rock n’roll status after stealing the limelight from actors and football icons James Maddison and John Terry.

And the Stockport slinger has urged chiefs to keep the characters in the game or face turning the sport's new-breed of stars into boring robots.

Aspinall feels there’s an obsession with darts after his latest experiences at Spurs star Maddison’s recent charity golf day. He teed it up with celebrities prior to Premier League Finals night and was taken aback at the attention he received amid footballing legends and TV faces.

Aspinall said: “Everyone is obsessed with darts. I was at this golf day and everyone wanted to talk to me about darts. I’m looking around, all these footballers and actors and stuff. Everyone was speaking to me.

“Oh my god, John Terry shot four under gross. And he plays off five. Nine under. So no-one had a chance. 45 points he got. I played off 12 and I shot 34 points. Honestly, all of them came over to me, it was quite surreal. Everyone loves darts. Whatever you are a celebrity, own a company, from a council estate, whether you are a kid. Woman, male, everyone is obsessed with darts at the moment. We all know we owe a lot of it to Luke [Littler]. But also the rest of the guys that turn out week-in, week-out.

“It was a brilliant day. Lots of people: Nice to meet you. It was good. I played half decent. Only the second round I played. Because I have had all these injuries, so not been able to play golf for 18 months, two years, but really enjoyed myself yesterday. Joe Cullen played. Littler doesn’t play. [Luke] Humphries plays and he got asked to play in it but he didn’t want to risk injuring myself. Whereas I couldn’t give a s**t. I went and enjoyed myself. Maddison was there. He was supposed to be at the hospital but he said he would try to change it and come [to Premier League Finals]. I got all the support from all the lads. It was nice to have them in your corner.”

Aspinall is a character of the game and he hopes darts keeps such traits within their future heroes as he expanded: “This is the problem they are going to have. You see it with footballers when they do their interviews, they are robots. They get told what to say and they are all the same answers all the time.

“I think people like myself, I just say as it is. It gets me in trouble a lot of time. I have had no media training earlier in my career. I was thrown into the deep end. I don’t want darts to get that to level because you do need those characters in the game. If everyone turns up and they are all the same, they all throw the same, no-one celebrates, do the interviews the same, it would get boring. Hopefully that doesn’t happen. Come to my exhibitions what is not boring.”

Aspinall is savouring life at the top, but has an age for quitting as he said: “45 I am off. Skint or not. I have said to my partner, that is my aim: 45. If it is earlier than that, we start making golfer’s money and I have £30 million in the bank, happy days. I will be off sooner.

“I don’t think it can happen that quickly in my era, but 45 is when I would like to bugger off. I am not as obsessed as the other lads with darts. I don’t watch it. I don’t particularly like it. It’s my job. I am a darts fan. “This is why I got into the game but generally speaking now, I don’t watch it. I get bored when I practise. “When I get a bit fed up and bored, that is when I take a break. I find it repetitive simple as that. I spend my whole life throwing three pieces of metal at the same target for seven hours a day. It does get a bit boring.

“If I retire at 45, I will hopefully sell my house, get a nice villa abroad and open up a bar. That is my plan. No dartboard! A golf simulator. No Mr Brightside. That is not on my Spotify list anyway. I took that off it. That cannot come on in the car.”