Sheach

While we're all super excited for Euro 2020 - out qualification campaign for Qatar 2022 starts first, in March. I think we've got a really good chance of doing well in this group. I've broken down the keys to succeeding in this group and compared it to our campaigns of the past. I'd be really interested to hear what you all think? Could we qualify through the Playoffs again? Or is our best chance winning this group? https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/how-can-scotland-qualify-for-qatar-2022

Spent some time recently researching this article, looking back at Scotland's 22 years in the international wilderness. We've come close to qualifying before, got to say we've never had a better chance than we do right now. Read the article here: https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/scotland-the-wilderness-years And if you're on Twitter I'd really appreciate any shares of the article there too! https://twitter.com/TheTartanScarf/status/1323310360435298313 Is this our time?

Hey everyone, Seeing as the 19/20 season is over from a Scotland perspective, seems like the perfect time to dish out some Player of the Year Awards! Decided to start with the Scotland Women's National Team. You can read about the nominees here - https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/2019-20-golden-scarf-awards-swnt-nominees Then vote for your favourite here - https://twitter.com/TheTartanScarf/status/1259079059033731072 If you'd consider re-tweeting after you've voted that would be really appreciated! Thanks, Gordon

Over on my site, The Tartan Scarf, I've been looking back at the past decade for the Scotland Team. Part One included a look at the numbers - the matches, managers, opponents and attendances. https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/scotland-s-decade-2010-2019-part-one Part Two looks at the Most Capped XI for the Scotland team over the decade: https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/scotland-s-decade-2010-19-part-two-most-capped-xi Hope you enjoy!

Match preview with previous meetings, predicted lineups and matches to watch with Playoff implications: https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/preview-cyprus-v-scotland-cypsco

Analysis of the squad here - https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/squad-cyprus-a-kazakhstan-h Absolutely gutted to not see Tierney. Think it would be a big risk to throw him in at RB in the Playoff now.

We've used Steve Clarke's selections to date to project the best XI for the Playoffs in March - https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/scotland-s-playoff-squad

March may seem like a long time away but there are only two more Scotland games between now and two of the biggest matches in our recent history. The Nation's League Playoff Semi-Final & Final give Scotland the opportunity to end 22 years in the International wilderness. Looking at Steve Clarke's selections in his six matches to date we've projected who should be starting Scotland's Nation's League Semi Final at Hampden in March. https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/scotland-s-playoff-squad Do you agree? Would you change tactics / personnel? Anyone you'd like to see brought into the side for the final two qualifiers against Cyprus & Kazakhstan?

I've updated the Playoff picture after last night's results - https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/preview-scotland-v-belgium-playoff-picture Also got an opposition scouting report on Belgium (it's pretty scary) - https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/opposition-focus-belgium

I've included a lengthy writeup on the Playoff picture in my match preview for tomorrow's game, hope it makes sense! https://www.thetartanscarf.com/post/preview-scotland-v-belgium-playoff-picture

Hi everyone, Starting to get really excited about tonight's game against Russia. Big game, under the lights at Hampden! If you're looking for some pre-match reading, I'd love to point you in the direction of a site I started over the summer, The Tartan Scarf. In advance of the game tonight, we've got: - Match Preview - Scouting Report on Russia - Scotland Squad Analysis You can give the Twitter a follow as well here! Cheers & come on Scotland! Gordon

The 21's have qualifiers that week. Have to assume that is why there is no Cummings, Nicholson or Walker. Makes sense for Strachan to get a closer look at players who are over-age for the 21's this time. Delighted to see McGinn called up. Liam Cooper has played a lot for Leeds this season. Absolutely gutted for Callum Paterson missing out, surely his time will come at the end of season matches.

Monday 10th Edinburgh - Stansted Stansted - Vienna (Train) Vienna - Bratislava Tuesday 12th Bratislava - Vienna (train) Vienna - Stansted Stansted - Edinburgh All in my travel is around £155 which I'm happy with. Just need to sort travel on match day...

Couldn't hurt to get a few younger guys on the pitch for the next campaign! Having the oldest team on average isn't great!

Nothing wrong with short players obviously, but when the average height is so low that can be an issue!

http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/mr/mr11/en/ This makes really interesting reading, but pretty grim from a Scotland perspective. They have analysed the top 50 national teams in Europe over the course of 2015: Average age on the pitch, 2015 matches Scotland – 29.0 – This is the highest average age of any of the top 50 Average height on the pitch, 2015 matches Scotland – 180.1cm (5 foot 9) – only Spain have a lower average height than Scotland in Europe. Average weight per player, 2015 matches Scotland – 74.5kg (11.7 stone) – This is the lower end of the scale but Netherlands, Brazil, Spain, Portugal and England are all lighter on average! % of minutes, footballers under contract with top division clubs, 2015 matches Scotland – 62.1% - only Northern Ireland are below us here. % of minutes, footballers employed by big-5 league teams, 2015 matches Scotland – 41.7% - Middle of the pack but above Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey. Those countries do have stronger domestic divisions though. % of minutes, players born abroad, 2015 matches Scotland – 32.8% - only four countries have a higher % than Scotland. Reading this it would seem what we need in the team are taller, younger, lighter players! Any ideas?

Count me in for 2 seats on the bus thanks! :-)

We need to go out to dominate the ball and territory. With that in mind I would have Robertson and Hutton pushed right up. Robertson's crossing from deep is absolutely deadly and with Fletcher or Griffiths to aim at we can do damage that way. Also with the full backs bombing on it gives Anya and Maloney the license to drift centrally and set up chances with one-twos around their box with Fletcher and Naismith. Marshall Hutton - Martin - Hanley - Robertson Brown - McArthur Maloney - Naismith - Anya Fletcher

One other point, Stephen McManus was on Sportsound last night talking about 2007. He said in that campaign under Smith and McLeish the plan was always to go out compact, frustrate the opponents, play to 'not lose' first and foremost and worry about winning later in games. When the Georgia away game came round, with the raised expectation we went out with the plan of 'let's win' from minute one, played 4-4-2 and got picked off. The team struggled with the total change in emphasis in the plan. This gives me confidence about tomorrow. Strachan's Scotland have gone out aiming to win every game. Strachan's away games have seen some of our best team performances - Macedonia, Croatia, Poland away from home.

Reality o'clock: There's a lot of apprehension about this match, mainly due to '07. Georgia are a team ranked below Liechtenstein & Luxembourg. If we were travelling to face them we would fully be expecting a win. Strachan has an excellent record in away games, we have a team playing the best football I have seen us play in 15 years and our squad is far deeper than anything we had in '07. Says a lot about our bizarre relationship with the national team and expectations that Sportsound pundits are saying maybe a draw would be ok against Georgia but confidently predicting a win on Monday?!?! Come on Scotland. This is our time. Georgia 0-2 Scotland (Maloney, Griffiths off the bench)

I'm on the 17:20 - 20:15 Dublin to Faro on the Friday. Is that the one you mean?

That's a real shame. Some of the best pre-match on away trips have been in squares! Trafalgar Square before Wembley, Dortmund!

Anyone got any thoughts on where the TA will be massing pre-match on Saturday? Arriving Saturday lunchtime and keen to head straight into the action! The pre-match square in Dortmund was amazing!

From watching Ireland v England yesterday (and barely being able to stay awake for it) I can see that Ireland really struggle for goals, a bit like us in that respect. They also seem to really rely on getting the ball to McGeady and hoping he pulls something out of nothing. In the game at Parkhead Robertson and Anya completely nullified McGeady. If we can do that again then we'll be in a good place!

Sent you a PM as well Scanner. Cheers