[Scotland vs Slovakia - Match Thread [11/10/2020]]

I've said it plenty of times before but Fraser is our most talented player and needs to be in the starting XI. 

[Under 21 squad]

There aren't many goals in our games.

Only Spain have conceded less goals than we have.

However, only 14 teams have scored less than we have and some of those have played less matches than we have.

Also worth remembering that we were the 4th seed in this group.  Croatia were 1st, Czech Rep 2nd and Greece 3rd. 

[Team V Slovakia]

I think we need to go as strong as possible.  Players will be able to play again but there is no harm in freshening things up a little bit.  I think a positive result is so key to building the momentum we need ahead of the finals.

If we can, I'd start with the same XI other than swapping O'Donnell out.  I'd be tempted to bring Fraser in but would understand putting McGinn or McCrorie in instead. 

 

[A "Supporting Scotland" thread: A case study in optimism and positivity]

Got to admit, I think it's funny how much Taylor winds everyone up.

It's also obvious he knows his football and can put a good argument forward to back up his opinions.  Give me that anyway ahead of some of the roasters on here that just keep saying all our players are shite. 

[Under 21 squad]

2 hours ago, 0Neils40yarder said:

Campbell and McCrorie are out...is he likely to draft anyone else in?

Hickey is the obvious one...he's nearly there already!

Turnbull will come into the team for McCrorie. 

[Serbia Next]

Just now, Caledonian Craig said:

Serbia's goal threat is Mitrovic who plays for Fulham. Can you imagine the moaning on here that he wasn't plating for a bigger/more fashionable EPL club?

Fulham's best player can't get near our squad 🙃

[Under 21 squad]

2 minutes ago, Burj_Alba said:

One point behind the leaders, said game V group whipping boys ( already conceded 40 goals in the campaign ) Destiny in our own hands and a home game against the top seeds in the group after beating them away.

What could possible go wrong? 😃😃

Greece and Croatia are playing each other on Tuesday.  A draw would be nice.  If Lithuania can take something off the Czechs that would be grand too.

[Serbia Next]

1 minute ago, Kirk said:

I would say both of those sides are better than us easily. 

Have a day off you miserable bugger. 

[Serbia Next]

Just now, Caledonian Craig said:

Precisely.

However, reading posters on here we are about to play the 1970 Brazil side. 

I think some players look at the clubs they play for and make a judgement and there is no doubt their squad is filled with players from some very good clubs.  We'd love to be picking players from Real Madrid, Inter, Sevilla, Ajax, Porto and a load of the other CL / EL clubs that Serbia are able to do.  

I think the biggest difference is they have much better strength in depth and their forwards are a class above ours.  However, if we anything close to our strongest squad available, we have a good chance.  

[Serbia Next]

2 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Well I do believe they've already drawn 0-0 at home to Turkey.

Looking at their results over Euro 2020 qualifying and the nations league, they aren't showing anything that should leave us thinking we have no chance.  The same way we won't leave them too worried.

There is a reason we are both in the final of a group C play-off.  

[Serbia Next]

1 hour ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Also look at the current Nations League tables. We are top of our group and Serbia are bottom of theirs.

It's a good point.  

They play Hungary at home and then Turkey away.  Two sides of a similar standard to us.  It will be interesting to see how they get on.

One big factor could be how well each squad avoids covid over the next month.  

[Under 21 squad]

13 hours ago, vanderark14 said:

And i thought i was happy and positive 😂

I'm not saying I think all 3 will happen but I can dream for a few days at least.  

More than likely we won't get 4 points against Slovakia and Czech Rep and we will struggle to beat San Marino U21s 😆

[Under 21 squad]

Just need to make sure they do the job against San Marino this week.

November could be one hell of a week for Scottish football. Can you imagine we qualify for Euro 2020, win promotion in the Nations League and the u21s qualify too?! 

[Scotland vs Israel - Match Thread [08/10/2020]]

Getting through was the main thing.  We've done that with 6-8 key players missing.  IF we can get all them back for next month, we do have a chance.  We aren't a team that can easily cope with losing players of the quality of Tierney, Christie, Forrest and Armstrong very easily.  Burke and Griffiths also add some quality to our squad.  

Since losing 4-in-a-row we have now gone 6 games without defeats, albeit against teams that are probably a bit weaker than we are.  We have 2 winnable matches this week against stronger sides than we've played recently.  Hopefully we can claim another 4-6 points and go into the Serbia match full of confidence.  

[11?]

6 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

I think the defensive make-up is not so ultra-critical as I think Israel attack pretty infrequently but are potent on the counter-attack. Our philosophy should be to score more goals than them. To do that we have to have an attacking look to the side - two up front with McGinn tucked in behind....something like this:-

 

                                                                              Marshall

 

Patterson.......................................Cooper.................................Porteous........................................Robertson

 

......................Fraser.............................Armstrong........................................McTominey..........................

 

............................................................McGinn............................................................................................

......................................Dykes........................................Shankland

Armstrong is out. 

[11?]

Just now, ErsatzThistle said:

If I were Clarke I'd tell Gemmill and Houston (I suspect the latter is the one really running the U21s) that I was adding Ryan Porteous, Ross McCrorie, Harrison Ashby, Logan Chalmers and one of either Allan Campbell or Lewis Ferguson for the senior team.

Furthermore if they make a big protest about it I'd tell them that they can always resign if they don't like it. 

The senior team must always take priority.

I don't think Gemmill would mind if he lost players to the first team.  

I would say we should only call them up if we have any intention of using them.  We aren't really struggling in any position other than right-back. 

[11?]

7 minutes ago, ceudmilefailte said:

Whats wrong with Paterson. He made your man forrest run quicker than he ever had before in a Scotland shirt

Nothing to be honest.  I do like him...just forgot about him to be honest. 

[Squad for upcoming games]

1 minute ago, SkyBlueScot said:

This is so depressing.

At the minute it's not the end of the world but we're on the edge now. Guess that means O'Donnell at RB. Dykes, shankland and McBurnie cover the front places and in midfield we still have a choice of Fraser, McGinn, McTominay, Fleck, Jack and McGregor.

Definitely not 3 at the back now, surely? Will he call up replacements?

Still looks ok. For now...

The biggest issue is that Clarke will have been working on a strategy which probably included 3 or 4 of the 6 players that we have lost.  He's got just over 24 hours so re-think things.

The other issue is when a squad suddenly loses 6 players, it changes things.  I'm sure other players are also worrying about whether they might be next to be infected. 

[11?]

37 minutes ago, PASTA Mick said:

Marshall

Jack     Cooper     McKenna     Robertson

McTominay

McGinn          McGregor

Burke                  Dykes                  Fraser

Take 2...

Marshall

Jack     Cooper     Gallagher     Robertson

McGregor        McGinn        McTominay        Fraser

McBurnie        Dykes

[11?]

3 minutes ago, vanderark14 said:

I have no idea

pastamick's team confused the shit out of me. I know our RBs aren't the best but the solution isn;t to play a guy who hasn't played there that often and definitely not in recent matches

The other option is O'Donnell - who shouldn't be near the squad. 

[11?]

McKenna now confirmed to be out. 

Scott McKenna, Liam Palmer and Oliver Burke will miss all three Scotland games due to injury.

[Squad for upcoming games]

Scott McKenna, Liam Palmer and Oliver Burke will miss all three Scotland games due to injury.

[11?]

11 minutes ago, vanderark14 said:

I thought jack was out injured

10 minutes ago, Brummie Hibs said:

I thought McKenna was injured as well. 

Both players are still in the squad with nothing official (that I've seen) to say they aren't available tomorrow. 

 

[11?]

Just now, Dandydon said:

Worth calling up under 21s?

We are well covered in the positions those three play in.  I can't see any call-ups ahead of tomorrow but maybe for the other two matches.  

[11?]

Marshall

Jack     Cooper     McKenna     Robertson

McTominay

McGinn          McGregor

Burke                  Dykes                  Fraser