breeks_mctavish

To be honest, I agree with you both. The Karlan Grant situation is totally different from Lyndon Dykes. It was a pish point, pishly made 😂 I was trying to argue (very clumsily) that players could have passion and commitment to more than one country. Regarding Karlan Grant, I have absolutely no idea on whether has any Scottish attachment!

First off, glad you agree on his commitment. He’d run through brick walls for Scotland. For the sake of argument though, he represented Australia schoolboys and played his early career in Australia. If Australia U-19s had asked him to play, it’s not unimaginable he would have agreed to play. Had he done that and the rest of his career otherwise mapped out in the same way, would that have meant his validity to represent Scotland was diminished?

Serious question - how do you rate Lyndon Dykes’ commitment to Scotland?

Brilliant 😂

I’m not opposed to a change in the rules. For example, in my opinion I wouldn’t have the grandparent rule. I’d only go back to parents (as long as all countries made the change). I also don’t think we should go begging to players, Clarke has himself said that if a player has said no before they must make contact to say they are interested. I am in favour of this. The point I’ve been debating is specifically over the signing of a form. That is what I’m opposed to for reasons mentioned in a post somewhere above.

Fair enough Craig, you make your point clearly. Personally, I do think it’s more nuanced than you think. My son’s only 10 and he’s flipped back and forth. He used to call himself Scottish, then English, then half Scottish. Quite possibly I’m a terrible parent and have confused the life out of him! If you’ve got dual nationality you can feel proud of coming from more than one country. You would absolutely represent either nation with total pride. I’m also sure you as a fan would cheer on all players in the Scotland team equally passionately whoever was selected. Now we can change the rules to make them less inclusive, sure. In reality, I don’t think that’s the way the wind is blowing in football or society. Let’s say the rules did change. You could just imagine the respective FAs whispering in the ears of all the top dual nationality players as it approaches the deadline to sign the forms. It could be quite ugly. Each to their own, but sorry not for me.

I was being facetious on that point Craig. But you do sound a bit like you might be holding a gun. You’re not, are you?

Amen to that. As a Scotsman with kids born and living in England, I find it a bit unsavoury the idea that they would be thrusted a pen with a form and a gun to the head on their 18th birthday! My kids are proud of both their Scottish and English roots. I try my best to persuade them to lean towards Scotland of course. I like Steve Clarke’s more measured approach where if a player has turned us down, they have to approach us to be in contention for a call up.

Maybe I’m wrong but I sometimes feel Robertson doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Not that anyone doesn’t rate him, just that he’s been consistently excellent for so long. Anyway, he’s playing well again as Liverpool are destroying Watford 3-0 with nearly 40 minutes to go. An equal amongst giants and totally fundamental to the way they play

That’s the spirit

Might be worth a try in the Moldova game 😉

I watched that game and Phillips didn’t do much. I’d be very surprised if he was called back up. I had no idea that Grant was eligible (and don’t know if he’d even want to play for us). He actually scored a good goal and played quite well. Only based on one game, never seen him otherwise

Like the Faroes performance 😉

I suspect the pathway is all drawn at the same time. For the Euros, we knew if we beat Israel, we would play Serbia/Norway away. Also it’s impossible to guarantee a home or away game for the final without a draw. For instance, if all of the seeded teams won the semi, then half of the seeded teams would be at home and half away in the final.

2 starts all season. Same as McBurnie. Surely neither are anywhere near the manager’s thoughts. What about Dembele at Peterborough? Supposedly playing well and regularly in the Championship. Of all the players not previously selected, he is playing at the highest level. Or Gauld plays in a similar position to Christie. Creative with a goal threat.

😂 Just saw this! Not quite sure how many of TAMB are death row candidates, probably only a couple! But it is a great thought that as a serious criminal, your final judgement on earth would be delivered by Davie Provan as Ian Crocker’s finger hovers over the button.

And the investment would be great for the nations health and wellbeing

I think it’s a really good point. Moving to pot 2 could be huge for us for future tournament qualifications. We should be qualifying for a 24 team Euros as a minimum requirement. Qualifying for the World Cup is fucking hard. But if we establish ourselves in pot 2, we’re in the mix. Sometimes we’ll get there, other times not. Other small European countries like Switzerland and Croatia are serial qualifiers. That should be the aim.

What self respecting Scotland fan would ever count their chickens? Ach it’s true, I’m a dick!

I was just looking back and last time we finished second in a qualifying group was for Euro 2004. Slim pickings indeed. For all the struggle of the Faroes game, this campaign represents indisputable progress

We’ll have to pick another forward in the squad next month with Dykes and Christie out. Will he call up the famous Ryan Gauld?

Apart from the Daturday bit, I agree 100% 😉 gives the ball away far too much

Fraser played RWB last time we played Faroes and had a good game. We’re covered with the 3 at the back so can fit in more attacking players for this type of game. Chance for Gilmour and McTominay to build an understanding in midfield

It looks that way

I always associate Davie Provan’s downbeat whingeing with lacklustre failed comebacks. Conversely, McCoist’s optimism seems to be matched with this team’s fight and belief. I can’t help but think that if Provan had been on pundit duty, we would surely have lost 2-1!