Caledonian Craig

I thought we played well in spells. We probably created more chances than we have in recent matches and their keeper was far the busier. We lost to a deflected shot and that was against a team that is seeded and tanked above us also going to the Euros and us with a number of key players not playing. I get why people are firing pelters at McBurnie and perhaps we'll see Burke, Shankand or Griffiths start V Israel. However, it just shows that up top we need to find new better options. The defence didn't do too badly but Cooper's passing was poor that gifted Slovakia a chance or two. It tells us the defensive line-up V Serbia is the strongest we have in my opinion at the moment. I thought McLean did pretty well today and our best players were Christie and Tierney. So we lost and it demonstrated what we already knew really. We now have pretty decent defensive cover and midfield is strong but up top we are seriously lacking.

Oh no still great but just think it a shame the unbeaten run ends and slows tge momentum. It was a game we were the better side in against fellow qualifiers for Euros away from home with a team with so many changes in it.

Well that ends any hopes we had of sneaking into pot 2.

Be a poor defeat as I think we have been the better side. Created the better chances.

Aww come on you were using that as a point to prove class of Serbia with where players played.

Do me s favour eh? And what happened to your mantra of EPL means class. Wonder where that player you have slated all day plays? Hmm. Proves a point I think.

Jeez posters on here love a scapegoat even when we qualify.

Age old problem we had before. Not pressuring the attacker on edge of our area.

Been far the better side so far.

It is a big part of our game. Surprised you haven't noticed that. Burke and Griffiths are further away from the Dykes type of player than McBurnie. I am not saying McBurnie merits a place just that I see why Clarke is playing him.

You are totally ignoring Clarke's gameplan. Big striker to hold the ball up for supporting attackers. That ain't Shankland, Burke or Griffiths.

McBurnie fills the big centre-forward role that Clarke likes more than Burke or Griffiths does. Okay he didn't fair well in the role the other night but did it to good effect V Slovakia and Czechs.

Well at least Clarke's selection would got a sod out of the side. 😉

It will be on elsewhere too. Not sure where yet though. Watch here for the links I would say.

Top the group and we are promoted to League A.

Yes that would be the case (if Czechs draw with Israel) after a loss for us we'd win the group tomorrow. Lets be positive though and go for the win tomorrow and chase the remote possibility of a place in pot 2 which would vanish if we don't beat Slovakia.

Reading that very useful website. I'd say the odds are against us getting into Pot 2. We'd need to win both our remaining games and hope those above us in pot 3 and those in pot 2 loses their matches or fail to win. Stretching it a bit I'd say.

You see this is my problem with so many people with opinions. Given the chance they MUST have someone to blame and crucify. Its and age-old problem where matches get examined to the nth degree and people are not willing to accept that players make mistakes and it gets blown out of all proportion. We had it in Euro 96 with McAllister in Euro '96 and have had it many times since. Too many cannot accept a genuine mistake can be made.

Football is like life - you learn by your mistakes. I think Faddy made that point on the Sky Sports coverage when analysing the goal.

It is on Premier Sports 1 live on Tuesday. Kick-off at 4pm.

Sooner have that avenue open than not though. That is why we can't afford to take our eye off the ball in these next two matches.

As we all know the last time we graced a major tournament was the 1998 World Cup Finals squad and found myself wondering how our current squad measures up against that 1998 squad just for a bit of fun. Well I'd say the Class of 2021 wins out for our back-up options. Leighton was a legend but back-up was Neil Sullivan and Jonathan Gould. Gordon as back-up is very strong. The defence is a tighter call. The Class of 98 had experiences Premier League internationals at the heart of defence in Hendry, Caderwood and Weir as options whereas today we don't have that experience and are relying more on players playing out of position or playing in the SPL so would maybe just have to give it to 1998 but we do have better back-up today. The wide options would see left-side won by today's Robertson who is widely regarded as one of the best in Europe but 98 just win out on the other flank. Defence is a tie. The midfield saw the Class of 98 packed with legends such as John Collins and Paul Lambert with the great servant Craig Burley also in there. Today we have better strength in depth but less experience and certainly not in the legends category yet - but that could change in the following years. Really tough to call as both have their strengths. A tie. In attack the Class of 98 just come out on top for me with the likes of Durie, Gallacher and Booth to call on. At present we are still building our best attack so they are largely untried at the highest level so 98 wins. In summary then Goalkeepers goes to 2021. Defence is a tie. Midfield is a tie. Attack goes to 1998. Remember it is all fun. Discuss....

I think it just demonstrates how high the standards are nowadays. Nobody is denying they have players playing in top leagues but far too much is written into this. How are they doing there? Are they at teams struggling to avoid relegation? Are they first team regulars or bench warmers at those clubs? Remember we had Ollie Burke in the Bundesliga and David Bates but it does not necessarily make them world class.

Unfortunately, sometimes you cannot fit all your best players into the side. No point trying to shoe-horn them in as it ruins the balance/shape of the side but does leave you with a strong bench. Christie or Fraser vying for spot alongside Dykes. Forrest third in pecking order or perhaps used should McGinn be injured.

No Fraser's spot is up top linking up with Clarke. He has already shown that. Forrest can be a potential back up in that role.