Caledonian Craig

For all this talk (and it is true) of us being poor in the last few games. However, I have always been a firm believer in the old addage that a mark of a good side is one with the ability to get results even when playing poorly. If we play poorly V Georgia on this vein of form it certainly does not rule us out of winning. If we qualify playing gash I'd take it but prefer classy performances but qualification is the name of the game.

Andy beats Lu in straight sets. Not his best but adequate. Looked like he was coughing a lot so perhaps still not over the virus yet.

Yes I totally agree with this. Aside from players like Mackay-Stevens and Armstrong I don't see any major changes or breakthroughs into the squad.

He must have totally forgot Alan Hansen colliding with a team-mate to let Russia in to score in the 1982 World Cup - cost us a goal and qualification. Me thinks that was far worse than anything Forsyth did on Saturday.

Well first of all yes we have to continue our push for automatic qualification but it is handy to know of alternatives should we need it. I don't really get why there is this terror about who we draw. In that list of those in those positions at present I'd only be terrified of drawing Netherlands. I couldn't see us beating them. Everyone else though should hold no fears to us. Russia's supposed 'greatness' is a myth - look at their qualifying campaign and if the can't beat Moldova then why are we cacking ourselves about playing them? They are going so well Capello is facing the sack. The rest are countries we shouldn't panic about playing especially if you consider Israel were walloped 3-0 at home by Wales. Quit panicking people as even if we do have to go through via the play-offs the prospect isn't as petrifying as some would paint it.

As I said I am sure in pre-match interview on Sky he was asked about the team selections and he ear-marked Forsyth's physical presence he gave so who are we to argue with Gordon. I was surprised as I was expecting Whittaker to play as well but Strachan picks the team. Frankly, I think the biggest error in selection was not starting with Anya. That was what disjointed our performance first half more than anything.

No its just that I can't sit silent when people are missing the real truth ie Strachan selected Forsyth on a horses for courses basis as in he brings a physical presence that Whittaker doesn't and because playing two attack-minded full-backs in Hutton and Robertson in such a match was a big no no.

Jeez...my memory. Just shows then....cut out the friendlies then. Seems the way to rise up the rankings.

They have not been passed as a FIFA member yet. Probably Blatter hasn't received his fat cheque yet - thats a joke folks.

And lets not forget Wales did comfortably finish above us in the last campaign.

Have you evidence of that remark Dalgety Bay? Point is Strachan saw Forsyth as man for this particular job and do believe in pre-match comments he referred to the physical presence Forsyth brings. Will see if I can dig it out on my Sky recording later. In any case it is all irrelevant now.

It was much of what you said weekevie. Wrong team selection had us looking disjointed in the first half when we were very poor but in all honesty we were fairly comfortable until they scored. The second half was an improvement but still not the best. However, the type of football Ireland play coupled with the tension and importance of the match and it was never going to be pretty to watch.

Yes is that the memo that says regardless of whether they get a decent supply of chances then they still must be scoring themselves regardless of setting up countless goals. Got it.

The fact that Gordon sticks with them and my opinion as well it is clear they are by far the best options we have at the moment. Besides Strachan has got a good deal of the midfield weighing in with goals who play as attacking midfielders - players like Maloney and Anya.

All the same a pretty sad state of affairs.

Since we lost in Germany I'd suggest we need to beat Germany at Hampden preferably by 1-0 to edge the head-to-head on away goals. If we don't beat Germany I think it is very safe to say we won't finish above them.

Physicality does not purely go on weight you know. It is about upper body strength etc and Strachan felt he had that and Whittaker didn't.

If we were to dig back to when the draw was made the lion's share of our needed results probably would have been:- V Germany (2 or 3 points - still do-able) V Poland (4 points - still do able) V Ireland (4 points - mission accomplished) V Georgia (6 points - still do able) V Gibraltar (6 points - surely a mission about to be accomplished) So you see they are meeting our requirements so far.

Plus if people suggest Ireland will take points off Germany and Poland then that pulls those sides back into our clutches as well.

Yes nae craft. As in passing moves across the pitch and into the box on the deck. There was none of it and when they did get into crossing areas the delivery was either over or under hit.

He played ahead of them I think purely because A. Robertson and Hutton together is a massive no no. B. He has more of a physical presence than the wirey Whittaker.

Yes I was 100% sure it was.

Okay let me put this another way. Germany ALWAYS qualify automatically and if we pick anything up off them after they have maybe slipped up in Poland or even if they win against them then points dropped against us would jeopardise automatic qualification. That just doesn't happen with the German national team.

Yes but if we are being fair you'd need to take Robertson (relegated with Hull) and Bannan (who is as good as between clubs). But doing so actually increases the top flighters to 18 and reducing the Championship quota to 8 so makes it around 70% top flight squad and 30% Championship and even then those in the championship have had plenty of top flight experience in their careers.

Spot on Jagtag. We were poor but still got a result from a match we fell a goal behind in. That alone takes character. If you look at it this team has that. We were a goal down in Germany and fought back, a goal down in Poland and fought back and likewise here so the character of the team cannot be questioned. We have also scored in every match of the campaign so far - I wonder when the last time that happened at this stage of a campaign? We are still right in the shake-up for qualification and considering by this stage in the last campaign we were only concerned about scrambling together another points to stay in pot four then you see how far we have come.