Caledonian Craig

I am on my way up to Glasgow now for the match tonight. The title of this topic has a double meaning. Firstly, it has already been a fantastic journey following Scotland under Gordon Strachan. He has instilled belief in the players and re-invigorated the fans after a few years of suffering. Not only that he has us playing some great football and scoring some classy goals so long may it continue. The second fantastic journey is one made by myself. Last night as part of my job I travelled on the sleeper down from Aberdeen to London arriving early this morning. I booked off, rushed home and then back to Euston for the 10.30 to Glasgow Central arriving at 15.00. Time for a few beers then off to Parkhead and Jock Stein Stand Lower Tier. Afterwards it's back to Central and the sleeper back down to London. Enjoy the game everyone.

Yes I saw that. Shame about his injury though. Now I hear that Elvis song 'It's Now Or Never'. Surely, his time is up at United if he still sees no action.

I prefer Terry Butcher's views (on BBC Sport page) on the game. Always has good words for us. On other forums English posters are getting their excuses in such as it is a meaningless fixture for them but a World Cup Final for us. If that is the way their players think then that goes to explain why they do so crap at major tournaments. Every fixture should mean something.

Well if we are talking about Scotland's fixtures I went over this earlier. We have Gibraltar to play twice and if we don't pick up six points there we don't deserve to qualify. Away to Georgia it would go greatly against the grain if Georgia beat us. I'd concede it could conceivably be a draw due to their defensive style and us not being the highest of scorers but with Strachan at the helm he has us believing and we had similar matches last campaign when we won in Macedonia and Croatia so a win is certainly more possible than not. Even so cal lit a draw and it gives us seven more points. Our remaining home games against Germany and Poland I would be confident that we won't lose both games and we could get three or four points from those games (call it three) and Ireland away a draw is certainly not out of the question. That would leave us on a total of 18 points. That means Ireland would need 12 points (from now to the end of the campaign). For them to achieve that they'd need to take points off of Poland in both matches so that pulls Poland back into the scrap with us. If they don't then I cannot see how Ireland finish above us.

What are you not confident of?

At times like these you'd hope the players will be very confident and so should the fans be. Like I have said elsewhere is Georgia (away) any tougher than Macedonia or Croatia (away) where Gordon took us in the last campaign and got us wins?

Nobody is saying it is a given for one minute but please take into account our recent form. Lost once in around 18 months against the World Champions, a steady flow of positive results that has seen us climb the rankings and the win over Ireland confirms we can win pressure matches. What is more is that we have momentum and growing belief and in Gordon Strachan a more than competent manager with great experience and a team who would run through walls for him. Will the game away to Georgia be any tougher than away to Macedonia or Croatia where we got wins in the last campaign?

Is that it? Also it is apparent that they are a team more suited to playing away from home. A bit like Georgia but with more talent in all areas as in set-up to not be broken down in defence and hope to catch you on the counter or from set-pieces.

I won't play down your results so far but equally I won't be in panic-mode when you come to Hampden. In recent years your qualifying record has been even worse than ours and that is saying something. Sure, this may be your rebirth who knows but until we see you complete the task in hand then forgive me if I don't see you as the real deal just yet. Besides even in our dark times in recent years we have still been able to beat teams of higher calibre than yourselves such as Croatia, France, Ukraine, Germany and Netherlands so we have good reason to hold out more than a bit of hope of turning you over at Hampden.

You need to get your thought process transferred from Levein-mode to Strachan-mode. In the last campaign Strachan took us to Macedonia and Croatia and got us wins. Yes IF they go to Poland and get a point they will have picked up two points in those fixtures (one more than us) but please remember we have picked up three points over Ireland. Also we are level on points with Ireland (with the better head-to-head result) and if you look at the remaining fixtures you would take our run in over Ireland's.

I'd agree it will be tough for us to get 2nd considering the start Poland have made and the fact we all expect Germany to get their act together but it is stretching it way too far to say it will be tough for us to get even third. At present that looks like it may be between us and Ireland and just now the advantage lies with us because:- A. We have a positive head-to-head over them now (at present). B. We have got two of the toughest fixtures out of the way - away to Germany and Poland (unlike Ireland). C. Ireland have played Gibraltar (unlike us). D. Surely, that defeat is a dent to Irish confidence and momentum and a boost for us. Can you find the same positives just now for Ireland?

Not so sure about that. I know at train stations people are not allowed to take photos of staff without permission.

I would certainly give us the edge over Ireland as that win (at present) means Ireland can't qualify ahead of us to level points (because of head to head) plus they have played Gibraltar once we haven't and they have yet to go to Poland unlike us.

Not denying it but one great striker does not equate to a world class side is my point. Look back a few years to Ukraine and they had a similar striker in their side in the form of Shevchenko but it didn't stop us beating them comfortably at home did it?

Sounds like he had something to hide. No traders license perhaps? Or unemployed but working on the side? Who knows.

No I realise that but have Scotland had a prolific striker at all since Kenny Miller and then before that Ally McCoist. We have always been a nation that spread the goals around.

In any case I think we are in agreement in that no team has been lucky in our group so far and I would agree with that.

Not arguing he isn't a class act but my point is don't judge players qualities by who they play for or have played for. That is very misleading.

Okay can we look at it from the Irish viewpoint? Betsy (I believe it was) countered calls that Ireland were lucky with a late goal V Georgia by saying it was won with a great goal of great skill and merited a winner. Well I'd say Maloney's goal certainly falls into that category so we can make the same claim against any claim of luck on our behalf.

Eh? If you are awarding Ireland a goal when they hit the bar then you do the same for us so we would have won 2-1. I cannot see how Poland can be described as lucky although they rode it V Germany if you look at the stats. Germany had something like 35 shots on goals and Poland had five I think and scored twice. But that aside they haven't had any noticable luck. As for Ireland they have scored late goals but I wouldn't equate it to luck just that they have been in contention in their games until the end and by scoring have reaped the rewards.

Well in any case that is negated as we hit the bar just before we scored.

Just because players play for or are interesting big clubs means nothing. Look at Lewandowski - he has hardly sparkled for Poland has he? Same goes for us. In the past we had players playing for Liverpool when they ruled European football - players like Hansen and Nicol but they never sparkled for Scotland though they starred for Liverpool. McAllister was at Liverpool but was never destined to be a fans favourite for Scotland. The same could be said today. Charlie Adam has played for Liverpool and is a regular in Stoke's side (EPL team) but flopped for Scotland whereas Anya (yet to play in the EPL) has been a revelation for us. So you see where a player plays does not mean they are some sort of wonderful international player.

Well Steven Fletcher won't be in the side either and I would be surprised if there weren't one or two other changes as well in defence and maybe midfield.

I'd guess that the attendance may (at best) be around 40,000. Just an educated guess mind.

I currently live down in London and according to news reports a number of their ticket allocation has been returned unsold so don't expect a big following.