Caledonian Craig

I think you are wrong. If McLeod wasn't in the squad then I'm sure the squad would have been one less in numbers as in wee Gordon adds an extra slot for up and coming players who he can assess at close quarters to see if he has the potential skill-wise, the right attitude and has a good character. So you see this squad it is McLeod and the next it may be Jordan McGhee or Jack Harper. Who knows?

I would say that will be the team though I would not be at all surprised if Whittaker starts in place of Bardsley.

I would agree some here have the sentiment of not wanting there because he is a Rangers player but also a proportion would sooner see one of their own club's highly-rated youngster getting a chance or someone from a top flight club get a chance first.

Like I said in another thread - totally meaningless. In the last year and a quarter we have lost one game against the World Champions and our performances have been very good as have results. I'd sooner be where we are now getting good results and performances than if we had a prolific scorer in our side and struggling - a la the Kenny Miller years.

I'd take Andy to beat Raonic. Raonic is all about his serve and if you can break that then the battle is usually won and Andy is renowned as one of the very best returners of serve in the world. The matches against Federer and Nishikori will decide his fate. Nishi looks a little burned out so Andy may pounce on that but Federer has been that more consistent this season so Andy may struggle to beat him.

If you look at that record it is not heading in the direction anyone wants. Since 2010 we have had worse and worse campaigns results and performance-wise. Time to go.

All rather meaningless stats in the present climate. If results weren't coming and performances were rank rotten then yes these stats could mean something. However, we have lost one match (against the World Champions) in the last year and a quarter so evidently this stat is not stopping us getting results and playing very well. Also, what if we had a prolific goalscorer in our squad at international level? It ensures nothing. Kenny Miller was very prolific by Scotland's standards yet fans on here lambasted him and the team struggled.

Hmm that's right question him after we have lost one match against world champions in over a year.

Some people just haven't got a clue. Gordon names a youngster in each squad that is hall-marked by his scouts and coaches as international-potential for the future, names them in a squad so he gets to look at them close-up in training, monitor their attitude and all-round values. It also is good because it keeps these youngsters feeling like they are in future plans and so much less chance (I would say) of them jumping ship or being poached by another team. Sadly though, some on here seem to think they know better than Strachan.

Also who are we to argue with Gerard Houllier.When he was at Villa he really was lavish on praise of Bannan likening him to Xavi and Messi of all people so he certainly rates him. I am not agreeing with the likeness but obviously a much-respected coach rates him, well two if you include Strachan.

Perhaps because he was one of the longest-serving players at the club? Evidently, not because he sees him as a key part of his plans otherwise he'd have been given much more chances than he has.

Yes that is true. It is not as much a calamity as it may have been a couple of years ago being unable to call on Darren Fletcher. However, if he were o get a move and get regular first team football it could rekindle his international career.

My fear about Darren Fletcher is that he feels so indebted to United he won't have it in him to march into the manager's office and ask for a transfer or loan move. If he doesn't his career will stall and peter out. He should now realise his time at United have brought him much success but with Sir Alex gone and a new manager in with his own plans for the club it is time to close this chapter on his career.

Fair point but does not alter the fact he seems very much frozen out at the moment and I cannot see the situation improving. Van Gaal will look to bring more of his own players in and in doing so just pushes Fletcher further down the pecking order.

But the point being both are the same and if Robertson is crossing the ball from the left flank what purpose does Anya serve in that position?

I'd agree Anya would be a loss however I don't think the Robertson/Anya partnership worked too fluently on the left flank V Georgia. Too often both were encroaching on each others space.

Today is an example how far down the pecking order Fletch has fallen at United. Van Gaal would sooner turn to unproven youngsters McNair and Wilson instead of him even from the subs bench.

It is clear Murray is in a much-better place now mentally, form-wise and confidence-wise but until he beats one of the big three I won't say he is back to slam-winning form. Losing the other day of Novak wasn't all bad as it gives him a few more days to recharge his flat batteries before the WTF. Also now that he has qualified it gives him the chance to get that massive confidence boosting win against either Novak or Roger before the season ends sending him into next year in very good shape.

And with our fans would it matter if he scored more goals for us? I'd say no. Look at Kenny Miller in or around the top ten of our most prolific scorers ever and he still got lambasted. That old addage springs to mind - if your face fits.....

'Loan' being the key word. FFS for most of his playing career his appearances have been in the EPL or for Scotland. And glimpses for Scotland? Our best player in Dortmund in the first half, got man of match award in match V Lithuania (2012) if memory serves and has been a regular in our successful run of results in the last 18 months so has not let us down. Those last five words should resonate with us (Scotland fans) but seemingly some want to put the boot in.

Fine but it is stretching it way too far when people describe him as 'not very good at all's or 'championship-level player' when he has displayed he is proven against the best team in the world on their own turf.

Maloney scores for Wigan whilst McCormack is sent-off in the same game.

Continues to outscore Rhodes.

Robertson on the subs bench for Hull today.

How can our best player on the pitch in the first half against the world champions in Dortmund be 'not very good at all'? How the f@ck have we managed to patch together such a run of results with a player in the side who is 'not very good at all'? I am stunned. We have people on here poking fun at the Irish for their luck but hell we must be champions then as so many of our players are berated by our own fans such as Hutton, Fletcher (both), Bannan, Whittaker and lots more as being no good yet we have some great results of late with those players in the side. Now that is luck. Or is it just that those berated players aren't as bad as some like to portray them.