Super_Scotlandfan

Smith would probably be the tallest player at the Euros. Probably tells you all you need to know. Remember he had a good run of form a couple of years ago and thought he should have been called up. But he’s surely had his time now. Paterson is our bulldozer option upfront. Can’t see him being dropped for an uncapped 31 year old.

I assume she picked the starting line ups. But didn’t look like there was direct contact down to the bench during the game? The fact she was self isolating will probably save her from any pressure. Really disappointing as it looked like women’s football was on a good trajectory in Scotland. A tournament in 2022 would have meant more exposure, more ££, and more chance of girls taking up the game. And yeah particularly because it’s in England, there will be huge media exposure in the UK.

And goalkeeper is obviously a very weak position for Scotland. I have no idea why she hasn’t tried anyone else. I can’t believe Alexander is the best available. The Finnish and Portuguese keepers were probably the difference.

They’re out now. Obviously unlucky with that last goal and the fact they had so much good possession in the right areas, creating so many chances. But such poor composure from every player that touched the ball anywhere near the box. But it’s a bit of a shocker that they haven’t finished first in this group, finishing second was the absolute minimum. Scotland have 3 or 4 players in the 11 way, way ahead of the class of Portugal’s or Finland’s. Kerr is lucky to keep her job after this.

Left back 😂. Mad that Scottish left backs have started this weekend for Liverpool, Bologna, Feyenoord and likely Arsenal tonight.

Adams is a bit different compared to other granny rule English born players. According to Wikipedia his dad is Antiguan so we can probably assume his whole family from that side is Caribbean. He will be considering representing Antigua too. We have no idea how much of an affinity he has to England. He might feel as Scottish as he does English. It’s also not clear how the previous chats were left. If he wants to play for us then fair enough for me. Also the centre forwards apart from Dykes haven’t done enough to not drop them for a fully committed Adams. We shouldn’t call them up just because they ‘helped’ us qualify. Pick the best players available.

KEEPERS Marshall GK Gordon McLaughlin DEFENDERS Robertson LWB Tierney LCB (LWB cover, RWB cover) McKenna CCB (LCB cover) Gallagher CCB (RCB cover) McTominay RCB (CM cover) Palmer RWB (RCB cover) O’Donnell RWB Forrest RWB (FW2 cover) MIDFIELDERS McGregor CM Jack CM Gilmour CM McLean CM McGinn CAM Armstrong CAM ATTACKERS Dykes FW1 McBurnie FW1 Fraser FW2 (RWB cover) Christie FW2 (CAM cover) Griffiths FW1 FW1: Main Striker FW2: 2nd Striker Problems are: There isn’t a suitable replacement for McTominay at RCB. He has been brilliant at stepping forward and playing passes through the lines. I’ve noticed Palmer has played there for Sheffield Wednesday this season - he might be the replacement instead of calling up the likes of Hanley. It’s very harsh not to call up Fleck. He should be called up if Gilmour doesn’t get game time. I want to include Gauld or Morgan. But this is our best position, hopefully they can keep pushing for a place in the squad. If McBurnie can’t improve for us and Sheffield United we don’t have an able replacement for Dykes. I hate to say it but Fletcher is having a good season so far and would do a job as a squad player. He’s made himself unavailable for us twice though?!? Not ideal.

I think they'll have to do this to avoid this situation. Although I would have quite liked Wales or Austria as a pot 2 team! Avoiding Belgium, Germany, France would be good though.

Should also note that Wales and Austria will be a pot 2 team in the World Cup qualifiers so they’ll be seeded to finish top 2. So I’d say it would be more likely than not that one of the two will finish in an auto qualifier position. The game against Israel is massive!

A win today combined with a win on Wednesday would have guaranteed us as a top 2 League B team and likely a World Cup play off spot.

It’s very likely we’ll be 3rd best group winners in League B if we beat Israel (Austria just need to beat a thrown together Norway squad - will be worse than a B team). So to qualify for the World Cup we’ll have to either win the qualifying group, finish 2nd to get a play off or hope that all of the League A Nations League winners finish top 2 AND Wales/Finland (whoever wins their Nations League group) or Austria also finish top 2 in the qualifying group.

Wales v Finland in their last match so impossible for us to finish ahead of both of them.

Yep. Not convinced about the quality of all of those teams. But they should have a half decent chance of auto qualification.

So either Wales/Finland guaranteed to finish their group than more points than us. And if we give a win to Austria over Norway, then they just need a win against Northern Ireland tonight. Maybe even a point will do We’re likely to finish above the team that finishes first in the Russia group if we beat Israel. So it’s not looking terrible, just got to do our bit and hope other results go our way including in the actual qualifiers. Or not finish top two ourselves!

Took me about 10mins to understand how this is possible but you’re right! A bit shite that UEFA could let this happen, although very unlikely.

Yes, we want the best teams to win their groups with the lowest points possible. So I’d say it’s probably good the Russia are losing at the moment. But yeah it won’t really reveal its self until qualifying is over. We need to put ourselves in a decent position by beating Israel.

We’re got to hope for draws and wins for the teams at the foot of the table in the rest of the League B games. Really poor result for Scotland today. Hope it doesn’t cost us.

I also think Clarke deserves praise for sticking with him. He knows who to pick for certain systems and to play certain style. would be so easy to start Leeds United’s captain or McKenna who’s just moved for big money.

He was immense, thoroughly deserves in place as first choice centre half.

We were 750/1 in June 2019 just before the Clarke’s first game. Don’t think I’ll take the cash out. 😂

That's the line up I'd go for and that's the line up I think Clarke will go for. Although 50/50 on Armstrong or Christie. You'd like to think Clarke has a plan for their aerial ability. They'll likely sit Mitrovic between Tierney and Gallagher and hope he's up against Tierney. Set pieces would be an issue too. That team doesn't look to scary apart from the front 3. We match them in centre midfield and out wide and their keeper doesnt seem the best.

Not looking like there will be replacements? When do they fly out?

Hope so. This season at Farense is a very good chance for him to prove himself. Has done just about all he can all last season and has carried his form over this season. Who knows why it didn't work out for him in the years previous but we do know some players start to 'get it' as their career progresses.

Taylor and Chripper used to post simultaneously. Creating multiple profiles is something a troll would do. I don't actually believe this person is this arrogant in real life. He just likes winding people up.

Djuricic tested positive for COVID again. So he’s definitely out. Apparently all of their Italian based players are at risk of going into forced quarantine this week.