Super_Scotlandfan

No Mulgrew for Blackburn. Quote from Tony Mowbray... McKenna and Devlin the only out-and-out centre backs in the squad now. If Mulgrew is out I think it'll be more likely we'll play 4 at the back.

Celtic used him in a central 3 on Thursday. Rogic played ahead of him. We could play McGregor and McGinn deeper and Christie just ahead. I’m a fan of Armstrong too, but can’t justify him starting without more minutes for his club. Hopefully he starts today (surely Southampton will make big changes today after conceding 6 last week!) and we can judge him a little better.

Thought Christie was brilliant on Thursday night. Had his best ever game for Celtic in a high pressure game against a high level of opposition. These are the sort of games you need your international players to perform in. Read that he made the most tackles of any player playing in the Europa league last week (10) and was obviously a threat going forward too. I’d like to see a midfield three of Christie, McGregor and McGinn. All three work hard, are mobile, and keep the ball well. The only other centre midfielders in the squad are McDonald (not on form, ponderous) and Armstrong (hasn’t been playing and isn’t as strong defensively).

He’s been injured. Pulled out of the Scotland squad with a knee injury and has been out since. He’d be in my squad if fit. Need defensive midfielders.

Has to be on the bench at least as a player we can go to in the final stages. Wins everything in the air and clearly has an eye for goal. West Brom didn’t score today, hopefully will mean they’ll turn to Burke in the next few games. Interesting to read Moore’s thoughts on Burke. They’re obviously not giving up on him and see him as a player with lots of talent. Looks like he doesn’t have a natural understanding of the game instead of an attitude issue. Hopefully he’s fully on board with the clubs plan.

Watched it. Was only involved in giving the ball away, misjudging balls played to him and fouling the opposition. Disappointed! This is his first run of games in proper senior football though. Maybe just lost a bit of confidence and got frustrated.

Thinking/hoping that McLeish will play a back 4 in this game. Because: 1. The whole team were crap against Israel playing 532. 2. Our best player was probably our worst player on the night. 3. Robertson admitted himself he struggles at wing back. Surely McLeish will want to accommodate his best player/captain, playing him where he can make a more positive impact. 4. Souttar is suspended. The only other right sided centre back he’s called up is Hendry, who showed against Portugal he can’t be trusted atm. He won’t play 3 left sided centre backs. 5. O’Donnell wasn’t great either at wing back or full back in both games. 6. McLeish believes we played well with 4 at the back against Portugal. I’d like to see Fraser, McTominay and possibly Phillips coming in. Probably a 433. GK: McGregor FB’s: Robertson (LB) and Tierney CB’s: Mulgrew and McKenna CM’s: McGinn, McTominay and McGregor (I’d drop him for Cairney or Armstrong if either start playing for their club and his Celtic form doesn’t improve). Wingers: Fraser and Phillips Striker: Naismith but preferably Griffiths.

True but finishing top is much more of an advantage than being relegated is a disadvantage. Being relegated is kinda like getting a higher golf handicap...more chance of winning next time. I was about to say finishing 3rd in this group would be preferable to 2nd but I remembered 2nd could be good enough for a play off...if Israel qualify in the own right in the actual qualifying stage. Anyway, what I was getting at was the Israel game is HUGE, Albania game isn’t.

Beating Albania 6-0 would still mean we need to beat Israel. A draw against Israel would mean we’re out on head-to-head.

The game against Albania is insignificant unless we lose by 2 goals or more. We need to beat Israel or we’re out.

What happened with Fraser? Can’t find McLeish’s quote. He met up with the squad but our medical team sent him back to his club? What’s the injury?

Some goal from Russell. So our inform attackers are Fraser, Forrest and Russell. All of these guys don't suit a 352 formation that McLeish has stated he wants to continue with. I reckon 1 will start, max 2...both out of position. It might benefit us to, for this game, switch to a 433. Use a strike force of Fraser Griffiths and Russell. We'd have to drop Tierney or move him to right back or centre back. Can't see it happening though.

29 goals last season and 15 already this season! But only 1 goal (9 caps) for Israel coming 4 years ago against Andorra. Got to hope he hasn’t integrated in to their team for whatever reason. I guess the guy Hemed at QPR was/is their number 1 striker.

Looks as if England have been 'nominated' to qualify for GB. Doesn't matter what Scotland/Wales do.

So Scotland could, potentially, face England in a tie during the Euro’s that would put GB out of the Olympics.

Would our full strength under 21 team beat the senior team? Made both the line ups 352 for fairness...although not sure it suits the under 21's with guys like Morgan, Johnston and Middleton. Under 21 Team Keeper: McCrorie Centre Backs: McKenna, Souttar, Bates Wing Backs: Tierney, Cadden Midfielders: Henderson, McTominay, Mallan No. 10: Morgan Centre Forward: McBurnie Senior Team Keeper: McGregor Centre Backs: Mulgrew, Hanley, Hendry Wing Backs: Robertson, O'Donnell Midfielders: McGinn, McDonald, McGregor No. 10: Fraser Centre Forward: Naismith Both teams look about as strong as each other (keeper aside), and the under 21's bench would look much more exciting...I didn't include: Oli Burke, Jack Harper, Fraser Hornby, Mikey Johnston, Glen Middleton, Billy Gilmour, Ryan Porteous and Ross McCrorie.

Farense had a player sent off in the 40th minute so subbing him at half time could have been just a re-jig. Fairly normal to take off an attacking midfielder.

Thank you! Article actually states that he was born in Scotland! Wiki says otherwise but as long as his dad was then he's eligible. Hopefully someone can confirm.

Where did you see this? Can't seem to find anything on his Scottish dad online.

Interview with Karamoko Dembele. Seems relatively grounded with comments like ‘I’m not there yet’. But Touzani tells him at the end that he’s going to be a Balon D’Or winner...I hope he does but let him prove it first!

We just need to be better than Albania and Israel to get a play off place. And the teams you think are better than us might qualify outright through normal qualifying. Or we might beat them in a one off tie. Some are being really negative after losing to genuinely one of the best teams in the world and a couple of friendies away from home, with second string, at the end of the season. Yes we haven't played well in these games and yes McLeish might not be the best man for the job but we're not as bad as some say. Monday will probably be a tight game but the most likely result is us coming away with the win.

Mulgrew, Souttar, Hendry the only centre backs. Surprised no Hanley. And does this mean we won’t be playing a back 3? Or does it mean Tierney is being treated as a centre back? No jack either. Could have covered for O’Donnell at right back and would be the only true defensive midfielder in the squad playing regularly. Don’t mind Ritchie, Snodgrass, D Fletcher, S Fletcher, Bannan, Morrison and Rhodes missing out. This squad will have to build its own experience and leaders though.

Lots of Scottish interest at Peterborough. Beat Rochdale 4-1 and started, Jason Naismith, Mark O’Hara, Jason Cummings and Siriki Dembele. O’Hara got 2, Cummings 1 and 2 assists from Dembele. Dembele was MOTM too according to some on twitter. Turns 22 next month, shame he hasn’t had under 21 caps. Was born in Ivory Coast so maybe wants to represent them, but he must be a guy the SFA are keeing an eye on. Potentially could help his younger brother to choose us too. Getting way ahead of myself.

Wonder if McLeish is tempted to ask if he’ll come out of retirement. Had a very good season playing at left back last season. Could play home games in the nations league? Would probably be unfair making an exception for him though...

Posted this in the wrong thread. Scored a 16 yard header and seemed like the played as a centre forward.