HighlandScot

What an anti-climax to concede that "penalty" when the game was well won. Poland were very disappointing, and lucky to get the draw. Not a bad performance from Scotland though, pressing and keeping possession reasonably well. If Clark can refrain from this nonsense of McTominay in central defense, plus forgets about Greg Taylor we should be in good shape.

Patterson has been brilliant for both Rangers and Scotland any time he has been given a chance.

Yes I thought Austin MacPhee was added to the coaching staff in the capacity of set piece expert. But thus far there has been little evidence of variety or creativity in that department. Today we were able to win from open play, but in tighter games such as Denmark on Monday set pieces could be crucial. This is an area where we definitely can and should improve.

We all want Scotland to do well, and so I am glad there are Tartan Army footsoldiers out there who believe in Adams, or at least that he is the best currently available, and hope their faith is justified. As mentioned I have serious doubts, but very happy to be proved wrong!

Adams may have scored, but was a tap-in from a yard out. A couple of years ago I watched him quite a bit for Southampton, and not being impressed was glad he initially did not commit to Scotland. I disliked the circumstances of his finally committing, but nevertheless hoped he would come good. However, for me he is very average, poor first touch, no great pace, not natural finisher, not target man, not good in the air, cannot take a man on. Ok he works hard, and as a result has occasional good moments in the build-up, but never international class. When he plays my expectations are pitched very low. Southampton are also very weak up front, otherwise he would have trouble starting. With Patterson seemingly solving the right-back problem we have the makings of a strong side, but unfortunately light-weight up front. Dykes is a physical threat, great in the air at both ends of the pitch. But we need someone else in support. I consider both Shankland and Ross Stewart better footballers than Adams, but along with Nisbet still have to prove themselves at the highest level. Steve Clark likes to play the loyalty card, so I fear we are stuck with Adams for a while. Having said all that I would be delighted to see him have a stormer against Moldova, but just cannot see it.

Yes, let's get some Brora Rangers players in the Scotland squad!

On the topic of set-pieces, the addition of Austin McPhee to the coaching staff was supposed to introduce innovation, but disappointingly there is zero evidence so far. McTominay taking that free kick yesterday was a total waste, as he consistently blooters over the bar. Against Israel we finally scored from a corner as McGinn got the delivery right. But I prefer Gilmour on corners, flat deliveries with pace similar to Griffiths, plus Gilmour is the smallest man on the team. Turnbull is also a good dead-ball specialist, plus can also score from distance from open play, and I would pick ahead of McTominay any day of the week.

WTF are they doing giving freekicks to McTominay?

Yes, Patterson was shaky in 1st half yesterday, and his loss of possession directly led to the Hendry foul. O'Donnell has great attitude, but Patterson is more technically gifted, and I would take him every day of the week, even against the top teams. From the little I have seen of Ramsay, he looks fantastic. Hickey is also an option on either flank. And with Ashby and possibly Livromento waiting in the wings, the future looks bright for wing back coverage.

What a match! And in virtually the final minute we finally scored from a corner!

Dykes has scored some great penalties for QPR, but after last jammy one should not be on penalty duty for Scotland. McTominay is never a defender, but now we should abandon the back 3, and go for it. McTominay's 2 long throws have gone straight to an Israeli. With his height he should not be taking, but on the end of them. McTominay's corner did not get past first man. Gilmour should be taking them with McTominay in the mix. These are basic erors. With Austin MacPhee on board, so far there has been no innovation or creativity with set-pieces. We are still unlucky to be behind, so there is hope.

How did VAR not pick up hand ball by the no 8? But we have to stop giving away these needless free-kicks in dangerous positions.

What a beautiful goal!!!

Thanks, and yes, and if I were on the coaching team I would definitely address set-pieces! Previously we were blessed with good dead-ball specialists - McFadden, Maloney, Mulgrew, Snodgrass, Griffiths etc. But now possess no obvious candidates, though McGinn and Armstrong both took good free-kicks back at Hibs and Celtic respectively. Also I have lost count of the number of our corners that have ended up fruitless. With the addition of Austin McPhee to the coaching staff I am hoping for more innovation and creativity around set-pieces. Just do not give free-kicks to McTominay to blooter over the bar! With such narrow margins in international football, good set pieces could give us an edge.

I like saintsparky's team with back 4, plus ST6's-t-army's notion this will cause an element of surprise and throw a spanner in the works of Israel's tactical planning. Since we are at home in front of a packed Hampden we should be taking the game to them. McGregor is good on the ball, but does not man mark or pick up runners, and this Israeli midfield is adept at finding pockets of space. I would even have McTominay man mark Solomon. Fraser wide left should help pin back Dasa who likes to get forward and cause problems. The whole idea is to cut off supply to Zahavi and Dabbur. It is also imperative Patterson starts, for his surging forward runs which they have not encountered before. Ok he has not been tested much defensively at the highest level, but can tackle and is very quick. Hopefully there will be no last-minute injuries or Covid wrinkles, meaning this could be a rare squad meetup with no call offs! Get intae them!

On BBC site both Christie and Dykes listed as player of the match in their respective games. Plus McKenna performing well for a resurgent Nottingham Forest.

I watched Celtic's recent matches against Real Betis and Livingston, and still rate Turnbull as he likes to both change direction and glide past players to make room for a shot. He never needs a second invitation to shoot, and is very accurate, mostly keeping the ball low, unlike Christie who has a habit of blazing over the bar. I am not so convinced by the defensive part of Turnbull's game, plus he has a tendency to disappear when the going gets tough. But I would definitely keep him in the squad for his goal threat and dead ball prowess. Currently he is playing in a Celtic side that needs sorting out.

I like much of romanticscot's team, but with a few tweaks, provided all are available. Gordon Patterson Hendry Cooper Robertson Gilmour Tierney Forrest McGinn Fraser Nisbet I like Hendry, especially his tendency to stride forward and join the attack. I am not convinced by Cooper as he is hardly dominant, but less prone to hoofing than Hanley and McKenna. Long balls by Gordon and central defenders immediately cheaply concedes possession, and needs to stop. By his own high standards Tierney had a poor game yesterday, but we need more bite in midfield. McGregor does some nice things in possession, but off the ball is constantly ball-watching and not marking or picking up runners which puts huge pressure on the rest of the midfield. Like ONeils40yarder I would have McGregor nowhere near the team, but Clarke always starts him and never subs him. If McGinn is unavailable I would play Turnbull for his attacking threat, even though he has a tendency to go missing if the going gets tough. Against Austria I would play the same or similar team, abandoning a back 3, as it is a must win and we have to go for it. Unfortunately under Clarke it is not likely to happen.

There were some immense performances, particularly Hanley, McTominay, McGinn, Robertson and Tierney. Gilmour was good without being too penetrative in attack. O'Donnell also had one of his better games, though is a full-back and not a wing back suited to a back 3. But I have to disagree everyone emerges with great credit, as for me McGregor is a glaring weakness. Off the ball when the opposition has possession he NEVER EVER marks anyone, or tracks runners. He is always ball-watching in a zone completely by himself. In possession he does not demand the ball like Gilmour, and invariably plays backwards. This adds huge pressure on the rest of the midfield. Once upon a time under Brendan Rodgers he was a good player, but no longer. Clarke is obsessed with him, and after that result is sure to play him against Croatia. We cannot afford to be carrying a passenger.

It is too early to get carried away by Che Adams. Yes he took his first Scotland goal well but it was against The Faroes. Today's goal was laid on a plate by Dykes, and even then it was directed close to the keeper who maybe should have saved it. Before his goal he completely fluffed a header from great Tierney cross which was on the money. I have watched Adams a lot with Sothampton and yet to be convinced he is international class. Also he is never a lone striker as with Southampton he supports Ings, and how often do Scotland play with 2 strikers? In the tournament proper, if Scotland play a single striker I would much prefer to see Dykes or Nisbet.

Today's team looks strong with the exception of McGregor. Clarke's obsession with him is disturbing. A midfield of McGinn, McTominay, Armstrong has great energy and tenacity, perfect for a stong press which makes us difficult to beat. McGregor by comparison on current form is a passsenger. There is a player in there all right as proven when scoring goals for Celtic in Europe, but that was eons ago. Hopefully he can recover some of that form, as otherwise he is very lucky to be starting. Players should be picked on current form.

That was a really good performance against a good side and biased referee. But of concern is Clark's obsession with McGregor and Christie, Scotland's worst players but who both lasted the full 90 minutes. Neither are anything like the players they were a couple of years ago, and McGregor in particular is a passenger in midfield, constantly ballwatching and never man marking or picking up the runner.

I agree with TheSaint, because of his goal Adams has received more plaudits than his overall performances have merited. I admit I had a slight initial bias against someone who finally decided he was "Scottish" once Scotland qualified for Euros, and realized he could not get in the England squad, but am prepared to support him once he pulls on the dark blue. However I would take Griffiths any day of the week, a more complete footballer with lethal shot and set-piece delivery. Ok Griffiths cannot last the full 90 minutes, but even with an extra time Griffiths cameo against Austria we could easily have won that match instead of watching McTominay blootering over the bar. Adams created the space and finished well for his goal, plus provided good pass to Robertson for Fraser's header, though that just sqeaked by being intercepted. Adams work rate is good, but does not put as much pressure on defenders as Griffiths, and certainly not as much as Burke who is the ultimate at chasing down defenders. I have not seen Adams run at a defense and take people on. He is not an aerial threat. He gets caught offside too often, at least 3 times against Israel.

Or better yet, give the job to David Moyes! I have no faith in Steve Clark, tactically inept, overly cautious, too loyal to underperforming favorites, oblivious to emerging talent like Turnbull, Gilmour, Gauld, Patterson.

I agree with Taylor1996 the main problem is ball-watching and lack of high press. We should not be letting countries like Israel dictate the tempo. Israeli players were not being picked up and man-marked, and there was no high press. Without being Xavi or Iniesta they were picking holes in Scotland at will. Steve Clark needs to watch this video...