er yir macaroon

Aye, because you only have to defend aimless hoof balls. ?

since we're all agreed on Strachan's policy for a big, fast team, with core strength - here it is (with Snodgrass as our central playmaker). Gordon Hutton Martin Hanley Wallace D. Fletcher Mulgrew Snodgrass Watt S. Fletcher Burke

Not if Fletcher's still on. Griffiths on the other hand....

but how tall are the rest of the German team? That's the point. Incidentally I'm Bannan's second biggest fan (not height-wise).

Forsyth is rotten. Strength, pace and height are all very important now though, more than ever. Strachan's said our wee players have to be exceptional if lacking in physicality and sadly it's true. That doesn't mean brining in big oafs, we just need to get the balance right. There's still room for Gauld and the like in my book, but I don't want to see us bullied and conceding soft goals.

I'd be surprised if any top flight football manager doesn't think that way.

No argument there. If we are to retain our smaller technical players we need to make sacrifices elsewhere. If we play Watt, Fletcher and Burke upfront and Mulgrew in midfield, fill your boots!

Don't shoot the messenger. Shinnie 5th 9, Lee Wallace 6ft 1. There are practicalities here and I can understand Strachan's logic. If we concede soft goals at free kicks and corners against big teams all the other effort is wasted (Remember England at Wembley?). Strachan was keen to stress players would still be picked on ability.

Robertson and Tierney are both the same height. I think this reveals a lot about Strachan's intentions for the next campaign. Totally agree we need Watt and Burke involved if their form merits it.

"We had to take Kieran off at half-time to put Charlie Mulgrew on because Steven Fletcher wasn’t feeling well. When he came off we only had four headers of the ball compared to their eight.” Read more at http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gordon-strachan-danes-dwarfed-kieran-7658703#5ud9iUQmxsv4CPWj.99

In the press today Strachan has said he took Tierney off and replaced him with Mulgrew because Fletcher had to go off through illness - leaving Denmark with 8 headers of the ball to our 4. This leads me to think that when the games get serious, especially against the big sides like England, he will either continue with Mulgrew at left back, Whittaker, or Lee Wallace (the better of the three options since he can defend and attack equally well). No place for Tierney or Roberston in these games and you can forget about Shinnie. The alternative would be a bigger midfield but I think he'll look to put height throughout the side. I don't remember a time when our starting 11 was so uncertain. I see certain starts for Hutton, Martin, Hanley, Mulgrew (somewhere), S. Fletcher and Snodgrass.

It was a shocker of a tackle and there's no place for it, but the Danes level did drop off after it.

There's an element of truth in that.

Souttar could be a decent right back if played there at club level - which isn't going to happen.

it's a pity we didn't get to see Ryan Fraser. I like McLean as a player but I'm not sure he did enough. McGinn, Tierney and Watt all have something.

McGinn our best player - as I've previously said, a bit of a cross between Roy Aitken and John Collins. Tierney was excellent, but a shame he doesn't have that extra bit of pace that would put him on a different level. Ritchie seems to be getting a lot of praise - he put in some good crosses in the first half, but gave it away often in the second and he's so unbelievably slow. We can't play him and Snodgrass in the same team. Our level dropped when Fletcher went off. Greer was quite impressive. I'm hoping Burke can get plenty of club games in before the qualifiers. His power and pace can buy us some cheap goals instead of relying on glorious 8 pass moves.

Gauld's work rate and off the cuff movement with the ball was impressive.

and Gauld

McKay and Christie looking good.

It is the position where we have least options but I'm not so sure it's our weakest within the starting 11. I wouldn't play three at the back as knowing us it would end up 5 at the back and we'd be under siege (it does allow 2 strikers, though). Hanley-Mulgrew could work at centre back and allow Martin at right back. That's if McGinn can do the same job Mulgrew does in midfield....

What's your point caller?

That's why we need Tony Watt to become a dedicated athlete. He's quick, powerful and skilful and outmuscled the big Belgians with the roots you describe.

Wee players are fine if they have both skill and real pace. We have very few with both. I suppose Ryan Fraser has promise in that department, as does McKay. Forrest had the potential but it looks like his body isn't up to it.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/opinion/sport/gordon-parks-under-21s-outclassed-7634114#6SMTJIQKZT6GOYmO.97 Justified? Gauld and Patterson laughing it off on Twitter. Not their fault and a bit out of order, but rings true I'm afraid.

Martin's a better ball player but prone to being caught out of position. Hanley is a mountain of a player and quicker than most people assume. We need a player of his type and he's the only one we have.