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Is he going to be more effective for us out wide than Anya, Snodgrass, Russell or GMS? I think we have better players in every position he plays. I don't dislike him, he's got some useful attributes, but our midfield just gets stronger and stronger and he's being marginalised as a result.

So in the absense of evidence that he doesn't want to play for us even tho he has in the past, you want evidence that he does want to because without it he definitely doesn't want to? Seriously? "I don't buy newspapers so pay no attention there" yet in your post right before this one you opened with "Well rumours were afoot in newspapers". You can't use them as evidence to support your case, then dismiss them when it suits you. "He turned down joining a Scotland squad to go on a youth tournament in the Far East of Chelsea that is regarded as fact." Yep. #1 How many other players have done similar? Been given leave from squads to do something with their club. Jack Harper seems to regularly miss squads because Real's doing something. Why is it different because it's Feruz? #2 Who was the manager at the time? Was it Stark? As a young player, would you rather go away with your club and try and catch you club managers eye, kick start your career and guarantee yourself involvement in senior internationals in the future, or go lose horribly due to the ineptness of Billy Stark? "Other clues to his bad attitude" Yeah, he seems to have a bad attitude.. but he's 19. a lot of kids at big clubs have attitudes at that age. But, thinking he's a big time charlie doesn't automatically mean he's turned his back on Scotland. Fact is, we don't have any facts about whether he's turned his back on Scotland, else someone would have been bloody minded enough to go find them and post them all over this thread. So all we have is context. > He's played for us before > He wants to play international football at some point in the future. > He pulled out of a squad (as many do) > The media created a furore over it, potentially forming a rift between him and the SFA which may or may not have been resolved. > There's a lot of butt-hurt Celtic fans who'd like him to fail because in their minds he's a traitor. > This might all be irrelevant as he might never be good enough for a call up anyway. So am I surprised there's people saying he's quit without evidence? no. Am I going to say he's quit until there's evidence? no.

So, nothing from him at all then, just rumours and conjecture? Regarding smoke without fire. That's something the football press excel at, and we all know it. He turned his back on one squad isnt a particularly tasty headline.. "he's turned his back on Scotland!" now that's something that'll sell papers! As I remember, after Feruz pulled out of a squad to go on a tour with his club, someone put a ridiculous question to Gordon Smith of something like "what do you think of Feruz not wanting to play for Scotland anymore?" and Smith was stupid enough to take the bait. He said some silly things, amounting to 'good riddance, he cant play for anyone else whose any good' I wouldn't be surprised if there was a rift as a result of that. That a player makes a move to a big club and opts to focus on trying to make it at that big club at the expense of one trip with the international youth team isn't a big shocker to me. It's probably happened a bunch of times to a bunch of players, some of which have gone on to be full internationalists. But cos it's Feruz, and the press has already got the 'he betrayed Celtic' angle, they can work that into a 'he betrayed Scotland' and make it even more saleable. He might not develop. He might end up being crap and going to Chelsea so young gave him a big time charlie attitude that ruins him as a player. He could never amount to anything, and never pull on a dark blue shirt again purely because others merit it more. All that could happen.. but i'm not going to crucify him now for something that we have no actual evidence for.

GK - McGregor, Marshall, Gordon They pick themselves at this point. As long as these three are fit, they seem head and shoulders above anything else we have. Def - Hutton, Bardsley, Martin, Hanley, Berra, Robertson, Forsyth +Liam Cooper Pretty much picks itself. I could maybe see Strachan leaving out Bardsley and Forsyth and just taking Whittaker, following the 'smaller squads' statement a while back. I'd leave out Greer this time and take Liam Cooper instead. We don't have many young players at centerback and Cooper is Captain for Leeds in the Championship. Seems to be well thought of there and so these seem like good games to get him involved and see if he can adapt. Mid - Brown, DFletcher, Morrison, Gauld, Armstrong, Anya, GMS, Russell A little light on defensive mids as we're not going to need 2 against Gib. Gauld's progress at Sporting puts him well placed to start imo, Russell and Anya likely on the flanks. No Maloney, I don't think we'll need him for this one and the season's literally just kicked off in the US, so it'd probably be good to him to let him play as many games as he can there. Will be back in come June. Fwd - Naismith, SFletcher, Rhodes, McCormack No reason not to take Rhodes to this one imo. We should be playing 2 up against Gib, otherwise we really do risk having an isolated man crowded out by them just filling the box with bodies. Rhodes finds spaces and gets on lose balls.

daft wee boy is about the worst that can be levelled at him imo.. and that' hardly a crime (nor really a surprise) at 18-19.

by him?

A draw at home to Poland, while not what we want, isn't wildly unlikely.

I think we go with our strongest side, goal difference may well matter come the end of this group and most of the others have put 7 past Gibraltar. For me, it's: McGregor Hutton Martin Hanley Robertson Anya Brown Morrison Russell Rhodes Naismith I think we need 2 up, as we should have the lions share of possession. Not much between Naismith and Fletcher, Fletchers link-up is maybe slightly better, but Naismith's in better form. Rhodes is made for this type of game. Got the option of bringing in Gauld for Morrison in the 2nd half too. Tempted to include Liam Palmer and Jamie Walker in the squad. I'm not 100% convinced Palmer's ready, but he's been part of one of the meanest defenses in the championship this season. With our other 3 right backs all 29-30, it doesn't hurt to blood a younger one and he's got a decent cross on him to contribute going forwards. Jamie Walker's another youngster who's in great for for Hearts. Scored in 6 of his last 8 games, so worth giving him the experience of being in the squad if not an actual cap.

Was a rumour of Rhodes to Sheffield Wednesday as well.. Him and Stevie May together? I doubt he'll move before the summer tho. Blackburn's manager came out yesterday and rubbished the idea of letting anyone go (including rhodes) at this point as they still have games to play and are still in the cup.

I don't think we need 4 top class strikers. We need 1 on the park at any given time and we've got Fletcher and Naismith who both fit the bill. Behind them we need good attacking players, and we're actually pretty well stocked for them. That attacking midfield role has a bunch of contenders for it.. Maloney, Russell, Naismith (if not playing up top) Gauld, Snodgrass and Mossison. You can throw in Dorrans, Byrson and Bannan too, while some have said Cairney as well.

Leigh Griffiths has played more under Strachan. So has Jordan Rhodes. McCormack's played about the same. Stevie May hasn't but he's barely kicked a ball the last month or more at club level, 10 minute subs is all he's getting and he's only scored in 2 games since the end of september. I like him, but he doesn't deserve a call up at the moment. Russell maybe? He's seemed better coming in off the wing for the last couple of years, but I'm happy for him to show otherwise (i think he said he intends to do exactly that). I'd use him wide for now tho. So I'm not sure who these strikers we're not giving a chance to are.

For me it's not really about whether I rate Watt or not. He's got a lot of potential, I'm sure we agree on that. For me, it remains to be seen if he wants to do anything with it, and a handful of starts for Charlton, regardless of whether you limp a lot near a corner flag, shouldn't be enough to get a call up. We have players who have been performing better over the entire season. If he plays well all through the next 10 games and finishes the season strongly, then we can have a conversation, but now? No chance. The other reason for not calling Watt up is his mentality. He's has/had attitude problems in the recent past and to give him a cap after 4 goals for Charlton seems like the most horrible piece of man management ever. If anything, Watt needs to knuckle down, show he can work hard and deserves a shirt. to give him one now, well we might as well write him off as he'll think he's made it (again) never amount to anything. So to be clear, I disagree with calling up anyone after a poor half season followed by 8 weeks where he's done ok. I doubly disagree with it because it's Watt and he needs to learn that he's not a superstar and he's actually going to have to play football, be part of a team and do what his manager wants him to do. He's still got growing up to do. I'm not suggesting you pick squads on loyalty. I've said more than once, our first choice strikers have been because they've been playing well over the piece and because they fit the system we play. If Watt can show he can play as a lone striker, score goals and link up well then great, he'll force his way into the squad. He hasn't done that tho, has he? If he establishes himself at Charlton and shows over time that he might be able to do that, then great. He hasn't yet tho. I can actually see Rhodes sneaking into this one. Strachan's always said he rates Rhodes, but we don't play 2 up and that doesn't suit him. I can see us playing 2 up against Gibraltar, as goal difference may well matter at the end of the day, and so Rhodes could be a useful weapon to have. Martin may well be fit, there's a suggestion he'll play this weekend for Derby, but I think Strachan will leave him out so as to be nice to the club. So I'm half expecting Griffiths and Rhodes, but we might see Gauld instead, if he decides to stay with 4231.

I'm not saying anyone should be picked because they've been in the squad before. I'm not sure where you got that idea from. Martin's by for the most prolific striker we've got this season. That in itself should put him there or there abouts. That he also plays a role and style that is fairly similar to what we play at international level only helps his case. That's why Naismith, Fletcher, Martin and May have been such frequent call ups. they can all play that lone striker role. Griffiths, Rhodes and McCormack, aren't as good at it, hence they're further down the list. Can Watt play it? He did against Cardiff at the weekend, but I think basically all his other games have been as part of a pair. For me, one game against a very average Cardiff side isn't enough to push him to the front of the queue. I'd also say Martin's got a rough deal from a lot of fans for his performances. Against Poland he was fine. He came on, held it up a bit, chased things and won a handful of free kicks. That was what he was told to do, he did it fairly well. It was his first competitive appearance of note (i dont count 3 minutes against Georgia) and he got thru it ok. Against Ireland he did much the same. Held it up late on and relieved some pressure. Should probably have scored the chance he had, but considering Fletcher had already missed a couple of chances in the same game, to crucify him for that seems harsh. Against England, he got bossed. Cahill outmuscled and outpaced him, but does anyone honestly think that Griffiths or McCormack would have done better? With Fletcher out injured, we lost anyone with the physical presence to battle him. Cahill's 6 inches taller and that matters. So I give him a pass for the England game. It was probably a good learning experience and he'll be better for it. Why persevere with him? Because he fits our system and he knows where the goal is. He's played about 100 minutes of competitive football in a Scotland shirt, if you think it's sensible to bin players after that short a time on the pitch then I'll respectfully disagree with you.

We don't have a lot of world-beating strikers. That's the reality as far as I can see. We've got 2 genuinely good ones. We've got a few who are ok and/or have potential to be good. If you disagree, I'm happy to discuss it. But suggesting I haven't given any input on the subject or said who i think should be in the squad is just inaccurate on your part.

>> The fact of the matter is; when Watt starts games up front, he scores goals. That quite clearly hyperbole. I'm not going to bother listing the games he's started up front this season and not scored, it's obvious to everyone that he doesn't score when he starts. Right? >> Being on the bench, or not in the squad at all, slightly hinders his ability to wrack up a goals tally. You think you're being a smartass here, but he's actually decent off the bench. Almost half his goals this season have been off the bench. He's scored in 5 games this season.. 2 of those he came off the bench. >> He's only started around half of those 12 games you mentioned, by the way. I believe he also has 3 or 4 assists. He has 1 assist in those 12 games for Charlton. You're getting a bit close to just making stuff up at this stage. >> it ain't just his goals, otherwise Charlton fans wouldn't be singing his name. Again.. Charlton fans singing your name is not ground for an international call up. >> it could be valuable for them to get confidence boosting goals. But that it would also be beneficial for youngsters to get some goals to get them off the mark. Tough call to make. Is it really tho? It should be based on who's earnt a call up and who hasn't, shouldn't it? McCormack, Griffiths and Rhodes have all done more, setting aside the injured Martin as well as Russell who I'd use off the wing as Derby usually do. >>May isn't playing, Martin is injured, Russell is an attacking mid, Rhodes and McCormack weren't favoured by Strachan when they were playing far better in the past. That pretty much leaves you with Fletcher, Watt and Griffiths (plus Naismith and Russell) Not sure I really follow that. There's a pecking order, for sure. Naismith, Fletcher and Martin have been the top 3 for a while now, with May and Russell the next in line. 4 of those 5 have been the choice for every game since Germany. We've had them available and that's why the likes of Griffiths and McCormack haven't come in. It's not that they've been discarded for ever and shall never play ever again, it's just we have better players and they've been available. But ok, if we lost the first 5 strikers to injury I guess we could think about calling up Watt to sit on the bench.

Pretty sure i went thru the list fairly comprehensively a few posts ago. I don't want to really bore people by doing it again.

10-12? He scored 9. 8 in the league. 1 in the cup. 5 of those between the 25th jan and 8th feb. The rest spread out, interspersed with being left out of the squad altogether. The idea that he was prolific for them is just misleading. He did enough for Liege to gamble on him. He went there, scored 2 in 4 months, got bombed out the side and so trotted off to Charlton. He's been there 2 months and scored 4 in 12. that's ok. but charlton fans having a song for you after 2 months isnt grounds for an international cap. I'll stick with Naismith who's playing every week in a higher league, has proved his quality and earned his place. I'll also stick with Steven Fletcher who has still played in 9 of sunderlands last 10 games and has been good for us in recent games, fulfilling exactly the "it's not just about his goals" criteria that you mention. Watt's chance may come at some point, but can we please let people earn caps instead of just handing them to anyone who had a decent game the weekend before the squad's named.

One against a poor championship side embroiled in unending turmoil.. and the other against dundee utd minus the their two best players who they sold in january and also with a man less on the field at the time. I make no apologies for not being particularly impressed by him scoring for celtic in those games. If you play for celtic the bar is higher. You dominate games and get a lot more changes that people do at other clubs, so you should be finding the net a lot more. That he's managed that for the last 6 weeks is a decent sign, but 6 decent weeks shouldn't get you a call up.

Stevie May - Has had pretty shocking service all season, but Wednesday fans are actually asking for him to be back in the team, in place of a loanee from Man Utd. Still young and learning. 8 goals for the season. Jordan Rhodes - Not a surefire starter at Blackburn. He's only started half the games since the turn of the year, often on the bench instead. Probably needs a move to get back in the groove and push his case. 13 for the season. Tony Watt - Only been at Charlton for a dozen games. Made an ok start there, was a flop at Liege and only had 2 good weeks a Lierse. He undoubtedly has talent, but hasn't done nearly enough to earn a senior start. 6 goals for the season. Ross McCormack - Had a relatively tough time of it since the big money move to Fulham. Has been used deeper and the team about him is struggling and will likely finish 1 place above relegation. 12 for the season. Leigh Griffiths - Had a good 6 weeks, rank before that. Not convinced he really makes a difference, especially in big games. A lot of his goals don't really matter (scoring in 4-0 wins etc) and the manager doesn't trust him in Europe. Has just 5 spfl goals.. for Celtic.. that's poor whichever way you slice it. 10 for the season. Steven Fletcher - Largely coming off the bench lately for Sunderland. He's spent the season coming deeper and deeper because those behind him are so abysmal. His link up for us has been great and he laid on goals and chances when he's played. 4 for the season. Chris Martin - The highest scoring player we have by a long way. Leads the line for the best footballing side in the championship, even if he's yet to firmly find his feet for us. 19 for the season. Steven Naismith - Being used as a support striker in a misfiring Everton side, tho most of their fans seem to think he's better as a no9. Tends to score in big games (Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City this season). 9 for the season. ------------------- For me the best choice is Naismith. He's bossed games when he's played up top for us. Uses the ball intelligently and makes space for others. Surround him with Anya, Maloney and Russell and we should do well. Fletcher deserves a call up for his recent performances. He hasn't scored but he's made valuable contributions and is probably the best replacement for Naismith. Martin's the next in terms of merit. He plays the same kind of role we want a striker to play and he's outscored all his peers by a distance. The idea that he should be bombed out of the squad because he wasn't amazing against England, in his first ever start for us, is not something I can agree with. So for me, that's our three strikers for the time being.

Not sure I'd lump all of those together tbh. Morrison and CMS clearly had England as a first choice. Mackie and Bardsley tho?

Shame. He was a very good player on his day, much as some liked to give him stick for mistakes when they happened. In truth he was the most solid part of a defense which was often under siege due to managers who set the team up to be under pressure. in that environment it's not surprising that not just caldwell but the entire backline often made mistakes. He, and the rest of them, deserved better. To succumb to injury as significantly as he has over the last 2 years must have been hard to take. He's still only 32. I'd like to thank him for his efforts and wish him every success in the future.

Just to bring it back down to earth.. yes, 2 good goals the other day by Watt, but he's only scored in 2 of his 10 Charlton appearances. Hardly pulling up tree's just yet and we have other strikers not getting picked who are in much better form. I hope he doesn't get a call up, he doesn't deserve it, yet. Hopefully he will at some point, but right now it's a no.

I smiled at the silliness of that, but still.. Bardsley's dad's from Glasgow and he turned down England u21s when they came calling. He also put the effort in during a tough period for our national side. So, a little more respect is due, i think. Back on point, I thought the same about Gauld tho. Nani needs that run to make the space and time for him to hit it. Not saying Gauld 'made the goal' or even knew Nani was going to have a go, but it's the right run to make, at the right time and the team benefited, albeit due to a spectacular individual strike. So good to see that he's fitting in and doing the right things in the senior side. I doubt me and davew are the only ones to have noticed the run.

McGinn's a fair shout and will probably be in the squad too I should imagine. I can't say he's better than Fraser tho, while he's undoubtedly talented and can hopefully improve, McGinn doesn't actually give you a lot of end product. He doesn't score and he's got 1 assist all season. He should be involved to help him develop, but Fraser is the more dangerous player for me. Kennedy and Fraser both play either flank, so there's no reason not to field them both. Hibs/Hearts lads.. I'm not sure being a regular at Scottish Championship level outranks regularly coming off the bench in the English Championship. One's a much higher level than the other. That said, Billy King's looked good to me, not so convinced by Stanton tho. MacLeod hasn't kicked a ball in the best part of 3 months and that was in the Scottish Championship. Yet he should go in ahead of a guy who's regularly coming off the bench in the English Championship which is a much higher level of football? Kennedy, Fraser, McGinn and King are probably my picks for the squad in the wide areas. Macloed's unlikely to be match sharp and it remains to be seen whether he'll settle in in the English Championship or not. Hopefully he does.

http://i3.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/article5193528.ece/alternates/s615/B-OZx-rIIAAJ-C0.jpg enjoy! or.. something..