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Back 5 versus a lone striker and 2 wide men is difficult as your 3 central defenders tend to get drawn out or you end up with 3v1 and your wing backs get pushed back by their wingers - which means you get outnumbered in midfield - as per Ukraine play-off.There is a reason 90% of club sides play a back 4. Its because 90% of club sides play a lone striker and 2 wide men.

Agree, the two friendlies were the ideal opportunity. I think he provides more legs and tackling than magregor and gilmour who seem to to be too similar to be effective together. Obviously offers something going forwards too.

Friendly v Poland

Sorry, thought you meant the home point.

Under what circumstances did people not get a point? Not using the ticket or transferring it to a different phone?

Hickey will make the squad if he doesnt have another set back which would def rule him out. 2 months of building up fitness will allow him to play some part but he will be nowhere near his best and certainly not ready for 90 mins imo. Brentford certainly won't risk playing him before the end of the season. Patterson fitness will be key.

Tbf it looked like he'd done his hamstring in the build up to the goal.

I can understand the debate given he has been u21's most dangerous player. Coupled with a complete lack of pace in our senior squad. Ideally see him do it at club level first but wouldn't be the first time someone of that experience made a senior squad. The return from injury schedule is the biggest negative, otherwise I'd have him in.

Did not know this.

Reverse, reverse, reverse.......

I'm not so sure. Dykes and Adams have proved they can start on their own in competitive games at that level, Shankland hasn't. I expect to see him late in games when we need a goal. I've no issue with that as squads are big enough to accommodate such players

Dykes/mcburnie comparison was based on similar style of play, i doubt he'll take both. Shankland a different kind of striker and whilst I'd take him I don't think he's doen enough to be guaranteed.

I think we have got the best out of dykes and he may still have a bit more to offer but not long term. Mcburnie is out of contract and like it or not will get paid £30-40k next season by a lower EPL or upper championship side. If dykes was out of contract he'd get £10-£15k if he was lucky in the championship. Selection is about far more than the quality of the players but those valuations are the best reflection of quality.

It's a sign of how far Adams and dykes have regressed that mcburnie probably can't be ignored atm. He is probably at where dykes was when in form for club and country and being touted for an epl move. And that is about as good as we've got. For me, shankland doesn't gave the fitness/mobility to start up top on his own. I wouldn't be averse to playing ferguson or mcT up top as an experiment.

The anniversary shirt is good but not perfect, the sleeves look a bit cheaper and the badge is quite different, smaller. Doesn't look fake, just different.

I think you always had to pay the fare difference but there is no change fee for the first change iirc.

I've always thought Mcburnie would get back in the squad at some point despite the stick he gets, partly because of the quality of the alternatives. I think it might be the Nations League before Clarke looks to move on from Adams and Dykes who can still do a job but undoubtedly have beyond their best for some time at club level.

Agree. I think there are players in the starting line up and the squad looking a bit too comfortable, relying on Clarke's loyalty. Need fresh blood to keep people on their toes if nothing else.

Any idea what provisions are to be made for those without smart phones? Website mentioned it would be announced in due course.

I follow Everton and have watched most of the games he has played. Yes, he gets caught out of position sometimes but one on one he is pretty good. Certainly improved from when he was at rangers Importantly he has mostly played in a 4 with Everton. At wingback for Scotland with a defender behind him, it's a much more suitable role for his style of play.

I think Patterson is better defensively than people give him credit for, although far from the finished article. Attacking wise, at wing back I think he offers more than Hickey who I'm a big fan of. I'd like to see them both play in a friendly with Hickey right of a 3.

The bench needs to be very good too. 3 huge games in 9 days. I'd expect us to make at least 4 subs a game. Most of those will be the front 5. We shouldn't really be playing the same 11 every game. The top teams never do that.

No sure how much you can rely on the accuracy of that report, seems quite specific for what will be a long term injury. I think it is wait and see job.

Correct. Scotland would have been a tempting option for him to go to a tournament and he knocked it back. And comments suggest he has closed the door on it so good on him for being decisive.

Doesn't sound like Barnes will be switching allegiances any time soon. https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/harvey-barnes-shares-anthony-gordons-28757334?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar