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I've got tickets for Czech, Croatia and last 16 games. All category 1, none refunded... yet. Anyone seeing a refund next to a category 1 ticket? I'm wondering if they've not drawn this category yet or if there is an advantage to having the expensive tickets. Sorry to those of you who have lost out. The whole thing is heartbreaking.

This may be useful to some on here. Apologies if already common knowledge, I haven't read all 13 pages of this thread. I have tickets for all 4 Hampden matches and contacted the SFA asking for clarity on what to do before the 22nd April deadline to return tickets and whilst they couldn't provide any, they sent me the following: Yes we are aware of members in a position like yourself and are awaiting a response, this was raised in the proposal sent last week as well. As stated in the previous email once we have confirmation of the information we will share with our members. I at least feel reassured that we should get some sort of update before we have to decide whether to return tickets to UEFA or not.

I am totally behind Clarke. Is he the best manager in the world? No. Is he the best we can attract right now? Probably. Does he need more time? Definitely. I have to be honest and say last night really concerned me though. I'm not against 3 at the back, but surely only if Tierney plays. Also, keeping McTominay there for the full 90 minutes and not changing formation when we were being outplayed shows a worrying lack of flexibility. Either he is throwing Israel the world's biggest curveball with our formation and lineup before next month or he appears to lack the ability to impact the match in play by changing tactics. Despite the positivity at the start of my post, both possibilities concern me.

The 3 that started plus Weissman who came off the bench would all comfortably win caps were they Scottish. Not a criticism of Dykes by the way, I just wish we had a bit more quality in attack.

The negativity on here is ridiculous. Am I disappointed that we drew at home to Israel? Yes But talk about an overreaction! That's the only time Clarke has been anywhere close to having his best squad available and half of them aren't at full match fitness. I think we can all agree what went before hasn't been brilliant, so he's tried to change it. Personally I liked the formation. It needs a few tweaks, mainly we need more bodies in the box when we attack, but it has potential to accommodate all our best players. I also thought we should have changed it after the equaliser as we had lost all our momentum, but Clarke obviouslysaw it differently. Let's just remember, Israel have 4 forwards who would walk into our team, so a conscious approach seems sensible. For those saying, aye but we beat them with 4 at the back under McLeish, go back and watch the game. We were fortunate that night in a game that could've gone either way. We are a work in progress and patience is going to be required folks. Even though, we're stuck at home, let's get behind the team.

Check out live-footballontv.com Gives you matches and channels weeks in advance.

I've read he's only training the day before games at the moment due to the swelling in his ankle, which makes injury sound legitimate. Having said that, if liverpool had been playing last Saturday, would he have played? Absolutely yes. I don't think it's that our best players aren't interested, they're just more committed to their clubs. I'd be all for leaving anyone who withdraws for spurious reasons out the next squad to send a message, but it just so happens the next squad is our biggest game for years. Clarke's got a tough decision to make IMO.

People talk about right back, centre back, striker being problem positions, but this is our biggest deficiency IMO. The only way round it I can see is to play 5 at the back with jack in front. A back 4 just leaves us too open down the middle. I'm desperate for Clarke to be successful and believe he should be given more time than previous managers were afforded, but I'm worried his stubbornness on this issue ultimately may be his undoing.

Surely the point is that at no time have we been close to fielding what is regarded as our best team for a variety of reasons. If you can pick your best team consistently, results will improve.

I posted this after the Russia match: "We need continuity. A wee stat for you all. From Russia's starting 11 tonight, the number who have started the previous 6 qualifiers are 7, 9, 8, 9, 10, 8. Same stat for us 4, 3, 6, 4, 6, 5." Admittedly, they haven't had a change of manager, but that would suggest their best players consistently turn up. We can speculate all we want about individual player's motivation on here, but the reality is that many Scottish players (usually playing for English Premiership teams) use the international breaks as recovery time. That's a fact! Clarke needs to prioritise a settled side, above all else. If that means some talented players, who he suspects hearts aren't in it, being left out of important games, then so be it. It's no wonder the lack of enthusiasm from the fans is at an all time low.

It's grim folks, its really grim, but this sack the manager has to stop. How many scotland players would get in the Russia team? 1 What makes us think there's anyone out there, let alone someone who'd take the job that could turn it around? It's madness. We need continuity. A wee stat for you all. From Russia's starting 11 tonight, the number who have started the previous 6 qualifiers are 7, 9, 8, 9, 10, 8. Same stat for us 4, 3, 6, 4, 6, 5. Our main issues are lack of quality in key areas and lack of continuity. Another managerial change will not fix this.

As a killie fan, I have seen first hand what he can do. We need to remember he is only 2 weeks in the job in terms of working with the players. Give him time! In terms of the quality debate, I've been a regular since the 90s and this is the worst team I've seen. The defence is horrific, I wouldn't even give SOD a start for killie the form he's in, but who else is there? Our biggest issue I feel is a lack of defensive midfielders though. Everyone says the midfield is great, but if you play 5 attacking mids there is no balance and you'll get cut open.

That's not correct, they need 8 teams for playoffs A and B. So if at least 17 of the teams from League A and B qualify automatically, teams from C will move up and the first team in line would be Bulgaria.

Looking at the groups after the last few nights, its actually likely we will play Israel at home in the playoffs. Finland look like qualifying and its likely at least one team from League C will get bumped up to the League B playoffs, leaving us at home to Israel. Serbia won't make it now, Norway might but they'll need a result in Sweden tonight which seems a big ask. So nothing's guaranteed yet, but even McLeish beat Israel at home. Then, our the fate of 22 years exiled from major tournaments seems to be on a coin toss. I believe Clarke needs time and will improve us, so by March at home to Serbia/Norway maybe. Away to Serbia/Norway, no chance.

This is really simple guys. SC "your called up" OM "see you soon" or "no thanks" He's not contracted to Scotland and doesn't get paid. If he turns up he wants to play and the conversation could mean 100 other things. If he starts refusing call ups, we move on and he's no great loss from what I've seen so far. Not really worth a debate IMO.

Ha ha, I actually clicked on the link. I think I've got my head round the points thing and I'll just have to roll the dice and cross my fingers.

I know it's early doors, but anybody any further ideas about tickets? I've just booked flights for this, currently got 7 points due to never missing home games, but I've never bothered understanding what this means because I can never make it away due to work. I'm going to the 3 home matches before Cyprus, but not away to Russia. Any idea how many points I'll then have and if this is likely to be enough? Don't want to book accomodation etc if I'll not get in. Any help gratefully received.

I think we probably would've beaten Cyprus under McLeish's and may have looked more threatening with the way he set us up, however what Clarke did at Killie and I think he will do with us is look at the issues we have faced and implement simple solutions. We have a terrible defence and very few defensive minded options in midfield, so we sat off Cyprus and never pressed the ball. This was a clear tactic to be compact and keep things tighter at the back. It did limit our attacking threat, however we didn't concede from open play for once. Considering how little time Clarke had with the squad before hand, I am very satisfied with this as a starting point.

Georgia was the worst in my opinion. Just because Mcleish is awful doesn't mean Strachan should have stayed.

1. Our manager is Alex McLeish 2. Our manager is Alex McLeish 3. See the answer to 1 & 2 In all seriousness though, football has changed from Billy Bremner days. Players today will care and show passion if it is good for their bank balance. England have got players falling over themselves to get picked as it boosts their commercial value. Playing for Scotland, under that idiot, away in Kazakhstan, doesn't, so many don't care.

Mcleish has to go. I think we were incredibly lucky with our nations league draw and on another night could easily have lost at home to Israel. Defensively we are horrific and no attempt to protect them. Travel across 6 time zones, dodgy pitch, baltic, what do you need? A few experienced heads. We've no got that, so what do you do? Keep it tight early, play your way into the game? Nope. The most Scotlandy performance you will ever see. A lot of people are blaming call offs, people like Mcarthur and Ritchie lorded as game changers. I've seen all 48 caps of their cumulative careers and they wouldn't improve us. Our midfield is strong, but is far too expansive. Tonight Mctominay should've started, right in front of the back 4. McGinn and McGregor in a tight 3. Who cares if it's a dull goalless first half? Stay in the game. Questions. Where's David Marshall? Hardly a world class keeper, but at least he's experienced and playing at a similar / higher level than those in the squad. Whatever happened to Phil Bardsley? Playing every week in the premiership, but can't get in ahead of O'Donnell and the likes. Why did we not call up another left back? We must've known there was a chance Tierney and Robertson would miss the game before we flew out. Lets all pray the SFA see sense and give a new manager 8 friendlies to prepare for the nations league.

Well what was the point in that? Totally uninspired choice, might as well have stuck with WGS. We were on a decent run and while he was far from perfect at least we would have continuity. Those people lording McLeish record last time seem to be forgetting Georgia away. You really would think the sfa would have something in place before sacking the manager. It's just my opinion but they have replaced him like for like - pointless. Also, people seem to be forgetting we were pretty negative under McLeish at times. At least Scotland entertained under Strachan.

I think a lot of people are missing the point with Martin. He's garbage, there's no doubt, but trying to play to his strengths (long balls vaguely aimed at him and throw ins down the line to him) cost us possession time and time again last night. Dropping Martin will not solve our problems, only a change of philosophy and a focus on keeping the ball against inferior opposition will.

People saying we can't qualify after tonight are wrong. Anyone who thinks we might with Strachan in charge is deluded. He consistently makes decisions that no one can understand or justify. The standard of passing tonight was abysmal and it is clear strachan is telling the team to go long to Martin (who isn't even that good in the air). Be interesting to see what he does on Tuesday as anyone can see major changes are needed, but I'd be willing to bet it'll be the same old strachan favourites who feature. It's like he doesn't understand or even watch international football.

I'm only saying it's worth a try. Totally agree about the centre backs, but my opinion is the 2 we play leave us very open, so having a third might help.