romanticscot

I'd like to start a thread to discuss tactics and Formations. Right now to me, it seems unlikely we will have all of our best players available and I'd like to consider the implications of not having Hickey, Tierney or some others. Some of you have a better mind for this than I do and I'm interested to see what you come up with if we have to or could end up playing 4 at the back, two pivots, traditional wingers etc. Come up with a few starting 11's and explain what scenario it prepares us for. Of course, feel free to chip in with what you think is our best 11 if everyone is fit. Thanks

You know, in our 150 year long history, we have never been relegated. England on the other hand.........

Key phrase here is "group winners", something to aim for.

It may be too soon to know, but I'll ask regardless - What are the requirements to get a World Cup playoff spot via the Nations League?

If we do win our group, we would have a World Cup play off in the bag. Ok, calm down

A2 - Italy, Belgium, France, Israel - Glad we avoided this one A3 - Germany, Netherlands, Hungary, Bosnia and H - glad we avoided this one as it would have been too similar to our EURO's group A4 - Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia - This is the other group I wouldn't have minded.

Nice - Portugal, Croatia, Poland.

The draw is on now, our pot will be drawn last, they are going from the top seeds down, so we will be able to have some excitement which groups we would prefer to avoid. 2024/25 UEFA Nations League: League phase draw | UEFA Nations League | UEFA.com

Thanks I was looking for some info concerning the first and second round make up. I am glad to see the first round is groups of 4, hearing about groups of three didn't feel too exciting somehow. It makes comparisons to earlier years possible for a start. I so hope we will make it, I am within driving distance of three stadiums(two within 4 hours), 4 if I include Atlanta, I may have to host a few of you if your coming over.

Christie may be getting subbed off. Getting treatment on his right leg. Actually, seeing the replay looks like a hard knock, I reckon he'll be back up

Robbo on at 69 minutes against some midtable also-rans.

Just looked at the Blackburn Wrexham match report and I noticed Sam Gallagher among the goals, so I went to read about him. Did we perhaps miss an opportunity with him? He's never been prolific but wondered if his qualities might have been useful for us.

Thats a good move, he will get game time and he will experience some pressure with them pushing for automatic qualification.

Any news on Tierney?

I've spent quite a bit looking for how the seeds with be handled for the qualification pots - and I cannot find any confirmation that the Nations League will be used for seeding. The only thing I can find is of course mention of the Nation League in relation to the Play Offs. I have read a bunch of worry in depth UEFA and FIFA rule and policy document. Our first qualifiers are March 0f 2025, but I cannot find any confirmation of the qualification draw. If Qatar was anything to go by the draw wont happen until November. The Nations league fixtures apart from the relegation and promotion matches will all be concluded the 19th of Nov so I would take a guess the draw wont happen until 27th of November. My conclusion is there is no confirmation nations League will definitely have a bearing on the World Cup seeding, my gut says FIFA rankings will decide the pots as usual. With 12 groups we need to be ranked 24 or higher, currently we are 19 to be seeded in pot 2.

We could avoid England get a fantastic group like this Scotland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Faroe Islands and Malta Finishing 3rd in the Nations League will not be easy, ultimately avoid France from Pot 3 unless we landed "weaker" pot 1 and 2 teams like getting Croatia(!!) from pot 1 and getting Hungary or Denmark in pot 2...and then taking care of business - this is our best chance. We could get a similar group to our Euros group and get Hungary and Switzerland again.

Thats even better, if we finish 3rd or above in our Nations League we are seeded 1st for the WC qualifiers.

I have chewing over the implications of the Nations League and might have the wrong understanding. If there are 10 UEFA qualification groups for the World Cup again, and the Nations League determines seeding for the draw, we are at worst guaranteed to be seeded 2nd (1-10 are seeded first, and then 11-20 are seeded 2nd). This would mean all those who finish 1st and 2nd and the top 2 3rd places teams are seeded in pot 1. If World Cup qualification groups were to be drawn today, we would have one of the following in our group as the top seeds. Spain, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland and Germany. We would avoid France, Poland, Israel, Bosnia & H, Austria, Serbia, England, Wales and Czech Republic as they would be in pot 2 with us. So much to change, but the point is we must treat the Nations League seriously as finishing a strong 3rd could mean we are seeded in Pot 1, and 2nd guarantee's that we are.

I find his situation heartbreaking and I'm not even the guy battling with the injuries. Could you imagine how he is feeling right now. On his day, he is one of the World's best in his position but to be hindered with so much setbacks. I can't see him playing beyond 30, it's so tragic.

I feel we need different options in attack when we need to change it up. I feel if we need to defend a lead, we have players in the bank to help that out but in attack we don't have a Shaun Maloney, or Ben Doak to come and present something else. The MLS season starts in March so timing might not be great for him, June is too late to bring new faces in.

So that's four friendlies pre-tournament - 2 in March and 2 in June so if any new faces are to show March is the time to do it. I would like Shankland to be given more minutes, Hardie called up and/or Tommy Conway. I also want to get over the drama that will come with Ryan Fraser so let's get that out the way, as IMO he should definitely be back in the squad. Dominic Hyam and Josh Doig also in there. I can't escape Ryan Gauld, call him up and give him a chance. If it were me in charge, the squad for the March games would be 26 players at least, anything less is a missed opportunity.

This is really disappointing for Stewart but reading what Russell Martin said, I would feel a lot of encouragement from my Manager and will look to repay that once this injury(s) are behind me.

The Germany one is very nice, it would appear those triangles on the sides for us a given along with the type of collar.

Other than the Umbro sleeves I really like the 96 one.

I love it