broraboy

Have to agree, I knew he was one of the older brothers butt FFS he’s 34 in October! Shouldn’t even be a consideration IMO

Reference Paul McGinn To quote a previous Manager - a Player of 'limited ability' I’m sorry but not nearly close to being International Class

You read what Romanticscot had to say Malcolm ( Your selection ) It would be a strange world if we all picked the same 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 I’m hoping UEFA announce the 26 man squad decision, will allow a bit of wiggle room for players who We or Clarke will select

Something in me says there could be a compromise on squad numbers when UEFA sit down and have this chat, I’m just dreaming maybe delusional but I’m thinking a 25 man squad will be the number…… The last squad Clarke selected, I was slightly disappointed in the balance of it !! More Keepers than Forwards ?? We all know only 3 keepers will travel, as long as Gunn stays fit then in all honesty the 2nd keeper is somewhat important but the 3rd keeper is just there for the camaraderie and shooting practice. If a 23 man squad that leaves 20 outfield players, which on balance should equate to 8 defenders 8 midfielders 4 forwards If a 25/26 man squad, then maybe Scotland could bring an actual winger ( Fraser or even Doak if fit ) or just possibly Clark begs Barnes to join up! If Hanley + Hickey don’t recover / make it and Patterson continues to bench warm at Goodison then we have a serious issue in defence, I’m not sure what the answer would be?? But I’d like to see the squad size increased, is there anyone from the U21’s that could step up??

Absentee - cheers for update, wasn’t aware about McGregor. Fingers crossed he isn’t rushed back because it’s an old firm game and has a setback…… We want every Scotland player available but McGregor Hickey Gilmour would be a huge loss to Scotland in the Euros Fingers crossed for Hickey, sounds like Brentford are nursing him back slowly and he has an outside chance

Reading this thread of late doesn’t sound like an Injury update ? So to recap Callum McGregor - if the rumours are true, they say his season might be over with an Achilles Injury? There was mention of a return after the International break but still No sign of McGregor ( Scotland IMO need him back for the Euros ) Aaron Hickey - been out most of the season with a Hamstring Injury, if rumours are to believed then Brentford rushed him back to soon! Thomas Frank saying he is further down the line, read into that what you may but Brentford fans thinking he’ll feature before the end of the season ( again he will be vital for Scotland considering our lack of quality RB’s ) Billy Gilmour - during N.Ireland game went off with a knee injury and last pictured wearing a knee brace, according to Brighton out for a month. So fingers crossed should return in May sometime, if only out for a month? Grant Hanley - Achilles Injury from last year but has played since recovery from injury but Norwich now saying he hasn’t regained full fitness / sharpness! David Wagner - quoted as saying ( we all together agreed - him, myself and the fitness and medical department - to pull him out of team training because he is not as explosive and as sharp as he was when he was on his best ) Jacob Brown - knee cartilage injury and had the operation but unlikely to return in the foreseeable, so unlikely to have made the Euro’s Scott McKenna - pulled out of the last Squad, with no real explanation other than an injury. Looking at FC Copenhagens games, he played 90 minutes against Brønby on Monday night. Promising, with Hanley struggling I’d imagine McKenna makes it should he stay fit. Kevin Nisbet - suffered a serious hamstring injury and according to Milwall unlikely to feature again this season, all but ending his chance of going to the Euros Ross Stewart - been out most of the season and recovering from a hamstring injury and from what Russell Martin had to say unlikely to feature again this season, rehab gone well and now jogging. If the Saints are in the play-offs then there is a glimmer of hope apparently but as he hasn’t featured much under Clarke and would surely have been a wildcard for the Euros Ben Doak - recovering from a knee injury he sustained back in December, if rumours are to be believed he’s targeting a return date this month with an eye on getting some game time in Liverpools run in……. He truly would be a wildcard if Clarke selects him but again unlikely to make it, the injury stalled any realistic chance he had. Calvin Ramsay - had such promise when he first went to Liverpool but injury’s have curtailed his development and currently farmed out to Bolton to gain match time but not really featuring for them for some reason? Given our RB issues, Clarke must be wishing of an alternative to Patterson should Hickey not return?

It does seem very strange imo I’m assuming then that Clarke has made that journey to Saudi Arabia to keep an eye on Jack Hendry playing for Al-Ittifaq to continue + keep selecting him in what is a suspect defence of late? 17 goals conceded in 7 games without checking but I’m sure that’s the number or maybe he is just phoning Steven Gerrard to get that update on how Hendry is playing and his form of late?? I think as Fans we should be privy to Clarkes rationale on his selections and travel 17 goals in 7 games, I would call that cause for concern imo But, back to the point in question, Ryan Gould - I genuinely think Clarke is just bone f**king idol, lazy and content with his clique of players that he continually selects Just my opinion but of late his squads have not really suggested much thought process or intel towards players!

I wonder if Steve Clarke just watches highlights of the MLS or has he actually got someone within the USA giving him advice/feedback on Ryan Gauld? Or has he actually bothered his arse to make the journey, obviously on SFA expenses Had to check again who Gauld plays for ( Vancouver Whitecaps ) as he does seem to be the forgotten man 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Arguably everyone is accountable and has to answer to someone above them and Clarke will be no different?!? But it’s the SFA and probably don’t give a F**k as long as Scotland qualify for tournaments and quite possibly too scared to challenge Clarke! I’d love to know Clarkes rationale and real reason for the glaring omission and never calling him up over the last few years, an attacking midfielder with eye for goal but doesn’t merit a call up to see him up close and in person.

My argument is - every other bloody Country is at it, some more than others! And everyone on this forum is entitled to their opinion, so Yr Alban I’m with you on this one. If it’s good enough for Engerland and Declan Rice, then I’m afraid I’d happily welcome Barnes Livramento Anderson Hackney Gray Ashby and The Fletcher Boys into the Scotland Squad etc etc Declan has fairly amassed the Caps for Engerland now and don’t hear as much of a peep from them, he was born in London but ultimately he chopped and chooses who he wanted to play for!! Declan Rice - International career‡ 2015–2016 Republic of Ireland U17 6 (2) 2016–2017 Republic of Ireland U19 6 (0) 2017–2018 Republic of Ireland U21 5 (0) 2018 Republic of Ireland 3 (0) 2019– England 50 (3)

100% agree If Ryan Fraser is fit & on form ( scoring goals + creating assists which he is ) Then imo he has to be considered, is Steve Clarke biting his nose off to spite his face if he doesn’t select him??

The reality of it all, he is closer to being Ronaldo than Dykes Adams Shankland Brown McBurnie etc etc Is he a chancer? The lad has just said ( apparently ) he wants to chase his dream of playing for Engerland - so make your mind up !!

Well he won’t be playing International Football then ! Southgate will not select Barnes for this months games or the Euro’s for that matter and by the time the next tournament comes around ( World Cup 2026 ) Harvey Barnes will be closer to 29

Will give you Lennon Miller is a glaring omission ‘ When you see the Squad ‘ that’s being disrespectful to the lads that have been called up IMO Goalkeepers - Vincent Angelini (Brentford), Jack Newman (Dundee United), Cieran Slicker (Ipswich Town). Defenders - Matthew Anderson (Admira Wacker, on loan from Celtic), Ibane Bowat (Hartberg, on loan from Fulham), Adam Devine (Motherwell, on loan from Rangers), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Max Johnston (Sturm Graz), Ben McPherson (Queen's Park, on from Celtic), Liam Morrison (Wigan, on loan from Bayern Munich), Lewis Neilson (Partick Thistle, on loan from Hearts). Midfielders - Connor Barron (Aberdeen), Lyall Cameron (Dundee), Leon King (Rangers), Aidan Denholm (Hearts), Lewis Fiorini (Charlton, on loan from Manchester City), Kai Fotheringham (Dundee United), Josh Mulligan (Dundee). Forwards - Kieron Bowie (Northampton, on loan from Fulham), Tommy Conway (Bristol City), Dire Mebude (Bristol City, on loan from Westerlo), Michael Mellon (Dundee, on loan from Burnley) The lads highlighted are fantastic players and yes Gemmill makes strange selections! Granted - Doak out injured But you can also ask the question where is - Emilio Lawrence, Rory Wilson, Kerr Smith, Louis Jackson ? These lads need to be accelerated through the age groups! We are terrible for this IMO

It’s a shame about Jacob Brown, wishing him a speedy recovery but his selection for the Euro’s probably in doubt now. My concern is Tierney + Hickey - vital both of them fit and have some game time prior to June! If Hickey weren’t to make it and Patterson now appears to be 3rd choice RB at Everton, we could be lacking in that position - this could be left field but has Clarke been thinking about Archie Gray? I know he’s played for Engerland but would be a massive coup for us

Yes But also a Stuart Armstrong assist 👌🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Good question I think if you have a bunch of games in Sept / Oct / Nov like we did at the end of last year and players have performed poorly or not featured for their respective Clubs but have done well for Scotland then for me it’s acceptable to call them up for the next International get together the following month. However, Scotland's last game was November last year and come March there will be a lot of water under the bridge since then……. If you don’t gauge club form, then barring injury Scotland would have the same players every time ?!? So with that IMO you can’t ignore club form

Lewis Ferguson captaining Bologna to a 2-0 win earlier and with an assist Haven’t seen any highlights but the lad is doing well 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

100% you have to mention Lewis Ferguson Who would he displace, McGregor ?? Playing at a higher level than McGregor, younger by 6 or 7 years and must be due a start for Scotland…… Billy Gilmour of late for Brighton has been sensational and must be an automatic start (on current form) Could Ferguson + Gilmour play together

My take on International form is different from Club form…… The 2 kinda go hand in hand Scotlands last match was Norway back in November, our next match is 4 months later in March! If a Scotland player plays poorly back in November, does that merit selection and/or playing time 4 months later? Take Dykes for example, has been a stalwart for Scotland over the last 3 years! Think he’s on 30+ Caps now, Steve Clarke has to select him as on the most part he’s done well for us. However Dykes club form has not been great and didn’t start yesterday for a honking QPR, if that becomes a regular feature does Clarke still select him - the answer is Yes because we don’t have the depth of players to choose from. The question is, when does Clarkes goodwill run out? It’s a balancing act, Clarkes job is to get results and evolve the Team as naturally players age and form drops off - as the post from bdgsct mentioned above, you need to consider what other players are coming to Scotland with poor club form or playing time!

That’s good to hear Just checked and Kenny Maclean scores, hopefully Lyndon Dykes can get some minutes

Injury Update on Kieran Tierney Kieran Tierney’s thigh injury is not as bad as first feared and the defender could return in time to feature in Real Sociedad’s Champions League last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain. The 26-year-old, who is on loan from Arsenal, sustained the injury to his left thigh during his side’s 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey quarter-final earlier this month. That sparked suggestions of a lengthy lay-off which could have even put his participation for Scotland at Euro 2024 this summer in doubt. However, he is only expected to miss between two and three weeks with the two-legged tie with PSG seen as a realistic target for a comeback. Tierney has been limited to 17 appearances in all competitions this season, after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the campaign. The issue saw him miss almost two months. In recent seasons, Tierney has been hampered by recurring injury issues and he underwent surgery on a knee injury in April 2022. Tierney confirmed earlier this month that he would not be ending his loan spell early to return to Arsenal. “Several people have asked me about this but the answer is no. I am definitely staying here (in January),” he told Spanish newspaper Noticias de Gipuzkoa: “Arsenal fans are great, they always gave me a lot of support. During the four years I was there, I will always be grateful to the fans.”

News on Kieran Tierney Kieran Tierney’s thigh injury is not as bad as first feared and the defender could return in time to feature in Real Sociedad’s Champions League last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain. The 26-year-old, who is on loan from Arsenal, sustained the injury to his left thigh during his side’s 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey quarter-final earlier this month. That sparked suggestions of a lengthy lay-off which could have even put his participation for Scotland at Euro 2024 this summer in doubt. However, he is only expected to miss between two and three weeks with the two-legged tie with PSG seen as a realistic target for a comeback. Tierney has been limited to 17 appearances in all competitions this season, after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the campaign. The issue saw him miss almost two months. In recent seasons, Tierney has been hampered by recurring injury issues and he underwent surgery on a knee injury in April 2022. Tierney confirmed earlier this month that he would not be ending his loan spell early to return to Arsenal. “Several people have asked me about this but the answer is no. I am definitely staying here (in January),” he told Spanish newspaper Noticias de Gipuzkoa: “Arsenal fans are great, they always gave me a lot of support. During the four years I was there, I will always be grateful to the fans.”

And all the others are Scottish 🤔 Double Standards me thinks, when Ché Adams scored that goal against Denmark to secure that 2-0 Win, don’t tell me you’s didn’t celebrate?? It’s an argument that won’t concern any of of us! Only S.Clarke, H.Barnes and J.Carver can decide / resolve But the lad is a Player and if he pulls on the Dark Blue for Scotland then that’s good enough for me and many others 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I read somewhere that they are waiting for the swelling to go down before they take scans of the injury to decipher the extent of the strain/tear/damage etc Fingers crossed it’s not too bad and that he’s not rushed back, as Real Sociedad’s other LB is also injured

Well the lad is as Scottish as - A.Gunn L.Cooper L.Dykes C.Adams J.Brown O.McBurnie