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Tartan Chris

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Everything posted by Tartan Chris

  1. Hope Hickey can make it in some form although not promising at all he's apparently had an injury setback at Brentford as you'd have liked to have seen him get a few starts in their run in. What's O'Donnell up to now.... Patterson really struggled and isn't going to be playing much at Everton so that's become a problem position again when it looked sorted 18 months ago.
  2. It's a shame this game is up first. The current midfield options are the best for probably 30 years but Germany had generational talents in Writz and Musiala which puts things in perspective. And Kroos returning with his vast experience will also help at key points in a match. I worry it's going to be that classic Scotland tournament scenario of giving everything v the top seeds just to lose narrowly or scramble a draw...and then have little left for the next two games e.g. France 98 or even the last Euros. Wales had the right idea last time. Helped they had Italy last but they dug in to get a draw v Swiss and then peaked v Turkey in their must win game and they had 4 points right there and that was all they needed to get through.
  3. Go Spain 2010-12 and just don't play a striker. Given how McTominay scores his goals he's arguably the best finisher in the whole squad so him as most advanced player and then McGinn-Ferguson behind with Gilmour-McGregor as the pivot, I'd be interested to see that in action for a game or two.
  4. Any idea what's happened to Ross Stewart at Southampton? I thought he was getting fit a few months ago but don't think he's even played for them yet? A shame as from what I saw at Sunderland he was developing nicely and could've been a serious option to start at CF but he'll have to wait for the next tournament cycle now.
  5. When are those games supposed to be played if World cup qualifying is during all of 2025? Please don't tell me they'll be four games in June again as that was a nonsense last time having to play three nations league matches after the Ukraine defeat.
  6. Ah 12 groups is it? They're completely desperate for an Italy or Holland not to miss yet another World cup!πŸ˜‚ Even though it's smaller groups, 3-4 extra places with the 48 team nonsense and also the nations league play offs to fall back on. 12 groups does mean 9-12 seeds won't be that strong so aim needs to be to have a decent nations group and get into the 2nd seeds spot which should be realistic given the huge progress in last three years.
  7. Poland should be a realistic four points to avoid relegation which is the realistic aim. Think likes of Modric and Perisic are retiring at Euro 2024 so while they'll still have a very good team inevitably they'll be a bit of transition. This is a good group with some top away trips so can't ask any more than that. Also seems a few in these nations groups then draw each other again in the qualifiers. Poland would be a very good top seed to get as they won't get near qualifying once Lewandowski retires and he might call it a day after the euros.
  8. End of the day you have to call them up and see how they integrate. ROI and Wales do it and both had good successes with majority of picks. I was very sceptical about Adams declaring on eye of last euros but barely missed a squad since which shows his commitment. Loads of negativity with Gunn but again proven his worth already in what would've been a huge problem position without him being interested. Elliot Anderson called up but then pulled out so not interested....so yeah "f*** him." Barnes with his quality gets into the first 11 in the long run although doubt Clarke will tinker too much in the run up given Ferguson has been excellent in Serie A last 18 months but can only get five minute cameos.
  9. Shame Doak picked up an injury in December, he'd have played a few prem games in the last two months when you see the impact Conor Bradley has made.
  10. More like they can't afford the 25-30m Arsenal would want. I presume he has one year left given he signed for Arsenal in 2019? Could see likes of Villa, West Ham, Fulham and perhaps Newcastle all being in for him.
  11. He's pretty much started every game for La Real since he's been there. Was just out for two months from October-winter break so no different to his Arsenal days until they signed Zinchenko. Will be starting for them home and away v PSG fitness permitting. They are comfortably top 6, last 16 of CL (coming through a very tricky group so they'll give PSG a decent game) and progressing in Copa Del Rey so plenty for him to play for out there.
  12. That's a shame. Last report had him down as "Scotland under 21 player." He'll be playing in the prem in 18 months I think so might not be a loss now but could be in a few years once some of the current regulars are in their early 30s. Don't really want to mess that position up again like in the late 90s when Gary Mac, Collins and McCall all got old at the same time and retired within a few years. As much as I love Clarke he has that age old Scottish tendency of not wanting to put that many young players in the squad compared to what Wales do.
  13. He's there for the full season isn't he? Can't see Arsenal recalling him this month. Beyond that I think Villa might come in for him as both their FBs are 30 + and they've been trying to move Digne on to Saudi land for last six months. Emery signed him for Arsenal and he'd fit well into the formation they play I think as it dosen't require the full back to come into midfield as much, more up and down the wing which Tierney excels at. Villa also played a back 3 a few times away from home. Would be a good move to continue playing CL as he's done this season.
  14. Conway just scored v West Ham again. Good strikers goal. Would really like to see him and Hackney in the euros squad just to freshen things up a little and gave them experience. However we know Clarke's loyalty to a few members and think I read the squad sizes are being downsized back down to 23?
  15. Wales were in the euros group with Swiss last time. They drew 1-1 and then beat Turkey 2-0 and got through as one of the 3rd place sides. That has to be the formula, put everything in to the Hungary game, win that and get a draw off Swiss and that should be enough to get a historic knock out place and then who knows what could happen...
  16. Nearly bang on the money!
  17. Hungary did well in the last euros, draw v France (albeit at "home") and then they were about 5 minutes from beating Germany in Munich. Since then they've had good results in nations league and won the qualifying group so they are a legitimate pot 2 team now. Would rather Germany just beat Swiss and Hungary but that's far from certain given how mediocre their results have been for the last few years.
  18. The group Belgium are in is ridiculously easy compared to the others so I'd say that's the kindest draw.
  19. Memories of France 98 playing the first game. Not a bad group. Hungary and the Swiss are hard to beat teams but you'd rather play them and some of the others when you look at the group Albania and Austria are in. Trick is not to put everything in the first game and then come out flat for the other two. 4 points is the formula here and it can be done.
  20. Made a pretty tricky group relatively straightforward, more of that please for the World cup qualies in 18 months. Only disappointment is not being 1st as that would've been a real statement but ultimately Spain won the games they needed to home and away.
  21. No chance whatsoever. He was done with club football for about 2-3 years but hung on to play in a World cup he was about 20% fit for. Wales had a shocker v Armenia but other than that they're very solid in Cardiff and have a knack of winning critical games at home. Think everyone would be happy taking 4 points off Croatia and Turkey in a future qualifying group at Hampden.
  22. Can't believe how jammy they've been in the play off draw yet again. Somehow got two home ties once more so four in 12 months! Finland and Poland both very beatable infront of their home fans, Poland been terrible away in the qualifiers so keep Lewandowski quiet and they should go through.
  23. All they need to do is show commitment just like Che Adams has done. It's easy to commit three months before start of a major tournament. Everyone then wants to see the same commitment for those away qualifiers in Israel and Armenia, Che has certainly proven that despite initial scepticism. Very negative reaction when Gunn finally declared aswell but amazing what a few clean sheets can do for perception.... The existing squad just want more good players to play with and Harvey Barnes certainly fits into that category.
  24. Going by Clarke's comments only realistic one is Harvey Barnes. He's at the age now where it's very unlikely England will look at him but he's still pretty good and been a decent scorer from out wide at prem level for quite a few seasons so would boost the squad nicely. Anderson pulling out very quickly said it all. I assume he's injured currently as hasn't been involved with Newcastle for a few weeks. Livramento will be part of under 21s and be part of England cycle from 2024 onwards so I think he's made his choice already.
  25. Whatever happened to Fraser Hornby? I remember 3-4 years ago there was desperation at CF and so people were pining their hopes on him due to scoring loads for Everton under 20s. Then he moved to Belgium and I think France and heard little since. Also reminds me of that guy at Malaga who was also a forward, Jack something? Those guys were the hopes of the late 2010s along with Ollie Burke for the forward positions.
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