Tartan Chris

Albania actually finished 2nd in 2016 qualifiers, ahead of Denmark and Serbia so fantastic stuff from them in that period.

Really? Cyprus away is not easier than Bulgaria at home particularly as for that game you'd like to think some of the better players might not get injured for that period.... Basically any away win to a team better than likes of San Marino, Andorra etc is a good away win to me in this period. Let's put it this way Cyprus aren't any worse than Kazhakstan given they are level on points in the group. Guess it's simplistic but so far for me Clarke has won all the games he was expected to and all the games he's lost he was expected to so very much par so far either if you can obviously adjust that lower for individual games which many are doing. He gets judged March 2020, simple as that.

It's very difficult to qualify for a World cup nowadays I'm afraid. Just group winners go through and then if you do well and get second you're unseeded in the play offs and there's usually tournament teams like Portugal, Croatia and Italy in that. So yes need to be in pot 3 as a minimum. Interested if any pot 3 team actually made the last World cup from europe, Iceland perhaps? Then you have to hope you draw the weakest pot 1 team which in the past has been a country like Romania. Basically it's a very long shot. More of a chance if you combine the nations league again with world cup qualifying although seems Scotland might be in a harder group this time?

Serbs are a really funny team sometimes. It's a mentality problem with them I think. They drew 0-0 away to Portugal but then lost them 4-2 at home. Also lost 5-0 in Ukraine. That said you look at Mitrovic and Tadic upfront and also creativity in midfield and there's no way whatever back 4 is put out in any potential match up is keeping a clean sheet v that. Trouble is Norway are looking pretty good aswell in last six months. Got Lagerback who knows how to get teams to tournaments and they have Odegaard and Haaland in brilliant form. Would still prefer to play them v Serbia but looking like another glorious failure to me. And of course need to get past the first play off although I'd fancy a win v Bulgaria or Israel at home.

See him a lot on EFL highlights, didn't realise he was actually Scottish. Forest Green are well placed to go up into league 1.

McGinn hit perfect cross for the goal. If Mulgrew isn't around I'd put him on the free kicks around the box.

Yeah he was a key player for Leeds from about 2008 yet only got called up for first cap in I think 2011. Of course Leeds were lower than they are now but still should've been called up earlier. Then in fairness he was regular but got bad injury on first day of 2014-15 season and missed pretty much all of the euro qualifying.

Who would be your three cbs Dark Knight?

Will be in the next squad for sure. How's he play then? Box to box, number 10 type midfielder or more deep lying?

It is very difficult to qualify for a WC these days regardless of how qualifying is structured. You can see how difficult Scotland is making it to get to a euros where 24 teams can qualify, with World cup places are reduced by 50%. You factor in mainstays like England, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium (for this generation) etc, Scotland is going to be in one of those world cup qualifying groups. Let's remember last time out Holland and Italy couldn't qualify. Might be more hope when the dreaded 48 team World cup starts but think europe isn't getting that many extra places compared to likes of Africa and Asia so won't be that much easier.

Bit late but saw some highlights of QPR-Reading and Kelly made two good saves from one on ones. QPR are on a nice little run currently and aren't conceding too many so I'd give him starts next month and see if he can make the number 1 spot his own.

It's an interesting one. I certainly wouldn't call him up for the November games even if he scores a goal or two in the next games before the break. I was actually disappointed Wales called up Tom Lawrence (Welsh dad so interest there) after the episode with Derby recently, they have better attackers than Scotland so he wasn't even needed.

BBC gave Fleck MOTM. He did his job well and got forward when he could. Tierney unused sub (will surely start their next league game). McBurnie currently having his warm down in the hotel bar in the corner of their ground.

Dark Knight, what were your feelings before the Holland play off? Total write off? This will be tough to get through but more chance than that play off round, even after the excellent first leg win.

Well guys like Robbo and McGinn do turn up pretty much every game and I'd say those two are better in their position than what NI have, maybe McTominay aswell although more closer call between him and Steven Davis.

I remember him randomly been signed by Liverpool and Klopp sticking him upfront last ten minutes for a game. Was a decent prospect a few years back (capped by England in a friendly) but as said had loads of personal troubles in last few years. Seems like change of environment has helped him but I have my doubts aswell to this.

I was sure I read a while ago the actual final for these were supposed to be taking place at neutral venue e.g. you play the first one at Hampden and if you win that you then play at a stadium in Germany, Holland or France. That would be far more logical as then TA would actually know the venue rather than this ridiculous last minute dash.

Like so many over last decade, he was called up much later than he should've been. First got capped in 2011. He was already key player and assist king at Leeds for a few seasons. He also got a bad injury on his debut at Hull on opening day of 2014 season so missed I think all of the 2016 euros group. Given how tight that turned out to be mayb a set piece from him would've made a difference in the final shake up. Yeah last two years he's actually played very well at club level for Villa and West Ham but fallen out of favour for the national team so something that could've happened a year ago when he asked to be left out for personal reasons. Goal in Zagreb obvious highlight.

Michael O'Neill has done an amazing job really. They've always had a solid core of defenders to pick from but really their forward options are much worse than a decade ago when Healy was in his pomp. To qualify for one tournament and get play offs in the other two campaigns is amazing consistancy.

Racism aside, Bulgaria look woeful even on home turf. Would be happy with Israel aswell. I assume if Romania go through Norway come into play? Edit: Ah seen it's likely to be Norway-Serbs in other play off.

I was flicking through the scores the other day and noticed Alcocorn were 3 up at Sporting Gijon at half time. Is Jack Harper playing much there? Given lack of updates on him this season I assume he isn't.

I think I've said consistantly since draw was made Cyprus could easily be a Georgia style banana skin away tie particularly if there are numerous call offs. It wouldn't shock me at all if that is a draw or even worse. Yes I would expect to beat Kazakhstan at home. Edit: The point I was trying to make is after the horrific first game I can't remember too many on here expecting to finish 3rd so Clarke would do o.k to at least salvage that if he can take 4 points from last two games.

Disappointing to me McBurnie was "unavailable" for these games. Him scoring a couple tonight could've really got him going at international level and pretty much nailed down the lone striker role.

I've said before I don't get the McGregor hype either. McTom-McGinn simply has to be the two infront of the defence and then you have more forward thinking midfielder with a goal and a forward pass in him. Whether that's Armstrong (really needs more minutes at club level so hopefully loan in January), Christie or recall for Tom Cairney.

Think I've asked this before but does 3rd in group mean Pot 3 for World cup groups or is that done on the world ranking? Guess them looking to do a nations league for World cup qualfying maybe means it won't matter a huge amount and might make more sense to stay lower ranked.