Tartan Chris

Yep say what you like about Clarke but in qualifiers situation he's basically the new Craig Brown (excluding 2002) in consistently getting team into contention for tournaments now and getting on similar run Wales are and in past ROI. I'm very confident play off insurance won't be needed and can qualify automatically this time as getting into pot 2 and avoiding likes of France and England is huge for balance of group. Aside from the Ukraine defeat in June it's been a really good year since the flat euros performances. Likes of Patterson, Hendry, Hickey and Adams have all broken into the team and freshened things up and now squad has serious competition for places beyond central midfield. Hopefully this De Zebri guy can get Gilmour going again and then it's not just a case of qualifying for euro 2024 but actually having a serious go at getting into last 16....

Number one CB for me now aswell.

Brilliant stuff! Promotion and play off spot all in one especially with patched up team.

Hendry needs to be starting every time imo. Him deciding to move to Belgium was cracking decision for his career, will have to see how he gets on in Italy. Decent goal threat aswell. Toss of coin for other CB if back 4 remains but Clarke will surely go back to 5 when Robertson is fit again.

Need to wrap Hickey and Taylor in cotton wool as Ukraine will certainly be targeting their attacks down the sides now especially the left. When was the last time a serious game was played without Robbo and Tierney? Need to treat this like Serbia away. Probably the best composure shown by a Scotland NT in big pressure fixture for decades, no crowd back then of course. 60/40 Ukraine I'd say.

Really? I thought it was just if teams in their nations group don't finish top 2 in the actual qualifiers. No certainty Hungary would finish top 2, they were 3rd in last euros group with Wales pipping them on final day. Real farce if you get relegated from nations league group and still can get in through play offs.

Surely USA would fancy a game given they're playing England and Wales in actual group? Could play it at one of the London grounds and then they could fly to Qatar straight after.

Aside from Hickey starting would honestly keep it same. Keep likes of Fraser and perhaps Gilmour fresh for Ukraine away where possession and quick counter attacks are going to be key to get that crucial draw.

Hard to believe RB was a really weak position about 18 months ago. Liam Palmer for some of qualifiers and then O'Donnell who always gave 100% but you can see different with mid table prem players now. Just hope Patterson injury isn't too bad and he at least can be available for the euro games in March 2023.

It's a tough one as I thought Adams aside from those missed chances was really good at hold up play and creating space. Also should've had an assist from that botched Armstrong header. Away from home you need to get moments on counter attack so it's more of a struggle with Dykes if he isn't holding it up too well. Of course could start both but that would mean going to 5atb. Not sure that's needed given how well defence has done tonight. Just win the ROI game and see what situation is, you never know Armenia could get something off Ukraine who are a much poorer team without Zinchenko.

Top second half that, vibes of Denmark. 4 points and group is won and place off place secured.

Minutes applause is silly. It should be silence to befit her service or nothing at all given the period of mourning is now over. I did like the lone piper idea during the minute, that would quell the more rebellious in the crowd at least. Wasn't there silence when Diana passed, she had nothing to do with the Scottish game bar the players wanting to watch the funeral so game got moved to the Sunday IIRC.

Just for fun a nightmare group for England: Spain England Sweden Turkey Northern Ireland Given they're pretty likely to be relegated from nations league over next week they'll be no pathway for backdoor route into play offs so they'd have to finish top 2 to qualify.

England being in pot 2 for once is a sight (of course they'll draw Hungary). I read just now Russia unsurprisingly been banned again so was hoping that might be enough to get in pot 2 but appears not. From above I'd be more than o.k getting either Czechs or Austria as number one seed (Hungary are actually a tough team to break down so they wouldn't be as easy as everyone would assume). Croatia may be the weakest of heavyweights as surely Modric can't go on forever.... Pot 2 is actually arguably as strong with England and France potentially in there, very tough to make it automatically if either are in the group. Norway aswell is one to avoid with Odegaard and Haaland, they surely have to qualify eventually. Actually would be fine with Wales. Who knows if Bale will carry on and tbh the squad they named for this round of nations league games dosen't look that great, plenty of championship/league 1 players in it. Bosnia aswell, Dzeko and Pjanic well into their 30s now. Amazed Sweden are in pot 3 now, good they'll be avoided. Lots of banana skins in pot 4. Would prefer to be in 6 team group just to get some more points on the board early if the fixtures work out o.k. Will be interesting draw. Top 2 must be the target this time. Achieved that for world cup group even if it didn't work out in the end.

I wondered with that surname, can remember Craig Conway perhaps getting a cap from a decade ago in the rotten Levein period although presume no relation. Wiki still lists him as English currently... Chris Martin still around, must be about 35-36 by now. And Kal Naismith in their squad, was great for Luton last season so developed into a very good championship full back although given his age would be a very unlikely call up.

At club level he's never been the same since he did his ankle ligaments in late 2019. Dosen't really score much anymore for Villa and everyone knows his style isn't calm and controlled possesion. I think he'll be left on the bench at Leicester next weekend, him getting subbed regularly in games indicates this.

Zinchenko gave a good demonstration of it at Hampden. More relevant example but Graham Alexander was a full back for years at Preston when he first started getting called up and then was playing DM at nearly 40 for Burnley in premier league, Christian Dailly aswell might've played some games in midfield, can't remember. A few examples but rather Hickey and Patterson got chances at FB/WB before the euro qualifiers start.

Brentford play 3-5-2 usually, just lost their three first choice CBs so temporarily moved to a back 4 to fit Ben Mee in who's more used to that system at Burnley. Everton started the seaosn playing 3-5-2. McKenna starting every week in premier league at Forest in a back 3. So easy to make counter arguments aswell.

How good was Patterson today? I can see why Pickford got MOTM with the saves but thought he nulified Luiz Diaz very well. Many Everton fans would have him as their best player so far. Some interesting selections for Clarke coming up given Hickey has slotted in comfortably to Brentford so far so two more starting premier league FBs in addition to Robbo and Tierney. Think we'll be seeing a big player left on the bench for the triple header.

No need to be calling up likes of McBurnie when Stewart is the man on the rise in that league. Should be getting starts this month in the nations league.

Brown's been unlucky not to feature more so far, double figures for Stoke last season so he's improving at championship level. Really should be tried a bit more in the three games next month.

If he was Welsh they'd be calling him up and capping him so yes don't see why he can't get called in September. Going to take a while to break into Newcastle with all that is happening there but him getting minutes in league cup is very positive. I assume he'll go out on loan to championship club in next few days. Just seen Bologna lost tonight, anyone know if Lewis Ferguson has played? I looked at their first few games and he wasn't involved so don't know if he's injured or they're giving him time to settle in, would be easier if Hickey was still around.

What a move for Lewis Ferguson! I metioned him a while ago as someone I thought should get some games for NT as his figures for Aberdeen last two years very solid. Mihajlovic obviously liked working with Hickey so wy not coach another talented young Scots player and see what happens? Hopefully Clarke's aerial actually works for Serie A this season to keep a check on Doig aswell.

Leighton was amazing in that Brazil game, they'd have scored 5 nae problem. One incredible save to tip a Ronaldo shot round the post from close range. Less so in Morocco game so Goram with his steady presence would've probably done better in that situation perhaps.

Great keeper, very complex character (but that's for another time). R.I.P. What was the issue with him not going to the 98 world cup? Injury like McCoist or did he just get dropped for off field issues as odd he was first choice at euro 96 and then didn't make the squad for France so assume it was personal stuff getting in the way. Quite liked that random Motherwell team he was part of in the late 90s. Him, Shaun Teale, John Spencer, Pat Nevin, Don Goodman, Lee McCulloch, Kevin Twaddle....turned over the Old Firm a few times and were unlucky not to make europe in the 99/00 season.