Tartan Chris

Rico Henry is their regular LWB so he isn't getting in ahead of him. He'll play as RWB I reckon.

Who else was he linked with, Arsenal were sort of mentioned.

Strachan just took too long to weed out his favourites. By end of 2017 he had it right with the results and style of play but having two full campaigns and not making play offs once did against him. The issue was having McLeish mark 2 inbeween otherwise it would've been a pretty seamless transition upwards when you look at the progress that was made during 2017.

In premier league terms Scotland is a Southampton team tbh. Proper mid table with some really good results and performances before tailing off and hitting poor run of form with same group of players. Ultimately the standard now is to make the euros. Can't just be keeping a manager because they qualified for it once. Made that error before keeping Craig Brown post 2000 when some rebuilding could've been done. Getting through in the top 2 this time will also show improvement regardless of nations league performance. For World cup 2026 have to see what the qualifying group is like.

He summed it right in his pre match press conference, needs to make the next euros to keep his job given his contract is up whenever this campaign finishes.

So do Wales. Brennan Johnson one of most rated young players in UK currently on account of his Nottingham Forest form and they rejected 15m bid from Brentford in January and that was good decision. Likes of Dan James and Harry Wilson inconsistant at club level but both solid internationals now who can chip in with goals. Both mid 20s. Most impressive and ironically one thing that Giggs did well before his implosion was trusting the young lads at the back...could've easily stuck with likes of Ashley Williams, James Chester and Neil Taylor for another two years but weeded them out and gave regular game time to Joe Rodon, Mepham and Ampadu who are all early 20s still so that's a very strong unit to continue to build from given many teams can get far in international football by not conceding much. They will of course miss Bale when he's gone though given the aura he brings. Ramsey less so as he actually barely played much in their euro 2020 qualifiers and is declining force on the pitch now. Probably a good time to get them in qualifying groups will be 2026 onwards I think but they'll remain competitive with the infrastructure they've put in place over last decade.

Pretty much that, compare Ward's performance at last euros to Marshall although he hasn't actually started their last two competitive matches. Kieffer Moore also a better targetman option than Dykes, again based on impact in euros. Roberts would probably get in as RWB until Patterson gets fit and proves himself at Everton. It's right overall Wales aren't miles ahead....however they've been playing 3-5-2/5-3-2 since about 2007 so players have grown up playing it and they've always been better at identifying young players coming through in english game, calling them up and then capping them early. Already given a few starts to Johnson and Sorba Thomas yet Jacob Brown is bench warming in all these games despite hitting double figures comfortably in the championship so that's one example.

One thing I do wonder though....maybe rotate away from Hampden a bit if that's possible (probably not). Hampden still has its moments but starting to lose a few too many key games for my liking when you look at the two in the euros. Ukraine infront of 60k at Celtic park would've been interesting added dynamic for both teams. Saw someone ask on another forum why Wales weren't playing at Principality stadium. Obviously not watch them much as think they've played one friendly there in last decade! Could've got double the crowd and more finance but their record is very very good at the Cardiff City stadium. It's that extra 5% they get that clearly makes difference to get them to major tournaments.

I agree with that. Watched it and Ukraine really should've scored 2-3 and had a penalty. If they'd gone 1 down think Ukraine would've held out comfortably. When it's your time though and they have confidence of making the last two euros so as a squad they know how to get over the line. Need to get that mentality by making next euros and then 2026 should be realistic given europe gets I think 2-3 extra spots.

Yeah that's a good idea in fairness. Just the way the draw works given it was same in europe for the euro play offs but BCD nullified things.

No different to the keeper flapping at McGregor goal though. Or indeed for the McGinn sitter ten minutes before. Wales were always going to be big favourites in this section once the March game got cancelled especially with home advantage. Ukraine trying their best but they really needed to get the first goal as now Wales will sit back and counter attack.

Ramsey actually missed pretty much all of their euro 2020 qualifying campaign, pretty sure he only played their final match when he scored twice v Hungary so he's a bit like Bale, he tends to only get himself fit for their big matches and we saw at Rangers he's a declining force now. Wales backline is pretty young still and they really don't concede that many goals at home so there will remain a structure there to grind out home wins to keep them competitive in groups. Obviously Bale is their talisman so they'll miss him when he calls it a day for sure.

They know how to play the 3-5-2 much better. Been playing it since about 2006. They do have some good youngsters coming through so not sure they'll quite fall off the cliff once Bale calls it a day, Brennan Johnson had a fantastic season for Forest and will probably do well in premier league. Remember the fuss about trying to call up his old man in late 90s? (David Johnson).

ROI just never seem to score any goals despite all the comfortable in possesion stuff. Would be disappointed with anything less than 4 points off them. Home win v Armenia and that's a strong position to win the group.

I did look at the euro 2020 qualifying groups and pretty much every time who was 3rd was in the play off in some form so assumed it was mix of 3rd place finishes/nations league. Regardless 2nd place in the euro 2024 group should be the target given team have just done it in WCG even if it didn't mean anything in the end.

Can get play off spot for finishing 3rd in actual euros group though. And 2nd place means no play off required. To go from 2nd to 4th would be poor and Clarke wouldn't keep his job in that scenario.

Trouble is you look at Robertson last night. Could barely move last 20 minutes so all the games caught up with him in the end. Not sure starting him every 3 days in June is worth it especially with a smaller prize in play. Shame Tierney isn't around otherwise could actually play him in that position for once. Or perhaps shift Hickey over to left and see if he can make more of an impact.

Finished on 23 points in the end so I think that was best qualification total since the 90s when you take into account euro 2008 qualifying had 7 team groups so more points in play. Even a draw in Copenhagen wouldn't have been enough to take it to final game if I've done the back of fag packet maths correctly, bit difficult to win a group when number one seeds don't drop a point until final game. Not sure if anyone else finished on 23 points in european section and not made the world cup, Sweden? At least this squad have shown it can take 12 points off bottom two teams and 4 points off pot 2 and 4 was good effort aswell. That's what you need to do to qualify for future tournaments.

This is going to be very anticlimactic now. Ca't see it being a big crowd for Armenia unless they put the tickets included in yesterday's game. I know it was the key to last qualification but should be aiming for top 2 in the euros group regardless. If not time's up for Clarke. Would like to see Stewart get a run of starts upfront in this and hopefully he can chip in with some goals.

Struggled tonight, needs more time to settle in at international level. Would be easy to bring back S O'D for nations league games but Hickey needs run of games to get into groove as he obviously has talent for what he's producing at Bologna so might aswell stick with him against weaker opposition before Patterson returns in September.

The technically gifted players will still be around post 2024 so no short term danger. Clarke will get the euros campaign and rightly so. If he dosen't qualify then I'd look to make the change as 2026 world cup in America/Canada/Mexico would be a great one to make, think europe gets 3 extra spots?

Wales are much better defensively in terms of shape. Will be a low scoring game, probably go to extra time and pens unless Bale smashes one in from 25 yards which is probably the alternative script.

The CBs are interchangable bar Tierney who obviously needs to play there to get him in the team. Hanley- Just a big lump who's terrified whenever anyone runs at him, look at him trying to kick out at that blonde lad who ran away from him late on in the game. Some poor heading from the crosses he did get on the end of late on aswell when playing as emergency CF. Cooper- Can't say I've ever been that impressed with him playing for NT but will continue to get called up while he remains premier league regular. McKenna- Playing a draining match on Sunday afternoon pretty much ruled out a start for him given he wouldn't have been involved in the preparation much. Should get a run of starts now given he will also be prem regular next season unless Forest buy loads of CBs. McTominay- Usual pros and cons to where he plays. He was miles better in midfield tonight. Hendry- Surprised he didn't start given he played well end of last year.

End of the day Clarke started pretty much every player people wanted to see. Hickey came in....and struggled. Gilmour just couldn't get into it. McTominay started in position he's started in for vast majority of last 18 months. Dykes was terrible and really has outlived his use, should not be starting key games anymore. Adams tried his best and will chip in with goals but again on periphery of game. Robbo looked like he sunk 10 pints in last 48 hours...oh wait. Tierney big miss tonight.

S*** performance really. Dykes shouldn't be starting anymore. Adams tried his best but again feeding on scraps. Not a good performance all over the pitch really, Ukraine deserved winners. Team really peaked end of last year with the wins v Austria, Israel and Denmark so don't think the six month break helped at all....but then you remember all Ukraine is going through and their obvious lack of preparation and it's a futile excuse. Probably won't have a better chance of making the world cup with the potential path, just have to concentrate on making euros regularly although nations league matches are going to be some comedown now.