theabsentee

The fans have opened an appreciation thread about Leonard & Kieron Bowie 👌 Most seem confident Leonard is destined for the EPL http://www.thehotelend.co.uk/

🤣 McLean played in the back 4 partnered by Hanley today. Not saying he should be ever start there for Scotland but having versatile players like him is a real asset especially with only a 23 man squad

I much prefer Archie Gray😉

Think that's 2 hat tricks this month for him & still only 17, let's hope he is good enough to get game time in the SPL next season

No idea , all I know he has played at different age levels for both but has currently chose to play for us. The other English born Man Utd 18 year old centre back Jack Kingdon plays for us due to his dad apparently . What I have just read on the Man Utd forum is that currently it's Jack Fletcher of Darren's twin sons who is much higher rated, he is supposed to be exceptional but sadly & eager predictability he is the one who is currently playing for England.

Mom Armstrong, he has had a couple of poor games lately but was class tonight apparently, overall he is having a very good season.. Still got a big part to play for Scotland mostly from the bench. Adams injured again but expected back next week.

One to look out for hopefully🤞

Totally agree with everything you've written here 👌

Yeh it was, he also came across as a good character in the post match interview . Unless there's a dramatic loss of form or injury surely he goes to Germany. Adams ( 30 games, 10 goals, 4 assists) Dykes ( 30, 5, 0) Conway( 29, 8, 0) McBurnie(15, 4, 2) Nisbet ( 28, 5, 0) Hardie (30, 12, 4) Shankland ( 33, 24, 4) Brown & Christie aren't centre forwards so I haven't listed them & really hope Clarke doesn't consider them to be either! I'm not a stats man generally as players play at different levels & I wasn't a a fan even a couple of months ago but it's impossible to ignore Shankland when you take into consideration the average seasons most of his competitors are having. It's Adams & Shankland for me as if any established players squad place is under threat it should be Dykes though I know most of us love his attitude so let's hope he plays enough games & bags at least 2 or 3 goals before the end of the season to boost his confidence & make his selection justified.

Tierney & Hickey both fit is crucial come the summer. Yeh the fringe guys you mention all deserve starts or a good amount of minutes in the friendlies, i would especially like to see Christie played in a deeper role.

Warming to that idea myself & I'd previously not fancied Shankland due to the level he plays at. Depends on the game I reckon, against Germany I don't think so, better the work rate of Adams or Dykes, they can create space for Mctominay or McGinn on breaks forward though in games when we are on the front foot starting with Shankland could be the way to go.

Fred was & he spent plenty time on the United bench also sometimes due to Scott starting. Our Scott's a bit of a enigma especially at club level, he isn't good enough to dictate a game, doesn't always track back but he is very good at driving forward, great athletic, gets stuck in and is lethal in and around the box. One thing for sure is he will never be a defensive midfielder while there's a whole in his arse! Looks like the central defender experiment didn't work either. He is 27 now so let's hope all those alleged expert coaches have finally realised him limitations & will let him flourish in a role that suits him as a box to box midfielder or support striker though I'm still sure there's still time for him to be tried as a number 9! Wonder if it will be us or a club to inevitable try that out.

Nothing to do with it man, I love Scott as much as anybody but his isn't a complete enough midfielder to start regularly for them. As a impact sub when the game is stretched he is a serious asset for them , if he is happy with that role then he probably stays at United for a good while yet. Actually think him being a club supersub suits us just fine.

On another note, I was quite proud watching a draw & being a top seed yesterday but that was slightly dampened when I saw Israel & Bosnia where also top seeds. I haven't the patience anymore to investigate why myself but wtf have those 2 done to warrant being top seeds?

3 very nice potential away trips though guess we have to wait patiently for venues to be announced .

Yeh nice draw, definitely the best of the 4. All beautiful countries to visit & depending on the dates usually relatively cheap flights

For sure he can, he reads the game well, good passer , can tackle maybe not as well as Ryan Jack but certainly better than McGregor or Gilmour & he has bags of energy. His emergence in this role might unfortunately cost Ryan Jack or less likely McLean a squad place but like has been said it frees up a potential place for a extra offensive player.

Totally agree & he is playing really well in the deeper role. Not sure if he got a knock but he was taken off today after 56 minutes & fans saying they don't play at the same tempo without him in the team . Here's a fans opinion of him after the midweek game against West Ham. I know it's only a fan but if he keeps up this form up I would like Clarke to try him out probably next to McGregor as 2 sitting midfielders in Amsterdam. It could be a good dress rehearsal for the Germany game .

🤣 Yeh the reality

Huge step up for Bevan but just watched a interview with him, he is very level headed young man & he looks to have some pace & a cracking left peg.

Christie MOM from Bournemouth fans tonight, I watched about half a hour of the first half & he was quality playing in a deeper role.

Nobody says he is but I don't want us taking 6 centre backs when in all likelihood only 4 or 5 will get minutes & I'm including KT in the 5. If we are unlucky & have a couple of central defenders injured or suspended we would still have 3 starters & Hickey or McLean capable of doing a job for part of the game if necessary. I'd be much happier we had a extra offensive player on the bench than a extra defender , preferable a wide player like Barnes or Fraser .

Yeh mine too.

Yeh hope he does well. Though I don't think he works hard enough or is athletic enough to play for Celtic or Scotland currently.

Looks like he is unlikely to fulfil his exciting early potential. Think Celtic paid 3 million for him so it's not as great sign that they are willing to sell him for less.