My choices...
GKs - Marshall, Gordon, Doohan
CBs - Gallagher, Tierney, McKenna, Considine, McTominay, Porteous
RBs - O'Donnell, Palmer
LBs - Robertson, Taylor
CMs - McGinn, McGregor, Jack, McLean, Christie, Armstrong
FWs - Dykes, Forrest, Fraser, Hornby
Of the more unlikely; Doohan because the other options are back-ups and he's the first choice for the under 21s. With the age of our established goalies and the role of the 3rd goalie then we might as well give him the experience.
I think Gallagher, Tierney, McTominay (although I'd have him in midfield competing for Jack's spot) and McKenna are certainties. Considine did nothing wrong in his outings. Assuming form stays consistent I'd pick him and Porteous of Hibs who I like. Both are back ups due to the likely 3 at the back.
O'Donnell seems certain. Palmer is likely. There's not much else that comes to mind. I'd like to try someone out here but no-one springs to mind.
Taylor because we probably need a 3rd LB in the squad with Tierney and Robertson likely to play every minute.
The midfielders are difficult because there's a lot of options. There are good players with potential but they are running out of time really. I think Gilmour, Ferguson, Campbell, McCrorie, etc will likely get their chance after the Euros, mostly due to strength in the positions where they'd need to break in. Others I've chosen have less in front of them. Fleck is unlucky. I just can't pick 8 midfielders for 3 (4 if McTominay plays CB) positions.
Forwards again are difficult and this could easily change if someone suddenly hits form at club level and starts firing in the goals; maybe coinciding with friendlies in the spring. Again though, got to expect form then will be around as it is now. Of the positions in the team, I think Dykes has the least back up which tempts me into picking Hornby but he'd need to do well in France all season. That being the choice is difficult between a McBurnie short of confidence (it seems), Paterson, Shankland and others that haven't really impressed, or the experience of a player like Naismith who is a good partner up front, or the pace of Burke but will he ever get enough football? That also goes for Griffiths. That being the case, I've opted for Hornby. He's still to feature so it might be a long shot but his style seems the type that he could act as back up for Dykes. That puts him ahead of Nisbet for me who is also untested at senior level but who is in form at club level. This last forward place could go many ways as Dykes, Forrest, Fraser seem like definite picks, with Christie as well if you consider him a forward. I'd have him in contention for AM or FW.
Formation
...............GK..............
......RCB CB LCB......
RWB DM DM LWB
...............AM..................
..........FW.......STR..........
I think that kind of formation has suited us best so far. I wouldn't be averse to trying out 4-4-2 with McTominay regarded as a midfielder again. Up front I'd play little and large.
I made a long list of 50 players and then whittled them down to get this list as an exercise. I don't expect to get them all right but I think 17 of them are definite picks...all bar Doohan, Considine, Porteous, Palmer, Taylor, and Hornby.
