DesiScotsman

Was always going to be an uphill battle after the 1st leg and then conceding an early goal in the 2nd leg pretty much put the tie beyond doubt. At this stage of the season, that’s the most important part. Of course seeing SJM captaining and potentially winning a European trophy would have been really nice but due to our recent bad luck with injuries at a terrible time, then I’d rather he was given the night off.

This is the only grey area that I don’t know what Clarke is going to do for that RWB role. Does he show faith in one of Ralston/McCrorie/Johnston to step up or does he look to one of the present mainstay players in the squad to fill in for the time being in that role?

If it’s a toss up between him & Forrest then I’d opt for Doak every time. Just a pity he got injured at a bad time when he was getting the odd occasional appearance for Liverpool under Klopp and would have no doubt played a part in our remaining qualifiers back in November as well as these recent friendly games against Netherlands & Northern Ireland. If he’s fit and ready to play by the time the Euros come around then could be a very good option to call upon from the bench.

Moyes has said in the past that he would be interested in the job. Failing to get him if he’s let say at another EPL club by then & doing reasonably well, then McInnes would be the choice although part of me thinks he will want to have another proper crack at managing in the English Championship again in the future after his woeful Bristol City experience. Although having said all that, I don’t think Clark will call it a day after the Euros even if we have a dismal showing like the last one. Think he deep down really wants to take us to a first World Cup in this millennium, similar to how he ended our major tournament qualification hoodoo.

Some cracking designs. Quite tempted to order 1 or 2 to take with me to Germany.

That’ll be a first considering the way he’s managed him and a few other Utd players this season fitness wise. I’m just glad McTom isn’t playing tonight. Let him heal properly rather than slightly.

I’d be surprised if Tierney is still playing by then or even at the high level he currently is. Fantastic player but just a pity he’s so injury prone. Hopefully a couple of the youngsters mentioned in the above posts kick on and fulfil their potential so they can stake their claim in the senior setup. I’m pretty sure we will also have a couple of players that no one has ever heard of just now that will have broken through and being part of the senior setup by then. Also who knows in terms of the likes of Quansah, Livramento & Anderson haven’t got their competitive caps for England by then and decide to do a Che Adams/Angus Gunn & decide to opt to play for us in the end?

Outstanding achievement. Especially when you consider who the previous winners of this award have been. Very well done to him.

I agree until I read the below article: https://www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/11095/13117105/euro-2024-uefa-considering-squad-announcement-delay-amid-england-and-scotland-fixture-congestion It is also within the existing UEFA rules that players can be replaced in squads any time up to the tournament's opening match so long as there is medical proof that they have an injury preventing them from playing. So if any player was to pick up an injury in the Finland game, they can be replaced after the squads have been submitted prior to the Germany game.

Yeah it’s midnight that day so literally two hours after the Finland friendly concludes that the squads must be submitted over to UEFA. Although it was reported a month ago that both ourselves and England asked for the squad submission deadline to be delayed but it seems like it was rejected by UEFA.

Blimey, didn't know he was eligible for Scotland. Not too sure what to make of him. Sometimes looks good and composed on the ball but can have the odd occasional brain fart moment. Early days still I suppose.

I can’t remember him saying that but maybe he did at the time? Of course that can’t happen now & it’ll be mad if he did stick to his guns because we’ve had some injuries to that squad of players. Some are definitely ruled out (Patterson, Ferguson) & some are still rated doubtfully unsure if they will be available by then (Hickey, Armstrong). Agree, I’d like to see some fresh new faces in the side, particularly those two MLS based players (Gauld & Morgan) to see if they can cut it at international level. We will never know unless it gets tried which is a good test to do in these friendlies. One other player that you haven’t mentioned in your post & someone I’d be very tempted to call up in spate of these injuries is Danny Armstrong from Kilmarnock. He looks a really good player & seems like he’d slot in well into this setup. Won’t be surprised if there’s a English Championship club or two that are in for him this summer. Again, guess we will need to wait and see when the squad is announced for these games later this month.

I wonder for these games if Clarke is actually going to select his 26 players that he plans to take with him to Germany or if he will select his guaranteed 19/20 players the are the certainties (i.e. McGinn, Robertson, Gunn, Gilmour, Adams, McGregor, Christie etc) and the remaining 6/7 spots will be decided during that training camp & these two friendly games?

Good news about Adams. Schar is a big loss to Switzerland if he is out. Shaqiri also injured I hear? I don’t know the full extent on what the injury front looks like for our opponents this summer? If Szoboszlai or Orban get injured then that’s a very huge blow for Hungary.

Seemed like he did the business for Celtic today 😂

Opinions I suppose which everyone is entitled to but Armstrong would be a no bad shout at RWB (obviously rated doubtful with this injury so don’t know if he will make it). I rate him but I know you don’t which is fine as it’s a forum and we all have our own opinions. But again, like you mentioned in your initial post regarding when Burley was deployed in this role back in France 98, a RWB doesn’t have to be a defender.

That’s what I thought too but word down there is that he’s heading to Italy this summer after the Euros. The manager could be hinting at both the Euros & his club future thereafter. Either way, his exclusion from the squad means at least it’s one player we don’t have to worry about getting an injury on the last day of his clubs season.

There’s been rumours flying around this week that he’s wanted by Udinese this summer. They have the same owners.

Good player back in his day but blimey I don’t want to see a 52 year old potentially up against Leroy Sane/Jamal Musiala

I’ve never seen Hendry play right back before although he does seem to have the attributes to maybe do a job there. Would need to see it live rather than guessing about it. I think with the injuries at RB, Ralston certainly is going to be considered along with 1/2 others - McCrorie & Johnstone being those two. Although that’s if Hickey doesn’t recover in time. Out of those three McCrorie is the only one that’s been playing regularly. Although correct me if I’m wrong but Ralston’s only ever start for us was when he made his debut and scored in that game against Armenia? Did pretty well in that game although I know it’s nowhere near the standard of opponent we are going to be up against this summer but you can only play against what’s in front of you.

Don’t know how far Hickey is in his recovery. Reports from up here seem to suggest he will make it in time whilst the ones down south seem to think it’s 50-50. Then again, if he does make it then firstly I will be absolutely delighted but pressing concern would be how far off match sharpness he will be & with that do you throw him in right away in the firing line against potentially someone like Leroy Sane. For example if he plays in the opening game against Germany, then can see the Germans targeting our right side knowing that he will be miles off match fitness having not played any football for over 6 months. Hence why I hope if he does return, then it’s sooner than that Germany game so we can give him some a good amount of minutes in the Gibraltar & Finland friendlies. I think Tierney is on the doubtful list. We don’t know the full extent of his groin injury other than it can take between 4 weeks - 14 weeks to heal. Again hope he makes it but it’s just a pity that the guys body can break down as easily as snapping a poppadom in half. McTominay certainly has more than a 50% likelihood (thank goodness). Ten Hag mentioned in his presser earlier today that he is due to return to training on Saturday and will see if there is a chance of him playing against Crystal Palace on the Monday. I personally hope not just in case he hasn’t fully properly healed & a risk of him aggravating his knee, but if there is any small chance of him being available for that game then of course he’s going to give him some minutes. Don’t trust Ten Hag one bit when it comes to managing players’ fitness & their recoveries (Lisandro Martinez & Mason Mount prime examples). If he does play him then I will be watching it with both my fingers & toes crossed that he comes through unscathed.

I wonder for these games if Clarke is actually going to select his 26 players that he plans to take with him to Germany or if he will select his guaranteed 19/20 players the are the certainties (i.e. McGinn, Robertson, Gunn, Gilmour, Adams etc) and the remaining 6/7 spots will be decided during that training camp and these two games?

Agree. A midfield two of Christie & McGregor against someone like Germany (midfield 3 of Kroos, Gundogan & Musiala) on MD1 and it’s not going to be pretty viewing.

Hungary game in Stuttgart*

I didn’t have that option on the laptop via MS Edge but did on my iPhone via Safari.