Scot1

4 of the 5 goals came down our left side in those 2 games. With Robertson playing at left back, Tierney at left centre half and a defensive midfielder screening the back 4, I don’t think we lose all of those 5 goals.

We played both games without a defensive midfielder and both games with Greg Taylor at left-back. And if I remember correctly, every goal for Norway came down our left. In my opinion, we need 5 in midfield not at the back. The midfield 4 of McGinn McTominay Gilmour Christie Looked good, for the most part. I think we need a defensive midfielder sitting behind them. That means going to a back 4.

No I’d drop Porteous and play a back 4, dropping a centre half for a defensive/holding midfielder.

My 1st choice would be Hickey, but obviously he isn’t available. Porteous is another who could be tried in there, I seem to remember he played a few games for Hibs as a defensive/ holding midfielder. Sometimes these things work, sometimes they don’t. But doing the same thing over and over again, which is what Clarke has done for years, and expecting different results, that’s woeful.

You never know until you try, and now is the time for trying out different ideas, before Germany. Clarke has had a long time to try and find a good balance in the midfield, and he’s still not managed it. Personally I don’t think it can be done with the players we have playing a back 3/5. We have 1 too many centres halfs and 1 less midfielder, that’s needed.

We could try Souttar in there. Or play Souttar at left centre half and try Tierney in there. Ferguson is another possibility. Personally, I’d try Souttar there first. With Tierney at left centre half in a back 4. See how it looks.

That was the type of performance I wanted to see from Gilmour. I hope Clarke goes to a back 4 against N Ireland. We need a sitting/holding midfielder. Drop Porteous and play Tierney at left centre half beside Henry.

I think Ross Stewart is the closest we have to that description

I’d like to see us go to a back 4 and get Ferguson on

Christie plays this role for Bournemouth. I think it would just take a little time for the others to build up an understanding.

I’d start with the 3/5 at the back then switch to a back 4 for the 2nd half. Take off Tierney.

I agree, I think Turnbull has qualities, especially offensively, and hopefully at Cardiff he’ll start to show it soon. He is an excellent finisher from around the edge of the box.

I think the team I’ve picked is well balanced. One of the advantages of having Ferguson and Christie sitting deep in a pivot with Gilmour in a “free” role would be the ability of Gilmour to link up with them as they break forward from deep midfield. Using his ability to take the ball in tight positions and then play a pass, as Christie and Ferguson make forward runs. I think it would be interesting to see. As I said, maybe I’m wrong, but I’d love to see it tried to see how it works on the park.

I’m glad that Israel have been knocked out.

Ferguson has played deeper when he was playing in Scotland, and he’s all over the pitch for Bologna. I think him and Christie would be a good partnership, both are good in possession, they’ve got decent physicality and both are capable of moving forward when the opportunity arises. I think they’d compliment each other nicely. I’ve seen every game Gilmour has played for Scotland and a decent amount of his games for Norwich and Brighton. I think needs encouraged to spend less time so deep for Scotland. His role at Brighton means he’s going to be spending the majority of games sitting deep. I think the personnel I’ve chosen and the 4/2/3/1 would allow him to go and get more involved in different areas of the pitch. I think he just needs a little encouragement and Clarke giving him some timely reminders from the touch line. Just my opinion.