Hanx

What say all the Strachan haters now? 2-2 in Slovenia not acceptable - how does it look now? Time to get rid of Fletcher and Bannan - McGregor and McGinn should be in there?

To be absolutely clear for legal purposes, I am not suggesting that Bilel Moshni is either a remarkable athlete nor has unremarkable talent.

It really is hiding in plain sight. The top end of the game is mostly populated by remarkable athletes with unremarkable talent.

BBC have footage for 50th anniversary http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/41863003 I was aged -1 week at the time, but the story in my mind has always been one of Celtic's cynical treatment by the vicious Argies. Maybe the footage is selective, but a few of the Celtic players certainly didn't cover themselves in glory.

Anyone having a dig at Barry Bannan tonight must have formed their opinion before watching the game.

Hard to believe that's the only mention of Van Bronckhorst in this thread. Played in Scotland till his mid 20s then went on to win the Champions League with Barcelona and captain his country in a World Cup final. Much better player than Gascoigne for me. Also Kevin McNaughton's only mention on the thread. That's ok though.

Thanks for saving me the effort. It would be like discussing the Hibs allocation based on the population of Easter Road.

That is just so much of what is wrong with Scottish football. Everyone wants to talk about attitude and bottle and not basic technique. County always tried to work the ball up the park - taking the ball under pressure and moving it on to the next guy. Basic technical stuff and although they ain't the greatest players in the world they obviously practise this regularly.

I suppose we could try just running about a lot and getting stuck in for another 20 years.

Our main problem is not character/attitude/mentality or whatever you want to call it. The problem is a lack of technical ability. Gordon Strachan knows this and has spoken about it many times. Because of the high pressing nature of modern football, a player must be able to control the ball under pressure from an opponent, and (almost in the same movement) make some space for themselves. Most of our players really struggle with this and so when we have possession we invariably end up playing the ball backwards until the eventual long ball from the back - the players just can't take the ball facing their own goal then turn and beat the opponent who is hassling them. We very rarely have truly secure possession of the ball. That is the main reason we struggle against the weaker teams. Being pressed by a physically fit Lithuanian is just as difficult as by a physically fit Croatian.

Yeah Betsy, but when Scotland gains its independence we'll take the whole country with us. Your model of just settling for the easy bit hasn't worked out that well.

Ruth Davidson really did just say if the question is 'do you want a more equal society?' obviously her side would say 'no' and the other side 'yes'. Freudian slip?