wanderer Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 1 minute ago, Boboblanko said: Brendan has saved us.... Was actually saying to someone over the weekend that Rodgers is (arguably) one of the best things to happen for the Scottish national team in recent years with his attitude to give youth (and especially Scottish youth) players a chance at Celtic. Also feels like every week a new youth prospect suddenly finds himself in and around the Celtic first team, which can only be a good thing for the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 Looking at the 2nd placed teams, you're looking at.. Sweden/holland Portugal/switzerland Italy Are going to be 3 of the 4 teams we can draw. The 4th seed would be Northern Ireland based on the current rankings unless Iceland get 2nd spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossman4 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 5 minutes ago, sbcmfc said: Looking at the 2nd placed teams, you're looking at.. Sweden/holland Portugal/switzerland Italy Are going to be 3 of the 4 teams we can draw. The 4th seed would be Northern Ireland based on the current rankings unless Iceland get 2nd spot. Think in NI would also need Wales not to make a late surge as well. NI could bank a playoff over the next 3 games making them a seeded or possibly pick up 1/2 points and missing out completly. They've all but banked 2nd place but still have work to do to ensure a playoff. Their last 3 games is Czechs home, Germany home and Norway away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordyA88 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 7 minutes ago, sbcmfc said: Looking at the 2nd placed teams, you're looking at.. Sweden/holland Portugal/switzerland Italy Are going to be 3 of the 4 teams we can draw. The 4th seed would be Northern Ireland based on the current rankings unless Iceland get 2nd spot. Id take any of Sweden/Holland, Switzerland or northern Ireland right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Jim Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 5 minutes ago, sbcmfc said: Looking at the 2nd placed teams, you're looking at.. Sweden/holland Portugal/switzerland Italy Are going to be 3 of the 4 teams we can draw. The 4th seed would be Northern Ireland based on the current rankings unless Iceland get 2nd spot. If Holland beat Sweden on the last day, they'll both be on 19pts. We could pap them out as worst 2nd placer. Best Bosnia can do is 20pts, and probably beat us on goal dif, but they have to go to Belgium. Belgium have already won the group however. Just need those 3 wins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 10 minutes ago, GordyA88 said: Id take any of Sweden/Holland, Switzerland or northern Ireland right now. First world problems. The FIFA rankings are mental. Switzerland 4th Poland 5th Slovakia 21st Northern Ireland 22nd Scotland 58th I suspect Slovakia will be the 4th seeded side in the play off draw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 How the f**k did Switzerland get to world #4??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordyA88 Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 9 minutes ago, sbcmfc said: First world problems. The FIFA rankings are mental. Switzerland 4th Poland 5th Slovakia 21st Northern Ireland 22nd Scotland 58th I suspect Slovakia will be the 4th seeded side in the play off draw. Aye the rankings are mental. I would only really like to avoid Italy or portugal. The rest I wouldn't be overly concerned about. Need to get their first though ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Toepoke said: How the f**k did Switzerland get to world #4??? Apart from a penalties defeat to Poland at Euro 2016, they are on a ridiculously long unbeaten run in competitive matches, with something like 10 wins in a row since the Euros alone. Edited September 4, 2017 by wanderer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 1 hour ago, wanderer said: Finland beating Iceland at the weekend opened up a interesting scenario in Group I. After Ukraine beat Turkey (in a rather convincing performance) and given their run of games, good chance they will finish in the top 2 of their group...... this is where the cat could be set among the pigeons, as their have been talks at various levels in Ukraine (though nothing direct from the FFU, and those who have been asked have gave rather conflicting answers) that they should boycott the finals in Russia as a result of the current war situation...... The general consensus in Ukraine was just play the games and cross that bridge when they came to it, and with a rather poor'ish start to their campaign the question was completely dropped, only to find itself back on the table again pretty late in the day. This could really hot things up should they get into the play off's, as FIFA would have to decide to the go with the team who finish 3rd in Group I or do away with the worst runner up spot. Would they not just play the play off first and if they won that, they would then decide whether to pull out or not? It wouldn't be much of a statement if they pull out before they have qualified. If they pulled out at that point their place would just go to whoever they had just beaten on the play off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 (edited) 4 minutes ago, Orraloon said: Would they not just play the play off first and if they won that, they would then decide whether to pull out or not? It wouldn't be much of a statement if they pull out before they have qualified. If they pulled out at that point their place would just go to whoever they had just beaten on the play off? Nobody out there has a clue what is going to happen..... some folk wanted them to pull out before a ball was kicked, while others want them to pull out on the eve of the tournament..... either way there is no win situation for Ukraine in this (if they pull out FIFA will probably come down heavy on them), and as said, the question is only back on the table because their form has picked up of late (and nobody at the FFU is prepared to give a honest answer.... while pressure at government level seems to vary greatly) Edited September 4, 2017 by wanderer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapofGlencoe Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 if we win 3 in a row and still go oot we've breached new levels of glorious failure. surely no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manno Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 1 hour ago, Toepoke said: How the f**k did Switzerland get to world #4??? 1 hour ago, wanderer said: Apart from a penalties defeat to Poland at Euro 2016, they are on a ridiculously long unbeaten run in competitive matches, with something like 10 wins in a row since the Euros alone. They've become a bit like England in that they seem to qualify with relevant ease from groups but don't ever do anything at a tournament. They win games - prior to last night they'd scored 15 in 7 and conceded 3. They don't have a superstar but some really technically gifted players, pretty envious of them to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoonTheSlope Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 3 hours ago, wanderer said: This could really hot things up should they get into the play off's, as FIFA would have to decide to the go with the team who finish 3rd in Group I or do away with the worst runner up spot. There's far too keep much common sense in that logic. They may well end up giving it to highest ranked unqualified team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoonTheSlope Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 It would far easier and less hassle for me if we didn't make it. Trying to get more time off will be a complete nightmare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McTeeko Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 1 hour ago, DoonTheSlope said: It would far easier and less hassle for me if we didn't make it. Trying to get more time off will be a complete nightmare Bin the El Clasico then. Problem solved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoonTheSlope Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 6 minutes ago, McTeeko said: Bin the El Clasico then. Problem solved Not after paying a good chunk of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 3 hours ago, PapofGlencoe said: if we win 3 in a row and still go oot we've breached new levels of glorious failure. surely no. I think the only way that could happen is if Slovakia beat England tonight. In which case we would be virtually out with two games still to play. So, there would be nothing "glorious" about that particular failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapofGlencoe Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Orraloon said: I think the only way that could happen is if Slovakia beat England tonight. In which case we would be virtually out with two games still to play. So, there would be nothing "glorious" about that particular failure. cheers for clearing that up. So really we could be out tonight out of our hands! didn't know it was so much on a knifeedge Edited September 4, 2017 by PapofGlencoe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 3 minutes ago, PapofGlencoe said: cheers for clearing that up. So really we could be out tonight out of our hands! didn't know it was so much on a knifeedge Well, not quite, but we would need Slovakia to drop points to Malta. Which isn't very likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted September 4, 2017 Share Posted September 4, 2017 5 minutes ago, PapofGlencoe said: cheers for clearing that up. So really we could be out tonight out of our hands! didn't know it was so much on a knifeedge If Slovakia win tonight, we've probably got a slightly better chance of catching England than them, as we'd need to beat Slovakia and hope they didn't beat Malta at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 On Monday, September 04, 2017 at 10:37 AM, Grim Jim said: If Holland beat Sweden on the last day, they'll both be on 19pts. We could pap them out as worst 2nd placer. Best Bosnia can do is 20pts, and probably beat us on goal dif, but they have to go to Belgium. Belgium have already won the group however. Just need those 3 wins Bosnia are at home to Belgium according to wiki... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_–_UEFA_Group_H Still a tough ask for them to get those 6 points, that's certainly a group to keep an eye on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 (edited) Further to what Grim Jim said I didn't realise Sweden and Holland play each other twice on the last weekend. Opportunity for some serious mutual throat cutting there! Edited September 5, 2017 by Toepoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Jim Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 2 hours ago, Toepoke said: Bosnia are at home to Belgium according to wiki... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_–_UEFA_Group_H Still a tough ask for them to get those 6 points, that's certainly a group to keep an eye on. So they are. I also realised last night that Greece could overtake them, so our only hope might be if we pick up only 4 points is if Serbia, Ireland and Wales cut each other up. Lets see what happens tonight. 6 points though, and there are several scenarios for us to be safely in the play-offs. Looked at it very late last night, so could well be wrong again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted September 5, 2017 Share Posted September 5, 2017 3 minutes ago, Grim Jim said: So they are. I also realised last night that Greece could overtake them, so our only hope might be if we pick up only 4 points is if Serbia, Ireland and Wales cut each other up. Lets see what happens tonight. 6 points though, and there are several scenarios for us to be safely in the play-offs. Looked at it very late last night, so could well be wrong again. Sorry lets be accurate here. If we pick up only 4 points there is no way on Earth we are finishing as runners-up unless you are suggesting Malta are going to draw or beat Slovakia in the last match. The only scenario left open to us now (unless you believe in tooth fairies) is win our last two matches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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