weekevie04 Posted March 3, 2020 Share Posted March 3, 2020 Interesting how a lot of teams seem to be playing each other over and over. Wales/Ireland again. Us after not meeting Israel for 30 odd years will now face them 5 times in 3 years. Iceland/Belgium ; NI/Austria ; England/Belgium all played quite a lot of recent too. Even our own draw, Slovakia a few years back ; tempting fate but possibly their former countrymen at the Euros? Our group looks pretty good, TBH. Czech Republic weren't exactly great in qualifying - in what was a reasonably friendly group for them - Slovakia, if we have turned the corner/momentum from these playoffs could well be for the taking and Israel after having a good year or so two years ago, seem to be way off the boil of late. Don't think we'll win it, but shouldn't get relegated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grim Jim Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 32 minutes ago, Rich NATA said: Fixtures are out. Czech's away in September. Slovakia and Israel away in November. Pissed off. You're pissed off? Wait 'til Mrs Grim finds out she has no exotic holiday on her birthday this October. Fek, I'll need to think of something called a presant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich NATA Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, Grim Jim said: You're pissed off? Wait 'til Mrs Grim finds out she has no exotic holiday on her birthday this October. Fek, I'll need to think of something called a presant. Yeah... Employers won't allow any time off this September, so I'll miss the Czech away match. I'm good for November, but Slovakia being paired with Israel away when it could have been paired with the Czech Republic is a tad frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennyj01 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 bratislava booked just now ....edinburgh too vienna out friday with lufthansa via frankfurt ,,,return sunday same route £125 .......train or bus vienna too bratislava ,,,,no waiting on ryanair prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaundy Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 C’mon ballers. after a magnificent performance in this summer’s euros , or not we go into a contest with two of our nearest contestants again. . dohadeer and Bonny , will buy you a pint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottincarlisle Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Scotland Fixtures Scotland v Israel - Friday, 4 September 2020 - 7.45pm Czech Republic v Scotland - Monday, 7 September 2020 - 7.45pm Scotland v Slovakia - Thursday, 8 October 2020 - 7.45pm Scotland v Czech Republic - Sunday, 11 October 2020 - 2pm Slovakia v Scotland - Saturday, 14 November 2020 - 5pm Israel v Scotland - Tuesday, 17 November 2020 - 7.45pm All kick-off times are UK time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamntg Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 9 hours ago, Grim Jim said: You're pissed off? Wait 'til Mrs Grim finds out she has no exotic holiday on her birthday this October. Fek, I'll need to think of something called a presant. I know - I was thinking a wee Slovakia/Czech double header in October week would've been barry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 How the fuck did Israel get promoted up to pot B as well as us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParisInAKilt Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhumper Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 It's cos they shat the bed as Germany were relegated, so they did away with the 3 team groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartan Chris Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 3 of the first 4 at home so good chance to build up a decent points total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 hour ago, Squirrelhumper said: It's cos they shat the bed as Germany were relegated, so they did away with the 3 team groups. I honestly can't see anything that is remotely good about this whole set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonny79 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 12 hours ago, Shaundy said: C’mon ballers. after a magnificent performance in this summer’s euros , or not we go into a contest with two of our nearest contestants again. . dohadeer and Bonny , will buy you a pint Up for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 51 minutes ago, aaid said: I honestly can't see anything that is remotely good about this whole set up. A lot less friendlies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PASTA Mick Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 53 minutes ago, aaid said: I honestly can't see anything that is remotely good about this whole set up. I like it. There was always likely to be changes after the first effort. The group we have this time is excellent! Instead of Albania we have Czech Rep and Slovakia. These are the sort of sides we need to learn to beat home and away if we want to reach a World Cup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 minute ago, Orraloon said: A lot less friendlies. Don Hutchison made the point on 5 LIve last night that with no friendlies and every game apparently crucial where's your opportunity to bring new players into the side. So, I don't see that as a positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Just now, PASTA Mick said: I like it. There was always likely to be changes after the first effort. The group we have this time is excellent! Instead of Albania we have Czech Rep and Slovakia. These are the sort of sides we need to learn to beat home and away if we want to reach a World Cup. Yeah because we haven't had much experience of playing teams like the Czech Republic and Slovakia in recent years have we. One of the criticisms raised at the time would be that you'd end up playing the same teams but we were assured that wouldn't be a problem. That worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccaughey85 Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, aaid said: Don Hutchison made the point on 5 LIve last night that with no friendlies and every game apparently crucial where's your opportunity to bring new players into the side. So, I don't see that as a positive. Thats a sacrifice of having meaningful games. I know what I would prefer and thats meaningful games. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, aaid said: Don Hutchison made the point on 5 LIve last night that with no friendlies and every game apparently crucial where's your opportunity to bring new players into the side. So, I don't see that as a positive. I don't think we learn anything from friendlies. Loads of players won't turn up. Most of the ones that do only play half a game then we get six subs in the space of 15 minutes. Waste of time. We struggle to persuade players to turn up for competitive matches never mind meaningless friendlies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 minute ago, mccaughey85 said: Thats a sacrifice of having meaningful games. I know what I would prefer and thats meaningful games. Outwith whatever matches we arrange at the end of the season we will have zero friendlies this year and I suspect that'll pretty much become the norm from now on as UEFA want all games under their control for TV revenue. There needs to be a balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dohadeer Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 1 minute ago, mccaughey85 said: Thats a sacrifice of having meaningful games. I know what I would prefer and thats meaningful games. Exactly. I must admit, I thought it would take longer than one season of the Nations League before we heard some dissenting voices asking for international friendlies to be brought back. International friendlies were probably the biggest blight on an already overly-packed football calendar. Good riddance to them, shame on Don Hutchison and anyone else wishing them back. Give the Nations League time to find its best format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 8 minutes ago, aaid said: Yeah because we haven't had much experience of playing teams like the Czech Republic and Slovakia in recent years have we. One of the criticisms raised at the time would be that you'd end up playing the same teams but we were assured that wouldn't be a problem. That worked. The last time we played Czech Rep in a competitive match was 9 years ago. Some of our players were barely out of primary school. The only player from that game still in our squad is Naismith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParisInAKilt Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Not convinced by the nations league either and this draw isn’t helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 No more friendlies any more. I'd be happy never to see another one, ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaid Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 2 minutes ago, Orraloon said: I don't think we learn anything from friendlies. Loads of players won't turn up. Most of the ones that do only play half a game then we get six subs in the space of 15 minutes. Waste of time. We struggle to persuade players to turn up for competitive matches never mind meaningless friendlies. I disagree. Playing international friendlies isn't only about giving your existing squad of players more time to perfect a given system its also about trying new players and systems and that's as much about finding out who and what doesn't work as it it about what does work. John Colquhoun said of his two caps in friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Malta that Andy Roxburgh had given him the opportunity to prove he wasn't good enough for the level. Berti Vogts took that to extremes but I'd much rather someone or something got found out in a "meaningless" friendly than in an important competitive game. As I said, there needs to be a balance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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