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Scottish players in action 20/21


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59 minutes ago, Malcolm said:

Those calling for Aaron hickey.... he can’t even get in the Bologna team.  Hardly kicked a ball this year.

He has played a healthy number of games in Scotland and then way more than expected in Italy. He got covid then got wrongly sent off. He has way more experience than Paterson who many are calling for.

I dont think Hickey should start but bring him in as a backup to rwb and additional cover for lwb behind Robertson and Tierney. Serves much more of a purpose than Taylor.

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For those wondering about Clarke's loyalty/conservatism, call it what you will: he has dropped Griffiths, Paterson and Burke from the Euro play off squad, so he is gradually remoulding the squad, and has brought in Nisbet and Adams to general acclaim except for Taylor 666.

Change has to be gradual. Past experience has shown that wholesale baby and bathwater changes yield at best patchy results. It is imperative that we increase our cap count throughout the team. Steven Gerrard - over 100 caps; Steve Davis - 124 caps I think. We have no one near that.

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15 hours ago, Taylor1996 said:

Hendry has the skillset to play as an anchorman. We need someone with defensive capabilities to play there.

All of them play in a double-pivot for their clubs, but usually alongside real defensive midfielders (apart from Fred). If we played, for example, Fleck and McGregor, against Austria would probably tear them apart.

We need balance.

It's weird, as a nation we seem to produce players for one specific position at a time, first it was left backs, now it's attacking midfielders.

I've no doubt Hendry would be capable as an anchorman. Better at it than any of our central midfielders? No chance. Imagine the hilarity if McTominay was kept at RCB and Hendry played in midfield.

I'm all for playing players out of position, when required, as are you. But you need to reign it in a little. It makes far more sense for box to box midfielders like McGinn, Fleck, McTominay or McGregor to be asked to play the anchorman role than one of our rare viable RCB options, that we have been crying out for.

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1 minute ago, Tartan blood said:

I've no doubt Hendry would be capable as an anchorman. Better at it than any of our central midfielders? No chance. Imagine the hilarity if McTominay was kept at RCB and Hendry played in midfield.

I'm all for playing players out of position, when required, as are you. But you need to reign it in a little. It makes far more sense for box to box midfielders like McGinn, Fleck, McTominay or McGregor to be asked to play the anchorman role than one of our rare viable RCB options, that we have been crying out for.

I don't know. Maybe. If you do a name check of all of our players that play in that role at club level: McGinn has to be babysit with Luiz; McLean with Skipp; McLean with Skipp; McGregor with Brown and McTominay with Fred. All of those second names are anchormen... alart from Fred.

I just don't trust any of them in that role, especially not without Jack beside them.

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Guest Scot1
10 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

I don't know. Maybe. If you do a name check of all of our players that play in that role at club level: McGinn has to be babysit with Luiz; McLean with Skipp; McLean with Skipp; McGregor with Brown and McTominay with Fred. All of those second names are anchormen... alart from Fred.

I just don't trust any of them in that role, especially not without Jack beside them.

Eh no, I don’t think the likes of Aston Villa will be playing someone who needs a “babysitter”, and there’s no way Jack is a better defensive midfielder than McGinn. Go and watch the last few Scotland games and see the amount of times Jack stands and watches opposition midfield runners sprint pass him whilst he does nothing.

And McTominay is being played out of position most of the time with Man Utd, so that’s a moot point

Edited by Scot1
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3 hours ago, Malcolm said:

Those calling for Aaron hickey.... he can’t even get in the Bologna team.  Hardly kicked a ball this year.

I’d forget about Hickey for a while, let him adapt to Italy, let him compete for a starting place in the first 11 at Bologna. Once he’s a regular starter, we will have a good quality player on our hands. He’s only 18/19 and he’s played a few games and is on the bench regularly at a decent Seria A team, let him concentrate on his club football. Although I don’t see the point of Taylor in the squad myself. 

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44 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

I don't know. Maybe. If you do a name check of all of our players that play in that role at club level: McGinn has to be babysit with Luiz; McLean with Skipp; McLean with Skipp; McGregor with Brown and McTominay with Fred. All of those second names are anchormen... alart from Fred.

I just don't trust any of them in that role, especially not without Jack beside them.

I think the negative connotation of "babysit" is incredibly harsh. Most teams will have an anchorman, not to pick up the slack of the other CM, but to give them the freedom to express themselves. 

If any one of them were asked to play the anchorman role, they'd be more than capable. Plus, the fact we play 3 CBs and 2 fullbacks gives the midfield more protection anyway. If McTominay can play RCB, he can play the anchorman role.

Not to mention, you can have role reversals throughout games e.g if McGinn is playing next to McTominay, then when one goes forward, the other stays back. 

I personally wouldn't even have Jack or McGregor in my starting 11. But that's just me.

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1 hour ago, Tartan blood said:

I think the negative connotation of "babysit" is incredibly harsh. Most teams will have an anchorman, not to pick up the slack of the other CM, but to give them the freedom to express themselves. 

If any one of them were asked to play the anchorman role, they'd be more than capable. Plus, the fact we play 3 CBs and 2 fullbacks gives the midfield more protection anyway. If McTominay can play RCB, he can play the anchorman role.

Not to mention, you can have role reversals throughout games e.g if McGinn is playing next to McTominay, then when one goes forward, the other stays back. 

I personally wouldn't even have Jack or McGregor in my starting 11. But that's just me.

Agreed, but Jack is the only one capable of being the anchorman. Why do you think Manchester United fans refer to "McFred" as one entity? It's because they are lost without the other, when they play that role.

I suppose. But I do worry about true lack of balance in the middle of midfield, though. It's a shame that McCrorie hasn't progressed as much as we thought he would... suppose that's why Gerrard was fine letting him go.

No? Would you play two box to box midfielders in the double-pivot? Manchester United do that with McFred.... there's a reason why the United fans want Declan Rice.

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2 hours ago, Scot1 said:

Eh no, I don’t think the likes of Aston Villa will be playing someone who needs a “babysitter”, and there’s no way Jack is a better defensive midfielder than McGinn. Go and watch the last few Scotland games and see the amount of times Jack stands and watches opposition midfield runners sprint pass him whilst he does nothing.

And McTominay is being played out of position most of the time with Man Utd, so that’s a moot point

In the Aston villa system Douglas Luiz is the anchorman, letting McGinn the journey forward.

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39 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

Agreed, but Jack is the only one capable of being the anchorman. Why do you think Manchester United fans refer to "McFred" as one entity? It's because they are lost without the other, when they play that role.

I suppose. But I do worry about true lack of balance in the middle of midfield, though. It's a shame that McCrorie hasn't progressed as much as we thought he would... suppose that's why Gerrard was fine letting him go.

No? Would you play two box to box midfielders in the double-pivot? Manchester United do that with McFred.... there's a reason why the United fans want Declan Rice.

Playing a back 4, I'd be more hesitant to play 2 box to box midfielders, but having 3 CBs and at least 1 full back to slot in to cover is ample, and the main reason for playing that system. It negates the imbalance.

McGinn and/or McTominay can easily play the anchorman. It's not really that complicated a role. And, as others have said, both Jack and McGregor have been guilty of failing to mark up properly in the past.

McTominay especially has already proven he is disciplined enough to play a defensive role. I don't think you are giving our best players enough credit. There is absolutely no chance that the likes of McRorie, Shinnie, Hendry, etc should be favoured ahead of McTominay, McGinn, Fleck, McGregor or even Armstrong in an anchorman role. Not at this moment in time anyway.

 

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38 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

In the Aston villa system Douglas Luiz is the anchorman, letting McGinn the journey forward.

You also have to take into account the fact that, in all the examples you mention, those teams play a 4-2-3-1, whereas Scotland play a back three, so don't require the 'babysitting' role of the anchorman quite so much.

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1 minute ago, Tartan blood said:

Playing a back 4, I'd be more hesitant to play 2 box to box midfielders, but having 3 CBs and at least 1 full back to slot in to cover is ample, and the main reason for playing that system. It negates the imbalance.

McGinn and/or McTominay can easily play the anchorman. It's not really that complicated a role. And, as others have said, both Jack and McGregor have been guilty of failing to mark up properly in the past.

McTominay especially has already proven he is disciplined enough to play a defensive role. I don't think you are giving our best players enough credit. There is absolutely no chance that the likes of McRorie, Shinnie, Hendry, etc should be favoured ahead of McTominay, McGinn, Fleck, McGregor or even Armstrong in an anchorman role. Not at this moment in time anyway.

 

I'm uneasy about the entire situation. 

Anchorman is a specialised position. If you remember players like Dunga, Lambert, Deschamps, Pirlo, Kante, Matic, etc, you'll know how important it is. God, even Stuart McCall would be heaven sent! (I rated McCall)

Of all of those named I've seen McTominay the most. No one is a bigger fan or McTominay, but he does have this habit of ball watching. He needs to learn to press more often and smell the danger. He was a striker at youth level, so I get why he isn't defensively great. He's learning, though.

We'll see what the lineup is soon enough. I have a hunch McTominay will be in the double-pivot. But then again, I thought Gauld, Turnbull and Gilmour would be called up...

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3 minutes ago, Third Lanark said:

You also have to take into account the fact that, in all the examples you mention, those teams play a 4-2-3-1, whereas Scotland play a back three, so don't require the 'babysitting' role of the anchorman quite so much.

True.

There still has to be a balance, though. United fans are praying that they'll buy an anchorman. There's a reason for that. 

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9 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

I'm uneasy about the entire situation. 

Anchorman is a specialised position. If you remember players like Dunga, Lambert, Deschamps, Pirlo, Kante, Matic, etc, you'll know how important it is. God, even Stuart McCall would be heaven sent! (I rated McCall)

Of all of those named I've seen McTominay the most. No one is a bigger fan or McTominay, but he does have this habit of ball watching. He needs to learn to press more often and smell the danger. He was a striker at youth level, so I get why he isn't defensively great. He's learning, though.

We'll see what the lineup is soon enough. I have a hunch McTominay will be in the double-pivot. But then again, I thought Gauld, Turnbull and Gilmour would be called up...

I'm not saying the anchorman role isn't important. It is. Jack is probably the best suited to it as well. But he isn't on the same level as the players you mentioned, nor does he have to be.

The fact we essentially play a back 5, makes me far more comfortable not having an out and out anchorman. My guess would be McGregor will be the one in that position alongside McTominay, with McGinn in his more advanced role.

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Just now, Tartan blood said:

I'm not saying the anchorman role isn't important. It is. Jack is probably the best suited to it as well. But he isn't on the same level as the players you mentioned, nor does he have to be.

The fact we essentially play a back 5, makes me far more comfortable not having an out and out anchorman. My guess would be McGregor will be the one in that position alongside McTominay, with McGinn in his more advanced role.

Oh. Definitely not on the same level. Those players were world class. Brown did a good job, but I'd say that even he was a box to box player. 

I think you might be right about McGregor. Hope you're right about McTominay. 

It'll be interesting who gets the nod, Dykes or Adams. If I were to guess, it'll be Dykes. I don't think Clarke would be brave enough to pick both. It'll probably be Fraser/Christie + 1.

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2 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

Oh. Definitely not on the same level. Those players were world class. Brown did a good job, but I'd say that even he was a box to box player. 

I think you might be right about McGregor. Hope you're right about McTominay. 

It'll be interesting who gets the nod, Dykes or Adams. If I were to guess, it'll be Dykes. I don't think Clarke would be brave enough to pick both. It'll probably be Fraser/Christie + 1.

I hope I'm right about McTominay and I hope I'm wrong about McGregor.

I reckon Adams might get a start v Israel, especially if Dykes doesn't score against Austria. Adams being in the starting 11 should not be guaranteed, and it wouldn't send a very good message to the rest of the team either, if he was thrown straight in.

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39 minutes ago, Taylor1996 said:

Oh. Definitely not on the same level. Those players were world class. Brown did a good job, but I'd say that even he was a box to box player. 

I think you might be right about McGregor. Hope you're right about McTominay. 

It'll be interesting who gets the nod, Dykes or Adams. If I were to guess, it'll be Dykes. I don't think Clarke would be brave enough to pick both. It'll probably be Fraser/Christie + 1.

My prediction for Thursday would be -

Gordon

Gallagher    McKenna    Tierney

O'Donnell     McTominay     McGregor     Robertson

McGinn     Dykes     Fraser

 

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18 minutes ago, PASTA Mick said:

My prediction for Thursday would be -

Gordon

Gallagher    McKenna    Tierney

O'Donnell     McTominay     McGregor     Robertson

McGinn     Dykes     Fraser

 

Think you could be close there Pasta. 

I think for RCB he’ll choose Hendry, Hanley or McTominay as I think he wants a right footer in there.

if it’s McTominay, I wouldn’t be surprised to see McGinn drop back to one of the deeper lying midfield roles with Armstrong the most advanced of the midfield 3 (even if McTominay’s in midfield, he might drop McGregor for Armstrong and keep McGinn in the deeper role)

up front it’s Christie or Fraser with Dykes or Adams

Edited by breeks_mctavish
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36 minutes ago, PASTA Mick said:

My prediction for Thursday would be -

Gordon

Gallagher    McKenna    Tierney

O'Donnell     McTominay     McGregor     Robertson

McGinn     Dykes     Fraser

 

Yes it will be close to that but Marshall will start in place of Gordon I reckon and perhaps Christie in place of Fraser.

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47 minutes ago, PASTA Mick said:

My prediction for Thursday would be -

Gordon

Gallagher    McKenna    Tierney

O'Donnell     McTominay     McGregor     Robertson

McGinn     Dykes     Fraser

 

I think it’ll be close to that but I reckon he’ll start Hanley at RCB and play Gallagher in the middle. 

Had forgotten that Marshall has been injured. Still think he’ll start for us on Thursday. 

Agree with the rest, although I think it’ll be a close call between Fraser/Christie and Armstrong. 

Dykes over Adams seems likely. He’ll maybe get 20mins and look to start him against Israel.

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23 minutes ago, Super_Scotlandfan said:

I think it’ll be close to that but I reckon he’ll start Hanley at RCB and play Gallagher in the middle. 

Had forgotten that Marshall has been injured. Still think he’ll start for us on Thursday. 

Agree with the rest, although I think it’ll be a close call between Fraser/Christie and Armstrong. 

Dykes over Adams seems likely. He’ll maybe get 20mins and look to start him against Israel.

I don’t see how Gallagher can be remotely match sharp. 

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1 hour ago, PASTA Mick said:

My prediction for Thursday would be -

Gordon

Gallagher    McKenna    Tierney

O'Donnell     McTominay     McGregor     Robertson

McGinn     Dykes     Fraser

 

I'd take that.

Fraser or McGinn would have to stay forward, out of possession, though  as it would occupy their midfield and leave us less vulnerable.

Leaving one up front Is why we spend a couple of decades in the wilderness. 

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