saintsparky Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I would argue that McGregor could be our most influential player. Nothing flashy, but joins the play between the CB's and up to McTom and McGinn.. He has started every important game for years, and Clarke never drops him. He would be big miss if injured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiScotsman Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 I guess we will need to wait & see after the international break if McGregor is back. If not back and still unclear when he will be back then it will be a worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 31 minutes ago, saintsparky said: I would argue that McGregor could be our most influential player. Nothing flashy, but joins the play between the CB's and up to McTom and McGinn.. He has started every important game for years, and Clarke never drops him. He would be big miss if injured. I agree. He might not be our best player, but he is certainly one of our most important, maybe the most important one. He does loads of stuff off the ball, that many supporters either don't seem to notice, or choose to ignore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 McGregor has been great, he’s also been out of form this season so his injury is probably well timed as more in form options can be looked at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanBlessed Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 It's not that McGregor hasn't been good for us, it's more that I'd rather lose him than Gilmour/McGinn/McTominay. Well, I wouldn't have said that about McTominay until the last campaign. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodger Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 27 minutes ago, BryanBlessed said: It's not that McGregor hasn't been good for us, it's more that I'd rather lose him than Gilmour/McGinn/McTominay. Well, I wouldn't have said that about McTominay until the last campaign. Agree with this. McGregor has been great for us but if Christie was to come in for him, I don't think that's a big drop in quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tartan blood Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 5 hours ago, saintsparky said: I would argue that McGregor could be our most influential player. Nothing flashy, but joins the play between the CB's and up to McTom and McGinn.. He has started every important game for years, and Clarke never drops him. He would be big miss if injured. Post-Euro 2020, CalMac went on a long run of being vital for Celtic and Scotland. There is every chance he'll come back from this injury and rediscover that form. But I definitely wouldn't have put him in the same bracket as those you mentioned. As others have alluded to, I think Christie is capable of doing a similar job to CalMac. What Christie has, that pretty much no one else has, is duracell bunny intensity. Plus, we know he has the ability to create, when called upon. I think Christie has finally found his perfect position. He was never quite a winger, and didn't have the scoring touch to be a proper forward. I think this box to box role suits him down to the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 12 hours ago, BryanBlessed said: Not that McGregor isn't important but if I had to choose one player out of him, Gilmour, McGinn and McTominay not to make the Euros it would probably be him. Interested to see how Christie would get on in that role and now Clarke's hand may be forced. Completely agree, honestly not that fussed if he doesn't make it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diamond Scot Posted March 11 Share Posted March 11 20 hours ago, Caledonian Craig said: Christie also knows the system Clarke plays inside out, has bags of experience at international level and Clarke knows he can rely on him for a performance. Ferguson is a trip into the unknown on those fronts and to go into that unknown virtually untried in a major tournament would be a massive risk. Ferguson will know the system inside out aswell. He has been in every squad for years now. Christie has money in the bank as you say but maybe is best placed for one of the 2 deeper mid roles. What Clarke now has is good options. I see the likes of Christie and Armstrong as better for games where we need a high tempo, pressing etc. Ferguson better for games where we might have a good amount of possession and need to be abit more patient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 12 Author Share Posted March 12 (edited) 1 hour ago, Diamond Scot said: Ferguson will know the system inside out aswell. He has been in every squad for years now. Christie has money in the bank as you say but maybe is best placed for one of the 2 deeper mid roles. What Clarke now has is good options. I see the likes of Christie and Armstrong as better for games where we need a high tempo, pressing etc. Ferguson better for games where we might have a good amount of possession and need to be abit more patient. I don't disagree with any of that but I want to see a marquee performance or impressive performance from Ferguson for Scotland first before I get excited and want to see him march into the side ahead of others who have already proven their worth for Scotland. For that to be given a chance to happen then Ferguson needs decent gametime in these upcoming friendlies. Maybe a start against Northern Ireland in.place of McGinn or McTominay and see how he fairs and maybe even second half V Netherlands. Edited March 12 by Caledonian Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 I am not sure if this hasbeen confirmed yet as cannot find confirmation online that Grant Hanley has withdrawn from the squad with an achilles injury. Also in the same article Steven Pressley who works in a development role at Brentford feels it is 'touch and go' if Aaron Hickey will make the Euros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanBlessed Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 16 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said: I am not sure if this hasbeen confirmed yet as cannot find confirmation online that Grant Hanley has withdrawn from the squad with an achilles injury. Also in the same article Steven Pressley who works in a development role at Brentford feels it is 'touch and go' if Aaron Hickey will make the Euros. No Hickey and no Tierney (not that unlikely) and we go out in the group stage without a bit of luck. Even if Hickey does just make it, he won't be match fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 22 minutes ago, BryanBlessed said: No Hickey and no Tierney (not that unlikely) and we go out in the group stage without a bit of luck. Even if Hickey does just make it, he won't be match fit. Is that you Charlie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csinclair Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 1 hour ago, Caledonian Craig said: I am not sure if this hasbeen confirmed yet as cannot find confirmation online that Grant Hanley has withdrawn from the squad with an achilles injury. Also in the same article Steven Pressley who works in a development role at Brentford feels it is 'touch and go' if Aaron Hickey will make the Euros. No big miss for me. The squad is already packed with CBs and I'd have Hanley beneath the rest and maybe on par with Cooper. Hickey would be a massive blow though. I like Patterson but Hickey is a level above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfingers Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 1 hour ago, BryanBlessed said: No Hickey and no Tierney (not that unlikely) and we go out in the group stage without a bit of luck. Even if Hickey does just make it, he won't be match fit. If he's back on the grass by May he will be match fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BryanBlessed Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 1 minute ago, bigfingers said: If he's back on the grass by May he will be match fit. Fingers crossed but Pressley is claiming it's 'touch and go' on whether he makes the euros. That, to me, says that he won't be available to play before the Euros. England rushed back Beckham in 2002 and Rooney in 2006 and I think both have admitted they shouldn't have gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfingers Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 3 minutes ago, BryanBlessed said: Fingers crossed but Pressley is claiming it's 'touch and go' on whether he makes the euros. That, to me, says that he won't be available to play before the Euros. England rushed back Beckham in 2002 and Rooney in 2006 and I think both have admitted they shouldn't have gone. He also said he might make it he’s not ruling him out yet. If he’s fit in May and playing games in that month then he’s in. If he doesn’t then he won’t be in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wanderer Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 SFA confirm Grant Hanley has just pulled out the squad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Black Bra Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Hanley pulling out isn’t a great loss for this squad, I wouldn’t rule him out of the Euro squad if fit but he’s behind Hendry, Souttar, McKenna & Porteous (and Tierney, obviously). He’s been a good servant but he’s 32, has missed most of the season and is playing in the Championship. He also played in the last Euros so there shouldn’t be any sentimental reason to have him in the squad as he’s played in a tournament already. If Hickey’s not fit then that’s it, tough shit. I’d be gutted as I think he’s top class but I’d rather have a fully fit Patterson. Hickey could still make the squad but might not play until the knockout stages 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N4Footsoldier Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 (edited) I hadn't even noticed Hanley's name in the squad tbh. Possibly the least likely to be selected out of all the CBs with >10 caps Edited March 19 by N4Footsoldier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProudScot Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 Hanley is behind a few but ahead of Cooper for sure. Clarke will defo want him in the Euros squad if available, he always sticks by his favourites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 19 Author Share Posted March 19 (edited) Carver today saying Hickey may be back training with Brentford's first team in two to three weeks. With Brentford lingering near the bottom of the table they won't have the luxury of easing him back in so it is far from inconceivable that Hickey will get a game or two under his belt before the end of the season. And then we have two friendlies he can get match fitness built up in so I won't be writing him off just now. Edited March 19 by Caledonian Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty2Hotty Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 9 hours ago, Caledonian Craig said: I am not sure if this hasbeen confirmed yet as cannot find confirmation online that Grant Hanley has withdrawn from the squad with an achilles injury. Also in the same article Steven Pressley who works in a development role at Brentford feels it is 'touch and go' if Aaron Hickey will make the Euros. Would not believe anything that Pressley comes out with, the guy is an absolute walloper spouts the biggest pish out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty2Hotty Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 On 3/11/2024 at 1:30 PM, saintsparky said: I would argue that McGregor could be our most influential player. Nothing flashy, but joins the play between the CB's and up to McTom and McGinn.. He has started every important game for years, and Clarke never drops him. He would be big miss if injured. Fair do's. IMO, I think most influential is a bit strong though. He has been great for Scotland for a number of years now and was very influential in the past, i think this was massively helped by having next to no competition for his place. However, there has been games where I think we have been really outperformed in the midfield (Ukraine PO, etc), this wasn't down to anyone player but MCgregor for me lacks the mobility to be the deepest lying midfielder, he really doesn't have the energy to get around such as a Christie and would love for him to be given the nod instead but I wouldn't be sad to see Mcgregor to start at the euros either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theabsentee Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 4 hours ago, Caledonian Craig said: Carver today saying Hickey may be back training with Brentford's first team in two to three weeks. With Brentford lingering near the bottom of the table they won't have the luxury of easing him back in so it is far from inconceivable that Hickey will get a game or two under his belt before the end of the season. And then we have two friendlies he can get match fitness built up in so I won't be writing him off just now. Potentially great news, surely Carver wouldn't say it if he isn't close to a return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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