Scotland v Holland and Northern Ireland

[Marky]

5 hours ago, Orraloon said:

I don't think so. What's the point in pissing them off for no reason? 

Eh?

The “reason” is pretty straightforward. We don’t need 4 goalkeepers.

Sorry if I’ve misunderstood your response. 

[Scot1]

I'd have rather have seen Doig than Taylor in the squad.

[Caledonian Craig]

A shit load of hissy fits on four goalkeepers. Does it matter? I'd say Clarke wants to have a closer look at Gordon's sharpness compared to the first team regulars. If he impresses he will go to Germany. No big deal.

Edited March 12 by Caledonian Craig

[Scot1]

Looking at the squad again, its very thin in midfield, especially if you are wanting to rest or to limit game time for the likes of McGinn and McTominay, id have included Turnbull.

Edited March 12 by Scot1

[Scot1]

Good to see Gunn and Gordon back, Gunn and Gordon are a good pair of keepers and a level above Clarke and Kelly. 
Hanley as well, adds a bit of depth to our centre half options, although personally I wouldn’t be starting him.

[HighlandScot]

It is great to see Craig Gordon back, but I share the sentiments of others thinking 4 keepers is excessive, and would rather have  seen an additional outfield player. Clarke is also too fond of the loyalty card. Greg Taylor seems a good lad, but far too lightweight defensively, plus does not fit the profile of overlapping fullback when we play no wingers. For left back I would much have preferred a rampaging Doig or Kingsley, with the added advantage latter can play the Tierney role (Ok not as well as Tierney) in a back 5, plus great dead ball specialist. In midfield I would like to see Cairney who has expressed interest in playing for Scotland again, but never gets a look in. And up front another striker such as Conway would have been good. I am not suggesting we revert to the days of Berti Vogts when caps were handed out liberally like sweeties, but for me Clarke is too conservative, both in personnel and formation.

[Scot1]

1 minute ago, HighlandScot said:

It is great to see Craig Gordon back, but I share the sentiments of others thinking 4 keepers is excessive, and would rather have  seen an additional outfield player. Clarke is also too fond of the loyalty card. Greg Taylor seems a good lad, but far too lightweight defensively, plus does not fit the profile of overlapping fullback when we play no wingers. For left back I would much have preferred a rampaging Doig or Kingsley, with the added advantage latter can play the Tierney role (Ok not as well as Tierney) in a back 5, plus great dead ball specialist. In midfield I would like to see Cairney who has expressed interest in playing for Scotland again, but never gets a look in. And up front another striker such as Conway would have been good. I am not suggesting we revert to the days of Berti Vogts when caps were handed out liberally like sweeties, but for me Clarke is too conservative, both in personnel and formation.

Good post, I’d forgot about Kingsley and Cairney. 

[Diamond Scot]

People getting their knickers in a twist about nothing. These are friendly matches so there is no squad limit. (There will be for the actual matchday squad)

So selecting 4 GKs has no bearing on numbers for any other position.

Clarke has obviously called up anybody that is fit and in contention for euros squad. For these games that just happens to be more GKs and attackers than midfielders and forwards.

Makes no sence to drop anybody from this squad. Say Kelly had been dropped for Gordon and then Gunn, Clark or Gordon get injured before the Euros. Kelly comes back in but he knows Clarke doesnt rate him as highly. That would be really poor management when there is no need.

[DesiScotsman]

34 minutes ago, HighlandScot said:

It is great to see Craig Gordon back, but I share the sentiments of others thinking 4 keepers is excessive, and would rather have  seen an additional outfield player. Clarke is also too fond of the loyalty card. Greg Taylor seems a good lad, but far too lightweight defensively, plus does not fit the profile of overlapping fullback when we play no wingers. For left back I would much have preferred a rampaging Doig or Kingsley, with the added advantage latter can play the Tierney role (Ok not as well as Tierney) in a back 5, plus great dead ball specialist. In midfield I would like to see Cairney who has expressed interest in playing for Scotland again, but never gets a look in. And up front another striker such as Conway would have been good. I am not suggesting we revert to the days of Berti Vogts when caps were handed out liberally like sweeties, but for me Clarke is too conservative, both in personnel and formation.

I agree with Taylor. Doesn’t seem suited at all to the WB role Clarke prefers.

I didn’t know Cairney had expressed an interest in playing for Scotland. Very good player but midfield is without doubt our strongest area in the team. Could possibly come in if McGregor is ruled out for the tournament but nothing so far stating that the injury he has is a bad one.

I’d have liked to have seen Ryan Hardie given an opportunity in these two games to see if he can play at this level. Most goals & assists in the English Championship for a Scotsman.

Edited March 12 by DesiScotsman

[Dave78]

32 minutes ago, Diamond Scot said:

People getting their knickers in a twist about nothing. These are friendly matches so there is no squad limit. (There will be for the actual matchday squad)

So selecting 4 GKs has no bearing on numbers for any other position.

Clarke has obviously called up anybody that is fit and in contention for euros squad. For these games that just happens to be more GKs and attackers than midfielders and forwards.

Makes no sence to drop anybody from this squad. Say Kelly had been dropped for Gordon and then Gunn, Clark or Gordon get injured before the Euros. Kelly comes back in but he knows Clarke doesnt rate him as highly. That would be really poor management when there is no need.

I agree with that. Too many folk (on Twatter mainly) implying the guy that's built the best squad togetherness and 'club atmosphere' since the 90s suddenly doesn't know what he's doing.

[Tartan blood]

7 hours ago, DesiScotsman said:

 

Then again, I think that is the Euro squad right there that is going to Germany with Hickey & McGregor coming in & Kelly, Ralston, Taylor & Cooper dropping out.

I wouldn't be so sure McLean's place is 100% cemented. McGregor for McLean would be more of a like for like swap.

I do think the 4 names you mentioned will drop out though. Leaving 1 more slot. Which could go to Ryan Fraser, maybe?

[Caledonian Craig]

1 hour ago, Diamond Scot said:

People getting their knickers in a twist about nothing. These are friendly matches so there is no squad limit. (There will be for the actual matchday squad)

So selecting 4 GKs has no bearing on numbers for any other position.

Clarke has obviously called up anybody that is fit and in contention for euros squad. For these games that just happens to be more GKs and attackers than midfielders and forwards.

Makes no sence to drop anybody from this squad. Say Kelly had been dropped for Gordon and then Gunn, Clark or Gordon get injured before the Euros. Kelly comes back in but he knows Clarke doesnt rate him as highly. That would be really poor management when there is no need.

Spot on.

For me it is clear that Clarke has his mind made up for his  midfielders and strikers. He wants to gauge Gordon''s levels for himself post-injury hence four keepers. And evidently he has not settled on the full quota of defenders yet hence why there are a large number in the squad so he can look and decide which ones go to Germany and who misses out.

[Toepoke]

1 hour ago, DesiScotsman said:

I didn’t know Cairney had expressed an interest in playing for Scotland. 

He's done more than that, he's got two caps already!

[Toepoke]

8 minutes ago, Tartan blood said:

I wouldn't be so sure McLean's place is 100% cemented. McGregor for McLean would be more of a like for like swap.

I don't think there's any way a fit Kenny McLean doesn't go to Germany.

 

[DesiScotsman]

13 minutes ago, Tartan blood said:

I wouldn't be so sure McLean's place is 100% cemented. McGregor for McLean would be more of a like for like swap.

I do think the 4 names you mentioned will drop out though. Leaving 1 more slot. Which could go to Ryan Fraser, maybe?

McLean can play at CB as well and has performed well there this season when called upon. Not saying I’d want him to be playing there but versatility would be key.

If Fraser was to come in then maybe one of the CB’s drop out? Although not sure what the relationship between him and Clarke is?

Edited March 12 by DesiScotsman

[Tartan blood]

7 minutes ago, Toepoke said:

I don't think there's any way a fit Kenny McLean doesn't go to Germany.

 

It would certainly be harsh, but you never know. However, there is the chance he removes 2 CBs from this list.

[DesiScotsman]

6 minutes ago, Toepoke said:

He's done more than that, he's got two caps already!

Yeah I know he’s been capped previously but what I was meaning more is that I didn’t know he had actually stated that he wants to be considered for selection again. The 2 games he was capped for were friendlies therefore leaving the door open for an England call up which is why he has never been named in a competitive international squad as didn’t want to commit to us at the time.

[Tartan blood]

5 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said:

McLean can play at CB as well and has performed well there this season when called upon. Not saying I’d want him to be playing there but versatility would be key.

If Fraser was to come in then maybe one of the CB’s drop out? Although not sure what the relationship between him and Clarke is?

His versatility could well be the clincher. And may mean Clarke will drop 2 centrebacks from this list. To make way for McGregor, Hickey and Fraser.

[Toepoke]

27 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said:

Yeah I know he’s been capped previously but what I was meaning more is that I didn’t know he had actually stated that he wants to be considered for selection again. The 2 games he was capped for were friendlies therefore leaving the door open for an England call up which is why he has never been named in a competitive international squad as didn’t want to commit to us at the time.

👍 Fair doos.

 

[Silversand]

56 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said:

Yeah I know he’s been capped previously but what I was meaning more is that I didn’t know he had actually stated that he wants to be considered for selection again. The 2 games he was capped for were friendlies therefore leaving the door open for an England call up which is why he has never been named in a competitive international squad as didn’t want to commit to us at the time.

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/tom-cairney-reveals-scotland-euro-2024-wish-as-forgotten-fulham-star-sends-message-to-steve-clarke-4465051

 

[Kirk]

1 hour ago, Toepoke said:

I don't think there's any way a fit Kenny McLean doesn't go to Germany.

 

Agree, Clarke loves him and will definitely take him if he's fit.

[ger intae them]

1 hour ago, DesiScotsman said:

Yeah I know he’s been capped previously but what I was meaning more is that I didn’t know he had actually stated that he wants to be considered for selection again. The 2 games he was capped for were friendlies therefore leaving the door open for an England call up which is why he has never been named in a competitive international squad as didn’t want to commit to us at the time.

don’t think that’s the case at all. Think he latterly got a bit tired of being called up and not played but no way was he holding out for England like that muppet Anderson.

[Rab The Crab]

9 hours ago, DesiScotsman said:

I was hoping he'd take someone like Hardie in the team to see if he can make the step-up as the striker position is the weakest area in the team & maybe give him something like 25 mins in the Netherlands game and then 45 mins in the Northern Ireland game.

Then again, I think that is the Euro squad right there that is going to Germany with Hickey & McGregor coming in & Kelly, Ralston, Taylor & Cooper dropping out.

That would be my guess although I’m not convinced he’d take Hanley and Souttar. Both have had a bit of a stop start season.

[DesiScotsman]

1 hour ago, ger intae them said:

don’t think that’s the case at all. Think he latterly got a bit tired of being called up and not played but no way was he holding out for England like that muppet Anderson.

Fair enough, thanks for the correction 👍🏽

[DesiScotsman]

39 minutes ago, Rab The Crab said:

That would be my guess although I’m not convinced he’d take Hanley and Souttar. Both have had a bit of a stop start season.

Souttar has been playing regularly for The Rangers and in very good form. If he maintains this & steers well clear of injuries between now and the summer then it’s going to be difficult to not take him.

Hanley has just come back from an achilles injury which is not a nice injury and the same sort of injury that saw Ross Stewart have his season ended last season with Sunderland. His game time is being managed just so there is no aggravation.

Out of the two, Hanley’s place is probably the one that is most at risk between the two but if he can steer well clear of injuries and get a couple of more good games at Norwich then I reckon Clarke will take him as he seems to be Clarke’s more favourable option when both are available.

Edited March 13 by DesiScotsman