Who deserves international minutes in warm-up matches?

[AAAfather]

So we can all guess Steve Clark's the majority of the world cup starting team and squad players - he will probably be loyal to those that did so well in qualifying.

But who needs international minutes to assess their qualities at this level ahead?  Who is developing fast to make the squad? 

Who could still add value to the Scotland squad we take over the Atlantic? 

For me:

+ Third goalie after Gunn / Gordon is a priority area due to age/injury status of our top two goalies. Could be anyone that plays at high level with a Scots granny

+ Josh Doig is doing nothing wrong in Serie A and needs testing now at international level

+ Lennon Miller at Udinese needs gametime - he may take to international level like a duck to water, who knows? 

+ Kieron Bowie and George Hirst both need caps, although Shankland will worry they jump him in the pecking order if they get goals 

 

Anyone else? 

 

Edited January 12 by AAAfather

[0Neils40yarder]

Harvey Barnes

[GHfaeGTA]

21 minutes ago, AAAfather said:

So we can all guess Steve Clark's the majority of the world cup starting team and squad players - he will probably be loyal to those that did so well in qualifying.

But who needs international minutes to assess their qualities at this level ahead?  Who is developing fast to make the squad? 

Who could still add value to the Scotland squad we take over the Atlantic? 

For me:

+ Third goalie after Gunn / Gordon is a priority area due to age/injury status of our top two goalies. Could be anyone that plays at high level with a Scots granny

+ Josh Doig is doing nothing wrong in Serie A and needs testing now at international level

+ Lennon Miller at Udinese needs gametime - he may take to international level like a duck to water, who knows? 

+ Kieron Bowie and George Hirst both need caps, although Shankland will worry they jump him in the pecking order if they get goals 

 

Anyone else? 

 

George Hirst needs dropping 

[Caledonian Craig]

I can see Josh Mulligan getting some game time. If Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan are back fit and playing they may get minutes. Kieran Bowie could force his way into the reckoning but depends a lot if he moves to a club who benches him or stays put and in the goals. Doig at Sassuolo is another that deserves some minutes.

[Up and Doune]

Oliver Burke. Playing for a decent Bundesliga team. Recently clocked as the fastest player in the league.

20 mins to go against Morocco tied at 1-1 and needing a win to qualify. Chuck him on.

[er yir macaroon]

10 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

I can see Josh Mulligan getting some game time. If Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan are back fit and playing they may get minutes. Kieran Bowie could force his way into the reckoning but depends a lot if he moves to a club who benches him or stays put and in the goals. Doig at Sassuolo is another that deserves some minutes.

Bowie would make the Rangers first team albeit probably as a right sided attacker. I think he'd have a better chance of making the WC squad that way than by staying put. Celtic, I'm not so sure as I think they will spend big money on a striker. I don't think he'd immediately get minutes in an EPL side, Championship probably. I think he should do a Joe Jordan. 

 

Edited January 12 by er yir macaroon

[BoundaryFault]

I've mentioned Robbie Ure before.

Maybe try Binks or Liam Morrison in central defence. -- but Hyam, who scored against Forest, has been unlucky to get just a few minutes of international football. Not forgetting the possibilities of Doig at centre-back.

And after his good performances for Barnet we should start the rehabilitation of Kieran Slicker as 3rd choice keeper -- with a view to what comes after July 2026. (It would be a help if one of the SPL clubs took him on loan for the rest of the season.)

Meanwhile Ross McCrorie has been playing well and seems to be "demonstrating an attitude " 😉 : https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5ydr4l2ggro 

[kumnio]

3 hours ago, GHfaeGTA said:

George Hirst needs dropping 

He really is honking.

[exile]

1 hour ago, BoundaryFault said:

And after his good performances for Barnet we should start the rehabilitation of Kieran Slicker as 3rd choice keeper -- with a view to what comes after July 2026. (It would be a help if one of the SPL clubs took him on loan for the rest of the season.)

That sounds an interesting possibility if he got some decent gametime. Even if not at a top notch club, he could be facing the top teams' firepower every other week and we could see what he is made of.

[broraboy]

47 minutes ago, kumnio said:

He really is honking.

• Similar to Oli McBurnie, I think Clarke will pull the plug as he, like you say has done nothing to merit further inclusion 

[Super_Scotlandfan]

5 hours ago, AAAfather said:

So we can all guess Steve Clark's the majority of the world cup starting team and squad players - he will probably be loyal to those that did so well in qualifying.

But who needs international minutes to assess their qualities at this level ahead?  Who is developing fast to make the squad? 

Who could still add value to the Scotland squad we take over the Atlantic? 

For me:

+ Third goalie after Gunn / Gordon is a priority area due to age/injury status of our top two goalies. Could be anyone that plays at high level with a Scots granny

+ Josh Doig is doing nothing wrong in Serie A and needs testing now at international level

+ Lennon Miller at Udinese needs gametime - he may take to international level like a duck to water, who knows? 

+ Kieron Bowie and George Hirst both need caps, although Shankland will worry they jump him in the pecking order if they get goals 

 

Anyone else? 

 

Gunn and Gordon should share minutes because they both need game time. No need to play a 3rd choice. That being said I would bring in Chris Brady if he wants to play for us. 
 

Of those not mentioned above, Holsgrove deserves a call up. I think he’s more of a Gilmour type who can pick it up deep under pressure.   

[DesiScotsman]

1 hour ago, Super_Scotlandfan said:

Gunn and Gordon should share minutes because they both need game time. No need to play a 3rd choice. That being said I would bring in Chris Brady if he wants to play for us. 
 

Of those not mentioned above, Holsgrove deserves a call up. I think he’s more of a Gilmour type who can pick it up deep under pressure.   

Think he’s been capped already by USA recently so unlikely to get him.

[ProudScot]

7 hours ago, GHfaeGTA said:

George Hirst needs dropping 

Aye he’s honking. Jacob Brown esque 

[mccaughey85]

10 hours ago, AAAfather said:

So we can all guess Steve Clark's the majority of the world cup starting team and squad players - he will probably be loyal to those that did so well in qualifying.

But who needs international minutes to assess their qualities at this level ahead?  Who is developing fast to make the squad? 

Who could still add value to the Scotland squad we take over the Atlantic? 

For me:

+ Third goalie after Gunn / Gordon is a priority area due to age/injury status of our top two goalies. Could be anyone that plays at high level with a Scots granny

+ Josh Doig is doing nothing wrong in Serie A and needs testing now at international level

+ Lennon Miller at Udinese needs gametime - he may take to international level like a duck to water, who knows? 

+ Kieron Bowie and George Hirst both need caps, although Shankland will worry they jump him in the pecking order if they get goals 

 

Anyone else? 

 

I think the main ones I would suggest is strikers and right back. 

Our strikers are pretty hit or miss and I would like to see Bowie or shankland get a chance in these games to show what they can do.

We need to see about trying to get Tierney in the side as well. Perhaps give him a shot at right back or left midfield and see how he does.

Second choice Right back is also issue and our potential second choices should be tried out as theres a decent chance hickey gets injured and we need to reply on them.

 

[broraboy]

14 hours ago, GHfaeGTA said:

George Hirst needs dropping 

I think I have to agree, need to move on from this guy……. 
 

[mccaughey85]

6 minutes ago, broraboy said:

I think I have to agree, need to move on from this guy……. 
 

No harm to the guy but I didn't see much point in him getting in squads.

Would much rather Conway or Bowie or both.

Even mcburnie would be worth another chance and thats before we think about burke who could be included as a striker in our squad.

[vanderark14]

Kieron Bowie and Lennon Miller for me. Both have already been called up but some proper games time during the warm up matches is vital so they are ready to step in if required. 

I would be shocked if there are any more wildcard options who are called up

 

[broraboy]

18 minutes ago, mccaughey85 said:

No harm to the guy but I didn't see much point in him getting in squads.

Would much rather Conway or Bowie or both.

Even mcburnie would be worth another chance and thats before we think about burke who could be included as a striker in our squad.

I was going to say exactly the same thing, as I was one of those previously saying McBurnie should never be picked again after his woeful performances / lack of goals for Scotland……..

But like you say, Oli McBurnie should be called up after the season he’s having……. 
I’ll put my hand up and say he deserves another chance 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

I think it’s a given that Dykes, Adams + Shankland are on the Plane to the USA 

Steve Clarke needs to have another look at :- 

Oli McBurnie, Tommy Conway, Kieron Bowie and Oli Burke ?!? 

And unpopular as it is for many people on here, Harvey Barnes getting board would be huge 

And left field, Harry Gray at Leeds Utd - let’s dangle the carrot and get him onboard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

Edited January 13 by broraboy

[Johnnyshaker]

Need to get the balance right as you can't be playing a completely internationally inexperienced team but if we line up in the first friendly something like; Gordon, Ralston, Robertson, Hendry, McKenna, McLean, Ferguson, BGD, McT, Adams, Dykes then to me it's a complete waste of a fixture.

I'd be looking to give 3 keepers game time over the 2 friendlies. The likes of Doig, Miller, Hyam, Bowie, McCrorie and Mulligan should all be in contention to start. Likely missing one or two others from that but I don't imagine there'll be much in the way of unexpected picks.

 

[mccaughey85]

40 minutes ago, Johnnyshaker said:

Need to get the balance right as you can't be playing a completely internationally inexperienced team but if we line up in the first friendly something like; Gordon, Ralston, Robertson, Hendry, McKenna, McLean, Ferguson, BGD, McT, Adams, Dykes then to me it's a complete waste of a fixture.

I'd be looking to give 3 keepers game time over the 2 friendlies. The likes of Doig, Miller, Hyam, Bowie, McCrorie and Mulligan should all be in contention to start. Likely missing one or two others from that but I don't imagine there'll be much in the way of unexpected picks.

 

I would just give Gordon and Gunn gametime. The chances of us needing to use our 3rd choice goalkeeper is extremely slim and if we do have to use our third choice then we would be fukked anyways as our choices beyond Gunn and Gordon are brutal.

I would like to see burke and gauld given gametime in these friendlies.

[mccaughey85]

1 hour ago, broraboy said:

I was going to say exactly the same thing, as I was one of those previously saying McBurnie should never be picked again after his woeful performances / lack of goals for Scotland……..

But like you say, Oli McBurnie should be called up after the season he’s having……. 
I’ll put my hand up and say he deserves another chance 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

I think it’s a given that Dykes, Adams + Shankland are on the Plane to the USA 

Steve Clarke needs to have another look at :- 

Oli McBurnie, Tommy Conway, Kieron Bowie and Oli Burke ?!? 

And unpopular as it is for many people on here, Harvey Barnes getting board would be huge 

And left field, Harry Gray at Leeds Utd - let’s dangle the carrot and get him onboard 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

I think you mean Archie gray but yes we should be asking him if he wants to play for us.

[broraboy]

12 minutes ago, mccaughey85 said:

I think you mean Archie gray but yes we should be asking him if he wants to play for us.

I think it’s clear Archie Gray will not be pried away from England 

However, I was actually meaning Harry Gray 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

[mccaughey85]

24 minutes ago, broraboy said:

I think it’s clear Archie Gray will not be pried away from England 

However, I was actually meaning Harry Gray 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

Fair enough. Is harry gray worth trying to persuade. Hes not played much pro football. Should we be wasting a squad place on him?

[broraboy]

2 hours ago, mccaughey85 said:

Fair enough. Is harry gray worth trying to persuade. Hes not played much pro football. Should we be wasting a squad place on him?

Worth trying to persuade, with a price tag of 40 million being quoted then I’d say 100% as now looks like he’s off out on loan to a club in the championship!  
Not proven at senior level yet, but behind the scenes I really hope Scotland are going all out to make this happen!! 

With a squad of 26, didn’t Clarke murmur with it being a 26 man squad he’d have some wiggle room to bring along youth. I’m hoping and believe he was referring to Harry Gray 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 

[bdgsct]

Very highly rated is Gray and an area we are short on. He would need to have a hell of an impact on loan to merit a place in the WC, even as a long term play to tie him. Can you imagine what the other forwards would think, I.e. Mcburnie, Hirst, Conway, Bowie etc, if they were to miss out for Gray.