World Cup squad

[DesiScotsman]

2 hours ago, er yir macaroon said:

After what happened to Gilmour, the Bolivia game is going to be a tough watch. We might yet see Lennon Miller at the finals. There could be significant minutes for Fletcher in this game (e.g. second half) partly to avoid injury to key midfielders and to further embed him in the squad in case he’s required. 

I think Clarke mentioned that a lot of the players are going to play 65-70 mins against Bolivia. Pretty much the team that starts and plays this game is practically the starting lineup for Haiti barring any injuries God forbid.

But yeah after what happened to Gilmour, I’m going to be very nervous watching this one.

[mccaughey85]

4 hours ago, er yir macaroon said:

After what happened to Gilmour, the Bolivia game is going to be a tough watch. We might yet see Lennon Miller at the finals. There could be significant minutes for Fletcher in this game (e.g. second half) partly to avoid injury to key midfielders and to further embed him in the squad in case he’s required. 

Would be interesting if Fletcher was to have an excellent game against Bolivia.

[vanderark14]

2 hours ago, DesiScotsman said:

I think Clarke mentioned that a lot of the players are going to play 65-70 mins against Bolivia. Pretty much the team that starts and plays this game is practically the starting lineup for Haiti barring any injuries God forbid.

But yeah after what happened to Gilmour, I’m going to be very nervous watching this one.

Hopefully Bolivia are not like Curacao and they actually treat it like a warm up match

[Orraloon]

1 hour ago, vanderark14 said:

Hopefully Bolivia are not like Curacao and they actually treat it like a warm up match

It's not a warm up match for Bolivia so they might as well get stuck in. Even more worried now that I've thought about that. 😂

[Yr Alban]

23 hours ago, Orraloon said:

It's not a warm up match for Bolivia so they might as well get stuck in. Even more worried now that I've thought about that. 😂

OK - here’s an idea. Let’s not play Hickey at all. We all know he is nailed on to start every game if fit, so where’s the benefit here?

[er yir macaroon]

50 minutes ago, Yr Alban said:

OK - here’s an idea. Let’s not play Hickey at all. We all know he is nailed on to start every game if fit, so where’s the benefit here?

He's not match sharp and could do with minutes. I'd give him and Patterson 45 each. Same with Tierney and Robertson.

[bdgsct]

1 hour ago, er yir macaroon said:

He's not match sharp and could do with minutes. I'd give him and Patterson 45 each. Same with Tierney and Robertson.

I agree. If he plays and gets injured because he is undercooked then there's every chance the same would have happened v Haiti. Bigger risk is multiple guys going in lacking mat h sharness. We could have our goalie, 1x centre back, BGD and Hickey going in lacking gametime .

[theabsentee]

4 hours ago, er yir macaroon said:

He's not match sharp and could do with minutes. I'd give him and Patterson 45 each. Same with Tierney and Robertson.

Sounds ok, but think I'd prefer to have Patterson start and see how he performs. If he's doing well, then maybe give him a hour or even let him stay on for the 90 and bring Hickey on at left back or even midfield just to give him a run out. I'm quite worried about having to bring Patterson on when the business starts due to match fitness, which may have given him confidence issues. I'm even more worried about having to bring Ralston on🫣

    I'm not really worried about KT or Robbo playing at all against Bolivia. Both are mature, confident players who will be ready come the time. 

[romanticscot]

The players will get a baptism of literal fire, playing a semi-competitive match in the heat. Any of us who have been on holiday in America, could you imagine a 90 min kick about within 6 days. It will be gruelling.   So, any and all players need to get something on Saturday even after all of the practices this week. I dont know how we can acclimate to a competitive game within two weeks. I am glad the Haiti match is first. 

[mccaughey85]

28 minutes ago, romanticscot said:

The players will get a baptism of literal fire, playing a semi-competitive match in the heat. Any of us who have been on holiday in America, could you imagine a 90 min kick about within 6 days. It will be gruelling.   So, any and all players need to get something on Saturday even after all of the practices this week. I dont know how we can acclimate to a competitive game within two weeks. I am glad the Haiti match is first. 

Our first game is at 9 o clock at night. According to the BBC weather forecast for Boston at 9 o clock it will be overcast with some drizzle and the temperature will be 23c. 

I know that can change but I don't think 23c is that bad on our players considering it will be overcast as well. If they train hard for the next 11 days in the heat then they should be ready for it.

Our second game is at 6pm so I don't think it will be that bad either although it might be a bit hotter. Will have to wait to see what kind of weather is expected for the 19th in Boston.

[BryanBlessed]

On 6/1/2026 at 4:47 PM, mccaughey85 said:

Would be interesting if Fletcher was to have an excellent game against Bolivia.

Not at all against him playing at least part of that match as he may well be needed in the actual tournament. Midfield is the area where we're most likely to use all available players.

If he has a good match, are you thinking he could potentially leapfrog Ferguson? I think it's unlikely but, as I said in the other thread, I hope he does very well for us.

[csinclair]

16 hours ago, Yr Alban said:

OK - here’s an idea. Let’s not play Hickey at all. We all know he is nailed on to start every game if fit, so where’s the benefit here?

Personally I'd start Patterson over Hickey against Haiti. I think we could benefit from his attacking threat and I'd much rather have Hickey strictly for the Morocco and Brazil games

[ceudmilefailte]

21 hours ago, Yr Alban said:

OK - here’s an idea. Let’s not play Hickey at all. We all know he is nailed on to start every game if fit, so where’s the benefit here?

He needs game time badly unless Clarke knows better. 

[Hertsscot]

1 hour ago, ceudmilefailte said:

He needs game time badly unless Clarke knows better. 

Both Patterson and Hickey need games under their belt. Both have had to deal with bad injuries in recent years and it would be a massive boost if they could get back to where they were a few years back

[ceudmilefailte]

4 hours ago, Hertsscot said:

Both Patterson and Hickey need games under their belt. Both have had to deal with bad injuries in recent years and it would be a massive boost if they could get back to where they were a few years back

Honestly don’t think Patterson has ever been any good 

 

[Hertsscot]

2 minutes ago, ceudmilefailte said:

Honestly don’t think Patterson has ever been any good 

He was very good at u21s level, particularly going forward. I think even then there was a feeling he needed to improve defensively but that's not unusual for a young defender.

Two or three years later, he still needs to work on the defensive aspects of his game and he doesn't seem to have quite the same confidence to go forward.

It's difficult to work out whether his confidence has been hit by how things have gone at Everton or whether injuries have held back his progress, probably a bit of both.

[csinclair]

Patterson has played well pretty much every time he’s been picked barring the friendlies against Netherlands and NI where he looked like his confidence was shot and he was making mistakes.

Ever since he’s come back into the squad he’s looked comfortable without being back to his best of bursting down the wing though that may just be a tactical choice.