World Cup squad

[bdgsct]

1 hour ago, romanticscot said:

Its a brave call not to take him. I think these 8 are the only ones up for discussion and there is not a place for all of them.

Adams is certain

Shankland got to be certain

Dykes is debatable

Hirst is debatable

Ross Stewart is debatable

McBurnie is debatable

Ure is doubtful

Bowie is debatable

My 4 - Shankland, Adams, Stewart and McBurnie.

Clarke - Shankland, Adams, Dykes, Hirst

You forgot about Conway. I think he can afford to take 5 or even 6 if one or 2 can play wide.

[romanticscot]

10 minutes ago, bdgsct said:

You forgot about Conway. I think he can afford to take 5 or even 6 if one or 2 can play wide.

Oh jeepers, yes I did. Conway can play on the left maybe his versatility gets him in. 

[ceudmilefailte]

5 hours ago, broraboy said:

Oh by Jesus, not good 😳

He’ll be back at Queen of the South the trajectory he’s on  

Won’t stop Clarke picking him. 
 

[scotlad]

8 hours ago, GHfaeGTA said:

I see Dykes has been released by Charlton and now a free agent 

It'll take more than that to keep him out of the World Cup squad. He's as certain to be on the 'plane to the US as the pilot's chair!

[DesiScotsman]

The only thing that will prevent Dykes from being in that World Cup is an injury in training like he picked up just before the Euro 2024. Doesn’t matter if he’s been binned by off by two clubs this season & is now a free agent, Clarke will move heaven and earth to ensure he’s sat on that plane to USA this summer.

[Caledonian Craig]

Scotland fans are a weird bunch. The call is getting Adams (by a growing bunch) and Dykes out of the squad. Two strikers to break through the 10 goal barrier for us which is rare for Scotland strikers. The rage is to replace them with players with a decent amount of caps with no goals for us.

It's like when I think back how people raved about Leigh Griffiths who scored a mere four goals for us with a strike rate slightly worse than Dykes and Adams. But to our fans he was udroppable.

The other side of the coin was all the shite thrown at Kenny Miller and how he was no good despite him having scored 18 goals for us - one behind Ally McCoist seen as a living legend.

As I said what a weird bunch.

Edited May 7 by Caledonian Craig

[vanderark14]

1 hour ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Scotland fans are a weird bunch. The call is getting Adams (by a growing bunch) and Dykes out of the squad. Two strikers to break through the 10 goal barrier for us which is rare for Scotland strikers. The rage is to replace them with players with a decent amount of caps with no goals for us.

It's like when I think back how people raved about Leigh Griffiths who scored a mere four goals for us with a strike rate slightly worse than Dykes and Adams. But to our fans he was udroppable.

The other side of the coin was all the shite thrown at Kenny Miller and how he was no good despite him having scored 18 goals for us - one behind Ally McCoist seen as a living legend.

As I said what a weird bunch.

I can understand debates on Dykes. His club form raises questions and there is at least one player who could do the same Job, Ross Stewart. 

Adam's plays at the highest level of all of our players. Unfortunately there are some people who think goals scored is all that matters, it doesn't matter what level those goals are scored at, it doesn't matter how a player integrates with players or coaches and it doesnt matter what their attitude is.

The idea seems to be - a player scores goals so must play

Edited May 7 by vanderark14

[Caledonian Craig]

6 minutes ago, vanderark14 said:

I can understand debates on Dykes. His club form raises questions and there is at least one player who could do the same Job, Ross Stewart. 

Adam's plays at the highest level of all of our players. Unfortunately there are some people who think goals scored is all that matters, it doesn't matter what level those goals are scored at, it doesn't matter how a player integrates with players or coaches and it doesnt matter what their attitude is.

The idea seems to be - a player scores goals so must play

For me proving yourself at international level outweighs scoring at club level. It's like being a proven goalscorer at league level surpasses non-league level. Dykes and Adams have proven themselves - others have not. 

Now before and after our last squad announcements is why I was angry other forwards such as McBurnie, Stewart and Burke had not been called up to see if they could bring something extra even though they have yet to prove themselves. Now it is too late.

And just to be clear I would try to fit in more striking options hence why I would have liked to have seen others bid for a place alongside Dykes and Adams in the WC squad. I think we are a defender too heavy in squads and perhaps a midfielder too.

[vanderark14]

15 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

For me proving yourself at international level outweighs scoring at club level. It's like being a proven goalscorer at league level surpasses non-league level. Dykes and Adams have proven themselves - others have not. 

Now before and after our last squad announcements is why I was angry other forwards such as McBurnie, Stewart and Burke had not been called up to see if they could bring something extra even though they have yet to prove themselves. Now it is too late.

And just to be clear I would try to fit in more striking options hence why I would have liked to have seen others bid for a place alongside Dykes and Adams in the WC squad. I think we are a defender too heavy in squads and perhaps a midfielder too.

We agree on most but I don't think scoring at International level out weighs scoring at club level at all. It depends on the opposition, however I forgot to say in my previous post that Adams and Dykes are not goal poachers like Shankland. They do other task which help our three of four best players do their jobs. 

Its not too late to call up someone like Ross Stewart, he can be called up even if he has not had the chance in friendlies. Calling up one player will not make a huge difference, if anything it will make the other forwards take note that they are now under pressure. 

[Squirrelhumper]

3 hours ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Scotland fans are a weird bunch. The call is getting Adams (by a growing bunch) and Dykes out of the squad. Two strikers to break through the 10 goal barrier for us which is rare for Scotland strikers. The rage is to replace them with players with a decent amount of caps with no goals for us.

It's like when I think back how people raved about Leigh Griffiths who scored a mere four goals for us with a strike rate slightly worse than Dykes and Adams. But to our fans he was udroppable.

The other side of the coin was all the shite thrown at Kenny Miller and how he was no good despite him having scored 18 goals for us - one behind Ally McCoist seen as a living legend.

As I said what a weird bunch.

It's bizarre. 

[Johnnyshaker]

3 hours ago, vanderark14 said:

We agree on most but I don't think scoring at International level out weighs scoring at club level at all.

I'm with you on this, in an ideal world international call ups should be a reward for your club form. At the minute we/Clarke put a lot on the club mentality of the squad - which is good and necessary to an extent - but I think you end up with situations where once someone is in then they're in irrelevant of club form (both theirs and others). 

People wanting Dykes to drop down the pecking order is perfectly valid based on his club form. Although he has credit in the bank where we're concerned, unless he plays well at the world cup then it will surely have run out and someone else deserves a chance if they're playing well for their club.

Edited May 7 by Johnnyshaker

[Caledonian Craig]

19 minutes ago, Johnnyshaker said:

I'm with you on this, in an ideal world international call ups should be a reward for your club form. At the minute we/Clarke put a lot on the club mentality of the squad - which is good and necessary to an extent - but I think you end up with situations where once someone is in then they're in irrelevant of club form (both theirs and others). 

People wanting Dykes to drop down the pecking order is perfectly valid based on his club form. Although he has credit in the bank where we're concerned, unless he plays well at the world cup then it will surely have run out and someone else deserves a chance if they're playing well for their club.

Yes I get that but the crux of the matter is throwing in an inexperienced striker unproven at international level over an experienced international goalscorer is a massive gamble and one that Clarke would get crucified for of it doesn't work. Mind you if we bomb out with Dykes and Adams playing he will get crucified too. Damned if he does damned if he doesn't.

The best balance would be to name five or six strikers in the squad with McBurnie and Stewart added. And use them as half-time subs if first choice strikers are not up to it.

[Johnnyshaker]

10 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Yes I get that but the crux of the matter is throwing in an inexperienced striker unproven at international level over an experienced international goalscorer is a massive gamble and one that Clarke would get crucified for of it doesn't work. Mind you if we bomb out with Dykes and Adams playing he will get crucified too. Damned if he does damned if he doesn't.

The best balance would be to name five or six strikers in the squad with McBurnie and Stewart added. And use them as half-time subs if first choice strikers are not up to it.

Totally agree, I get he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. I don't think we should throw the experience away and call up all of the other names mentioned at this point in the tournament cycle.  

The sweet spot is probably like you say, call up 6 to give us options.

[theabsentee]

7 hours ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Scotland fans are a weird bunch. The call is getting Adams (by a growing bunch) and Dykes out of the squad. Two strikers to break through the 10 goal barrier for us which is rare for Scotland strikers. The rage is to replace them with players with a decent amount of caps with no goals for us.

It's like when I think back how people raved about Leigh Griffiths who scored a mere four goals for us with a strike rate slightly worse than Dykes and Adams. But to our fans he was udroppable.

The other side of the coin was all the shite thrown at Kenny Miller and how he was no good despite him having scored 18 goals for us - one behind Ally McCoist seen as a living legend.

As I said what a weird bunch.

Nothing weird about wanting a player past his best phased out. It's totally logical and how the football business works. Sentiment doesn't get you points at the top level. 

 Adams is still playing in a major league and should certainly be on the plane if not starting.  Dykes career, on the other hand, has been going downhill for a couple of seasons or more. Numerous Club coaches have thought by releasing him, but our coach, as we all know, has selective eyes when it comes to form. 

 

 

[ThistleWhistle]

On 5/4/2026 at 9:03 PM, Johnnyshaker said:

GK: Gunn, Gordon, Bain

RB: Hickey, Patterson

LB: Robertson, Tierney

CB: McKenna, Souttar, Hanley, Hendry, Hyam

MID: McTominay, McGinn, Christie, Ferguson, McLean, Gilmour, Miller, Gannon-Doak

FOR: Adams, Dykes, Shankland, Hirst, Conway

There's 25 there. I can't see him not picking any of those barring injury so who do we think for the last place?

Assuming he's not going to take someone uncapped then it's probably one of;

Curtis, Barron, Bowie, Gauld, McCrorie, Ralston, Irving

That’s pretty much it I reckon.  With 2 of the fullbacks injury prone, 1 barely playing and the other knocking on think there will be a 5th fullback.

The attacking options are too same same and won’t change anything off the bench but fully expect they’ll all be there.  I’d rather have usual 3 of Adams, Dykes (out of loyalty) and Shankland then a couple of wildcards from Stewart, Curtis, Bowie and Burke but won’t happen 

[romanticscot]

Many folks saying that our strikers are much and such the same, and for the most part thats true but we need diversity from somewhere on the park. We lose BDG and we are done for, we have all seen that. 

[er yir macaroon]

On 5/7/2026 at 3:02 PM, romanticscot said:

Many folks saying that our strikers are much and such the same, and for the most part thats true but we need diversity from somewhere on the park. We lose BDG and we are done for, we have all seen that. 

I agree. I'd take Curtis and Bowie to give us a bit more mobility in attack. 

[Caledonian Craig]

Today is FIFA's deadline for the 55-man squad lists to be delivered for the World Cup. Will Scotland's 55 leak out? I see details of Argentina's has. I think too we may get little clues about who isn't in our 55 as disgruntled players who miss out will reveal it to the press 

[er yir macaroon]

Has Conway done enough? I've not seen him do anything of note for us. Maybe he does defensive chores, but he doesn't catch the eye in attack. He'l like a placeholder on the left wing. 

[Hertsscot]

10 minutes ago, er yir macaroon said:

Has Conway done enough? I've not seen him do anything of note for us. Maybe he does defensive chores, but he doesn't catch the eye in attack. He'l like a placeholder on the left wing. 

Tend to agree. If Morgan is fit, I'd take him instead.

[DesiScotsman]

53 minutes ago, Caledonian Craig said:

Today is FIFA's deadline for the 55-man squad lists to be delivered for the World Cup. Will Scotland's 55 leak out? I see details of Argentina's has. I think too we may get little clues about who isn't in our 55 as disgruntled players who miss out will reveal it to the press 

Does this not get published publicly or is it kept under wraps? Along with Argentina, Bosnia have unveiled their one.

[bdgsct]

56 minutes ago, er yir macaroon said:

Has Conway done enough? I've not seen him do anything of note for us. Maybe he does defensive chores, but he doesn't catch the eye in attack. He'l like a placeholder on the left wing. 

He's kind of like that for Middlesbrough from what I've seen and starts every game. Clarke seems to like that kind of unspectacular bit reliable player. I like how Conway said he was travelling to the Euros as a fan when it looked like he wouldn't make the squad. That puts him ahead of Hirst for me.

[bdgsct]

3 minutes ago, DesiScotsman said:

Does this not get published publicly or is it kept under wraps? Along with Argentina, Bosnia have unveiled their one.

I think it varies. I can understand it not being public as it's a distraction talking about players who won't go and probably never will be in a squad. It's also a max 55 man squad. Wouldn't surprise me if Clarke named less.

[DesiScotsman]

1 minute ago, bdgsct said:

I think it varies. I can understand it not being public as it's a distraction talking about players who won't go and probably never will be in a squad. It's also a max 55 man squad. Wouldn't surprise me if Clarke named less.

Fair enough and yeah won’t be surprised if Clarke submits nowhere near that number of players to the SFA to pass onto FIFA. He even joked he’d name himself in the squad so that pretty much answered the question.

[romanticscot]

Im not surprised our World cup pool is not released. I reckon its not 55 strong and McBurnie is not in it.