Tartan blood Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 I think if we can replicate our first half points total then we'll qualify. 20 should be enough for the top 2 or, I would say, the best 3rd place team. But even 2 wins and 2 draws might be enough. As long as the 2 draws are against Poland and Ireland. Okay, we aren't getting the 3 points but you also have to look at as 2 dropped points for our rivals. Chances are we'd have a better head to head if we ended up with 2 draws as well. So that is like an extra point right there. The unthinkable would be to lose/draw to Georgia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bristolhibby Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 fair to say its all up for grabs and it will probably go to the wire, there is an awful lot of football to be played before anything is decided. the only firm statement i would make is that if we beat ireland they are effectively oot, and we are guaranteed at least 3rd place (provided we don't have a major melt down). that would also go some way to getting some of the points back that poland unexpectedly gained against germany. i would question poland's mentality and ability to close games out and take 3 points. they are technically very good and have the best striker in the whole group, but beyond that? not sure - draw specialists me think. you could argue similar for us mind you, winning big games when we have to is not our speciality. at least its fun and exciting this time, last campaign we were out after what 3/4 games? 3/4, I'd say 1/2 games. Drawing at home to Serbia and Macedonia killed us. Harry Potter should have been launched after those games. J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewisEDI Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 The unthinkable would be to lose/draw to Georgia. this is not looking like a spanner but a potential toolbox for our campaign if that happens. we always struggle away against teams of a similar standard or worse, moldova, faroe islands, belarus, lithuania, lichtenstein etc. Georgia u have to think will take points against one of the top 4 we just have to pray its not us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McToot Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 The first half v Wales was by far the worst I've seen. Yet after scoring we went on the dominate for a spell until they got the pen. If snoddys shot had been an inch or two to the left we'd have won comfortably. Unbelievable considering how bad the first half was. If we get 10 points in the second half of campaign then I think we'll get 2nd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTV Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 The key thing will be the results between us, Poland and Ireland. Win your home games, get at least a point away. So far, so good for us - we are the only team of the three who haven't slipped up so far. Scotland - home win v Ireland, away draw v Poland (4/6) Poland - home draw v Scotland, away draw v Ireland (2/6) Ireland - home draw v Poland, away defeat v Scotland (1/6) Sure there are three other games, including the critical Georgia away game where Germany, Poland and Ireland have all taken three points with varying degrees of comfort, but if we get a draw in Dublin and a win at home to Poland, we will be there or thereabouts for automatic qualification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagtag Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 The unthinkable would be to lose/draw to Georgia. Georgia have fallen to 126 in the world rankings. That's way below the Faroes and Liechtenstein. If we can't beat them then we don't deserve to qualify. They will make it difficult but Strachan will make sure we approach this game properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairbairn Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Given the way we've played up to now, and the way the opposition have played, I don' think it's entirely unrealistic to think the following is possible. Ireland - Win Georgia - Win Germany - Draw Poland - Win Gibraltar - Win That would see us finish on 23 points and probably enough to win the group! However I think we've all been round the block enough to know that WWDWW sequence could just as easily be DDLDW which would only be a further 6 points and probably not even make the playoffs. I'm quietly confident at the moment given the way we've performed in the first half of the campaign but I'll proceed with caution!! The Ireland game in June really is crucial. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Just seen this breaking news on BBC.... (excuse as am copying and pasting):- Scotland could face Georgia behind closed doors in their Euro 2016 qualifier in September after crowd trouble in the Georgians' last match. Georgia's 2-0 defeat to Germany on Sunday in Tbilisi was twice interrupted by supporters invading the Boris Paichadze Stadium pitch. The Georgian FA has posted a statement on their website admitting they are fearful of a sanction from Uefa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If that is the case and it is played behind closed doors then surely it would be a boost to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orraloon Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 No I agree we should never give up and would say we never have but what would be more of a surprise and disappointment? Losing at home to Wales when our hopes hung by a thread and Strachan was new in the job inheriting a squad devoid of confidence and spirit or losing to Ireland when our qualifying hopes are hanging by a much thicker cord and squad confidence is good as is the spirit and Strachan is now settled in the job? After the Welsh defeat it was a case of a continuation of dire results whereas against Ireland it would be our first real blow to qualifying in this campaign and would dent confidence and steal away our momentum. Well, losing to Wales at Hampden was a major shocker to me and we should have beat them in Cardiff as well. They only got 10 points in the whole campaign and 6 of them were off us. Losing to Ireland in Dublin would not surprise me in the slightest. They are about the same level as us and we only just sneaked a win at Parkhead. It will probably come down to who gets a few breaks on the day. You seem to have gone from a total defeatist to a supreme optimist in the space of a few posts if you think we were out of the competition before we played Wales and you now think can go to Dublin and a defeat would be a surprise. I think we have a decent chance of winning in Dublin but probably an equal chance of losing. And it won't be the end of our campaign if we do. A draw would be an excellent result for us. If we win in Dublin I think it could go down as one of our top 10 away victories ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) Given the way we've played up to now, and the way the opposition have played, I don' think it's entirely unrealistic to think the following is possible. Ireland - Win Georgia - Win Germany - Draw Poland - Win Gibraltar - Win That would see us finish on 23 points and probably enough to win the group! Assuming the Germans win their 4 other games they'd sneak it on head to head. I wouldn't be too unhappy with that scenario though If that is the case and it is played behind closed doors then surely it would be a boost to us. Pish for the fans who are travelling to Georgia but! Edited March 31, 2015 by Toepoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 You seem to have gone from a total defeatist to a supreme optimist in the space of a few posts if you think we were out of the competition before we played Wales and you now think can go to Dublin and a defeat would be a surprise. So can you honestly sit there now and say you were optimistic of our chances of qualifying when Levein was sacked? I'd be damned surprised if you say you were considering how rank rotten our form was at that time. My views of that time was as a realist not a defeatist (there is a difference there) and the optimist never came about in a few posts it has come about from the job Strachan has done at turning things around. That is why I am optimistic (like most people are just now) of our chances of qualifying. If you consider we have already gone to Poland and drawn and everyone is saying there is nothing between us, Poland and Ireland then surely a draw in Ireland is not being overly optimistic here considering we have got wins in Croatia and Macedonia for example since those dark days of the Wales defeats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JECK Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 They're definitely not as good as there team we played in the 08 qualifiers. we showed at ibrox that we can cause them plenty problems. The fact it's the start of the season when this one gets played so players will be fresh and it's an evening kick off I don't fear that much for us in that game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattywin Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Basic facts are that it will be between us, Ireland and Poland for 2nd and 3rd place. Ignoring matches against other teams - from those two we have taken 4 points, Poland have taken 2 points and Ireland have taken 1. We can't ask for any more so far. Given that then there's no reason to think we cannot take another 3 or 4 points off them. Just annoying Germans have dropped points against both of them when we were probably derserving of a point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
girvanTA Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 each game is like a cup final now for Scotland, Poland and ROI. Pressure is on now, and I can see Poland slipping up. It will probably come down to the last game while we are away to Gibraltar, Poland and Ireland will do battle in Warsaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fanatyk Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) I think, for a change, that everything will be done and dusted before the last gameday. And one other thing: if Georgia remains a points provider for everyone, there is a big chance that third team in our group will qualify automatically. Would be nice. Edited March 31, 2015 by fanatyk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Craig Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) I think, for a change, that everything will be done and dusted before the last gameday. Sorry but I think that is an impossibility. There are only four games before we reach the final game and all four teams in the running are split by three points. And between now and then none of these teams I see falling out of contention. Edited March 31, 2015 by Caledonian Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toepoke Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 Aye, I certainly couldn't see Scotland going into the Gibraltar game needing no points... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1ANDYP Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Would be amazing if that was the case. What a trip it could be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 If we keep up this good form but just miss out on top 2, we can also qualify directly from 3rd with highest points total. We're currently top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 (edited) I think privately Strachan must think he can win this group. If he wins in dublin, he can avoid defeat against Germany. Poland can be beaten at hampden, I thought we were unfortunate not to win in Warsaw. I am not overly concerned about Georgia away, as we were controlled the game at ibrox. Ok we won 1_0 but they were limited to once decent chance to score. This is our chance to qualify and I am very optimistic given our performances to date. IN GOrD we trust Edited March 31, 2015 by Robroysboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fringo Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Isn't that table out of date having played 5 or does it not count Gib and other bottom teams ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 Isn't that table out of date having played 5 or does it not count Gib and other bottom teams ? Results against the bottom seed don't count, I presume thats why it says played 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulo2576 Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 First place is what we should aim for. We are an excellant away team these days, well capable of beating Ireland. Georgia don't worry me like they would've in the past, they were dismal at hampden and we should be confident of beating them. Poland at home obviously tricky but we will be favourites. Germany game could be any of. the three results and I won't be surprised, I'm not buying this they'll walk the group, they are in a fight here and have been pretty unimpressive throughout. They may be world champions but they're no Spain of four years ago and can see them dropping more points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robroysboy Posted March 31, 2015 Share Posted March 31, 2015 First place is what we should aim for. We are an excellant away team these days, well capable of beating Ireland. Georgia don't worry me like they would've in the past, they were dismal at hampden and we should be confident of beating them. Poland at home obviously tricky but we will be favourites. Germany game could be any of. the three results and I won't be surprised, I'm not buying this they'll walk the group, they are in a fight here and have been pretty unimpressive throughout. They may be world champions but they're no Spain of four years ago and can see them dropping more points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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