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Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1022 Location: kirkcaldy

There seems to be limited interest in our World Cup Qualifying campaign!
The focus for most Scots seems to be on the Euros and, for some, simply on the match against England, with much nonsense being talked about getting tickets, when, in reality , even if the match is at Wembley ,only a small proportion of Scotland supporters, at best , will be allowed into the stadium.
Austria are favourites for the opening game in the Qualifiers. The increased hope , when it was rumoured that Germany based Austrian team members would not be released to play, was quickly extinguished.
The fact that the strikers who featured in the Euro Play-offs are failing to find the net for their clubs, big-time, has led to the inclusion of ex Raith striker Kevin Nisbet and Southhampton 's Che Adams. This seems logical to me , although time will tell if either is intended to supplant Dykes or play in a two , which would mean a change of shape for the team. Personally, I'm a fan of Ryan Fraser but as a supplier of assists , not many goals.
Scott McTominay will play in midfield , surely , replacing injury doubt Ryan Jack. If so, then Steve Clarke has to decide if he stays with three centre-backs, which has worked quite well or revert to a back four.
Armstrong may come into contention in midfield too.
Cm'on Scotland give us something to brighten our week!!

Neil M · Joined: 16 Aug 2008 Posts: 2418 Location: Aberdeen

I'd certainly like him to stick with the back three and go more on the attack.

Israel = bogey team! trust us to land them yet again! There's aye the Faroe Isles! Wink

Gary Parker · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 11:21 pm Post subject:

No matter what we do, pick one of Tierney and Robertson. We've spent too long shoehorning players in and Tierney is not a centre half in a back 3 and Robertson cannot play wingback in a back 3. If we play 3 at the back, Tierney at left wingback, if we play a back 4, Robertson at left back, the other on the bench.

Robertson needs a player in front of him down the line to make space for him to get into, he can't do it on his own, he's not great at taking players on and doesn't have the pace to escape markers as easily.

Also, ditch Calum MacGregor, I've yet to see what he consistently brings to the side, certainly doesn't offer as much as he can with Celtic.

I'd go for Marshall, Palmer, Gallacher, McKenna, Robertson, McTominay, McGinn, Christie, Adams, Fraser, Dykes

scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8898 Location: Almost Dysart.

Am I reading that right? Why isn't Tierney a centre half in a back 3?

He won MotM as a centrehalf for Celtic on a few occasions, for my money he's one of the few that could play anywhere across the back 4 and not look uncomfortable (He'd probably do a decent job in midfield too if asked).
An Arsenal supporter at my work raves about him and says he would gladly see him play centre back.

There is another issue, Aaron Hickey is an outstanding leftback who for most of the season has been keeping Mitchell Djiies out of the Bologna team in Serie A. Hickey can (and has) played comfortably at right back.
I'd look to play Hickey at RB, Cooper/Gallacher/McKenna at RCB, Tierney at LCB and Robertson at LB in a back 4.
In a back 3 it'd be Gallagher, Cooper/McKenna and Tierney.
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badpress139 · Joined: 19 May 2015 Posts: 2312 Location: Glenrothes

Yes, I mentioned Hickey before. Although his preferred position is LB and can play RB and he is in actual fact right footed. I can see him getting a run out if we have any friendlies arranged before the Euros.

Gary Parker · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:17 am Post subject:

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1022 Location: kirkcaldy

Scotty, Good players they may be, but Cooper and Hickey are not in the squad , so they won't be facing Austria.
I think Liam Cooper is currently injured.
Steve Clarke has said on several occasions that he wanted to build a close-knit club mentality (which he thinks he's achieved with the Euro Play-off group ) , so guys like Palmer and O'Donnell (the current RBs) remain in the squad. You have to be injured or really drop off in form to lose your place eg strikers who can't score like Burke and Shankland .

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1022 Location: kirkcaldy

I confess that I don't know much about the individual players in the Austrian squad.
Reading a little more about them does not encourage me to think that we will get a win tonight, but we may well need to do, if we are to retain any hopes of qualifying directly.
Their established striker, Sasa Kalajdzic , is top scorer in the German Bundesliga with 13 goals for VIB Stuttgart. They also have an impact sub , Adrian Grbic , who plays for Lorient in France and has scored in Austria's last three games from the bench.
Other attacking players to be beware of are Bayern Munich's star David Alaba and RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer.

WillieKirk · Joined: 08 Feb 2014 Posts: 1772 Location: Portobello

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football#tab-F
Don’t see us in this table according to The BBC’s page
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StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3779

Several of our players are required to play a different position with Scotland, I really like McTominay in the centre of defence for example but playing both Robertson and Tierney in same team has yet to work. I think Clarke seriously needs to consider one or the other and at the moment in time, Tierney is in much better form than Robertson.

Dykes has been woeful for QPR last few months too but I don’t expect Clarke to drop either of him OR Robertson.

Tough game but winnable, probably needs to be won too with Denmark already cruising over in Israel..

Vinnie · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 8:18 pm Post subject:

Looking forward to waching the game on our very own STV with a few beers

Hud on,its England v San Marino thats on STV so for anyone who doesnt pay the highly inflated subscription prices for Sky,you,ve had it

Disgraceful
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WillieKirk · Joined: 08 Feb 2014 Posts: 1772 Location: Portobello

What is disgraceful? The price of Sky or the fact that it’s the England game on Scottish TV? Or both? I think both. Need for a SBC is clear!! forgot we do have one!
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WillieKirk · Joined: 08 Feb 2014 Posts: 1772 Location: Portobello

Had to look up the central defence pairing - new to me! Or maybe just unremarkable!
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Vinnie · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:04 pm Post subject:

Wolfman Jack · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:37 pm Post subject: