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Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1027 Location: kirkcaldy

Potentially severe blow as KT has been our star performer in recent matches .
[Scottish Sun per BBC ] :

SCOTLAND defender Kieran Tierney is OUT for the rest of the season.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admitted the former Celtic full-back’s injury is set to sideline him after his side’s 3-0 win at Sheffield United.

He admitted : “Kieran is out, probably for the season."

The news will be a blow to Scotland boss Steve Clarke with the Euros looming.

Tierney was substituted at half-time in the defeat by Liverpool last weekend.

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1027 Location: kirkcaldy

Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie will miss the rest of the season with a foot fracture.

The Scotland international, 24, sustained the injury during the Blades' 3-0 Premier League defeat by Arsenal on Sunday. [BBC]

Vinnie · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 8:33 pm Post subject:

Thats a blow Wink

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Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1027 Location: kirkcaldy

When I started this thread, I hadn't expected it would need to be updated re injuries so frequently.😩
It started with an injury report , but I thought posters would comment on players whose form they thought merited inclusion in the squad (or whose poor form might cause them to be omitted, although we know SC has nurtured a Club spirit ,so the majority of the regulars will be safe for the Euros ).
Sadly, here's another serious injury, and one that will have upset SC because he has stated, more than once , that his preferred midfield defensive duo is formed by Jack and McGregor. This injury ,it seems to me, will make it even more likely that Scott McTominay will remain in midfield , and it begs the question as to which player will be favoured for the RCB position (assuming that we play three at the back , the composition of which will be further compromised if KT does not return to fitness in time🤔 ):

Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack will miss the rest of the season and the summer's European Championship with Scotland. [BBC]

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4774

McTominay is a superior player to Jack and should be playing in midfield anyway. We'll be playing defensively anyway in all three games so he can slip back into a centre half position when we don't have the ball but he has a good enough engine to push forward when he can.
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StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3789

Not a direct replacement for Jack obviously but hopefully Turnbull can get in squad now. One of the few success stories of the Celtic season and has easily outshone McGregor and Christie, think it would be a travesty if ANY Celtic player is in the squad and he isn’t.

All this talk of being ‘defensive’ too... we are favourites to finish bottom of group but we aren’t exactly in a group of death! Croatia are an aging squad in transition, Czechs are opposite, a young side getting better but still developing... Get in about them ffs

Castle · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Posts: 4774

Playing defensively and snatching a goal on the break is realistically our best chance against superior opponents. Croatia made it to the final of the last major tournament played, the Czechs are on an upward swing and England are genuine contenders to win the whole thing (and likely will win a Euros or World Cup before long). Probably needing at least a win and a draw to make it out of the group but stranger things have happened. Just glad to be invited to the party and let's hope we can still be in with a shout of getting through by the time of the last group match.
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scotty · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8905 Location: Almost Dysart.

FIFA threaten to ban all players at breakaway clubs from ALL FIFA sanctioned competitions would now see Scotland without:
Robertson, Tierney, McTomnay and Gilmour.

Effectively could all players at those clubs walk under freedom of contract given the actions of their employers have extenuating long reaching affects on their careers? After all it wasn't what they signed up for.
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Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1608 Location: Irvine

Vinnie · Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2021 10:30 pm Post subject:

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1027 Location: kirkcaldy

How should SC perceive the extra three places in the squad ,granted by UEFA?
He may see it as simply allowing him to take along players who have previously played in qualifying ,but had dropped to the fringes and would have lost out if it was a 23-man squad. Guys like Johnny Russell, Andy Considine and Oliver Burke.
Alternatively, though, he could look ahead and award those places to up-and-coming players , likely to make the Scotland team in the future ,like David Turnbull and Billy Gilmour. Unless there are more than expected injuries or suspension and/ or we go deep into the tournament, then it is unlikely that players 24,25 and 26 will get meaningful game -time. But it would get them used to being in the international set-up ,which would be useful down the line. Although slightly older , Ryan Gauld would be another to cast an eye over for possible future selection.

On a different note, it's excellent news that KT's injury was not as bad as at first feared and he should be ready to take part in the warm-up games.

Cuparman · Joined: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 1608 Location: Irvine

StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3789

Turnbull is a must for me.

Forrest will be off the ‘maybe’ list now I think if keeping fit before squad announced.

I like Ryan Gauld (watched quite a bit of Farense this season and he has stood out like a sore thumb, remind me a lot of David Silva) Apparently Clarke hasn’t even talked to him since taking over so can’t see it.

Gilmour is a similar player but his lack of game time probably rules him out too.

Would probably take the young Rangers right back too but will Clarke? Doubtful as his one flaw for me is over-loyalty to players

Franco · Joined: 10 Oct 2019 Posts: 1027 Location: kirkcaldy

SB, I agree on James Forrest and, indeed, he is in the 23 in my head, which is why I didn't mention him, although he has not been in recent squads owing to injury.
We will start the games with one main striker , so those supporting him like Fraser, Forrest , McGinn and Christie will be vitally important as our most likely source of goals as per the qualifiers. We also need wide players to play off the full /wing backs.

The article I saw re Ryan Gauld was quoting a friend of his , not a direct interview. SC has mentioned ''being aware'' of Ryan Gauld in the past. I must confess that ,whilst I have seen footage of Billy Gilmour ( both for Chelsea and the Scotland ages group games up to U21s ) I have never watched Ryan play for Farense , just read good reports of him. SC is very loyal to the midfield guys who have brought us to the Euros and knows that they bond as a group. It would be good, though, if the extra three players were ''wild cards'' ,with the future in mind. From the ''club feel'' to the squad , it would also help , because they might get more from the experience than fringe players.

StarksBarmy · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Posts: 3789

Think I have watched the highlights of every farense game on YouTube (you get a great wee 5min video of every Portuguese league game on there) Watched them live on Betfair a few times too. Farense are a really good side but a bit ‘soft’ at the back often leak easy goals, usually when in front, always good entertainment!

The game other night (1-1 v Portimonese) Gauld set up opener, they lost a late equaliser before Gauld had a shot cleared off line at death. Everything good they done, he was usually involved!

Would certainly make plenty sense to take the likes of him and Gilmour along for the feel of international football. Two guys who play football the un-traditional Scottish way! and will hopefully be big players (no pun intended) for us in years to come...