Match Thread (International) Scotland vs Israel & Czechs

[thurso]

I don’t think the three at the back is all that bad it’s just mctominy is not a centre half. 
I’d be more inclined to take out fleck and mclean, put mctominy in midfield beside mcgregor and Tierney in defence

[WesthillWanderersFC]

1 hour ago, Tord31 said:

Let's not be running scared of Norway. Just need to hope Serbia turn them over.

The Norway that just horsed 5 past Norn Iron in Belfast, with one of the best young strikers in the world up front?

I admire the glass half full approach Tord.

No chance Scotland go to Oslo and beat Norway, getting past Israel will be a struggle from what I heard about the game against them last week (didn’t watch it so can’t say much but heard we were lucky to draw & were 2nd best). 
 

 

[thedandydon]

The Slovak's don't look up to much, Israel much the better team last night but like ourselves, don't have much to fear up front. Hopefully the English based players can make more of an impact for the October qualifiers. Still fancy us to beat Israel in the Euro play off but will really need to step up a gear in the final. Haaland will ragdoll McTominay if we have to face Norway.

The only positive from last night is it does leave us in decent shape in the group.

[WesthillWanderersFC]

9 minutes ago, Millertime said:

we are top of the group, 4 points from those 2 fixtures is good

Maybe it is, but what I saw last night was absolute shite to watch, probably even more so when I didn’t have the vested interest I do when it’s the Dons. 

[Ten Caat]

1 hour ago, Millertime said:

we are top of the group, 4 points from those 2 fixtures is good

If we had beaten Israel at home, then drawn against the "real" Czech side in Olomouc we would be very pleased with how things were turning out. Israel snatching a draw against the Slovaks in injury time would have made things look even better.

However we were lucky as hell to head home with the 3 points last night. They hit the post twice, Marshall was on top form in goals and still cannot fathom how their striker managed to miss that rebound from Marshall's save with 5 minutes to go. 

Only seen brief highlights of the Slovaks, they don't look any great shakes but I still have my doubts that we will beat them next month. And the Czechs will surely have their first choice squad available in the game immediately following....cant see anything other than them gaining their revenge for last night, probably with a couple of goals to spare on top.

 

[Tord31]

4 hours ago, WesthillWanderersFC said:

The Norway that just horsed 5 past Norn Iron in Belfast, with one of the best young strikers in the world up front?

I admire the glass half full approach Tord.

No chance Scotland go to Oslo and beat Norway, getting past Israel will be a struggle from what I heard about the game against them last week (didn’t watch it so can’t say much but heard we were lucky to draw & were 2nd best). 
 

 

Austria beat Norway comfortably.

I'm not certain who will win beat Serbia and Norway.

[BitWait]

2 hours ago, Millertime said:

Yep, you play players in their right position and if "big names" are on the bench, so be it

You might just improve the average players by having the better ones in their natural positions playing alongside them 

This would be a better way to do things. Choose a formation , then pick an available Scottish player who regularly plays in that position plus a back up. Get them fired up , do tactics a bit , win games.

[True_Don]

On 9/5/2020 at 7:51 AM, True_Don said:

Tierney in a back 3 is fine, however McTominay doesn't have the positional sense to play in a back 3...

That formation needs different personel...Jack side pass and slow no good and should never start for Scotland...you need players in midfield that can take on players in that formation and create....Christie is suited to it but no McGregor.

Not convinced by that formation for Scotland. 

 

that game last night has done nothing to give us hope in the tactics Clarke is imposing.

play players in their preferred positions...even world class players have limitations on where they can play / be effective....with average players we need to keep formations and positions as consistent as possible with club football.

Defence looks weak and beating Israel and then a rampant Norway seems unlikely.

Can't say there is an obvious solution.

4-5-1 / 4-3-3 surely a better option though.

If Cooper is playing regularly at Leeds then we need to stick with McKenna/Cooper pairing for stability and play a basic 4 at the back...except that Tierney plays RB or doesn't get a game.

3 centre mid...1 defensive (McTominey,  McLean, McCrorie (he's better than Jack FFS in this position), 1 play maker (McGregor, Christie, Fleck, McLean) and 1 that can run beyond the striker (McGinn, Christie, Armstrong) and 2 wide men of either wingers or wide mids...we have the players to do that...the only challenge when looking at this formation is that we have so many players of a similar ilk in midfield...not all our'best' players will get a game...

 

[aberdeen1970]

McGinn and Christie need to start in whatever midfield combination is chosen. I like Armstrong too.  McGregor I can take or leave, doesn't look arsed playing for Scotland. 

I thought Kenny McLean and John Fleck had stinkers.  But they weren't the only ones I suppose. 

[Henry]

Scotland v Israel
U.E.F.A. European Championship Play-offScotland Men's A
 08/10/2020 7:45pm Glasgow

Scotland v Slovakia
UEFA Nations League - League BScotland Men's A
 11/10/2020 Glasgow

Scotland v Czech Republic
UEFA Nations League - League BScotland Men's A
 14/10/2020 Glasgow

 

 

When was the last time Scotland had a 'triple-header'?

[aberdeen1970]

All at home as well 

[thurso]

57 minutes ago, aberdeen1970 said:

McGinn and Christie need to start in whatever midfield combination is chosen. I like Armstrong too.  McGregor I can take or leave, doesn't look arsed playing for Scotland. 

I thought Kenny McLean and John Fleck had stinkers.  But they weren't the only ones I suppose. 

I don’t think McGinn should be starting if I was picking a 5 in midfield it would be McGregor mctominy deep with christie in front of them Armstrong on the right Fraser on the left. I’d even through Gilmore in there before any of the others 

[aberdeen1970]

5 minutes ago, thurso said:

I don’t think McGinn should be starting if I was picking a 5 in midfield it would be McGregor mctominy deep with christie in front of them Armstrong on the right Fraser on the left. I’d even through Gilmore in there before any of the others 

Interesting. 

I think McGinn is our engine and is essential to that team to drive them forward.  Different strokes for different folks. 

I agree that Gilmour is a guarantee to break into that team sooner rather than later. 

 

[Ten Caat]

47 minutes ago, Henry said:

Scotland v Israel
U.E.F.A. European Championship Play-offScotland Men's A
 08/10/2020 7:45pm Glasgow

Scotland v Slovakia
UEFA Nations League - League BScotland Men's A
 11/10/2020 Glasgow

Scotland v Czech Republic
UEFA Nations League - League BScotland Men's A
 14/10/2020 Glasgow

 

 

When was the last time Scotland had a 'triple-header'?

Probably in the late 70s, maybe very early 80s in the old Home Internationals. With the Irish troubles, we didn't play in Northern Ireland for about 10 years so every second season at that time we'd face all 3 other Uk sides in the space of a week at Hampden

 

[Parklife]

Yeah. I've never been a big fan of McGinn but his performances for Scotland over the last 18 months have made him a vital part of the side. I'd have a midfield (assuming everyone is fit) of McTominay & McGregor deep, with Armstrong, McGinn and Fraser ahead of them. 

Forrest and Christie could also come in (potentially with Armstrong taking McGregor's spot & him dropping out) as alternatives. 

I do think we have the basis of a decent side. We need to play a system players understand though and play players in positions they are comfortable with. A 4-2-3-1 is the best way forward IMO. 

[muttonhumper]

 

Just kicked off.
Multiple Dons.

 

 

[thurso]

I’d say McGinns performances have been greatly exaggerated by the fact he has scored agains rubbish teams. 

[thurso]

4 hours ago, Millertime said:

Away you go

Mcginn is the best midfielder 

He’s really not if he was he wouldn’t be playing for a terrible team like Aston Villa. 
 

What does he do that’s so good. 

[robbojunior]

21 hours ago, True_Don said:

that game last night has done nothing to give us hope in the tactics Clarke is imposing.

play players in their preferred positions...even world class players have limitations on where they can play / be effective....with average players we need to keep formations and positions as consistent as possible with club football.

Defence looks weak and beating Israel and then a rampant Norway seems unlikely.

Can't say there is an obvious solution.

4-5-1 / 4-3-3 surely a better option though.

If Cooper is playing regularly at Leeds then we need to stick with McKenna/Cooper pairing for stability and play a basic 4 at the back...except that Tierney plays RB or doesn't get a game.

3 centre mid...1 defensive (McTominey,  McLean, McCrorie (he's better than Jack FFS in this position), 1 play maker (McGregor, Christie, Fleck, McLean) and 1 that can run beyond the striker (McGinn, Christie, Armstrong) and 2 wide men of either wingers or wide mids...we have the players to do that...the only challenge when looking at this formation is that we have so many players of a similar ilk in midfield...not all our'best' players will get a game...

 

 

I'd play Tierney LB and drop Robertson.  Robertson has been pish for Scotland.

[V for Vendetta]

On 9/8/2020 at 11:28 AM, Millertime said:

Yep, you play players in their right position and if "big names" are on the bench, so be it

You might just improve the average players by having the better ones in their natural positions playing alongside them 

Would be my approach as well.

2 top quality left backs? - Great we'll have good cover on the bench then.

"But but Tierney/Robertson must play" - the one in form starts and the other one can come off the bench with 30 mins to go.

We need to get away from all this shoe horning players in tbh.

(Oh and overlapping full backs done necessarily make good wing backs)

 

[V for Vendetta]

2 minutes ago, Millertime said:

Come on...

Matt le tissier played for Southampton and he was brilliant

Agree on McGinn as well.

As for him playing for Villa, there's every chance McGinn could be picked up by a bigger EPL team in the next year or two.

[Parklife]

1 hour ago, robbojunior said:

 

I'd play Tierney LB and drop Robertson.  Robertson has been pish for Scotland.

Won us the game the other night. 

No chance he's getting dropped anyway. He's our best player. 

[thurso]

1 hour ago, Millertime said:

Come on...

Matt le tissier played for Southampton and he was brilliant

Matt le tissier was brilliant and single handedly kept Southampton in the league for years don’t think John McGinn will be doing the same at Aston Villa.

I can only go by what I seen and that was mostly Scotland games and games for Hibs against aberdeen and I think in his time at Hibs only times they beat us shinnie wasn’t playing 

[Ten Caat]

1 hour ago, Parklife said:

Won us the game the other night. 

No chance he's getting dropped anyway. He's our best player. 

If he's playing at left back he is. And if Tierney can't get in the side because of that then too bad. Fielding players in positions that are not natural to them is just sheer stupidity, and when it gets repeated in spite of being blatantly obvious that it isn't working then it becomes sheer pig-headedness on the verge of arrogance (and imo a sacking offence)

In midfield he's fucking useless. Yes he won us the penalty but that was his sole contribution against a Czech 'C' side. Against Israel he was horrendously bad. 

[Fridge]

We did this in the Ebbe era played four centre half’s and no natural fullbacks.. Derek Whyte, Solberg, Perry, Zeus. Did not work out well.

[True_Don]

10 minutes ago, Ten Caat said:

If he's playing at left back he is. And if Tierney can't get in the side because of that then too bad. Fielding players in positions that are not natural to them is just sheer stupidity, and when it gets repeated in spite of being blatantly obvious that it isn't working then it becomes sheer pig-headedness on the verge of arrogance (and imo a sacking offence)

In midfield he's fucking useless. Yes he won us the penalty but that was his sole contribution against a Czech 'C' side. Against Israel he was horrendously bad. 

Robertson was one of the better players and should be 1st one on the team sheet...against Czech he made so many dangerous attacking runs but wasn't played in...you wont see the Liverpool AR until the formation and midfield is sorted out 

 

[aberdeen1970]

32 minutes ago, thurso said:

Matt le tissier was brilliant and single handedly kept Southampton in the league for years don’t think John McGinn will be doing the same at Aston Villa.

I can only go by what I seen and that was mostly Scotland games and games for Hibs against aberdeen and I think in his time at Hibs only times they beat us shinnie wasn’t playing 

McGinn has kicked on the last 18 months since he went to England. 

[thurso]

34 minutes ago, aberdeen1970 said:

McGinn has kicked on the last 18 months since he went to England. 

I see I must be in the minority here but I’ll still stand by my opinion if I was to pick a midfield 5 McGinn would not be one of them 

[aberdeen1970]

Just now, thurso said:

I see I must be in the minority here but I’ll still stand by my opinion if I was to pick a midfield 5 McGinn would not be one of them 

Fair enough min

[strachanmcgheegoal]

The bit you’re both missing is the fact that Robertson is quite clearly fucked after his exertions last year and clearly in need of a break.  Tierney on the other hand is just getting back to playing and hence physically is relatively fresh.  Worth mentioning that mentally he was being a wee dick.  That also has its pluses and minuses.