Scotland v Austria

[WeeRussell]

I'm not so sure.
I think we looked every bit as good as them - even better for a fair bit of the game. I'm not overly disappointed with the draw but feel we could've beat them.
I thought young Jack Hendry looked a wee bit out of his depth. Didn't follow his man into the box for the 1st goal and didn't get tight enough to his man for the 2nd. We'd have been better sticking with McKenna or Gallagher (or even Porto for that matter)

We’re not even convinced Porteous should be starting for Hibs!

[Brightside]

You forgot to mention how Hanlon would have cleared the ball easily while farting the national anthem.

Paul Hanlon doesn’t fart.

[Hibbyradge]

You forgot to mention how Hanlon would have cleared the ball easily while farting the national anthem.

No need to mention it. It goes without saying.

[calumhibee1]

I'm not so sure.
I think we looked every bit as good as them - even better for a fair bit of the game. I'm not overly disappointed with the draw but feel we could've beat them.
I thought young Jack Hendry looked a wee bit out of his depth. Didn't follow his man into the box for the 1st goal and didn't get tight enough to his man for the 2nd. We'd have been better sticking with McKenna or Gallagher (or even Porto for that matter)

Jack Hendry has been going very well this season by all accounts. Presuming that’s correct then he’s most likely streets ahead of Gallagher.

[jonny]

We’re not even convinced Porteous should be starting for Hibs!

I know he's one that is regularly debated but I think he'd have fared better against that big Austrian striker than Hendry did.

[WeeRussell]

McGinn is the best midfielder i’ve seen play for Scotland.

😉👍

[jonny]

Jack Hendry has been going very well this season by all accounts. Presuming that’s correct then he’s most likely streets ahead of Gallagher.

Can't say I've seen even 1 game he's played in so my opinion on his current form is really non existent.
I'm just calling it as I seen it tonight and think that McKenna or Gallagher would have been more solid. He looked pretty weak to me. I get it's all about opinions as to who should be in the squad and who shouldn't and I'm not saying my knowledge of football is better than Steve Clarke's but on tonight's showing I don't think Hendry is ready for international football at this level

[Brightside]

There is real potential in this squad now tbh. We do have quality in most areas. But we need to start going after teams and not let them dictate us.

[JimBHibees]

Jack Hendry has been going very well this season by all accounts. Presuming that’s correct then he’s most likely streets ahead of Gallagher.

Gallagher has been excellent for Scotland though. Bit more physical than Hendry

[CB Hibs 68]

Keeps adding a few million to his value as each season goes by.........scoring against good international opposition keeps his value soaring :greengrin:aok:

Totally intrigued about this.Do we know for sure there is a sell on clause.If so do we know what the percentage is .Even if we have a sell on clause who is to say John is going to leave Villa.Read an article recently in a Brummie paper and if you take him at his word he is totally settled there .My point being best not to speculate on what if any furture fiscal value he will be to Hibs but just appreciate what a great wee player he is who still loves Hibs.

[hhibs]

Changing the central defence has cost us although I can see why he's done it. Have to say Robertson has been really poor.


Robertson,poor........again.

[WeeRussell]

I know he's one that is regularly debated but I think he'd have fared better against that big Austrian striker than Hendry did.

Fair enough - I was surprised to see Hendry involved too and definitely
not convinced he’s a long term solution, but hadn’t realised he’s been showing great form out on loan. Gallagher is the one I would have went with but again didn’t notice he hasn’t been starting for Well recently. I’ve never been a McKenna fan to be honest. Tough playing against that big boy and his header was excellent.

I’d have been comfortable with Mctominay continuing at the back too but he was really good in midfield tonight. Surprised to see both Hanley and Hendry coming in but wasn’t complaining as I’ve been calling for McGregor to be dropped from the midfield for a while.

It’s a decent enough point. I reckon we just drew with the best team in the group and a win on Sunday would make it a positive start.

And I love John McGinn.

[JimBHibees]

Robertson,poor........again.

Thought he was good in the second half pushed us on and put a few decent balls in.

[hibbysam]

As I’m always slagging of Scotland CBs both will not be happy with the 2nd goal. Hendry is on the wrong side and Hanley has too much space behind. Communication key in that area. Hopefully they learn if we are going with that 2. It’s a very well taken goal by the striker.

With a 6 foot 7 centre forward you need to stop the cross. Tierney makes an arse of giving the ball away trying to be too smart and then McGregor doesn’t do nearly enough to stop the cross.

[hibbysam]

Thought he was good in the second half pushed us on and put a few decent balls in.

Having a right back that isn’t anywhere near good enough doesn’t help. It means teams can pin Robertson back and leave O’Donnell on the right hand side. That’s what happened first half tonight.

[jonny]

Fair enough - I was surprised to see Hendry involved too and definitely
not convinced he’s a long term solution, but hadn’t realised he’s been showing great form out on loan. Gallagher is the one I would have went with but again didn’t notice he hasn’t been starting for Well recently. I’ve never been a McKenna fan to be honest. Tough playing against that big boy and his header was excellent.

I’d have been comfortable with Mctominay continuing at the back too but he was really good in midfield tonight. Surprised to see both Hanley and Hendry coming in but wasn’t complaining as I’ve been calling for McGregor to be dropped from the midfield for a while.

It’s a decent enough point. I reckon we just drew with the best team in the group and a win on Sunday would make it a positive start.

And I love John McGinn.

Can't really argue with any of that - particularly the point about MacGregor.
I also love John McGinn lol

[FilipinoHibs]

That goal, better than Zidane.

[JimBHibees]

With a 6 foot 7 centre forward you need to stop the cross. Tierney makes an arse of giving the ball away trying to be too smart and then McGregor doesn’t do nearly enough to stop the cross.

Agree to an extent though still think the centre halfs should have been much more physical with the scorer. Hendry didn't cover himself in glory for either goal.

[Hibernian Verse]

Robertson,poor........again.

As noted during the game. Lainer pinned Robertson back into his own half.

Alaba was poor too, because we did the same. This is the problem with having an out-and-out star of the show...he's very easy to stop. In the Liverpool & Bayern teams the opponents have to worry about 11 of them (or at least did last season!!).

That said, Robertson had a great second half when Clarke allowed Tierney to get up the park on the left hand side to release Robertson from his defender which worked a treat.

[hibsbollah]

When you look back on the game, it’s a bit **** from a Scotland perspective.

We’re at home. We’re starting off a new campaign. We’re playing a team higher than us in the fifa rankings, sure, but not exactly a leading world nation. We play with one striker 6 midfielders and are battered for large chunks of the game, surrender most of the possession and emerge with a point thanks to McGinns magic. But it’s still a poor result against a team we’ll have to finish above and fundamentally Clark’s tactics are so negative, I thought there would be a new optimism and positivity after euro qualifying and maybe a taking off of the handbrake. Doesn’t seem that way.

[Fergus52]

When you look back on the game, it’s a bit **** from a Scotland perspective.

We’re at home. We’re starting off a new campaign. We’re playing a team higher than us in the fifa rankings, sure, but not exactly a leading world nation. We play with one striker 6 midfielders and are battered for large chunks of the game, surrender most of the possession and emerge with a point thanks to McGinns magic. But it’s still a poor result against a team we’ll have to finish above and fundamentally Clark’s tactics are so negative, I thought there would be a new optimism and positivity after euro qualifying and maybe a taking off of the handbrake. Doesn’t seem that way.

Agree with his,

Clarke has tightened us up, made us very difficult to beat and installed a fighting team spirit and should be commended for that.

However, I don't think we need to play half as negatively and defensive as we do a lot of the time. On paper there wasn't much between the starting 11s going into the game (maybe minus Dykes and O'donnel), but for the first half hour or so we gave them far too much respect, sitting very deep and giving their holding midfielders far too much time on the ball. With players like McTominay, McGinn, Robertson, Tierney, Christie, Armstrong on the pitch, all with great technical ability, I felt we could have tried to press them harder and play a bit more football through the midfield when we did have the ball. Instead of just punting it to Dykes and trying to win second balls most of the time.

For me the substitutes were needlessly negative as well. About to bring Fraser on for Dykes, but as soon as we equalise he changes his mind and brings on McGregor instead, despite the fact we had them under pressure and were looking like we could nick a winner. I could at least understand the logic behind that substitution as McGregor has excellent ball retention for keeping us in control and it let McGinn get further forward. However the McLean sub had me fuming. For the last 15 minutes or so our attack was Adams and about 10 centre mids. Far too negative when if we want to qualify from this group we really need to be taking 4 points of Austria, and last night was a great chance to do that which Clarke bottled imo.

[Fergus52]

I'm not so sure.
I think we looked every bit as good as them - even better for a fair bit of the game. I'm not overly disappointed with the draw but feel we could've beat them.
I thought young Jack Hendry looked a wee bit out of his depth. Didn't follow his man into the box for the 1st goal and didn't get tight enough to his man for the 2nd. We'd have been better sticking with McKenna or Gallagher (or even Porto for that matter)

The system we're currently playing under Clarke the right sided centre back needs to be a good passer and composed on the ball. If we play McTominay in midfield Hendry is the only defender we have who can come into the back 3 and play that role. I thought he did fine last night.

Trying to watch Gallagher or Hanley (if Mckenna went into the middle), effectively play out from the back while being pressed would have given me the fear.

[overdrive]

Goal aside, I thought Hanley was awful. He seemed to be doing his best to try and pick up a second yellow in the first half too. Gallacher has done well for Scotland and I know he hasn’t been playing much for Motherwell but I think that was a mistake not playing him.

[B.H.F.C]

When you look back on the game, it’s a bit **** from a Scotland perspective.

We’re at home. We’re starting off a new campaign. We’re playing a team higher than us in the fifa rankings, sure, but not exactly a leading world nation. We play with one striker 6 midfielders and are battered for large chunks of the game, surrender most of the possession and emerge with a point thanks to McGinns magic. But it’s still a poor result against a team we’ll have to finish above and fundamentally Clark’s tactics are so negative, I thought there would be a new optimism and positivity after euro qualifying and maybe a taking off of the handbrake. Doesn’t seem that way.

There are some parts of that I agree with. But I didn’t see us being battered for large chunks of the game. It’s not as if Marshall was making save after save. I thought it was two pretty evenly matched teams to be honest.

[number9dream]

I was surprised by Gallagher's omission too, unless he has an injury we don't know about.
He did a great job against Mitrovic in Serbia and might have been a better option against Austria's giant striker since he's significantly taller than Hanley.
McGinn does a great job for Scotland when played further forward, so McGregor and McTominay is perhaps the best anchor pairing in the absence of Ryan Jack.
Not sure what to make of Che Adams on that evidence but it's probably worth starting him against Israel.
Our ball retention remains pretty hopeless, while Robertson & Armstrong really need to show more.
Tierney did well to drive us forward at times but is more effective in the left-back position. Not sure Clarke would have the stones to drop his Champions League-winning skipper. It would be a huge call.
We really can't afford to lose out in Israel again, so I suspect it will be safety first from Clarke.

[Hibernian Verse]

I was surprised by Gallagher's omission too, unless he has an injury we don't know about.
He did a great job against Mitrovic in Serbia and might have been a better option against Austria's giant striker since he's significantly taller than Hanley.
McGinn does a great job for Scotland when played further forward, so McGregor and McTominay is perhaps the best anchor pairing in the absence of Ryan Jack.
Not sure what to make of Che Adams on that evidence but it's probably worth starting him against Israel.
Our ball retention remains pretty hopeless, while Robertson & Armstrong really need to show more.
Tierney did well to drive us forward at times but is more effective in the left-back position. Not sure Clarke would have the stones to drop his Champions League-winning skipper. It would be a huge call.
We really can't afford to lose out in Israel again, so I suspect it will be safety first from Clarke.

If we drop Robertson and play Tierney there he would be given the same treatment and struggle to get in the game just as much.

If you are Austria or Israel you target Robertson and stop him playing as I said in an earlier post. They would do exactly the same with Tierney. Tierney & Robbo in the same team is vital for us IMO, as when Tierney has the ball and drives it allows Robertson to be freed up on that wing.

[JimBHibees]

I was surprised by Gallagher's omission too, unless he has an injury we don't know about.
He did a great job against Mitrovic in Serbia and might have been a better option against Austria's giant striker since he's significantly taller than Hanley.
McGinn does a great job for Scotland when played further forward, so McGregor and McTominay is perhaps the best anchor pairing in the absence of Ryan Jack.
Not sure what to make of Che Adams on that evidence but it's probably worth starting him against Israel.
Our ball retention remains pretty hopeless, while Robertson & Armstrong really need to show more.
Tierney did well to drive us forward at times but is more effective in the left-back position. Not sure Clarke would have the stones to drop his Champions League-winning skipper. It would be a huge call.
We really can't afford to lose out in Israel again, so I suspect it will be safety first from Clarke.

Personally think we need to be beating Israel like Denmark did.